Reiki and Self-Love
I’M NOT CRAZY ABOUT VALENTINE’S DAY
But, nurturing self-love as a compassionate practice?
More of that, please, plus a refill.
But why does the concept of self-love feel so vague, and why is practicing self-love often difficult?
Self-love can feel like a hazy idea in part because it’s such a deeply personal concept. One person’s night in on the couch may be self-compassion, but another’s leaving the house to see friends may be an act of nourishing self-love. For some, setting a boundary may be radical self-love, and for someone else, breaking down a barrier may be their revolutionary act of self-love.
I love this definition:
Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. Self-love means taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others. Self-love means not settling for less than you deserve (bbrfoundation).
If we think of self-love as a harmony of:
being kind to yourself
prioritizing yourself
being compassionate towards yourself
forgiving yourself
honoring what you need physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually…
then this statement is true:
Reiki is an act of self-love.
If we understand that Reiki calms and rebalances the body, mind, and spirit to promote an environment for healing, then Reiki is a powerful catalyst for us to begin or deepen our self-love practices.
Reflect on the bullet point list above. Reiki, like self-love, is all of the things listed (and more).
Super simple, right? So, why is a self-love practice like Reiki, meditation, or breathwork often difficult?
“We do not accept ourselves the way we are…We do not love ourselves in totality,” as Reiki Master Teacher Frank Arjava Petter notes.
We have been conditioned - by society, our peers, our families, capitalism, even the wellness industry - to feel “less than” and incomplete, always searching for the next practice, purchase, or app to help complete us.
Take a breath. It’s not easy to be reminded of anything or anyone that has ever made you doubt your self-worth or robbed you of self-compassion.
Reiki can help.
“Love, pure love, is love with non-attachment, love with kindness, humility, mindfulness, and openness. It is all very simple: Reiki is Love.” - Frans Stiene
And, when we’ve first nourished ourselves with the kindness, humility, mindfulness, and openness that Stiene mentioned, we then have more love, compassion, empathy, and kindness to offer in our relationships. Love spreads.
You are worthy of self-love. And while a Reiki session and self-Reiki are ways to connect to your innate worth, they’re not the only ways. A cup of tea without screens; writing a love letter to yourself; a ritual bath; a walk in nature; dancing around your home; a meditation; buying yourself flowers; putting your palms over your heart and taking several breaths into the heart-space - - all small acts of powerful self-love.
Reflection: Offer yourself 1 compassionate thought that you believe may be true.
Examples: I am worthy of love; I am capable; I am whole.
Alignment: Place your left hand over your heart, then place right hand on top of your left. Take at least 5 slow rounds of breath, repeating your compassionate phrase with each inhale. Feel the palms soften into the heart on the exhale.