New York City as a Teacher

Who are your teachers? Do you have one or many? How do you know when you've met your teacher? Often when I come to a crossroads or a precipice, I can easily become overwhelmed wondering which way to go or whether or not I should just jump into the unknown or stay put a bit longer. These are hard decisions to make on my own, but I've learned that with the right teacher the decisions somehow make themselves and always when the time is right. I've learned that all I have to do is listen to my teacher and be guided. I have many teachers. Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhist philosopher and humanist, Dr. Mikao Usui, founder of Reiki, and Gabrielle Roth, founder of the 5Rhythms dance practice, to name a few. Sometimes I also learn from a place and the land and people. One of my greatest teachers to date is New York City. NYC has been my teacher since the first moment I stepped foot onto her soil for a modern dance intensive over 12 yrs ago. In listening, the city has graciously taught me how to be patient and sweet, and how to balance that with being fierce and relentless in my pursuits. I've learned time and again from the chaos of the city, that there is a great stillness within it all. In order to find it I must use the city's chaos and energy as the impetus to go deeper within each footstep, heartbeat, and breath. It's an exhilarating practice and teaching as it allows me to be impenetrable and firm in my resolve while remaining my tenderhearted and sweet self. ;) The city has taught me to laugh joyfully in the face of pettiness and absurdity instead of being negatively mired by it. It has shown me that a light lives within each soul that walks these hard city streets and that peace resides within each and all. As a student, my work is to listen for it, see it, and honor it in the other and in myself.

Mostly the city has guided me ever forward onto this healing path as a Reiki healer, and I thank her endlessly for her teachings. In addition to private sessions in Greenwich Village, my current monthly offering to all who are called is the Reiki Spirit Medicine Sound Bath in the West Village. This is a one-of-a-kind group healing experience that offers unconditional love and support with whatever and wherever you're at on your personal journey. It's an extension of the city's offering of solace to help you be calm in the chaos, and to find and feel your peace. All are welcome. The next Reiki Spirit Medicine Sound Bath will be this Sunday, November 20th at 7:30pm. Space is limited to 11 people and there are only 2 spaces left, so it's highly recommended that you pre-register to save your spot!