Burning Bright: Rituals, Reiki, and Self-Care to Heal Burnout, Anxiety, and Stress

by Kelsey Patel

You have a choice. There is a path out of pain, anxiety, burnout, and the feeling of complete overwhelm. This book is your invitation to choose that path. “Patel shares how to tap into subtle energy shifts through simple yet powerful practices that you can do on yourself.”—Goop When Kelsey Patel was struck by searing back pain in her twenties while working on Capitol Hill, she had no idea that repressed emotions could manifest as debilitating anxiety and physical pain. What healed her was empowering herself to choose how she lived her life. In Burning Bright, her first book, Kelsey shares the self-care techniques that helped get her body, health, and emotions back into Reiki, emotional freedom technique, meditation, yoga, and more.  Now a spiritual coach, Reiki master, and wellness expert, Kelsey has helped thousands struggling with burnout and anxiety. This book is filled with stories, hard-won wisdom, profound empathy, and the secrets to reexamining thoughts and breaking negative patterns. You will learn how  • practice Reiki on yourself, without a master;• interrupt anxiety cycles with tapping, breathwork, and journaling;• perform simple rituals that can boring you peace in any situation;• ground yourself and get back into your physical body;• release emotional and physical blocks so that your energy can flow freely;• establish a solid foundation of self-worth and self-care. As you use these techniques to align with your priorities, you’ll watch your authentic life unfold—a life of harmony, fulfillment, purpose, and joy. Burnout makes you feel like there is always more, more, more to do, but the truth is, you are enough right now without any more doing. Learn how to feel this truth because it’s time for you to start burning bright.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Spirituality, Audiobook, Magic, Witchcraft

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2020

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light overview of multiple self-care and healing modalities, including several soothing reiki meditations--great on audiobook. I kept waiting for some acknowledgment of the degree of privilege assumed in some of her suggestions (feeling frazzled by the job and the kids? get thyself to a spa!). You know, the distinction between what burnout means to someone who has access to bathtub crystals and dinners out with the hubby in contrast to what it means to someone who's been powering through a lifetime of systemic racism and economic disparities or who has lost family members to violence or mental illness. Maybe I slept through that part. Highly recommended to wealthy white women in the LA area where this author has her following, and to GOOP readers nationwide.

[Emmy Lou Musgrave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very interesting read. I read a lot of these woo-woo self-help books, but this one struck me harder than normal. I liked how Patel made it a priority to mentions that not everything in the book was going to work for everyone. She made it a point to give a wide variety of exercises and techniques to try out. I will definitely be trying some of the self-reiki work she included.
One thing that bugged me a bit about this book, is that Patel uses a lot of "real world" examples about how her clients and friends reacted to some of this work. I put "real world" in quotes because this is still a book, we have to take the information with a grain of salt. I understand why she needed someone or something to ground the theories to, but to me, they seemed a little far-fetched. I think it's important to keep in mind that when it comes to the woo-woo stuff, there are external forces that work with the internal ones you are manifesting. Meditation alone is not going to heal your problems, which is how Patel presents many of these examples. Mediation, breathing, and Reiki are amazing tools to have, but they can't be the only tools you have.
All in all, I thought this book was very helpful and I've even marked several places that I plan on referring back to when needed.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm pretty far along on my journey of growth & self-discovery so I already knew or have been practicing much that's included in this book. Reiki is something I don't know much about although after reading this, I realized I've already been performing at least parts of it on my own. I'll definitely be giving the full course a shot because the worst it can do is nothing and the best is that it helps me on my path even more. Special thanks to the friend who picked this up for me. Being thought of when you're not around is just as special as the gift itself.

[Molly Ganley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was validating, inspiring, and loving. I appreciated Kelsey's guidance and personal stories, and I learned a lot of great strategies for healing burnout and the reasons behind why they work.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!!! So many tools for a mama who is over worked and under paid☺️

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have really mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand it has given me the best language I've come across to describe my burnout. On the other hand there's some strange messaging in here that feels pretty off and some small things that feel down right dangerous.

Let's proceed with the positives shall we? Firstly the language she uses to describe what it feels like to be burnt out was spot on for me, so much so that I captured the quotes in my journal, so I could include them here and refer back when I needed a refresher. Here are my favourites.

"Burnout is that feeling of not being able to do the basic things you need or want to do out of sheer exhaustion or loss of will", p.13

When I was first diagnosed with burnout I wasn't experiencing the clinical definition of exhaustion (not being able to get out of bed, or sleeping for crazy amounts of time). I resisted my burnout diagnosis. If anyone had asked me about loss of will I probably would have had an earlier "aha moment" about what the fuck was happening to me. I literally lost my will to do anything that wasn't my job in the final year before leaving.

"When you can't even get basic thing done or you don't feel any satisfaction or contentment in you life anymore", - p.84 - Again bang on, I basically described my burnout to others by explaining how small my life had become, that I wasn't an active participant anymore in anything that wasn't work, but that didn't really cover it, it didn't cover the complete and utter lack of fulfillment when I had everything to love outside of my job.

Another thing that was really helpful in this book was it's definition of stress versus anxiety. I'm sure it's not clinically correct but it really rang true for me. Stress is a one and done event, something happens, your nervous system kicks into overdrive to deal with it, and then it's done and your nervous system calms down. Anxiety on the other hand is persistent worry about a stressor. Your nervous system is always ramped up. This again was eye opening. I had a string of incredibly stressful work things happen to me in 2018, things that were out of my control and that my organization did nothing to help with. I spent the next 3 years worrying constantly about them, and then add the state of the world for the last 2 years and it's easy to understand why my body started failing me.

So to the extent that this book gave me new language to discuss my diagnosis and recovery I think it's great. Also I found the EFT tapping technique it described to be really helpful in helping to ground me in my body and regain calm in stressful situations. I'll use it moving forward and would recommend it to folks to try.

Now for the negatives, this book is woo woo AF. If you struggle with the idea of yoga, you're gonna find the stuff on crystals, horoscopes, and some of the meditation stuff a bridge too far. But I would suggest taking what you can from this book and discarding what doesn't work for you.

There's also some weird shit in here about following your hearts desires and the example she gives is her friend needing to buy a new lexus SUV, and it's real cringey, and a little tone deaf.

But now lets get to the stuff that I think is a bit dangerous. There's an example in this book between pages 147-148 about a guy who was paralyzed in an accident meditating his spine into healing, there's also a quote saying "some people think that belief can shrink tumours". Honestly, what the actual fuck???? While I subscribe to the school that believing and having hope are important to being able to heal, honestly if you don't think you can get better it's more likely that you won't get better. I sure as shit don't think I can meditate away cancer or a severed spine. And I think including any sniff of that in a book is dangerous, because while I'll be able to critically think through it and land on bullshit, there are some folks who won't. In another section she goes on to say that if you're seriously ill you should connect with your GP or a doctor, and this weird stuff on thinking yourself through serious illness is only included in a few pages, it's not all through out, it's very small.

So who is this book for? Well if you're into the more woo woo stuff out there than it's for you, and if you're the kind of person who can pick and choose what they take from a book and leave what you think is utter hogwash than also for you. And if you're willing to try new healing modalities and be open to thinking outside of the typical western philosophy of medicine than also probably for you.

I'll definitely be using the language set out in this book to talk about my burnout moving forward, and it's only further enforced my belief that yoga will be a part of my lifelong health journey because of it's ability to connect us into our bodies. And I really like that tapping technique, which is pretty much as woo woo as I can get... well other than I love the moon and moon rituals, so probably I'm just a closeted witch that needs time accept it ;)

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was set to review this book at the time when the pandemic and protests hit America and my stress levels were at an all time high. I’m a seasoned meditator but was still feeling the affects of everything. My schedule being off and feeling hopeless about all the hurt in the world had my head swimming. I felt like I needed and had to do and be more. This book put what I was feeling into perspective and offered help:

“When you have burnout, it always feels like there is more to do and more, more, more that you must give. In this book, I want you to see and feel that you are enough without more doing.”

The author showed me ways to “burn bright” by outwardly doing less and letting go. This enabled me to connect with my energy and light so that I could do the things I want with a sense of joy and ease on the path I have chosen for myself. She writes as follows:

“To burn bright is the opposite of the manic, overwhelmed, anxious, stress-driven, worried energy so many of us associate with productivity and achievement. It is a clean, calm, pure energy, based in love rather than fear— an energy that you can relax into, that feels timeless and dependable and as if it will never run out.”

Throughout the process, the author asks us to to keep looking inward, to find new layers of trust and recognition within ourselves.

She has infused the book with healing and balancing Reiki energy and a special magic intended to open us up to love and permission to burn bright.

There are three major parts to this book:
Part 1 explores the mess of being human and all it entails, which is very relatable to today’s world and time. It addresses stress, anxiety, and pain and how this imprints us.
Part 2 works through the ways to connect with your joy such as Reiki, EFT (tapping), and other methods.
Part 3 covers items that can be used to celebrate daily life, big events, and the cyclical nature of earthly existence such as meditations, crystals, yoga, astrology, and so on.

This book came at the right time for me and has opened my eyes to a lot of methods to help me connect to my joy and burn bright. I recommend this to anyone who is feeling burnout and feeling they need some help to decompress.

Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayla Lindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man this review is something I have been delaying writing. I initially bought this book at Five Below 3ish years ago and hadn't touched it until recently. My burn out has been real, and truthfully I hadn't really found a constructive way of handling it. "Burning Bright" by: Kelsey Patel is a tool box or step by step book of how to over come those moments, and how to recognize them when they are happening. I docked a star off just because she covered Reiki on here. Truthfully that's a practice that is beneficial and I have found beneficial, but it wasn't my cup of tea of how she wrote this/described it. There's a lot of "check in points" where you meditate and really see how you are feeling in the moment of points covered in the chapters. My personal deep moment was when she talked about the victim card we play on ourselves a lot. And is something I am deeply and actively learning to walk away from. So yeah! Good energy here. If you want feel free to check it out in my link below! It's worth a read. Cheers!
https://amzn.to/3une5iU

[Melanie Glassford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my shelf for a few years now, but as I always say, books find me in their own perfect time. Of course, the energy of this one has been on my shelf and in my space, but the reading experience over the last week+ has really provided such a jolt to my spirituality, that admittedly has felt dormant, lost, and stagnant due to life life-ing. I found myself naturally, and with ease, implementing so many of the rituals and practices shared in the book; and, to the surprise of no one, I've been feeling so much more connected to self and the Universe. Moving with more intention to take care of my body, mind, and spirit -- which is exactly how this book is broken down. I must say that one of the things I loved most about it is that the author, a Reiki healer, infused Reiki energy into the book and I truly felt that while holding and turning its pages. The other beautiful part is that it's a book you could pick up and open to any random page and have something to learn or apply to your life in that given moment, which makes it an incredible tool of tools.

[Amanda Papenfus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook, which I felt like added to reading the experience especially as it was narrated by the author, which made it felt more personal since she often is addressing the reader. In the intro she said “Trust that this audiobook will manifest in your life and cocreate with you in whatever way best serves you on that day and in that moment.” That rang true for me as I started it in one month and heard what felt very apt at the time, had a pause, and came back another time again picking up on something that was apt for the time. It was was uncanny how often synchronicities happened as I listened.

There was a lot of wisdom and exercises. I took many notes and might relisten sometime. I liked that the author built in check ins. I didn’t like some of the random added music at some sections, especially at the rest and repair meditation, which had kind of a creepy vibe at first. I did like that the audiobook includes that meditation as an audiobook exclusive though.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. This year I began diving deeper into spirituality, and I was curious about Reiki, which this book discusses. It won’t be for everyone demographically, which is to be expected, since authors can only offer advice based on their own lived experiences. And it may be too simplistic for someone who is much further along on their spirituality and self-care journey. But for me, it read like a tour of the self-care arena, offering a sampling of the many ways we can reconnect without ourselves. Some new ideas and practices stood out to me, and I will now look into them more thoroughly through further reading and education. She touched on a lot in under 300 pages, and I appreciate the conversational writing style. I definitely recommend this to someone who is feeling called toward spirituality and self-care but who maybe hasn’t done much exploring in those areas yet.

[janne Boswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I thought the book was well written and offered practical advice. The Author offered numerous ideas and ways to focus on 'self care.' She also discussed negative thought patterns and how these can be indentified and used to fuel a 'renewed surge of energy and light." I am not familiar with Reiki techniques and by her description, I do not think I could do these techniques at home. But, I found the other information in the book interesting and helpful.
Thank you NetGalley & Randome House LLC the opportunity to read & review this book.

janne boswell
https://seniorbooklounge.blogspot.com/

[Lisa Gering · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Burning Bright is the most spiritual self-help book I have read thus far. I enjoyed the author's personal antidotes and stories from her friends/clients, as well as the relatable examples given of common barriers we all face in regards to burn out. I work in behavioral sciences and see coworkers of mine burning out every month. This book is an especially great resource to those who work in a healthcare/social services setting as burn out is so common. I highlighted the heck out of this book and will definitely go back to it when I feel my cup emptying. I could see this book being too woo-woo for some, but it resonated with me.

[Estefanía · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very soothing book, perfect for people getting into slow living and wellness. If you are an overworked person you need to be in the right head space to read it and at a point where you want to stop feeling burnout in your life (I can picture my judgy younger self rolling her eyes at every page thinking “that’s all very nice but have you had a job?”)

If you have been around the block and are into the whole wellness world, it can still provide a very relaxing experience, but the tools won’t be nothing new. I appreciated the reminder to be gentle with myself, to maintain my routines and I am now deeply curious about reiki and willing to try more rituals.

[Mandy Hazen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So so beautifully written and step by step instructions on how to lay out all the steps to do any of the suggestions in the comfort of your home. This author just truly spoke to me and I just was so inspired. Reiki is so powerful and I was so impacted by this book. Strongly recommend. Lots of amazing tips and tricks and suggestions in here. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The start of this book made me feel very seen and game me some specific language to describe and identify sensations I had been feeling recently. However, the connection I had with the author dwindled quickly as the book progressed. I lost interest in the story she was trying to share about her own journey. I can imagine for the right demographic, this book could work wonders, but for me, it missed the mark. I took what I could from its pages, but am leaving the rest behind.

[Shawna Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book wasn't it for me.

I find self help books a very tricky thing for me. I find that some are written so well, that you can take the information you want and glaze over the rest. And other just feel like humble brags with little information to grab on to, and other information that you so strongly disagree with that it taints your whole view of the book.

This book turned out to be one that went too far off course for me to get much out of it.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I heard about it from Elise Joan’s Instagram Live interview with Kelsey. I was, and am currently, in a transition from a dark time to a light time in my life. This book has helped me begin to heal so many things and I cherish that I was able to have it in my life when I needed the healing the most!

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great motivational and healing book, even if you ignore the religious and mystical healing rituals. The prompts are great for journaling, introspection and self-heal. Not much new message, but the messages are worth repeating, and depending on who you are, this version might be the version that you need to hear.

I aspire to be her. I am grateful for her voice.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took too long to read this this book and now I don't even know what I think about it. That probably also makes it forgettable. I'm less familiar with Reiki so that was interesting to read about. I'm not sure I feel like the title matches up to what was actually covered, but it might for some.

[Marina Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my new everything when it comes to my healing journey, this book was easier to understand for me and gave many examples and tools instead of the usual one or two. I will definitely be going back to this book all the time throughout my journey!

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, just not quite 4. Decent book with some good ideas, some of it was just a bit out of scope for me.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kelsey discussed various interesting ways to take care of yourself. I learned a little about Reiki too.

[Jennie Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed! Lots of practical activities to get you started.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provided a lot of ideas on how to handle anxiety and stress in a fun way.

[Krystin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ basic book for people who are new to self care/spiritual journey. Would rate higher if there was mention of privilege etc.

[Nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Amanda Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motivational

[Marcy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t relate. I put this in my abandoned / could not finish pile

[Summer Soso · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was like a long Goop article. I hated it. It's that white girl LA type of spirituality. Nothing new here... move on.