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Happy New Year 2015: a Year of New Beginnings!

December 27, 2014 By

In Buddhism there is a term, Honnin’ Myo…starting fresh.  For many of us, January 1st is an opportunity to start fresh with new determinations, goals and intentions.  If you compassionately bring awareness to your Reiki practice in 2014, what do you feel proud of?  What do you feel was missing?  Was it your daily Reiki practice on yourself?  Did you fall short on working on others either in person or thru Distant Reiki sessions (if you are at least a Level 2)?  Was it not attending an Energy Share this year or participating in a community event as a Reiki practitioner?  Did you want to participate in an Energy research project, but never created the time nor opportunity to do so?  Let’s start 2015 with a refreshed attitude and have the most awesome Reiki year yet!

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Sending Reiki when there is a Global Need

December 15, 2014 By

I first went to Australia in 2002 for my daughter’s wedding.  I also taught my first international Reiki class there during another visit.  Australia (Sydney in particular) has been particularly welcoming to my daughter, and the people always gracious  and kind.  I was saddened and shocked when my daughter who no longer lives there contacted me to inform me about the recent hostage crisis and asked me to send Buddhist prayers.  Not only did I do so but also began to send Reiki for the best possible outcome.  I contacted members of both my Reiki community as well as my SGI Buddhist community to support .  Please recognize that we live in an interdependent world.  When there is a crisis or challenge somewhere outside of our own home communities, we still can send powerful prayer, energy and intention to support healing and positive change.  All those impacted by this recent crisis still need the support that additional Reiki can provide!

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Reiki, Hugs and feeling Connected

October 21, 2014 By

On a recent trip to Chicago for a family wedding, we went to Millennium Park.  Since the weather was wonderful for an October day in Chicago, we bought  sandwiches, picnicked and enjoyed people watching.  With Mindfulness, everything and everyone…every sound…was interested and inviting.  After we took photos by the Cloud with what seemed like at least 100 other folks, we started strolling around this wonderful park.  All of a sudden I saw these brightly smiling young faces of college age women; they were Psychology students and had an assignment to offer ‘hugs’ to individuals and then ask them a few questions about whether they felt better after the hugs and if they felt more connected.  We had such a joyful interaction that we also wound up taking photos together.  I must admit that even though I had been feeling very happy and connected on a body-mind-spirit before the hugs, I definitely felt even better afterwards.

Feeling more deeply connected with oneself, with others if you are working on another individual and spirit is also what happens with Reiki.  For so many of us, even if we are

Hugs in Millennium Park

Hugs (like Reiki) can make one feel more Connected!

feeling well before giving a Reiki session, we usually feel even healthier, fuller and more connected afterwards.

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Reiki in India

April 20, 2014 By

I just returned from a 12 day trip to India; this was my first time and quite honestly I had never felt a prior desire to travel there.  With being an empathic healer, I believed that I could feel overwhelmed by all the poverty, suffering, noise, crowding and needs of the people and country.  Something, however, shifted and I knew that it was the time to go…even though I wasn’t certain what was calling me.  It turned out it was a few things calling me (besides of course wanting to experience the Taj Mahal!).  One thing was an opportunity for me to live mindfully and be present in mind, body and spirit; using the Mindfulness practices that I teach at UAMC, I could bring curiosity and compassion to the moment while releasing judgment and any ‘drama’ or ‘trauma’.  This was an amazing time of experiencing colors, movement, outstanding forts, palaces and practices.  It was an opportunity to open my heart to the people and sights throughout the 5 cities (and many miles) that I visited whether on the Ganges, at a small local school, the site where the Buddha gave his first sermon and more!

In terms of Reiki, I use hands on Reiki practice on myself  frequently during these types of travels.  In particular I did self Reiki sessions on myself during long plane or bus rides, daily in my hotel to rebalance my system, if I had eaten too much of the fabulous cuisine and more.  Remember that Reiki isn’t just what we do, but whom we are and the intuition and connections that come thru us.  Reiki allowed me to connect on a full level daily with vitality and clarity.  In addition I worked on two individuals from my tour group; one was a man who had a recent knee replacement, and the knee was painful and inflamed; the other was a beautiful disabled veteran who  didn’t feel well for a few days

Marsha at the Taj Mahal

The Energy of the Taj Mahal

from a cold or some type of virus.  Both responded well to the Reiki intervention.  In addition, when I visited with Indian family of my daughter’s sister in law in Varanasi, both Babu and Auntie were amazed by the benefits of Reiki.

So…the next time you go traveling, please remember that you always take your Reiki with you and whom you are as a Reiki practitioner!

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Being ‘Peaceful and at Ease’

December 7, 2013 By

I recently returned from an amazing adventure to Myanmar (formerly known as Burma).  My niece lives  there with her husband and 18 month old daughter.  Since I missed their wedding in Egypt 4 years ago I definitely did not want to miss seeing their lives in this very unique country; Myanmar  has only opened their doors again to many foreigners during the past 2-3 years since there has been a government shift towards more democracy.  I was fortunate to meet up with my older daughter  for part of the trip, and together we visited Inle and Bagan besides Yangon.  Do see the movies ‘the Lady’ and ‘Beyond Yangon’ for a historical perspective about the challenges that this country faced not too long ago.  Parts of the country were also impacted by the 2008 Tsunami  with a loss of possibly 140,000 lives despite there not being much publicity about it for various  reasons.

I want to talk about my intention for this trip:  to be ‘peace and at ease’ ….no matter what!  This is a phrase that we repeat in the Metta Sutta which I have been teaching and using for the past 2 1/2 years.  To be honest, in the past, I would get uneasy by  new travel experiences especially if I was to be traveling alone.  My goal was to totally overcome this issue, and I did send Reiki to many aspects of the trip even before I left Tucson.  For example, my flights on Air China (they were great!) from LAX and  thenTaipei were very close in time and in different terminals; they were even closer in time (with us also having a 1/2 hr delay leaving Yangon).  I was amazed by my sense of comfort and pleasure, even enjoying my interactions with individuals at the airport.  I was initially also worried about whether there would be difficulty with changing my $100 bills; the country does not yet take credit cards, and it is recommended to bring ‘crisp and new’ $100 bills.  I addressed this concern with Metta and Reiki and it went well.  One time my taxi driver had no idea where to take me and had little English comprehension; he drove to the side of the road and sat for nearly 15 minutes; I focused on my breath and brought mindfulness  to the experience of being in that taxi at that particular time in that particular circumstance and remained ‘peaceful and at ease’.  At times I wandered around the city of Yangon (probably the only American woman there) not knowing where I was heading and finding a wonderful flow to that
 adventure; I even wound up finding a neighborhood festival and was an honored guest being fed wonderful delicacies and having many photos taken with the participants (especially the beautiful children).

I am grateful to this experience.  I truly believe that with this new confidence about traveling while being ‘peaceful and at ease’, additional parts of the world are now calling to me!

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Being Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s Life

December 7, 2013 By

This past week I explored with women in one of my support groups at the Medical Center how Nelson Mandela’s life might inspire them in their own lives.  Women were inspired by his ability to forgive others and not hold onto grudges, as well as his stand for non violence.  Others addressed being inspired by his passion about the ’cause’ and his ability despite obstacles and extraordinary challenges of imprisonment to never lose his focus.  Still others talked about his connection with humanity  and a clear vision that he worked tirelessly to see manifested in society.  I personally was touched by his life condition that seemed to continually shine thru his eyes, smile and essence.

Although individuals frequently minimize their own impact on society and ability to facilitate change, remember that we all carry a piece of the responsibility and opportunity.  Let’s remember Nelson Mandela in our Metta prayer.  Let’s remember him when we work with the Reiki Ideals especially:  ‘just for now I shall not anger’, ‘I shall honor and respect all beings’ and ‘I give thanks in gratitude for my many blessings’.  I give thanks that Nelson Mandela lived and brought so much light, wisdom and positive  transformation to not only South Africa but the world.

 

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What is the Quality of your Sleep?

August 20, 2013 By

How often do you wake up feeling rested and restored after a night’s sleep?  Many individuals feel challenged to fall asleep, stay asleep or enjoy the nourishment of a fulfilling night’s sleep.  I would encourage each of you to assess aspects of your sleep hygiene and ask yourself how you might make positive changes.  First of all, be mindful about having drinks with caffeine  (as well as eating chocolate which can stimulate the endocrine system) too late in the day/evening; perhaps you need to also be mindful about the amount of liquid you drink before sleep if you find yourself waking up to go to the bathroom.  Avoid getting on your computer or other electronic devices within an hour of sleep.  Begin to dim the lights in your home to stimulate your melatonin.  Start to decrease outside stimuli which can over-excite the system.  Also, avoid having lights from alarms, answering machines, or clocks close to your bed.  I personally find it helpful to set a routine such as putting on some lotion or massage oil on my feet and hands as well as on my shoulders.

In terms of Reiki, do you remember to do your energy clearing before going to bed?  You can set your intention to have a good night’s sleep and recalling aspects of your dreams that could be helpful to your learning,   growth and healing.  I sometimes do a chakra balancing while in bed in that state between awake and falling asleep.  If I am too charged up or connecting energetically with individuals or circumstances, I might draw the sequence of symbols in my left hand, energetically write and state my intention 3x,draw the symbol sequence again, bring my right hand over the left , and send Reiki to having a deep and restorative sleep.  One can also picture a beautiful flower with petals over each chakra and see the petals closing slowly and comfortably; this allows the energy to quiet down and to prepare yourself more deeply for a delicious state of sleep.

If you have a dog or cat at home, watch them sleep and allow their behaviors to inspire and teach you.  Remember that our sleep is also impacted by what we are thinking and feeling; make certain that you are giving yourself regular Reiki self treatments and also working with your Reiki Ideals.

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Reiki and the Trip to Cousin Jenny’s 100th BD Celebration

June 15, 2013 By

My Reiki students frequently hear my reminder that Reiki can be done anytime and anywhere.  Let spirit direct you where it is most needed!

From June 5th – 7th, I had the opportunity to attend the Association Oncology Social Work Conference in San Diego. The first day while climbing the stairs to a conference room, I sensed a woman having difficulty climbing the stairs. Because of our schedules at that moment,  I offered to give her some Reiki for her knee sometime before the conference concluded.  Two days later she took me up on my offer and was so impressed with the results that she is now considering Reiki training for herself.  Another colleague had a very traumatic loss in her family and benefited from the comforting, soothing and rebalancing effect of Reiki; she too anticipates taking a Reiki class this summer to continue her healing.

Following the conference, I was off to Lake Forest, California, for my amazing Cousin Jenny’s 100th Birthday celebration; she is bright, gorgeous, wise and quite the family historian and story teller.  The following day at her daughter’s home where there was more opportunity for  family loving and sharing, both my husband and I began providing Reiki to many of the family members.  Some had specific requests such as hips or shoulders that were hurting, and others were just curious including a fabulous 14 y.o. distant cousin whom I had just met that weekend.

My intention each day is for divine light, love and healing to flow through me and to be of service for the highest good; remember that this can also be your intention as well!

Cousin Jenny's 100th BD Celebration

Cousin Jenny’s 100th BD Celebration 6/8/13

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Being Strong

October 3, 2012 By
Marsha on the 'Rocky Stairs'

Being Strong! Philadelphia Msm of Art

The day after I attended a wonderful family wedding in  Philadelphia, I visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art and ran up the ‘Rocky Stairs’; there was also a statue of ‘Rocky’ where many of the visitors posed and  sang the theme song from the movies.  I started to reflect on what it means to ‘be strong’ and what we need to do for positive self care.  Are you exercising regularly?  Eating well and drinking enough water?  Getting nourishing sleep?  Are you surrounding yourself with good friends and cultivating new interests?  Are your thoughts and beliefs promoting or diminishing your inner strength and self worth?

Reiki will help you to be strong in body, mind and spirit!  When you do your ‘energy clearing’ in the morning and evening, you can release limiting beliefs and state an intention to connect to your inner strength and courage.  You can put your hands on your solar plexus and manifest greater confidence and  inner power.  If you have received at least Level 2 Reiki training, you can send Reiki energy to an affirmation such as ‘I am a strong individual in all areas of my life’ or ‘I use my inner strength with integrity and wisdom’.  One can also send energy to a goal such as ‘to feel stronger in new situations’.

With a dynamic Reiki practice you will connect with an inner strength that will manifest in all areas of your life!

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Births and New Beginnings

August 29, 2012 By

September 2012: Birth and New Beginnings 

The launch of my new website has truly been like a birth for me; it also coincides with my birthday which has given me the rich opportunity to reflect on births, new beginnings and Reiki.  I am birthing a new opportunity to communicate with my students and to expand my capabilities as a RMT and healer.  How do you feel about your birth and being birthed into this world?  If you experienced a difficult or traumatic birth and are at least a Level 2 Reiki student, you may want to send Reiki to healing your birth trauma and to experiencing a more welcoming and comfortable beginning.  If you feel challenged by persistent feelings about not being loved or cared for in the way that you had desired as a baby, work with the Reiki Ideal: I give thanks in gratitude for my many blessings; write until you feel complete and then do Reiki on yourself where you are guided to.  Despite any early life disappointments, can you connect with gratitude for having been given life?

If you happen to be pregnant or are blessed to have a family member pregnant, can you connect with the sweetness and potentiality of this new being and send it love, support and deep gratitude for the gift it will soon bring into your own life! In addition, if you are birthing new ideas, programs, events, relationships, do more Reiki on your lower chakras.  Since you may feel unsettled by these changes, work on your root chakra for extra grounding.  The solar plexis, the seat of confidence and personal power, may also desire more Reiki attention.  Remember to clear limiting beliefs in your daily energy clearing and enjoy these new beginnings in your life!

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