Thrive & Decide Guide to Divorce and Beyond

Emotional Release and Healing Through Reiki

• Sarah Thress • Season 1 • Episode 9

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Have you ever encountered a healing practice so profound that it seemed to unlock hidden creativity within you? Meet Chris Pinkerton, a Reiki master whose insights and energy work have been pivotal in my personal journey from real estate to Reiki practitioner. Our serendipitous meeting at a women's networking event not only bolstered my confidence but also sparked a transformative path into understanding and practicing Reiki. Chris's vast experience and nurturing approach provide a compelling introduction to this ancient Japanese healing art.

Reiki, often likened to acupuncture's gentler cousin, focuses on balancing the body's energy through the seven chakras, offering relief from stress, anxiety, and even physical pain. Experience the soothing nature of Reiki sessions, as Chris explains, where gentle hand placements channel universal life energy, fostering deep relaxation and emotional release. Whether you're facing relationship challenges or simply seeking a method to manage the stresses of perimenopause, Reiki presents a natural, effective self-care tool. Chris's insights shed light on how Reiki's accessibility, whether in-person or remote, can support you on your path to wellness.

Embark on a journey of emotional and spiritual growth with us, as we explore the profound impact of Reiki on personal development. We discuss the cathartic power of emotional release, like a good cry, and how it aligns with Reiki's ability to elevate your vibration. Chris and I share our personal stories of healing, the newfound empathy and sensitivity that arose from our Reiki practices, and our commitment to help others on their healing journeys. Join us, remain open-minded, and consider how Reiki might offer new pathways of understanding and connection in your own life.

To Connect with Chris Pinkerton-
https://www.instagram.com/cpinkwellness/
https://linktr.ee/Cpinkwellness

Hi and welcome to Thrive and Decide. I’m your host Sarah Thress. This podcast is intended to help women who are going through a divorce, continplating divorce or have lost a spouse feel seen, heard, understood and not alone. All the beautiful souls who share on here are coming from a place of vulnerability and a common belief that sharing your story will help others. You will also hear from industry experts on what to do and not do while going through a divorce.


Sarah Thress
614-893-5885
Sarahthressrealtor@gmail.com
Thrive and Decide Facebook
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Real Estate Podcast Come To Find Out:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/come-to-find-out/id1704949604

Real Estate First Time Home Buyers course: https://sarahthress.graphy.com/

Speaker 1:

Hi and welcome to this week's episode of Thrive and Decide. This week we have Chris Pinkerton on and she is a Reiki master.

Speaker 2:

I think that's is that, would I call you a master.

Speaker 1:

Yes, okay, I always call her my guru, but, yeah, so she has been a very big part of my healing journey and my journey of becoming just a better version of myself. So I got, I guess, my goodness, what. Like three years ago, I met you at like an event. There was, you know, like there's so much power in women's networking events. It was a woman that was part of One hope wine that invited me to her house and she was like hey, um, you know, I've got someone coming that will do Reiki and someone that's coming to read, um, tarot cards. And uh, you know you don't have to like, do either of those activities, but we'd love to have you.

Speaker 1:

And I thought, oh, my gosh, like what is that? Like you know, I've never done either of those things, so why the heck not? So, um, I still remember, before I went back for my Reiki session, I had been standing there talking to some of my friends who had gone to this event too, and I was telling them like hey, like my, um, you know, my uh group, the team that I'm on in real estate, is getting ready to leave, uh, the brokerage that we're with and they're going to another brokerage. I don't know that I want to do that. I kind of thinking about going out on my own, but I don't know if I'm ready yet or whatever. So fast forward. About a half hour later I go into a room where I meet Chris and, um, she knew me from Adam, like did did not know me from Adam you know, like did not know my name did not know anything about me whatsoever.

Speaker 1:

So I walked in and you know, she just like put her hands around my head, but it felt like her hands were on my head and it was just really, really cool, just like the feeling that I got. And so then she said, you know, after, like it felt like probably 15 minutes, it was probably five minutes, but like you know, I was like okay, I'm sitting here quietly, like what is she hearing? Like? Am I like?

Speaker 2:

what's going on here? What do I didn't?

Speaker 1:

know what to expect, but regardless, um, she then shared with me that you know my um, my spirit guides, my angels, you know, whatever it is that you want to call it or believe in, or whatever. Um had been telling her that all the seeds I'd been planting were going to come to fruition, and to trust myself that I was ready. So, again, she knew nothing about me, did not know the profession I was in, did not know the conversation that I had just had with my friends. Um, and then she tells me this and I was like, holy crap, okay, it's time for me to leave, I need to believe in myself.

Speaker 1:

So, um, you know, I I left my team and I went solo and I've been, you know, very successful ever since, and so I always, you know, joke that like she's the reason I left but in a good way, but in a good way, because you gave me that um, you know you, just you gave me that, that courage, that inspiration, that you know that, knowing that I just needed to hear Um, and so since then, you know, I didn't go back regularly, until recently Now, I've been going every month and, um, I find such a huge release every time I come. Um, I mean, my goodness, the last time I was there you were talking about um. You know, like you went to release my um, my chakra my chakra sacral.

Speaker 1:

Yes, the sacral. I was like I can never remember the name of it, but it's for creativity. And I swear to God, when you had your hand there, you were like I'm getting a hot flash.

Speaker 2:

I was like I'm feeling so much heat.

Speaker 1:

This is insane, but I can tell you that ever since I left that day, I my creativity is through the roof. She was like your creativity was blocked and I was like what? Like it's so crazy, so, um, anyways, I share all of those things. Just to say that, you know, I kept an open mind and I went um, but to this day I still cannot explain what Reiki is.

Speaker 1:

When someone's like like if I, if someone, if someone asks me, I probably sound batshit crazy because I'm like well, she like put your hands here and they're not really on you, but like you feel this heat and then like you see these colors and then you just leave and you feel really great and like I don't you know so, like I am horrible at it. So, chris, thank you so much for coming, thank you so much for being my Reiki guru. And, yes, please explain to us what Reiki is, you know, because, again, I'm certain that people, even with this intro, are like that sounds so woo, woo. Sarah has lost her fricking mind. Um, you know all the things. But, yes, I would love for you to just kind of tell us what it is, how you got into it. You know all the things all the things.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, okay, yeah, I'm excited to be here. Thank you for having me. And yes, reiki can be very woo-woo, right, and sometimes it can be very hard to explain, and so the way I like to share Reiki with people is, first of all, reiki is gentle touch, energy healing, so it will help you to feel more relaxed, it will help you reduce stress and usually people sleep better after Reiki. Yes, so that's kind of the first thing that you usually say to people, because I've learned not to over-explain, because again I can go like, oh my gosh, it's so great. Um, so it's a Japanese method, and I always also like to say that, um, if people are familiar with acupuncture and I always also like to say that if people are familiar with acupuncture, then I kind of joke around and say that Reiki is like the kinder gentler cousin to acupuncture, because we're working within your energy system as well, within your seven major chakras, and we're working as practitioners to open up those chakras so that the energy is flowing through you unimpeded, right, so you don't have any stuck energy, you don't have too much energy in one chakra, et cetera, because when all of your chakras are open and that energy is flowing through you. That's when you feel very centered and calm and peaceful and all the good things right. When your chakras are out of whack. That's when you feel out of whack basically. So that's when you can have some like physical issues going on or possibly emotional things, mental things, happening.

Speaker 2:

So Reiki is a great self-care tool. So, like I said in general, relaxation, reducing stress and then beyond that, it's really individual to each person and each session as far as like what benefits they're going to receive. So a lot of my clients will come to me for help with things like anxiety or depression. Some come more for like physical pain relief and while I can never make any medical claims, you know I've had clients come in Like I'll give you an example my sister has rheumatoid arthritis so I've given her treatments to help with the joint pain.

Speaker 2:

I have some clients that have, you know, knee issues, et cetera. Also, a lot of my clients come in for dealing with issues of grief. A lot are dealing with relationship issues, very toxic things happening within relationships. So the great thing about Reiki is that it can help all of the above right and more. It's super gentle. It doesn't interfere with anything that you're already doing. So in a lot of cases some of my clients will come in maybe before or after they're having a therapist appointment with a counselor if they know they're going to have an intense session.

Speaker 2:

So sometimes it will help them feel more centered and grounded like before, or to come in and just release anything that came up during the session. So, ooh, our light just went out. Our light did just go out. I wonder if that's the guides in here going, yeah oh, they're just turning them out. They don't think we out.

Speaker 1:

I wonder that's guides in here going yeah, oh, they're just turning them out. Okay, they don't think we're in here.

Speaker 2:

It's fine. Okay, that's fine, yeah, we're good. I was like Ooh, spirit is with us right now. So what happens in a Reiki session is that it's super soothing and relaxing. So every practitioner is a little bit different in how they do this. But when you come to see me, you are laying on a massage table. You stay fully clothed, just your shoes come off. I dim the lights. There's gentle music playing. I usually have some essential oils going.

Speaker 2:

So it's all about relaxation and really time for you to just be open to receive that beautiful energy. And that's what it is. Reiki is universal life energy being channeled through me as the practitioner to you. So it goes through my palm chakras, basically palms of my hand, and again, you don't have to be touched if you don't like to be touched, if you're ticklish or something, but there are just gentle hand placements that we utilize to give a treatment. So very soothing, very relaxing. Some people get really relaxed and they fall asleep during a session. Other times I've had clients just describe maybe feeling like tingly or kind of waves of energy, and again, everybody receives very differently. So there are some clients that are like they might not feel anything at all. Sensation, wise, you know. So, again, it's very individual. That's why it's hard to compare notes between clients as to like. This is what happens, because it's different.

Speaker 2:

It's different for every client as far as what you experience, and it's also different from session to session. So something that might have come up with you, sarah, this past time might be totally different than you know the session you had a month prior, right? So, excuse me. So it's always the Reiki energy is going where it needs to go first of all, but it's always, again, only doing good. It is never doing anything harmful or painful. So if you wanted to, you could receive Reiki every single day, and it's never too much, right. So I utilize Reiki, like, especially if I wake up in the middle of the night, my dog has to go outside or whatever. Sometimes I'm awake and I can't go back to sleep, so I'll give myself a Reiki treatment, a self-treatment, so that I can relax and go back to sleep. So super soothing, great for all the things.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, well, um, and I'm going to need to learn that trick because you know, as I navigate the, the fun uh nuances of perimenopause, um, one of those is, you know, waking up or not being able to shut my brain off and go to sleep. And you know all the fun things. So, yes, exactly, exactly.

Speaker 2:

Reiki can help with all of that, so it can Well and to your point.

Speaker 1:

I think every session I've had with you is it's been different which is good.

Speaker 1:

You know, I know in the beginning I would fall asleep, like every time, and sometimes I felt like I wasn't asleep, but you were like, oh no, you were asleep and I'm like, really, I feel like I was, like I could hear you and I knew what you were doing, but, like, I also felt like I was sleeping.

Speaker 1:

So I was like kind of in the in between stage, um, but you know, and sometimes I do see colors, um, you know, and sometimes I feel the heat, and other times I don't. Um, you know, but I still always leave feeling, you know, refreshed and like, okay, like I've released something, you know, and like we discussed this last time, like I left feeling so motivated and so creative and, you know, because you had unblocked that, like chakra, and it's almost like all the pieces of the puzzle that I had been trying to put together finally came together in my brain, instead of just being like scattered all over the place. Yeah, oh, okay, you know, so like for me it's super, super beneficial. Um, I also this and I wanted to ask you this um, I've noticed too that I feel more emotions from people now, like if I'm around someone and they're feeling really sad, whether they've said it or not.

Speaker 1:

like I feel it, You're picking up on it yeah, yeah. Is it because I am now like clearing stuff that I? I mean, I've always been an empathetic person, Like you can ask my kids and my, my husband, I they laugh at me all the time because we can be watching America's Got Talent and when those people win or they get the golden buzzer, I am sobbing like a baby, as if I just won that award but it's because I just am like, oh my gosh, I'm so proud of them.

Speaker 1:

I don't know them, but they just reached their goal and you know. So, like they're my family's, always like what is wrong with you? But so I've always been empathetic, like that. Or if someone tells me something, I can always put myself in their shoes to a degree, obviously to be able to understand how they're feeling. But through going through Reiki, can that help me to be more?

Speaker 2:

empath. Oh yeah, yes, you're definitely more in tune and, yes, and you're definitely an empathic person and we talked about that from really the get-go. And so, yes, if you're empathic, you can definitely feel other people's emotions, and sometimes we unwittingly absorb that. So that's also why it's good to have some energetic practices so that you can release some of that.

Speaker 2:

But yes, for sure, because also, you know, besides you coming to Reiki, I know you're doing a ton of self-healing work as well and anytime you're working through right some of your old patterns, old traumas, all of that and you're really beginning to listen to yourself. More than, yes, your intuition is kicking in, you know, you're listening to your inner guide, you are picking up on other people, because that's also um, considered like part of the sixth chakra, third eye. So, as that is open and flowing, yes, you're definitely being able to pick up from other people more readily. And you also mentioned seeing color. Yeah, that's also a form of clairvoyance so that you might find that strengthens to even where you could see, like aura around people, color around people. So don't be surprised if that happens.

Speaker 2:

And, yes, around people. So don't be surprised if that happens. And yes, so, in a long-winded answer, yes, reiki can definitely help you to be more in tune. And, as a practitioner, it's the same too, because, as I've practiced, uh, my intuition has opened up so much more, my um, you know, connection with my angels and guides and being able to channel messages for my clients. That's also increased, you know, through Reiki. So, absolutely, Absolutely yeah.

Speaker 1:

So because this is such a hard thing to like really put into words, you know, until someone like really like tries it or whatever, how in the world did you get connected to it? Then I know you touched on it a little bit in the episode we recorded previously where you were sharing, you know, your the divorce story that you had with your parents, like the divorce they went through and all of that and how it kind of led you. But I'd love for you to you know just kind of like how in the world did you like get into this and you know and realize, yep, this is what I need to do?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, oh, thank you, you're so sweet. Well, like you, I had no idea what the heck Reiki was. But I was going through a time in my life where, um, I was dealing with a lot, or maybe I should say I wasn't dealing with a lot, I was just really kind of stuffing things down so that I could keep moving forward. I had kids you know, two kids, busy mom, working mom, all the things and I was really just having a hard time with a lot of grief. I was dealing with a lot of anxiety and depression and I was having panic attacks.

Speaker 2:

Um, at times I was medicated for both issues, but my body just does not do well on medication. So I was like, okay, I need to figure something else out. So I was really trying a lot of different modalities and I had gone back to taking yoga and one of my dear friends was my yoga instructor and she and I were just talking about some of my issues that I was having and she was like, you know, you need to try Reiki and I've got this practitioner, you need to just go make an appointment. And I'm like, well, I don't know what that is, but okay, I'm just like open for anything. So I'm like, okay, well, I'm going to go.

Speaker 2:

And yeah she's like I think it's just really going to help you and help you feel better. I'm like okay, I'm down. So I went to my first session and actually during my first couple sessions I shared this with you that you know. I had no understanding what it was. I walked in, I thought I was feeling great and having a pretty decent day and I got onto the Reiki massage table and we started our session and I just ugly cried like couldn't stop just sobbed like intense and I'm not a pretty crier where it just drops down the side of my face.

Speaker 2:

No, it was like, oh my gosh, just it was really, really intense. And so I asked the practitioner is this what Reiki is? Because, like, okay, I felt better afterwards but this is a lot, like it was a lot, and she just said to me, I mean, it'll always stick with me. She's like, and she just said to me, I mean it'll always stick with me. She's like, no, you've just got so much that you have not allowed to come out, that it needs to come out. It's releasing now, it's coming out of your energy field and out of your body, which is what we want it to do, right, we release trauma and negative emotion through our tears, and so she's like you've got to just allow this, like just be open to it and allow it, and I promise it'll stop.

Speaker 2:

And I'm like, okay, so, and she was right, obviously, and I have to say, you know, being someone who has obviously dealt with anxiety, depression, like a ton of grief, um, just really traumatic experiences growing up, and um, reiki really catapulted me in my healing journey, even more so than I was really having with my success from therapy right, talk therapy, talk therapy was supportive and all those things. But as far as actually like feeling better and really feeling like I was making strides in my healing Right. So, um, you know, instead of yelling at my children if they did something crazy, then I would just like, oh, okay, take a pause and then address it Right. So I just really noticed like, oh my gosh, like I feel like a new person.

Speaker 2:

I felt so much better, so much lighter, just so much more of what I would call myself before. A lot of life happened to me. And so again, like I didn't walk through that door for that Reiki session, thinking I'm going to get trained in Reiki and then I'm going to be a practitioner Um, but again one of my friend, my friend, my friend that suggested was like, hey, she's doing a Reiki training. Like why don't you take it with me? I think this would be great for you too. I'm like, okay, okay, all right, yeah, so again, there's three levels of Reiki. I did Reiki one. I'm like, okay, I'm going to do Reiki two, and then Reiki three is the master level training, so that you also then are able to teach others, which is what I'm doing now.

Speaker 2:

So, okay, um, yeah, so I just through that whole process I was like I really need to be able to do this to really help other women especially and you know this is kind of my calling Like I feel like I'm meant to do this and I had such a profound healing myself that I wanted everybody to have it. So now my thing is like everybody needs Reiki in your life, whether you're just receiving it, whether you get trained in Reiki ones so you can give yourself Reiki and give others Reiki, or whether you want to be a practitioner, like it's just again, just such a soothing, gentle, easy modality and something that you can just do in a few minutes that has such good benefits, right, and just makes you feel so much better, and that's what I'm about. I just want to help women especially feel better. Yeah, and we need it, we do, we do.

Speaker 1:

We all need it. We all need it and we all need to be gentler and kinder to ourself. And I think that you know, I think that's a good thing about Reiki is that you know it is, you know it's gentle, it's, you know.

Speaker 1:

But you are like releasing some stuff and you know, you're able to feel those things, but you, you know, you enter. You know, especially if someone's working with you, they enter in a judgment-free zone, like it doesn't matter what we. You know, I've shared lots of crazy stuff with you and you've never once judged me or said like you need to go.

Speaker 2:

You know, yeah, and I always say that because when you're in my Reiki space like that is your safe space, right, and whatever comes up is for you to release process and release right, and the tears, too, right. I talk to clients, my new clients especially about like it's okay and we want that to happen, because when we're crying, that's again our way to release negative emotion, trauma from the body, because if it stays stuck inside, that's when we can have physical problems, we can have emotional issues. But you know, the first thing that women typically say when we start crying if somebody else is around us is oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, oh, I'm sorry. And I really have tried to share with my clients like please stop saying I'm sorry Because this is a really healthy good thing. Please stop saying I'm sorry because this is a really healthy good thing.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, but we've programmed it in to be like, oh, I shouldn't, like it's kind of shameful for me to cry, like I shouldn't do that. No, it's a really healthy response and it's again like you feel better, right, it's cathartic, yes, so we want that to come out. So it's all about releasing all that negative energy. Basically, that is like weighing you down. So think of like heavier, denser energy, releasing that away from you. So that's why a lot of clients will say afterwards like oh my gosh, I feel so much lighter.

Speaker 2:

I feel, you know, because you technically are, you know your vibration is higher. So yeah, it's super cool. I love it so much.

Speaker 1:

I love it. I love it and I love that you you know we're so open to trying it because it is a hundred percent. Your calling Like this is what you were supposed to be doing so. I love that you like remained open, went down that path and you know, even though you didn't know anything about it.

Speaker 2:

we're like okay, yeah, let's try it. You know, that's the way our paths unfold, for us sometimes Right, yeah, and I feel like a lot of times the things that we've had struggles with in our life or the things that we have healed from them become like our superpower right, or become our path and our purpose. And so I had a lot of trauma growing up and, you know, in my early adulthood, and it took me a long time to get around that right, to get through that, to go further on my healing journey and actually feel good. So I want to shorten that timeframe for people to not take as long as I did, but to give them this resource which is so easy and so accessible. Yeah, like I said, everybody, everybody needs Reiki is so easy and so accessible.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Like I said, everybody needs Reiki. Yeah, I totally agree.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, now, currently your Reiki studio I guess, for lack of a better word is in Bohendi, which is the cutest, cutest little store. It's amazing In Upper Arlington. I literally want to go in there and just say take all my money because I want everything there. Um, but I absolutely love it. So if someone was wanting to, um, you know, come try out your services or whatever, are there different times that you offer? And, um, you know, obviously we'll put in the show notes how they can get a hold of you and book something. But is there a way that you prefer? Is it text email going to your website setting it up?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, they can go directly to my website and I'll say this about Reiki as well Obviously, if you're local here to the Columbus area in person is amazing, but you can also do what we call remote Reiki or distance healing, so you don't have to be with me to also have the benefits of Reiki. So I have clients all throughout the country and actually like in Mexico and in Paris, so we're able to send Reiki.

Speaker 2:

So just like yeah, so just like you turn it into a radio, right, it's frequency, it's energy, um, same thing. Like I can send remotely um to clients. So you can work with me either way, either in person or remote. But yes, if you go to my website, which is my name, christine with a C H, christine Pinkertoncom, I have online scheduling, but you're always welcome to reach out to me too If you have questions or, you know, if you're just curious and want to learn more. But I offer all kinds of times morning, afternoon, evening, just depending on the day and sessions. You can do 30 minutes, you can do 60 minutes, and then I do different events around town too where I do little mini sessions. So even if you receive five, ten minutes of Reiki, it's really profound. So if you want to just have a little sampling, you can find out about my events that way too. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

I love it I love it.

Speaker 1:

Well, thank you so much. Again, I know how busy you are, so I really really appreciate you taking time out to come and, you know, just really give an idea to everyone listening what Reiki is so that they can, you know, make an informed decision for themselves whether it's something that they need to add into their, their health journey or not. I hope that, you know, everyone will at least keep an open mind and try it at least once or twice, just so that you can kind of feel it. But again, I know it's not for everyone.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely so, yes, thank you for allowing me to share the Reiki love, and that's the thing I always say. You know, the beauty of Reiki is that you don't have to do anything, you're just being open to receive. So, you know, try the things that you feel you're called to, and so if you're now interested in like ooh, reiki, right, like, then that's something that's meant for you. So listen to that inner voice and that inner guidance and it's going to take you where you need to go.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I totally agree. Yeah, I love it. Well, like I said, I will have all that information in the show notes. So, um, if you're looking to, um, you know, get in touch with Chris and book a session or even just learn a little bit more you know about Reiki, you know she's always open to explaining that, or you can go to her website and you know all of that stuff. So, but, thank you so much and thanks for listening and we'll see you next time on Thrive and Decide.