Reflexology For The Spirit

spirituality of one's health

One Thing About Reiki and Healing

Since the ’90s, I’ve taught Reiki and Reflexology to students of all ages, sizes, and shapes.  I made a conscious effort to let my students fly free, once he or she received the certificates earned.  .

Healing is a personal path for a student.  Eventually, the learned skills will surface in a way that is best for the universe.  Sometimes the surfacing happens quite soon.  Other times, it may take years as the student carries the energy around quietly, underground almost – waiting for just the right time.  Meanwhile, the healing Reiki energy percolates, hidden below the surface.

Soon after Donald Trump was inaugurated, I put out an extremely quiet call to some Reiki Master Practitioners.  “Come over and get your teacher wings.”

A few answered the call.  I attuned them all to the Reiki Master Teacher Level and, again, set them loose to do what they felt called to do.

Karen kept in touch.  She took her attunement seriously and, throughout the Pandemic, taught and practiced Reiki.  Karen worked outdoors throughout this time.  She practiced her profession in a park about 2 blocks from her home.

Some days were hot.  Others were cold.  Nobody seemed to mind.

Now, in these days and times, Karen is ill.  She is teaching us all how to prepare for the future when there isn’t much time left on this plane.

She is allowing her students and fellow practitioners the opportunity to offer  Reiki. This is a special time for all of us. Her students set up a time:  Tuesday afternoons at 3:00.

People drop by her home to see how she’s doing.  Some  prepare food.  Others run errands, etc. Everyone is finding things that need attention.  Hospice is in the mix.

Reiki is at the core of this transition.  We participate the best way we can.

One thing happening out loud is this:  When we learn Reiki or other healing modality, we’re not sure what we’re going to do with our new certificate and skill.

Whatever we do, Reiki meets us where we are.  However we use the things we’ve learned, it’s all for the good of the universe.

We are not here to change a story when offering therapy.  Instead, we are a conduit for healing.  Nothing more.

I am grateful to each and every student I’ve had over the past years.  Each of you is an educational experience for me.  You have, one and all, given me the highest honor a teacher can receive:  Your trust.

Thank you to everyone.  Thank you to Karen for allowing us to be with her at this special time.

My first book, “Healer’s Handbook” took 10 years to write.  It’s gone out to over 3 dozen countries.  I think it needs another edition to highlight End-of-Life Reiki.  What do you think?

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Earlier posts of this blog may have answers to your questions.  Check them out. Also go to some of the YOUTUBE segments of “Let’s Live” which cover wellness and healing.

Find out more at www.thurmangreco.com.

Contact me at thurmangreco@gmail.com.

The shows have been hold for several weeks because Ellen had surgery.  We are resuming our shows soon.  Join us!

 

What to do When Your Life Begins to Unravel Around the Edges

What bodywork does for you when your life unravels around you:

Years ago, I took a reiki class in Reston, Virginia, in Reiki Jinkei Do, taught by Gilbert Gallego.  This was at a time when I was taking Reiki classes from anyone and everyone who taught one.  I learned something wonderful at each class.  I remember each and every class fondly.

Giving my memory one takeaway, it is this:  Bodywork in general works in our best interest, supporting health and healing on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level.  Reiki and Reflexology are in this mix.

I write a lot about Reflexology and Reiki because I spent the most time studying those two modalities.  I teach both of them and I know the good they can do for a person.

Bodywork in general is cumulative, whatever the modality, which means that the more sessions someone has, the greater effect they will have on that body.

So far, the only modality I’ve found without contraindications is Reiki therapy.  This means you can use it on anyone, anytime, anyhow, anywhere.  Reiki is a soft touch on a clothed body so that it can be used in a private healing space,  a bus station, airport waiting area, ICU, or accident scene.

Bodywork of all kinds have reactions.  They depend on the modality, the client, the healer, and what is happening in the life of people on the day and time they receive help.

When clients receive Reflexology and/or Reiki, their reactions are different each time they receive a session.  One of the reasons we don’t think about is the fact that our bodies are different  each and every day.

I’m discussing this now because I’m seeing more and more people whose lives are unraveling.  Stress and uncertainty over a long period of time have a way of untethering a person from those things that ground us.

There are many things you can do.  The first of these is to recognize your situation for what it is.

The second is to list the things you can do.  You want to know what you can choose from.  The options are, possibly, many.  Which ones are more realistic and which ones are less realistic?

Make your  healing list.  .

Be prepared to change your list several times, at least.  Maybe you should be prepared to change your list more times.

What is practical?

What is affordable?

What is the option that you prefer?

Work this list through as you winnow it down to fewer and fewer options.  Finally, this list will be short – possibly only 1 or 2 items.

Until you get down to the final option, there is one thing you can do now.  There is one thing which will help you.  It probably won’t interfere with your life.

It can change your daily life for the better.

And, what is that?  BODYWORK!

There are many modalities that ground the person receiving the work.  A good thing to do when the “going gets tough” is to schedule and receive regular grounding bodywork.

Your body will be grateful for the attention.

One example of this is sleep.  Both Reflexology and Reiki sessions can help restore disturbed sleep patterns.

The effects of a bodywork session are often experienced immediately after a treatment.  For example, a client may notice that a headache has disappeared or a frozen shoulder may has become much more mobile.  Other symptoms may take three or more sessions to improve a condition or complaint.

Generally, a disorder that has been around for a long time may take a longer time to improve.

The problem with this is that we live in a society that wants instant results.

Schedule regular bodywork sessions as part of your life.  These regular sessions will stimulate your body’s own healing processes over time as you have regular visits.

If you find regular sessions to be challenging, take some classes and learn to give sessions.  That way, you can exchange sessions with others.

Ask a friend to join you in a learning adventure.  The two of you can learn together and exchange sessions.  This is self-care which is extremely important in these times.

With blogs, books, classes and sessions, I am not here to change your story.  Instead, I am here to be a conduit for your own healing.

For healers everywhere, thank you for reading this blog post.  Share this article with friends and relatives.  Forward this post to your preferred social media network.

Check out my books on www.thurmangreco.com.

“Healer’s Handbook” is in its third edition.  So far, this book has gone out to three dozen different countries.  The best way to buy a book is to contact me at thurmangreco@gmail.com.  The books are listed on thurmangreco.com but the website is undergoing repairs and upgrades.

“But for Gabriel” is available as both ebook and  paperback at thurmangreco@gmail.com.  Until the repairs are completed, email thurmangreco@gmail.com

I host “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” a program aired weekly on Woodstock, New York’s own educational TV channel 23.  This show is an informative, upbeat hour with no rehearsals.

My guests are various people whose lives have brought them to Woodstock for a day, a week, an hour, a decade, or more.

Let’s Live has been running for over 15 years with an occasional intermission, now and then.  You can find some programs on YOUTUBE “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco”.  My assistant, Renee, adds new programs weekly.

I look forward to our show each week.  And, I look forward to hearing from you at thurmangreco@gmail.com or 845-399-3967.

THANKS!

Thurman Greco

 

My Daughter Needed a Time-Out. Here’s what happened.

I teach in my reflexology class about our need for a time-out and how our feet and hands work with the universe to provide it:

“Mom is on her way to the Albany Medical Center Emergency Room!  Can you meet us there?”  My youngest granddaughter was talking about her mother.

Dropping everything, I drove to Albany to the E.R.

After what seemed like an endless wait, we were able to see Jennette  for a few

minutes.  If you could call it that.  What we saw was a mound of bandages on a gurney headed for the ICU.

Our first report revealed broken legs, feet, arms, hands, hips, ribs, and pelvis.

We learned about damaged organs:  liver – spleen.

And – this was just the first report!

In my heart of hearts, I knew this was a long time coming.  For several years, Jennette had been working too much – several times over.  She taught school. In  in the evenings, she created a dramatic show about breast cancer which was showcased in various galleries in the area.

On weekends, Jennette painted plein air landscapes.  She also had these creations in several galleries in the area.

Frankly, Jennette was working about 80 hours a week.  And, how could any of us criticize her?  Her work was moving.  Audiences loved her message.  She was a successful art teacher and her gallery pieces were dramatic.

In her spare time, Jennette looked for a house.

Well, her body knew better.  Reflexology teaches that if a person continues to push the body beyond its abilities, the result is an injury to a foot or hand which insists on rest.

So, one day, Jennette was in the drop-off area at the Albany Airport when a man in a huge pickup truck behind her shifted into drive instead of park and flattened her against the rear of the SUV in front of where she stood.

After three weeks in the ICU and another two weeks adjusting bandages and casts, Jennette is headed to the 8th floor Rehab unit.

My younger daughter, Michele, took some days off from her job as a hospice nurse in Arizona, to come offer support.

Jennette’s two grown children extended their stays to offer support.  Michele taught Zoe how to care for Jennette.

About 10 days into the healing, I gathered us all together with some supportive friends.  We met in the large 2nd floor lobby area of the Albany Medical Center and I offered a prayer:

“Guide us, Archangel Michael, through our days.  Protect us all through the trials and tribulations of healing that away Jennette, and us all, today and into the future.

Archangel Michael, we thank you for the blanket of protection that you use to shield us as we remain in your protection on this healing journey.  We thank you and your bank of protection and healing angels who keep us all safe.

Keep us on the healing path.  Protect us from physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual harm and negativity.

Please protect and assist Jennette, Michele, Zoey, Sangi, Barry, and all of those who are not here with us physically today: Sophia, Michelle Aqualino, Raymond, Julie, and others.

We are bound together by relationships, events, employment, healthcare activities, and spiritual paths.  Assist us each in our personal healing journey as we travel together.

Archangel Michael, we trust in your capabilities, and your angelic experience.  We thank you for all that You have done and made possible for Jennette’s healing path and success.

Further, we thank you for calling on your band of protection and making this all possible through your Divinity.

We thank you for all you have done for us.

Amen.”

She is now catching up on some much-needed rest and recuperation. and well throughout our days.

We are Ecstatic!

So what is the message here?  Listen to your body and your soul.  Rest when you are tired.

Follow your bliss!

Get to know Jennette better at jnearhood.com.

I’ve written several books – some with international appeal.  One example is:

The third edition of “Healer’s Handbook” is illustrated here.  It’s gone out to more than 30 countries so far.

This is the second edition.  It has 6 fewer chapters than the third edition.

All of my books are available in paper as well as ebook editions.

An upcoming book is “But for Gabriel” which is only available in ebook in the first edition:

The 2nd edition will be available in paper as well as ebook.  This story has all the tickets: animals, angels, a young mother and her baby, and a magical moving star.  Finally, this story has a long journey.

What more could I ask for?  I had to write this story!  An installment of it is on “Let’s Live”.  I read a shortened version of it on my show “Let’s Live”.

Meanwhile, please share my blog posts with your friends and family.  Forward them on your favorite social media network.

Contact me a thurmangreco@gmail.com.

 

Self-Care: Choose You

Are you fried?

Have you nothing left to give?

Does your energetic body (which usually feels wondrous and fluffy), feel dried and flat like crushed cotton candy?

It doesn’t have to be that way.

There’s more in your soul – you just can’t find it right now because you’re running on empty.

It’s time to choose YOU – your whole you.  Honor your entire body – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, energetic.

Your balanced whole body is ready for you to claim it.  It’s waiting.  Everything is connected.  Nothing operates independently.  Authentic balance comes from within and is different for everyone.

Your entire body has a shaggy footprint which includes everything – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and energetic.

This includes your memories also.  Include your muscle   memories, your mental memories, your past-life memories, your emotional memories – everything.

When you discuss caring for your body, include diet, exercise, sleep.  Include choices, thought patterns, stress management, drugs.

Include meditation on your balance journey.  Focus on experiencing your self – your whole, entire self, which wants you to get to know it better.

Read this meditation as often as you want.  Allow your self to enjoy it.

Find a quiet, safe, and comfortable place to sit where you won’t be interrupted for a few minutes or so.  Allow your body to be supported by the chair, bed, or floor you have chosen.

Drink a glass of water.

Quiet your mind and check in with your self.

When thoughts enter your mind, encourage them to comfortably come and go.

Notice how you breathe for the moment.  Are your breaths shallow or deep?  It doesn’t matter, really.  Just notice your breath. – Notice how each each breath  brings in a pure white light.

This white light is perfect and healing.  It will stay with you.  It’s job is to heal and nurture.

This white light knows where the need is greatest.  It knows where to go.

As you breathe in, feel the healing energy riding on each breath.  Feel this energy spreading out from your lungs to every artery and vein in your body.  This white light  is healing and regenerating every cell in your entire body.

Now, take a deep breath.  Inhale and feel yourself relaxing.  Notice whether you are becoming  quiet.  Are you becoming still?

Where is your body tight?

What’s happening with your energy level?  Continue breathing in and out.  Allow your self to become relaxed, still.

Now, move your hands along your body, beginning at the crown of your your head.  Hold your hands several inches above your body.  What do you feel as you move your hands along your body?  Heat.  Cool. Quickly moving energy.  Slowly moving energy.  Stuck energy.

Is something stressing you?  What does this smell like?  How does it feel?  Do you hear stress?  Where does this stress feel comfortable?

How do your senses react to your stress.  What do you feel as you move your hands along your body?

(You can repeat this meditation many times as your hands become  comfortable with what they find.)

When you notice a stressed or stuck area of energy, communicate with this particular place using nurturing feelings, and thoughts.

Speak directly with this stressed place.  Tell this place that you love it, that you want it to be perfect.

Breathe in an extra breath of white light and focus it directly on the stressed place.

This process of sending white light to stress points and communicating with specific points using nurturing feelings and thoughts changes much. When you do this, you encourage your total self to release blockages, erace mistakes, and create perfect images.

See your self in perfection.  Your breaths, sending white light to your whole body, release feelings of health, alertness, and relaxation.

Etch this feeling in your mind now  so you can return to this feeling whenever  you want.

It is time to return to your room now.  Gently bring your awareness back to your day.  Remember that you can return to this place any time you want.

Thank you for including this journey in your day.

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

You can connect with me on Facebook and also on YOUTUBE.

You will find other meditations on earlier blog posts.  You can also find more wellness information on my books.

www.Thurmangreco.com.

A Holiday Thank You Dear Reader

 

 

heart with wings

In the spirit of the holiday season, I thank each of you for supporting my work and following my journey to wellness for us all.

This has been a busy year for me.  Without your support, none of this year would have happened.  However, you found my work and you have purchased my book and read my blogs.  I thank you.  Sincerely.

Each new reader who learns something new and useful about  Reflexology  for the Spirit and wellness is important to me.  You inspire me to seek  new ways to expand this learning.   I’m currently blogging articles about longevity, a subject we can all be interested in.  I Hope you find these posts interesting and practical! Thank you.

I hope you’ll continue reading to learn more about Reflexology for the Spirit and wellness. as well as my other projects.     I’ve  spent many hours on the second hunger book.  “The Ketchup Sandwich Chronicles” should be completely finished by the end of 2019.  I’m continuing to blog about hunger in “Hunger is not a Disease.”

That has mostly come to a conclusion so I plan to begin writing  the second Healer’s Handbook soon.   The books outline includes much more  information than I put in the original handbook which is now in it’s second edition.

Thank you again!

Thurman Greco

Woodstock, New York

Thanks for reading this article.  Please refer it to your preferred social media network.

 

10 Things You Can do to Live a Longer Life

 

When you establish everyday habits with a goal toward a longer life,  you’ll  know   you are  doing  your best to get the most out of each and every day.  Seeking a longer life is a serious quest because  you have to decide not only how long you want to live but also what you plan to do with all those years you plan to have.

SUNSHINE HELPS YOU

Get out into the sun for a few minutes  every day.  Ten to 15 minutes of sun daily will help you store the “sunshine vitamin” which will help your body use the calcium necessary to  stay healthy for a longer life and avoid osteoporosis.

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

In 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon  landed at  what is now Saint Augustine, Florida, in search of the fountain of youth.  He found it there.  And, it still exists.  Branches of the fountain of youth can be found today in your neighborhood.  They are found on the sidewalk where you walk  as you exercise.  They are  also found in the fitness center in your community.

Exercise is a premiere activity for a longer life.  It doesn’t matter much what exercise plan you have.  Running?  Weight lifting?  Self Defense?  Yoga?  Whatever you choose, you need to like it enough to do it several times a week.  For me, regular exercise is the  Fountain of Youth in action!

STAY CONNECTED

Be a part of your community.   The most important thing is that you  develop strong social ties.  You can get active in a church or synagogue.  Or  join a book club.  Donate time at a library or food pantry.  Collect stamps.  Whatever you do,  choose something you’ll enjoy and show up regularly.  Your blood pressure will go down.  Your immune system will improve.  Your heart  will work better.  You will have yourself on a path to a longer life.

DRINK TEA

Take time each day to enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of iced tea.  Relax, and refresh.

While you enjoy your tea,  know that it will boost your immune system because tea is rich in antioxidants which fight cholesterol and cancer.  Tea loves to fight free radicals.  W hen you drink more tea, you’ll be drinking fewer soda drinks which don’t have the antioxidants and can’t fight diseases like cancer and cholesterol.

GET RID OF PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS.

Stress is not a problem in and of itself.  Stress is a word describing how you respond to an event causing mental tension and worry.    I do not know anyone whose life is not filled with stress.  Stress affects your health when it  weakens the immune system and contributes to  disease.

I’ve written much about stress in my book “Healer’s Handbook” and in other articles in this blog.

Reiki therapy and reflexology are good anti-stress activities.

Exercise, meditation, a positive mental attitude work to support your ability to shed stress.

DEVELOP YOUR STRENGTH

There are many, many kinds of exercise.  Choose one that works for your body and your lifestyle.  But, whichever one you choose, include strength training.  Strength training is every bit as important as cardiovascular workouts because the strength we develop and maintain in our back, core muscles and legs is what is going to keep us upright as we age and live longer.  Strength training keeps the spine straight.  Strength training prevents falls.  Check with your healthcare provider when you begin a strength training fitness program.

My physical therapist, Carolyn Abedor,  teaches a weekly yoga class which she calls “Posture”.  I attend this class every week and depend on it to help straighten my spine,  my core muscles and my legs.

CHOLESTEROL

Do you know your scores?  It’s a good idea to learn, if you don’t.  Once you know your cholesterol scores, you’ll be more interested in things you can do to make your self healthier for the long haul.

VOLUNTEER

Statistics show us that people who volunteer live longer than those who don’t.    Do you have time in your life to give of yourself?  If so, choose an activity which puts you in direct contact with people at least an hour every week.

This task is probably mandatory if you are seriously interested in longevity.

GIVE UP A FEW THINGS

Multitasking creates unnecessary stress and the efficiency gains you experience aren’t that much of a plus in your life.  This becomes real  when you  find yourself caught in a trap of serving demanding people and situations which steal your energy.

Your spirit will tell you when it’s time to  reduce your To-Do list and learn to say “no” to demanding people.   Simplifying your life can become a spiritual process.

HALT HYPERTENSION

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the most common cardiovascular disease in America.  There are three things to know about hypertension:

For the most part, hypertension is  preventable with proper diet and lifestyle.

Many people  suffer with hypertension and don’t even know it.

Hypertension leads to kidney failure, damaged eyesight, cognitive impairment, and other situations.

There are four things you can do about hypertension:

Cut down on salt.

Lose excess weight.

Keep moving.

Pitch the cigarettes.

DODGE DIABETES

Diabetes is a disease which, in many cases, can be prevented and controlled.  Like hypertension, diabetes is a silent  disease for many people.

And, if you are interested in living a longer life, you need to respect it because diabetes can trim 10 years off your life expectancy.

If you think you have diabetes, or if you have diabetes, get yourself on the correct eating plan, get active, and do the things your healthcare provider tells you to do.

Thank you for reading this article!  Please share it with your favorite social media network.

Hopefully you found some things which will benefit your search for a longer, healthier life.  More tips will follow soon!

Thanks again.

Thurman Greco