SWIHA Blog

Your journey can change in an instant, just like mine did. 

 

Backstory: I am a lifelong Christian having been born, raised, and completely committed to my faith. In the past, the thought of taking a Reiki class may have given me pause.

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Their world felt uneasy.  The normal pace and cadence of their lives were replaced with furtive looks and anguished disbelief mixed with panicked wonderment.   Everything seemed to have changed in an instant without warning, and now, there was no telling when it would return to the familiar and constant.    Does this description sound like your world today?

This is the description of the City of Jerusalem during the Week of Passover when Jesus the Christ was presented as the Passover Lamb.  Those who were Christ-followers were shaking their heads in disbelief wondering, “Was this same man who performed miracles right before our eyes who now, seemingly unrecognizable, is standing before us as in complete vulnerability?”

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'Come All Ye Faithful' is a classic Christmas carol from the 1600’s, and encapsulates the invitation offered by Reiki Master Mary Ritter to Christians drawn Reiki as a healing modality.

“Yes, you can be a Christian and practice the energy-modality known as Reiki!” affirms Mary, the mind behind Holy Reiki. 

Candidly Mary shares, “There was a time in my life I may have been worried about what those in my church thought about Reiki. Today, the practice of Reiki has brought me even closer to my Christian foundations. It is Christ that I call upon when I am providing a hands-on healing experience.”

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Season’s blessings, SWIHA commUNITY—

While most people are singing songs and feeling merry and bright, we must be mindful that, for some people, the holidays are rather blue . . . or even gray.

As one who is coming up on the second anniversary of family tragedy (two years ago, our son took his life due to complications of PTSD), I’m especially aware that the holidays can be tough. Even well-intended greetings such as a simple “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” can trigger feelings of grief, angst, or even anger.

Just this last week, I was witness to such an incident. As I pulled up to my regular Starbucks location I noticed a woman having a full-blown meltdown over an innocent greeting given to her by a kindly gentlemen collecting for the Salvation Army. All he said was, “Happy Holidays!”

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Take a moment to picture yourself facing the ocean, with your toes in sand and your eyes closed as the wind caresses your skin. Are you feeling light, happy, and cleansed in that moment?

There’s a reason why: The unending movement of the ocean waves and resulting wind cause the physical location of the beach to vibrate at a higher frequency, thus positively affecting our sense of well-being. A mental or physical trip to the ocean is actually beneficial to your health. Pretty fascinating, right?

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I’m a Reiki Master, and I’m a Christian. Can these two things co-exist? Absolutely! Every Reiki healer and practitioner brings their own beliefs with them to their Reiki practice. In my case, those beliefs are Christian and Biblical. I’ve personally found that my Christian walk has been strengthened by going through my Reiki training and travelling to Japan to visit the sacred site of where Reiki is believed to have begun.

The Bible teaches of Jesus’ practice of laying on of hands to create healing– very much like what those practicing Reiki do. While it is not called Reiki in the Bible, the application is the same as what is described in the Bible: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up... pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:14-16).

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Since its humble beginnings on a mountaintop in Japan, Reiki has been adapted into varying cultural traditions across the world. In fact, it is estimated that there are over a hundred versions or expressions of Reiki. So, why are there so many forms of Reiki?

Well, that’s a little like asking, “Why are there so many forms of art?” Art has been defined as a vehicle for the expression or communication of emotions, ideas, and individual passions. You could use the exact same definition for Reiki.  Reiki is a vehicle for the expression of one’s own personal healing style and passion! Reiki is art!

Both Reiki and art are abilities that come naturally to some… and many practitioners of both Reiki and art find training is necessary to help them refine their endeavors and learn specialized skills that makes them more effective, productive, and even more passionate about their work.

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