Then my “No thing” led me to turning on the light and cleaning out my wallet.  At the time I found myself a little perplexed as I tried to stay out of my thoughts. They flooded in anyway. ‘Why are you cleaning out your wallet at this time?’ and ‘Are you crazy? Stop this and Think. Who needs you more? Pop or your family?” I continued to clean, pulling out a few receipts, a candy wrapper, a paperclip, and a couple of photos.  I stop and reminisce.  And in the last little pocket I pulled out a piece of paper, folded in half.  I opened it and read it.

I am here only to be truly helpful.
I am here only to represent him who sent me.
I do not need to worry about what to say or what to do because he who sent me, will direct me.
I am content to be wherever he wishes knowing he goes there with me.
I will be healed as I let him teach me to heal.
(A Course In Miracles)

And then I closed my eyes and took a great breath in.  Held it – a long time.  Then released it.  I had my answer.  It didn’t matter what my decision was.  There is no wrong decision, for I am always where I am supposed to be.  My decision was made.  That night I would do “No Thing” and I would sleep on it and see what I felt in the morning.

So thank you Reiki.  Thank you Reiki Distance Healing Family for I know you were sending us the loving Reiki energy for whatever was for our highest good. Thank you ACIM – whenever I read from this loving philosophy I am instantly grounded and clear.  Put them together – WOW – what a rich life I live.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

‘til next time,
Reiki Blessings,
V

I arrived at the Lodge and went to his room.  He was flat on his back in bed, eye closed, breathing struggling.  My hands went out to him immediately.  One under the frail small frame of his back and one on his heart. And I told him everything was okay.  It would help him to transition when he was ready. But in the meantime he would be fine and just feel the Reiki flow. I thanked him for allowing me to be with him at this time. At the age of 98, Pop and I had discussed so much over the years; our love for each other, the things we wished we’d done, or hadn’t, and what to do at the end, at this time. There was nothing left to say. There was nothing to do. And again, in my head, the small still voice whispered ….  “Just Reiki.”

So that’s what I did. The second day he ate and drank a little. He hadn’t eaten nor drank a thing for 4 days. I continued Reiki.  The third day he ate more, drank more and was sitting up in bed. We celebrated his 99th Birthday – with cake and Reiki of course! Every day the rest of the week, he got stronger and stronger.  He is still thriving; healthy and happy.

What I’d thought was going to be a transitioning, with the help of Reiki, was an improvement in the quality of life – with the help of Reiki. Thank you to all – my distance healing family!

’til next time,
Reiki Blessings,
V

We all have great experiences that we could put into very short excerpts. Sure there are some wonderful ‘big’ and exciting sessions/experiences we have, but it’s the little moments that add up and help us evolve through our Reiki practices. If you have a Reiki Moment you’d like to share, please do.  I look forward to reading it!

‘til next time,
Reiki Blessings,
V

It doesn’t matter how old or young we are, what our job is, or where we are in life. Everyone is unique and wonderful and has something amazing to offer the world. So stop waiting for this bill to be paid, or this pound to be lost, or this house to live in; stop putting your life on hold because you don’t have this relationship, or this job, or this whatever.  Live within your means, of course but live.

There is always something you can do.  Take an hour to yourself and go for a walk, draw a picture, have a nap, have a cup of coffee with an elderly neighbour.  If you have time for a full day, then make it a daycation and really enjoy every moment of your day.  Decide what brings you joy, what feeds your soul and do it regularly. Schedule it into your day planner and don’t cancel it or reschedule it. That doesn’t mean don’t be inflexible but make yourself your priority.

You are alive each and every moment of each and every day and living means living all of your life. This includes the not so joyful times. Stuff happens. If you are having a crappy day, then have a crappy day. But when the day is done, think about it.  Was the whole day crappy, or just moments? So then let the day or the moments feel crappy, embrace them, thank them even, and then let them go. Every day is a new day. Every moment a new one. Start again.

Stop waiting for your life to begin. Live now. Living life to the fullest is a way of respecting yourself; respecting your life. This is your life. You, by the very definition of existence, are life; and everyone’s life has meaning.

“Just for Now, I Show Love and Respect to All” – including, and especially, myself.

’til next time,
Reiki Blessings,
V

My initial thoughts: What the? How dare they! I can’t believe it! That’s not fair! Why would they do that? Who would do that? And a few other words I won’t repeat. But because I am who I am, I wonder what am I supposed to learn from this? How can I be grateful? And so I continue thinking… and feeling…

One thought wants to believe that someone took them because they wanted them for their own chairs because they didn’t have the money to buy their own. Compassion.

Another thought says they took them to sell to someone else – ok, I can still get my head around that – the person who will buy then will get them really cheap and that’s ok because they also, cannot afford to buy new ones. A little compassion, mixed with frustration at the person who’s selling them for money.  Money that they either need to feed themselves, compassion again, or for drugs.  Hmm… sadness and compassion because they are in fear; and frustration because there’s nothing I can do to help.

Yet another thought knows that only one cushion was new, the others were really old and worn. So chances are they have just been thrown in a ditch somewhere.  Anger.  What a waste of good cushions and such a detriment to the environment! More anger.

I could go on but I stop.  What am I doing? Why am I spending so much energy thinking about who and why? I’ve been making up stories.  What really happened to the cushions?  Possibly, something that I haven’t even made up.  Who knows?  But what I do know is that in only a few moments I’ve made up three stories that may or may not be true. And does it really matter what the ‘real’ story is?  Will knowing actually make it better?  It’s only my mind that’s creating the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ feelings depending on the story I am telling.

So.  What’s to be grateful about today?

Well, as I focus back on what could I be grateful for when someone has taken something that doesn’t belong to them, I realize that I’ve calmed down and settled into two things:

I am grateful to not think about it; and divert my focus to many wonderful things –the home I live in, the food I eat, my body, and the relationships in my life, the weather – rain or shine, or just being alive.

And I am grateful to think about it, make up stories, feel the feelings, and then let them go.  I am grateful that I’m learning that when something beyond my control happens I do have control over what I think and do in reaction to it.  While it may not always be easy, if I am patient with myself, I will allow myself to process the experience and release what is no longer needed.

I take a breath in… hold for a few seconds… and then blow out:

“Just for now, I am grateful”

“Nothing has ever happened or can happen to you that is not a gift and a blessing, but it’s difficult to be thankful until you find the hidden benefit in what may seem at first to be a negative event. Gratitude makes you present with whatever you are doing. You are not here to run away from sadness to happiness. The only thing that truly satisfies the soul is love and appreciation.” – Demartini

‘til next time,
Reiki Blessings,
V

I teach effectively and communicate quite well, but what does that really mean and how is that related to listening and self-growth? Many of us already know that a big part of being an effective communicator is to speak clearly, clarify by asking questions, and to listen to the other person by being open to learning from them, too.

But how often do we really communicate with self, at all, let alone effectively?  It should work the same way as with others, shouldn’t it? We talk to ourselves all the time, usually in the form of thought, but not always.  Now here’s an interesting belief – My granny used to say it was ok to talk to herself but (don’t you just love the ‘buts’?) but…..she would only be considered crazy if she answered back.  Really?

And how well do we listen to ourselves?  Well, we listen to the self-talk when it’s negative and it’s often in the form of the accusing ‘second’ person tone: Who do you think you are?  What makes you think you deserve ……?  You’re too sensitive, emotional, fat, talkative….  You’re not ……… enough.  We often have difficulty listening when we perceive it’s positive. And the times that we do, our self-talk voice takes over and tells us we are in ego.  Well it’s right we  are often in ego, but we are in ego when we have negative self-talk as well. So think about how it would feel to listen to a positive voice… You’re wonderful, beautiful, deserving, already perfect!

And that’s just verbal communication.  What about nonverbal? Our body communicates with us all the time.  It’s hungry, tired, happy, and sad, comfortable, in pain; relaxed, stressed, muscles are tight, loose, sore…  Or the hairs stand up on the back of our neck or arms, a gut ‘feeling’ to do or not to do something – intuition.

By learning to listen to ourselves, even if for just a moment at a time, to start with, we become more in tune with life – our lives.  As we practice more we can tap into unlimited sources of creativity.  Now that’s fun! And when we are having fun, we are being present and in the moment. And sometimes, more than you may think, when we just stop and listen, we find the peace that is already within.

“Listening” quotes from some well known people:

• “Learn to Listen” Dr. Gabor Mate When The Body Says No
• “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak” Epictetus
• “If you listen to your fears, you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been” Robert H. Schuller
• “Let me listen to me and not to them” Gertrude Stein
• ”Listen to your intuition. It will tell you everything you need to know” Anthony J. D’Angelo
• “Listening is such a simple act. It requires us to be present, and that takes practice, but we don’t have to do anything else. We don’t have to advise, or coach, or sound wise. We just have to be willing to sit there and listen” Margaret J Wheatley

So I continue to learn to listen and observe not just others around me, but me.  Just watching myself do what I’m doing, feel what I’m feeling, experience what I’m experiencing and  forgive if I ‘think’ I should be ‘something’ else.  Basically just “Be”.  Och..….. there’s that word again:)

‘til next time,
Reiki Blessings,
V

“Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” Rumi

Sometimes you discover a book that resonates with you so deeply you know you will re-read it many times. Throughout my career as a public educator and holistic practitioner, I have read countless books that have led to self-help and personal growth. The ones that resonate with my every vibration, all speak to me with, and bring me back to, the heart connection. Denise Cunningham’s Whispers of Hope: How to Transform your Past and Experience Peace is such a book.

When Denise asked me to write the foreword for her book, a flood of memories came to mind.  We met at a wellness centre where I worked as a Reiki practitioner and teacher. As we got to know one another over cups of tea, we delved into like-minded discussions. It didn’t take long for us to discover that through our many years of self-discovery and transformation, our philosophies of the heart were the same; the belief that we are already perfect and that it is easier to discover that perfection when we are gentle and loving with ourselves. The Heart Connection message: Love and forgive unconditionally – others for sure, but just as importantly yourself.  And listen to your own intuition; Intuition is always right – always.  If you listen closely, you can hear it while it’s still a whisper. You are the only one who can change your life. Whispers of Hope will help you come back to your heart and find the peace that is always within.

I, myself, practice daily and to be honest, it was easy at the very beginning – excited to be doing something new that actually helped me ease pain, relax, and improve sleep. However, as I felt better, the self treatments slowed down and even stopped as I got healthier and my life got busier.  At one point I was feeling so good I thought I didn’t need to do self sessions.  Why would I? I was giving sessions to others 4 days a week and after all – when we give we receive – right?  Well, yes, but I got to thinking….are we not then taking away from our clients, even just a little, if we are using their time as our only sessions, too?   And then my health took a sidestep and I was reminded of how important it is to put ourselves first.  You know the airline talk to every parent flying with a child:  If we aren’t healthy who exactly can we help? So I started again, slowly – every night was the easiest as I would start with a few positions, and I mean just one or two, and then end up with my hands on my heart as I fell asleep. Over time, I began in the mornings for just a few minutes before I got out of bed. Then as I went through the brief morning routine of brushing my teeth and washing my face – I just intended Reiki to flow. I took this time to focus on the toothbrush on my teeth, feel the texture of the facecloth on my face and the temperature of the water. Sometimes I’d get caught up in just feeling and watching the water flow – like a child in wonderment… until the calls of my family brought me back to them and what we were to be doing that day. I kept reminders on sticky notes around so I would ‘run’ into them and then I would take a moment to stop and allow Reiki to flow in and around me and whomever I was with if that was the case: In the car, at the school, at the grocery store, sitting at my desk, on the telephone, making dinner, walking in the park…. the list is endless. Eventually the gaps between all the different times during the day became shorter and shorter. Reiki has become my lifestyle. Sometimes in this very busy world we get sidetracked. For me, it was easier to start small, and forgive myself when I thought I should be doing more. Reiki definitely helped me with the forgiveness piece – for self and others:) My Reiki Journey began 10 years ago. I am living it for the rest of my life. What a gift!

What’s your story?

And if you’re interested in reading other Reiki Self Treatment stories and partaking in a Self Treatment poll, check out Reiki Master Pamela Miles website: reikiinmedicine.org

‘Til next time,
Reiki Blessings,
V

‘til next time
Reiki Blessings,
V

Well my first step is to invoke Reiki.
The next one is to read this re-affirming quote I received from my friend, student and fellow teacher, Cheryl:

Once you start deliberately offering thought, then you can never offer enough action to keep up with the thought. Once you access the Energy that creates worlds, a huge vortex comes into place, and there’s just not enough action for you to keep up with that. And so, what you have to do is visualize every step of the way, envision you happy in the process. Envision things in place, envision people catching on. Just envision it working. Skip over the how and the where and the when and the who — and just stay focused upon the what and the why.     —– Abraham

and what next?  Say a Reiki Ghasso: Prayer of Thanks, of course!

’til next time,
Reiki Blessings,
V