Day-after-day, my 8 year old son came in from school looking stressed and feeling afraid. He was being bullied and feared he wasn't fitting in with other children. I felt helpless and alone; he's a gentle soul with a tender heart and a high spiritual calling. The grown ups in his world failed him time and again. Teachers dismissed his fears as "unreasonable" because the bully was smaller. School administrators looked the other way with an attitude of, "boys will be boys." Family members said, "he needs to toughen up if he's going to make it in this world!" I didn't know what to do. My heart broke as his self-esteem plummeted. This went on for years and escalated into anxiety and worry about his academic performance due to repeated discouraging, careless and callous remarks from a teacher.

Three years later, I began weekly Reiki treatments with an intent to raise his vibrations to a level that aligned him with Spirit's plan for his life. Within two months, I saw a change. He was more comfortable in his skin, more confident. At 12, he became a Certified Level II Reiki Practitioner, calling upon the energy to self-soothe and resolve issues as needed. Now, he is 20 years old and uses Reiki to restore emotional balance and to help others. He used Reiki to help Grandpa's knee injury. He sends Remote Reiki to support my healing work when I am tired or under the weather. I watch in awe as he fashions a world that accommodates his preferences and needs, not the other way around. He is a happy-go-lucky young man with a wonderful sense of self and an awareness of how to use Universal energy to shape his personal life experience.

Infants self-soothe by sucking their fingers or a pacifier. Older children, teens and adults, need a more socially acceptable method to bring comfort and calm during stressful events like hectic work days, important exams, and when faced with difficult choices and peer pressure. In a world where people are plugged in and wired 24/7, Reiki makes time for connecting with the Universe and going inward for guidance. In a crowded room or home alone, Reiki is a perfectly discreet way to get centered and shift to a higher frequency where self-love awaits to aid with clarity and to guide the way to healthy life choices.

Lawrence Palevsky, M.D., FAAP, is former Chief of Pediatric Acute Care at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He is also a Reiki II Practitioner and integrates Reiki and other complementary therapies into his patient care program. In an article that appeared in Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Dr. Palevsky shares how he used Reiki in his practice.

"My most fascinating experiences with Reiki were in the delivery room, caring for infants born in distress. Many of these babies were born and placed on the infant warmer without movement or even a single cry. … I would prop the oxygen masks on their faces, turn the overhead lights off, decrease their stimulation and give them Reiki, usually lasting about 10 to 15 minutes… Invariably, these depressed, initially unresponsive infants would slowly emerge, open their eyes, move their hands, arms, feet and legs, and begin a slow squirm in my hands, normalizing their tone, color and behavior… Vital signs remained stable; their breathing normalized… No admissions to the intensive care unit were necessary for these newborns.” Click here to read the entire article.

There are countless benefits of Reiki for today's youths who are struggling daily with peer pressure, bullying, exam worries, changes in the home, low self-worth, self-acceptance, fitting in and many other challenges. When a child receives Reiki, the mind is quieted and nerves are calmed. A tremendous sense of peace prevails, clearing the way for a healthier view of reality. They leave the session relaxed, happy and at peace.

Reiki is a family affair. Children no longer have to feel helpless when family members fall ill. They can learn Reiki and use it to help elders with Alzheimers, siblings with ADD/ADHD, parents with depression and friends who are injured. For youths, Reiki is a powerful coping mechanism that raises awareness and shifts energy in their favor. It gives them a sense of control and order. Click here for accounts of how some families are using Reiki to empower and improve the lives of loved ones.

Are you ready to introduce your young person to Reiki? Click here to schedule a session.