I don’t know about you, but I like the change of seasons… when it happens, it just feels right.. which of course it is!
We’re having a beautiful start to Autumn this year, and the leaves are slowly starting to fall from the trees, freeing the tree maybe of weight it can no longer sustain. These leaves now form shelter for small creatures and insects, or provide nourishment for the soil. They are released with purpose.
I too am in the process of releasing those things that no longer serve well and by releasing, I am making room for the new.. for (ad)ventures from seeds planted months ago which can now come to fruition.
What’s new?
I am so excited to share details of two new services!
This Autumn sees the launch of my Reiki Training Courses for Children and Teenagers
Reiki is beautiful energy that is within us all and children easily learn how to use it. It empowers them to create or increase their self esteem, help remove or deal with anxiety, improve self confidence, and assist them with the challenges of growing up. The courses will increase belief in themselves and their ability to achieve their goals and dreams.
The courses are available to children between the ages of 5-16 years.
Groups are limited to a maximum of 4, so that each person receives the individual attention they need.
Reiki First and Second Degree Courses are available.
Each course is taught over 5 weeks, with weekly – 2 hour sessions.
I’m sitting in the garden writing this newsletter, enjoying the continued sunshine we have been blessed with over the past few weeks.
I love all of the seasons, but often consider the Summer to be the most disappointing. Disappointing simply because Summer, for me conjures up images of blue skies, sunshine, longer days and clear night skies.. and often, as we know, this isn’t the case.
However, at the Full Moon Circle on 4th June (hosted by The Spiritual Temple at The Hare and The Moon), I was reminded that the Full Moon in Sagittarius is about ‘going with the flow’ – with the flow of life – and to try to do this whatever our circumstances, be that bright blue skies or dark, heavy clouds.
The Full Moon in Sagittarius also reminds me that Life is an adventure; encouraging me to not stagnate, and to continue seeking new adventures.
Celebrations
We are fast approaching the Summer Solstice (June 21st at 4pm).. ‘The Festival of Achievement”. A time to stop and be still and look back on our time since the Winter Solstice; at what we have achieved, and recognise what hasn’t gone so well and learn from it. This too is an achievement!
I’m a very celebratory person (some say I will celebrate the opening of an envelope!).. but the Summer Solstice really is a time for celebrating – celebrating all that we have been blessed with, our achievements, our selves and each other.
It is a time to shine your Light From Within and share your beautiful energy. You will glow!
What are your plans for the Summer Solstice?
I would love to stay up all night and watch the Sun rise on 21st at 04.43 (London Uk time), but in all probability, I will set the alarm to get me up in time for the occasion.
There are new (ad)Ventures in the pipeline for me, which I look forward to sharing with you in the next newsletter. For now, I’ll celebrate and share some of my achievements over the past few years, months and weeks.
6 really great years of marriage to my husband Nick on 3rd June
Using my connection to Reiki to develop my spiritual self and my self healing
Using my connection to Reiki to help empower others to develop spiritually and enable self healing
Developing and hosting a Reiki Share. Bringing a Reiki community together. This is held on the 1st Tuesday of every month at my home TW13 7JG
Developing and hosting a monthly group Reiki Drum Meditation. Held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month in Twickenham TW2 7QB
Becoming The Reiki practitioner at The Hare and The Moon in Twickenham, providing Reiki healing sessions. Available every Thursday 11am-5pm
Having a beautiful connection with Enigma in Ebbw Vale, offering Reiki healing sessions each month – dates vary.
Providing Reiki training courses. Next dates: Reiki Second Degree – July 9th. Reiki First Degree – 6th August.
Having fun and sharing my services at Fayres and Festivals. Next Festival – Wonderful World of Wellbeing at Kempton Park, June 17 & 18th.
If you are interested in any of the services I provide, please feel free to contact me.
And please feel free to reply to this newsletter sharing your achievements too…I would love to hear from you.
It’s the beginning of Spring, a time of newness; the time when the world is ‘waking up’ and blossoming.
We have recently had the first New Moon of Spring, in the sign of Aries – the first sign of the zodiac and we are about to witness the first Full Moon of this year. So, little wonder that I (and maybe you too) are feeling the call for new (ad)Ventures..to meet new people, to do old things differently and to do new things in abundance.
Hence this Newsletter from me, from Light From Within – a new venture.
Compiling this at Full Moon feels absolutely right. Full Moon is a time to reflect on what you have achieved, what has come to fruition, a time to express gratitude and to release whatever is no longer right for you – all in gratitude.
And so on reflection, I know I have achieved much over the past year and flourish with so much more to do. Part of what I need and want to do, is to connect and share what I do with as many as possible, and receive news of their endeavours and ventures in return.
I often hear ‘by chance’ of events that are happening or already happened; events that I would have enjoyed taking part in and would have benefitted from. On reflection, it has occurred to me that you, your friends and your family may be unaware of what I do, what services I offer but may be interested in.
And so this first Newsletter brings you information about and a connection to my services.
My biggest passions are Reiki and Moon work – working with and living by the energy and cycle of the Moon.
Usui Reiki
I provide Reiki in several ways:
Hands-on, Remote, Reiki Drum, Reiki for Pets.
Hands on Reiki is offered at my home in Lower Feltham by appointment and also at The Hare and the Moon in Twickenham every Thursday. I also visit South Wales on a monthly basis and offer Reiki sessions at Enigma in Ebbw Vale based on client need.
Remote Reiki: equivalent to hands-on Reiki but shared over distance. Remote Reiki makes it possible for anyone to benefit from Reiki, no matter where you are. An appointment day and time is agreed and you receive Reiki in the comfort of your home (or place of your choice) from me, in my home. We speak briefly on the ‘phone at the start of the session and again at the end of the session. A session lasts approximately 1 hour.
The Reiki Drum Technique: combining Reiki, drumming and sound healing is a specialised method of using the drum to introduce Reiki energy into your energy field to bring about deep relaxation, release of deep seated tensions and stress. It helps bring your energy system back to it’s optimal vibration, back into balance.
This can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with a traditional Reiki healing session.
I also hold a group Reiki Drum Meditation in Twickenham on the second Tuesday of every month. Next Reiki Drum meditation is on 11th April.. tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite.
Reiki Share: held on the first Tuesday of every month at my home in Lower Feltham. A Reiki share is a wonderful way to be connected to your Reiki community. It is a healing space to experience the power of group Reiki, meet other practitioners , practice, connect and send some Reiki love out into the world. Anyone attuned to Reiki, at any level is welcome.
Reiki Training Courses: Embarking on the Reiki journey is embarking on a journey of self discovery, self healing and spiritual development, and sharing this with an individual is such a privilege. I offer courses at each level (First degree – Shoden, Second Degree – Okuden, and Master/Master Teacher Level – Shinpiden). Becoming connected to Reiki empowers you in so many ways and brings about such positivity, calmness, serenity and more. It brings forth your light from within, and is the reason my business is called Light From Within.
Course dates: First Degree – May 14th 2023. Second Degree – 2nd July
Wellbeing festivals and fayres
I regularly attend festivals and fayres to offer Reiki taster sessions. I will be at Kempton Park race course on 17th/18th June for the Wonderful World of Wellbeing Festival.
Reiki for pets: our pets benefit from the healing energy of Reiki in the same way we do. Animals are well tuned to energy and so it helps with any physical, emotional and behavioural difficulties. I find that it is best for me to visit pets in their own home/environment and sessions last anytime between 10-60 minutes.
Working with the Energy of the Moon
1:1 Bespoke Vision Board Experiences: A one to one workshop held on the day or evening of the New Moon. The experience provides the opportunity to really focus on what you want
TO BE – TO DO -TO HAVE
in order to realise your full potential, for your greatest wellbeing. You receive a personalised Moon chart for the year ahead, that helps to focus on each aspect of your life as the year progresses. We work with the Angels prior to the workshop and each day throughout the 4 weeks of the Lunar cycle.
Coming soon: New Moon gatherings planned to commence this year.
Finally
I hope you have enjoyed this first newsletter, and if you are interested in any of the services I provide, please do contact me.
Please:
Let me know about your services
Let me know if we can collaborate in any way
Let me know if we can exchange services.
I would love to hear from you. It will be great to connect with you.
One of the very best and most precious compliments I have received is related to my work.
In 1990 I was instrumental in establishing and subsequently managing until 1995 our Health Board’s Palliative Care Unit.
Our then Director of Nursing Services made an impromptu visit one day and said to me
“You can actually feel the care as you walk through the doors”
To me, that is the highest accolade a Ward Sister can receive!
Looking back..
I have recently been sorting through memorabilia from my nursing career, and came across an assignment I wrote in 1992.
Today, the detail of what we achieved may seem very small, but I think it possibly set the scene for the changes we now take for granted and feel very proud and grateful to have accomplished this. It was written at a time when patients were expected to conform to the needs of a ward, rather than the other way round; when there were ‘toilet rounds’ and ‘back rounds’ and when many patients felt they lost their identity.
The assignment is a study of the grieving process experienced by patients with a terminal illness. The reason for undertaking this study, was the fact that nurses appeared to be very aware of relatives’ grief both during their loved one’s illness and following their death, but often did not appreciate the patient’s grief – grieving for their life, for unfulfilled dreams and ambitions, grieving for those they were leaving behind.
I noted that many nurses tried to ‘cheer the patients up’ and ‘make light’ of the situation, or withdraw from the patient. Therefore the aim of the study was to increase the nurses’ understanding of and their role in the patient’s grieving process, thereby enabling my ward staff to assist the patient in reaching a stage of acceptance, and for them to hopefully die at peace having been able to share their worries, fears, anger and even thankfulness with someone, with a deeper understanding.
The study was divided into 3 sections:
The stages of the grieving process
The role of the nurse
The effect on the nurse caring for those who are terminally ill.
In this article, I will share sections 2 & 3 with you, as written in 1992.
The main purpose of a Reiki Share is for practitioners to participate in giving and receiving Reiki within an atmosphere of friendship and love.. and for honouring each other in our practice.
It’s always great to be able to take some time out for ourselves, and a Reiki Share is a wonderful way to do that. It is an opportunity to give and receive.. and so, a double boost for our sense of wellbeing!
Who can attend
The Reiki Shares I offer are open to anyone attuned to Reiki, at all levels.
When are they held
The Reiki Shares are held on the 1st Tuesday of the month 5.30-7.30pm. Places are limited and so booking is required, please contact me for details. It will be great to share Reiki with you.
Where are they held
The Reiki Shares are held at my home in Lower Feltham, Greater London TW137JG – address given at time of booking.
On Friday 1st October I, along with other volunteers of the Mulberry Centre in Isleworth TW7 6AF, was presented with the Queen’s Award For Voluntary Service.
The Mulberry Centre is one of 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this year, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. It aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. The Mulberry Centre was selected for the additional designation of providing impactful support to the community in response to the pandemic last year.
Jane Kelly, Trustee and the Founder patron of the charity commented “This is a wonderful tribute to our volunteers in this our 20th anniversary year. They have always been at the heart of what we do and play an essential role in supporting anyone affected by cancer”
Do you have a ritual that increases your sense of wellbeing?
Recently I have been thinking more and more about rituals and what they mean to me.
What is a ritual?
John Hughes (2019 in Business) stated
“A busy schedule requires you to find ways to make the most of your time. Rituals can help you optimise your life and get in the right mindset to accomplish your tasks”.
He explains that
“Rituals are routines to which you have attached a particular meaning. They help you change your mindset to prepare for certain situations – for example drinking a cup of tea in the evening to prepare you for going to bed; or gathering your work materials before sitting at your desk to prepare your mind to work”.
For me, a ritual is like a ceremony and a ceremony to me means celebration. Celebration meanwhile, according to the Cambridge Dictionary is “a set of acts… to recognise an important event”.
It would seem that more and more of us are realising the importance of self care with Google searches for “self care’ having more than doubled since 2015.
I have always felt that taking time for Me is important – important to help Me be the best I can be. And I know when I haven’t been taking this time to look after Me – on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. I know when I haven’t taken this time for Me when I feel excessively tired, I feel sluggish, I ‘can’t be bothered’, I’m irritable, it feels as though nothing is going right, and when I feel disconnected.
However, many people feel guilty for taking time for themselves. They’re looking after everyone and everything else, but when or if the time comes to look after themselves, they are too tired, or at worse, feel they don’t deserve it.
Today, 20th March 2021 is the first day of Spring. The Spring Equinox is celebrated as the first day of Spring, when night and day, are equal in both hemispheres. All of nature is stirring now and showing signs of activity after the Winter sleep. There are buds on the trees, flowers are blossoming and seeds are germinating.
The power of the sun is increasing, the days are getting longer and the nights shorter. We start to feel empowered to reach out for what we want, to branch out on our own, go for walks and connect to nature again.
We can use the potential of this time to create opportunities for positive change in our life and in the world. We are at the point of facing opposite forces – light and dark, receptive and active, unconscious and conscious, inner and outer. These can be united within us so that we are whole and balanced individuals. It gives rise to actions that come from the heart.
Every year in May, Dying Matters host an Awareness Week, which gives an unparalleled opportunity to place the importance of talking about dying, death and bereavement firmly on the national agenda. This year the Awareness Week will run from 11th to 17th May and the theme will be “Dying to be Heard”. This theme therefore puts the focus on how to help by listening… How many people want to talk about death, but feel they have no one to talk to about it?
As a Soul Midwife and retired palliative care nurse, I will be looking at specific ways of holding events and being available for people to talk about death, dying and grief during Awareness Week and will advertise these nearer the time.
There are lots of resources and excellent information available on the Dying Matters website. Take a look, and if you wish to discuss anything with me, I’m very happy to do so.
