01/12/2011 by admin.

With Christmas approaching, many of us are thinking about the gifts we will be giving or receiving. The practice of Reiki teaches us that what will bring good health and happiness is balance, which includes the balance of exchange.

Frequently people who are drawn to learning Reiki are those who feel more comfortable giving than receiving, helping others but reluctant to receive help themselves. This can work for a while, but is an imbalance that can ultimately lead to exhaustion or feelings of resentment. To achieve healthy balance these people need to learn how to receive and to do so graciously.

Other people are happy to receive without giving anything in return, which is also an unhealthy imbalance. This often stems from taking things for granted, or lack of awareness of the true value of what is being given. This can lead to feelings of resentment and judgement when the gift is felt to be lacking. This feeling of lack is an imbalance that can create discomfort and unhappiness. What helps people with this imbalance is to develop a sense of gratitude.

What can also happen when we give or receive is that we have some agenda attached to it. For example we may give in order to be liked more, or give a large gift in the hope that we this will raise our status in the mind of the receiver. On the other hand we may feel that if we give a gift of lower value we will be seen negatively. We are also encouraged at this time of year to look for the ‘perfect gift’ the one that will please the other most and of course the advertisers try to get us to believe that the more we spend the better, which if we believe them can lead to overspending (financial imbalance) or feeling inadequate, both of which are stressful and unhealthy.

There can also be expectations about what gifts we will receive. The value or nature of the gift is often seen as a measure of that person’s valuing of us. Looking for a particular outcome when giving or receiving can lead to disappointment and also placing value where it doesn’t belong. We have a natural instinct that calls our attention to the imbalance of this and the stress that it causes.

However when there is balance the giving of gifts can be a real pleasure and receiving can be a joy. To be able to give and receive without attachment is what brings true happiness and the practice of Reiki gives us an opportunity to explore this. We are encouraged to give Reiki treatments unconditionally – without looking for a particular outcome, because Reiki will help the person however they most need it on that day. We are also encouraged to practice exchange, receiving something in return for the treatment we have given or giving in return for the treatment we have received, which maintains the balance between us.

So my wish for you this festive season is one I have learned through my Reiki practice: may you give graciously and receive with gratitude. May this be a practice you continue to explore in coming year and may it bring you good health, peace and happiness.

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18/11/2011 by admin.

One of the things I have learned in my years of practising Reiki is that Simple is not the same as Easy.

The first time this was brought to my attention was in pondering the Reiki Principles, not long after learning Reiki.  I was already stuck at the first one: “Just for today do not worry”.  Simple enough as an instruction, but I did not find it easy at all!  I was well practised at worrying: how was I going to change the habit of a lifetime?  Not worrying, even just for a day, seemed like a big challenge! No: definitely not easy.

Then there was the second principle “Just for today do not anger”.  Simple enough to say, but I usually found anger an emotion that simply took me over, so I didn’t feel I had much choice in the matter.  How was I supposed not to get angry?  Not easily!

That was just the first two Reiki principles and already what appeared to be simple was not going to be easy.  Then there was the recommendation to treat myself with Reiki each day.  A simple sequence of hand positions to be practised each day at a time of my own choosing.  That surely would be easy.  But no: I would forget, I would get bored, I would get frustrated because there were other things to do.  So not that easy.

The one thing I did find simple and easy was learning Reiki in the first place.  When I think about why this was easy as well as simple I see that it was because I really wanted to do it.  I was really keen to learn, so that I could help others.  So finding the money, making the time and getting to the class (which I have observed in my years of teaching are often difficulties for some people) were no problem for me.  I knew learning Reiki was right for me and having received six months of Reiki treatments it seemed like a natural step, commitment was not a problem.  Easy!

Over the years I made a commitment to exploring the other simple aspects of Reiki practise that I had found difficult.  Nowadays I am much better at not worrying.  This has led me to be more mindful, more aware when things are starting to worry me and now I have a better idea of how to deal with them.  So (just for today) it is easier not to worry.

I came to learn that “Just for today do not anger” doesn’t necessarily mean ‘don’t get angry’, but rather ‘don’t be in a state of anger’.  Still not easy, but being more aware of how my mind works has given me better insight into how I react to some things.  So while I may still get angry occasionally (who doesn’t!) I am more accepting of this emotional state (I used to hate getting angry, which didn’t help!) and better at looking at the underlying causes and dealing with them (usually with the help of Reiki).  So even “just for today do not anger” has become easier.

I also overcame my resistance to Reiki self treatment (which you can read more about in my booklet “The Gift of Reiki for Yourself”), so that I now find it easy to give myself Reiki most days.

So now I recognise that simple is not the same as easy when there is something there for me to learn.  If there is something that appears to be simple, but I am not finding it easy, I use Reiki to help me see what the resistance is, what it is I need to look at to ease the congestion and allow easeful flow.  Simple!

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28/01/2011 by admin.

Last week I was down in London being interviewed again - but this one was a bit different from the one I did last summer being filmed talking about Reiki Council with Martyn Lewis.

This interview was for a job!  Reiki Council has been asked to appoint 4 Reiki practitioners for the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council’s Reiki Profession Specific Board (PSB for short).

Originally I was not going to apply, feeling that I have already got a lot to do given my work treating and teaching and the voluntary work for the Reiki Association and Reiki Council.

However it seems that Reiki had other ideas!  At the last minute I realised that I have a lot of experience to offer that would be beneficial, so put in a last minute application (also prompted by a friend) and was invited for the interview.  It was very rigorous  and there were some really interesting questions.  I was a bit nervous: after all this was the first job interview I have done for a very many years (being self employed)! I was also being interviewed by people I know, which some people had commented to me can be more difficult than being interviewed by strangers.

However I’d put out a request to some of my students for them to send Reiki to me for the interview and for the best outcome for all concerned.  I therefore felt really supported by Reiki during the interview and was much more relaxed than I know I would have been in the past and without Reiki’s help.  So a big thank you to everyone who was thinking of me that day.

I have to wait to hear the outcome until towards the end of February as there are more interviews to be held.   I’ll let you know what happens!

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03/11/2010 by admin.

Last Saturday I ran a short workshop on the Reiki Principles for the first time.  I had not thought of doing one before because Paul Mitchell (one of Takata’s masters and Head of Discipline of Usui Shiki Ryoho) does a really great workshop on the Principles which he offers in the UK from time to time (he will be offering it next May in Snowdonia).  I had thought I wouldn’t be able to think of something different to do in the workshop.

However earlier in the year some of my students requested a workshop to explore the Reiki Principles and I though - ‘well maybe if it’s just an afternoon we can find enough to talk about’.  So last Saturday was the first experiment!  I’m pleased to say it went really well.  I had thought of a few exercises we could do to explore the different Principles, other ones than Paul does in his workshop.

The students present found them helpful and I also learned a lot as we discussed things like the meaning of the word ‘honour’, what the difference between ‘principle’ and ‘precept’ is and how not to worry!

I also saw that there is a place for me to offer this workshop, even if the ‘expert’ is Paul, because not everyone can get to his workshop and some of my own students may wish to explore the Principles with me more locally.

So I will almost certainly be offering the workshop again next year.

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31/08/2010 by admin.

Last month I gave a talk in Ludlow entitled: Reiki “The Secret Method for Inviting Happiness”. This is how Dr Usui described Reiki: what did he mean, I wondered. Drawing on my experience of Reiki over the past 23 years here are some of my thoughts …

Firstly what did he mean by ’secret’? I learned recently that this is a word that has a specific meaning for some Buddhists in that it describes something that is not easily achievable. For example we might refer to the secret of making mayonnaise. It doesn’t mean the information or knowledge about how to mayonnaise is hidden from people, it means that preparation, practice and a certain level of skill is required to achieve it. I think he meant secret in these terms.

During his search to discover how to heal with his hands, Dr Usui discovered writings that had been lost or hidden for centuries. However this was not enough to give him the answer to what he was looking for.  It was through his preparation and practice: many years of dedicated research and his willingness to undergo a 21 day fast and meditation, that he discovered the true meaning of the teachings.  Through his continued practice he developed of the healing system we now know as Reiki.

However his experience giving Reiki in the beggar quarter in Kyoto showed him that people needed to want to change their lives. He realised that some commitment is needed to achieve happiness. So as he began teaching people and passing on this wonderful healing gift, he also encouraged them to commit to helping themselves with Reiki through regular practice.

Thanks to his preparation, practice and skill, and that of the masters who followed, we now have the same potential in our own lives whether through daily Reiki self-treatment or receiving Reiki from someone else. I have certainly found that the more I have practiced Reiki, the more peaceful and happy I’ve become. That’s not to say there aren’t still tough days, but when they happen I find I’m much more able to cope, or at least remember that this too will pass!

Dr Usui also left us the Reiki Principles as a part of our practice and guide for developing skills that can lead to a happy and healthy life. Just for today do not worry reminds us that it is not healthy to worry about things we cannot change, and if we can change things we should take action, instead of worrying about it!

Just for today do not anger reminds us that conflict is not helpful and we need to look at the causes of the anger and heal that, creating better relationships and becoming more peaceful. Being angry certainly doesn’t make anyone happy!

Honour your parents teachers and elders reminds us of the importance of connection with our families and communities. It also encourages us to forgive if there are unresolved issues with elders.  Earn your living honestly encourages us to do work that we truly enjoy.

Show gratitude to all living things is a lovely piece of advice about staying connected with the natural world and about gratitude. Taking time to appreciate the 20 peacock butterflies who visited my garden last month was a simple pleasure that continued to give me happiness for several days.

So how can Reiki be the secret to inviting happiness? I think the secret is in preparation, practice and developing skills which we can reach for by giving our attention to the Reiki Principles and receiving Reiki. That’s all there is to it!

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28/07/2010 by admin.

On Monday this week I went down to London to have tea with Phyllis (Furumoto) and other masters who are members of the Reiki Alliance in the UK.  Phyllis was about to fly back to Arizona, so it was lovely to have the opportunity to meet up with her.

She is looking very well and her hair is growing back after the chemo.  She has now finished her radiotherapy as well, so is now recovering.  She said that she was pleased to have made it through the treatments but doesn’t know how she would have done it without all the Reiki support she received.

It was really good to see her again having spent time with her earlier in the year.

There was also the opportunity to show her and the other masters the short film I’ve been helping to make and I’m pleased to say they thought it was good.

We had a delicious tea prepared by Phyllis and Kristin with all sorts of delicious nibbles and cake!

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02/07/2010 by admin.

Article: Too tired to heal?

Your newsletter is a little late this month because I have been involved in helping to make a short film about Reiki for the Reiki Council, a group of Reiki organisations who have been meeting over the past 7 years to agree and promote good standards for practitioners who give Reiki treatments to the public. 

We were fortunate to have Dr Rosy Daniel do an interview for the film.  She worked at the Bristol Cancer Help Centre, where an integrated approach to cancer care was promoted, so patients received Reiki, dietary advice and other complementary therapies alongside their conventional cancer care.

One of the things Rosy Daniel spoke of in her interview really resonated with me: she talked about how we all have different levels of energy.  Babies are born with 100% (as any parent knows!), people near death have almost none.  Most of us, she said, function at around 50% and people who are ill: 20 - 30%.  What she then went on to say, which I found most interesting, is that when people’s energy levels are low they do not have the energy to make changes in their life that would be beneficial to their health. 

So when someone is advised on self care, Rosy Daniel said that in her experience it can often cause their energy levels to drop because people will criticise themselves for not being able to do what they know would be good for them.  Sound familiar?  It is therefore vital to help people improve their energy levels first and this is where Reiki can be so beneficial.  Reiki offers a connection with an infinite source of energy that people can tap into, via their practitioner, to receive as much energy as they can handle at that time.  She therefore recommends Reiki to all her cancer patients.

I have often noticed that after a few Reiki treatments people I treat are more able to make positive changes in their lives, but had not made the connection that having more energy makes this change possible.  We all have things we know we should do something about, but in a busy, stressful life we often just don’t have the energy.  So we end up ‘beating ourselves up’ about not doing it and end up feeling worse.

I certainly know this has been true in my own life.  I used to suffer from heavy and painful periods.  I knew that being overweight contributed to this, but never seemed able to loose the weight.  I definitely used to be self critical about this, thinking: “Why can’t you just do this?  It would make you feel better!  What’s stopping you taking control and eating less!”  Well now I can see that the answer to this was: I just didn’t have the energy!  I was very tired from the pain and blood loss.  I ate to try to keep my energy levels up, and because I didn’t have the energy to be stricter about my diet.  With the help of regular Reiki I managed to stop my weight increasing, but it was not until the symptoms were treated and I started to regain my strength that positive change became possible.  

So thank you Dr Rosy Daniel for this really helpful insight into why we sometimes struggle to overcome our healing challenges and why Reiki is so beneficial.

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05/06/2010 by admin.

With all the lovely sunshine there’s been lately I’ve been out in my garden.  A few weeks ago a friend came to dig my vegetable garden for me, so all I had to do was to plant.  What a wonderful gift!  So I have been busy planting onions, shallots, french beans, courgettes, strawberries and a squash.  They all received some Reiki as I planted them.

Sometimes I would rather be in the garden than at the computer doing work, but I find that being out in nature helps me work better when I come back inside.  And Reiki is great for those aching muscles after digging, weeding and mowing!

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01/06/2010 by admin.

Well I’ve finally taken the plunge and decided to start a blog.  Welcome.  I look forward to connecting with you.

I hope to share with you here my passion for Reiki.  I hope to share how I live with Reiki in my daily life and how it helps me with the ups and downs (oh yes there are downs too!).

Kate

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