Maria Teresa De Donato, Ph.D.,
Traditional Naturopath, Homeopath, Life Strategist, Author
Reiki Healing
-
Interview with Erin Travers -
Reiki Master Teacher
There are several factors that
distinguish natural/alternative/complementary medicine from
conventional/mainstream/allopathic/western modern medicine. In this article we are just going to mention
the fact that contrary to mainstream medicine, all holistic methodologies take
into account
a)
the mind, body and spirit components, this includes not
only the physical body per se, but also the psychological, emotional, mental and spiritual
characteristics of each individual at any given time and
b) the role and importance that invisible factors – such
as energy flow, energy stagnation and level of vibration – play in our health
and wellness.
Although to some people this
might sound as something theoretical and almost mystical, in reality it is very
practical, objective, down-to-earth and scientific. As a matter of fact, in the last few decades
and even more so in the last relatively few years, through some breakthroughs in
different disciplines such as Quantum Physics and Biology, Science has been
able to better understand and give an explanation to phenomena that have always
been known by ancient and native civilizations.
The latter, despite not being able to fully comprehend the dynamics,
reasons and physical laws behind these phenomena, accepted them, nonetheless,
as realities, as the manifestation of something Higher than them, not visible
and whose activity and power would, consequently, be shown during ceremonial rituals they employed for both
spiritual and physical purification and healing purposes.
In recent times, therefore,
millions of people in our western world have approached, used or even become
practitioners of holistic methodologies which specifically focus on the use of
energy: among the latter, we find vibrational medicine, chakra and aura
cleansing, Kundalini activation and Reiki healing.
Today, it is with great pleasure
that I am going to introduce you Erin Travers, a Reiki Master Teacher, who has
been practicing this method for some 25 years in beautiful New
Zealand .
T: Welcome Erin , and thank you so much for being with us
today.
E: Thank you so much for inviting
me, Teresa
T:
E: I have always had an interest in natural health, alternative medicine,
and folk remedies.
I’ve had a fascination for stones and crystals
forever and used herbs from very young. In 1992, with a young child and new 6 months
old I was feeling very post natal, after having a delivery that was somewhat
traumatic on my physical body. I had some very painful scarring that had healed
quickly but left me with very sensitive scar tissue that made life extremely
difficult. I had a couple of friends who recommended that I go for some healing
and sent me to a wonderful little healing centre that offered an array of
healing modalities.
I met a woman there who had the most beautiful
energy about her and she gave me a Reiki healing treatment and told me I should
follow up with two more a week apart. The Reiki session was incredible and I
felt an incredible warmth which I later learnt was the energy transfer going
on. A few days later, between my first and second visit, I discovered that the
scarring had gone! Now without going into gory details, I want to emphasise the
fact that this scarring was very painful, very debilitating, and had not
undergone any changes since a few weeks after delivery.
And in the space of a couple of days it had
vanished! No sign of it at all. I pretty much skipped into the healing centre
to see her for my next visit and jumped for joy, declaring “I have to learn how
to do this to give this out to the world!”
and so I did.
T: That must certainly have been an amazing experience. Thank you for
sharing it with us. Erin, how can we define Reiki?
E: Reiki is a particular style of energy healing
that originates from Japan
Reiki will send healing to the areas of your
mind, body, or spirit that needs it. It will only work for your highest good,
and is completely non-invasive. It will complement any other treatment going on
as well, whether it’s surgical, medicinal or physical therapy of some sort, and
of course it works beautifully with other natural health practices.
T: Could you walk us through one of your Reiki sessions so that those
who are not familiar with it might have a better idea of what Reiki really consists
of?
E: I usually have a chat to my clients to
understand how they have come to me that day, and if there are any health
concerns in particular. I explain what happens during a session and ask them to
lie comfortably on the treatment bed. I have dim lighting and soft music
playing… it’s a very soothing relaxing atmosphere. My client lies on the bed
fully clothed, only removing shoes and outer layers as they wish (jackets or
jumpers).
I start at the head end usually and holding my
hands just above their body, or resting gently on the skin, I follow a pattern
of hand positions covering the main chakras but also other parts as my
intuition tells me. The client may simply feel a warm sensation or they feel
pleasant tingles, strong magnetic energy or even see colours. Some people like
to chat a little throughout the session, this is often the case when they’re
carrying emotional hurt – getting things off their chest is very beneficial and
of course confidentiality is paramount. I have had very emotional clients at
times, I simply let them talk, cry, express whatever they want. I give them
tissues and quietly continue. The healing energy helps them release what they
need to and every single one has said how much better they felt after. The
common descriptions of a session are of deeply relaxing, a sense of release (of
tensions, worries, nervousness…), and feeling refreshed afterwards. Some who
have physical concerns will feel ease straight away but if the condition is
chronic it can take a while longer to relieve.
I feel the energy too, in my hands. I allow
myself to be guided to the areas of theirs which need the healing, but by
following the chakras those energy wheels are cleansed and refreshed which
enables the body to heal itself. Homeostasis is the natural state of our body -
it is the imbalance that causes illness and injury: dis-ease.
I will discuss the energy I feel, letting the
client know. However, I always emphasise that I do not diagnose. For instance,
a lot of energy going on in the lower abdomen of a young woman could indicate
gastrointestinal issues, or perhaps she is pregnant? Or menstruating? However
she could simply still be digesting lunch. If I were to suggest a condition it
could play on the mind of the client and cause stress – that is in direct
opposition to the aim of a healing session.
Each Reiki Practitioner has their own particular
method of doing things; we each bring something of ourselves to our practice. I
like to finish my session with an aura cleanse. This is where I ‘scrub’ the
aura with piece of rainbow fluorite to clear away the psychic clutter that we
collect as we go through our day. The reiki session in itself does cleanse the
whole being but this is an extra touch to wind up. I do this using my hands
several inches above their body – not touching at all. Some of my clients have
sensed the movement even though they are lying with eyes shut, perhaps facing
down at this point.
T: Very interesting. Thank you for this quite detailed description of
your sessions. Erin, If Reiki uses the Cosmic Energy that is all around us,
outside and inside all that is, and which is usually called Qi, Chi, Prana,
Life Force, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to refer to it as Qi (Chi, Prana,
Life Force) Energy and Reiki Method rather than to Reiki Energy as we often
hear? What is your personal opinion on the matter?
E: Personally, I think these words are our human
labels for a phenomenon that is apparent worldwide. There are many words for
the sun in many different languages, but they all refer to the some bright
light in the sky.
I think energy is universal and transcends
language, culture, and human rules. The healing energy of the universe doesn’t
mind which particular practice we learn or teach. It doesn’t mind what language
we use. A name is simply a label. The name indicates more of the method of
teaching, and the human path through our learning that brings us to where we
are at the present point. I prefer to call my work simply Reiki. I am a Reiki
practitioner and that’s what I teach. As I mentioned earlier, we all bring
something personal to our practice. Individuals will add their touch to Reiki,
or whatever their modality is. But the energy that flows is simply pure energy.
I simply act as a conduit or channel to enable the client to receive it.
T: That’s truly beautifully explained! Thank you. Erin, some people who
are not familiar with how energy flow works, let alone with Reiki, might object
that these kinds of hands-on practices might involve some sort of “channeling”,
this implying that the practitioner becomes an instrument in the hands of
spiritual entities. How would you respond to such an objection?
E: I reassure my clients that Reiki is a pure
healing method; Reiki only works for your highest good. Describing myself as a
‘hollow reed’ is a phrase I picked up from one of my teachers. She is a gentle
soul and these words really felt right – they seem to feel right to my clients
too. Explaining that the energy is all around, and that I simply help ‘connect’
them to it reassures them that I am not ‘pushing’ anything onto them. I also remind
them that their own brain has the power to shut out anything they don’t wish to
receive.
T: This might reassure those readers who are not familiar with the
dynamics of energy. Do you personally believe that, when it comes to this
energy emanating from our hands… we all, as human beings, are provided with and
potentially able to use it or that only some of us are gifted with it, hence able
to really employ this energy in order to help people who are ill to benefit
from it?
E: I do think that in some ways this energy is
available to all of us. However, I also think that to be able to connect to
this energy, to be receptive – we need to be vibrating at a higher level than
humans usually do. I think ego has got in the way for most. Anger, jealousy,
greed, selfishness… these are all emotions humans seem quite attached to but
these are the things that hold them down. By living in harmony with your
environment you will naturally raise your vibration and sense these higher
energies. Those who choose to actively learn will raise it too.
T: Do you think that there are locations, countries, areas on this
planet that facilitate energy flow, hence this kind of practices such as Reiki
or not? What is your personal
understanding of this specific aspect?
E: Oh Absolutely! There are patterns to energy and
vibrations. And of course this beautiful earth we live on is made up of amazing
rocks and crystals all of which have their own energy vibration. Throughout
history (and longer) mankind has felt drawn to certain areas where the energy
feels a certain way, and have used these energies, and these particular sites.
T: In the introduction to our interview, I also mentioned vibrational
medicine, chakra and aura cleansing and Kundalini activation. Does Reiki
somehow relate to them or not? And if yes, how and to what extent?
E: Our bodies are made up of atoms holding
together by vibrating… it’s the precise vibration that we give off, and are
drawn to that creates good healthy balances – or the not-so-good imbalances
that cause illness. Reiki is a powerful and yet gentle method of using energy
to heal. Reiki helps maintain our energetic self and keep those energy wheels
moving well. Reiki is one of many methods of energy work; it’s incredibly
simple in its practice and is also incredibly effective. I think it feels quite
‘pure’ due to its simplicity.
I practice self-Reiki every day. That self-care
has carried me through some challenging times mentally, physically, emotionally
and spiritually.
Reiki has the ability to balance your chakras,
flood an area of imbalance with healing, release past trauma, and clear and
strengthen your aura to protect you from outside negative energies.
T: Thank you so much for having taken the time to be with us today,
E: Reiki can transcend time and space, I am able
to send healing energy from my home across the world – I have done frequently
when my children are overseas. Currently I tend to do healing sessions in
Palmerston North New Zealand, I prefer to physically meet my clients, although
I am considering opening up to internet work. I only teach reiki face to face,
as I have been taught that way and feel strongly that to learn Reiki best it
should be in person with a teacher. I
can be reached by email on Reiki_with_Erin@xtra.co.nz or on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Reiki-with-Erin
- and will be happy to discuss anything further.
T: Again, it was a pleasure having you here, Erin.
E: Thank you, Teresa, for
inviting me….
