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| Kate Jones meets Phyllis Furumoto in 1993 |
Phyllis Lei Furumoto, lineage bearer of Usui Shiki Ryoho,
came into my life at Kinnersley Castle in She was living in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the
time, so found the wet winter weather of the UK very cold! I had been curious to meet the granddaughter
of Hawayo Takata, having heard about her from my Reiki master. I was really interested in hearing what Phyllis
had to say, as she shared her grandmother’s teachings. I still remember to this
day many things she said at that first gathering, such as “I would rather have
a reiki treatment from a 1st degree student who practices regularly,
than a master who doesn’t”. This was the
beginning of a relationship with Phyllis that has been deeply significant both
personally and as a Reiki master.
Herefordshire in 1993.
My job as Administrator of The Reiki Association gave me
further opportunities to meet her over the years. In 1997 I was honoured to be asked to
organise an Usui I master’s intensive, an exploration of the 9 Elements and 4
Aspects of Usui Shiki Ryoho. She subsequently
asked me to help her to prepare articles for Reiki Magazine International by
editing her talks into a readable form. This
deepened my understanding further, which has enriched my teaching and practice.
One of the gifts Phyllis had was to see the potential in people
and she often encouraged me to “make promises beyond my capacity”. Thanks to Phyllis I found myself travelling
to the USA for the 1st time to attend conferences about the Public
Practice of Reiki. What we learned at
these conferences became useful when discussions about standards for
practitioners took place in the UK.
Phyllis was kind and generous, supporting my trips to Idaho
for the conferences by inviting me to stay with her. Alec and I were able to return the favour and
she came to visit just before we went to China for the first time. She was excited on our behalf and gave us some
money to spend. She told me that our trip
to the home of tai chi inspired her to visit Japan for the first time.
Phyllis valued authenticity in people and taking part in a 3-year
course with her called “Responding with Compassion” helped me to value and
express my authentic self. It was during
this course that she introduced me to the wonderful Transformation Game.
In 2010, following Phyllis’s cancer diagnosis, I visited her
in Arizona, to give support and Reiki during chemo. It was the biggest adventure of my life as
she needed me to drive her and I was nervous about driving – especially on the
other side of the road! However by the
end of the trip, thanks to her excellent driving instruction, I was confident
enough to drive myself into the desert alone. One day we played a Transformation
Game that led to singing becoming a greater part in my life. Phyllis loved to sing and encouraged me to
explore this aspect of myself.
5 years ago, Phyllis asked me to join the Executive Director
team of Reiki Foundation International. I
agreed and as a result had online meetings with Phyllis and two other Reiki
masters almost every Monday. Our explorations
together led to a deeper relationship and understanding. It even led me to be able to disagree with
her!
In 2017 I made my own visit to Japan on a tour she
organised. I am so grateful to have been
able to make a pilgrimage to the home of Reiki in her company.
Phyllis has been a teacher, mentor and resource – someone who
has guided, inspired and challenged me. We
have also shared a deep friendship. It
was therefore a great comfort, knowing there was little time left together, to
be able to help her with a few final tasks, to give her Reiki, sing together,
watch a great movie and finally say goodbye.
My friend is gone from this physical world, but all that we shared is part
of me and cannot be lost. I am deeply
grateful.
