Maria Kammerer is a full-time Reiki practitioner, teacher, and community leader based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her Reiki journey started in the year 2000, and she continues to practice and develop her understanding of Reiki. Maria is a graduate teacher with the International House of Reiki and the founder of Attune the Art of Reiki. She is also the host of Be the Light podcast. We discuss her origin story, making a living out of Reiki, the importance of community in developing our spiritual journey, and tips to deepen our practice. 

DIVE INTO REIKI: Maria, thank you for accepting the invitation!
MARIA KAMMERER: Thank you so much for having me here. I'm so excited to chat with you and your lovely community. Thanks!

DIR: I wanted to start with the question I ask every interviewee: when was your first encounter with Reiki? What was your origin story as a Reiki practitioner?
MK: I love thinking about an "origin" story. It's like a superhero story. Thank you! That makes me laugh a lot. But you know, it's also powerful. I encountered Reiki when I was doing a year in service with AmeriCorps. It's like the Peace Corps but in my own community. At the time, I was going to school. I was young. I had been a single mom, I had met my sweet husband, we had another baby, and I was working. [It was] a full and crazy, crazy life. 

DIR: Indeed, I don't know how you even did that!
MK: Reiki practice, actually! I did it because I'm really strong, right? And so I just kept going. [Like] so many people. We all keep going. We burn out, and we keep going anyway. We try to sleep, and we can't get to sleep very well. We wake up the next day, and we're operating from that place of [running on empty.] You don't have anything left, but you keep going. And at some point, I was like, there has got to be another way. Luckily, I was working at a women's resource center. One of the women in that community was a Reiki practitioner [and] teacher, and she was so sweet. She was such a wonderful woman. There was something about her. It was probably her Reiki practice, right? She was so peaceful. She was so happy. [And] I had so much turmoil at an emotional level—baggage about my parents being divorced, being the seventh child, etc.

DIR: That's why you're so boisterous. You had to remind them you existed!  
MK: I was actually super, super shy and quiet. Through my Reiki practice, I've been able to kind of accept who I am more— [I became] much friendlier, much more fun. So, I had a lot of turmoil [at] all levels of my life. My friend recommended going to a Reiki treatment, and I was like, "I don't know what Reiki is, but I'm going to try it." It was the best thing I've ever done. I just felt more myself. And it was like, "How do you forget yourself?" I felt myself again, and I felt so happy, so in the flow. I felt at peace. I got home, and I just felt all this overwhelming sense of love for my family. Because I was present, really present, and I could love them the way that they needed to. There were my two boys, now in their twenties. I always wanted to be a good parent. I always wanted to be a good person. And I think Reiki really helped me to do that because I could be myself. I could let go of my worry. I could let go of my fear. I could just be, have more gratitude and more compassion.

Maria Kammerer, of Attune: the Art of Reiki.

DIR: I love the way you put it because a lot of us, we take a Reiki class, and we're like, "Oh, I didn't see the angels. I didn't see colors, but I feel very peaceful." We say it's less of an experience. Yet how many times are we feeling really peaceful in our lives? It's such a gift to be present and calm.
MK: Oh my gosh, so true. Because we can lose track of what's really important in life, you know, and a lot of times we want to be entertained, which is great. I love to have fun, no doubt. But actually, being peaceful means that I can really be resting in myself. And then I have the freedom to have fun, no matter what the conditions are, to get the most out of my life. Even accepting the anger or the angry parts of who we are. That's so healing. And that comes [when] you have peace in you—you're able to accept the sadness or the other parts of yourself that you've been trying to hold back or hold down.

DIR: When we're doing the pre-interview, you said a phrase that really struck me: you have to love yourself so much that you love even your anger, and that for you, Reiki practice allowed that. That is really such a beautiful statement. 
MK: As I mentioned earlier, I used to be really, really shy, and I used to be so stiff too. Like, "All right… I gotta be perfect." I just wanted to fit in. I never felt like I've really fit into anything, you know? And so I tried to blend in super hard, and that's so much effort. I mean, you should've seen me on the dance floor. [She dances like a robot.] I couldn't be free. 

DIR: I met you three, four years ago. And when you're describing yourself as shy and stiff, I can't believe it. You were always dancing, moving, and laughing. 
MK: Isn't that funny? I started to relax into my own body. I feel like I embody who I am now because my energy is in my own self. It's not out there trying to control the world or my own emotions. I'm not looking for happiness and peace outside of myself. I used to think, What do people mean by "love yourself"? What is peace? How to let go. Sometimes that can be a puzzle. But I think we have to start to trust ourselves a little more and just do the practice. Just sit, practice, and [let go] all that stuff that the mind puzzles through. How to love your anger? That's a huge thing. It comes with [practice]. You start to unfold and accept things: the angry parts of you and the loving parts even more. And the, and the bitchy parts—sorry for cussing!

I can allow myself [to be.] I can be funny. I never could do that before. Transformation, it's so good that we can progress. We can start to live more in the moment.

DIR: There is something essential in what you said: we alw­ays expect the attunement to do the work. However, the attunement is an initial taste of that peace of mind, acceptance, and feeling good. Daily practice is what allows us to shed all those layers of anger and fear. 
MK: I'm glad you said that because it's true. I love to learn things. I took all the Reiki classes I could. I was like, "I'm so hungry for this. I love it." I was learning modern teachings. But I think that to really progress in your own transformation, to continue to let go of layers, you need to have that dedication to yourself. What happened at the beginning is that I felt really good, and then I stopped practicing. 

DIR: Like most of us do!
MK: Because you feel good. So you're like, "Yeah, I feel good." And then you slowly start to feel worse and worse and worse. And then I'm like, "Oh my gosh, I have this Reiki practice!" Some lightbulbs would go on, I would practice, and then, oh my gosh, I would feel really good. Then at some point, I said to myself, "I've got to stop doing this to myself." I think I became so aware of my own state of being [I realized that] I have a choice. If I feel bad, you know what? I have a choice: I can dedicate myself to this wor­k of showing compassion, loving myself more by doing the work, and being diligent in my practice. And I think that's super important. And that way, I continue to feel good and then feel better and better and, and who freaking knows, right? It is such a joy. Every day is a new day. Every moment is a fresh moment. 

DIR: When we talked another time, you mentioned the precept "gyo-o hageme," which many people translate as "work hard," but it's really more about practicing diligently. When I went to a Zen monastery, it also means when you sit and new practice, you're already enlightened. So this precept is also a reminder that you already are enlightened. You just need to practice, right? Okay, I probably killed this a little bit. [Laugh.] I think it's one of the less talked about precepts, so it was very exciting when I heard it was your favorite precept! 
MK: I love "gyo-o hageme"! To me, [when we say] work or being diligent, we could squeeze the juice out of anything. We can make our meditation practice so dry and can punish ourselves with it. So I think actually practicing diligently, or diligence is actually to enjoy. To enjoy the meditations and to really enjoy that hands-on healing and feel that loving touch. We cannot really be as open if we work too hard at it. If we try to make something happen or want to create some effect, we have too much stuff in the way. So, you know what? Stop, enjoy this moment, enjoy your own breath, your own energy, body, mind—and that's when I think it just feels really good.

DIR: I know, it's about doing a chore. It's really, as you say, about self-love. This precept is self-love in action. It's one of my favorite precepts, although the one I need the most is "Just for today," which is not literally one, but... I was so excited when I discovered you were another "gyo-o hageme lover." I have a whole class on it: The underdog precept. 
MK: The "gyo-o hageme team!

DIR: When we talk about your origin story, you trained with several teachers, you hit a wall, and later you found a community that helped move forward. I wanted to talk about the importance of having a Reiki community, in your case in Cincinnati. 
MK: I think we're so lucky to have a beautiful Cincinnati Reiki community. It was founded by Sundar Kadayam and Zeynep Yilmaz. They are wonderful practitioners, really dedicated to their own practice.

I learned from lots of different teachers, all wonderful but more a Western-style Reiki, which is great, and I think it helped me actually so much in my life, as you can tell. But at one point in my practice, [I struggled.] I am such a hard worker, that's probably why I like gyo-o hageme. I'm just like, "I will do my homework. I will read the books." Do you know what I mean? I was doing that with the teachings I had, and it just didn't make sense to me. I didn't really understand how Reiki worked. I was teaching, but I didn't understand so many things. My progression definitely hit a wall. I felt like I was just spinning my wheels and not really going forward. 

So Zeynep, the coordinator for the Cincinnati Reiki, reached out to me, and she invited me to go to this group. I was like, "Oh my gosh, I don't know what's going to happen!" Like, "What are these people going to be like?" Because I'm pretty much alone. I can be a loner. I'm good by myself. So, I went and, oh my gosh, this group was so beautiful. They're so harmonious and welcoming. I really appreciated that. Because I was still a little shy, and I wasn't sure. I was a little suspicious of them. They will laugh to this day.

They started to share the chanting... The chanting [was] part of their tradition that they had learned from Frans Stiene and the International House of Reiki. And I got to chant with this beautiful group. It was probably like 25 or 30 Reiki practitioners. And I was blown away. I felt like, "Oh my gosh, Reiki is me. It's in me. And it's in my own Hara. It's in my own center." It made so much sense, and it felt so good. [Having that community] completely changed the way that I felt about Reiki and how I practiced.

Over the years, we've gotten together so many times. But we have two main events, twice a year, that we all gather together. And it's from people from all different lineages, not just the International House of Reiki. Everyone's invited. We practice, we learn. Having the support of people that understand your language around energy or have similar experiences to you [was amazing.] They became for me like a bigger family of people to love you and support you in your life. And that's what it's really become—this ever-widening circle of Reiki family. And I feel like I meet more Reiki family all over the world like you, and people from Australia, Germany, and California. It's just so great. Having that group showed me so much, like Reiki's many faces and everybody's different transformation and development. It's so many lessons, right. As I said, I come from a big family already, so to me, that felt really natural. 

I would try to talk to other people about Reiki, especially at first. I was like, "Come here, come here and try this Reiki stuff. It's amazing." They were like, "Crazy lady!"

DIR: Crazy lady is the favorite one! A lot of people want to create Reiki circles and Reiki communities. Can you give a few tips? What is critical for someone who wants to create a community that is both relevant and sustainable?
MK: Now I'm hosting the Cincinnati Reiki events. I feel like the more we practice, the more we include more people automatically. When you practice, you're practicing not just for yourself but for your family and your loved ones. Then that wider circle starts to happen. I think your personal practice is really important. Then if you feel you want to start a group for yourself—and I encourage you to do that, it's always more fun with friends— having the dedication to continuing to show up. 

If you have even just one person in mind who would practice with you, that's great. Don't wait for the perfect circumstances to begin. Invite that one person. Set the date and time. Once you put it on your calendar, it's going to happen. You have that one person that you're accountable to; it's got to happen.

DIR: I love how simple you made it. Right. We think it's all about creating a Facebook page with a following and creating logos and names. It actually starts with one person and a calendar invite.
MK: We have to keep it simple. It's just that you want to gather together. You want to practice together. You know, it can be very simple like that. And just remain open to you know who you want to invite… If you have a few people that maybe you took classes with, or maybe [who love] Reiki treatments, or just a little bit of interest, right? It's just like a little seed that you water, and it starts to grow. And the only thing that it needs is your time, a bit of attention, compassion, and it will grow.

DIR: I love that. Just start with one, and little by little, it will grow. And don't get frustrated if there are few people for the first two or three circles because it takes time to build a community. 
MK: Absolutely. But if you just keep holding that space open, if you just keep going and then, of course, it will start to develop,

DIR: You've been practicing for over 20 years. Is there one tip you will give someone to deepen their practice? Is there a straightforward piece of advice for people to deepen their practice or fall back in love with their practice again if they feel stuck or disenchanted?
MK: I love this question! I think, "Don't strive for perfection." That's not what life is. You know, perfection, when I think about that, it's so not alive. It's so plastic and not alive, don't strive for that. Strive to just be here now. All you have to do is this one step: fully do that one thing, that one breath, that meditation, or that one practice. Forget everything else. Really commit yourself to that five minutes of breathing in the Hara, and not worrying about that you've got to be one with the universe, or you have to feel the light or see the light or any of that. Just get to enjoy what is here. That's so unusual because we often go so quick, so fast in our life, we're going for the next practice going for the next goal, or going for the next thing. But, if we just rest in that one thing that we're doing, it doesn't matter what it is. It could be driving. You are Reiki already. Your spiritual journey is already happening. Remember to include yourself in everything that you do. 

DIR: You made it so simple. We're not fixing, we're not, self-improvement, we're just being. We all struggle with similar issues, but we don't talk a lot about that side of our practice. Perfectionism is a hard one, especially for women and especially here in the US. There is pressure for us to be strong yet soft, to be witty, feminine, everything. The list keeps growing.
MK: It's so true. That's too much. We put ourselves under so much pressure, and we just had to let off the pressure and just be ourselves because we got to start to trust who we are. Because there's nobody like you out there, and you've got to trust that. One of our teachers, Frans Stiene, used to say, "You got to love yourself 200%." I was like, "I understand what you're saying in my mind, but the rest of me doesn't get that." I think I understand that more these days, and I am super grateful for that. I feel like it's this caring: I know the state of my own being now; I'm a little more aware of how I'm feeling. I'm just tending to that a little more. Each day I'm not striving to be perfect or like anyone else, at least for now.

DIR: You are a wonderful being,
MK: I kind of want to be Michelle Obama, but you know…

DIR: Well, now that you say, Michelle Obama, yeah! Like that. Beyond any political belief, a woman who keeps going to Target and is grounded after going to the White House—that's my kind of woman. 
MK: She is amazing; she's herself!

DIR: I always saw Reiki as a practice of acceptance of the self, but the way you put it into words—this coming into your being with authenticity—feels more joyful. Be fully who you are, show your colors. 
MK: Why not? One of the problems is that we think we have so much time. Actually, we're all going to die someday, so we might as well make the most of it. 

The more true you are to your way in your being—one of the Reiki precepts—the easier it is to allow others to be free, to be true to themselves. And I love that because it's so much more flexible, so much more open. I can be who I am right now, and it may be different tomorrow. Who knows? My husband thinks that's funny. He's like, "You're still the same as you were yesterday." I'm like, No, I'm not!"

DIR: You actually make a living off Reiki practice, a challenge many practitioners struggle with. How do you balance the money side with the spiritual side?  
MK: Hmm. That's a great question. Having a Reiki business is different than other businesses. It cannot be the way that we work at everything else. It's a spiritual journey, and Reiki is a spiritual practice, right? So you can't have the business the same way. I see my business as more holistic: all parts of my business have to be about healing. And most of that healing is my healing. Some people would say, "Well, that's kind of a selfish thing to say." But we have to stop thinking about that: it's not selfish to care for yourself and take care of yourself. In fact, it's the best thing that we can do for our loved ones and the world. Because that's a little less anger out there.

DIR: We have to see self-care as everybody care. Because if you're centered, you're not going to be driving the other people mad.
MK: Yeah. So, you know, the money aspect of my business… I have to work on my own piece about that and work on my money issues. When things come up, when [you are] feeling fear, you need to take good care of yourself. During our spiritual journey, you uncover these uncomfortable truths… about yourself, sometimes about others, but it's okay to face them. With a [solid] practice, we have the energy, we have the mental space in our minds, hearts, bodies, whatever, to see those things and take good care of them. Because then we can let them start to open up however they need to [in] a way we digest these lessons like food. We take our experiences in, and we take the wisdom from these experiences. We digest them, and we can let go of everything else. 

So I learned a lot about my fears regarding money and being paid to serve others. And also, people would bring me things like, "You're making money off of people, and that should be free." And I was like, "Well, actually, I have to take care of my children and my family too. And I need to pay for groceries." My life is not the same as everybody else's, but you have to have harmony in your life. Harmony is a thing that's always kind of changing. As you grow, that harmony between money, your work, and your time at home changes. Whatever the situation is, [challenges keep] coming back again and again and again. You grow, and then there is harmony again. So yeah, I see it as an opportunity. 

I don't think you go into a Reiki business trying to make a bunch of money, right? Because that's not the purpose of that. I think you have to have a really good intention for yourself and what you're offering to the world, which is the system of Reiki. We have to be really clear about that. My intention for my work is to be true to the nature of who we are. I want to rest in that peace more and more of who I really am. And I offer that to anybody who wants to receive that. I want to re rest of my own Reiki energy. And I support people in their own remembering of what that is. Their own peace, their own happiness. 

I try to stay really clear about that, and that helps me as I develop my business. As I start putting pieces together [I ask myself], is this living the precepts? Because it can be very difficult. It's challenging. But I did start on just like anything else: I tried to keep it very simple. I started offering treatments while working full-time as one of the administrators at a school. That felt really good. I got a lot of joy out of sharing Reiki with other people. And then I started to teach a little bit and, oh my gosh, that's so much fun. Of course, my own practice changed, and so the way that I offer changes. I feel like Reiki is who I am and, and who I am is always flowing. We have to stay alive in our practice and in ourselves because things change all the time. I mean, think about COVID and all of that stuff. I had to shut my business down, and I was on the couch crying. I was heartbroken. I felt like my mission in life was canceled. 

DIR: It's such a different space you are working from. Instead of worrying about money first, it's the fact that your purpose in life has been canceled that affected you when it came to shutting down. 
MK: I've always been in this place of wanting to serve others. With Reiki, I found I could help myself and also serve others, which was awesome. I love the multitask! in a way, I want to receive what I want to share. I want to share from that place of feeling good and overflowing—that totally makes sense to me. By starting part-time, I wasn't worried about the bills so much. I could still pay my bills so I could manage my fear.

DIR: Starting to charge for sessions is one of the hardest parts!
MK: I had to work out [how to charge and all] these things. I gave myself the space and the time to develop as I needed to. And, you know, my teaching has changed how my Reiki treatments have changed from the beginning to now. I think it's just changed because I feel more peaceful. I think it's so simple; it's so practical. We got to take care of our hopes and fears in a Reiki business, so we don't get carried away. And really remain in that [space of] for this moment only so that you can be just receiving and healing yourself throughout the process.

So, when my mission got canceled, I had to cry. I had to take care of myself. And I realized, wait, I'm still here. It's not the end of my life. I can still offer what I can, and I'm going to do it. And so I did. If I had one Reiki session online, I was just really grateful for that. I just took good care of myself and my family. I ended up taking care of my neighborhood because I would just be walking all the time, and I'd noticed my neighbors were super isolated.

This is just life, right? The caring for my neighbors and my family in a new way. And we became closer. Normally we don't have that opportunity to chat with each other. Now I have a sweet little community. I'm so excited about that.

We have to keep growing and our business changes. The needs for your business change just as you do. So, stay open to that. Don't hold on to the way your business operates so much because it can change. What's precious and sacred is you and the people that you get to meet. Just remember that. Keep going, Don't give up.

And then the other thing is that anytime you want to try something new or bring something out into the world, start talking about it. I start telling people, "Hey, guess what I'm thinking about doing that." You get people to be on your side and support you through that process. Because if you're excited about something, your loved ones are excited about it too. And they will ask you about it next week: "Hey, how's that going?" That actually keeps you accountable. "Oh, yeah. I did nothing on it!"

DIR: Which happens often!
I did that before I started the podcast, and it's what forced me to go ahead and set up that first interview. It works? I love offering sessions, but I sometimes find it challenging to deal with some clients, especially in New York City. You mentioned the other time we talked an excellent piece of advice to deal with Reiki clients: the most compassionate way I can handle this situation. Can you elaborate a little on this?
MK: Sometimes, that precept can be hard: to be compassionate to yourself and others. But it made me realize that compassion is not about being nice. I grew up to be nice and a good person, and I wasn't being very compassionate to myself. I'm a giver. I took care of everybody else, and I always left myself out. So being compassionate is actually [asking yourself] what is the most loving action you can do for yourself and others. The more we start to work with that precept, the easier [it is] when difficulties happen, or difficult people are in our lives. I think it's to not hide from that, to not be afraid. We have the strength; we have the compassion to accept them for who they are. And also to be strong. Compassion can be very strong, can be very fiery. The most loving action can sometimes be a really sharp kick in the butt. Do you know what I mean? I have two boys. They really helped me with that!

One of my friends who I really, really loved once gave me some of the best advice. She said, "You're too nice. Your children, your husband, they're running all over you. You're being a doormat." But I think we can do this in our business too, that we just offer an offer, and it's not the right [approach.] It's okay to say no to your clients and to your students. And to not accept people as a client or a student. In fact, that may be the most loving action. [My friend] said, "Sometimes you just gotta go ape shit crazy on people, on your family, and let them know that it's not okay." I just thought that was hysterical. I got a good laugh out of that but, but she's right. Because by being too nice, we're not taking responsibility for what is happening in our lives. Also, we disempower people by not allowing them to hear the truth of the situation and take responsibility for their part of whatever that is. 

I'm just trying to think of a specific example. I have had a student who ran into a friend of mine who's an incredible Reiki teacher. He lives in a different state, so he sent him to me to be my student. And I was like, "Yeah, for my friend, of course, you're welcome to take my class. Oh, you want to take it for free? Yeah, of course, you can take my class for free. Oh, you're going to be a really tough person to deal with all the time. I can handle that." I cared for this person. I cared for our relationship for as long as we could, and I cared for myself, but I realized I don't need to put myself in those situations. Some students are not the right students for me.

DIR: I like to chat with the people who want to study with me to check if we both feel like we are a match. Especially when it comes to Reiki 3, as it implies a significant investment. 
MK: I think the more centered and grounded you are, the more you have clarity in your life, and how you're communicating Reiki is clearer. Then the people who come to see you are the people that need to be there. All my clients are so lovely, and my students are so lovely, and I really enjoy them. I have taken care of my stuff too. So I have a little less in me, which is also helpful, fewer buttons to push you a little more gratitude, and a little more compassion in me, which is great. Boundaries are a good thing, and being able to be strong and say no. Or say, "You know what? You [need] to practice." I'm going to tell the truth. Whether people receive that or not is up to them, that's their responsibility. And I am not worried about it. I'm less worried about it than ever.

DIR: I know. It's, I love that. Boundaries and truthfulness. I have some students that have the same question class after class. I know that if they sat and did their practice, they will not have that question. So my answer is, "Sit on your bottom and tell me next week." Sometimes the most compassionate action is making sure people practice versus "solving" challenges for them. To hold the space for self-exploration. And I love the way you put it, "Hey, it's on you."
MK: Yeah. It's so much more empowering when you support someone in their own healing. We know that's what's happening: people are healing themselves. We want people to be empowered and to have their own Reiki energy. To really embody that. It's such a gift. It just keeps giving to their families, to their world, to what's happening in their life. I really appreciate each person's sacredness in that space and that it's not me who's doing the healing. I'm there holding that space for each person, whatever's going on. Not examining too much in my mind. When people have questions or things, I just try to communicate from that place of compassion as best as I can. I also tell them, "If it doesn't resonate with you, just throw it out, forget it, take what you need from the situations, and just enjoy."

DIR: Changing course a little bit, you went to Japan for further training and recently completed a mountain monk training. Can you chat a bit about that?
MK: I was lucky enough to go to Japan with Oliver Drewes, Frans Stiene, and a really incredible group of Reiki practitioners from all over the world. That was called Walking in the footsteps of a Mikao Usui. I think getting to feel the land, culture, people, traditions, and walk on the mountains—I feel like those roots [are now] a part of me somehow. When we eat the food of a place and enjoy the culture, we learn so much from those experiences, of being immersed in practice. 

I continued researching on my own about Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki, and his practices. I'm such a nerd in so many ways. I found a Shugendo mountain training that was happening in the United States. That's a very rare circumstance, as far as I can tell. So I was really excited to go because Mikao Usui practiced Shugendo. And Shugendo, it's about becoming one with Kami—or the divine nature of who you are—through accepting that Kami in nature, in yourself, the elements, and all of those things. It's a very aesthetic practice, so really difficult. One of my students called it Zen CrossFit! There's a lot of endurance practices that you go through. The point is not that you do the endurance, that you're super strong and can run, chant for 15 hours, and hike up the mountains with no food, not that much water. The important thing is that you are dedicated to that practice, that you really rest in who you are and trust your practice. You have that opportunity to see and confront your fears and the fact that you may die. It's pretty intense. You have compassion for yourself and can say, "That's good. I think I'll take a break." Because it's not about our ego—it's about really exposing our true nature a little more. 

It really helped me see a different aspect of Mikao Usui's practice and experience it for myself. I think that adds a different richness, a different perspective. I love exploring and keeping my practice really alive. And this was one way. I was so grateful to get out of my house [laughs] to embrace chanting the heart Sutra for hours and the Fudo mantra and being able to embody that mind like a mountain [quality.] rooted in peace, able to stand in any kind of weather.

DIR: For those not familiar with these practices and chants, you can find more about Shugendo here; listen to the Fudo Mantra chant here and here for the Heart Sutra.  My last question is another one I ask every practitioner. What is your biggest Reiki oops? What is the "mistake" that you made that made you go like, wow, this is a big lesson?
MK: Gosh, I mean, I mess up all the time! I actually think it is good to share mistakes. I think embracing our mistakes and our mess-ups is wonderful. It's just that gentling of that feeling that we have to be perfect. We don't. I learned so much from my mistakes; although I love to learn through happiness and joy, I think that's really important. We don't always have to learn through suffering and mistakes, you know? Happiness and joy are just as great. 

But when I first started practicing Reiki, I was super excited, and I was really forceful about it. I was like, "No, really sit down, sit, no sit. And I'm going to give you Reiki." So I've done all those things. So I can really understand people putting all the power of the universe on someone's knee and trying really hard. I really laugh about that now. At one point, I just was like, I'm so sorry to all my students! It's not that I messed up, but I kept changing and growing. My wisdom and my understanding of Reiki grew. I actually reached out to my beginning students like, "Hey, you guys, I'm practicing Reiki in a whole different way. I'm not putting all the power of the universe on our knees. I'm feeling my own relationship with the universe more and more, and I want to share that with you. It's so important to remember who you are that you are sacred; you are Reiki. Guess what? It's in you." 

DIR: [Laughs] I think, unless you've gone through all this process of trying too hard, trying to fix—you cannot be a compassionate teacher. And I also don't really know if it's a mistake or just a stage of learning we all go through. And as teachers or job is to hold a space where our students can be human and have an embodied practice.

Maria, I want to thank you so much for your time and the chance to know you better. Sometimes when we see people so happy, we enjoy the happiness. We don't get the depth of practice being that joy behind it. I really appreciate you sharing your journey with us! 
MK: Thank you so much! Take care. 

Reiki drawing inspired by Maria Kammerer’s journey.