On NPR a couple days ago a woman called in saying that her husband, a Republican was so torn by the importance of this presidential run, that he entered the booth with tears in his eyes, not knowing what/who he would choose.
I keep thinking of this. This image so reflects this point we are at. To choose. One person’s choice matters greatly, and some are really beginning to realize this like never before. This is good news, and still it is a heartbreaking time as well. Not because change is all around. Change always holds hope and loss equally. Transformation and new seeds of life are always waiting amidst change. It is heartbreaking because of the brink of pain and brutality of war and greed that remains and threatens all life on this tiny planet.
You would think that we, as Americans would be good at choosing by now. Our choices are so many, so vast, from the trivial to the grand. In Europe the choices for ice cream are strawberry, chocolate or vanilla. In this country we stand with our mouths open, staring at the tens and twenties, even hundreds of varied flavors, not knowing what to choose. Trying something different all the time. Or choosing the same thing over and over again, overwhelmed by anything different or new. Whatever way, few stop to think about how much milk the cows are drained of in order to make all the ice cream. I digress.
We expect to have so many choices. It is a part of being in a Country that has integrated countless cultures and ethnicity into one broad and varied identity.
I am American. My ancestors are from the UK, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Spain and some unknown places. My father was adopted and never knew his roots. His tallness, black curly hair and brown eyes tell nothing of who his ancestors were. That is lost.
My inheritance from these ancestors is a deep appreciation for all cultures, countries and peoples as neighbors, friends and family. Part of my path that continues from my ancestors specifically is the seeking of equality for races of people, a mystical and hands on belief in religion that defies hierarchy, and a warrior spirit that seeks healing and goodness through discipline and service.
I believe that Reiki is one of the gifts of this life that my ancestors would be especially happy about. I see Reiki as an answer to Francis of Assisi’s prayer to become an instrument of peace.
In modern terms, Reiki makes me an amplifier through which the presence of the now, (that we all have access to) is turned up so we may receive it better. For it is connection to our Source and supports our striving to healing and balance.
The world has become loud and fast, at times, we cannot hear or feel the presence of love with us. When I first became attuned to Reiki and I placed my hands on my daughter’s head, she was three or four at the time, she said quickly, “Turn that down!” I had not explained anything to her, in fact, I wasn’t trying to give Reiki. Being young and fresh from the Sacred she felt the amplification of what is always present. That’s too loud, she thought.
That is not the experience for most adults, or someone who is ill. Instead the Reiki feels like a heated blanket, with deep comfort and peacefulness. My first time receiving Reiki, I did not feel much of anything. It took a long time for me to take in what was being offered. The fruits of this gift have been amazingly consistent and good.
Going back to the choices we all have, and thinking of the thoughtful man in tears at the voting booth, there is something else about choice to ponder. This is why I brought up Reiki in relation to the image of this man mentioned on NPR in the first place. And the idea of Americans and their choices:
A woman from the UK came to our city to offer a new kind of Reiki. Her source for this new kind of Reiki was from a person who channeled all the information to her students. I have a bias right away about someone who channels information from a being in a way that cannot be denied or confirmed for business purposes. I am not comfortable with this. The ego plays too big a part, they are then able to ‘create’, ‘transfer’ new systems of knowledge for their own benefit. However, I withheld my concerns because my curiosity about this woman was peaked as people said she is a medical intuitive.
I went to her workshop introducing the new energy work. She definitely carried wisdom and insight that was helpful. She was an interesting person. She reminded me of a wild horse. She had a story to tell. It wasn’t black and white. But red flags began to go up as she spoke about Reiki. She starting telling us that her teacher offers a “higher power”, that it is so much ‘higher’ (hierarchical power words) and better than Reiki, and once we are attuned to it we will no longer have the Reiki energy, it will be better, more pure.
Having looked into Reiki practice in this country and the world, I knew that Reiki practices are pretty widespread and common in the UK, and it is perhaps difficult for those who would want great profit from it. Also, there are some who practice in an unprofessional or inappropriate way. As in everything else, there are always those who abuse the power they are entrusted with; doctors, teachers, parents, priests. But for every work like this there are always many who practice with professionalism and integrity.
The situation ended up being that the woman stated that all Reiki is corrupt and not many are chosen to be masters or leaders. At the end of the workshop we were to sign a contract that stated that if we went on to practice this copyrighted form of hybrid Reiki under a different name then we could no longer practice Reiki. It seemed I was the only one in the group troubled by this. I said so much in front of everyone. She became impatient with me. I explained to her that Reiki is not corrupt and that there is a good chance we or I could share Reiki at a local hospital. I pointed out that her contract is not compatible with someone who wishes to continue on with Reiki.
It was a convoluted business game to have a monopoly on energy work basically. She told me, “It is just a choice. Just choose.” (I was on the spot in front of everyone.) Just a choice! I thought. She told me again, not everyone should be a master. I refused to accept her teacher’s business of ’superior energy’, and put a damper on everyones experience there. I do not regret that. And some people thanked me. I walked away wiser, having been pretty new to Reiki politics.
I learned a lot. And I realized that not everyone takes choice as seriously as maybe they should. Maybe some don’t want others to think hard at all, so things can slip through and get to power-holds.
Not all choices are simple, and even the simplest choices are important. Choice becomes action and both of these can define who we are and who we become. I am grateful that woman came all the way across the ocean to teach us such an important lesson.
I was able to maintain my integrity and conscience, rather than being seduced by someones talent and power. We need to be honest and evaluate fully the choices we do have. For those of us who are suffering in the importance of our choices, like the man in New Hampshire, surely our desire to be aware and taking this time seriously is right where we need to be. We need to care that much.
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