If you know me, you know I am a sucker for a good metaphor. As I've been gardening over the years, the process has revealed how it is very much like healing, and personal growth.

When we first come upon a parcel of land upon which we wish to grow flowers or food, we don't always inherit a pristine plot that's been well-tended by previous stewards. It might be overtaken by weeds, had poisons or debris that have seeped into the soil, or be a monoculture and the lack of diversity shows in the dullness of soil life.

Our lives might be like this. We don't have control of what we've inherited from our families, culture, or communities. There might be many blessings you've received, perhaps this garden was well cared for in the past, and you have many healthy perennials or trees to enjoy fruit, shade, and fragrance. Though many of us who find our way to healing practices often need to clean up what was left to us, even if it wasn't our fault, because if we don't, it may poison us, or keep us from cultivating what we wish to enjoy.  

Just like gardening, healing is an ongoing process. We need to continue to check in with our plants making sure they are getting the water they need, nutrients, aren't been crowded out, and are in harmony with the other plants, insects, and beings around them. By making small or big tweaks along the way, what you want to grow gets the support it needs.

Sometimes, there are other things beyond our control. A stretch of drought, a wave of pests that eats up your peppers, a huge wind storm that uproots your sunflowers. Some of these scenarios can be curbed, or recovered from. For other events, we just have to accept our losses, and that we won't be able to continue as planned this year. 

My favorite parts of gardening are when I see the bright little shoots of new growth in the spring, or tasting a cherry tomato warmed from the sun, or catching glowing the sunset as the songbirds fly while smelling aromas of sage and sweetgrass. Gifts from just being out in the broader web of nature, and the sweet little wonders from having a very personal relationship with the soil, the plants, the pollinators. There are so many ways that our healing can surprise, and sustain us in simple, profound and grounded ways. 

How is the garden of your healing looking today? What do you want to grow? What does it need?

Cheers to you, and the green and growing ones,
~Sarah

Have you ever watched Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.? I always find the threads and ancestral stories that are revealed fascinating. We have all sorts of characters in our family line. I have to remember, these aren't just characters. They were real people just like you and me, and they didn't have the 20/20 hindsight of how things were going to turn out. Whether you know your family history, or its a bit a of a mystery, you probably have noticed some of the ways the generations before you have impacted your life, even if it's just how your parents and grandparents shaped your life experiences.

But have you ever thought about the kind of ancestor you will be?

I imagine those of you with children have probably thought about this. I know if you're reading this, you are part of a mindful bunch. Even if you don't have progeny, you will still be an ancestor to the humans and other creatures on this planet yet to come.

What are the stories that you want told about auntie or uncle _______? How do you imagine your descendants will be impacted by the ripples of your life?

Certainly, we are not perfect, and we can't clean up all the messes or fix all the problems in one lifetime. But we can choose how we respond to the moment that has come before us.

There are a couple aspects of this that I think of:

1) How do we deal with the patterns that we've inherited within our family? Do we do our part to untangle that knotted ball of yarn or do we pass it on? This might be patterns of illness, dysfunctional relationship, addiction, etc. On the contrary, what gifts do we carry forward that we've been blessed with?

2) How do we respond to the scenarios that are unfolding in the collective? What kind of a world and community do we leave behind for everyone?

So... what do you think? What kind of ancestor do you want to be? Share with us in the comments.

As you do your best to live that intention out into the world, remember you are not doing it alone. Somewhere in your line, you likely have ancestors who found the courage, cleverness, creativity, healing, etc. that you are wishing to embody who can walk with you and guide you along the way. Even if you can't find them in your family line, there are people in the history of humanity who've likely forged that path before. They are cheering for you.

Here's to having the fortitude to leave something good behind,
Sarah

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet today.

I recently listened to the We Can Do Hard Things podcast, episode 385: "The Science of Healing Heartbreak with Florence Williams." As we all find our way through sorrow in our life, the findings shared in this conversation were particularly noteworthy to me. A key takeaway: awe and wonder build resiliency and help heal our hearts, minds, and bodies after heartbreak.

Your Assignment:
As you go about your day, seek out details that bring you a sense of awe. Nature is often a good place to look, but you might find it with loved ones, or even simple pleasures like a piece of chocolate or cup of coffee. When you notice that wonder-filled thing, pause. Inhale and exhale deeply for a few breaths. Soak in the nourishment of that small experience (even if other things in your life are not so great right now). If you can access a little bit of gratitude, savor that, and feel it in your heart. Then when you feel ready, continue on with your day.

Repeat.

If this speaks to you, try to find at least one moment of awe each day.

Listen to the full conversation if you want to hear more.

Let us know what a moment of awe you had recently in the comments.

To a more beautiful existence,
Sarah

Over the height of the pandemic, there were a lot of things in flux in my personal life. I was on a phone call with one of my wise elder friends, and I made a comment about hoping I would find more balance again soon. He said something that totally reframed how I thought about it. To him, balance wasn't about being in a place of calm and stillness all the time. Balance was the process of finding your way back to center when you lean one way or another. Given the nature of things, we are always recalibrating back to center, because life pulls us in one direction or another.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, as I'm trying to stay engaged and sustain for the long game. There have been times in the past where practicing balance feels like standing on a paddleboard in calm, smooth waters. We can take in the serenity, and there's little stimulus from the outside. Now, it feels as though we are deep at sea, the waves and winds whipping and making the paddleboard rock unpredictably. Are those pirates in the distance? Oy vey! It's like living in a Hollywood movie that I wish was still fiction.

In rocky waters, practicing balance means staying afloat (or getting back on after getting knocked off), and maintaining a pace to get where we want to go. We can't change the conditions around us, but we can choose how we respond. Let's keep our eyes on the horizon, catch our breath when we need to, and keep paddling. We might also realize we aren't paddling in that direction alone. Perhaps, we even spy some gentle giants swimming beneath us and guiding the way. When those moments of waters smooth as glass revisit us, and the wind is at our back, we will soak it in.

What are some ways you can practice balance, and keep your eyes on the horizon? Here are some ideas:

• Place a hand on your chest, pause to take some deep breaths. "You are here."
• Spend time with your kids, pets, or friends
• Take a walk, breathe in the fresh air, listen to the birds, feel the breeze on your face, smoosh your face into some fragrant blossoms
• Draw or write yourself a note that reminds you of what you are working towards, and the world you want to live in. Close your eyes and imagine that the reality is already so.
• Take small action steps, like writing postcards or making calls to your representatives sharing how you feel about what's happening (Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121)
• Go to a local event and say hello to someone new
• Plant a garden (can be as simple as a little pot of herbs or a bigger plot).
• Listen to a comedian
• Move your body in a way that brings you joy
• Find a cause to give to through volunteering or donating
• Tell someone you care about something you appreciate about them
• Make some art!
• Acknowledge yourself for how hard you work to keep your life moving forward
• Invite the wisdom, strength, and love of your ancestors and guides to be with you
• Join us Wednesdays at noon CST for our free 15 min guided meditation
• Let yourself be cared for and receive some healing work

What speaks to you to help you come to center? Share in the comments.

I will end with a few words that I heard recently when I tuned into my ancestors and leaders for social justice past:

"Don't stop. Keep going."

Paddling with you,
Sarah

Fifteen years ago today, I started Embrace Your Essence LLC!

The road twisted and turned in all sorts of directions, as I tried to figure out how to grow a practice in my early twenties. I gave sessions to friends and family out of my childhood bedroom, then rented a space I couldn't afford for a few months before I saw reason. Eventually, I got my footing at a wellness center, while I worked on my private practice on the side. During this time, I started working at our building on E. Olin Ave. Then moved into my current suite facing Wingra Creek eleven years ago. In 2018, I was able to shift to my practice supporting me full time.

This suite has become a sanctuary for many, and clients tell me about how good it feels walking in here. I think of all the Reiki and healing energy that these walls have absorbed over the years. The land in this little nook of central Madison is so special to me with the significant presence of the sister cottonwoods standing tall across the creek. Beavers have chewed on the now stumps out the window, muskrats swum by, and squirrels napped in the red pines just outside. Awkward green herons have hopped through said pines, and blue herons, geese, ducks, eagles and more have soared nearby. Almost six years ago, I saved a little baby duckling that had gotten trapped in the weeds of the creek while I was on a lunchtime walk. You can read the story here. I feel grateful to have such a sweet little space to connect with all of you.

Over the pandemic, many of you pivoted with me to Zoom and phone sessions and classes as we figured out what the heck was going on, and let the scientists do the good work. Many of you continue this connection from all over the globe, as we work with the beautiful and mysterious aspect of distant Reiki. Lots of you have met my sweet little floofer-muffins Orangie and JoJo as they photobomb our Zoom sessions. I swear they know each of you, and when their presence is needed for some extra support and witnessing. Combine the Reiki with their purrs and gatekeeper vibes for some purr magic and strength. (That last pun was a typo, and I'm keeping it!)

Then I think of all the healing, and vulnerability that has unfolded in our work together. The tears, the snores, the tough events of your life, your dreams, your sensitivities. All the beautiful, rich, and sometimes challenging aspects of being human during these times. All of you who have learned Reiki or other skills and are letting that goodness ripple out in your own communities. I FEEL SO GRATEFUL that I've been able to walk alongside each of you as you navigate your life. Your trust has meant so much to me. I wouldn't be here without each of you, and your willingness to share in this journey together.

The Reiki energy, the presence of something larger than ourselves, and our guides have been so loving and steady amidst all the situations that have come forward during this time. In doing this work, I get to relate with The Mystery. I don't fully understand everything that happens, and I don't suspect I ever will know it all in a way that satisfies the logical mind. It is humbling. It is also one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring things, and I am privileged to get to be a steward. I can't really take credit for the healing that has unfolded during this time, that goes to these benevolent energies and yourself! But I will say, I will take ownership for showing up, and being willing to figure out how to keep doing so!

When I really slow down to feel into what this anniversary means to me, I am moved to tears that I get to do work that means something to me. It's a modest living, and I get to provide for myself and my kitties doing something that fills my heart, and ripples goodness out into the world. The phrase, "I'm still here," keeps repeating in my mind. I've been through my own iterations of loss and challenge over the last several years, and with the help of these loving energies and people, I've been able to keep showing up for myself and for you amidst it all. These challenges have humbled me, cracked me open, and I've been learning how to fill in the fissures to be stronger, much like the art of kintsugi. Making medicine of the wound. It's helped me know how to better support some of you going through your own crisis. While there were times that I was not 100% while in the thick of it, the Reiki and these benevolent energies kept holding us as we did the work. Hopefully, you didn't feel those bumps too much! It makes this time of personal calm, settling, and celebration something I'm really savoring.

"I'm still here," means I am still here practicing Reiki and healing work. It means, I'm still here at Olin Ave, and on the other side of that phone or Zoom call. It means, I am still alive, resilient and able to share in this beautiful and messy life with all of you. 

It also means that you are still here. Still willing to engage, to learn, to open up, to heal. Thanks for sharing in the journey.

Thank you, also, to all of you who were able to make it out to the open house celebration on April 12th, participated in our raffle, or sent kind notes! I really appreciate all of you, and wish the best for you! Here's to many more years! I don't plan to go anywhere! :)

Check out some stats from over the years below!

Embrace Your Essence LLC Opened: April 28, 2010

5376 Sessions Given
800 Clients Served
67 Reiki Students
111 Reiki Shares Hosted
11 Years Teaching Reiki
Six Years Practicing Shamanic Healing
127 Shamanic Sessions          
 
One Pandemic Survived
Phew! We made it!
People Made Cry (in a good way): Most at some point
     Bonus: Many within the first 10 minutes
Corny Jokes: More than kernels on a cob
I’m sorry… or you’re welcome?
Snorers on the Table: More than you might think
I hear you, Gladis. That’s the best compliment you could give me.  
Goofy Stick Figure Drawings: At least five
If you’re one of my Reiki students, you know!
Nerdy Movie & TV References...Lots
Yooooooouuuu shall not pass!
Unexpected, Mysterious Happenings... Many
Maybe I’ll write a book someday.

With such a full heart,
Sarah

I'm starting a series "Reiki for _____" to help highlight some specific ways that Reiki can support you through the twists and turns of life. These may be ways that you may not have realized were possible. My hope is that if you ever find yourself in a situation that I highlight, and you'd like someone in your corner, it will occur to you that Reiki is an option for you. If you are wondering how Reiki might help you with a specific situation, feel free to write in, and I might include it in this series.

Today, we are highlighting Reiki for surgery.

I've given Reiki to hundreds of clients during a variety of surgeries over the years. This has encouraged more beneficial outcomes, and the body's receptivity to the treatment. Oftentimes, this has shown up as reduced pain and side effects, accelerated recovery times, and greater ease with the whole process. 

How this looks in action:

Schedule a remote session near the scheduled surgery time. This is the time I block off in my calendar to send the Reiki to you. Typically, this is done within a few days of the surgery. Often the day before, or the day of.

Because distant Reiki transcends time and space, an hour or so of Reiki can cover a large chunk of time. It also doesn't have to be sent at the exact time that the event is taking place for it to be effective.

You share with me the details of the surgery as you have them, such as: surgery time, hospital, surgeon's name, estimated duration of surgery, what the surgeon is expected to do, and any details on recovery place and time. We often put as much detail down at the time of booking, and clients fill me in on the time the day before once they've heard from the hospital.

When I send the Reiki at the agreed upon time, I begin by sending you some for the night before the surgery to facilitate you getting some good rest, minimizing anxiety, and getting you prepared for the next day.

I then hold the operating room in a bubble of Reiki energy, so the whole space creates a container of balance. While I can't ethically send Reiki to your doctors and their team, since I don't have their consent, filling the room itself with Reiki creates an aura of light that lifts the energy and can subtly influence the medical team if they are open to it.

Naturally, then I spend the bulk of our time focusing on the areas of your body being impacted by the surgery, and your immune system.

Finally, I send some Reiki to you for a day or so following the surgery to aid in recovery and pain management as you ease out of the operation.

Once the Reiki is complete, I send you an email with what I worked on, and any energetic observations I had.

You would then be able to email me back at your own convenience with updates about how you are feeling and how the surgery went.

Receiving Reiki during surgery has helped many feel relief, supported, and heal more smoothly. If you ever find yourself or a loved one in need, don't hesitate to reach out.

Have you had Reiki during surgery before? If so, comment below to share with others what your experience was like.

Blessings,
Sarah

In our culture, we're often taught to rush, force, and contort ourselves. Harder, faster, stronger. When we hurt, we dig in deep to those muscles. No pain, no gain. We don't like how something is so we try to change it to make it fit, or maybe we deny it's existence entirely. (Toxic positivity, anyone?) Maybe we build up walls or brusk defenses. That'll keep those perpetrators out.

All of this is understandable. This is what we've absorbed by osmosis about how to approach life. It's also very human of us to puff up and protect, shut down, or put up walls when we don't feel safe. Sometimes that is exactly what we needed to survive a certain situation. We can be grateful that those survival mechanisms helped us at times when we really needed them.

Then, many times, we get to a point where we are safe, and those strategies become maladaptive. We can continue as is, or we can try for another way.

Sometimes the thing we need most is gentleness. Softness, ease and safety surrounding us, can help us let down our guard and receive the healing we've needed. One of my former business coaches and teachers Mark Silver used to say that gentleness is the antidote to anger. This was a startling ah ha for me. As I began practicing it, I realized that gentleness disarms the anger. There is no longer anything for the anger to fight against. Gentleness also reflects back how hard we've been trying to protect ourselves from getting hurt. As the anger no longer has to defend, our soft underbelly, the tender vulnerability hidden within gets revealed. But we aren't left out in the cold. That gentleness also holds and cradles that vulnerability, airs it out, and soothes the pain. I've seen this happen on all levels, physically with tight muscles that release with gentle touch, and mentally and emotionally as well.

Are there places in your life where you could benefit from offering yourself more gentleness?

Do you need a safe space where someone can offer that for you? Reach out or book a session online.

With care,
Sarah

Fall is upon us. That means, according to Eastern medicine, it is the season of grief and the lungs. I've been learning a lot about how to hold my own grief in the last year after the passing of my father. I've also been noticing many of my clients facing variations of grief in their own life lately, so I thought it timely to write on this topic.

Firstly, feelings of grief can arise from to a variety of experiences. There are the obvious losses like the passing of a loved one. Then there is disenfranchized grief: losses that aren't widely recognized or supported by society, like the loss of a loved one to suicide, or addiction; loss of a pet, or patient; letting go of an idea of and connection to family due to abuse; loss of an identity, job, or home; loss of hopes and dreams (miscarriage, infertility, divorce, lay offs, the childhood you wish you had had), and more. We might experience anticipatory grief as a loved one declines from illness, or addiction, before the "official" loss actually occurs. There are many shades of grief, contexts of loss. It's helpful to remember that our experience with each scenario will be as unique and multi-faceted as our relationship with that being, dynamic, or aspect of our life.

Our American culture doesn't really create much space for grief in our day-to-day life. The support structures that many of us need aren't woven into the fabric of our social spheres unless we are a part of a community that consciously acknowledges and tends to that aspect of living and dying. It can feel lonely being in a process of grieving, and we may judge ourselves that we should be over it or move on, or that our feelings may not be warranted because it might not compare to someone else's loss/experience. I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone grieving say that once the funeral is over, or a few weeks have passed that many people stopped asking them how they are doing. Most workplaces only offer a few days of time off for bereavement, and some may not offer grace for the sense of "nonfunction" that some people experience following a loss. Not to mention, the alienation that some feel for having a disenfranchized loss, because lots of society doesn't know how to hold the mixture of uncomfortable and conflicting feelings that can arise from a loss related to suicide, or abuse, for example. It's easier for some to not look or talk about it. In turn, it can create a weird feeling in griever, a sort of cognitive dissonance, and a need for someone to "Please, acknowledge the elephant in the room!"

I could go on, but for now, I will offer a few final thoughts and suggestions. Take what resonates, and leave the rest. Since grief is so unique and personal, not everything may speak to you.

For the Griever:

• Give yourself grace with the timeline. If you notice yourself feeling like, "I need to be done with this by _____," or, "It's been _____ years, why am I not over this by now?" know there is no deadline. One of the most helpful things I've heard recently is, "What if you give yourself 25 years to grieve your dad? Then, even after those 25 years, you may still have moments that sneak up on you." Once I heard that wisdom, I started giving myself a break... I have plenty of time to learn how to do this and let the experience evolve. It took some of the pressure of doing grief "right" off. 
• Grief isn't something you move through, it is something to be with. The more you can allow yourself to embrace the discomfort and know that sometimes it is just going to feel shitty, the more you honor yourself and the impact the loss has had on you. We don't have to force it to be processed in a certain way, or put a happy face sticker on it.
• Grief can be "inconvenient." You might find feelings sneaking up on you when you are in the middle of an event. You might have a lot of things that you "need to get done," but not have the energy to get them done. Maybe you go through an irritable or cranky phase that strains other areas of your life. These experiences are not uncommon. I don't think there is a way to bypass this. Sorry.
• Please offer gentleness and grace for yourself. 

For Those Who Care for Someone Who is Grieving:

• Check in on your loved one periodically. Ask them how they are doing. Some grievers like to hear stories about the one that they lost, or to be able to share what they loved about them.
• If you would like to offer support, instead of saying something like, "I'm here if you need anything," suggest specific types of support. Sometimes a griever doesn't have the bandwidth to determine or communicate what they need. You could offer things like, "Would you like me to...
  • make you a meal, clean your house, or babysit your kids?
  • sit with you while we watch your favorite show, but we don't have to talk? (It can be hard to "be on" after a loss.)
  • take you out for coffee and you can tell me about what you're going through?
  • go for a walk with you to help you get out of the house?
  • help you figure out what you'd like to do on significant dates?
  • look through photos, or burn old items with you to honor or release the experience?
• Remember this loss is a backdrop experience that may be affecting the rest of their life, including their mood, ability to function, choices, etc. Even things that seem unrelated may be impacted by the loss. Many times there can be a trauma response to a loss. Try to be compassionate and gentle with them. (But of course, grief is not an excuse for bad behavior, so it's okay to set boundaries if someone is acting/lashing out.)
• Let it be about them. If the griever in your life opens up to you, and shares their feelings, give them space to share their experience. Hold off on shifting the focus to your own grief story, unless they are seeking out that shared humanity. Try to be a safe person to let them cry or express their feelings without trying to make it better. We can't really fix loss, but we can allow love, and compassion to flow in and hold that pain by allowing what is. That, in and of itself, can be a sort of balm for the wound. If someone has done this with you, they have given you a huge gift with their vulnerability that many people don't ever share with others. You are also providing a great gift to them, that many people don't readily experience. 

Hope this helps if grief is showing up in your life these days. If you are grieving, is there anything else important that needs mentioning? Share with us in the comments.

Lots of care and comfort for you,
Sarah

March of 2020 I was signed up to take an ancestral healing training with shamanic practitioner Debra Morrill. Shortly before, the Covid outbreak hit, and, like so many other things, the class was postponed until it was safe to reconvene. While we waited, Debra and my teacher Ana Larramendi, her host, suggested that we go on a shamanic journey to connect with one of our ancestors that had survived a pandemic in their time. Since we all were here, no doubt at least one family member had made it through similar times. Now, about two years into the pandemic of our era, I've been reflecting on the wisdom that came from that journey.

I was led to a woman in France during the bubonic plague. She lived with one or two other people, and I could see that in time one of them would succumb to the Black Death while quarantined away in a separate room. My ancestor kept to herself as the sickness spread around her town. 

When I asked what helped her move through those times, I saw her going out into her garden behind the house. Looking up at the sky, the sun radiated down on her face, the light and warmth melting away some of her preoccupation, burdens, and grief. In that moment, she was alive and she could feel. She bent down, plucked a vibrant strawberry, and delighted in its sweet juices. As the Black Death spread around her, these visits to the garden kept her connected with enough light and enjoyment to sustain her through those years.

I planted several strawberry plants in my garden the spring after I did that journey. It was too late to truly enjoy their fruit that year, but I grew other things in the meantime. By June of 2021, the strawberry plants had established themselves. I would step out each morning, my shadow cast over the leaves, crooning as I gently searched for tender, ripe berries. Inevitably, I would find a few. Then I would stand eyes closed, slowly savoring the sun-warmed crimson flesh as the morning sun glimmered through the trees on my face.

These moments, and moments like these... snuggled with my kitties feeling their steady purr and poofy fur, laughing at a silly comedy, feeling snowflakes land on my face, receiving a small act of kindness or shared humanity from a stranger or friend, these seemingly small things have helped sustain me, and tap into resiliency. While there has been so much constriction, challenge, and loss over these last two years, there are still little glimmers of beauty hiding under the leaves. We just need to take a moment to pause, look, and allow ourselves to receive it.

What has helped sustain you during these times? What has brought comfort, relief, or even joy? Share with us in the comments. If you haven't found much of these qualities in your life lately, how can you make space for it to enter, even amongst the struggle?    

With lots of love and care,
Sarah

This period, from the end of October into November, is known cross-culturally as a time when the veil between the physical world and the nonphysical is thin. For thousands of years, humans have used this time to connect with ancestors and the spirit realm. Perhaps you already celebrate Samhain or Día de los Muertos, and know the significance and balm of reconnecting with our loved ones lost. Given the year we have all had, where we have been tested on numerous levels, and so many have passed, the healing potential of these practices seem as poignant as ever.

My invitation to you, over the next couple weeks, set aside some time when you can be in intentional reverence or contemplation. Think of the ancestors you would like to recognize. These may be cherished ones you have known who have passed, others who were estranged, or family further back on your ancestral line. How would you like to acknowledge and honor these souls? Perhaps you pull out some photographs, and light a candle, make a family recipe, watch a movie you loved to share, or engage in an activity this person enjoyed. If you did not have closure with this person, you may be called to write a letter to them, expressing how you feel. Seal it up in an envelop, leave it out on an altar, and then bury or burn it after a short time. You'll know when. If you had a particularly challenging relationship with one of these individuals, honor your experience by allowing your feelings to flow. Are there any lessons you learned as a result of your relationship with them? If you haven't already, are you ready to forgive them? If not, what to you need to move closer to forgiveness, so you can heal? No matter who you choose to acknowledge, you may find expressing yourself with a poem, drawing, or song cathartic. Trust what feels appropriate, reverent, and healing for you.

Even if the details of the stories may have been lost to time, we all have had ancestors that survived pandemics as well as times of uncertainty, and unrest. Their strength, wisdom, love, and resilience still lives on in your bones, your DNA. You can call on these compassionate ancestors and ask them to guide you, be with you, and offer you strength to continue on during these times. As you invite these energies, focus on the blessings. If you notice any of their unresolved pain or struggles activating within you, witness it with compassion, and remember it is not yours, and therefore not your job to carry it on. Breathe these burdens down into the Earth with love, freeing yourself and your family line from these energies. As you connect with these ancestors, who knows what kind of insight and healing may emerge for you.

Finally, you may feel called to incorporate a ritual in remembrance of the many who lost their lives this year due to COVID-19, violence, or other causes. Create space for mourning within your personal world and communities. We have been through a lot, and though you have survived if you are reading this, many have not. Let us offer them peace on their soul's journey, and healing and comfort for their loved ones (which may include you). If you are in the thick of grief, remember to lean on the support of those around you. The Reiki and I are here for you too, if you need it. 

                                                                        . . . . .


As you take this time to honor the departed, please share with us in the comments how you celebrated them, and what the experience was like for you.

Lastly, with the election just around the corner, I ask you all to join me in holding intentions for peace, fairness, integrity, safety, and compassion for all Americans as we exercise our right to vote, determine the results of the election, and await the next term.

Take good care,
Sarah