coming out of my shell

coming out of my shell

Friday, February 3, 2017

Grounding myself

I went to see a Reiki master two weeks ago. Yep, my first time. I am open to and accepting of just about anything that doesn't hurt innocent people. But in my tight-fisted universe if it is not paid for by my health insurance, I usually don't go.

This Reiki master was having a sale, and you KNOW how hard it is to resist a sale! She's been learning Pranic Healing and needed warm bodies to practice on. My ailment? Anxiety, of course. What liberal American in their right mind is not experiencing anxiety at this point in time?

In my old stomping grounds in NYS, a practitioner might own an enormous, late 19th century Victorian house in town. S/he might rent apartments in the house to quirky graduate students who occasionally dropped by for tea. Everything she owned would be old, used and obviously potent. S/he would have ancient houseplants and overindulged pets.

This Orlando area practitioner lives in a modern, beautiful home in an upscale gated subdivision. Her house was elegantly appointed with stunning artifacts and fine art. The place was exquisitely tasteful. I experienced the sort of cognitive dissonance I suffer from ever since moving to Central Florida. I fear I will never belong here. The real problem is I am not sure I want to. I like old, used, and quirky. Don't get me wrong. She is a good person: kind, calm, and patient. I am the one who struggles with right and wrong.

I was
laid out on her work table like a corpse, with my eyes closed. She worked slowly, walking around my body without touching me, except for my feet. She touched my feet. I wonder why?


The dark behind my closed eyes immediately changed to orange. That was strange; I do not see colors when my eyes are closed. I mentioned it to her. After that we did not speak until she was done. I was aware of her movement around my body, because colors changed depending on where she was. When she was on my left side colors popped, ranging from white to gray to pea green, blue, and yellow; all bubbling together like a lava lamp. When she was on my right the colors exploded into magenta, maroon, pink, orange, and purple. I wish I knew the language of colors, because my unconscious mind was speaking eloquently in that foreign tongue.

When finished, she asked if I saw other colors. I said "Yes, it was like a light show that changed depending on where you were in relation to my body." She told me she had never known that to happen to anyone before. That surprised me, it seemed so obvious and apropos. Perhaps it does happen to others, but people don't mention it?

Her recommendation? Become more grounded. I like clear instructions so I asked,"What exactly does that mean?" "Feel the earth, touch a tree, walk in a forest, dig in the dirt" she replied with a comforting smile. I have been weeding my garden beds ever since, feeling the sandy Florida soil and claiming it as my own. Truthfully I do feel less anxious, even as the world falls apart around me. 



28 comments:

  1. Well, interesting. And obviously good for you and the new colour schemes of your garden. No, I am not mocking anything. I've been to a Reiki healer myself.

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    1. I don't know why I never went before. It was fun.

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  2. Many hugs. I hope as you ground yourself the anxiety lessens. Float around the pool for me, will you? It might help.

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    1. We won't open the pool back up until the first week in April - the water temp is too cold until then because of overnight lows. However, I will put a note on my calendar to swim for Chilly Hollow when the time is right.

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  3. And I have snow banked around the colchicum that shot bravely through in January. At the old house, the anemones are up. I haven't seen the ones I planted here, but they are brand new little puppies. I could use some dirt right now. We have found a couple of round rocks to balance on our flat stones.

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    1. I miss those late winter/early spring flowers. It will be fun for you to see the new ones come up.

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  4. I wish i could go to her,most of the time i feel anxiuos.

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  5. I would like to try that, too. I'm feeling a whole lot of nothing today. All I want to do is eat and crawl back into my bed.

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    1. If not Reiki, then any number of other things could have the same effect. You asked on your blog what others do when they are feeling blue and I didn't feel comfortable answering directly on your blog. But I will tell you here. When I am depressed to the point that I no longer derive joy, then I see a therapist, take antidepressants, start exercising, stop drinking (if I must...I really like to drink), and generally do whatever I possibly can to feel better. Whatever it takes. Life is hard, and we are only human. Sometimes we need a jump start. Do something you have never done before, but have always wanted to do. You are a really special person. When you are happy, you light up the world.

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  6. I've never been to a Reiki master, it sounds interesting. I love your description of NY and Florida, and your hands in the soil. Yes, feeling grounded. I had a therapist in the 1970s who wanted to help me feel grounded. I learned some things and forgot others. I think deep breaths and long walks help too. We're all in this together.

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    1. Yes, we are. And I'm happy to be in it with people like you!

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  7. I think she may have touched your feet because it is the belief that energy flows from your head to your feet. When my mom was dying the local Hospice offered free Reiki once a week. It was amazing. I would sleep so well afterwards.

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    1. Oh wow! Many, many thanks for letting me know that about "head to feet." How wonderful that your local Hospice offered free Reiki. I could cry just thinking about how kind and thoughtful it was.

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    2. It was. Absolutely beautiful souls.

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  8. I like the recommendation on how to reduce stress. Getting in touch with the earth should be calming to us all.

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    1. It really is! I'm never happier than when I'm working in the garden or walking a forest path.

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  9. Your experience sounds really nice. Getting grounded by working in the ground does help my anxiety.

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    1. Soon it will be spring and we can wallow in real dirt instead of just the horrifying virtual kind.

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  10. I'm reading a wonderful book right now, "The Secret Life Of Trees" which seems to fit so well with this post and feeling grounded. I've always loved trees and they always make me feel better. But they have a life all their own. It's a good read.

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    1. I think I bought that book for my husband for Christmas one year. I am going to go poke around in his bookshelf and see if it is there. :)

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    2. I was mistaken about the title. It's "The Hidden Life of Trees".

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  11. I'm glad you got some useful and calming information from your visit. Sounds fascinating.

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  12. Sounds like you had a Wonderful Calming Experience. Wish Insurance Plans gave us more choice rather than forcing Western Medicine upon us all. Dawn... The Bohemian

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    1. I would definitely go a few times a year if it was covered.

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  13. One of my favorite quotes (don't know the source) is "You are nearer to God in a garden than anywhere else on earth." I would go to alternative healers instead of regular docs all the time if only the insurance would pay for it. They'll pay for ridiculous amounts of RX drugs and can't realise we wouldn't need them if we were back in touch with the old ways and mother nature. Or maybe it's because they're in cohoots with big pharma - crooks all! I've tried reiki and acupuncture both and would love to go more often. That book about trees is on my to read list too!

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    1. Yes, I thought for sure I had that book, but must have left it behind when we moved. We're on the same page Molly!

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So, whadayathink?