Welcome to the January issue of our newsletter.

In this Issue

	REIKI NEWS AND VIEWS
	CULTIVATING A LIFE OF GRATITUDE.
	THE ALOHA SPIRIT
	HUG YOURSELF WITH REIKI
	ANTAHKARANA
	BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL, FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

In Other News

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REIKI NEWS AND VIEWS

A WARM WELCOME TO THE YEAR 2009

May you all be blessed with LOVE, LIGHT, JOY and LAUGHTER throughout the year.

Reach out with Reiki, look to the positive and invite joy into your lives.

I invite you to collectively and actively work together to enter the new year with a smile on your face and great excitment at the prospect of encouraging Love and Light into the world.  Lets help to make it a time to cultivate positive and uplifting energy.

This newsletter will hopefully give you a few ideas about how Reiki can assist in this mission.

Reiki blessings to you all.

CULTIVATING A LIFE OF GRATITUDE.

Some time ago I recieved a book from my Mum:

THE GENTLE ART OF BLESSING by Pierre Pradervand (details of which can be found at http://www.cygnus-books.co.uk

I realised that this book had had a significant impact on my day to day way of thinking. It showed me that by focusing on the things I was grateful for I could never worry or anger because my mind would always be full of positive thoughts. I began to work more and more with the idea of blessing all the things around me. At first it was difficult and I thought I was never going to get into the swing of clearing the debris from my mind, my unnecessary worries and fears, but slowly I found that by making a commitment to myself, having a firm intention every day to notice the things that I was grateful for, I found it easier and indeed a pleasure. It even became fun. I worried at first that I wasn't doing it right, I forgot to do it, it was all too much pressure - I came up with a million and one excused not to do it, some quite ridiculous like not having time, how come then I had so much time to spare when it came to worrying.

We all have good in our lives, actually, lots of good stuff. The trouble is we take much of it for granted.

Blessing the things we're grateful for helps us to remember, to stop and appreciate things around us, the things that we have forgotten to notice.
Firstly what does it mean - To bless something means to give gratitude, it’s a voice from our heart which celebrates our life and all that's in it. There is no discrimination against anyone or anything.  

Blessing is simply gratitude; it does away with fears of scarcity and focuses our attention on abundance. It also helps us to reach beyond the things that we see directly in front of us. We start to search beyond the visible; the stillness of air, the warmth of the rain, fern like shapes of morning ice. Its a bit like being a child receiving the gift of a magnifying glass or a microscope, all of a sudden you want to search the house and garden for things to look at under it. It opens up a whole new world, one you'd not been aware of before and one that’s truly exciting, offering a new perspective.

You cannot bless anything without being present, in the moment. Blessing has opened my eyes, has made me want to stop and take in the moment. I've found that by doing this I have become so much more grounded, if I'm constantly looking for things I’m grateful for, I simply haven't got time to worry, I'm present and in my body.

I’m human and I haven’t found it easy to focus on the things I’m grateful for. No one can just change their mind set suddenly, we need patience. However blessing has allowed me to appreciate the Reiki principles in a different way, one that’s more accessible to me.

There are a number of ways that have helped me to focus on gratitude and blessing, remember they can be expressed in different ways: Through words, thoughts, touch or healing.

I thought I’d share some of my favorite with you:

Whilst giving Reiki

Focus first on the blessing of being a channel of Reiki energy.  Then focus on blessing each part of the miraculous body, either your own when self healing, or that of the person you are working with, do this when you send distant Reiki too.  Our cells are hugely responsive to blessings and gratitude.

Esther and Jerry Hicks in their book ‘Ask and it is given’ talk about:

The ‘Rampage of Appreciation’.

This is done by looking around you and finding something that makes you feel genuinely happy.

 Focus your attention on this, notice the positive feelings increasing within you.

Notice any improved feelings and appreciate them.

Look around your surroundings and find something else that makes you happy, hold the feeling of appreciation.

Continue to do this for as long as you can and as often as you can through out the day.

Writing a gratitude journal:

A Gratitude Journal is a special journal created in quiet time, when you can be alone with your thoughts, feelings, intuitions and sensations.

Reflect on things that make you smile, give you peace or bring you joy – even little things can give you a sense of gratitude.

Try and write between three and five things every day that you feel grateful for. 

To watch a short, but beautiful, video clip about the forgotten art of blessing please visit the following link and maximise your screen for the full benefit.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K6CL5J_4u1Y&feature=related

alternatively visit the link below where you will see the video and the printed words to go with it.

http://wer1family.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/gentle-and-forgotten-art-of-blessing-humanity-healing/

THE ALOHA SPIRIT

The Little Pink Booklet of Aloha - by Serge Kahili King (copyright by Serge King 2003)

The Aloha Spirit is a well known reference to the attitude of friendly acceptance for which the Hawaiian Islands are so famous. However, it also refers to a powerful way to resolve any problem, accomplish any goal, and to achieve any state of mind or body that you desire.

In the Hawaiian language, aloha stands for much more than just "hello" or "goodbye" or "love." Its deeper meaning is "the joyful (oha) sharing (alo) of life energy (ha) in the present (alo)."

As you share this energy you become attuned to the Universal Power that the Hawaiians call mana. And the loving use of this incredible Power is the secret for attaining true health, happiness, prosperity and success.  The way to tune into this Power and have it work for you is so simple that you might be tempted to pass it off as being too easy to be true. Please don't let yourself be fooled by appearances. Take the time to try it out.

This is the most powerful technique in the world, and although it is extremely simple it may not prove easy, because you must remember to do it and you have to do it a lot. It is a secret which has been given to humanity over and over again, and here it is once more in another form. The secret is this:

Bless everyone and everything that represents what you want!
That's all there is to it. Anything that simple, however, does need some explanation.  To bless something means to give recognition or emphasis to a positive quality, characteristic or condition, with the intent that what is recognized or emphasized will increase, endure or come into being.

Blessing is effective in changing your life or getting what you want for three reasons:

First of all, the positive focus of your mind stirs up the positive, creative force of the Power of the Universe.

Secondly, it moves your own energy outward, allowing more of the Power to come through you.

Thirdly, when you bless for the benefit of others instead of directly for yourself, you tend to bypass any subconscious fears about what you want for yourself, and also the very focus on the blessing acts to increase the same good in your life. What is so beautiful about this process is that the blessing you do for others helps them as well as you.

Blessing may be done with imagery or touch, but the most usual and easy way to do it is with words. The main kinds of verbal blessing are:

Admiration - This is the giving of compliments or praise to something good that you notice. E.g., "What a beautiful sunset; I like that flower; you're such a wonderful person."
Affirmation - This is a specific statement of blessing for increase or endurance. E.g., "I bless the beauty of this tree; blessed be the health of your body."
Appreciation - This is an expression of gratitude that something good exists or has happened. E.g., "Thank you for helping me; I give thanks to the rain for nourishing the land."
Anticipation - This is blessing for the future. E.g., "We're going to have a great picnic; I bless your increased income; Thank you for my perfect mate; I wish you a happy journey; May the wind be always at your back."

In order to gain the most benefit from blessing, you will have to give up or cut way down on the one thing that negates it: cursing. This doesn't mean swearing or saying "bad" words. It refers to the opposite of blessing, namely criticizing instead of admiring; doubting instead of affirming; blaming instead of appreciating; and worrying instead of anticipating with trust. Whenever any of these are done they tend to cancel out some of the effects of blessing. So the more you curse the harder it will be and the longer it will take to get the good from a blessing. On the other hand, the more you bless the less harm any cursing will do.
Here, then, are some ideas for blessing various needs and desires. Apply them as often as you like, as much as you want.
 

Health - Bless healthy people, animals, and even plants; everything which is well made or well constructed; and everything that expresses abundant energy.
Happiness - Bless all that is good, or the good that is in all people and all things; all the signs of happiness that you see, hear or feel in people or animals; and all potentials for happiness that you notice around you.
Prosperity - Bless all the signs of prosperity in your environment, including everything that money helped to make or do; all the money that you have in any form; and all the money that circulates in the world.
Success - Bless all signs of achievement and completion (such as buildings, bridges, and sports events); all arrivals at destinations (of ships, planes, trains, cars and people); all signs of forward movement or persistence; and all signs of enjoyment or fun.
Confidence - Bless all signs of confidence in people and animals; all signs of strength in people, animals and objects (including steel and concrete); all signs of stability (like mountains and tall trees); and all signs of purposeful power (including big machines, power lines).
Love and Friendship - Bless all signs of caring and nurturing, compassion and support; all harmonious relationships in nature and architecture; everything that is connected to or gently touching something else; all signs of cooperation, as in games or work; and all signs of laughter and fun.
Inner Peace - Bless all signs of quietness, calmness, tranquility, and serenity (such as quiet water or still air); all distant views (horizons, stars, the moon); all signs of beauty of sight, sound or touch; clear colors and shapes; the details of natural or made objects.
Spiritual Growth - Bless all signs of growth, development and change in Nature; the transitions of dawn and twilight; the movement of sun, moon, planets and stars; the flight of birds in the sky; and the movement of wind and sea.
 

The previous ideas are for guidance if you are not used to blessing, but don't be limited by them. Remember that any quality, characteristic or condition can be blessed (e.g., you can bless slender poles and slim animals to encourage weight loss), whether it has existed, presently exists, or exists so far in your imagination alone.

 Personally I have used the power of blessing to heal my body, increase my income, develop many skills, create a deeply loving relationship with my wife and children, and to establish a worldwide network of peacemakers working with the aloha spirit. It's because it has worked so well for me that I want to share it with you. Please share it with as many others as you can. 
 

HUG YOURSELF WITH REIKI

If you're near a music source put on some CHEERFUL music and begin this exercise by smiling.

Start by sitting or standing and asking that you be hugged by Reiki.

You can draw the Reiki symbols on your hands if you wish,  then proceed with the next step.

Feel Reiki come alive within you and relax.

Concentrate on smiling and feel joy growing, rising from deep within you and enveloping you.

Put your right hand on your left shoulder.

Put your left hand on your left shoulder.

Now squeeze ...

Feel the embrace of Reiki energy, know that you are loved and that you are special.  Know that you are needed in this world as much as every grain of sand is needed on any sea shore.  Each grain individual, unique and necessary just like you.

Know that Reiki energy is all around you, it's within you and is full of love.

You have been hugged by Reiki.

Do this often and do it with a smile.

 

ANTAHKARANA

This is a mandala symbol, apparently passed to Reiki Master Arthur Robertson by Rolf Jensen. The mandala is said to enclose and encompass one of the universal energies of life. 

Alice Bailey and other authors of Tibetan philosophy have investigated the Antahkarana. They describe the Antahkarana as a part of spiritual anatomy, the connection between the physical brain and the Higher Self, a connection that needs to develop in order for us to grow spiritually.

The Antahkarana symbol represents this connection and activates it whenever you are in its presence. According to the teachings of Alice Bailey, the Antahkarana indicates a central column of light connecting the chakras.

The science of Radionics specifies that lines drawn on paper create a psychic effect on the spaces surrounding a drawing which influences the aura and chakras in a variety of ways, depending on the pattern created. This theory validates the practice of yantra meditation that uses visual images to purify and evolve the consciousness.

According to William Lee Rand, there are two versions of the Antahkarana, the female version and the slightly smaller male version.

The female version should be used if you feel that more compassionate energy is needed.

The male version is used if you wish to access more assertive energy

consider using both to balance the yin/yang.

The symbol has its own consciousness, so you don't need an attunement for it to work. It is the image of the symbol that is important. It works directly with your aura and chakras and varies its healing effect depending on what you need at the time of use. It's directed by the Higher Self and always working for your highest good, it can never be misused or used to cause harm.

How to use the symbol:

• Hang the symbol on a wall in your therapy room,
• Put it under your bed for gaining extra energy whilst asleep
• Put it under the therapy bed or chair when channelling Reiki.  
• Put the symbol directly on the area that needs healing.
• Tape a picture of the symbol onto your body if you have an area that needs healing specifically .
• Use the symbol to meditate on.
• Concentrate on a picture of Antahkarana and chant its name
• Use it to cleanse a crystal, piece of jewellery or other object by putting the object on the symbol, or even between two symbols.
  

Go to the following websites to download the symbol or to find out more information:

http://www.reiki.org/Download/Antahkaranas.pdf

http://www.reikiwebstore.com/ProductPage.cfm?ProductID=297

BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL, FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

We hope that you've enjoyed the information we've chosen to write about this month, it would be great to have your views and comments so feel free to email.

Alternatively you can visit the new Blog we've created and the Spirit and Wellbeing Forum:

http://www.reikinewsandviews.blogspot.com/

http://spiritandwellbeing.lefora.com/forum/

We hope you'll find time to visit these new ventures, please be brave and add your comments

Have a wonderful couple of months.  Reiki blessings to you all.

Annie.

Annie McMahon - Spirit and Wellbeing
email: anniemcmahon@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: 01752 841302
Mobile: 07894 147544