We recently connected with Akleema Ali and have shared our conversation below.
Akleema, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation. It is a technique that is based on tuning in to the universal life energy that is around us to promote healing and well being. Reflecting on this question, it seems I would have taken many risks on this path with Reiki. In the Caribbean, based on the cultural and religious belief systems of individuals, Reiki is often misunderstood and misinterpreted. In fact, when I was attuned to the Reiki energy; I wanted to show friends and family members how “it could heal people” but they were very skeptical about it. Over the years, I met many people who did not know what Reiki was. I would have to constantly confirm and answer questions about what is Reiki and if it is “black magic”, “sorcery”, “witchcraft” or within a Caribbean context “obeah”.
I grew up in a very religious home. My mother is Muslim and my father is Roman Catholic; so to present something to them that did not fit into what they already knew or was something spiritual but not religious; they definitely had their guard up. A few years after I learnt Reiki, my father called me to say he read on the internet that Reiki was from the Devil and I should be careful about what I was practicing. While I told him that the information was incorrect, I actually had to show him parts of my Reiki Manual that made him feel more comfortable and secure about this mysterious modality. One day my mother asked me, where does Reiki come from? I laughed and said; where do all things come from? She said God! It led us into a discussion of course. I take joy in talking about Reiki with them and sharing all of my successes with them, although they don’t understand what it is or why I am so passionate about it. In fact, when I wanted to become a Reiki Master, no one in my family understood why I wanted to further it or even spend thousands of dollars in training over the years. So my first biggest risk was despite of how Reiki was being viewed in the Caribbean, I decided to get professionally trained in it and use it as my major modality for stress reduction and mental health. Reiki brings tremendous inner peace and healing on all levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Choosing anything that seems taboo or seems to belong to another culture is another risk. In a country like Trinidad & Tobago, religion reigns. Reiki is from Japanese culture and is definitely not seen as something that can enhance both your religious and spiritual journey. I think however, more effort and time needs to be devoted on Reiki and educating the population on what it is and the benefits of the modality. It is only in experiencing a Reiki session or learning to do Reiki, can a person truly understand how valuable and divinely guided it is from the universe. Reiki continues to bring tremendous peace to my life and remains a valuable tool to use daily on this life journey.
To view my path with Reiki now, I can retrospectively see how Reiki has been guiding me all along; towards healing inner wounds, healing trauma and creating clarity on my life journey. It is also carving out such a divine path for me I could not see it being created for me any other way. I have been able to engage and motivate others on their healing journey. I have also been invited to many international opportunities because I do Reiki as a healing modality. While challenges and resistance are still encountered; flowing with where Reiki has led me remains a huge blessing in my life and I am very grateful for where I am able to make a contribution to others in need.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am Akleema Ali, the owner of The Reiki Lighthouse in the beautiful Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. I am an Usui Reiki Master, an Usui/Holy Fire© III Reiki Master, a Holy Fire© III Karuna© Reiki Master, Animal Reiki Practitioner, a Psychic Reiki Practitioner and a Reiki Drumming Practitioner.
In a field such as Reiki, I take great care in creating a sacred space and sanctuary for those wanting to get more grounded in life, take charge of their emotional healing, gain clarity and welcome more peace and calm in their lives. My services include individual healing sessions utilizing the above modalities, consultations, teaching, mentoring, workshops and meditations.
I have spent twenty years within the health and wellness field first focusing on the clinical aspects of mental health in adolescents. I have completed research on depression, suicidal ideation and public health issues which have been published in journals such as International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology and European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
In 2017 after I was introduced to Reiki and started practising; I began to realize that this is an overlooked modality that could greatly enhance a person’s well being and mental health. While I greatly value and appreciate psychological and psychiatric interventions; I do strongly believe that Reiki has a very strong place as a healing modality and as a technique that creates peace and calm. It also works well as a complementary therapy if an individual is undergoing medical intervention and treatment.
Diving fully into Reiki has led me down a path where I have been able to share articles on my journey with Reiki, my story of completing a 1000-day gratitude practice, the art of stillness and the importance of the digital community to the Reiki world; published in the Reiki News Magazine and the Universal Life Magazine: A Magazine for Reiki Professionals. I have also had the honour of publishing in books with The Energy Healing Magazine and A Woman’s Bible on articles describing the energetic signatures of grief and loss, gateways to happiness and the practice of meditation. My latest article in the Pillar of Light: Lifestyle and Business Magazine in October 2023; highlights the use of Reiki drumming to facilitate ancestral healing.
In December 2022, I was one of the Top 10 Energy Healers of 2022 awarded by The Energy Healing Magazine in France. In November 2023, I was one of 33 featured speakers in the “Reiki Healing Summit” speaking on “Empowering your Vision with Reiki.” On my journey with Reiki, I have also had the opportunities to share my expertise on the practice of meditation, topics on women empowerment such as finding your own power, self care, universal human rights and poetry.
I remain totally humbled by my journey with Reiki and appreciative of spaces and platforms where I am able to share my knowledge and expertise so that others will gain more peace and calm. As I move forward with Reiki, I continue to promote and highlight Reiki as a method for stress reduction and relaxation, that can be used by all individuals, regardless of ethnicity, religion, social status and abilities. I have the vision that Reiki should become more mainstream within the island, so that more individuals would be comfortable in utilizing this modality.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I have always been drawn to certain types of books and my interest is extremely wide. The most interesting thing about every book I love is that it remains applicable to my life to date and it continues to inspire and empower me.
Books that have stood out for me that remain on my book shelf are as follows:
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goldman
The Astonishing Power of Emotions by Esther and Jerry Hicks
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
Speak to Us of Love by Osho
Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho
The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky
Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle
These books have assisted me in different ways towards understanding the importance of emotions in leadership and decision making. The importance of understanding emotions, positive thinking and happiness are crucial in influencing outcomes and manifesting desire, success and positive working relationships.
These books have also allowed self-reflection over the years so that I can re-evaluate my human connections to have more peace, love and compassion. It has also led me to assess my values in life and shape my lifestyle so that there is also internal peace in dealing with life circumstances, dealing with change and making decisions.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn I must say, is that although something is greatly beneficial does not mean that people will readily accept what you are offering. In addition, even if you are really passionate about something; you will realize that there are always stumbling blocks along the way in finding who is meant to receive your services. When I first started Reiki, I marketed and spoke to everyone about Reiki, I offered free healing, Reiki-talks and I sent in my proposals to many local agencies requesting to be a part of their clinic to offer Reiki. Many times I did not even get an acknowledgement to my emails or people were very confused about where this invisible healing was coming from. Over time I was able to see that it is difficult for people to accept something, if they have no idea what it is or what are the benefits. So I was being prompted to do more Reiki education and awareness.
In fact what I am learning on my journey is that while I have set goals and dreams concerning Reiki; there is still so much groundwork to be done locally and it just requires me to go one step at a time. Simultaneously, I am being able to grow professionally; and be a Reiki mentor, teacher, practitioner and facilitator to various Reiki communities and groups to which I belong.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thereikilighthousett.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereikilighthousett/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thereikilighthousett/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akleema-ali-the-reiki-lighthouse/