Uncategorized | Mind and Body Method

Friends Helped Me Navigate Profound Grief and Chaotic Energy

Laurie Ratto — Thu, 28 May 2020 05:30:21 +0000

This past April my family was presented with unexpected events that overwhelmed us. I am ecstatic that I had many friends that helped to support me emotionally and energetically to get me through it especially while in quarantine. I want to share my story, which has a happy ending, because I believe many of you can relate to it.

At the beginning of April my nephew, who was only 58, died unexpectedly (it was not COVID related). He had been healthy, active, going to work so this was a big shock to all of us. What made the situation worse was we were all in quarantine so we could not come together as a family to grieve. His daughter, who lost her mother over a decade ago to cancer, was devastated and I wanted to support her. Long phone calls and distance healing touch sessions ensued. My husband was very close to him so he became very reactive and had frantic energy about him. He did not want HT sessions, he wanted to deal with it his own way.

My nephew’s death didn’t feel real to me until we did a funeral via zoom. When I saw him in the coffin, when we watched him being entombed with my niece, then it felt real. Grief replaced the numbness and disbelief I had felt.

I also was feeling irritable, like intense, chaotic energy was surrounding me. I believe this was the energy of fear generated by COVID. Remember we are all connected and when a large number of people have the same emotion it is intensified. I am also aware my husband’s energy state was affecting me.

Sometimes, as a healer, I feel like I know so many self-care techniques I should be able to deal with issues on my own. Do you ever feel that way?

I did some HT self-care, used essential oils, did some earthing but what gave me the most support was receiving an HT treatment from my friend Jeri. We do an exchange with each other monthly. This calmed my nervous system and cleared away a lot of the irritable, chaotic energy. I could not have done that on my own in the state I was in.

Just when I was starting to feel somewhat normal again another death happened. My cousin, who was 59, was hospitalized with a blood infection and died a few days later. This death hit me even harder, she was my best friend. Again not being able to come together with the family added to my grief and made it harder to work through. I couldn’t think clearly, my heart was heavy, I was unmotivated to do any self-care except putting on oils occasionally. The week she died I couldn’t think about anything else. I couldn’t work, I could barely cook and do the basic things. My husband and daughter were supportive but they too were grieving and their energy was low. I realized I could not get out of this funk on my own so I reached out to friends in the healing touch community.

Many folks sent me healing energy and emailed or texted me condolences. I received 2 distance healing touch treatments in 1 week then weekly for 2 weeks and one two weeks later. That is what helped me to process my feelings and finally be able to get back on track with my life. By the last session, my chakras were open and my field was light and clear. I was working again and felt like I could talk about my cousin without bursting into tears.

If you would like some support with emotional or physical issues during these unusual times please contact me for a free consultation. Sometimes we just can’t do it alone no matter how much we know about self-care. You don’t have to suffer in silence or alone, reach out for assistance whether it be me, a counselor, reiki practitioner, naturopath, or other healthcare practitioners.

Finding “the gifts” of shelter-in-place

Laurie Ratto — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 20:49:49 +0000

This is a scary time with many unanswered questions. Many people are experiencing financial, health and mental challenges due to sheltering-in-place; I understand these concerns are real. However, worry and stress never solved anything and it depresses your immune system. I also understand that living with others 24/7 can be challenging and cause friction at times. I have a husband and daughter and we have different interests and ways of doing things. But instead of focusing on the challenges and negative things that happen I choose to find what is good in all of this. By focusing more on the positive and practicing gratitude you stop the worry/stress response and your body produces endorphins and other “feel good” hormones that can help boost your immune system.

Now we have the time to reconnect with family members we live with as well as family and friends farther away. With children home from school and not able to do group activities they can talk or video chat with grandparents and other relatives. Families can play games together, whether it is board games like monopoly, aggravation or video games like bowling or car racing anything that brings the family together is a gift of reconnection.

Allow me to share my personal story. My daughter was supposed to move to Anaheim in April for a job but now we don’t know when or if it will happen. That is disappointing for all of us. She wanted to be near her friends and I wanted the room back because it was my office/healing space. Also my husband is working from home now so the house is crowded during the day sometimes making it difficult for my husband and myself to get work done.

However, the 3 of us, along with our dog Huck, have been taking walks together in the middle of the day which has been very nice. My husband usually works across the bay and is gone 6:30 am – 6:30 pm so this is a nice gift of time together for us. We also play games together some evenings.

This is also a time for reflection and self-care. Now that some of the busyness of the world has stopped such as attending or taking children to activities/events/school and perhaps commuting time to and from work, as well as social engagements, you can take time to find some activities that feed your body and mind. Try yoga, Tia–Chi, Qigong™ online or in a video and see how it feels. Starting an exercise routine of walking, jogging, biking, etc., three to four days a week can strengthen your body and clear your mind. Perhaps soaking in a tub with essential oils and surrounded by candles and music is more your cup of tea. Explore different things and start a routine so when this is over you have developed a wonderful self-care habit that can continue.

Do the project or work on your hobby that you usually don’t have time to do. This can be anything from doing jigsaw puzzles, sewing, dancing, painting, building models to landscaping your yard, cleaning out a closet, learning an instrument or foreign language.

Air pollution has decreased over China and the US according to reports from NASA. Yes, this is only a temporary effect but it gives the Earth and us a small break that I am happy to see.

My suggestion to you is, find 2 things to be grateful for every day and let me know if it changes your mood or health in any way.

Enhance your Healing Touch Sessions with Essential Oils

Laurie Ratto — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 16:51:56 +0000

Healing Touch therapy by itself is powerful and so is aromatherapy however when you combine them in a session the results are amplified and amazing! There are many ways you can incorporate essential oils into a healing touch session.

One method is to use oils on yourself topically or by inhalation just before a session to raise your vibration. The higher your vibration the better conduit you are to run the energy.

By using essential oils on clients you are raising their vibration which makes it easier for you to clear debris from the field. It also assists in balancing and reorganizing the field which is exactly what you want to do!

The easiest way to use oils on clients’ is to place them in your client’s energy field at the beginning of the session. All you need to do is place 1-2 drops in the palm of one hand, rub hands together and do several MPHIM (magnetic passes hands in motion) through the person’s auric field (biofield).

With some education, you can apply the oils to your clients topically on chakras or on wrists and neck.

Or have them inhale oils one of 3 ways:

1) Inhale directly from the bottle

2) Place 1-2 drops in your hands and have them take 3-4 deep breaths at the beginning of the session then run your hands through their energy field

3) Place 1-2 drops in the palm of their hand, rub hands together then cup hands over nose and mouth and take several deep breaths.

Below is a partial list of oils for various emotional responses:

Calming	Energizing/Uplifting	Balancing (for mood swings, emotional imbalance)
Lavender	Basil	Clary Sage
Marjoram (sweet)	Grapefruit	Geranium
Neroli	Peppermint	Ylang ylang

Use oils when working on yourself for maximum benefit. See what oils you are drawn too, experiment and have fun with it. If you have a chronic health condition it is best to work with an Aromatherapist because some medications interact with essential oils.

If you want more information on aromatherapy please contact me via email or click here

Essential Oils Help Alleviate Painful Sprains, Muscle Spasms and Soreness

Laurie Ratto — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 00:00:20 +0000

Whether you’re a weekend sports warrior, become overzealous while exercising or overdo it in the garden or while cleaning your home your muscles can take a beating. They also can talk back to you with pain and inflammation!

It can happen at any time, your walking or playing a sport and you twist your ankle. It begins to swell and you can hardly bear weight on it, you have a sprained ankle. A sprain is an injury to a ligament that holds 2 bones together, it can also happen to other parts of your body such as wrist, knee, etc.

One of the best oils to use for all these issues is Helichrysum italicum (Everlasting oil). It helps to decrease swelling, ease pain and regenerate tissue.

Another option is Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) it also has anti-inflammatory and ligament regenerative properties. However, this oil can be very irritating to the skin so apply it as a 2% dilution (3 drops essential oil in 5ml carrier oil) in adults. Not recommended to be applied to damaged skin or for children under 2 years old. Elemi can be blended with it to help with muscle spasms and pain.

Muscle spasms require oils that are antispasmodic and perhaps analgesic. Here is a partial list of possibilities:

Sweet basil, marjoram,
cypress
Wintergreen Note this oil is contraindicated for children or if you take anticoagulant medication, have hemophilia, are pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Single oil possibilities for muscle soreness:

Peppermint
Marjoram
Rosemary
Black pepper
Roman chamomile
Spruce
Nutmeg

For all conditions, it is best to apply the oils topically in a 5% solution (in order to prevent sensitization) except as noted in lemongrass.

Which oil should you use? Well, what one(s) do you have on hand? Try what you have first. Also blending 2 to 4 oils will have a synergistic effect.

If you do not get the response you desire then try different oils or see an Aromatherapist to determine what oils your body needs at this time.

If you are experiencing acute or chronic pain and want to alleviate it with less or no medication let’s have a conversation, click here to schedule a 30-minute call.

Ancient Energy in Hawaii

Laurie Ratto — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:54:02 +0000

Have you ever noticed that once you become aware of something you tend to start noticing it?

For example, if you decide you want to purchase a yellow VW car you suddenly start noticing those cars everywhere you go.

Once I became aware of energy fields I started to tune in or notice these fields when out in nature or around people. Remember we are all connected to each other, the planet, the past and the future by energy.

During one of my trips to Hawaii, I walked into a petroglyph area on The Big Island. As I turned outward toward the sea and saw dozens of stones with carvings in them I felt a wave of joy and reverence come over me. The energy in and around the area was enormous and palpable to me. As I continued to walk I found a plaque explaining the area and the petroglyphs, it was then I understood the energy I was feeling. This was my introduction to Pu’u Loa.

Pu’u Loa “Hill of long life” was and is a very sacred and religious place for many Hawaiians. Families (all the living generations) came here to carve “pukas” into the lava and place a portion of the umbilical cord of a newborn into it to ensure a long life. Other images were also carved out to represent people, travel, and stories. No wonder I felt joy, what was more joyful than the birth of a child! The reverence I felt was from the energy of the elders that had traveled here. I sat on the boardwalk for several minutes just drinking in the scene and energy. I felt peace, gratitude, and love for being there and for the people that had traveled here before me and those that would come in the future for the ceremony.

Have you ever been in a place and had a sensation come over you?

If you are religious perhaps church brings a feeling into your body and soul.
Perhaps when you are out in nature or with a group of like-minded people a wave of feeling came over you.
Next time you are out, take a moment, be still and see what, if anything, comes to you. It might be a general feeling such a peace or joy, a sensation such as chills or a word or phrase may pop into your head.

Just notice what happens for you and then give thanks for the experience.

If you feel your energy is low or feeling scattered it is time for a tune-up or some clearing give me a call at 510 381-3191 or book a session now.

Huck has Several Quirks

Laurie Ratto — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:26:08 +0000

Our dog Huck has several quirks. One is he does not like the sound of metal on metal, clanking of aluminum ladders or the sound of fans. He becomes very nervous and frequently whimpers or barks when he hears that type of sound even when it is at a low volume. For example if I turn on the fan above the stove he immediately gets up, comes over and whimpers for a short time. If he is upstairs he runs down and stands at attention staring at the stove. However fireworks exploding, sirens on emergency vehicles and other loud noises do not bother him at all.

Another interesting behavior is when I throw any of his toys up the stairs. If the toy does not make it to the landing and rolls back down he runs the other way! Once it is down the stairs he has no problem picking it up and playing with it. If I throw it all the way up to the next landing he will chase after it happily and play with it. I often wonder what kind of life he had before coming to us that created these behaviors.

We found Huck at the animal shelter. He had been abandoned and was very thin when we brought him home. He had high energy but had not been trained or socialized with other dogs so we hired a dog trainer to help us. Stacy was great and we were very sad when she moved out of state. Huck and my family had come a long way with training. He still does not like the noises I mentioned but is more tolerant of them. He learned how to socialize with other dogs and is much more obedient. He has been able to release some of his fears. I will never know what happened to him as a puppy but with love and guidance he settled down and is less fearful.

Is there something in your past that is causing you pain that you are ready to release? Perhaps you have experienced a trauma such as a car accident, illness, physical or verbal abuse that you have not be able to fully work through. I would love to help you gently clear the trauma and help ease your pain. Contact me for a free 30 minute consultation to explore the best way to help you get out of pain.

As an energy worker, I believe there should be some sort of exchange between people so this content is not for free. If you found it valuable, in exchange for payment, I ask that you do one or all of the following: 1) Share it with at least 2 people on Facebook, via email or any social media of your choice. 2) Answer the question or leave a comment.

Laurie Ratto, RN, Speaker, HTCP, CCA has 30+ years’ experience helping people to heal from physical, mental , and emotional pain. She provides a safe, nurturing space for women to release fears and self-doubt, what spiritually ties us to pain. Laurie Ratto specializes in complementary medicine, as a holistic healer, she keeps her RN certification current because she understands the power of balance as we heal.

Glove Anesthesia for Pain Management

Laurie Ratto — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:45:03 +0000

I teach my clients experiencing physical pain a technique called Glove Anesthesia for pain management. This technique does not address the cause of the pain but reduces pain symptoms. This is a guided imagery technique that can help “take the edge off” so you require less pain medications. People who have been in pain for some time often feel helpless and hopeless about managing it. This technique can provide them with a positive experience of taking control and return hope to them.

After the client is in a relaxed, focused state I have them imagine putting their hand into a bucket that contains an anesthetic so the hand becomes numb. Once the hand feels numb I guide the client to place the hand on any part of the body that is hurting. The numbness is transferred from the hand to the painful area and the hand absorbs the pain. This process of dipping into the bucket, creating numbness and transferring it can be repeated as many times as needed until the pain is under control.

Most clients experience a 2 – 5 point drop in pain levels on a 0 – 10 pain scale. Some clients have mastered this technique and now rarely use pain medications. This technique provides a dramatic illustration of the power of the mind. For many people in the beginning it is difficult to really experience the hand becoming numb or to transfer that feeling to another part of their body. As a guide I help you to fully involve all of your senses and make a strong mind/body connection. By working with you on an individual basis we find the images that work for YOU resulting in significant pain relief. It takes practice and that is why I provide my clients with an audio of Glove Anesthesia to do at home. I want to empower people to take care of themselves. Glove Anesthesia can be very effective for pain management.

Talk to Your Pain

Laurie Ratto — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:34:50 +0000

Have you ever tried to talk to your pain to find out what it is trying to tell you? Guided Imagery can help you have a discussion with your pain and it may reveal its purpose. Many times clients find that the pain wants them to take better care of themselves, get out of a bad relationship or bad job. You see your subconscious mind has many ways of getting your attention and pain is very effective in doing that. I know this may sound woo-woo or far-fetched but sometimes it is very enlightening.

I worked with one client that had general body pain due to an illness. The image that represented her pain was a multi-colored cube. After talking with the image she discovered that she was hiding many parts of herself at work and even with friends. The pain wanted her to be able to fully express herself. Ironically the pain also caused her to become withdrawn at times or not go out with friends. She made a deal to express herself more if the pain would decrease. As she started to express herself more at work the pain started to decrease. I made her an audio so she could continue talking with the pain image on a regular basis and the last I heard from her the pain had significantly decreased and she was enjoying life more.

Sometimes the image will not communicate with the person. You see your subconscious will protect you and not tell you anything you are not ready to hear. Then I may approach the pain by instructing the client on a specific technique(s) to help decrease the pain. Your mind is powerful, sometimes you just need to find the right key to unlock it. You can talk to your pain and see what it has to say with a little help from someone skilled at engaging imagery, like me. Would you like to talk to your pain?

Appendicitis When We Were in Italy!

Laurie Ratto — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:32:10 +0000

On a family vacation my daughter’s boyfriend developed appendicitis when we were in Italy! The year our youngest daughter, Paula, graduated from college we took a family trip to Italy to see the sights and visit relatives. We started in Rome and then went to Florence. One morning Angela (my oldest daughter) came to our room and said her boyfriend had been up all night and was sick. I took one look at him and knew it was his appendix. My husband took Angela and Logan to the hospital. Thank God he could understand a fair amount of Italian and speak it somewhat. The doctor spoke a little English and they were able to communicate. After the test confirmed what I thought the decision was made to do surgery that afternoon

In the mean time I was with Paula (my youngest daughter) roaming Florence. No sense in all of us sitting in the hospital, especially since I knew almost no Italian. My time to help out would come later. I felt bad for Logan, being in pain, having surgery and that would limit what he could do the rest of the trip. The good news was at least we were going to be staying with family for the reminder of the trip.

Logan made it through surgery just fine. The doctor said patients usually stay 4 days in the hospital. I was shocked, it is an outpatient procedure or overnight in the US. We had train tickets to go meet our family in Alpicella the next day. I spoke with the doctor and told him I was a nurse and asked if we could take him home in 2 days if everything looked good and he agreed. Logan liked the idea of not staying in the hospital very long.

Nick (my husband), Paula and I took the train the next day to meet our family. It was comfortable on the train and nice to see the countryside and cities that we passed through. We had a great reunion with our cousins when we arrived in Varrazze. The following day they drove me back to Florence to pick up Logan and Angela. My nursing skills really came in handy on this trip! Logan’s surgery was like a blessing in that we did not go from one place to another all the time. We did low key trips with the family and spent more time just hanging-out which was fabulous!! This trip reminded me how nice it is to slow down, to spend time enjoying friends and family and to listen to our bodies for messages about what we need. So now I am reminding you to do the same.

Before Computers Mom was my Spell Check

Laurie Ratto — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 09:00:00 +0000

Before computers my Mom was my spell check. I was not very good at grammar or spelling and practically had a dictionary sewn to my hip when writing papers. All through high school and college my Mom proof read all of my papers. She was an executive secretary and had many valuable skills. Just for the record, I did type my own papers.

Corrections were done with white-out or the white tape that had to be lined up perfectly to type over the word you wanted to change and then you went back and typed the correct word. It was so tedious and time-consuming. Sometimes my Mom would find 2 or 3 errors usually towards the middle of the page which seemed to be the hardest place to line anything up. Occasionally she would take pity on me and help with the corrections. I am so glad computers came along! No more typing over something or erasing and trying not to leave a smear or black mark. Corrections are fast, easy and the computer checks the spelling. So although my Mom has been gone for many years I have not needed to live with a dictionary sewn to my hip!

Moving from a typewriter to a computer keyboard was easy. The keys are in the same order and corrections are a breeze. Change can be easy and more efficient. Sometimes change is slow and requires a change of mindset. Holistic therapies are an example of that. They have been around for a long time. I knew about many of them in the early 1980”s. It was not until the past 10 years or less that people have come to realize how safe and effective they are. The insurance companies finally pay for some therapies as well. If you’re experiencing some type of pain do you want to continue treating it the old fashion way like the typewriter or would you like to make a change and give a computer a try? The choice is yours.