Reiki at St. Charles Cancer Center in Bend, Oregon

Recently, I began a new chapter in my healing journey—not as a patient, but as a practitioner. I’m honored to now volunteer as a Reiki provider at the St. Charles Cancer Center, where patients are welcomed into a space of deep rest, quiet strength, and unconditional support.

The healing power of touch is often underestimated in our fast-moving world. Yet within the walls of the Cancer Center, it becomes sacred. There, Reiki is more than a modality—it’s a moment of stillness in the storm. A space where patients can remove the armor of their day-to-day battles—literally and figuratively—and simply receive.

Each session I’ve had the privilege of offering begins gently. A warm blanket. Dimmed lights. Soothing music. I place my hands lightly at the crown of the head or soles of the feet, and from there, the energy flows. Sometimes I can feel the tension melt beneath my palms. Other times, the stillness says it all.

What moves me most is not just the healing potential of Reiki—it’s the deep presence that unfolds between practitioner and patient. In that quiet room, filled with intention and breath, a different kind of medicine is at work. It’s the kind that doesn’t always show up on a chart, but lives in the relief on a patient’s face, or the softness in their voice as they rise from the table.

Some patients receive Reiki before chemotherapy or radiation. Others come in the midst of long treatment journeys. What I offer them is small in the scheme of things—just 45 minutes of rest, of warmth, of connection—but sometimes that’s everything. And the gift is not one-sided. I leave each session feeling grounded, grateful, and reminded of why I chose this path.

Reiki may be gentle, but its impact is anything but small.

If you or someone you love is undergoing cancer treatment at St. Charles, I encourage you to explore the integrative therapies offered—Reiki, acupuncture, massage. They’re available at no cost, thanks to generous community support, and they are quietly transforming lives from the inside out.

If you are a Reiki practitioner, and feel called to serve, I can’t recommend this experience enough. The work is simple. The reward is profound.

With light and love,

Amy