The Healing Power of Touch February 16, 2012

From the moment of birth we crave touch, to be held, caressed, nurtured. The cry of an infant can be silenced just by bringing them into our arms.  A child’s fear relinquished with a hug.  Affection displayed by the holding of hands.  Even a simple touch on the shoulder of another can bring comfort.  As humans we need touch from birth and on through to death.  I have a Hospice patient that I visit weekly.  At one of our visits he was not feeling well and remained in bed.  I sat by his side just holding his hand.  I told him that I would remain for our hour together whether he was asleep or awake and just hold his hand, and he said to me “Thank-you, I don’t get to do that much any more”.  We do tend to neglect the elderly when it comes to touching.  We believe them to be too frail or too ill to touch, when if fact they welcome the peace that is given by just a simple touch of the hand.  Even our pets crave attention, begging for another rub behind the ear or rolling over for that pat on the belly, or the kitty that constantly rubs between our legs.  It really is an interesting phenomenon!

This is why the hands on technique of Reiki works so beautifully.  Combined with the universal life force energy, the touch of Reiki hands is soothing, comforting and healing.  It is like receiving an hour-long hug!  And who wouldn’t want that!

Even if  you think that you don’t have time for Reiki for yourself, at the very least take a moment to give a hug, hold a hand, touch a shoulder, and then make some time for Reiki!

Just for Today…do not anger February 1, 2012

Emotions are an amazing phenomena of being a human being, and anger is so intriguing to me.  We can be angered by the silliest of things.  I’ll admit that I visit with anger quite frequently when driving in the car.  I can feel angered because someone wants to get in front of me.  “I was here first and I have the perfect amount of distance between me and the car in front of me! No way am I letting you in!  And if you don’t have your blinker on, forget it!”  Where does that anger come from???? I am working very hard at coming to terms with the fact that I do not actually own the road.  It makes me laugh, really, that I can feel anger toward someone who I do not even know just because they are trying to get where they are going.  The good news is that I recognize that and now I can change my perception.  And that is what anger is for us, it is a signal that we need to change our perception.  It is an opportunity for us to make a shift or a change in our life that allows us to let go of the anger and move forward.

Anger is such a strong emotion.  Do you notice that when you are around someone who is angered that you just feel uncomfortable and it is also easier for you to then be angered too?  We are so easily influenced by anger.  And that is why we have to let it go.  Recognize that signal that it is giving you and shift your perception.  Especially if it is something from the past.  Some of us can hold onto things from the past that can bring up anger in us over and over again.  We need to let go of what we cannot change and move forward, toward happiness.  I know that it is easier said than done.  But just realizing that anger is trying to tell us something about ourselves is a start.

As a Reiki practitioner, we learn the Reiki ideals that we recite each day.  The first of Dr Mikao Usui’s Reiki Ideals is, “Just for today…do not anger”. That’s right, just for today.  Don’t worry about tomorrow or the next day or next month.  Just for TODAY, do not anger.  Make a conscious effort not to be angered.  And when anger does arise, consciously change your perception.  Happiness is there for you always.  It is our choice whether to be happy or not.

I choose happiness!