My Reiki Story

One of the blogs I like to read, Reiki Help Blog, has started the Reiki Stories Project. If you have a Reiki Story to share, I would encourage you to share! You can check it out here:

http://reikihelp.com/blog/2009/06/reiki-stories-project/

Reiki weaved its way into my life during a time when I was at a crossroads. For three years prior, I had been destroying my spirit with drugs - anything I could get my hands on. But I had initiated change ... I had met some friends to practice Wicca with, I had begun meditating every day, and I began spending more time outside in nature. I was feeling better, but loneliness hung on my soul.

One day, a new acquaintance asked me how my knees were feeling. I was a bit confused as to why she would ask me such a seemingly strange question. She matter-of-factly told me to come by her house after work, and she would give me Reiki. I had no idea what Reiki was, but even though I barely knew her, Terry made me feel at ease. So I went to her. She healed my knee, and told me that day that if I wanted to receive my first degree of Reiki, I could do so in a few weeks. I took the course, and my life began to unfold in a completely new way. The Reiki community used to have gatherings about once a month, and during that time I received many healings. It felt amazing to work through all of the emotional issues that had built their walls within me. It certainly wasn’t easy to confront the demons of my past, but I knew it would be worth it. Reiki helped me to regain the faith I had lost in myself, and helped me to feel a sense of community where I was fully accepted for who I truly was.

Reiki is now with me always, and I have finally reached the point where I am ready to share this Universal Love, this Universal Energy, with the world.

Become Aware of Your Spiritual Guides

The other night I was lying in bed waiting for sleep to arrive. I was feeling really drained from my day, and wondered if a good night's sleep would be enough to carry me through the next day. I decided to ask for some special help. I decided to call on Archangel Michael for a healing. I felt the energy around me transform right away ~ my request was granted. It was a warm, peaceful feeling that surrounded my entire space, my whole being, and the healing began. I must have fallen asleep very quickly, but I was woken up sometime later by the glorious sound of warm, heavy rain falling. And I knew the healing was over. The next day was amazing for me.

We all have guides in our life. They will come to you in all different forms ~ human, animal, fairies, trees, dragonflies, and the list goes on. We also have the spirits of our ancestors to guide us ~ All you need to do is ask for their assistance. The most important thing you can do is to be aware of your guides - even if it's just a stranger exchanging positive energy in the form of a happy smile. The more aware you are of these happenings, the more often magic will creep into your life and create the unexpected for you. These guides are here to help you, all you have to do is ask.

Let the Man Feel

Last night I watched the movie, "Taken". (Excellent movie if you like action!) The story is about a man who retired from his career as a spy to repair his relationship with his 17 year old daughter. Unfortunately, his efforts are not appreciated by his ex-wife and her new husband, and they seem to want nothing to do with him. His daughter is really too young to know what he's given up in order to be closer to her. The daughter goes to Paris for a vacation with another young girl, and they are abducted. Her father goes to Paris to get her back, using every weapon in his spy arsenal. He saves the daughter from imminent doom and flies her back home. The ex-wife realizes that the very career that broke down their marriage saved their daughter's life. The new husband realizes that he is not such a bad guy after all.

Does every man have a deep desire to be appreciated? Women often pass men off as being independent from pesky emotions, but I don't think this is true at all. And when men do something wrong or misguided, they are sometimes labelled as deadbeat dads, unresponsive husbands or worse. The truth is, there could have been many issues and feelings gathering beneath a seemingly calm surface. I think that because men aren't as aware of their emotions, they have trouble understanding them. We the women need to school these men on what it is to feel.

If you are a woman, I have some advice: The next time your man seems unresponsive, distant or cranky, ask him if everything is okay. Look back on the past week and ask yourself if you've been there for him. It doesn't take a lot to make a man happy, but being aware that he can feel unappreciated or neglected can really help get past any difficult moments.

I Always Wanted to Be ...

It seems that every year, I do another thing that I once told myself I would never ever do.

Currently, that activity is trail running. I wondered why someone would want to subject themselves to such a seemingly scary experience. I was running through a narrow, overgrown trail, single file with a friend. There was a thunderstorm moving over the area, and every once in a while the thunder would rumble all through me. It started to rain, but we hardly got wet because of the trees looming above. The raindrops sounded fat, and they truly made that "pitter patter" sound you read about in books. The bushes kept slapping against my legs, making my shorts stick to my skin, and dirtying up my ankles. I felt incredibly connected to nature. More connected than I've felt in a long time. In the trail, I have to move all other thoughts out of my mind, so I can focus on where my foot will land next, or where the trail turns right or left. There isn't time to wonder about my children's' recent behaviour, a poor reaction to stress, or how much longer the run is going to be. At the end of it, I am filled with new life.

So much of my youth was spent living in fear ... I don't regret that, but I am certainly embracing my new confidence. It has been so freeing for me to try something I wasn't sure I'd be good at - and to actually enjoy it?! - It feels great. I'm not sure why I chose to spend much of my youth in fear of the unknown, but I think it's made this part of my journey so much more gratifying. Now I actually feel excited to try new things!

I don't want to live in fear anymore. I know I'm asking a lot from myself, but I am ready for all the challenges I've yet to face. Because once I get through them, I know how proud I will be of all the things I have accomplished. I am becoming the woman I always wanted to be.