Keeping On Recently, I've received emails from practitioners who are establishing Reiki practices and have become discouraged at the slow response. In some cases the email is a request for distant Reiki, in others the request is for advice around creating a successful Reiki practice. I remember well the voice that nagged me in the early days of my practice: "You can't make a living doing this; get a 'real' job!" A significant shift happened for me when I finally answered the voice once and for all with: "This is what I do; this is who I am, and it WILL support me." That doesn't mean I haven't had challenges, but I respond to them differently. Rather than, "Maybe I should get a 'real' job," it's, "What is the best way to handle this situation?" Below are what I consider to be four of the essentials for creating a thriving Reiki practice. 1. Have enough capital or another source of income to cover expenses until your practice begins to support you and to fall back on in slow times once it is established. Worry about covering expenses drains energy and blocks creativity. There are many variables as to how long it may take your practice to become self-sustaining. Count on 1-3 years. 2. Find creative ways to market your practice. Establish a marketing plan that you can commit to and work it. A sound marketing plan pays off through consistent implementation over time. Make adjustments as you learn what works best for you. 3. Keep on keeping on. If Reiki is truly your passion, don't give up. Many folks who fail at any endeavor do so because they give up. Successful persons often report that success came on the heels of their deepest discouragement. Keep on keeping on until you achieve your goal. 4. Give and receive Reiki. While you work to bring in paying clients, give Reiki to family, friends, and/or as a volunteer. Reiki teaches you as you give treatments, improving your skills and your confidence. Self-treatment and receiving Reiki from other practitioners helps dispel discouragement and promotes a sense of perspective, balance, and equanimity. Know that the Universe supports you. Be diligent in whatever spiritual practice is meaningful for you. Open your mind and heart and recognize what it is you have to offer. Be confident in this. There are many who are waiting for what you have to give them. Our work is needed now more than ever. Download my article, "Starting a Reiki Practice: Business Basics." Schedule a mentoring session, a hands-on, or a distant Reiki treatment with me: 206.523.4456; email. | 
