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Back in 2005, I saw a posting for a free evening seminar on Reiki at a nearby community centre. It was something I had heard about and I was interested in hearing more about it. I decided that I would go. Of course on the evening of the seminar, there was a big snowfall (on top of all the snow we had already that winter). Having grown up with lots of snow, I put on my coat, pulled on my boots and off I went. Well wouldn’t you know it, I was the only participant to show up that evening! Everyone else was scared off by the weather. This turned out to be a great bonus for me. Instead of a lecture format, the presenter, Simone, and I were able to have a one on one discussion and there was only one volunteer to choose from for the demonstration portion of the evening – me!
My first Reiki experience was amazing. It lasted only 15 minutes but I felt wonderful when it finished. At one point during the mini session, I felt like I was inches from the ceiling tiles above me (even though I knew I was lying on a massage table with at least 6 feet above me to the ceiling) and that I was looking right into the little holes in the tile pattern. It was definitely something I wanted to explore more and so I did! I went for several full-length sessions with Simone and when she was offering her next session of classes to learn Usui Reiki, I signed up. I did all three of my levels with Simone and obtained my designation of Reiki Master in 2006.
I’m sure some of you are wondering “What is Reiki?” A simple description is that it is a way of moving universal life force energy. The person giving the Reiki is essentially working as a channel and gathering the energy that is in all living things and directing it to the person receiving the Reiki. While you may wish to work on a particular area of your body, Reiki will go where it feels it is needed most.
Everyone experiences a Reiki session differently. And you will often have different experiences from session to session. You may feel warm, cold, or have uncontrollable physical movements. You may feel as if there are other people in the room. You may see different colours or have unexpected emotions come out of nowhere. I have had all of these happen to me. I remember one session with Simone where I spent at least 20 minutes with my right arm moving as if I was rapidly bouncing a basketball. I was aware it was happening but couldn’t stop my arm. And in another session I remember feeling someone sitting in the corner of the room but I knew that the only people in the room were myself and Simone, and Simone was standing beside me. Each treatment was different but each time I went away with a new perspective of myself to explore and think on.
There are 5 principles of Reiki that I try to incorporate into my day. It doesn’t always happen, but every day is a new day to start again.
The 5 principles are:
Just for today, I will not anger.
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will be grateful.
Just for today, I will work hard on myself.
Just for today, I will be kind to others.
If you are interested in finding out a little more about Reiki, I would encourage you to visit the website of the Canadian Reiki Association, http://www.reiki.ca/faqs.htm
