Making Reiki a full time job

Editor's note: If you practice Reiki professionally, full time, you're among the rare few. If your professional practice hasn't reached that point yet, Reiki Master Teacher and holistic business coach Jenn Givler of createathrivingbusiness.com has some ideas about how to achieve that goal. This article is excerpted from her newsletter, Mindful Marketing.

By Jenn Givler

I see it all the time. Healers who are carrying a full-time job along with their healing practice. The healing practice doesn't bring in enough financially to support the needs of the practitioner, so the full time gig is necessary.

I've had healers tell me that they can't let go of the full-time job for a variety of reasons.
Some tell me they don't feel right charging for their service. That it's a gift and they are here to share it.

Some tell me that they've tried to get the practice up to full time income, but anything they've tried hasn't worked.

Still others tell me that they feel that when the time is right, the practice will just take off, and clients will find them.

Your practice can make full time income

Now, I'm not going to tell you to do something very radical or irresponsible and quit your full-time job right now.

But I am going to tell you that your practice can — and absolutely should — make full time income if that's what you want to do.

You've got this amazing gift to share, and share you should. And you should be supported for sharing it — including financial support.

Money is energy. It's the energetic exchange that we use to buy something of value. Your practice is valuable to those you serve.

And in order for you to be secure, and keep doing the amazing work you're doing, money should be part of the equation.

What has to happen to create full time income

1. Realize you are in business. I know, we hate to think of ourselves as "business people." But in order to create a full time income that can support you, you will have to take on the mind-set of a business person.

And there is a way to balance that. You don't have to be Donald Trump. But you do have to learn the pragmatic pieces of running a business. Those include business planning, marketing, bookkeeping, and strategy.

2. Focus on what you want and pour your energy in that direction. Focus is essential to creating a thriving practice. You need to decide what you want your practice to look like, who you want to work with, and what you want to accomplish and then spend your time doing things that support that vision.

Once you've created your vision, take some time to discover which activities take you in the direction of your vision, and which activities take you away from, or scatter your focus.
Fill your schedule with those activities that take you toward your vision — and let go of the rest. And this is not an easy process. But if you want to achieve your vision, it's necessary.

3. Learn how to promote yourself. There is a right way, and a wrong way to promote yourself.

Being aggressive or manipulative — not the right way!
Being in service to those that need you — right way!

In order for your practice to thrive, you absolutely must engage in active marketing activities. All the hope and wishing in the world won't bring you clients. You definitely must take charge and drive the train on your promotional efforts.

However — that does not mean you have to be overbearing and sell to everyone you meet (whew!). But you do need to choose some marketing activities that get you out into the community of people you want to serve.

4. Get help. Bottom line, we can't do it alone. Nor are we meant to. If we were meant to get it right all by ourselves, we would be born, be isolated, do our thing, and then go back to source.
We are human. We need other humans to help us and support us in our journey.

I have no doubt that you are really, really good at what you do. I know you're an expert — I am too Smile But none of us should try to go it alone.

We all need support and guidance. I work with a coach, and I also have a great Master Mind Group. I love having that support. Because sometimes, I need to be vulnerable too. Sometimes I get hurt, or angry, or frustrated — and I can't see the solution to my own situation. It helps to have outside perspective and motivation.

You can create full time, supportive income from your healing practice. You need to be supported in the work you're doing and part of that support can and should be monetary. You may have to shift your thought processes, and step into being a business person for a bit each day, but it'll be one of the best shifts you can make

Milarepa wrote:Really good point bout hairdressers, etc!

He wanted to use these abilities to help others, he spent the next seven years in the beggars section of Tokyo healing the poor and sick people there, sending them to a priest to assist finding them employment, and elevating them out of poverty. After the seven years he noticed familiar faces, those of people whom he'd healed long ago who were back again. Asking them, they complained that life outside beggartown was too hard and that it was much simpler to beg for a living. They had thrown away the gift of health, as if it had no value, to return to the supposed comfort of the life they knew.

This threw Usui into a quandary and he returned to the monastery. From this he realized he hadn't taught gratitude along with the healing. That he'd focused on the physical ailments without dealing with the spiritual matters. The people did not understand the value of the gift he gave them.

Dr. Usui returned to the Monastery for further reflection and planning. After some time in the monastery he developed precepts. In this new plan he traveled around the countryside from village to village. In each one he stood in a public place during the day holding aloft a lit torch. When people told him he didn't need a torch in daylight, he answered was he was looking for the few who are interested in improving themselves. In this way he traveled around teaching and healing, working both with the spiritual healing as well as physical healing.

Milarepa wrote:what way do you feel now? for myself, the issue of giving Reiki & training for free has been real. There's been a decidedly lack of interest & respect to the path, imo, for distant students i tried to help. Some folks i gave freely distant stuff i'd to pay for with Taggart King (i got his permission), and they wouldn't even do the course!

chi_solas wrote:
We have to begin to see ourselves as professionals.
We need to show confidence in the area of facilitaing
healing.

Hospitals are picking up on Reiki as a healing tool. IMO
it will become dominated by hospitals with restrictions
on who can and can't become Reiki practitioners

midwayislander wrote:I'm still ery new to all of this but please bear with me.
I worked as a hairdresser for several years before I went back into the medical field as my late husband's office manager/assistant. When I was in hairdressng, nobody ever questioned my prices. Working in my husband's office (he was a family practice MD), I had people try every single day to get me to give them lower prices. My pat answer was "We're not trying to be the cheapest physician's office nor are we trying to be the most expensive. We are, however, trying to be the best and we deserve to be respected and paid what's fair."
I've been going to school now to become a holistic health practitoner. While working at the school massage center, I was asked (me! At the age of 59!!) to give a happy ending and was also asked if I could lower my fee. My answer to both questions was "no".
I personally am planning to open a full-time Reiki service. I'm licensed and have my DBA. I have everything in place except the clients. They will come. I know they will. I believe with all my heart that I can do well offering Reiki. I know I will be able to make a decent living doing this. I may not make a fortune but I will be able to pay my bills and still be able to take regular vacations and live the kind of life I want. And when I'm asked to lower my fees, I'm going to give the same answer I gave in my husband's office.
This is not to say that I won't do charity cases! I already do that by volunteering for a local hospice center. I love to do that. But this is a business and I am a professional business woman. I expect to succeed and I expect to be respected.
With the ecconomic situation the way it is, I may have to work a little harder and struggle a little longer, but I will make Reiki my full-time job and my full-time love.

Milarepa wrote:You're living in spain now? what's the tourists trade like where you live? You could advertise aimed at the UK tourist trade. Instead of local adverts, get into contact with UK Yoga magazines, spiritual magazines, etc. Perhaps kinda team up with a local guesthouse where you are, and incorporate a spiriutually orientaed holiday on those lovely warm beaches. Advertise that in Uk?

I remember when i was hitch-hiking through europe bout 14 years ago. Eating some freshly baked bread, washing it down with a bottle of water, sitting on my sleeping bag on the beach, watching the sun come up with the mediteranean lapping at my feet at 6 am, fantastic! Heck, i'm coming over myself! Cya soon!

Warmest wishes
Wayne

Dharma wrote:
Haha yes im in Spain San Javier right on the edge of a beautiful salt water lagoon..."Mar Menor" little sea...my friend that is a good idea...im in the process of....getting my website finished its only taking ...forever...and then will try and syndicate my present column for small fee or advertising in the publication...so im hoping that will increase the flow...but yes getting in touch with guesthouses etc is a good idea...we have been thinking of running Spiritual holidays here ourselves..maybe in a year or two.. we have wonderful natural muds here on the edge of the lagoon, beautiful beaches mountains crystal mines and caves..and your welcome anytime!

Colin wrote:

Dharma wrote:
Haha yes im in Spain San Javier right on the edge of a beautiful salt water lagoon..."Mar Menor" little sea...my friend that is a good idea...im in the process of....getting my website finished its only taking ...forever...and then will try and syndicate my present column for small fee or advertising in the publication...so im hoping that will increase the flow...but yes getting in touch with guesthouses etc is a good idea...we have been thinking of running Spiritual holidays here ourselves..maybe in a year or two.. we have wonderful natural muds here on the edge of the lagoon, beautiful beaches mountains crystal mines and caves..and your welcome anytime!

Sounds idyllic!

Who's up for a Reiki Learning Lounge Retreat?

chi_solas wrote:

Colin wrote:

Dharma wrote:
Haha yes im in Spain San Javier right on the edge of a beautiful salt water lagoon..."Mar Menor" little sea...my friend that is a good idea...im in the process of....getting my website finished its only taking ...forever...and then will try and syndicate my present column for small fee or advertising in the publication...so im hoping that will increase the flow...but yes getting in touch with guesthouses etc is a good idea...we have been thinking of running Spiritual holidays here ourselves..maybe in a year or two.. we have wonderful natural muds here on the edge of the lagoon, beautiful beaches mountains crystal mines and caves..and your welcome anytime!

Sounds idyllic!

Who's up for a Reiki Learning Lounge Retreat?

Will there be music there!

midwayislander wrote:Gee, Can a kid from California get in on this retreat in Spain????
I'm not real savvy with business set-up and all but, I do agree that we should refer to our services as "sessions" rather than treatments and "clients" rather than patients or customers. And, yes, we need to be able to explain what we do without stumbing and searching for words (I'm still practicing that!). At the present time, I'm working strictly on out-call and have a home-office. This is mainly because I don't think I can afford a true office/clinic at this time. But I do have dreams of how my office would be set up if I ever do get to that point!
Did anyone here just make the leap of faith and immediately rent/lease/buy their office space?

Dharma wrote:

midwayislander wrote:Gee, Can a kid from California get in on this retreat in Spain????
I'm not real savvy with business set-up and all but, I do agree that we should refer to our services as "sessions" rather than treatments and "clients" rather than patients or customers. And, yes, we need to be able to explain what we do without stumbing and searching for words (I'm still practicing that!). At the present time, I'm working strictly on out-call and have a home-office. This is mainly because I don't think I can afford a true office/clinic at this time. But I do have dreams of how my office would be set up if I ever do get to that point!
Did anyone here just make the leap of faith and immediately rent/lease/buy their office space?

My first space in Scotland was a lovely one room (with a toilet) shop, by day the owner used the shop she was a lovely and kind beauty and massage therapist and by night I would be their healing and reading....not ideal in terms of times, but it was a start and you have no idea the clients you can generate by being somewhere like that, look for shops that are already working well has a nice energy about it and then offer them terms for times the space is not being used...say 20% of what you make, that is extra funds to them and also thier space is offering more....you can do this in a couple of different places, all the time building clients, until you are sure the flow to you good and strong, to set up your own space! many blessings to you and good luck whatever way you follow