Free ‘energy healing’ offered for local cancer patients

MENDOCINO » Though never suggested as a replacement for standard medical diagnosis, care or treatments — Reiki proponents cite the use of energy healing in treating everything from anxiety to cancer. It’s the latter that intrigued long time coast resident, and Reiki Master, Peggy Phillips to offer her talents to the Mendocino Cancer Resource Center.

“Energy healing” has been around for centuries; Reiki emerged in Japan in the late 1800s and came to the US viaHawaii in the 1940s.

As with acupuncture, Reiki works in helping the flow of energy and removing blocks. Recipients of this practice often describe the feeling after an attunement as intensely relaxin. Clients often lay down, fully-clothed, as the Reiki practitioner begins to tune into their energies with their hands held above the person’s body. When one area feels cleared, they move to the next. Practitioners will at times feel their hands become very warm, others feel colder. All the client feels is deep, safe relaxation.

With a background in special needs education, Phillips said she felt a need to give back. And so, the Reiki Project was born in Elk in 2009. Now boasting seven local practitioners, the Reiki Project has, inthepast 11 years, graciouslyprovided a free service tomore than 50 cancer patientswithin the community. Space is generously provided by Sweetwater Inn, inMendocino. Many of their original clients still come and are now considered family, and several have even become practitioners.

Joelle Signorelli is one such client- turned- practitioner. A self proclaimed, “non-woo-woo” type of person, she was suffering from chronic shoulder pain several years ago. At the time, she had no idea what Reiki was, but agreed to a session with Phillips. Signorelli said she felt pain-free