My Journey with Reiki

My Journey with Reiki

The first time I heard the word Reiki was sometime in high school. One of my best friend’s moms was a practitioner. I’ve always felt connected to her, and looking back now, I think we were more aligned than either of us could have realized back then—both walking a spiritual healing path in our own ways. At the time, I confused Reiki with EFT tapping. I didn’t give it much thought again for years.

That changed after I moved from New York to Los Angeles in 2022. I started doing something for myself—something I grew up loving deeply: horseback riding. Being around horses has always been profoundly healing for me. It’s where I feel most at peace, most me. One day, after a riding lesson, my instructor mentioned she was heading to Mt. Shasta for a Reiki attunement. She asked if I knew what Reiki was. I smiled and nodded, pretending I did, but in truth, I had no idea.

She told me she was a Reiki Master and that it was important to receive attunements every so often. I felt a jolt of curiosity—and knowing. Something in me lit up. I knew in that moment: I’m going to do that. I’m going to become a Reiki Master too.

Later that day, I found myself Googling Reiki classes. I came across a few teachers that stood out, but one - Lara- resonated most. She had also lived in New York and worked in fashion before finding her way into this work. I just knew she was meant to be my teacher.

As I write this, I feel called to look back through my emails. I realize Lara’s first message to me about Reiki I dates was sent on November 4th, 2022—the same day one of my dearest friends crossed over to the other side. I knew the timing was close, but I didn’t remember it was that aligned. I was already struggling to adjust to life in LA, and her loss was devastating. Having something beautiful and meaningful to look forward to, this new doorway of Reiki. became a beacon of light.

I took my Reiki I training in January 2023. I walked into that circle completely unaware of what Reiki truly was. When Lara said it was a form of palm healing, I was shocked—and amazed. Had I known in advance, I might have doubted myself or hesitated to attend. But the experience was powerful. I had never received Reiki before. Just being in a circle of kind, spiritually open, nonjudgmental women was deeply healing in and of itself.

After that training, I committed to the practices. I memorized the Reiki Precepts and repeated them like a mantra—during yoga, first thing in the morning, before bed, or in moments when grief felt overwhelming:

Just for today... do not anger. Do not worry. Be grateful. Do your work diligently. Be kind to yourself and others.

(Some teachers expand this to include: Be honest in your work. Live your true, authentic nature. Be compassionate toward yourself and all beings.)

These words became a balm for my soul.

Reiki 2– Ojai, CA

May 20–21, 2023

I took my second level of training in Ojai, a town I’d never visited before but felt instantly at home in. The weekend was expansive, filled with new tools, sacred symbols, and deeper spiritual insight. At the time, I struggled with severe driving anxiety and refused to use highways. I took all back roads to get there, adding over an hour to the drive. But on the way home, I felt a shift. I drove on the highway the entire way back feeling braver, stronger, more held.

Reiki Master Trainings

• April 27, 2024 – Reiki Master training with Akiko Hoshihara

• October 16–21, 2024 – Reiki Master training with Lara in Ojai at the Topa Institute

• Feb/March 2026 – Holy Fire Reiki Master with Hae Lee

• June 2025 – Karuna Reiki® Master training with Jules Davis in the Redwood Forest

Receiving my Karuna Reiki® Master training in the Redwood Forest was one of the most sacred and unforgettable experiences of my Reiki path so far. Being held by the ancient trees while deepening into a lineage of compassion, sound healing, and soul-level connection brought something alive in me that I can’t quite put into words. Jules Davis is an incredibly intuitive and heart-centered teacher. Her presence alone is healing, and the way she held space for our group felt like a transmission in itself.

Karuna Reiki works with the energy of compassion in action. It brought forward new frequencies and insights that I hadn't yet accessed in other trainings. In those woods, surrounded by silence, stillness, and the breath of the Earth, I felt the Reiki energy move through me in a new way - gentler, deeper, and more expansive. It reminded me that healing is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes, it is a quiet remembering.

Even though I now carry the title of “Reiki Master,” I truly believe I will always be a student. Reiki isn’t a destination, it’s a path. I know I’ll continue learning, deepening, remembering.

Reiki has profoundly transformed my life. Since beginning this journey, I’ve reclaimed my energy and begun honoring my boundaries. I’ve discovered a deep place of peace within me that I never had access to before.

Perhaps most importantly, I’ve awakened to the quiet but powerful truth that I can make a difference - simply by showing up in my light, being present with others, and sharing this sacred energy. I can help others. I can help myself. Reiki has been a homecoming to the Divine within.

And it’s only been a few years. I can only imagine the magic that still lies ahead.

✨

Want to hear more?Listen to my podcast episode for a more in-depth dive into my Reiki journey:🎧 Click here to listen