Bringing Reiki Home: The Challenges and Rewards of Being a Boomer pt. 2

Making Space for Healing

The idea of making space and time for one’s healing is often a big hurdle to overcome with parent’s who grew up with a strong work ethic to keep busy.  The idea of ‘giving oneself permission to receive’ and ‘surrendering to the quiet and support’ of the Reiki session can be quite foreign to elderly parents.

I worked in a nursing home as a social worker for over five years at the start of my counseling career.  Now fifteen years later, my training program will be going back into a retirement and nursing home and offering sessions to the residents there.  What the elderly there enjoyed most was participating in the recreation activities, being busy in the community kitchen, going out for strolls or rolls in their wheelchair.  Anything but sitting still.

So my tactic then and now when I with my own family or my guidance for those caring for the elderly is by setting the example of stillness.

Instead of getting pulled back in to familiar routines when visiting with family, incorporate your own Reiki and meditation practice.  Begin the day in silence and centering.  Bring your Ipod and/or eye pillow.  Make silence have an exclamation point!

Mom and dad might think it looks strange, its certainly not what they do to get a ‘jumpstart’ on the day, but by your own practice, they may come to see you are more grounded and able to handle the comings and goings of the day ahead.

From there, incorporating Reiki into a ‘session’ with your parents can follow.  Here are some suggestions that have worked for others:

Getting Creative in Making Healing Space

1. During Bathing/Dressing/Meal Routines

Before I worked as a social worker I was a nurse’s aide in several nursing homes.  I had just started to become familiar with energy work and found I was able to incorporate the technique into the tasks required for elderly that were bedridden or needed assistance with ADL’s (activities of daily living).

For instance, a warm washcloth placed over the face combined with a ‘Reiki facial’ is a delightful way of beginning bathing.

If they require assistance with getting dressed, mindfully infuse Reiki into their garments and finish the dressing with a gentle sweep of the aura.

Are you preparing meals?  What a great opportunity to use your Reiki in handling the food, cooking, baking and serving.

Instead of caretaking becoming a chore, now it can become an offering of service and light to both parent and child.

1. Incorporating Reiki into a light shoulder massage.

Who doesn’t love a light shoulder massage?  Reiki sneaks into each intentional touch you give, and whether the massage is 5 minutes in the back of a car while you are both being driven to the airport, or in your parent’s home after a meal, or offered in times of stress:  give the gift of touch.  But also be mindful of personal preference around touch.  Just Reiki hand positions on the shoulders in stillness will also suffice.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more ways of making space…