Returning to Reiki After a Long Break: Have I Forgotten Everything?

by | Reiki

Maybe your Reiki certificates are tucked away in a folder somewhere.

Maybe your hands haven’t rested on someone’s shoulders in months, or even years.

Maybe your Reiki books are sitting on a shelf, waiting for “someday.”

Every once in a while you think, I really should start practicing again. But almost immediately another thought follows:

“It’s been so long… I’ve probably forgotten everything.”

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s a very common concern I hear in the Reiki community, from folks who haven’t practiced in awhile and are thinking about returning to it.

The good news is: You haven’t lost your Reiki!

Can You Lose Reiki?

One of the beautiful things about Reiki is that it isn’t like memorizing multiplication tables or cramming for a test. It is not a “use it or lose it” kind of thing. After you’ve been trained and received your attunement (or placement, depending on your lineage), Reiki remains available to you. What often fades isn’t the Reiki itself – it’s your confidence.

You may feel uncertain about hand positions. You may have forgotten the process of a self-treatment. You may hesitate because you can’t remember exactly how your teacher demonstrated something.

That’s completely normal.

It's Okay to Feel Rusty

Think about riding a bicycle. If you haven’t ridden one in ten years, you’re probably not going to hop on and feel perfectly smooth in the first thirty seconds. You might wobble a little. You might feel awkward. But the ability is still there.

Reiki is often much the same.

After a break, it can take a little time to reconnect with the rhythm of your practice. As you begin using it again, things that felt forgotten often start coming back surprisingly quickly. Your hands remember. Your awareness returns. Your confidence grows. And none of that requires perfection.

Why So Many People Step Away

Life has a way of filling our calendars. Careers change. Children grow up. Parents need care. Health challenges appear. Stress piles up.

Sometimes our Reiki practice quietly slips into the background, not because it stopped being meaningful, but because life became full. If that’s been your experience, there’s no need to feel guilty. You don’t have to “make up” for lost time. You simply begin again.

Why Practicing With Others Can Make All the Difference

One of the hardest parts about returning to Reiki is doing it alone. You may find yourself wondering:

  • Am I remembering this correctly?
  • What if I’ve forgotten something important?
  • Does everyone else know more than I do?

Practicing alongside other Reiki practitioners can help quiet those worries. You see that everyone brings different experiences. You remember things you had forgotten. You ask questions. You receive Reiki. You offer Reiki.

Most importantly, you realize you don’t have to figure everything out by yourself. Confidence grows through practice, not before it.

You Don't Have to Be "Ready"

Sometimes we convince ourselves that we need to practice at home for weeks before joining a Reiki gathering. I’d encourage you to look at it another way.

Community practice isn’t something you earn after you’ve become confident. It’s one of the places where confidence is rebuilt. You don’t have to remember everything. You don’t have to have practiced recently. You don’t have to perform or prove anything. You simply come as you are.

An Invitation

If you’ve been thinking about reconnecting with Reiki, consider this your invitation. Whether it’s been six months or sixteen years, you’re welcome.

Our Community Reiki Practice gatherings in Des Moines, Iowa are designed to be warm, supportive, and relaxed. They’re a chance to practice, receive Reiki, ask questions if you’d like, and spend time with others who share an interest in Reiki, without pressure to have all the answers.

Sometimes the hardest part of returning to Reiki is simply taking the first step. I’d love to help make that step feel a little easier. I hope to see you at an upcoming Community Reiki Practice!

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Reiki for Self-Discovery: How Reiki Sparks Curiosity About Who You Really Are

by | personal growth, Reiki

When most people hear “Reiki,” they think of relaxation, stress relief, or perhaps alternative healing. While Reiki does support the body and mind in powerful ways, its influence doesn’t stop there. Reiki can also act as a catalyst for self-discovery—sparking curiosity about who you truly are and how you want to show up in the world.

The practice can quiet the mental chatter long enough for deeper questions to emerge: What do I value? What patterns keep showing up in my life? What strengths have I been overlooking? For many practitioners and students, Reiki becomes less about symptom management and more about curiosity, exploration, and living with intention.

Why Reiki Awakens Curiosity About the Self

Reiki is unique in that it bypasses intellectual “fixing” and works directly with energy. This often creates openings that invite self-reflection:

  • Slowed nervous system = more self-awareness. Research from Harvard Medical School shows that relaxation responses can activate regions of the brain linked to introspection and self-awareness (Lazar et al., 2000). Reiki, by reducing stress, naturally supports this shift.

  • A felt sense of energy. Many people experience warmth, tingling, or shifts in sensation during Reiki sessions. These subtle feelings often lead to curiosity: What else is happening beneath the surface of my daily life?

  • Nonlinear insights. Unlike a structured therapy session, Reiki can bring sudden, intuitive understandings. People may walk away realizing something about themselves they hadn’t consciously considered before.

This gentle but powerful process encourages you to see yourself not just as a body or a set of problems to solve, but as a layered, evolving being.

Self-Discovery Questions That Reiki Often Brings Forward

One of the most powerful aspects of Reiki for self-discovery is that it doesn’t give you the answers—it helps you ask better questions. Here are some examples:

  • “Why do I always put my needs last—and what would change if I didn’t?”

  • “Am I truly aligned with the work I’m doing, or am I just staying comfortable?”

  • “Why does my body feel tight in certain situations but not in others?”

  • “What relationships feel nourishing, and which ones feel draining?”

You don’t need to solve these questions in the moment. The act of noticing them is itself a step toward understanding yourself more deeply.

Practical Ways to Use Reiki for Self-Discovery

If you’re curious about using Reiki as a tool for self-exploration, here are some specific, practical approaches:

  1. Post-Session Journaling. After a Reiki session, spend 10 minutes writing freely. What emotions came up? What thoughts surprised you? Journaling immediately helps capture insights before they slip away.
  2. Energy Mapping. Use a simple body diagram (outline of a human figure) and mark where you felt heat, tension, or release during Reiki. Over time, you may notice patterns connected to emotions or situations.
  3. Curiosity Prompts. Pair Reiki with a weekly reflection question:

    • What am I most drawn to right now?

    • Where in my life am I holding back?

    • What brings me genuine joy, even in small moments?

  4. Reiki + Creative Exploration. Try engaging in art, dance, or music after Reiki sessions. Many people find they access more authentic self-expression when their energy has shifted.

The Role of Community in Self-Discovery

Self-discovery doesn’t have to be solitary. In fact, belonging to a supportive community can deepen the process. In my Reiki classes, many participants share that hearing others’ experiences helps them notice patterns in their own lives.

For example, one student realized she always dismissed compliments until she heard another classmate describe doing the same. That reflection sparked a breakthrough in self-worth that she carried into her daily life.

This mirrors findings from psychological studies on group dynamics, which show that supportive communities increase accountability and self-understanding (Yalom & Leszcz, 2005). Reiki, practiced within community, becomes both a mirror and a safe space for personal exploration.

Resources to Deepen Your Exploration

  • Book Recommendation: The Art of Self-Discovery by Nathaniel Branden is a practical guide full of structured questions that pair beautifully with Reiki reflection.

  • Scientific Research: The National Library of Medicine provides evidence-based articles from studies on Reiki.

  • SBV Classes: Explore my upcoming Reiki classes to experience how structured practice and community support can accelerate your own self-discovery journey.

Reiki for Self-Discovery Goes Beyond Healing

Reiki for self-discovery isn’t about “finding” a different version of yourself—it’s about peeling back layers to notice what’s already there. Our world pushes constant busyness and external validation, so this quiet, curious practice is radical.

Reiki gives you permission to ask: Who am I really, underneath the noise? And perhaps more importantly: How do I want to live now that I see more clearly?

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

What’s Your Spiritual Connection Language?

by | spirituality

Most people have heard of love languages—the idea that we express and receive love in different ways. But when it comes to spirituality and meaningful relationships, there’s another layer: our connection language. This is the deeply personal way we naturally engage with sacredness, truth, presence, and others.

Recognizing your unique connection language can reshape how you approach spiritual practices, group rituals, and even one-on-one moments of intimacy or insight.

What Is a Spiritual Connection Language?

A connection language reflects how you intuitively relate to the sacred—in yourself, in others, and in the world. It shows up in how you:

  • Create rituals or routines that feel meaningful

  • Engage in spiritual or reflective conversations

  • Feel “plugged in” during moments of awe or presence

  • Navigate depth in relationships or community

Unlike religious doctrine or formal practices, connection languages are personal. They often emerge from a mix of your personality, sensory preferences, emotional wiring, and spiritual curiosity.

Why Knowing Your Connection Language Matters

Understanding your connection language helps you:

  • Stop forcing yourself into spiritual molds that don’t feel right

  • Deepen your intuition by identifying what feels like “yes”

  • Create rituals or gatherings that energize rather than drain

  • Speak your spiritual truth more clearly in community

  • Spot kindred spirits more quickly

This kind of inner clarity leads to outer alignment—your life, choices, and relationships start to reflect your true rhythm and depth.

The 6 Core Spiritual Connection Languages

While everyone is unique, here are six connection languages that appear often. Many people have a blend, but usually one or two stand out most.

1. The Meaning Maker

You thrive when you’re connecting the dots. Symbolism, metaphors, signs, and synchronicities energize you. You enjoy journaling, dream interpretation, or pulling oracle cards—not for prediction, but for meaning.

You might love:

  • Symbol-rich rituals (altars, intention candles, meaningful objects)

  • Guided meditations with themes

  • Book clubs with deep, spiritual reflections

Watch out for: Over-intellectualizing your experience. Remember to ground.

2. The Sensory Devotee

You connect through the senses: incense, song, ritual baths, textures, or movement. Embodiment is your spiritual home. You likely feel closest to the sacred while dancing, cooking, creating art, or walking in nature.

You might love:

  • Sound baths, sacred movement, or candlelit rituals

  • Decorating spaces to reflect your inner spirit

  • Connecting through shared meals or dance

Watch out for: Getting distracted by aesthetics. Keep intention close.

3. The Witness

You create sacredness by being present with others. You’re naturally tuned into emotion, nuance, and the energy behind words. You likely feel closest to Source when holding space or when someone deeply sees you.

You might love:

  • Heart-centered group circles or authentic relating

  • Spiritual companioning or peer listening

  • Creating sacred one-on-one rituals (eye-gazing, mirrored affirmations)

Watch out for: Taking on others’ emotions as your own. Stay resourced.

4. The Explorer

You come alive in the search. Questioning, experimenting, and pushing edges feels spiritual to you. You’re drawn to different traditions, new ideas, or philosophical deep-dives.

You might love:

  • Attending different types of services or retreats

  • Engaging in deep, raw conversation

  • Creating DIY rituals that change weekly

Watch out for: Skimming the surface. Depth takes time.

5. The Grounded Connector

You feel spiritual when tending the earth, your home, or your people. Practical spirituality is your love language. You bring sacredness into cleaning, scheduling, caregiving, or gardening.

You might love:

  • Seasonal rituals, lunar calendars, tending altars

  • Hosting people in your space

  • Creating rituals around everyday tasks (tea, sweeping, chores)

Watch out for: Underestimating your own depth. Sacred doesn’t mean shiny.

6. The Mystic Reactor

You feel it before you understand it. Goosebumps, knowing without words, and bursts of awe are your spiritual currency. You’re drawn to dreams, intuition, and energetic resonance.

You might love:

  • Silent meditation, energy work, or ecstatic experiences

  • Saying “yes” to whatever your body says yes to

  • Following signs without needing explanation

Watch out for: Losing grounding. Sacred experiences are more sustainable when embodied.

How to Discover Your Connection Language

  • Reflect: When have you felt the most spiritually alive in your life? What were you doing? What senses were activated? Who was around?

  • Track energy: Pay attention to when you feel most engaged in group rituals or conversations. Is it when things are structured? Creative? Emotional?

  • Experiment: Try one small ritual, gathering, or practice that fits each connection language. See which feel like “you.”

5 Creative Ways to Apply Your Connection Language

No matter which type feels most aligned, here’s how to bring more of your connection language into daily life:

  1. Design a personal sacred moment around your preferred language (e.g., tea + oracle cards + music = sensory devotion).
  2. Host a micro-gathering for others with your language in mind. For example, Witness types might love a 2-person reflection circle.
  3. Create a ritual box with your favorite objects, prompts, tools, or sensory elements.
  4. Curate a playlist, podcast list, or ritual recipe that matches your style.
  5. Share your language with a friend or partner and ask them to reflect on theirs.

Going Deeper: Connection Languages in Relationships & Community

Once you know your language, it becomes easier to connect more honestly with others. You start to:

  • Set clearer boundaries about what works for you

  • Create group rituals that feel genuinely nourishing

  • Appreciate others’ differences instead of trying to “convert” them

In community, understanding each person’s connection language helps create gatherings that feel like enough for everyone. It’s spiritual inclusivity in action.

Ready to Name Yours?

Want to dive deeper? Try keeping a connection journal this week. Each day, write:

  • What felt spiritual or sacred today?

  • What pulled me in or pushed me out?

  • What made me feel like myself?

You might just find a language you’ve been speaking all along.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Kindred Spirits — How to Recognize the Spark of Resonance in New Friendships

by | Relationships

Have you ever met someone and felt an immediate, inexplicable sense of ease—as if your nervous systems sighed in relief at each other’s presence? That’s the spark of resonance. It’s not just a poetic concept—it’s a tangible, felt sense in the body. For people exploring personal or spiritual growth, recognizing kindred spirits is a powerful tool for deepening self-understanding and building meaningful, supportive relationships.

A kindred spirit isn’t someone who agrees with everything you say. They’re someone who sees your essence without needing you to dim your light. These friendships often help unlock parts of you that had been hidden, waiting for safe harbor.

Kindred Spirits and the Body's Subtle Signals

Your nervous system often recognizes resonance before your mind catches up. According to Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, cues of safety and connection happen through the vagus nerve, which helps regulate your body’s response to others. When you’re with a kindred spirit, you might notice:

  • A feeling of ease or groundedness

  • Relaxed shoulders and slower breathing

  • A natural rhythm in conversation

  • Unforced laughter or emotion

  • A sense of being “seen” without explanation

Start noticing these cues in your body. If your jaw unclenches and your chest softens around someone, it’s worth paying attention.

The Role of Energetic Resonance in Friendship

Energetic resonance is the subtle but powerful sense that someone vibrates at a frequency similar to yours—not necessarily in interests or personality, but in presence. Spiritual teacher Caroline Myss describes resonance as the attraction of shared energetic truth. When your energy aligns with another’s, there’s no need to perform. You drop the mask. You arrive as you are.

This doesn’t mean every resonant person is meant to become your best friend—but they may be meant to play a role in your unfolding.

Micro-Moments That Reveal Kindred Spirits

Sometimes you don’t realize the spark is there until something small cracks the surface. Pay attention to these signs:

  • They name something you thought was unnameable. When someone puts into words something you’ve long felt but never spoken aloud, that’s a clue.

  • They match your weird. Not performatively, but effortlessly. Your quirks aren’t just accepted—they’re met with enthusiasm.

  • They offer silence without awkwardness. The connection doesn’t depend on noise.

  • They echo your values through action. Even if they use different language, the way they live aligns with what you find sacred.

  • You leave the interaction energized, not depleted. This is a huge sign of compatibility on an energetic level.

Differentiating Kindred Spirits from Trauma Bonds or Echo Chambers

Resonance is different from trauma familiarity. A kindred spirit will feel grounding, not chaotic. Safe, not addictive. If the spark feels overly intense or unpredictable, it may be a trauma echo rather than a soul connection. Ask yourself:

  • Do I feel more like myself or less?

  • Do I feel a sense of possibility or enmeshment?

  • Is there laughter, lightness, and choice in this connection?

Real resonance respects boundaries. It expands both people’s sense of self.

How to Nurture (Without Forcing) Kindred Friendships

Once you’ve identified someone who feels like a kindred spirit, the goal isn’t to latch on—but to let it grow at its natural pace. Consider:

  • Creating micro-rituals of connection—like swapping voice notes, sharing dreams, or pulling a card for each other

  • Trying shared creative or spiritual experiences, like attending a sound bath, a book swap, or a poetry night together

  • Saying things out loud like, “I really enjoy our energy together. No pressure, just naming it.”

You don’t need to define it right away. Name it. Honor it. Let it breathe.

When the Spark Isn’t There: Honoring Non-Resonant Interactions

Sometimes you want to click with someone, and it just doesn’t happen. That’s okay. Not every connection is meant to deepen. Being honest with yourself about energetic dissonance can free up space for the friendships that truly do spark.

The Spark Is Worth Following

Kindred spirits in new friendships are not a myth or a coincidence. They are clues on your soul path—people who mirror your values, challenge your growth, and amplify your joy. Noticing and nourishing these sparks doesn’t just improve your social life. It grounds your spirit in real, felt connection.

Pay attention. Reach out. Stay weird.

References:

  • Aron, A., Aron, E. N., & Smollan, D. (1992). Inclusion of Other in the Self Scale and the structure of interpersonal closeness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(4), 596–612.

  • Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. Norton.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

From Small Talk to Soul Talk — 10 Conversation Prompts for Sacred Connection

by | Relationships

With all of today’s digital noise and superficial interaction, many people are quietly craving something deeper. According to a 2023 Pew Research study, nearly half of U.S. adults report feeling lonely or isolated some or all of the time. Even in the presence of others, there’s a hunger for authenticity, for moments of being truly heard and known.

But how do you shift a conversation from surface-level to soul-level without feeling awkward or intrusive? This is where intention and creativity come in.

In this article, you’ll discover 10 unique conversation prompts that can transform your relationships—whether with a longtime friend, your partner, a new acquaintance, or even yourself—by moving from small talk to soul talk.

What Is Soul Talk, Really?

Soul talk is not about being deep all the time or turning every gathering into a therapy session. It’s about anchoring into presence, authenticity, and curiosity. Soul talk makes space for the things that often go unspoken: inner worlds, big questions, quiet joys, formative moments, and the quirks that make us who we are.

It creates sacred connection not just through what is shared, but how we show up for each other: with presence, empathy, and zero performance.

How to Use These Prompts to Create Sacred Connection

You don’t need a special occasion or hours of uninterrupted time to try these. You can weave them into dinner conversations, text threads, walks, porch hangs, or journaling sessions. Start slow. Let the response shape the next moment. And always respect consent and emotional safety—some questions need time.

Use these prompts to build emotional bridges, not spotlights.

1. “What parts of yourself feel most alive lately—and which parts feel like they’re hibernating?”

This question gives space to acknowledge both growth and dormancy without judgment. It invites self-reflection and naturally lends itself to support or celebration.

Try it during: A cozy tea date or an evening check-in with a partner.

2. “What is something weird or small that brings you an absurd amount of joy?”

Unexpected answers (like “the smell of hardware stores” or “rewatching the same bird documentary every fall”) often reveal identity and delight.

Use this prompt to: Break the ice in a playful but meaningful way.

3. “When do you feel most like yourself?”

This prompt bypasses labels and roles and gets to the essence. It also allows someone to name moments they may want more of in their life.

Variation: “Where do you feel most at home in your body or spirit?”

4. “What’s a belief you’ve let go of—and what did it teach you?”

This opens the door to evolution, vulnerability, and unspoken inner journeys. It can feel liberating to share and hear that change is natural and sacred.

Best used with: Close friends, spiritual circles, or retreat settings.

5. “Who in your life sees you most clearly, and what do you think they see?”

This prompt not only invites self-awareness but creates a doorway to gratitude, reflection, and deeper appreciation of meaningful relationships.

Bonus: Follow up by writing or recording a message to that person.

6. “What’s a memory that shaped who you are—but you rarely talk about it?”

The goal here is not to dig for trauma, but to honor quiet turning points: a comment from a teacher, a moment in nature, an unnoticed act of bravery.

Try during: Intentional journaling or small group storytelling circles.

7. “If your soul had a playlist, what would be one of the songs on it right now?”

Music often expresses what words can’t. This prompt adds fun, nostalgia, and metaphor to the conversation, while still going beneath the surface.

Group tip: Make a shared “Soul Talk Playlist” from everyone’s responses.

8. “What questions are you living right now?”

Inspired by poet Rainer Maria Rilke, this prompt validates the spiritual ambiguity many people carry. It’s not about having answers—it’s about naming the journey.

Helpful in: Supportive circles or moments of existential conversation.

9. “How do you experience connection—with others, yourself, or something bigger?”

This is an open invitation to share spiritual practices, rituals, or moments of presence—without pressure to define or defend them.

Try it: In interfaith or secular spaces where diversity is welcome.

10. “What’s a sacred ‘yes’ or brave ‘no’ you’ve made recently?”

This prompt celebrates boundaries, intuition, and self-trust. It brings the sacred into decision-making and highlights courage in everyday life.

Great for: Soul check-ins, coaching conversations, or peer mentorships.

Why Soul Talk is Worth the Risk

It’s not always easy to initiate soul talk. It can feel vulnerable, tender, even intimidating. But the payoff is real. According to psychologist Dr. Emma Seppälä, meaningful social connection is one of the strongest predictors of emotional resilience and well-being—on par with sleep, nutrition, and exercise.

When we give ourselves and others the gift of presence and genuine curiosity, we’re not just talking—we’re creating healing. We’re inviting a sacred kind of witnessing that affirms: you matter, exactly as you are.

So, what if your next conversation could be a soul portal?

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