The Reiki Precepts

IMG_0520I was first attuned to Reiki in 1996. Reiki has always been an essential part of my self-care, as well as my healing practice.

A few years ago I discovered Animal Reiki by Kathleen Prasad from a video on Facebook. I soon started studying with Kathleen, and then also with her teacher, Frans Stiene. They share a more traditional Japanese form of Reiki called Usui Reiki Ryoho. This system of Reiki is composed of five elements, with hands-on-healing being only one of the elements. The emphasis of Usui Reiki Ryoho is on personal and spiritual development.

Usui Reiki Ryoho is about the realization of our True Self. Click here for an article by Frans Stiene on the Reiki Symbol “Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen.”

The Reiki Precepts are another element in this system of Reiki. A precept is a code of practice or a guideline for thought and behavior. The founder of all Reiki practices, Mikao Usui, gave his students these precepts to support them on their spiritual path of self-healing. These precepts are the foundation of his teachings.

For Today Only:
Do not Anger
Do not worry
Be Humble
Be Honest in your Work
Be Compassionate to Yourself and Others

In contemplating these precepts at this moment in my life, I have found a new beauty in their simplicity.

Currently, I am focusing on the precept Do Not Worry. I set my intention in the morning just to notice when I have an anxious thought. I don’t try to stop worrying; I just notice when a worried thought comes through. I found that just by being aware of worried thoughts I don’t get caught up in them as much. This shifts my day in a big way. Actually, in a really, really big way.

So simple. So beautiful.

Jeri Lawson is available for Healing Touch, Reiki, and Clarity Breathwork sessions Monday through Friday, 10 am to 8 pm, in the Temescal Area of Oakland, California

The Charlotte Maxwell Clinic

Below is a very sweet video about the Charlotte Maxwell Clinic in Oakland, California.

I have been volunteering at the clinic for about eight years, and I have learned so much about energetic healing, neuropathy, lymphedema and the body’s innate ability to heal itself. After every shift, I feel so much gratitude. Gratitude for the sacred space I share with the clients, gratitude for everything I learned that day, gratitude that a place such as Charlotte Maxwell even exists.

The Charlotte Maxwell Clinic provides holistic healing services to low-income women with cancer. This includes Acupressure, Acupuncture, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Massage, Reiki, Qigong, Healing Touch, Feldenkrais, Chinese Herbs, Western Herbs, Homeopathy, and Guided Imagery. There are also self-help workshops and classes for the clients on lymphedema, cooking, yoga and breast cancer rehab. Here is just one amazing fact from CMC’s website:

“Women who participated in any moderate-intensity recreational physical activity, such as brisk walking, after breast cancer diagnosis had an approximately 64% lower risk of death than inactive women.”

Read more about the benefits of exercise by clicking here.

If you want to come to the clinic, all you must have is a cancer diagnosis. You don’t have to prove you are low-income.

You also don’t have to be a healer to volunteer. The clinic needs drivers, interpreters and support staff, too. Volunteer Trainings are held 4-5 times per year, and they take place over the course of one weekend.

 

It really is all about the love.

Jeri Lawson is available for Healing Touch, Reiki, and Clarity Breathwork sessions Monday through Friday, 10 am to 8 pm, in the Temescal Area of Oakland, California

Complementary Therapies in Mainstream Medicine

HANDS-ON: Shirley Ballantyne, a registered nurse at Mission Hospital, offers Healing Touch to a patient. Photo courtesy of Mission Hospital
HANDS-ON: Shirley Ballantyne, a registered nurse at Mission Hospital, offers Healing Touch to a patient. Photo courtesy of Mission Hospital

There is a lot of healing going on in Asheville, North Carolina.

 Lourdes Lorenz
Lourdes Lorenz

In this article by how Reiki and Healing Touch – as well as other complementary therapies such as guided imagery, aromatherapy, breathwork, massage, and biofeedback – are being integrated into mainstream medicine.

I discovered that in 2007 Lourdes Lorenz, a nurse of 33 years, started an integrative healthcare department at Mission Hospital in Asheville.  She has trained over 450 nurses to use Healing Touch.

Think about that: 450 nurses doing Healing Touch.

Talk about “being the change.” Thank you, Lourdes Lorenz!

Jeri Lawson is available for Healing Touch, Reiki, and Clarity Breathwork sessions Monday through Friday, 10 am to 8 pm, in the Temescal Area of Oakland, California

 

 

“Calling Your Energy Back”: A Meditation by Jeri Lawson and Flutist Rebecca Kleinmann

This is a very special post.

I had the amazing opportunity to record one of my meditations with the remarkable musician Rebecca Kleinmann.

Enjoy.

 Rebecca Kleinmann

Rebecca Kleinmann

Rebecca at Soundroom 2

Jeri Lawson is available for Healing Touch, Reiki, and Clarity Breathwork sessions Monday through Friday, 10 am to 8 pm, in the Temescal Area of Oakland, California

Preparing For Surgery: A Healing Touch Practitioner Shares A Story

Healing Touch Practitioner Katie Huff Oberlin
Healing Touch Practitioner  Katie Huff Oberlin

“Like a ripple in a pond, when we heal ourselves, our energy sends a vibration and frequency that heals others and helps to heal the world.”

 – Katie Huff Oberlin

I am constantly inspired by other healers. Katie Huff Oberlin uses a “heart-centered approach to healthcare through Healing Touch and Shamanic Healing.” She has a practice in the Chicago area called Holistic Connections and an engaging blog on healing.

Check out her story “Preparing For Surgery.” It’s a simple, practical example of how helpful Healing Touch can be.

Thank you, Katie!

Jeri Lawson is available for Healing Touch, Reiki, and Clarity Breathwork sessions Monday through Friday, 10 am to 8 pm, in the Temescal Area of Oakland, California

 

Healing Touch California’s 10th Annual Regional Symposium

HT CA Conf 2016
Self-care at the Symposium

Last weekend was Healing Touch California’s 10th Annual Regional Symposium in Redwood City.

I write a lot about my healing community, and that is because it is such an inspiration for me. As the sole owner of a healing business, the chance to talk with other Healing Touch Practitioners a valuable opportunity. At the conference there were many Practitioners who have been doing healing work for over 20 years.

The two keynote speakers on Sunday were excellent. Alice Percy Strauss, LSHC, CYT, CATY, CRI, Founder/Director of Yogatsu® Institute and Barbara Evans, founder of Crystal Wings Healing Art were engaging and clearly expressed the passionate they have in the work that they do. In the photo to the left, I am getting a Hand Reflexology session with Marcie Hintz, Certified Japanese Foot Acupressure Therapist, who studies with Alice Percy.

One conversation that was particularly interesting to me at this moment in my energetic practice was with Rita Kluny. Rita was certified in Healing Touch in 1994, and has over 35 years of nursing experience in Neonatal Intensive Care. She took all her Healing Touch classes with Healing Touch’s founder, Janet Mentgen. She gave a workshop on Healing Touch for Babies.

I can’t talk about the symposium and not mention Karen Drucker.  Her musical and spiritual presence touched everyone. What an amazing human being.

After the 11th Healing Touch symposium next April, I will have to schedule a day off just so I can write a longer post about it.

Jeri Lawson is available for Healing Touch, Reiki, and Clarity Breathwork sessions Monday through Friday, 10 am to 8 pm, in the Temescal Area of Oakland, California

“Reiki Hands of Love” Healing Music by Deuter

This creates the perfect space for a gentle and nurturing healing session.

Jeri Lawson has a full-time healing practice in the Temescal Area of Oakland, California. She is available for Healing Touch, Reiki, Distance Healings and Clarity Breathwork Monday through Friday.

510-601-9632

jerilawson@mac.com

Healing Touch Is Good for Business

IMG_3315“I recently came to Jeri for Healing Touch. I knew I had mental and emotional blocks that were holding me back in my business.

During the session I could feel releases of energy and toxins and I have never felt such surges of energy and I should mention I’ve been a massage therapist since 1989!

I had to go home and lay down afterwards, just to let my body and mind integrate this powerful experience.

The most amazing thing is…I’ve had at least 6 new client inquiries in the past two days and my energy has shifted in a noticeable way. Just this morning a close friend remarked that my face looked different from the last time she saw me, just a week prior. I’m still feeling the effects of this Healing Touch session and I want another!”

Ida Friedman, Lymph Drainage Therapist

Jeri Lawson is available for Healing Touch, Reiki, and Clarity Breathwork sessions Monday through Friday, 10 am to 8 pm, in the Temescal Area of Oakland, California

Healing: A Personal Story

IMG_0322
Berkeley On His Way To Surgery

Reiki makes a difference.

My dog Berkeley was born with a few dental issues. Four of his upper teeth were cutting into his lower jaw, causing inflammation that would eventually lead to an infection in his lower jaw. After careful research, I scheduled his surgery on a Friday of last February.

The surgery went well, but after three days Berkeley started bleeding. I will spare you the details, but I have never seen such a small animal lose so much blood, and lose it so fast. It was horrible. Was it from the surgery? Did he eat a chicken bone?

After a trip to the vet, I found out it was a reaction to his pain medication. I was very relieved to find it wasn’t something worse, but Berkeley was still far from well. He was given medication for his colon and had to eat boiled chicken and rice until his digestion returned to normal. That meant he had to poop, which might take as long as three days.

Berkeley was feeling pretty bad. When we got home from the animal hospital, he got out of the car and just rolled over on the garage floor because he was so tired. It was scary and heart-breaking.

IMG_0078
Berkeley Healing

As soon as I carried Berkeley inside, I started giving him Reiki with both hands. It was cold and rainy outside, and my hands were warm with energy. Berkeley turned over on his back and snuggled in for all he could get.

I have never seen any person or animal take in so much Reiki as my nineteen-pound dog did over those three days. For about a year before the surgery, Berkeley and I had been meditating and sharing Reiki every morning. We were doing a beautiful Reiki meditation I learned in Kathleen Prasad’s Animal Reiki courses, that does not require touch. Now, though, he wanted Reiki with my hands on him.

My boyfriend Geoffrey is also a Reiki Practitioner, and we both gave Berkeley Reiki throughout the evenings, often all three of us sharing Reiki at the same time. Berkeley comes to work with me, so he also had Reiki between clients during the day.

When giving Reiki to animals, the animals let you how much they want, and I watched carefully for any signs of Reiki over-saturation. Berkeley always turned over asked for more. There were even times when he was so uncomfortable he did not want to be petted, but he always wanted my hands on him for Reiki.
Doing continual healing work with Berkeley was a profound experience. Many times during those three days there was no “me” giving Reiki, there was no “Berkeley” receiving Reiki, there was just this beautiful, peaceful, loving connection. There was just this space where we were all connected, and everything was ok, really ok. It’s impossible to describe fully.

What could have been an emotionally stressful time became a great gift with Reiki. If you are the least bit interested in learning to share Reiki with your animal, you can start by checking out Kathleen Prasad’s book “Reiki For Dogs.” Even if you have never done energy work before, do one of her “Try This” exercises and see what happens. You may be amazed.2016031695105327

I would like to thank The Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital, Dr. Isaacson, Reiki Teacher Kathleen Prasad, Sharon, Maurine, Neal, Terese, Bruce, Mojo, my Mom and Geoffrey Matsumoto for all your support during Berkeley’s recovery.

Jeri Lawson is available for Healing Touch, Reiki, and Clarity Breathwork sessions Monday through Friday, 10 am to 8 pm, in the Temescal Area of Oakland, California