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| Aroostook Republican photo/ Barb Scott Janice Santos |
By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
As alternatives in health and healing have become commonplace in the nation and the world, they have moved into The County as well. Many holistic forms of healing such as massage therapy; reflexology, acupuncture, aromatherapy and herbal medicines have become available and quite popular in recent years. Another holistic form of healing, not as well known but worthy of recognition, is a form of hands-on healing called Reiki.
“Sadly, Reiki has been misunderstood and not readily accepted as a healing modality in this area,” stated Janice Santos, Reiki Master, “probably because unless someone experiences it, there is no obvious evidence of its existence. There are no needles, no physical contact necessary, nothing visible, just energy.”
“In addition, when people Google Reiki, they are likely to find inconsistent and inaccurate information,” she added
Reiki — literally translated means universal life force energy, this life force energy is within us, and all life forms. According to Santos it is an ancient form of healing that everyone did at one time, but as cultures changed, Reiki, along with many forms of healing, disappeared into obscurity. Through research of ancient texts and healing traditions throughout world, Reiki was rediscovered and brought back into our awareness by Dr. Mikao Usui around the turn of the 20th century.
“Everyone can do Reiki — in fact, everyone does Reiki,” said Santos. “Every time you injure yourself and you instinctively put your hand on it, you are doing Reiki healing. The difference between the average person and a Reiki practitioner is the amount of energy flowing through their hands, training in hand positions, sensitivity to energy and being attentive to the client’s needs.”
“When receiving a Reiki treatment from a practitioner, the client’s body basically receives a booster if you will, of the same energy that is within,” according to Santos. The practitioner works with their hands lightly touching or held just above the body. The body knows what it needs, so it will take the energy in, sending it where it is most needed,” she said.
Santos said Reiki heals on all levels — mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. It helps to support the body’s natural ability to heal itself and promotes healing quite often in subtle ways, helping to clean the body of toxins, balance the body’s energies, loosen blocked energy and promote a state of total relaxation.
Reiki can help re-establish, emotional, physical, mental and spiritual equilibrium and well-being, she added. It has been found to be effective in promoting healing from injuries, surgery, cancer treatments, and emotional difficulties. Medical facilities around the United States and the rest of the world have incorporated it into many of their health programs.
“I had a client come to me, who had an ongoing problem with his neck,” Santos stated. “After one Reiki session, the following week when he saw his chiropractor, the adjustment was successful and his neck pain, finally subsided,” she added.
“I’ve worked with terminally ill patients, struggling emotionally with their illness, their pain and their fears,” the Reiki Master said. “The treatments enabled them to find a sense of calm, some respite from the pain — and even the ability to reconcile their internal struggles. Reiki is truly remarkable in the sense of what it can do for an individual who is in need of any type of healing,” Santos added.
Santos also stated that it is important to understand that ‘we are energy’ and physical illness manifests when an imbalance arises somewhere in our energetic system. Reiki assists the body in addressing the root cause of illness, to promote healing from the inside out, so to speak. “Reiki and other holistic forms of healing empower us to take responsibility and be accountable for our own health and well-being. Our body is truly a magnificent creation, capable of many things, self-healing being among them.”
All forms of life respond to Reiki, including plants and animals, according to its practitioners.
Santos has been practicing Reiki for approximately 15 years, receiving her first degree in Reiki in 1997, and found she absolutely loved it. “I continued on to achieve my second and third degrees,” said Santos. She completed Reiki Master teacher training in 2001. “I had a small practice in Massachusetts. After being settled in Caribou for a number of years, I was finally able to set up an office for practice last year — Shining Moon Whole Health Center,” she said.
Offering treatments she held free Reiki circles once a month in order to give people the opportunity to become more informed and to experience the healing power of Reiki, at no cost to them.
“Unfortunately, despite local advertising, very few people were interested or even knew of my practice,” she stated, “and I was forced to close after only three months.
“The world is in desperate need of healing — hearts and spirits are broken. It’s all so very evident when we look at the high rates of substance abuse and violent crimes, making people feel powerless,” Santos emphasized. “People need healing; the world needs healing — and I have a gift that I want to share with the world,” she said.
“I still practice — traveling to clients’ homes and I am available for wellness fairs, healing circles,” she stated. “I will come to a group gathering where people would like to learn about and experience this wonderful form of healing,” she added.
In addition to offering Reiki treatments, Santos teaches first, second and third degree practitioners as well as Reiki Master teachers. Each of the first three degrees certifies the student as a practitioner at that level of skill. The teacher program is more intense and requires commitment due to a long period of training, facilitating Reiki circles, assisting and co-teaching in order to be certified as a Reiki Master Teacher.
Santos is presently working on a webpage with links to sites providing information on medical and scientific studies of Reiki, and how Reiki works in conjunction with traditional Western medicine.
“It would be nice to see Reiki become as well known, as accepted here as other forms of holistic healing,” said Santos. “For the individual it is just as beneficial,” she added.
“We are complex beings, capable, as I said of many things. To continue supporting us in our lives, our bodies need proper care and nurturing. I am certain people will find Reiki a welcome addition to their current, or future, wellness practice,” Santos stated.
Those interested in learning more about treatments, classes or holding a Reiki circle, can contact Santos at 207-227-9519 or by e-mail at reikiaroostook@earthlink.net.
