Reiki: A Spiritual Practice
Many people have a spiritual focus or practice in their lives. While Reiki is certainly not associated with a religion, it can be
a spiritual practice, nonetheless. Anything that enhances your life in a positive way, can really be considered a "spiritual practice."
Just this morning we took a walk in a beautiful city park. While our primary purpose was for exercise, we reveled in the beauty of
the morning and especially, the coolness of the temperature. To me, whatever is uplifting in life, is spiritual. Recently, it dawned on me, after teaching Reiki classes for many years, that learning Reiki is really learning to connect with your spiritual self. I know that I feel good in teaching it and that the students feel good in learning it.
One of the common things that someone will say after a Reiki session is "Wow! Or, "That was amazing!" It feels good to help
someone else feel good. I call the 15-minute treatment we give, 15 minutes of bliss. Just spending whatever time you give to Reiki is time focusing on ove and joy. To me, that is what life should be. Of course, life sn't always like that. So, when you practice Reiki, that is spending time focusing on those higher aspects. And when we spend more time focusing on love, joy and whatever else good Reiki brings you, your life takes on a wonderful flow of its own.
So, if you are a Reiki practitioner, practice every chance you get or if not, practice receiving this life giving energy. It can
become addicting.
A Love Affair with Reiki
I remember first hearing about others doing hands-on healing work and wanting to do it myself. Little did I realize the impact actually learning Reiki would have on my life.
It wasnít until I began practicing giving Reiki to others on a regular basis did I realize what I had. Even though I didnít really feel any energy coming out of my hands for several months, I did see the effect the Reiki had others.
After just a 15 minutes session, the person being worked on had such a glow about them. They usually had a smile on their face. Even if they person being worked on had no real health challenges, they felt the benefit anyway in a much more calmer and relaxed demeanor.
And of course, I knew how I felt receiving a treatment as well. After a treatment I would typically feel revitalized and rejuvenated. I just felt great! Having worked on thousands of people over the last 15 years, the effect is still the same.
Receiving Reiki is like getting an energy transfusion. The universal life force energy that is transmitted through the session to the recipient is essentially a loving energy that nurtures most everyone it touches.
We tell our students that we can only make two claims about what Reiki will do, being:
1) It will help reduce stress, and
2 )It will help relieve pain.
But those are two major factors! Many doctors would agree that many illnesses are stress related.
Beyond helping with stress and pain, we started having people tell us what it had done for them beyond those two things. Clients and students report help with a myriad of conditions from headaches to fibromyalgia to cancer.
But, just helping someone get to that deeply relaxed state that Reiki provides, helps to accelerate the bodyís own healing response, and as a result, they typically feel better.
Whether it is giving someone a Reiki treatment or teaching a class how to do Reiki, it has been a love affair for me. And when it gets down to it,that is what life is all about, learning to love more, not only love †others, but learning to love ourselves more as well.
That Was Easy!
I'm sure you have all seen the Staples commercial that features the "Easy" button. You press the big red button and it says. ìThat was easy!î I eventually bought one of those for myself.
I like the idea of things being easy rather than hard. It seems that we all grow up with the idea that if we work hard enough, we'll get ahead. If we put in long hours at the office, we might just get that promotion or raise.
When I look at the times when I worked hard at work, it seems that it only produced more work to work hard at. As a result, I was feeling more and more stressed. I intuitively knew that I had to change that pattern. I began inwardly affirming ìPeace, joy and loveî and feeling the essence of those three states as well.
According to the teachings of Abraham, ìThere is nothing more important than you feel good.î When I first heard that, I don't think I really understood the importance of that statement. In essence, when ti comes to health, and life in general, there is ease and there is dis-ease. For me, I knew I wanted ease, or to feel good.
When it comes to creating good health or creating what you truly want in life, it is better done from being in a state of ease.When we are in a state of ease, we are in alignment with who we really are. When we are happy, joyful, and loving, we are naturally in a state of ease. It's not something we have to work at, it is more a matter of easing into that state, or simply letting go of things that are bothering us. When we are in a state of ease, life naturally flows for us.
At home, we have a pet door for our cat, Shadow, to easily go in and out. The other night, I realized ti was 9:00 p.m. and it was time to get her in. A split second later, she comes zooming in the pet door and into the lliving room. I thought, ìThat was easy!î I didn't have to go out and get her like I normally do, she brought herself in. Just prior to that, I had been practicing being in a state of ease and life cooperated, so to speak, in bringing her in.
Yesterday at work, I had just started thinking about some supplies that had been ordered that I was needing. Within one minute, someone had brought those supplies directly to my desk. That was easy!
I told the person that had brought them to me that I had just been thinking about the supplies. He said, ìWell , maybe you should have asked for a million dollars!î HmmmÖ.maybe i should have. Again, I had practicing being in a state of ease just before that happened.
So, try practice being happier, practice being joyful, practice being loving. Not only will it benefit your health, but all of life in general.
The Healing Power of Love
Perhaps, by now, you've heard the saying, “Love heals all wounds.” After having spent over 12 years doing hands-on healing work, I would say that is very true. When doing hands-on healing, the healing practitioner becomes a channel for life force energy. It is this life force energy that animates us and gives us life. Without it, we can become ill.
Time after time, I have seen people make a turnaround in a challenging health situation. Sometimes it is very quickly, sometimes it takes a bit longer. This life force energy is the same as the quality of love. The healing practitioner holds a very high frequency or vibration of this life force energy, or love and the person needing the healing begins to match this frequency of love, like a magnet, and that is how the healing occurs.
Every one responds to the power of love, no matter who they are. It is only when we are lacking in love for ourselves that illness can take hold. Of course, it is up to the person receiving the healing as to whether they accept or reject the loving, healing energy being offered. But, most times, people respond very well and healing occurs. The more loving we are towards ourselves, he healthier we will be.
Try for one day having nothing but loving thoughts, when ever possible. As you do, you will find that life will flow much easier for you. Instead of being a struggle, life will flow with ease and grace, as it was meant to. Become a channel for love in your own life and see what a difference it makes.
Managing Stress with Reiki
One of the biggest health factors we all face is how to manage stress. Many years ago when I started attending a Reiki healing circle I noticed something very special happening. During the healing circle, someone would get on the Reiki table to have a 15-minute treatment from two to three practitioners. What I noticed happening is that at the end of the 15-minute session, the person on the table had such a glow about them. The effects of stress they may have been experiencing seemed to all dissolve away, in a short period of time.
This happened time after time. The person receiving the Reiki treatment also had a big smile on their face as well. While I was a very new Reiki practitioner at that time and I may have initially questioned what effect the Reiki was having, those doubts quickly subsided. What I found was that Reiki was an excellent way to relieve stress. So, if someone asks me how to deal with stress, I suggest they experience Reiki.
Reiki can be one of the greatest stress management techniques we have at our disposal.
Having been a Reiki practitioner and teacher for over 12 years, I have learned first hand the value of what Reiki can do with stress. At our healing circles, the Reiki practitioner loves to receive a treatment as much as giving one. After all these years of receiving Reiki, I call it “15 minutes of bliss!”
Most recently, one gentleman who had been attending one of our healing circles called it a “religious experience.” But, it is important to understand that Reiki is not affiliated with any religion, but for many it can be a wonderful spiritual experience and practice in addition to learning how to relieve stress for themselves.
I believe that everyone has innate healing ability. Many times, someone will take a Reiki class to further understand this healing ability and to, perhaps to give it a name. Once you learn to tap into this wonderful, loving energy, you’ve tapped into a wonderful relaxation technique that you can use on yourself at any time.
Even hospitals are drawing upon the healing power of Reiki. According to the American Hospital Association, Reiki is used in over 800 hospitals and clinics in the U.S. alone. It works very well along side conventional medicine and helps to reduce anxiety and stress. So, if you want to learn to relax and manage stress, learn Reiki. I call it one of the “essential tools for life.”