I never felt seen! I could see others, feel them, read them and sense the parts they kept hidden, but it often as if like no one could truly see me. For a long time, I believed that was a flaw. Now, I understand: it was my gift.
I was meant to notice what others could not see. To feel the subtle nuances that others missed. To hear the quiet voice beneath the noise.
This is how Reiki first found me – not through a logical decision, but through the quiet, persistent whisper of the soul.
Hi, I’m Gina Ambrose. I’m a Reiki Master Teacher, practitioner and emotional guidance practitioner. I’ve dedicated over two decades to the study and teaching of Reiki in its many beautiful forms: Usui Shiki Ryoho, Karuna® Reiki, Gendai Reiki, Reiki Ryoho, Seichim Reiki – and more. My journey also includes studies in crystal healing, personal alchemy and energy work rooted in ancient wisdom. My path, however, didn’t start on a spiritual mountaintop. It started in a boardroom.
How Reiki found me
Years ago, I was caught in the chaos of the corporate world. Working endless hours, chasing goals that didn’t belong to me. I ticked the boxes, climbed the ladder and slowly lost myself. I was ‘successful’ on paper, yet inside, I was depleted, disconnected, and empty.
Serendipitously, a friend invited me to a Reiki course. I said yes, not knowing that single decision would change the entire course of my life. From the moment of my first attunement, something ancient stirred inside me.
A remembering.
A returning.
I didn’t just feel energy flowing through my hands; I felt home. For the first time, I felt seen by the universe, by myself.
What Reiki is (and what it’s not)
People often ask me, “But what is Reiki? Is it religious? Is it just energy? Is it like a massage?”
I smile, because Reiki isn’t easily explained with the mind; it must be felt with the heart.
Reiki is a Japanese word that loosely translates to ‘universal life energy’. But more than that, Reiki is a sacred system of healing, connection and remembrance. It works with the body’s natural ability to heal and restore itself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Reiki is not a religion. You don’t have to ‘believe’ in it for it to work. You just need to be open.
Reiki meets you where you are and invites you back to yourself.
Another common question: “Is Reiki just placebo?” No. While mindset certainly plays a role in healing, Reiki has been studied around the world and shown to reduce stress, enhance emotional wellbeing, ease physical pain and support mental clarity. It works on the energetic systems of the body, those same systems now being mapped by quantum science, bioenergetics and even western medicine. But beyond the studies, what matters most to me is what I witness ‘real time’ every single day.
How Reiki changes lives
I’ve seen people come into a Reiki session anxious, in pain, or completely overwhelmed – and leave feeling calm, light and held. I’ve seen tears released that had been stuck for years. I’ve seen lifelong insomnia dissolve, chronic tension dissipate and emotional walls soften.
Most beautifully, however, I’ve seen people remember who they are.
Not who the world told them to be. Not who their trauma made them. But their true self – soft, strong, glowing and deeply wise.
Reiki doesn’t do the work for you – but it clears the fog so you can find your path again. It’s not a magic wand. It’s a doorway. You still have to walk through it. But Reiki walks beside you with grace and love.
Reiki as a way of life
In 2010, I moved to Cape Town and was invited to bring Reiki teachings to the area. Today, I run Soul2Soul Academy, where I teach students from all walks of life – from Robertson to Cape Point – how to heal themselves and others through Reiki. Teaching is my passion. Every student, every class, every sacred circle is a gift. I teach – but I also learn. My students remind me of the magic in being vulnerable, open and curious. They teach me about courage, laughter and soul-connection.
Reiki has become more than a practice – it’s a way of life. It’s in how I breathe, how I listen and how I walk through the world. Reiki teaches that healing doesn’t have to be dramatic or painful. It can be gentle, quiet and soft. It can begin with one deep breath.
If you hear or feel the call… trust it. Whether you’re a curious beginner or someone seeking deep transformation, Reiki will meet you in exactly the right way. You don’t need to be ‘spiritual’ or have it all figured out. Reiki works through love, intention and surrender. Let it start with a whisper – just like it did for me.
Gina Ambrose is a Reiki Master Teacher and founder of Soul2Soul Academy in Cape Town. She offers certified Reiki courses, healing sessions, and mentorship for empaths and energy sensitives. Learn more at soul2soul.co.za.
