When I first began my Reiki journey, I wasn’t sure where it would lead me, only that I was doing what I was meant to do. From the very first class with my wonderful Reiki Master teacher Noelle Abent, I knew I’d come home. I loved every minute I spent in training and study. I knew I was on the path, but once I was done with the training, and all the certificates were up on the wall…what then? I began doing sessions with family, friends, and spreading the word to include others, but where does the path lead beyond that? I’ll admit to feeling a little, well, lost. Can a Reiki master admit to such a thing? Of course they can. It’s nonsense to assume one has it all figured out because they master a certain technique, no matter how spiritual or esoteric it may be. There’s strength in truth and a depth of fellowship in vulnerability that one cannot achieve in hiding from ourselves and others.
So, what’s a Reiki master to do when faced with such a question but head back home to their teacher and ask for guidance. “Send Reiki to the very question,” she said. “Ask for guidance along your Reiki path. That’s what it’s there for.” It’s funny how often a Reiki practitioner will think of Reiki for others but not for themselves. I did exactly that. I sent my question Reiki. Where should I take my practice? Who needs my Reiki? Where should I go? Not long after, I was riding down the road listening to NPR when I heard Rose Scott interviewing two women (Sascha and Laura) about The Grief House. There was already one in Portland, and they had opened one in Atlanta. Put simply, it’s a place where people can go to grieve without judgement. I think many of us have had the experience of friends or family wondering why we haven’t “moved on” or “trying to help” but honestly, making things worse. Here are just a few of their stated ideals of The Grief House:
“Grief is a normal part of living. Grief comes with all loss — including but not limited to death. New strengths arise when we weave loss into our ongoing lives.”
“Gathering together can give us courage in the presence of grief. We can support each other in our grief even when the sources of our loss are different.”
“Grief can show up as a multitude of emotions — including joy, hope and comfort — sometimes separate from one another, sometimes simultaneously. There is no one way to grieve and no set timeline for how grief unfolds.”
Read the rest of the philosophy here: https://www.griefhouse.org/about
I knew I wanted to be part of their mission in some way. I went home that very day and contacted The Grief House and asked how I could be of service. I am happy to say that I will be offering Reiki at the Atlanta Grief House on May 18th from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in individual sessions.
The Grief House mission is so important to me because many years ago, after two pregnancy loses back-to-back, I certainly felt that I wasn’t given space to grieve. People would say things like, “Well, at least your baby wasn’t at this or that gestation.” Comments like that made me feel as if they were saying I had no right to grieve. I know I’m not alone when it comes to these kinds of comments. The circumstances may be different, but the results are the same. The griever will often stop talking about it and shove their grief so deep that it turns into an ache they can’t even identify after a while.
At The Grief House’s “Grief Spills,” no one comments, we simply “hold space” for the grievers while they pour out their hearts. Participating in a Grief Spill was one of the most precious, beautiful experiences of my life. Knowing we aren’t going to comment after they fall silent creates another experience most of us aren’t used to: we receive the privilege of listening without thinking about what we will say when they stop talking. It’s true listening.
You don’t have to be grieving the loss of a loved one either, it can be the loss of a relationship, or something else that is causing you grief. Bring it to The Grief House with an open heart and an open ear for the other grievers present, and you’ll see what I did: the human heart is beautiful, even when it’s messy, even when it hurts.
To register for the May 18th Reiki sessions (or anything else offered by The Grief House): https://www.griefhouse.org/event-details/reiki-healing-for-grief-and-well-being
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