Darshana's Dimension

As a reporter I believe it is both my mission and responsibility to share information with the public and create broad public awareness and education.

The purpose of our story, is to explore and investigate the increasing popularity of alternative healing techniques and how it has come to pass that increasing numbers of highly qualified individuals who have been certified and trained in traditional medicine, also find it valuable to study and master various holistic healing techniques and technologies.

Also to understand and explain just how and why this extraordinary transition is occurring. It would also be valuable to include as many stories from the client’s perspective as conveniently possible, provided the client is willing to be briefly contacted to verify the details which of course is necessary for responsible investigative reporting.

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Hollander

Darshana: First of all I would like to thank you for allowing me to interview you and tell your story.  Please tell us a little about yourself; include your name, areas of expertise and a brief history that can include your personal, educational and/or professional background.

 Mary:  My name is Mary Hollander. I am a Reiki Master Teacher and I do Flower Essence consultations. I have been a Registered Nurse since 1968. I retired from allopathic medicine in 1990 and began to seriously explore complimentary modalities. I started practicing Reiki in 2003 and became a Reiki Master/Teacher in 2004 certified by the International Center for Reiki Training. I have been an active member of the International Association of Reiki Practitioners since 2004. I have been using Flower Essences since 1990 and completed a certification program in Bach Flower Essences in 2003. I also completed a certification program in Homeopathy at the same time. I have been a volunteer Reiki Practitioner at the San Diego Cancer Research Center since 2004.

Darshana: Tell us what you do now and include any details you would like that pertaining to your goals and career path.

 Mary: I have a private practice as a Reiki Practitioner and Flower Essence Consultant in Encinitas and Carlsbad. In my practice I teach all levels of Reiki and an introductory class in Flower Essences. I also speak to groups about Reiki and Flower Essences.

My goal is to bring Reiki out of the “New Age” shadow and into allopathic medicine as a complimentary modality. I see Reiki as a useful technique to help clients cope with both chronic and acute illnesses.

Darshana: Please share any relevant details that led to your original interest in medicine and healing. Were there any special events that made this happen?

 Mary: I come from a family of care givers. It was a natural choice to choose a path in healing as my career.

Darshana: How and why were you first introduced to alternative healing techniques and methods? Where were you trained in these techniques and what led to this choice?

 Mary: I trained as a Registered Nurse at Los Angeles County General Hospital. From the first day I was taught to give bed baths, back rubs and back massages. The importance of touch was drilled into our lessons. We were also expected to understand and embrace cultural differences in healing. For example a patient with a fever who was Hispanic would use banana peels under the armpits to control the fever. This sparked my interest in alternative healing from different cultures.

Darshana: Are there any stories or special experiences in using healing techniques that you would like to share? Do you have any clients that would like to tell us their story?

 Mary: In 1974 I was asked to take a private duty case. The patient was a 36 year old woman with breast cancer. She was a Rosacrutionist and refused conventional therapy. I was blessed to work with an older RN on the case who was also an herbalist. The patients physician asked us to use herbs to control the pain, heal the bedsores etc. We were able to accomplish more than the physician had expected and the young woman lived 6 months longer than predicted. It was an incredible experience for me as a young nurse. I began taking courses in herbal medicine culminating in a business selling and teaching for Nature Sunshine Products. I still wasn’t satisfied. I wanted a modality without side effects and involved some sort of hands on healing. After a great deal of exploration I found Reiki, Bach Flower Essences and Homeopathy.

Darshana: Do you have additional facts or information you would like to share?

 Mary: My husband and I are currently living in a multigenerational household. We have been helping our daughter raise our 2 grandsons, 6yrs and 10 yrs., for the past 4 years. They have never been to a doctor, had vaccinations, used antibiotics or over the counter drugs. They were born at home with a midwife and have been raised using Reiki, Homeopathy and flower essences. Both boys are certified Reiki level 1 practitioners and use Reiki on family and friends!

I would also be glad to include any research, photos or illustrations you would care to provide

Peggy: How about adding the Cancer Centers Website. Http://www.sdcri.org