Nurturing Ourselves Through Autumn with Crystals and Reiki

Nurturing Ourselves for Winter with Crystals and Reiki

Autumn is a season of profound transformation. It teaches us to let go, just as the trees release their leaves, creating space for new growth. In our own lives, this season can be a time to slow down, reflect, and prepare ourselves for the introspective winter months ahead.

One of my favorite ways to nurture myself during this time is through crystals and Reiki. Crystals like Smoky Quartz and Citrine are wonderful for grounding and uplifting, helping us find balance as the days grow shorter. Smoky Quartz can aid in releasing negativity and finding clarity, while Citrine brings warmth and joy, like the last rays of autumn sunshine.

Reiki, too, is a powerful tool for self-care as we transition through the seasons. A simple Reiki practice can help us maintain balance and vitality. Place your hands over your heart and take deep, slow breaths, allowing the energy to flow through you, bringing warmth and calm.

As we journey through autumn, I encourage you to create a little ritual for yourself. Whether it’s a moment of stillness each morning, a cup of herbal tea in the evening, or a crystal meditation to ground and center yourself, let this be a time of self-compassion and care.

With each leaf that falls, let’s release the things that no longer serve us, making space for rest, renewal, and the beauty of what’s to come.

A new Decade and a new YOU!

 A new decade … how about a better YOU?

OK, so this isn’t about changing too much about you, as we like you just the way you are. What this is about learning to look after YOU better than you probably are, treating yourself with love and Reiki. 

Far too often we forget about ourselves, but by taking time out of the day, even if it is just for 10 minutes to stop and breathe. Even a short pause will help. 

Science has proven that the adverse effects of stress on our physical and mental self can be massive. When we are in a state of stress, no matter how small, our body responds by increasing our heart rate and diverting blood from our organs to the muscles, so they are ready for whatever it is they are going to be expected to do – the flight or fight response. This means that the organs are no longer getting their normal blood supply, which can be detrimental, especially where it's not for any good reason or for too long a period. 

For instance, someone has made us cross at work and we have to control our temper, so we go into in fight and flight mode.  Just  the response of managing our anger causes our digestive system to slow down so we will not be dealing with our energy supply as effectively we should. The long term impact of stress on the digestive system is that we may start to suffer indigestion, heartburn, and possibly Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).  

My Mum was diagnosed with Dementia at the beginning of the year and through the shock of being told, she became very poorly. Mum moved in with Paul and I at the beginning of February and through the summer mum’s physical health improved. Unfortunately, the dementia took a nose dive, which was very stressful, as well as demanding at times. The result was that I stopped looking after me. I simply forgot.

As a Reiki Master and teacher, I’m lucky enough to revisit my level one (Shoden) Reiki manual on a regular basis. Once I realised that I was stressed I reviewed my life since mum moved in. Then I went back to the basics of my Reiki training, which was really beneficial, because I was treating myself better. Although I meditate and give myself Reiki I didn't remember to use some of the other brilliant techniques, but recently I’ve gone back to practising what I teach and have stopped forgetting me.

When my students leave after their first weekend of Reiki training I like to give them homework as I feel this will help them to set up a new daily routine.

I ask them to: 

1.    Keep a journal on how they are feeling both mentally and physically

2.    Use Reiki on themselves, keeping notes on how they feel

3.     Recite the precepts and meditate with them on a daily basis

4.    Repeat affirmations - create the thought you wish to achieve, using I am or I willas this will detract from the negative to bring in a positive light and attitude

Over the last month, I have found by going back to the basics has really helped, keeping the journal, using affirmations, reciting Being true to your way and your being…. And showing compassion to yourself has definitely helped me, as I’m more relaxed and at peace with myself. It has also help with Mum, so although the future is still daunting I can manage it better, because I use Reiki.

With love & light,

Debs Cordery

xxx

Rejuvenating Hands

WHAT IS REIKI HEALING?

WHAT IS REIKI HEALING?
Reiki as defined by the Oxford English dictionary is:
“A healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient’s body and restore physical and emotional well-being”.
It is however, also widely accepted that Reiki can be given and received equally effectively hands-off or via distant healing. The Japanese word ‘Reiki’ literally translates as universal life force energy. This system of healing was developed by Mikao Usui the early 20th century. It is a non-invasive complementary therapy that has been taught and used in the UK since the late 1900s, but Eastern medicine has for thousands of years worked with this energy, recognising its flow through all living things. Reiki supports orthodox medicine or can be used alone but is not a replacement for traditional medication or treatments. It is not based on any belief, faith or suggestion, yet, scientific research using quantum physics is starting to help us to understand how reiki may work to benefit the individual. It has been suggested that in years to come it may be known as energy medicine based on scientifically measurable energy emitted from the healer’s hands.
Reiki is given fully clothed in a quiet environment and is safe for adults, children, mothers–to–be, babies and animals. However in the case of animals with health issues, owners should confirm that the animal has been seen by a veterinary surgeon to obtain a diagnosis. Reiki practitioners must not diagnose the health problem.
It is highly recommended that practitioners are members of a recognised professional organisation with strict Codes of Ethics and hold practitioner insurance.
Scientific research findings may help us to understand how Reiki works
There is much to learn and more research is necessary before a definitive explanation can be given, but research is producing very interesting results:
• When giving Reiki, practitioners have been shown to emit electro-magnetic or bio-magnetic energy from their hands. The frequencies of the energy emitted vary from one moment to the next; but many appear to correspond to those that medical researchers have identified as being the optimum frequencies for stimulating the healing process in tissues, bones and other body parts so far investigated.
• The bio-magnetic energy (or field) flowing from a practitioner’s hands has been shown to induce current flows in the tissues and cells of individuals who are in close proximity but this pulsing energy is not produced by non-practitioners of energy healing techniques.
Two ways in which these pulsing magnetic fields may stimulate repair of bone and other tissues include:
• A cascade of reactions takes place from the cell surface to the cytoplasm and on to the nucleus and genes, where selective effects on the DNA have been documented.
• A phenomenon called amplification, in which a single hormone molecule, neurotransmitter or photon of electromagnetic energy has been shown to trigger a cellular response; and in fact very tiny fields have been shown to produce the best effects, suggesting that living tissues are much more sensitive to external fields than previously considered possible.
NB: A bio-magnetic field can also be created by passing electric currents though living tissue as has been used for medical diagnoses and treatments for almost a century for example in ECG & MRI scanning.
Reiki is often referred to as an intelligent form of healing. It is suggested that this and similar energy therapies may be valuable in the prevention and remission of some serious diseases that are so costly in terms of human suffering and likely to be more expensive to health care in the future.

By the UK REIKI FEDERATION