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Karen Felice is a renowned Reiki Master Teacher in the Usui and Karuna traditions. She’s no stranger to the demands of a busy work-life, with a background as a TV news producer and editor. Having made a career shift in 2011 with her training school and Reiki practice, Reconnect to Wellness, she now keeps a space in West Hollywood, CA, and is a published author. Her first book, “Compassion Speaks”, offers a modern approach to self-care through messages of compassion for self and for others. As a healing modality, Reiki can be incredibly supportive of various health treatments, both physical and mental. In addition, Karen’s understanding of compassion – a central theme of our conversations on the podcast – made her the perfect guest to talk about self-care in a world where busy-ness is often rewarded, and invisible conditions go so long unnoticed and unacknowledged. Listen in as Karen shares…  - the origins of Reiki and what it is: a collectively balanced approach to energy healing  - that Reiki does not interfere with western medicine or with religious beliefs; it is non-invasive and operates along energy frequencies  - that it helps to begin one’s Reiki experience with an intention: what energies we want to clear, and what we want to replace those energies with  - her key points of clarity: that there is enough goodness to go around for everyone, and that compassion is essential  - that Reiki enables clients to decompress and reconnect to wholeness and wellness (hence the name of Karen’s practice!)  - that she has worked with patients in hospice and in oncology wards, and has clients who have invisible illneses such as EBV  - that the soul is in the heart chakra, and that’s where she sees people’s true selves  - that her work is in aligning chakras and sharing love  - that even Cedars-Sinai has a Reiki master on staff  - that colors correspond to the chakras, and they hold a vibrational resonance  - that she feels where energy is flowing and where it is not flowing; but that a lack of flow doesn’t mean a block – it actually means the body is trying to heal along with the mind  - that so much of energy flow in Reiki is about a removal of judgment, which is replaced with compassion  - that she is intuitive in session, and shares the messages she receives  - that so much of her work is about the restoration of the mind-body connection  - that she most commonly sees patients suffering from anxiety – which is ultimately a desire for clarity  - that she helps patients shift the narratives that may be harming them emotionally  - that it’s a practice to remain centered when we are surrounded by chaos; as energetic beings, we need to develop a filter  - how her book, “Compassion Speaks”, is a great meditation companion; it can serve as a wonderful reset  - that Deepak Chopra was her meditation teacher, and he told her: “Turn off the news. Start telling a better story.”  - “Compassion dispels fear.”  - that she also recommends meditation as a healing modality; she’s been doing it (with a mantra) every day for 11 years  - Deepak Chopra’s teaching that 30 minutes of meditation is equal to 8 hours of rest and sleep  - the importance of eating clean and cooking with intent to receive nourishment  - the importance of gratitude  - how to shift thought patterns to mine for joy and become present in a new vibration  - that negativity attracts negativity, and to shift this energy Karen goes to her heart and seeks the opposite…in what she calls “The Opposite Game”  - that a diagnosis is a compass; it is not final  - that she encourages people to be kind to themselves, especially if they’re facing invisible illness; and to get complete checks through their doctors  - that Karen’s dog, Shayna, joins patients in session and is a great support