Going Out On A Limb

A few days ago, I wrote a post about an article that I had read in which a governing body of Catholic Bishops had basically denounced the practice of Reiki and called it "dangerous". That article escalated a frustration that I have had for some time about how the leaders of Christianity (and many Christian individuals) block and condemn anything that might get in the way of their power base.

Since that posting, I have thought more about devoutly Christian people that I have provided Reiki services for who have been positively blessed and even overwhelmed by the loving energy of Reiki. Many have told me that it was the closest to God that they had ever felt, and that they could see in that moment of "knowing" that it did not contradict their belief and faith in God or Jesus at all, but actually made it stronger and more real than it had ever been. Some have said that although they may have felt God's presence strongly at other significant times in their lives,the experience during their Reiki session with me (or others) was more powerful than any other experience they had ever had. Some had tears of joy and a feeling of love and perfection that had previously been unknown to them, even in a church setting.

The interesting thing is that some of these same people were still reluctant to share the experience with their ministers or others in their church, for fear that it would not be accepted as God, even though they had no doubts of their own experience. Some felt that those at church "just wouldn't get it", even while wishing that the others could experience the peace and love that they felt. I have had many religious discussions with those that I have provided Reiki for, and most of those discussions were in sadness that Christianity or other organized religions approached such subjects with closed minds, even if many of their followers have received powerful benefits from it. Many individuals still feel that they need to keep quiet about it at church.

My wish is that more people will speak up in their churches, synagogues, or other houses of worship. Removing some of the religious roadblocks could prove to be tremendous in the lives of many. If we, one by one, stand up and share our belief that God has given us each the power to heal ourselves and one another through many avenues, we can make a difference. If we simply have the courage to share our experiences with many, to explain how God resides within each of us and is waiting to be set free, then I believe we will change the world. The sooner we step outside of our fears, the sooner we will achieve this, the less we will suffer individually, and the less we will suffer collectively.

Have the courage to look beyond the constraints that our religions and our society have placed upon us...Ask God for more...Tell God that you are ready and willing to have a more real experience and be part of a better world, then look for ways to do so...Surrender to a Higher Self and a more Divine experience, and be free to be all that you can be. Somewhere inside, I believe that each of us knows there is more, and it is time to embrace that experience regardless of what others might say to hold us back. Have courage to be different, the courage to go out on a limb and share ideas that may be different. Jesus did, and if you lack that courage, Jesus and Angels can help you find it...just ask.

Using Fear to Control

A friend just sent me a link to an article about how the U.S. Catholic Bishops "warned" against Reiki. I read this article in absolute dismay, bordering on anger, even thought it should not be all that surprising, since this attack method is the usual approach that Christian leaders or zealots take in countering any method they see as a threat their power (not the power of God, mind you, but their power). Killing the messenger or attacking the method is all too commonplace amongst our religions, when they cannot counter with logic or open-minded discussion.

According to the AFP article,
"The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has warned Roman Catholics to shun the eastern healing art of Reiki because it lacks scientific credibility and is dangerous to Christian spiritual health".

I would ask those same Bishops to please cite me the scientific credibility for Catholicism, or for any Christianity, for that matter. In actuality, science can be used to prove the existence of "universal life force energy" (the definition of Reiki) far more effectively than it can be used to prove the validity of church teachings. It is sad that these Bishops cannot leave something as harmless (and helpful) as Reiki alone without attack. Reiki does not contradict any religion, it actually upholds the principals of loving one another, just as Jesus taught us to. It does not require one to denounce their chosen religion, but can actually strenghten it. It is the practice of allowing pure unconditional love to flow through you to another without judgment, a concept that our sometimes pompous and power-hungry religions often seem to have almost abandoned altogether. Unlike our religions, Reiki does not require that anyone denounce anything, or give up their power to its organization, because it is not an organization at all. It is simply a method to connect with a greater power, have deeper prayer and meditation, and begin to heal oneself or another.

The five tenets of Reiki are:
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not anger.
Just for today, I will honor my parents, teachers and elders.
Just for today, I will earn my living honestly.
Just for today, I will show gratitude to every living thing.

I would ask these same Bishops to please tell us what is so horrendous about encouraging people to live by these loving principals, no matter what religion they happen to practice, if any?... What is wrong with not worrying, after all, isn't that demonstrating true faith?...What is wrong with honoring others?...What is wrong with earning an honest living?...What is wrong with showing gratitude for every living thing, which is actually showing gratitude to the Creator for everything we have been given? What is so wrong with these principles that the Bishops should need to "warn" against them.

Furthermore, what is wrong with a practice that essentially does as Jesus did, by laying on of hands in love and having the faith to believe that God could grant a miracle? Jesus told his followers that they did not need him, that they could heal themselves...Reiki helps us to follow his direction and learn practices that can help us help ourselves and others. I have seen many miraculous things in my practice of Reiki, from actual physical ailments disappearing, to deep emotional wounds being mended in wondrous ways. I cannot for the life of me imagine why these Bishops (incidentally part of the same group that covered up for Priests who were alleged to have abused children) would feel the need to "warn" Catholics to stay away from Reiki, or call it "dangerous".

I would say to them the old adage that my grandmother used to say, "Clean out your own backyard before you start cleaning out others'." Look within your own organization and clean up the greed, cover-up, control, and scandal before you start attacking other practices which are based in nothing more than unconditional love and acceptance. For a religion that would tell us, "God works in mysterious ways," it is rather contradictory that they would essentially say, "but not in that mysterious way...it doesn't have enough scientific evidence!" Contradictory indeed, but also rather predictable. Humorous, if not maddening.

The reason for the Bishops' action is FEAR. Fear is the easiest method of control, and the method that our religions use constantly. Get people scared, and they will act in fear and avoid the things you have scared them about. It is sad to me that these supposed men of God do not believe in their God or their religion enough to let it stand on its own merit. I think they can do better, if they will only let go of their fear.

I must have more faith in God than they do, because I can let God work in any way that He choses, even through something as "unscientific" as Reiki. I do not choose to limit God like they do. I wish that they would stop putting God in a box and set Him free to be all that He can be to the followers of their faith. They may be preventing their followers from having the truest, fullest, and most real experience of God that is available to them, and that is shameful. But I do look at this "warning" as a good sign that people are beginning to seek more, beginning to understand that God is available in many other ways than just what our religions teach us...the fact that they are attacking says that the message is getting through, which is a very good thing.

I believe if our friend Jesus were here today, he just might be turning over the tables of the temple where these great Bishops meet. In this moment of frustration, I would be happy to help him, but I will pray that the Bishops and other religious leaders let go of their own fears so that it does not discourage others from examining complementary spriritual practices, or something that may provide comfort and relief from physical pain or ailments. I will pray that they do not block others from experiencing this or any other practice that is based in love and acceptance. We need more of that in our world, and less condemnation.
(Click here for the full article about the USCCB stance)