Navigating a Mercury Retrograde

The planet Mercury is associated with communication, thinking processes, travel and commerce. Mercury goes retrograde (appears to move backward although it actually isn't) three or four times a year for around three weeks during each occurrence with a shadow period before and after the retrograde. From an energetic perspective this is a time known for miscommunication, things breaking and plans going awry - there is usually a bit of groaning around a retrograde HOWEVER it's also a wonderful opportunity for reflection, completing unfinished business and letting go!

Each Mercury Retrograde is colored by the sign it occurs in, to see a listing of Mercury Retrograde dates and the signs they are in click here http://www.astrologyhoroscopereadings.com/2016-mercury-retrograde-calendar.html. To determine how Mercury impacts you personally look at your natal chart to see what house Mercury is in and the associations. Astro.com has some good, free information on this topic http://www.astro.com/

Tips For Navigating Mercury Retrograde:

1. Be very clear with your communications and check that you are correctly understanding what others are communicating to you.

2. This is not known as an advantageous time to begin new ventures - sign contracts, purchase electronics, start a new job or relationship.

3. Allow extra travel time.

4. Be prepared for unresolved relationships and other connections from the past to come forward for resolution.

5. Consider this a powerful review period! Re-think, re-assess, re-evaluate, re-organize your life.

6. Wrap up those loose ends. Pay off old debts, seek closure on old relationships, pay back any favors owed, etc...

7. Stay well grounded. Focus on the present moment and release ruminations about the past and worries about the future.

8. Be patient with yourself and others.

9. Items that are ready to go often break during a Mercury Retrograde. Consider this a blessing and repair or replace them as needed.

10. Take this opportunity for reflection for deeper self-knowledge to help you move forward in deeper alignment with your higher self.

11. Go with the flow! Don't be attached to specific outcomes it will likely lead to disappointment. Rather be open to what opportunities are presented.

12. Let go, let go, let go...

Essentials for Your Crystal Tool Kit

I do almost as much work with crystals in my Reiki practice as I do with Reiki - both in working with individual clients and in the form of workshops. People often ask which crystals they should start with; this is a list of what I consider to be the seven most generally useful crystals to have. 

I hope you will consider adding some of these to your own crystal tool kit! It's important to periodically cleanse your crystals by smudging or using other cleansing methods. It's also helpful to remember the size of the crystal will make a difference in the amount of energy it generates. There are many ways to work with crystals, one of the most effective being to wear them against the skin.


Amethyst - Amethyst is the master healing crystal and does pretty much everything except ground us. If I could have only one crystal it would be amethyst. This versatile powerhouse is a form of quartz and is therefore also a strong amplifier of energy. 

Amethyst has a tranquil, calming energy and resonates primarily with the third eye and crown chakras. It's wonderful to use to promote relaxation, balance, and deepening intuition. Hold or wear amethyst during meditation for a boost in your connection to the upper realms. Amethyst placed under the pillow or on a nightstand will help with a restful sleep and pleasant dreams. 

Amethyst helps to align the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. It also assists with spiritual development by promoting higher states of consciousness and connection to divine as well as transmuting negative energies. An amethyst cluster is a lovely crystal to place in the bedroom due to it's calming energy and a cluster shape will help send the energy in all directions due to the various facing points.

Try placing an amethyst directly on the body wherever you have pain, this is especially helpful with headaches. If you're feeling stressed or upset place an amethyst on your heart chakra for 15 minutes and notice the difference!


Black Kyanite - This crystal balances yin and yang energies, grounds, protects and aligns the chakras. It supports clearing the Root chakra and the Earth Star chakra. This is my "go-to" crystal for grounding! I strong suggest anyone who offers energy healing to others wear this crystal for it's grounding and protective qualities. 

Black kyanite works beautifully with other colors of kyanite, the most common being blue kyanite. Try wearing these together. Another way to work with black kyanite is to place it near the first chakra and by the feet for deep grounding and alignment. It also supports manifestation which is one of the life themes associated with the first chakra. The alignment energy of black kyanite is quite strong and palpable.


Carnelian - Carnelian is a member of the chalcedony family of quartz. Chalcedony is an umbrella term for a variety of quartz that is translucent and has a crystalline structure too fine to be seen by the naked eye. Other members of this classification are jasper and agate. Carnelian has a  grounding energy and generates an uplifting feeling of positive energy. If there was a crystal that had a smiley face on it carnelian would be the one:)

Carnelian supports motivation and self trust; the happy vibe it projects helps with depression. It is used to promote a love of life, to calm anger and sharpen focus. Carnelian also has a slight grounding energy which compliments the uplifting aspect of this crystal.

Carnelian resonates with the second chakra and is the perfect crystal to sit on your desk. It will boost focus, vitality and creativity as you work. Use in healing work by placing on the body or wearing when recovering from an illness to restore vitality, it's also good for helping ease cramps. Wear carnelian next to the skin for grounding in the present moment and a little boost of pep


Clear quartz - Clear quartz amplifies and harmonizes the energy it is exposed to altering it to a higher state, so the key to using clear quartz is your intention. Clear quartz has the quality of vibrating with all colors therefore resonates with all of the chakras however it is particularly helpful in working with the crown chakra. This crystal may be used with any other crystal to amplify the energy of that crystal. Clear quartz also works on all levels of our being - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual and can be used for energizing, healing and cleansing. It is a highly versatile crystal. 

“Like humans, each Clear Quartz crystal is unique, each with its own personality, lessons, and experiences. The crystals attracted into one's life are stones that will in some way help facilitate personal growth and awareness. They may work subliminally in unawakened minds, but for those spiritually attuned to the universe Quartz crystals are like beacons of light and positive energy to be used in daily thoughts, feelings, words and actions and integrated onto the earth.” - Katrina Raphaell, Crystal Enlightenment http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Enlightenment-Transforming-Properties-Crystals/dp/0943358272


Danburite - Danburite connects the heart and mind, both the heart and high heart (thymus) chakras. It is a very high vibrational crystal that promotes love energy and let’s our true selves shine through. Use it for heart and crown chakra healing, acceptance and connecting to higher realms. Danburite has a peaceful, calm energy and helps to clear karmic ties.

Place Danburite under your pillow or near you at night to help with peaceful sleep and lucid dreaming; Wear as a necklace or earrings to have it near your upper chakras; Hold it or place it on your body while meditating to connect with higher realms; place it on or near your crown chakra while performing self-Reiki


Lepidolite - Lepidolite is a lilac variety of lithium mica that has a peaceful energy and is used to promote connection with the Divine, love and peace. Its soothing energy is helpful in reducing anxiety and instills a sense of calmness and serenity. Lepidolite resonates most strongly with the third eye and crown chakras and is helpful with meditation as it resonates with an energy that assists with connection to the higher realms.

Work with this crystal to promote harmony, to support forgiveness and to heal from emotional suffering. Lepidolite is also very helpful to hold or wear during a Violet Flame meditation.


Selenite - Selenite resonates with higher frequencies and the upper chakras. It supports opening the Crown Chakra, Soul Star Chakra and those above and assists in the spiritual journey. Use selenite during meditation to support connection to the higher realms including angelic energy.

Selenite can also be used to clean other crystals. Sit the other crystals on a selenite rod or slab overnight or longer. You can also use selenite to help remove negative energy by sweeping your aura with it.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a Japanese word derived from Rei, meaning “spirit” or “universe” and Ki meaning “energy”. These Japanese characters when combined, present the concept of a “Universal Life-force Energy” that can be used for healing.  Usui Reiki is a natural healing system that uses the Universal Energy to support the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Reiki is not based on religion and is not massage. The Certified Reiki Practitioner uses scanning techniques and specific hand positions to pass this energy into the body of the recipient. Some practitioners hold their hands a few inches over the body and some lightly touch the body. The client is relaxed in a chair or on a massage table during the session and remains fully clothed. A session generally takes about an hour but can last longer. During the session the client will experience relaxation and may feel a gentle warm or tingling sensation.

Reiki promotes relaxation, pain reduction, overall wellness, and balance in the mind, body and spirit (the “whole” person). It is a simple, safe, non-invasive technique that works by opening and clearing the energy centers in the body so it can better heal itself.

As Reiki Practitioners we are not healing anyone ourselves. We are simply conduits for passing the Universal Energy into another to facilitate their own self-healing. Each person receiving Reiki is responsible for their own healing in accordance with their highest good. Reiki is not medicine and does not replace modern medicine or the need for professional medical care.

I became a Reiki practitioner in 2008 after being a client for several years. During my time as a client I experienced healing of some emotional and physical pain that impressed me so much I was drawn to become a practitioner myself.

My Reiki experience has been a wonderful learning and healing journey. It is an effective natural healing practice and I am confident you will find many treasures in your own growth along this path - just as I have. Reiki literally changed my life.

Protection

Why do we need protection and from what?

There are many things that can cause a disturbance in our energy field or cause us to feel bad including other people, EMF’s, particular physical locations, cosmic events and even ourselves!

Have you ever been around someone who completely drains you? Or felt a strong influx of negative energy from another person or in a location? Perhaps crowds are exhausting to you? If you’re sensitive to the energies around you or are empathic (meaning you feel what others feel in your body) it’s important to protect yourself. Sometime others who vibrate at a lower level or emit strong negative emotions feel draining to us and it’s even possible that negative energies can be sent from one person to another either intentionally or unintentionally via strong thoughts or intentions, these can create a disturbance in the energy field of the recipient.

Lower vibrating energies can also be held in a physical location or come from another source. There are even events happening in the universe such as the solar flares so many of us have been feeling that can affect us. People can send out negative energy either unintentionally or intentionally through anger, jealousy or intense negative thoughts. In my personal experience the most common reason for one person to inflict negative energy on another on purpose is jealousy. Jealousy is an emotion based on lack mentality and powerfully negative.

Any kind of fear based emotion strongly directed at another person subconsciously, consciously or even with the intent to harm can cause issues. If someone is directing low vibrating energy at you it is best not to engage them in interaction. Just mentally wish them light and love to diffuse the situation and get away from them if possible. Even something as simple as crossing your arms and legs will deflect the other person – this position blocks some of your chakras and sends a clear message in body language that you are not open to the other person. On a subconscious level when they realize they can’t dump their negative energy on you they will often get tired of trying and leave. We can also draw negative energy and people to ourselves by harboring these same emotions for a prolonged period of time.

At a highly concentrated advanced level negative energy can take the form of psychic attacks. Psychic attacks from others are possible but are not always the reason for feeling bad, it’s important to examine what is going on with yourself to decipher the source of your symptoms, or consult an energy healer.

Some of the symptoms of psychic attack include a sudden onset of intense anger, fear or sadness, feeling exhausted and drained, acting out of character, nightmares, sudden illness that have no physical source, loss of memory, a string of accidents, or feeling like you are being watched. There can be many different symptoms these are just a few. Again the hallmark is a sudden onset of these symptoms with no other explanation. Also notice if you feel exhausted, drained, angry or even feel like crying when around around certain people or in a particular setting.

Here’s the good news – Our protection can only be broken from inside of ourselves! If we have strong healthy bodies, chakras (especially heart and solar plexus) and a strong aura it is very difficult for negative energies to get in as they need a place to enter. It is also important to be very well grounded and centered. And of course there are other things we can do to protect ourselves, some of which are listed below.

How to lessen the risk
Be sure to protect yourself before going to places where there is a lot of prolonged pain or sadness like hospitals and funeral homes.

Use discernment regarding physical contact with others – even polite hugs and especially sex. When we are intimate with another person physically we open ourselves up to their energy and there is an exchange, even if it’s something like a one night stand. It’s important to be judicious who you share yourself with in this manner and be sure you really know who they are because you are sharing essences with that person back and forth.

Be careful about the thoughts and emotions you give energy to – you can create your own negativity with your thoughts or what you are focusing on. Like energy attracts like!

Reduce or end relationships with toxic people. These are the people that drain us, who are always negative, who demean or put down others, have anger and rage for everyone, who are deceitful or even hurtful and try to control everyone around them.

How do we protect ourselves?
We start with our bodies. Our bodies are the vehicle we use to navigate this life on earth, they are our home while we are here. It’s important to keep them as strong and healthy as possible. This means avoiding toxins that can weaken our bodies and aura such as alcohol, cigarettes, and chemical filled junk food just to name a few things. Negative emotions and even things like funguses, metals and other toxins can also weaken our bodies and aura. Getting proper sleep is also very important in this culture where being overly busy is seen as an accomplishment. Long ago mankind aligned themselves to the cycles of nature. Meaning people rose when the sun did, went to bed when it was dark and ate only natural foods. They also spent much more time outside and ate only natural local foods. In this way they were naturally more grounded and connected to the earth where they lived.

Today we live in a culture where we are so busy we often don’t get proper rest, most of us spend our days in offices with artificial lighting and recycled air and often eat in the most convenient way which includes foods with a lot of chemicals and preservatives. All of these things can start to weaken our bodies and energy systems over time.

It’s also important to attend to any health needs we have been neglecting. When was the last time you had a checkup? Do you have a dental issue that needs to be addressed? What about that nagging pain in your shoulder? Our bodies are designed to communicate with us and it’s very helpful to listen to what they are saying! They can tell us when they need rest, when we are too stressed or not eating properly. They can also tell us when we’re in danger or when we shouldn’t proceed with a plan.

One good way to check in with your body is to sit or lay down in a comfortable position and do a body scan. Start at your feet and work your way up. How do your feet feel? Wiggle them around a little. Do they hurt, are they tired? If they were a color what color would they be? This is helpful in pinpointing any chakra related issues that may be manifesting in your feet. Continue in this manner upward, checking in with your calves, knees, thighs, all the way up to the top of your head.

Once you have identified what’s going on with your body make a plan to address any needs. Can you schedule in some down time, set the alarm a half hour later? Do you need to see a doctor or a therapist? If emotional issues are presenting themselves therapy can be very helpful. Maybe it’s time for a massage to help relieve some of that tension you’ve been carrying. What about your diet, set aside a little time one afternoon a week to cook some healthy meals that you can just grab from the fridge or freezer later. And don’t forget energy work! If you are Reiki trained or do any other kind of energy work schedule in time for self-treatments every day. Even if it’s only 15 or 20 minutes. As Mrs. Takata said “Any Reiki is better than no Reiki”.

It’s also helpful to have someone else do energy healing for you at least once a month. Locate a Reiki share near you or make an appointment with an energy healer – it’s beneficial to have someone who is objective and may see things you may miss treat you. I receive a Reiki treatment from another practitioner at least once or twice a month and try to get a massage or other body work once a month as well. There are many other ways to protect ourselves as well, paying attention to our physical bodies is a good start.


There are other things you can do to protect yourself. Surround yourself with a bubble of white light of protection. Start it at your solar plexus spreading outward to it fills and encompasses your body and aura. Then ask Archangel Michael and the angels of protection to hold it in place and only allow in that which is to your highest and greatest good.

                                 

Archangel Michael is the Archangel of protection. Angelic energy is always available to 

us however it will not bypass our free will so we have to ask for it. We also call on the 

groups of angels of protections. Groups of angels have great strength. Are the 500, 5000

or 5 million angels in the group of angels of protection? I have no idea but there are a lot!!

We specifically ask that only that which is to our highest and greatest good be allowed in

because that way we will not be blocking any lessons that are beneficial to our growth. 

You can make the light different mediums like a mirror facing outward or even metal to

deflect all energy if you are in a particularly negative place. Don’t leave it like this too long as

you will be blocking everything. Please be aware your intention is the key to making these

energetic protective measures work.

Letting go of painful relationships with gratitude

Many of us have experienced some degree of an unhealthy romantic relationship at least once in life. I attended a wedding last month which started me thinking about a particular ex, our relationship and the pain that came along with it. This suffering was due in large part to my reluctance to accept the reality of the situation at the time and let go.

Half of the time we had together was the most fun I've ever had with another human being and the other half of the time it was the most painful. The dichotomy in the relationship proved more than I could handle, however I kept trying to make it work - hoping the some attention and effort could change things. I created much unhappiness for myself by having an attachment to that relationship being something other than the reality of what it was (will of the ego vs. acceptance).

In retrospect I learned much from that experience and over the years since our split have become grateful for these lessons. The main gift from the relationship was the gift of learning to let go. He was a soul mate whose purpose in my life was to teach me this. Soul mate relationships are not always hearts and flowers, sometimes they exist for the purpose of helping us grow then we are to keep moving ahead.

A few tips I have found helpful in letting go process:

1. Take off those rose colored glasses and look at the reality of the situation - the good, the bad and the ugly. Acceptance goes a long way in helping us to move forward.

2.  Understand why you're still holding on. It may be fear of being alone, fear of change, or perhaps it's an attachment to a desired outcome that did not come to fruition. Is holding on to that attachment meeting your desires any more than the unhealthy relationship did?...

3. Our homes are an outward reflection of how we are feeling internally. Clearing your living space and rearranging it can be a supportive physical aspect of a new phase of life.

4. Focus on taking care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually. Nourish your body and get proper nutrition and sleep. Make a list of things you would enjoy and go do them, reach out to some friends and invite them along. Take time to incorporate your personal spiritual practices into your daily schedule as well.

5. Offer compassion to yourself  and forgive the other person, this is an integral part of letting go. Forgiving doesn't condone the hurtful actions of another or mean we have to subject ourselves to them again; rather it's an intentional releasing of the burden of carrying that pain, anger or resentment. Forgiving does not mean we have to speak to the other person, it is a gift we give ourselves to restore our own peace of mind.

6. Determine what lessons came from the relationships and have gratitude for receiving them. These lessons will help create a healthier relationship in the future (provided we embrace them). When we consider those lessons a gift that supports our growth and wisdom it's much easier to let go.

Here's to moving forward with gratitude, grace and compassion!