About
Hi! I'm Marjorie.
I’m a Reiki Master based in the Reno/Tahoe area. My background is largely academic and scientific, very left-brained training.
My first experience of the life force energy known as “Ki” or “Chi” happened years ago when taking a T’ai Chi class. The instructor chose to do a demonstration of Chi before explaining it, and he picked me for the demo. He had me stand facing him, with my arm braced across the front of my body, hand in a fist. He told another student, “And you get behind her and catch her.” Oh, swell. I’d seen Bruce Lee movies…so I expected him to do something fast and try to knock me backwards. The instructor placed his palm against my fist, closed his eyes and seemed to go within. Without breaking contact with my hand he took a deep breath, and let it out sharply.
I felt an electric jolt shoot through my hand up through my arm. I did indeed fall backwards. Something had come through his body that I couldn’t explain. What I learned from that experience is that there is more to the human system than what we are taught in school. It motivated me to explore.
Since that time I’d had Reiki treatments but didn’t consider study until a massage therapist and Reiki practitioner who was working on my senior dog recommended it as a way to help him with his arthritis and anxiety (I’ve noted a lot of Reiki practitioners and teachers got started in order to help the animals in their lives). The treatment seemed to help Joshua, so I looked into training.
I began studying Reiki in 2014, completing Usui/Tibetan Reiki Level I and Level II training with Denise Sheehan of Sage Spirit Reiki. In 2015 I committed to taking Level III, the Reiki Master Teacher training, with Denise.
Since then I have taken classes in a variety of Reiki systems including Holy Fire Reiki with Stephen Vanderver and Teresa Aramini. Teresa’s class required students to provide a certain number of hours of free Reiki before certification the feedback was so eye-opening that I felt compelled to pursue it for real. I am so grateful to those who were open to letting me practice with them; that was a game changer! I now incorporate this requirement into my own teaching because it made such a difference for me.
After that I pursued the Holy Fire III upgrade from William Rand, and learned the "Let Animals Lead" method with Kathleen Prasad. I have found Kathleen’s approach useful not only with my own pets and those of clients but also with the rescue dogs I transport to new homes. It’s amazing how a frightened animal will relax and breathe when you hold space for them in Reiki. More recently I’ve also taken all three levels of Reiki Explorer with Jessica Miller, whose empirical approach and creative techniques made me a fan of this school.
I love taking Reiki classes with different instructors and under different systems, and also classes in other energy modalities. I have learned so much from each of them! I am grateful all of my instructors on this journey.
I've been certified at the Master Teacher level in:
Usui/Tibetan Reiki: 2015
Holy Fire Reiki: 2018
Reiki Explorer: 2020
I have woven wisdom from different lineages into hands-on and distance techniques with much success. I believe in trying new tools and discovering what works for the individual. My approach will continue to evolve as I learn and grow in this art.
Want to learn more? Send me a message; I’ll be happy to chat!
Sofia and Joshua, who inspired me to dive into Reiki.
Larimar: What’s In a Name?
Larimar is a beautiful sky blue, light green, or white stone found in the Caribbean. It evokes both sky and ocean (or Lake Tahoe, yes?). It’s my favorite stone and I love using it when making jewelry. I find Larimar has an especially soothing energy; many metaphysical benefits have traditionally been attributed to it.
Larimar is said to be a healing stone for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual areas. It stimulates the heart, throat, third eye and crown chakras facilitating inner wisdom and outer manifestation. It represents peace and clarity, radiating healing and love energy. It is recommended for people who are feeling stress to ease their minds and hearts.
From The Meaning and Uses of Larimar at larimarcopenhagen.com:
The Larimar stone is the embodiment of the tranquil Sea and Sky energies. Its soft, soothing blues and calming turquoise is streaked with white patterns that resemble sunlight dancing beneath Caribbean waters. It brings the ancient wisdom of Atlantis and the healing power of dolphins to harmonize the body and soul.
Larimar is one of the cardinal Water element stones, yet it is born of Fire in its volcanic origins. One of the few crystals to balance the polarities of these energies, Larimar cools tempers and calms fears, relieves stress and nurtures the physical and emotional bodies. It is powerful in meditation and in connecting to the Divine Feminine, and is particularly helpful in releasing emotional bonds, patterns or principles that no longer serve the highest good. A stone of clear communication, it provides the strength and courage needed to speak openly from the heart.
Larimar is a powerful emotional cleanser and healer, especially for phobias, panic attacks, stress-related imbalances, and excessive anger or fear. It aids in breaking down the walls one has built around the heart for defense, and allows for emotional release and the clearing of deep emotional patterns. It helps one to reconnect to a previous, more natural state of playfulness and joyful childlike energy.
A highly effective stone of the Throat Chakra, Larimar assists in communicating emotions and boundaries in a way others can hear and accept. It teaches the respect, love and nurturing of oneself in order to have the resources to give these gifts to others. It is an excellent crystal for healers and caregivers.
That’s a lot to lay on one stone! Maybe this is why I’ve always been drawn to Larimar. I find it beautiful and serene, and it inspired the name of this practice.