The 1^st time I was introduced to reiki was when my brother Eugene was ill with cancer. A man called Joseph Dunne came and did reiki on him in our family home. We were all unsure in the house what it was, one thing we were sure of, Eugene loved it and slept well after the sessions. Joseph was so good he came through snow and rain to treat Eugene. We as a family will never forget that and are extremely grateful to him. 

My friend Clare Clarke went on to do her reiki 1 and was nonstop talking about it. At the time I was big into a book called the secret about the Law of Attraction and she could not understand how I wasn’t drawn to reiki. I believe that everything happens at the right time in life. 

Eugene sadly passed away from cancer in Saint Francis Hospice Raheny in Dublin on May 15^th, 2011. He had a hard fight with cancer. He lived longer than the doctors thought he would. You would think this would make me happy. No, it didn’t because the longer he was living the more effects of cancer where developing. It was so hard to get his pain under control sometimes. Myself and my Mam cared for Eugene at home until we could no longer meet his needs. He was taken into the Hospice Friday 13^th and passed away on the Sunday.

My whole world changed. I was so angry, so sad, in shock. I needed him; he was like the cement in the family. I felt like my world fell apart. I remember crying hard out the back garden one day. I was holding Hugo’s phone that’s my brother’s nickname, Hugo. It started to play a song by U2 this was his favourite band. The name of the song is A Man and a Woman. The 1^st line is, Little sister, don’t you worry about a thing today take the heat from the sun. I was delighted that he sent me this sign that he is and always will be with me. 

As the weeks rolled by, I just needed something I wasn’t sure what, but I knew I needed help. I got in touch with Gillian Elliott, she is a reiki master based in Dublin. My Mam also agreed to try reiki. I was delighted because I felt there was nothing, I could do for her at that time to help her. Gillian arrived; she has this amazing calming energy to be around. She starts off by putting up a plinth and setting it with cozy blankets and pillows. She then walked around the room with incense clearing energy in the room. My Mam went 1^st. I was upstairs waiting and wondering what to expect. A little nervous but thinking to myself any feeling has got to be better than this one. It was over an hour later my Mam walked in to get me, it’s your turn, she said. She looked different hard to describe. She looked a bit out of it, spacey. I said, how are you? She replied good, you go down and we will chat after. 

So down I went, got up on the plinth. I felt like I was being mothered, minded and tucked in under the soft blankets. Gillian talked about mentally calling in my spiritual guides and visualizing a white light flowing through my body down into the earths center. Soft music was playing, I felt my body starting to soften. It had been rigid with stress and tension. Then she placed her hands over my eyes and WOW, colours that’s all I could see in my mind’s eye. Lots of colours, then I felt pressure on my chest. It’s hard to describe, out of nowhere tears start to flow and flow. I saw the colour green. 

I had a sense that there was an energy around and in me that I never experienced before. It felt so comforting and peaceful. At the end of the session, I was asked to thank my spiritual guides and she gently pressed on the center of my forehead, I now know it was my 3^rd eye. She also pressed on the soles of my feet and offered me a glass of water at the end. I was advised to drink lots of water to aid in the energy clearance that can follow a reiki healing session. That was my 1^st experience. 

I have had many more amazing reiki experiences. Its like a new doorway was opened in my mind. I am unable to put into words how life-changing reiki has been for me. It’s a different realm or maybe dimension is a better word I am not 100% sure how best to describe it. I went on to train in reiki with Hazel Kanes at Halo Therapies. It’s been like unlocking a part of me. I can’t describe it. It is as if I was asleep but have woken up and see and feel things differently now. Every reiki session has been different. 

I know whole heartily that when our loved ones pass over, that they are still with us in an energetic way. I have seen loved ones that have passed during reiki sessions. Since working with reiki energy, it has helped me have a more positive outlook on life. I feel more balanced when I give and receive reiki. I am so grateful for my life journey to date and for the amazing people that I have got to meet through reiki. I hope to continue this work for many more years to come.

I will end this blog by giving special thanks to Clare Clarke my best pal who is now in spirit, for all the encouragement to take the reiki journey. What a journey it has been. Clare set up a charity, Climb 4 Clare. Climb stands for; Children’s Lives Include Moments of Bravery. This charity was rolled out the day Clare passed over. I am so happy she got her dying wish. She is a true warrior soul. To each one of us walking this path of life, I wish you all well. Know that in great sadness and pain there are moments of great spiritual growth. There is a purpose for our pain and sadness. When in the midst of it, it can be very hard to see. My advice is to take one day, even one hour at a time. Remembering that it’s never goodbye, it’s “see you soon.” Love to my amazing brother, Clare and all the young souls. Forever young.

Namaste,

Liz

Xxxx

This is my 1^st ever blog. I have to say I am a bit nervous tapping away on the keyboard of the laptop. I am not a very good speller and well grammar is not my thing. I struggle using my I phone so let’s say this is a challenge. In my line of work, I am always relaying the message to feel the fear and do it anyway. There are great lessons to be learned in action. If you make mistakes as you go, good! you won’t do them again.

I have decided that my 1^st blog has got to be about autism as it is the biggest thing in my life. I have one son who is 6 years old and who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder & sensory processing disorder 3 days before his 4^th birthday. As I sit at the table typing this Hugo is watching Toy story for the 700^th time and the last while the new habit is pause rewind and watch the same scene about 10 times.

Just as well I meditate and do Yoga right! He is a great little boy; I am so blessed with him. I love him so much. There are hard days as with all children. I wasn’t having a good day yesterday; I really want more engagement with Hugo. Little chats etc. He has got a language. The use of his language is limited but has improved so much. 

He learns a lot from tv and movies. He reminds me a lot of the young man Owen from the movie, Life Animated. Hugo’s favourite movies are Walt Disney. One of Hugo’s strong points is imitation.

Being a mam is a tough job when you try to be a speech therapist, an occupational therapist and carer it can get a bit over welling. I have given Hugo Reiki sessions most nights in bed as he sleeps, and it makes me feel amazing that I can work with him on this level. He also really likes my Himalayan singing bowl. This is amazing for me as its finally something that we both really enjoy together. It forms the connection that I crave from him.

If you have a child on the spectrum there are some beautiful crystals that you can play with together. Crystals give off a vibration, everything is made up of energy. When crystals come into your aura, the magnetic field that surrounds your body, the energies from you and the crystal intertwine. This allows you and your child to tap into the energies from the crystal. 

Rose quartz crystal is a beautiful pink crystal that works with the heart’s energy. It omits the energy of love. Another nice crystal to play with is Black Obsidian, it absorbs free-floating irritability and restlessness. It’s also very good for grounding energy. Part of Hugo’s sensory processing disorder is the need to move a lot. He is looking for sensory input. I have been told by occupational therapists that it can be like a sense of not being grounded. Like your body is floating, so with flapping and stemming it gives the body feedback. Black Obsidian works well with the root chakra.

This chakra is where the sensation of grounding comes from. Crystals have a way of telling us what we need. Take a trip to any good holistic store and allow your child and yourself to be drawn to whatever crystal is calling you. They say you don’t pick the crystal; it picks you. Remember when you are working/playing with crystals make sure you have set the right environment.

Reduce the amount of stimulus, e.g. Don’t have the tv or radio on in the background. Allow the child to hold the crystal, always supervise this and observe your child before, during and after the experience. Most importantly have fun. Maybe talk about it being pirate treasure.

If you are at the start of your autism journey, I promise it gets easier. You must allow yourself time to process the diagnosis. There is so much fear at the start. You don’t know where or what to do. Please feel free to contact me. 

I also recommend some Facebook support groups such as DCA WARRIORS & Autism Mamai Ireland. It can be very isolating at the start, there are so many wonderful groups now such as cans in Wexford and Snowflakes in Dublin. Reach out and connect. 

Well, I better sign off and wake my little dude up, he tends to nap still during the day due to sensory overload. I hope you find this blog useful and as I said I am here if any Mammy, Daddy, grandparent, etc need chats.

All my Love,

Liz xxx