Reiki: The Great Debate!

The Power of Reiki!

Reiki is the flowing of energy from spirit through you to your client. The Reiki Practitioner/Master is attuned to Reiki and is simply a channel to help direct this energy. The energy goes to wherever the person needs it. Using Reiki on all chakras helps to balance the body and thereby the meridians. These meridians are also used by acupuncturists. Reiki Energy is flowing all around each and everyone of us. We just need to learn to access it.

Reiki is learned through a Master to a Student, but the student already has Reiki; he is just not yet attuned to it.

My personal journey to Reiki is below the explanations and disclaimers!

{begin:}
This is where the debate comes in:

How does a person become attuned to Reiki.

According to http://www.valleyreiki.com/reiki_iiia___reiki_master_practitioner student will receive the Reiki Master symbol which will enable her/him to attune themselves to Reiki (clear out the healing channel)."

Yet, some people believe this must be done hands on. This Reiki Master says the same thing and yet, by the admission of the website owned by the Reiki Master above the Symbol will allow the student to attune themselves.  I hate double talk!

Also who initiated the first Reiki Master, Mikao Usui, it was said to be done by divine inspiration or enlightenment. He was said to have been on a 21 or so day fast in the mountains. He was said to have travelled to America and received a doctoral degree, but that has been so far unproven, but what he did and does has been proven: the ability to heal.

It does not matter how he obtained the information that is the story of legends, but what does matter was the differences he made and the difference Reiki continues to make in today's fast paced world of go, go, go and money, money, money.

This is another statement tauted by Reiki Masters, "Choose someone who has completed her own financial commitment." http://www.usuireiki-ogm.com/becoming_a_reiki_master.html 

"The Reiki Cash Machine

So - Reiki in itself is NOT a scam. However, many Reiki courses ARE! Reiki has really become a real cash machine: Most Reiki masters teach in three distinct stages, and each stage requires hefty premiums:

• Level 1 - Reiki Practitioner: $100-$150
• Level 2 - Advanced Reiki Practitioner: $150-$500
• Level 3 - Reiki Master: $350-$10,000
• These are the prices for Reiki courses. Reiki Healing costs $25-$70 an hour from Reiki practitioners, $50-$120 from Reiki Masters. " http://www.reviewsnest.com/reikimastercourses/

This has been one of the largest issues I have encountered with various masters. This is an elitist view point. That only those who will be able to pay the fees will be able to take the classes. Thankfully this has changed some in recent years, but still blocks out some of the people who would make the best healers. Those who want to do it because they really want to heal and those who want to heal are also often the ones who need to be healed. Because of their own illnesses they often cannot afford to receive Reiki, let alone afford the classes to teach it.

This is where a more correct view of Reiki has come into play. Reiki is needed to heal the world!

"All attunements, in my opinion, whether received from a Reiki Master in person or from a distance, work for the same reason.

Reiki Attunements work through the Reiki Master, but only because the student has already opened herself to her Higher Potential. She has said to herself, 'I am ready to learn Reiki, I am ready to take control of my life, I want to help myself and my family and friends, I am ready to relearn the gift that was given to me when I was born.'" http://www.reikiblessings.com/attunements.html

I will also now quote my own Reiki Master Judith Conroy, " Mikao Usui, the founding father of modern day Reiki, actually attuned himself to Reiki all those years ago!
Which is quite obvious when you really think about it – as there was no-one else there on the mountain to do it for him!
(Yes, some people say a great light came out of the darkness, hit Usui in the forehead and gave him Reiki – and that sounds beautifully mystical doesn’t it? But, it’s just a ‘flight of fancy’ I’m afraid, and it’s not meant to be taken at all seriously).
No, what actually happened was…
Usui went to his favourite meditation spot, totally alone, and after a period of fasting and meditating, he experienced a sudden flash of deep understanding – a Satori if you will…
…about how a particular aspect of the vital life force energy already flowing within him could easily be accessed and used for both healing and accelerating self-realization." http://www.chikara-reiki-do.com/master/

{This is the Ending of the documentation of why I chose this route!}


My Story begins!
So, now that I have shown you what others have said on thier own websites, I would like to talk to you about my attunement!

I was first attuned many years ago now to Reiki I and Reiki II, but because I could not afford the class the teacher let me take the class for personal and family use, but not so that I could do it on others and get paid. Okay, that makes sense. Everyone needs to make money. So, I was fine with that until last spring when I really wanted to start doing Reiki on others and to make money, so I started looking for Reiki Masters.

I am a website developer and I am a multi-talented crafts person, but I have also been unable to work for the past 4 years at a full time job. Living on one income with 3 kids is difficult. I was told by several masters a sacrafice needs to be made, but a giant sacrafice for one versus a minor to no real sacrafice to others seems a bit unfair (elitist). I have offered to barter for my Reiki as well. Since I build websites I figured an awesome website would be a fair exchange. It takes me 200 hours to build a custom website. But, alas most people said it needed to be a monetary exchange and others said they were not interested in a website. I have no issues with that, so I began to look into alternatives.

Online Reiki I, II and III cost between $50 and $500 dollars. There is a website that reviews online Reiki. Click here for that:  http://www.reviewsnest.com/reikimastercourses/

The Alternative Road to Reiki

Two years ago I started to look into online Reiki Classes and the theory behind an inperson versus distance attunement. I am a SPIRITUALIST this means I circumscribe to various beliefs that may differ from the Christian view point. I believe in Astral Travel and I sometimes do this. I have been using the Energy of the Universe and Spirit to do hands on healing for years. Since 1996 to be exact. I have been an Emergency Medical Technician because I wanted to help people in a real crisis. I have volunteered at Peer Support Agencies for those who have or might suffer from a mental illness. I have taught meditation since 2006. I have taught Intuitive Tarot since 1995. I was once initiated into Wicca and have since left that practice. So I know what initiation and "hands-on" attunements are all about.

However, it was through Wicca that I learned my greatest lesson, It is not about what you do, or even how you do it, but the intentions behind it!

So, I contacted Judith Conroy of Chikara-Reiki-Do who gives three attunements. One is in her own lineage and two are standard lineage. She teaches Usui Reiki, Tibetan Reiki and Chikara-Reiki-Do which attunes all of the chakras!

An Amazing Attunement

As I have said, I was already attuned to Reiki I and Reiki II with several years of practice. I have read several books on Reiki and I have watched countless videos over the years. I have met my spirit guides before and I work with my animal spirit guides and totems regularly. 

I have been developing my spiritual intuitive self extensively for over a year. So, when I got Judith's .pdfs, videos, and online documentation I could not fathom how anyone could say I missed any of the critical information.

What I was not prepared for was my four step attunement!! That is right for my Masters there was four seperate and amazing steps. I did not experience anything close to this in Reiki I or Reiki II!!!! I had my candles, incense, crystals all setup around me. I was warm and comfortable. I was sitting on my floor in lotus position and I was listening to the most beautiful meditation music provided by Judith. She talked me through a guided visual meditation via video and then stepped me through the next 3 phases. The last phase was her doing a complete Usui Reiki Attunement!

Now people might be wondering what I felt and saw and I will describe it now. In the meditation I was more relaxed than I could have imagined. I get anxious waiting in groups and in class rooms. Infact I hate getting massages because I get so nervous, so that was wonderful just being in my very own warm and soft, comfortable space. I was sitting on a meditation cushion. During the first attunement I was filled with a buzzing of electrical energy that seemed to fill every cell of my body. During the second phase I saw my spirit guide standing infront of me. During the third phase I felt my spirit guide's "hand" on my shoulder and attuning me. I felt the energy of his "fire-finger" touching the palms of my hand. That was simply the best.

Other's have seen my Spirit Guide

A few weeks ago one of my Spiritual Intuitive Group Leaders had us do a guided meditation to meet our spirit guides. I was in a pyramid and he was showing me Reiki Symbols. I could not believe it. I told J. the group facilitator, about it. Later at another of her groups we did a candle reading. My spirit guide was clearly defined in that image, Joanne was shocked and amazed.

My spirit guide is truly amazing. It is genderless, but might be considered male. "HE" looks very similar to the picture we see of "Greys" or "Aliens", but it may just be that he is old, bald with large eyes, tall and gangley.

Since My Attunement and the Reason for It!

I have felt more peaceful and at ease. The only stress I have had is comming from other's not accepting my attunement, but the crazy and wonderful thing is when people go looking for a Reiki Practitioner they do not ask where or how you got it. They just want to see and feel proof of your healing energy.

The reason I wanted to learn and use Reiki is because the symbols, while just kanji, when used by many thousands of people with the same intent increase the power and the energy of that symbol thereby increasing the healing energy!!!

Here is a review of the course I took: http://www.reviewsnest.com/reikimastercourses/ultimatereiki.htm


Please read, learn and understand before you make any decisions regarding Reiki.

I wish you a blessed day!

Our Animals Are Our Friends, Our healers!

Today I was sitting and reflecting about how I use self healing and as I was doing so my cat Caramel came in to sit with me. She is a sweet cat, just like her name. I often use the healing energy from the Great Spirit to help me when I am in pain. Since I have learned Reiki I have used that as well, but nothing can compare to the healing energy we receive from our pets.

You may wonder why and how this works. Well, animals are innocent. They live because we take care of them and in return their love is abundant. When we are sad they will often come over to us lick our faces, put their paws on us and in my kitties case she pats me. Yes, she takes her little paw without any claws and ever so lightly taps me with it. Her purrs remind me of my kids when they were babies. Have you ever heard a baby mew? I have and it is amazing and when my kitty does that it makes me feel such comfort.

Animals also seem to instinctively know when we are in pain and they come over to us to get their pats from us and in return we become distracted from that pain. When they sleep with us, their body heat makes us feel warm and safe. They alert us to people coming to the door. Yes, even kitties do this. Caramel does it because she wants to go out and play and since she is an indoor cat she knows she might get her escape (She is chipped and has all shots just in case!). But in her escape one time she alerted me to her own illness; ,this was when she started eating tea berry leaves and I then learned they were great for upset tummies. So, she taught me an herbal remedy.

Animals also seem to know where our chakra points are. Have you ever noticed that your dog or cat will lay on or rest their paws on certain chakras? My cat loves my heart and third eye. I have chronic bronchitis and because of her placing her paws there I know I feel her healing energy flow through me. On my third eye I can feel her communicating with me. she looks right into my eyes when she does it. At first this was unnerving, but now I know she is talking to me on a subconscious level allowing me to "SEE" her.

What does your dog or kitty do with you and to you?

What quirks do they have when they interact with you?

Learning to listen to their way of speaking can really open up a lot of additional healing avenues for you!

These are their gifts to you and once we all realize their amazing gifts really should treat them like Kings, Queens, Princesses, and knights in shinning armour and give the feasts, love and attention they really do deserve!

To all animal lovers out there I wish you and your pets a long, happy and healthy life.

Increase Intuition by Meditating on Images

People often ask me how to increase their intuitive skills and it has been at such an increase lately that I have decided to explain how this works.

****NOTE: The images on this blog belong to me and as such I am giving you permission to print them and use them in your private meditative practices.****

Scroll around my blog and look at any one of the images that I have posted.

What is your initial reaction to the image?

By asking this question you are already Feeling and getting an instinctive impression. Instinct=Intuition!

Do you see any forms in the image? Like shapes in the fire?

Learning to "SEE" things in something else is something all kids do, but for some reason many adults lose this basic ability. The image you formulate is an intuitive image!!

What colors are present?

What do the colors mean to you? 
Do they make you feel in a specific way?
Do they bring up other images or ideas?

Colors help form emotions and feelings. A prison avoids the color RED because it can cause the emotion ANGER to rise. They will use YELLOW to increase ENERGY and POSITIVE thinking. GREEN to CALM and quell emotions.

What do these colors mean to you now that you have thought about them more carefully?

Thinking about these helps you understand your interpretation of colors. For me Yellow is a very bad color as it was painted in my bedroom as a child. To this day I hate anything painted yellow!

Why do you think the image was composed in this manner?

Every image has a focal point. This helps determine what the artist is trying to illuminate, and if something that is off to the side catches your eye first or gives you a stronger initial impression, this is the object you should focus on first.

Now, what do you feel?

Your feelings after you have broken down an image helps you to solidify your initial instinctive/intuitive impression.

What additional thoughts come into your own mind?

What additional information do you glean from looking at the image. These thoughts are extremely important and help clarify your initial thoughts!

Now think about a question.....Any question....How does that picture help explain the answer to your question?

If a person asks you a question about a love relationship and you are looking at my tarot alter picture, you might get that there is mystery in the relationship, an unknown, or unforeseen situation. Whereas, if you are looking at the lotus with the music and butterfly you might see a symbiotic relationship: one cannot thrive without the other.

If this were a working relationship question and you are looking at the lotus butterfly and music picture, you might see it as: learn to work out any differences and use teamwork to have a harmonious relationship. Whereas the picture of me with the singing bowl might indicate taking some time out, alone, relaxing and allowing work issues to settle themselves, or for the person to regroup using meditation, and then to tackle the problem once the initial emotions have had time to settle.

So you see, you can really use anything to help develop your intuitive nature!!!  Here is a pendulum board: You can also use this image to help figure out questions.

Please look at the images in all of the blogs and using the same question see how each relates to your question!!!

A Day to Remember

When I talk about reflective meditation often people think it is simply looking back and remembering, but in reflective meditation it is about remembering and changing our emotions to be a more positive experience and when we are reflecting on something positive we are helping to solidify the feeling so that we can hold on to it.

Where you see the word PAUSE think about or just relax with the idea for 2 to 3 minutes

In this meditation I want you to reflect on just today.

Get in a comfortable position.
Breathe in and out: deeply and slowly with pauses between in and out.
PAUSE
You are just waking up:

What do you feel?
What are your emotions?

PAUSE
Think about how these initial feeling effected your day.

PAUSE
As you remember moving through the day was there anything positive or negative that happened?

If you had an emotional response that was not as positive as you had hoped it would be, in what ways did that emotion cause you to change your perspective or your reaction so that it could be more positive?

PAUSE
Can you now think of how that initial feeling has caused you to change.

PAUSE
Can you look at the situation from a new perspective?

PAUSE

Now go to a perfect place in your mind: The ocean, camping, the woods, a river, pond or lake

As you are sitting feel your body calm and mind quiet

Focus on just breathing in and out

PAUSE
As you are breathing you are feeling more peaceful and more at ease

All the stress and tension is melting away from you

PAUSE
You continue to breathe slowly and deeply.

In and out

and just sit peacefully for a while
PAUSE
PAUSE
PAUSE
PAUSE

When you are ready slowly come back

Open your eyes

wiggle your fingers

move your toes

move your feet

move your hands

now your legs and arms

and when you are fully alert again

go back to that emotion you had earlier today

How has it changed?
PAUSE

What are you feeling?

PAUSE

Do you feel more positive about it?

Are you more able to see why it was or was not the right course of action?

PAUSE

Now breathe in slowly and deeply and release and once comfortable

Remember that you are an amazing person!
You are human!
And you are trying to affect positive change in your world and thereby effecting the Great World positively!

Namaste!

November- A meditation of Thanks

I wanted to take this time to talk about this odd holiday. Native Americans oppose this holiday because it celebrates us taking over a land that we should not have conquered and yet we cannot change the past, so how should we celebrate this awkward holiday. My answer is to meditate on the whole of the holiday and not on why we have this specific day. We should remember why we are here.

A Meditation of Thanks!

Sit or lie comfortably with a warm blanket in case you get chilled

Take several, slow, deep breaths and slowly exhale.

You are completely safe where you are.

Think about the people who have made a positive difference in your life.

These are the people you have loved and cared about and are often with you in your thoughts.

As a name comes into your mind let them come into focus.

Once they are in focus think about the following questions:

Who is the first person you see?
What have they taught you?
What do you want to tell them you are thankful for?

Then say, "Thank you, Name, I am thank for you............... because..................... I wish you peace, love and light of the season.

Let them drift from your mind.

Breathe a few more times slowly and deeply.

Then who is the next person you think of and see?

Repeat this for all of the ones you love and care about.

Once you have thanked each person and let them leave your mind.

Say a prayer for all of those who gave their lives, so that you can have the life you live. Think about the wars and the battles and all the stories you have heard. Send healing thoughts and prayers to all of those who have crossed and to those who remain, but are not quite the same.

Once you have done this, Take several slow deep cleansing breaths and tell yourself thank you for being you. You are a very special person with wonderful gifts. each time you remember a person or a time you do so with loving kindness in your heart. You know that because of who you are each person in your life is thankful to have you there.

I am thankful for you, my readers. Without you these would just be words left to the Internet. I am thankful to my husband and my kids for giving me the time to write my meditations and I am thankful to all of my grandparents for helping me to become who I am and without whom I would not be here. I am thankful to my parents for understanding my spiritual path and to my siblings for their continued emotional support.

I am thankful to my ancestors for giving me such a varied heritage of a true "melting-pot".

I am thankful to all the Native Americans for not giving up their heritage and I am thankful to them for helping another group of people who they did not know, but through their own persecution knew that this group did not deserve the same fate. WWII might not have been won without you!!!

Thank you and may the Great Spirit bless everyone of you, a billion points of light!