Embark on a transformative journey with Louise London-Choate, as she shares her profound connection to Reiki healing and its impact on her life. From the moment she first encountered the word “Reiki” at a seminar to her journey of becoming a Reiki Master Teacher, Louise’s story is one of inspiration, dedication, and the profound power of healing energy. Learn more in her exclusive MysticMag interview below.
How did you get into Reiki and what sparked your interest in it?
Throughout my life, I’ve gravitated toward books, films, interviews, and discussions that have dealt with alternative forms of healing. I’ve always been interested in spiritual healing, though unbeknownst to me for quite a while.
Long ago I was at a seminar, listening to a young man discuss various healing modalities. I sat there happily doodling when the presenter said the word, “reiki.” At that moment, surprisingly to myself, I suddenly put down my pen and looked up at him. I felt a visceral need to stop everything and pay attention. I’d never heard the word “reiki” before, but … why did I do that? Following the presentation, I asked the speaker about reiki. He suggested I do my own research. I went home, sat down at our computer, and found a reiki practitioner and master teacher in a neighboring community. That began my connecting with her and researching reiki online. She eventually became my teacher, then my mentor, and ultimately my dear friend.
That seminar also began my inner battle over whether to pursue reiki. As a child, I remember a cartoon in which a character was trying to make some kind of moral decision. There was an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, both trying to influence the character’s decision. The angel whispered kind, loving, positive messages to him in one ear and the devil whispered angry, hateful, negative messages in the other ear. For me, the devil whispered … “It’s silly for you to pursue reiki.” “People will laugh at you.” “It would be a waste of money for you to learn something like this.” The angel whispered … “Reiki feels really good.” “You would be helping many people, including yourself.” “Deep within, this feels so right.” Obviously, for me, the angel won, but the process did take awhile.
Reiki became part of my life in 2001 when I took my first reiki class. At first it played a quiet, personal role; I accessed it to offer healing to myself, to family, pets, and friends on a very limited basis. I took occasional weekend reiki classes to continue my training. As retirement from my initial career began to loom, I decided to allow reiki to play a larger and more meaningful role in my life. I promised myself that, upon retirement, I would purchase a reiki table and become a reiki master teacher, thus enabling me to teach this gentle healing art. I kept these promises. In 2012 I became certified as a reiki master teacher, and I purchased my reiki table. Not long after, I began to offer healing sessions, clinics, shares, and classes at my home studio located in Malden, Massachusetts. In 2015, I became a reiki volunteer at Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. At the hospitals, I provided reiki healing sessions to inpatients, outpatients, patients in the ICU, professional staff, and patients’ family members and guests!
Since becoming a reiki practitioner, I’ve witnessed and marveled at some of the countless miracles that can be performed thanks to reiki.
Can you walk me through one of your Reiki sessions?
When you first walk into my studio, I’ll invite you to sit and fill out a form giving me permission to provide you with reiki. You’ll hear soft, gentle music playing and possibly smell some desserty-scented candles, if, beforehand, you’ve agreed to me lighting them. Also, we can briefly discuss reiki and perhaps the reason why you’ve come for a session; I’ll do my best to answer any questions you might have. You’ll remove your shoes and lie down on my reiki table while fully clothed. At first, you may lie on your back while resting your head on a pillow. A bolster may be placed beneath your knees to support your lower back.
You may also cover up with a sheet. About halfway through the session, you may be asked to turn over onto your stomach. This time the bolster will be placed under your ankles, and you can rest your face in a soft headrest. At the end of the session, I’ll ask you to turn onto your back again; and after a few minutes, we’ll be done. I may concentrate on certain areas, as requested by you or as determined during your session … or perhaps I’ll focus on a particular issue that you and I have previously discussed and agreed upon. You might spend the entire session lying on your back or your stomach, or perhaps you’d prefer to lie on one of your sides or split the time between one side and the other. Your position on the table can be your choice. Your comfort is of prime importance! I always believe you will receive whatever reiki you need.
A reiki session can also be performed while you are sitting in a chair, on a couch, in a wheelchair, in a hospital bed, in a car, or wherever you are. Reiki energy can go through casts, bandages, cloth, and any substance! Your session might last 30, 45, 60, 75, 80, 90 minutes … or even 2 hours!
During your session, you may sense tingling, pleasant warmth, pulsing, a sense of lightness, a feeling of wellbeing and calm, or none of the above. You may visualize colors or images. You may notice that your pain has subsided or diminished. You may experience such deep peace and relaxation that you fall into a restful sleep and then later awaken feeling peaceful and refreshed … in other words, you may feel absolutely wonderful!
Following the session I’ll hand you some water, and we can have a brief discussion about your session, if you’d like.
What is the difference between different levels of Reiki (I, II, Advanced, Master Teacher)?
Each Reiki Master Teacher has their own style of teaching. Here’s mine…
In Reiki Level I, I teach you to provide healing on the physical level during one very intense, long day.
Reiki Level II enables you to offer healing on the mental/emotional level and, also, teaches you three reiki symbols (the power symbol, the mental/emotional symbol, and the distance healing symbol) and how to perform distance healing.
In the Reiki Level III / Advanced Healing Techniques class, you learn the master symbol, an archangel meditation, the three diamonds meditation, alternative reiki symbols, animal reiki, how to set up a reiki business, how to clear a space with reiki, and more.
The Reiki Master Teacher class is a three-day class (three non-consecutive days) that enables you to teach this gentle, healing modality to others. You will learn and practice reiki attunements for each class; figure out how to devise lesson plans; review how to set up a reiki business; and more.
What motivates you to keep doing this work?
I love offering reiki to others and to myself. I love the warm, comforting sensations that come over me whenever I receive reiki and I feel gratified knowing that others might feel similarly wonderful during and following their reiki healing sessions.
Furthermore, I feel so very grateful that I was guided to reiki, that I can offer reiki, and that I am able to certify others to become reiki practitioners. The more I provide reiki, the more humbled I feel. When I’d first walk into a hospital patient’s room and introduce myself, the following phrase often drifted into my mind: “There, but for the grace of G-d, go I.”
I’ve come to understand that each patient/client and I are inextricably linked, even though in most cases we haven’t previously met each other. But for the grace of G-d, I could be the one in that hospital bed and, with each session, I find myself increasingly humbled by this constantly-renewing revelation. Those who receive reiki are so appreciative of the service I’m offering and yet I’m ever thankful to them for allowing me to provide this service. Good feelings all ’round …
To learn more about Louise and her work, you can visit www.avivareikirelaxationhealing.com
