Healing touch: a universal language

Human touch is important in all stages of life. Research conducted by the University of Miami Touch Institute revealed positive effects of touch on pulmonary functions, blood glucose, pain and immune function. In a series of touch experiments at DePaul University in Indiana, participants were able to non-verbally communicate eight emotions including anger, fear, love, sympathy, disgust and gratitude. 

Touch is the first form of communication between parent and child. Newborns who are touched gain weight faster and exhibit more advanced mental and motor skills development.  Although the importance of touch is equally important for teens and adolescents, Americans are urged to "keep your hands to yourself." Research indicates that lack of touch in American teens leads to more violent and aggressive behavior, and habits that involve self-touching like fidgeting or playing with hair. 

American adults often limit touch almost exclusively to handshakes and acts of intimacy (imagine what this means for single people). For senior citizens who live alone, touch is nearly non-existent outside of medical care. 

When was the last time you were touched? What kind of touch was it? What were the expectations associated with that interaction? How did it make you feel?

At Wellness Uprising (WU), we recognize the importance of touch in the healing process; good old skin-to-skin contact without any expectation of reciprocation. This is the kind of touch that is missing from so many of our lives. It's the kind of touch that heals.

Our non-tantric Physio Spiritual Aromatherapy uses rhythmic, gentle strokes as a delivery method for therapeutic grade essential oils. Unlike therapeutic massage where muscle and tissue are pressed, pulled and stretched, there is no pressure applied in our Physio Spiritual Aromatherapy session. Clients report deep relaxation, a feeling of comfort and security, and a profound, lasting sense of well-being.

Each Physio Spiritual Aromatherapy session includes Reiki and chakra balancing as part of the therapy. Specific essential oils are added to raise vibrations and further amplify spiritual, mental and physical healing.

To schedule a Physio Spiritual Aromatherapy with a certified therapist, call or text Rhonda at (323) 639-3674.   Ask about our discount for teens.

Gratitude

This is the season of thanksgiving. It is a time to express gratitude in its purest and most powerful sense. Gratitude comes straight from the heart. It does not measure or compare material gain, physical attributes, human suffering or self-worth. It transforms hatred into unconditional love. It plays heartstrings like a virtuoso, soothing rage, dissolving fear and melting away guilt, shame and old debris that no longer serves in a positive manner. It releases energetic bonds that shackle us to places of self-sabotage and tortuous pain. Gratitude grants us countless opportunities to make right the harsh judgements we've issued against ourselves and others. It is always available and accepting of our acknowledgement.

In Reiki, gratitude is an initiator. Every session is opened with a prayer of gratitude that takes place before the client arrives. Like a lighthouse, it shines in the darkest night and guides us to a safe harbor where wellness, balance and love await our arrival. It is in this pure spirit of gratitude that I say, "thank you." Thank you to the haters and baiters who launch attacks based on ignorance and misinformation. Thank you to my past, present and future clients, students, supporters, followers, fans and family. Thank you for allowing me to share my gifts of healing and spiritual insight. Thank you for every act of receiving that allows Reiki to flow in the name of love and healing. Thank you for every penny, nickel, dime and dollar that enables Wellness Uprising to remain in service. Thank you for your praise, referrals, prayers and well wishes. Thank you for recognizing the importance of energy in the universe, and for seeking insights that strengthen connections between us and Spirit.  And finally, I thank God and my angels, ancestors and guides who participate in every healing session for the highest and greatest good of everyone involved.  I see you. I feel  you. I welcome your continued love and support. I am a vessel for your healing energy. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Honor your Divine self

Loyalty is a steadfast allegiance with a person or cause. It is the act of devoting yourself to something or someone with your whole heart. Divine loyalty is unshakable faith in your own ability to speak to, hear and receive guidance from God. It is being committed to the care and preservation of you as an embodiment of the Divine energy that runs through all living things. Divine loyalty is a beautiful gift we give ourselves.

When we are loyal to our own divinity, we are fearless and confident. We live in comfort, knowing that we have everything we need. Divine loyalty helps us to access and utilize our many talents and gifts to strengthen our capacity for self-love and the ability to love others in a healthy and productive way. It helps us transcend the dense energy of the material world so we can unlock the unlimited abundance of the universe. Divine loyalty is the key to liberation from the constraints of mankind's material world. It is through this honoring of our Divine selves that we connect to the Higher Self and stabilize a consciousness that is grounded in truth. And it all starts with you. 

Self care is a very important first step toward Divine loyalty. It is the practice of taking care of your whole self --- your body temple, your mind, your heart and your spirit. Self care is the highest form of spiritual giving to yourself and others. The more you care for your self, the more you are able to care for others. The more you care for your self, the more knowledge, wisdom and power you possess to execute your assigned Divine life tasks. When we grow spiritually we quicken the pace of evolution, which requires a lot of energy. If we listen, the body will tell us what it needs to keep up with spiritual expansion. Take time to tune in and respond to the subtle hints your body is giving. Are you getting enough rest? Are you eating foods that provide the vitamins and minerals your body needs? Are you exercising for endurance and strength? Are you taking in plenty of water to aid your physical detox and the release of negative emotions and energy?

In her book, Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul, author Melody Beattie wrote: "By taking time to honor the body, to honor its shifts and needs, it will be there for you in a way that it has never been before. Rest and care will help it come back to center quickly. You will have the benefit of a healed spirit and a body that was allowed to adjust and adapt to that healing process. You will be honoring the oneness of body, mind, and soul. You will be honoring your newfound connection. Taking time to honor the needs of your body is taking time to respect the needs of your soul."

Spiritual development is the 'what' of our our life journey; Divine loyalty is the 'how'. Together, they move us closer to God with greater clarity and a stronger sense of purpose.

Balanced bartering

The idea of bartering is alluring, especially when money is tight and we are forced to forego one basic need for another.  Everyone has something other than cash that may be valued by another.  However, in a casual setting, it is easy for one or both parties to feel short-changed at the end of a bartered transaction.  Too often, little thought is given to the measurement of value.

In 1974, Uriel and Edna Foa developed the six basic types of exchange mediums. These classifications of compensation for goods and services continue to serve as a solid assessment of value in situations where goods and services are traded for monetary or other forms of payment.  The next time someone asks you to barter for goods or services, take a moment to assign a value to what they are offering in exchange.  If you do not have firsthand knowledge of their ability to pay or perform, seek references.  Communicate expectations both verbally and in a written agreement.  Do this for the protection of both parties. Finally, consider the tax ramifications (if any) of the trade.  Uncle Sam will expect his fair share.  Remember, "balanced exchanges sustain peer relationships, unbalanced exchanges establish power relationships."

Warning:  Counterfeiting is a risk factor for all of these currencies.

• Money:  Cash, checks, promissory notes, other forms of legal tender
• Intangible services:  Medical care, legal advice, expert advice or assistance (financial, creative, etc.), any other valuiable service
• Tangible goods:  Decorative, useful, rare or sentimentally valuable physical items.
• Positive regard:  Friendship, love, attention, empathy or caring that that demonstrates you are sincerely valued by another.
• Prestige:  Respectful titles, deference, status symbols, recognition and other ways to acknowledge stature.
• Sexual gratification:  Ranging from attention and flirting to full and enthusiastic sexual access.  This currency is most available to the beautiful and sensuous.

One final note, if a favor is what you seek, ask for it.