E-Newsletter:
How Erik Was Introduced to Reiki (4/11)
I'm headed to a storytelling conference this weekend, so I thought I'd share the story of how Erik got into Reiki. He often tells this story to clients and students, so I'm sharing it from his perspective.
During the 5 years I studied Tae Kwon Do, I never got sick. I stayed out late. I drank too much beer. I underwent surgery and chemotherapy. I never got sick.
Then I started working long hours at an ad agency, and I couldn't get off work in time for Tae Kwon Do. After a few months, I noticed I was getting sick pretty frequently. Nothing serious — just the cold and flu. It was no fun, though, and I decided to do something about it.
I tried eating better — more Jamba Juice and less McDonald's. I felt better, but I still caught a cold.
I knew this didn't happen when I was getting a workout at Tae Kwon Do, so I joined Crunch and started exercising after work. I guess I improved my “cardio fitness,” but I also came down with the stomach flu.
Beyond exercise, Tae Kwon Do taught me to work with my ki — my energy. I read some books on protecting your ki, but they barely scratched the surface of what I'd learned through martial arts. I added a book on Reiki to my Amazon Wishlist, but I never got around to buying it.
I resigned myself to getting sick, at least for the time being.
One day my girlfriend, Anna, called and said, “Our friend Jacques just took a class on Reiki energy healing, and Brian's gonna take it, too. Do you want to take this class together?”
I asked, “What the hell's ray-key?”
She told me, “You've got a book on it on your Amazon Wishlist. Don't you know what it is? Are you just randomly adding things to your Wishlist?”
I felt kind of foolish, so I agreed to take the class.
After the first part of the class, I dutifully did the homework. I didn't get sick between the first part and the second part of Reiki I. “Is it working?” I wondered. I got my certificate. I kept practicing, every night after work.
Six months went by, and I hadn't had a cold or the flu at all. Jacques and Brian asked if I was interested in taking Reiki II with them. Of course I was! After another six months, we took the Reiki Master class together, and then the Reiki Teacher class.
We student-taught the first part of Reiki I while our instructor, Jeanette, supervised. Later that week, our student emailed Jeanette to say he wouldn't make the second part of the class because he had checked himself into a recovery center for alcohol addiction.
At this point I realized that Reiki could help people make powerful, positive changes in their health. It wasn't just about protecting myself from the cold and flu. I wanted to share this with others, so I started doing Reiki healing sessions and teaching classes.
That was in 2005. Over the last six years, I've seen Reiki help clients through trying times and push students to make difficult but positive changes in their lives. Reiki is strong stuff. When you're ready — or think you're ready — I'm happy to act as your guide.
If you're ready — or think you're ready — for a Reiki session or class, email erik@chicagohealingstudio.com or call Erik at 312-504-7693 to schedule.
Anna Schibrowsky
Chicago Healing Studio
