The Benefits of Reiki Healing

One of the greatest Reiki healing health benefits is stress reduction and relaxation, which triggers the bodies natural healing abilities, and improves and maintains health. Reiki healing is a natural therapy that gently balances life energies and brings health and well being to the recipient.

Do you have a medical condition and want to feel better while supporting your health care?

Are you healthy but not sleeping well, maybe adding unwanted pounds?

Would you like to feel more engaged, more in control of your life and your health?

Do you sometimes feel isolated, hopeless to address the challenges of your life?

Do you want to develop your inner spiritual connection, on your own terms?

Reiki practice can help.

Because Reiki practice is balancing at every level, it can help anyone who receives a treatment orlearns self practice. If you are tired, you’ll feel refreshed. If you are anxious, you’ll feel serene. If you are distressed, you’ll feel comforted. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you’ll discover a renewed clarity and purpose. And these subjective changes come with physical changes associated with deep relaxation, such as a slower heart rate and easier breathing.

The first session usually brings improvement, and the benefits grow with repeated sessions. In emergencies or during intensive care, patients often show benefit within a few minutes.

Reiki supports your health care.

And Reiki practice is safe, and cannot interfere with any medical care you are receiving. In fact, I have given Reiki treatment to patients in the O.R. during surgery, and to people in the infusion suite as they receive chemotherapy.

Are you taking prescription medications? Reiki practice is safe, and the improvement you experience might mean you need less medication. That’s a good thing, but please don’t adjust your meds on your own. Always consult your physician before making changes in your medications.

Since 1986, I have worked with people of all ages and levels of health, people from a range of backgrounds. Many of my clients are happy and healthy, and smart enough to do what they can to stay that way. Others want to develop themselves spiritually and discover greater meaning in life. And of course many have sought Reiki treatment or training realizing that balancing their systems can help them to cope better with a wide range of health conditions, including:

Cancer
Heart disease
Anxiety
Depression
Chronic pain
Infertility
Neurodegenerative disorders
ADD/ADHD
Autism/developmental delays
HIV/AIDS
Crohn’s Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Traumatic brain injury
Emotional illness, including mild psychosis
Fatigue syndromes
End-of-life care and bereavement

The following are commonly reported benefits of Reiki practice. Although at this time, the evidence for most of these benefits is anecdotal, there are research data showing Reiki treatment can be effective for relaxation, pain management, reduced anxiety, reduced depression, and enhanced well-being:

Relaxation
Pain management
Reduced anxiety
Reduced depression
Improved sleep
Improved digestion
Enhanced well-being
Stronger self-esteem
Support for substance abuse recovery
Accelerated surgical recovery
Reduced side effects from radiation, chemotherapy and Rx meds
Greater self awareness
Greater ease and satisfaction in relationship
Heightened intuition

When you receive Reiki healing, you’ll lie fully clothed on a treatment table while the Reiki practitioner places hands lightly on or just above your head and torso. Read more about Reiki treatment.

Reiki and Yoga Together

Yoga and Reiki can be used in conjunction with one another to experience ultimate transformation. Yoga can be likened to peeling away the layers of an onion. As each layer sheds, more and more unravels about the self. The process can be both empowering and a little scary.

It is between these sensitive layers where the application of energy work such as Reiki can have a life-changing response. Once one is completely open to receiving, Reiki will go to the area of the body, mind, or spirit, where it is most needed.

The practice of Reiki and Yoga go hand in hand. The practice of Yoga increases the flow of Reiki energy in a persons life. Yoga helps a person understand Reiki in a much deeper way. Reiki helps a person understand the deeper energies of Yoga.

Yoga is the ancient art and science of balancing the physical and subtle anatomy of the individual.

In Sanscrit yoga means “union”, a union between mind, body and spirit.

A regular practice of yoga can bring very good results in therapies such as physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and in treatments of arthritis, asthma and hearth problems. Also it gives excellent result in eliminating alcohol, tobacco and drug addictions.

Scientist around the world are studying the effects of yoga on human body. A very interesting study was made by a Hungarian doctor Vigh Bela, on how the nervous system was influenced by yoga exercises. He came to a conclusion that certain asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing) were connected with certain internal organs, endocrine glands and psychological states.

There are many different types of Yoga, but here we will explore some basic Hatha Yoga techniques that bring depth to the art and science of all forms of Reiki..

Hatha Yoga is a combination of physical postures and breath.

∙ Ha- in breath
∙ Tha- out breath

Hatha Yoga, so called from a certain portion of its teaching, as to the practice of special methods of dealing with the incoming and outgoing, or “Ha” and “Tha” breaths, by which it is intended to affect the instrument, the body, so that it in turn will affect the Self within. ( Seven Schools of Yoga by Ernest Wood)

Hatha Yoga in these modern times works from the outside in to bring the physical forces into alignment with the subtle anatomy of our Higher Divine Nature. It is through the alignment of our energies with the Divine that the flow of Reiki energy for healing and personal growth is increased.

HATHA YOGA POSTURES

The postures of Hatha Yoga were designed with specific anatomical intent. Here we will explore the Sun Salutation and it’s 12 postures which open up the inner channels of energy.

SUN SALUTATION

The Sun Salutation is composed of 12 postures.

Swami Satchidananda in his book “Integral Yoga Hatha” says that the Sun Salutation is the summary of Hatha Yoga postures. This means that these twelve postures are the least amount of yoga to be practiced to bring a balance into the twelve anatomical aspects of the physical body and its integration with the Higher Self. Each posture with the focus of intent has a particular anatomical and benefit. Each posture has more than one level of energy and focus.

The Breaths.

The Sun Salutation may also be combined with the different breaths. There are many ways to work with breath and the postures. Some breaths are easy and some are difficult. It really is a matter of personal preference and your level of curiosity about the energy associated with the different techniques.

Breath of the Sun This is the simplest breath and has two levels:

∙ In the simplest form the postures are done one after another breathing an in-breath or an out breath on each posture. One round of the twelve postures is completed in six complete breaths.

∙ The second method is to breathe one complete breath with each posture. One round of the twelve postures is twelve complete breaths

The Intent.

The intent of each posture can be expanded to many levels of healing and personal growth. One function of these postures is to enable a person to learn the knowledge of the subtle anatomy.

As the intent is focused on the different layers of this knowledge the Reiki Energy flows through the anatomical aspects of our being and unfolds and opens us to a deeper awareness.

It is not necessary to work with these postures everyday to receive benefits. Two or three times a week brings some balance, helps relieve stress, and brings some health and healing .

Once you learn these postures you will find that few minutes time is all you need to work through these steps. Of course you may work with yoga everyday if you wish and increase the length of time of your practice. It is all up to you.

If you want to learn more, find a Hatha Yoga book to learn from. You can also find a Yoga teacher if you want to learn beyond the basics.

What is Animal Reiki?

Animal Reiki is a spiritual practice of compassion for all beings. In a nutshell, “doing” Reiki for animals simply means learning to meditate with your animals. The practices of Reiki help us navigate our life’s challenges with grace and surrender while we to learn to listen to and be present for others in a compassionate space. Compassion is the ultimate healer.

Reiki animal healing, as other alternative therapies is now being applied to animals for disease treatment and general wellness. Reiki animal practitioners can be found in many countries now. Many veterinarians use Reiki as a support in addition to conventional veterinary medicine.

Reiki healing does not involve the administration of any drug, just a gentle physical contact with the animal, so it is unlikely to do your pet any harm. Animals love Reiki and it will work for them.

Reiki is recommended for treating pain, anxiety and behavioral problems. The therapy can be calming and may help an agitated animal become a more acceptable pet.

REIKI TREATMENT FOR ANIMALS

There are several major differences between working on animals and humans, and it is important to understand and remember them, as you set about your work. First, it is of utmost importance to do Reiki on your pets as soon as you sense any changes in behavior habits; i.e., temperament, eating, elimination and general malaise.

*NOTE: the quicker you treat animals, the quicker their return to health and balance. Since animals can’t talk, we need to be aware of subtle changes in our pet’s behavior. If you come home and your pet seems lethargic and unconcerned with your presence, or licking itself more than ordinary, or doesn’t have energy to eat, play, etc., it could be they are not feeling well.

Animals can easily get hurt when we are away; jumping, playing, chasing toys or feeling energetic and trying to dissipate it by running around the house. If an injury is allowed to swell, excessive fluids can gather in and around the injury, increasing pressure and decreasing the flow of energy to the area of injury. This can result in permanent damage to tissues and lengthen treatment time.

When we become attuned to Reiki, we often want to treat every hurt or sickness, and in our exuberance to be helpful, we may force a hands-on treatment on our animals—making the animal mad enough to strike out at us. It is good to remember to approach any injured or sick animal with caution and love. Move towards an animal slowly, and pet the animal lightly; pay attention to any area which appears to be sensitive to touch.

When applying Reiki animal healing, lay your hands ever-so-gently on the area in question; try to ascertain the possible cause for the animal’s discomfort. Do not force the animal to sit still, while you do your work; rather raise your hands just off the surface of the body. Reiki will flow equally even if the hands are up to 4 inches above the skin. Do spend extra time on sensitive areas, but remember to treat the animals entire body—other parts reacting to the initial injury can be energized and brought into balance. Also, continue to treat, until the animal is back to their normal routines, without any symptoms. Animals seem to take longer to respond to energy treatments than do humans. Treat the animals daily, for as long as it takes and treat them with gentleness, spending whatever time is required to help them get back to their playful natures.

If your animal in not acting lively, is shy and won’t eat, and won’t allow you to treat with hands-on, then try beaming energy to it from a short distance. We sit in a chair and when a sick or injured animal does come close or lies down near the chair, we just hold our closest hand over or toward the animal. When they have enough, they will move away, and often later return to receive additional energy. If your animal will not permit treatment, but is not acting normal, take it to the veterinarian. Ask to be in the room with the doctor or assistant, and learn from them; ask questions, and give support to your pet. They will remember the loving care they received and will associate you with it. When your pet next needs care and attention, they will come to you more readily. Remember, Reiki is a higher frequency vibration and it may take time before animals become accustomed to the energy. But when they do, they will seek it out whenever they become imbalanced.

TREATING ANIMALS WITH REIKI ANIMAL HEALING

When treating animals with Reiki, it is good to remember that all When treating domestic animals (farm and house) with Reiki animal hlife-forms utilize “Universal” energy, and that all run optimally when filled with it.

It is good to start the treatment by laying hands at the base of the ears near the neck. This seems to calm down animals, and as in humans, when the body is relaxed, stress free, energy flows more easily and in greater supply. Then the animal can be treated systematically (hand positions similar to those for humans) or simply lay hands on the areas that you sense are in pain or imbalance. Be guided by your inner sense and feelings as to where to lay hands and how long to leave them in the positions chosen.

When working on small animals (mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, frogs, and birds), just cup your hands gently around their bodies, without pressure. You may experience a rapid heartbeat, but not to worry, the animal will relax. Obviously, you would not try to place your big hands on such small animals, but just allow the animal to be surrounded in Reiki energy within your cupped hands. If you treat small animals during their sleep cycles, keep the hands just above the surface of their skin, so not to disturb them.

If the case of caged wild birds or fish in a tank, it is best to place your hands around the cage or tank and just allow the energy to flow between your hands; in this case it may be good to treat for 20 to 30 minutes so the small creatures can have time to absorb the energy they need.

The larger the animal to be worked on, the more positions a practitioner needs to do in order to give the animal a healthy dose of energy. If animals are considered poisonous, wild and dangerous, it is best to treat them by distant techniques (second degree teaching). We do recommend you keep a journal of your treatment experiences on animals, and in time you will build a valuable file on how best to treat animals that are more specific.

It is advisable to secure anatomy charts of animals that you will be working on regularly, so that you will know where the most important organs are and can treat them most efficaciously. The organ placement of dogs and cats are different from those of human bodies. Here are a few facts that we have found important in our practice on animals.

When treating injured or tame birds with Reiki animal healing, place their body in one open hand, making sure their wings are folded back against their body in a natural position. Make sure their sternum is able to move freely, as this is how they breath.

If you are treating a cat for “feline leukemia”, you want to cover the neck area and under the jaws; this is where their lymph nodes are located. You will want to work on the chest where the thymus gland sits and on the belly about 2 inches up from the hind legs on the cats left side (belly up). This is effective in building up an immunity to the leukemia. A good hand position would be to have the cat lying on it belly, and place your thumbs just below the rib cage and the fingers underneath the cat’s body. Just remember to treat the entire body, with exception to the head, legs and feet. If your cat has a bladder infection, be sure to place your hands over the pelvic area on top near the spine. This sends Reiki energy to the spinal nerves that enervate the bladder. If an animal has a spinal injury, it is effectively treated by placing the heel of one hand at the base of the tail, with fingers pointed toward the head, and the heel of the other hand at the base of the neck, with fingers pointed toward the base of the spine. Then treat other areas of the body that appear to be traumatized by the injury.

Just remember a couple of important facts…animals, specially wild ones and those that roam freely out-of-doors can become rabid, and caution must be taken to prevent being bitten. If you are bitten, take the animal to a veterinarians and describe what happened. Also, do not force an animal to sit still while you do Reiki animal healing on them; they have their own time to physically transition when their life’s chosen aim and purpose is completed, and as such, they have free will not to accept energy that would thwart their situation. Every animal is different and unique, and only by working with them, and not on them, will you come to appreciate the freedom (not domination) of animals, and be gifted with true “unconditional love”.

Attract Money & Love with Reiki

How does Reiki make your life better? How can I attract money and love with it?

What is Reiki?

Reiki is the universal life force all around us and responsible for our very life. The name is of Japanese origin ‘rei’ meaning universal ‘ki’ life force. Various traditions had recognized this force in antiquity. The Japanese call it ki, the Chinese chi, the Indians prana, in actual fact all traditions have a name for this force whether apparent or not.

Reiki flows through us all the time whether initiated or not for it the very source of our life and consciousness. Realizing the power of Reiki lies in understanding this very fact for many of us just limit Reiki to a narrow field of action all because we haven’t expanded our consciousness to explore the limitless possibilities of this energy.

It’s All About Self-Healing

Learning how to attract positive things into your life is all about self-healing on the emotional and spiritual levels.

Here’s a simple “math”. If you do not experience abundance of love or money, then it means the flow of abundance into your life is blocked. Why is it so? What blocks are? Well, they are negative emotions, bad memories, negative beliefs about money or love, fear, worries, concerns, chaotic mind, distractions – all these things block the flow of abundance. If you wish to experience abundance in your life, you need to self-heal the things that blocks you. This can be done throughReiki. When all the blocks are gone, you begin to discover your own talents, natural abilities and skills – all the things that later on can be re-made into financial stability, for example by launching your own business.

And with the blocks like worries or fears gone, you begin to appreciate life. More positive emotions flow into your life, because the beauty was always there around you – only now without the blocks in your mind, your’re able to see it. Through healing, you see beauty and opportunities and the abundance that is already around you.

So, for example in case of attracting financial safety: first, you’re healing all your negative beliefs about money. Then, you develop your inner talents and abilities, that will help you make money, develop the feeling of self-worth, that will help you attract love, friends and, in the end, happiness.

And healing is done through the regular practice of normal and simple Reiki.

There is no Magical Reiki Symbol

The truth is that there is no magical Reiki symbol for money, nor is there a Reiki symbol for love etc. Sure, we may find such symbols associated with Reiki, but in most cases, they are parts of modern Reiki systems such as Gold Reiki, Kundalini Reiki and others. In the traditional way of Reiki we have only four symbols – CKR, SHK, HSZSN and DKM. None of these is meant specifically to attract money into our bank account.

There is simple no magical and fast way to use Reiki to attract money or love. There is only a longer path – the path of self-healing. But in case of spiritual healing, the fast paths never work in the long run, and the true healing takes time. Now that you have learned there is no magical way around here, you can begin to accept the fact that if you wish to attract money or love through Reiki, you need to spend a couple of months, sometimes even years, on working with Reiki to heal yourself.And when you’re ready to accept this, then Reiki will actually help you achieve your goals.

Here are some simple affirmations you can use for Reiki self-healing:

I, YOUR NAME, accept the flow of abundance into my life.
I, YOUR NAME, make money easily and with great pleasure. `
I, YOUR NAME, am OK with spending money.
I, YOUR NAME,accept love in my life.
I, YOUR NAME,allow myself to be perfectly healthy.
I, YOUR NAME, open myself for true friendship.

There are other ways to attract abundance with the help of Reiki.

7 Ways to Use Reiki to Attract Abundance

If you wish to use Reiki to attract abundance, then you can follow these tips and practices daily. With time – and yes, that means weeks, months and finally years – you will notice that your life improves.

Work with healing affirmations – either with Reiki or without Reiki, the healing affirmations will work. I’ve published a couple of articles both here on ReikiPaths and on A State of Mind.
Do self-Reiki often – with intentions of healing all that blocks you from experiencing love or wealth. And be patience, because once you set the intention and just let Reiki flow, this spiritual force will proceed with healing.
Work with Five Reiki Precepts – whenever you experience negative thoughts or emotions about money or love or anything you wish to attract into your life, contemplate these things from the perspective of the Precepts. Contemplation can release more thoughts, memories or emotions that block the flow of abundance into your life.
Read books on abundance, wealth and love – a lot of authors published books that discuss the ways we think about abundance, money or love. Some of these books are healing books, showing us our negative beliefs that must be healed, providing us with tips on healing, and showing us the positive things we should start believing.
Work with the first two symbols – the CKR, and the SHK. Spend at least one year meditating on, and chanting these two symbols. The first symbol is a grounding symbol. Part of the way it works is to ground us, and create the sense of material safety, which also deals with material fears. The second symbol helps us heal our emotions and negative mental habits, that also include negative beliefs or behaviors that limit the flow of love or abundance. It also helps us “open up our heart” which is important for those who wish to attract love.
Create a Reiki Box – create a box. Then write your wishes or dreams on small pieces of paper and place them in the box. “Give it Reiki” each day, send Reiki into the box with an intention of achieving the dreams and goals and things you’ve wrote down on the papers. Each time you do so, recall these written goals and be thankful that Reiki helps you achieve them.
Practice Reiki manifestation – a tutorial has been published on ReikiPaths, it’s a simple technique that unitlizes the Reiki symbols for self-healing and keep you focused on your goals and dreams.

There’s an important thing to remember – Reiki is a holistic practice. And abundance of love or money is a matter of holistic approach. That means you cannot really attract abundance into your life if you focus only on this little part of your earthly experience. You need to improve your life in general – diet, relationships, hobbies, physical body, spiritual beliefs and so on, so on. Reiki helps you do this, of course – Reiki heals every aspect of our lives. When we let Reiki do this, then abundance will manifest itself, because by healing your life in general, we open the gate, through which abundance actually flows.

When all the things above are kept in mind, then abundance of love, money, friends and positivity will begin to flow into your life.

Japanese Reiki Techniques – Gassho and Joshin Kokyu Ho

Because we can all control how much Reiki energy runs through our hands, it is important to learn how to open ourselves to channel to this Reiki energy. There are many techniques that practitioners use to connect with Reiki energy. In this post, we will only discuss the japanese techniques learned in Usui Reiki.

Let us know which ones are the ones that you use either as your daily meditation practice or before your Reiki session!

Gassho Meditation – Find Your Peace of Mind

The “Gassho” itself is a mudra from Buddhist tradition. A mudra is a way to form your hands in a specific way to achieve a specific spiritual effect. This practice of mudras originates from Hindu and Buddhist practices. The Gassho mudra is used to work with a person’s heart chakra, and it is associated with Buddha Amida (Buddha Amitaba), the Buddha of Forgiveness and Compassion. We talk about Gassho meditation because, in this practice, we meditate with our hands formed in the Gassho mudra. Regular practice of the Gassho meditation awakens the inner spiritual virtue of compassion towards all living beings. In a way, through the practice of the Gassho, you awakens your inner compassion, and you recognize the true heart of the entire Reiki path.

The Gassho meditation is used to bring peace of mind and learn how to breathe and how to focus. All these things are important in the practice of Reiki and generally on the path of spiritual growth. There are three aspects to Gassho meditation – the right body, the right breath and the right mind. Mastering them all results in a successful and effective meditation.

The Right Body

The very first thing that we need is the right body. In this meditation, we can sit either in Seiza or in Lotus position. The first one is a classical Japanese sitting position, and the Lotus is the classic Buddhist meditation pose. An image of these two poses has been posted in a previous article about Reiki meditation.

The spine should be straight – but don’t be too harsh on yourself. The European culture these days make our spines unsuitable for Seiza or Lotus for longer periods of time. Thus, don’t be afraid to support your back with a wall, for example. You should find balance between straight back and comfort because, in the end, you should remain relaxed.

The Right Breath

The breathing requires some explanation, as well. You should be breathing in through your nose, and while you do so, you should touch your palate with your tongue, just behind your teeth. According to Chinese traditions, this connects the back and front energy channels (meridians) of the body, an important aspect of meditation. You can breath out through your mouth while allowing your tongue to relax.

Your breath should be natural and comfortable, but slow and steady. Don’t force yourself to breathe as slow as possible. Simple allow yourself to breathe naturally. While doing so, try to breathe silently, but again, don’t force yourself. Practice a bit, and find your natural rhythm.

The Right Mind

Your mind is the last element of the practice. While breathing and meditating, thoughts of a different sort will come to your conscious mind. The trick is to allow them to pass through. Think of your mind like of a big TV screen – thoughts come in, and they remain there for few seconds or minutes, and finally, they go away. Then, another thought come in, and the situation repeats itself. But what’s wonderful is that if you do not rush things, and if you do not try to get rid of the thoughts, but you simple acknowledge them and let them be, they disappear on their own.

This is the secret of the Gassho meditation – acknowledgment of thoughts while letting them simply be. The spiritual truth says:

When you fight with something, you make it stronger. If you let it go, it is gone.

Don’t fight with your thoughts, and they will find their way out of your mind on their own. Just like that. This may takes weeks, months or even years, but eventually, it will happen, and the nature of your mind will be revealed to you.

Thoughts are like a cat – if you chase him, he will do everything in its power to come back because it is curious. But simple observe the cat, and it will hang around for a while, get bored and leave on its own. The very same thing applies to thoughts – observe them, and after hanging around for a while, they will go away.

The Practice of the Gassho meditation

Now, to the meditation itself.

Sit down comfortable – you can sit either in Seiza, or in Lotus position. Your spine should be straight, but don’t be afraid to sit under a wall to help you keep your posture.
Close your eyes. If you’re a Reiki practitioner already, open yourself to Reiki flow. Otherwise, just close your eyes and relax.
Place your hands in the Gassho mudra – right in front of your heart.
Begun to breathe – breath in through your nose with your tongue touching your palate just behind your upper teeth. Breath out through your mouth slightly opened with your tongue relaxed. Make sure that your breath is slow, peaceful, and yet very natural and comfortable. If your breath is fast by nature, then so be it. It will slow down with time.
Observe your thoughts and breathe for the next fifteen minutes.
When you’re done, relax your hands. If you have opened yourself to Reiki flow at the beginning of this meditation, it is time to close the flow. Now open your eyes and stand up.

This completes the Gassho meditation. I suggest that it should take you 15 minutes to complete if you’re a beginner. With time and experience, or just with an intention to do so, you can expand the meditation to longer periods of time.

Congratulations! You’ve learned the art of Gassho meditation. You can practice this meditation every day, or at least three times a day. After few months, you will notice that your mind is much calmer, and unwanted thoughts aren’t attacking you as they used to.

You should continue this practice on regular basics in the future as a mean of mind hygiene – we are being attacked by thoughts all over the time, they form in our head constantly. Through regular practice, we allow the current events to pass through our mind and never to bother us again. After a stressful day, it’s a good idea to meditate for at least 15 minutes – this way, you will put the negative emotions and memories aside. By letting them seek your attention, you allow them to disappear. This is the true power of meditation.

Joshin Kokyu Ho – Grow Strong Roots

This is another form of meditation that you should learn. Joshin Kokyu Ho has at least two important effects. First, it can be used to improve the way you channel Reiki energy by opening and cleansing your energy channels. With time and practice, your skills of channeling Reiki become stronger.Second, this meditation is an important grounding practice that will build a foundation for your further spiritual development. You cannot build a house by starting with the roof – you have to build the foundation first. The very same thing applies to any spiritual practice – you have to build a strong connection with the Earth and physical world so that the winds of spiritual forces won’t blow you away.

The Practice of Joshin Kokyu Ho is a way to strengthen your connection with Reiki. Through this practice, you cleanse and strengthen the primary energy channel, through which Reiki flows to you and through you. Thus, regular practice makes you an even better Reiki practitioner.

The Hands And Hara

At least two elements are important in this meditation and they need to be explained – first, the mudra of balance, and second, the region of your body known as Hara or the first Tan T’ien. The Tan T’ien is a term used in Chinese magical systems and Taoist philosophy. There are three of such Tan T’iens, one in your navel, another one near your heart, and the third one within your head. They are connected by two energy channels, creating something that is called a “ microcosmic orbit”.

The Mudra of balance is quite popular in Buddhist practices. While it is not the mudra of grounding, it symbolizes the balance, harmony between the physical and spiritual realm. Something that Joshin Kokyu Ho promotes.

Another important element is the Hara region – also known as the first Tan T”ien. It is a region few centimeters below your belly button, and another few centimeters inside your body. According to the Chinese school of thought, this is a place that governs all life energies, or Chi. It promotes a healthy physical body, and deep connection with the ground.

With this knowledge, you’re ready to begin the practice.

The Practice of the Joshin Kokyu Ho

This meditation is based on direct work with Reiki energy and intentions.

Sit down in a comfortable position – just like you did in Gassho meditation. It can be either Seiza or Lotus position.
Form your hands into the mudra of balance in front of your Hara region.
Close your eyes and ask for Reiki – open yourself to the flow of Reiki.
Start to breathe – breathe through your nose. Breath in and while you do, intend the Reiki energy to flow into your body through the tip of your head, and flow down into your Hara. As you breath in, your tongue touching your palate just behind your upper teeth. Hold your breath for a second. Breath out and intend the Reiki energy to expand from your Hara into your entire body. Breath out with your tongue relaxed. Hold this intention in your mind for a second. Make sure that your breath remains calm, natural and comfortable. Do not force things.
Continue to breathe Reiki in for another fifteen minutes.
After fifteen minutes, place both of your hands on the Hara – physically touch the are below your belly button. Focus on your Hara, and remain in this state for another five minutes. Do not breath Reiki in any more, just focus on your Hara.
When you’re done, close the flow of Reiki, open your eyes and stand up.

This completes the Joshin Kokyu Ho meditation. An important aspect of this exercise is the final focus on the Hara region. While you can expand the primary meditation for longer periods of time, the final focus should always be present, but it doesn’t have to take longer and five minutes if you do not wish to.

You have learned the Joshin Kokyu Ho meditation. You should practice it at least twice a week for the next few months after your initiation to the first degree of Reiki, but if you wish, then no matter what degree you’re on, you can come back and practice this meditation. You can practice it especially when you feel you’re losing ground under your feet and if you feel you’re falling into the spiritual world too much.

Mindful Reiki Healing

Reiki is a Japanese word which is divided into its constituent parts—rei, meaning “divine spirit,” and ki, meaning “life energy.” It is a ge
ntle method of hands-on healing that taps into the energy referred to as Ki in Japan, chi in China, and prana in India. Reiki was developed in the early 1900’s by Mikao Usui in Japan. It is an art that is passed from Master to student. The term “Reiki” is used to describe both the energy and the Usui system of using it.

I always tell my client that all they need to do is rest and savor the Reiki experience. This helps my clients, especially my new clients, to treat themselves to an breakout from all their worries. Some people fall asleep and even snore during a session.

However, allowing yourself to completely relax and enjoy doesn’t mean that you should be oblivious to what the practitioner’s hands are telling you as you receive the energy. Be aware, and you will receive valuable information about yourself, and provide yourself with a deeper, richer, and more fulfilling Reiki experience.

As the practitioner moves across your body, pay attention to how his/her hands change in temperature and vibration. Are the practitioner’s hands vibrating more over a specific area? Are you receiving more cold to one area? More heat? Sometimes what you feel is not what the practitioner feels.

I once gave my husband Reiki after he had some dental surgery. The dentist had told him to put ice on the area, and I became concerned, because I was feeling tremendous heat in my hands as I sent energy to that location. When I asked Bob what he was feeling, he said that my hands felt like ice to him. That reminded me that Reiki always provides what is needed.

I started giving my clients a chart that explains each major chakra centre and what it corresponds to on a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual level. If they are aware of the connections, then they are more able to help themselves, and get consultation and assistance from the relevant professionals as needed.

For example, the 7th chakra, also called the “Crown” chakra, corresponds to various parts of the brain, the right eye, the ears, and the pituitary and pineal glands. On an emotional level, it corresponds to feelings of happiness and calm. At the mental level, the Crown chakra influences creativity, productivity, control of fear, and memory retention. At the spiritual level, it expands universal awareness and consciousness, and increases spirituality.

If you, as a client, are aware of this, then you can ascertain for yourself where your blockages might be, and what areas of your body, mind, or spirit need (or needed, since the Reiki balances these centres) attention. It will also allow you to discuss your own impressions with those of the practitioner to really make the most of what the practitioner’s hands are saying.

Another benefit to being mindful during a Reiki treatment is that you might be able to sense any “helpers” that participate in the session. If it ever feels like there is an extra pair of hands assisting in the session, it could be the practitioner’s Reiki guides, or it could be a departed loved one (either the practitioner’s or your own) assisting.

If you do experience that, make a note of where those “extra hands” are. That is meaningful. Let the practitioner know what you felt (or are feeling—it’s okay to bring it up during the session). This too is beneficial to your personal growth and development, and helps you to have a more rewarding experience.

Finally, be mindful of what your senses are telling you during the session. Do you receive images (or a dream, if you fall asleep) that provide meaningful messages to you? What do you hear? What do you feel, emotionally? It is okay to cry during a session. It is okay to release anger or pain. If you suddenly sneeze or yawn, those also are a release.

I had one client* see swans on a river, and then a little girl, who handed her what she thought was a daisy. The little girl said, “for you, mommy”. The swan as a spirit animal is powerfully symbolic, and was very meaningful to my client. The little girl was possibly the child she is carrying.

As you can see, Reiki can be much more than just a way to relax. It can provide you with a rich and powerful experience in personal growth and physical, mental, and spiritual enhancement. Whatever you experience, I encourage you to discuss it with your Reiki practitioner, who is there to listen to you and provide guidance. If you have any concerns or questions about anything at all that you experience during your session, your practitioner can help attend to them.

Change Your Mantra, Change Your Life

It’s part of human nature to talk to ourselves. The key is to discover what we are saying and figure out if the message is right. When we change from a negative message to an empowering one, we can alter the course of our lives. For me, I know I’m going to talk to myself, the question is: What am I saying?

Becoming mindful of the messages we rehearse allows us to modify them. Adopting a new mantra empowers transformation as we internalize a new life script. Here’s how it works. Let’s say you regularly tell yourself that you’re stuck or that you don’t know what to do next. On the surface this may look like discouragement and worry. Underneath it is an internal script made up of messages replaying in your mind and heart that shape how you think about yourself and how you respond to your situation.

Your Mantra Keeps You Positive and Strong

Do you buy new outfits to change your look as the seasons change? Do you change your mantra just as often as you can? If not, it may be time to. That’s because the same mantra doesn’t always work for us, year after year. If your well-being or path towards change is feeling stagnant or slow, it may be time to change things up. Ask yourself these questions to see if it’s time for a change:

1. Am I happy?
2. How is my health?
3. Am I using my creative energy?
4. Do I have a good life?
5. Do I enjoy the company of others?
6. Do I pay my bills on time?
7. Do I have a savings account and do I put money into it regularly?
8. Do I like my job?
9. Do I have good friends who treat me as well as I treat them?
10. Do I have a Plan B?
11. Do I have a strong sense of self?

11 is the Number of Enlightenment

You should ask yourself these 11 questions because 11 is the number of enlightenment. If you’ve answered “no” to any of these questions, you are not working toward your highest good and it’s definitely time to change your mantra. Mantras are a sound that you can say out loud or in your mind to bring a sense of peace and joy to your life. It is also possible and a good idea to have positive affirmations that can be used as mantras to deal with special needs that occur at different times.

Some of My Favorite Mantras

One of my favorite mantras is from the lovely Tim Gunn. He says, “Make It Work.” This can be used when frustrated and in a mood where you are feeling like there is no way to get it done.

“I am bigger then my problems” is another mantra that lets you release negative thoughts about situations and allows you to find peace of mind so that you can accomplish your task.

“Today I will live in the moment” helps you take it one day at a time to develop what is needed to stay focused.

“Challenges and hurdles allow me to rise to my highest self” means that you are ready to take on a good challenge.

“I give as good as I get” makes you think about whether you give freely or with condition. This mantra rings in karmic energy.

“I will have ‘me’ time today.” How often do you really take time for yourself? Life moves so quickly that we often find ourselves too tired to do anything other than the daily grind.

Positive and Strong

If used properly, mantras work throughout our lives to keep us positive and strong. Mantras are the keys that unlock worry, ease the mind and release more mental energy. When we commit to taking care of ourselves on all levels (mind, body and spirit), we find that we can run like a finely tuned machine.

How Important are Your Dreams?

Dreams can be mysterious, but understanding the meaning of our dreams can be downright baffling. The content of our dreams can shift suddenly, feature bizarre elements or frighten us with terrifying imagery. The fact that dreams can be so rich and compelling is what causes many to believe that there must be some meaning to our dreams.

Enjoy Dreaming

To understand your feelings and yourself more deeply, pay attention to dreaming. Dreams are the keys to the doorways within. Dreams also serve as a world that is limitless, and they are a place of amusement where you can enjoy yourself. The healthiest people are said to be those who are happy, so why not enjoy dreaming! Record your dreams and have fun with them. Let them amuse you. Maybe even learn how to lucid dream, which means you are aware you are dreaming and can control your dreams. Dreaming can even put you in a good mood that lasts throughout the day, affecting psychological structure and leading toward all sorts of positive encounters.

A Source of Knowledge

Dreams are a valuable source of information that’s available to anyone who desires to decode their symbolism. Dreams are a place where you can learn about yourself. Some say that dreaming is more honest than our waking consciousness and that in our dreams we reveal our true feelings—especially about the most important issues in our life. Finding the meaning of your dreams is very personal.

Multiple Levels of Meaning

Once you can understand how your own associations work, you will have the ability to interpret your dreams. It is often stated that dreams have multiple levels of meaning woven into a single dream. It is not uncommon to dream about an illness in the body. Sickness can certainly have a somatic influence on dreams.

Dream Dictionaries and Journals

Only you, the dreamer, can know for sure what your dreams mean. Dream dictionaries may help a little and a dream interpreter who has both metaphysical and psychological knowledge of dreams and their meanings can help you figure out your dreams for yourself. But only you will make the final decision about your dreams’ meanings. Everyone has their own associations and symbols that the individual mind thinks and communicates through dreams.

If you are interested in decoding your dreams, consider making your own dream journal and dream dictionary. In your dream journal, record your dreams. Keep it by your bed with a pen, so that you can write your dreams down immediately upon waking. Be sure to have plenty of room to add to your interpretations over time.

Understanding the Message

Whether you get to know your dreams more intimately through understanding the messages that come from the subconscious to the conscious mind, or not, dreams are an important part of your being that contribute greatly to health and happiness.

Happy Dreaming!

What is I Ching and it’s History

The I Ching itself began life as the Chou I, or Changes of Chou. It was the oracle of the Chou people, which they brought together at the time when they were working to overthrow the corrupt Shang dynasty. Brilliant research by Steve Marshall (published in The Mandate of Heaven) has evoked the social and spiritual turmoil of these times – and even suggested a date when a total solar eclipse gave the Chou king Wu his mandate to invade: June 20th, 1070BC.

The Chinese I Ching, or Book of Changes in English, represents sixty-four archetypes that make up all the possible six-line combinations of yin and yang, called hexagrams.Yin/yang is the fundamental duality of the Universe whose dynamic tension gives shape to all phenomena and the changes they go through. Examples of the yin/yang polarity are female/male, earth/heavens, dark/light, in/out, even/odd, and so on. The interpretations of the sixty-four hexagrams describe the energy of human life divided into sixty-four types of situations, relationships or dilemmas. Each hexagram can be analyzed in a number of ways. Divide the six-line forms in half and you get trigrams (three yin or yang lines) that represent the Chinese version of the eight fundamental elements: sky, earth, thunder, wind, water, fire, mountain, and lake. These eight trigrams, known as “Hua,” also serve as the compass points in the ancient art of placement known as Feng Shui (pronounced fung-shway).

The I Ching is the oldest of all the classical divination systems. It is also one of the oldest books in the world. Its first interpretive text was composed around 1000 B.C. The I Ching’s actual discovery and much of its early history are the stuff of legends.

There are a number of myths surrounding the origins of the eight trigrams and the development of the I Ching divination system. In one tale, Fu Hsi, the first emperor of China (2852–2737 B.C.), is said to have observed a turtle emerging from the Yellow River. Knowing that true wisdom came from the direct and close observation of nature, he had a sudden realization of the significance of eight symbols he saw on the turtle’s back. He saw how the sets of three solid or broken lines, the trigrams, reflected the movement of energy in life on Earth.

A similar myth describes Fu Hsi’s contemplation of other patterns in nature, including animals, plants, meteorological phenomena, and even his own body. These myths describe how he identified the trigrams that arose from his understanding of the connection of all things, through the interplay of yin and yang.

There is evidence of early Chinese divination where tortoise shells were heated over a flame until they cracked, with the emerging patterns (presumably trigrams) being read. In some cases the shells were marked with their interpretations and stored for reference, and I have had the privilege of seeing a few of them preserved at the National Museum in Taiwan, China.

Another version also involving tortoise shells describes descendents of the “many Fu” — an ancient clan of female diviners — who read the shells of live turtles. According to the legend, they became the queens and royalty of the Shang Dynasty — which had been considered mythical until archeological evidence proving its existence was unearthed in 1899. Some say Lao Tzu, the enlightened forefather of Taoism and the author of the Tao Te Ching, was a descendent of this clan.

The Taoist/Confucian tradition posits that juxtaposing a set of the possible permutations of yin and yang with elements of Chinese creation mythology produced the foundation of the I Ching. Pairing up the various combinations of yin (the literal ancient meaning of which is the shady north side of the hill) and yang (meaning the sunny south side of the hill) gives you four primary symbols. With the addition of another yin or yang line, the eight trigrams emerge.

The earliest composition of I Ching interpretations is attributed to King Wen. Toward the end of the Shang Dynasty, when the unjust emperor Zhou Wang imprisoned Wen, he reportedly used his confinement to meditate on the trigrams, pairing them up to produce sixty-four possible hexagrams. Each pair of trigrams took on a meaning specific to their combination. In what we might assume was an enlightened state of mind, King Wen assigned each of the sixty-four hexagrams a name, adding a few sentences to explain its meaning. It is said that his son, King Wu, added additional interpretative text, bringing the I Ching closer to its current form.

Confucius, who came a few hundred years later, was possibly the I Ching’s greatest patron, taking the interpretative texts to the next level with the addition of his extensive commentaries. Confucius was primarily interested in the I Ching as a manual for how to live a life of the highest virtue, as opposed to its usefulness as a divination system. According to his Analects (VII, xvi), Confucius, who lived to be an old man, is reputed to have said, “If some years were added to my life, I would devote fifty of them to the study of the oracle, and might then avoid committing great errors.”

Historical evidence substantiates the theory that the Book of Changes and its sixty-four hexagrams were part of an ancient oral tradition that predates recorded history in China. The basics of the I Ching text — the names of the hexagrams and their judgments — were likely composed in the eighth century B.C. However, the practice of using the hexagrams to refer to specific interpretations probably didn’t occur until the fifth century B.C. Between 475 and 221 B.C. (known as the Warring States period), the I Ching texts were consolidated into a book to make it easier to consult and share with others during that time of extreme upheaval. Shortly after, the I Ching was spared in the Ch’in Dynasty’s massive book burning because it was considered one of the five “Great Classics.”

The Book of Changes was canonized and studied intently by scholars during the Han Dynasty of 202 B.C.–A.D. 220. Between the third century B.C. and the turn of the millennium, significant additions, known as the ‘Wings’, were written regarding the individual lines in the hexagrams, and the meaning of the trigrams. These commentaries are generally attributed to Confucius, who lived around 500 B.C. More work was done, and the I Ching we use today is not substantially different from the 168 B.C. version. The main difference is that the hexagrams appear in a different order. The order in use today was first proposed around 100 B.C., but was not the standard until the third century A.D.

Throughout what we know of Chinese history, the rulers of China, as well as the general public, used the I Ching as best they could before printing was available. It is woven into the fabric of this ancient culture and its influence has been fundamental to the Eastern worldview as a whole. It has only been in the last 150 years or so that Western culture was even exposed to basic Taoist concepts — such as German and English translations of the I Ching and Tao Te Ching. Carl Jung’s explanation of the I Ching’s psychological validity and value, and the widespread open-mindedness about all things spiritual during the 1960s, made using the I Ching a common experience in the Western world.

Nowadays, the most common method for casting the I Ching involves tossing three coins six times to create the six-line pattern, or hexagram. A traditional technique for deriving a hexagram, dating from about 500 B.C., involves a fairly complicated process of selecting and sorting fifty sticks, usually yarrow stalks. The best yarrow stalks for this were the ones that grew on Confucius’ grave, but the supply was limited! After the coins or stalks are tossed and sorted out, one looks up the interpretation in the sacred book.

All Amazing Facts About Your Dreams that You Might Not Know

Dreams are Mysterious, bewildering, eye-opening and sometimes a nightmarish hell. Your dream’s length can vary from a few seconds to as long as 30 minutes. The average person goes through 3-5 dreams a night, mainly occurring in the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep; it’s in this stage where the brain is at its most active, almost as if you were awake.

Below are a 20 Interesting Facts About Dreams that You Might Not Know:

1. You Forget 90% of your Dreams

Many people keep a dream diary by the bedside table to help them record their dreams, and with good reason.Within 5 minutes of waking, half of your dream is already gone; within 10, you will have forgotten 90% of it. Freud has theorized that dreams are forgotten because they contain repressed feelings or thoughts that we don’t want to remember anyway. Dream researcher L. Strumpell, on the other hand, blames the vagueness of dreams; because we tend to remember things by association and repetition, remembering dreams can be quite challenging.

2. Women have More Nightmares than Men

In a 2009 study conducted by Jennie Parker, British researcher and psychologist for the University of the West of England it was discovered that “women in general do experience more nightmares than men”. Women’s nightmares were also reported to be more emotionally intense than men’s. The test involved 100 women and 93 men between the ages of 18 and 25, who were asked to record their dreams in diaries.

3. Night Owls Have More Nightmares

A study conducted by the Yúzúncú Yil University in Turkey has shown that those who stay up and wake up late have a higher chance of belonging to the 2-6% population who has weekly nightmares. The study states that, although cortisol levels rise in the morning, irregular sleep patterns disturb circadian rhythms and lead to the stress hormone affecting dreams.

4. Your Dream Might be the Next Big Thing

Several game-changing ideas came about from dreams, says Harvard University psychologist Deirdre Barrett. In a weeklong study conducted on college students, Barrett asked the students to incubate answers to school assignments and other problems they were facing at the moment. The study concluded with 50% of the volunteers having a dream about their problem and 25% actually dreaming of a solution.

5. Dreams Can Help You Lose Weight

For those looking to lose some extra pounds, you’ll be glad to know that dreams do burn calories. In a study conducted at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York, volunteers went under a strict diet regimen for 4 days under various sleep conditions. They were then asked to fast on day 5, and were allowed to eat as much as they liked on days 6 and 7. The results showed that those who slept longer and had more dreams each night were less hungry, specifically for fat- and carbohydrate-rich foods. Volunteers who slept only 4 hours each night, on the other hand, found that their metabolism slowed down and they ate more on the 6th and 7th day.

6. Depressed People Have Better Dreams

In a study that involved 23 women and 26 men going through a divorce, psychologist Rosalind Cartwright from Rush University found that those diagnosed with clinical depression were better off than their more resilient counterparts. While the depressed subjects had shorter, more pleasurable dreams, their better-adjusted peers had more ruthless dreams, usually involving their exes.

7. Nightmares Help Pregnant Women

Researchers at the University of Messina in Italy found that pregnant women who had bad dreams about birthing traumas or losing the baby often experienced shorter labour periods.

8. Violent Dreams Can be Warning Signs

If you think nightmares are bad, then imagine having a rare sleep disorder wherein you act out violent dreams by kicking and screaming. According to a study published online on 28 July 2010 in Neurology, this can be an early sign of brain disorders as you get older.

9. Dreams are Stress-Busters

In a study published in the Nov. 23, 2011, issue of Current Biology, UC Berkeley scientists found that the brain showed decreased levels of chemicals associated with stress during REM sleep. According to Matthew Walker, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, previous emotional experiences lose much of their negative effects the next day because they have been reprocessed in a neuro-chemically safe environment during the dream state.

10. People Tend to Dream about the Same Things

A 2004 study, which was conducted by scientists from the Sleep Laboratory at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, Germany, showed that most of the 55 typical dream themes occurred at least once in most of the participants’ lifetimes.

11. Sexual Dreams are a Common Occurrence for Everyone

Psychologist Antonio Zadra, in a study conducted in 2007, was able to show that dreams about sex account for approximately 8% of all reported dreams for both men and women. The most common type of sexual dream involved intercourse, while some dreams involved kissing and fantasies.

12. Not all Dreams are Colourful

While many people dream in colour, it’s estimated that 1 person in 8 has dreams in black and white. Dundee University’s Eva Murzyn suggests that “…there could be a critical period in our childhood when watching films has a big impact on the way dreams are formed.” She concluded this from the fact that dreams during the 20th century were almost always devoid of colour; the shift to coloured dreams occurred only during the 1960’s, coinciding with the advent of Technicolor.

13. Dreams Paralyze You

During REM sleep, or dream-phase sleep, your body suppresses the release of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and histamine—all of which are vital in stimulating motor neurons. This effectively paralyzes the body and puts it in a state of REM atonia, a condition wherein the muscles are in a state of relaxation that borders on paralysis.

14. Our Pets Dream Too

Studies have shown that REM sleep and its associated brain states also occur in a number of animals.

15. There is a Science to Dreams

While dream interpretation focuses on understanding dream meaning and deciphering their symbolisms, Oneirology, the scientific study of dreams, is more concerned with the mechanisms and processes involved in dreaming.

16. Blind People also Have Dreams

Not all dreams are visual, and this makes it possible for blind people to dream. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Glostrup Hospital in Denmark published a study in Sleep Medicine stating that blind people’s dreams mostly involve auditory and gustatory sensations. While people who become blind after birth have visual dreams, those who were born blind also have vivid dreams, thanks to a broader array of sensory inputs.

17. Dreams are More Vivid for Quitters

According to the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 33% of 293 smokers who were abstinent for between 1 and 4 weeks reported having at least 1 dream about smoking, with these dreams being described as more vivid than usual. It was concluded that they were the result of tobacco withdrawal because 97% of the test subjects did not have them while smoking. The dreams were also rated to be as common as most major tobacco withdrawal symptoms.

18. Déjà vu is a Thing

If you’ve ever had the feeling that you’ve already seen or felt something that you’re only experiencing for the first time, you’re not alone. A survey found that 18-38% of people who participated in the survey have had at least one precognitive dream, and 70% have experienced déjà vu. It’s also interesting to note that up to 98% of these people believe in the possibility of precognitive dreams.

19. Familiarity Breeds Dreams

You may not be familiar with all the characters in your dreams, so it might surprise you to know that those strangers in your dreams are actually people you have already seen. Through your life, you have already seen thousands of faces that you may not necessarily remember. The mind does not invent faces for the people in your dreams; it already has an ample supply stored somewhere in your memory.

20. Dreams Can Melt into Reality

At times, you may be dreaming of frolicking in a meadow and then suddenly hear the shrill sound of bells, only to wake up to the sound of your alarm clock. This phenomenon is known as Sensory Incorporation, wherein elements of your physical surroundings incorporate merge with your dream. A study conducted by Nielsen in 1993 has shown that the physical sensation of pressure on the participants’ legs was incorporated into their dreams, subtly yet directly.

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