My experience with an Alternative Therapy
There are alot of alternative therapies out there from a variety of different backgrounds. Some of them are really out there and some have their basis scientific principles. What Im going to do is review some of the alternative therapies that I have experienced during my journey for healing.
Have you heard of Reiki?
Reiki is a hands on healing therapy. Reiki literally means Univeral Lifeforce. It is where the practitioner places their hands on different parts of the body allowing the energy or Reiki to pass through them to the person being "healed".
Reiki was first re discovered by Mikao Usui in Japan. There are a number of stories about the history of Reiki from it being taught by people from outer space to it being deeply entrenched in the Buddhist teachings. It was first brought to the West by Hawayo Takata who started Reiki's boom.
Whatever the history, Reiki for me has been an amazing journey.
I first experienced Reiki at the age of 16 when I used to visit an alternative bookstore and out the back was a lady who practised Reiki. I walked away from that session feeling uplifted and amazingly clear. I wanted to know more about it. I wanted to know how to use this energy for myself.
There are three levels to learning Reiki.
Reiki 1 or Shoden where you learn the history of Reiki, it's various uses and the most important self healing. It is taught over a two day weekend where you are attuned to the energies and recognise how the energy feels for you. It is an amazing experience. To me it felt like the flood gates had opened and emotions that I had never felt came to the surface. It was like a home coming where I was experiencing an influx of what I believed to be love flooding through my body. It began a journey that I was totally forced to face my fears I supressed and the connections of life that was all around me.
Reiki 1 initiation brought a flood of tears. Deep sobing. I was re connecting with my heart.
I stayed with Reiki 1 for about a year until I thought I was ready and felt comfortable with the energy to move onto the next level.
Reiki 2 or Okuden is where you continue your journey with Reiki acknowledging your preparedness to develop a deeper awareness of the energy and your connection to it. It teaches you how to connect with Reiki on a deeper level by the use of various symbols and mantras, increasing your sensitivity to the energy. This sensitivity allows you to use Reiki not only on yourself but on others as well. It opens up deeper parts of yourself so that you can continue to heal on a deeper emotional level.
Reiki 2 initiation brought laughter deep deep laughter. I was reconnecting with the Joy within.
My experience with Reiki 2 was amzing to say the least. I learnt that we really are all connected on some level. That there really is no distance seperating us and that the life force that is in each one of us is the same. The analogy I like is that in a house we have lots of light blubs of various voltages, but the current that lights them up is all the same. The more I practised Reiki the more that was opened up to me and the more I had to look at within myself. Sure you can use Reiki on others but without healing yourself then it wouldnt make too much sense. So for me Reiki has been a self healing journey.
It was years later when I was 27 that a friend of mine from the USA came to visit and taught me the 3rd level of Reiki or Shinpiden.
This is where you learn to teach others. You affirm your dedication to the Reiki energy and way of life and deepen your commitment to your self healing. It is a huge responsibility that at the time I dont think I was aware of. I dont teach many people unless I am asked to. More so I think my dedication to Reiki energy has been for my self healing rather than becoming a practitioner, but Reiki can't be kept for yourself and I get myself into situations where I am always using the energy for others.
Reiki 3 brought a great sense of connection and peace. I was one with everything.
I am humbled by the journey and experience that Reiki has given me. It is a journey of self discovery. At first it might be all love and light but the deeper your self healing the deeper you go inside yourself and experience the emotions that we all hide within ourselves. This at times can be extremely painful and revealing. It's a journey we cannot take lightly and we really whould be made aware of. But I think that it is a journey that is truely amazing and worthwhile. Once your eyes are opened there is no turning back.
Reiki is a way of life. A connection to the universal energy that makes you an instrument of the universe for the greater good.
There are various sites on the net that can point you to a Reiki centre close to you, and there are many theories on how Reiki was discovered and whould be practised so if you are interested find what rings true to your heart. That is what is important. I still use Reiki today, not as much as I would like or should be doing, but I feel this is going to change. It is time I really re connect with this energy.