Fall ...

Crisp ~ the word for fall and the season we are in. The feel of autumn in the air, the view, notably sharp, clean-cut, and clear ... as in "a crisp illustration" … with sharper detail created by the air being somehow fresher, cleaner. BITE … bite an apple, its APPLE season so I am biting into a FRESH, CRISP APPLE, that's desirably firm and crunchy. Thank You Goddess for this Gala Apple that I am eating. Fall is a sensory season and your skin feels so different as the wind brushes up against you so much more aggressively (with affection) creating drier skin, apply oil with vigor. INHALE … deeply ... feel the stall in the middle of your breaths ... set it deep within your chest and send it to join the fall air, to let it go to mingle with the electricity created by the atmosphere. Catch your finger tip on a spark of light and if this happens in the night watch it light the way to the next moment. SNAP awake on the spark. Charged, charge, charge … into the season … do you feel it?

LIVE in this SEASON.

IT is CHANGING.

You are TOO.

wow ... it's been a long time

I have been living life ... to its fullest.

Spending time with her ....

We had very strong thunder and lightning in the early morning hours, our rare August/September thunder showers. Being one who is "charged" by thunder and lightning I often wonder if I am in the wrong part of the country, to only take in a good thunderstorm once or twice a year. I often wonder if I would be sane (in mainstream terms) if I experienced more than a few thunderstorms a year.

The storm woke each of my family members from sweet sleep and my son and I snuggled together on the sofa in front of our large windows. Our dog and cat were within arms reach. Our dog (?) softly howled and gently growled every once and awhile like she was talking back to the storm. It was one of the finer moments for me.

Our home is high up in the hills overlooking the east end of our city with a wide open view of the valley that stretches to the ocean about 15 miles away. We watched huge bolts of lightning crack down on the plains as the storm headed our way.

For an hour or more the storm spread its energy over the land. Lightning bolting down to the earth and the thunder blasted like large tribal drums ... tossing raindrops straight down out of the sky . I had gardened in the Moon light last night and I was so grateful that the rain was helping to settle some new planting into the earth and clean all the green around me.

I was doing a lot of thinking as my son had fallen asleep in my arms. I thought of
ingenious passion and creating the "perfect storm" of smart love.

I thought of my "never ending, never beginning" with my beloved warrior (peaceful)/medicine man. He has once again gone where I had wanted him to go. The day before had been full of thoughts of him, having spent the day in and around his former community. My moonlight gardening was to ground my energy from missing him, always missing him. As I gardened, the storm sky from the storm coming in at sunset was painted with his colors. Maybe it has finally ended.

As I sat on the sofa I remembered my last long road trip and the storms across Texas and New Mexico. I remembered the storms in Colorado that would come in every summer afternoon, like God had turned on the sprinklers for us to play in. I remembered the storms on the plains at my fathers home in Nebraska. My affinity for storms runs deep.

I remembered Gayle. Not that she is ever forgotten. I had planned on dedicating time to Gayle today as it is the one year mark of her passing. I was planning a trip to the ocean or the hills or perhaps visiting her former home. Something symbolic and devoted to Gayle and her remaining essence.

Gayle and I shared an amazing understanding of the August/September rains and in that a shared "affinity" for thunderstorms. This would be a very lengthy detail that would forge deeply into my heart and into stories of Gayle's challenges around Jamie's (September) birthday parties and my second fight (and victory) with cancer (September ... years ago) and it is ok as is.

Gayle was my greatest catalyst in 7 years as a Reiki Master and practitioner. She moved me from being a reluctant healer to being a determined teacher. Gayle reminded me (after she passed) of who I am. I am more than a reluctant healer, more than a Reiki Master ... I am a Medicine Woman. I just am. No fight (with myself) about it. I have lived this past year mobilized by her amazing belief in me and by her profound willingness to teach me on such a deep level ... ... ... ... ... ...

The storm was a visit from Gayle, Gayle's essence as it is. She was always early, organized and ready .. she had perfect timing and knew just what to do. She most likely has a very busy day today ... her essence that is, has a very busy day today. So she came to me, early ... timely ... perfectly ... through the storm, when she knew I would be available.

I love you Gayle. I thank you Gayle. I will forever honor you Gayle.

To this day I wonder ... what did I give her in comparison as she has given me so very much.

See ... Reiki Lessons" ... posted here on blogspot.

33 Lessons ...

Thirty-Three Life Mastery Lessons

“The only way you can live a truly creative life or know the highest happiness is by developing your own unique potential.”—Norman Vincent Peale

1. Endings are also beginnings.
2. Learning separates an ordinary from an extraordinary life.
3. The biggest battle is victory over yourself.
4. Your life is the curriculum for your enlightenment.
5. You cannot become what you want by remaining what you are.
6. Great disappointments can lead to great discoveries when you are willing to see the light and do some inner work.
7. Fear is just a lack of understanding.
8. Every person has a great destiny; not every person is willing to do what it takes to live his/her destiny.
9. What matters in this life: truth, love, beauty, and integrity.
10. An attitude of gratitude will bring you every great thing.
11. When you are whole, all things come your way.
12. Be bold because the Universe favors the bold.
13. Dare to Know!
14. A true friend does not allow you to remain stuck in your story.
15. Love is the answer to any question, challenge, or disease.
16. Do what you can today, for tomorrow may never come.
17. Plant when it is time to plant. Harvest when it is time to harvest. Rest when it is time to rest.
18. You can count on one thing in life: change.
19. You can relax about change and just go with the flow.
20. A soul successful person is an active soul-active in learning, active in thinking, active in doing.
21. Resiliency represents personal power.
22. Mortal mind feeds on fear, doubt, and greed.
23. Divine mind fuels you with faith, confidence, and gratitude.
24. Expansion and evolution is what life is all about.
25. You are divine enough to ask and important enough to receive what you desire.
26. Choice is a gift given to humankind. Use it wisely.
27. Your BED (beliefs, emotions, and decisions) create your reality.
28. Be caring and compassionate despite what illusionary misbehavior you see.
29. Heaven or hell is already here because it is your state of mind.
30. People are the most successful who ask for and accept help.
31. You are 100 percent responsible for the messes and successes of your life.
32. Who and what you surround yourself with influence you more than you know.
33. Make today (and everyday) the best day of your life.

By Michelle L. Casto, Ph.D. The Soul Coach

on and on and on ...

So much has been going on and going on and going on and on and on.

Like Joni says "everything comes and goes, marked by lover's and styles of clothes. things that you held high and told yourself were true lost or changin' as the days come down to you. down to you constant stranger, you're a kind person, you're a cold person too ... it's down to you. It all comes down to you."

The good, the bad and the indifferent all need a good cleansing at times.

Future blogs ... to be added early in the morning before the hummingbirds sing and call me outside ...

Which one is the most important one? ... asked by a student ... in regards to the chakra system.

A year already? Where have your travels taken you? Missing Gayle w/ large gratitude.

Living vicariously through yourself. Do you? I do.

There is no energy shortage. Life Force Energy ... that is.

and a few more ...

I am going to garden.

I'll be back soon.

a good one

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway. The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind. Think big anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People really need help but may attack if you help them. Help people anyway. Give the world the best you have and you might get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you've got anyway. - Anonymous

angst and frustration x 3 ...

Three people, all very dear to me reached their limits today. I wasn't a part of these limits but I did relate to each person. So I listened and listened and listened. I realized early on that there are times when we don't really need a substantial vocabulary. Sometimes we just need to listen and listen and listen.

don't worry about the fall ...

and so we know that it's ok if we stumble or even fall down on our path. maybe the break in the momentum and the gap in time is designated by a higher power to slow us down.

maybe the delay adjusts our clock and our timing gets shifted so that we arrive where we're going in a more perfect moment.

it could also be that the down time is when we gather in our senses or we ponder what the heck it is that we are doing anyway and that time and break for thought reconnects us to the value of what we are heading for.

and so we know that the fall doesn't matter ... it is the getting back up that does.

An open journal ... really

So this blog has changed course, speed and meaning. So be it. To change is to create essential meaning. I started here with no design of what this would become, only to express myself ... ME ... and initially my free thoughts about Reiki (healing).

This blog took a shape of its own as my fingers hit the keyboard. The thoughts of love (healing) ... and man, that has bounced around in my head and on these pages. The unconditional love of Reiki (healing). The love we should have for one another (healing). The love of self (healing). The love discovered during death (healing). The love of music (healing). Crow Medicine (healing). A love lost (or the hint of it) (healing) . A love found (a small hint of it and I hope) (healing). The love of learning is covered (healing).

Ah, here is a future subject ... the love of learning but learning can be a love/hate thing until you've learned your lessons well ... and I have not gone there (healing) ... to hate ... (not even a hint of it). Maybe close tonight but as close as I will get (healing). Maybe I haven't learned my lessons well yet?

So this blog is about what I started it about ... Reiki, converted to healing ... LOVE ... and a little more (healing).

This blog is an "open" journal, left on a table tucked inside a computer screen. You can sneak a peek or sit with it wide open. Relate to it or not. Many don't read it at all and they move on about their days just fine.

BUT ... this is my blog.

Tonight's blog entry is about another persons point of view ... from viewing my blog.

Another persons point of view does not change what I have written, its perceptions or any of my personal insights shared in a past moment. My perceptions and personal insight do change as I grow. Another persons point of view does nothing to the past written entries. They are locked in this website on the Internet. I can "EDIT" them but I would choose not to.

As I move forward in this "open" journal I will change and grow and see what is and what isn't ... and that will be a new moment. I will post these changes as they are relevant or pertinent. To change is to create essential meaning.

I consider this criticism of my blog and I say, this is my "open" journal and if you don't like it don't read it. I ponder the name of my blog. "Always seek the highest good". What is "the" highest good here tonight? For this is not called "your" highest good or "my" highest good. My choice would be that it is the highest good in the middle.

I don't know.

The highest good, or that place in the middle can get lost the moment you let it.

The highest good comes to mind and it is love. The sweet emotion that brings us to surrender. Not the surrender that leaves us powerless. The surrender of outcome. Can you surrender outcome? I will wonder if I can as I move forward towards that place.

Do I publish this? It shows my frailties.

The Nature of Balance

Commit yourself to something so that something can commit itself to you.

a simple pleasure ...

the local garden center ... 3 rows of large fountains ... all of them working ... all running water ... 30 - 45 fountains ... working all at once ... I stand in the middle ... of all of them ... I close my eyes ... I take in several deep breaths ... I listen to the sound ... of all of the fountains ... the constant water flowing ... like they are one giant fountain .... and I go away for awhile ... find your simple pleasure and partake of it every now and then ...

Go ahead and jump ...

My morning moved quickly and time offered no favors. I wanted to gather in a quick lesson or at least a small shift in my perspective before heading to work. I decided to read from a book that I recently received by fluke.

I had placed an order on Amazon for a different book. I placed the order, a book seller had it. Amazon took my money. The book shipped. Then a process started ... book - no book - order another - no book - order another - we don’t have it - we'll refund your money - order another book and on and on. I was receiving emails from two different people from the same company and I was the one trying to get them on the same page over the same book (transaction).

I finally found "The Osho Zen Tarot Book and Card Deck" set listed by this seller. I had just become aware of this set a few days prior. They had it “used” at about half the cost of new. I ordered it. I received an email that this had been shipped. An email followed stating they didn’t have this set and they would refund my money. Amazon let me know that they refunded my money.

The next day a package arrived in my mail. It was the book half only of The Osho Zen Tarot set. I initially wondered what I would do with the book and no cards. It turns out the book is the better half of the set. Cards with no book would be mysterious. The book with no cards is insightful. I read the introduction and the story of how this book and deck of cards came to be. It was a good read.

((((( .......... I opened circle last night before sleeping. I called in Grandmother and Grandfather and thanked them for many things but especially for expanding my territory. I asked them to hold me in the night and to whisper in my ears.

My dreams were powerful. I traveled and visited new people in new places. I learned great things. I woke to gentle nudges between the dreams so that I could remember them. It was one of the sweetest night’s dreams I have ever had.

This morning my thoughts were about these dreams and the woman I sat in circle with and the man that came my way with the very direct smile and great face. I thought of how real and present these visitors were and how they were of this time … not yesterday or tomorrow but today. I thought of how remarkable my dreams were and how courageous I have been lately to ask for and received such vivid dreams.

I thought about how moving forward in faith and trust has really opened many new possibilities for me. Possibilities like the ones I witnessed in my dreams. I was thinking of the quantum effects that I am seeing work in my life. I realized that at some point I just jumped into a more positive potential and here I am dreaming it and living it ............. )))))

I grabbed the Osho Zen Tarot Book and slipped my finger into a random page. I wondered what the page would read before I opened the book ... Page 61 … "TRUST" … with the picture of a woman leaping into the air, free flight … no net … wide open arms.

The page said:

“Don’t waste your life for that which is going to be taken away. Trust life. If you trust, only then can you drop your knowledge, only then can you put your mind aside. And with trust, something immense opens up. Then life, this life is no longer an ordinary life, it becomes full of God, overflowing. When the heart is innocent and the walls have disappeared, you are bridged with infinity. And you are not deceived; there is nothing that can be taken away from you. That which can be taken away from you is not worth keeping, and that which cannot be taken away from you, why should on be afraid of its being taken away? – it cannot be taken away, there is no possibility. You cannot lose your real treasure.

Now is the time to be a bungee jumper without the cord? And it is the quality of absolute trust, with no reservations or secret safety nets. There is a tremendous sense of exhilaration if we can take the jump and move into the unknown, even if the idea scares us to death. And when we take trust to the level of the quantum leap, we don’t make any elaborate plans or preparation. We don’t say “Okay, I trust that I know what to do now, and I’ll settle my things and pack my suitcase and take it with me”. No, we just jump, with hardly a thought for what happens next. The leap is the thing, and the thrill of it as we free-fall through the empty sky. Here’s the hint … what waits for us at the other end - a soft, welcoming, cushion of yummy pink, rose petals … c’mon”.

Go ahead and jump!

Chain saws and jack hammers ...

It had been a full week ... the global condition that WE ARE IN. Remaining close to Spirit, staying the course even when I get frustrated. Clearly disappointed by some people that I have cared for. Trying to find equanimity with myself … will I find it? Flirtation … is cleansing and sweet like the smoke of Palo Santo.

I woke up early to a calm and foggy day. I started my morning preparing to sit in meditation. Who can afford gas these days and I am "a lucky one" as my daily commute is under 6 miles both ways. Start riding my bike. Happiness is maintainable. "The only things worth living for are innocence and magic ... AMEN". How can this current administration be so pompous? Will there be improvement in the next administration. GOD I HOPE McCain fails. My Son is growing and going. Karma … comes and goes but it usually hangs around until you deal with it.

I fed the dog and the cat and headed outside to access what kind of watering I needed to do in the garden. Lodge is coming up on Wednesday ... the full Moon. There are some weird folks out there. I have no room for negativity. Oh please. Past friends and lovers. Q’ero. Restlessness is to enthusiasm what espresso is to coffee.

The fog was thick enough I could not see the house across the street, making my meditation area in front of two large windows very surreal. I started expanding my breaths, lit my candle and started some Palo Santo burning. Stop making excuses Mom. Stop thinking a 79 year old woman will change Laurel. The Rites. Undoubtedly you must continue to do what you believe in. Vishudda … speak your truth (and then face those spoken words). What else would you speak? Why do people lie?

This meditation was about turning this week over, ending my chatter about it and releasing its energy to the sky. Just about ready … my breathing was already soft and full. I opened circle and called in the power and magic that I believe in. I centered myself on my meditation pillow and started my prayer …. oh that sweet prayer that always centers me.

ZZZZZzzzzZZZZZzzzz!!!! My next door neighbor was not trying to meditating. My next door neighbor was trying to remove ivy with a chain saw, starting the very moment that my prayer centered me. ZZZZZzzzzZZZZZzzzz !!!! I tried to remind myself that silence and peace were inside of me not outside of me. ZZZZZzzzzZZZZZzzzz!!!! I tried to focus my breathing on the still points in between each breath and I thought this was not going to work.

ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz ZZZZZ zzzz !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The ZZZZZzzzzZZZZZzzzz finally stopped and I took some breaths. The chain saw was replaced with a jack hammer at this point. I decided to accept the humor as this is part of life. I closed my prayer circle and got up. Sometimes you aim at the good (a meditation) and you don't get it (a chainsaw).

amen ...

"The only things worth living for are innocence and magic ... amen. We were born with our eyes wide open. So alive with wild hope now. Can you tell me why time after time they drag you down. Down in the darkness deep. Fools and their madness all around. Know that the light don't sleep".

These are lyrics from a song. Yep, another CD rolling its lines out while I skoot around town. I think diversity can be added to the this small list but I didn't write the song. David Gray wrote it.

Innocence? Webster says it is a noun.
1. The quality of innocent naivete.
2. The state of being free from sin or moral wrong; lacking a knowledge of evil.
3. A state or condition of being innocent of a specific crime or offense; "the trial established his innocence".

I am not innocent.

Magic? Webster gives us its adjective meaning and it meaning as a noun.

Adjective

1. Possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers; "charming incantations"; "magic signs that protect against adverse influence"; "a magical spell"; "'tis now the very witching time of night"- Shakespeare; "wizard wands"; "wizardly powers".
Noun
1. Any art that invokes supernatural powers.
2. An illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers.

I am not magic.

But innocence and magic exist and I watch for them.

So many things ...

There are so many things to be grateful for. If you stand silent and still for just a moment and let the world pass by you as it will ... the beginning of the list comes in for you. Sometimes the list starts high at the clouds. Sometimes the list starts low at the earth. Sometimes the list begins at eye level at the leaves on a tree. Sometimes you hear the list develope as a hummingbirds wings propel a hummingbird past you. Sometimes the list is written in your arms as you hold onto a loved one. Sometimes the list stands in front of you as someone dear to you smiles. Sometimes the list starts early in the day and doesn't stop until late at night.

There is always a list to compile.

Listen ...

There really is a sound to silence and such important things can be sensed when no noise is being made.

As well ... when silence is broken you should listen to and sense the sound.

When someone speaks we should try to press into and pull from what they are saying. When someone speaks ... as opposed to when someone talks ... there is a difference and usually if you are paying attention you notice the shift in your own awareness as you get a little nudge from your better judgment self saying ... "LISTEN".

There as so many quotes, phrases and proverbs about listening. I don't need to list them. We should all have at least one favorite quote on listening and we should live by it as often as possible. One of my favorites is from the corporate America guru, Stephan Covey. To paraphrase he says "seek first to understand, then to be understood". This one takes listening to the point of feeling what you are hearing.

The senses have always been listed as if they fall under one category yet if we look at their range ... to see, to taste, to smell, to touch (feel), and this subject is to hear ... shouldn't we do them all at the same time ... consciously. After all, we can so we should.

with wide wings ...

Crow flew in this evening to drink from the large cobalt blue water bowl in my yard. His timing was impeccable (for me) as I had just stepped to the window to breath in some cool, fresh air. I was thinking hard thoughts about the human to human betrayal that we find on the path to Spirit ... on the path TO Spirit not on the path OF Spirit.

Crow was beautiful with his shining black wings, darker than black and his strong profile. He was full of grace as he spiraled his wide wing span into the small area where the bowl sits. He landed on the edge of the bowl with precision placement. He then wrapped his wings around his body and he lengthened his spine and stretched his tail feathers like a conductor gaining the composure of an orchestra.

Crow leaned down into the bowl and drank a few long draws of water and then rested at the edge of the bowl. Crow leaned down into the bowl again and drank more water before resting a bit more. All at once without any effort he rose out of the small area at the bowl and into the sky. I was honored to have been at the window at this time.

I went back to my thoughts of betrayal and wondered if Crow had interrupted my thoughts for a reason. I often think animals interrupt our thoughts for a reason so I went in a different direction into my mind, away from betrayal and into what I was to learn from Crow's visit.

Crow medicine is LAW and sacred law at that. Crow medicine teaches us to pause and witness how we see things in relation to a higher order of right and wrong. With Crow medicine you honor a higher sense of harmony and therefore you are more sensitive to the lack of harmony. You easily recognize when things are out of balance or unjust.

Human law is not sacred law, leaving way to betrayal even on the path TO Spirit. We are eager to move forward on Spirit's path and our human condition gets in the way, our own way many times and the way of others. It is not always betrayal but it is usually a lack of full site and often a lack of insight.

Crow is a master at shape shifting and being in two places at once. Doubling or being two places at once is the gift of Crow medicine. Prior to Crow's visit I was in two places at once. The place where I thought a betrayal was and the place that I was standing at the window watching Crow. Crow slowed me down to take this time to realize that I am not betrayed. I was informed by Crow that others who have shared my path for a step or two ... at times ... lack full site and ... at times ... lack insight too.

Didn't I lack full site and insight (about betrayal) ... before Crow's visit?

Correction ...

Crystals ... in my 'shot from a cannon' posting I said I have crystals all over my garden. I have crystals everywhere. They are all over my home, in windows, on toilets tanks, in my rock collection .... yeap, one of those folks who collects rocks here. I collect crystals too. Got any extra crystals? I will take them.

Querencia ...

In bull fighting there is a place in the ring where the bull feels safe. If he can reach this place, he stops running and can gather his full strength. He is no longer afraid. It is the job of the matador to know where this sanctuary lies, to be sure the bull does not have time to occupy his place of wholeness.

The safe place for a bull is called the "querencia".

For humans the querencia is the safe place in our inner world. When a person finds their querencia, in full view of the matadore, they are calm and peaceful. Wise. They have gathered their strength around them.

Rachel Naomi Remen.

He's been preachin' to me ...

Ok ... so he has been in my CD player in my car for a week now. I go through my Stevie "jones" here and there. I am considering a change to my profile as it seems that my focus is love so really the healing powers of LOVE, including Reiki, Munay-ki and other forms of love healing. NO MARVIN GAYE!!! That "old school" hit needs to be "suspended".

Back to Stevie ... grab some of his best ... the deep cuts as they are called. The ones that didn't get the play on the radio stations and press into them while listening to them. Hear his messages.

"AS" ... by Stevie Wonder

We all know sometimes life's hates and troubles can make you wish you were born in another time and space. But you can bet your life times that and twice its double, that God knew exactly where it is he wanted you to be placed. So make sure when you say you're in it but not of it, you're not helping to make this earth a place called Hell. Change your words into truths and then change that truth into love!!!

So if you press into the lyrics and hear it with your heart ... your perspective may change and you just might dance around a little bit too.

our mistakes ...

We heal when we learn from our mistakes and in order to learn from them we need to be honest. We need to acknowledge our mistakes, face them and live in them for a moment ... a real, timeless moment. It is essential to be accountable and honest about our actions and what we have done.

After any mistake there is an aftermath that needs to be cleaned and cleared up. When others are involved in our mistakes we need to share with them how we feel about what we have done and stay with them for a moment (a real, timeless moment) to also find out how they feel about what we have done. We need to help ourselves and help them and move past the mistake if at all possible. It is possible. Be honest and couragous about this.

At times the mistake that is more difficult to move is the one that we face alone. The mistake that we know has compromised our "highest good", regardless of its impact (or lack of impact) on others. As unfair as this may seem we often feel our solitary mistakes on a deeper level than the mistakes we made that effect others. We live within ourselves daily and therefore live in our mistakes sometimes in each moment.

It is not a different process when moving a mistake that we have made against ourselves.

Create a dialog with your higher self like you are sitting in circle with yourself. Let your higher self counsel and support your learning, remembering and growing self. Stay with yourself for a real, timeless moment and find out how you feel about what you have done. Help yourself move past your mistake with honesty and courage. This is possible too.

The aftermath of a mistake is not a good time to be a wimp. The act of being a wimp can turn mistakes into catastopies and can fade moments, even real and timeless moments into a dull lifetime.

When truthful contemplation and communication is complete we then need to walk away from the mistake. That moment in time is over. You now have much better things to do AFTER the mistake is cleared up. This is an act of love ... the universal kind of love that holds the love of self, the love of others, a love for growth, honestly and reality.

on the daily drive

On my daily drive to work and back I usually contemplate aspects of life, love and the pursuit of freedom a.k.a. happiness. This morning my contemplation surrounded the song I was listening to ... Stevie Wonder and his timeless, imaginary news cast about the circumstances of days long ago ... from the "70's. The song was "Love's in Need" and it states that love is in need of love. Poetic playfulness about a seriously needed emotion. Not a thing about this song was old. So what does this have to do with healing? Everything. Love ... simply given and taken, shared and felt realistically. Stevie says "don't delay".

What else is there that can immediately regenerate us like a good dose of love? In a hug from a true friend, eye contact from your lover, the enthusiasm in seeing a beloved coming your way ... to love is to heal. Nobody needs Reiki as much as they need love.

Thoughts ...

Reiki is "hands on healing" * Reiki is a continual circle of energy with no beginning and no end * As Reiki is given Reiki is received and as Reiki is received it is given * Reiki washes away stress like a good window washer cleans a window * Reiki is to the touch what electricity is to an electric blanket * Electricity runs from the plant to the transformer to a home and Reiki runs from its great universal source straight to you ... you are the plant, the transformer and the home * Reiki is a most incredible energy of very high intelligence * Reiki is about being of loving service * Reiki is a beautiful form of self love - unconditional self love * The foundation of Reiki is self healing (when you support other in their healing it is an added benefit) * Reiki promotes balance, wholeness and higher consciousness which sustains a calm state of being. This leads to the healing of ones emotional, mental, physical and spiritual being * Reiki builds personal energy for more resilience * Reiki transforms negative energy into positive energy * Reiki starts but never stops * Reiki simply is Reiki.

Shot from a cannon

I said in my earlier blog that my introduction and initiations into Reiki were like being shot out of a cannon and they were. One Sunday in January of ’01 I went to lunch with a friend. Her plans included a Psychic Faire after lunch.. My plans did not. My friends was quite forceful and I was not the one driving so we went to the faire. I entered the faire pouting and protesting. I was a sweat lodge, meditate at the stream kind of chick.

Walking into this place was like wading into the fresh remains of a bad sinus infection. Snake oil salesmen on the right and Goddess Candle Wax Readings on the left and deep in the midst of the neon-rainbow-chrystal-bling-bling was this dude with dreadlocks playing the didgeridoo and his magically calm and somewhat surreal partner giving readings. I could somehow relate to them so I did.

Don’t get me wrong. I have a strong affinity for snakes, snake medicine, dragons flight and the ever so sacred kundalini energy. I worship and place myself before the Prime Creator’s God and Goddess. Candle wax is the effect of a lit candle and I love candles. Neon warns us of road hazards. Rainbows are beautiful and the chakras are most significant. Crystals are so cool … I have them all around my garden. It was the combination that got to me and that psychic faire was where I got my first Reiki treatment. The dreadlocked dude and the surreal psychic were Reiki Masters and quickly enough they became mine.

I went from that quickie Reiki session at a Psychic Faire to the Master Level initiation in 6 short months. My Masters felt certain that I was “ready”. I had no idea what that meant. With my heels planted firmly in the earth I got “ready”. Looking back I have often questioned what “ready” was. I cannot answer that question any better today than I did then … I just know “now” that I am here “now” and how I got here was right.

Have you ever been shot out of a cannon?

I haven’t either but imagine it … there you are … all dressed up for this big event, maybe wearing a nifty spandex high-kick jump suit with a wide collar and matching boots. You have a helmet … a freaking helmet that matches your jump suit and your boots. It's like dressing up for Easter Sunday only better.

Everyone is watching. You realize you are at least one cell shy of a full brain but you drop feet first into this cannon and you wait.

5 …. 4 …. 3 …. 2 …. 1 … B A N G !!!!!!

You are forced forward into space in an unreal state of time, noise is weird, time is slow, everything is passing you at an unrealistic speed, you have never seen people look at you this way, you have never seen people this way … whoa, pay attention now, right in front of you … the T A R G E T !!!!

SHIT … you hit it !!!!

There is probably a bit to clean up after you hit a target.

The speed of my initiations was like being shot out of a cannon and amazingly enough I hit the target. The target being Reiki. Reiki with an understanding of its purpose. Reiki with an intention to share its highest good with others.

Would I shoot my Student’s out of a cannon?

What if a student showed up for class all dressed up like class was a big event, wearing a nifty spandex high-kick jump suit? What if the jump suit had a wide collar, flicked up in the back with the points of the collar pointed to their ears and they had on matching boots? What if they had a helmet on, a freaking helmet that matched their jump suit and their boots? What would I do? … (call 911!) … I would lovingly unbuckle their helmet and sit them down on a soft pillow on my floor and I would ask them to take a few deep breaths. On their second or third really good breath I would ask them to encourage their brain to hold that deep breath until they find the still point between it and their next breath. With a student like this it might take more than a few deep breaths. When they found the still point between breaths I would ask them to take off the boots and the helmet and join me for class.

I might learn a lot from this student.

ok, I am sick today

and that is all I had to say about it ... a cold, a dag nabbit cold.

Reiki ...

Reiki is Love ... unconditional love and it allows you to touch the profound and to place your hands on an intangible.

Reiki lessons ...

My passage into Reiki was like being shot out of a cannon. I knew a bit more than nothing about Reiki in January of '01 and was inititated into the Master level by July of '01. Coming up on 7 years I am just now in a place where I feel that I am prepared to lovingly and supportively initiate others into Reiki. My certainty is a passionate belief.

Of all of the things that I have experienced over these 7 years the turning point ... from just a person that does Reiki to a person that wants to offer a catalyst for others is as follows ...

I met an amazing woman while volunteering at a local hospital in the cancer center. I was running Reiki on cancer patients and their care givers. The majority of the people I shared Reiki with were women (close to my age) diagnosed with and hoping to survive breast cancer.

Prior to my volunteer work I had been in a self propelled, candy coated practice of Reiki. I was soothing friends who had quarrels with lovers, melting people of everyday stress and thinking I was doing great things. My ego was attached to outcome and it was really attached to the title of "healer".

Having survived cancer myself I had this notion that I could give back to the cancer community a little thank you from me for having lived. I learned a lot from the women at the center and especially from the woman who became my friend. To date I have not given back more than I have received.

Early on, my third patient was the woman that I became friends with. She had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and she had never experience Reiki. She was honestly one of the most frightened people I had ever met. Working with this stranger with this intense fear was a wide threshold for me. She was rigid with anxiety, I was way out of my experience level. She was mellow and resilient when we finished. I was grateful that Reiki happened.

She became a Reiki junky. She scheduled in advance to meet with me and over six months I saw that she was really one of the most couragous people I had ever met. I was honored that she was my friend.

The combined influences of the energy of cancer, my gratitude for my own survival, the fear of many of the women I saw and the healing of some of the women I saw was amazing to witness. I was humbled by the experience and the exposure. My ego was reduced.

My friend "survived" breast cancer as she swore that she would.

Around the time she was scheduling her first hair cut (her hair had grown back in) she confided in me that she was frightened again due to some things that were "just not right" with her head. She was soon diagnosed with brain cancer. The brain cancer grew rapidly and agressively. It all went so fast that there was no time to really think about it.

She asked that I support her with Reiki and I did. Through supporting her I learned even more. I learned some profound lessons about detachment from outcome and results. I became detached from my desire for her to live. I learned about detachment of ego. There was nothing great about such good lessons as I was learning them while my friend was passing,

I had already reached a place where I knew that we are only healers when we heal ourselves. We can best support others in their desire to heal when we step aside. As my friend was passing I learned that sometimes healing is about your ability to heal at the point that we need to. She held onto her ability to heal during breast cancer. She was past her abilty to heal with brain cancer ... we were left facing that when it 's time to go it's time to go.

I learned deep lessons about unconditional love. I had conditions and so did all of her loved ones. None of our conditions mattered and we all loved her anyway and we all loved her more as the days continued. I learned from her family members after she passed that my loving support as a friend and as a Reiki practitioner really mattered.

My friend was a devoted Catholic. When she first came for Reiki it was at the advice of her Priest who told her it might help her relax. The very last thing that my friend said to me was "you need to know something, you need to know this ... I understand about karma now ... I finally understand about karma". I don't recall that my friend and I ever talked about karma for her to feel the need to tell me what she finally understood.

Chinese proverb ...

Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.

and it is done ...

It is amazing at times how things unfold ... without effort. Tonight while leaving work a dear friend happened by and a greeting turned into a full and interesting communication that included in it my passage into 'blogging". I know to many "blogging" is a strange word that might not have any meaning. I know to others "blogging" is a modern way to express oneself. For me I had been aware of it, had no clue of its purpose and here I am. My intended path to follow here is to get the word out about "change", evolution . Oh, let me gather more thought together first. Thanks "JL" for the guidance. I will return.