From the Heart

It was in 1987 that i visited Jerusalem for the first time, and visited "the wall" (the "kotel") for the first time. This is a place that is sacred to Jewish people, in that it is viewed as the last vestige of the wall from "the Temple" that stood in ancient times. And within about 200 yards of this place is both the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, felt to be the site of "Golgotha" - the place of the death of Jesus, and the Mosque built on the sacred site from which Muslim's believe that Mohammed ascended to Heaven.

Lore has it that if one writes a message on a small piece of paper and stuffs it between the cracks in "the wall" the first time one visits, that the dream is likely to "come true." There are stories of families being reunited, and all sorts of miraculous stories surrounding this legend of leaving a message in the wall, miraculous healing, you name it - and so i took this moment very seriously. I thought about it for a long time.

In the end the message which i left in the wall was simple and brief, and not for anything specific materially, it was simply "open my heart to you God" (or in Hebrew taken from a brief prayer - literally open my heart to your Torah, which at some levels could be translated as the sheepskin scroll upon which is written the 5 books of Moses, the centerpiece of the ancient Bible, and for some would reflect "the law" as specifically represented by 613 commandments, and for some the "letters" or tools with with God creates our world, but for me the simplest meaning would simply reflect on Torah as God since the essence and spirit and soul and thoughts and wishes of God make up all of our world and connect us........)

As i have tried in my Hospice journey to explain to the numerous people who have asked me "how can you do this work" and "isn't it depressing" - that no, it is an honor, and the having people allow me to share and assist them in their journey is both a mission and a chance to grow, a "job" for sure, but more that that, and bottom line a place for the heart, where beyond being a "science" person or applying skill, I am often simply present for people to keep them company or be a witness of their journey, to help in small ways not just to relieve their suffering but to assist in a focus for them not on "how they die" but how they live the portion of their lives that they are journeying through.

And in Reiki more and more i read and hear and feel the spirit of masters seeking their own highest potential through a journey that is centered and moved by our hearts.

For some it is attaining a higher level or a higher vibration or having more power or being able to heal, and for some it is simply being "present" and being in a state of acceptance or submission to the creative energy that sustains (not simply created but continues to create in each moment) us and our world.

Recently - in one of my favorite Reiki list servs, there has been an extended discussion about Reiki Tummo, a specific path taught by I Effendi ("Reiki Tummo, an effective technique for health and happiness"), and a quote from the master "you have written your book of Life from the perspective of your brain, are you now willing to re-write your book of life from the perspective of your Inner Heart?"

Having had the honor of being present and sharing countless journeys in hospice, and from the little i have learned of Reiki, i can't say that i have more specific answers to questions than on the day 25 years ago when a placed a small note in a crack between stones in a sacred wall, asking the creator to "open my heart" ...it has been and remains a Journey.