Letting in the Light

It’s a warm Wednesday evening in Traverse City, and Sally Littleton, Ph.D., is headed to her neighborhood’s clubhouse to welcome a handful of her students ready to share reiki energy with each other.

Littleton, or Dr. Sally as her students call her, is a retired psychotherapist experienced in the processes needed to open emotional blocks, re-pattern thoughts and release trauma. But these days she provides a different kind of energetic support to students and clients: reiki.

Through her Enlightenment Reiki workshops, she teaches classes locally and remotely, including one through Northwestern Michigan College, and shares reiki one-on-one with clients in a limited virtual practice. She views reiki—a Japanese healing technique for the self and others—in practical terms: “Helping people to live more calmly, and to attain and retain our balance in all ways.” Tonight, at her workshop-style meetup, a diverse group from across Northern Michigan refresh themselves on the system of reiki and its self-practice benefits—including health, peace of mind and harmony in relationships.

Becoming a reiki master wasn’t a planned second act for the former therapist, though she was first introduced to it as a client decades ago to help heal injuries she experienced early in life. Once she awakened to the benefits, her “goal was to share this with as many people as possible,” she says. Here’s her “why:”

EMILY TYRA: You had a thriving psychotherapy practice in Traverse City. What changed?

SALLY LITTLETON: I did long-term intensive psychotherapy. Consistency was very important when working with people two or three times a week for three to five years. But my health was on the wrong track. I would have these terrible migraines and there were times I just couldn’t go work with patients. I ended up retiring early, which was very, very hard for me. I loved my work, and I had intended to work into my 80s.

ET: You already knew about reiki at this point; did it help you?

SL: Yes, it helped me accept and deal with the loss. It helped me to come to terms with my health. As things had gotten worse, I had to really recognize that it wasn’t an indictment of who I am.

ET: When did you make the leap to become a reiki master and teacher?

SL: As soon as I started receiving reiki I wanted to know more. I studied with an internationally known master in the Western tradition, but I didn’t learn how to teach reiki at that time. Later I discovered the original Japanese reiki and when I did, it was like a light just lit for me. I got training from two renowned masters and started practicing. I started feeling healthier and healthier. I’m not totally healed, but things changed for me.

ET: Why were you drawn to teaching reiki?

SL: My desire has been to help everyone find their true self.

And that’s the expression of reiki, that we become more and more fully who we truly are. And that benefits everyone.

ET: How so?

SL: The more we’re becoming our true self, we are able to be in balance physically, emotionally and spiritually. As we go through life—as we age—our physical being is diminished, right? And when we’re connected physically, emotionally and spiritually the experience of that is less. Even though it’s still happening, it’s less intense. I think it’s really important to say that reiki is not a religion. There is no dogma. It’s not necessary to believe anything. People can be skeptical of reiki, and most people have some skepticism when they’re first introduced to it. For some it seems like it couldn’t be true. Reiki is not about belief. If we’re open to healing, then the reiki that comes to us assists us in doing that.

ET: When it all boils down, what IS reiki?

SL: The most common definitions are universal life energy, spiritual energy, mysterious atmosphere and the essence of life. Another way to think of reiki: pure being in the physical dimension.

ET: What is it like to experience?

SL: Reiki is the energy that moves through your body. In fact, reiki practitioners understand that reiki is the energy that moves through everything. I would say that reiki training teaches us how to raise our vibration by connecting to the energy—or light—to flow reiki more strongly. It’s like a reintroduction: It’s not that we didn’t have the energy before, but the more and more that we practice, the more we’re able to connect and flow at a higher, deeper, more intense level. And when you share reiki with others, it flows through you.

ET: What are reactions of people having a reiki treatment?

SL: They might sense light or colors. They may feel heat intensely. Some people feel cold. A lot of people feel tremendous relief. If it’s a physical issue, they might feel immediate physical relief. I don’t mean that they’re healed, but they feel relief.

ET: Do most of your clients come initially with a physical problem?

SL: Even with physical problems, generally there’s an emotional or mental component. Reiki brings the scattered mind back into balance. Reiki brings you back into balance. There is commonly a feeling of peace, a feeling of calmness. People will say, ‘I feel lighter.’

ET: Wow. Do you think that the practice of sharing reiki has simultaneously continued to heal you?

SL: Oh, absolutely. That is the beauty of it.

Emily Tyra has reported and shared stories for more than two decades in publications such as Taste of Home, Traverse Northern Michigan and Reader’s Digest. She writes from Lake Ann.

Magical Mother-Daughter Getaways

When daughters are grown, spending time together as adults is one of parenting’s sweet rewards. But carving out the one-on-one time isn’t easy. These five perfect Northern Michigan escapes are just right for catching up, checking in and tuning out the rest of the world.

by KANDACE CHAPPLE

books & beaches

STAY: HOTEL WALLOON, WALLOON LAKE

Write your life story here, or at least live a very delicious scene of it. The stately Hotel Walloon is located on the shores of the same lake that inspired Ernest Hemingway. And yes, there’s a self-guided tour. Find the very spot described in “Wedding Day” where Nick Adams and his new bride began their honeymoon by rowing across the lake just as real-life Hemingway and Hadley Richardson did after their wedding.

The property is built for serenity, and little luxuries abound—a heated outdoor spa, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and desserts each evening, an outdoor lakeside fire pit. Book a room that overlooks the water, slow down and soak in lake life (preferably while lounging with a beach book in those plush robes we all dream about). Hungry? Head next door to Barrel Back, named after “Barrel Back” boats found on inland lakes in the 1920s. The restaurant is known for its wood-fired pizzas, housesmoked brisket with maple bourbon glaze and sunset views over the harbor. hotelwalloon.com

yurts & dirt

STAY: PADDLER’S VILLAGE, MUNISING

Not glamping exactly, but a step up from a plain ol’ tent. This camping village, located just minutes from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, offers everything from yurts to cabins to safari tents. You can’t go wrong, every lodging option will leave a little dirt under your nails and a bonding moment over getting that darn campfire started. Try the “deluxe” yurts for a weekend with more comforts of home. These include a mini fridge, microwave and linens already on the bunk beds. Plus, they’ve got bathrooms inside.

Enjoy the shores of Lake Superior here and, of course, book a boat or kayak excursion to see the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks rising from the water. After all that adventure, head into nearby Marquette to grab the best to-go deli sandwiches in town, from a local favorite named, naturally, Togo’s. Their submarine sandwiches are massive, so consider splitting one. Let mom pick her half first. paddlingmichigan.com

horses & wine

STAY: HOTEL IROQUOIS, MACKINAC ISLAND

You can’t go wrong stealing away to an island for a weekend, but a stay at this boutique hotel with its endless Victorian gardens and waterfront perch on the Straits of Mackinac is one you won’t want to leave. Hotel Iroquois’ 45 guest suites and rooms offer a variety of stunning views—Round Island Lighthouse, Fort Mackinac, ferries and freighters. The hotel’s cocktail dock is an absolute must.

Tips to make your island getaway unforgettable:

• Instead of renting bikes by the hour, rent for 24 hours and forget about the clock. Pedal where you want, when you want.

• Get up 30 minutes before dawn and pedal to the sunrise side of the island to take in the serenity of the arriving day. Grab coffee afterward at Mission Point Resort’s Boxwood Coffeeshop & Café.

• To see stunning views from the highest point on the island, leave the bikes at the hotel and treat yourselves to a horse carriage taxi ride up to Fort Holmes (around $9 per person), then meander back down on foot. iroquoishotel.com; missionpoint.com

moose & rocks

STAY: PLEASANT MOOSE LODGE, NEWBERRY

Get ready to get “lit.” This getaway is all about Yooperlites, a recently discovered glow-in-the-dark rock found prominently along the shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula. Enjoy a stay at the rustic Pleasant Moose Lodge, which is Yooper charm to a tee—fireplaces to warm your toes, friendly staff to warm your soul. (The name fits; a mama and baby moose have been spotted near the lodge.)

Then, book a night experience you’ll never forget: A Yooperlites tour with Erik Rintamaki, the guy who discovered and named this special rock that only glows under UV light. (Yooperlites have even been featured on the Discovery Channel.) These sell out fast, so book well in advance. Tours begin at 6 p.m. with dinner at Pine Stump Junction, a landmark for miles around, as there’s little else to be found this far north in the Yoop. Then take a ride in a side-by-side with your tour guide, Erik, to the lakeshore. You’ll be out past your bedtime—most tours end around midnight—but it’s unlike any kind of rock hunting you’ve ever done. Watch the sunset over Mother Superior, then wander the soulful, beautiful night beach, using special UV flashlights to look for the tell-tale glowing orange-flecked rocks. Let out a whoop with each one you find, and be the mother-daughter team to beat. pleasantmoose.com; yooperlites.com

spa day & dunes

STAY: THE HOMESTEAD, GLEN ARBOR

This resort is like a best-of-the-best of Sleeping Bear Dunes; tucked into the lakeshore, its scenery unforgettable. Make your way to the bluff where Spa Amira is perched, and you’ll find a turquoise pool overlooking Lake Michigan, the dunes and the Manitou Islands. Book a duet Nirvana Stress Relief Massage for both of you or a Manitou Foot Utopia treatment, which can be done outdoors (weather permitting) by that dazzling pool. Later, enjoy lunch at Café Manitou’s deck where the Crystal River meets the Big Lake.

A day trip to nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes is a must. (You’ll need a park pass; $25 for a private vehicle, valid seven days from date of purchase.) Take a serene cruise on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, traveling through a charming covered bridge and stopping at scenic turnouts along the way. The crown jewel of this 7-mile loop is the Lake Michigan Overlook with one of the most stunning views in Michigan—actually, the entire Midwest. thehomesteadresort.com