Episode # 206 May Yeary From Autoimmune Struggle To Reiki Based Healing

Reiki is one of those things people love to argue about until they actually experience it. I sit down with Reiki Master , May Yeary certified integrative health coach who found Reiki by accident, resisted it at first, then watched it transform both her personal life and the way she helps clients heal.

May shares her real world health story, including autoimmune struggles in her early 20s, the frustration of being dismissed, and the patience it took to reach remission. From there, we get into what brought her into energy work and why Reiki became a turning point for stress reduction, emotional healing, and feeling “clear” enough to take healthy action. We also talk about how Reiki can support the nervous system, why some people notice changes without long conversations, and what “cleaning house” can look like in daily life.

We also address the  misconceptions: claims that Reiki is witchcraft, satanic, or a cult, plus the gatekeeping that can show up even among practitioners. If you’ve ever wondered how to pick a Reiki practitioner, we cover what matters most, why a discovery call can save you time, and the simple but important test of whether you feel safe and supported.

May Yeary  is a Reiki Master and Certified Integrative Health Coach devoted to helping others heal on every level, mind, body, and spirit. Blending energy work with integrative health practices, she creates a deeply supportive space for transformation. Her path began through her own experience with autoimmune issues in her early twenties, now in remission, which awakened her calling to guide others back to vitality, alignment, and inner power.

Listen, share this with a curious friend, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. After you press play, what’s the biggest question you still have about Reiki or energy healing?

Transcript

Welcome To Ready Set Reiki

SPEAKER_01 0:21

This is Ready Set Reiki, a podcast about Reiki and all energy work, from the curious beginner to the seasoned master teacher, welcoming all systems, all lineages, all levels. Reiki is a journey and not a destination. And on this Ready Set Reiki journey, I refer to myself as a guide rather than host, as I too am traveling, learning, and supporting others on this Reiki journey as well. And with that said, I am your guide, Tracy C. Wright, and this is Ready Set Reiki. Hello, Reiki family. Reiki blessings to you, one and all, another amazing and wonderful journey together. So before we begin, you know how it goes. We bring up and talk about the Reiki Business Collective. This is where you share, support, and serve. Christian Stone offers a wonderful and safe place for you to land no matter where you are on your journey. Whether you are just a new practitioner, whether you're not even thinking about business, don't let that business name fool you. You can come join, be a part of that community, and perhaps you are inspired to rise up and move forward to have your very own business. Here you can connect with Reiki Business Community. Check it out. It costs zero dollars, zero dollars to join this Facebook group. Lots of information, lots of knowledge, lots of supportive people. I want you to know you're never alone on this journey. There are helpers. So this is a place where the helpers are. Well, let me tell you about our guest coming up, Mary Erie. She is a Reiki master, a certified integrative health coach devoted to helping others heal on every single level. And that means mind, body, and spirit. Now she blends energy work with integrative health practices, and she creates a deeply supportive space for transformation. Her path began through her own experiences, through her own with autoimmune issues in her early 20s. However, now she is in remission and which has awakened her calling to help guide others back to vitality, alignment, and inner power. So let's give a warm Ready Sit Reiki welcome to May.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

Hi, Tracy. Thank you so much for having me on Ready Sit Reiki. I absolutely love this podcast. Um so a little bit about me. Um I live in Colorado. I grew up here born and raised. I love the outdoors. I love hiking and exploring. This state is so big that I haven't even explored every single area. Um and also before I got into holistic health and Reiki, I did um dog walking. I was a professional dog walker and pet sitter. I've always loved animals and guided towards them. And I also did art too. I originally went to college for art and taught pottery classes. So um in my free time, I love exploring new foods too. I'm a foodie and love trying new restaurants.

Skeptic To Believer Through Practice

SPEAKER_01 3:22

Beautiful. I love that. I actually used to be a dog walker and a dog sitter as well. So there was a woman in uh from western Pennsylvania and she had a business. Her name was Aunt Penny. Her name was Penny Lane after the Beatles song. And so she had her own dog uh sitting service. And I worked for her a little bit while I was teaching in the schools on the side. So all good things. How beautiful. I love it. So here we're talking about Reiki. When did Reiki come into your life? Did you find Reiki or did it find you?

SPEAKER_00 3:56

So Reiki absolutely found me. Um after I healed my autoimmune condition, I went back to school. I said, once I'm better, I'm gonna go back to school and help other people. So I originally went to school for integrative health coaching, and I went through a really great program at a community college here in uh Colorado, and it had a whole bunch of different modalities that we could try out. And I needed one more class to graduate, and I really wanted to take acupressure, but the class was full, and so I was like, Well, maybe I'll do yoga teacher training. But then I heard from the other girls in my uh program that it was really intense and I was just wanting to graduate. So my professor was like, Well, you could try Reiki, and I was like, I don't even know what that is, and I was super skeptical about it. And thinking back, actually, when I worked in retail, there was a woman that did Reiki and she was trying to explain it to me. I totally just did not understand it. And when I was going through the program, I was still really skeptical about it, didn't really get it until I started like working on myself and other people. Then really magical things happened and it completely changed my life, and it actually changed my health coaching business too, because I would say that I use Reiki more now. So I still use the tools from health coaching, but Reiki absolutely, I feel helps my clients way better than health coaching ever did. Beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 5:47

And it's so interesting when people ask you, like, what is Reiki and how to answer that in a way that they could really understand. And it's a modality that you really need to feel and experience yourself. When I first was told about Reiki in 2006, it was like my friend was speaking a different language. It was at the frequency, was it we were in like not, no, I don't think so. And then I sat and watched her have a session. I'm like, I don't know, like what's happening here, right? And then it just one day it clicked and it was done at time. But it was, I mean, quite a number of years later that I connected with this, and so it's just so interesting that even though someone can tell you something, it's until you step in and open up and experience it yourself that you'll begin to see the changes.

SPEAKER_00 6:39

Yeah, absolutely. I think anybody that's skeptical about it, just give it a try. And that's why I do a lot of free healings, just so people can start to kind of be like, okay, maybe this is working and dip their toes into it.

SPEAKER_01 6:58

So as you're out, as you're working with this stress-reducing modality, what are some of the misconceptions that you hear people say about Reiki?

SPEAKER_00 7:09

Absolutely. I there's a couple of things, and I'm sure that every practitioner hears this that Reiki is rich witchcraft, that it's satanic, that it's a cult or a religion, and it's absolutely none of those things. It's very science-based, actually. We use it in hospitals. There's case studies of that you can find on PubMed of Reiki working. Um, so it yeah, all of those, I like it makes me laugh.

SPEAKER_01 7:48

Right. And I'm seeing now, especially on social media, that there is even a big division between even practitioners and masters, this kind of judgment about you can't do this online. Um angelic Reiki isn't really a Reiki, and they're not valuing all of the different systems and coming from a way of respecting all lineages, all systems, and all schools of Reiki, even though it might be maybe a little different from perhaps you or I had learned it. But the idea that we're all here for service, you know, these are individuals who are moving forward and from a place of love and compassion. That's our goal, right? To help not only heal ourselves, but heal others. Are you finding that as well as you're navigating through this?

SPEAKER_00 8:38

Um a little bit, but not so much. I feel like the Reiki community is like so compassionate and they include anyone. There may like I would say maybe some practitioners are like, you can't tell people the symbols, like they have to go through training and blah blah blah. But really, like Reiki should be for everyone, no matter what type it is. Um, and I hate that with anything, people that think that like they're better or they're condescending or they should keep it a secret, like whether like it comes to health or art or music or whatever. I I really hate the elitist mentality, right? Or the gatekeeping mentality, yeah. Yeah, yeah. And that's like why I want to teach Reiki so people can help themselves and they don't have to rely on other people.

SPEAKER_01 9:45

Absolutely, absolutely. But of course, in the Reiki Business Collective, that's a place where we don't have that kind of division. So that's a great place again to land where you're not going to have that judgment. Everybody's really supportive of everyone else. So, what has surprised you about working with the energy?

Spiritual Surprises And Grief Healing

SPEAKER_00 10:03

Um, one thing that surprised, well, all of it, um I would say the first thing that really surprised me when I started Reiki was how spiritual it made me. So it's not necessarily like you have to dabble in spirituality, but I was not a very spiritual person to begin with when I I like thought that when you passed away, that's just it. Like it's nothing. But when I was learning Reiki, um, I had clients that I would start to hear like these messages from their past loved ones. And then I was also dealing with a grief of my grandpa, and I could start to feel him. And like I'm getting goosebumps now thinking about it, but um it really helped me with that grief process and knowing that there's something else out there, and that like when we die, that's not just it. There is another realm that's what I believe in. So it helped me connect to my spirituality, it's helped my clients with grief as well because I do get intuitive messages sometimes. Um, I don't like I don't know these people, but I just relay them. I'm just the messenger. And I really think that that can be healing for people. And that's not with every practitioner like uses that in their practice, but it came to me. Um, and I would also just say how quickly my clients can overcome things. So, like I said, with health coaching, I would be on the same issue with someone over and over with sessions, and it was frustrating with them and frustrating with me. And I still do inter um interviewing with them, like how's your stress levels, your sleep, your diet, to get a baseline and so they can kind of think about it. But I honestly don't need to know anything about them for Reiki to work. And then my clients come to me and they're like, I started riding my bike again, I meal prepped, and we didn't talk about any of those things. Uh I believe like Reiki is cleaning house of the soul. So when you're able to clear out that gunk, you are able to live the highest version of yourself, and it just comes naturally.

How To Choose The Right Practitioner

SPEAKER_01 12:36

Beautiful, beautiful. I love that for you and your clients. I love that for your clients. I mean, what a beautiful thing to integrate into uh your work. And with Reiki, you know, there's there's no religion attached, so it's completely different than spirituality. Spirituality is making it your own path, so there's no dogma attached to it or anything. Uh, so know that as you you journey forward. So when it's time to get an energetic tune up, what qualities do you look for in a Reiki practitioner?

SPEAKER_00 13:08

So, practitioner for me, um, I really love someone who's knowledgeable. I love someone that has tools that I don't necessarily have, but I also love someone who's compassionate and that I resonate with. And when I was going through my health journey, I would look for practitioners that were knowledgeable. You know, they'd have blog sites and videos, and I was like, oh, like this is great, they know a lot of things. Um, but I actually booked a session. So I had Hashimoto's when I was in my early 20s, and I came with a slew of symptoms, and I found a practitioner that had like had dealt with Hashimoto's I was like, great. And she seemed really knowledgeable, but then when I got into the session with her, she came in with a bunch of baggage and was like, I'm in pain, my back hurts. Most of the session we were talking about her, and I was like, I'm here to get help from you, and you're like complaining about your stuff. So I think I offer a discovery call for people so you can see if that resonates, like my energy is good for you, and you resonate with it, and that's what I wish I had with that practitioner because I would have been like, no, I'm not fucking with you. Um, and also that's why I offer videos on Instagram and TikTok so you can see like this is how she does things. I really like that. That's cool. And there's other practitioners, that's what I love about social media now. There's other Reiki practitioners that I absolutely adore because I'm able to see what they do and it resonates with me. So I think just investigating people and um discovery calls are great for that reason.

SPEAKER_01 15:05

Um, yeah, so yeah, I'm finding recently that there's a lot of practitioners that go on YouTube and they watch YouTube videos and feel that makes them qualified as a practitioner, and they're kind of going out and they're doing uh services and providing services and actually doing trainings without taking that opportunity and that time. And so it's good to also do that research as well. So you have that connection with that person, ask those questions, go on that discovery call, say, how long what do you do? What do you do for self-care? How are you working with the energy? Um, how long have you been working with it? And really, it doesn't matter, you know, too long. When you look at Azui Sensei, it was only four years that he was working directly with that energy, but just what they're doing and uh how they're grounding, how they're you know, taking this and working it into their lives as a lifestyle. So it's really important to have that opportunity to talk to people beforehand instead of showing up at the session and like, oh yeah, this isn't working.

SPEAKER_00 16:13

Yeah, absolutely. And as practitioners, we need to walk the talk, we need to take care of ourselves so we can show up for our clients. And, you know, I do Reiki on myself daily.

Getting Started Plus Books And Services

SPEAKER_01 16:27

Yeah, I mean, you can be a practitioner for 30 years and someone who just got their certificate, uh, you know, like last week, and they could have a greater following and they can, you know, have just that energy that's so welcoming and loving to people, and uh not really charisma, but just have it like, yeah, I feel safe here. And so it really doesn't even matter time-wise, it just matters that connection, you feel safe, right? And you know, you feel comfortable being in that session with them. So, what advice would you give someone who's just entering the spiritual work?

SPEAKER_00 17:05

That's a really good question. Again, I would say do your research, but also be open. Um, I, you know, with Reiki, I was very skeptical about it and didn't understand it. And I would say that if you are kind of questioning it, just dabble in it a little bit. And same with other modalities. If you're curious about it, just research it and try to find a community and see if it resonates with you. Beautiful. So, what books do you recommend? So I this is a little cliche, but I really like the OGs, like the secret, and I really love You Are Badass because I love just that positive mindset. And those I've read countless times, they always hype me up. And I think that when you read positive things like that, that can change you energetically, and same with positive music and that thing.

SPEAKER_01 18:11

Beautiful. So, what other services do you offer? Classes, do you do trainings, events?

SPEAKER_00 18:18

So I currently offer distance Reiki sessions, and you can choose uh health coaching or Reiki sessions or a combination of both. And then also I will be offering classes in the fall, so be on the lookout for that. But I I offer free um Reiki sessions all the time. So if you just hop on my Instagram or TikTok, you can catch me and get a free session.

SPEAKER_01 18:48

Beautiful, beautiful. I love that. So, where can we find you since you're offering it online if we're interested in a session or a service or training you're going to provide?

SPEAKER_00 18:58

Yeah, so I have a website, Reiki with May. You can find me there. Um, and that has all the links to my social media. But I'm on Instagram, I'm on TikTok, I'm starting my YouTube. Um, I'm putting my videos on there too. So if you just look up um Reiki Master May is my Instagram, and that's my TikTok as well. And same with uh I believe my YouTube. So you can find me there. But then if you go on my website Reiki with May, it will have more information and you can book with me there. Beautiful.

Listener Q and A Begins

SPEAKER_01 19:37

Well, that ends the first part of our journey. I'm gonna guide you to the second part, which are questions from social media, from listeners and Reiki students. So, number one, how is incorporating Reiki into your integrative health coaching helped your clients?

SPEAKER_00 19:52

It's helped my clients immensely. I've seen quicker results, I've seen better results with Reiki. Um, like I said earlier in the podcast, I still do emotional interviewing with them and tapping into those baselines of stress, uh eating your diet, what your sleep looks like, but I really don't need to know any of that. And sometimes I actually don't want to know because it's more fun to see what the findings are with Reiki. And but it gives us a baseline of where the client has started and then how they've progressed. And with Reiki, you just give Reiki and then it clears out all the gunk, and then people can go on their merry way, and that's what I love about Reiki. We don't have to be reliant on supplements or pills or things. Reiki just does it, and then you're good to go. You may need a tune-up, you may not, but whenever you're called to it, it will be there for you.

Autoimmune Healing Hope And Patience

SPEAKER_01 21:06

Beautiful. Number two, your path has included struggles with autoimmune issues. What advice do you have someone who is struggling with this issue?

SPEAKER_00 21:17

So I feel uh when I had autoimmune issues, this was like 15 years ago in my early 20s, and I was having all these crazy symptoms. You name a symptom, I had it. I had anxiety, depression, insomnia, hives, my hair was falling out, like I was losing weight, I was gaining weight, I had a seizure, you know, like I in that I feel like I had to go on that journey so I can be empathetic towards my client and find my way to holistic health. But now I feel like autoimmisses are completely rampant. And I feel like most people. That I talk to are dealing with some type of autoimmune issue, which is really sad. But also, I want people to know that they can heal. Your body has the ability to heal. You just have to give it what it needs. And most of the time with autoimmune issues, it's different for everyone on a case-by-case basis of what your body needs. But what I've seen and what Reiki is really great at um is there's emotional issues underlying it, like some traumatic event happened or unresolved emotional issues that you haven't dealt with that's residing in your body, and that's why your body is trying to tell you and having these symptoms. So just know if you're dealing with that, that there is hope, and just keep trying. I saw five doctors before I got diagnosed, and um, most of them were like, Oh, you have anxiety, here's some Xanax. But the finally, when I did get diagnosed, but it's like here's a thyroid pill, and it's like, well, I don't want to be on a pill for my whole life, and so I worked with a naturopath. I had a bunch of nutritional deficiencies, I had a parasite. That's not to say everyone has that, that was my own story, and it took me four years to heal. So don't think that you're gonna heal overnight, but also don't stay there either. So I would be obsessed with like, what do I have to eat or take to heal? And that's where art really helped me. So to come outside of myself, and I feel like that can be really healing for people. Like, get outside of just healing, find who you are and what makes you happy, whether that's animals, music, going out in nature, art. You need that for your soul too.

When Reiki Master Training Feels Right

SPEAKER_01 24:10

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing that. Can we really be helpful to someone who's struggling right now to know that there's light at the end of the tunnel, right? And just be patient and stick with it. And you were also very diligent as well. You kept moving and seeking answers and finding blending different things together to help you get through that. So thank you. Number three, as you stated, you know, you were a skeptic, you weren't real sure. So now here you are in the journey. As you were going through that class, as you were growing in Reiki, how did you know you were ready to move forward with your Reiki master training?

SPEAKER_00 24:50

Yeah, so I was very fortunate to be in um a program that they offered it. Some people didn't progress to the master level, but I was like, why not? Like, I would want to teach other people how to do this. So it was a no-brainer for me. Um yeah. Beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 25:14

So that was our last question. As we've been talking, is there something that you have forgotten or something you want to share with the listeners? The floor is yours.

SPEAKER_00 25:23

I would just say that if you are skeptical about Reiki, just give it a try. Find a practitioner that resonates with you. I personally wish that I found Reiki way sooner in my life. It would have helped me a lot. And that's why I want to teach others. Um, and I want to give people knowledge about what it is, and so they can help themselves, help their families, and we can just be healthy and happy people.

SPEAKER_01 25:58

Beautiful. And let us know where we can find you again, the name of uh your the website.

SPEAKER_00 26:04

Yeah, my website is Reiki with May, and you can book a you can book a discovery call on there, but I am on all social media platforms and I go by the name Reiki Master May. So you can find me there as well.

Share Your Questions And Closing

SPEAKER_01 26:22

Beautiful. Well, thank you, May, for joining me on this Ready Set Reiki journey and taking time out of your very busy schedule to be a part of it. Thank you, Tracy. Thank you so much. All right, my beautiful listeners. If you'd like your question featured on ReadySet Reiki, reach out www.ready setreiki.com or check me out on social media. Send me those questions and they can be brought on and asked of our lovely and amazing, wonderful guests, many who are out there doing amazing things in this world and sprinkling Reiki all over. So thank you, everyone. I'm Tracy Seawright, and this has been