At a Reiki masters’ retreat with Phyllis
Furumoto in April, she read an article “In the Service of Life” by Rachel Remen, a medical doctor who believes in “re-integrating the heart and
soul into contemporary medicine”. In
this article she talks about the differences between fixing, helping and
serving. I found it inspiring and have
been looking at my Reiki practice in this context.
In my early Reiki practice I realise I was a fixer: I wanted to be able
to sort out people’s health problems. I
saw Reiki as a powerful tool to that could enable me to make people feel better. When I started working publicly as a
practitioner I was presented with a range of conditions that people wanted me
to fix. However, although people I treated
received benefit from Reiki, it was rarely what needed ‘fixing’. Rachel Ramen describes fixing as a form of
judgement, because we see the person we are treating as ‘broken’ and in need of
sorting out. I began to realise that I
could not fix people, that I could not make
anything happen with Reiki.
My practice then shifted more into being a helper, which Rachel Ramen
describes as “using your own strength to help those of lesser strength”. I can see that helping others with Reiki
treatments made me feel stronger myself, that I gained satisfaction based on
being able to use my Reiki strength to help.
However this was an un-equal relationship which ultimately could not be
truly healing as it kept the person being treated in a place of weakness.
Through teaching Reiki I began to understand the quality of service. I saw that although I performed the
initiations and taught the hand positions, it was the students themselves who
joined with this process, gave their commitment and enthusiasm, who were equal
partners in the learning and that Reiki itself gave them the healing ability. The more I taught, and the deeper my Reiki
practice became, the stronger this understanding grew, so that now I see everything
I do in teaching Reiki as calling forth different elements of service.
This has also changed how I feel about giving Reiki treatments. When someone asks me for Reiki treatment for
health problem they have, I hold the request from the point of view of service
rather than fixing or helping. I know I cannot fix their problem. I may want to help, but I’m now aware that
this creates an unequal relationship and that lasting healing will only happen
when the person themselves is as engaged in the journey towards wholeness as I
am – then, with the grace of Reiki, there is the potential for change.
I now gain most satisfaction from treatments which are based on this
mutual seeking for wholeness, rather than being a fixer or helper. I no longer want to be in the place of judgement
or inequality, even if it pleases my ego!
This only creates separation and through my Reiki teaching and practice
I have come to value connection. I have
experienced the difference between the discomfort created by disconnection,
compared to the joy that comes from connection.
I know that as I move deeper into my exploration of serving people on
their path to the place of healing they seek, I will experience greater peace, fulfillment
and balance in my life.
So I’m grateful to Phyllis for
introducing me to this thought provoking article!
How may I serve you?
