My Story –

Healing Journey with Sekhem Reiki

I knew I was different since I was a young child, but never could explain how I felt different than what I observed in other people’s behavior.  The adults in my life simply did not speak about these things.  An observer of energy and people all my life, I didn’t realize I was picking up on so much through body language, tone of voice, the manner in which sentences were put together, feeling their energy, at times understanding the reason for why a person was the way they were – within minutes of meeting them. 

The first time I can recall this occurring I was about four years old. While sitting in a shopping cart at the grocery store with my parents browsing the shelves for items on their shopping list. They were completely unaware of what was going on inside my mind, body and spirit.  I remember seeing a man wearing a tan flannel shirt who looked very sad.  He stopped in his tracks and we locked eyes – he stared at me and I at him for what felt like 10 minutes.  As a child, time was an illusion.  As an adult it still feels this way for me.  Anyway, I remember he wasn’t looking just into my eyes, he was looking deeply into my soul.  Looking back I don’t know if he was aware this was happening and I don’t think it was his intention to stop and stare.  It wasn’t scary, I remember physically feeling the energy exchange, I could feel tingly all over my skin – sort of what it feels like when you put your tongue on a 9V battery – my energy flowing with ease seemingly out of my pores, a wafting veil that just oozed away from me and toward him.  I was exchanging energy with this human.  I recall wanting to give him some of my energy so he would feel and be happy again.  It occurred so quickly, and the minute our energies disconnected, I could feel mine refilling inside of my body immediately. 

He went on about his day and I couldn’t tell you if I ever saw this human again.  I was unsure if sending him my energy changed anything about his life for many years.  As an adult and from my understanding of energy exchange, how open and intuitive children (and animals are), and viewing life from my adult lens I am absolutely sure that in some way I shared joy and love with the man, and I hope it was the catalyst for which he was able to see his own life in a new, more invigorating way.  I can recall several more instances similar to this encounter up until I turned about 12 years old and then it took 20 years for me to truly remember and fully believe in my natural gift of being able to heal and soothe people with just my presence alone.  There’s many reasons for this, however that’s a whole other blog post – to come.  

After grad school, in one of my first jobs out of school I ran into a wonderful co-worker with whom I’ve shared many great and insightful conversations.  She asked me if I had ever heard of the Enneagram test (https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test).  I hadn’t and was immediately intrigued.  I’ve been interested in Astrology and Tarot since I was in my teens.  In many ways, I was trying to explain what I see, hear and feel that other people cannot – to no avail through these modalities.  Except that I’m a Pisces Sun and highly creative and dreamy.  Anyway, I took the online Enneagram test and discovered my number and we each discussed our own, comparing and contrasting.  During the conversation she spoke about a friend who does not have an inner dialogue in his mind at all times.  I joked, “Jeesh, wouldn’t it be nice to quiet the many conversations and inner dialogue I consistently have”.  We laughed together, knowing what the other person meant.  Prior to this I had no understanding that many people walk this earth without constant “chatter” in their minds. 

So, I began exploring modalities and learning more about the mind and energy – how things work by themselves and when integrated.  All the while pursuing degrees in psychology and then occupational therapy (still attempting to find answers for that which I didn’t even know at the time I was seeking).  To address my own childhood traumas, I went to a variety of Western mental health therapists utilizing CBT (https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral) and DBT (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22838-dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt) techniques, and other talk-based therapies.  I found some relief to vent and talk about past traumas, but it never felt like there was a change in how I was feeling about myself or within myself. 

Eventually, I was referred to a LCSW (Licenced Clinical Social Worker) who specialized in trauma and addiction work, and used EMDR (https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/ ).  It was the first time I started to feel like myself again – which was wonderful and terrifying all the same.  I had been very disconnected from my true self for so long and was now at sea as a new captain in a place I had no idea about and no real destination. I remained with sea legs for some time, then began searching for different types of healing with the encouragement of a friend who practices Usui Reiki. 

It was here that a shift in my life began to occur. 

I found Reiki and Shaman healing, as well as ancient Japanese chakra clearing and entity attachment clearing to be profoundly helpful in ways that western psychology wasn’t touching or reaching for me at that time in my healing journey. These modalities helped to soothe all the trauma that had been stirred up in EMDR therapy sessions – and seemed to clear it away – in some way. The closest western technique that brought relief was EMDR. It may have been the mind/body connection that occurs in the modality that brought relief. I am unsure fully, but it opened up my ability to have the most self-confidence and self-love that I had been able to find through Western understanding of mental health and wellness. CBT was helpful for the Virgo Moon/Rising in me that needs all things to be categorically sorted and filed.  But, the Pisces Sun in me was dying from the boredom and inability to nourish my physical body through all the mental talk/organization that occurred.  I do find CBT and DBT to be a helpful tools for many people and I still use many of the tools I learned through this therapy even today. 

Over time, I have come to believe that until we move trauma and emotional “stuff” out of the physical body and shift the energy in some way, it can remain “stuck” in the body, and at times unable to be accessed by the mind to even begin to process.  For my healing journey, I continue to integrate a mixture of movement-based therapy, holistic/alternative therapies and mental/talk therapy as a combination to benefit me the most holistically.  We humans are complex indeed.  I also believe that everyone has a unique healing path and there is no “wrong” way to heal as long as the person/others are not being harmed (which is a whole other conversation and very highly debated). 

All the healing I’ve done up to now has driven me to become attuned to provide Sekhem Reiki healing for myself and others. It also led me to create this business (www.healingspiritandsoul.com) to help others on their healing journey.  One day, I aim to teach Sekhem Reiki to others all over the world.  And, fulfill many more big dreams of which my heart desires.  Creating this business has meant unapologetically stepping into my authentic self for the first time in my life, so that I may give the gift of healing in a way that makes sense to my soul.  To my understanding of holistic health and well-being. 

Not only has it been a journey of learning many new logistics of running a business – taxes and rules – all that mumbo jumbo, but it has deeply been an experience of really looking at myself and discovering myself through depths I had not yet traveled.  It has meant venturing to places within myself that I dared not go before to weed out old traumas, old ways of thinking, wade through imposter syndrome (by no means do I intend to mean this is over), and the concern with what others may think.  The echoes of doubt calling to me saying who is actually going to value the services I provide.  The whispers of shadows bellowing are you insane? – You’re leaving a stable career!

However, it was one in which I was very unhappy, burnt out and felt something was missing.  To my delightful surprise, when I told colleagues I was going to pursue my love of energy healing no one was bewildered, no one thought it was a wild idea, and instead encouragement poured out from the mouths of people I admire and adore.  Only encouragement where my brain told me there would be disgust and resistance – that was only my old feelings of self doubt and old narratives I’ve repeated all too often creeping back in – or trying to – they continue to fail to win the battle for my peace and happiness. 

All the healing I’ve done up to now has driven me to create this business to help others on their healing journey.  One day, I aim to teach Sekhem Reiki to others.  And many more big dreams.  Creating this business has meant unapologetically stepping into my authentic self for the first time in my life, so that I may give the gift of healing in a way that makes sense to my soul.  To my understanding of holistic health and well-being.  Not only has it been a journey of learning many new logistics of running a business – taxes and rules – all that mumbo jumbo, but it has deeply been an experience of really looking at myself and discovering myself through depths I had not yet traveled.  It has meant venturing to places within myself that I dared not go before to weed out old traumas, old ways of thinking, wade through imposter syndrome (by no means do I intend to mean this is over), and the concern with what others may think.  The echoes of doubt calling to me saying who is actually going to value the services I provide.  The whispers of shadows bellowing are you nuts? -You’re leaving a stable career!

However, it was one in which I was very unhappy, burnt out and felt something was missing.  To my surprise, when I told colleagues I was going to pursue my love of energy healing no one was bewildered, no one thought it was a wild idea, and instead encouragement poured out from the mouths of people I admire and adore.  Only encouragement where my brain told me there would be disgust and resistance – that was only my old feelings of self doubt and old narratives I’ve repeated all too often creeping back in – or trying to – they continue to fail to win the battle for my peace and happiness. 

I wish to be a partner on your healing journey on this wild ride called life. Try a Sekhem Reiki healing session today: http://www.healingspiritandsoul.com/services/