Blog.

A leap of faith!
Caroline Swinburne Caroline Swinburne

A leap of faith!

Have you ever taken a leap of faith? Have you made a big life change that meant leaving some sort of security behind? Did you just go for it?

I have always been risk averse. I liked the quiet life. Routine and stability. However, the universe often has a habit of making us so uncomfortable we need to make a change.

Read more to find out how my crystals supported me through a big life change.

Read More
Caroline Swinburne Caroline Swinburne

5 crystals for despair

If you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know what to do, try working with these crystals and reach out for support.

Read More

So what is my story?

My story
 
 

Welcome to my blog.

I thought I’d start by telling you a little about my story and why I do what I do.

I grew up in the east end of Glasgow before moving to the highlands just in time to start high school. I had a group of friends but always felt like the “incomer”. If you have moved to a small town you will know what I mean.

I was academically successful and moved back to Glasgow when I was 17 to train as a primary teacher. I met my first husband during my college years. I graduated at the age of 21. After a few supply teaching jobs I moved to Midlothian, where I agreed to stay for 5 weeks and ended up staying for 5 years!

In 1998 I became a mum for the first time and was blessed with 3 more children in the years to come. I started a new teaching job in Hamilton in 2000 and have been there ever since.

Throughout my 20s I was plagued by periods of ill health, each time these lasted longer and eventually became so sever I was diagnosed with Chronic fatigue syndrome in 2011. Despite my best efforts I never resumed full time teaching. I was devastated. My world seemed to be falling apart. My marriage ended in 2013 and one of my children was diagnosed with autism.

Despite all of this, I remained optimistic. Being a stubborn Aries there was no way I would be defeated! I was fortunate to have a great GP who told me about mindfulness, a friend introduced me to Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret and I began to implement these practices.

During a soft play event organised by an autism charity, I was offered a reiki taster session. I had no idea what reiki was but my very good friend said I should try it. I was so intrigued by the results that I went back for a reiki share a few days later. After years of chronic pain, sometimes walking with the aid of a stick, I was pain free for three full days. Another one of the autism mum’s told me she was a reiki master and I began having regular reiki treatments.

Life felt good again. I had supportive friends in the autism community and I learned that I don’t have to do everything by myself. I started allowing others to help. Friends helped with childcare and cleaning and I decided I needed a gardener. In 2014 Paul became my gardener, we often chatted and we eventually married in 2019.

As my health improved, my reiki master encouraged me to learn reiki for myself. This opened me up to a whole new world of people. After seeing the benefits of reiki for myself and others I became a Reiki Master Teacher in 2018. Along the way I discovered many other practices and crystals quickly became a passion. I became a Crystal Master teacher in 2021 and have loved every second of my crystal experience.

I really am blessed to work with amazing children and adults as I continue to share my passion for teaching reiki and crystals.