An autoimmune disease occurs when an immune response mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body. There are somewhere between 80-100 known autoimmune diseases, and the NIH estimates that over 23 million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease, most of them women. Autoimmune diseases are chronic and can affect the overall quality of life.

Treatment for autoimmune diseases is not always clear-cut. According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.:

The exact mechanisms causing these changes are not completely understood; but bacteria, viruses, toxins, and some drugs may play a role in triggering an autoimmune process in someone who already has a genetic (inherited) predisposition to develop such a disorder. It is theorized that the inflammation initiated by these agents, toxic or infectious, somehow provokes in the body a “sensitization” (autoimmune reaction) in the involved tissues.

I will discuss what Reiki treatment is, and how it can benefit people living with autoimmune disease by helping them manage symptoms and improve overall well-being.

Please join us at the Little Five Points Community Center in Atlanta on May 31 at 6:30 pm. The cost is free.

Dragonfly Reiki is offering a  free Reiki healing clinic at Candler Park Chiropractic in Atlanta on Sunday, May 20 from 11am – 3 pm. Participants will receive a mini Reiki treatment in a soothing setting from experienced Reiki practitioners.

Although this is a free service, small donations are always appreciated. This month, Dragonfly Reiki will contribute donations received from the clinic to Veterans’ Heart Georgia in honor of Memorial Day. Veteran’s Heart Georgia fosters the healing of veterans of all wars by attending to the spiritual and emotional needs of veterans, their families and our communities.

We welcome veterans and their families to the clinic – all are welcome! Thank you for your service to our country.

Are you new to Reiki? Learn more about its benefits for mind, body and spirit wellness.

We recommend that you sign up for a time slot to minimize wait time, but walk-ins are welcome. Please contact Dana L. Young via email to reserve your space.

Candler Park Chiropractic is located in the Candler Park Connection complex adjacent to the Edgewood-Candler Park MARTA station. The office is located behind Radial Cafe:

1530 Dekalb Avenue, Ste C
Atlanta, GA 30307

“Reiki will guide you. Let the Reiki hands find it. They will know what to do.” – Hawayo Takata (source, Helen Haberly, Reiki: Hawayo Takata’s Story)

“Put your hands, surrender and smile.” – Hyakuten Inamoto

The biggest gift we can give ourselves as a Reiki practitioner is commitment to daily self-treatment.

Sometimes we misunderstand Reiki Ryoho to be something we primarily utilize as an intervention – when we don’t feel well, or to be of service to others when they are in need of healing. In other words, Reiki practice is thought of as something we “do.”

True practice of any form takes us from the position of “doing” something (limited in its function) to manifesting something (unlimited in its possibilities.) That is true for spiritual practices, as well as any other practice – sports, art creation or cooking – in which we fully engage.

The biggest benefit we can receive as a Reiki practitioner is to place our hands on ourselves – in the morning, in the evening, without fail, but with purpose – and allow inner transformation to unfold, day by day, treatment by treatment.

Newer students often express doubt when the initial intensity of their self-treatments levels off. They worry that it is not working, or that their “connection to Reiki” isn’t strong enough. I remind myself and my students to resist the temptation of attachment to physical sensation, because it is conditional and temporal. Reiki is not some force or power outside of us that we access; it is our true, Divine nature within that unfurls and flourishes through consistent practice.

I’m going to share a secret. I often do not experience many sensations during Reiki self-treatment, although it can be relaxing. When I was new to Reiki practice, I was not naturally sensitive to many of the blissful, heady sensations reported by other practitioners. Yet, I had evidence time and time again that Reiki treatment was having an effect on me, physically, emotionally and spiritually. And that effect is cumulative – over a period of days, weeks, months, and now, years. That is why we practice – to build upon our innate potential and live with intention and purpose.

As Reiki practitioners, we are given the “secret method to invite happiness.” Regardless of what style or lineage of Reiki practice we are initiated into, the key to unlocking the secret is the same. We are instructed to place our Reiki hands and surrender with trust and wonderment.

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Thank you to Reiki Master Pamela Miles for inspiring this post.

(Photo credit: visagency)

On Friday, March 16, Inamoto is giving a public talk on Reiki open to both Reiki practitioners and non-practitioners. He will talk about the history of Reiki, present a slideshow of sites in Japan associated with its development, and answer questions.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about Reiki is welcome to attend! This is a unique opportunity to hear someone talk about Reiki from the perspective of a person of Japanese descent.

Inamoto is the founder of Komyo Reiki Kai, which presents Reiki as it was understood and commonly practiced in the 1930’s in Japan. This system places emphasis on spiritual unfoldment through the practice of Reiki Ryoho, aiming for “satori” or enlightenment.

• Time: 6:30 – 9:30 PM
• Location: Self Discovery Center (1315 S Ponce De Leon Ave. Atlanta, GA 30306)
• Early registration fee: $20.00 (contact me via email for payment options)
• Fee on day of event: $25.00 – CASH only

We hope to see you there!

(Photo credit: Elyssa Matthews)

The real secret to both caring and taking responsibility for yourself is developing the ability to express gratitude in all aspects of your life – even the unwanted, stressful and painful ones. This practice can help keep you grounded and positive even in the face of challenges. Expressing gratitude mitigates the twin poison arrows of anger and worry by shifting your mind towards abundance, rather than lack.

The wonderful thing about being filled with gratitude and expressing it regularly is that this positive energy tends to attract more abundance into your life. Sometimes the good things that happen may be small, almost so small that if you weren’t being mindful you might let them slip by. And sometimes amazingly good things happen and you think it was a coincidence or you got lucky. In those moments, the universe is aligning with your Highest Good, which is manifesting through the expression of gratitude.

Counting your blessings has another benefit too – it’s good for your health! According to an article published in the Wall Street Journal:

A growing body of research suggests that maintaining an attitude of gratitude can improve psychological, emotional and physical well-being.

Adults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not, according to studies conducted over the past decade. They’re also less likely to be depressed, envious, greedy or alcoholics. They earn more money, sleep more soundly, exercise more regularly and have greater resistance to viral infections.

Being filled with gratitude is central to what Mikao Usui described in the Precepts as the “miraculous medicine for all diseases.”

A natural outgrowth of your own Reiki practice can include expressing gratitude on a daily basis. It could be gratitude for something small someone did for you right after it happens. Or it could be a quiet moment in the morning or before bed where you give prayerful gratitude for all of the things you may have – your life, your health, people who love you, a job, a roof over your head, and even the challenges you face from time to time that allow you to grow emotionally and spiritually.

It may be helpful to keep a gratitude journal, or write a list that you can post where you can see it expressing the things you’re grateful for in your life. You will start to see a pattern emerge of goodness that surrounds you. A gratitude practice will help reorient your thinking patterns and give you something tangible to sustain you during difficult times. The German Christian mystic Meister Eckhart so wisely said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”

(Photo credit: image taken from the stunning “30 Days of Gratitude” photo set by aussiegal)

However, Reiki treatment can also assist in healing emotional issues through the use of a specific technique called Seiheki Chiryo Ho (“Habit Treatment”) to help transform unwanted mental or emotional patterns in the subconscious mind, or to focus one’s energies towards accomplishing a specific objective.

Some issues or patterns that may be helped via Seiheki Treatment include:

• anger or emotional pain
• anxiety
• trauma
• fear
• grief
• low self-esteem/negative thinking

Seiheki Treatment can also be utilized to redirect the mind to support healthier habits (smoking cessation, weight loss, etc.) It may be used alone or in conjunction with life coaching to achieve personal goals.

The effects are cumulative, and an initial series of 3-4 treatments in a close time frame is recommended for better results.  Additional treatments may be needed, depending on the client’s rate of resolution.

Individual results may vary. Some people experience improvement in overall well-being, while others may have a profound shift that supports other therapeutic work they may be receiving. Patterns or issues can be multi-layered, but the goal is to gently assist the body’s process of restoring emotional balance. It is not unusual for people to experience improvement in physical symptoms of acute or chronic conditions after participating in Seiheki Treatment.

Note: Seiheki Treatment is a complementary therapy and is not a substitute for qualified mental health care or medication when needed. Although issues to be addressed are briefly discussed in order to provide context for the treatment, Seiheki Treatment is not “talk therapy” and I do not provide psychological counseling. However, I can direct you to helpful resources if more comprehensive assistance is needed.

Please contact me to learn more about how Seiheki Treatment can help you.

(photo credit: seanmcgrath on Flickr)

In Eastern cultures, energetic or spiritual phenomena are part of large and often complex systems of practice. There are both gross and subtle forms of phenomena and a contextual framework for understanding their place in mind, body and spirit functions. These phenomena can be both external and intrinsic – often simultaneously. The language of these cultures reflects this innate understanding and utilization in both daily life and spiritual matters.

In Reiki practice, we run into this issue almost immediately. First, how do we define Reiki – as phenomena, and second, how it plays out in the hands-on and spiritual aspects of the practice? Much of the verbiage I’ve read describes Reiki as a kind of “spiritual energy” that we “channel” for self-healing and healing others. Some practitioners describe themselves as a “vessel” that the “energy flows through” for healing purposes. It’s not uncommon to hear someone say they are clearing blockages and opening up energy fields too.

There are energetically-based healing practices for which these statements ring largely true. Practitioners draw in (“channel”) energy or phenomena by specific means and then they transfer it back out. In some practices, “dirty” or negative energy is removed and replaced with “clean” or good energy. This was initially my understanding of Reiki when I first learned of it, but the more I practiced, the more I realized that these statements did not, at least for me, ring true. Nor did it seem consistent with my understanding of Japanese culture and spiritual practices. However, we in the West lack an adequately precise vocabulary for describing the actions of the ineffable.

It’s taken the average public in the West about 50 years to get the basic concepts of Zen Buddhism, arguably the most popular spiritual practice transplanted from Japan. We’ve been fortunate to have had some very astute Zen Masters and scholars who were able to elucidate what “no-self”, “non-action” or “emptiness” meant in a way that became culturally relevant for us. (Although I still might argue that the popular concept of the “Zen moment” is not really the same as it’s meant in practice. Try sitting on a zafu facing the wall for what seems like an eternity and you’ll realize that it’s still a “Zen moment” – but not the one accompanied by bamboo flute music and an austere rock garden you see in spa commercials.)

In any case, I was able to grasp the basic concepts of Reiki in an instinctive way, because I’d had some training in Zen practice. But I did not begin the process of grasping the fundamental nature of Reiki until I’d been practicing for several years. And I’m still learning and deepening that understanding. Over time, there are more and more subtle aspects that continue to unfold. As more things are revealed, more things get stripped away.

At some point, it occurred to me that I didn’t feel like I was channeling Reiki. Instead, I experienced engagement with Reiki as a phenomena that was being activated simply by being present with it. I didn’t actually have to “do” anything and the less I did, the more “there” it was. As I have heard some others also say, we are not “doing” Reiki; we are “being” Reiki. In essence, Reiki is for me a very passive practice, but it creates very active results.

In Zen practice, when we place our hands in gassho and bow, we are acknowledging the innate Buddha-nature present in ourselves and others. In Reiki practice, when we place our hands in gassho and bow, we are acknowledging the Great Bright Light in ourselves and others. It is somewhat different phrasing, but essentially the same concepts. After all, Mikao Usui was a Buddhist, and this was his primary frame of reference.

During a Reiki treatment, my understanding is that I am there to help facilitate and witness this ever-present potential, this Great Bright Light, begin to spark and actualize within myself and others. I am present with and acknowledge the process, but beyond that, there is little I need to do. I don’t need to bring anything else in, nor do I need to take anything away. It is always already there. Yes, there are tools and techniques that are part of the practice, but they are there to specifically support certain processes.

In my view, there is not something “energetic” outside of us that we are bringing in during Reiki practice or treatment. We are making manifest an ever-present potential within each of us. And while we might perceive that with our ordinary minds to be “energy”, it is vastly and indefinably so much more than that.

(Photo credit: istolethetv on Flickr)

A while back, I began a discussion on my Facebook page to gain feedback from other Reiki practitioners on what the Precepts mean to them and how they are integrated into their daily life and practice. In this post, we examine the precept “Do not worry” (Shinpai suna.)

I received this very insightful comment:

I was brought up to believe that worrying is what one is supposed to do and that it even somehow will help a situation. It was only due to self-Reiki, and serious contemplation of the Precepts, that it dawned on me that worry was destroying my peace of mind and burdening those about whom I worried the most (who, of course, were those I loved the most). I have gradually reduced my need to control that which is out of my control…

Engaging in worry about the “what ifs”, “when” or “what” robs the people, places and situations around us of our presence and energy. There are times when we do need to feel concern, or engage in future planning, but those should result in positive action, rather than ruminating over the same issues without resolution. Quite often, we tend to worry about things we have no control over, or events that may never come to pass. Another favorite quote of mine is “Worrying is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.” (Glenn Turner) That can end up being a big waste of energy! Sometimes a situation that seemed more complicated or dire at first turns out to be far more manageable.

Worrying can lead to sickness. I’ve seen people experience symptoms that mimicked a heart attack and neurological dysfunction (stroke-like symptoms, numbness in limbs, etc) from internalizing worry. For people with mood disorders, worry can become emotionally crippling. It can trigger chronic pain episodes, like back pain or migraines. Keeping worry in check by maintaining a calm, clear perspective in the midst of uncertainty can help minimize stress and maintain a better state of health.

Shinpai suna suggests more than “do not worry.” It also implies, as Reiki Teacher (Shihan) Gisela Stewart of Simply Jikiden Reiki and I recently observed, having patience. We want what we want when we want it, which is now. And we fret when we don’t get it. Patience is how we express trust in the innate wisdom of the universe to guide and steady us. Patience creates the space for us to receive what we truly need – which may be different from what we want – and gain the insight needed for our personal and spiritual development.

When giving or receiving Reiki treatment, we should also release our worry about what it will do or how effective it will be. It is instinctive for us to want to help others feel better, but our role is simply to be present and observe the flow of Reiki as the recipient begins the process of bringing the body back into balance. As my teacher, Hyakuten Inamoto says, “Reiki does a fine job of healing, not you.” Worrying about whether or not the treatment worked or if the recipient is feeling better places the burden of responsibility for someone else’s healing on us and also falsely identifies our ego with the outcome.

Similarly, when receiving Reiki treatment, we should let go and allow our body (both the subtle and physical aspects) to utilize Reiki in whatever way is needed to bring us back into balance. This is not a process we can force, but we can find ways mentally, emotionally and physically to support it.

Observing Shinpai suna provides us with the trust in Reiki practice to actualize the pure, innate nature it represents, and releases us from fear of what the future may bring. We can welcome life moment to moment and know that we are being supported.

If you liked this post, you might be interested in reading  Examining the 5 Reiki Precepts: Today only, do not anger and Living the Reiki Precepts.
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(photo credit: chefranden on Flickr)

I began a discussion on my Facebook page to gain feedback from other Reiki practitioners on what the Precepts mean to them and how they are integrated into their daily life and practice. In this post, we examine the precept “Today only, do not anger (Kyo dake wa/Ikaru na)”.

A couple of comments I received were:

I think of it more as “I release anger” because sometimes anger will arise, and when it does, I’ll release it without identifying with it, taking it personally or becoming attached to it.

I think this precept invites us not to hold on to anger (making ourselves ill in the process) or to unleash it on others, hurting them and hurting ourselves, but instead to notice: Wow, I’m angry right now. What might be the reason for that? And how could I respond to the situation that’s causing me to feel like this in a constructive way? From a centred place, it is so much easier to act deliberately rather than reactively. Handled in this way, our anger may help us realise that perhaps we need clearer boundaries, or we need to find a way to stand up for our own needs, etc.

The first Precept “Do not anger” tends to be an emotionally charged one for Reiki practitioners. In my Reiki I (Shoden) classes, students spend a lot of time reflecting on what “Do not anger” means to them, as well as the resistance they feel at this directive. Usui Sensei was smart to list “do not anger” first, because as humans, it is the hardest emotion for us to work with. We feel entitled to our anger about how we were treated by our family of origin, by a former lover or spouse, a scheming coworker, or the person who rudely cuts us off in traffic. Anger is a sword we turn on ourselves. It cuts us more deeply than it does the person or situation to which we direct it. Anger keeps us from seeing the Oneness we share with others.

Anger can be a useful tool. It lets us know there is an issue, an imbalance or a wrong that needs to be addressed. However, all too often we bury, subvert or wallow in anger. It festers and causes illness, dysfunction and emotional separation. It’s unrealistic to think we can simply banish our feelings by reciting “Today only, do not anger”. But as the second comment above advises, we can stop and observe what we are feeling when the emotion arises instead of blindly reacting. Stopping and observing is where our practice truly begins. It’s when we’re able to drop our defenses and be receptive to the message we need to hear.

Sometimes that moment when we stop and observe may be enough to let go of the anger. For example, you may realize the person who cut you off in traffic actually didn’t see you. (It happens!) Or it may remind you of times you were aggressive in traffic because you were in a hurry or momentarily distracted. That pause allows you to see the other person as being probably not that much different than you.

Overstepping boundaries is a common cause of anger and misunderstanding in relationships between people. In close relationships, one person may not realize they are doing it (usually it’s because they have an unmet need they’re subconsciously trying to fill) and it is up to us to identify where the boundary has been crossed, and find a way to constructively address and reestablish a boundary that feels safe without creating additional conflict. Reiki practice can give us enough breathing space to step back from our anger to find a way to approach the other person and address the issue firmly yet with compassion.

During a conflict with family or partner, it may occur to you the tension you’re holding, or other physical symptoms you’re feeling (back or stomach pain, for instance) are deep-seated anger from something in your past you have internalized. Deep-seated issues did not develop in one day, nor should be expect them to be resolved emotionally right away. But with awareness and the tools of our practice (Reiki self-treatment, Sei Heki healing and Gassho meditation) we can directly, mindfully and gently address those emotions and begin to release them in a safe, productive way.

The practice of “Do not anger” is one we must learn to do it without self-judgment. Anger is a natural human emotion, but we don’t have to be helplessly chained to it. If we feel anger arise, we should acknowledge it, but not berate ourselves for what we’re feeling. When we release attachment to our anger (identifying with it, or allowing ourselves to be a victim) we can finally begin to let go of its stranglehold on us.

The imperative “Today only” is a lifelong practice. The Reiki Precepts are designed to bring more awareness to your daily life and facilitate mind/body/spirit balance. As Usui Sensei himself said: “If the mind is healthy, conforming to a path of integrity,then the body becomes sturdy of its own accord.” Anger is a sign that something needs to change, so use the opportunity to deepen your awareness of what may be triggering your anger to bring about healthy change and restore energetic and emotional balance.

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in reading Living the Reiki Precepts.

Hear my teacher, Hyakuten Inamoto, recite the Reiki Precepts in Japanese:

(Photo credit: Andrea_44 on Flickr)

Reiki, a Japanese hands-on therapy, works at balancing the body’s energy (NorthJersey.com): feature article about several Reiki practitioners in New Jersey and the benefits their clients receive, including cancer patients and a young boy with a developmental disorder.

Department of Defense National Intrepid Center of Excellence: The National Intrepid Center of Excellence is a program aimed at treating veterans suffering traumatic brain injuries and psychological disorders. Some of the treatments include alternative medicine and holistic therapies such as meditation, reiki, yoga, acupuncture and heart math.

MyFoxBoston video on benefits of Reiki: television news segment that provides a brief overview of Reiki hands-on healing and short demonstration. Notice how relaxed the anchor is after receiving Reiki!

Would-be mums use Reiki (NZ Herald): feature article about how women are turning to Reiki to help them conceive naturally. Stress can contribute to infertility, so the relaxing, balancing aspects of Reiki may make it easier for women to conceive and support their pregnancy.

Complementary Medicine Popular With Healthcare Workers (Medpage Today): In a recent study, 76% of healthcare professionals (providers, technicians and support workers) said they used at least one form of complementary or alternative therapy to maintain a sense of well-being and address anxiety. Energy healing, including Reiki, was on that list.

(Photo © Bob Stockfield; Courtesy: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)