Speaking from my own heart and experience, betrayal can be one of the most painful experiences one can endure in life. Whether it's a cheating spouse or a backstabbing friend, it can be difficult to move past the hurt and anger that betrayal brings. Initially, it’s easy to play the victim and hold grudges, but there is no real power in that. The only way to truly heal and move forward is through forgiveness. In this blog, I will discuss some of what I have learned around the importance of forgiveness after betrayal and ways in which you can embrace it for your own healing.
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In the quest for personal growth and self-improvement, few obstacles are as pervasive and tricky to navigate as our own ego. It's the voice in our head that insists on being right, that takes offense, that constantly seeks validation. However, as daunting as it might seem, the ego isn't necessarily our enemy. In fact, those bad days for your ego could be the very catalyst your soul needs to thrive. Why? Let's delve deeper into the complex world of the ego, its impact on personal growth, and the spiritual progress that emerges from its bad days.

Summer is typically a time to be active, a time to socialize, it’s the season of fire and can be packed with activities, but it's also a good time to slow down and take care of yourself. Amidst the busy schedules, summer allows us to reconnect with our bodies and souls in a different way than what we are used to during other times of the year. 

In this hectic and stressful world, it’s easy to get caught up in our everyday lives. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and exhausted by the strain of work, family life, relationships, finances, and other obligations constantly draining us. 

But what we often forget amidst the craziness is that taking time for ourselves is essential to our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being - too often, it falls low on our list of priorities. 
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I spent the last three days alone...

We all have days when we feel like the walls are closing in and our lives are overwhelmed with heavy burdens. Life can feel like a relentless battle, throwing us into situations that make us question everything about ourselves. Yesterday was one of those days for me! 

Early on things looked impossible, then a joyful piece of news from people I love came in and OMGoddess, did that wake me up and turn things around! The connection and remembrance that none of us are alone in life switched things from bad to amazing. My heart opened so wide being able to share in someone else's joy and their beaming smile.

Have you ever felt like you needed to heal, but couldn’t find the time or energy to travel to a healing session? If so, distance Reiki healing could be the perfect solution. Reiki is an ancient practice of energy healing that helps balance and restore your physical and emotional wellbeing. Not only can it be done remotely, but studies have shown that distant Reiki is just as effective as in-person sessions. 
 
What is Distance Reiki?
Distance Reiki is a type of energy healing session offered remotely by a highly trained practitioner. It has been used for centuries to promote physical, mental, and emotional health. In a session, the practitioner will send energy through your body, allowing the wisdom of Reiki energy to target any areas that need attention and aiding in the release of emotional blocks and energetic imbalances. 

During a remote session, the practitioner will use hand positions similar to an in-person session. However, instead of physically placing their hands on your body, they will use visualization and intention to direct the flow of energy. 

My distant Reiki sessions include the same preparation and care as in-person sessions. I meditate before the scheduled time, open to be a channel for the Life Force Energy (aka Reiki), play soothing music, and work around my Reiki table just as if you were there with me.
 
Advantages of Distance Reiki
One of the main advantages of distance healing is convenience—you don’t have to leave your home or office! You can fit in a session during lunch, before bedtime, or even while you sleep without having to worry about travel time or parking. Another advantage is that you don’t need to worry about finding a practitioner near you; instead, you can work with a practitioner you already trust, or someone who comes highly recommended.

Plus, because you don’t have to physically meet with someone during a remote session, you can do it in the comfort of your own home or another safe familiar space. For those of you who are shy, it can be a much more relaxed experience than an in-person visit! 

Additionally, since many practitioners offer distance sessions around the world, you can work with someone who understands your unique needs no matter where you are on the planet.

Distance sessions allow for more convenience and comfort in your healing journey.  And if you’re hospitalized or caring for someone in hospice, distant Reiki sessions make the perfect adjunct care component! In fact, that's what got me thinking about this blog post. I had the honor of doing a distance session for a client in one of these situations recently and it was a beautiful experience!
 
The Science Behind Remote Energy Healing
What makes distant Reiki so special is that research has been conducted which shows just how effective it really is! Studies suggest that remote energy healing works by accessing subtle energies that exist between two people—a phenomenon known as nonlocal consciousness—which allows practitioners to connect with clients regardless of physical distance. This means that even if you are thousands of miles away from your healer, they are still able to send energy into your body and help shift any blockages that may be holding you back from living your best life!

Yes, when we send healing energy to someone else, regardless of their location, we are still able to create positive effects on their wellbeing. This is because energy is not bound by time or space; it can travel easily across distances.
 
The Benefits of Working With A Trusted Practitioner
When you work with a trusted practitioner for your distant Reiki session—like myself 🙂—you get the added benefit of having someone who truly understands your needs and will provide personalized support throughout your entire healing journey. If we've ever worked together before, you know my style, authenticity, and how much a I honor where you are on your healing journey.
 
I offer remote sessions through an initial video chat so that we can connect face-to-face and discuss how best I can support your health goals during our time together. We will work together to choose the best time for you. I'll do the healing as we discuss and then we will meet again through another video chat to discuss anything (insights, messages, releases) that came up for you, or me, during the session. You also have access to me between our calls and after our session so that any questions or concerns are addressed quickly and efficiently. 
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So don't wait--sign up now for my next available session below!

This morning while meditating, I found myself calling in the kind of love that can deepen into something truly soulful and lasting. As part of this intention setting practice, I went through a list; all the qualities my heart desires – smart, successful, financially stable, kind, compassionate, spiritual, sexy... and everything else I'm looking for in an amazing life partner! 
 
Then came a gentle reminder from within: "to attract it you must become it".
 
Sitting with these qualities really made me pause and reflect: Am I embodying each one of these wonderful traits myself?

I feel like I'm close... and yet there was one glaring hole. How successful do I feel? Damn! I had to dive deeper into that one.

What am I defining as success? I've raised three amazing humans, I'm honest and compassionate. I created and ran a successful spiritual gift store. I know how to hold successful, transformative workshops and classes. My healing work is truly connected to Source. So why is this area not feeling fully embodied to me?

Because I'm not doing enough of it! I haven't had an in-person workshop since before covid. I want more and I'm holding back. As long as I hold back from myself in any area that I want in a partner, I will not be able to attract what I want. I need to love myself so completely that I go after all of life for me!
 
In my meditation I more fully understood that it's not about finding someone at all - but rather becoming the lover who deserves incredible companionship along this journey of life ❤️. 
 
I’m focusing on becoming the lover I want to have. Being so confident and successful in my life (in the way I define success) that I'm happy and fulfilled and complete on my own. The partner who can walk by my side when I am at my best (and worst) is the partner I want. 
 
Which reminds me of the work I did with Shay @ Rising Woman – If you haven’t checked it out, her Becoming the One program is worth a look.

Imposter Syndrome in love is a real thing. It's an unsettling feeling that even though you've experienced love from others, you don't believe that it's genuine, or that it will last. This type of imposter syndrome can be especially difficult when it comes to relationships because it can create a tremendous amount of self-doubt and insecurity that can prevent us from allowing ourselves to open up and fully invest in the relationship. At least, that is what I've discovered about myself.

Warning: Personal Share coming!

It’s 4 am and I sit in a hotel room in the suburbs of Chicago. My father died on Wednesday as I was boarding a plane to come to his bedside. I came anyway. I met Joey at O’Hare Airport in the cold December rain. When I most needed it, Spirit sent a kind, loving stranger. We were waiting for rides to pick us up at Vestibule 1E. He was having a smoke. There was something about him that drew me in. I asked if he had another one of those and he did. He helped me light the cigarette and made sure I knew where to tell my sister to pick me up. Joey opened his arms and offered a hug when I told him my father had just passed away. We talked about our fathers and families. We shared pictures. He was going to visit his father’s grave and his still living 95-year-old grandma. We talked about loving all people and all things. How the world needs more love. We talked about the places we loved to travel. We talked about growing up in Illinois and life in Colorado, returning home and what that felt like. He shared his dream of building a healthy natural human-grade dog food company and saving dogs. He told me he found sales easy, and I saw that, with his warmth, he was a natural at it. He shared the story of watching his friend fall to his death right after he told Joey it was the happiest moment of his life. He shared with me the debilitating anxiety he’s felt ever since. He was kind and hugged me again before he left blowing me kisses from the passenger seat of his friend’s car as he drove away. I like Joey. Joey gives me hope for humanity.
 
Waking to the memory of the kindness of a stranger brings me around to thoughts about my dad’s passing. Just like that he’s gone. No physical trace left behind. All that remains are the good deeds he did. The memories of him in the minds of those who knew him. No possessions or things. It really brings home to me the foolishness of amassing things. It really brings home to me the importance of doing good work and being a part of a community. What matters is building a legacy that will last beyond your physical presence. It isn’t about houses, cars, or collectibles. It isn’t about the style or expense of the clothes your family or friends will likely donate once you leave. It’s about how you treat people, the lives you impact. It’s about who will remember you when you are gone and how they will remember you.
 
Now that my sisters and I cleaned out dad’s room at the assisted living center where he took his last breath, I keep going back to “all that is left are the memories he made with others.” The impressions he left with his grandchildren. The laughter, gentleness, the kindness he expressed. Sure, some will remember his struggles, the hardships he faced, and the ways he was less than kind. But the memories most will talk about are the ways he touched them positively. 
 
I remember my dad as a difficult man. When I was growing up, he was angry and mean. He was prejudiced and small minded. He was the first emotionally unavailable man in my life—sadly, he wasn’t the last. I was afraid of him. I didn’t stick around long enough to know the elder version of him, the grandfather. The man my sisters and brothers let into their children’s lives seems a softer, gentler, kinder version of the man I grew up with. I’m happy for that. My kids didn’t know him. He once threatened to hit my two-year-old son and that was the end for me. Obviously, I’m conflicted. Even with that conflict, I can find love in my heart for the man who taught me a lot, gave me my name, provided for my physical needs as a child, and who gave me my blue eyes. Even in my conflict, it’s the positive impact he had on me that comes to the forefront. I honor the good in him as I mourn.
 
This lesson lands at a time when I am struggling to end a nasty divorce, when I lost my home and most of my possessions. Saying goodbye to them wasn’t easy, it felt like I had been robbed. Now I feel different. The loss of things and a lifestyle really don’t matter. I have enough. I am warm, nourished, healthy, and I choose to focus on how I can be a better human in this world. How I can positively impact those around me and those to come. I am listening to a book about the longtermist perspective and find it makes more sense today than ever (What We Owe the Future by William MacAskill). I’d like to leave this world empty-handed, having given away what I had worked for. I’d also like to leave this world full-hearted, perhaps like Joey’s friend feeling that it’s the happiest moment of my life. I’d like to leave this world with lots and lots of people sharing wonderful stories of the positive impact I had on them. I choose to show up every day with kindness, love, humility, helping others where I can. Rising above my own hurts and being there for others. I’d like to think I’ve been doing that along the way. I know I can do better. 

When it comes to processing and releasing emotions, we all have our own unique methods and strategies. Some of us like to talk it out with friends, some of us prefer to write in a journal, and some of us like to take long walks alone. But what happens when we're holding onto emotions that are particularly harmful or toxic? Is there a healthy way to release them so that we can move on?
 
Here are 5 healthy ways to emotionally release: