Reiki – Is it in your toolbox? – Part 1
In these stressful times, we all need a toolbox because we’re all healers. And, we never know when we might need to use our healing tools.
Reiki is a basic healing tool that works almost anywhere, anytime.
Many of you reading this blog use Reiki. But, many don’t. Reiki was the basic skill which put me on my healing path. That’s not to say that I wasn’t healing. I’d been a massage therapist since the 1980’s. But, there’s a difference.
Before Reiki and after Reiki.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard the word: Reiki.
I was at a weekend continuing education class in Clinton, New York, at a place called Spring Farm CARES. There were about two dozen students in the class. As we each introduced ourselves to the group, every student, except me, mentioned Reiki. They were all either Reiki practitioners, Reiki Masters, or Reiki Master Teachers.
I had no idea what that was. But, as I returned to my home in the Washington, D.C. metro area on Sunday, I decided to learn about Reiki. Reiki, at that time, was not mentioned much in my area. To be perfectly honest, it wasn’t mentioned at all. I called around.
I eventually found two friends who practiced Reiki. One of them, a massage therapist, was a Reiki Master Teacher for years and never shared her secret. The other friend studied Reiki but wasn’t using it because she believed that it healed people whether or not they wanted to be healed.
I found Mary Ruth Van Landingham in Vienna, Va. She had a shop, Terra Christa, with a classroom in a building behind the store. I learned nine different kinds of Reiki in that little building behind Terra Christa. She taught most of them.
At that time, there were few to no books about Reiki. Mary Ruth’s classes were filled with handouts. Now, when I teach Reiki, I offer handouts and encourage students to read any Reiki book that attracts them. Book stores everywhere carry several titles. Overall, there are hundreds to choose from.
I spent a good bit of the next two years studying in the little classroom nestled behind the store. Mary Ruth invited other trainers to give classes. I studied under Tom Rigler, Rev. Dan Chesbro, and many others before I finally moved to New York State.
“Reiki is a light touch offered to a clothed body.” is the definition Pamela Miles offered at a class at the New York Open Center.
Over the years, I learned that everyone who practices Reiki describes it differently. I invite my students to define the Reiki experience. Everyone has a different description and definition.
The word Reiki means Universal Life Force Energy. Practitioners refer to Dr. Mikao Usui, the man who brought Reiki into the 20th century. He practiced in Japan prior to World War II.
Other prominent Reiki teachers during this time include Mrs. Hawaya Takata, and Dr. Hayashi.
I like to include Frank Arjava Petter who, at the end of the 20th century, wrote a Reiki handbook “The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui.”
Reiki works on the physical level when the practitioner uses her warm hands.
The Reiki symbols work on the mental level.
Emotionally, Reiki sessions bring peace and calm.
The Reiki practitioner as well as the session itself, offer healing which impacts the energetic body.
But, beyond working on the different levels of a person, Reiki heals without judging. The healing energy of Reiki doesn’t care whether a person is religious or spiritual or not. The healing path of a person receiving or giving Reiki is nondenominational, positive, accepting.
Reiki heals.
Reiki never makes exceptions because of one’s beliefs, health condition, situation in time, lifestyle.
Reiki doesn’t ask about one’s religious or spiritual beliefs. Reiki never cares whether a person is Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu…or anything else.
I have an invocation which I use often when offering Reiki to someone. It’s not original with me. And, I’ve used this prayer often for many years. I offer an apology here. I don’t know where it came from.
Whatever or wherever its origin, I send gratitude to the writer of this prayer. (Maybe, after reading this blog post, someone will know where it originated and share the information with me.):
I call upon the essence of the Healing Buddha and the Master Spirits of Reiki.
(At this point, I include any and all names that seem appropriate. I may include Jesus, St. Michael, St. Anthony).
I ask that my hands and heart be illuminated by the light of your unconditional love. I ask that this session proceed for ………………’s highest good. Amen
When I’m offering Lightarian Reiki, I go a step further. I include a request to seal the room in the prayer.
Reiki accepts.
Reiki does not ask that you give up anything in order to use its energy. Mary Ruth Van Landingham was a practicing Catholic. My friend Kathy is a devout Episcopalian. I teach Reiki to people of all faiths.
Reiki sets no one’s beliefs aside.
Thank you for reading this article. Please refer it to your preferred social media network.
Please join me for part two of this series of posts about Reiki.
Thurman Greco
angel with flowers
A Battle Front Reflexology Spa Treatment to Boost your Client Partner’s Good Health
Now is a good time to offer a Reflexology Spa Treatment to boost your client partner’s good health. People everywhere are fighting flu, colds, and other maladies as the body offers a battle for good health. This is also a time when people focus on the immune system because every pharmacy around has generously sized signs announcing flu shots.
For your client partner concerned about fighting viruses and infections, the Battle for Health Reflexology Spa Treatment is not a luxury. It’s more in the necessity category.
Begin your battle plan by selecting the essential oils you’ll use. My preferred essential oils for this Spa Treatment are:
clove
lemon
nutmeg
oregano
peppermint
tangerine
thyme
Your oil selection will guide you to which music to use and what decor to adopt.
My favorite oil in this selection is peppermint. But, since not everyone likes peppermint (or you may prefer another oil), select the oil based on your discussion with your client partner as you book the appointment.
Whichever oil you choose may inspire you to select a specific CD. If not, be guided by the reflex points you’ll be working in this session. You’re going to stimulate your client partner’s body to fight disease so being “battle ready” may be important.
When I offer a Battle for Health Spa Treatment, I’m motivated to offer peppermint oil and have a few peppermint plants in pots in the healing space. You may be motivated to do something completely different. There are no “wrongs” here.
Have your music section playing when your client partner enters your space.
You may want to wash your client partner’s feet as the first step in this session. Warm some moist cloths in the microwave and gently clean your client partner’s feet.
When your client partner is comfortably situated face up on your table or in your reflexology chair, anoint your him/her with the selected oil. Put a few drops of the essential oil in the palms. Have him/her rub the palms together and hold them over the face and take a few deep breaths. Then have your client partner rub the hands over his/her face and head.
Now, seat yourself at your client partner’s head. . Bring in the Reiki and offer three Reiki holds to the head.
Now, move down to your client partner’s feet. When you offer reflexology to the feet, you’ll add some carrier oil to the essential oil and use this blend throughout the session. You may be able to find a commercial lotion in the right blend which you like.
Selecting the first foot, offer five minutes of delicious warm ups. Follow this with five minutes of general reflexology to your client’s foot.
You now have your client partner’s first foot prepared and ready to receive the Spa Session on this foot. In this part of the session, you’ll stimulate the glandular parts of the body as you work the reflex areas listed below. You’ll encourage your client partner to fight disease.
Work the following reflexes for twenty minutes on the first foot. Offer this section in the following order.
1. Work the solar plexus to relax the body and establish a good breathing pattern.
2. Work the spleen reflex to stimulate it to perform its immune functions.
3. Work the liver reflex to filter wastes as it cleans the body of toxins.
4. Work the kidney reflex to stimulate blood cleansing.
5. Work the intestinal reflexes to move toxins out of the body.
6. Work the lymphatic system reflexes to build a defense system against illness
6. Repeat the work on the solar plexus to finish the immune system path.
After spending fifteen minutes working the above listed reflexes, spend five minutes offering general reflexology. Finish the work on the first foot with five more minutes of warm downs.
Now, move to the second foot and repeat the process. This means you’ll offer five minutes of warm ups, five minutes of general reflexology, fifteen minutes working the reflexes in the following pattern:
solar plexus
spleen
liver
kidneys
intestines
lymphatic system
solar plexus
Finally, offer five minutes of general reflexology and then five minutes of warm downs.
When this is completed, offer your client ten minutes of Reiki theraapy on the feet. It is now time to seal the Reiki therapy part of the spa session.
Let your client rest for a moment while you get a bottle of water or a cup of herbal tea for him/her.
Spend a couple of minutes with your client while s/he drinks the water and returns to “now”.
Thanks for reading this blog.
Please refer this article to your preferred social media network.
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Thurman Greco
Jennette Nearhood donated the art work for this article.
2.
Arthritis and Reflexology for the Spirit, Continued
When an arthritis sufferer uses all the health care professionals available to him/her, the results are better. Fewer drugs will be consumed. That’s an important result.
A Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner deals with the problems presented by arthritis over the long haul. When working with an arthritis sufferer, you need to learn about all the things s/he can do in the self help arena. Try to learn all the things that the rheumatologist recommends. When you know these things, you can work with them. Know about recommended exercise therapy. How does acupuncture fit into the overall picture? What does the nutritionist recommend?
Optimum improvement depends on repeated, regular visits to the Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner’s table. The other specialists will “come and go” as needed in the client partner’s life. You, on the other hand, owill be seeing this person weekly.
Arthritis sufferers often postpone getting needed treatment necessary for relief. This is not a good approach. The sooner your client partner begins to aggressively combat arthritis, the better off s/he will be – even years down the line.
When working with an arthritis sufferer, regardless of the type, keep in mind that you are dealing with a person who cannot help being overly critical both of self and others. Many arthritis sufferers appear to harbor resentment and blame in many areas of life. This is a huge statement considering the number of people suffering with arthritis.
AREAS TO WORK: solar plexus, entire endocrine system, urinary system, immune system, nervous system, digestive system, circulatory system, liver, solar plexus and individual joints the client partner is suffering with.
ESSENTIAL OILS: wintergreen, peppermint, nutmeg, German chamomile, clove, copaiba, helichrysum, Idaho balsam fir, white fir, pine, eucalyptus globulus, frankincense, and myrrh are popular with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
Violet Flame Reiki therapy is appropriate for arthritis sufferers.
The next post will cover bunions.
Thank you for reading this blog. Please contact me with any questions you have.
Peace and food for all
Thurman Greco
