Recharge Your Energy Battery With Reiki Near Washington Square

Photos, story by Cassie Hepler

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. It literally means “universal life energy”.

So remember that day that was 50 mph whipping, freezing winds and rain? That’s the tundra we trudged through for this story. And by the time we arrived at Learn Reiki Philadelphia, we were in the same mood as that global warming monsoon.

Luckily, Victoria Powell, who was taught by Reiki master Danielle Stimpson and shares the space with her, was already there, warming up the space and calming the energy in the room.

We met Victoria at a Diva Day event Explore publisher Cassie Hepler was sponsoring and photographing last fall. Victoria was doing mini sessions at the expo all day and we were attracted to her form of using musical instruments, specifically the didgeridoo, a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia potentially within the last 1,500 years and still in widespread use today both in Australia and around the world.

“I have always loved music and playing various instruments, starting with the piano around age 5. I went to Drexel to study Music Industry. When I was a senior, I studied binaural beats, so I am interested in continuing to research the way that sound affects consciousness,” said Powell. “I found that what was true for me, was that my state of consciousness or mental state, directly reflected the pain I was feeling in my back. And I want to continue to research this mind-body connection and help other people realize this and ease (or completely get rid of) their pain as well.”

In February, she will be taking a Holy Fire Reiki Master class in West Chester.

“I plan to continue teaching Reiki classes here in Philadelphia. So far I have taught Reiki Level 1 and Level 2 classes. In the summer I hope to travel to music festivals to give reiki and sound healing sessions. I will also be an exhibitor and speaker at the psychic expo in Cherry Hill in March,” she said.

Powell is all into her dreams of healing others, as most energy workers are.

“I don’t have a day job but I do work at a cafe (one day a week) called the Galley Cafe in the Navy Yard. The owner is a holistic nutritionist and we sell healthy smoothies and vegan food,” she said.

Powell provides traditional Usui Reiki sessions for stress relief, well being and spiritual healing. She is also certified in ReikiSound™, and uses tuning forks and singing bowls for vibrational healing. During a session, she combines hands on healing or hovering (reiki) with weighted tuning forks for the body and non-weighted tuning forks for the aura. Clients report feeling lighter and more at ease by tuning your body to its natural frequency.

So we gave it a shot, here’s our experience.

The door to the location is connected to a jewelers just left of the store, go up to the third floor or take the elevator. No need to buzz in, the door is open.

We arrived at the door after some second floor confusion or maybe we were just frozen almost to death from the monsoon.

A little more information on the inside of the door so you knew what you were getting into or wanted to get into.

This shrine was very inviting with all the crystals and that amazing safe.

Located above the shrine is a Native American drum to use in Shamanic healing sessions.

Victoria Powell finishes preparing the space as we get ready to rest and relax.

A sweet note with a crystal gift awaits someone as a surprise.

Rose quartz crystal is always good for calming and cleansing.

A Native American Shaman stick to ward off evil spirits.

Victoria had me lay down on the bed and close my eyes and try to relax. She did some laying on of hands which were warm and inviting on my head, face, shoulders, legs and arms. These are optional, as you can request not to be touched but simply hover above to radiate energy. She mentioned falling asleep which I did drift in and out of some sort of meditative state where I had “dreams” of family, friends, love, stress and chaos in my life as I let go of all situations and relationships that no longer served me. She was going to tell me that I was going through changes and needed to let go of the past but I told her first as we both share a strong intuition together.

She did some Shamanic breathing where she was blowing away the old, used multiple musical tools around me and I enjoyed the music, vibrations and energy bouncing off of them.

Victoria Powell demonstrates the music tuner used on my forehead during our reiki session.

Victoria Powell asked if I enjoyed the sound of this bowl vibration during the session and I thoroughly did. Like each person, some sounds are pleasing and others are not. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

Victoria Powell uses a musical instrument that sounds like waterfalls, ironic on such a rainy day but more pleasing to the ears.

Victoria Powell gave me a parting gift full of delicious floral notes.

The ingredients are all scents that I love, almost like an incense spray with none of the ashy mess.

We were working on my leg when a knock came to the door and alas, our one hour session had ended shortly after working on my right leg. I did not want to go but it was time to move on with my day. I felt refreshed, renewed and it was better than any happy hour or workout I would normally use to exert frustrated energy. Cleansed and refreshed, the monsoon outside still soaked my feet and rain pelted my face but it didn’t seem so bad anymore.

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