Towards the end of 2016 I started a small Reiki/Alternative Therapies business called Celtic Healing. This was mainly in response to looking for alternative employment when I felt I had to leave my secure, highly paid job, due to workplace bullying and a lack of resilience to cope after Kyle’s death. It has never really taken off or made any money – it’s basically a money pit, but it has helped people both as treatment clients and in running Reiki courses – so that’s a wonderful thing. I put a lot of effort into trying to grow my business and joined the B Directory to assist with my marketing. This is a blog feature article they did on Celtic Healing….and Kyle’s story.
How this Perth Reiki practitioner turned grief into healing
by Elsa Mitchell | Jul 30, 2018 | Member Interviews | 0 comments
I’ve deleted the start of this post so many times. Usually sharing the stories behind our businesses come easily to me but this ones different. This one is a privilege to share and I wanted to share it with the honour it deserves.
Karen is a Perth reiki healer and practitioner. Some of you are probably wondering what that even means and if you’d asked me a few years ago I wouldn’t have been sure either. Reiki is a Japanese technique used to reduce stress, increase relaxation and promote healing. It is administered by various ways, often light massage and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
Initially we were drawn to Karen because of the warmth and kindness she so obviously radiates but also her genuine, honest and straight forward attitude. You only need to be around her for a few minutes to see she has the hugest heart but stick around a little longer to hear her story and you’ll realise she is pretty special.
You see, Karen wasn’t always into reiki and energy healing. For the longest time she worked in traditional and sometimes more corporate roles so it would be easy to assume she made the switch to a more holistic career to live a more full- filled life helping others, but sadly this isn’t the case.
In 2016 Karen unexpectedly lost her 30 year old son in a motorcycle accident. It was in her grief that she realised life was too short and took “the really scary step of resigning from my life-sucking, toxic work situation” (to put it in her own words). Her career as a healer was born with a focus to utilise her skills and experiences to help others suffering grief and loss also.
Why on earth did you start your business Celtic Healing?
K: The death of my 30 yr old son in a motorbike accident in 2016 caused me to re evaluated my entire life and as a result I decided life was too short to waste – so I took the scary step of resigning from my life-sucking, toxic work situation of 18 years, and followed my passion – alternative healing therapies and wellness.
What do you love doing in your business the most?
K: Helping people with things they have struggled with in mainstream health options to find relief through alternative healing and intuitive guidance. I’m originally a qualified teacher so I also enjoy teaching courses and workshops on Reiki, Crystals, Shamanism, Meditation, Tarot and Psychic and Spiritual Development.
Hate the most?
K: Having to charge money and “sell” myself and my “service”. I’ve never had my own business before, and never had to generate my own work or sell things – I’m not a “sales” person. I’ve always been the expert delivering or managing the professional service side of things. So having to put on the “sales and marketing” hat is hard for me. I just want to get on with the healing!
What makes me special ?
K: LOL I’m just me! We are ALL special in our own way. But the unique thing I bring as a Reiki Practitioner and Master is that I combine my other modalities, as a Celtic Shaman and a Crystal Shaman, as well as my intuitive psychic guidance to provide a totally customised healing for each individual client. I’m not a one size fits all kind of practitioner – I offer a very Bespoke Service! In fact even for the same client the healings will change between one session and the next depending on what they need at that point in their life. No sausage factory approach here!
Sell yourself in 25 words or less –
K: Now that’s where I struggle, trying to sell myself…. But here goes…..I would say….
“I can help solve people’s physical, emotional, mental or spiritual problems, where mainstream options have failed, though exclusive, caring, integrated, totally individualised, alternative healing therapies.”
Karen, for those of us still trying to understand the benefits of Reiki, can you outline few?
K: The benefits of Reiki are many – but here the most common people come for:
1. Health benefits – Stress reduction and relaxation, which triggers the body’s immune system and natural healing abilities, assists in more restful sleep, improves and maintains health. Brings inner calm, peace and harmony to any stressful situation or event.
2. Balances the mind and emotions – Regular Reiki assists in remaining calmer and more peaceful so you are better able to cope with everyday stress. This mental balance enhances learning, memory and mental clarity.
3. Can heal mental/emotional wounds and dysfunction – It can help alleviate mood swings, fear, frustration and even anger. It strengthens and heals personal relationships increasing your capability to love and have empathy.
4. Offers relief during emotional trauma, distress, grief and sorrow – It cleans and clears the emotions and pain and helps with PTSD, Anxiety and Depression
5. Physically it helps to relieve pain and symptoms – from health issues such as migraine, arthritis, sciatica, asthma, chronic fatigue, menopausal symptoms, insomnia and post surgery recovery.
And it doesn’t stop there. Karen’s skill set extends to Ayurverdic Kansa Massage, Crystal Medicine Bags, Meditation, Tarot and Oracle cards, Psychic and Spiritual Development, training, workshops and more. Be sure to check her out in full here.
Thanks so much Karen for sharing your story with us, you are truly are so brave and your positive outlook is inspiring.
