Hi Lucia,

I have been having a lot of difficulty with my Reiki work. I noticed after the Reiki One class that my fibromyalgia really acted up. I let it go as I practiced but did not get any relief. I worked on my husband and a friend and it got worse. I am taking a break to see what happens. Any suggestions?

Thanks & luv, Nancy

Answer:

First, I’m sorry to hear that your fibromyalgia is (or was) causing you pain or discomfort, though it can be a good sign that some deeper layers of healing are happening!  A couple thoughts I have – one is that the Reiki is bringing it to the forefront to help to release some of what’s at the deeper levels, the pattern levels, that likely were present before you ever had symptoms, so continuing to do Reiki on yourself is what I’d recommend. You might want to try continuing to give Reiki to yourself and abstaining from giving to others to see if that makes any difference.

Sometimes we do have some worsening of symptoms before there’s an improvement. This can be called a “healing crisis”, but I see it as the soul’s way of bringing things to the surface to be healed.  In the same way that after a Reiki attunement people may find some friendships that are no longer serving begin to shift (sometimes not so easily) or dissolve, the body’s wisdom will bring out old patterns to be revisited with new resources and energetic support, so they can be healed at deeper levels.

It may be helpful to have a few sessions with another energy worker at this point.  Doing self-care and self- treatments with Reiki is essential, and there are times when we need the assistance of  someone else, and it’s important to know when that is.  There is a whole other layer of surrender and opening we can get to with a treatment just for ourselves, so giving yourself that gift is important.

It’s a good idea to take some time to go inward, with meditation or simply getting quiet and doing some slow breathing, and see if there are any changes you want to make in your life at this point. Let your body talk to you and tell you what it needs. If you’ve been incredibly busy taking care of others for a while,  perhaps this is a message from your body that it’s time to rest and take care of yourself.

Reiki doesn’t always relieve symptoms immediately, but it is always working and healing, just not always in ways that are obvious at first! Please let me know how you are doing! I’d really like to hear how I can support you and what insights you are having.

love and blessings, Lucia

To my readers – please let me know if you have questions that I may be able to assist you with!  You can email me, or comment below. Thank you.

Place in a good blender (ideally VitaMix or Blendtec, but don’t let it stop you if you don’t have one of them, just add ingredients slowly and blend til it’s really smooth):

2 cups unsweetened almond milk or “coconut milk drink” (from Trader Joe’s)
Add Superfood Powders:
4 tablespoons raw organic hemp protein powder (great for Omega’s and lots of fiber)
1-2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon spirulina powder (can be very energizing!)
1 teaspoon chlorella powder (cracked cell wall – and best to start with very small amounts of this, as it really pulls toxins from the body, so start with a pinch and work your way up)
1 teaspoon Maca powder (gelatinized has better nutritional qualities)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (for flavor and also for blood sugar lowering qualities)

~ 1/2 – 1cup frozen fruit: blueberries, strawberries, mango, raspberries – adjust to your taste
~ 2 – 3 cups (couple of big handfuls) raw greens: kale, collards, chard, spinach, etc… mostly you don’t taste them once blended! can be one or several types.
~ cut up carrots, and/or beets, red cabbage – bringing more color and nutrients to the mix!
1 or 2 pieces of fresh fruit: apple or pear (cut into eighths) for less sweet, or 1 banana if you like it really sweet.  If you like citrus, add an orange (Clementine is my favorite) or some lemon, cut up, with the peel

Optional – of course all ingredients are optional. The recipe we currently use includes all the above ingredients, and these are ones we’ve used in the past, that we’ve rotated out for now:

1/2 c. plain nonfat yogurt (different brands make a big difference in taste)
1-2 teaspoons hemp or flaxseed oil
1 tablespoon local bee pollen
1 teaspoon chia seeds
1 handful goji berries

Put this all in a blender and let blend for a couple of minutes.

It’s a nice opportunity to send Reiki to your smoothie, or another form of energy, or simply saying a prayer of gratitude and sending love…
Makes ~ 4 glasses – we each drink 2.

Enjoy a happy and delicious start of your day!!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Use as many organic ingredients as possible, as you get many more nutrients that way! Many of these ingredients you can find at Trader Joe’s, or other local natural food stores, and a few you may need to go online to find. You don’t need to use everything, of course, but with all these ingredients, you know you’ve met many, if not most, of your daily needs. This provides great antioxidant benefits, as well as Omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acids, fiber, protein, amino acids, iron, hormonal balancers, and so much more!  Find a combination that tastes delicious and makes you feel good, and let me know of your recipes and variations please!

I’m passionate about essential oils for myself and for my clients – they augment the Reiki energy healing extremely well, and support us in our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies.  In just the past week I’ve been asked three times to share some resources I use for Essential Oils – from people wanting to add them to their healing practices:  a child psychiatrist, a Reiki practitioner specializing in Elder Care, and a therapist working in a stressful workplace counseling people in crisis, as well as clients wanting to use them for themselves.  I realized many have these same questions, so I’m sharing some of my personal recommendations here.  Please let me know in the comments below or by email if you have specific questions and I’ll try to help.  If you’d like to know more about how I use essential oils in my Reiki Healing sessions, you can read more here.

Rain Lilies in bloom in Tucson

Books

I have a few books I love.  My favorite one that is always close at hand is  the “Reference Guide for Essential Oils” (12th Edition) by Connie and Alan Higley, around $30. It is full of easily accessible information, organized by issue/symptoms/illness, as well as single oil information, and all the Young Living blends, which I have had excellent results with.
You can find it here: Abundant Health for You, along with a great selection of books and other EO related products.

Another similar one is called “Essential Oils Desk Reference”, by Essential Science Publishing. It is also aimed at buyers of Young Living oils, and has a lot of the science and research on EO’s as well.  I don’t find it as useful and accessible as the Reference Guide, above, but it is very thorough!

One of the first books I read that got me hooked, which I still love is “Aromatherapy for Women, a Practical Guide to Essential Oils for Health and Beauty”, by Maggie Tisserand. This is quite different than the others, written in the first person by a British aromatherapist, and I love her personal stories, especially about her own children, her philosophy, and her humor!  Very accessible and enjoyable, it has great usefulness, with sections such as “Getting Through the Day”, “Aromatherapy and the Immune System” and pregnancy, childbirth and parenting chapters as well.  This author will give you a great feel for working with the oils, on a more personal level.

Brand

As for brand, I love the Young Living brand of oils for blends.  They are very high quality, truly therapeutic grade which is of primary importance. When I buy single oils, I like to buy from Nature’s Oils, a small company in Arizona, whose owner does energy work to amplify the oils before sending them, and they are extremely high quality as well and  much less expensive.  I’ve been happy with every order.  I also recommend Floracopeia – with excellent quality as well. These are all online, but if you need something quickly, look in Whole Foods (or similar) for Aura Cacia or an organic EO brand.  They are good as well.  Use your nose and intuition to determine if it smells and feels just right to you!

Much of what is labeled as essential oils are not truly that, and many of the cheaper ones have been distilled using chemicals which have a negative effect on the plant essences.  The highest quality EO’s are made with low heat steam distillation and the plants are grown without chemicals and sustainably harvested.  These brands I trust to do this.I love to make my own blends and sprays when i have time!

How to Use

As far as using them in a clinical setting (or home, for that matter), I’d recommend getting a good diffuser – a nice quiet one is easily available called an Aromatic Mist diffuser, (an example here on Abundant Health For You’s site, which you put distilled water in and then add drops of EO’s and it diffuses them in a fine mist, very quietly.  I have  a noisier one that is more powerful, but too loud to use around other people…

You might want a blend that is calming and lessens anxiety, for example (Peace and Calming by Young Living), and that is uplifting to the mood (Joy by YL)… You may also want to make sprays (I sell my own blends of this) that help to clear the space, so if you have a particularly challenging session, with a lot having been released, you can clear the space and yourself.  I use basil, lemongrass, lavender, and a few other oils for this in my blend called Clearessence.

If you do want to buy the Young Living oils,  you have to become a member through someone else who is a member.  When you do this, you can become a member for free and pay retail, or you can sign up as a distributor, pay $40, and then get about 25% off retail…Here’s a link for doing either one: luminous.younglivingworld.com/  If you decide to become a distributor, there are financial benefits, as you can then decide to sell them yourself!

I always use the oils on my hands while doing energy work, usually using 3-5 different blends on different areas of the body as I work.  For example I begin with Valor, for grounding and balance, then use White Angelica on the shoulders for protection and calling in their guides, Peace and Calming if they’re dealing with anxiety, stress and busy mind, etc…Release I use on almost everyone! People love them, and I find they complement the hands-on energy work extremely well!

For more on how I use Essential Oils in my work, see my page on Reiki and Intuitive Coaching Sessions.

This is a very basic beginning, just touching on some things to help you get started.  Perhaps it’s time for me to offer another Essential Oils class!  Enjoy exploring these powerful and transformative essences of the plants – they can change your life!

My daily practice for over ten years is heart-centering.  I use this as a daily ritual, which helps me to center and open, connecting with the Divine, with my inner guidance and with the heart center – where all is welcome, where the energy of the upper and lower chakras meet and there is no judgment.  I also use it when I’m in a situation where I feel off-balance, or fearful,  or where my ego/emotional self is in control, in a way that is not serving me. It always brings me back to the heart center, to a place of calm, compassionate, grace.

I love this practice because it is simple, anyone can do it, and it is very powerful and effective.

Begin by placing your right hand over your heart chakra and place your left hand over your right, with your thumbs meeting above.  See and feel your crown chakra open, at the top of your head, connecting with the divine energies of the sky, the heavens, the cosmos, the masculine…and now see and feel your root chakra open, at the base of your spine, connecting with the divine energies of the earth, the feminine/nurturing aspects.  Bring these divine energies up from the earth and down from the heavens into your body, meeting at the heart and then flowing down your arms and out your hands.  It then flows back into your heart in a beautiful circle…You can also visualize this energy flowing out your hands to others around the world, or place your hands on another person’s body to send them this healing energy.

The mantra to focus on while doing this are the four qualities of the heart center, as taught to me, and countless others by Dr. Brugh Joy:  Supernal Compassion, Innate Harmony, Healing Presence, Unconditional Love and Selfless Service.  Simply repeating these words, contemplating their truth, and bringing their essence into your being will change your experience of life.

My first thought was that with all the travel, and the busyness of preparing to facilitate two healing retreats, my immune system was probably low.  At the same time, while I was feeling my tooth and gum, I started doing Reiki.  Since I was first initiated with a Reiki attunement 9 years ago, that’s always my first response to pain, injury, or signs of illness – do Reiki.  That started to help immediately, as it always does, bringing healing energy and touch to the pain on the surface.  I placed my 4 fingertips on my cheek along the gum and jaw on the side that was sore, and could feel the pain start to melt.

My mind jumped to the guests that were arriving the next day, and my desire to be completely physically and mentally present for the next few days of facilitating our healing retreat.  I did not want to be dealing with a tooth infection – not having to go to a new dentist who I didn’t know, nor recovering from pain and the stress of being sick.  I used my Life Coaching skills and shifted my thoughts to positive ones, seeing myself feeling completely well and pain-free.  Getting clear in myself that this was a time for taking care of my body, so that I would then be able to serve my clients in the ways that would serve their greatest and highest good.

I thought of the rest of my “natural first aid kit” that I had with me – what would be best for a possible infection?  Echinacea tincture always comes to mind, as a great immune system booster.  I know if I start to take it, 1-2 dropperfuls every 4-8 hours at the first sign of infection or illness, it always seems to lessen the severity or keeps me from getting sick at all.   I make my own Echinacea tincture, which is very easy to do, saving money and putting Reiki into the tincture as well.

The next wonderful remedy I travel with is a Young Living essential oil blend called “Thieves”.  This contains cinnamon, clove, lemon, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils, all documented as having extraordinary anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.  The name of this blend comes from a story of a group of thieves who traveled during the time of the Plague, stealing from the victims, who used a similar combination of essential oils to protect themselves and were able to stay healthy.  I use it whenever I feel like I might be getting a cold, sore throat, or infection.  I take it orally, one drop in a glass of water or cup of tea.  When I traveled in India, I would put a drop of Thieves in my bottle of filtered drinking water each day, and didn’t have any problems with digestion that are quite common for many Westerners traveling in that part of the world.  Essential oils are extremely potent and concentrated (one drop of rose essential oil is made from 30 roses!), so taking internally needs to be done with great caution.

I immediately took a dropperful of Echinacea tincture and drank a large glass of water with a drop of Thieves.  I know that plenty of rest is an essential aspect of staying well, and I was already low on sleep from travel, so I prepared to go to bed right after dinner.  When I went to brush my teeth, I remembered that I hadn’t flossed for a few days with my travel preparations taking my time and attention.  So I carefully and gently flossed, and found that area of gum was very sore and bled, but I made sure to clean it as well as I could.  I then took another dropper of Echinacea, and placed one drop of Thieves essential oil blend right on my gum, where it was inflamed and sore.
Another great remedy for mouth/throat infections is to dissolve sea salt in warm water and using it to gargle, which I could have added to my treatments, but didn’t think of til the next morning.

When I got in bed, I spent another ten minutes or so giving myself Reiki, especially the tooth and jaw area, and fell asleep with my hand resting on my cheek.

For those of you who aren’t Reiki practitioners, anyone can channel healing energy, simply opening yourself as a conduit or channel.  You might imagine opening the energy centers at the top of your head and the bottoms of your feet, seeing a beautiful light enter your body, meeting at your heart center, and sending it down your arms and legs and out through your hands and feet.  Ask that Divine healing energy flow into you and through you, going to whatever parts of your body need healing, and trusting that this is happening.  You may feel warmth or tingling, and you may see colors as you see and feel this healing energy flowing through you, but you don’t need to see or feel anything to trust that it is working. There is universal healing energy available to everyone, so tap into it anytime you need.

The way one of my Reiki teachers taught me about this concept is that there is always universal healing energy around us, and it is similar to radio waves.  There are radio waves around us all the time, but until you tune into a particular station, you don’t hear anything.  All you need to do is consciously “tune into” the healing energies, and they will begin flowing.

With Reiki, you become “attuned” to a particular channel of energy, which is always available once you are initiated in a sacred ceremony. The Reiki energy has its own unique qualities, of deep quieting, relaxation, and is an intelligent energy that goes exactly where it is needed: to the physical, mental, emotional and/or spiritual bodies. If you are interested, experience a session with a Reiki practitioner and then if you are called, find a Reiki Master/Teacher who you resonate with and receive a Reiki attunement.  It is a wonderful way to keep yourself healthy and lower your stress levels, as well as a great blessing for your friends, family, animals, and clients!

When I awoke the next morning, my tooth and gum were totally pain free!  I couldn’t find any place that was tender at all.  I didn’t take it for granted that whatever had appeared was gone, so I continued for another day or two with Echinacea tincture, Thieves essential oil in my water, and careful and gentle flossing, as well as staying clear that I wanted to be completely well with plenty of energy.  The pain did not come back, and the rest of my time in Hawaii I felt very well – fully present physically, mentally and emotionally for my clients and grateful to my body for its own healing capabilities.

I am also grateful for having learned some simple remedies over the years that may help my body to heal more quickly and with less pain.  I like to share these with others so that more people can take greater responsibility for their health and wellness, and not have to be so reliant on a health care system that does not always respond as quickly and easily (and inexpensively!) as our own resources.

July, 2010
(These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness.  Please consult your health practitioner with any signs of serious illness.)

This new site has been in gestation stage for quite some time, about 9 months as I look back, and it’s felt like a gestation of a new “baby”, now finally ready to be born!  Though I loved the old one, it’s time for my site to grow and expand, as my Energy Healing and Intuitive Guidance work has grown and expanded to reach more people and I’ve included more offerings, including many Reiki and Karuna Reiki classes, ho’oponopono and distance energy healing.

New additions…

I hope that you’ll find the new Resources Page useful, as well as the resources found in these blog posts.  Please check out the Calendar of Events Page which has a calendar of my upcoming Reiki Classes, ongoing Oneness Blessing Events, and includes all the events that Zelie Duvauchelle and I offer in partnership, such as our annual Hawai’i Spiritual Retreat in July.  For more details about all these events, go to the Workshop and Retreats Page!

To register for any of these events, simply send me an email and let me know what you’d like to sign up for!

Check back here frequently, or subscribe for blog updates (separate from my newsletter), as I will also be adding more of my own personal story of what has brought me to this work, my own healing journey, work with clients, and more.

One of the reasons for this new format, including this blog, is that I’d LOVE to hear from you!  I will be including a Question and Answer column in this blog, so please let me know your questions, what you’d like to receive information, resources and thoughts about.  I’ll do my best to answer, and I’ll try to find the answers if I don’t know.  You can ask about anything in the scope of my work, ranging from essential oils, Reiki, holistic healing, how to deal with a particular issue in your relationships, work, etc.. You can post it in a comment here, or you can email me and ask your questions, and if you’d like to remain anonymous just let me know. I’ll share the questions and answers that I feel will be of assistance to as many people as possible.

I would also love any thoughts, feedback or comments here in the blog as well!  If you want to schedule an appointment for a Reiki and Intuitive Guidance session in Tucson or by phone, or a free consultation, please call 520-579-8844, or email me.  If you’re not yet receiving our newsletter, please use the Sign-Up Box on the right, AND receive access to a monthly group distance energy healing call!  This is a powerful way to experience the subtle and profound healing work that I offer, and join a community of others seeking healing and transformation.

I am so glad you’re here, and I look forward to hearing from you!

with love and blessings,

Lucia

From Kathleen Bowman on March 18, 2011:

“I am sending this to all my friends on the coastal areas that may begin to experience some radiation fall-out as soon as today. Whether or not you have been working with the Hathor material or not, this offers a simple, and self sustainable process to engage that will only increase your capacity for holding health or healing. Whatever your perception of this material might be, you may want to lay that aside in favor of healing in these times and as the Hathors have pointed out this is only the beginning of the need to know ways in which to hold our consciousness such that we are the highest possible vibration for ourselves and those around us.

Also in Gabriel Cousens Book Conscious Eating he has a chapter (pg 595) on How Diet can protect you from the Dangers of Radioactive Radiation. On pg. 596 he discusses the dangers of “low-level over a long period of time causes the most radiation damage to the cellular structures.” And I suspect this is what we are going to be facing particularly on the West coast. For those of you who have friends and family along the coast and in Hawaii, this is very useful information. Fundamentally what Dr. Cousens is suggesting is eat low on the food chain…plants that you can wash and that have the greatest capacity for holding the antioxidant structures….and eating them raw is strongly advised. The principle of selective uptake gives us specific ways to minimize the dangerous effects of radiation exposure. If you want more information on how the minerals in your body will use the principles of selective uptake, I recommend you read the book, it is a gold (good mineral, for uptake ) mine of information. A chief Radiologist from Johns Hopkins University reported that one milligram of iodine for children, and five milligrams for adults per day would reduce the amount of radioactive iodine accumulated in the thyroid by 80%.
Now since we cannot absorb minerals (meaning they will not be bio-available) that are larger than angstrom size, I strongly recommend going to “Mother Earth ” minerals and getting that angstrom sized iodine(iron, potassium or any other mineral). Another resource would be the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center (Dr. Cousens source). Just be sure you are getting it in a form that is actually bio available. Kelp tablets or kelp granules are also recommended as they will also allow the body to opt for that iodine uptake.
Other high sources of iodine are Swiss chard, turnip greens and wild garlic and onions, watercress, squash mustard greens spinach, asparagus, kale, citrus watermelon and pineapple. Paying attention to the fact that too much iodine can overstimulate the thyroid. So really tap into the source, the quality and the amount. Children will need smaller amounts more frequently. You want to make sure your pets are receiving some of this protection also.

Another way of neutralizing radioactive buildup is chelation. Some good ways to chelate is to ingest “sodium alginate” it will pull radiation out of the bones without interfering with the calcium uptake…this is high in kelp family foods. Kelp granules, dulse, arame, wakame, kombu and hijiki. Beets are a great liver and blood detoxifier and will help protect the nervous system. And beets are high in iron wihich protects agains absorption of plutonium. An angstrom iron from Mother Earth minerals will also be useful. Bee Pollen is one of the best pro-active life forces of the planet and if you have no issues with bee’s(allergies), and are not opposed to using their pollen, it is a good source of strengthening during these times. Spirulina, is a must at this time…Chlorella is a good cell protector. Just some thoughts and suggestions. I am sure some of you receiving this also have information that can be added, and it feels like now is the time for us to come together and share whatever we have been guided to learn and use to bring our consciousness, and our bodies into an alignment with the events. of change.

There is so much more information however, it feels like this is a lot and will begin the process of SELF CARE during these changing times. It is an exciting time to be alive and the strongest protection we all have is our CONNECTED HEARTS.

Sending love and Blessings, to all my friends and all the people of Japan, NZ , Libya, and around the world who are currently IN THE MOVEMENT of our shifts. Right now they are “taking it on the chin, for ALL of US”!
Kathleen

I recommend checking out Tom Kenyon’s site for his lengthy article on this!

I hope you enjoy this 15 minute interview Stephen Hall conducted with me about Deeksha, the Oneness Blessing and how it has had a profound impact on my own transformation!

Zelie brings us grace and blessings with her voice: Amazing Grace!