Reflexology For The Spirit

spirituality of one's health

Interested in Self-Care? Try Self-Forgiveness

Let me start this article this way:  Self-forgiveness is never easy.

I’ve written about self-forgiveness before.  It’s a theme for me – even though I didn’t realize it when I began writing.  It’s definitely a part of my books and essays on wellness and hunger.

I have forgiveness chapters in all of my books.  My two favorite chapters are in “The Ketchup Sandwiches Chronicles” beginning on page 103 and 145.

These two chapters focus on two real people and the voyages they traveled while  seeking self-forgiveness.

Begin self-care with a few questions:

Who am I in this community?  In this country?  On this planet?

Remember:  My community, my country, and my planet have value.  I believe the value is greater than the sum of all of us combined.

Self-care means joining the community of the planet.  Everyone, without exception, has value and a role to play.

No one, not even the least of us, is irrelevant.  No one, not even the greatest of us, is above it all.  Being rich or poor simply isn’t part of the equation.

Self-forgiveness in the context of self-care is a journey where we become a part of something greater.  We don’t write off people and situations.  We challenge, encourage, love.

Self-forgiveness allows us to not always be at our best.

Self-forgiveness includes renewal and support.

Self-forgiveness can be a calling.

When you sign onto the journey of self-forgiveness, you’ll travel to places you’ve never been before.  You may find yourself involved in activities and events for which you may not be quite prepared.

You can’t complete a self-forgiveness journey with an isolated incident like you would complete a puzzle or word game.  It is a part of a process.

Forgiveness is always a challenge.  Everyone seeks forgiveness and self-forgiveness is the hardest part.

How does it work?  Well, do what you can with what you have.  Work where you are.  A good starting point is to sketch your community.

Really, what you’re doing is muddling through.  Frankly, I think that’s how self-forgiveness works.  This journey is not going to be perfect.  At times, it may seem overwhelming.  Other times, it may seem simply like a blank page.  Self-forgiveness comes with very few maps.  Certainly, there is no GPS.

Forgiveness is a journey with its own timetable.  There may be surprise stops along the way.  That’s because forgiveness has its own messages and meaning.

A bottom line is this:  Forgiveness is for you and you alone.  When you forgive someone, you are not forgiving them for them.  You are forgiving them for you.

And, that’s what self-care is all about:  YOU.

Self-forgiveness happens when you move beyond your  thoughts and memories  to a new place.  At that moment, you see things differently.  Sometimes this new place can be a sort of miracle.

This happens when you see your open heart and embrace new hopes and blessings.  After a few moments, you may also hear things in a new way.

This is true change.  True change, and self-forgiveness, happens when you face the same condition that caused you to behave in a way unacceptable to yourself and now you see things differently.

You break out of your past.

You’ve changed.  You are a different person.

You wake up and claim your self-forgiven reality.

                                       

Thank you for reading this blog post.  Please forward it to your preferred social media network.  Share it with your friends and family.

To hear stories of healing and of hunger, tune into YouTube.  There are several segments where I read the stories.  It is one thing to read the stories and another thing entirely to hear them.  ENJOY

When traveling on your self-forgiveness journey, I recommend you include regular reflexology and Reiki sessions.  Spiritual journeys include physical, mental, and emotional changes as well.  Your feet are a command center of your body.  They need consideration and attention during this time.

If you have questions, contact me at thurmangreco@gmail.com

THANKS AGAIN!

 

 

Your Crown Chakra Meditation

A crown chakra meditation is a good place for physical and spiritual healing.  This is where you encounter unconditional love.  You also channel wisdom and inspirational gifts of spirit guides and angelic beings.

Find a quiet, safe space for this meditation.

Begin by getting comfortable.  Sit, or lie down as you breathe slowly, evenly, and deeply to energize your crown chakra.

When you exhale, you release anger, fear, loss, negativity, and any other toxins.

Beginning with your first chakra, check in with each one as you greet it.

Now move up to your other chakras.  Touch or tap each chakra gently with your fingertips and note what sound or image you experience at each one.

You may or may not experience sounds, touch, smells.

You may want to record a word or two in a journal as you journey up your chakra path.

Arriving at your crown chakra, focus on where you are for a few minutes. Touch or tap your crown chakra as you focus on the center of your head.   What sensations do you feel?   Do you find a message here today?

You don’t have to feel, see, hear, or smell anything.  This is especially true if this is your first crown chakra meditation.  Whatever you experience, don’t worry.

Breathe into your crown chakra now.  Your mind is quiet.  Accept this moment as the blessing it is.   Take a few more crown chakra breaths to receive any feedback which may come to you as word, sound, song, image, color, feeling, intuitive message, awareness.

Your feedback may come to you at the moment, or later in the day or even a few days later.  Don’t try to rush things.

As your crown chakra meditation comes to an end, slowly move your body.  Bring yourself to your space gently and calmly.

Return to this meditation any time you want to communicate with your chakras.

Thank your chakras for this experience.

 

Thank you for reading this meditation today.  Please share it with your favorite social media network.  Please forward it to your friends and family.

More chakra information is available in “A Healer’s Handbook.”

There is also more chakra information available at “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco – YOUTUBE”

You can find out more at www.thurmangreco.com.

 

HOPE – a Guided Meditation

Hope focuses on renewal, rebirth, and healing.

Find a place to be comfortable where you can rest undisturbed during this time.

As we experience this meditation, feel the “old” drop away and “new” opportunities present themselves.

Leave everything around you behind and bring your attention to yourself.

Relax as you go on this journey.

Get comfortable.

Breathe in from your abdomen – slowly, slowly, to the count of three.

One – Two – Three

Now – hold your breath to the count of four

One – Two – Three – Four

Now – exhale to the count of five.

One – Two – Three – Four – Five

Repeat this breathing pattern three more times.

In – one, two, three

Hold – one, two, three, four

Out – one, two, three, four, five

In – one, two, three

Hold – one, two, three, four

Out – one, two, three, four, five

In – one, two, three

Hold – one, two, three, four

Out – one, two, three, four, five

Continue to breathe deeply as you go into this relaxation.

Your relaxation becomes a blanket of warmth.  Sink down into this  quiet place inside yourself.

PAUSE

You are calm and peaceful now.  It is time for your journey.

PAUSE

You are strolling along a path in a forest.  Notice this path.  How does it feel under your feet?  Is this path a smooth grassy path?  Are there pebbles?   What kind of shoes are you wearing?

As you walk down this path, take a moment to feel the air on your skin – the sunlight shining down – gentle breezes caressing your clothes.

As you travel, notice sights, sounds, and fragrances:  birds, butterflies, wind in the trees.

What is your reaction to this place?  How do you feel beyond your body?

Strolling for a short time, you come to a clearing in the forest with openings to different paths.

As you look at the different paths, one attracts you.

You look down this path and see something shining in the sun off in the distance.

You’re drawn to this shining spot in the sun.  What is it?

You walk along this path that you just selected.  How does it feel under your feet?  Is it smooth?  Are there pebbles?  Is it a smooth dirt path?  Are there stepping stones?

As you walk toward the shiny spot ahead,  you feel layers and layers of your past drop away.

The weight of the world evaporates from your shoulders.

PAUSE

You soon arrive at the end of the path where you see a bench waiting for you.

There, on this bench, you see new clothes, neatly folded.

When you look at them, you see they are more beautiful than any you’ve seen before.

You remove the clothes you are wearing and put on these new clothes.  They are a perfect fit.

You walk up a slight hill toward the shining object you saw at the beginning of your walk.

As you approach the shining object, you discover it is a mirror.

You look in this mirror and see your reflection.

You see:

The person you have always known you were.

The person  you have always wanted to be.

You see yourself as strong, and happy.

NOW – you can continue to explore your new “you” as you return to this room.

You know you can return to this place anytime you want.

 

This meditation is part of a new program I’m offering called “Hope on the Road”.  I am sharing this meditation along with a reiki session and hand blessing to anyone who requests it.

This program is adaptable to zoom and in- person groups large or small.  It will also be on my YouTube channel.

Thank you for  participating.

Thank you for reading this meditation blog post.  Please share it with your friends and forward it to your preferred social media network.

Thurman

Books, T-shirts, and aprons  can be found on www.thurmangreco.com.

“Wellness for All” is now available in both paper and ebook editions.

“Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” – the YouTube channel – is a place to stay on top of all the new (and vintage) video clips.

Subscribe today and never miss a show.

Healing Music – an important part of your toolbox – Part 5

Music is an important component of healing because everything has its very own musical component.

When we speak to one another (or to ourselves), our voices transmit a unique spiritual music.  Each person’s voice is individual.

When we move, our bodies send a tempo representing our feelings at the moment.

Everything around us is musical because we are all composed of energy.

When we offer reflexology or Reiki therapy or chakra healing or any number of other healing modalities, each one has it’s own music.  But, that doesn’t mean that an added layer of healing music isn’t important.  The healing music you play while you heal a person contributes to that person’s wellness.

I have known healers who used only one or two musical selections for everyone.  Other healers had stacks and stacks of cd’s to choose from.

I have also known client partners who preferred a specific song.  One  client partner wanted only a  special song playing when she entered the healing room.  She wanted nothing more.  For her, healing began when she heard the music she chose.   Her choice:  “Nada Himalaya” by Deuter.  New Earth Records produced this CD.

My thoughts on this:  Whatever works for your client is the right choice.

The important thing is not whether I like the music or not.  My preferences don’t matter.   The important thing is that the person who needs and receives the healing responds positively to what she hears.

I have client partners who only want to hear chants.  Others dislike the chants and don’t want to hear them.  My job is to discover what music each client prefers and have it playing during each session.

If you don’t know what to offer, you can’t go wrong with some quiet Bach or Pachelbel.  Music by Steven Halpern or Deuter have been staples in healing rooms for decades.

But, whatever you select, your choice is important, very important.

Not long ago, I lost a client because of the music I selected.  This woman was a recent regular client – coming to my table weekly.  She appeared to be happy with my services and healing modality environment.

She enjoyed a variety of music and I had enough CD’s to offer a different selection at each session.  Then, one day, she walked into the healing room and immediately went on alert.  She was even a little fearful.  I didn’t know why.

Before the end of the session, she commented to me that I was playing her “favorite song”.  The musician was not well known and only had one CD out.   She revealed  me that this love for the music we were listening to was a deep dark secret that she had never shared with anyone.

I had, inadvertently, invaded a  private space she was not prepared to share.

Do I need to tell you what happened to this client?

Every client has a private space where no one can be invited in.  One of the jobs of a healer is to find the  door, make sure it’s locked, and throw away the key.

The music you share in your healing space is as intimate as the work you do.

Thanks for reading this blog article!  Please share it with your preferred  social media network.

Thurman Greco

 

 

 

 

Guided Meditations: 3 Ways They Change Your LIfe – Awaken, Transform, and Heal

Guided meditations  awaken, transform, heal.  Guided meditations are change agents.

But, whether a meditation awakens, transforms, or heals, it points you inward to your own strength.  This is a direction which benefits us all.  Many people focus outward for strength.  They search for persons, actions, or objects when the goal they seek is right at home, within themselves.

I’ve used guided meditations to begin reflexology, Reiki therapy, chakra healing, massage sessions.  I’ve also used them to end sessions.  They are effective when you need action.

Guided meditations  help classroom situations.  If I feel my students are nervous or out-of-sorts in some way, I use a guided meditation.

Guided meditations are essential for Reiki attunements,  and for any situation  when a person needs to listen, rest, be still, and learn new ways to be and do.

I think we’re going to do many new things in the near future.  Listening, resting, and being still  are all  prerequisites to  embracing a new life.

Guided meditations help a person understand  a new reality more deeply.  For me, this pandemic offers each  of us a new reality.  A door is opening for us.

Guided meditations are good with grieving and overcoming fear.  And thanks giving.  And loving.

By now, you know  I turn to guided meditations at every opportunity.

Guided meditation open doors of higher consciousness  leaving the past behind.  These open doors awaken us  to answers which our inner spirits hold.

When we wake our higher consciousness, we  transform our lives, improve the quality of our lives and tap more deeply into the higher self.

Transformation facilitates change.  Put plainly and simply,  transformation encourages calm, serenity, grounding.

The transformation provided by a guided meditation  helps reduce stress, headaches, chronic pain.

A guided meditation focusing on healing can be a form of prayer.  It taps into what your unlimited higher self  can offer.

In the midst of this pandemic, a guided meditation can help you release tension, anger, fear, anxiety, and other illness-causing emotions.

A guided meditation focusing on healing will lead you to your inner strength.  It will encourage you to become more comfortable with the new reality this pandemic may produce for you.

Current events throughout our planet convince me we are all on the brink of everything.  The future awaits.   A guided meditation focusing on healing will allow you to let go and enjoy the goodness to come.

A guided meditation can allow your to love yourself.  When this happens, you will have a powerful healing tool.  This can encourage your fearlessness.

***********

The next post will focus on how to create your own guided meditations to use in whatever situation you need.

Thank you for reading this post.

Please refer this article to your preferred social media network.

Thurman Greco

 

 

 

 

A Crisis Toolkit for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit.

For years and years, I’ve carried around a crisis toolkit to use whenever a friend, family member, client, coworker, or complete stranger entered my life in a crisis situation.  Do you have a healing tool kit?

I’m betting  you do.  After all, we’re all healers.    We all carry one around, even if we don’t call it that.  So my question is this:  What’s in it?

My toolkit has things to help with  fear as well as death and with the dreaded coronavirus.  But it also has to help with all the other diseases and aches and pains  we encounter in addition:  colds, fever, rashes, asthma attacks, arthritis, heart attacks, cancer…

Maybe you  feel your toolkit is not ready for today’s situation. It’s probably filled with all sorts of things you can use.

Here are some things I’m sharing with you.  Maybe you have things in your toolkit you can share with me.

When it comes to supporting your mind, body, and spirit during these challenging times, I TURN FIRST TO YOGA.  I recommend restorative yoga.

When you are stressed, a weekly session is important.  I don’t know how it is in your area, but I’m in Upstate New York which is a new hot spot for Coronavirus.  I take a restorative yoga class via Zoom every week with Carolyn Abedor.

Carolyn is a physical therapist/yoga instructor.  I come away from her class restored, renewed, and recharged for the coming  week.  I would take her class twice a week but I work on the other day she teaches it.

Do you have a yoga teacher?  If not, make finding one a priority.  Today’s challenges call for restorative yoga.  But, if you find a different yoga that you prefer…go for it.  Use what works for you.

REIKI CANNOT BE OVERESTIMATED.   Do you practice Reiki therapy?  If so, don’t forget to use this tool every chance you get.

Use your Reiki when you walk into a building.  Use it when you walk down the street.  Use Reiki when you encounter other people.  Everyone is stressed out.  We can all use Reiki’s healing, calming energy.

If not, now is the best time I know of  to learn Reiki.  Reiki is essential in stressful times.  And, frankly, no time can be more stressful than now.

If you don’t practice Reiki and you can’t find a teacher, book some sessions with a practitioner.  Begin with 5 sessions.

Whether or not you practice Reiki,  or visit a Reiki practitioner regularly, now is a good time to organize a Reiki circle or  Reiki share.  Gather several  friends together and let the Reiki practitioners offer healing to everyone in the room.  Reiki is not one bit intimidated by the requirements of social distancing.

DON’T FORGET  REFLEXOLOGY.   Reflexology sessions are extremely grounding.  If you are stressed out or if you have health issues, Reflexology sessions  can help.  Gloves and face masks will not negatively impose on Reflexology.

HEALING MUSIC HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART IN MY TOOL BOX FOR YEARS.  I use it during healing sessions, classes, or whenever I feel the need.

Through the years, I’ve learned that healing music can be all sorts of sounds.  Beauty is in the ears of the beholder.  I tend to favor Deuter,  Halpern, Ken Davis, Anugama.  Your favorites may be totally different.  Because of my experiences, I prefer the older musicians.  But, there are many kinds of healing music available today.  Explore them until you know what works best for you.

GUIDED MEDITATIONS are essential.  I began reading those written by others and now create my own.  I suggest that you go with someone else’s until the time is right for you.  The goal of a guided meditation is to awaken, transform, or heal.  For years, I relied on the meditations compiled in books by Larry Moen.

BEDSIDE TABLE BOOKS are essential.  They are the books I read when my tanks need refilling.  These books vary with the need.  Sometimes escape is the only route.  Other times, I need to know what other people have to say about the situation I’m dealing with.

I’m often hungry for the wisdom others offer.  To prevent empty tanks, I try to read about an hour a day.

When I  fed hungry and homeless people in a food pantry, I found solace in the statistics of hunger.  At any given moment I could tell you what percentage of children in our country went to bed hungry.  I knew the difference between resource poor and generational poor and struggling poor.  I knew all about dumpster diving.

Now, I’m attracted to  memoirs.  It’s not the problems that attract me.  It’s how the writer tackled the problem that counts.

Fear, and forgiveness are big on my list.

Finally, when I need to veg out,  I go for whatever catalogue is in my mailbox.

The important thing is to know when  to fill your own tanks.  Your toolbox won’t be worth much if you’re stretched too thin.

Your toolkit may be totally different.  It probably is different.  After all, we are scattered all over the planet.  I hope to hear about some things in your toolkit.  Please email me.

Meanwhile, please forward this article to your preferred social media network.

In honor of this most stressful time, I’m offering you a free copy of a book I wrote  entitled  “Miracles”.   Email your mailing address to  thurmangreco@gmail.com before April 12th, and I’ll send it along – absolutely free with no strings attached.

Thank you for being here.

Thurman Greco

Wellness and Healing for Ourselves and Our Planet During the Spring Solstice

To promote wellness and healing throughout the planet,  and on March 19th, find a time and place that fits your schedule.

Sit quietly for a few moments and visualize a world where positive renewal and growth exists  for all beings.  Allow wellness and healing to become a reality for all.

Plant  spiritual seeds to nurture your goals and dreams.  Get to know your potential  and reflect on all the wonderful opportunities in the world for growth and hope throughout our planet.

Set an intention  honoring  this mystical and magical change of seasons creating space for your spiritual growth.

Check in with yourself now.  Give your spirit the support it needs and seeks to bring wellness and healing to all beings on our planet.

Quiet your mind as you bathe in this new energy of spring.  Invite universal balance into our world.

Thank you

Thurman Greco

Please refer this article to your preferred social media network.

Healthy Kitchen

Our lives are often over full with  too much going on.  We’re all busy.  Working.  Caring for children.  Running errands.  Studying.  Volunteering.

Where is the time to shop for and prepare a leisurely, healthy meal?

Food can often be therapeutic.  But, sometimes it’s hard to serve a healthy, healing meal to someone. when everyone is overworked, underpaid, short of time, and out of space.

BUT…

there are things that can be done to make your  kitchen healthy and the meals easier.

Begin by making your kitchen a place where you want to be.  Are the walls a color that you like?  Is music that you like available in your kitchen?  Do your utensils work?

If the answers to your questions were “no”, it’s time to try to make your kitchen a place where you want to be.  Tackle one thing at a time and the room will soon be your favorite place.

Review your recipes.  Do you have a few recipes for meals that are nutritious, delicious, easy to prepare, and fun to eat?  If not, be on the lookout.

What you need is an arsenal of easy-to-prepare meals which you can rely on.  Start with a few slow-cooker recipes which you can use during the week.  This way, you can load the slow-cooker with ingredients before you leave for work, turn on the cooker, and return home at the end of the day to a delicious meal.

Do you have a favorite casserole recipe?  Prepare this dish on your day off and then have it ready to eat the next evening.

Eat together as a family at least three times a week…more if you can.  Make eating together non-negotiable.

Get your family members to help with the meal.  Setting the table, washing the dishes, taking out the trash can all be done by family members.

I’m living proof that it is possible, even easy, to cook and serve healthy, nutritious, delicious, clean food that is easy to prepare and doesn’t cost a fortune.

When you work at this, you’ll soon have a kitchen that everyone enjoys.  Your food will be delicious, easy to prepare, inexpensive, and fun.

Thanks for reading this post!

Please share this article with your favorite social media network.

Thurman Greco

 

 

 

 

Release Your Clients: Self Care for You, Reflexologist – 4

At the end of each and every day, it’s important to release all the client partners you worked with, spoke with on the phone, booked future appointments for.

Release the person, the session, the issues, into the universe.

Throughout the day, you do what you can for your client partners.  At the end of the day, It is  time for them each  to accept your healing and go back out into the world.

Each person and his/her issues are now separate from you until the next appointment.

Releasing your client partners at the end of each day is important for them as well as for you.  For one thing, when a person comes for a session, it’s important that she/he  become  separate  after the session.  This separation promotes healing. .

One easy way to release your client partners is to cut the cords at the end of the day.  An easy way to do this is to visualize the cords connecting you with your client partners.  Now, take a pair of beautiful, golden scissors and snip them.

A second easy way is to offer a releasing meditation at the end of each day you work.  You can write a releasing meditation to use just for this purpose.

A third way is to offer a releasing ceremony.  To do this, simply write your own ceremony for releasing your clients.  To end the ceremony, drape a special closing cloth over your healing table.  Leave this ceremonial cloth on the table until you remove it when you return to work the next day.

A fourth way is to find a piece of music which signifies to you an ending.  Play this music for a few moments at the end of each work day.

Smudging is also an effective way to end your day.

Essential oils are important also.  Suggestions include frankincense,   Idaho balsam fir, lavender, myrrh,  palo santo, patchouli,  and sandalwood.

Reiki is always appropriate  for ending your day.  A self-reiki session is a meditation in itself.   Reiki the space you worked in all day.

So, here you have a selection of options to choose from.  Over time, you may vary your releasing techniques.  Experiment.  Find out  what works best for you.

Thank you for reading this reflexology article.

Please refer this blog post to your preferred social media network.

Thurman Greco