Leaving the Past Behind

I spent a wonderful afternoon, with an old friend. We talked of our past and that of others and wondered how some people are able to forgive themselves for deeds done and move on. I pondered this while doing the dishes this evening and was given "angelic inspiration" in poem form. Thank you Divine for saying it better than I ever could!

Many blessings!

"NO" IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE

The phone rang again, and again she needed a ride. This was the third time in less than a week and that “little voice within,” flashed “CAUTION”. I took a deep breath and gave an excuse as to why I couldn’t be of help this time. But as I hung up, I was consumed by guilt. “She doesn’t have a car”, Guilt yelled. One day you may need a ride too.”

“Don’t listen to Guilt,” Little Voice Within said. “You can see a pattern of behaviour developing here. She doesn’t always need to call you. There is the bus or she can take a taxi. You have got to stop trying to please people, at your own expense.”

I thought about what Little Voice Within had told me. It was right. I could see a pattern forming; one that I was allowing. And I recalled the times we had gone shopping for, “Just bread and milk”, and it had turned into a major grocery shopping trip, taking up time that I needed to spend elsewhere. One stop invariably turned into two or more.

But really, whose fault was that? After pushing Guilt aside, I took a deep breath and admitted that I was responsible for the situation. I hadn’t drawn boundaries because I had been conditioned to put others needs before my own. Also, as a child, I believed that I had to always be nice and agreeable or I wouldn’t have friends. Now as an adult I consciously knew better, but subconsciously I feared conflict and the possibility of being disliked if I didn’t put others desires first.

There are three things that I have come to realize:

1/ Listen to your intuition (The Little Voice Within)

2/ If you reach out a hand with a sense of joy, do it. But if you are helping someone begrudgingly, don’t bother. There will be no joy in it for you or for the one you are helping. They will pick up on your vibes, even if they don’t consciously know why you seem “out of sorts”.

3/ You are responsible for reducing and controlling your own stress. Your “gauges” are within. You are the one who can read them. You alone are in control.

4/ "NO" is a complete sentence!  There is no need to justify your answer, although when you begin to say no, AGAIN, you will feel that there is. I say AGAIN, because NO is one of the first words used by human babies. They learn early to say NO to what they don’t like or don’t want to do. This is something that many of us have to relearn.

This quote says it all:

Maya Angelou-- "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw some things back. Saying NO is one of the best ways that a woman can take care of herself. While you may feel that saying no is selfish, it really is about taking extraordinary care of yourself. If you are not taking care of yourself, then you just don't have it to give to others. You can't water a garden with an empty bucket!”

There is real power in saying NO! Be good to yourself. Learn to say it again.

Many blessings!

LISTENING TO YOUR INTUITION

My elderly neighbor marvelled at the splendor of  fall colors, pointing out leaves of trees and bushes that were turning red. I smiled at the glee she displayed and asked her, "Would you like to go to the park, by the river? It should be lovely this time of year."  She said that she would.

As we drove down the hill and turned in to the park, I could see how deserted it was; not a human or animal in sight. We pulled into the parking lot on the far end, got out, locked our purses in the car's trunk and walked towards the river. I noticed that the bushes had grown considerably since the last time I'd visited. The "beach", once quite open, was now blocked, its only access being a narrow path between overgrown brush. I looked towards the path and noticed a truck backed in against the bushes. It had a topper covering its box, with the back open. Someone must be out for a stroll, I thought, but felt a sudden unease. Taking a closer look at the vehicle, I noticed an out-of-province license plate and when I looked up I saw a man, sitting inside staring at us.

"Perhaps it's unwise for us to go down that narrow path," I said, hoping to lead my friend another direction, without startling her. "Let's walk over this way." She nodded. But a change of direction didn't abate my unease. Within  moments, I said, "I think we should leave." She surprised me by agreeing.

We retrieved our purses, and as we climbed into the car, my neighbour said, "Well that's odd. Look there are three trucks coming in, one following the other. What's the sudden attraction at this time of year?"

As we drove up the hill, she said, "I'm really glad we're leaving. I felt such pressure in my chest as we came in here. I didn't want to say anything but something didn't feel right."

I squeezed her hand. "I felt uneasy too," I confessed. "I don't know why but I sense it's a good thing we don't stay."

"When you get that feeling, don't say no, just go!" she said, nodding firmly.

Later I thought of what we had both experienced. If it had been my experience alone, I may have attributed it to an overactive imagination and dismissed it. But we had both felt the unease; the need to remove ourselves from what made us uncomfortable. It would be fruitless to guess what was taking place in the park. All would be pure conjecture. We did both, however, listen to our intuition.

So what exactly is intuition? Where does it come from? And is there a way that it can be enhanced?

The dictionary defines intuition as: the power of knowing or understanding something immediately without reasoning or being taught.

Intuition is an ability that we are all born with but many of us do not listen to. Some people have good intuition because, like a muscle, they have "exercised" it. And like a muscle, there are certain exercises that will enhance it.

l/  When the phone rings, try to guess who's calling before you answer it. Go with the first name that pops     into your head.

2/ When you're waiting for the elevator, try to guess which door will open first.

3/ Place cards from a deck of playing cards face down on a table. Try to guess what they are.

Be aware of any sensations in your body as you look at each elevator door or card. Do you feel anything...a tingling perhaps, when your eyes light on one, that you don't feel looking at the others?

4/ When in a shopping mall, watch the facial expressions and body language of your fellow shoppers. Are they enjoying their day? Or are they tired, crabby and rushed? Be aware of how your surroundings make you feel. Are you filled with energy in some areas but do you feel drained in others? How, in your body, is that sensed?

Take a few minutes each day to build your intuition muscle and soon you will discover a whole new sense that has lain dormant within you. You'll be on the road to endless discoveries.

Enjoy!

REIKI FOR ANIMALS

Summer seems to have disappeared in the blink of an eye. I hope that yours was as relaxing and wonderful as mine. I spent two months camping at Dutch Creek, Alberta, in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. It was amazing. It was picturesque. But it was away from my Reiki practice and clients. I was busy with my "summer family" of friends but these friends were not interested in Reiki. I continued with my self-treatments but longed for something more.

Early one morning, as I made my way to one of the campground bathrooms, a young gopher dashed across the grassy opening, squeaking in fright. It ran behind a large rock, about 12 - 14 feet from me. Poor thing was already learning to fear man. I glanced around and after seeing that I was the only one in the area, stood still and called on the Reiki energy. As it moved through me, I concentrated on sending it to the young gopher. By this time it was on top of the rock squeaking a warning to all other gophers, that a human was near.

I continued to concentrate on the energy, as it rolled in waves through my body. I held the palms of my hands outward, beaming the energy to the little creature. Within seconds, I was amazed at the softening of its squeaks. I stood still in amazement as the young one came off the rock and began moving closer to me searching the grass with its nose. Soon it was a mere 2 feet from me, standing on its hind legs, nibbling the tender ends of some grass. I forced myself to keep breathing. Could this be happening?

Young goupher and his buddy!

I felt a nudge against my left foot and slowly glanced down. The gopher sat with its front feet on my runner. I felt such a swell of gratitude within my being, for this loving Universal Energy called Reiki; energy that could bring enough peace to a wild animal that it would settle at my human feet. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face or the words I whispered aloud, "Thank you!"

It was as though those words ended the Reiki and the calmness the tiny creature had felt. It looked up at me, squeaked loudly, and headed for "safety".

I knew that the young gopher had been initially calmed and soothed by the loving, peaceful energy of Reiki, just as my clients had when they relaxed to the point of falling asleep.

Wild animals will respond to Reiki, as tame ones will. Reiki is beneficial to animals in several ways: it aids in the healing of emotional, behavioral and physical illnesses and injuries. It helps to maintain health, enhances relaxation and provides a sense of well-being. It can also, when necessary, ease the transition into death.  So feel free to share Reiki with your family pets. They will thank you.

And if you decide to use this healing energy on a wild animal, please send a distant treatment. Always put your saftey first, in these situations.

Enjoy the journey.

Many blessings!

*Note: Reiki is meant to compliment veterinarian care, not replace it.

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEALING/NOT HEALING

When I first began practicing Reiki, I felt a tremendous responsibility for curing my client. I had to learn to stay out of the way and let the Reiki flow, as it was needed. I found that clients new to Reiki thought it would be a quick fix, not requiring any action on their part. Those who were serious about improving their lives, were interested in knowing what they could do, between sessions. They took control of their own "stuff" as it was being released by the treatments, and were grateful to the Reiki for its gentle nudges.

John Harvey Gray (Centre of Reiki Healing) now deceased, put it in a wonderful way that I would like to share with you:
"We as Reiki practitioners are not responsible for the healing process. The person (or animal) can get better, or worse, or nothing may change.
We should never claim credit, nor take blame for the results of a Reiki session. Our only job is to deliver the energy.
The only two healers are the Reiki energy and the body receiving the energy."
-John Harvey Gray-

As you continue your Reiki practice, lighten up! Relax, let it flow through you, the channel, being ever grateful for your part in the delivery of this loving energy.

Many blessings of light and love, as you continue your journey.

The Value of Self-treatment and Affirmations

It was like a kick in the stomach when my eldest daughter informed us that she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. A thousand horrors shot through my mind, my body becoming numb with shock. How can this be? Her children are only six and nine. Her family needs her. This can't be happening. The train of fear was in full gear, running down a greased track. I barely caught the words, "the doctor thinks it's benign", as I gulped back tears and tried to steady my voice. She must feel hope, I told myself, not fear.

And so began the waiting game for surgery. My logical mind hung onto the promise that 90-95 percent of this type of tumor was benign. My emotional self feared the other 5-10 percent. And when day turned into night and it was time to sleep, the train on the greased track resurfaced and I wept and prayed, as fears I didn't want to share, gripped my heart.

I lay in bed and tried to do Reiki, but my mind wouldn't oblige. I began to say the Lord's prayer. I lost count of how many times I repeated it. Gradually, a beautiful calm came over me and I asked for help and guidance. I began Reiki self-treatment and drifted into sleep. Each time I woke up and the terrors encroached, I self-treated again.

My daughter now has an appointment to see a neurologist and from there it will be determined how much longer she has to wait for surgery. I can see the left side of her face puffing with edema and the exhaustion she experiences from anti-seizure drugs and stress. But she is hopeful and so are we. We are able to handle the ups and downs of our emotions, with the blessing of Reiki.

During this time I came across an article, Expressing the Joy of Reiki, by William Lee Rand/Reiki Master and Editor in Chief of Reiki News Magazine. Here is an excerpt from the article; another Reiki blessing that works, when used on a regular basis.

"Say over and over for 10-15 minutes or more..."I ask that the joy of Reiki continuously express through me."
The reason this exercise is so powerful is that it activates the two qualities Dr. Usui stated Reiki to have: The ability to create happiness and the ability to heal."

May Reiki bless your life and relieve your stresses as it has mine.

Doggone Good Reiki

I received a call from a Reiki client, the morning of her scheduled appointment. Her dog, a Bichon Shih Tzu, named Mylee, was having ear problems and the veterinarian had offered to squeeze her in between appointments. Would it be all right, my client wondered if she brought her dog to the Reiki session. I said that would be fine.

The little dog wandered around and under the massage table, as her mistress told me of her own health concerns.  She then lay down and we began the session. Mylee stood on her hind legs, her front paws on the table as she watched what I was doing to her mistress. She appeared quite concerned. Her mistress, being nudged by her dog’s tiny nose, was unable to relax. What was I to do I thought? How could I complete the Reiki session with an apprehensive dog in the treatment room?

There was no reason why the session could not be done in a sitting position, I decided, and I mentioned this to my client.  As she sat up, I scooped up the Shih Tzu and placed her on the table. Her tail wagged with joy as she sat beside her mistress and we continued with the treatment.

Within a short time, the dog lay down, her eyes becoming heavy as the Reiki flowed. She remained peaceful for the entire time. Was it the Reiki that had calmed Mylee? Or was it the nearness of her mistress? I believe it was both. I thought of how Reiki calms, not only humans, but animals too. It is gentle and non-invasive and animals respond intuitively to its healing power. And with Mylee laying so close to her mistress she was bound to reap the benefits!

Now that’s doggone good Reiki!

Many blessings,

Chris

USING A PENDULUM TO CHOOSE COSMETICS

            Winter had come to Canada and it didn’t seem to want to leave. My skin was beginning to suffer from the overworked furnace, in our home and no matter what creams I purchased, nothing helped. In fact, the dry patches were soon accompanied by red ones. Not only did it look bad but it itched mercilessly. I was at my wits end.

            For some time, I had been experimenting with the use of a pendulum, to answer questions about which foods were good for me and which vitamins, herbs, etc. But I had never thought about using one to help me weed out what might be aggravating my skin. I decided to give it a try.

            First, I started with the moisturizers and creams. I held the pendulum over the jars but the answers seemed jumbled. Ah, I thought, with that flash of “knowing” that Spirit gives…I had to put the substance on my skin, to get a better reading. This I tried. The answers became clear and remained the same when I returned and checked a jar a second time. Much to my dismay, the most expensive moisturizers and creams, all made by the same company, were testing as not good for my skin. I asked Spirit if I should give these to someone else to try. I got a definite NO.

            I began to test the makeup/foundations that I had. Again, the more expensive (same brand) was rejected, while the simple, less costly, brands were acceptable.  I was acquiring quite a grouping of expensive cosmetics that were destined for disposal.

            What about body lotions, I thought. I dug through my cabinet, placing everything I used, on the bathroom counter. Lotions containing perfumes or sunscreen, were immediately on the tossing block. Again, for my skin, it was the simple, gentle items that remained.

            I looked at the jars and bottles that were harmful to my skin and thought $$. With a sigh, I tossed them into the garbage.

            That was a number of months ago and the itchy, dry and red patches, on my face and body are completely gone. If you are suffering from skin allergies and you wonder if your lotions, creams or cosmetics are causing them, perhaps with the use of a pendulum, you’ll find out. Your discoveries will likely differ from mine, as we are all different.  Perhaps you’ll “luck out” and be able to keep the expensive ones!
Search Amazon.com for using a pendulum

REIKI GIVEN WHILE YOU SLEEP

One evening I was reading Kundalini Visions by Kala Maitri. In her book she talked of having your angels or healing team run Reiki while you sleep, thus providing "gentle energy clearing and integration". She then listed the different kinds of Reiki for them to run and then said to ask that it be "completed for your highest good."

I was amazed when reading this and asked my Reiki guide if this was possible. The response was "Yes." I then asked if my guide and angels would perform Reiki on me if I asked them to. Again the response was "Yes."

That night after completing my self-treatment, I requested that my Reiki guide and angels give me a Reiki treatment. I then lay down, expectantly. Within moments I could feel a tingling begin in my left foot. I lay very still. I could feel the energy move up my leg and my foot began to twitch. Soon I could feel it in the left side of my neck. And then the left side of my upper lip began to quiver-much like when you're eyelid gets that uncontrollable twitch.

As this settled down, my left leg bent up towards me, my foot dragging along the sheet. I relaxed totally, concentrating on these astonishing happenings. Once the foot was near my bottom, the leg lifted, ever so gently, and the left knee crossed over my right thigh and remained there. It reminded me of when I had been to the chiropractor and he put me in that position to crack my back. But there was no cracking and no pain.

I remained in that position for a minute or two. As the sensations of energy left my body, I lowered my leg, gave thanks to my guide and angels and drifted into a full-night of blissful sleep. The pain that I'd had in the sciatic nerve, on my left side, was GONE.

The next evening after doing my Reiki self-treatment, I again asked if my Reiki guide and angels would give me an extra Reiki treatment. The answer was "Yes." I lay expectantly, but didn't feel the energy or movement in my body, as I had the night before. The next day I asked, "Did you give me Reiki?" The answer was "Yes." "But I didn't feel it," I said. "So tonight can you make me feel it on the right side?" The answer was "No". And the answer as to why came into my mind whole and complete. "We do not control the Reiki, anymore than you control it when you give a session to a client." So true. Reiki goes where it is needed. This was shown to me, by the Reiki working on my left side, where I had been suffering with my sciatic nerve. The next evening, when I felt nothing, I have faith that the Reiki was still working. But it was also teaching me that we DO NOT control the Reiki. I have a friend who described it this way: "Look at a plugged in tea kettle. The tea kettle is your client. You are the Cord/Channel. And God/Universal Energy/Source is the electrical outlet. You don't control the energy going to your client anymore than the cord controls the energy going to the tea kettle. Source does."

Thank you!

Many blessings as we continue to learn together.

Donna Eden - Pioneer in the Field of Energy Medicine.

What can I say except that I love to listen to Donna Eden talk about, and demonstrate, how to balance the body's energies, thus providing optimum health, happiness and vitality. For more than two decades, she has been teaching people how to understand their bodies as energy systems. Aches and pains, she says, are signs of energy inbalance. And she is here to teach  us how to balance those energies and reclaim the vitality in our lives.

Donna is one of the speakers made available through the link below. Listen to her. You will laugh and learn. She's an amazingly talented healer/teacher. It will be time well spent. And if you, like me, want to learn everything you can about healing these bodies of ours, I have linked below a  few items, of Donna Eden's that I have found extremely helpful. Enjoy!!

http://www.greatmystery.org/spoken-word.html

Donna Eden:

Reiki and the Bible /Wm.Rand- Reiki News Magazine

Reiki and the Bible

As a Reiki practitioner, I have crossed paths with those who fear that Reiki is of a source other than Divine. One friend warned me to "be careful", but I have never feared using Reiki. Years ago when I had my first attunement I asked God to never let me do anything that would offend Him. I always connect with the Reiki energy through prayer, asking to be surronded with His love and guidance. And I am confident that I am being guided for my client's highest good. It saddens me that some who profess to believe in God, paint Him  as such a hateful, vindictive being. My God is none of these things. He is loving, kind, generous, encouraging and forgiving.  I hope, if you have any fears of learning and using Reiki, you will read William Lee Rand's research on Reiki and the Bible, and live in peace, not fear.

Many blessings.

Too many projects. No decisions.

If you struggle to decide which of many interests you wish to pursue, and find that you "spin your wheels", unable to focus on any one project, because you're like a "kid in a candy shop", don't despair, help is on the way.

For years I felt  I was alone with my "affliction", until I came across a book  that explained everything. Check it out. You won't be sorry. The book is "REFUSE TO CHOOSE" by Barbara Sher, and it's available on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Refuse-Choose-Interests-Passions-Hobbies/dp/1594866260/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2

It's like a good friend holding your hand and walking you through the labyrinth of projects.

Good luck with your journey!

Reiki Energy-Learning not to "BRING IT ON"

When I gave my first Reiki treatment, my body wasn't flooded with Reiki energy. I was sure that I was a failure, or perhaps the Divine didn't find me to be a suitable channel. I guess I wanted "bells and whistles" that said, "Look at her. She is one terrific practitioner." Perhaps that was part of it. But my biggest concern was that if I couldn't feel it, then maybe my client couldn't feel it and maybe, the energy wasn't coming through. And if the energy wasn't coming through then how could I possibly set up a Reiki business?

It took time to learn to relax, to breathe deeply, and to get the "monkey mind" quieted. Also I found that I had to be more conscience of my own health: proper sleep, nourishment, etc. And it was priority to do Reiki self-treatments on a daily basis. I found that if I did my treatment in the evening, before bedtime, I slept like the proverbial babe.

I began to feel the energy. And when I wasn't flooded with it, I found that it was my clients who were feeling it instead. Sometimes we both would.

A treatment given to a child taught me to just let the energy flow. A child's attention span is very short, when they are young, and I was barely into the treatment, when my young client said, "Okay, let's quit now." Wanting to prolong the treatment, but not wanting to force the child to lay still, I said, "Why don't you tell me your favorite story." As the story proceeded, I listened and commented. My attention was shared between the Reiki and the child's happy voice. AND THE ENERGY FLOWED THROUGH ME IN LOVING WAVES. It was clear to me that I did not have to FORCE the energy. It knew how to come and where to go.

If you're new to Reiki, be patient with yourself. And treat your body like the special vessel that it is. Above all, practice, practice, practice. Like my angel told me, "The Only Time You Fail Is When You Quit." So don't quit. Reiki will take you on a most amazing journey. Stay with it. And many blessings to you.

A Novice Begins

So here I am setting up my own blog of interests that have expanded so much since I took my first Reiki attunements. Thank you to all who have been with me on this amazing journey! My hope, with this blog, is to share with you my steps through the labyrinth of life. I hope that my adventures will, in some small way, help to encourage you to reach out and try new things. As my angel once whispered in my ear, "The only time you fail is when you quit."