I can’t remember the last time I felt fear like this. At the height of the storm I thought the glass windows surrounding the condo would just give in so I put on my motorcycle helmet so at least my head would be somewhat protected from glass or metal. I’m on the fifteenth floor but I could see things flying by.
I spoke to a neighbor this morning and another apartment’s windows on the same floor indeed gave in and their TV set flew out. I was not far from that scenario. As I was huddled in a corner with my helmet I tried to meditate but the howling winds were so deafening. I started to chant the Gokai (reiki principles) and that helped focus on the body.
The doors of the three bedrooms were battering like a rabid beast was trying to get though them. Finally one door flew into the hallway… the wind had entered through an air con hole and water had gushed through. I had to move the bed to over the hole to stop the water from coming in.
As I stepped out into the street this morning looking for internet there were tree trunks and branches everywhere, shops shattered and billboards on the street.
Last night I thought if this is my last night ever I am at peace and so grateful for a beautiful life. I made a mental list of all the people and things I am grateful and felt peaceful. Meditation is truly a life-saving practice.
I am offering free meditation sessions in Cebu. Send me a message to join at +63917 7197553
If you took a Reiki class at some point in your life and then never got around to practicing, I hear you. Life gets in the way, emergencies and pressures of work and family. I have even heard one person said she didn’t continue because she couldn’t stop eating pork (I never said you could not eat pork!).
Sometimes students apologize to me personally for not practicing, as if I were their disappointed parent. This practice is never about the teacher – in this case, me. It’s always about YOU and Spirit (God, Reiki, Source, etc.). Whatever you decide to do or not to do, that is 100% on you.
The wounded Inner Child would rather just be a disappointment to the parent again and again, as a learned way of getting attention and staying in this unconscious power dynamic.
To me, Reiki is all about reclaiming your Power. It never is me healing someone (or anyone, healing someone). It has always been about showing the right tools and strategies and creating the space for the magic to happen, where the practitioners find their own answers thereby taking a step towards sovereignty in all realms.
As I contemplate on how to best serve the greatest whole, I was guided to create just such space for those looking to either reconnect to Reiki or to deepen their practice. My five-week online Reiki Retreat starts next week on 15 December (14 depending on where you are).
We will be practicing Japanese Reiki breathing and palm-healing together on a weekly basis. I have purposely made the schedule light to honor everyone’s time. But as many of you know, one hour of focused practice can radiate throughout the week, the month, a lifetime.
Photo by Cathy Chiong at Reikicon 2021
Not counting visits to the dentist and dermatologist, yesterday was my first time to have a medical consultation since 2015. That’s the year I learned to practice Reiki on myself. Two days ago I felt my left eye was swollen, did Reiki on it, but the next day it got worse. So I went to see an ophthalmologist, and now am undergoing treatment.
Of course I had to look into the spiritual meaning of this, since as energy workers we know that illness starts on the energetic plane, and when left uncleared, slows down into the physical form. Louise Hay is one of my reference for illness and corresponding spiritual meaning. According to her, eye infections occur when you don’t like what you are seeing in your life. Bingo! Around the time the stye erupted, I had a very unpleasant interaction with a family member that brought up all sorts of old wounds and triggers. It was a humbling experience, because I was beginning to feel almost smug about where I was in life - a very good place, filled with peace, friendship, and inner spaciousness. And then Boom! Universe drops a bomb and all of a sudden you are down in the depths of your shadows of shame, inadequacy, questioning self-worth and integrity. WOW.
So what now? Nurture myself into healing once again. Embrace the lessons this relationship continues to provide for me, reminding me that healing is a LIFE-LONG PROCESS.
I am grateful to Christopher Luard for his Equanimity retreat, the perfect container for this inner exploration. I allow myself to be curious about whatever arises in my world – even when it comes to people you love and know love you but behave display very hurtful behaviour. How can I truly accept this and practice unconditional love? Big lessons, small stye, in my eye.
