Musings from the Journey
Enhance your life and fortify a deeper connection with your True Self.
 Mikao Usui was a seeker. Born in 1865 in Japan, Usui had a diverse array of experiences including oversees travel, and jobs as a civil servant, journalist, missionary, and counselor for prisoners. He studied history, medicine, Buddhism, Christianity, psychology, asceticism, prophesy, physiognomy (the ability to judge one’s character by their facial features), and more, in his quest to discover the meaning of life. He eventually received his answer: “attain a state of complete peace/stillness of mind.”
Usui took up Zen Buddhism for three years hoping to reach this state, to no avail. He asked his master for advice, to which he replied, “Maybe you should experience death.” In March 1922, Usui gave up on life, and retreated up to Mount Kurama for meditation and fasting in preparation for his death. At midnight during his third week of fasting, Usui felt a powerful shock at the center of his brain, and lost consciousness. When he awoke at dawn, he felt refreshed in a way he had never felt before. Reiki energy had penetrated his body and soul. As the cosmic energy and his personal energy resonated together, he realized, “The Universe is me, and I am the Universe.” Overjoyed that he had attained enlightenment, Usui ran down the mountain. He tripped over a rock, and ripped off his toenail. He placed his hand on his toe, and the pain vanished and the bleeding stopped. He shared this experience with his master, who guided him to use this ability to heal others and lead them to enlightenment. This is where Usui developed Reiki as a healing method, which would be passed down directly from teacher to student. And so, Reiki as a healing art began. Many drawn to Reiki are also seekers. Seeking depth, meaning, healing, something they might not have words for. Are you a seeker? Perhaps, the Reiki energy calls to you. If you follow the call, you might be surprised where it might lead. We have a training program that starts in about a month. I invite you to join us, see where the path goes. Read more about the training here. It's super supportive and nourishing. Class size is limited to 3-6 students, and deadline to register is Jan 24th. I hope you'll join us. Reach out with questions. In the Highest Good, Sarah
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 We've all been seeing the hub bub that's arisen from lots of insecure, defensive folks in positions of power about three simple letters lately.
D E I Yeah. I said it. Firings, loss of contracts, fear of retribution for using certain terms/letters... Organizations twisting themselves into pretzels. Seems to me, the regime only wants the First Amendment to apply to certain folks. Well. "I do what I want," says my rebellious part. I have the privilege of answering to no one, except myself and my conscience. I get to call the shots for my business, and I don't risk getting fired for saying something. And, I'm a white lady, our western society usually doesn't pay me any mind. So with that privilege, I am going to talk about it, and I'm going to invite you in on something. Just because the regime is trying to silence oppressed groups, erase history, and intimidate us doesn't mean we all have to give in. We can still share the stories, uplift the voices, and keep doing the work on our own time, whether or not the organizations we are a part of are doing the same. I hope we get to a time where the systems of oppression oppress no more, but they are really doubling down right now. So that means, we mustn't stop! We keep going! And those of us who are less at risk... people who look like me... we need to be taking more risks so those targeted aren't shouldering this burden. A few of my trusted resources for D.E.I. and history:
Take a class with them. Donate to their platforms. Share their messages. Support others who are doing the good work. They are all excellent! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! ~Sarah P.S. For anyone wondering, "Sarah, why are you talking about DEI? You practice Reiki and healing work, why do you have to talk about this?" First, pretty much all of us are impacted by DEI, because of the different identities we experience around race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, age, etc., etc., etc. When I work with folks in session, we talk about this impact ALL. THE. TIME. It's inescapable for many people. If you can escape it, you are probably in a preferred or privileged group. (This doesn't make you bad. It just means you inherited power, whether it has anything to do with you or not.) Finally, the health of the whole, impacts the health of the individual. If our systems are harmful, it harms the people in it. Just like if our water is poisoned, it'd be pretty hard to stay healthy drinking that water. Hope that helps. Lighten your load.  Hi There,
So much is going on in the world right now, between navigating the pandemic, facing ingrained racial injustice, and all the other happenings. It's easy to get swept up in the fear, anger, grief, uncertainty, dissonance, and as well as the hope, desires, and outpourings of love that are present right now. Mix it all together and it can feel quite jumbled. Between what is unfolding in the collective, and our own personal world there is so much for each of us to process. This moment is demanding a lot of us. As such, it is natural to not feel like you are at your "peak performance." If you find yourself being hard on yourself for this, please, friend, be kind, gentle, and patient with yourself. We are each doing the best we can, and that is enough. If you aren't already, try to set aside a little time each day to turn off distractions, be with yourself, and breathe. Practice gratitude for your life. Surrender your burdens to the Earth. Allow her to support you. Invite yourself to see that beauty and love are here with you always, even when it is painful, even when it is hard. It might not look like fairy tales and roses, but that benevolent presence is here with you all the same, even when we forget or can't perceive it. If you are an empath, feeler, or Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), this time can be particularly overwhelming, exhausting, and confusing. Not only are you having your own response to these events, but you are also picking up on those from the people around you, in your home, neighborhood, and the whole world. Because the entire planet is facing this pandemic, and much of the world is also grappling with racial disparities, the collective energies are particularly heightened right now, in a way that has been unrivaled (at least in my lifetime). It's like we are swimming through a thick soup of energies. If we are not mindful, we can easily drown in this collective cocktail, and lose clarity about what we are responsible for, and can control: ourselves. To support us in this endeavor, I will be offering one of my cornerstone classes online: The Empowered Empath. This class is designed for people who pick up on the energy of others, by feeling it emotionally or physically in their own bodies. It will help you liberate yourself from carrying the burdens of others, get clarity on where your energy and that of others begins and ends, practice energetic boundaries, nourish yourself, reconnect with your power, and support others with an open compassionate heart without taking on their "stuff." As the tools that are presented are put into consistent practice overtime, they have the potential to dramatically change how we feel as we relate with the world. We can feel empowered, and solid while still engaging with our gift of sensitivity. Even though this class is tailored towards empaths, if you are struggling with some of the themes I mentioned above and you don't identify as an empath, you may still benefit from the skills in this course. This five week series will be offered online via Zoom starting Tues July 21st. Even online, this course will remain interactive with teachings, meditations, exercises, reflection, and sharing. No matter where you are in the globe, you are welcome to join us live, or catch the recordings later (they will be available for a month). Due to this platform, I am also able to accommodate a larger group. Feel free to invite your loved ones to join you. Finally, due to these trying times, I will be offering this course on a sliding scale. See the details below. The Empowered Empath Virtual Series Essential wisdom and practices to move freely, and compassionately with your gifts What is an Empath? Tues July 21st 5:00–7:00pm
Know & Love Thyself Tues July 28th 5:00–7:00pm
Boundaries, Boundaries, Boundaries Tues Aug 4th 5:00–7:00pm
Immune to Energy Vampires Tues Aug 11st 5:00–7:00pm
Being an Empowered Empath Tues Aug 18th 5:00–7:00pm
You will receive handouts that you can download/print before each class. Each class will include time to reflect on how you operate as a unique empath, and live guided meditations and exercises. Held online via Zoom on Tuesdays, July 21st–August 18, 2020 from 5:00–7:00pm CST (6–8pm EST, 3–5PST) Can't make a class? They will be recorded. You will have access to the recording for one month after the class. Cost for Entire Series: Sliding scale of $75 — $100 — $125 — $150 — $175 Generally, I offer this course for $125 total when it is in person. Though this is the baseline price, I am offering this series on a sliding scale given current challenges. I trust you to look into your heart and pay what feels like a fair exchange for you, given your situation, and what is being offered. If money's a little tight, pay $75 or $100. If you have more cushion, and want to pay it forward, you can give $150, or $175. Last day to register is Friday July 17th. Series must be paid for in advance, your space is held once payment is received. Call 608-335-1934, email, or book online to register. Have questions? Please don't hesitate to reach out! If you feel inspired to jump in, I look forward to working with you! Much love, Sarah The Empowered Empath begins Oct 1st, 2019. Join us for this life changing series!  Are You an Empath?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions you may be an empath. Being empathic is the intuitive ability of feeling the energy around you. Most empaths I know are highly compassionate and loving people. They want the people they love (and, frankly, let's face it, everyone on Earth) to be happy and healthy. Many of them want to serve others in some way. But if they haven't learned how to navigate life with their empathic gifts, they can feel too overwhelmed, exhausted, or confused to show up in life the way they want to. Some struggle with maintaining healthy boundaries and even knowing what that looks like. Others can go from feeling heavy and down around the Eeyores in their lives, to walking on air when around people radiating joy. If they haven't learned how to work with their sensitivity, they can feel like a human yo-yo. As an empath myself working in a service/caring profession, I know how important it is to have the skills to work with this ability. After years of honing it, and ongoing practice, I know that it is not only possible to live empowered as an empath, it can feel really good (even when the tough stuff comes up). You can show up even more fully for yourself and others in really profound ways. I have pulled together all my tried and true tools and wisdom in a way to help you, or the empath in your life, find relief, tap into that inner strength, and keep your heart open. I offered this series before in May of 2018. This time, I've incorporated an additional class: "Immune to Energy Vampires" to support us in navigating interactions with narcissists, as unfortunately, this is an all too common relationship trend for empaths. The Empowered Empath Essential wisdom and practices to move freely, and compassionately with your gifts What is an Empath? Tues Oct 1st 5:00–7:00pm
Know & Love Thyself Tues Oct 8th 5:00–7:00pm
Boundaries, Boundaries, Boundaries Tues Oct 15th 5:00–7:00pm
Immune to Energy Vampires Tues Oct 22nd 5:00–7:00pm
Being an Empowered Empath Tues Oct 29th 5:00–7:00pm
Each class will include time to share and practice with other attendees, gain insights about how you operate as a unique empath, and resources to maintain these skills and practices at home. Class is open to eight participants. Cost: $125 for all classes. Must be paid in advance. Your space is held once payment is received. Call 608-335-1934, or email to register. The Empowered Empath Refresher Open to anyone who has attended the one of Embrace Your Essence's empath classes (The Empowered Empath, or "I Know How You Feel") or explored this topic with Sarah individually. Revisit the essentials for feeling free, loving, and centered as an empath. Just in time for the holiday season! Purify your energy, solidify your boundaries, and nourish yourself. We will return to the practices that support us the most. Limited to eight attendees. Tues December 3, 2019, from 5:00-7:00pm Cost: $25 Call 608-335-1934, email, or book online to register. Have questions? Please don't hesitate to reach out! If you feel inspired to jump in, I look forward to working with you! Best, Sarah P.S. There is still time to sign up for the group Reiki II class that begins on Sat Sept 14! Two spots are left. Register by Sept 6th to attend. |
Sarah Barlow
Reiki Master Teacher and Owner of Embrace Your Essence Sign up for our E-Letters Here
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