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Here’s a no-miss recipe to bring to that family barbecue this weekend. Bright cubes of sweet watermelon sits atop curly green arugula- it looks gorgeous on the table and it’s even better on the tastebuds.

Ingredients:

1/4 Medium Red Onion, Thinly Sliced
3 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinaigrette
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
Pepper, Freshly Ground
12 Ounces of Organic Arugula
1 1/2 lb. of Chilled Organic Watermelon
8 Ounces Organic Valley Feta Cheese

1. Soak sliced onion in cold water for 10 Minutes (this mellows the onion)
2. Toss the arugula and onion in Balsamic Vinaigrette
3. Cube Watermelon
4. Top with Watermelon and Feta and enjoy!!

Why is everyone talking about Reiki for gaining health and wellness, why do hospitals use Reiki as part of their standard care and recovery practices, why did Newsweek feature a 4-page article on it in March 2016, and why do I love to teach Reiki to people? Let me pull back the cloak a bit and de-mystify what this Japanese healing art is really all about…. For starters,

• Do you know anyone who is looking for a natural, gentle, effective way to maintain their physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual health?
• Would you like a simple way to tap into your self-healing abilities anytime so you don’t have to run to the doctor or take a pill when you feel unwell?
• Would you, or someone you know and love, want to experience the feelings of peace, joy, harmony, and balance in their life?
• Can you imagine any situation where holding a loving presence of compassion would be an inappropriate course of action?
• What would your life be and feel like if you could just “be”, instead of “do”, all the time?

All these can be addressed through the practice of Reiki healing. Reiki is a Japanese healing art that uses Reiki energy for the purpose of providing stress reduction and a deep relaxation state that promotes healing. From this deep state of relaxation, the receiver can stimulate and activate their own innate self-healing abilities and possibilities, which are infinite.

The word “Reiki” in Japanese means spiritually guided life force energy, which implies that this special healing energy has it’s own wisdom about the root cause of the imbalance that needs healing. A Reiki practitioner, using the various techniques taught in the system of Reiki, is not using their own energy, but rather connecting the energy body system of the client with this Reiki. From there the Reiki does the rest, going where it is most needed. Reiki healing can be done in person with hands laid lightly on or over the body, or from afar as a distance treatment. It can be used on people of all ages, animals, plants, and even life situations to improve and balance energy!

Lay practitioners have been using Reiki for over 100 years, and it’s popularity is growing as a complementary healing approach in hospitals who are seeing faster healing recovery, reduced pain and inflammation, better sleep and appetite, reduction in unwanted side effects of drugs and radiation including chemotherapy, in their patients. There is an increasing body of evidence based research supporting the effectiveness of Reiki across a multitude of healing conditions. There is a fine body of case studies available through the Center for Reiki Research and the International Center for Reiki Training, of which I am an affiliate member Reiki Master-Teacher. Locally here in Hunterdon County, NJ it is offered to patients at Hunterdon Medical Center and the Integrative Medical Center at Hunterdon Regional Healthcare as an option in their care while at the hospital or as an outpatient.

So many of us are pulled in different directions from the demands on our life as parents, caregivers, spouses, singles, pet companions, students, employees, and business people, that literally on a daily basis our life force energies are scattered and displaced. We get overwhelmed, tired, frustrated trying to “do it all” for ourselves and others. But our body and soul are crying out for some peace, balance, and support in the midst of it all…so we can be who we truly ARE as spiritual BEings having our human experience in a physical body. How do we get that support we so desperately crave at a soul level without adding yet more “to do’s” and stress to our daily list of living activities?

First, we need a mind shift…to realize something that is not, but in my opinion should be, taught in school. We need to understand the concept of self-care and what it means to us, and those around us, to be aligned, enabled, empowered to take care of our selves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Self-care is NOT selfish! In fact quite the opposite. And, we need to understand that self-care must come first in our priorities, not left to last on the long list of things to do, if there is any time or energy left in the day….a complete 180 degree mind shift for most of us! Practicing daily self-care must become a way of being, an integral part of our routine. We must recognize that without that, we can not be all that we could be – for ourselves, or others.

A happy, healthy, engaged, awakened, and present person is a joy to be around! We should want that for ourselves and those around us! Encounter this person and their light filled energy can be contagious, lifting up all up to higher levels of enjoyment in life! Conversely, you know how you feel when someone whose energy is low, depressed, angry, anxious enters your space – it takes the whole mood of the room down! We are all sensitive to other people’s energy at some level and can sense this basic difference of happy vs. sad. What we are less aware of is how extensive this energy body system is, and how it needs to be taken care of to keep ourselves in good health at all levels.

Reiki has been a part of my life since 1999, and has brought me years of wellness, joy, and connection with others. It’s been an amazing experience as a Reiki teacher to guide my students on the path to their own self-care and healing, and give them a life-long skill they can use for their health and wellness. If you would like to experience a Reiki treatment or take a class, give me a call at (908) 730-0658.

Sue Ann Seccia-Harnden, RMT, is a certified Usui Reiki Master-Teacher since 2001, and Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) Animal Reiki Practitioner since 2013. She is the owner of Fifth Dimension Healing Energy, LLC in Clinton, NJ, offering a variety of holistic, energy medicine-based healing approaches for both people and animals. In addition to her private practice, as a weekly volunteer Sue Ann provides Reiki healing, and other holistic energy-based treatments to a wide variety of NJ’s wild animal species that have been injured or orphaned and are recovering at the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in Hunterdon County. Her email is: SueAnn@FifthDimensionHealingEnergy.net. For more information on treatments and classes visit: www.FifthDimensionHealingEnergy.net