20. "Reiki-Do"

[Note: This post was originally posted on NaNoPubYe.org 's blog site,
then moved to this site on 8/7/2005.]

I am a Third Degree Reiki Master-Teacher. *

Briefly... "Reiki" is a gentle method of healing-touch. It uses the energy of unconditional love -- the universal, life-giving energy that is all around us -- to harmonize the energies/vibrations of the body, mind and soul to help mitigate and heal the causes and effects of illnesses and injuries.

Reiki is not a religion or belief system, but can be practiced in conjunction with any religion or belief system. Five simple principles or attitudes are usually taught to Reiki initiates:

1.) Just for today -- Don't get angry;
2.) Just for today -- Do not worry;
3.) Just for today -- Be kind & respectful to others;
4.) Just for today -- Live honestly; and
5.) Just for today -- Show gratitude; in all things give thanks.

Those principles fit in with every major belief system that I know of. They can also be practiced by those who prefer to remain separate from organized religions. While the Reiki techniques channel the highest vibrating energy in the universe to harmonize the body, the Reiki principles harmonize the practitioner with herself and the community.

(If 51% of us practiced these principles one day at a time, it would not be long before there would be no more war. I know. I know. I already wrote that post (#9), but I just couldn't resist. The vision of certain persons (who shall remain nameless) "throwing a war" and nobody coming to it, was just too compelling to not mention at least once. But I promise not to go off on that tangent right now.)

"Reiki" is a Japanese word meaning "Universal Life Energy", the divine life-giving force.

"Do" is the Japanese word for "path". In Japanese the "Do" is attached to certain terms to indicate that the activity referred to can also be "a way of life" at the same time (e.g. - judo, bushido, aikido, and kendo) as well as a healing technique. In other words, its principles can be applied to every aspect of the practitioner's daily life. I've known this for some time, but have been dealing with the basics of recouping, relearning and recreating my life on more basic levels since my accident in 2000. That's the simplistic answer, but it will do for now. Suffice it to say, I'm ready to move on to a more responsible way of living. I'm ready to advance another step in my recovery progress.

What brings this up? Where is this coming from? What's this have to do with writing?

Well, it's a combination of things. First of all, I was not satisfied with my blog post yesterday -- especially the wimpy, non-committal, unimpassioned last paragraph. My emotions were battened down like Key West getting ready for a hurricane. I couldn't seem to access them. I still had my head down and butt tucked, while saying all the "right" words, because I knew I should. Not cool. That won't get me anywhere ... won't accomplish a darn thing, except failure and guilt and yada yada, blah blah blah and so forth and so on. And I still won't get that book written! [:rolls eyes:]

The Second thing involved in this is my 21-day challenge. My 6th 21-day challenge was over this last Thursday (7/21), with very mixed results. It wasn't a "failure", but it wasn't a "bulls-eye" success, either. The "good" news is that I wrote every day and posted 17 blog entries this month, so far. The "fair-to-middling" news is that I didn't post blogs every day, which was my aim for this challenge, with the goal of making that a habit. I didn't do too bad, though, considering. I find it interesting that last week, when my health was the worst -- TIAs (mini-strokes), again -- was my best week of the challenge, as far as daily blog posts. Anyway, what I mean to say is that I want/need another go at my "daily blog post" challenge. I also want to work on some basics that "might/should" help me find where I hid my b*lls (chuztpah). ;-)

It seems to me, "Reiki-Do" can do that, somehow. I'm not quite sure how, yet, but it feels right -- like it's what I need right now. So I'm going to meditate on it and come up with something to do with that as part of my 7th 21-day challenge, along with renewing my "daily blog post" challenge. I feel like this is more of a "picking up loose ends and finishing and tying them off" sort of thing than starting something new. So I should get lots of helping energy from Mercury Retrograde. That'll be a novel experience! (pun intended) ;-)

I'll let you know how it goes.

Take care, Y'all and… Write On!
~ Nanette

* For those to whom such things are important:
I am certified in both the Usui Reiki and Tibetan Reiki traditions.

© Nanette Y. Francis, 2005. All Rights Reserved.