Enrichment of Community

My Nepalese brother in law Tara grew up in a small village in Nepal where he would have experienced strong community all his life.  I’m sure this enriched him as a person, even if the living conditions were basic.  The human warmth this experience of community brings is part of his personality – and that of many other Nepalese.  They share what they have without question because that’s what communities do.  

In my early years I didn’t have much experience of community: my family did not originate in the places we lived, so we didn’t have much connection with those around us.  My first really enriching experience of community was in my teens, spending several weeks with my family and an international group working on a voluntary project in France.  Perhaps this early experience of living with people speaking different languages and joining together to offer service to help others is why I love being part of the international Reiki community and when I go to international events I have a feeling of coming home.

I’ve also experienced community through my involvement with The Reiki Association over the past 24 years.  During my time on Council my mission was to ensure that The Reiki Association could continue to serve its purpose as a place for people with Reiki to be connected in community.  In the earlier years I was ambivalent about being in community – I would often go to gatherings somewhat reluctantly, but once there always found it enriching (if sometimes challenging!).  As a result I really looked forward to going to this year’s annual gathering and found it a supportive and enjoyable experience.

I feel that something about being in community has been healed in me, so over the years I’ve been able to make deeper connections with my own community of Reiki 

students and friends.

Thanks to this community that the fundraising for Nepal I started last month has been successful: I was able to raise over £100 at each of the Reiki Shares; the Tea, Cake and Reiki Tasters event at Reflections in Ludlow raised over £200; other students not able to attend these events also donated money or contributed cakes.  The afternoon at Reflections was lovely,  thanks to those who came to support the event: making cakes, helping to set up the room, serving tea, making signs so people would find us, going out into the market place to sell the remaining cakes, washing up and making people feel welcome: in other words community in action!  I could not have done it without them and I realise that the reason I felt able to put on such an event was because I felt confident that I would be supported by my community. 

So I’m deeply grateful to everyone who is a part of this community and has supported my fund-raising in so many ways.  I’m delighted to let you know that I not only reached the target of raising £500 but gone beyond it: the current total is £667.63 and it may rise further.

So while I may not have had the advantage Tara had of growing up in a strong community, Reiki – through the 4^th Aspect of Mystic Order – has given me experience of the value and potential a community has.  I’m so happy this has enabled me to support those in Nepal whose lives have been devastated.  Thank you to all who have contributed and for being a part of this community.

20 Birds

In Benbecula airport, during my recent holiday to the Hebrides, I noticed an artwork on the wall.  There was an image of a large seagull, made up of many smaller birds.  Next to it was the following story which reminded me of my experience of Reiki community, from the small scale at Reiki Sharing Groups, to the large scale of the Reiki Association and international Reiki gatherings. 

It’s the story of Fichaed Eun (Feecret Ee-anne - meaning 20 birds in Gaelic), inspired by an ancient story from Persian mythology called The Simurgh (meaning 30 birds in the Farsi language).

“Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a community of birds, birds of many different colours, sizes and songs.  Most of the time they lived alongside each other in harmony.  There were occasionally disagreements and conflicts which were resolved in various ways, through discussion, through mediation, but more often through heated argument or even violence.  Several among the birds felt a yearning for life to be better and wanted someone or something to provide strong leadership and a clear sense of vision and direction.

Legend and local rumour held that somewhere such a leader existed in the form of a golden bird with the name of Fichaed Eun.  So one day when a tiny wren came across a golden feather that bore the words ‘I hold your future’ a palpable excitement spread through the community. We must find the great bird that left us this message!  The time has come for us to meet our saviour!  Let those who wish to take on the challenge come forwards.

And so the young, fit and brave among the birds set off on a journey to find Fichaed Eun.

Their journey was long and hard and it took them through rough skies and across challenging landscapes.  They were tempted by monsters who screamed at them from the tops of mountains and demons who tried to drag them into the deepest valleys.  Many did not have the strength to resist and gave in to the temptations along the way.  But finally a small group of twenty remained exhausted by flying ever onward to reach their goal.

And at last as they were flying over a great lake, a small voice piped up from the flock:

“Look!  There it is...Down there... Fichaed Eun”

And as the birds looked down, they saw the shadow of a huge powerful bird moving below them.  They looked around to find the great bird who was creating the shadow...until slowly it dawned on them that it was a reflection of their own group in the lake below, flying in unison and harmony.  Their

shared vision and determination to succeed had enabled them to achieve anything.  They realised that Fichaed Eun was themselves and the totality of all the strengths and talents they had to offer.”

The artwork was created by 20 children.  Next to it are also the following words, which resonated with me about living with Reiki: “Fichaed Eun represents all of us!  Each bird is unique and brilliant, each with his/her special characteristics, little ways and individual skills.  When we realise our strengths and talents we become strong and powerful and better able to make a difference.   We can support and look after each other and have a lot of fun as a team.  We can put all of our ideas together and all our hopes together.  We can use our group voice to inspire people to listen, think and act!”