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Self Love – A Journey With The Divine in Nature

Happy happy. What a glorious day it is here in New England, and what another whirlwind of a month February has turned out to be.

This heart rock I am holding was one of the many hearts I found while on the walk with the dogs last week just after the full moon.

This was the same walk with a picture I posted on social media last week with the green orb heart as pictured below. I will post more pictures from this day at the very end of this post.

Green heart orb under the rising full moon. Feb 2019

The Revelation

Fascinating as I stop and pause in reflection of my life …. The journey I have been on since 2005 has been extraordinary to say the least when I really think about all I have endured and overcome since then. It has been far from easy re-discovering myself and back to a fearless love state deeply rooted to my soul.

When things started to not only get more difficult for me after seeking protections from abuse, but escalated, and I didn’t know what to trust or who to trust or what to believe or not to believe, I stopped out of desperation as if it were my last breath of life.  I asked the divine for a sign that I was on the right path and that the decision I was about to embark on at the time was for my highest and best during one of the darkest days in my life desperate to be free from constant onslaught of abuse.

That happened 10 years ago this month in 2009. What I have learned about myself since then is still a masterpiece in the works.

When I posed that question to the universe out loud asking for help, I said a prayer to acknowledge and release all fear and asked for a sign that I am on the right path.  About an hour later, while driving over the Fore River Bridge, in Quincy, Massachusetts, I happened to see an angel in the sky.

Quincy, MA February 2009

Of course I took a picture.  And that picture was not one angel, but two. However, with the naked eye I only saw one.  To this day, I believe this was a divine sign from my aunt and grandmother who can also come in as one divine messenger too!

The quote came as a result of doing some picture collages for my children and this quote suddenly come to me in the form of a message from the divine to “stop, listen and observe for they will guide you”.

 

Understanding Love In Its Pure Form

There were many things I didn’t realize at the time when my journey began in 2005.  I had to re-learn what love is in its pure form, and undo what we are conditioned to think or believe based on propaganda, societal and religious ideologies that tend to be patriarchal and sexualized in nature.

In order to understand what love is in its pure form, I had to first learn how  to self-love again . This also means I had to understand that my desire to be “needed” or “validated” in order to feel loved was not love but my desperation for love from others.  This was also a form of dependency which many of us confuse with love as well.  We confuse doing for others or “martyrdom” as love and selfless, but at least to me and in my self discovery it is not.

What Love is NOT

Do I look in the mirror and focus on what’s wrong and focus on all the flaws?

Do I focus on why I can’t do something right?

Do I focus on comparing myself to another and loathe at what I am lacking?

Basically do we Gaslight the s*** out of ourselves or do we see the light that we are in its pure form and acknowledging all the perfect imperfections as divinely in order as it supposed to be?

How did we condition ourselves this way?

Who conditioned us with these beliefs?

We were not born this way.  It is time to break the cycle and step into our power and embrace the love energies the Universe is giving us.

The Journey Into Self Love

I refer back to the angel sign from February 2009. Since I did not know who to trust or what, I went up to the spirit realm. Since then, I have developed a relationship with and a language with the divine, and every now and then when I am off track or when I ask for guidance, I am blessed with messages in the form of signs.

Last week, a part of me reverted to old beliefs and patterns, and each time I was redirected in the form of signs of hearts everywhere and on this walk, there were at least ten hearts. Some are pictured below.

Love is BIGGER than us and yet one of the strongest emotions we experience as human beings.  We tend to put our defining moments and perceptions of love onto an experience with another.

In order to attract the love we seek in another, we must first have the greatest love affair with our self and through that vibration we attract that kind of lover and partner.

It’s been a journey into the discovery of love for sure. We forget that love is inherently FREE, yet many times we allow fear, judgement, and attempts to understand what it means distort the magic of it. However, I believe, we have yet to truly understand what is means in its pure form and in relation to self love, because we are conditioned that fulfillment resides in the magic of love with committed romantic relationship.

So what are we missing?

Over the years, I’ve learned love is pure and weightless that creates a chemical shift in our neurological system.

It is a force of nature pure and simple.

There are no conditions or expectations associated with love.

Love is about honoring what is and mastering presence.  It is NOT euphoria that comes and goes like passion, seduction and infatuation where we tend to confuse with love.

Love is bigger than the self or human conditioning. It’s the light that radiates within you. It is interconnected to all life and to the collective consciousness.

It is not a commodity that can be traded on Wall Street or something that can be turned on or off like a light switch.

You can invite love in. You can surrender to love by releasing fear, practicing presence and living in a state of gratitude.

Love is the life force that resides within you. It is unconditional.

when we honor the divine within, we open the door to infinite possibilities.

I am grateful for the divine signs to remind of these facts when I fall off track myself.

What is love to YOU?

What has love taught you?  Please share your thoughts and experiences with us.

How do you define love in your life?

In the meantime, I am here to help you. Don’t forget to pause, breathe and take a moment for yourself.

Please leave a comment below to let us know if this post inspired or helped you on your path.

With appreciation,
Laura

Book a reading or healing session today. Contact us here.


Here are the pictures from that walk.

 © 2019 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

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Why Pending Legislation MA Bill SD1840 Matters & How It Affects YOU

It is back with a vengeance … if you live or work in MA, please take a moment and hear about this pending bill that needs our collective immediate attention.

In my personal and professional opinion, it is sadly a misguided bill under the guise of anti-human trafficking that will have a greater negative affect than good and ultimately hurting those they are trying to protect.

We will address the following:

  • What is MA Bill SD1840?  How will practitioners be affected?
  • How will MA Bill SD1840 Affect You, the Consumer?
  • Current MA Laws
  • A Personal Note: Regarding how these practices SAVED my life, reiki, predatory behavior, training, pending MA SD1840
  • Urgent action is necessary
  • How you can help

What is MA Bill SD1840?
How will practitioners be affected?

MA Bill SD1840 has been introduced AGAIN by Senator Montigny for the third time. If passed, SD1840 would negatively affect all Reiki, Meditation, Yoga, Martial Arts, Thai Chi, and the like in Massachusetts.

Under current MA law, Reiki is exempt from massage licensure in MA, but this law attempts to set up an entirely new licensing process for all types of healers and spiritually based practitioners/facilitators or the like, and mandate they be licensed, receive government endorsed education; and that these modalities can only be taught in state licensed schools.

MA SD1840 bill will negatively impact all practitioners who:
“…uses touch, words or directed movement to deepen awareness of patterns of movement in the body, or the affectation of the human energy system or acupoints or Qi meridians of the human body while engaged within the scope of practice of a profession with established standards and ethics;”

How does one regulate ones own Qi … something that we all have that is innate in each of us?

Click HERE for more information and action to take through the National Health Freedom Action.

 

How will MA Bill SD1840 Affect You, the Consumer?

If allowed to pass, this bill will also negatively affect our human right to access to holistic, complementary alternative medicine, and spiritually based therapies.

If allowed to pass, SD1840 will also:

  • result in increased cost burdens to the consumer and practitioner,
  • reduced or eliminated access to much needed services especially those in the under-served marginalized communities, end of life care, those fighting chronic illness or cancer, elderly populations, and trauma survivors.
  • will NOT end or reduce sex trafficking as it is proposed it will do as it is written.
  • restrict or alter practices such as reiki, yoga, thai chi, meditation under the SAME training requirements without understanding the fundamentals or roots as well as the cultural and spiritual traditions of these practices that are non-western and attempts to westernize such concepts by legislature with no comprehension or involving experts in these fields is detrimental.
  • may also fringe upon many sacred spiritual practices used in churches and religious places of worship throughout the state. 

Requiring all practitioners to be licensed and trained through a state licensed school is currently impossible as these programs do NOT exist and would instantly put thousands of taxpaying practitioners out of business over night and halt all volunteer programs, and consumers access to care.

Current MA Laws

Massachusetts already has very good massage laws that protect bodyworkers exempting them from licensure requirements:
“including but not limited to……Feldenkrais Method; Reflexology; The Trager Approach; Ayurvedic Therapies, Rolf Structural Integration, Polarity or Polarity Therapy; Polarity Therapy Bodywork; Asian Bodywork Therapy that does not constitute massage as defined in this chapter; Acupressure; Jin Shin Do; Qi Gong; Tui Na; Shiatsu; Body-Mind Centering and Reiki”

Click HERE for more information and action to take through the National Health Freedom Action.

 

Laura at the MA State House in 2018 Lobbying For Survivors of Abuse BUT Against Proposed Bill

A Personal Note: A Message From Laura

Regarding how these practices saved her life, reiki, predatory behavior, training, and pending MA SD1840

Why MA SD1840 Affects Me Personally?

In search of “healing the broken me” as I would like to call it from years of abuse that resulted in complex C-PTSD or complex post traumatic stress disorder, I originally delved into the traditional American Healthcare System in hopes I can quickly return to my unbroken self. Like many others, I have felt that I was not getting better and band-aids were being applied to my mental, emotional, and physical symptoms that were not getting better and began to spiral out of control.

I realized there had to be more to all this and began looking into the spiritual aspects of my issues that the healthcare system couldn’t figure out.

I started reconnecting to my spiritual path. I began meditating. I eliminated inflammatory foods. I sought out reputable teachers and healers. I started connecting with the divine within me and my divine team. I learned and studied multiple holistic health modalities and spiritually based practices THAT would NEVER have been possible if this bill becomes law..

These practices saved my life and has been allowing me to reclaim my life in ways to defy all logic. I was fortunate in who I sought out as healers and other professionals to help guide me.

However, abusers and predators are still very skillful at their tactics, which is what leads me to the next point …

My 2018 Lobby Efforts

Many of you know I went to the MA State House last year and spoke to legislators about this bill as a survivor of abuse, an advocate for survivors, and as a spiritually based holistic health practitioner opposing this bill last year as I feel it will NOT address the sex trafficking problems and not only create unrealistic burdens on spiritually based therapies, but put most of us out of business.

There are current laws to address sex trafficking already on the books that are NOT being enforced. We see this clearly in the lack of enforcement in the massage industry with many sex trafficking massage parlors in plain sight allowed to operate and remain open. 

Many of you also are aware of my work against predatory practitioners in this state. Even though this is a problem, this particular bill is NOT the answer.

Unfortunately, to some of you it may be a surprise that I am in support of some kind of regulation until our westernized mindset shifts the bastardization of many sacred arts in the name of fame, greed and predatory behavior.

The kinds of spiritually based practices that should be respected are NOT as it should be, and our own communities have failed to self regulate ourselves in the name of “inclusivity” without prioritizing safety first and healthy boundaries, while indirectly contributing or being complicit to predatory behaviors, scrupulous unethical behaviors, greed, egoic bases out of fear.

Many of us in the community have started to address these serious issues, but is it too late? I guess that all depends on YOU, me, us and how we respond to this bill.

Personally I have invested in over $14,000 in studying with the appropriate reiki studies and certification programs with an accreditation process to teach as it was taught by the founders in Japan, completely free of the westernization that quelled its magic … AND now the state of Massachusetts wants to say this training is inadequate and I must relearn through their school of their choosing who has NO invested interest in these sacred original direct teachings in Japan.

THIS would make our founder of Reiki, Mikao Usui Sensei, and his student who was responsible for bringing Reiki to the west, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, very sad.

This bill if passed, will set up an entirely new licensing process for all types of healers and bodywork vocations under ONE educational program, mandate licensing, receive government endorsed education; and these regulated spiritually based modalities can only be taught in state licensed schools.

How is that possible?

What I Know and Why I Stand By My Statements

So much has changed over the years in the modern reiki world … at least in the United States of America. With the varying schools of reiki training, the growing legislation by some states to regulate many spiritually based practices and healing modalities such as reiki, and predators invading spiritually based communities to seek out their next grooming victim, it is important know how this affects you, how to find the right reiki practitioner and/or teacher to help you, and how to navigate all these changes.  I wrote a couple of posts (links below) to help guide you.

As a whole, when we disregard the care and sacredness of sacred arts and teachings such as reiki, we not only lose the magic, we open ourselves up to state regulation.

When we LABEL anything that involves some sort of energy healing or use of crystals or Christian ideology or other new age concepts that did NOT originate from Japan … although nice in their own right (this is NOT a reflection of lack of value of those arts) … we lose the meaning and magic of reiki in its pure form.

As a result, how do we define reiki, LEGALLY, with all these added non Japanese reiki elements that dominate our western culture?

I do not know the exact answer to that, but I do know this may cause legal issues if the sacred pure form of reiki is lost due to westernization.

Click here to read MA Bill  SD1840

Here are two other posts for further reading:

Click here to read “12 Tips and 10 Questions to Ask a Reiki Practitioner and/or Teacher When Healing Trauma”
and/or
Click here to read “#TimesUp Healers & Reiki Practitioners” where we will explore the following to address perceptions, boundaries, trauma, predatory behavior, healing, and healers.

My goal is two fold for these two posts:

  • to awaken reiki practitioners and healers to their full optimum potential while understanding their ethical responsibilities to their clients and/or students,
  • and to help guide those seeking healing services for themselves or a loved one.

Click HERE for more information and action to take through the National Health Freedom Action.

Urgent action is necessary

Inaction on this or thinking someone else will take care of it is misguided on our parts. Thinking we do not have the time it takes to address this issue, will hurt all of us. This bill was barely defeated over the last 2 years.

This will REQUIRE ALL of us to stand up against this bill.

This will take a community.

Will you join me?

How You Can Help

Click Here to automatically send a message to your personal Senator and revisit this link throughout the coming weeks for updates on the bill’s status (i.e., whether it is scheduled for a public hearing and when).

Click HERE for more information and action to take through the National Health Freedom Action.

In the meantime, I am here to help you. Don’t forget to pause, breathe and take a moment for yourself.

For more information about my work with trauma, please visit:

Trauma Services

Healing Trauma Blog

With love and appreciation,

Laura
Healing With Spirit
Spiritual Medium, Speaker, and Healer
Providing Spiritually based integrative holistic health enrichment

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What January Taught Us and The February Reveals

How are you doing so far since 2019 began?

Are you spinning yet?

Are you feeling this acceleration?

Holy cow. Talk about energetic shift shows knocking us for a loop forcing us to release old belief systems, fears, traumas in order for us to step forward into our authenticity and personal soul-based power.  I talked about the “Mid January 2019 Cosmic Energy Updates and What You Need To Know” in a video on YouTube. Click here  to watch the video.

As I have said previously, I am not immune to these shifts. I am grateful for the skill sets I have learned and still learning to help me navigate these shifts hopefully with a little more finesse.

What January Taught Us:

  • clear away blocks of resistance
  • purge the old outdated stuff, things, people, relationships, etc
  • resistance to this change yielded lots of disruptions in our health, personal life, careers etc.
  • taught us to trust our own inner guidance systems
  • that what manifested physically might actually be something spiritual
  • taught us more about the need for community and collaborations
  • that self care has never been more important than ever before to get to where we want to go and be.
  • understand that we need to call in reinforcements to help us.
  • working with our shadows. 

Over the past month I have been expanding, growing and building collaborations all while the shadow stuff still emerges in us all. There is a lot in the works right now that I can not share with you just yet, but it is VERY exciting. Keep checking out our calendar for updates.

My Journey from January to February

I am about to embark on some big life transformations that I’ve waited so long for. I can’t share the details yet,

It is ok to periodically stop and say f*** it for a “self-care” soulful PAUSE. I did this the other day when I made an impromptu stop at the beach in Duxbury, MA in order to digest it all and collect my thoughts.

Photo Credit: Beach Dunes, Duxbury, MA by Laura Joseph (c) 2019

I remembered to breathe deep cleansing nourishing soulful breaths.

I reconnected to the roots of my BE-ing.

I felt the ocean breezes invigorate and cleanse my BE-ing.

I gazed over towards the sun that was struggling to break through the dark stormy clouds.

I felt the sand beneath my feet grounding me to Mother Earth.

I practiced gratitude for all that is and all that is to come.

Above it all, I felt close to home … home inside my very BE-ing.

I was reminded that my anxious fears are not because of lack of anything, but because I am closer to becoming the kind of “whole” that I haven’t felt in decades and question “how” to get it done.

Sometimes we fear failure. Sometimes we fear success. What if … what if. .. I actually succeed? What if …?  And the flood of anxious emotions surface

It has definitely been a fear of success and feeling of being overwhelmed with all the great things I’ve been working towards. For now,  I called in my inner dragon warrior goddess to blaze through the remaining obstacles easily and effortlessly.

Today, I stand before you as I am that I AM – unapologetic, raw, pure, soulful, heart filled with dragon beside me to guide me.

Thank you all for being a part of this journey with me.

Photo Credit: (c) 2019 by Laura Joseph. “Ava” during the cold winter’s sunset, Hingham, MA

February Reveals:

  • residuals from the January eclipses are still affecting us as the ripples begin to level out if we surrender to the process
  • breakthroughs in many areas of our life – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually
  • understanding the deeper meanings of self love and what that looks like
  • deeper understanding that what is reflected external is what is also reflected internal
  • deeper ventures into the shadows to heal, release, bring into light
  • more shedding of old beliefs, traumas, and situations to people, places, and things.
  • self-empowerment
  • ability to step forward into your personal power increases.
  • continued battles between ego mind and the soul.

As we move through the month of February, it’s important to press PAUSE. Take a slow deep breath and repeat. Then make sure your choices, decisions, reactions, actions are coming from a place of soul.

Learning to connect with the divine within and tapping into the wisdoms of the body can help you with this process.

Be gentle with yourself and trust that your soul has your back.

Here are TWO new blog posts to check out:

  • #TimesUp Healers & Reiki Practitioners. Plus, Tips on Finding a Reiki Practitioner (including video). Click here
  • 12 Tips and 10 Questions to Ask a Reiki Practitioner and/or Teacher When Healing Trauma. Click here

In the meantime, I am here to help you. Don’t forget to pause, breathe and take a moment for yourself.

Please leave a comment below to let us know if this post inspired or helped you on your path.

Book a reading or healing session today. Contact us here.


 

 © 2015-2019 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

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12 Tips and 10 Questions to Ask a Reiki Practitioner and/or Teacher When Healing Trauma

Welcome.  So much has changed over the years in the modern reiki world … at least in the United States of America. With the varying schools of reiki training, the growing legislation by some states to regulate many spiritually based practices and healing modalities such as reiki, and predators invading spiritually based communities to seek out their next grooming victim, it is important know how this affects you, how to find the right reiki practitioner and/or teacher to help you, and how to navigate all these changes.

This includes understanding the basics such as what is reiki since reiki in this country has gone through many changes adding many non Japanese or reiki practices within the scope of many reiki schools and training despite reiki itself never having evolved or changed except for in the western cultures.

My goal is two fold for this post:

  • to awaken reiki practitioners and healers to their full optimum potential while understanding their ethical responsibilities to their clients and/or students,
  • and to help guide those seeking healing services for themselves or a loved one.

12 Tips To Choosing A Reiki Practitioner

Healing varies from person to person and what some call “reiki training” varies from teacher to teacher since there is no standardization of training in the Unites States.  Most reiki training teaches the basics centered around stress reduction and relaxation. While others who call anything involving some form of energy healing or hands on energy work, reiki, can sometimes be misguided.

Let’s be clear first and foremost, reiki  is a Japanese complementary alternative mind body medicine therapy, self care and meditation practice  that works with the human body’s bioenergy field. I won’t go into details here. You can click here for more elaborate description.

Administering or facilitating a reiki session to someone who has been traumatized or abused is NOT part of the standard training curriculum for most reiki practitioners.

If you struggle with healing from trauma associated with abuse, here are 12 tips in choosing the right reiki practitioner for you.

  1. Make sure you find a qualified reiki practitioner. This means someone who actually apprenticed with a qualified reiki teacher in person NOT online. In my opinion, much is lost in translation with the digital world in regards to the traditional ways of learning the magic of reiki that can only be experienced in person.  This is not to mention that online certificates are not valid in some professional reiki associations nor valid in some licensing depending on state or country. 
  2. Make sure you find a practitioner who has been practicing Reiki several years as trauma has its own intricate needs that goes above the skill set of just reiki. Several years also meaning they have been seeing a minimum of 5 reiki clients a week and who practices reiki full time for many years. Reiki experience is crucial and not always understood in a culture that prides certificates over experience.
  3. Ask questions about the Reiki practitioner’s training and belief system. Do they add other non-reiki elements such as crystals, christian/religious ideology, auras, chakras, etc? There is nothing wrong with these elements and have benefits of their own, but they are a more western new age concept that are not rooted to origins and original teachings and practice of reiki and can give a misperception of the effects or experience of what reiki is.  It is important to know whether or not these elements are a benefit to you.
  4. Seek out a practitioner who is at least a level III/Reiki Master in westernized reiki and at least Okuden (level II) in Jikiden Reiki due to the inherent training that includes working with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
  5. Be sure to understand what system of reiki the prospective reiki practitioner studied. This is important to know in regards to healing trauma for optimum results and experience. For me personally, the content and quality of Jikiden Reiki training has been the most thorough and something I feel comfortable referring individuals with a history of trauma.  That is coming from a place where I taught the more westernized Usui Reiki for 6 years from superb teachers.
  6. Be sure to find a practitioner who not only practices reiki every day, but “embodies” its principles. If they do not know what that is, I would recommend seeking another practitioner.  If they are not practicing reiki every day, how can they possibly understand how to help you? This goes beyond just reiki, but understanding trauma and all its intricate components.
  7. Trust your own instincts. They are primitive in nature, but are built in to your own body awareness to guide you. Listen to them. This will help you identify who is the right practitioner for you.
  8. Inquire about the reiki practitioner’s training and experience in working with trauma such as victims of abuse or rape. The effects of trauma is one of the most difficult things to heal from. I find it takes a skilled person understands the intricacies of this that goes beyond the training of basic reiki to work with those with a history of trauma.  Considering there is an epidemic of unresolved trauma in the USA, this is something to consider. 
  9. Be sure to find a practitioner that has enough understanding of basic medical  terminology, anatomy and physiology surrounding the effects of trauma and how is it manifesting mentally, physically, and spiritually.   It is important for the practitioner to have enough basic knowledge on how to communicate effectively and work with your mental health counselor and medical professionals. Unfortunately, from my experience, this is something that many reiki practitioners do not always understand when they begin with work with someone with a history of trauma. This is because in some reiki schools, it is taught reiki can do no harm, and put your hands on everyone. This approach is misguided and unethical. Healthy boundaries is a must. Reiki does not do the harm, but the inexperienced or over zealous reiki practitioner can.  Furthermore, in Jikiden Reiki, we have certain treatment protocols depending on diagnosis. Not all schools teach this nor believe in this. It is important to understand the difference to ensure you receive the maximum benefits authentic reiki has to offer.
  10. Make sure the reiki practitioner does not ask you to take your clothes off at any time or touches you in any inappropriate manner. There is NOTHING sensual or sexual about reiki. This is NOT reiki. These are predatory behaviors as discussed in the video.  If they violated you in any way sexually, please do not remain silent. Contact the police immediately and speak out publicly.   *** Note: if a practitioner who is trained in another modality such as a massage therapist who incorporates reiki in their massage, THAT IS DIFFERENT. We are strictly talking reiki. ***
  11. A practitioner should maintain healthy boundaries at all times. If a practitioner gets too much into your personal space or tells you how they can “fix” you, “heal you” or they act “overly” concerned like a “knight in shining armor”, then walk out and do not go back. If you are unsure, check  out the video I made regarding this topic.
  12. Be sure to ask questions. Below are some questions to ask a prospective reiki practitioner.

Questions to Ask a Prospective Reiki Practitioner and/or Teacher:

JordyMeow / Pixabay
  1. What system of reiki did they study? This is important to understand to know in regards to healing trauma for optimum results and experience.
  2. What was included in their studies? This goes back to point number 3 and how much is what they learned in their training was reiki and/or added elements being mistakenly called reiki.
  3. What level of Reiki have they completed? As I stated before, I would recommend seeing a practitioner who is at least a level III/Reiki Master in westernized reiki and at least Okuden (level II) in Jikiden Reiki due to the inherent training that includes working with mental health issues.
  4. How long have they been practicing Reiki? Reasons as stated above.
  5. How do they practice AND incorporate reiki in their every day life? (My apologies as many reiki practitioners may disagree,  I feel THIS is the most important question). If they are not practicing reiki every day, how can they possibly understand how to help you? This goes beyond just reiki, but understanding trauma and all its intricate components.
  6. What is their level of experience and training in working with people with trauma?
  7. How many clients have they used Reiki for healing trauma?
  8. Ask the practitioner what their treatment protocol is and how they work with medical professionals. This is important to know as stated above in tip #8 and #9.
  9. Ask how they use Reiki in healing trauma and what their previous experiences have been.  This is important for you to make an informed decision.
  10. For teaching – What made you decide to teach? How long have you been teaching? What certification process did you go through to become a teacher?
This is just a simple guide, but you can also check out the articles for more tips and guidance:

I hope what I wrote helps someone out there in need who needs something to help them survive in order to thrive.

For healers who read this, my hope is that this inspired you to be better than you already are. The world needs more healers. We need you to step up and help be the best version of you.

Please share the love and compassion.

✔ Join in the conversation

✔ invite others to join

✔ Share on your wall or group

With love and appreciation,

Laura  Joseph,
Jikiden Reiki® Shihan, Usui Reiki Master Teacher, Speaker, Medical Intuitive, Healer, Advocate, Trauma Specialist

To schedule a private session, to book a corporate wellness event, or speaking engagement, please private message me

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 © 2008-2019 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.
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#TimesUp Healers & Reiki Practitioners. Plus, Tips on Finding a Reiki Practitioner

In this post, we will explore the following to address perceptions, boundaries, trauma, predatory behavior, healing, and healers.

My goal is two fold:

  • to awaken reiki practitioners and healers to their full optimum potential while understanding their ethical responsibilities to their clients and/or students,
  • and to help guide those seeking healing services for themselves or a loved one.

In this post, we will address the following:

  • Introduction to this sensitive topic from a personal and professional perspective
  • #TimesUp healers and reiki practitioners video
  • 12 Tips To Choosing A Reiki Practitioner
  • Questions to ask a prospective reiki practitioner

Introduction to This Sensitive Topic

In search of “healing the broken me” as I would like to call it from years of abuse that resulted in complex C-PTSD or complex post traumatic stress disorder, I originally delved into the traditional American Healthcare System in hopes I can quickly return to my unbroken self. Like many others, I have felt that I was not getting better and band-aids were being applied to my mental, emotional, and physical symptoms that were not getting better and began to spiral out of control.

I realized there had to be more to all this and began looking into the spiritual aspects of my issues that the healthcare system couldn’t figure out.

I started reconnecting to my spiritual path. I began meditating. I eliminated inflammatory foods. I sought out reputable teachers and healers. I started connecting with the divine within me and my divine team. I learned and studied multiple holistic health modalities and spiritually based practices.

These practices saved my life and has been allowing me to reclaim my life in ways to defy all logic. I was fortunate in who I sought out as healers and other professionals to help guide me.

However, abusers and predators are still very skillful at their tactics, which is what sparked this post. I have been doing this work since 2006, and I have experienced numerous situations that were quite disturbing that made me wonder how to communicate such a delicate and serious topic that would hopefully be welcomed and received both by the healing community and trauma survivors.

This leads me to the next point …

 

#TimesUp Healers and Reiki Practitioners Video

I need your help on what I consider a very sensitive topic.

This video which was recorded in April 2018 took over 4 years to make due to concerns of my ability to communicate what needs to be said in a way that is heard and openly received. 

What healers and survivors need to know.

Have you experienced THIS?

My goal in this video is to help healers and practitioners to awaken to their full potential while understanding their ethical responsibilities to their clients and/or students.  Abusers are infiltrating the spiritually based communities and healing arts.
  1. Are you aware?
  2. What steps are you taking to ensure the safety of those around you?
  3. What are you doing to help break the cycle of abuse?

Ironic or what … that this article was published on the same day as my live video on same topic from the NY Times.  “In the space of a few short hours on Monday evening, Eric Schneiderman went from being known as one of the nation’s most progressive and influential attorneys general to being cast as a drunken, abusive monster who terrorized women in his personal life even as he publicly advocated women’s rights.”

This NY Times article is worth the read to tie into my argument.  In the meantime, I will share with you 12 tips in choosing a reiki practitioner and questions to ask.

 

12 Tips To Choosing A Reiki Practitioner

Healing varies from person to person and what some call “reiki training” varies from teacher to teacher since there is no standardization of training in the Unites States.  Most reiki training teaches the basics centered around stress reduction and relaxation. While others who call anything involving some form of energy healing or hands on energy work, reiki, can sometimes be misguided.

Let’s be clear first and foremost, reiki  is a Japanese complementary alternative mind body medicine therapy, self care and meditation practice  that works with the human body’s bioenergy field. I won’t go into details here. You can click here for more elaborate description.

Administering or facilitating a reiki session to someone who has been traumatized or abused is NOT part of the standard training curriculum for most reiki practitioners.

If you struggle with healing from trauma associated with abuse, here are 12 tips in choosing the right reiki practitioner for you. Plus, 10 questions to ask a prospective reiki practitioner/teacher. 

You may also check out the article I wrote several years ago while teaching college on Reiki Can Do No Harm or Can It? for more tips and guidance.

Click here for more posts about healing trauma

Click here for more posts about reiki.

I hope what I wrote helps someone out there in need who needs something to help them survive in order to thrive.For healers who read this, my hope is that this inspired you to be better than you already are. The world needs more healers. We need you to step up and help be the best version of you.

Please share the love and compassion.

✔ Join in the conversation

✔ invite others to join

✔ Share on your wall or group

With love and appreciation,

Laura  Joseph,
Jikiden Reiki® Shihan, Usui Reiki Master Teacher, Speaker, Medical Intuitive, Healer, Advocate, Trauma Specialist

 

To schedule a private session, to book a corporate wellness event, or speaking engagement, please private message me

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 © 2008-2019 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.
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Mid January 2019 Cosmic Energy Updates and What You Need To Know

This was a taping posted on Youtube regarding what is happening and energy updates.

Here is the summary in the video. Like always your comments and feedback is welcomed.

Talking what’s up

– What’s up with all this light and love stuff peeps?
– Time to get shit done
– Are you ready?

Energy updates

– 3 year what does this mean?
– yesterdays junk
– soul vs ego
– duality

Link to Nov Video with Spiritual Bypass and what that means

Link to 2019 New Year Newsletter and Energy Forecast:

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 © 2015-2019 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.
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Have You Experienced This During An MRI?

Recently,  I went in for a repeat brain MRI from 2010 as a result of a previous brain bleed I’ve had.

I am a survivor of abuse with a history of PTSD and anxiety and of course they asked if I was claustrophobic and I said no.

Surprisingly, I was kind of surprised that as I entered into the MRI room I was experiencing anxiety. Once I laid down on the table and enter the machine, I began reciting the gokai, which are the 5 Japanese reiki principles to live by.

By the end of the third time reciting the gokai, my anxiety was completely calm. I was in a calm complete state a presence with a notable reduction in respiration.

In the beginning of the scans, I began to see flashes of a pinhole white light in my third eye which Drew my attention to actually pay attention to what I am witnessing. It was like a flash going off on a camera but in a pinhole size.

This followed with  a black spot  notable on the upper  right side  in my third I’d vision .

Following this I began seeing nebula type formations in waves. The colors were of a translucent mustard seed yellow and an oblong shape moving from my left to my upper right with purple formations in the middle.

Right after the text said to the next scan will take 5 minutes, the next set of visualizations I saw started more on the upper right side of flashes of an oblong shape that was of a darker yellow and color. This later began to continue to flash in the more it flashed the clear the images got of my entire brain

The next set of images she said was going to take 2 minutes. With that followed images showing various vascular sections in my brain and I even began feeling tingling in my right foot which dissipated right after this portion of the scan completed.

The final scan was very similar to the beginning with a general nebula of colors flashing in waves mostly in the yellows, Blues and purple hues.

I asked the tech if there were different images being done on my brain as I had visualizations while in the scanner. I think she was a little confused by my question because it’s not a typical question people would ask. So I went on to tell her that depending on which scan she did I saw images of my brain as well as images of the vascular portions of my brain. She did verify that there were vascular portions done on my brain.

Now whether or not this is a verifiable experience doesn’t matter. However, since I am a very deeply spiritual person and love it when science backs up a spiritual experience, I’m putting this out there because maybe some scientists would love to use this to create a study on the brains of those who are intuitive or empathic.

That would be quite interesting though wouldn’t it for the scientific community?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Please share in the comments.

With love and appreciation,

Laura

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Did you know we now have a YouTube channel?

Please subscribe to our channel and scroll for complete playlists on spiritual vlogs, spirit messages, energy updates, nature meditations, mindfulness in nature, reiki and more.

Click here to view my channel and to subscribe.

To schedule a private session, to book a corporate wellness event, or speaking engagement, please private message me

SIGN UP FOR MONTHLY E-NEWS

 © 2015-2019 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.