Okay, you know yourself right? You know what you need, what makes you feel good, what resets your system. And yet, you somehow do everything else but.

Endless hours on the phone or giving to others, but not a second of real nourishing care. If this sounds like you, know that you are not alone! In this episode, Kim Star and Geneva Robins cover why this resistance happens and share some gentle shame-free ways of giving yourself some space to recharge your batteries.

It seems strange, doesn’t it, that sometimes the biggest hurdle to self-care is not anything anyone else is saying to us, but that nagging voice in our head saying ‘never enough’. We can get locked into endless hours of care for others, but find it oh so difficult to care for ourselves.

Don’t get me wrong, caring for others is immensely rewarding and can even be a valuable form of recharge too. It is more about the balance between the two and the secret shame that we aren’t as worthy of care as others.

If this sounds familiar, one of the quickest ways out is to acknowledge how important you are to other people. The more people who depend on you, especially if it is for their survival, the more imperative it is that you care for yourself.

It is simply not optional.

You have to take good care of yourself, because what happens to them if you go down? Nothing good, that’s for sure.

For natural carers, taking care of yourself is another way of taking care of your people. That can be that little encouraging nudge to spend that slice of time truly restoring yourself.

Think of self-care as devotional service.

What I mean by that is often self-care seems like an onerous investment, a heavy and giant task on an already full plate. If your self-care seems like a heavy burden rather than a delight, try a new approach — make it tiny!

Instead of looking for hours, look for minutes. Do a small stretch, read one page, journal for 1 minute, take a second to ground, or look at a tree.

Then sprinkle those moments throughout your day. Of course having more time is really delightful and you absolutely need that too when you can. But often the time factor prevents us from starting. If we can start small and often, then more of these moments happen and more recharge occurs.

I find if I reduce what ‘counts’ as enough care to that absolute bare minimum then I’m way more likely to begin. I think the hardest part is always starting. So cheer for the tiny beginnings.

As Kim says, if it feels like tension it’s probably not Reiki. The same goes for self care. If you are rushed or pushing yourself, try a gentle approach.

Think about what you would do to nurture a small child or a beloved pet. You’d probably get outside in some fresh air, prepare nourishing food, and create space for cuddles, play and rest. Try that simple and loving approach for your own self.

If you need a reset for your self-care, try a Reiki Session. It is a phenomenal way to recharge and treat yourself to some supportive energy.

Schedule a session with our Jane app booking system.

You are beloved! You are worthy of nurturing, play, rest, and gentle care.

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We can meet you at your home for Reiki! In this podcast episode, Tania Brightman and Geneva Robins chat about the benefits of mobile Reiki sessions and the logistics of receiving Reiki at home, in a hospital, or in a hospice setting.

Mobile Reiki sessions are very similar to our in-person Reiki sessions at our centre in Calgary; the only difference is that we go to you. We chat for a bit about your health history and emotional well-being, and then set an intention for your session. You are fully clothed and just in a space where you can be as relaxed as you can. The Reiki session is usually gentle touch, but we can adapt to your needs and even do the entire session without touch at all. We leave the last 10 to 15 minutes of the 90-minute session to share experiences, a beautiful and grounding close to the session.

You can be sitting, reclined, lying down, or even moving from one position to another; the main thing is that you are comfortable. If you are in a busier setting like a hospital, we can adapt so the doctors and nurses can do their job, either pausing or returning later depending on the needs of the time. It's one of the amazing things about Reiki; all those noises and interruptions seem not to disturb the energy, and we just flow with it all.

Yes! Well, obviously, we think so, based on our years of working with people with Reiki. More and more research is being conducted that supports what we have seen with our own eyes.

One of the recent studies we mention in the podcast (Hanley et al., 2025) found that Reiki worked to reduce knee pain in osteoarthritis patients by over 30%. They also found that when people received a 'fake Reiki' session, or Feiki, they had little to no change in their pain. This means that Reiki has an effect beyond the placebo; it doesn't matter if people believe in it or not, it works! Also, people in the Reiki group continued to see improvements in their symptoms up to 2 months after the study ended. Very cool!

Pain reduction is something we see quite often in our clients, as well as improved mood, focus, and a deep sense of well-being. For some people, it helps with reducing trauma symptoms and improving sleep, too. Of course, your situation and experience is likely to be different!

Reiki is gentle and non-invasive and a great compliment to your existing therapies.

Tania also shares her experience of volunteering Reiki sessions at Wellspring, a cancer support centre that offers programs to assist cancer patients and their caregivers. Through Wellspring, you can receive two free Reiki sessions if you are living with any kind of cancer diagnosis or supporting someone who is in cancer care. Definitely worth checking out!

If a mobile Reiki Session sounds like a good option for you, please reach out to us at info@lunaholistic.com. Within Calgary, the fee for a 90-minute mobile Reiki session is $180, including GST and travel costs. We serve the Calgary area, but we can possibly travel further on a case-by-case basis.

If you'd like to chat with someone about getting a mobile Reiki session, please call and leave a message at 403-284-0176. We'll get back to you as soon as we can, usually within 48 hours.

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Working to heal your inner child? In this podcast episode, Angela Hoogeveen and Geneva Robins chat about their trippy experiences using Reiki for inner child work.

Reiki is an energy that is beyond time and space. What does that mean? Well, it's quantum mechanical physics stuff. Reiki is a spiritual technology, a method, that helps us tap into the energy that exists beyond the subatomic, in the universal field that unites all matter. In this quantum mechanical realm, time and space fall away. All you are left with is pure consciousness and the energy we call Reiki.

Reiki is outside of time, and it is also present in each 'now' moment. Everything that has ever happened, happened in the present 'now' moment. The present moment is how we access the past. Reiki connects the past and present, creating a bridge so we can send energy to our past selves as though we were right there with them. It doesn't change the events, but it does send the love, comfort, and care we so desperately needed.

Reiki can be sent to any moment in your past, including even past lives! Check out our other podcast on Past Life Healing. It's seriously cool work!

You or the practitioner set your intention to send Reiki to your inner child. This intention can be something like unconditional love, comfort, peace, or another healing word. Then, similar to a distance Reiki session, the energy of your intention is held and sent to your inner child self.

When you do this as a self-healing, you can also add an extra integration piece at the end where you hug yourself physically and do Reiki self-healing on your now whole-self. You can also imagine chatting with your past self, providing comfort and support, and also asking them directly what they want for their intention.

The results from this work often go very deep and can be hard to put into words. Overall, the energy of care and kindness flows into the fabric of your life. We have seen improved mood and an increase in self-love and inner kind regard. Reiki for the Inner Child helps you care for the tender parts and helps bring comfort on many levels.

To book a Reiki session, go to our Jane App schedule and pick a time, either in-person or virtual, that works for you. All of our Reiki Masters are excellent at helping you with your Inner Child work.

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Are you feeling sad and happy at the same time? You are not alone. In this podcast episode, Angela Hoogeveen and Geneva Robins chat about how you can create space and permission to feel all the complexity of your life.

We're living in a turbulent world that brings a range of emotions. Everything you are feeling is okay. Of course, you feel everything strongly; that is very normal for a sensitive soul like you. What if you create a space of permission to feel what you are honestly experiencing? What could open up for you if you allow two things to be true at once?

How is it possible to feel joy and grief at the same time? What about groundedness and excitement? The answer may be right inside your brain!

Jill Bolte Taylor's book "Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy Of Choice And The Four Characters That Drive Our Life" is a fascinating discussion of how different parts of the brain 'think' and have very different experiences of the same situation.

Consider tryinga Reiki session to get support for strong and complex emotions. In our session with you there's space to feel and a nurturing presence of the Reiki energy to comfort whatever you may be feeling.

You may also like our other podcast about this:

Podcast 18 - How can Reiki help me with Strong Emotions

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If you’ve ever struggled to keep up with your self-care, this podcast is for you. Explore how to make self-kindness simple, sustainable, and genuinely nourishing—one tiny step at a time.

Let’s be honest: sometimes self-care sounds like another item on the ever-growing to-do list. But what if you let yourself off the hook? What if you started so small that it felt almost effortless? Imagine celebrating putting on your shoes—never mind running the marathon.

That’s the spirit I want you to bring to your self-care practice. It’s not about grand gestures or perfect routines. It’s about noticing the little things, and showing yourself a bit of kindness, even (especially!) when you’re feeling stuck.

We've all been there—beyond exhausted. If you'd like help with an energetic reboot, book a session now through the Jane app or look through our courses and sessions to learn more about how we can help you reactivate your self-care routines

Think about your everyday routines. You probably sleep on the same side of the bed, drink your coffee the same way, and set up your day with familiar little rituals. Our bodies and minds move in these well-worn tracks, and there’s comfort in that. But what happens when there’s friction—when the path isn’t clear?

Imagine if, every night, you had to move all your furniture just to get into bed. Suddenly, bedtime becomes a Herculean task. That’s what it’s like when you load up your self-care practice with obstacles, or tell yourself you have to “make up” for lost time by doubling your efforts. That’s a recipe for shame and exhaustion, not healing.

Here’s a radical idea: reward yourself just for starting. Give yourself a metaphorical sticker for beginning your meditation, not for reaching some blissful state. Take the pressure off. The hardest part of any practice is showing up, so let that be your win.

If you haven’t worked out in a week, you don’t need to punish yourself with an extra-long gym session. Just put on your sneakers. Just drive to the gym. Let that be enough. Friction is the enemy, so design your routines to be as downhill as possible. Pack your gym bag and leave it in the car. Create a meditation nook that’s inviting, not cluttered.

If your meditation cushion is buried under laundry, you’re not going to use it. That’s not a failure—it’s just a sign to make your practice easier. Be curious, not judgmental. Didn’t meditate today? Instead of beating yourself up, ask: “What tiny shift could help tomorrow?” Maybe you meditate lying down instead of sitting. Maybe you wait until the kids are asleep. Maybe your self-care looks like two mindful sips of tea, or doodling on a scrap of paper.

We all remember to charge our phones. What if you used plugging in your device as a cue to check in with yourself? What would recharge you right now? Is it a moment with your favourite crystal, a mindful walk, or a page of a beloved book? Layer these micro-moments throughout your day. Change your sheets. Light a candle. Sip something warm. Each act of care, no matter how small, builds a resilient safety net for when life gets messy.

Don’t wait for perfect circumstances to practice self-care. Seize the in-between moments: a red light, a line at the store, five quiet minutes during naptime. Ground yourself when chaos erupts because then your calm helps those around you, too. Notice beauty in the ordinary: sunlight on the wall, birds outside your window, the changing moon. Let these be invitations to return to yourself.

You will fall away from your practice. That’s not failure, that’s life. The magic is in returning, gently, again and again. Every time you come back, you strengthen your resilience. Every slip reminds you what truly matters.

So, start small. Remove the friction. Celebrate every return. Give yourself more grace than you think you need. You’re doing more than you realize, and it all counts. Keep weaving those moments of care into your days—you’ve got this.

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• The Secret Art of Happiness: Change Your Life with the Reiki Ideals by Geneva Robins - a book with a whole chapter on kindness!
• Kindness Meditation - a gentle meditation to expand all forms of kindness
• Saying No - a blog post on how kind it is to say a beautiful NO
• Reiki Sessions - a big help on getting compassionate support and energy

If you've been in a highly self-critical mode for a while, it can be difficult to shift immediately to kind inner talk. One method that can help is to shift to a neutral statement that you already believe.

Try something like "I am a human being."

Then try "All humans are worthy of kindness."

Before going to "Therefore, I am worthy of kindness because I am a human being."

By shifting into a neutral statement in this way, you activate a gentle space inside that just sidesteps the fight the inner critic puts up when you first try to talk to yourself kindly. You just go around the arguments with a gentle and patient logic.

Sometimes you can flip the statements of the inner critic into their exact opposites to create a new inner dialogue. You can take "You're never good enough" and turn it into "I'm always myself, and who I am is enough."

Sometimes words are not enough. Tiny acts of self-care can go a long way to rebalancing your nervous system. Even something as simple as putting on a cozy sweater or adjusting your body so you're more comfortable can be a sign to your inner self that you are now living your life in a new, self-kind way. These tiny actions prove to your inner child that you will actually take care of yourself.

Almost anything we do is a skill that can be practiced. Gently remind yourself that you are practicing this new skill of self-kindness. Start where you're at and be okay with your progress and slips. It is all a new space, gradually filling with grace as your skills grow.

We learn how to be kind to ourselves from our family and other carers. But if they don't have those skills of emotional regulation, soothing, and reframing thoughts, then they can't teach you.

So now, as an adult, you may be learning kind self-talk skills that you wished you had learned as a child. Be gentle with your progress. It's almost like learning a new language. So be patient and keep practicing even through the mistakes and wobbly first attempts at a new way of relating to yourself.

If you've been surrounded by unkind people and have absorbed their cruel inner talk, it is incredibly helpful to get help from professionals trained who are to hold a compassionate space for you.

Therapy, Reiki, Meditation, Yoga, and other allied health practitioners have spent years and even decades practicing gentle and kind methods that can help you grow your inner kindness.

If in doubt, reach out!

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Do you love the fall or dread it? A fan of clipboards, colour coding, and to-do lists? Or would you rather stay in the freedom of flip-flops and summertime hammocks all year round? Fall is here, bringing crisp weather and a grounding energy to our days. In this episode, Tania Brightman and Geneva Robins chat about returning to routines and the energetic shifts this season can bring to your spiritual life.

The change in the seasons can bring a massive shift in the energy and tempo of our lives. Sometimes this can have a rushing and unsettling quality to it as you go from the slow flow of summer to a flurry of managing new schedules and time demands.

Within this shift of energy, you can also establish a steady structure that allows you to return to regular sleep and meal schedules, bringing a nourishing frequency to your days. The gift of this season, even if you're now a fan of chilly weather, is that in the change of one routine pattern to another, you get an opportunity to craft your routines to bring a different kind of balance.

This is an excellent time to start a new habit or routine that helps you thrive. We're fans of meditation here, as it can totally shift your mindset in only a few minutes. But really, it can be anything that helps you feel grounded and happy.

Try this Grounding Meditation to help settle your energy. Or read the book Beyond Anxiety by Martha Beck to learn tools you can put in your routine to calm the anxiousness that change can create.

The shift of seasons creates a magical moment where we are in between two states of living. That mid-point moment of the equinox is a time when it can be remarkably easy to manifest new experiences. Anytime we are in limbo, we are actually in a space of pure creative potential. When everything is in flux, it is all moving and free.

Energy is being mobilized right now, and we can use that powerful cycle in nature to create a wave of positive change in our lives and in the world. Try the Manifesting Miracles Meditation to access the law of attraction energy that helps bring miracles into your life.

The fall season also brings a pull to learning. Even if it has been many years since you've been in a classroom, the benefits of lifelong learning are profound. This season is a prime time to put your thinking cap on and learn something new that excites you. Even a few hours on Wikipedia can get you started learning and finding things that might interest you.

You can also learn Reiki here at LunaHolistic if you are interested in learning more about self-healing and meditation. Check out our Level I course, which helps you build a solid self-care routine. Courses start seasonally, so check out our Upcoming Courses page to see when the next one is happening.

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