Reiki Mark Cross

16/08/2025

I have had the joyous opportunity to do the Okuden training live and online with my teacher, a course I first took with a different teacher and lineage in 2010, and then upgraded with my current teacher in 2020.
It has reminded me of the value of spending time with a teacher to take your practice to the next level.
I'm not learning anything new, I am going deeper with the knowledge I already had.
This is why I invite my students to repeat their training. I have spent HUNDREDS of hours with meditation teachers and here I am feeling like I am experiencing the fullness of my inner luminosity for the first time, because in this moment, that's exactly what's happening.
In Japan students would take YEARS to master the first level. They were highly committed, disciplined and patient. I bet they were very calm and grounded people, and amazing healers! In the UK we seem to want to rush through the levels as quick as possible, as if the level you have been trained to makes you a better person in some way.
That's why it's so lovely for me to revisit the foundation training, I am getting so much more from it from having 15 years of practice under my belt!
So if you get the chance to repeat your training, I highly recommend it. It's a chance to hear the material again with fresh ears, invest in your wellness and further your development.
The world deserves that from you, don't you think?

14/08/2025

I was chatting with a colleague recently and they were talking about negative energy and clearing negativity from people's past lives which all sounds very helpful. However, I was also reminded of some Reiki training I did recently where this exact topic was covered.
The way I have been trained is to see the perfection in everything. I have been discouraged from being judgemental and to have a "Good? Bad? Who knows?" attitude.
However, I strongly suggest we don't just adopt someone else's wisdom blindly, so I thought about this concept a little more.
In doing so I realised that healing is about wholeness, not an external idea of "perfection". Wholeness is about embracing all of life without judgement of good or bad, positive or negative, better or worse. Living with a black and white view leads to judgement and judgement leads to attachment and resistance, which results in suffering.
Take the glorious garden below 👇🏼. Plenty of hours of work have gone into this with the planning, preparing, planting, w**ding and watering. However, the moment we say "this is good" and "better" we're implying the opposite is "bad" or "worse". According to who is it good I would ask? Whilst the good gives us a false sense of security and superiority, the bad can cause us to feel low and deflated. Both are unhelpful and an inaccurate representation - the truth of the matter is - it is what it is.
But what if a w**d was to grow in the beautiful flowerbed, is that "bad"? What if the w**d was medicinal like a dandelion, milk thistle or calendula? Is a w**d-free garden good and a w**dy one bad? What is a w**d anyway? The answer is, that is totally up to the person observing it.
Thus I find myself chuckling at the idea of negative energy because the term is a mind-made judgement. As my teacher would say, if negative energy can be got rid of, it can also come back.
I much prefer the idea of remembering who we are (love, infinite still essential, Reiki, [your choice of description]) and letting the rest take care of itself. It is, I find, much easier!

11/08/2025

A longish watch/listen with some useful history around Reiki and animals and an interesting perspective!

What role did animals play in the early days of Reiki?Reiki historian Justin Stein joined SARA Co-Founder Leah D’Ambrosio for this rare conversation, sharing...

10/08/2025

I recently completed an online training for teachers with my teacher, which I was beyond my wildest dreams excited about.

When I originally trained in 2010 I instantly felt like I'd come home when doing treatments, but I also felt at odds with some of the teachings. In particular, they didn't fit with other spiritual teachings I was getting at the time, and I struggled to reconcile the two.

Then in 2019 I came across a FB blog that caught my attention. It talked about how everything was : me the earth, the trees and the things we have created (in the article it was a park bench).

This fitted much better with my existing spiritual training, so I got to know the author. Before I knew it I had read their book and booked to repeat my Shinpiden training (it was just before lockdown - talk about timing!).

What I learnt from my current teacher, Frans Steine, catapulted me into a whole new comprehension of what Reiki was and how it is to be taught.

Training with him again recently has done the same thing. For example, I didn't do a single in my level 1 training first time around, and now I teach 5 of them and in my recent training I got to hear how he teaches and uses them.

The one I want to talk about today is Kenyoku Ho, often translated as "dry bathing". I learnt this at level 2, now I teach it at Shoden (level 1). It's a fundamental practice, so I was absolutely missing out when I first learnt Reiki and it wasn't included.

Until now I hadn't appreciated how incorrect my original teaching about this method had been. I, and many others had been led to believe that this was a cleansing process. To quote a couple of websites from a quick search confirms this:

"Kenyoku or ‘Dry Bathing’ is an ‘energy cleansing’ or ‘aura smoothing’ practice.

As, a stand-alone procedure, it is used to disconnect from people, things, thoughts, emotions, feelings, situations, energies, etc.'

And:
"The Japanese word 'kenyoku' means dry bathing. Kenyoku is done to purify body and soul. It strengthens your energy and helps you to disconnect from your clients, thoughts, emotions and situations."

This I have now been taught is an obvious interpretation considering the translation - but not correct.

Kenyoku Ho is a GROUNDING practice. It is to bring us out of our anger and worry (thoughts) and back into our body. This is because our body exists in the present moment which is where all our power and potential exists. The technique therefore is all about stopping us from being in our imagination in our heads and our thoughts of the past (anger) and future (worry). Notice the tie-in with the precepts?

I know from experience that all our suffering and disempowerment/victim state comes from being caught up in our thoughts/head, where we are disconnected from our body and reality. This was likely intentional at one point as a survival strategy and it's now become an unchecked habit.

By sweeping the body downwards, we are anchoring ourselves in the body, aka in the present, where all our power and potential exists. The present moment is also where Reiki is/wide open spaciousness/the context of life/the space in which life is happening. Thus if you want to manifest something (e.g. health, money, balance, a relationship) - you must be in the present/spaciousness.

Since learning this I have been playing with it and the shift is incredible! As Frans says, if you can "clear yourself of negative energy, you are also saying that it is possible for negative energy to come back". Instead I'm finding when thoughts of negativity and lack arise I ground myself with Kenyoku Ho and move forwards in freedom. It on paper sounds like the same thing, but in reality the experience is very different!

I am so excited about the potential of this for so many reasons! 1) The idea I'm unable to accumulate negative energy, and instead to let go of the label of "negative" at all 2) the potential of staying in the present moment 3) how lovely it feels when I am grounded 4) the benefits this will have on clients and the people around me 5) greater resilience, less quick to become angry or worried 6) to step into uncharted territory and the adventure and new experiences beyond my limited imagination that will bring.

I've been so inspired by my latest learning I am running a 4 week course to share this valuable information - including this technique. I want EVERYONE to know this so as a planet we can experience less anger and worry and more peace, compassion and prosperity.

You can find the course under the events section of my website (follow the about links on this page to find it). I invite you to invest in your wellbeing join us for your own journey of self discovery. You do not have to be Reiki trained to attend, this course is open to anyone wanting to experience more peace and calm for themselves and others.

I will only be running one of these this year, so if you can't attend live I suggest you sign up to get access to the recordings. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. 💜

06/08/2025

Did you know the key to all is ? When we are deeply relaxed our rest and repair systems are able to do the necessary repair work that enables us to stay healthy and/or regain health.
Our bodies are an incredible feat of engineering, and part of their brilliance is their ability to do repair work.
However, stress prevents this repair work from happening, and chronic stress means we accumulate imbalance over time that can result in chronic health conditions.
Relaxation means our inbuilt repair mechanisms can get to work undoing the damage, by replacing the damaged cells with healthy ones.
This is how wounds heal, broken bones reconnect, livers regrow, ulcers disappear, nerve function is restored and pain dissolves - to name a few examples.
Our survival depends on health, so it makes sense we have a regeneration system that enables us to survive accidents and injuries long enough to create and rear offspring.
Knowing that relaxation is a necessity for repair work helps us to ensure we prioritise it. Sleep time is unlikely to be enough to counteract modern living, so we need to make sure we're going about our day as relaxed as possible and we have strategies to wind down at the end of the day.
There are lots of ways to relax. A Reiki treatment is an extremely effective way to nurture and soothe tired, overwhelmed and tight bodies.
The combination of setting aside time for yourself, switching off all distractions and allowing yourself to consciously experience the energy from which the entire universe is made is always going to have an impact.
Have you had a Reiki ? How did it make you feel?

30/07/2025

DO ANIMALS LIKE HEALING?
The answer, like humans, can be both yes and no. All the animals I have lived with love receiving and would frequently request it. However, quite early on in my Reiki career a horse declined and that was a valuable lesson in respecting a no.
Healing with , in my experience, is no different than healing with people. The benefit is all gained from the practitioner's connection to their own luminosity - we simply share that luminosity with what or whoever we are currently with.
Seeing as I love receiving a treatment, I see no reason why they wouldn't enjoy the same benefits of relaxation, detox, unconditional love and deep rest.
I have a snoring pooch on my lap as I type. He's been coming for daily Reiki. He's not ill, he just likes the way it makes him feel.
What a gift to be trusted this much by another!
**************
Want to learn Reiki to benefit the animals in your life? A course will be running at the end of August/early September. Reach out if you would like more information!

22/07/2025

WHY I ASK POTENTIAL STUDENTS TO HAVE A TREATMENT
Today I got to give a treatment to a fab lady that is hoping to join a horse owners course at the end of autumn. I ask everyone that is interested in learning to come and experience a treatment for themselves, so they know what it is they are learning.
is very experiential. Words rarely do justice to the deep sense of people experience, and for that reason, I want people to know what that feels like.
Reiki can also result in some interesting reactions! Today's client saw lots of colours, whilst others might see images, experience memories, have a release of emotions, nod off into a deeply restful sleep or twitch and release excess energy. It all depends on what the person brings into the session and what is ready to shift and transform.
If someone is learning to give someone else a treatment, I want to make sure they know from experience some of these different reactions. This means when they do their practice sessions on others, and their friend experiences something similar they can reassure them it's quite normal and all part of the repair process - from experience.
A treatment with me is also a good chance for us to get to know each other and for you to ensure I am the right teacher for you. Choosing a teacher is a very personal thing. You need to ensure they are someone you trust and you feel safe with - someone you'd feel comfortable asking questions to and you feel will be there for you after the training.
It's ok to have treatments with a few different teachers till you find one you like. A good Reiki teacher wouldn't mind this in the slightest.
Finally, a treatment kick starts your path. If you are serious about helping yourself and others through Reiki then you'll want as many treatments as you can to get yourself as aligned and harmonious as possible. The more relaxed and focused you are, the greater the impact you'll have on others! That remains true both before and after the training.
So feel free to reach out to the teachers in your area, ask to have a chat and book a session and see then if you'd like to learn with them.
My next learning opportunities are 5th & 6th August Reiki Level 1 - Shoden (2 spaces) and late August/early September (dates tbc) for a course.
Get in touch if you'd like to know more!

21/07/2025

Reiki hasn't just helped me recover and come back stronger from trauma, it has supported my health and wellbeing every single day. Learning this approach has helped me:
💜 Stay calm when I'm worried/anxious
💜 Comfort myself when I'm sad or in pain
💜 See things rationally rather than emotionally
💜 Solve problems
💜 Support the people and animals I love
💜 Earn an income
💜 Be in the right place at the right time
💜 Make wonderful lifelong friends
💜 Improve my sports performance
💜 Support my therapeutic work with children
💜 Look after elderly relatives
💜 Provide comfort and support to friends
💜 Stay calm in an emergency
💜 Sleep better
💜 Digest food better
💜 Help people make life changes
💜 Stand up to bullies
💜 Make healthy life choices.

I am sure there is more but it's all I can remember for now. If you two have the pull to make a positive life change that involves you getting to know yourself on a deeper level, I would love to speak to you.
I have a course running early next month that teaches you the basics of this practise so you can support yourself and the people you love.
Reach out to find out more. 💜

18/07/2025

Need to make life changes? My top tip would be slow down and make shifts from a place of .
It's hard to make changes when our life is moving fast, we don't have the time to think or feel it through.
Deep change, the type that is really impactful, requires our head heart and gut to be aligned, in order to be effective.
It is unsurprising therefore, that people come for when they need to make big shifts. This might be shifts in their health, relationships, career, family situation, where they live, or just about anything that would be considered a break from the norm.
Reiki helps us to relax and when we are relaxed we're better able to hear the song in our heart - the one that if listened to means our life is joyous and flows.
Relaxation also helps us to see clearly and objectively, helps with creativity and problem solving and to see things from all perspectives.
Reiki also helps us to take courageous action to move forwards on our chosen journey. It gives us the courage to try new things and get up and try again.
It's the most powerful thing I have ever done to enable shifts in my life and to help others.
Want to find out more? Head over to the website and read some of the blogs on Reiki or check out our services or upcoming events.

14/07/2025

Did you know I run a weekly online group? It's for anyone that would like to benefit their health and wellbeing through calming, centering and focusing the mind.
This year the group have been working through the alphabet sharing words relating to meditation and today it was the letter "J".
We discovered that whilst J isn't a prolific word it does have some powerful contributions - namely joy and remaining free of judgement.
It reminded me of this wonderful quote by Rumi. To me it speaks of letting go of our egos and our petty thoughts to enjoy the bliss of unfettered connection.
Isn't that, after all, what we all crave?
The non-dual nature of demands we transcend judgement to see the world with openness and compassion.
If this sounds like your kind of thing, check out my website. We'd love to welcome you. 💜

22/10/2024

Congratulations to Sophie Allain Pro for completing her Okuden training and case studies! The added benefit to the local community is that Sophie is A S - Animal Osteopathy so if you need a Reiki trained animal osteopath for your dogs, cats and horses, she's your girl! ❤️