Woman meditating by the water with the 7 chakras lit up along her body
January 26, 2025

Feel Empowered with Reiki and Self-Awareness


First off, I LOVE that you want to feel empowered in your life. You're already on the right track, my friend!

Many of us spend way too much time focusing on what we don't want. We don't want to feel powerless, stuck, or be struggling. And I get it, neither do I! The problem is, that when we obsess over that stuff, we're basically inviting more of it into our lives.

Without a focus on what we want to move towards, our bodies can't take us there. They can't take us where our mind won't go.

I recently experienced this in my own life. I've always been hyper-aware for various reasons, partly due to my past. When something happens, my mind goes into overdrive, trying to figure everything out. I understand why I do this, but it continues to come up. I remind myself that I'm safe now, that this behavior was beneficial in the past but not anymore, and then reorient to my inner truth and wholeness.

But here's what I realized: I kept telling that part of me that I didn’t need it anymore without giving it a new direction. It kept showing up the same way because it didn't know what else to do. Can you think of a place where you might be doing something similar in your life?

The point is, you've already done half the work by just wanting to feel empowered. You know what you want to move towards, and that's amazing!

Now, if you're reading this, chances are you're not feeling fully empowered right now. And that's okay. It means there's something blocking your path, and we're going to find out what it is.

If you want to feel empowered in your life, it all starts with self-awareness. And I've got an amazing tool to help you with that— Reiki. This energy healing practice is a practical way to tune into yourself and spot what's holding you back.

The truth is, you can have anything you want in this life when you know who you are and what you want. But you can't change what you're not aware of. So, let's get you aware, shall we?

In this post, I’m going to dive into how self-awareness is your secret weapon for feeling empowered. I'll give you some tools to boost your self-awareness game, and we'll explore how Reiki can supercharge your journey to empowerment.

Ready to take back your power and create the life you actually want? Let's do this!

Feel Empowered: The Power of Self-Awareness

Woman in the forest feeling empowered

Let’s start off by recognizing the power of self-awareness. It’s your secret weapon for feeling empowered and making positive changes in your life. It's the key to seeing what's holding you back and taking control.

Understanding Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is knowing your thoughts, feelings, and actions inside and out. It's like a mirror for your inner self, helping you spot patterns you've never noticed before. It's about recognizing everything that makes you, YOU - your values, passions, goals, strengths, weaknesses, all of it. It's about tuning into your feelings and ideas, seeing how others perceive you, and most importantly, how you see yourself.

Self-Awareness: The First Step to Empowerment

Ever heard the saying, "We're all doing the best we can with the information we have"? I 100% believe this to be true, but it’s also more than that. It's not just information - it's awareness. We're all doing the best we can with the amount of self-awareness we have. The more aware you are, the “better” you will do in life. You'll feel freer, lighter, and more in control.

I've seen this truth reflected in my own life and in my work with criminal justice and mental health. People who've struggled with violence or addiction (myself included) aren't choosing these behaviors. They’re doing the best they can, they just don't know a different way yet.

When you're self-aware, you're in the driver's seat of your life. You can:

Increased self-awareness connects you with your inner wholeness, allowing you to:

  • Feel lighter by ditching emotional baggage
  • Boost your energy and clear your mind
  • Make decisions aligned with your true self
  • Build resilience against negativity
  • Create healthier relationships
  • Increase confidence
  • Find inner peace
  • Speed up your healing process
  • Enjoy a more balanced and fulfilling existence

The possibilities are endless. You can improve virtually any aspect of your life with greater self-awareness - relationships, decision-making, creativity, you name it.

Remember, self-awareness is a skill. The more you practice, the stronger it gets. And as it grows, so does your power to shape your life.

Why We Feel Disempowered

silhouette walking in front of sunset-feeling exhausted

Many of us are walking around like zombies, completely oblivious to our own lack of self-awareness. We're constantly triggered, reacting to life, and we don't even know it. Sure, we think we're aware - we know when we're mad or feeling sad - but do we really know why? Mostly, no.

We're quick to point fingers at our circumstances, but it’s not about the circumstances. It's about us, and how we perceive and react to them.

The Baggage We Carry

Life has a way of piling 'baggage' on us. This emotional clutter clouds our true selves and weighs us down. We lose touch with our inner light, struggling to connect, make changes, or find our way. This burden keeps our vibrational frequency low, making it challenging to live authentically or feel empowered.

When we're not aware, small issues snowball into massive blockages. It's like ignoring a small leak until your whole house is flooded. By staying mindful of how we interact with and move through the world, we can stay balanced and in control. Ignore the warning signs, and you're in for a world of hurt down the road.

Breaking Free: Embracing Conscious Living

I spent a big chunk of my life hiding myself. As a kid, I felt like every time I showed up, someone was there to tell me I was wrong. Instead of trusting myself, I let the outside world convince me that I had to build walls to protect myself. But from what? From people having their own beliefs and taking responsibility for their own discomforts? That's none of my business.

Realizing this - having this awareness of what I was doing and choosing to trust myself - allowed me to tear down those walls and break free.

So, let me ask you:

  • What could self-awareness do for you?
  • Where are you holding yourself back in life?
  • Where don't you feel free?

Self-awareness is your get-out-of-jail-free card. It lets you see choices where you thought you were trapped, possibilities where you saw dead ends. It's the light at the end of the tunnel, the key to the escape room you didn't even know you were in.

If you're not living your best life, if you don't feel the way you want or have what you want, the best advice I can give you is that it starts with self-awareness. Be aware of where you're responding to life from fear or old habits—when you're not aligned with your inner wholeness. Identify and remove those blockages, and release what's holding you back.

This conscious approach helps you elevate your energy, drop the baggage, and create lasting transformation.

Feel Empowered: The Reiki Catalyst

female in white tunic with hands apart at chest level with a bright shining white orb light between

Alright, let's talk about Reiki - the other secret weapon in your self-awareness arsenal. This powerful energy healing practice accelerates your journey by increasing your vibrational frequency and guiding you back to your true self. It's like hitting the turbo button on your path to self-awareness and unlocking your inner strength.

The Basics of Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese technique that promotes healing and relaxation by channeling energy through the practitioner's hands. It's based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us. When this energy is low, we're more likely to feel stressed or sick. When it's high, we feel happy and healthy.

Anyone can learn Reiki through an "attunement" process from a Reiki Master. Once attuned, you can practice on yourself or others anytime, anywhere.

How Reiki Fosters Self-Awareness

Most people come to Reiki for physical or emotional support. Few come to it saying “Hey, I want to boost my self-awareness.” But you guys! Self awareness is exactly what gives you the power to heal your own body and get your emotions in check.

I initially sought Reiki for relaxation and anxiety relief. What I got was an unexpected pathway to self-discovery and empowerment. It became my gateway to finding my authentic self.

Think of self-awareness as that all-in-one power tool that just makes everything easier. Start with that, and watch every area of your life start to improve.

Here's how Reiki works its magic on your self-awareness:

  1. Energy Flow and Clearing Blockages: As Reiki energy flows through you, it clears out what's blocking your true self. You reconnect with who you truly are, realizing it was there all along, just covered.
  2. Parasympathetic Nervous System Activation: Reiki puts your body in "rest and digest" mode. In this relaxed state, your awareness naturally increases, and you can carry this wisdom into everyday life.
  3. Surfacing Subconscious Stuff: Reiki brings hidden issues to the surface for release. It can confront you with your wounds, but with awareness, you can observe rather than be consumed by them. You'll notice emotional patterns, triggers, and reactions - a golden opportunity for growth.
  4. Sensations as Clues: During a Reiki session, you might feel physical sensation such as tingling, buzzing, energy flowing, temperature changes, or tension melting away. You might also experience thoughts, emotions, colors, images, or more. Each sensation is a clue leading to greater self-understanding.
  5. Chakra Insights: Regular sessions reveal which chakras are commonly blocked. For example, if your throat chakra's always acting up, you might be afraid to speak your truth. This awareness shows you where to focus your efforts.
  6. Prioritizing Self-Care: By dedicating time to Reiki, you're telling yourself, "Hey, I matter." This alone attunes you to your inner needs and values, boosting your confidence and ability to make decisions that align with your authentic self.

Remember, everything you experience during a session is part of your journey to increased self-awareness. You're the detective of your own life, and with that awareness, you've got the power to transform every aspect of it.

The Power of Regular Reiki Practice

With regular Reiki practice, you'll feel more empowered. You'll recognize and release negative patterns, make better choices, and feel more confident in creating positive changes.

Plus, when you learn Reiki, you have a concrete action to help yourself and others, moving beyond passive worry or hope to active empowerment.

Remember, developing self-awareness is a journey. Reiki can be a powerful catalyst along the way.

If you're interested in a one-on-one distance session with me, visit my booking page here.

Self-Reiki Exercise for Greater Awareness

self-Reiki: Woman with one hand placed on her head and one on her throat

For those who've completed at least Reiki Level 1 training, here's a heart-centered exercise to cultivating deeper self-awareness through Reiki. This practice is a beautiful way to connect with your inner self and elevate your awareness.

Preparing Your Space and Mind

Find a quiet spot where you won't be disturbed. Dim the lights and play soft music if it helps you relax. Sit or lie down comfortably. Take a few deep, nurturing breaths as you settle in.

Set an intention for your session, making it known that you're there to get more in touch with yourself. Perhaps you want increased awareness around a specific challenge or clarity on a particular issue. Hold this intention in your heart as you begin.

Gently clear your mind of worries, opening yourself to the healing energy of Reiki. Bring compassion to yourself as you center and ground.

Focus on your breath, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. As you breathe into your lower belly, you're connecting with your vagus nerve, helping you stay present and grounded. Visualize yourself surrounded by a warm, healing light.

The Self-Reiki Process

Start with your head, placing your hands gently on your forehead. Feel the warmth and energy flowing through you. Slowly move to the sides of your head, then to the back.

As you work your way down your body, listen to your intuition. Spend extra time on areas that call for attention. Use Reiki symbols if you know them.

Pay attention to any thoughts, feelings, or sensations that arise — knowing that anything that’s coming up is coming up to be released.

End at your feet, taking a moment to feel grounded and connected to the earth. Slowly open your eyes, noticing how you feel different now.

Alternatively, you can ask yourself where Reiki is most needed and just place your hands there instead of going through the whole body. Trust your intuition to guide you.

After your practice, express gratitude to yourself and the Reiki energy for helping with this journey of self-discovery. Thank yourself for showing up and doing this healing work.

Try to make self-Reiki a daily practice. Even 10 minutes can create profound shifts. I usually do it right before bed when I'm already lying down. Sometimes I'll fall asleep and receive insights in my dreams, which is pretty cool.

Remember, the more you practice, the more you'll see results. It's up to you to decide how much of a priority this is in your life. Greater awareness will bring you countless benefits and actually save you time in the long run. You'll spend less time in spaces that don't serve you and more time moving forward in life with purpose and clarity.

This practice is a gift you give yourself. It's a way to nurture your spirit, honor your journey, and unlock the wisdom that already exists within you. Embrace it with an open heart, and watch as your self-awareness deepens.

Empowering Tools for Self-Discovery: Beyond Reiki

Image portraying freedom concept and being trapped in a cage by the mind

While Reiki is a fantastic catalyst for self-awareness, it's not the only path to self-empowerment. Let's explore some other powerful tools you can use alongside or independently of Reiki to supercharge your journey.

Mindfulness Practices

Mindfulness and meditation help you tune into the present moment, boosting self-awareness by letting you observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment.

Try this simple exercise:

  1. Find a comfortable spot and close your eyes
  2. Focus on your breath
  3. Notice any thoughts or feelings that arise
  4. Gently bring your focus back to your breath

Practice for 5-10 minutes daily to start noticing patterns in your thinking and reactions.

Journaling for Self-Reflection

Writing helps process thoughts and feelings, making it a powerful tool for self-discovery.

Try these journaling prompts:

  • What made you feel strong today?
  • What are you grateful for?
  • What's challenging you right now?
  • What do you need more of in your life?

Write whenever you feel called to, without worrying about perfection. Just let your thoughts flow.

Spiritual Exploration: Your Cosmic GPS

Ready to go even deeper? Explore tools like Human Design, astrology, or numerology. For a long time, I never gave much weight to this type of thing. But when I finally opened myself up to these practices, they blew my mind. They revealed a whole new level of support and guidance I never knew existed. The same goes for oracle or tarot cards.

These tools did more than just affirm what I already knew about myself. They gave me the confidence to stop second-guessing and start trusting my inner truth. They strengthened my core beliefs, cleared out the noise that didn't align, and provided clarity and direction in my life. Plus, they uncovered strengths I hadn't even recognized in myself.

Also, don't underestimate the power of a pendulum - it's great for validating your gut feelings or deeper exploration into any insights that come up.

If you're curious, check out this article about how to use a pendulum. Ready to try it yourself? Here's a great option to get you started.

And if you're into personality tests, they can offer fresh perspectives on your quirks and strengths, helping you understand yourself in new ways.

The key to all these practices is openness. Our beliefs can sometimes block us without us even realizing it. So be open to concepts like past lives, ancestral trauma, and karma. If you feel resistance, look into that. Approach it all with a beginner's mind, and you might be surprised at what you discover about yourself.

Putting It All Together: Your Self-Awareness Toolkit

When negative patterns pop up (and they will), use this three-step process:

  1. Catch yourself in the act: Notice when you're being hard on yourself.
  2. Challenge your thoughts: Ask if they're really true or just old habits.
  3. Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself like you would a friend.

Remember, these tools are here to support your journey, not define it. Use what resonates with you and leave the rest. The goal is to deepen your self-awareness and empower you to create the life you truly want.

Creating the Life You Desire

empowering quote “the best way to predict the future is to create it”

The opportunity to feel empowered is really at your fingertips—you have the power to shape your reality. With greater awareness comes clearer vision for what you want in life. Now it's time to align your mind, body, and actions with that vision. Let's explore how to make the life you're after your reality.

Crafting Your Vision with Crystal-Clear Intentions

What is it you really want? Get specific. Write it down. Make a vision board if you’re into that. The clearer your goals, the easier they are to achieve.

Try this: Close your eyes and picture your ideal life. What do you see? How do you feel?

Now open your eyes and jot down 3-5 key aspects. These are your intentions. Put them somewhere you'll see daily, like your bathroom mirror or your phone's wallpaper.

Remember, it's okay if your intentions change over time. Life is a journey, not a destination. The important thing is to stay connected to what truly lights you up.

Taking Action: The Empowered Way

Intentions are great, but action is where the magic happens. Start small. Pick one intention and do something today to move towards it.

You can also try this Reiki self-treatment to boost your energy around it:

  1. Place your hands on your heart
  2. Take three deep breaths
  3. Visualize your goal
  4. If attuned to it, draw the power symbol
  5. Hold for 3-5 minutes, soaking in the energy

Repeat this as often as you need. The more action you take, the more empowered you'll feel.

Sustaining Empowerment Day by Day

Keeping your newfound empowerment alive takes effort. You've got to work at it every single day, but that doesn't mean it has to feel hard.

When our mind hears we have to "work" on something, there's often a feeling of dread that comes with it. Work is the last thing our brains want to do because it contradicts its nature to preserve energy whenever possible.

With that in mind, here are some simple ways to keep that empowered feeling going strong.

Daily Routines for Lifelong Empowerment

  1. Start your day with intention: No need for a complex hour-long morning routine - just take 5 deep breaths when you wake up and set your intention for the day. This small act can make a huge difference.
  2. Move your body: Even a quick 10-minute dance party or some jumping jacks can boost your mood and energy. Find what feels good for you.
  3. Make time for self-care: Really soak it in, acknowledge what you’re doing, and allow yourself to experience it fully. Don’t just check it off your to-do list.
  4. End your day with gratitude: Identify 3 things about the day that you were grateful for. This simple practice can shift your focus to the positive, raise your vibrational level, and keep you aligned with that empowered state of mind.

If you're feeling stuck, try this quick Reiki self-treatment: Place your hands on your heart, breathe deeply, and visualize energy flowing through you. Use the power symbol if you know it, and ask yourself what you need to feel more empowered.

Celebrating Small Wins

Notice and celebrate your daily accomplishments, no matter how small they seem. This is another thing I never gave much credit to. But it’s not just some silly little practice we do to feel good about ourselves; it’s sometimes necessary for our growth. If we don't acknowledge our progress, we might keep circling back to old issues that we've already solved.

Again, our brains are wired to conserve energy, so they don't naturally want to look for signs of growth. They've already created certain pathways, and acknowledging growth might mean creating new ones, which takes energy.

We need to remind our brains that once these new pathways are created, it will have been worth the extra energy. So acknowledge and celebrate your progress, and continue to take steps forward instead of getting stuck in old patterns or failing to recognize that things are actually changing.

Make it a habit to look back regularly and notice how you've grown. Keep a "win jar" - write down your successes and add them to the jar. When you're feeling down, pull one out and remind yourself how far you've come.

You've now got a toolbox full of empowering practices to create the life you desire. Remember, this journey is uniquely yours. Embrace it, celebrate your progress, and keep pushing forward. You're so much more powerful than you know.

Kelsey Jean

About the author

Kelsey Jean is the founder of closertowhole.com, a blog dedicated to helping others reconnect with their inner truth and live a more meaningful life. As a Reiki Master and Certified Health Coach, Kelsey is passionate about helping people move from feeling stuck, lost, and worried into a deep sense of inner peace. Her mission is to empower others to realize they are already whole, already perfect, and to provide practical tools and actionable tips to help them unlock their full potential.

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