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Self care

  "King, did you hear that? The hands of a healer, I say."

Return of the King - J.R.R. Tolkein
Reiki altar

Shortly after moving to McMinnville in the early 1980s, I began volunteering for Hospice. A few months later, I met my massage mentor Jeanne Christensen at a community event where we both had booths. 

I'd grown up with a family practice of massage, rubbing my mom's back and feet from ~ 5 years old - and of course, receiving massage from her! 
I got a short session from her booth partner,  and quickly signed up for a series of massage classes Jeanne was offering! 

When I learned that like my mom, Jeanne had polio, and massage was a saving grace of her treatment, I realized I'd found my career path! Jeanne was looking for a couple of massage therapists to join her practice, and open a clinic!

Little did we know that 42 years later, Nan and I would have renewed our licenses over 20 times each, and still offer sessions!
Medicine Basket
A blessing of growing up with my mom and my studies with Jeanne was their commitment to self care, to minimize the effects of having had polio! 

Jeanne encouraged us to:
  • Use good posture and ergonomics when offering sessions
  • Take at least one day off weekly - and two consecutive days as soon as possible! (In her 60s, Jeanne did 20 sessions weekly, and took 3 day weekends)
  • Drink water between sessions - and encourage our clients to drink 'more water' as well
  • Receive massage!! (My ideal is 2× monthly - currently it's one a month)
  • Exercise! She encouraged us to take Tai Chi classes - a practice we could continue lifelong.
  • She also encouraged us to keep learning, and incorporate different modalities, and energy work - work smarter!
I began my journey with Reiki over thirty years ago, in Nov. 1989, six years into my massage practice.

Jeanne had introduced us to Polarity early on.  When I attended a talk on healing, the speaker (Analyse Chamberlaine) mentioned she was offering a Level I Reiki training in a couple of weeks. I realized 'this is for me!' & signed up. I continued to study with Analyse over the next several years, becoming a Reiki Master early summer of 1991.

A guiding principle of Reiki is 'Reiki for the self first' - we can better share harmony and balance with others when we seek that for ourselves. 

Do you struggle with finding time for self care?
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  1. Kenya Palace cakesNovember 25, 2025 at 9:32 AM

    Taking time for self-care can feel impossible some days, but your story is such a beautiful reminder that nurturing ourselves is what makes our work sustainable. Even small, consistent practices like rest, water, movement, stillness really do add up. Thank you for sharing this inspiring journey.

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