Almost famous: Reiki Surry Hills

Posted on 6 February 20199 February 2019 by andy

Here is what I think is a fabulous video from January 2017:

I’ve thought for the last year that they (I won’t mention the name in case they’ve got alerts!) would delete the video but it’s still up so I might as well share it more officially with you.

You see, I got a call before the video, where they said they do neighbourhood guides, and that Reiki Surry Hills would be a nice sort of service or business to fit into it, as it’s a bit different.

So, I had this super-professional and beautiful woman drop by, Rachel Billsborough, with a very excellent camera guy, and they filmed this video (which was later edited).

Afterwards, they asked me to rent it from them for promotional purposes. I can completely see how this would work for some businesses. Videos can apparently be a really effective marketing tool, which gets way more attention than a static image or set of words. I didn’t have to arrange this or script it. It really was amazing to be given the opportunity to use this video to promote Reiki Surry Hills.

The problem though is that I don’t really have such a big business. It’s part-time work, which I fit in with my other professional work, as an editor of reports and documents, and I don’t charge a ton of money (like some places…) for the treatments. Plus, I’m getting as many clients these days as I want. So it didn’t make sense to invest money into using this video to promote my business, when I’m happy with how it’s going, and my Google Business profile, Bookwell appointment system, word-of-mouth, and repeat clients are keeping me as busy as I’d like to be.

Still, it’s a great video, isn’t it?

Discover the gifts and benefits of a session of Japanese reiki therapy, healing energy from an experienced practitioner. Visit my website or Facebook page for more information and SMS, email, call me or book online if you’d like to make an appointment. Since 2011, I’ve given over 900 reiki treatments.

Clients come to relieve stress, anxiety and for many other issues, or to just give reiki a try to see what it does for them. Folks come from all over Sydney and elsewhere to see me. While it’s easiest to get to me from the CBD, Darlinghurst, Paddington, Kings Cross, Redfern and Potts Point, I’m pretty easy to get to from anywhere in Sydney.

Welcome to my home!

Posted on 16 January 201916 January 2019 by andy

Clients sometimes expect Reiki Surry Hills to be a clinic or shop. But nope, the reiki room is located within our apartment! While there are certainly offices for physiotherapists and chiropractors, and there are a few clinics that offer a variety of treatments (like massage) that might include reiki, I am not sure whether there are any shops or clinics in Sydney that focus on reiki alone. It’s just not well-known enough in Sydney or Australia, and even then, the costs of renting a storefront or office space would probably cancel out any income (or I’d have to charge a lot more)! And it would also limit the hours of when I can offer treatments.

So, if you come for a treatment, you’ll be welcomed to my home. I think the space is quite nice, and have put effort into making sure that it’s comfortable. I think that with around 950 treatments having taken place in the room, it’s got a good energy too! The other benefit is that you might get to meet my adorable cats, and I can offer flexible hours for treatments (including on the weekends).

The old carpet!

There are a few drawbacks. You might hear noise from the neighbours or the street (although arguably this could happen in a storefront too). My husband works from home, so occasionally you might hear someone else in the apartment (though we try to keep it as quiet as possible during your treatment). There’s no waiting room, so if a client brings someone, they need to be quiet and share the reiki room. Also, if I’m the only person home, and there’s a delivery or another enquiry at the door, I have to interrupt the treatment to get it. I think in all these years of treatments, it’s only happened a few times though. Same if one client arrives quite late and the next client arrives early, I’d have to get the door. But in the few times this has happened, neither client has minded (the first one being interrupted and the second one waiting for a few extra moments until I’m ready to let them in). In any case, I’m glad my clients have been understanding with the fact that Reiki Surry Hills is in a private residence, with its benefits and disadvantages.

The new carpet!

The latest news is that I’ve got a new carpet! The old one was fine and serviceable but had started to fray at the edges. I can’t believe how easy it was to find a new carpet in a colour I like (I’m going with light green, to match the plants and to have the feeling of bringing the outdoors and nature inside) and at a very reasonable price, delivery included. Actually, unless the carpet turns out to be not as nice as I think it is, I’m happy to recommend them: AU Rugs!

End of the year reviews

Posted on 27 December 201817 December 2018 by andy

No, this isn’t a review at the end of the year of the year that came before it. It’s just a few reviews, that I’ve been meaning to post, at the end of the year. I’m going to get in trouble for this word play some day…

In any case, it’s been ages since I’ve posted up some reviews. Which is silly, because it’s such a pleasure to share them. And I think it helps give potential clients (like you?) an idea of the range of outcomes they might have from a treatment.

These are from my online booking site, Bookwell (which you can get to by clicking on the blue button on my front page, or the contact page):

Cecile – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – visited November 2018

Andy is very listening and welcoming. I felt very good during and a few days after the session. He knows what he is doing and makes you feel comfortable straight from the beginning. I highly recommend him!

Mimi – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – visited November 2018

This was my first proper, full reiki session and I had high expectations that it would be effective but didn’t actually know how I would feel within the session or after. I thought that it might actually make me feel worse initially, rather than better, as part of the ‘cleansing’ process (I’ve heard that this can happen). But I was pleasantly surprised, I left feeling about 3kg lighter – physically and emotionally! It was the reset I needed to start my journey to feeling ‘well’ again. I will definitely be back next time i’m in Sydney.

Jayde – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – visited October 2018

Andy was great, very professional. This was a new experience for me and I could feel the heat radiating off Andy’s hands. It was very surreal! The space is beautiful and I left feeling very calm and relaxed. I would definitely go back.

Gwenaelle – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – visited October 2018

Reiki was for me an incredible experience. I have been suffering of an IBS for a couple of years and have had stomach issues from a very young age. While modern western medicine did not bring me any help, I started to understand we are energetic beings. My first reiki treatment brought to my awareness that I was repressing and holding on a lot of emotions in my body. I believe Reiki is an incredible help for healing. I am very grateful to Andy and I highly recommend to visit him.

Adria – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – visited October 2018

Nicole – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – visited October 2018

I also received two nice reviews on my Facebook page that I haven’t reposted yet:

Andreea: Andy was amazing! He really listened to my concerns and provided the helping aid that I needed. The treatment was relaxing. I felt much more lighter and was in a better headspace after our session. I had issues with my ear and a muscle spasm on my back. After our session, I was super pleased that my body healed and everything went back to normal again. Definitely going back for another session! 🙌💗✨

Jess: This is such a special experience! Andy can work magic in many areas of life. Highly recommended 5 stars.

🙏 I’m very grateful to my clients who have taken the time to share their experiences and kind words 🙏🙏🙏

Further adventures of reiki cat

Posted on 20 December 20181 February 2023 by andy

For some reason, Thor was particularly being a reiki cat at the start of December, so I thought I’d give you an update on him.

He’s generally been stretching out in the space where I offer my clients to sit down, sometimes slowly pushing against them so he’s basically taking up the whole area, and clients are perched on the corner of the sofa.

Or he sits on the reiki table, looking at my clients and then doing his classic move of falling over on his side with his belly exposed, so if you’re used to cats, you know he wouldn’t mind a bit of a belly rub.

I can’t believe what a flirt he’s being.

Occasionally, he’s missing in action, but has often been around, and if it’s anywhere from about 2.30pm onwards, he’ll be looking for attention in the lead-up to dinner at 5pm.

It’s uncanny that he seems to know, before a client will come even in the door, whether they are cat people, have cats, or are even dog people but don’t mind cats.

One client, who has three cats, came with her husband, who waited quietly on the sofa during the treatment, and Thor just got up and lay down beside him the whole time. A long time ago, he was going through a bit of an active phase where I didn’t trust him not to jump up on the table during a treatment, so I’d let him say hello and then put him out of the room. Mostly lately, he’s happy to say hello, and then if we can move him from the table to the sofa, he just blisses out. However, a few days ago, a client who has a long-haired cat came in for a treatment and Thor decided that he would obviously be welcome and jumped onto the table just as the treatment started. It was cute but I put him out of the room.

Freyja, Thor’s sister, rarely makes an appearance, though sometimes noses around before dinnertime, and as mentioned, occassonally, she will really decide that someone is OK with cats, and even allows them a quick touch.

I had my first client who was afraid of cats. Phobias are so hard to relate to when you don’t have them yourself. I was looking at the faces of my gentle, curious cats, and thinking: how can you be afraid of them? But she managed to back into the reiki room … I kept the cats away from her, and she had a great treatment (it was her first and she was amazed at how good she felt, right away, afterwards).

I never imagined Thor might be a part of my reiki practice, but if he graces us with his presence, I consider it a pretty good thing. If he’s already dozing, he’s a pretty good model for how to be in this world. With most of my clients coming for stress and anxiety, he’s a good role model for being free of both of them. Plus, he really seems to be bring delight to various clients. A number of clients who are from overseas have had to leave their cats with family members in their home countries, so they love to be able to hang out with a cat … And one or two clients had Russian Blues in their childhood or have known Russian Blues in their time, so it’s especially nice for them to have a visit with Thor.

As in my last post about reiki cat, in May, I try to warn clients on my website if they have allergies to cats to warn me, but I understand that it’s hard to read everything on a website. Yet, I don’t want to make the cat a defining feature of my practice! One of my current clients thinks Thor is beautiful but is allergic, so popped an antihistimine before her treatment and was fine. I had a client a few months ago, who unfortunately, became so congested during the treatment from his allergy to cats that I don’t think he was able to relax into the treatment. If you’re allergic to cats, let me know before you come and I’ll give the room an extra vacuum, wash my hands an extra time, and try to make the place as free of cat fur as possible before your visit.

Discover the gifts and benefits of a session of Japanese reiki therapy, healing energy from an experienced practitioner. Since 2011, I’ve given over 900 treatments. Visit my website or Facebook page for more information and SMS, email, call me or book online if you’d like to make an appointment.

Clients come from all over Sydney to see me, and I’ve also had clients who are visiting Sydney from Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast come and see me while they’re here for business, conferences or meeting families. While it’s easiest to get to me from the CBD, Darlinghurst, Paddington, Kings Cross, Redfern and Potts Point, I’m pretty easy to get to from anywhere in Sydney.

Best wishes for the holidays

Posted on 15 December 201817 December 2018 by andy

[The year Galeries Lafayette in Paris put their Christmas tree upside down]

From me to you, from here to there, and wherever you are in the world and from wherever you might be reading this:

✨ Have a wonderful holiday season

✨ Be nice to yourself (but don’t eat too much)

✨ Be nice to your family!

✨ Enjoy

✨ Have a wonderful new year… and I hope that 2019 will bring you what you need, peace of mind, kindness, love and healing.

(Reiki Surry Hills will be closed for the holiday season from 17 December to 2 January).

Discover the gifts and benefits of a session of Japanese reiki therapy, healing energy from an experienced practitioner. Visit my website or Facebook page for more information and SMS, email, call me or book online if you’d like to make an appointment.

Clients come from all over Sydney to see me, and I’ve also had clients who are visiting Sydney from Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast come and see me while they’re here for business, conferences or meeting families. While it’s easiest to get to me from the CBD, Darlinghurst, Paddington, Kings Cross, Redfern and Potts Point, I’m pretty easy to get to from anywhere in Sydney.

A reiki fan

Posted on 11 December 201822 April 2019 by andy

Are you a fan of reiki? Well, this post might not be for you, as it’s actually about the fan in my reiki room? Why?

Well, it’s never failed to surprise me how many clients comment on the fan. After the lanterns in the hallway (which I should write about sometime too), clients always make mention of it.

I have a good story about it though. We knew we needed some fans for the apartment: Sydney gets so hot! The lower level of our apartment doesn’t have a lot of cross-ventilation either. I did a bit of online research and found the fan of my dreams. By the colourfully named company Big Ass Fans, I find the Haiku fans really, really beautiful. But the first price tag I saw on their website said, ‘starting at $2,000’, which is a lot of reiki treatments.

What we did instead was go to a local lighting and fan store, Beacon Lights, and looked up and managed to find one fan which looks pretty much like the Haiku. Not exactly the same, but pretty nice, as evidenced by all the praise I get from clients.

The designer, George Kovacs, called it the Artemis. He opened up a small store in Manhattan, focused on lights, and passed away in 2007. He mostly designed lights, but the design for the Artemis was recognised as significant enough to earn a place in the Chicago Museum of Architecture and Design.

If you’re ever in the market for a nice ceiling fan, you can find it here. As of April 2019, it seems to be on sale for $620 … which is a lot cheaper than ‘starting at $2000’.

It keeps us nice and cool during a treatment, and I believe that the more a client feels comfortable in a space, and happy to be there, because of the comfort, feeling or beauty of the space, the better the healing will be.

Discover the gifts and benefits of a session of Japanese reiki therapy, healing energy from an experienced practitioner. Visit my website or Facebook page for more information and SMS, email, call me or book online if you’d like to make an appointment.

Clients come from all over Sydney to see me, and I’ve also had clients who are visiting Sydney from Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast come and see me while they’re here for business, conferences or meeting families. While it’s easiest to get to me from the CBD, Darlinghurst, Paddington, Kings Cross, Redfern and Potts Point, I’m pretty easy to get to from anywhere in Sydney.

Why I’m not a Reiki Master

Posted on 28 November 201829 November 2018 by andy

Sunset on trees, Nelson Bay

When I was first learning about reiki from my brother, I was surprised and disappointed to find out that reiki is like any other system or school or practice. After it started, people started created their own variations, and because conflict is part of human nature, people from the various systems of reiki can criticize each other and fight with each other, which is … not really the point of reiki. But those are humans for you.

In most Western systems of reiki, the teachings are divided into three levels: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 (in Japanese traditional teaching, these are called okuden, shoden and shinpiden). Generally, after doing Level 3 or shinpiden, reiki practitioners are considered able to teach others reiki, though some of us don’t teach, and just use our practice to treat others and ourselves (and as a personal spiritual practice).

It is also after this level that generally, around the world, people refer to themselves as reiki masters. I’ve always been uncomfortable with this term. I think the reason why is that the word is often said with a mocking tone by people who think reiki or the idea of a reiki master is a bit silly.

The thing is: I agree that the phrase sounds silly. The word ‘master’, in common usage, means that someone possesses particular skills or experiences that give them mastery in an area. But my problem, when this is applied to reiki, is that it is not that difficult to simply do the classes. While you should do one level at a time, with time for the teachings to settle in between, these days I’ve heard of people who do the levels very quickly, or all at the same time. There are no particular tests to prove that someone has absorbed the knowledge. As long as you have the money for the courses, and take the time to do them, you too can become a ‘reiki master’.

But what I’ve learned from my teacher, Frans Stiene, and from practising reiki for over twenty years, is that reiki is a spiritual practice and a daily practice that includes meditation and chanting and trying to live a life according to the reiki precepts, to ‘just for today, not to worry or be angry, to be compassionate to ourselves and others, and be true to our way and being.’

Some people who do reiki courses do not continue to practice reiki regularly, so in this case, I’m not sure that the title of ‘reiki master’ is very meaningful.

Most importantly, to me, the title ‘reiki master’ can interfere with a reiki treatment. Used in the wrong way, or said in the wrong way, the term implies a superiority, a wise guru and expert who has masterful powers. But my role as a reiki practitioner during a treatment is not to DO something to my client, and not to wield magical powers, but to open a healing space in which both practitioner and client work together. The aim is not for me to be superior to my client.

For these reasons, I prefer using the term ‘reiki practitioner’, which is kind of a mouthful to say, but it suits me best. I’ve heard people use the term ‘reiki therapist’ but to me, therapy is associated more closely with clinical treatments and counselling. The term ‘reiki healer’ is not too bad, but I read too many fantasy novels in my younger years and tend to think of ‘healers’ as wearing long white robes using an arsenal of potions and a magic wand. So, for now, reiki practitioner it is … and that’s why I’m not a reiki master!

(As an addendum, which is somewhat related but I don’t want to do a separate blog on, a LOT of people seem to find my website while searching for ‘spiritual healing‘ or a ‘spiritual healer‘. While reiki works at an energetic level that is tied to a particular philosophy and sense of spirituality, I don’t define what I do as spiritual healing. A quick search on Google and I’m still confused. I know there are spiritualist churches (where people talk to the dead) and I have heard the expression before, ‘spiritual healing’, but I’m not sure, when someone calls themselves a spiritual healer in Sydney, what they actually do or offer.)

Discover the gifts and benefits of a session of Japanese reiki therapy, healing energy from an experienced practitioner. Visit my website or Facebook page for more information and SMS, email, call me or book online if you’d like to make an appointment.

Clients come from all over Sydney to see me, and I’ve also had clients who are visiting Sydney from Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast come and see me while they’re here for business, conferences or meeting families. While it’s easiest to get to me from the CBD, Darlinghurst, Paddington, Kings Cross, Redfern and Potts Point, I’m pretty easy to get to from anywhere in Sydney.

Reiki Surry Hills newsletters

Posted on 26 November 201822 November 2018 by andy

Since starting Reiki Surry Hills, I’ve tried to keep in touch with clients. A newsletter seemed to be a good way to try to do this, and the rather amazing program Mailchimp allows individuals and businesses to easily create and send out newsletters and to maintain a list of contacts.

Of course, one doesn’t always meet one’s own expectations, so while I hoped to get out three or four newsletters a year, I managed to do two in 2016, two in 2017, and have now done a third (and last one for 2018).

Maybe this is good. I am bombarded with spam and junk mail every day, multiple newsletters from stores and businesses that I’ve used, and worst are constant entreaties to Reiki Surry Hills as a business. Most of them say, ‘I must say – your website is very impressive’ and then go onto to tell me I need them to get to the top of google rankings (or use them to create videos, or buy a doormat with my logo). So, I don’t want to ever come across as one of THOSE people.

So, I hope 3 or 4 newsletters a year is not too much. In the meantime, my latest newsletter is available. If you didn’t receive it directly and would like to read it, it’s here. I believe from that page, you can also subscribe to the newsletter if you haven’t already… or if you want to unsubscribe, please do so! I don’t want to annoy you by sending you information you don’t want, but I hope you keep in touch!

Discover the gifts and benefits of a session of Japanese reiki therapy, healing energy from an experienced practitioner. Visit my website or Facebook page for more information and SMS, email, call me or book online if you’d like to make an appointment.

Clients come from all over Sydney to see me, and I’ve also had clients who are visiting Sydney from Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast come and see me while they’re here for business, conferences or meeting families. While it’s easiest to get to me from the CBD, Darlinghurst, Paddington, Kings Cross, Redfern and Potts Point, I’m pretty easy to get to from anywhere in Sydney.

Before your reiki treatment

Posted on 21 November 201818 November 2018 by andy

A lot more than you might think goes into preparing for your reiki treatment.

When I first get an enquiry, I’ll work out with a client what’s the best time for them to come. Or if they book online through Bookwell, then I need to check my calendar to make sure that time is free and confirm the appointment through Bookwell.

Then, for all clients who are coming, I send an SMS with some instructions about how to find me (as it’s a bit tricky to find the entrance in the small alley in Surry Hills) which also reminds them of the time of their appointment and the cost. It also means they have my phone number in case they get lost, want to ask further questions or need to cancel or rebook.

I’ve also learned that if someone doesn’t respond to that SMS, there’s a chance that they didn’t receive the message, and I should SMS again closer to the time and date of the appointment. Also, if someone books over a week in advance, it’s useful for me to try to remember to send a reminder, as clients do sometimes forget about a treatment if they book too far in advance (and don’t put it in their calendar).

Before the treatment, I need to make sure that the room is ready. Is the speaker charged so I can play music during the treatment? Is my Square charged for taking credit card payments? Do I also have change for those who pay in cash? Is the room tidy, and have I set up the reiki table with towels and pillows?

Twenty minutes before a treatment is when I’ve learned to be ready. Usually new clients are between 5 and 10 minutes early. Repeat clients, because they know the location, usually time their visit more closely to the appointment time, but often, understandably, clients give themselves a good amount of time to find the place, or they leave work early (who doesn’t want to do that?). If a client is five minutes late, I’ll send an SMS to ask if they need help finding me!

Being ready for the treatment means that I’ve made tea to offer when the client comes and sits down. Even if someone doesn’t want tea, I think it’s a nice thing to offer, and a nice way to sit down and feel like they’ve arrived somewhere. I also light the five tea light candles that I have in the room. Whether it’s sunny or dark, I’ve always liked candles, and the feeling of warmth they bring to a space. One of the candles is in my tea warmer, which I’ve discovered can keep the tea warm for the whole treatment!

To make sure we’re not disturbed during the treatment, I switch my fitness device to silent (if I don’t do this, it will buzz and tell me to “MOVE” during the treatment) but I don’t turn my phone to airplane mode until I’m sure the client has arrived. I also turn on my speaker, open the Spotify app on my iPhone and connect them, to play music during the treatment which I hope is relaxing and gentle and can also help block out any background noise from the street and neighbourhood.

When a client arrives, I buzz them in, greet them at the door, and welcome them to the apartment. I’ll ask them to remove their shoes at the door and offer them the use of the bathroom before we start (when I started proactively offering this, I was surprised how many clients took me up on the offer, which makes me wonder how many clients before that were uncomfortably realising during a treatment that they needed to go to the bathroom!). Then, I’ll ask the client to take a seat, introduce them to Thor, the reiki cat, if he’s decided to grace us with his presence, offer tea, and ask a client what brings them to reiki that day.

And finally, we’re ready to begin!

Clients come from all over Sydney to see me, and I’ve also had clients who are visiting Sydney from Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast come and see me while they’re here for business, conferences or meeting families. While it’s easiest to get to me from the CBD, Darlinghurst, Paddington, Kings Cross, Redfern and Potts Point, I’m pretty easy to get to from anywhere in Sydney.

Note to self: keep doing your thing.

Posted on 13 November 201826 November 2018 by andy

My teacher, Frans Stiene, from the International House of Reiki, posted this on Facebook a while ago, and it struck me how perfect it was for what I was feeling at the time.

It seems to be attributed on Pinterest and elsewhere to Nanea Hoffman who has a website called Sweatpants and Coffee (though I can’t find this post on her website).

There are many components that make a good reiki practitioner. Studying with a good teacher will help. A regular practice of meditation and reiki is essential. And I also think that we need to learn to have the right attitude and philosophy.

Even if I have good intentions, and want something specific for a person (say, to heal their broken heart when they’ve told me their heart is broken), me trying to control the energy and treatment gets in the way of the healing.

Similarly, if someone has specific expectations for a treatment, that they will feel a certain way, or that it will be exactly the same as a previous treatment, then that gets in the way of a treatment too. What if you are expecting a treatment to feel hot or for you to cry, and think that the treatment is only effective that way? Perhaps you would miss a different kind of healing that happens, that might be more subtle, or might feel different than what you expected.

For me, as a note to self, I can’t control what a client feels, and taking on disappointment if someone doesn’t get what they expect, or even have what they think is a bad experience, well, that’s not so helpful to me. It is something to be learned though, and a lesson that I think is a pretty good one for everyone, not only reiki practitioners.

The people around us are going through their own stuff, with their own reactions and expectations. We can’t control it. Just keeping on doing what we are doing, with as much love as we can do it with… that seems like a pretty good path forward.

The International House of Reiki’s Facebook page is here.

And if you haven’t visited lately, my Facebook page is here.