i live in chicago. i've had the pleasure of receiving reiki treatments from allison a few times, and if the distance were more easily spanned i would work with her on a regular basis.
the first time, i didn't know much about reiki, and felt an affinity to its (seeming) simplicity: all allison needed was a few minutes alone; all i needed to do was remove all the metal on my body (jewelry, my belt, change from my pockets), and lie down on my back. just a little bit of quiet space, and a compassionate connection. the first time was on a friend's comfy carpeted floor.
allison offered the gift of reiki and i accepted. i had had a bad headache for days, had not been able to sleep, and it was affecting my back as well. i was as engaged in the healing process as she was, taking deep breaths and relaxing into th movement of the energy, though she was certainly taking the lead in facilitating and channeling it. she began with my head, and placed her hands at different spots on my clothed body - chest, abdomen, hips, back. at each place i felt slightly different sensations. that first time what i felt most strongly throughout was a kind of liquid, amber light, a flowing, intense heat. it was incredible. i felt cleansed, warm, and open. afterward i had to urinate urgently, though! then drank alot of water to continue to flush the toxins - energetic and otherwise - in my system. my headache was gone, most of my tension had relaxed, and i slept that night.
since then, i have had one or two reiki treatments from allison for my lower back and hips, which carry chronic pain and inflammation (a condition i hadn't developed yet, that first time). each time the experience of sharing reiki with her has been healing, great for pain management - and also healing spiritually. that chronic pain stems from past trauma, and during sessions with allison, i have received visuals and images that vary from symbolic to literal, and many are quite beautiful. a cup pouring water endlessly... the water becomes milk... electricity crackling silently...
reiki for me is not always comfortable. it sometimes feels like i have bricks in my body that are being gently shattered with heat and sound, which makes them able to flow and flush out of me. but it has never been painful. breathing deeply is key in remaining present and taking an active part in moving through those less-than-comfortable feelings. allison is very empathic and checks in often, if necessary, knows to say just the right, small thing. other times i physically feel very little - and allison has told me afterward that her sensations were INTENSE. once i believe the current was so strong that her hands were actually pushed up from my body to hover an inch above my skin - but (eyes closed and lying on my belly) i never felt her hands leave me.
allisonjoy is a fierce, gentle spirit - the way fire can manifest as a glowing ember to radiate a calm warmth, or a flickering flame that inspires and sheds light, or a snapping blaze that ignites and incites. she is a true, intuitive healer. she works with me, not on me. as i said, if i could see her regularly i would!
allison has also worked on our performance collective as a group. she employed her skills with reiki when she road managed one of our gigs, at a university. she cast sacred space with us performers, and reiki-ed our rehearsals. she gave us reiki minutes before we took the stage. frankly, i had not experienced such a spiritual, absolutely focused and supportive performance process in a long, long time. sometimes we were tired ( we worked hard!!!), but never burnt out. and as performers, we were amazingly connected and tight on stage.
whether you're looking for personal healing or work with your group or collective, i can only speak glowingly of allison. she's a natural, with the training and skills, and approaches all of her work from a social justice, anti-oppression framework. she's trustworthy! please take her up on her gifts!
