A Journey of Healing, Reiki, and Hope: Honoring Dr. Phyllis Bucci

September holds a special place in my heart. It’s a month filled with significant milestones—my birthday, my husband’s birthday, and our wedding anniversary. But beyond these personal celebrations, September marks the anniversary of a life-changing event: my Reiki Attunement with Dr. Phyllis Greco Bucci, owner of Holistic Apothecary in Ambler, PA. I celebrate nine years this year since I was attuned by Phyllis, a journey that has profoundly shaped my life.

“No honey, You were able to heal and make a transformation in your life because you believed in MAGIC.

-Dr. Phyllis Greco Bucci

A Personal Journey

In 2015, I was in the throes of severe depression. Earlier that year, shortly after my daughter’s first birthday, I discovered that her father had been unfaithful to me with a coworker. The betrayal cut deep, leaving me devastated and questioning everything. I blamed myself for his actions, wondering if my decision to take a third-shift job when our daughter was just six months old had driven him away. Our schedules were chaotic, and I feared I hadn’t given him enough attention or affection. My past mistakes haunted me—I had a history of drinking and reckless behavior, and during our arguments, I often lashed out with hurtful words. But after graduating from college, I committed to turning my life around. I began focusing on my fitness, reducing my alcohol intake, and adopting a healthier lifestyle. When I found out I was pregnant in 2013, I stopped drinking altogether and embraced mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga.

I was doing everything in my power to be a better person for my daughter, yet I couldn’t understand why her father had betrayed me. The pain was overwhelming, and I felt lost and insecure. Childhood traumas resurfaced—memories of being abandoned by my father and unprotected from an abuser. I struggled to feel safe in my body and my home. Amidst the darkness, my daughter became my guiding light, the reason I fought to get better. I refused to fall back into old habits of numbing my pain with alcohol. Instead, I returned to my daily rituals of yoga, meditation, and prayer, often finding solace in nature by a river, lake, or stream, where the waters seemed to wash away my tears.

During this time, I was practicing the Law of Attraction, a philosophy introduced to me by my best friend during my pregnancy. I knew that if I focused on the light in my life, the Universe would support me. After one meditation session, I noticed a book on my shelf that belonged to my daughter’s father—Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art by Diane Stein. The words on those pages resonated deeply with my soul as if my prayers were being answered.

Signs about Reiki began appearing everywhere, and I took it as a message to explore this healing art. I searched online for nearby classes and found one at Holistic Apothecary in Ambler, PA. The synchronicity was striking—I had lived in Ambler for two years prior but had never noticed the shop. However, the cost of the class, $300, was beyond my budget at the time. I was already stretched thin, paying $1200 a month in rent and $1600 in student loans, along with the usual family expenses. Reluctantly, I decided Reiki wasn’t in the cards for me.

But the Universe had other plans. During Labor Day weekend, we took a family trip to a lake in New Jersey. Our favorite spot was closed, so we went to a different lake nearby. It was the last day of summer, and I just wanted to relax in nature. Working the third shift had taken a toll on me—I was exhausted, rarely slept due to caring for my one-year-old, and outings were limited to weekends. I longed for a peaceful day, but that wasn’t what fate had in store.

A day or two after the lake visit, my daughter fell ill with a fever and chills. When changing her diaper, I noticed a large abscess on her bottom, possibly from a bug bite at the lake. I immediately called her doctor and secured the next available appointment.

At the doctor’s office, they had to remove some of the infection for testing and prescribed antibiotics. Following the doctor’s instructions, my daughter’s father, MC, and I tended to her wound at home. As he held her leg, I removed the remaining infection—it was heart-wrenching to see my baby in pain. Then, something unexpected happened. MC began drawing symbols in the air and placed his hands a few inches above our daughter’s wound. When I asked what he was doing, he replied, “Reiki.” He continued until our daughter calmed down and stopped crying. The next morning, when I changed her diaper, the wound was completely healed—no scab, nothing. As a scientist, I was stunned. “This can’t be,” I thought. But the evidence was undeniable. I immediately called Holistic Apothecary and signed up for the class.

The Power of Reiki

September 19 was the date of my Reiki I & II class. I had no idea what to expect, other than what I had read in the Essential Reiki book and found online. Reiki wasn’t as mainstream as it is today. When I arrived at Holistic Apothecary, I was greeted by Dr. Phyllis, who was a breath of fresh air. She exuded a free spirit yet carried an energy that commanded respect—she was passionate about Reiki, naturopathic medicine, herbs, supplements, crystals, astrology, and more. Everything she taught, she lived by, and I was immediately drawn to her presence. Phyllis welcomed me and another young woman with an energy that I now recognize as unconditional love.

Phyllis’s class was the best spiritual experience I’ve ever had. She didn’t follow a rigid plan but instead channeled a meditation that my Reiki-mate and I needed.

My Meditation Experience:

“I saw a beautiful white light that flowed from my body to the Earth’s core. As I released the black negative energy into the crystal core, I became this glowing white light. A cobra, a recurring figure in my meditations, slithered by, shedding its skin. I saw flowers blossoming into beautiful white blooms, one after another until the ground was covered in them. Then I saw my daughter, Ariella, running through the field of flowers, playing joyfully. She called out, ‘Mama,’ and as I approached her, I saw an elephant and a phoenix. Ariella and I climbed onto the elephant’s back and rode through the field of flowers, passing through a glowing white door and ascending a white staircase into space, where we entered another white door. My body felt relaxed, warm, and calm.”

I had never felt so calm and centered. During the attunement, it felt like my head had exploded open—I could sense the energy in the room. My hands heated up and tingled, and I felt floaty, almost as if I were high. It’s difficult to explain unless you’ve experienced it yourself. My scientific mind struggled to find words for what I was feeling. My life was altered in that moment. We were taught how to ground our energy and practice Reiki on ourselves before we took a break.

During the break, I checked my phone and saw a missed call from my daughter’s pediatrician. I called back to hear the results of her swab test and was informed that she had contracted MRSA—an infection caused by a type of staph bacteria resistant to many antibiotics. The prescribed antibiotic wasn’t effective. I foolishly googled MRSA, and the horrifying images that appeared scared me.

Tears welled up in my eyes. What had started as a beautiful spiritual experience was suddenly overshadowed by fear. I walked back into the shop, no longer feeling that “high love energy” but instead gripped by anxiety. Phyllis noticed my distress and came over to reassure me, helping me to make calm, rational decisions. With her background in naturopathic medicine, Phyllis guided how to treat my daughter’s infection without compromising her gut and immune system. She said, “Give Reiki to your daughter every day. Although MRSA can be treated, it can become resistant to some antibiotics and return. With these instructions, your daughter will heal and be fine. No worries. You are supported.” Phyllis’s words comforted me, and my fear melted away. I knew at that moment that the Universe had guided me to Reiki, to Holistic Apothecary, to Phyllis, on the very day I would receive that phone call about my daughter’s health. I was there to learn how to help heal my daughter.

The second half of the class focused on Reiki II, where we learned how to give Reiki healing to others and work with symbols that transmit healing across time and space. I was amazed and excited as my Reiki-mate and I practiced on each other.

During a 1:1 Reiki session with my classmate, I had clear and vivid visions. I saw the areas of her aura, emotional body, and physical body that needed healing. My hands glowed, and I saw many BEings around us, offering their healing energy. It was a beautiful vision. At the end of our session, we shared our experiences. Phyllis said to me, “You are very gifted and have a lot to offer the world.” Although I have never seen myself as special, her words touched me deeply. I expressed my deepest gratitude to Phyllis that day.

Dr. Phyllis’s Philosophy

Dr. Phyllis’s approach to Reiki is unique and inspiring. She emphasizes the importance of self-love, compassion, and connection to a higher power. She believes that Reiki is not just a healing technique, but a spiritual path that can lead to greater self-awareness and enlightenment.

A Lifelong Connection

To this day, I continue to thank Phyllis for everything she has done for me. Just a few weeks ago, I saw her while out with my best friend, and I told her, “I love you! You are my spiritual mother. Not only did you help me with my daughter, but you also saved me.”

Phyllis replied, “No honey, You were able to heal and make a transformation in your life because you believed in MAGIC. I love you too, hun! I love seeing that you continue to share what you’ve learned after all these years. Not many do, and we need more healers in the world.”

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Phyllis! You truly saved my life that day, and you are the teacher and spiritual mentor I aspire to be. You have given me so much wisdom over the years, and I will cherish and share it with the world. I dedicate this blog to you!

With love and gratitude,

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