Integrity over reaction
That’s the work right now
I wanna take a moment to talk about mental health and how going down the many rabbit holes of how utterly fucked up things are right now in this country is taking a toll. I often struggle between feeling the duty of staying informed and the peace of feigning ignorance in an effort to not take in too much media.
I’ve been feeling the darkness and bitter cold of winter, both literally and figuratively. Add to that the mental torment of learning too much about horrible people, and I sorta hit a wall. That’s why you haven’t heard from me the past two weeks. I quite honestly didn’t want to open my laptop, look at a screen, or even write.
Which…if you really know me, you know that’s crazy because writing is in my top three favorite pastimes.
Since I felt so drained, I’ve been focusing more on filling my cup. I’m not trying to pimp out self-care to others while being incapable of noticing my own need…and actually following through with the tending part.
So…I’ve been reading. A lot. I have a goal of reading 50 books this year. And by “reading,” I actually mean reading. Listening to an audiobook is not reading the dang book!
I digress.
I’ve also been meeting with clients, snuggling and playing with Poppy and Otto, cooking healthy yummy food, doing a lot of sourdough baking, and being support staff while my man perfects his pizza dough (support staff mainly means dishwasher 😆…and the irony/tragedy is not at all lost on me…when I say pizza…I really mean pizza. It’s not code for anything).
In addition, I’ve been applying to some remote work positions doing business management for other entrepreneurs in the wellness/service spaces.
Like I mentioned in an email a while back, since I have all of my own ops and tech set up, I have this left-brain function that needs more attention. Combine that with my desire to be in community with other entrepreneurs and teams, and it feels aligned. If you or an entrepreneur you know needs this type of help, please get in touch. I decades of experience to offer in business operations, project management, marketing strategy, and more.
I gave you a pretty in-depth personal update above, so I’m gonna dig right into the one big topic of this section.
In addition to the ways I’ve been tending to my self-care, there’s one thing above all others that’s helped me through some pretty severe bouts of anxiety, depression, physical pain, and struggle with self-love over the past couple months.
Reiki.
My personal Reiki practice keeps expanding and evolving.
It’s always there in my back pocket for the times when I need it most.
I turn to it daily…and it’s been a lifesaver.
In case you need a reminder, here are just a few of the many benefits of Reiki:
• Decreases stress
• Relieves pain
• Quells anxiety
• Improves sleep
• Promotes relaxation
• Balances the chakras
• Increases energy levels
• Helps cultivate self-awareness
• Supports the body’s natural healing process
✱ Please note that Reiki is meant to be a complementary healing modality and should not replace seeing your regular family doctor or necessary medical specialists. That said, taking charge of your own health is a bold act of empowerment! ✱
I get a lot of questions and hesitations about distance Reiki sessions. People overwhelmingly think it needs to be in person to work. I get it. I understand how hard it can be to believe.
The thing is…out of all the times I’ve received Reiki (and that’s a lot), the sessions that were absolute chef’s kiss were via Zoom. Comfortable. Lying down in my own bed. Fully relaxed. No driving to the appointment. No rushing. No nervous system activation from leaving the house.
Here’s the grounded science-y part:
Everything in this Universe is energy. Your body is electromagnetic. Your brain and heart generate measurable electrical fields. Quantum physics shows us that particles can influence one another across distance - what Einstein once called “spooky action at a distance” aka quantum entanglement. Energy isn’t confined by walls or geography. It isn’t limited by time or space.
Reiki works within that energetic framework. Physical proximity isn’t important. It’s all based on intention, resonance, and connection within a field that already exists between us.
Energy transcends space.
So…for the love of distance Reiki…let’s make it easier to experience!
✨ For the remainder of the month of February, I’m offering 22% off
30 or 60 minute distance Reiki sessions ✨
Use coupon code distancereiki at checkout.
If your nervous system’s been fried, your body’s been tight, or your Spirit feels worn thin…this is your invitation to receive without having to leave your sanctuary.
The most powerful healing happens when you’re exactly where you’re most at ease! ❤️🩹❣️
✨ Book your Reiki session here! ✨
This week, Spirit’s steady, clear, even almost confrontational.
Take stock of your values.
Not the ones you post about.
Not the ones you say out loud when it’s convenient.
Not the ones that sound good in conversation.
The ones you actually live by.
Spirit keeps showing me this disconnect between declared morals and demonstrated behavior. Between “this is what I stand for” and “this is how I move through the world.” And that gap? That’s where a lot of the collective tension is coming from right now.
We can’t claim compassion and then speak with cruelty.
We can’t claim integrity and then bend the truth when it suits us.
We can’t claim love and then dehumanize people.
Your values are not proven in comfort.
They’re proven under pressure.
Spirit isn’t asking you to be perfect.
Rather that you be congruent.
To notice where your words and your actions don’t quite line up.
To gently close that gap.
Ask yourself:
• Where am I living in alignment with what I believe?
• Where am I reacting instead of responding from my core values?
• What do my daily choices reveal about what I truly prioritize?
There’s a deeper message → Alignment brings peace.
When your actions match your morals, your nervous system softens. Your Spirit steadies. You don’t have to perform. You don’t have to defend yourself constantly. You simply are.
In a world that feels chaotic and divided, being internally congruent is revolutionary.
Audit yourself with honesty, compassion, and awareness.
Your values are your compass.
If you feel lost, it might be time to recalibrate.
And recalibration doesn’t require an announcement.
It requires quiet integrity.
That’s the work this week. 💖
🤲 Reiki for realignment
This practice builds directly on Spirit’s nudge to examine your values…without spiraling.
Find a quiet spot to sit or lie down.
Take a slow breath in, then let it out without trying to control it.
1 → Invite Reiki
Place one hand on your heart and one on your solar plexus.
These two centers govern love and will. Compassion and action. Feeling and choice.
Silently invite Reiki in.
2 → Call in the Great Bright Light
Imagine, visualize, or simply think about a brilliant, clear white-gold light above your head.
This is clarity without judgment. Truth without punishment.
Let it pour slowly down through the crown of your head.
Into your throat. Into your heart. Into your belly.
Let it settle.
3 → Use prompt words (not questions)
As the light moves through you, gently speak or think one word at a time. Pause after each. Notice your body’s response.
Integrity.
Kindness.
Truth.
Respect.
Courage.
Compassion.
Boundaries.
Humility.
Accountability.
Generosity.
Self-respect.
You don’t need to analyze anything. Just notice...does your chest soften? Does your stomach tighten? Does your breath deepen? Does resistance show up?
The light is here to align you.
4 → Seal it
When you’re ready, imagine, visualize, or think about that Great Bright light settling into your core like a steady ember.
Say softly: “I choose alignment over performance. I choose integrity over reaction. I choose to live what I believe.”
Let Reiki continue flowing for another minute or two.
Simple powerful realignment for clarity!
🃏 The Tower + The Chariot + 3 of Swords
✨ Deck: The Eras Tarot ✨
When The Tower and The Chariot fly out together? That’s combustion!
The Tower = disruption. The fall of what we thought was stable. Systems cracking. Illusions collapsing. The truth hitting structure like lightning. It’s uncomfortable. It’s loud. It doesn’t seek consent.
And right beside it, The Chariot. Forward motion. Determination. Refusal to be paralyzed. Control in the midst of chaos.
Together they say:
Yes, something is breaking down…
but something else is mobilizing...
Movement through wreckage.
The Chariot doesn’t deny The Tower. It harnesses it. It says: “Okay. The structure fell. Now what are you steering?”
Then comes the 3 of Swords. 🗡️
Heartache. Betrayal. Grief. Disillusionment.
This card acknowledges pain. There’s heartbreak tied to what’s crumbling. There’s disappointment in what’s being revealed. There’s grief in realizing something wasn’t what we hoped.
On a collective level, this spread feels like:
⚡ Truth crashing through illusion
🏹 A choice to move forward anyway
💔 And the honest ache that comes with seeing clearly
You can’t rebuild without acknowledging what hurt. You can’t move forward if you pretend nothing collapsed.
The Tower clears. The 3 of Swords feels. The Chariot moves.
If something’s shattered your perception lately…good. It means you’re no longer living in illusion.
And even in the wreckage…you have the reins.
Fire Cider Courage Tonic
For when the Tower falls and you refuse to stay down!
Ingredients -
• Raw apple cider vinegar (with the mother)
• Fresh ginger, sliced
• Fresh garlic cloves, smashed
• Red onion, sliced
• Lemon slices (with peel)
• Fresh turmeric root (or high-quality powder)
• Cayenne pepper
• Fresh cracked black pepper
• Raw local honey
Instructions -
Prepare the jar - Add all chopped herbs, roots, and spices to a clean glass jar.
Pour and submerge - Cover completely with apple cider vinegar. Everything should be fully submerged.
Seal and steep - Close tightly and store in a dark cabinet for 2–4 weeks. Shake daily to activate the infusion.
Strain and sweeten - After steeping, strain out solids and stir in raw honey to taste.
Take with intention - 1 tablespoon daily diluted in a little bit of warm water.
🪄 Magical Properties of Ingredients -
🍎 Apple Cider Vinegar → Alchemy and transformation. Turns decay into medicine. Clears stagnant energy and strengthens boundaries.
🔥 Ginger → Courage, forward motion, and momentum. Ignites personal power and clears hesitation.
🧄 Garlic → Protection, purification, and energetic defense. Shields against negativity and strengthens resilience.
🧅 Red Onion → Truth, honesty, and revealing what’s hidden. Peels back illusions layer by layer.
🍋 Lemon → Clarity, illumination, and emotional cleansing. Cuts through confusion and sharpens perception.
🌿 Turmeric → Solar vitality and sacred strength. Invokes endurance, longevity, and grounded confidence.
🌶 Cayenne → Passion, activation, and willpower. Sparks drive and burns through stagnation.
⚫ Black Pepper → Amplification. Enhances the potency of everything it touches - energetically and physically.
🍯 Raw Honey → Sweetness, attraction, and integration. Softens intensity while preserving strength.
🌱 Nutritional Qualities of Ingredients -
🍎 Apple Cider Vinegar → Supports blood sugar balance, digestion, and gut health; contains beneficial acetic acid and probiotics.
🔥 Ginger → Anti-inflammatory, improves circulation, eases nausea, and supports immune defense.
🧄 Garlic → Natural antimicrobial; supports heart health, immune function, and reduces inflammation.
🧅 Red Onion → Rich in quercetin and sulfur compounds; supports detox pathways and cardiovascular health.
🍋 Lemon → High in vitamin C; supports immune function, collagen production, and digestion.
🌿 Turmeric → Contains curcumin; powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties supporting joints and brain health.
🌶 Cayenne → Stimulates metabolism, boosts circulation, and supports cardiovascular function through capsaicin.
⚫ Black Pepper → Enhances absorption of curcumin and other nutrients; supports digestion.
🍯 Raw Honey → Contains enzymes, antioxidants, and antimicrobial properties; soothing to the throat and supportive of immune health.
🔥 Spell to infuse courage and clarity -
Before taking your first sip, hold the jar and say:
“I’ll not shrink from the fire.
I harness it.
I strengthen through it.
My body’s steady.
My Spirit’s sovereign.”
Take the shot. Feel it burn. Let it remind you that heat can be transformative! ✨
Let the world do what it’s doing while you focus on who you are.
On how you move.
On what you stand for when it’d be easier to fall for everything.
Integrity is unshakeable. And that’s the kind of energy that rebuilds after the Tower falls. 🗼🔥
It’s good you’re here!
Sending you magic~
Kirsten Tonja
Explore all of my 1-to-1 offerings HERE!
