My friend Kristen Dellaporta left this world on Friday, December 18 after living with metastatic breast cancer with wit, passion, love, and courage. Her motto up until the end, and inked on her arm was, “In grace, in love, be relentless.” French author Émile Zola’s famous pronouncement, “If you ask me what I came to do … Continue reading
At the end of September, I attended my first week of residency in the Certificate in Spiritual Direction program at Columbia Theological Seminary. It was an intense, emotional, and illuminating time spent with lay people and clergy who, like me, felt our ministries could benefit from training in the practice of sacred listening. When we listen … Continue reading
I’m in the middle of a 21 Day Self-Healing practice that Reiki practitioners may be asked to complete as part of their training. I require this practice of my Reiki students, and I will periodically “re-commit” myself as well. Although I have a daily practice, it’s good to do an occasional intensive to dust away the cobwebs. I … Continue reading
I recently held a workshop, where my students and I examined the Five Reiki Principles (sometimes called the Reiki Precepts) and discussed how we can find ways to apply them to our daily life and spiritual practice, During the workshop, I assigned a group exercise for the next 6 weeks. We are mindfully working with … Continue reading
I woke up yesterday feeling pretty good and the first part of the morning went as usual. Then, there was an unexpected change of plans and suddenly, a wave of stress and anxiety hit that I couldn’t shake for hours. That, and the Grumpy Monkey was back, tossing mental banana peels in my path. I … Continue reading
I’ve been working with a Reiki client in the third trimester of pregnancy. One of my joys is to work with mamas-to-be, as well as new mamas and their little ones. As a mother, I deeply respect and honor the sacred journey and process of creation of “mother” and “child” (or “children”!) I feel that … Continue reading
A small group of my Reiki students and I have embarked on a 21 day challenge to support mind/body balance and spiritual development. We are committing to 3 weeks of daily Reiki self-treatment (many of us already do this) combined with an exercise in mindful speech that involves refraining from complaint, gossip, judgment or criticism (self … Continue reading
A life itself 