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My Personal Reiki Wow Story

This is my personal Reiki Wow story. On Tuesday, I had two visits to Western medical practices. One was for a reaction to Moderna’s bilateral booster for Covid-19. The second was for scheduled cortisone shots in my osteoarthritic feet. It was the first time I received treatment for both feet in an appointment.

It Starts with the Booster

I received my first Covid-19 booster shot on Friday morning, five days prior. Although concerned about side effects, since I like to travel, it’s a risk I was willing to take.

Each morning I connect to my Spiritual team of guides, angels, and other helpers from God to set my energy for the day. So I took a second opportunity Thursday night concerning my health. I asked archangels Michael and Rafael to protect me from adverse reactions from the injection, especially anything that would interfere with my upcoming trip on a Viking River Cruise.

Immediate After Effects

The injection was painless; I knew it was done when I felt the pharmacist place the bandaid over the site.

Then I stood up and felt dizzy immediately. It was minor, but I thought to ask the pharmacist.

“Do I have to sit for ten minutes before I do my shopping?”

“Oh no, this isn’t like the first two shots. We were the human guinea pigs then. They perfected it now.”

I agreed with his assessment and carefully returned to the entrance to pick up a cart. But unfortunately, the dizziness stayed with me until I sat in my car. Then it returned as I took my two small bags into the house.

The Next 48 Hours

My symptoms were much less severe than I experienced with the second Moderna shot in the fall of 2021. But I noticed the fever during the night, occasional chills, and a general feeling of malaise.

The injection site became increasingly painful, and I had new symptoms by Sunday. I’ll spare you the specifics, but there were bouts of gastrointestinal distress.

Now I’m Getting Worried

My upper arm was swollen and hot to the touch, and there was a red patch the size of a deck of cards. The itchiness was most pronounced at night, but I felt well enough during the day to take the dog for a short walk and pull some weeds in a shrub bed.

Finally, I called my nurse practitioner’s office, and they scheduled me for an appointment at 8:45 am Tuesday. It worked well since my cortisone injections were at 11:15 am, twenty miles away. And there was a Walgreens in between.

Amidst all this, I’d noticed an apparent sty on my right eye. I was headed out of the country in a week and needed to handle any preexisting conditions. I mentioned it to the intake nurse. Then, knowing that my cup of coffee and general anxiety could elevate my borderline hypertension, I took a few calming breaths and gently closed my eyes as the cuff was placed on my non-injection arm. When I heard 136/84, I was amazed.

Katie Miller, FNP-C, explained she had seen many injection site reactions from Covid booster vaccines in her office. Additionally, she shared it takes her about five days to recover fully from boosters, noting it was primarily minor exhaustion. Finally, she prescribed two ointments; a topical for the itching on my arm and an antibiotic for my burgeoning eye infection.

Rather than feeling let down by my less-than-perfect booster experience, I felt in awe that my spiritual team revealed and addressed my unknown health issue.

And Now for the WOW

In preparation for the dreaded cortisone shots in two hours, I’d arranged for a fellow Reiki practitioner to give me a long-distance session. We texted as I waited in my podiatrist’s office to be called into the exam room. Our reiki connection had begun in earnest as soon as we thought of each other. I feel it now, even in a place of memory.

The nurse escorts me to the last exam room and starts the prep work. She sounded apprehensive when I told her there would be two shots. But by this time, I’m in such a calm state that my reaction is as an observer.

I lower my gaze before Dr. Robinson enters the room. The reiki connection is in full bloom. First, I feel the numbing coolness as a liquid flows over my right foot. The next sensation is the same coolness of a fluid flowing over my left foot. Finally, I sense the procedures are complete and open my eyes.

“Wow. I didn’t feel the needle’s prick, the pressure against my joint, or the discomfort of anything. That’s a first! But I confess. I was using reiki with the help of a second long-distance practitioner.”

Dr. Robinson is usually non-verbal. As a result, some would say he lacks a warm bedside manner. But this time, he initiated a conversation about my upcoming trip, sharing his experience exploring Europe while stationed at an air force base in England. I remember thinking, who is this guy? But, of course, I loved every minute of my extended visit.

Two realities seem apparent.

    1. The calming effects of reiki can alleviate pain by changing our physical and mental focus.
    2. This effect extends to others nearby.

An Invitation for You

Did you like my personal reiki wow story? Would you like some of that, too? Here’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss.  Signup for my newsletter and I will offer you, my reader, an exceptional 30-minute reiki experience for $22. Hurry because this offer expires on May 11, 2023.

With loving compassion,
Dawn

Do the Work

How often have you heard “Do the work” concerning self-discovery and healing? Our reaction varies depending on the circumstances. I’ve felt confused, angry, and determined. Now I feel a deep sense of understanding from digging deep into my shadow side.

A Piece of the Journey

Today I’m offering a glimpse into my experience that may provide hope. First, of course, it would be nice if I could hand you an action list for finding your direct route to do the work. But, for me, the trip has been circuitous.

As I started writing, I was sidetracked by a desire to look back at the first time I saw my natal chart. Then, I was drawn to reading my notes from the astrologer C. A. Brooks. Finally, I remembered to date my notes. It was June 11, 2014, in Denver, Colorado.

Pondering the phrase, be the teacher and student, reminded me how much I’ve learned by sharing here. Other words loomed; balance, refine, leadership, allow. When desired behaviors are challenging, they come up again and again.

How I Dug Deep

On May 5, 2021, I had a session with Katie Klein on using the Radical Forgiveness worksheet developed by Colin Tipping. Again, I felt the potential for deep healing during the process but also my resistance. So, like the organized person I am, I saved the file and didn’t think about it again until recently. Multiple times, I’ve heard references to Radical Forgiveness. So, I took action.

Over the last month, I’ve completed four worksheets with my most significant relationships. But I’m not finished. So there is a blank one sitting on the table next to me. It isn’t intimidating, but I like having it handy when my intuition says, “It’s time.”

How Did I Know it was Working?

It was emotionally and physically painful. As I read each step on the worksheet aloud, the answer came to my mind. Then I surrendered to the deep emotions. Between the tears and gasps for air, I vocalized my feelings and wrote them down.

I’m not alone in this. Fellow healers Meredith Johnson, Migdalia Rodriguez, and Mary Toland Shaw support my shadow work with personal healing sessions and spiritual coaching. Their insight, compassion, and comfort brought me more profound healing of old wounds.

In the past, I’ve sought clinical therapists who also helped me through more obvious turning points; post-menopausal depression, the suicide of my spouse, and sudden public emotional outbursts.

Please, don’t give up. You deserve happiness and fulfillment. Your unique experiences are gifts to open, appreciate, and move forward with the universe’s support. Each step brings you closer to the life you are meant to enjoy.

Discover Your Uniqueness

I invite you to click on any healing modalities I’ve mentioned. Or, if you feel too overwhelmed, follow this guide to calm your anxiety and further explore your next step.

With love and compassion,
Dawn

Review of Close-Up on War

My review of Close-Up on War: The Story of Pioneering Photojournalist Catherine Leroy is on Amazon and Goodreads. However, I wanted to delve deeper into this book’s impact on me.

First Impressions

Although I’ve never wanted to read a book about the Vietnam War, the cover photograph pulled me in. It amazed me that I’d never heard of Catherine Leroy. Multiple posts on social media about the impact of women during this month were the final push to influence my purchase.

After unwrapping my copy, I photographed it on the feminine purple tissue paper, lovingly surrounding the gritty contents.

The quality of the paper in the book was like nothing I’d ever seen. Flipping through, it was apparent why the pages were high quality. It is littered with award-winning photographs by Catherine Leroy, her contemporaries, and official agencies.

As I began reading, I felt disappointed. Early chapters review the history of Viet Nam and set up the reader’s knowledge of the area. This type of information has always felt dry to me. Furthermore, I was thirteen in 1967 and saw live news reports about the conflict in Vietnam.

It seemed unnecessary to me until I began to imagine the young women reading this book. Then my attitude softened, and Mary Cronk Farrell’s words permeated my entire being.

My Interest Began to Rise

First, I appreciated the setup of terms in Chapter One once I started reading about Catherine Leroy’s connection to Southeast Asia. Then each chapter became more and more enjoyable.

I couldn’t put it down by the morning of my third reading day. So I finished it before eating a late breakfast near noon, tears running down my cheeks.

In Conclusion

The rawness of Catherine’s experience is not for everyone, but her story is remarkable. I felt like I was there with Catherine Leroy as she began her career in photojournalism. As I continued to read how she broke the barriers of a woman photographing the horrors of war, my heart soared. This tiny woman stood tall among her male peers in courage, tenacity, humility, and compassion.

Mary Cronk Farrell has written a book that inspires all women to trust their instincts and follow their dreams. I gave my review of Close-Up on War five stars.