As I embarked on the busy month of May, I pulled a tarot spread for inspiration on my next blog subject. As I read through the cards, it felt very clear to me that the topic was burnout. Intuition also guided me to feel as though it was just as much a personal warning as it was a topic that applies to countless people. It was almost as if the cards were reminding me that as a Reiki practitioner, I was not immune to the forces that can lead to overwhelm and exhaustion.
Through the month of May, I said yes to everything: my birthday, friends’ and family’s birthdays, Mother’s Day, end-of-school-year parties. It was a whirlwind of socialization I hadn’t experienced since December.
Everything was going well, but I was slowly dropping self-care habits due to long and busy days. First were the walks, then the journaling, and yes, dear reader, the self-Reiki. Every night I fell into bed exhausted from all the fun, my mind already on the next day’s to-do list. And then when the parties were over and normal life resumed, my body came to collect.
I was so worn out that all I wanted to do was sleep all day. Even my daughter was sent home with a fever on the second-to-last day of school. As we lay in bed together trying to get the rest we desperately needed, I felt a wash of humiliation come over me.
Didn’t the cards warn me? Didn’t I already know that I needed lots of rest to refill my social battery? How could I possibly write an article about burnout when I couldn’t prevent it for myself?
When I turned to my friend and mentor, she laughed. She said, “Reiki doesn’t prevent burnout; it helps you return to yourself after you experience it.” It feels so obvious. Sometimes I feel like Reiki is so wonderfully healing and magical, I forget that it’s only one part of the self-care puzzle.
Could I have been more diligent in taking care of myself between social and family engagements? Probably. Would I wish to go back in time and reduce my calendar load so it wouldn’t happen? Not really. Not that we can change the past anyway, but I had a lot of fun. And I learned a lot about myself in the process. We’re always learning, aren’t we?
Reiki couldn’t prevent an episode of burnout for me any more than it could for anyone else. But it can catch us when we fall. It’s there to help us regain our footing, to get the rest and recovery our body needs to move forward again.
After a week of rest, my daughter and I were feeling like ourselves again. Her fever broke, and she was ready to dive into summer camp with her friends. I was able to step back into self-care and self-Reiki, and that return to myself is exactly what inspired what came next.
Feeling energized by positive feedback at a holistic fair earlier in the month, I decided to expand my Reiki-infused candle offering from a signature scent to a full line dedicated to self-care and spiritual practice. I’ll be spending the upcoming summer days bringing this project to life, and I hope to bring these intention-setting candles to future events.
Check out my events page for more information on upcoming events in the Colorado Springs area, from holistic fairs to sound bath collaborations.
Please note: I am not licensed, certified, or registered by the state of Colorado as a healthcare professional. I am not able to diagnose conditions, prescribe or perform medical treatment, prescribe substances, or interfere with the treatment of a licensed medical professional. Reiki is an energy technique used for stress reduction and relaxation and is not a substitute for medical care. If you are experiencing a medical emergency or mental health crisis, please contact your primary care provider and/or call 911.
Meet Rin
I found Reiki when I needed it most — not as a business, but as a lifeline. It reconnected me to a sense of wonder I thought I’d outgrown, and eventually, I felt called to offer that same doorway to others.
I’m a certified Usui/Holy Fire® III Reiki Master practitioner based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and I believe with my whole heart that magic is real — it’s just been waiting for you to look up.
