I’ve struggled with my mental health from a young age and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, when I was 15. Between that, a fair amount of life chaos, and being someone who feels things deeply, I spent many years stuck in a near-constant state of stress, worry, and exhaustion.

A few years ago, a friend asked me to try a Reiki session with her. It was Western Reiki, and I went in with curiosity rather than expectation. I remember walking out feeling noticeably lighter and calmer than I had in a long time. Over a few sessions, the practitioner mentioned that I seemed particularly receptive to the work and suggested I might want to learn Reiki myself.

True to form, I couldn’t just learn Reiki anywhere. I wanted to understand Reiki as close to its roots as possible, so I specifically sought out traditional Japanese Reiki, where the practice originates.

That search led me to training in Usui Reiki Ryōhō through the International House of Reiki, and later to deeper study connected with Jikiden Reiki and the Arjava Reiki Institute.

I was also fortunate to spend time learning in Greece with Frank Arjava Petter, a well-known Reiki author and researcher, on his olive groves in Lesvos. I’ve returned several times since, because it’s a rare kind of learning environment: grounded, generous, and focused on practice rather than performance.

Since finding Reiki, I’ve become the calmest version of myself I’ve ever known. Life didn’t suddenly stop being difficult, but I’m far less reactive, less overwhelmed, and much better at resting when I need to. Reiki gave me a way to slow my nervous system down and reconnect with myself when everything felt like too much.

That’s what I aim to offer others now. Not big promises or spiritual theatrics, just steady, grounded support.

Put simply: Reiki might help. And if nothing else, it’s an hour you’ve given yourself to properly rest. Sometimes, that alone is enough.