I’m featuring a guest blog post by one of my Reiki students, Kim Frazier Shaughnessy.  I appreciate that she agreed to share her Reiki story here with all of you.
 

I don’t recall the first time I heard the word Reiki, or if I wondered what it meant. I do know that it slipped into my consciousness and bounced around for a number of years until one day I found myself searching for someone to show me.
 
One day was a few months ago and that someone was Dana Lisa Young.
 
I did what everyone does. I Googled it. I then allowed my intuition to help me find the doorway to what I was certain I needed to do next. When I saw Dragonfly Reiki, I knew I was knocking on the right door (Dragonfly was my mother’s favorite movie and one of the last movies I watched with her). When I read Dana’s bio and saw her photo, I knew the door was open.
 
Simply put, I heard the call and I answered it. I walked through that door and I haven’t looked back since. Not only have I not looked back, consequently I haven’t looked forward. I am right here in this moment and I am sharing my experience in hopes that it will help you to decide if Reiki is right for you.
 
If you’re reading this, you’ve heard the call. Whether or not you respond is up to you. Like anything else in life, Reiki is a choice.
 
When I chose Reiki and the teacher, I chose so many unexpected things. For instance, I’ve always been more aware of my spiritual nature. I have meditated off and on for years – alone, in groups and with another. And I have seen things in some of those meditations that made everyday life look like a joke to me. As a result, I haven’t been very grounded. In a sense, connected and yet still lost. I can honestly say I no longer feel lost. And even though I’ve had Reiki experiences that would lead some to believe I’m just plain crazy, I am now very much here – more in tune with everyday life than I have ever been. The balance is not perfect, but my feet are more firmly on the ground…even when my head is in the clouds.
 
What has my life been like since my first attunement? Well, I’d be lying if I said it was suddenly a bed of roses. I don’t look ten years younger and I haven‘t won the lottery because my energy is now attracting only good things. But you know what? It’s okay. As a matter of fact, it’s so okay that I woke up one morning and decided to stop coloring my hair. Just like that. I have never enjoyed that process and decided it was no longer a worthwhile use of my time or money. Why bother when I’m just going to have to do it again in a few short weeks? This may sound silly to you, but it has been very liberating for me. In a more general sense, I’ve noticed a significant decline in my stress level. My attitude towards family, friends and co-workers has shifted and I now have a better sense of what to say, when to say it and, more importantly, when to listen. I don’t always get it right, but that’s okay too. I am noticing that those less-than-perfect moments no longer have the same power over me and as a result the negative thoughts and emotions do not linger.
 
If you asked me to describe a Reiki self treatment, I would tell you that the moment I raise my hands and ask for what I refer to as “Reiki Rain,“ I feel an instant surge of energy that I would compare to the feeling you get when a storm is coming. The atmosphere is charged with electricity and anticipation. When I put my hands together, repeat the admonitions and set my intention that same electric energy surrounds me like a warm blanket. My hands become heavy and I slip into an easy groove of acceptance of healing and a feeling of gratitude. It is that simple.
 
I’ve only had one moment of fear during a self treatment, but having made the commitment I chose to let go of that fear and trust the process. Without going into too much personal detail, I felt the strong presence of another. I let them stay and the experience was one I will never forget. I saw colors in a way I had not seen them before, like a camera with the shutter wide open and a dust-free lens. By the end of the session I was crying, but that was okay too. I was not upset.
 
If the “presence of another” confession leads you to believe that I do fall into the “just plain crazy” category, I understand. But if it makes you feel better, it isn’t usually like that. More often than not, it’s just comforting. Like a good massage on a non-physical level. Sometimes I get up from the table and I feel sleepy, so I know I need to rest. Sometimes I get up and feel energized, so I know I need to do something. And sometimes I’m just more content to go about the routine of daily life.  I might add that I’m a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a staff agent for State Farm.  How normal is that?
 
As for sharing it with others, I am learning that the experience is a little different for everyone. I have channeled Reiki for my youngest daughter who experienced relief from anxiety, but continues to struggle with a deep sadness so our sessions are infrequent. It is too much for her right now. On demand, I channeled Reiki for my middle daughter who described it as itchy and hot. She was curious and thanked me afterwards. She’s straightforward like that. My husband also described it as itchy and was certain that I pinched his ears. Not surprisingly, he has trouble with his ears. When he got up, he was yawning and I was glad to see him relaxed since he is typically hyper. He also told me that mornings would be better for him. A friend and her daughter both described heat and that night I learned that Reiki is truly in charge. My friend was feeling a lot of tension in her shoulders that did not respond to my hands when placed in that area. Instead, she felt a warm rush and release in her shoulders when I touched her feet. Go figure.
 
To date, the most touching sessions have been with my granddaughter. She is five years old, sweet, sassy and everything in between. She lets go in an instant and I am honored by her trust. One night she was so agitated and out of control that I informed her we were going to the table. She didn’t argue. She wanted to go. She kept her eyes open that time and we whispered to each other.
 
$150 for Reiki I: a day to remember. Time, energy and commitment to daily self treatment: beginning to see results. $160 for a Reiki Table and another $30 for music: a more comfortable place to do Reiki. $170 for a beautiful, soft sage room divider: privacy, so people walking around in the kitchen don’t stare into the sunroom and make fun of you while you’re lying on a table with your hands up in the air! Seeing a sweet smile on your granddaughter’s face when she places her own hands beneath yours and whispers “I can feel it, Grammy!”: priceless.
 
Okay, so I paid Dana with a check. You get my point. And truthfully, I’ve spent less money than I did on my hair last year.
 
If you choose to share the experience of a Reiki attunement with Dana Lisa Young, you will not choose – as someone so aptly put it in a testimonial – an “airy fairy.” Dana presents the gift of Reiki in a concise and intelligent manner. No frills, no nonsense. And with just the right amount of humor.

My advice to you? If you hear the call, answer it. I assure you, it’s okay.

“Practice being gentle, respectful and loving towards the life force in all things.  In other words, behave as if the God in all life really mattered.” – Dr. Wayne Dyer

Several days ago, my husband left for work in the morning as usual.  About 5 minutes later, he returned, carefully holding a bag that was rustling in his hand.  “We have an event,” he said.  Inside the bag were two tiny, pink, hairless possum babies.  Someone had hit the mama possum at the end of our road, and my husband stopped to respectfully move her body over to the grass.  As he did so, he saw the babies outside their mama’s pouch. 

Although my husband was not entirely sure what to do, he knew he couldn’t leave them there.  So, he picked them up and brought them home immediately.  We placed them inside a shoebox lined with an an old t-shirt and placed the box on top of a heating pad set on low.  I called our vet and the Chattahoochee Nature Center to see who might be able to care for these babies.  They referred me to For Pet’s Sake, a veterinarian’s office specializing in avian and exotic species, because they work with a wildlife rehabilitator.  The office is located not far from my home and I was already familiar with their practice.  Years ago, I owned a cockatiel whose wing became infected and Dr. Hutcheson helped me nurse him back to health. 

My husband had to leave for work, so I took the possum babies over to the veterinarian’s office.  I drove with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the shoebox.  I gave Reiki to those babies the whole way.  The energy was very strong.  They were mewling softly, but still active.  We have no idea how long it had been since the mother possum died, but the babies were clearly hungry. 

It was a very emotional experience, connecting to these babies with this spiritual energy.  It brought back memories of holding my infant daughter in my arms, feeling Reiki flowing from me to her effortlessly.  These little beings no longer had their mama and needed all the help they could get simply to survive.  I was praying for their well-being, while trusting that Reiki would work for their highest good. 

As I was about to make a left onto the road where the office was, a car suddenly appeared in front of me with the license plate: BLSINGS.  I began crying because I knew I’d been sent a sign that Spirit was present and working on the babies’ behalf.  I also believe it was Spirit that led my husband down the street in the opposite direction he usually takes to go to the office in order to be of loving service to these animals. 

I brought the possums into the office and the veterinary assistant immediately whisked them into the back to place them in an incubator.  After examining them, she told me they were a boy and a girl.  They required tube feeding, because their mouths weren’t even fully open yet.  (To get a sense of just how small they were, see this story about a bushtail possum baby that was rescued in Australia.) The assistant added that we could call later that day to check on their status, which I really appreciated. 

Sharing Reiki with the babies was a profound moment of bonding.  Dr. Wayne Dyer says:

Being gentle, respectful and loving to one other person or creature has major significance for you and the other.  The energy of love is sent out into the universe and connects with the same loving essence that is in all things.

The possum babies are now with the wildlife rehabilitator.  I’m hopeful they will survive and thrive to where they can be released.  Having the opportunity to assist in their rescue was humbling and touching.  It was a very direct experience of being interconnected to a species we otherwise have little contact with, since possums are nocturnal and naturally shy. 

In the space and spirit of Reiki, there is no other.  There is only us held in the midst of the healing, affirmational energy of love.

Learn about the seven major Archangels and how you can work directly with them for protection, manifestation and spiritual growth.  Each of us has some degree of extra-sensory awareness.  This workshop will help you understand what information to look for and how to increase your clairvoyant capabilities.

I will also initiate you to the Colors of Angels Attunement, which assists in helping increase energetic contact with the Archangels and their associated color rays.

The attunement is ideal for:

• Healers who wants to incorporate the assistance of the Archangels in their practice
• Someone who feels a connection already to one or more Archangels but would like to strengthen the connection
• Someone who is interested in connecting to the Archangels, but isn’t sure where to start

The Colors of Angels attunement will connect you more deeply to each Archangel, making it easier to call upon any or all of these Archangels much more easily and whenever you wish.  

Archangels are associated with color rays that represent their spiritual power. Simply visualizing the color of each Archangel will help you feel the connection strengthen.  The Seven Archangels and Rays are:

• ARCHANGEL MICHAEL who serves in the First Ray which is the Blue Ray and the Ray of Protection and Power
• ARCHANGEL JOPHIEL who serves on the Second or Yellow Ray which is the Ray of Illumination and Wisdom
• ARCHANGEL CHAMUEL who serves on the Third or Pink Ray which is the Ray of Love
• ARCHANGEL GABRIEL who serves on the Fourth or White Ray which is the Ray of Harmony and Purity
• ARCHANGEL RAPHAEL who serves on the Fifth Ray or Green Ray which is the Ray of Healing
• ARCHANGEL URIEL who serves on the Sixth Ray or Gold Ray which is the Ray of Peace
• ARCHANGEL ZADKIEL who serves on the Seventh Ray or Violet Ray which is the Ray of Freedom

The workshop also includes the Colors of Angels manual and related handouts.

Date: Sunday, August 22 (12-4 PM) at Candler Park Chiropractic

Cost: $60

Space is limited to 8 people.  Please reserve your place by Friday, August 20.

“No Reiki session is ever the same, since every individual is unique & in constant change” – Frank Arjava Petter (Reiki Fire)

Note: I published this article in my monthly student newsletter. I thought it made sense to share it here with other Reiki practitioners.

It is not unusual for Reiki practitioners to say that after weeks or months of practice, the sensations they experience during Reiki feels different or perhaps even diminished. For those people who had difficulty discerning energy from the beginning, any changes in sensation can make them feel as if they aren’t facilitating Reiki correctly, which is discouraging.

Frank Arjava Petter’s quote gets at the heart of Reiki practice – whether we do self-treatments or have a practice where we do treatments on others. As we evolve, as we become healed, the nature of what we experience must also change. The strong sensations some of you may have experienced in the beginning when doing self-treatment or working on others will shift because Reiki is clearing and balancing the energy in your bodies. We are channels, and the more clear and open we are, the less work Reiki has to do in order to fulfill its purpose.

There are three important aspects to any spiritually-based practice. The first is to practice non-attachment to outcome. If you become attached to what you’re experiencing physically or emotionally, you may miss information and insights that can lead you deeper into your own healing journey, practice and understanding your true nature.

The second aspect is simply to trust the process. You may not always feel like much is happening, but Reiki is always present, always working. There have been many times in my professional practice where I didn’t experience much sensation but the client reported to me that my hands felt hot or that they could feel energetic movement.

The third aspect ties into the first two, and that is to get ourselves out of the way. The less you believe that “you” are doing something and instead begin to conceptualize the energetic interconnectedness of all beings, the more you will “be” Reiki instead of just “practicing” Reiki. At that point, there is no need to try to change anything; change happens inherently and perfectly.

I appreciate that Reiki Master Pamela Miles took the time to put together this thoughtful guide, Recipe for Reiki Credibility,  to assist someone who may be new to Reiki and aid in the process of determining whether or not a particular practitioner is a good fit – either for facilitating sessions or for teaching classes.  Ms. Miles herself is a very credible source, having pioneered the use of Reiki in conventional medicine as well as authored the book, Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide, which is an indispensable guidebook for Reiki practice and application. 

What I liked about the questions Ms. Miles lays out for us is that there is a good balance between the Reiki practitioner’s commitment to practice, their ability explain in layman’s terms what Reiki is (differentiating between the spiritual and practical aspects), what its benefits are, as well as the amount of experience a practitioner has gained by working on others.  These are the questions I asked when I sought out a Reiki teacher for my classes, and is also the criteria by which I hold myself accountable. 

The only things I would add to her list is to ask if the Reiki practitioner/teacher is still committed to learning and supporting others.  Receiving the certification is only the beginning of the journey.  A qualified Reiki practitioner will not only seek to deepen their spiritual understanding and practice, but are also likely to want to learn more about traditional and complementary medicine, biology, psychology and a bit of physics.  A Reiki teacher should not just seek to teach classes with the intent of making money or establishing themselves as an “authority.”  They should be committed to providing guidance and support for both their students and other Reiki practitioners who may have questions, either informally (telephone, email) or by holding Reiki shares.

There is certainly nothing wrong with receiving Reiki from a friend or volunteer who is just starting out.  You will still receive healing and they gain valuable experience.  However, if you are paying good money for a full treatment or are taking a class from a Reiki Master Teacher, you will get more out of it if the practitioner/teacher conducts themselves professionally and commits to Reiki on a daily basis in their personal life.

Ultimately, you will know if you found the right Reiki practitioner/teacher for you, because that person will be able to speak to you in a way that resonates with your core beliefs, as well as help you move forward on your own healing journey.

Yesterday, I posted a question on my Facebook page: How has Reiki healing work changed your life physically, mentally and spiritually?  I received some great answers that I wanted to share here in the hopes that it piques your interest and also encourages more response from people who are either Reiki healers or have received Reiki healing.  These responses have also inspired me to write my healing story (or rather, stories) which I will soon share here as well.

Kregg Quarles: I came home dogged tired (my eyes were closing themselves). I gave my mother a heavy reiki treatment and it feels like I could run a mile now. It feels like experiencing truth instead of reading about it.

Chris Ramsbottom Pampling: I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, I used to walk with two sticks. Since becoming attuned to Reiki I have become better to the point where I could take a full-time one year’s course to become a holistic massage therapist!

Sherri Lane Wangrin: The biggest change for me has been spiritual. My first treatment opened me up to vivid angel dreams and experiences and it has magnified since. Each level of attunement seemed to continue that opening. It has also helped me physically with allergies, some chronic pain issues, and just overall feeling healthy. The calmness factor is huge mentally as well.

Ayanna Stringer:  Since becoming connected to the Reiki energy I find myself more capable of merging all versions and ideas about myself into one. I’ve felt extreme fear (as usual) but am able to focus it instead of pushing it away. I’ve become focused in ways that I didn’t know that I was capable of. I’ve discovered aspirations that I didn’t know existed. I feel able to hold my heart open to people and unapologetically express my love. I had this realization today that through being a Reiki practitioner as well as a yogi, I can transform my world just by keeping myself strong, balanced, open and practicing my craft. I guess the key concepts here are capability, focus and LOVE.

Please share your experiences here – I would love to hear how Reiki healing has changed your life!

This is somewhat different than what I usually discuss in my blog posts, but I am so excited that I wanted to share it with you all.  The New York Times is currently running a reader-submitted photo essay called “Documenting the Decade,” which showcases photos and short essays of important moments of the last decade.  My friend and former co-worker Lisa had submitted a photo and when I complimented her on it, she said that she had wanted to submit a photo from our 2003 trip to Hyderabad, India to train teams to do co-sourcing work, but realized that all the best photos she had were ones I’d taken!  Wow – quite a compliment coming from a rather accomplished amateur photographer! 

So, I looked through the many photos taken from five separate trips to India.  I wanted to find one that expressed how the old and new have been comingling and colliding in India since the growth of Western companies and influence over the past ten years.  It was in a group of photos taken in that original three week trip in 2003 that I found it: a Coca-Cola sign juxtaposed against a series of columns and statues of deities at Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal, India:

It was amazing to me, even seven years ago, how this iconic sign of corporate culture could be found anywhere, even in a small, dusty town where locals saw relatively few Westerners.  I was greeted with intense scrutity and curiosity the entire time.  I was the only non-Indian, along with my companion, who rode the claustrophobically crowded “Krishna Local” train from Secunderbad to Warangal just to visit the Thousand-Pillared Temple, which had stood for nearly a millenia, and Bhadrakali Temple, where the photo was taken.  If I were to travel back there, would things look pretty much the same or would there be additional signs of “Westernization” I could hardly anticipate at the time of my first visit? 

India is a very special place for me, as it is (among other things) the place where I experienced the miracle of energy healing for the first time.  I also learned how spiritual practice is an ingrained part of everyday life for the Indian people, and not something relegated to the holidays or a specific day of the week.  These experiences changed me and informed my own spiritual growth and development.  It seems only right to share this photo, seven years after my first visit to this amazing, beautiful and always-surprising country.  Namaste and Happy New Year!

Dragonfly medicine teaches us to pierce our self-made illusions. Dragonfly can cause us to question the illusion which we call reality, particularly that part of our realities which hinders our ability to grow and create transformation/change in our lives.  Shamanic Journey 

I always thought dragonflies were beautiful, but never regarded them as having a special significance for me until one summer, three years ago, when they kept appearing. I was going through a number of profound personal and spiritual shifts during that time, and it seemed that at some key moment when I needed affirmation, a dragonfly would appear.

Symbolically, the dragonfly represents transformation. Hope, change and love are all embodied in the energy of dragonfly. As nymphs, they live water-bound at the bottom of lakes and ponds for two years until they mature into dragonflies and become airborne. (This reminded me of a spiritual metaphor central to Buddhism, that of the lotus, a gorgeous flower that grows out of swamp muck.) Can you imagine spending most of your life in one state where your existence is relatively limited, only to magically evolve into another level of existence where your movement is essentially unlimited? I took the timely appearance of these beautiful insects as a sign that I was on a life-changing, heart-opening journey. Reiki and motherhood were the two events that year which transformed and continue to inspire me to evolve in my role as someone called to the service of others.

When I made the decision to practice Reiki professionally, I knew that the dragonfly was the perfect metaphor for the type of healing journey I wanted to embark upon with my clients. As a Reiki practitioner, I am mindful of the fact that I am merely the facilitator of healing life-force energy. The person receiving Reiki is the one truly doing the healing and learning to live life on the wing where the brilliant, shimmering colors are continually evoking and reflecting a transformational state.

I have seen profound change in my own life through Reiki, where acknowledgement and healing of some very deep wounds has taken place. Clients experiencing any number of issues that result in pain and suffering have come in, committed themselves to change, and have utilized the healing energy of Reiki to make amazing progress on physical, emotional and spiritual levels. The life transformation you seek is limited only by your imagination. Just wait until you see how those wings are going to look on you!

I have been following this story closely but have been reluctant to write about it, because I did not want my response to come from a place of defensiveness or frustration.  Many of my Reiki colleagues are concerned, anxious and angry at the USCCB’s decision that Reiki therapy is “unscientific and inappropriate for Catholic institutions.”  Previous to this decision, there were some Catholic medical centers that did offer Reiki to their patients, but have since stopped.
I was initially taken back by the ruling, but have since had more time to read through the USCCB’s Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy, and as someone who has studied comparative religions and as a Christian (baptized Catholic, but now a Presbyterian through affirmation of faith) I can understand how the Bishops came to their conclusion.  I don’t necessarily agree with all of it, but let’s be clear that Christians of any major denomination generally “recognize […] two kinds of healing: healing by divine grace and healing that utilizes the powers of nature.”  In other words, either God has interceded and caused a miracle of healing, or it has occurred as a result of medical science.  Furthermore, Christian denominations are generally in agreement that:

The Holy Spirit sometimes gives to certain human beings “a special charism of healing so as to make manifest the power of the grace of the risen Lord.” This power of healing is not at human disposal, however, for “even the most intense prayers do not always obtain the healing of all illnesses.

This is the belief that healing occurs spontaneously and without directive from any other human being in attendance.  And of course we know about those people in the church’s history who were given special abilities to heal by laying-on of hands or simply by in the presence of others. Those are the saints of the church.

Examining spiritual and religious differences
OK, so what does this all mean?  Basically, the U.S. Catholic Church feels Reiki is a technique that is accomplished “at human disposal” because it is ability conferred by one human being to another and not by Divine Providence and therefore, does not qualify as “mak[ing] manifest the power of the grace of the risen Lord.”  They do not recognize the term “universal life energy” as being synonymous with the divine power of the Holy Spirit.  Eastern spiritual traditions believe in the idea of there being an inherent energy (“chi”, “ki” or “prana”) present in all living things and represented in the universe around us.  This “life-force energy” is derived from a Divine Source and also contains that Source.  Christians do believe that we are made in the image of God, but do not necessarily believe that we are physical manifestations of Divine nature.  Reiki is not technically a religious tradition, but it does borrow some of its spiritual elements from esoteric Buddhist practices and syncretic Japanese culture.  All of these dogmatic differences make Christian leadership uneasy because it’s not a spiritual practice that developed within the doctrines and culture of the Christian church and contains language and a set of assumptions they are not congruent with their worldview.

Reiki and the natural human power of thought and will
Where I don’t agree with their evaluation is their belief that Reiki is a technique or ability that is “subject to manipulation by the natural human power of thought and will.”  One thing that makes Reiki different than some other forms of energy healing is that it does not rely at all on our physical or spiritual ability or effort.  Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki (Usui Reiki Ryoho) had a deeply profound spiritual experience wherein he immediately understood the nature of this energy as being guided by a Higher Intelligence.  Reiki flows independently of what the practitioner might will or intend, and does not cause a depletion of physical energy so it is not originating within the body of or directed by the practitioner.  One of my students just remarked to me the other day how surprised he was that he could come home from work, physically and mentally exhausted, and yet still be able to channel Reiki to his wife without feeling like it was anything he was drawing from internally.  Regardless of where we place our hands, Reiki will go where it’s needed, which is why clients will often remark how they came in for one issue and noticed how much it helped a different one that they didn’t even mention at the time.

Very superstitious writings on the wall
My other issue with the USCCB’s evaluation is the belief that this practice amounts to superstition:

A Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no-man’s-land that is neither faith nor science.  Superstition corrupts one’s worship of God by turning one’s religious feeling and practice in a false direction.

It’s one thing to say that a particular practice or technique is not appropriate for someone who believes in a set of doctrines and worship as specified by a particular religious institution.  I can accept that.  However, to dismiss a practice completely as something “false” (implying somehow that it is dangerous) because it doesn’t fit into your worldview is short-sighted and intolerant, especially when it is part of another culture’s history and belief systems.  One person’s “superstition” is another person’s belief system.  I would like to hope that we could move towards a world where religious and spiritual differences would be met with curiosity and tolerance, rather than fear and rejection.  There are no reports I am aware of where Reiki has done harm to anyone, and significant anecdotal evidence points to its beneficial effects.  To me, something that would produce harmful effects would be leading its practitioners in a false direction, not something like Reiki, which is done out of love, compassion and the calling to provide comfort and relief to those who are suffering.  

The natural science dilemma
Finally, the Bishops reject Reiki on the grounds that it lacks scientific credibility.  While no study has proven exactly how Reiki works, there are quite a few studies that validate some of Reiki’s beneficial effects in the clinical setting, and more are underway.  Despite not having universal medical and scientific acceptance, a number of hospitals and health care centers use Reiki as an adjunct therapy for their patients, with the goal of providing support, stress relief and improved quality of life through care.  Eventually, I think we will see more of a shift towards acceptance of Reiki with certain therapeutic benefits, similar to guided meditation, acupuncture and chiropractic.  I talk about this a bit in my blog post, Reiki, Science and Belief.   Interestingly, the Veterans Administration is using Reiki as a therapeutic approach along with other therapies, in their hepatitis C program and to help returning veterans heal physically and emotionally from their experiences in combat.  (For more information, see Fort Bliss’s Warrior Resilience Program.)  What we do know is that Reiki facilitates the body’s relaxation response, which is beneficial for stress relief.  As practitioners, we need to be clear when we recommend Reiki for someone that we let them know Reiki is indicated for that purpose primarily, but they may see other benefits depending on their own body’s level of responsiveness to the therapeutic aspects of touch. 

How will you continue to practice?
If the U.S. Catholic Church believes Reiki is inappropriate for their followers to practice or receive based on their own spiritual criteria, then I feel I should respect their opinion as they have interpreted the Word of God and the teachings handed down to them over the centuries.  I don’t have to like it, but it is not for me to tell them how and what to believe.  The Vatican generally disapproves of most CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) modalities associated with “New Age” practices, specifically those that invoke the use of Spirit or energy.  If you mention acupuncture and focus solely on the Western view that it works to engage nerve impulses in a certain way, you’re probably in reasonably safe territory.  But if you start talking about how acupuncture affects the flow of “chi”, it’s not acceptable.  The same can be said for chiropractic, Rolfing and other bodywork.  

As it has been for decades (or centuries, depending on your perspective) Catholics will either choose to follow the directives or not, as they do with most other rulings that come from country-based leadership or the Vatican.  Also know that just because the U.S. Catholic Church has taken this position does not mean that every other Christian denomination (or other religious denominations) will follow suit either at the national or local level.  I’m not worried that Reiki is going to be banned outright in the world.  After all, it is not “superstition” or mumbo-jumbo to millions of people either raised in or comfortable with non-Western beliefs and practices.  There will always be those people who take certain views of Scripture and feel that Reiki is not appropriate for them.  In those cases, we need to respect their beliefs and let it go with love.  There are many paths to healing, and Reiki is but one of them. 

We Reiki practitioners should continue to practice with compassion, tolerance and understanding, because that is what our calling as healers requires us to do.  It is not about pushing our beliefs or opinions on others (even if we have been witness to miracles) or turning away from those who don’t believe in or reject what we are doing.  We need to respond to these situations with an open and loving heart.  Answer any questions or concerns that are directed to you about Reiki, but be prepared to accept that even though you may feel connected to God or the Holy Spirit in a very profound way that others might not be open to your experience or interpretation.  I wish the Reiki for Christians web site was more current but I really like their perspective on Reiki practice, which can also extend to potential recipients:

By reading, seeking those who have given or experienced Reiki, and praying for insight and guidance, Christians can make decisions about how Reiki might play a role in their lives. It’s important to keep in mind that while many Christians have found Reiki to be a spiritually fulfilling practice, it is not necessarily for everyone.

Ultimately, we have to trust that God will lead those people to the healing they seek when they are ready.  If that’s Reiki, so be it, but if it’s not we have to extend our prayers and hopes that whatever healing they receive will be of benefit for their highest good.

Note: I welcome comments on this post, but please try to keep them respectful and informed.   

What is healing?

Healing is more than just about maintaining a positive state of physical wellness.  Healing encompasses the four major forces that comprise our existence: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.  If one or more of these areas is not functioning optimally, then we are in need of healing to bring those forces back into balance.  We can be physically healthy but if our relationships with others are rife with conflict, we are in need of healing.  Conversely, we can be physically compromised in some way, but if we have accepted that state and embraced a new way of living, we can consider ourselves to be healing because we are not rejecting what is physically not “working” but rather, seeing it as an integral aspect of what makes us who we are.

Still here, still healing

I recently read Ram Dass’s book Still Here, and was struck by the honesty and grace with which he talks about experiencing, rejecting and then eventually coming to terms with his physical limitations following a stroke.  A well-respected spiritual teacher, he traveled the world giving talks and doing workshops, and was an avid golf player.  He talks about the effect that the stroke had on him and how he eventually made the shift towards a state of healing by accepting that his life had fundamentally changed and resisting the temptation to manifest his symptoms within his identity:

After any major physical “insult,” as they call it, it’s all too easy to see yourself as a collection of symptoms rather than as a total human being, including your spirit – and thus to become your illness.  Fear is powerful and contagious, and at first I allowed myself to catch it, worried that if I didn’t do what the doctors ordered, I’d be sorry.  Healing is not the same as curing, after all; healing does not mean going back to the way things were before, but rather allowing what is now to move us closer to God.

Barriers to healing

Why is it that we sometimes don’t heal as we should?  How does a simple injury or illness suddenly rage out of control, spinning off new chronic conditions and wearing down the body?  Why do some people, after going through a difficult phase in their life, have trouble moving forward? 

Sometimes we don’t heal because medicine or counseling can only treat one aspect of the problem we’re experiencing.  People who are chronically sick may need to make lifestyle changes – dietary modifications, some form of exercise, stress reduction techniques or set healthy boundaries in their relationships with others – in order to see a major shift in their overall quality of their health. 

People who have experienced trauma often continue to manifest symptoms in their bodies long after the event occurred because on an emotional or spiritual level, the wound is still raw.  A recent study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry has shown that children who were traumatized by some form of physical or emotional abuse are more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as adults.    There may be other reasons adults develop CFS, including environmental triggers or an inflammatory response that went haywire (again, also traumas of their own) but it’s important to note that unresolved deep traumas do continue to play out in our lives long after the event has passed.  Even if we do acknowledge those traumas, we may not have fully integrated the experience so that deep healing can occur.  Depending on the nature of the trauma, it can take time, commitment and one or more approaches to facilitate the healing process.

Sometimes people do not heal because they are resistant in some way.  Either they have received so much negative reinforcement about being sick in the form of attention – from doctors, family or other caregivers – that they have trouble letting go psychologically of their identity as a “sick” person.  Other reasons people do not heal is because on some level, they don’t believe they are worthy of being well.  If they suffer from low self-esteem or were made to feel at some point in their life that they do not deserve to be happy or have good things happen to them, it can be difficult to let go of negative mental conditioning that allows illness to manifest and take residence.  These are not “bad” or “messed-up” people, let’s be clear about that.  They have just been conditioned for a long time to believe and integrate their experiences in these ways, and healing cannot begin to occur until they recognize those patterns and process them differently. 

The healing gifts of Reiki

Reiki has allowed me to open and balance my body, mind and spirit so that I can fully integrate my life experiences and heal the whole self.  I have seen tremendous change in my physical wellness, emotional clarity and quality of my relationships with others as a result of the work I’ve done with Reiki.  Reiki has helped me recover from Interstitial Cystitis, a debilitating and painful inflammation of the bladder wall lining.  Reiki helped me heal physically and emotionally after an emergency c-section and massive post-partum hemorrhage.  Reiki has helped me find ways to heal and nurture relationships with people that had been broken or problematic.  Reiki has helped me manage anxiety in positive and constructive ways.  Reiki has helped me be more caring and loving towards myself, which has allowed me to give of myself in a more authentic way to others. 

Like many healers, I also seek out other supportive practices, because what we ideally want is a functional toolkit of resources we can draw on during the healing process and facilitate positive change.  Reiki is a great enabler of positive change, because its energy helps you gently release what is no longer working for your highest good.

I go through challenging times just like everyone else, but Reiki has given me a solid foundation to stand on to live my life and keep me grounded.  I know I could always be doing more to keep myself “healthy” but I have very deep gratitude for my life and the journey towards healing that I have consciously taken.  The state of “what is now” that Ram Dass describes is where I find myself more and more these days.  It’s a great place to be – I hope you come visit and stay!