My Blog

Living Social Testimonies

05/17/2012 16:57:00

Great value and felt great after it

2012-04-26

Great place. Brilliant Therapist.

2012-03-27

It was a very relaxing experience. I would definitely recommend the treatment to anyone, who is looking for a place to hide from the commotion of everyday life, who is trying to reconnect with their body and to add little bit of mysticism to their existence.

2012-03-23

Very enjoyable and will return again

2012-02-20

I found the therapist to be totally dedicated to his craft. The exprerience was relaxing and the effects of the reflexology lasted for a few days.

2012-02-18

It was absolutely brilliant. I had a knee problem and it is completely corrected. I cannot believe how painfree it is. Practice is to be highly recommended.

2012-02-13

Matthew is an excellent therapist and I will certainly be recommending him to my friends. He is very professional and both my husband and myself really enjoyed our treatments.

2012-02-12

I was very happy with the treatment and will definitely return

2012-01-25

African Reflexology

05/17/2012 09:54:00

Reflexology is a wonderfully relaxing therapy for promoting wellbeing in ones mind, body and soul. The Therapeutic Reflexologist relies on the use of very specific finger, thumb and hand pressure techniques applied to the feet which can have therapeutic effects on other parts of the body. Appropriate health care advice is offered regarding conscious lifestyle choices to facilitate the activation of the body’s healing potential. A Therapeutic Reflexologist identifies imbalances in the health of the patient by observing and feeling a number of things. These are understood as signs of emotional as well as physical wellness (or lack thereof). They include colours on the feet and nails, texture, tone, moisture, shape of the feet, and markings. With the use of specific pressure techniques therapists are able to pick up congestion and imbalances through, for example, tightness, sensitivity, granular areas. The feet and/or hands tell a story about the total wellness of the patient and the therapist’s observation is always done so in the entire context of the person’s emotional and physical health. Reflexologists do not offer diagnosis. Reflexology provides deep relaxation and helps the body regain balance. Although it does not claim to cure, the gentle stimulation of the reflexes in the feet does help restore energy and promote circulation, creating the right conditions for a return to health.

Second Degree Reiki

02/23/2012 10:52:00

REIKI INSIGHTS

After your Reiki First Degree you may have had some enlightening experiences. Often it is experienced as a coming home to ourselves. A greater sense of peace, self-awareness and self-acceptance usually accompanies the Reiki 1 initiate. We learn to diminish our role plays if we have any, that is, the people we think we should be, and we start to become more the people who we are – more natural, balanced, peaceful and aware. These experiences all stem from the willingness and the powerful choice to give ourselves what we need to be happy and fulfilled. One of the key realisations is that we DESERVE to live a life of joy, peace and purpose. We deserve to be happy. Happiness is largely a choice.

TAKING CONTROL

We learn not to let our internal experience be dictated by outside circumstances and things happening that are outside of our control. We take control of what is inside of us - our thoughts, perceptions, beliefs and emotions. These are the tools by which we shape our world. We use these tools wisely to guide our actions. We stop reacting – that is acting based on what has just happened, and we start responding, acting based on what we intend to do about what has just happened. Our responses have the potential to be much more measured and powerful when we learn to develop awareness, and therefore control over our internal habits and unconscious reactions.

THE AURIC FIELD

The Reiki First Degree initiate usually begins to experience a much more acute awareness of their physical body. As we learn to calm our emotions we also learn to calm our physical reactions to a range of stimuli. With this new physical awareness we very often begin to perceive the electrical energy that is permeating our bodies. This can begin as a buzzing in the hands and progress to include our entire auric field. This can be described as a very spiritual experience at times as we develop a whole new awareness to a part of our being that we previously may not have known existed.

LEARNING TO SHINE

It is often at the Second Degree Reiki stage that our perception of our auric field really becomes very powerful. It becomes possible to release blockages and tension within the body simply by directing awareness to that area. This control over our energy system ultimately helps us to remain calm and relaxed in nearly any situation, reducing stress and positively affecting our overall health.

THE CLIENT HEALS THEMSELVES

Reiki is “passed” to a client using a laying of hands method. The client is naturally induced into a deep state of relaxation using nothing more than the bio magnetic field surrounding the practitioner’s hands. The frequencies of the bio magnetic field during Reiki practice have been measured and correspond largely to Alpha Brain Waves. During the treatment the client may experience a rebalancing of their energy system, comparable to achieving a deep meditative state. It is important to note that it is believed Reiki does not come from us, but passes through us. That is, we attune ourselves to the frequencies of Reiki as a practitioner and then the client unconsciously attunes to the frequencies of our bio magnetic field, stimulating healing and relaxation. We only facilitate the conditions for a rebalancing of energy to take place. The clients own body does the healing, never the practitioner. A Reiki practitioner is a therapist and is not qualified to offer diagnosis.

STARTING YOU OWN PRACTICE

Should a student choose to advance to Second Degree Reiki they will be equipped with all the information and training needed to give a professional treatment to a paying client, including advice on starting their own Reiki practice.

First Degree Reiki

02/23/2012 10:41:00

WHY CHOOSE REIKI?

People come to Reiki for many reasons. Some are looking for relief from physical pain, some are looking for relief from emotional pain – some are just looking to live life to the full. Whatever your reason for being interested in Reiki, I believe it has something to offer everyone. What most people are just realising is that you don’t have to become a Reiki therapist in order to practice Reiki. It is first and foremost a holistic maintenance system for oneself. Whether we choose to advance our practice to the treatment of others is entirely up to us. Reiki can bring massive benefits for the First Degree initiate.

THE THREE DEGREES OF REIKI

There are three degrees of initiation in Reiki – First Degree is used for ourselves, friends, family and animals and may not be charged for. It is for personal development, and spiritual development if so inclined.

Second Degree Reiki is a more intensive course and qualifies the student to become a practitioner if desired. Many people progress to Second Degree Reiki simply for personal development purposes without any intention of practising on the public. However the will to share the gift of Reiki is usually very strong and calls many people to practice.

The Third Degree is called Master Level. This allows the student to become a Master Practitioner. There is usually a further Reiki Third Degree (II) workshop allows the new Reiki Master to teach Reiki to their students.

BEING MASTERED BY REIKI

Reiki is a spiritual tradition that is passed down from Master to initiate. Master in this sense does not necessarily mean that the teacher has mastered Reiki, more that the teacher allows Reiki to master them. It is dedication to the core principles of Reiki and the insights gained through practice that can lay the foundation for a life of balance. Within this balance comes a greater sense of inner peace and stillness, allowing us to develop our awareness of ourselves and our position within our world.

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL

The great advantage of Reiki is that it is so easy to practice. All that is required is a comfortable space, some time to yourself and your Reiki hands. With dedicated practice Reiki can allow us to reach profound states of relaxation that we may never have experienced before – equivalent to many hours of meditation. With the ability to relax deeply comes a reduction in stress and an increased sense of calm in mind and body. This newfound calm allows us to function much more harmoniously within our world, tapping into creative potential that we may previously have been blocking with our excited and unfocused minds and negative thought patterns.

COMMIT TO GROWTH

Reiki First Degree asks the student to do a total cleanse. A time of renewal and sometimes rebirth, we make a commitment to grow, in word, in thought and in deed. We make a commitment to look at and to look after ourselves in a healthier way. We use the cleansing time to develop a stronger awareness of our subconscious thought patterns and habits, and we choose to throw out any beliefs or ideas that are holding us back from achieving our full potential. It can be a powerful time of change and growth. Investment in ourselves is always worthwhile.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

BLUE HERON REIKI SCHOOL LAUNCH

02/21/2012 22:48:00

THE BLUE HERON REIKI SCHOOL LAUNCH

They say you can't keep a good thing down. I think Reiki is certainly a good example to back up this statement. Since it was first developed in Japan some 100 years ago it seems that Reiki has travelled around the world several times. It is to be found everywhere these days. It is described in many ways by many people; a Holistic Maintenance System, a spiritual practice, a deep relaxation method. To me it is all of these things. To me it is balance. A state of profound internal balance brings with it innumerable benefits, including a heightened sense of awareness - of oneself and of the world around us. It allows us to experience levels of peace and connectedness that we may previously never have experienced, or even known existed. It brings insight into ourselves and our world that help us to make more informed decisions and choices. It allows us to tap into our creativity.

Some would say that life is all about balance. I would agree. Reiki has shown me balance. With continued practice, a degree of discipline and a willingness to let go of what does not serve us anymore, we have the chance to live in balance. It is a wonderful place to live.

If you would like to know more about Reiki, how it works and how it benefits, then please come along to The Blue Heron Clinic, Lower Abbeygate St. on Sunday the 26th February at 6pm for a free introduction and presentation. RSVP is essential as space is limited. Please fill out the following form to confirm attendance.

Hope to see you there!

Best regards,

Matthew

Are you thinking of learning Reiki?

01/30/2012 22:07:00

Reiki Simplified

If you have chosen to learn Reiki for yourself, that’s great news and well done! If you’re just thinking about learning Reiki then maybe you will find some encouragement in these pages. Millions of people all over the world have been learning and practicing Reiki since it was brought from Japan to the West through the United States. Reiki is a Japanese word which can be translated as “Universal Life Force Energy”. The practice of Reiki was developed and originally taught by a Japanese Martial Artist called Mikao Usui. Today Reiki can be described as a spiritual path, a holistic maintenance system, an experimental science or a healing art. There are thousands of ways that Reiki can be used to promote balance in one’s life. It is one of the simplest, most accessible and powerful self-development programs to be found.

These days, the energy frequency of a Reiki practitioners hands can be measured using electro magnetometers. The frequencies measured range from 0.3 Hz up to 60 Hz in some cases. Many of the frequencies within this range promote healing within the physical body. The most common frequency measured is around 7-8 Hz, the same as Alpha brain waves which are known to promote deep levels of relaxation.

There is a spiritual element to Reiki wherein the energy is “passed” from teacher to student during a Reiki course or workshop. It may be more accurate to say that the student is taught how to attune themselves to the new energy frequencies for their own use. These frequencies are only used to promote the flow of energy (Ki or Chi) and never can they be used to any harmful purposes. If ones intention is to harm others then they are not using Reiki.

What the workshop will involve

To learn Reiki for oneself is very easy. All it requires is a will for personal growth, the intention to act from a place of compassion and a degree of self-discipline. It is for everyone, and anyone can learn it.

During the Reiki Frist Degree course you will be taught:

· The history of Reiki as traditionally passed down.

· Dr. Usui’s Principles of Reiki and their importance in healing.

· In depth discussion to understand how it works.

· How to give oneself a full treatment.

· How to treat friends and family.

· A 21 day cleanse which must be followed to help you become confident and gain maximum benefits from your practice.

· Meditation practices.

For the course you will need:

· To be well rested. A healthy amount of sleep is recommended before the course.

· Reasonably well hydrated. It is advisable to drink plenty of water before and after Reiki.

· To be wearing relaxed and comfortable clothing.

· If desired you may bring pen and paper for extra notes, however all information will be provided to take home with you.

What to expect

The day will be loosely structured with time allowed for improvisation and exploration of all aspects of holistic or energy healing. During the course a student may gain a new perspective that allows them to tackle old issues or challenges in a new way. The environment created for a Reiki workshop is one of complete openness, honesty and respect for ourselves and each other. There will be plenty of opportunity to share experiences, issues and insights with the group so as to maintain an active, involved and dynamic learning experience. Difficult or pent up emotions may sometimes surface as ones energy becomes unblocked. There is no obligation to share these emotions with the group unless desired, however the support of a compassionate and understanding group can have profound therapeutic effects. A follow up one on one treatment will be offered to help release old negative or blocked emotions in a safe space if desired.

The 21 Day Cleanse

After the course it is important to undertake a traditional 21 day cleanse to purify the mind and body. Whereas this does not have to be punishing or intensive it is important to avoid all stimulants such as:

· Alcohol

· Caffeine

· Nicotine

· Drugs

It is advisable to adopt a vegetarian diet and eat as much fruit and vegetables as possible. Drink plenty of water and exercise regularly. Spending time in nature is also important. It may take time to develop sensitivity to your new ability and how it feels, so ONE HOUR OF REIKI is essential every day for the 21 days to help you become familiar with the practice and the energy. It is perfectly fine to give yourself a treatment in bed, last thing at night or first thing in the morning.

So if you are thinking of learning Reiki for yourself then this information will help you to be prepared. With any more queries please contact me at matthewconnollytherapies@gmail.com

My Testimony of Distance Healing

01/28/2012 09:59:00

I was always fairly open to the idea of Distance Healings, and was more than willing to experiment with the practice on having completed my Second Degree Reiki workshop back in 2006. This openness was largely due to the obvious faith that my Reiki Master had in the practice, and I had every reason to have faith in her. Not a blind faith by any means, but a strong degree of trust in her abilities as a facilitator for healing led me to entertain the idea that there really was great potential in the practice of Distance or Absentee Healing. Her testimonies and the experiences she shared with us through her teachings were inspiring.

After learning Second Degree Reiki a sporadic practice of Distance Healing with friends and family did produce some very interesting results. The first time I attempted a full Reiki treatment via Distance Healing I began with a phone call to my client who was very willing to participate and also very open to experimenting with the practice. My client was 50 miles from where I was. Once she had settled herself comfortably in a warm and quiet environment we hung up the phone and I began practicing. After one hour, I closed the session, and called her back. She said that she had really enjoyed the session and that it had felt just like when I had treated her before in a normal "hands on" treatment. I was encouraged by this feedback, and continued to experiment with Distance Healing.

When practicing on myself I would frequently use the Distance Healing method to send Reiki to my family members, and still do on a regular basis. The second experience of note was just after a particularly powerful Reiki self-treatment where I also used Distance Healing to send energy specifically to my mother. The next day when I spoke to her, she was very excited, energetic and had a great will for action, but she didn’t understand why. I told her that I had sent the Reiki. I had given her treatments in a normal “hands on” fashion many times before, so she was quite familiar with the sensations. However, she had never experienced it like this before, nor had she been expecting such a rush of energy to come from seemingly nowhere.

After this I was gaining more faith in the Distance Healing method, its power and possibilities. The next experience proved to me how effective and immediate it can be. I was out one evening watching a band that were playing some particular music that reminded me of my younger years with my family. The music I listened to as a child/teenager was mostly influenced by my older sisters, as I listened to what they listened to. At the beginning of a particular song I felt inspired to send Distance Reiki Healing to my sisters. Within 5 minutes I had a message on my phone from my eldest sister, who was at home a few miles away.

“I’m just dropping off to sleep and I’m picking up some VERY concentrated energy right now. Is that you?”

She said that she had not been able to sleep as she was having trouble calming her thoughts. Then all of a sudden a wave of energy and tingles passed down her spine leaving her feeling calm, relaxed and feeling in full control of her thoughts, allowing her to relax enough to sleep.

This is exactly the feeling I would experience during a really good self-healing while practicing Reiki on myself.

So, as far as I have experienced, Distance Healing is very real, demonstrates that Reiki is NOT the placebo effect, and can be very powerful. The Schumann Resonances discussed in this article and in this website may go some way to explaining this phenomenon in more detail.

In the meantime, should you wish to join the experiment yourself then all you need is an open mind and a willingness to receive. I will be delighted to receive all requests and queries posted through this request page. I am more than happy to include any and all requests for healing in my practice. I hope this article was of some interest, maybe even of inspiration to you.

The Origin of Reiki and Modern Scientific Discoveries

01/27/2012 21:51:00

The practice of Reiki was started by a Japanese Martial Artist called Mikao Usui. Respectfully referred to as Usui Sensei, or Dr. Usui in the western world, he was also a Tendai Buddhist Monk and a much respected healer in Japan.

Usui Sensei lived in Japan at a time of great social unrest and change. The country had just opened up its borders to trading with the west after 200 years of seclusion. There were many new influences at play in the country and among the people. Usui recognised this, and sought to create a practice that would be widely accessible, a practice to help the Japanese people to remain centred within their culture, values and ideals at a time of such great influence and change. It is said that he originally named his practice – “The Art of Inviting Happiness.”

Much has changed in the Reiki world since the time of Usui Sensei, but the essence of Reiki remains the same. Teachings have evolved, exploring new ways of understanding a healing method that is essentially a “laying of hands” and therefore probably much more ancient than any system that Usui personally devised. It is said that Usui travelled for many years studying ancient spiritual texts in order to gain the knowledge and insight required to “channel” Reiki for the first time.

These days, with more and more advances in science and discoveries being made all the time we are finding new ways of understanding, explaining and experimenting with the energy resonances of the Earth and learning new methods to tap into them for our benefit and wellbeing. The following link has an excellent explanation of The Schumann Resonance and how it relates to our health.

http://alphamindsystem.com/store/oneness-resonance

With this in mind, these articles investigate the theory further.

http://www.ardath.com/docs/The_Science_Behind_Reiki.pdf

http://www.naturalimpact.com/howbiwo.html

In summary, The Schumann Resonance vibrates at its most powerful at a rate of 7.83hz. The energy field around a Reiki practitioners hands can be measured to resonate a frequency range of between 0.3hz and 30hz.

Electro-magnetic theories of healing

“Healers monitored by electrometers have generated fluctuating surges of low frequency body potential of between 0.3 Hz and 30 Hz, with most activity in the range 7Hz. In some healers, up to 60 Hz of potential difference was found between the head/hands and the feet. In electrical terms the healer's body becomes a LF bio-electric dipole antenna. It is known that 2 Hz can regenerate nerve tissue, 7 Hz can trigger bone growth, 10 Hz can heal ligaments whilst 15-72 Hz can decrease skin necrosis and generate capillary formation.”

"A number of slightly different theories have much in common. It is known that all matter, including human cells, vibrate at certain rates. The brain in particular has recognized waves that can be detected on Electroencephalograms (EEGs). Alpha waves (8 - 13Hz cycles per second) are indicative of deep relaxation. It is also known that the earth is vibrating at a regular rate, in a frequency band known as Schumann Resonance, and that this rate is similar to that of Alpha waves. It can be postulated that the person whose cells vibrate at an alpha rhythm is in harmony with their surrounding and therefore likely to be in a positive state of health.”

The full article can be read at the following link.

http://www.universalreflex.com/article.php/20040309175204417

The Simplicity of Choice

01/27/2012 19:01:00

The year 2012 undeniably rolls in on the back of a wave of global crises. This wave has travelled around the globe several times already, gaining momentum, wreaking havoc, challenging many peoples basic survival. Is it nearly time for the wave to break? Time alone will tell.

What can we do? Do our best to maintain our job security? Do our best to provide for our family? Just keep trying to survive as many are? Or is there another, deeper perspective we can take, while honouring all these other vital duties.

Reiki teachings would propose that there is another perspective we can take to help alleviate suffering and overcome challenges together. The perspective is the search for the truth. The goal is self-realization. And it’s not as far away or as complicated as some may think.

Some of the most basic questions are the most vital ones, but also the most difficult to answer. Who are we? Why are we here?

There could be proposed one very easy answer to both of these questions if that is what is needed. CHOICE.

Whoever were are, and wherever we come from, we have the possibility to move into the future with CHOICE. The reason for us to be here is up to us to choose. Our individual perspective on life, how we look at it, and how we create it, is up to us to choose.

Choice is simple, but not necessarily easy. Some choices are much harder than others to make. Every person reading this can feel that for themselves and probably knows it all too well.

There is one simple unifying idea emerging into mass consciousness that is making choice much easier.

CHOOSE TO FULFILL YOUR HUMAN POTENTIAL.

It is said that the greatest waste on this planet is that of unrealised Human Potential. Our dreams unrealised. Our truth unexpressed. Our love unshared. Our spirit uninspired. Our potential unrealised.

There lies within the Human Being a WELL of potential that is crying out to be tapped, to be tasted, to be shared and to be set free, especially at this time in history. The potential for Humanity’s unified creative power to make a real difference has never been greater. Our communication methods have never been so advanced, nor evolved so quickly. Our opportunity to share ideas openly and freely, to access information, to learn, teach and grow in awareness together has never been greater. Mobilisation of the masses for a unified cause has never been possible like this before. The difficult decision to make is agreeing on a unified cause, choosing a cause which we can all believe in.

LET THE CAUSE BE REALISING HUMAN POTENTIAL.

There are an infinite number of ways to tap into your potential for powerful action and creativity, as many ways as there are people on the planet. One very simple way has been created and gifted to us that invites all who wish to experience growth, regardless of race, age, intellectual ability, beliefs or religions. Reiki is for everyone. It is unifying, it is healing and it is an astounding personal practice. It asks nothing of you, only that you live life as your true self, powerfully, creatively, courageously and honestly in order to fulfil your potential.