The Reiki Business Book LAUNCH! with Colleen Benelli, LRMT

I'm so excited because The Reiki Business Book is finally ready!  

So if you have ever wanted to know how to incorporate Reiki into your career or how to start a Reiki business, check it out!  

Pam and her Mentor, Colleen Benelli, discuss the book and what readers can expect from it.  Check out the link below, too, if you'd like to order!

• Order The Reiki Business Book from Amazon.ca on Kindle or
• Order The Reiki Business Book from Amazon.com on Kindle or
• Order The Reiki Business Book from Amazon.com in paperback

It is also available at 40,000 booksellers (if your local bookstore or library doesn't have it, ask them to order it for you) and several other platforms!
I'd love it if you could leave a review!  Thank you in advance for doing so!

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Colleen's Information:
Website:  www.Reikilifestyle.com
Email: colleen@reikilifestyle.com

Podcast, YouTube and Social Media: Reiki Lifestyle.

thank you to Music from Pixabay for the intro music

Pam Allen-LeBlanc is a scientist, a businesswoman, and a Licensed Reiki Master Teacher with the International Center for Reiki Training.  She is an internationally renowned speaker and one of the co-authors of the ICRT Animal Reiki training manuals and courses.  Pam teaches Reiki, Animal Reiki, and Animal Communication online and in-person in Canada, the US, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

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Transcript

Pam: 0:00

On this week's podcast, I am talking with my mentor, Colleen Benelli as we wrap up, this is the grand finale of the Reiki business book, and I'm so excited to announce to you all. Yeah, the book is finished and it's taken some late nights and some early mornings, but you can check out the link to the book in the podcast notes and go ahead and order it. I know quite a lot of you have been telling me that you can't wait to get your hands on it. And so, it is here and I hope you like it. So welcome, Colleen. Thanks so much for being here.

Colleen: 0:42

Oh, thank you. So should we do full disclosure that we just had a whole conversation about this a little while ago, and then everything froze. And so Pam's editing on.

Pam: 0:55

So there'll be some pieces dropped into the pub. Yeah. Chatting

Colleen: 1:00

about it was such a fun conversation and I'm glad we started the recording because it was just the two of us talking, which is what we do a lot anyway, but it's, good.

Pam: 1:16

Colleen, it really, I really wanted to wrap up the Reiki business book with you because you changed so much for me about Reiki. Like you brought my comfort level with it. My professionalism, you brought my business to another level, just working with you as a mentor. And really that was the inspiration for the book and for the work, because I learned and grew so much under your tutelage, I learned and grew on my own, but it really accelerated it working with you. And so I really wanted to create that opportunity for others. And when I wound up in Heathrow and also the other inspiration for the book was your statement. And I can remember you making it at a meeting that you were doing. Was for every family to have a Reiki practitioner in it. And I full disclosure again I'll, tell you when you said that. I thought, I think that's a little far reaching. I don't think that's going to happen. And but I thought, it was lovely center. Except when I wound up and he throw looking at the panic and chaos around me when COVID first arrived and people didn't know how to deal with it. I just went she's right. Every family does need a Reiki practitioner for times like these. And so those were the inspirations. For the book that nudge that I got from Reiki that said, put your business background together with your strong Reiki background and help more people start their own businesses or their own practices. And so the whole thing has been guided, but really you were a big part of it. And you're mentioned quite a lot in the book. So

Colleen: 3:06

I saw that.

Pam: 3:08

So what what is your impression of it? If you could.

Colleen: 3:13

It's so good. You should be really pleased. And as because I've been so busy also with the world peace Reiki upgrade and the hundred year anniversary ceremony. And then all my own classes, I haven't really had a chance to deep dive into the book. So I've been scanning. And it's so good, Pam, like when did you do all that?

Pam: 3:49

It's been a lot of work. Oh my God. I can't eat. I think if I'd known how much I might

Colleen: 4:00

have been like. Yeah.

Pam: 4:04

But I've just and it's also, do you know this it's been hanging over my head because people are like, I can't wait to now get your book. I'm trying to start my business. And I'm like I know I'm, trying...

Colleen: 4:16

Pam. It's so good. You cover so many aspects and I loved that it, It is such a blend of kind of those things that you just don't know you need to know when you're starting a Reiki business and it, just is like you covered so many bases, so many topics, and then interweaving the practical with the spiritual exercises. Is of course what you have to do for a Reiki business. It's, a lot of professional businesses, they all have their own intention and, purposes. And with the Reiki business, it's going to always have that blend of the practical 21st century business practices that you have to think about. And then also the combination of the spirituality that goes with it, or let me rephrase that because from my perspective, it's a spirituality, but it also can have many other purposes. Of connection it's just somehow Reiki of course always takes you to connect. And most of all, what you do with the exercises is teach people how to connect to themselves. Yeah. So as well as external spiritual guidance, you're teaching people how to you've given them exercises about these topics. And they'll go deep within to find the answers and the solutions as we know that's how it works, you know how it works,

Pam: 6:27

but I'm hoping it's going to help a lot of people.

Colleen: 6:31

That was going to help a lot of people.

Pam: 6:33

I know there's when I do the listening, it's oh, whoa that's, not mine. That's from animal Reiki. And I try to mention that and hopefully I haven't missed it. Giving, giving, citing and giving credit, I may have, but I tried not to, but

Colleen: 6:50

anyway, what is it? And Pam seriously, you can't write that if it's not also yours. Yeah. It's just like I've learned from my teachers. They've learned from their teachers. That's I'm the teacher who learns from you. It always, that's such an important piece also with Reiki specifically. Yeah. And I believe that comes from the teaching of Usui sensei. When his first decision on the mountain was to share Reiki with the world, rather than keep it for himself and his family. I believe that's like a foundational intention in the energy of how Usui Reiki developed and evolved and all these other ways of sharing of course. And if a teaching resonates with a person, it's because that's what you already know also.

Pam: 8:02

Oh, neat. And I love it. You are so generous with that. And when you, when I said, oh geez, Coleen, I've got to go through. Cause there's times when I'm sure I've got your words there. And you said I don't care about that. It's very liberating. And when I was talking with Karen and we were doing the business. The business one, I was like, I'd love to include, I wish I could include your articles. And she said why don't you? What you don't mind. And she goes, no, they're there to be used, put them in. And I was like, oh man, everybody is just so generous. And it just, I feel like it just adds to people's experience. And I hope like even there's different podcasts on different things that you can connect with and get. So it's going to take people forever to get through it, probably because

Colleen: 8:55

it is, it has so much and all those ProTips. Oh, they're so good. Yes, I know. It's a long book it's truly a wealth of information. And I, liked that you focused on the things because people can find information about business. Yeah. They can find information about marketing. They can learn about branding. They can learn about all those things. And it doesn't always have to be focused on Reiki energy, or working with Reiki energy. And so I love the way you bring the Reiki energy into those topics, which is how it works and makes it so much easier when you're working with, Reiki to create your business and to to manifest and to dream it into reality. All of those things you're working with Reiki to do that. And Reiki makes it so much easier. And so the way that you created those, the exercises for people to be able to take the topic, activate Reiki, work with the exercise and find their answers through their insights and maybe automatic writing. I saw, you've got that in there. And just all the ways, the different ways that we receive. Oh,

Pam: 10:34

you're going to make me just

Colleen: 10:37

Really I'm happy for you. And actually, cause we've talked so many times I, just truly, haven't had the chance to look at the book more deeply. And so I've been doing that knowing we were going to do this, of course. And, so I've been going through it. And as I haven't deep dived into all that exact words and content. But I've gone through it enough to just see... Wow really, nice Pam

Pam: 11:09

so much

Colleen: 11:10

I'm happy and happy for you. And I'm happy for the people that it will teach because when we go into our Reiki Master classes and we talk about the business aspect of it, and we have maybe an hour to topic, talk about Reiki business, because it's such a big subject. It's not

Pam: 11:33

only is it such a big subject, but people are so overwhelmed at that point. Usually they've done so much healing in the energy and they learned so much already that they, so many people just tune out when it comes to the business talk. I don't even go into it in tremendous detail anymore because I see people glaze over. And so I just let them know where it is in the manual when they're ready to get to that. And but they the, class that I taught, like coming back from England and creating that Reiki mentor class first of all, the book never would have happened. It was just as I was guided by Reiki in the class that I announced to people. Oh he, the energy's telling me this needs to become a book and otherwise I don't think I ever would have undertaken that huge commitment, but I told everybody, so I had to, then I had to do it and then they got excited about it. So I had to follow up with it, but. But doing the class really showed me too, where the gaps were in, like where people were where they maybe lacked confidence or where they, maybe get it up to a certain point. And then stall, I could really identify a lot of spots. And also, I I have an MBA, but I stalled a lot in the process of my own business. As you coached me through quite a lot of my obstacles and my blocks and, my issues with bringing business and Reiki together. So anyway, it was, it has been a labor of love. And and it's also, I've got such a euphoric feeling about it Colleen because. Was, it was part of my calling. I think. Something that I was put on the earth to do not the only thing. The next book is already rolling around in my brain.

Colleen: 13:35

So for those of you that don't know Pam she really lives in possibilities. Next. I know the next thing I could do.

Pam: 13:45

The funny thing is, that we I didn't think it's actually, I really also want to credit you and William and the world peace energy, because when that energy came in, like I was looking at it thinking, okay, I think I can maybe finish it by sometime in May, maybe June. I was looking at June 21st and then the world peace energy came in and just everything. I've expressed it as my life became a piece of poetry after that, with every thing just falling into place. Exactly. Without any effort on my part. And and so I just started watching things fall into place with that energy. Holy snappers. I think I can get this ready for when to launch. When my podcast with Colleen goes live. And I was thinking of trying to, how am I going to put together a prelaunch campaign? Because there's no way the book is going to be ready, but Karen Caig, my amazing editor. She, is just, she's been incredible. And I've. Pulling some really late nights, and really early mornings, just trying to get it wrapped up and also learning all the pieces. Cause it's a first for me. Like I formatted it myself. So if there's any mistakes in formatting, this is the belongs to me. Created the cover and things like that, just to shorten the timeline and also just to have a little bit more artistic control too, I think. And, because I'm listening the whole time that I'm doing all of it, anyway, so I'm, so excited to announce that the book is ready and I'll be. I believe if the final tiny pieces come into place, I believe I'll be sharing it, sharing the link in the podcast that we, put live this weekend.

Colleen: 15:47

We did, we just had a whole conversation about it. But from this perspective of, now talking about it this way one of the things that people need to understand. If you are going to have a professional Reiki business that will support you financially and support your family financially, you really need to realize that it is you will be self-employed and you will generate your own income, your own hours, your own business structure, and all doing it with the 21st century business practices. And it's so important for people to realize that you'll need to have your own health care. You'll need to have your own it will need to generate income. And you mentioned so many of those practicalities in the book, and then the other important piece that as I have been reading the book and, you'll see in the other clip that I've been super busy working with the the hundred-year Reiki anniversary with WilliamRobyn, Lena Takahashi and, Muniqui, and then the World Peace Upgrade, Reiki Upgrade. And so I haven't been able to read it like word for word, cause it's actually so thorough. If it's a long read, which is good because it truly covers so many important topics. And then what I really appreciate about it, because not only with a Reiki business, are you going to have a standard, small business practice business, you are also going to be working with the spirituality or Universal energy. And it really is a blend of the, two focuses. Reiki business does have to have all the practicalities. And then it also has to have that inner connection to your purpose for why you're doing this. You mentioned my purpose while also one of the, main things that happened. I think you mentioned the, my article meet the spirit of your Reiki business and that in the book

Pam: 18:27

I did, and I put a link to it.

Colleen: 18:29

That was an important exercise or journey Reiki journey or, meditation, because it took me to my purpose for why I was doing what I was doing. And at the time I thought it would be Reiki with animals because of course I was so involved with I got into Reiki because of my horse and. And in that journey, what I heard was that it, was also part of my purpose to help Reiki become such a mainstream practice that people could take their children to a Reiki practitioner. They would commonly think of doing. As complimentary therapies to healing and empowerment, and that also children could grow up thinking that they could be a Reiki practitioner as a means of supporting themselves in their family, that there was a practicality. So not only is it going to help with the family, but it can, they can also make an income. Yeah. And that, was also another way that Reiki spreads, Usui sensei practiced Reiki with a Reiki business, along with teaching his students how to access on-scene debts and. So we're still in that same energy of how it works. And at the same time, we are now a hundred years later in the 21st century. And a lot of the things that you have to think about are probably still the same things he had to think about back then, just with different tools if you think about it. Yeah. It's true. Yeah. Oh, that is such a great thought. I, now I get to contemplate that idea that yeah. I

Pam: 20:32

hadn't thought of now I'm going there too. I know now

Colleen: 20:34

reading your book from that perspective too, because I really appreciate in your book, how you merge the two together so that it takes people from here's the practical thing you need to be thinking about. And now go deeper into how you're going to think about that through the exercises that, that you provide. In addition, it's great training for people too, because that's how we do everything. It is. We go into Reiki journeys. We go into the deep listening, we do it in our busy-ness. We do it in our stillness. We do. Our stillness and our busy-ness and all of those things. I it's seriously, really good. Pam. I'm so excited about it. I really am.

Pam: 21:34

Thank

Colleen: 21:34

you. Congratulations.

Pam: 21:37

Thank you. It really does feel I've known. It's interesting. I don't know if this story's in the book, so I'll, share it here. I talk about obstacles and resistance and I've known I was supposed to write books since I was a teenager. I've heard that calling and it's something that I've really, resisted. And I, said earlier, If I'd known how much work it was going to be. I had an inkling, but I really didn't know how much work writing a book is. If I'd known, I'm not sure that I would have let, my voice announced that, oh, I'm hearing, it's supposed to be a book in that first Reiki mentoring class, but I'm really glad that I did because as I mentioned earlier, the Reiki mentoring class informed me so much, like about where people. Got stuck, where they needed help, what maybe was confusing or, that sort of thing. And then the whole thing, the whole course, I'm really grateful to those first 70 or 80 students that jumped in and joined me in those first three classes because getting the feedback from them and watching their journeys really helped me identify. I already knew where I got stuck, but it, showed me where other people might get stuck as well. And hopefully this book will help people get unstuck and one of the big aspects of it. And I don't know if you noticed that, but is that a Reiki business can be so much more than sessions and teaching. And I know that, and I do still talk about those things. Cause almost everybody comes to that. There's so many other ways to work with Reiki and I, and that was really that message kept coming through. As I was writing, I was channeling a lot and that message kept coming through. Don't keep this just to sessions and there's so many other ways that people can can integrate Reiki into maybe an existing career. And, I heard from some of my students, I just heard from one of my wonderful students, her stories in the book

Colleen: 23:53

who

Pam: 23:54

had. After her training. It's been a very long time since she's been in the fine art world, she's been more publishing and commercial and the Reiki energy took her back to her fine art. And she had this amazing exhibit and she actually came out and said in her artist, bio, this is Reiki imbued work. If you choose to, you will receive Reiki as you look at my work. And she said to set up. People who say that they never cry, just stood there and wept as they looked at her work. And it's, stuff like that. And, another client who brought it into law and one of the things I love talking to my mentor students, and I'm getting their stories to add to the book is some of them went along and then hit pause and. But rather than get frustrated with themselves, we had talked a lot about divine timing and that those pauses sometimes are necessary for things to weave together under the surface. And I talked to a few of my students whose stories are in the book who said, yeah, I hit a pause, but I'm not worried about it. I know that that's where I need to be right now. I'm great with that. And that's just as rewarding to me as, the ones that took it and ran with it. Just the fact that people are being gentle with themselves as they do this.

Colleen: 25:25

Anyway, such a unimportant understanding to have about so I, I always think of it as I have a Reiki practice and I have a Reiki business. If I have a Reiki business, I always have a Reiki practice, but I can have a Reiki practice and not have a Reiki business, and, but like you say, where it's merged with your existing. Cause my husband, Robin Robin and he uses Reiki in his construction before. He has a fairly large, construction business and he uses his eyes and places, Reiki in the buildings when he looks like he's inspecting it. He uses it with his bids, for the inspiration intuition. My son also. As it turns out now, my husband now works for my son, but it used to be the other way around, which is a great, combination for that to work, but they all use it. And his other business partner, they all use Reiki in their business and yeah. All of the the things that you write about apply to Reiki practices and Reiki businesses, however that is showing up. So it's not just about Reiki business. Yeah. And the other thing that you wrote, I, cause I liked the way he wrote about being the reluctant Reiki master. I think a lot of us came to Reiki that way. I think people will relate to your story for sure. Cause it's I did not know this is what I was going to be doing when I took my first Reiki class and. And I was reluctant to even take my first Reiki class. I procrastinated it yet after my horse told me that I needed to get Reiki to help heal him. And I totally procrastinated cause you know what, I didn't believe in it. And that was a big part of it. But the other piece of it that I think is also important in, what you write is. We, a lot of us have a lot of empathy to that are in these professions. And I think one of my biggest reluctances at the beginning that I know now was that emphasis. Could I manage the empathy along with doing this all the time? And hearing the stories that you hear and the things that you hear, and then you find out. You hear really wonderful things all the time and get to be in, and that expanded awareness. And so as far as like a Reiki business, it I, love it because people are kind yes, in this community globally. Not that we don't have some of it here and there and in our own selves, of course but mostly, and again, going back to Usui sensei's intention of sharing Reiki with the world, and I just believe, and his intention that he created or he encouraged Dr. HIAs. To develop his style of Reiki, encouraged Mr. Kada to develop her style of Reiki and Reiki practices and Reiki businesses as it needed to evolve. I think that energy just ripples through all of this. Which is what the other thing that you were talking about is really just the generosity of sharing this much information that you have provided. And I was like, when did you get all that? We talk a lot and I know all the other things you're doing. I'm like, when did you get that done? That was it's really comprehensive.

Pam: 29:50

So I dunno, comprehensive might, might equate to long and

Colleen: 29:54

boring, but no, it's not long and boring. It's very relevant. Oh,

Pam: 30:01

it is. It is comprehensive. I think like every time I would think something was done, I would hear a little ping from Reiki. Oh, don't forget to tell them about. And don't forget to tell them about that. And so I'm sure that there will be a few things that are missed, but I think that most people can take it and, just go ahead and create their businesses. And just this morning the subtitle came to me, although I did want to listen with you for it. And I, haven't been satisfied with the subtitle actually. And then this morning it came as the Reiki business book discover the unique Reiki career that lights you up. And so I think it might be I like

Colleen: 30:49

that. You like that? I actually, that was one of the things I made a note about was to change your subtitle. I couldn't get it. And I just added the word proofness on it and took out impact and put purpose. But I like what you just wrote. That's. Okay. Yeah. Cause it's true. It does light you up. It does light you up. It does light and that's the important, and so multi-dimensional. Yeah seriously, good point.

Pam: 31:21

And it's unique for everyone. And I think one of the things that I heard from my mentor group was just that freedom to be unique with it, that freedom to be themselves, took the pressure off of them and they could figure out how it was supposed to work for them. And they might be doing sessions and. Someday or they might not Helen might stay with her art and reach the world that way. And I think that's a wonderful way.

Colleen: 31:51

Danny, that, that works with regular lifestyle. She always talks about that. Now she's going more into a her own Reiki sessions and Regi and teaching classes, but For the longest time, she just talked about how working with us was her form of a Reiki practice and Riki per Reiki business. And I always loved that because there's just so many ways to share it and yes, so many students using it and all different professions and ways and Daily life it's all about daily life being able to use it in, that way. It really

Pam: 32:42

is calling from, what you've seen of the book. And I know you've gone through it in more detail.

Colleen: 32:51

I will be because before you asked that next question, that was the other thing I wanted to get to say. As I think the book is relevant to a beginner as well as somebody experienced in business. So even if a person, like I definitely am looking forward to having the time to go through it more thoroughly and, really read it The pro tips, the exercises, the topics. And even if there are a lot of the things that I've already been working with, it's always great to just revisit some of these topic, topics and concepts, because it's ongoing. It's a never ending development, which at first was the inpatient. And now it's the, good thing. Cause it's fascinating

Pam: 33:53

every day is new and learning and different.

Colleen: 33:57

Yeah. And so I do want to say that about the book too, that it really is for all experience levels. And the other thing for personality types. I think you can also open it to the chapter you want to and read it out of order. I think so too. I am an out of order

Pam: 34:15

reader and in the book I said, use it the way some of you are going to go through it methodically chapter by chapter and others are going to skip things just go to the section that you want. And it was.

Colleen: 34:28

I love that about it. I was like, okay. Yeah, no read from the back to the front, open it up. Would it say

Pam: 34:40

well, and to your comment I've, been so encouraged. I have to say that One of the, probably one of the last things I was reluctant about with my guidance with Reiki was when it said to join the licensed Reiki master teacher program with the ICRC, because I thought, oh, that's so much work and so much time and effort. And also I'm pretty averse to paperwork. And I knew that was a big part of it.

Colleen: 35:09

Yeah yeah, All that

Pam: 35:11

paperwork.

Colleen: 35:12

I know. I don't mean it that way, but yeah, the paperwork is, yeah, there's,

Pam: 35:17

it's a, this is something I don't enjoy. And and I thought and, yet it has been one of the most positive things in my life. It's, done so much for me working with you and not, even just you like the whole. Group of licensed Reiki master teachers. When I reached out and said, Hey, would you help me with this? Would you do a podcast? Would you let me include your story in the book? And everybody was was right there and people are so supportive and I've heard from a lot of them like, okay, I can't wait until your book comes out. And so some of them are starting a book club. Some of them have already started their own Reiki mentoring series. And they're, looking forward to use the book as a.

Colleen: 36:03

As the guide as like the textbook. Yeah. The textbook for the, oh, talk about that a little bit more. So people know they can use it that way. Cause I know you mentioned that, but it's, that's an important point to make, to let people know about

Pam: 36:18

absolutely. And I didn't know what it would look like, but I knew that I would, if I offer additional Reiki meds, Courses, I will be using that. The book is as a guide and, I'm aware of that, but so many of the licensed teachers said the same thing and So I know Tracy Sullivan has a mentoring group going on right now and she shared one of the, one of the meditations and it's so one of the exercises and meditations, and it's so profoundly affected people. They wanted her to write it down and she said I can't, but there's a book coming out because it's not mine, but there's a book coming out that has it. So now they're, they all want the book. And I hope that so she's going to have them purchase it and use it. In the mentoring

Colleen: 37:05

work

Pam: 37:05

as a workbook and the mentoring class, and Julie Russell had a really unique take. She said, I'm going to do a book club and each month we're going to cover a chapter and I'm going to, and I want, I'm going to get all my students to buy it. And they could buy their own copy and we'll get together once a month. And. Discuss the chapter so that she can then give her insights and, information. And a lot of the lessons teachers in addition to that said that it made them think about a few things in a different way or made them think about some things. Been forgetting to do or knew about, but had fallen off their what, they were doing. And so I just been very, blessed to be a part of this wonderful and supporting community

Colleen: 37:55

and. So then you would be encouraging people to do that. That are not licensed. Teachers have their own mentoring groups and use the book as a workbook. There's

Pam: 38:08

a whole section in the book about how to do that. Like you, you might become a man and I talk there's a couple of ways to become a mentor. And I tried to break it down for people because I was asked to be it, happened all of a sudden calling when you and I were doing our. My co-teach class. I had about a dozen people ask me to mentor them and how busy we are in licensed teacher program. It's intensive and and wonderful, but intense. It takes a lot. Space. And I thought, where am I ever going to have the time to do that? I don't have the time to mentor people. I'd love to help them, but I don't have the time. And so the energy showed me, you could do it if you were organized and had class and prepared your material and had and, guided people through different themes. Each each month or, whatever. So that's what I did, but you can, so you can, anybody who is a Reiki master can use this book and do the same thing, create your own Reiki mentoring class. And I talk in the book about a few of the advantages of that. Like one of the things I didn't have to charge as much for the Reiki mentoring class, because there were a lot of people in it. And even when people couldn't attend, they received the recordings because we did it online. And for that one of the unexpected advantages was people got to check out my style and how I did things. And they started signing up for my classes after that. And, also, and then some of the students that I already had they've it really helped them get a foothold and start building their own businesses. So I encourage anybody who is considering being a Reiki mentor to go ahead and do that. And if the book will help you Absolutely. It does lay things out and you can even say she says that, and I don't agree with that, but here's, how I would do it.

Colleen: 40:13

Breaking your way, Reiki your

Pam: 40:15

way. And people can get a few different perspectives that way. Cause one of the things that I think I mentioned early in the book is one of my. Perspectives is take the parts of the book that worked for you and that, that resonate with you and just, and throw away the rest. Don't worry about the rest. That's how I, that's how I, that informs my life. That's how I do everything. But, and the other way to mentor of course is to do one-on-one, but the book might still be helpful for people who want to do that. Yeah, definitely. If it can help in your mentoring process, if you're ready to become a mentor, then I really encourage people to do.

Colleen: 40:59

That is really fantastic, Pam, and I know you talked about that. But now seeing what's in it it really, and what is it's it really is very complete and people could definitely Work with that to teach their students. And even as they're teaching themselves, I love Julie's idea of a book club. Yeah. Great idea. I might do it to myself.

Pam: 41:29

Yeah. I know.

Colleen: 41:29

I'm like, that sounds so fun.

Pam: 41:34

Who wants to join me in a Reiki book club and I get together once a month. Yeah, I think it's, I love it too. Colleen, it, was there anything else that stood out to you in the book and who do you think you mentioned who you felt could benefit? Just people from, every people just starting out to people that are really experienced to people that have an established business, I think. And but was there anything else that stood out to

Colleen: 42:03

you in the book? I think it also can go beyond Reiki. So people establishing other types of professions energy, probably types of professions all the way around. But also for sure other modalities. Can work with it. It's all the same concepts of the blend of the practical and the practical business practices. Because again, as we started with, that conversation is the awareness that it is a wonderful way to have an actual small business and a professional. And as we all know, we love it. But it does have all those other aspects and you bring it into the book about the practicalities that people need to consider. So also I'm sure the quote Williams' quote of definiteness of purpose sustained over time, always produces results. I've been doing this over 20 years now and. I started out self-employed I was a fiber artist before this. And so I've always been self-employed except for back when I was a vet tech in my twenties. And but otherwise I've always been self-employed and. Business practices can be so creative and fun. They can be something that you can listen for. Receive insights around, get excited about at the same time. Just know that it all takes time. And to just start that's my biggest advice is just start because if you think that you have to have everything in order before you get started, you'll never get started. They'll never get started to help me. I can't do that. And, but the same way that I am a open the book and read from whatever section. I also think that way about just start like. I when I first started with Reiki I, had no, no intention of having a business with it. In fact, I had the opposite of, I don't want to do that. I don't want to charge money for it. I just want to be able to practice Reiki. But then I found I couldn't practice as much as I wanted to and was called to. And that. Compelling part of it that keeps touching you from inside, from outside oh keep doing this, And I, for myself, I had to, I finally came to the awareness that I was going to transition from my, business. And to a Reiki business, but I had to take the time because I needed the income of my bit, my original business, which was very successful by the way. And, then take the time to, to develop my Reiki business to the point that it was more financially sustainable and then sold my other business. So I could focus all the time. Not everybody has compelled to do that. And not everybody is looking for it to be a full time. Like really vocation slash careers slash. I have to do it because it's so fascinating every day. I just, I love it so much. I love the things we talk about. I love the community. And of course, most of all, I love the results. Yeah. The results are the whole bottom line of. I think we are a community of people who really truly care about contributing to the wellness of, the world and all the different ways we do that. There's not a particular way that we do that. But it gives us a way we can that world peace upgrade coming in of course we're all asking, what can we do? And there's lots of things to do. It doesn't have to be that, but boy, that energy of that world peace upgrade through that process that you're teaching in your book of how do you listen? How do you hear the energy? How do you listen? And that's of course then comes down to what can I do? So congratulations. It's really, good. And I've been doing this a long time and I've taught a lot of people. I've mentored a lot of people and both shamanism and, Reiki and and just it's, a. Definitely a pathway of love getting to be in, in this kind of energy on a consistent basis. And you're still going to be a small business. If that's the direction you're taking it. And I think that's so important for people to understand, because it's the same as any other small business small service professional as professional service business, something like that, but providing a service. And you're professional. And so the business, excuse me. So as a professional with a service business, the more you aligned with the standards of today's professional service businesses. The easier it is for you and the easier it is for your client. Because they already know for instance, that if they contact you, your services are going to be clarified and transparent's your what you are offering for those services. So the same way that a person would expect to do that if they were going to Go to a massage therapist or an acupuncturist or hairstylist, or any of those things that you still have, those same practical business structures to develop. And so your book covers that. That's really, it's really good.

Pam: 49:46

Thank you, Colleen. Is there anything, any suggestions or anything you'd like to leave people with today?

Colleen: 49:54

So for me, Reiki is a life management. The techniques that we have to connect with the, Reiki energy and the higher consciousness that Reiki energy and trains you into. It's a life management tool in whatever capacity that your life is in today whatever, it is that you're doing. And that's one of the five precepts just for today. I, will be devoted to whatever it is I'm doing. It says devoted to my work, but devoted to whatever it is that I'm doing and focused on whatever it is that I'm doing. And so just using Reiki and again, that's what I'm, I did not know you were putting in your book to where the exercises that you can do to use Reiki to do. To go inward and look inward and stop and pause. And as people may or may not know that you and me and my daughter, Robin and Robin Benelli and Sue strong wrote the animal Reiki book. And so here's an example. The other day I was just in, I was teaching the third day of the animal Reiki, MasterCard. So I went out for a walk in the morning and I was just so much mind chatter, just blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. She's stop, and so I'm just walking up the street and all the trees are in bloom with these beautiful pink blossoms, like full covering the sidewalk as though and I'm walking underneath them, not even noticing. As I'm. So in my head. All of a sudden I hear them just breathe and look at those pink blossoms. And then I realized the the whole body listening exercise that we do in the animal Reiki about perceive and listen in front of you. Listen behind you. Listen on each side, listen above you and below you. And I did it while I was still walking. Yeah. I didn't stop to do that. I stopped a couple times just because once I started listening now I wanted to stop and hear what was around me and take a moment to be with the trees. But that was just such an example to me, of how we utilize these kinds of techniques into our every day living. Cause I really didn't want to spend my time in that mind chatter that I was in. I was literally walking in this total beauty and I feel the same way, even if I was walking in a place that I wouldn't maybe consider. I don't know why salvage yard just popped into my head, but I might be wanting to listen for the dog behind me anyway. Now I've gone off topic, but anyway, That's the, when we utilize some of these exercises and apply them in our practical daily life, it's the techniques that connect us to the energy. And I think it's also so important for people. Not for people. Let me take it to me. It is when it finally switched. And I realized that when I'm doing these techniques with Ray and I'm working with the Reiki energy, that the technique is getting me to the energy. It's not making the energy come to me. Yeah. And that, that took me a while. Always that bring it to me. It does do that. Because that is how it helps us get to it. Yes. But these exercises very specifically help you go inward that are in your book and the techniques go inward. And even if you use the same type technique for a different topic, it's still going to do. Yeah. So again, just good job. I'm really looking forward to reading it in depth and and so everybody knows, I also did not get the formatted version or the completely edited version. Always things are easier to read in that in their final formatting.

Pam: 55:12

Sorry. Yeah. Unfortunately I can't, there's no way for me to share the final format

Colleen: 55:17

correction we have now.

Pam: 55:20

And that was really clear creating the book is. Any of us can go ahead and look up the business principles and techniques that I learned in my MBA, but how do we apply Reiki to it? And how do we bring that spiritual aspect alongside of it so that it aligns with what we wanted to do. And, that, that was that merging that the exercises Brought forward. And I want to thank you for that because it was all listening. Even when I created the mentor course, like I had an outline, but the, for the two hours that I was with my students each month for, I guess it was over a period of 20 months I listened. And sometimes I even we didn't cover what we would intend to cover that week, because it was very clear that was not what the students needed. And I would listen and bring in whatever, whatever came in, that's where the exercises and the meditations and all of those things came from and people would say gosh, how did you know. That was exactly what I needed. I didn't know. I was just listening to Reiki and, but Reiki knew and, people would often say too it sounded like you were talking just to me. And I would hear that from 15 or 20 students that it sounded like I was talking just to them. And that's the beauty of race. That it's able to do that. It's certainly not certainly not anything that I'm capable of but, you taught me to listen to Reiki and the Reiki energy. I oh, I knew, but you taught me, you, you really took that in. As we wrote, as we created the animal Reiki. Manual my ability to listen and to discern and to hear really became heightened and thank you for that. And for all of the wonderful advice and mentoring and for helping me get through all my hangups with reishi in business.

video1030604063: 57:34

And I

Colleen: 57:35

love it. That I think. Add to that because listening, becoming a good listener is the foundational skill of all of it. And I started writing about it. I started my own personal practice of skill development in how to listen in all areas of my life, but also how to listen with Reiki and I started writing about it. I think the first article I wrote was maybe 2008 in Reiki. Newsmagazine listen with Reiki, we've taught workshops and we've done presentations at the Reiki retreats and it is a significant part of the animal Reiki training. Yeah. And how to expand your perceptions. And know where you're listening. Yeah. Cause I also don't have all listening open all the time because it's really loud out there. Overwhelming, speaking of empathy, empathy. But anyway, the the listening is such an important skill and. Again, I'm going to go back to your book. And, so none of this is scripted for you guys listening, and I'm just gushing over her book because actually I really I, really mean that. I think that's the other thing that these exercises will do is help people learn how to use Reiki to listen more deeply. And it is the foundational skill. It's, at the basics. It's at the it is what holds all of it in the creation of it. And and it's a skill and it's an ongoing skill and same thing at first, I was like, I'm not sure if I know what that means and going through the whole process of learning it. And then now after this many years of really practicing and focusing on listening skills it's it's an another one of the really cool, ongoing, personal development and growth that you get to hear. I'm grateful

Pam: 1:00:11

that you spent all the time on it because I you ha there's a piece in the animal Reiki master manual, because at the master level, we've really amplified the listening and, I've tried to include quite a bit of information and exercises in the book as well, to help the people reading it learn to listen. But I I remember. And it talks about some of the things to check and see are you doing some of these things that indicate you're not a good listener? And I was like, yup. Yup. Yeah, Oh my gosh, I'm a terrible listener. But it's, really. Improved and that's something that's not only improved my ability to listen to Reiki, but my ability to listen to my children and my husband and my horses and the dogs. And. And the farm and the land and the trees

Colleen: 1:01:06

and the birds spirit,

Pam: 1:01:09

all that. And so it's, been really groundbreaking and I know that you worked very diligently to create and inform that work. And I'm really grateful.

Colleen: 1:01:23

Yeah, you're welcome. It's probably one of those things that keeps telling me I need to do more with it. We we teach a lot of it, of course, in our next step Reiki classes too. But even more riding around it. Also let us both, we both know that what we mean when we say listening, because we've had long discussions about it that yes. There's listening with your ears and hearing, but people who are non hearing are still listening. So it's perceiving. It's accessing with your, that outer awareness with your inner awareness it's, going within and hearing yourself. So it's the word listening for me, took me a long time to understand that it was. Also perception.

Pam: 1:02:22

Yeah. It's more than words and everybody here is a little differently. Some people here in pictures or colors or feelings or sounds, it's all, it's different for all of us.

Colleen: 1:02:36

Yeah. Understanding your intuition. Yeah. I like all your quotes too at that. Oh, I'm going to check these quotes out.

Pam: 1:02:44

Thank you. I actually stole a quote though from Diane Thomas. Cause I was like, okay, teaching's my favorite thing. And I need to put my own quote at the top of that one, that the quotes. Thank you. I really liked them too. And that as I would record with the licensed teachers, that they were just, they're so experienced. And so they've had so much experience with all of this and so generous as well with their wanting to share the tips and tools with others, that they, would just lay down some gold. And I had to put it at the top of the chapter.

Colleen: 1:03:20

It was those hot. Did you call them hot tips? What did you call pro tips? Tips. Yeah. Better than hot tips, but they're hot tips too, but pro tips. Yeah. Yeah. That's another really great idea. Thank you. Because yeah, there's a wealth of knowledge. I haven't tapped into it gets tapped into

Pam: 1:03:42

They, just, we all have different experiences and they have so much experience. I definitely wanted to make that available to everybody. So well, Colleen, thank you so much for being here today and I know how busy you are it's always something, but I thank you so much for, just for everything for being you, for having helped me and inspired me to get to this point. And and thank you for being here. I want to thank the list. And really, and I am so encouraged by your support and the feedback that I've been getting from a lot of you that have said hurry up and get your book. So I listened and as I mentioned, the link to purchase the book, I didn't think it would be possible, but it is in this podcast. So go ahead and pick up a copy. It is available as an ebook. It's also available as a print book in 40,000 booksellers. So with, whom I published it, so you can pick up a physical copy or an electronic copy. I'm not sure the timing of the It's a paper book is going to be available right away, but it won't be very far behind if it's not. So go ahead and pick up your copy and I'd love to hear from you all as to how you're doing and go ahead and stay in touch, sign up for our newsletter. I'll probably be putting together some sort of class or book club or something to do with this as soon as I have a little bit of time to take a breath. And, think about the next thing. Because as, we record this, I'm just finishing up the last tiny details before before uploading it to make it available to all of you. So thank you so much.

Colleen: 1:05:35

Thank you. And I would like to just say a quick, thank you also to all the teachers who came before us and Laurelle Gaia is very present here. Of course, William Rand. But Laurelle was my mentor and also, and so just she's, very present here. She's she was the director of the licensed teacher training program before Karen Harrison and myself. So those teachers who came before us and the descendants who come after. Thank you. Thank you.

Pam: 1:06:13

I've felt her presence as well, Coleen, quite a bit as I created the book. So

Colleen: 1:06:19

yeah, I can feel that

Pam: 1:06:24

well until next time, everyone. Namaste day. Thank you.

Colleen: 1:06:27

Thank you.