Nourishing and Cleansing

Performing Daily Ceremony


We can engage in daily practices that include ritual and ceremony, reminding ourselves throughout the day of the sacredness of this life.

When we perform or participate in rituals and ceremonies, we enter into a state of mind that is different from mundane consciousness. Ranging in significance from bedtime stories to weddings, ceremonies and rituals are acknowledgments that an event or period of time has special meaning. As a result, they can have the effect of drawing us into the moment, inviting us to pay closer attention and tune into the subtle energies that are always present but that often go unrecognized. In addition, as we perform the same actions we have performed before and will perform again, we immerse ourselves in a river of continuity that extends back into the past and forward into the future.

Many of us have distanced ourselves from rituals that may have seemed too constricting or too attached to an organized religion we have chosen not to follow. However, we can reclaim the practices of ceremony and ritual to good effect, imbuing them with our new consciousness, and we do not have to wait for a big event to do it. We can engage in daily practices that include ritual and ceremony, reminding ourselves throughout the day of the sacredness of this life. In fact, if we look closely, we will see that our days are already made up of rituals, from the time we wake up to the time we retire. So we do not need to change anything except our perspective to imbue our day with an air of ceremony.

Most of our daily rituals revolve around nourishing and cleansing, both of which have always been sacred acts. With this in mind, we may pause before each meal, close our eyes, and say a silent thank you to the universe that provides. If we want to get more elaborate, we can light candles or bless our food. Similarly, as we wash ourselves in the morning and evening, we can choose to see the grace in this act of cleansing and purification as we release what has past and prepare ourselves for the new. We can be as simple or as complex as we like, so long as our attitude is one of reverence for this sacred moment in this sacred life.

(Source: DailyOm)

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our newest Reiki Level II Practitioner graduates, Alida, Mary, and Karen! It was a joy to have you as students and to be a part of your Reiki path. We’re excited to hear about the way that things continue to unfold for you!


Namaste!

Dani & Carolyn


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Reiki Level II?

Okuden – The Inner Teachings
Reiki Level II – Second Degree Reiki Practitioner

Reiki Level II is considered the “Practitioner’s Level” and offers students advanced Reiki healing techniques. In Level II students are given complete tools for working with Reiki energy both in person and through “absentee” techniques. Level II Reiki produces a grounding or solidifying of the healing energy. At this level, students are given the first three Reiki symbols which allow the Reiki energy to perform powerful functions, such as specific mental, emotional, and spiritual healing, as well as long distance healing.

The Dwelling Pulse

Energy Of A Home


Our homes and your belongings within them all contain energy. Tend to the energy of your home as you would tend to anything you love.

Our homes are filled with energy that we create and allow to flourish. In many cases, our relationship with the pulse of our homes is passive rather than active because we do not pay particular heed to the energy that has been established. It is only when we regard these spaces as unique entities that we begin to understand why it is necessary to take charge of the energy that fills our homes. Stagnant, inharmonious energy can find its way into our dwellings through many avenues. Previous occupants, builders, visitors, and the individuals who maintain a home leave a strong energy imprint behind. Objects and symbols can also have an effect on the energy of a residence. When we are aware of all that can influence the energy of our spaces, we are empowered to create harmonious homes that do more than meet our need for shelter.

Exercising care with regard to who and what we invite into our homes is one of the easiest ways we can ensure that the energy within remains loving and supportive. It is not always possible to keep potentially harmful people and possessions from entering our homes, but we can take precautions. Individuals can be kept from private spaces like bedrooms and meditation areas, while property can be purified through cleansing or smudging. During periods of remodeling or construction, Reiki symbols and other positive imagery can be printed on surfaces that will later be covered by walls or flooring. Though hidden, these will continue to attract good energy and cleanse the existent energy. Blessings can also be drawn in plain sight, where they remind us of how potently our home's energy can affect our own.

A home can appear beautiful, comfortable, and stable while still serving as a dwelling place for negative or otherwise offensive energy. If you care for your home conscientiously and with great care, you will instinctively look beyond the surface qualities of your home when assessing how it feels. Since you actively guard your home against the intrusion of unwelcome energy, you will have the time and vigor necessary to cope with it constructively when should it appear in your midst. The spirit of your spaces will respond to your thoughtful ministrations, nurturing and supporting you for as long as you choose to reside within her walls.

(Source: DailyOm)

what do you like?

Thanks to our wonderful friend MerryME for this video!!  It's now one of our favorites!!

lost generation

Be Here Now

Caretake this moment.

Immerse yourself in its particulars.

Respond to this person, this challenge, this deed.

Quit the evasions.

Stop giving yourself needless trouble.

It is time to really live; to fully inhabit the situation you happen to be in now.

You are not some disinterested bystander.

Exert yourself.

Respect your partnership with providence.

Ask yourself often, How may I perform this particular deed

such that it would be consistent with and acceptable to the divine will?

Heed the answer and get to work.

When your doors are shut and your room is dark you are not alone.

The will of nature is within you as your natural genius is within.

Listen to its importunings.

Follow its directives.

As concerns the art of living, the material is your own life.

No great thing is created suddenly.

There must be time.

Give your best and always be kind.

Epictetus

A Magical Potion

Morning Dew

The world awakens each day from its nightly slumber, transformed by a sparkling layer of morning dew on the grass.

The world awakens each day from its nightly slumber, transformed by a sparkling layer of morning dew on the grass, on flower petals and leaves, on cars and car windows. These glistening droplets last only a little while, an integral part of what imbues the early morning with its aura of magic. If we sleep too late, we miss the magnificent display of sunlight playing upon an infinite amount of tiny crystal balls. To step onto the dew-covered grass is to anoint our feet with a form of water that comes only once a day for a short time, a rarefied gift of the night air that will soon evaporate in the full light of the sun. If we inhale slowly and consciously enough, it is almost as if we are drinking in this magical elixir formed in the boundary between darkness and light.

In one myth, morning dew is believed to be tears from heaven, and in another, the droplets are poured from the vessel of the goddess of dawn. When we see the earth draped with these shimmering drops, it is easy to imagine fairies bathing in the water, or a sky god weeping from a longing to be closer to his beloved earth goddess. Seeing the sparkling beauty of the earth emerging from darkness, we may understand this longing in terms of our own gratitude; how blessed we are to be here.

Perhaps heaven really does long to be here on earth, and perhaps that is why we are here—as conduits between the divine and the earthbound. As we drink the morning dew in with our eyes, our skin, our breath, it is easy to imagine that it really is a magical potion, a gift from heaven, a reminder of our true purpose, and a daily opportunity to be transformed.

 
(Source: DailyOm)

Cultivating Understanding, Compassion, Empathy

Exploring an Alternate Universe

What Makes People Tick?

All people have their own way of being in the world, what works for you may not work for everybody.

All people have their own way of being in the world. It is easiest to comprehend this basic yet profound fact when we consider that every human being on the planet occupies a distinct role in the universe. We grow up in different environments, affected by a unique range of influences. The preferences, values, and beliefs we embrace are frequently related intimately to our origins. And the need to individualize our experiences is instinctive, as doing so enables us to cope when we must face challenges on our own. Consequently, each of us has developed a perspective that is uniquely ours. Interacting peacefully and constructively with people from all walks of life is a matter of first understanding where they are coming from. Then we can adjust our expectations so that we avoid making undue assumptions about what they are about.

In the face of emerging interpersonal conflict, it is easy to assume that others are being difficult, unreasonable, or stubborn. We are apt to grow frustrated when someone in our environment does not share our opinions or feel compelled to support us in our endeavors. It is likely that the individual or individuals before us may simply possess differing notions with regard to what is and what is not important in this life. We can ease the tension that exists between us by reaffirming our belief in the fundamental right of all beings to determine their own destinies. To foster a harmonious relationship, we need to do our best to relate to the unique universes they inhabit. And as we discover what makes them tick, our ability to find a mode of interaction that is pleasing to both of us is enhanced.

When there are barriers keeping you from connecting with someone else, think of questions you can ask them to gain a more thorough understanding of their point of view. You may discover that in addition to the differences in perspective dividing you, they are subject to insecurities and other personal issues that influence their way of seeing the world. It is likely that you will never fully grasp the myriad complexities embodied by humanity, but you can go a long way toward encouraging mutually satisfying relations by reaching out to others in the spirit of sympathetic comprehension.
 
(Source: DailyOm)

10 Ways to Stay Spiritually Connected

By Marianne Williamson

O, The Oprah Magazine
April 13, 2010

Whether you practice a traditional religion or relate to a more universal spirituality, these steps will help you tap into a sense of unlimited peace:

1. Recognize your Creator. Think on this: There is a supreme power in the universe that is bigger and more powerful than your small mortal self. This step makes you humble.

2. Seek opportunities to put more love into the world. Strive to be a vessel of love, to fill the world with more compassion and kindness. This step makes you loving and lovable.

3. Set aside time each day to spend in spiritual reflection and contemplation. Dwell in the presence of the divine: Your path may be to pray, meditate, read spiritual material, take a long walk through nature—or all of the above—but an optimum practice includes both morning and evening sessions of at least 20 minutes each. This step makes you strong.

4. Become more accepting. With every interaction, surrender any tendency to judge another person. Pray for a more accepting heart. This step makes you gracious.

5. Forgive anyone you have not forgiven. Whenever you withhold forgiveness, you keep yourself bound to your own feelings of guilt. This step makes you kind.

6. Recognize your mistakes. Admit where you yourself have been wrong, and be willing to be corrected. This step makes you responsible.

7. Try to see the good in others. When you’re tempted to judge someone, make an effort to see their goodness. Your willingness to look for the best in people will subconsciously bring it forth. This step makes you positive.

8. Take stock of your thoughts and behavior. Each night ask yourself, when were you negative when you could have been positive? When did you withhold love when you might have given it? When did you play a neurotic game instead of behaving in a powerful way? Use this process to self-correct. This step makes you grow.

9. Bless the world. Pray not just that your own life will be blessed but that blessings be poured on everyone. This step makes you beautiful.

10. Use each interaction to be the best, most powerful version of yourself. Try to rise to the occasion. Be the most wonderful expression of you that you’re capable of. This step makes you a conduit of God’s love.

(source: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Spiritual-Development-and-Healing-Practices-from-Marianne-Williamson)

Reiki Share Tonight!

It’s no secret that I love Reiki Share, and that it is one of my most enjoyable priorities! I thought that I would share some thoughts on the importance of self-care from Pamela Miles’ book, Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide:

"Reiki clears the mind, restores the body, and refreshes the spirit. You don’t have to take my word for it. You can try it yourself. It doesn’t take long to notice. After all, the mind is not a self-cleaning oven that automatically burns the spillover from our life’s experiences to ash. The residue of negative experiences and unresolved emotions lingers, often affecting us in ways we don’t recognize. We never leave the house without combing our hair or brushing our teeth. Reiki gives us a way to brush the debris from our mind and spirit as well….


One of the most valuable benefits that comes from daily practice is dissolving the roots of negative behaviors and emotions. This takes time. Since I started practicing Reiki, I have found myself in situations in which I had been afraid in the past. Although I no longer felt fearful, I could still feel the skeleton of the habit of fear vibrating inside me on the brink of manifesting. But I also felt confident that the transformation would continue as long as I continued my daily practice.


Life is challenging at times even for students who practice daily self-treatment. But if we have a steady practice, we feel secure that we have the wherewithal to sustain ourselves. When we practice self-treatment regularly, the difficulties don’t overwhelm our lives; they just feel like details. If we are not practicing, life’s difficulties more easily become burdensome; they take over our perspective, and we become ineffectual. Daily practice enables us to embody our highest values.”

In addition to daily practice, I know that coming together with a group of other Reiki practitioners has been instrumental in my continuing journey. I look forward to seeing all of you this evening!

Namaste,

Carolyn