I’m sitting on a chair with my eyes closed. For a brief moment, I can hear kids screaming in the pool next to me. My mind returns to my breath and the present moment. I go within. A young couple’s laughter distracts me. My awareness shifts from screaming kids, to the talking couple, then to my breathing. I ask the Reiki to flow through me. My hands are resting on my lap. I feel like an instrument in the big orchestra of life. I allow the noise around me to blend naturally with the noise within me and become part of the experience.

It’s windy. I make the wind my anchor for this Reiki and meditation sitting. My mind swings from the noises around me, to the sensations of the wind, and back to this peaceful space within that I sink into from time to time. I let go. I surrender to the moment. No effort. Not trying to do anything but also not trying not to do anything. Simply being. Allowing the Reiki to flow. Focusing on the wind is nice: What does the wind sound like? How does it feel in my body?

I notice my hair blowing all over my face and become mindful of the sensation. A child playing in the pool screams, distracting me again. My body shakes up from the sudden shift in focus. After taking a deep breath, I returned to my anchors: the breath. The wind. The present moment. Who knows when I’m going to be distracted again. It might be in fifteen minutes, five minutes…one minute. This moment of BEING is precious. Let me BE with it.

I ask the Reiki (God, universe, spirit, divine light—the name is less important to me; feeling the bigger connection is what’s important) to clear unwanted energy and to fill me up with love and light. I sink into a deeper, quieter space. Spirals of color emerge. I drop into a comforting state of relaxation.

My mind wanders. Rachel comes to mind. She messaged my Reiki group yesterday to let us know that her dad had passed away. I do what I always do when a person pops up in the middle of my meditation practice: I follow my intuition and send Reiki to her. Then, I return to my anchor, the wind.

Thinking about Rachel makes me think about my own dad, who is no longer with us. There are times when I am in deep Reiki and meditation where I feel the closest to my parents who have passed. This is one of those moments.

I’m ready to complete my practice at the top of the world (or at least that’s how it feels).

I ease back to the present moment: the chair. The floor. My body. I open my eyes.

I allow myself a few minutes to reflect. Today’s practice, on the roof of a hotel 24 floors up in the Philadelphia sky, wasn’t one of my most calming. Some days I’m fully relaxed and present in the moment. Other days, my Reiki and meditation practice feel like an internal war inside my head. I’ve learned to accept it. (If you’re curious to read more about mindfulness and meditation, you might enjoy my previous blogs, “There’s No One ‘Right’ Way to Meditate” and “If You Want to Stop Taking on Pain of the World, Meditate. Here is How to Start.

I think about Rachel. She was on her way to see her dad, who was 6000 miles away, and made it in time to see him before he left. Our Reiki community supported her during her flight. She messaged us just before getting on the plane, and we sent her Reiki. Her trip reminded me of my trip to Israel two years ago. As soon as I got the news my dad had fallen critically ill, I got on a plane. When my flight took off, I became extremely restless. I felt that my dad needed me, so I did what is so natural to me and connected with him through Reiki, tears in my eyes. Sending Reiki is such a deeply spiritual experience of surrendering to unconditional love. I connected to WiFi as soon as it was available, and there it was: a message from my sister that my dad was gone. Though he was completely disconnected and in his own little “Alzheimer’s zone,” when the caregiver told him, “Michal is on the plane. She is on her way to see you,” he opened his eyes widely, and tears rolled down his cheek. Then he took his last breath.

I have been breathing and living Reiki since 1996. More than 2000 people have gone through our Reiki training. They share unique stories about the impact Reiki has had on their lives. The fact that I could connect with my dad through Reiki and help him transition quietly, thousands of miles away and on a plane, blows me away and touches me deeply.

Whether on top of a high rise building or sitting on the earth, we can always connect to a power greater than us and let it guide us.

For me, Reiki and meditation are the two most beautiful, powerful channels with divine love.

I would love to be your guide in this life journey for healing and growth.

Join my next virtual Reiki class and my next virtual meditation retreat.

Peace to all beings,

Michal