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Opening the Heart with Reiki & Boundaries

Writer's picture: SaraSara

Updated: Dec 11, 2024


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For many of us, the idea of keeping an open heart can feel risky. Loving openly, freely, or generously might seem unintelligent, unsafe, or even weak—especially in a world where vulnerability can be met with rejection, hurt, or misunderstanding. Love seems to be as powerful as it is vulnerable, and that creates a sometimes agonizing dynamic within ourselves.

The key lies in understanding that love itself, as an energetic force, is utterly indestructible. Love has many egoic variations that can lead to suffering, but in its natural, pure form intrinsic to all of us and all of existence, it cannot be harmed. Love can be denied and suppressed, but it cannot be eliminated or damaged, ever. It does not have an opposite. It is the very essence of being. When we relate to and take action from the egoic variations of love - romance, family, friendship, affection, adoration, infatuation, obsession, we absolutely set ourselves up for pain and suffering. These forms of love are tied to the fleeting nature of life, to our relationships and identities, and to the inevitable losses that come with living Now, we're human, and some of those egoic variations of love are central to our lives. They are crucial, and they are not to be dismissed or avoided. We simply need to understand how to also tap into the universal energy of love - this is what gives us the strength to persist through heartbreak and loss that inevitably comes from loving in a world that is ultimately ephemeral. The universal energy of love is eternal and forever unscathed. It’s the love that persists when egoic forms fall away, the love that allows us to heal from heartbreak and loss, and the love that reminds us of our intrinsic worthiness. To live fully, we need both the vulnerable, human love and the unshakable, universal love. Boundaries are what allow us to embrace both.

Why an Open Heart Feels Unsafe

Let's back up and consider why opening our hearts feels so risky. Opening your heart means showing up authentically, offering compassion, and expressing your emotions. But if you’ve ever experienced betrayal, heartbreak, rejection, or neglect, you may have *learned* that love is dangerous. You might have developed “protective” habits like shutting down, withdrawing, or building emotional walls. Why put yourself out there if others aren't going to hold your love sacred, as it should be?

These defenses are completely fair, smart, and natural. They are there to protect you from pain. But, they can leave us feeling isolated and disconnected. Protection often comes at the cost of connection, making it harder to receive or give love authentically.

But here’s the truth: the open heart and the love we give others isn’t the problem. The issue arises when we fail to offer this love to ourselves, we become disconnected from universal love, and when we lack boundaries to help guide where our love flows. It Begins with Self Worth and Self Love

At the heart of every loving relationship is the relationship you have with yourself. Self-love isn’t about indulgence or selfishness; it’s about recognizing your intrinsic worth. There are egoic layers of self-love, which are great, and there is the universal layer of unconditional self-love, which taps back into essence and transcends the particulars of you and your life.

Self-love allows you to fill your own cup first, so that the love you give to others doesn’t deplete you but flows naturally from abundance. Rejection hurts quite a lot more when you are already rejecting yourself, or when you place all-importance on one person's opinion (so true for criticism too).

Take Self-Worth Into Your Own Hands with Reiki

  • You validate your own emotions: Instead of relying on others to affirm your feelings, you give yourself permission to feel and honor what arises, no matter how messy.

  • You meet your needs with kindness: Self-love means listening to your body, heart, and mind and responding with care, whether that’s rest, nourishment, or simply saying no.

  • You value yourself: Regardless of external circumstances, you recognize the profound significance and depth of meaning of your own self and life.

Developing self-love takes substantial practice, especially if you’ve been taught to prioritize others’ needs over your own or evaluate yourself based on others' opinions. And let's face it - we were all conditioned in school to judge ourselves by the grades we got. Let's be patient and compassionate with ourselves, knowing that we were not necessarily raised with the frameworks and cultural practices that reinforced our innate self-worth. Start small: treat yourself with the same patience you’d offer a close friend, speak to yourself kindly, give yourself permission to be imperfect and make mistakes, set boundaries when you feel misaligned, and create rituals of care that remind you how much you value yourself. Resist the temptation to equate external validation with intrinsic worth - they are different.

How Boundaries Keep Your Heart Open

Boundaries help us navigate relationships and life with clarity and confidence. They allow us to:

  • Say no without guilt: Protecting our energy is essential for trusting ourselves with our open heart.

  • We can emanate love without requiring anything in return

  • Prioritize meaningful connections: With boundaries, we can focus our love where it’s reciprocated and appreciated.

  • Avoid resentment: By setting clear limits, we prevent ourselves from giving too much or feeling drained.

  • Stay rooted in self-love: Boundaries remind us that we are worthy of the same love and respect we give others.

Paradoxically, boundaries make it safer to love. When we trust ourselves to set limits, we no longer need to rely on walls to feel secure. Instead, we can love with strength, knowing our energy is protected.

How Reiki Helps Cultivate Love and Boundaries

Reiki is a powerful tool for supporting the balance between an open heart and strong boundaries. Here’s how:

  • Affirms and evokes the powerful universal love intrinsic to you.

  • Releases old wounds: Reiki helps you release the emotional pain and fear that keep your heart closed. By clearing this energy, it creates space for love to flow freely.

  • Strengthens energetic boundaries: During a session, Reiki helps you become more aware of your own energy field, reinforcing your ability to sense and protect your boundaries.

  • Promotes self-love: Reiki connects you to your inner worth, reminding you that you deserve love and respect—both from yourself and others.

  • Encourages mindfulness: As Reiki calms your mind and body, it allows you to approach relationships and boundaries with clarity and intentionality.

Open your Heart with Reiki at Somatique in Boulder, CO

When we live in “protection mode,” we cut ourselves off from the beauty of connection, and we put ourselves at risk of all kinds of emotional ailments that come from social disconnect. Love, when paired with wisdom and boundaries, is safer than the fortress of self-protection. It gives us the freedom to embrace life fully, receive love, and know that we can trust ourselves to honor our needs.


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Book an individual or couples Reiki session in Boulder, CO, today, and experience the brilliance and strength of love, rooted in the safety of healthy boundaries Let Reiki Guide You to a Stronger, Open Heart

Reiki helps you align with your inner strength, release what no longer serves you, and embrace the balance of love and boundaries. If you’re ready to open your heart without fear, Reiki can support you on your journey.

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