As we head to the end of a decade and prepare to welcome a new one, I feel it is the perfect time to reflect on the opportunity Reiki offers us to approach life with newness.
“Newness” literally translated means the quality of being new or original. When I was training to become a Mindfulness Facilitator, one of the strongest concepts that stayed with me during my training was the concept of ‘new mind’. New Mind being the wonderful opportunity to approach life with fresh eyes and to drop our ‘knowing mind’ and thus experience every moment of life with freshness. It reminded me of how incredibly restricting it can be when we hold the thought of ‘I know how to do…” As, when we have this belief, it can inhibit us from experiencing a new approach, a new lesson, a new beauty and in essence, freedom. I believe that Reiki continually offers us the same opportunity. I have been a Reiki Master now for almost 20 years but I try to approach my practice with newness, and encourage my long-term students to do the same. I believe we never fully ‘know’ Reiki, despite the length of time we may have been studying it. As in my experience, Reiki offers us new ways, new insight, new lessons every day as it is ever evolving, as are we. As with everything in life, it can be easy to become complacent in our ‘knowledge’ of Reiki, especially after practicing or teaching it for many years. However, the true opportunity of the wonder of Reiki is available to us on a daily basis, whether we are new to the path or have perhaps been on our path for decades. I have taught many students who are wishing to continue on to their Master level with the thought that they will somehow ‘finish’ their Reiki training, only to remind them, that by taking their Master level, they are only just beginning. I love the fact that as one progresses through the various levels of Reiki, whatever our lineage, we are constantly brought back to the importance of the basics of Reiki. Just take a moment to reflect on the fact that despite the number of times we may have sat in a simple “Gassho” meditation, there is always something new available to us. It is not a case of “knowing” how to sit in a Gassho meditation; it is being present enough to approach it with a new mind to fully embrace its gifts. I remember reading an article many years ago about ‘de-cluttering our Reiki practice’ and what a positive invitation this was to me. At this transformational window, perhaps its time to revisit this invitation to ‘de-clutter’ our practice, give it ‘a bit of a clean’, brush off any cobwebs that may have formed over the years and make way for the newness, fresh energy and growth available to us in every moment. So for me, I welcome the new decade with a new mind, as to what Reiki and my journey will offer and I invite you to do the same. Open to experience, to learning, to growth, to change and therefore open to continued service to self and others. After all, I believe that was always the invitation... to edit.
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One of my opening questions to students who are taking a Reiki class is; “Do you have any expectations for this class?” I usually follow this by explaining that I feel it is a good idea to meet expectations at this stage of the day, but then emphasise a very strong invitation to “leave any expectation outside the door”. I go on to explain that one of the many valuable things I have learnt from working with/teaching Reiki over the years is to try not to place an expectation on the outcome of either a session, class or experience, as generally Reiki seems to deliver the direct opposite. Why? Well my feeling is that this enables us to challenge our relationship with control and our unevolved ego, and simultaneously become aware of any potential onset of complacency. It allows us to cultivate the practice of what is referred to in Mindfulness as ‘new mind’: the opportunity to look at our Reiki practice/teaching, indeed our life, as if with fresh new eyes, thus truly being open to new learning.
It has been my experience that the students who come with a strong opinion of their understanding as to what Reiki will bring them, are the ones who often meet the strongest ‘healing crisis’. Our challenges, or often truths, seem to hit us hardest when we are confident that they are not a problem for us. It’s as if the Universe is saying; “Ah, you think you have it sussed do you...well what do you think of this?” Obviously it is not always the case, but I find that generally the students who approach their Reiki journey with an uncluttered mind are the ones who can navigate their ‘awakening’ with ease. By uncluttered mind, I simply mean a trust in things unfolding as they need to, rather than perhaps the need to try to ‘work it out’ by reading multiple books and research on how their Reiki journey ‘should’ unfold. My own journey continues to offer me the reminder that it’s not about feeling we have it ‘sussed’, but more a deeper sense of noticing each time we are reminded that we haven’t. An analogy I like to use about our journey, in whatever ‘spiritual’ practice we may be learning, is that it can be a lot like surfing. When we get going, there is no better feeling than feeling the ‘flow’ of life, as if we are riding our wave with ease and grace. However, waves inevitably crash and therefore inevitably we will fall from our board. Yet, it is not how many times we fall off our board that determines our journey; it is how many times we choose to get back on. Sometimes, it’s not immediate and that’s OK, we may need to wait for a wave that looks safe for us to ‘get back on our board’ but each time we do, we ride with a little more confidence and a little more trust in ourselves. We learn that each fall is unique, and each ride is unique, and both will offer equal learning for us in the end. On this my first year of being the SW Area Representative for the UK Reiki Federation, I decided to hold an “Open Share” to celebrate Reiki Awareness Week, which we held on Tuesday 12th at the Exeter Natural Health Centre.
Reiki Shares have been a part of the Devon School of Reiki’s offering for many years but historically were held for Students as part of their continuous learning development. However, I was guided a couple of years ago to increase the offering and open the Shares up to other Reiki Practitioners/Masters/Students, who had not been trained by the School and were perhaps of a different lineage. I think at a time when there are over 100 systems of Reiki out there, it is so important to remember that Reiki is Reiki and there is no ‘right’ way, just the pathway we choose. I find Shares to be an incredibly nourishing and beautiful environment and inviting new faces and energy can only add to this. Last Tuesday night was a wonderful example of what I feel Shares can offer; to meet new and likeminded people, create a safe and sacred space to share Reiki, to offer alternative ways of practice and an opportunity to give and receive Reiki for our highest good and that of everyone in the room. We had a wonderful two hours, starting with a group held distant healing, then followed by everyone splitting into smaller groups to offer and receive Reiki. We finished the Share by using a wonderful technique practiced in the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai called “Reiki Mawashi”, which is a group-based energy cycling meditation. I was delighted to meet some fellow UK Reiki Federation members as well as welcome some familiar faces, and very much hope that I will see them again at future Shares. FREE upcoming virtual Reiki event: Reiki Healing Summit Spring 2018Great news! We're going to be a part of this free upcoming Reiki virtual event called The Reiki Healing Summit Spring 2018 which starts on May 21st. It features 37 amazing Reiki teachers, practitioners, best-selling authors, and experts from all over the world.
Sam will be speaking on the topic of 'Reiki and children: an alternative approach to childcare'. To reserve your free place, click the link below: https://university.reikirays.com/p/reiki-healing-summit-spring-2018?affcode=118509_c89zopku |