Spiritual Rest with Rachel Naylor
On our final day of Restival, we explore a deeper sense of connection found in spiritual rest, along with energy wisdom from Rachel Naylor.
CATCH-UP: There’s a recap of all this week’s sessions below, along with a few resources to continue your #RestRebellion.
I wasn’t doing anything remotely religious or spiritual when I had my first feeling of ‘something more’. What I was doing was sobbing with grief at the passing of my grandad. It was the snotty, messy, full-body kind of primal cry. In the midst of it, I felt an instant peace and calm and trust like never before - impossible to describe.
It was like a switch flipped. Not slowly calming down but an immediate ‘that’s done’. Don’t get me wrong - the grief was right there, a fully present ache, but it sat alongside something else too. It felt like love.
More often though, what I’d describe as spiritual moments have been smaller moments of deep connection. Nothing fancy, just my own personal sense of belonging to something greater.
Spirituality and religion are such thorny issues. As we explore spiritual rest today, it doesn’t matter how you define or practice. In Sacred Rest it is defined as “the ability to connect with something beyond the physical and mental”.
Often when I’m teaching, I connect people to their breath, the energy of life, spiritus. We can all relate to each breath in, each breath out, with a sense of gratitude. That alone may be your spiritual practice. Or it may be an act of devotion - a way to nuture the community or the environment around you.
The more people I speak to about this a-bit-taboo topic, the more I see it as an unfolding.
That’s the experience too of our guest today, Rachel Naylor of
. Her spiritual rest is through the practice of reiki. She shares how reiki ‘followed her around until she gave in’ and began to explore a deeper connection to herself and the world around her. She recently relocated and our paths crossed at our kid’s judo classes of all places! Mysterious ways….Enjoy this interview with Rachel as she shares her wisdom on spiritual rest and the healing benefits of reiki.
Welcome Rachel. Please can you tell us a bit about YOU
I’m Rachel, also known as ‘the energy queen’. I’m a holistic wellbeing consultant. I teach female leaders, who are also mothers, how to live stress-free lives.
What is rest?
Rest to me can be different depending on the day (and time of the month!). It's multi-faceted but the common ground is stillness.
Rest is about being so present in that moment that your mind is still and your whole energy just settles. Free of all worries, all fears, all thoughts of the past and future - if only for that short period of time.
I don't mind admitting that I used to struggle with rest. I either told myself I didn't have 'time' to rest or I felt guilty for resting or, even worse, told myself the story that I was being lazy!! I am pleased to say that I have overcome my unease with rest and I now tune into my body throughout the day to give myself what I need in each moment. It has made me a better mum for sure!
Would you tell us a bit about reiki.
Reiki is hard to sum up in a few words. Often people just think of it as a treatment (which I did!) but it is so much more than that. It's a lifestyle, a way of living.
Reiki helps you connect deeply to yourself, and to the Universe. It brings a heightened awareness of everything as energy and our relationship to that. As a treatment, it is a beautiful, gentle practice. It works with your energy to clear any blocks within the chakras and the energy field, bringing you back to a centred, calm alignment - connected to Source and grounded to the earth. And the best bit, you don't need to 'understand' how it works to feel and enjoy the benefits!
What do you want people to know about reiki?
There are so many benefits to reiki. It has been truly life-changing for me.
I used to have terrible anxiety, including health anxiety. Truthfully I was very disconnected from my self, from my soul and from the Universe. I fell into fear narratives and worry all the time. Discovering reiki changed all that for me.
I started having reiki treatments and felt amazing afterwards. I had to learn more! I always say that reiki calls you in. If you're called to it, follow that calling!
Learning about reiki helped me to understand the world, and myself, in a different way. It helped me tune into my subconscious fears and patterns to be able to release them. It gave me an understanding of the world on a completely different level and there is something very comforting that. I felt connected again!
It really does work on all levels - mind, body and soul. Even just starting with a regular self-reiki practice can be very regulating for your nervous system. And anybody can do that!
How did you discover this practice?
I always say that reiki follows you around until you finally give in and go for your first treatment! I never intended to become a Reiki Master, the path just kept unfolding!
I remember being in my twenties and a friend giving me reiki. I had no idea what it was at the time but it cleared my headache! Then I went for sporadic treatments in my thirties until I found an amazing Reiki Master where I lived. I would go for regular treatments and attend reiki share groups until eventually I HAD to learn more. Then I was hooked! I saw the benefits and I have given myself reiki every night since.
The beauty of reiki is that it is all about looking after yourself first, and then you can give to others. It advocates self first.
What value does this bring you personally?
I love nothing more than teaching reiki to others. There's always a new revelation in there or another piece of the jigsaw that slots into place! I feel that everybody should be taught reiki and it should be in all schools.
I love working with children and families with reiki too. Children are always so open and they are often more aware than us adults. I was a primary school teacher for 16 years so my passion is still with the teaching side. It lights me up to empower others to take reiki on their own journey. It unfolds differently for everyone.
What is possible when women take time to rest?
Oh my goodness, so much! We have been brought up in the 'hustle' culture, with the belief that women can do it all (which we can do!) but that can lead to a lot of guilt around resting. Especially if you're trying to do it all but you don't have external support. The needs of each individual and family are not taken into account. It’s almost like everybody should just be the same and there's something wrong with you if you don't fit that blueprint!
But the truth is that we are all different and we do all have different needs. Rest is a crucial element to that.
Rest will look different to everybody (and that's ok too!). Some people may find running restful, others may love a cold dip, and some may just desire a nap. When we all allow ourselves and each other that space to be different, we pave the way for the future generation.
It's so easy to keep busy all the time. I did. But truthfully, some of it was a form of escapism because stillness was uncomfortable. I didn't always want to hear my inner voice or feel my fears. I didn't want to feel different and I wanted to prove I was capable of doing everything, as if that would make people like me more!
It took a lot to move through the guilt of resting.
Once I started to sink into my feminine energy, finding ways to regulate my nervous system and to settle my mind, and allowing myself to feel the discomfort of that, then I began to feel happier. I became much more connected to my own self, to my intuition. I started to care less about what people thought about me, stepping more into being my true self. And, do you know, when you tune into your needs and give yourself what you need in each moment, life just flows better. All the jobs that need to get done still get done, only in more of a flow state. In ease, even joy!
In my experience, when you put your wellbeing first, the whole family benefits.
From the teachings of reiki: Life is meant to be easy, it's humans who overcomplicate it and make it hard. When you allow your whole self to rest, you allow your energy to flow, feeling more vitalised and full of the life force energy that makes up our world.
What is your idea of perfect rest?
I used to think of rest as something that I had to go and do. My perfect vision would have been going to a spa hotel (which I still love!), but then I realised that was more 'recovery rest'. Now I incorporate rest throughout my day. It's a non negotiable.
If I feel my body start to tense or my mind start to go into overdrive, I know it's time to take a break - to put my feet on the earth, to breathe deeply and to allow thoughts to come and go until my mind is more settled. If I need more, I go for a nature walk, or lie down, put some hertz music on (great for energy rebalance) and give myself a little reiki treatment. Or if I'm feeling more energetic, I'll go for a run. It just depends on the time of the month and what my body is calling for in that moment.
Everything is energy and rest is a quick way to raise your frequency. The higher your frequency, the greater your wellbeing. Let's start a 'rest revolution'!
PRACTICE: Rachel is offering a 15-minute reiki healing to balance the chakras HERE
Rachel Naylor is a holistic wellbeing consultant for female leaders. You can connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn or find out about her services HERE
RESTIVAL: The Week of Rebellious Rest
Catch up here on the week’s micro-moments of rest.
Befriend the Nervous System: mini-teaching and practice with me HERE
Physical Rest: 45-min ‘Invitation to Rest’ yoga practice with Katie Winder HERE
Mental Rest: 20 minute crystal sound healing session with Kat Delaney HERE
Sensory Rest: Guided Connecting with Nature with Amy Downham HERE
Emotional Rest: Journaling as a tool for self-care and growth with Helen Bryce HERE
Social Rest: Creating sacred space for sister connection with Emma Jupp HERE
Creative Rest: Mindful Cook-along. Make a plant-based Strawberry & Coconut Crumble recipe with the Mindful Kitchen HERE
Spiritual Rest: 15-minute Reiki Healing with Rachel Naylor HERE
Restival Closing Gathering: Yoga Nidra with me HERE
Recommended Books: HERE
Restival Playlist: HERE
What has been your highlight from this week of rebellious rest? Is there a particular lesson or practice that resonated for you? I’d love to hear in comments below.
So grateful for all the amazing teachers that have shared their time and love and gifts this week and to all of you for taking part in some rebellious rest!
Emma x