Why Self Care is Important for World Peace!

One of the most important gifts I've received from Reiki is learning about self care. 

My favourite quote from the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh is "If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society will benefit from our peace."

Many of us long for greater peace, especially when there is violence like the recent attack in Tunisia.  In my experience the best way to achive this peace is through better self care.

When I'm not taking care of myself I'm more irritable and less tolerant, due to stress and tiredness.  Most of all I judge myself.  This has a negative impact on those around me and I then react to their negativity, creating a downward spiral that is far from peaceful.  If you have small children exhaustion may be unavoidable, but many of us tolerate a level of stress and ill health that simply isn't good for us or our community.  The Reiki Principles advise "Just for today do not anger" which could be interpreted to point towards self care, so that irritation and anger are less likely to arise.  Could there be a link between the amount of anger in the world and the lack of self care - the terrorist suicide bombers being the extreme example? 

Feeling more positive!

Over the years Reiki practice has helped me to judge myself less harshly, achieve better health and greater happiness.   I'm aware that being more peaceful benefits others, because I have seen the results in my family, friends and others I'm connected with.   Instead of being fearful, angry and resentful I bring more positive feelings of kindness and tolerance (not all the time, I'm still human!) which encourages more positive feelings in others.

So how does Reiki help with this? While filming the Reiki Council film introducing Reiki, I was fortunate to meet Dr Rosie Daniel of the Bristol Cancer Centre.  In her interview about Reiki she talked about how when your energy is low, your thoughts are often more negative and you can be less good at caring for yourself.  If you then judge yourself for not doing what you know you ought to, such as taking more exercise, this further depletes your energy. By receiving the energy of Reiki, your energy levels can be raised enough to begin to make some better self care decisions.  I'd also say that the effect of Reiki that many people experience (myself included) is a reduction in stress levels, better sleep and peace of mind, resulting in more positive thoughts and better self care decisions.

Self care also means having greater awareness and taking action, which isn't easy when you're exhausted and stressed.  However when you have a little more energy, or space in your head, it can be easier.  Making one small decision - to receive Reiki - can be a catalyst for improved self care in many forms.

The ability to serve others is greater when you have more vitality.  Taking care of yourself can therefore bring greater peace and well being to your family and community.  So instead of blaming yourself for a lack of self care, do something to improve the situation: get more sleep, change your diet or simply receive Reiki!

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.

My Nepalese Family

Like so many others my thoughts are currently with the people of Nepal after the recent earthquake.  When disaster strikes in other parts of the world it is our natural desire to want to do something to help.  Some Reiki practitioners send distant Reiki treatments to those affected.  However Phyllis Furumoto (lineage bearer of Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki) advises that we think twice before following this impulse.  It is important for those who receive Reiki to give their permission and, as we do not know the many individuals involved, this is not possible.  In one sense we have no connection with them, certainly less than with our own selves, family and community.  In wanting to send Reiki to such events are we perhaps not seeing these individual people, but an imaginary thing that needs fixing.  Phyllis suggests that instead we look at what it is in ourselves that feels this need to help.  What is the wound in ourselves that resonates with the hurt of others so that we want to act?  To send Reiki to that pain is very appropriate and of course permission from ourselves is easier to obtain.

 

The recent earthquake in Nepal is far away and I don’t know the people involved, but it does touch me   My sister fell in love while trekking in Nepal – after I had sent her some Reiki for her travels!  Sadly the marriage didn’t last, but they are still friends and the boys see their father regularly (he still lives in the UK).  Although I have never visited Nepal, the stories about it from other members of my family have become part of our family story.    

personally because my sister married a Nepalese man, so my beautiful nephews are half Nepalese.

Reiki has given me a greater sense of connection with the world family, many of my Reiki master friends are from different countries and cultures, which I relish.  I have learned that although there are many differences between us, we also share some essential qualities: a need for love, safety and nourishment; an essential nature that is kind and considerate rather than violent.  The kindness is something I’ve heard spoken of a lot about Nepalese people and have certainly experienced this quality in my brother in law.

So when we heard the news of the earthquake, we were in touch with him immediately to ask after his family and friends back in Nepal.  So far he has heard that family and some friends are fine, although worried about aftershocks.  Some friends he had not heard from.  I’m also grateful, perhaps a bit selfishly, that this didn’t happen while he was on a visit to Kathmandu just a couple of months ago.

My sister immediately organised an event at work and raised over £300 selling cakes and Nepalese crafts.  This inspired me: while sending Reiki may not be appropriate, this sort of help is clearly needed and welcomed.   Money is also energy, so I would like to send this sort of energetic help to those in my extended family.  I’ve therefore set up a fundraising page and my aim is to raise £500.   If you would like to contribute go here: https://www.justgiving.com/Kate-Reiki-Jones

I’m also trying to think of a Reiki themed fund-raiser: a Reiki-a -thon (doing Reiki treatments all day for a day)?  Reiki share with all donations to the fund?  Reiki tea party?  Distant treatment for donations?  Any ideas welcome.

"Don't Worry It May Never Happen"

Feeling Calm about the dentist! (Photo Jim Reynolds)

On the wall in my grandparents house was a little wooden plaque on which was written “Don’t worry, it may never happen”.  I remember looking at those words as a child and disagreeing with them: I was going to have a tooth out, so there was no point not worrying about it!  My early experiences of dentistry were pretty traumatic, so the anticipated procedure filled me with dread.

I’m often interested how the same experiences in life are often repeated and understand that when an issue is unresolved it will re-occur, to offer another opportunity for transformation.   So last month I once again faced a tooth extraction.  Co-incidentally I saw recently that my mother still has the little wooden plaque with its suggestion whatever we are worrying about may not happen.  Once again I faced with the inevitability of the tooth extraction, but I’m able to see those words differently thanks to the Reiki Principles and my Reiki practice.  The first Reiki principle is similar to the words on the plaque: Just for today do not worry.

This Principle invites us to be in the present moment, where what we are worrying about doesn’t exist: worries are always about something in the future or past.  Understanding that helps me to see the truth in the statement my grandparents had on their wall: that when it comes to whatever you are worrying about happening, it is most likely that it won’t be as bad as you imagine.  So yes, when I was a child I did have to have the tooth out, but it was less traumatic than I had imagined, I survived and after the visit to the dentist was a visit to the cake shop!

This time I also found that there was no need to worry – with the added bonus that I knew I was receiving a lot of support from my Reiki friends.  Some sent encouraging messages and many were doing distant Reiki treatment for me.  I was surprised to discover that, unlike the previous occasion, my body did not go into shock as a result of the past trauma, which I feel was thanks to the healing from Reiki.  The first Reiki principle helped to remind me to stay present, so I could be aware that the pain was brief and bearable, rather than go into the panic I used to experience in the past.   I realised that previously my fear of the past repeating itself had actually made the experience more painful and traumatic.

The dentist and dental nurse were kind and supportive and, being present instead of lost in fear, I was able to be aware of this.  I received Reiki through-out from my husband and my own hands, which was very comforting.  I think the dentist wondered what I was doing holding the side of my face after the extraction because I certainly wasn’t feeling anything!  What I was doing, of course, was helping the clotting and subsequently I experienced no further bleeding, which I’m sure is thanks to Reiki.

I’m very grateful to everyone for their support and to Reiki for helping me through this challenge.  I now understand the wisdom of the phrase my grandparents held dear, and hope it’s a life lesson learned and I can keep the rest of my teeth!

Reiki Comfort

During the dark days of winter I sometimes comfort myself with the thought that the sun is still shining,

even if it’s hidden by clouds or during the night when it’s on the other side of our planet.  I think about going up in a plane on a dull day, above the greyness to where the light is bright and the sky blue.  Reiki comfort is always there too.   I have never forgotten Phyllis mentioning that her mother had said Reiki was really all about comfort.  The longer I practice Reiki the more true this feels.

There’s the physical comfort of warmth that comes from receiving Reiki, the relaxation that eases of pain and tension, improving my quality of life in this ageing body.

Then there is the comfort for the mind, enabling my busy head to slow down, allowing space for insights and intuition to arise, enhancing my creativity in finding solutions to life’s challenges.  This has a positive effect for my body too, as more energy can be released to support my immune system, instead of being in the stressful ‘fight or flight’ state that takes up so much physical and mental resources. 

Receiving Reiki for the first time after a sudden bereavement, I received much comfort in both these ways.  I was amazed to feel some relief from the physical and mental pain from such a simple and un-intrusive treatment.  The gentle touch of friendly hands is healing in itself, but with the addition of the energy of Reiki, which felt like sunshine inside my head, I experienced a deep comfort I’d been unable to find anywhere else.

So I was delighted when one of my clients recently said my hands were like sunshine.  She had been facing some challenges in her life and responded to Reiki like a flower opening in the sun – what a joy! There’s a deep comfort that comes from being able to offer that sort of support to others in need.

There is another kind of comfort that I now appreciate and recognise far more these days: comfort on the spiritual level.  I recently came across a description of healing that I feel really fits Reiki: “Healing does not mean finding and treating every single inner scar which sends its message to haunt us.  It means going even deeper... to the core of our self, to the heart of our spirit, where we find the light and warmth of our own core qualities of love and peace”.  I feel this is what we have the potential to do with Reiki: we can bypass the pain of the past and re-connect with the inner peace and love, thereby improving quality of life and happiness.

So if you are feeling a bit under the weather, have been dealing with a difficult change in your life or simply feel you need a bit of comfort, I hope you can find some Reiki to help you –whether it’s by receiving treatment, treating yourself or attending a Reiki share, class or workshop.

Like the sunshine Reiki is always there, waiting to comfort us, no matter what time of day or night.