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We live in a fast-paced, fast-food world. One of the many things I LOVE about Reiki is the reminder to stay Present and BE. No ruminating over the past, no worries about the future- just BEing in a place of Trust that all is in Perfect order. Remembering in the midst of challenges that they are for our growth, and that in retrospect we will Know their purpose in the Grander scheme of things. It is so important for our Balance to create the Gift of Honoring ourselves as a priority by allowing the TIME to do self Reiki and meditate on the Reiki Healing Principles every day.
There is, of course, no time in the energy realm, but we we need to live and function on this earth. It is very easy to get so absorbed in day-to-day routines and distracted by life’s details. We often forget to make time to even Breathe deeply filling ourselves with precious life-force Healing Energy. Healing is a process- levels, layers and spirals. Deep, juicy and delicious, although not always fun or easy. It is the path to our Enlightenment and getting to the Source of our Healing so that we don’t need to keep being presented with the same lessons over and over in different forms with different faces.
This is what allows us to be a Healing presence for others. It is always about Service. Loving Service from a Healthy, filled-up place. No draining, no resentment- our Choice.
Some students (and teachers) want the faster road, shorter path, less expensive path. There is no one right answer for everyone. Be clear with your intentions. Choosing a Reiki master, and especially a teacher is a very important decision. It is a forever connection. Be sure that you Resonate with their energy, their words, and their philosophies. Being a Reiki master is way more than just learning how to share attunements, it is way more than a piece of paper that says you are. It is choosing to Live in Conscious integrity with the Reiki Healing Principles- Living and Sharing Reiki with your entire BE-ing. It isn’t about Perfection or there would be no teachers- it is about the constant Loving work of clearing away all that masks your TRUE SELF. A never-ending process. No rush, slow down and digest it slowly and completely….
Love and Namaste’, Rickie
I have come to understand a personal Truth about Energy (as it is for me) that I’d like to share with you.
It is said with Reiki that “The more you use it, the stronger it flows”. (I have said this many times myself, because indeed this is what it feels like). Sharing Reiki every day consciously I have come to the following new interpretation. What I Believe is that “The Source is the Source, of course, or course”- In other words I perceive the Source of the Energy as the Highest Frequency Vibration. If this is true, then the Reiki isn’t getting stronger. What is changing is US! As we release more and more layers of what is not our True Essence , we come closer to the Truth of who we really are (Unconditional Love). As we become clearer , the Source Energy is able to flow through us clearer, and we are more able to connect with it.
I also Believe, therefore, that there is no “Next Level”, no Higher Vibration of another name. We just continue to become more deeply healed, more of who we are truly meant to be, more of our True Self. From this place, we are consciously able to connect to the Energy that connects us all and share it freely. Others FEEL it more strongly as well.
I Know that as I continue with my personal healing, self Reiki, receiving Reiki and sharing Reiki, my understanding may continue to expand and shift. I am open to all possibilities.
Love, Light and Joy, Rickie
I was recently Honored to be the speaker at a Networking Gathering for Natural Awakenings magazine. I shared my story of gradually transitioning from Physical Therapist to full time Reiki Master/Teacher. I shared the process of envisioning , manifesting and creating ReikiSpace & Learning Place. I talked about my Heart Centered, Service first Business philosophy. They also wanted to hear how I share about Reiki with my words keeping it grounded and relatable to various audiences.
What I said next really surprised them ~ “I don’t DO Reiki!” After a few moments I added “I LIVE Reiki!”. I am consciously aware of the Energy of every word, thought, emotion and attitude and how it affects me, others and the world. I AM Reiki, I exude Reiki. I Trust that when I enter a space radiating Light, that anything less than Light will either be Healed by the Light, or will go away.
Living by the Reiki Healing Principles is about living in total Integrity, allowing myself to fully experience every emotion, and then CHOOSING to return to my place of Peace. I allowed them to feel how quickly they can shift their energy by closing their eyes, consciously breathing in Light, Love and Healing Energy, and allowing themselves to be filled to overflowing. Everyone can do this, and choose Love instead of fear.
This is the path of a Reiki Master. BEing of Service. Revealing more and more of our True Selves for the Highest Good of all. Namaste’.
With Love, Joy and Gratitude, Rickie
Attitudes are contagious- is yours worth catching? Whether we are conscious of it or not, every thought, word, attitude and emotion carries energy and affects how we feel, our immune system and our wellness. This energy also radiates to affect others around us. Gratitude is a high frequency vibration and has the potential to help you attract more of what you want in your life- more Abundance, more Peace and more Joy! In fact, studies show that Positive Attitudes can increase life expectancy by ten years. It is physiologically impossible to be stressed or fearful and Grateful in the same moment!
So how can you maintain an Attitude of Gratitude in the midst of life’s everyday challenges? One of the ways that is recommended in all the readings on Gratitude, is to start a Gratitude Journal. Purchase or create a Beautiful journal that you love. Every morning and every evening write 3-5 things that you feel Grateful for. You will be starting and ending each day on a Positive note. You will also find yourself looking for things during the day to put in your Gratitude Journal, which will keep you focused on it. The University of California performed a long-term study on the power of Gratitude. During their studies, they discovered that people who write Gratitude journals and practiced being more grateful on a regular basis:
What you focus on, you will see more of. When you remember to say “Thank You” for all your many Blessings large and small, you will attract more to be Thankful for!
“Gratitude opens our Hearts and Minds. It instantly connects us to the present moment. It feels absolutely wonderful. The fact that Gratitude is so easy to come by gives us one more reason to be Grateful!” Raphael Cushnir
Thank you to Sylvia Hepler, LaunchingLives.biz for inviting me to share this post as a guest blogger at http://bit.ly/11sXN53
I attended the Mid-Atlantic Reiki Conference this weekend. Always so Wonderful to be surrounded by Positive Loving Energy as we all Learn, Grow and support each other. Reiki itself Blossoms as you use it and incorporate it into your everyday world. The more you use it, the stronger it flows. The more your Share it, the more Powerful it becomes for ourselves, each other and the World. There is no competition, no “Better” Reiki, no “Higher” Reiki – Everyone finds their own way to the Source of all Connecting Energy. It really is “All Good”!
I really enjoyed the variety of topics presented at this conference. The first was “Animal Reiki”. Kathleen Lester, founder of the Animal Reiki Alliance, is already teaching Animal Reiki in ReikiSpace. I did learn about a couple of her other offerings that may be of interest in ReikiSpace – “Animal Communication for Reiki Healers” and Crystal Healing for Animals”. Does either of those interest YOU?
Presenting next were Susan Lieberman and Andrea Grace, founders of the Natural Healing Alliance, a non-profit organization to help promote Professionalism including Ethics Training, Standards of Practice, Infection Control, Informed Consent, Re-certification, and Practice Guidelines. There was discussion about the legalities concerning the language we use discussing Reiki. I resonated with that, and I spend quite a bit of time with my Reiki lllA Master/Practitioner students practicing how to share Reiki with meaningful words in various scenarios. We also discussed the legalities of practice related to the “License to Touch”. This has been cropping up in near-by states and is something we need to watch closely. Thankfully, as a P.T., I am covered.
The Keynote Speaker was Mari Hall, sharing “In the Heart of Reiki, There is Only Love”. Her personal Transformation Stories were Inspirational, and she has attuned over 50,000 students to Reiki! (Made me wish I have been keeping count…)
Following a Deeply Meditative Sound Immersion with Patricia Norton, there was an Excellent Panel Discussion on “Healthcare Programs that Incorporate Reiki”. The panel included Dr. Harold Bob, MD, Luann Jacobs Speech/Language Pathologist, and Donna Audia RN- all also Reiki Masters. In traditional Medical Settings, the topic of Languaging Reiki comes up again. Thankfully, coming from a more traditional practice, this is something I am very comfortable with. The biggest continuing question is who pays for Reiki Professionals in these settings. There are several prominent Medical Centers already offering CAM, and some reputable research, although there is alot more work to be done in this are. Please ask me if you’d like more info about existing programs or Reiki Research.
The final presentation by Paula Michal-Johnson included amazing photos from her recent pilgrimage to Japan including Mt. Kurama.
“Is Reiki Religious?” Reiki has no formal dogma associated with it all. You don’t need to be religious to share or receive Reiki or it’s benefits. Your deep Inner Wisdom will draw whatever energy your body needs and is ready for, to help you be more Balanced. This is not about your thinking mind. There is Healing energy all around us. When any part of us is ill, stressed or diseased, we actually vibrate at a lower frequency- that is why we feel “drained” and exhausted. We will Naturally draw energy from Higher Frequency sources in an attempt to achieve Homeostasis, or Balance. This is a property of nature, which we emulate. That being said, many people feel more “Connected” as they move along the Reiki path, and are more able to tap into into their inner resources which helps healing, and can provide Clarity and Guidance.
“What is the difference between Reiki and Massage?” Reiki is shared on a Massage type table, but it is done fully clothed. It is non-invasive and non-manipulative, therefore everyone can receive Reiki- from the tiniest premature infants, to a pregnant woman, to someone elderly or in the dying process. The touch is very gentle, and Reiki can also be shared slightly off the body in the energy field.
“Why would someone want/need to receive Reiki if they are dying?” Reiki can be Healing on many levels with or without being curing. Reiki may help with pain, anxiety, and sleep issues. It may help reduce the side effects of medications. It may help them to come to a more Peaceful acceptance of the dying process. It provides a Positive, Peaceful, Loving, Nurturing context for Healing amidst the stress…
“Will I be able to go off my anti-depressants (or any other medication)?” Reiki practitioners may never diagnose. This is a decision made in conjunction with your physician. I have had clients be able to gradually reduce some of their medications as their system becomes more Balanced and less stressed, but that is never up to me to decide. I believe in Integrative Medicine – utilizing the best of all resources available.
“How often should I come for Reiki Sessions?” It is recommended that the first three Reiki Sessions be shared a little closer together- maybe a week apart from each other. The first three sessions work in a series for your Balance-the first working primarily physically. As you open up and become more comfortable with the process and your Practitioner, the work can go a little deeper. The second session tends to work primarily on the mental/emotional/stress level- this is what often underlies our physical symptoms. The third session goes a little deeper yet to the Spiritual level- your connection to whatever you see as the Source that connects us all, and your connection to you deep inner resources. By the end of three, you will be in a better place of Balance to begin your Healing from, and you will have a good sense of what Reiki is doing for you! After that, it is very individualized. If Reiki is part of your Wellness and Balancing program, then once a month is great – I believe everyone could use a Balancing at least once a month! If you are more actively working on something- whether it be physical pain, stress, or just wanting more Clarity and Guidance during transitional periods, then you may choose to have Reiki more frequently to support your Healing and Personal Growth. Some people choose to come more often, because they LOVE it- it is like a mini-vacation. You can never overdose on Reiki!
Part of my Reiki Mission is to help educate people to understand the Simplicity of Reiki in a Positive, Loving and Grounded way. There are many misconceptions floating around about Reiki. The following are some questions that clients and students have asked. Please feel free to send me your own!
“What the heck is Reiki?” Reiki is a very Gentle and Deeply Relaxing hands-on Healing originally from Japan primarily for Stress Management and Balance. When our systems are in a better Balance, they can help us heal naturally like we’re designed to do. YOUR body decides what you need, where it goes and what you’re ready for.
“Aren’t you Drained after you do this?” No! One of the Unique things about Reiki is that you never give away any of your personal energy, and you never take on anyone else’s stuff! I call it an E.M.S. – Energy Management System. The energy just flows through me, and feels wonderful to me also!
“Can Reiki help with ____(fill in the blank)”? I don’t get to decide what happens in your Reiki Session. Your body draws whatever energy you need to bring yourself into a better place of Balance. Whatever happens is always for your Highest Good and Greatest Joy! Sometimes Reiki will take away your symptoms, and sometimes it will bring to your attention what you need to look at in your life to move forwards in a Healthy way. Symptoms are your body’s way of speaking to you to help you get the message. You always have Free Will to pay attention to the messages or not. If you do, often your body doesn’t need to continue “talking” so loud!
“I’m pregnant- can I do Reiki?” YES! Reiki is Gentle, non-invasive and perfectly safe for you and your baby. Everyone can tolerate Reiki from the tiniest infant to the elderly even in the dying process.
“Now that I took a Reiki Class and can Reiki myself, do I still need to come for sessions?” Yes, both are very important parts of Reiki. Daily self Reiki is recommended, and is a wonderful way to start and end your day, but you still need to be active in that process. When you receive a full Reiki Session from someone else, you allow yourself to Relax, be open and Receive- it is a different experience. Both are important parts of Reiki. As you move forwards on the Reiki path you begin to LIVE Reiki- being conscious of the energy of your words, thoughts, attitudes and emotions and how it affects you, others and the world.
Sending you Love, Peace and Gratitude….
I began learning Reiki over 20 years ago! I thought that each level Reiki class I took would be as far as I would need to go. I Loved every class, and felt the Powerful and Deeply Healing Benefits. I honestly never thought I would teach (seems funny to me now). The thought of creating a manual felt daunting to me. Computers weren’t a thought then, and I could barely type. I only knew that I could not just hand out someone else’s manual. I knew that it had to contain my energy, and that I needed to resonate with every word. My manuals (Thanks to Todd Krill, Grey Matter Graphics) as well as my teaching style continues to evolve and progress with my confidence, experience and wisdom. I am always clear to distinguish which is the Reiki and which is the Rickie when I teach. Everyone brings a little of themselves to the work, AND the basic elements of each level Reiki Class needs to stay pure.
I believe that everyone is attracted to exactly who they need to be with, therefore there is never any competition in this work. It is always Amazing and Beautiful to watch as students realize that they are all meant to be together at that particular time, and observe all the inter-connections. Perfect Synchronicity!
There is no “Right and Wrong” in any of this. The following are ways that resonate with me and my style of teaching.
I teach my Reiki classes primarily in one day. It is a long and full day, but Relaxing, Peaceful and very Healing. This seems to work best logistically for most people. I want my classes to be accessible and valued. I try to keep my rates affordable, but again valuable. This is an important and Sacred commitment.
I like to teach my classes in small groups. That way students get to experience each other’s energy. Energy increases exponentially, so each student has a more powerful experience, and are able to “feel it” more within the group.
I believe that each level of Reiki takes time to process and integrate. You need to use your Reiki every day, and it will teach you more than any teacher or book ever could! I recommend allowing at least three weeks between Reiki l and ll, and six to nine months between Reiki ll and the Master level.
I have prerequisites for my Master training classes. I take this commitment very seriously. Master Training is MUCH more than just learning how to share to the Attunements. It is Living Reiki with every thought, word, attitude and emotion, and taking responsibility for the Energy you radiate every day. It is LIVING the Reiki Healing Principles.
I know Healing Energy can be shared long distance, and we learn how to share that in Reiki level ll. I do not personally believe that long-distance attunments are Usui Reiki. The definition of an Usui Reiki Attunement involves working in your energy field and includes physical touch.
Again, I want to emphasize that this is strictly the way Reiki resonates with me. Others choose other ways. The essence of Reiki is always non-judgmental, unconditional Love and Acceptance.
Peace and Namaste’
Each Reiki class I teach, I ask my students “What are the three main parts of the Usui Reiki System of Healing?”
They always come up with the first two – Self Healing, and Sharing Healing with others. Then they get stuck…
The third and equally important part , that is often glossed over, is Living by the Reiki Healing Principles:
Just for Today, I Release all Worry
Just for Today, I Release all Anger
I Honor Every Living Thing
I earn my Living with Integrity
I show Gratitude for all my many Blessings!
These principles are designed based on the fact that every word, thought, attitude and emotion carries energy, and affects not only your personal energy and immune system, but those around you, and the world! It is recommended to recite these principles every morning and evening to remind ourselves of the importance of keeping our Vibration high, so that we can continue to be a Healing Presence in the world.
They remind us to stay Present, because ruminating over things from the past drains our energy, as will worrying about things that may or may not happen in the future. They remind us that we are all Connected. They remind us to Honor our Life’s Purpose and our Core Values. When we make choices that are not in Integrity, our bodies will speak for us in the form of symptoms to try and help us learn, and get back on track. They help us remember to say “Thank You” for all that we already have to be Grateful for, so that we can continue to attract Abundance – of Love, Peace, Joy, and Wellness .
I am personally especially aware and sensitive to the Vibration of words, and have adopted the following “Rickie Healing Principles”:
In this Moment, I CHOOSE Faith; and In this Moment, I CHOOSE Peace…
Feel free to use them if they resonate with you.
Much Love and Many Blessings Always, Rickie
