“The ability to perform Reiki comes from internal freedom. The power to be free from stress, tension and anger.” Nikita Dudani
As I left the city and drove into the country, I could feel the tensions and the chaos leave me as I drove straight ahead imagining the dark cloud drifting behind me. As I continued to drive and turned here and there, the roads became silent and the houses became fewer and I noticed both my breathing and my mind shifted into a place that is more consistent with where I believe humans are meant to be. As I turned into the driveway, stopped the car and walked to open the gate, I could see the jump blocks used for horse jumping in the field to the right and rows of apples trees and vegetables crops in the field to the left.
As I drove the truck up the winding driveway, a dog approached and chased my truck and waited at the side of the truck to greet me as I stepped onto the stone driveway. She greeted me with continuous barking all the while she was wagging her tail. I followed the fragrance of roses as I stepped through an arbor covered by their beauty. The dog ran just a few feet ahead of me barking up the pathway to announce my arrival to the occupants inside the simple but beautiful farmhouse with a porch containing two oversized rattan chairs seated with bright yellow cushions and a small table in-between, begging for someone to sit with their tea and crumpets during a lazy afternoon.
Sabine was already waiting for me as I climbed the stairs, her hair was pulled back and in the absence of makeup her beautiful smile lit up her face making me think that there was no product of makeup on the market that could do this woman justice. It was her inner power that was shining through and it shined through her body, her face and her eyes as she held out her hand to welcome me to her home. This was my second time in Sabine’s presence, she is a Reiki master teaching me the ways of Reiki and in what Sabine believes is the path to health and wellness.
I have been following a path that led me to this enchanting place in the country for many years. I’ve always believed in the energy that flows through this earth and as a small child I could feel the energy in the fields, the animals, the rivers, the oceans and the plants and the trees. I preferred to surround myself with the energy from animals and the earth rather than human beings. Energy from the earth is simple and if you sit with the earth for any length of time you will always take away exactly what you need as the earth never deceives you. Humans are far more complicated and their complicated energy has always illuded me. I believe in saying what you mean and meaning what you say and there are few people like that making interaction perplexing. The path I have been following for the last few years have turned and twisted in directions I did not expect. Empath is one turn, as I realized there was a name for the ailment I have suffered since a child. I take on other’s emotions and wear those emotions as if they are my own. This chameleon ability may sound fun to some, but it is exhausting and the need to ground one’s spirit and get a grasp of their soul is imperative to the empath’s well-being. Yoga and mediation seemed like the natural path for this grounding and I have practiced yoga and mediation off and on for many years.
However, meditation can be difficult for me as calming my mind is a daily struggle. I started to read about Reiki a few years ago and I was intrigued with the idea that you could heal your body with your mind. Being aware of the power of the mind, I had no doubt that you can heal your body by removing the negativity that enters your body leaving your body depleted and your soul malnourished. I found Sabine on the internet and after reading her introductory, I knew she would be the person to help me further along this path to Reiki healing. I signed up for Sabine’s Level I class and after spending one day with her, I knew that humans have the power to grasp the energy that vibrates through all living things and direct that energy through their minds and their hands to heal the many ailments that humans and animals suffer by clearing the blockage in the pathways of rivers and streams flowing through our bodies allowing the natural progression of energy that heals our bodies and our minds.
As I continue with Sabine on this path to Reiki, I am reminded to be mindful every day with the five principals of Reiki:
- To observe the arising of greed, anger and delusion, looking deeper for their true cause
- To appreciate the gift of life and be compassionate to all beings.
- To find the right livelihood and be honest in your work.
- To see within the ever-changing nature of your mind, emotions and body.
- To merge with the universal nature of the mind as Reiki flows within you.
More and more I am hearing the word Reiki being used in the medical field. The medical community is embracing the power of Reiki and recognizing the alternative treatment as effective in the pursuit of health and wellbeing. Reiki’s non-invasive power offers a boost to western medicine and can serve as an instant pain reliever but also helps when used as long-term preventive therapy. Does it replace western medicine? No and all Reiki masters emphasize that Reiki compliments western medicine and does not replace western ideology.
We need to recognize our bodies as energetic systems and stop the flow of negative forces within that clouds the blood that seeps through our veins, leaving our bodies open to disease and pain. Freedom comes with positive energy and positive energy comes from within. We are all capable and knowledgeable with the ability to this insight. We just have to find our internal freedom to ignite its power, the power of freedom.
Last weekend we took a stroll through a seaside community and we stumbled across this little gem in an “out-of-the-way if you blinked you missed it” location. I’ve always been enamored with community gardens and the gardens make my head turn every time I drive by one. Walking past this one during our walk-about gave me the chance to walk through the community paths, allowing me to take my time inhaling the fragrances and enjoying the handy-work of the community. The gardens are a living testament of what humans can create using a blank canvas to produce beautiful brushstrokes with our blood, sweat and tears. When I was a young girl my mother told me a story of my Irish grandfather growing vegetables in a community garden in the inner city of Montreal. She told me that he lived to go to that garden. My grandfather died when I was a young girl, but his presence made an impact in my life. He was a tough,no-nonsense kind of guy who said what was on his mind. I remember his tough presence but that didn’t stop me from looking deep into his eyes to capture a soul who wanted more. Imagining him tending to his crops in his community garden gave me a sense of peace for a man who sailed on a ship from a far-away-land where he was left with nothing to a land that promised him so much more. What he found in this new land was hours of hard labour that did not provide enough for the many mouths he had to feed. Walking through the community garden last weekend brought me serenity and a sense of calm. I hope my tough Irish grandfather found that same sense of serenity in his community garden in a land that promised him so much more.
The Art of Silence in a Noisy World 