The Energy We Share: When the Universe Brings Us Together

Energy.

Gratitude, trust, and the beautiful timing of our individual paths.

What happens when we begin to see the world through the eyes of energy?

For quite some time now, I have, and do. This may feel like a read that flows in many directions, it’s designed to on this piece.

Words are more than words.

They carry feelings, vibrations, colors, and connections. I no longer have the ‘hang ups’ on words like love, surrender, or any other thing I write about. I see and feel the world differently than I once used to. Words that would bring about a judgement impact, I no longer connect to that belief system. For me, these words no longer connect to the same pathways to the ego as they once did. They don’t compete or separate or have sensationalized versions of themselves in my psyche much of the time.

We can feel words in our bodies before we ever fully understand them. Words have energy. They find places. Places have energy. Spaces have energy. People have energy. Every living thing carries its own unique qualities, strengths, and challenges. None of us exist independently of the energy around us. There is a relationship between everything. We influence one another, sometimes without realizing it. We can strengthen one another, challenge one another, and create something together that none of us could have created alone.

Today was a beautiful reminder of that because these are concepts interwoven within the Reik I connection to energy. These were the interwoven descriptions and themes of how our thoughts impact our energy system.

It was Reiki training day at Laura Ramirez LLC; The Nature Within LLC, as we welcomed five beautiful individuals into our Reiki I training series alongside our co-teacher, Amber Schreiner of Mosaic Wellness.

It became one of those days that leaves you feeling grateful for the people who cross your path, the experiences that shape you, and the timing of it all.

It didn’t begin that way, and some days are just like that.

Sometimes, We Need a Little Warm-Up

The past few weeks have been busy. A lot of moving parts, a lot of commitments, and a full Saturday leading into Sunday morning.

Everything had purpose, and I was grateful for that. But when I got out of bed on Sunday after only a few hours of sleep, I could feel that my energy was running a little low.

I wasn’t dreading the day, not in the least. “I get to” is a direct motto for this kind of “work” I get to do.

I was ready to teach, I just felt I needed something more.

I just didn’t have quite the zip on my fastball so to speak. Another baseball reference, I thought I might need a little bullpen warm-up before facing the first batter.

Fortunately, I had a 40-minute drive to our office in Berlin, Connecticut.

Forty minutes to breathe.

Forty minutes to enjoy the scenery.

Forty minutes to reconnect a bit before I stepped into a space where others would be looking to me for guidance.

I set my intentions, played a little music, and connected with my breath. I allowed my breathing to help settle my mind, bring my awareness back into my body, and create a little more balance in my system.

This is something we talk about often at The Nature Within. Before we try to support someone else in finding their center, we have an opportunity to find our own. It’s an accountability thing for me.

By the time I arrived, I felt noticeably more ready. .The things we teach require practice. The things we invite others to explore are also invitations for us to continue exploring ourselves. It’s a talk the talk, walk the walk thing.

I am that person who ‘stands’ at the front of the classroom, who continues to rely on the practices I base my services upon.

The Right Energy at the Right Time

Laura and I have always had a natural flow when we teach together. I deem it magical. Again, not a word that triggers me. It used to.

We understand one another’s strengths. We recognize where one of us might need support. Over time, we’ve developed a rhythm that allows us to complement one another rather than compete for space.

That is part of the magic of our partnership.

Still, I felt like I needed a few more pitches before the “game” began.

AND then Amber walked in.

If you know Amber, you know she brings a unique blend of energies. She’s funny, witty, and enthusiastic. She’s also calm, thoughtful, dedicated, empathetic, and protective of the people and spaces she cares about as the pendulum swings.

She’s a learner. She’s a doer. She’s a Reiki Master Teacher and practitioner who brings her own depth of experience to the work.

Amber has been part of our Reiki training journey as a student here a s well, and now she’s continuing to develop her own teaching practice through Mosaic Wellness.

She’s the ‘Real Deal.’

Sunday, Laura and I welcomed her into the classroom as a co-teacher.

Within about fifteen seconds of her entering the room before class began, I found myself more playful and laughing.

My energy lifted almost immediately.

It wasn’t something I had to analyze or work toward. In that moment, I knew the day was going to unfold into something special.

I was ready for my first pitch. Sorry, last one.

What struck me most was the chemistry between Amber and Laura. They share a beautiful student-teacher connection, but they also have a natural teacher-to-teacher relationship. There was room for each of us to contribute, learn, and support the others. We were learning alongside one another as well.

There was mentorship woven throughout the day, sometimes through a conversation, sometimes through an observation, and sometimes, simply through the way someone showed up.

That kind of professional connection is special.

When people come together without needing to prove themselves, protect their egos, or control every part of the experience, something opens up.

The energy becomes collaborative.

Where everyone benefits.

Five Different Paths. One Shared Space.

One of the things I love about Reiki training is that we never know exactly who will walk through the door or what each person will bring into the room.

Everyone arrives with a history.

Everyone has experiences that have shaped their beliefs, their relationships, their understanding of themselves, and the way they move through the world.

Some arrive curious. Some arrive searching. Some have been feeling a pull toward this work for a long time without necessarily knowing how to explain it.

We find, and often define ourselves in the most crucial moments in life. The same room, same place, at exactly the right time. Perfect timing.

Our first student was a gentleman.

Since opening The Nature Within LLC in 2023, most of the students who have attended our Reiki classes have been women. This isn’t a leading suggestion or a theme. It’s simply been our experience.

Why do I mention this?

This is a huge push since day one: mental health.

Women

Elderly.

Children

MEN.

I am one. Men’s health, especially mental emotional. I’m passionate about seeing more men in spaces like these. We show up in roles in personal and professional lives that can place us physical harm. We are known to protect at all costs. Emotions or “weakness” need not apply.

Having another man in the the room is another confirmation from the universe for me. This space for men is needed, on our own terms, on our own time.

I feel “it” is getting closer!

Much of my work, whether through Reiki, breathwork, coaching, spiritual mentorship, or writing, it involves bringing awareness to the balance of opposing energies. Another staple in the practice.

Masculine and feminine.

Strength and softness.

Action and receptivity.

The yin and the yang.

These aren’t qualities that belong exclusively to one gender. We all carry different expressions of these energies, and learning to work with them in harmony can change how we understand ourselves and one another.

This gentleman arrived with a deep voice, a big presence, and a heart of gold. He was retired from a profession that had taken a great deal out of him, and he was exploring how to move forward with greater awareness and a different relationship with the negativity and dysfunction he had experienced.

He also arrived with a joke.

He smiled as he acknowledged that he didn’t know much about Reiki and had never experienced a Reiki session before.

There was something refreshing about his response to us how reiki was completely new to him.

He didn’t need to pretend to know more than he did. He didn’t need to have everything figured out before he began.

He simply showed up.

His positive energy and storytelling ability became part of the room almost immediately.

As conversations developed, I could feel myself becoming more grounded, more engaged, and more connected to the experience, and we didn’t even begin the class.

Another student arrived soon thereafter.

She was someone whose face had become familiar through recent visits to the practice. She carries a powerful smile, a genuine kindness, and a compassionate heart.

She’s curious about herself and the world around her, and that curiosity comes through in her writing and in the way she engages with others.

What stood out to me was her willingness to trust her light a little more with each passing day. I’ve worked with her before.

There’s something beautiful about witnessing someone learn to trust their own path without needing to know every turn ahead.

Then two more students joined us.

One was a newer client who had already experienced Reiki with us. She carried a quiet, reserved warmth. She was respectful, authentic, and present in a way that didn’t require her to be the loudest person in the room.

Her energy reminded me that presence doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes it simply makes space for others to feel comfortable being themselves.

Our final student brought another beautiful quality to the group. She was in a season of life that included raising young children, and there was an openness and lightness about her that added something special to our shared space.

She seemed to embody a kind of careful curiosity: honest and sensitive, and willing to receive what the day had to offer.

Each person was different.

Different personalities. Different histories. Different reasons for being there.

As the day unfolded, those differences became part of what made the group work so connectedly.

I kept thinking about how interesting it is that we can travel such different roads and still arrive at a shared point of connection.

The Beautiful Relationship Between Energy and Trust

As the day progressed, the room developed its own rhythm.

There were moments of active listening, moments of laughter, moments of thoughtful conversation, and moments when people felt comfortable enough to share a little more of themselves.

We explored Reiki, mindset, and the relationship between our internal energy and the way we experience the world around us.

The conversations began to flow naturally.

People listened without needing to have an answer. They shared without needing to have the perfect words. There was room for curiosity, reflection, and the simple recognition that we are all learning.

To me, this is where the real beauty of group energy begins. I love the intra-related conversations that flow between topical material and personal experience. Reiki I contains a lot of material. There is a lot to move through, so there’s always a balance of how material and group conversion can support each other while staying “on time.” I love the process of learning through the process of “not teaching.” The ah-has, the connecting comments or shared experiences are my favorite parts of teaching. This to me is how we build our light. When connection and relationships begin to form, trust and sense of safety deepens. The soul loves that stuff. I know mine does.

Laura and I have always tried to create an environment where people can bring their own experiences into the room and allow those experiences to become part of a greater understanding.

When trust begins to develop, we can loosen our grip on the flow of things in so many ways. We can become more receptive to another person’s perspective. We can learn something about ourselves through the very people whose paths happen to cross our own. Laura sets the tone beautifully for this to occur.

An environment where we can actually experience that we are all connected.

Each season of our lives brings something different. Some seasons challenge us. Others invite us to slow down. Some introduce us to people who help us see ourselves differently. Others teach us what we are ready to release. We may not always understand why a particular person or experience enters our lives when it does, but we can remain open to what the experience has to teach us.

When Passion Finds Its Voice

By this point in the day, I was feeling fully present. If you know me, you know what happens when I’m passionate about something.

I light up.

My enthusiasm comes through in my speech, my expressions, and my desire to share what I’m learning. I love to write, but there is something about being face-to-face with people that brings another part of me alive.

I begin to “feel” my way into the room.

I listen. I observe. I notice the energy of a conversation and the subtle ways people respond to one another. Sometimes, a thought comes through that I hadn’t planned to share. Sometimes, another person’s words open a door to a perspective I hadn’t considered.

Over time, I’ve been learning to trust that process.

Not every thought needs to be spoken. Not every moment requires my input. And as much as I enjoy communicating, I’m continuing to learn the value of listening just as deeply.

I also recognize that passion of mine has a way of revealing itself over and over again…I love Reiki at my deepest core. On many training mornings, I wake up with a familiar excitement and say my little mantra:

“It’s Reiki training…”

And then I add one more word to punctuate the enthusiasm.

You can probably guess which one. 😉

That excitement is pure.

It’s about loving the opportunity to learn, to share, to connect, and to witness what happens when people give themselves permission to explore something new. “I get to” teach, listen, and engage in conversations around energy. I’m surrounded by people who are moving more deeply into their light.

“I get to.”

Every class teaches me something.

Every student brings something I couldn’t have anticipated.

Every gathering reminds me that the work isn’t mine to control. I’m also known for going a bit over “time.” This is a true passion of mine, so I provide presence with splashes of perspective or insight. My role is to always show up, prepare, share what I can, and remain open to what unfolds.

The Universe Doesn’t Always Give Us What We Think We Need

I’ve come to believe that life has a way of providing experiences that meet us where we are, sometimes in ways we could never have planned.

We often think we know what we need.

More energy. More certainty. More answers. A clearer plan. A little more control over how things are going to unfold.

What we often need is an experience that reminds us to trust.

Today, I thought I needed a little extra energy to get the day started.

And in that specific way, I did. But I received was so much more.

I received the laughter that came with Amber’s arrival. I received the familiar rhythm of teaching alongside Laura. I received the perspectives, personalities, and presence of five individuals who each brought something unique into the room.

I received the reminder that I don’t have to carry the entire experience myself.

I received the opportunity to learn from people I was there to teach.

I was also reminded that my energy doesn’t have to be perfect before I begin. I simply need to be willing to meet myself honestly, take the steps that help me reconnect, and remain open to the support that may arrive along the way.

The day didn’t require me to manufacture excitement.

It invited me to reconnect with it.

We can be hard on ourselves when we don’t wake up feeling the way we think we should. We can question our readiness, our abilities, and even our direction.

Those days when we don’t feel like we have our fastball?

Those are the days where we must take those invitations to pause, pay attention, and trust the process a little more. Do your work, then step back.

We are human beings moving through changing seasons. Our energy shifts. Our needs change. Our perspectives evolve.

The goal isn’t to feel exactly the same every day.

The goal is to learn how to meet ourselves where we are and remain open to what might help us move forward.

Supportive practices for me always comes through breath. Connected breathing.

It also comes through conversations with those along our path.

Sometimes, it walks through the door with a smile and makes us laugh fifteen seconds later.

A Little Gratitude for the Bigger Picture

Looking back on today, I keep returning to the image a from the perspective of Brian, from the movie, The Breakfast Club.

As each person arrived, the bigger picture began to find itself into my awareness. The classroom became a shared environment shaped by different personalities, experiences, and energies. What initially felt like a day I needed to prepare myself for became a day that helped prepare me for something greater. Here, Five individuals entering a shared space, each carrying their own identity, experiences, and perspective.

I was tempted to assign each person a label, a character, or a place in this story. I’m not going to do that. The beauty of the experience is that we don’t need to. We all are, and have, parts of those descriptors. Today, we enhanced each other’s strengths, while supporting any areas of need. We don’t need to define people by the roles they play, the careers they’ve had, the challenges they’ve experienced, or the version of themselves they happen to be today.

We can allow people to be more than the labels we give them.

We can meet them with curiosity.

We can appreciate the qualities they bring.

And we can give them the space to discover what comes next.

That’s part of what I hope people experience through The Nature Within. Our invitation is to reconnect with ourselves and develop a deeper trust in our own path.

Not someone else’s path.

Our own.

We show up on the paths that has shaped us through every season, every relationship, every challenge, and every unexpected turn.

The path that has brought us to this moment, with all the wisdom wehave gathered and all the things we have yet to discover.

When we come together in a space where we can be honest, curious, and respectful of one another, those individual paths become part of something meaningful.

We begin to see that our differences don’t have to divide us.

They can teach us.

Our strengths don’t have to compete.

They can support one another.

Our energy doesn’t have to be something we protect from everyone around us.

It can be something we share with intention, care, and gratitude.

Trust the Path. Honor the Connection. Keep Showing Up.

To everyone who attended our Reiki I training, thank you for bringing your energy, your openness, and your willingness to learn.

You each contributed something meaningful to the experience, and I look forward to seeing how you continue to grow and share your light.

To Amber, congratulations as you continue developing your own Reiki teaching practice through Mosaic Wellness. It was a pleasure to share the classroom with you, learn alongside you, and witness the gifts you bring to this work. I’m grateful for the connection we continue to build.

I a m grateful for the ever-evolving collaborative partnership with Laura, and this Reiki Training Series. “I get to” definitely applies.

Today reminded me that the people who enter our lives don’t always arrive when we expect them to, and we don’t always recognize what we need until we’re in the middle of receiving it.

Our paths are our own, but they continually intersect with the paths of others.

Those intersections can become opportunities to learn, to heal, to laugh, to grow, and to remember that we don’t have to figure everything out alone.

When we trust our path, put our egos aside, and approach one another with the curiosity of a child, we make room for something beautiful to unfold.

We don’t have to force the picture.

We simply have to remain present long enough to see the pieces come together.

Today, I was reminded of the bigger picture.

And for that, I am deeply grateful.

With much love,

Greg

The Nature Within LLC

FIND YOUR LIGHT. Spread it out into the world.