It has been this way for many who come in for a session. The stories are so similar. Eventually, a voice, a feeling, an anxiety, fear, or curiosity draws someone in.

In an effort to make the Reiki experience both profound and lasting there are a few ways to prepare in advance for your first session. After you have made a call or contact and have your first appointment, sit back and take some time to reflect what has been happening in your life. Have you been experiencing a loss, an illness, a change in your life routine, a spiritual calling that you can’t quite put your finger on, or a sadness, feelings of emptiness, confusion about your life path, a feeling of isolation, or a drowning sense that you can’t find a pulse to your personal happiness? Naming your emotional state is a good way to look at how your energetic being is sensing your life.

Our emotional meter and state of mind are significant influences on how we live our lives. For instance, if you believe that your happiness is tied to your career identity, and you lose your job, what happens to how you see yourself, and how you label yourself? Most likely, when we connect our identity with an external (out there) framework, such as a career, the emotional turmoil and identity confusion that comes can be absolute chaos. In Reiki healing, we know that our identity is fluid, always changing, and mostly an ego illusion. Our identity can be literally wiped out when we over-connect to its’ source. For instance, my identity as “mother” is but one aspect of my whole being. I must balance “mother” with athlete, artist, and a host of other identities that make up the whole self. Even with all our “identities” we know through energy work that they are never fixed, stagnant, or cemented through time.

Next, focus on your dreams. Keep a journal by your bedside and record whatever fragments of dreams that you can recall on a daily basis. Getting to know your inner self deepens your awareness and connects you to the larger universal whole. Have there been any patterns in your dreams? For instance, are you always forgetting something, running away or pursuing, in a house, a car, a boat, on water, etc.? Are there animals that show up in your dreams? If so, what kind, and how often? Animals are often how guides and teachers showing us valuable lessons, or things that we need to attend to. No matter how silly and illogical a dream may feel, write it down. You will start to see some interesting patterns.

Look for clues in your life. One of the most intriguing aspects of living in synchronicity with nature and the mystical elements of the universe are the clues that drop right in front of you. Clues, symbols, signs, and seemingly random “connections” are meant for you only. If it is happening specific to you, it is meant for you. For example, I was seeing heart-shaped geometric signs in details of nature, such as in leaves, tree bark, rocks, images in clouds, patterns in water, etc. This was happening at a time in my life when I needed to accept the compassionate heart of all who cared for me, and needed to lead my life with greater love for all beings in my life. Watch every day for the same person that crosses your path, a song that plays often, a symbol, or event that you just have to attend. Clues will add up and show you a deeper message.

Engage in a bit of healthy cleansing and purification before your session. Drink lots of water, do not drink alcohol, and eat lightly three days before your session. This will help open your chakras and provide you with greater clarity, awareness and connection to your self and beyond.

While driving or walking to your session begin to ask yourself what are you really seeking in life. Give special attention to any person or issue that pops in your head 15 minutes before you arrive. This will be the issue you will bring in.

It is perfectly okay not to share any issues before your session with me. Sometimes it helps if I just start after a few preliminary questions. After your session we will have a discussion about your experience and insights or understandings you now have about your self. I will also share impressions that come through during our time together, and we will conclude with suggestions, recommendations and goals for your future.

Reiki is such a valuable gift and these are just some ways to assist you in serving your highest good before you arrive.

Blessings on your journey, Kathy

As you know by now energy exists in all matter. Events that have created an energetic imprint within the hearts, minds, bodies and souls of thousands is no different. The trails of joy, tears, sorrow, love, and peace paired with the vibration of musical vocal and instrumental notes created a sense of communion like no other.

I was imagining this as Doug and I made our way to the top of the hill overlooking a pristine lake, dotted forests, farmlands, antiquated stone walls, amongst more recent movements to establish a monument and museum. Nostalgic, yes, and very emotionally moving as we waded through stories of the 60’s, photos, a “hippie” bus, and styles of clothing, recycled in current times.

What made this trip so significant was that Doug’s reunion albeit based on fragmented memories, memories caught between myth and reality, was that he existed in film. The museum hosts a 21-minute documentary covering three days condensed into meaningful snippets for viewers to embrace extracted moments.
What he saw, felt, and sensed surrendered him to the gods of the immortal; he was now a permanent fixture to Woodstock. A gift of soul transmutes, as he is the one waving a peace sign from inside a plastic tent. Amidst mud and rain he smiles at the camera seemingly untouched by the chaos around him.

This is how energy permeates our lives. We leave traces everywhere we go. To capture this moment in time for the world to see beyond Doug’s physical existence was shattering, surreal and full of amazing grace simultaneously. This is how the light of love moves within us opening our hearts, deepening awareness while urging us to stay connected to our inner compass.

This journey allowed me to see a man pop through a vintage Woodstock collected film with the same smile, same eyes, and same look of, “it’s just a little mud and rain, haven’t eaten for 3 days and don’t know when I will, but it’s about the music.” Peace.

My time at Woodstock unleashed the playful girl in me one more time. I love running through fields savoring smells, visiting butterflies, stretching my arms like an Osprey, and sitting with the trees. I found my self lifted with unconditional love on the grounds respecting this sacred gift, and sharing the joy of this journey with someone else deeply alive in the world.

Peace and blessings on your journey

Healing is often thought of as an event stemming from physical or sexual trauma, injury, disease or emotional upheaval, that one then “heals” to get over, and move on from. Healing, in actuality, involves continual mending and reconnecting with our conscious self, higher self, and the strands of life we are all truly connected to.

None of us is immune to happenings across the globe, from tsunamis, to earthquakes, and major oil spills. These events traumatize not only the individuals, and species in the immediate areas affected, but it creates imbalances both within our individual self and our global selves, because space, time or distance from something on a planetary scale doesn’t matter.

It is easy to become overwhelmed and feel helpless in times of grave tragedy, but he value of Reiki to help heal not only our self, our loved ones, but the planet as a whole holds great promise. It is a way to do your part wherever and whenever you are needed. With Reiki, you can plug in to the source of all life’s energy and begin to help heal through the Reiki energy that moves through you. Reiki self-treatments are a gentle and powerful way to feel lighter, less stressed and more focused. You will notice immediately that you have more energy and begin to balance your life with greater harmony. You will stop sweating the small stuff!

How does one do this? Reiki can be taught in different levels. Level 1 allows you to begin the process of healing on your self and the circle of people/animals in your life. Level 1 takes about 8 hours of training and ample time is given for practice. You will also receive an energy attunement from your Reiki Master. The attunement is like a DNA Reiki imprint that enters your energetic anatomy, which then allows you to begin activating Reiki.

Reiki is passed from one person to another, sort of like a family tree. The origins date back to the 1800’s and were introduced in the United States in 1935. The founder was Dr. Usui. Each Reiki Master can be traced to Dr. Usui, and other masters that he taught and gave attunements to.

If you are interested in learning Level 1, classes will start in September 2010. Please contact Kathy at 607-210-4219 for more information. Class fees are $125.00 and include an extensive manual.

Imagine throwing an apple from your car window while cruising a forest road. The apple then becomes food for a wandering deer, the deer becomes a target for a motorist who swerves and misses the animal, but hits a tree instead, all because of an apple.

You, also being a part of the universe, are affected by your own thoughts and actions, more so at the subconscious level. What I mean by this is that larger conscious efforts are obvious, from where we choose to live, what job we work, where we get groceries, how many children we raise, etc. What isn’t so obvious are our subconscious grumblings, almost like hunger pangs that show up to remind us of a sense of imbalance that exists within us.

When we have imbalances we lose energy to the area that is off balanced. This is also true as a universal whole. What is in one is in the whole. This is a well -practiced Tao belief and is quite true when we take the time to observe imbalances within our environment, families, cultural beliefs, and establishing priorities of what really matters.

Flow becomes stuck, thinking becomes adrift, and our behaviors lose focus and momentum. Flow can be re-established by aligning beliefs with values. We become blocked by harboring beliefs, emotions, ideas that are in conflict with who we really are, and act in opposition to our highest good. For example, if you truly care about animal welfare then your behavior, or action must reflect the devotion you give to thinking about animal welfare. An action can be through volunteering at a shelter, rescuing an animal companion, donating dollars to a cause, practicing sending Reiki to a suffering animal, etc. As you become more congruent flow will return.

We often don’t realize how our energy affects the world we live in. When we have a bad day, for instance, how many people do you encounter that you affect that day? Think about being around a person who is acting arrogant, superior, or in a manner that causes you to shrink from her or him? Now, imagine the feeling of flow, being balanced, focusing with the intent that you are changing your world to the highest wisdom available to you.

Reiki is another powerful way to establish and align flow. Reiki reduces imbalances, eliminate toxic energy and realign chakras so that a flowing stream of energy travels with wisdom, inner strength and grace toward the goals you are manifesting.

Reiki is provided through a practitioner who has received training and is in tune to your energetic self. It simply involves lying on a massage table, fully clothed, with the message to just close your eyes and gently surrender in a deep relaxation.

When a person is attending a session for the first time we spend a few minutes discussing any physical, emotional or spiritual concerns. This helps prepare a Reiki intention to facilitate healing to the highest good in the areas of concern. A session may last about one hour and is followed by a discussion where a client shares thoughts, feelings, images, and mystical experiences.

Many people are profoundly affected by what occurs during a session. Simply put, we all have an energy field that surrounds our physical bodies. This field often referred to luminous energy, records energetic data of our lifetime including previous lives and future possibilities. Reiki practitioners often receive impressions within your luminous field. This may include hearing, seeing, feeling or knowing deceased loved ones, having a keen understanding of significant points in your life, have knowledge of information that no one but you could know, and recognizing areas of physical pain that may encompass a site of an old injury.

This is often not what people expect and can often open floodgates of feelings of joy, release, connection to a loved one, or a divine connection. It seems that seeing into your world through receiving energy to the highest good possible is designed to help you in areas of your life that may welcome you to stretch and grow in some way. It is always important to review a session and share what was experienced from both the energy healer and the client perspective.

A session also involves balancing and releasing energy. Sometimes toxins build up in our energetic system that may contribute to fatigue, headaches and lead to potential illness and disease. You can positively influence how energy balances in your system by taking control of thoughts and emotions. One of the most destructive things we do to our human selves is negatively self evaluate. This means that you may live with regrets over decisions made in the past or you are unable to forgive someone who you perceived to wrong you. It doesn’t matter energetically what it was, but if it was involved in past transgressions than you energy is connected to the past.

When we live our lives looking over our shoulder than we diminish our current supply of energy to much needed cells for continued nourishment. Several sessions are needed to restore accumulated imbalances and increase vibrations that lighten one or enlighten one.
Every session is different but it always involves healing with the utmost grace of life energy vibrating from your Reiki guide directly to you.

Blessings on your journey,

Kathy

In my short lived viewing I witnessed a correspondent just shake her head sadly with “that poor woman” look for the latest damsel betrayed by her husband. I am even more aghast by views people take of these relationship woes. For instance, if either partner decides to exit a relationship by entering a sexual encounter unknown to the other partner, this is not classifiable, in my opinion, by whether the action is deemed “good” or “bad” or punishable by the media, or sponsors to that person. Ultimately, an intimate union only involves two people, a dyad, and this dyad, in many cases, has cut a deal. Please remember that betraying another in a relationship is just the meter reader telling you that all is not right in that relationship. In many cases it was never a relationship to begin with. It was a deal.

Deal making is located in the second chakra (please refer to chakra articles in earlier posts). This is where we keep our word, honor one an other, and learn how to negotiate our power to money, sex and control. It is no surprise when hollywood style relationships go sour, because the attraction usually has one or all three second chakra components to it that are out of balance. The chakras’ aim is to maintain balance and flow, and the flow gets very jammed around insecurities that may include dominance and control themes. Here’s an example that might help. We have unconscious motivations that have unconscious payoffs, so we are not talking in our heads about making a deal, but it goes something like this. “In order for me to provide you with love I will need security and stability.” The other partner may say, “Okay, in order for me to provide you with security (e.g. money, good compliments) I need you to love me by never demanding anything of me that involves where I am or what I am doing.” Maybe that’s a bit simplistic, but you can see that one person is acquiescing to the other.

The relationship is out of balance when one partner compromises an innately held value (trust, individual responsibility) for the sake of the relationship. However, the couple is unconsciously choosing this tryst to play out a specific drama to learn from. This is the beauty of understanding how energy works and how it gets buried in the great trickster of the mind. In the couple scenario mentioned above what is the couple’s lesson and what are they really asking for? One thought: “Can you be real with me?” If I vomit my transgressions for the world to see, will you rescue me? Do you care enough to crawl into the abyss with me?

Real genuine intimacy involves self disclosure. This means the risk in really being you while another is bearing witness to you. It’s an unbelievable gift, a walk in trust, faith that when you fall from a cliff that partner will catch you. In the second chakra the challenge is bearing this gift of soul to another. This is where passion and compassion do their greatest unfolding and flow upward to the heart, to the communication and spiritual centers.

The next time you witness another man gone wrong, look a little deeper and see the whole picture with greater compassion and understanding. No one did anything to another. He or she did it to themselves. One must have a code of honor within, a foundation where truth lives. It’s possible that many couples skip this step and scatter values that have been compromised until they are so watered down that they really don’t know what they stand for or believe in. Sooner or later the relationship will become challenged by something so profound that a serum of truth must be injected, such as extra-marital encounters. The couple at this point will start evaluating and decide do they want to live in a “make a deal” couple hood, or do they believe that their union is greater than their individual selves, and can they risk revealing their true natures to each other?

It’s work between two and perhaps a valued teacher, counselor or spiritual advisor. It does not belong in the media where a superficial coating is given to our greatest gift to each other. The gift of love.

Blessings on your journey

Within our daily lives I am so moved by how air touches all that we are and all that we do. The above sensory experience spoke to me and I began to think about our collective relationship to the simple act of inhaling and exhaling. In what ways do you sense the air around you? How do you speak to it? How does the voice of air speak through you? blessings on your journey, Kathy

Synchronicity involves an inward dynamic, such as a thought, feeling, state of mind, followed by an outward manifestation that provides meaning only to you. For example, a friend of mine was mulling over her decision to marry. Feeling the need to reflect, she embarked on a long walk. During her walk she observed arches. She became entangled in arch-like vines of raspberries, she looked upward and saw an arch in a cloud, she passed under a bridge constructed with an arch design. Only she knew the significance of this encounter as it provided her a doorway to a realm of experience that required an initiation to walk under arches and even get tangled in one. Until this point she was so involved in planning her wedding from a logical, intellectual view, that she missed the spiritual undertow that seeing arches provided.

Playing mystical detective will allow you to embark on a trail that the rational mind doesn’t and can’t conceive. Synchronicity permits us to wander within the corridors of the invisible world that exists among the visible. It asks us to ponder deeper questions about the nature of reality, purpose, fate, and destiny. We accept coincidence when perhaps our lives are causally created. Sometimes words and meaning cannot be accessed because mystical realms surpass our understanding. Not every synchronistic experience is meant to wow you, but it will underscore your typical way of being aware. The times I am in a mystical space typical time and space become the backdrop as the cosmos moves in the spotlight. The time, for example, when I grappled with my purpose while walking aimlessly through a cemetery. As I peek upward an inscription on stone read, “our purpose is greater than what we can know on Earth.” Timely, huh?

Stay open and tuned in to your daily experiences. Just as you are humming a tune that just came to you someone else begins to sing the same song. Look for the messages that only you can know and perhaps you will be amazed at the direction your life takes because the choices you make will hold greater significance for you. Remember your energetic system is connected to what you cannot see and what you cannot know, but the clues you discover will reveal to you your place within the mystical landscape of which you live.

Yes, this is the life of the inner runner. Our culture yanks on the runner’s shoelace by referring to these ingrained habits as obsessions, but runners’ know differently. This is the stuff of life, the edge to which reason cannot cross. Now, combine the morning scenario with a grisly climb up a rocky slope, a slippery and sodden ravine barely visible at first light, the sound of a coyote whisking under a Hemlock tree, and the image of the “trail runner” appears.

Trail running has a Zen nature quality to it as one tramples into the underworld of flora and fauna, leaving the comfort and semblance of the concrete backdrop behind. There is a sense of inner urgency to return again and again to nature as our culture yearns for this romantic interlude. Hence our environmental issues all speak the language of returning to roots that pull us downward to our soulful core, our relationship to nature itself.

Trail runners aren’t necessarily more enlightened then others, nor more conscious of their choice to grace the ground of roots and earth, but trail running is contagious, and seems to call upon our primal nature to drink in the surroundings and become one with our wildish selves.