The Cosmic Monkeywrench

I have been posting about my learning to become a Reiki Teacher on this blog. Recently, I had a cosmic monkeywrench thrown into my life, which has had an effect on this part of my life.
Some of you out there may share this belief that I have that if you are on a path, and it is a path you are supposed to be on, you will travel it with ease, that the Universe will create all sorts of unseen opportunities and synchronistic events that will validate and support this journey. If too many problems and obstacles appear, it may be a sign that you have set off in a wrong direction.
It started out this way with my Reiki Teacher Training classes. I was shown some signs that this was the time to move forward, in this direction. But since I made the decision, there have been cosmic monkeywrenches thrown into the mix.
First, let me explain what I coin a “cosmic monkeywrench.” This is the phenomena in which things come up in your life that radically affect other areas of your life, making you question why it is happening, and if the situation being affected is really something you need to have in your life at this time.
Well, the first monkeywrench came when the first day of class was scheduled. It was originally set for February 7 of this year. Having a “9 to 5″ in the grocery retail industry, I instantly knew this would be a problem. That was the day of the Superbowl, and everyone (whether you like football or not) knows this has now become a national holiday. Grocery stores everywhere would be packed before the game, and my store would be no different. In addition, I am a department manager, and that dictates that my presence would be required at work.
With this, my teacher contacted the other students in the class, and re-scheduled for the following week, which would be Valentine’s Day. I was able to make this class. It wasn’t without another wrench, though: a situation took place at work, but I couldn’t be reached because I had my cell phone off. It had to be handled without my presence.
The second class was scheduled and I attended that with no wrenches thrown in. I thought that everything was on track, and would go smoothly from this point forward. I would soon discover I was wrong.
My most recent class was scheduled for April 18. The week before the class, my assistant manager at my job was out the majority of the week. Mid-week, she came in to inform me that she was going to be having knee surgery, and was under doctor’s orders not to work until the surgery was scheduled (at that point, it had not been). I realized that I would not be able to attend my upcoming class.
I called my teacher to explain my dilemma to her. She suggested she put the situation to the class and see if they were willing to re-schedule to accommodate me. I was seeing a pattern here, as this would be the second time this would be happening. I told her I didn’t want to have everyone put themselves on hold for me, for her to go on with the class as scheduled.
The recurrence left me wondering if I was doing the right thing in becoming a Reiki Teacher. If the Universe was supporting me in this, like I thought it was doing, why then the monkeywrench?
I have been sitting with the question since the monkeywrench appeared. As I write this, I still have the questions, which continue to remain unanswered. Sometimes, it’s okay to not know something. I’m okay with that, for now, but not indefinitely.
I will keep you all posted on further developments as they occur. And since this blog is called “Life with Reiki,” I will be sending Reiki to the situation to help with its healing.

Love and light,
James

Attitude of Gratitude

Today was the second in the series of classes for my Reiki Teacher Training. It had been about six weeks from the first class (it was on Valentine’s Day). I was preparing for the class this morning at home, and I decided to cut my hair. Afterward, I was cleaning up, and I was reflecting on the five Reiki Principles, specifically just for today, I will show gratitude in all things. I was thinking in terms of the act of washing my hair, which began a slew of things to be grateful for:

I was grateful for having shampoo to wash my hair. With the shampoo, I was grateful for the hands that made the shampoo, packaged the shampoo, distributed the shampoo, and placed it on the supermarket shelf for me to purchase when I did.

I was grateful that I had running water, to wash my hair. Going further, I was grateful to have a shower, in a bathroom, in my own home, to wash my hair.

I was grateful for having hands with which to wash my hair. Going further, I was grateful for having hands period, as most of the activities I perform require hands, especially giving Reiki.

I was grateful to have hair to wash.

And, lastly, I was grateful for Reiki, as it has become a large part of my life, and has allowed me the opportunity for such reflections.

It was a moment for me to realize that there is always something to be grateful for. And when we are grateful for something, it can always be expanded, as there are other factors that contribute to that one element that is being focused on at the moment. And when we are grateful for the seemingly small and mundane things, we create the opportunities for many monumental and wondrous things to manifest in our lives, allowing more to be grateful for.

Becoming a Teacher

This past Sunday (January 17, 2010) I was home, making my bed. It’s mundane moments such as this when I will sometimes pose a question to the Universe. The question on my mind concerned my path forward with Reiki. I had completed my Level 3 training, becoming a Reiki Master-Practitioner at the end of last year. I posed the question with a sense of wanting to know what was coming next. I even considered doing a Tarot card reading on the matter, but I had to get to church, as it was my Sunday to work in the bookstore.
I am working in the bookstore when my sensei (my term for my Reiki Master/Teacher; sensei is Japanese for “teacher,” and is meant with the deepest of respect) came into the space. We got to talking, and she asked me if I had read an e-mail she sent me recently. I did not. She said I needed to read it as it had information that might be important for me.
Well, I wasn’t going to leave it at that. I asked if she would give me a clue, some idea as to the nature of the e-mail. She then told me that she was going to be teaching classes for Reiki Master/Teachers and thought I might be interested. I was slightly surprised, and asked, “Do you think I’m ready? Do you think now is the time?” She said she thought I was ready, and for me to “sit with the idea” of becoming a Teacher.
Since then, I have not been able to think of anything else. I did get around to doing that Tarot card reading, and the cards echoed my sensei’s assessment.
It will be an interesting process, as I will be learning about myself as well as the aspects of teaching Reiki.
I’ll post those insights as the process goes on, and hopefully, some of you will find them helpful, interesting, and enlightening, perhaps even healing.

Love and light,
James

Hello world!

Welcome to the first installment of my newest and latest blog. As its title suggests, the subject matter of this blog will be about my life with Reiki.

For those readers who may not be familiar with Reiki, it is a Japanese energy healing modality that uses hands-on application. The benefits promoted with Reiki can include relaxation, stress reduction, and relief from physical pain. Reiki is a complimentary alternative to conventional medical practices, and is used in conjunction with more mainstream and traditional therapies.

Beyond that, Reiki is also a spiritual path.

I am a Reiki Master-Practitioner. Reiki has become a large part of my life and spiritual practice. I will be sharing my experiences with Reiki in posts to come. I hope you will share in these experiences with me as readers. Your comments are most welcome.

If you want to know more about me and how I work with the Reiki energy, please feel free to check out my website: www.thereikitreatment.com.

Love and light,

James