Positive Holistic
Approaches
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Joan Mazzeo-Little, RN Isn’t it amazing how one encounter with someone can change our life? We go through each day, content in our little worlds, thinking that we have our life’s path all figured out. We drive down the same streets, go to the same job, and it becomes so familiar that we become complacent. We stop thinking about what we do each day. Then one day, someone comes into our life and changes everything including our destiny. And so it was in 2001. I had been a visiting nurse for fifteen years and was doing just another routine visit when I met Barbara Savin. She was visiting her mother (my patient) who was ill at the time. We had pleasant conversations during my next few visits and found we had a mutual interest in the alternative medicine field. She was a practicing Reiki Master in New York at the time. Unfortunately, our time together was short since she returned home to New York. Later on that year, I was back at the same household again taking care of Barbara’s mom. Barbara visited for a few days. We decided that although our backgrounds were very different, we wanted to try to work together somehow. Living twelve hundred miles apart made that seem impossible. And then there’s fate. We are all part of an intricate puzzle, being moved around the board of life like chess pieces, while our destiny unfolds. When you are destined to be doing something other than what you are, your angels guide you along certain paths to help facilitate change. Sometimes you listen and when you don’t and the signals they send become louder and louder until one day you are forced to pay attention. My awakening came one day while doing home health visits. I had not been content for some time, drowning in paperwork every day, and feeling like I was not accomplishing a thing. My frustrations grew to the point that I was asking for guidance. What should my path be? My answer came in a very strange way. I had a patient who lived in the same development as Barbara’s family. I decided I would stop by and say hello to Barbara’s parents. Well, to be more specific, I was compelled to go. I was, in fact, escorted to the door with an angel on either side of me. Arm in arm we went to the door with not much choice on my part. I soon discovered that her father had had a heart attack and open-heart surgery, and Barbara was in town at the hospital. Thankfully, he fully recovered, but, because of that “unexpected” encounter, Barbara and I made contact again. She decided to move down here to Florida to be close to her family and agreed to teach me Reiki so we could work together. I was aware of auras and energy fields but had never heard of Reiki. It was inconceivable to me that something so Divine-like and spiritual could be so simple. That, in fact, all we have to do is ask for help to heal and it is there. I instinctively had always known that the body could heal itself but wasn’t quite sure how to facilitate it. I knew about the potential benefits of alternative therapies, and dealing with traditional medicine in my profession had always caused a conflict within me. Patients are given more and more medications to help supposedly them heal, when in fact, only the symptoms are being treated and the underlying cause remains a problem. So in 2002, my life changed forever. Barbara taught me Reiki Level I and subsequently Level II and, finally, Master/Teacher Level. What a wonderful experience! Reiki brought me to another level of awareness. I no longer looked at life the same way. I realized that what I thought was life was just my physical body going through daily routines and experiences. With this new awareness, I realized that life is an electrifying and energetic experience. I felt connected with Universal energy and a part of the Divine. I realized how truly simple life is and that I was put on this path for spiritual maturity and fulfillment. I also realized how simple this is to accomplish because I had been given the one tool I needed to accomplish this – love. We can all be shown that when we have love, we are able to heal ourselves and with the skills learned in Reiki, heal others. This has been a particularly interesting experience for me since I am a nurse. I now look at illness differently. It is not something we catch, are cursed with or acquire. Illness is something we give ourselves. By holding onto resentments from the past, having unresolved issues with our families and allowing ourselves to accumulate negative energy from our surroundings and others, we block the flow of our own healing energy. We are our own worst enemies. But with Reiki, we are shown how truly simple it is to heal. When I look at my patients now, I feel badly about how ill some of them really are. But then I find myself saying, “What is the lesson that this patient is supposed to be learning?” If everyone could only know how easily they could be made well by knowing about and practicing Reiki, people wouldn’t need nurses. I would be out of a job, but that would be a good thing. Even though I am at the Reiki Master/Teacher level, I am still learning. Each day I become a little more patient, a little more compassionate, and have a little more insight. This was all made possible because of Barbara, who is such a loving and caring person. She is a true healer. She does not hesitate to share her knowledge, her experiences, and her love of helping others heal. Her compassion, gentleness, understanding and forgiveness make her a true role model of what we should all strive to be. By giving of herself, she has changed my life and has helped me grow spiritually. This is an ongoing process, and I am in awe each day as I gain more awareness of my energetic spirit and the workings of the Divine. As for Barbara and myself … we are embarking on a spiritual journey together. We are working towards enlightening others by teaching them Gentle Energy Touch which is a combination of Reiki and Prana energy healing, and helping them heal themselves and others. Consider the knowledge you are about to acquire a gift. Consider it the first step in your journey of self-discovery, enlightenment and spiritual healing. When we learn how to heal our bodies and our minds, and love others and ourselves, is when we truly grow and mature spiritually. With each step, we get closer to our true goal of reconnecting with the Divine. With love and enlightenment to you all, Joan Mazzeo-Little, RN Gentle Energy Touch Master/Teacher |
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Louise Mastromarino Life can present us with many trials and uncertainties, but only after being in the midst of a great struggle can we know peace. Peace brings us back home, enlightens us, and returns us to our sense of spirit and grounding. I was introduced to Reiki through Barbara Savin after one of Life’s uncontrollable storms. I had never heard of Reiki until a friend recommended that it might be a meaningful answer to my prayers. After my first Reiki session with Barbara, I was naturally intrigued and unspeakably propelled to begin learning and developing this sacred gift. Now, after studying this healing art for a number of years and working with Barbara Savin, I can honestly say that Reiki has been more than an answered prayer. It has been my awakening to a higher spiritual calling, a restoration of my inner joy, and has brought an understanding that we really are spiritual temples in a vast physical reality. We all have the power to instantly connect with the Divine and with the loving assistance of God’s forces to heal our deepest hurts and afflictions. When Barbara first defined Reiki to me, the thought of channeling spiritual energy struck me as a gift given only to a few sacred and special people chosen specifically by God. Barbara taught me that channeling spiritual energy and developing healing intuition are part of our natural abilities and part of the Divine order we all seek. We have the keys to heal our lives in the palms of our hands, and Reiki is a finer doorway to this higher spiritual truth. Reiki centers the mind, breathes light where there is darkness, and calms the waters of a restless spirit. It is the Universal Life Force Energy that pervades all things and connects all of God’s creation. It is the energy that restores the body and the soul to its natural state of health and peacefulness. Barbara Savin is a masterful, intuitive healer. Her unique experiences and the profound impact she has had on her clients will be shared with you in this book. She possesses, like no other Reiki healer I have encountered, the special graces of compassion, wisdom and leadership needed to guide practitioners and spiritual seekers to a deeper understanding of the Reiki energy. Her insight, knowledge and teaching experience have been an inspiration for practitioners and Reiki recipients. This book is a true gem, a light in the path of darkness, a testimony of God’s unique graces, and a journey to your own awakening. Reiki is the awakening of spirit, the instant manifestation of knowing that the immeasurable love of God answers all prayers, and the revelation of the ageless notion that, “With God, all things are possible.” Welcome to your awakening. With peace, love and eternal wellness, Louise Mastromarino Reiki Master/Teacher |
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Leia Stathakos M.D. There are a few special people who cross your path in life and help change it for the better. For me, one of these people is Barbara Savin. Barbara is a genuinely beautiful spirit who gives of herself to help others achieve peace and calm in their lives. She is a natural born healer. I was fortunate to meet Barbara when she came in to interview for a position as a Reiki practitioner at a Women’s Center I was running. We offered conventional medicine and complementary therapies such as chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy, nutritional counseling, reflexology, yoga, and Pilates. To be frank, I did not know much about Reiki, and the little I did know did not convince me that it could help cure various maladies. I was a true skeptic. I asked Barbara to perform Reiki on me right then and there, but I only had ten to fifteen minutes to spare. Barbara explained that I would need at least thirty to sixty minutes to feel its effects completely, but she was willing to try it on me for fifteen minutes. Well, on this particular day, like too many others, I had about ten to fifteen things I needed to complete before I could even think about going home. My head was racing and I had a raging headache, most likely stress induced. Barbara slowly worked her “magic” as I sat quietly on a chair. After fifteen minutes I felt very relaxed, focused, and refreshed. I was sold. After this wonderful encounter, Barbara worked on several patients at the center who loved her. At this point I started reading about Reiki and discovered its amazing history and beginnings. Reiki, I discovered, is considered to be Universal Life Force Energy. It helps provide a means of gaining happiness and helps heal various ailments and symptoms of a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual nature. Many recipients of Reiki experience relaxation, pain relief, stress reduction, and a sense of peacefulness and well-being. I have read several case reports of the amazing healing powers of Reiki from helping a child with asthma to helping a trauma victim stop bleeding. At a very stressful time in my life when a “devil” crossed my path and destroyed a dream I had created, Barbara was there to offer me Reiki, and I accepted. It helped me clear my mind, relax, gain composure of my emotions, and give me permission to refocus the direction of my life. During one session I felt tingling throughout my whole body and another time I saw a white light completely engulf me, and then felt a complete calm wash over me. After several sessions, Barbara taught me how to do Reiki on myself. A great benefit of Reiki is that it can be taught to individuals for self-care, thus encouraging them to take responsibility for their own well-being and state of health. I was on my way to becoming a Reiki Level I practitioner. What a gift. Reiki is a wonderful means to help yourself and others. Barbara, thank you.
Lots of love and light, Leia Stathakos M.D. |
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Carole R. Friedlander Dear Joan and Barbara, I had developed muscle aches and weakness in both arms and legs since starting prescription medicines for heart, cholesterol and high blood pressure. This limited my ability to walk and do self-care. I had to use a walker and could not walk long distances without tiring. I was also anemic and required injections on a regular basis to get my hemoglobin count up to twelve, but the effects did not last too long and my count would fall again. I found it difficult to concentrate on my office work and would fall asleep in the middle of doing it. I had a negative attitude about my health and spent much time focusing on my illnesses. Nothing any doctor did or suggested has given me the relief that the weekly Reiki therapy sessions produced. My participation in a relaxing meditative state during these sessions, using positive imagery of my healing angels, strong winds and flowing waters all sweeping, blowing and washing the stress and physical symptoms away, had a definite and positive effect. Upon arising from these sessions, I always have a strong sense of serenity and the ability to walk without any difficulties (without a walker) that lasts for quite a while. My mind is clearer and I am able to focus on my office work for several hours and not fall asleep. The frequency of the injections for my anemia has lessened, and my count actually hit thirteen, which it has never done! I have a much more positive mindset about my health and do not focus on my illnesses, but rather on my wellness. I find I am less stressed and am able to handle outside stresses much easier. No matter why, how or when any of my problems (physical or mental) arise, the peacefulness I have developed and felt during your healing sessions has made it easier and more comfortable to live with and deal with them. “Thank you”, Joan and Barbara for this “gift” you have given to me. I’ll see you for more! Carole R. Friedlander |
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Susan Natoli A month before I ever heard of Reiki, I started to feel like I had a weight sitting on my chest and it was hard to breathe. I had dinner with a girlfriend and she told me about a psychic fair she recently attended where she had a Reiki session. She told me about the different chakras and how hers were unblocked by this session. I immediately felt like the weight on my chest was the cause of a huge block in my heart chakra. I was involved in a relationship that had a major trust issue and I really wanted to overcome it, so I made an appointment with Barbara Savin, the Reiki Master who gave the Reiki session to my girlfriend. I went into the Reiki session without knowing what to expect. As soon as the session started, I felt my grandmother’s spirit enter the room. It was a very emotional experience. I felt a very hot energy around my heart and all of a sudden, the block was lifted. It was such an intense feeling of joy that went through my body. I was very relaxed after the session and my heart chakra felt cleared. After a difficult break-up from an abusive relationship, I turned to Reiki again. Although I had been in therapy for three years to help me deal with an abusive childhood, I felt the one Reiki session that I had with Barbara worked more than the three years in therapy combined. I enrolled in a Reiki I class, and it was a very emotional experience. I learned about the different chakras in the body and what each chakra represented. It also made me aware that we are all made of energy, and energy cannot be created or destroyed, so we still live on after we leave our physical bodies. Shortly after, I took Reiki II and learned the lessons of forgiveness and how it is important for us to forgive other people. When I give myself Reiki and work on a certain chakra, my questions about why I feel angry, lonely, or have other emotions created from fear, are usually answered. I was always questioning why I had to go through such an abusive and devastating experience with an ex-boyfriend and the answer came to me – it was to put me back in touch with my spiritual self and with God. I grew up as a Catholic and was taught to fear God. So when I became independent and lived on my own, I turned my back on God and decided that God was not real. In reality, what I really wanted to believe was that the Catholic vengeful God wasn’t real, and, therefore I could not be controlled and could be independent. I was raised in a strict household where I could never make my own decisions or do what I wanted to do. As I grew older, I felt that if I believed there wasn’t a God, then that would give me more freedom because I could make my own choices and not go to hell for doing things that were against the Catholic religion. Being in the abusive relationship made me find Reiki in order to heal myself, but believing in Reiki also meant that I must believe in God because it is God’s energy. Experiencing the Reiki energy makes me realize that God’s energy is part of us. It is still a struggle to accept that God gives me unconditional love, so I will continue to use Reiki to help me heal and let God back into my life. Last month I had my second Reiki session with Barbara. Before it started, I asked my grandmother again to come into the session for help. I didn’t feel her presence right away, but she did come in. I saw her in my mind’s eye, standing next to me wearing the familiar dress and apron. She gave me a big hug and I started to cry and release all the sadness and hurt that I held inside since she died when I was eight years old. I didn’t want her to leave me again, but when she had to go, I knew that she would always be there for me whenever I would ask for her. The Reiki session also helped me to take one step closer to faith in knowing that I am never alone; that God and my spirit guides and angels are always with me. Living in New York City makes it hard to believe that anything beyond material success exists. I try to remember that I have the power of Reiki to help me heal and focus on my spiritual destiny instead of being controlled by the materialistic forces that tell me to buy this new product or that new gadget to be happy. It will continue to be a process to let go of my religious upbringing to let a loving God back into my life, but Reiki will help me along the way. Love, Susan Natoli |