Introducing Clyde

Can I introduce you to Clyde.  Clyde is a beautiful orangutan, he’s around 20-years old and is about the size of a two-year-old child.  Although he’s never done much on a day-to-day basis, except perhaps act as a playmate for my cats, he’s now proving to be a valuable helper.

When I did Reiki 1 I practised hand positions on him, with Reiki 2 I used him for distance healing and then when I became a Master Teacher I practised giving him attunements.  He took all this with good grace!

Yesterday Clyde came out with me for the first time.  I was doing a Master Teacher training day in my student’s own therapy room.  I have to say we picked up some very strange looks as we parked the car at the top of the street and walked to Gill’s.  Clyde seemed quite oblivious to it all.

Gill was a little surprised when she saw him but was very welcoming and even gave him a cuddle.  Clyde really got into the session and cooperated fully.  He received another attunement or two as Gill practised the procedure.    

I look forward to working with Clyde in the future as we train more Reiki Master Teachers.  Who knows, I may even find other roles for him as we move forward.

I wonder how other Reiki practitioners practise??

On the Threshold

I seem to have been in a perpetual state of excitement over the past couple of weeks.  It seems that Reiki has given my spiritual development a bit of a kick-start and I find that I am now seeing through new eyes.  My brain is in overdrive, constantly deep in thought and ruminating on the merits of doing this, that and the other.  I am finding that opportunities are beginning to open up and I get little glimpses of what might lay ahead.

I feel that I’m at a threshold.  

When I started Reiki, all that I envisaged was having a little Reiki practice and giving healing.  Pretty narrow vision eh?  I set about achieving this dream but found it wasn’t really happening like I wanted it to.  Yes, I was giving Reiki but mainly to family and friends – I wasn’t having people phoning me up asking for healing!  I even volunteered at a cancer centre and hospice, but no they didn’t want me either.  I had learnt to do Reiki but I couldn’t even give it away – what was wrong with me?  That’s when the self-doubt started to creep in and, I must admit, there was a time when it took over big-time and I seriously thought that I was no good at it and I would never be of service to anyone!

Stupid, stupid, stupid.  What had happened to my trust, and why on earth would I think it was all down to me – was my ego really that big?  I sat quietly and thought it all through, and I asked for help and guidance.  Oh, I got the guidance alright, but I didn’t actually like it and boy did it give me a kick up the backside.

Yes, I had learnt to do Reiki but it didn’t make me superwoman who could suddenly go out and heal the sick!  How arrogant was I thinking that people would be rushing to me to give them Reiki.  The sooner I got those thoughts out of my head, the sooner we could move on. Secondly, I was told to stop trying to run before I could walk!  Hmmmm, I’ve always been impatient so this was going to be tricky.  The third thing I was asked was what made me think that healing was my purpose?  I had naturally assumed that, because I had learnt Reiki, I would use it to give healing.  Wrong!

So I’ve done a bit of work on myself – the ego has been firmly put back in its place, I’ve stopped assuming that I know best and I’m learning to slow down and go with the flow!

Which brings me back to the beginning really.  In just a couple of weeks things have started to happen.

I was asked if I ran a Reiki Share.  I didn’t but this pushed me into doing something, so I organised just a small one and it was amazing.  This small group will continue to meet and use the time more as a development group.

I had another request from a lady asking if I had a Share she could join.  I have now joined forces with a very good friend and fellow Reiki Master - we will be expanding the shares and hopefully will be able to take everyone who asks.

I have taught and attuned my first student, which was the best experience ever.  I would love to continue teaching and pass Reiki to more people, so I hope my guides are listening and see fit to accommodate that small request!

I still don’t really know what I’m meant to do but I do know it will happen.

I trust that my "people" know what's right for me and I trust that it will happen when the time is right.

At my threshold the door is opening and the light is streaming through.

My First Reiki Teaching

There’s a first time for everything and none more exciting, while also a little intimidating, than teaching and attuning your first Reiki student.  Today was my first time!

Gill had asked me to attune her to Reiki Level III and I agreed.  Now I can hear some Reiki Masters drawing their breath through pursed lips at my going straight into teaching Level 3, rather than starting at the beginning.  So, in my defence, I will say that Gill is a really good friend of mine and I knew that she was more than ready for this attunement.  She is passionate about her Reiki work and takes the responsibility of becoming a Reiki Master seriously.  I asked my guides if it was the right thing to do and they gave their blessing.  I followed my own intuition and everything was sitting well with me.

The date had been in my diary for two to three weeks and I had prepared as well as I knew how.  The manuals were written and I had rehearsed giving an attunement many times.  I started talking to my guides about the day and asked for their help for my personal preparation.  The night before was a sleepless one for me and I was glad when it was time to get up!  In the shower I was nattering away to my “people”, asking for help, asking them to make it alright and asking them to make it good for Gill.  Ask, ask, ask, ask, ask – they must really be getting fed up with me.  Out of the shower and I turned the radio on and what was the first song I heard?  George Michael singing “you’ve gotta have faith”!  A huge smile broke out, yes, they were doing this with me.

Gill and I started and it just flowed – we didn’t always keep to the programme, but it didn’t matter.  This was Gill’s training, Gill’s attunement, and it would be right for her.  We did a meditation, fantastic.  Then it was time for the attunement and, I have to be totally honest here, there was a moment when I couldn’t think and I did panic a bit.  Then I relaxed and said “help”.  They took over and guided me through the rest of it.  The attunement done and I couldn’t get a word out of Gill.  She finally said “wow” a couple of times and eventually she was able to tell me of her experience.  I can’t share that with you because it was Gill’s experience, her story to tell if she chooses, but suffice it to say I think she had an amazing attunement.

Personally, I thought I could have done better and I am almost certain that I missed something out.  But I was told that I did ok, and that the intent was the crucial thing and I had set my intent at the beginning.

After lunch we got down to some practical work.  Gill gave me a Reiki session using her new Master symbol.  Wow, another truly amazing experience.  Again, I can only talk for my experience, but it was the first time that I felt the energy work its way through my body.  I was aware of each spinning chakra and also saw each colour.   The feeling of unconditional love was overwhelming and, yes, the tears were flowing.

So my first teaching experience was absolutely amazing.  It felt so right and I know that this is what I want to do.  This is the beginning of the next phase of my journey and it’s so exciting.

Finally, I thank Gill for being my first student, but someone had to be first!!  I know that we are destined to work together and I so look forward to our journey.