The weekly waka

in the dust
a fluttering baby bird
-- and a cat
when I returned from my walk
only the cat remained

by Beth Lowell

The weekly waka

Trills
and whistles -
what birds
are these who sing so sweetly
even through thunder and rain?

by Beth Lowell

To submit your waka, send it in an email to waka@thereikidigest.com. Please include the words "waka submission" in the subject line.

Celeb-Reiki Rose De Dan leads singing at Reiki river blessing ceremony

The Reiki Digest's July Guest Editor Rose De Dan made Celeb-Reiki news when she appeared on Seattle radio station KUOW, a NPR affiliate, leading a group of Reiki practitioners in song at a Reiki river blessing for the Duwamish River, a Superfund site, on July 10th.

As well as being a Reiki Master, Rose is also is a paq’o and mesa carrier in the Q'ero Peruvian Andean Medicine Tradition, and she was accompanied by fellow Reiki practitioner and mesa carrier Leslie Britt in leading the Pachamama song.

A series of six river blessings was organized by Reiki Master Eileen Dey, which will continue throughout the summer.

You can read Rose's post about it on her blog, and listen to the podcast here.

Tell us: Please share about your Reiki shares

Do you attend a great Reiki Share? Do you run one? What are things that were not so great in Reiki Shares that you've attended? How could you make a Reiki Share better?

We want to hear about it.

Add a comment to this post on our web site, or write us at cymber @ thereikidigest.com and tell us about your favorite Reiki Shares. We'll compile all the answers and share them with you in an upcoming issue of The Reiki Digest. Please write Reiki Share in the subject of your email.

Deadlline: July 30, 2010.

Cymber Lily Conn

Special Contributor

The weekly waka

fleeting
summer days
they seep
between my fingers
like tiny grains of sky

by Beth Lowell

Please welcome guest editor Rose De Dan

Dear readers,

This month's edition was put together entirely by guest editor Rose De Dan, an Animal Reiki practitioner and teacher, and founder of Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing. Author of Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism, and located in Seattle, Washington, Rose is dedicated to building bridges reconnecting people, animals, and the natural world through healing sessions, classes, workshops and mentoring, writing and art.

Rose De Dan

I “met” Rose on the blogosphere a few years ago and have been an admirer of her impressive storytelling ability ever since.

Rose has also agreed to stay with us during the next week or so for discussion on the issues she covers in this edition. Just add a comment to any of Rose’s articles on our web site, or you can email her here.

Thank you, Rose!

Animal Reiki teachers

Saqqara, Reiki Paws
photo by Rose De Dan©2008

By Rose De Dan
Guest Editor

As a teacher of Reiki I have spoken to many students over the years concerning offering Reiki energy for the highest healing good of the client, while letting go of attachment to outcome. And as a Reiki Master I have also learned a great deal from my students and clients—but my greatest teachers have been animals.

Several years before I became a Reiki practitioner, I adopted a black and white kitten that I eventually named Shaman because he seemed to be able to see and respond to spirits (something I could not do at the time, nor had any desire to, either).

Two years later I was asked to foster a five-day old grey and white tiger kitten that had been found under a tarp on someone’s porch, next to his dead sibling. He was cold to the touch and near death.

My vet literally revived him from the dead and asked me to raise him. Two days later the little guy underwent hernia surgery—and my vet gave him a 50/50 chance of survival.

After surviving all that he became my kitten, and I named him Saqqara after the oldest pyramids in Egypt. I felt that any cat who had survived that many challenges needed a long life name since he had probably used up more than a few of his nine lives before even being able to walk.

When I opened my Reiki healing practice in 1996, it became clear that Shaman was not like my other cats. He would jump up on the table and work with my human clients, focusing on certain areas, and guiding me in the sessions. Since I had been guided to attune all of my animals to Reiki, Shaman among them, he was clearly facilitating Reiki energy with intention. And eventually Saqqara joined Shaman on the table for the sessions.

Over the years we worked together, mostly as a trio, sometimes as a duo. When not working with clients both of them would assist and guide the students in my Reiki classes. They each had a very highly developed sense of energy and awareness of each client’s needs, and I listened and learned as much as I could from both of them.

As Shaman began to feel his age and illness took its toll, Saqqara gradually took over the bulk of the work. When Shaman eventually crossed into Spirit at almost 17, it became just the two of us.

Two years later, Saqqara was diagnosed with cancer. I was quite upset, but did my best to offer him whatever support I could, both personally as well as from other professionals.

He received acupuncture (which he loved), Chinese herbs, shamanic work, acupressure, and craniosacral. When I suggested we request the support of the Reiki community, which consisted of many of the students he had helped teach, I felt resistance. So I scheduled a session with fellow animal communicator and Reiki Master Polly Klein for validation of the message I was getting.

Saqqara said that he declined to ask the community because too many people had an agenda. His illness had taken a toll on his energy, he felt fragile and asked that he receive Reiki from only one person—me.

With some concern I realized that Saqqara had offered me a real challenge. When I stress to my students the importance of intention—always offering Reiki for the highest healing good of the client, and of the need to let go of attachment to outcome—I ask them to examine their feelings, and suggest that if they are too close emotionally then it is wise to ask for help from others. As the only Reiki practitioner working with Saqqara my skills and teaching were about to be put to the test.

As we made our way through veterinary tests, medicines, and the ups and downs of cancer, I kept my intention focused on what Saqqara needed whenever I sent Reiki to the situation, or to him. I offered Reiki to myself daily for physical and emotional support, and had healing sessions with other professionals to assist me in letting go of any need to hold on to Saqqara, last of my healer cats.

His illness progressed rapidly, and all too soon quality of life became an issue. The tumor near his left lung was causing breathing difficulties. Finally Saqqara clearly stated that he was ready to be assisted out of his body. He was adamant that he wanted to be at home—no more trips to the vet—so a home visit for euthanasia was scheduled for the following day.

At 7:00 p.m. the night before, his breathing suddenly became much worse. A vet friend was able to deliver a medication that helped, but the hours passed slowly. The nightmare cycle of labored breathing, injection, and some easing—took its toll on both of us.

While I watched Saqqara struggle to breathe, the whites of his eyes showing at times, I could feel my heart break just a little bit more each time. I feared that Saqqara would die as my father had from cancer—his lungs drowning as he struggled for one more breath.

During that long night I used all my knowledge as a healer to support Saqqara. From a Reiki standpoint I re-attuned him, built a Bridge of Light in case he should cross before the morning appointment, sent Reiki to the situation, and kept the energy flowing.

Despite his struggle he declined an emergency trip to a clinic so that he could be let out of his failing body sooner, but at 4:00 a.m. he had a bout so severe that I overrode his objections and called my neighbor for a ride—but Saqqara rallied once more and we cancelled the trip.

By the time the vet arrived mid-morning I had said everything I needed to say to Saqqara, and he to me. He was ready to go. With all the fighting he'd had to do to make it to morning, I expected the euthanasia to be a very peaceful and easy process.

We had opted for gradually easing him out of his body—the first injection would put him to sleep, and the second injection would release him. As I held space, he received the first injection. I felt a mixture of joy that he would no longer suffer, and sorrow in letting him go. As the drug took effect Saqqara seemed more comfortable, but he did not go to sleep.

After waiting, a second injection of the same drug was given; Saqqara got up and moved around a bit, and resettled himself. Again, we waited for the injection to take effect—and waited, and waited. Finally Saqqara drifted off. At this point the vet felt that Saqqara was finally in a deep sleep, but reading his energy I was not so sure.

The final injection was given, and against all odds, and to the vet’s amazement, Saqqara STOOD UP and took two steps forward. As he collapsed, I caught him in my arms and eased him down. Gradually, finally, mercifully, his breathing slowed and stopped.

As I watched Saqqara’s spirit leave his body I sensed peace, but knew that we would need to talk.

I arranged to speak with him again through Polly. Saqqara told me that he did not suffer during the injections but that he felt very drugged. I knew that something was not quite right, so I asked him why it took him so long to leave his body when it was what he had desired and needed.

His answer was very clear. He told me that while he felt drugged, he was also highly energized. He gently suggested that truly letting go of attachment to outcome also meant letting go of my need to have the Reiki ease his breathing. In future I needed to be less focused, and to simply allow the energy to flow.

And I realized that while I had let go of my need to keep him in his body, I had not let go of my need to control how he left it.

That realization led to a deeper one—while I had done quite a bit of self-healing around my father’s death, another layer of that loss had been brought to the surface—as Saqqara had known would happen when he offered me the opportunity and the challenge.

In dying, as in living, Reiki Master Saqqara gifted me with one more teaching.

(Editor's note: Not all Reiki practitioners are animal communicators, a common misconception.)

The Reiki Roundup

Seattle, WA, USA: A six-month series of ceremonies, organized by Reiki Master Eileen Dey, is bringing together community and practitioners of Reiki, shamanism, and sound healing to help heal the highly polluted waters of the urban Duwamish River, named a Superfund site in 2002.

Inglewood, CA, USA: A moving article by veterinarian Dr. Richard Palmquist details his conversion from skeptic and critic of integrative medicine to practitioner.

Bloomington, Indiana, USA: Reiki Master Christine McKenna interviewed on practice and benefits of Reiki.

Kashmir, India: British alternative healer offers Reiki to mental health patients.

Columbus Ohio, USA: In their May-June newsletter The Reiki Center announced a training for veterinarians in Animal Reiki through the continuing education program at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. This is reportedly the first time in the nation that a course in holistic medicine will be presented at a college of veterinary medicine.

Concord, VA, USA: Reiki practitioner and veterinarian Dr. Lori Leonard believes in holistic approach to animal care.

Celeb-Reiki

As guest editor of The Reiki Digest for the first time, I was seriously concerned about finding a news item for Celeb-Reiki.

Then, while researching, I stumbled across breaking news - Dr. Mehmet Oz had been nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Talk Show – Informative, and Outstanding Talk Show Host.

And what, might you ask, has this to do with Reiki? Well, as you may recall, on Jan. 9, as reported in The Reiki Digest, Dr. Oz named Reiki his #1 Alternative Medicine Secret for 2010, and well-known Reiki celeb Pamela Miles offered a demonstration for an audience member.

Reiki’s first major moment on primetime television electrified the Reiki world (we cheered), increased the interest of the general public, and upset some of the less progressive members of the medical community.

The scathing comments about Reiki and Dr. Oz were dragged out again for Dr. Oz’s Daytime Emmy nominations, one example flatly stating that Oprah’s favorite doctor promotes quackery.

So what happened at the Daytime Emmys? Well, Dr. Oz did not win for Outstanding Talk Show – Informative ("The Doctors" did), but a SoapDigest poll reported that their readers felt he should have, they voted him the winner.

However, the surprise victor for Outstanding Talk Show Host was Dr. Mehmet Oz for “The Dr. Oz Show,” winning gold over celeb nominees Rachael Ray – “Rachael Ray”; Bonnie Hunt – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”; Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa – “Live With Regis and Kelly”; Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd, Barbara Walters – “The View.”

Congratulations to Dr. Oz on his win, and for daring to stand up for alternative medicine and Reiki!

Music we love to practice Reiki by

Spirits of the Wild came out in 1996, the same year that I began my practice as a Reiki Master. It combines haunting Native American flute music and chanting with sounds of nature and animals - a perfect adjunct for any practice (such as mine) that focuses on building bridges between people and animals. I also play it when I conduct attunements for new Reiki students in order to include the animals. Click on the button to listen and find out more.

The weekly waka

Rescued,

the sickly kitten
blossoms
and thrives, his legacy
reverberates through time


Who knows
by what grand design paths cross
and leave
lives changed and
the world a better place?


I rejoiced
when the rain came and
it mingled
with my tears that fell
both in gratitude and sorrow

By Beth Lowell

Three kittens
asleep in a cart;
"Please help us"
lettered on cardboard;
a sad, white-haired man.

By Bart Mallio

July specials

Carnival of Healing #227: Independence celebration!

Laydeez annd gennntlemenn, boys and girrls! Welcome to the 227th edition of the Carnival of Healing, a monthly round-up of personal blog posts on the topics of holistic health, wellness, spirituality, and self empowerment. It's been awhile since the Carnival was here, and we're happy to be hosting once again. This year, the Carnival has consolidated into a monthly rather than weekly event, which means each host has an even wider selection of posts to choose from for each edition. And based on our experience, it isn't only the quantity of submissions that has grown -- the quality of posts also seems to be improving. All that makes for lots of good reading -- a month's worth, at least.

This month our theme is independence, in keeping with the Independence Day holiday here in the USA. What's that got to do with healing, you may ask? Plenty: you need good health to be independent, and you need to be in balance not only physically, but mentally, spiritually, and emotionally as well. For all of us, healing is an ongoing process. And where does that process start? For Tabitha, it begins with a look in the mirror.

Looking in the mirror can also help us deal with difficult people, says Mark Harrison at Life Optimizer, because no matter how many people may frustrate us, the only person we can change is ourselves.

For many of us, it's our inner child who needs healing -- or maybe just releasing, says Dr. Mark in A Child at Heart.

And as Janet Erickson tells us, we don't have to look beyond ordinary everyday life to find spiritual healing through life lessons. Janet's reactions to some of her recent experiences demonstrate a healthy, well-grounded independence from worry.

Benjamin at Peaceful Prosperity gives us a handy guide to another way to stay healthy and balanced: self-hypnosis.

Another key to healthy independence is having the right tools, and Kaushik at Beyond Karma asks, "What's in your toolbox?"

Meditation can be an important tool to staying healthy and balanced, and The Conscious Life offers an introduction to mindfulness meditation.

And if you find meditation beneficial, you might want to try a meditation retreat. Axel G offers some tips on how to prepare for your first retreat.

Speaking of meditation, Huie Doan tells us how it can help us become independent of the blockages that impair our own energy flow.

And while we always prefer to focus on the positive, it's also important to know what not to do, says Charles at All About Living With Life.

Sometimes independence is a gift we can give to others, Kathleen Gage says, even in a brief but possibly life-changing conversation between a customer and a store clerk.

Healing isn't just for humans, of course, and our animal friends are dependent on us to give them the healthiest lives possible. But there are some pet health decisions that we aren't allowed to make independently, no matter the consequences for our pets, says Beth Lowell.

And we had to save this post, 34 Ways to Simplify Your Life, for last because if you follow its advice you'll turn off the computer and go outside. That's what we're about to do right now.

Last month's Carnival was hosted by Mind Mart, and next month the Carnival will set up at Rosanna C. Rogacion's Meandering Paths to Spirituality and Wellness. The Carnival of Healing is coordinated by Phylameana Iila Desy, About.com's guide to Holistic Healing. Many thanks to Phyl for keeping the show on the road, and thanks to all participants!

Reiki Self-Treatment Poll -- and a webinar

An invitation from The Reiki Digest's Editor at Large, Pamela Miles:

Please respond to this very short poll and share it widely. All practitioners from all lineages, at any level of practice are asked to vote.




Can we collectively bring in over 1000 votes? The more votes we get, the more meaningful the poll is.

Once you’ve voted, click here to comment why you do or don’t practice daily self-Reiki.

LATE BREAKING NEWS! Have you been waiting for online training to help you bring Reiki into hospitals and other health care settings? Wait no more.

The Introduction to Medical Reiki Webinar will give you skills and strategies to get you started in health care. Register by July 17 to attend the webinar and/or access the recording for a special low fee. Let’s get Reiki where it is needed, and raise the professionalism of our practice. Click here to learn more.

The weekly waka

This flower--
its beauty brings joy
to my wife,
whose smile brings me joy--
who gives? Who receives?


Overturned
rusted bicycle
attended
by two white-haired men,
kneeling in light rain.


Do I mourn
the vanished spring moon
or the hand
that lifted my chin
that I might see it?

By Bart Mallio

To submit your waka, send it in an email to waka@thereikidigest.com. Please include the words "waka submission" in the subject line.

Reiki and the reporter

By Beth Lowell

One day a few months back, I spoke to the pet reporter for a local family oriented publication about Reiki for animals. The first question the reporter asked me was whether Reiki was energy medicine. I paused for a moment, and then told her the honest truth. I wasn’t quite sure what the term “Energy Medicine” means. I told her that indeed, many refer to Reiki as energy medicine, but that people also refer to acupuncture as energy medicine. I’m not an expert in acupuncture, but I do know it’s not the same thing as Reiki. I told her that using terms like “Energy Medicine” when describing Reiki to people who are unfamiliar with either term really didn’t help explain it, and that I preferred to talk about Reiki in terms of what I know about Reiki, not in terms of a vague and general label (that I used to use myself even though I had only a nebulous idea of what I think it means).

This seemed to derail her slightly. “So then, what is Reiki?” she asked. I told her it was a relaxation technique. She audibly sighed. Finally, after a few more false starts, we got into what I thought was the meat of the interview.

I explained the benefits of Reiki, and its appropriateness at all stages of life, how its balancing qualities could assist in helping resolve both behavioral and physical issues, and offer comfort to both pet and owner at the end of a pet’s life. I gave her specific examples from my experience in working with dogs, cats, and horses, many of whom were terminally ill. I highlighted the fact that my vet has recommended several clients to me, indicating a growing acceptance of Reiki among the veterinary community. I explained the mechanics of a Reiki treatment and the difference in treatments for humans and animals.

Things seemed to be going well. The reporter had loosened up. We were having a real conversation now. I got slightly off track. I think it had something to do with Reiki assisting in behavioral issues. I mentioned an incident that had happened at my house only weeks before, when our dog trainer Nicole came to visit.

It’s a complicated story and involves a common and unpleasant behavioral issue called redirected aggression. In short, one animal becomes agitated by an outside stimulus, often another animal or some other threat behind a barrier such as a fence or window, and unable to control herself, takes out her frustration/aggression on the closest person or animal. This is common among dogs and cats. Many of the sweetest animals suffer from this affliction. My dog Bella is one of them. My other dog Dasher has learned to steer clear of her if I’m not in the room when such situations arise.

When Nicole came to the house, we were working through it using a positive training technique. Bella was responding superbly. She behaved nicely when Nicole came and pounded on the door and rang the bell. She listened and obeyed despite watching several dogs walking on our lawn in full view through the glass storm door. But then, the UPS truck arrived. Bella lost her composure and leapt to the couch as if all Hell had broken loose.

Seeing Bella’s agitated state firsthand, Nicole could see how I’d found it difficult, if not impossible to follow her suggested protocol of wordlessly and calmly guiding Bella off the couch by the collar when certain stimuli became too much for her. Since neither calm commands nor gentle force seemed an option, Nicole, knowing that I’m a Reiki practitioner, suggested doing the only other thing she could think of - offering Reiki. So amid the hysteria (Dasher had fled upstairs to escape possible attack) I offered Reiki.

Bella’s frantic barking continued until the UPS truck pulled away. I continued offering Reiki and Bella settled. I used this technique once more when a particularly evil (in Bella’s mind) dog appeared on the block. This time she seemed slightly better.

I laughed then and mentioned to the reporter that since then, Bella seemed to run to attack her blanket (with quite a disturbing vengeance, I might now add) rather than going after Dasher. Realizing that I’d gotten off track, and that I really didn’t want to use my dog as an example in such a way, I tried to recover and I hastened to add that trainers, too, recognized the value of Reiki.

We concluded the interview and thanked each other. I was anxious to see the article.

The good news was my hard work in communicating Reiki paid off. Despite paraphrasing much of what I said into words I’d never actually use, 99% of what the reporter wrote about Reiki was accurate. The ‘other’ news was – well, let’s just say that the reporter had finally found her angle in Bella’s story. What she heard was not quite what I had said. For instance, now Bella runs calmly to her blanket to lie down instead of attacking Dasher, thanks to the fact that my dog trainer told me to offer my dogs Reiki daily.

I’ve got the communicating Reiki part down. Now if I could just manage to communicate everything else as clearly, I’d be set.

My Teacher's Voice

By Susan Mitchell

"Let Reiki teach you." Hawayo Takata said it in different ways, and it's one of the phrases I heard her say most often. Even today, next to "Reiki on, Reiki off," I'm sure it's the most frequently quoted. It remains my favorite.

In part, the words are poignant for me. I was quite young in Reiki when Hawayo Takata died so I didn't have a teacher to turn to as questions arose in my practice. While I talked with my husband and friends who'd also learned Reiki from Takata, none of us had practiced long. At that point, we only had Reiki as our teacher. In my own mind, the words were a kind of consolation. We weren't orphaned; we had Reiki to teach us. Sometimes, I also heard these words as a gift from Takata--I may be gone but "Reiki will teach you."

Her words suggest the importance of creating a relationship with Reiki--for how can I be taught, if I am never with the teacher. It needs to be a relationship that grows out of experience. I only know Reiki through treating myself and other people and being treated. I've come to see my practice like a relationship with an intimate friend. No matter what other people may tell you about someone, you only really know them by being with them. Intimacy, understanding, appreciation, all grow with time.

If we let Reiki teach us, the voice of this teacher flows out of the practice. We can give up the driving need for control. When we place our hands on ourselves or someone else, we're connected with the very essence of life. Although we can forget our place, we do know we're not wiser than the essence of life.

Expectations and attachment to outcome, which is so often tied to our attachment to the person we're treating or our own need for praise or being seen as important, eases as we experience our place in the order of life--not most important but equal in importance with all life. Ease, peace, contentment (not complacency) are the results.

To know the ways of this friend and teacher requires attention and mindfulness because the voice can be subtle. While results are sometimes dramatic, the gradual changes that happen over time may be the most transformative. Reiki nurtures and nourishes us so that we're able to recognize and gradually release the knots that tie us up, freeing our hearts and minds.

"Let Reiki teach you" has been a call, a reminder, sometimes even a summons for me to appreciate the gift I've been given and aspire to be a worthy student.

(This article was originally published in the June 2010 issue of the Reiki Heals e-zine.)

Living the healing lifestyle

By Beth Lowell

Writers are familiar with the saying, “If you’re thinking about writing, you’re not writing.” While this may be so for writers who use thinking about writing as an excuse for procrastination, it’s not true for all writers. Prolific author Joyce Carol Oates, for instance, thinks each of her books entirely through before sitting down to write.

Can this same concept be applied to Reiki? You might argue that Reiki is not like writing and that thinking about Reiki is not really practicing it. But I think this is not always so.

Recently, I remembered an experience I had at an old job. I’d been working steadily for weeks, trying to complete a project with an aggressive deadline. Five days before the project was due, my boss informed me that the client had forgotten to include a key component, which would double the amount of work on the project, and that they’d like to have that by the deadline too. I was angry, stressed, frustrated and overwhelmed. I told our editor that I just didn’t see how I could get the work done. I was exhausted.

The editor told me that I needed to take a break, and not to worry. The job would get done. That was easy for her to say. I grumbled that I didn’t see either relaxing or finishing the job on time as a possibility. Nevertheless, I had to admit I felt so much better after talking to her. I took the break, and I finished the job by the deadline.

I realized back then that there was something different about the editor from everyone else at the small company where we worked. Everyone wanted to work with her. Everyone said how nice she was. But it wasn’t really that she was just “nice”. It was her calm way of being that attracted so many people to her, especially in such a stressful work environment. When I got to know her a little better, I understood that her centeredness, her groundedness, and her sheer grace were supported by a longstanding meditation practice. I don’t know if she practiced Reiki or not, but she sure did embody the precepts.

Years later, in a Reiki class, I learned that Usui’s system was originally based on the precepts only and that the hands-on healing part of what was to become known as the system of Reiki was just a side effect. I accepted what I was taught, but I couldn’t understand the leap from the precepts to hands-on healing. As time passed and I thought about it though, I realized how healing focusing on the precepts alone can be. I thought of the editor, and others I’ve known who could so deeply affect those around them, just by their way of being, and how the slightest gesture on their part, like a touch on the shoulder, could be so healing to others.

Hands-on healing is no doubt a valuable tool that Reiki practitioners can access at almost any time and place, but contemplating the precepts, Reiki’s cornerstone, also counts, in which case, I say that if you really think about it, you probably practice Reiki more than you realize.

In the Reiki room

By Julie Goodale



As I wrote in my last post, I volunteered last Sunday at the Manhattan JCC for Spa Day, offering around 150 women with breast or ovarian cancer a half-day of wellness activities. The first part of my Spa Day volunteering was spent offering Reiki to the participant.

Reiki is a healing practice that helps promote balance of mind, body, and spirit. It is a completely gentle, non-invasive treatment. It does not directly address any specific symptoms, but rather balances your system. There is nothing about Reiki treatment that can interfere with medical care; Reiki has been given to patients during chemotherapy treatments or surgery. Some commonly reported benefits of Reiki treatment include relaxation, reduced pain, improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and reduced side effects from medicines and cancer treatments.

The Reiki room was run by Pamela Miles, a New York-based Reiki master. Pamela has worked with numerous doctors and hospitals to integrate Reiki into more traditional medical practices. She ran a Reiki program for AIDS patients through the Gay Men's Health Crisis, has treated surgery patients at several New York hospitals, and is the author of "Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide". Pamela has also been featured on the Dr. Oz Show talking about Reiki.

I went to Pamela last year for a treatment and was so interested and excited about it that the following week I took her Reiki training class. Since then, I practice Reiki on myself every day (well, almost), and have offered treatment to friends. I've also taken part in a couple group Reiki events with Pamela.

I have a strong belief in our ability to help our bodies. There is much we can do to help our bodies heal and be healthier. I also believe in conventional medicine; we have a lot of very strong treatments and procedures that can save our lives. What I like about Reiki is it that it can work with conventional treatments. It's complementary, not alternative! If I'm facing a powerful disease, I want all the tools available to fight it. I don't want to limit myself.

I also have a streak of skepticism in me. I want proof; I want to understand why. After practicing Reiki for a year, I'm not sure I understand why yet. But I know I feel better when I do it. And I know I feel worse if I don't. The skeptic in me says: maybe it's just that you sit quietly for 20 minutes or an hour. Maybe, but if that's all it is, is that bad? Maybe the why doesn't matter so much.

Few of the women on Sunday had any previous experience with Reiki. Whether they were curious, enthusiastic or skeptical, they filed in, laid down on the tables, and put themselves in our hands. In pairs, we offered 20 minutes of Reiki. Whatever their feelings before Reiki, I didn't see a single woman who wasn't grateful for how she felt after Reiki.

Editor's note: This article appeared originally on Julie's blog, fitness for survivors.

The weekly waka

Reiki

Focus, Compassion,
Connection...shine your Bright Light!
This is the Essence,
This is the Way of Reiki,
The Path to Enlightenment!

by Colin Powell

Sunbeams

Misty morning fog
Snuffs out midtown Manhattan
Delicate sunbeams
Slide down pale angel ladders
Bright baubles on the Hudson


Moment

Dancing on two legs
Straining against their leashes
Young puppies whimper
Beg to meet sniff jump play run
Delighting in the moment

by budo adana

To submit your waka, send it in an email to waka@thereikidigest.com. Please include the words "waka submission" in the subject line.