My First Day as a Reiki Volunteer
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When I took my first Reiki class five years ago, I had no idea where it would lead me. I was looking for something to help me handle stress at work, but I soon realized I wanted to share Reiki with others. Finding a place to volunteer was not easy. Most organizations don’t even accept volunteers. I was looking for a place where I would be allowed to donate my time rather than my money. And, I found it! It was a hospice that was looking for Reiki volunteers, and I signed up.
Training with the volunteer’s coordinator took about a month before I was able to have my first visit at a hospice. I had been extremely excited about this day, but at the same time, I was a bit concerned. I began to wonder if I would be able to handle hospice patients. The day came, and I met the volunteer’s coordinator at the hospice where I would be meeting the two patients assigned to me. This particular hospice specializes in Alzheimer's, so both of my clients suffer from the same disease at different stages.
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Time flew while we were with these lovely ladies. Soon I realized I was not going to be able to give them a Reiki session the way I am accustomed to doing. They would probably be seated on a chair or wheelchair. I also noticed the sessions would have to be shorter at first until they were ready for a full session. In fact, I didn’t have the chance to perform Reiki during our first encounter. It was evident I had to develop their trust before they would allow me to give them a session. It actually took at least a couple visits before I was able to give them Reiki.
Giving Reiki as a hospice volunteer presents me with a unique opportunity. It provides me the chance to work with a group of people that not only desperately need healing but that has to be approached in a whole different way to give them a session. They are not asking for a session. Most of them do not even know what Reiki is so they might not be aware that something like this can help them. I have to explain it differently and be comfortable with the idea they might not remember me or why I am there next time I visit.
I feel truly grateful for this opportunity. I am enjoying every minute of it. I look forward every week to spending time with them whether I give them Reiki or not. I feel blessed to have found a hospice that is open to alternative modalities of healing and that view Reiki as a helpful way to assist their patients. At the same time, I see this as an experience that will help me grow as a Reiki practitioner as I give back with my time by fulfilling a dream that began five years ago.