Reiki for Caregivers
Last night I dreamed that a kind man who was highly spiritual gave me a care package: a basket of food. Then he was on his way to other things, perhaps to give baskets to other recipients. In the basket was a freshly baked loaf of bread, different kinds of cheeses, and lots more. All sustenance. I felt great gratitude for this man and the gift he brought, especially since I had been going through a stressful time. The following morning I thought about him and his role as a caregiver. He reminded me that Reiki treatment sessions for caregivers are indeed important. Since I’m a caregiver, I needed to schedule a Reiki treatment session for myself!
Caregivers and Reiki Benefits
Doctors, nurses, Moms and Dads, and energy practitioners: all are caretakers. In fact every one of us are caretakers in one way or another, and for those of you who are caring for a loved one, it can be challenging to remember to care for yourself. But it’s vital. Especially if you’re involved in long-term intense caregiving.
You may begin to feel that you get lost in the process of the medical ups and downs of your loved one’s path. That’s where receiving a Reiki treatment session can help to replenish your overall energy level for more stamina so that you can continue to give to your loved one and walk beside them.
Making Time for Reiki Sessions as a Caregiver
Taking time out, and choosing the appropriate time is up to you. At least a half-hour is suggested. An hour is even better because you want to be able to deeply relax.
Taking regular time for yourself to receive Reiki is important to create and maintain a foundation of feeling centered, whole, and rejuvenated with more clarity.
Five Benefits of Reiki:
- Allows for a quiet time to regroup and relax your mind and body
- Helps to recharge your energy
- Provides a time to more fully feel the connection between yourself and loving Higher Power
- Grounds and stabilizes your energy physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually
- Helps you to honor your self-worth
After a Reiki session, you can come to your loved one with a stronger foundation of feeling refreshed and ready to continue caring for them.
Sometimes people say “There isn’t enough time to take care of myself. I’m so busy taking care of my friend/spouse/family member.”
What if We Don’t Take Care of Ourselves?
When we don’t take care of ourselves, it can impact us in the following ways:
- We have less strength to help our loved ones
- It’s harder to make decisions for our loved ones or for ourselves
- We tend to run on empty and we feel drained which can affect our moods, which in turn can affect the moods of our loved ones
- We may feel so tired that it begins to affect our bodies
- It begins to be more challenging to stay truly positive with an uplifted outlook
Reiki Sessions for Caregivers
When you receive a Reiki treatment session, either in-person, or distance/remotely, it can help strengthen you on all levels. You can sit in a comfortable chair or lie down on a Reiki table or even on a bed or couch. You can say a positive affirmation or prayer for yourself at the beginning of the session to place your mind in a positive space for the session. You might fall asleep and that’s fine because when you’re deeply relaxed, the immune system has a chance to function at its highest level. (If you think you might fall asleep, you might want to set a gentle alarm so you’ll wake up in time.)
I’ve found that Reiki sessions for caregivers have proven to be restorative for their body, mind, and soul. After a session, they feel ready to face the tasks ahead.
Distance Reiki Sessions
Distance/remote Reiki treatment sessions are being felt just as profoundly, if not more so, than in-person sessions. That’s because the energy comes from loving Higher Power, through the Practitioner, to the recipient. The recipient always receives what they need for their highest good.
I hope that if you’re ever in a situation where you’re caring for a loved one, you’ll reach out to a Reiki practitioner so that a Reiki treatment session can help you to re-center and replenish your mind and your body. Because you’re worth it. You’ll also be able to bring a “better you” to your loved one, which may just help to lift them too.
Many of us are caregivers for others. On a very fundamental level, each of us are also caregivers for ourselves.
If we make the time for self-care, that caring energy for ourselves ripples out to all those whom we come across during the day, and it may help to lift someone who is just passing by, perhaps in ways we may not even know.
Many blessings,
Yvonne P. Gleason, Reiki Sanctuary of Northern Virginia
Certified Reiki Master Teacher
Certified Meditation Instructor and Life Coach