Reiki Shares

In the last month I have been blogging less and learning more, my own perception both as a Hospice physician and as a Reiki practitioner is that continuing to learn, grow, evolve is an important part of living.

This month our own share had 9 masters and one new practitioner - since we are not teaching as a class within our share I will not say "student" - though I believe in fact we are all "students" learning from each other.

It is an incredible experience to "exchange" or "share" with many Reiki practitioners from different traditions. There are commonalities: - sharing a philosophy that flows from the five basic Usui principles - the fact that doing Reiki causes hands to heat up - and a sense that connecting to "energy" changes one's life for the better.

For some of us, having a very defined curriculum or method is very important - and for others of us, the energy that flows and the way we interact with it varies with the history and nature of the person, and what that person needs.

I think it is important to recognize the commonalities and to respect the differences.

We had a very special treat in our September 7 share as Hazel Numsen, who learned with both Dr John Upledger (cranio-sacral therapy) and Dr Fritz Smith (zero balancing) gave a demonstration. It seemed when I visited Japan that many people viewed a broad spectrum of spiritual approaches to energy as "Reiki" - but here in the United States it seems to follow a more defined approach - yet - there are many other approaches to what we call "energy."

Dr Upledger describes his own approach, SomatoEmotional Release, as follows in his book, "Your Inner Physician and You:" In SomatoEmotional Release , the approach is quite different. Here we simply place our hands on the patient. We then give silent permission for the patient's body to do whatever it deems appropriate at the time. We offer to put energy into the patient."

Now one may come to conclude that Dr. Upledger's approach is not Reiki, (or -perhaps one may conclude that it is - end of day not so important to me) he is an Osteopath, and comes from a traditional that does not include Usui, or Hayashi, or Takata. And yet reading his book, it seems fairly clear that his intention is to work on the same "energy" that Reiki works on - and that we can all learn from each other.

Last week I went to learn Reiki from a distinguished Reiki Master - notwithstanding that I have received the Master symbol four separate times now, formally, I still feel a benefit from continuing to learn. Seeing patient every day with incureable illnesses is simply a humbling experience for me. I use conventional medicine when ever it has a reasonable answer, but I simply cannot cease trying to "heal" because I am unable to "cure."

And this person pointed out that the energy he was working on with me "was different from Reiki." The intention is to grow and "be who you are." Or perhaps more "who you can be."

It is - perhaps naively - my hope that we can remain inclusive, and consider healing energies as being in synergy, when their intentions are to heal, and their techniques are not invasive, but rather gentle encouragements to what Dr Upledger would call "your Inner Physician."

My own sense - if this led one to avoid anger, just for today, to avoid worry just for today, to work hard, and to be grateful, and to offer a kindness today; if this caused your hands to heat up, if this had an intention to heal by gentle touch (or perhaps by energy not even transmitted by actual physical contact) - then the great masters would see it as their own.

If not, then we can still be grateful for the opportunity to assist others, and or the opportunity to continue to grow. My appreciation remains for all those who share this journey.