It started with a dream in which I saw myself healing with my hands. I spoke to a friend about this dream and she mentioned that she had taken a class on healing with your hands. I immediately investigated and with very little understanding of what I was getting into, took my first Reiki class.

Everyone's experience is different so what I'm about to share is very personal and not necessarily what you should expect. Each experience is unique. The reason for sharing my own experience is to help you understand the sort of impact it can have on you, your relationships with others and your outlook on the life in general.

The attunement or initiation process is designed to train you to understand, access and make use of the Universal Life Force Energy. As a result of my pursuit of Reiki, I see life differently, it is clearer, more exciting and I feel more alive than I have ever before.

The process requires some effort and sometimes, even discomfort. During the attunement process, I was opened up to and connected to the Universal energy. Once accomplished, I needed to make some physical and emotional adjustments performed through a 21-day purification process. During this process I questioned everything, the way I interacted with other people and with the world.

It tested my relationship with my husband and, in the process, it strengthened our relationship. My husband and I now interact on a completely new and very satisfying level. Other changes that occurred after taking my weekend class, included realizing that I was receiving information about people and their need for healing. Names of people would come to my head. When I would contact them, they indeed needed some type of physical or emotional healing. I also saw colors, and was directed through colors to where I should work on someone or myself.

I started working with people by facilitating some healing sessions for them with amazing results. The reason was that these people wanted this healing and I was just a channel that facilitated it.

I found that I could no longer eat certain types of foods. My body only seemed to want things that were good for me. It also provided me with more energy than I had ever had before and this lifestyle has reduced my use of allergy medicines and ibuprofen for my chronic headaches and congestion.

The process changed my life. Once undergoing the process, if you are as committed as I was to your spiritual enfoldment, it will rock your world. Nothing will ever be the same. Life will be much richer and fuller, you will be happy within yourself. You will no longer look at external means for happiness. Your husband will become a companion, yet not your source of happiness. You will love your children, family, friends, yet they are no longer your only source of happiness. Happiness will lie within you, and that is what I found.

As one of my Reiki instructors described it, I came to the realization that I am "the best chocolate cake out there." And she's right. There is no chocolate cake better than me. Everything else is frosting on the cake. I continue to learn and grow with Reiki and it continues to change my life daily. I encourage you to explore the possibilities. I invite you to share in this "delicious" experience.

No matter what your religion or set of beliefs are, Reiki may enrich your life and experience, if you are willing to look within yourself to discover your life purpose. First of all, you will need quiet time for yourself. To look within yourself, you will need time to meditate.

There are many ways of accomplishing this; Reiki may not be for everyone, however it was for me. It did enrich my life. I was able to experience something very rich and how it is related to every aspect of our being, from emotional happiness to emotional difficulty, physical illnesses, relationships, programming and more.

This is why I feel compelled to share it with as many people as want to learn it.

This is what this experience has done for me. It has made me more aware of my body, my mind, my soul and it has connected me to the Divine. I now find life to be richer, fuller and something that I truly can enjoy on a moment-by-moment basis.

I have also realized that I truly need to share this with as many people as want to learn and become a part of this Reiki Family. A family that is loving, caring, full of self worth and compassionate of others. The world would be a better place if more people were practicing Reiki.

Very sincerely yours,
Maria Herrera -- Reiki Master