Wonderful Reiki Stories

Wonderful

Stories

Edited by Barbara McDaniel and Susan Mitchell

These stories first appeared in Reiki Magazine International. Used by permission of Reiki Magazine and the authors. www.reikimagazine.com This collection copyright Reiki Healing Arts, 2018

0 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Contents

Introduction 2

Longing to Ease the Pain 3 How conviction and a simple proposal led to medical research

Peaceful Mom, Happy Baby 7 Reiki relieves the anxiety that often comes with new motherhood—and helps your baby settle

Treating the Child 9 A drugless way to calm the overactive child

Dark to Daylight 11 One man’s journey with severe depression, relieved by Reiki

Can I Help? 14 Every one of us can use Reiki in our daily lives to help people

Healing the Healer 17 A little girl’s miraculous recovery brings healing to her physician

Field Hands 18 Treating “others” can include plants, pets, and farm animals

Reiki in Recital 21 Helping a piano student tickle the ivories

After All These Years 22 Twenty-one days of treating chronic headaches led to finding the source of the dis-ease

Miracle in Seattle 25 Healing the mind, spirit, and physical trauma from cerebral hemorrhage

1 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Introduction

What is Reiki, anyway?

The best answer is to give you an experience. If we were sitting in a room together, we might say, “Let me show you. May I put my hands on your shoulders for a minute?” Then one of us would place our hands, palm down, on your upper back and simply rest them there for a little while.

But right this minute, we’re not within arm’s reach, so the next best response is to tell you Reiki stories.

The stories collected here cover a range of Reiki experiences—receiving treatment from others, learning Reiki and treating friends and family, self-treatment, and experiences with distant treatment. In the wonderful, indirect language of story, these tales illustrate the depth and breadth of how Reiki works to heal the body, heart, mind, and spirit.

These stories first appeared in Reiki Magazine International and all are used with the kind permission of the authors. You’ll find more articles and stories in the Articles section of our web site, www.reikihealingarts.com. You can access even more experiences in the back issues of Reiki Magazine, www.reikimagazine.com.

Feel free to share this collection with your friends and families, and send them to our website for their own copies.

It’s a pleasure to share our love of Reiki with you. May all beings everywhere benefit from healing touch through the telling of these stories.

Barbara McDaniel and Susan Mitchell Reiki Healing Arts, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho www.reikihealingarts.com 208-665-5862

2 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Longing to Ease the Pain by Barbara McDaniel

How conviction and a simple proposal led to medical research

They met at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1993. Lisa Fontanella was passionate about Reiki. Dr. Karin Olson was committed to research. Together they study Reiki’s effect on cancer and pain.

Lisa Fontanella had already learned “One day her doctor asked, ‘What are Reiki in 1992 when her sister was you doing?’ She said, ‘Well, I do diagnosed with a recurrence of breast meditation and Lisa does Reiki.'’’ cancer. "I ran into an old friend at a picnic," Lisa recalls, "who told me I looked like hell and that I should try “The doctor wanted to know, ‘What's Reiki." She got a treatment, took a class, Reiki?’"

and began to treat herself and her sister, Evidence Patty. Lisa was convinced that Reiki could "Patty was on the cancer drug, help the patients at the Cross, but as she tamoxofen," Lisa says. "Tamoxofen goes tried to explain Reiki to the doctor and right to the bone—like his staff, she realized that calcium does—and he would need more than attacks cancer cells “She only got relief her personal testimony to very specifically. But from that pain when I take Reiki seriously. Was because it's a foreign there scientific evidence to substance, the drug did Reiki.” back her up? also causes muscle spasms, called flare-ups. She only got Lisa began her investigation, looking relief from that pain when I did Reiki." for the research that would support her conviction. She found studies on The head of the Cross Institute’s Therapeutic Touch, on various types of Oncology Department took notice. energy healing, on prayer . . . but nothing “Patty's breast cancer had spread to the on Reiki. bone,” says Lisa. “She was always forgetting her cane, so she was pretty "I was sitting at the Cross one day—one mobile, and she was on the lowest doses of the many times—with my hand on of pain medication her doctor had ever Patty's back. I looked around that seen.” waiting room. There were so many people . . . it just broke my heart. I thought, 'No one should have to go

3 Wonderful Reiki Stories

through this without Reiki!" Lisa a single Reiki treatment. The study was remembers. published in Cancer Prevention & Control in 1997.1 “So I went home," she continues, "and put together this little lame, page-and-a- Personal experience half proposal that cited Therapeutic Touch and any other similar practice I The research team faced panels of could think of. I made an appointment doctors and several ethics committees with the Director of Nursing and gave before their study was approved, and her this thing and said, ‘This is Reiki. they were careful to avoid any apparent You should do something.’” conflicts of interest. Consequently, throughout the design and Partnership implementation of the first study, Karin never experienced a Reiki treatment. The nurse introduced Lisa to Dr. Karin Olson, then the coordinator of Nursing A year and a half into their Research at the Cross Cancer Institute. collaboration, Karin came down with Their synergistic partnership has lasted pneumonia. At last, Lisa was allowed to over ten years and launched the first treat her. “I went over on a Tuesday and small study of Reiki's a Thursday. Karin went to effect on pain. “No one should have to the doctor on Friday, who asked, ‘What are you Dr. Olson is the go through this without doing? Your pneumonia is scientist; Lisa is the completely gone.’ That passionate Reiki Reiki.” proved it to her. Until that advocate and time, she was working on practitioner. “Karin is very linear,” blind faith. She knew nothing about comments Lisa. “She thinks in a very Reiki other than what I had told her. different way than I do. So I'll talk and Then to have Reiki get rid of double she'll ask questions. We complement pneumonia in two treatments—it was each other. It has to be that way in order one of the biggest gifts I could have given to do research in something like the her." medical world that's really black and white.” Second study

“Reiki is purple, not black or white” she The second study, published in Journal continues. “That was the hardest part of Pain Study and Symptom Management, when we wrote the first proposal—trying compared cancer pain in two groups of to articulate Reiki in words that would patients: those receiving standard pain get medical support and funding for this medication plus rest and those receiving research.” standard pain medication plus Reiki. It also assessed quality of life for the With no medical research to rely on, twenty-four patients. Again, Karin was Karin, Lisa, and co-researcher John Hanson first designed a pilot study to measure Reiki’s effect on pain. Among twenty patients experiencing various 1 Go to reikihealingarts.com and click types of pain, eighty-five percent Articles, Using Reiki to Manage Pain for reported significant pain reduction after a summary.

4 Wonderful Reiki Stories

the scientist and Lisa the Reiki out," Lisa explains. "Cancer and its practitioner. treatment takes so much out of the patient and the caregivers. We hope to Over seven days, study volunteers kept show how Reiki can support everyone in a pain diary at morning, noon, night, and this process." This time Lisa will be bedtime. “The results were better than I training the family members, not giving could have hoped for,” Lisa says. “For the treatments. the Reiki group, pain decreased dramatically, and their quality of life improved from day one to day seven. Results And these were people in severe pain who were on heavy medications.” Lisa had no idea that her "lame proposal" would have such a far-ranging effect. "I The study was hard on the researchers. look back and I still think “We worked with that ignorance is bliss," people who were at she laughs. "If I had the end stages of “My sister was healed thought this through— their lives,” Lisa I'm going to the leading explains. “We were when she died. She wasn't research hospital in supposed to study cured; she was healed.” North America, and I'm one hundred going to tell them, 'This people, but it was is what you need to do, difficult to find okay?’—I never would suitable volunteers. They had to be have done it. But you get an intuition cognizant, but so many were on and you go with it and everything falls morphine. The study took a year and a into place. Had I met anyone else but half longer than planned, and it took a Karin things might have been different. huge toll on me. We lost volunteers But I hit the right person at the right time before their part in the research even to do the right thing." started. I never looked at obituaries until I started that study.” Lisa is still pursuing her original aim. "I wanted to pave the way so that people Third study all over the world could take this information and start their own Reiki Critics of the second study point out research—not just for cancer patients, but that the positive result could be spinal cord injuries, whatever. I know attributed to the particular practitioner. that the only way the medical Karin, now a researcher with the establishment will take any heed is to University of Alberta, and Lisa, now a prove it." Reiki Master, have designed a third study to counter those concerns. Patty died before the first study was done, but memory of her experience Pending funding, the study will take sustains Lisa's commitment to Reiki place in three cities at the same time with research. "When you have terrible things a family member providing the to cope with, you can't imagine not treatments. The study will recruit having Reiki," she muses. "The person patients early in their cancer diagnosis may or may not die, but that's not the and will measure quality of life and point. My sister was healed when she fatigue as well as pain. "We're branching died. She wasn't cured; she was healed. 5 Wonderful Reiki Stories

That was the thing that she taught me. Karin's part. The connections, the My job was to make it easier . . . and research, the studies—it was all meant to detach from the outcome. That was a happen. I feel truly blessed to be able to tough one for me at first; I had to learn a be a part of this. And the lessons that I've lot." learned from all the people I've worked with. They have taught me so much. It's "This has taken me in a lot of different been an interesting ride and there’s more directions since that first day sitting at to come." the Cross, borrowing somebody's computer, and typing up that little lame Reprinted from Reiki Magazine International, proposal," Lisa concludes. "I still have it. August 2003. © Barbara McDaniel, 2003 It's all faded. You can barely read it, but I can't throw it out. I look at it now and I just smile, because it was total faith on my part. It was total faith on the part of the Director of Nursing, and total faith on

"I wanted to pave the way so that people all over the world could take this information and start their own Reiki research.”

6 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Peaceful Mom, Happy Baby by Mamta Nanda, London, England

Reiki relieves the anxiety that often comes with new motherhood—and helps your baby settle

Mamta Nanda runs a clinic in London, England where she offers Reiki treatments to pregnant women and new mothers and babies. Recently a new mom came to her feeling anxious and fearing she was suffering post-partum depression.

Mamta’s Version was sleeping for at least six hours at night. When asked what she thought My client was a single mother trying to could have caused such a change, she manage with a seven-week-old baby after could only think of Reiki. a caesarean birth. On her first visit, she was quite unhappy, finding it difficult to Her client’s version cope with the baby. The baby had a very sad look—he wasn't responsive at all. “Before I attended a Reiki session with The mother said that he was quite Mamta, I was feeling very anxious and unsettled at times, had phases where he frustrated. I am a first time mum, a single would keep crying for no apparent mum and also an older mum (I'm in my reason, and would keep waking up late 30s), so having my son was a major through the night. They both received life change. In addition to that, I Reiki for about half-an-hour each. delivered him by emergency caesarean and had to deal with the On the second physical limitations that visit, they both “Before my Reiki session, I can impose after birth. looked much was feeling very anxious Inwardly, I was happier. The concerned that I might be mother said that and frustrated.” suffering from mild post- she was feeling natal depression, but I much better and more positive compared didn't want to tell anyone because I felt to the week before. She felt better able to guilty that I wasn't appreciating my new cope with the baby. And the change in baby. the baby was remarkable. He was smiling, he looked happy, he was Ethan, my son, did not seem very responding when I talked to him; he was happy either. He was a bit constipated, much more alert, looking around gassy, and cried quite a bit. I saw an ad showing an interest in the surroundings. for Mamta's Reiki sessions and thought I The mother said that he had been much would give it a try. I've been three times more settled during the week, and he now, and both Ethan and I are so much happier. I feel like I am much better able 7 Wonderful Reiki Stories

to cope, and I also feel that Ethan is Mamta has such a caring and patient feeling better. His constipation is gone, manner that I was instantly at ease with his wind has decreased, he is sleeping her. She's also very gentle with Ethan. I much better, and he smiles a lot which is would recommend a session to anyone such a joy. who is feeling difficulty in coping with a new baby or has a baby who is difficult As for me, I feel like I am bonding much to calm or is having troubles with better with him and that I am much more digestion or sleeping. It's certainly made able to handle the stress of such a big a world of difference for my son and I.” transition. I feel so happy that I am enjoying everything now. I'm convinced Reprinted with permission from Mamta Nanda, that Mamta's Reiki sessions have made www.reikiwithmamta.com, . an impact on our physical and emotional © Mamta Nanda, 2006 well-being.

“Now I am bonding much better with Ethan, and I am much more able to handle the stress of such a big transition.”

8 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Treating the Child by Miep Seelbach-Scholte, Alblasserdam, the Netherlands

A drugless way to calm the overactive child

Sometimes a little bit of Reiki is all that’s needed to make a difference.

“Wow! It’s cool here !” He looked In the meantime his eyes had fallen on around my Reiki room after storming up my Tibetan singing bowls. “What dog the stairs, tearing the door open, and dishes do you have there?” he asked, and jumping on the Reiki table like a I explained the purpose of the singing kangaroo. bowls.

“What are you It is very difficult for a “May I?” he asked. So going to do?” he after the treatment, I put a asked. six-year-old, singing bowl on his belly. overactive boy to lie I have never heard “I am going to give someone roar so much you a Reiki still and he didn’t. with laughter. treatment,” I said. “Shall I tell you what that is?” When we came downstairs his mother asked how it had been. “Tomorrow I “Oh no, it’s all right,” and his head come again,” he said, but that seemed a flopped on the table. I did tell him, of bit too fast to me. We made an course, that I was going to put my hands appointment for five days later and, on his body and that his belly might start again, it was a delight. bubbling, and that he might even have to fart or burp. He found that very funny. What is needed

It is very difficult for a six-year-old, He knows exactly what will happen overactive boy to lie still and he didn’t. and what he wants, and in his way, he He tossed and turned from one side to lies still during the treatment. “Will you the other and from his belly to his back, put your hands under my head?” he’ll but he let me know precisely where to ask. “I love that!” Meanwhile he keeps put my hands. “Yes there, and there!” an eye on the clock, because he is counting out his lying still! Longer than Delight half an hour he really doesn’t manage.

No, that’s enough now, for it tickles After the treatment he can have the “dog very much.” There was no question of dish” on his belly again and we sing doing a normal Reiki treatment, but what songs together.

a delight! He talked a mile a minute. He loves to receive treatments, and his

mother made a series of appointments. 9 Wonderful Reiki Stories

After a number of treatments, he seems “Just four more nights to sleep,” as he quieter and, according to his mother, he would say. sleeps well.

It is beautiful to see how Reiki works Miep Sielbach-Scholte is a Reiki Master with a child and how well that child is living in Ablasserdam, the Netherlands.

capable of indicating what he wants. Reprinted from Reiki Magazine International, Reiki just does what is needed. June/July 2003. © Miep Sielbach-Scholte In the meantime I am very much 2003 looking forward to our next treatment—

It is beautiful to see how Reiki works with a child and how well that child is capable of indicating what he wants.

10 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Dark to Daylight by Margaret Yarnton, Victoria, Australia

One man’s journey with severe depression, relieved by Reiki.

Over six months and thirty-six treatments, Thomas made the journey from serious depression and anxiety to a healthy state of body and mind.

I was initiated into Reiki in October

1998. I was working in an employment Changed Forever agency for people with disabilities, assisting them to find work and then After the first Reiki session, Thomas supporting them in the workplace until appeared deeply moved. He opened his they were able to work independently. eyes and said, "Something has happened Fifty percent of our clients lived with a that has changed me forever." He psychiatric couldn't identify what

disability. As time had happened, but knew went on, I became I became increasingly a real change occurred. I increasingly had experienced a convinced that my convinced that Reiki had profound emotional calling was to full- connection in giving him time healing and much to offer in the area Reiki, at times quite that natural of mental health. overwhelming. therapies, including Reiki, had much to Three days later, offer in the area of mental health. In July Thomas returned. He had slept better 1999, I resigned from disability since the Reiki, a friend (who knew employment to focus on studies in nothing about the Reiki treatment) had Aromatherapy and Reiki. commented that he was more relaxed, and his wife had noticed a difference. Still feeling very much a novice, I was The weather had been miserable, and he a little unsure of my ability to help a man was surprised that he had not been who came to me at the beginning of affected as much as usual. September that same year. Thomas was suffering from severe depression and had During the treatment, Thomas had been unable to work for many months. experienced some unpleasant sensations, He had a history of depression, usually but felt something was being moved, that during the winter months, but this was the Reiki was bringing to the surface by far the longest and worst episode he something that needed to be cleared. had experienced.

11 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Following the third treatment another Throughout October, Thomas three days later, Thomas said he felt the experienced considerable emotional energy was more balanced, and even that release during many Reiki sessions. He he was becoming more balanced. experienced increasing periods of feeling stronger and began undertaking some We established a pattern of twice- small projects. He noticed he was weekly Reiki sessions, followed by a cup clearing his throat fairly regularly for no of tea and time to share his experiences. apparent reason and wondered if it could By the sixth visit Thomas observed, "I be related to the Reiki. We were both feel I am coming out of the dark into the interested to read Louise Hay's light.” comments in her book, You Can Heal Your

During the seventh treatment, I again Life: "The energy center in the throat, the experienced a strong emotional fifth chakra, is the place in the body connection, but quite where change takes place. When we are different from the first time resisting change or in the when the emotion was “I am coming middle of change or are trying heavy and full of pain. This to change, we often have a lot of was lighter with a sense of out of the dark activity in our throats.”

joy. I had sensations of into the light.” Thomas continued to receive weights being lifted and Reiki twice weekly during floating away. Thomas felt a lot of things November and December. Treatments being drawn up and passing down his became less emotional, more peaceful. body and out through his feet. Sleep Although unable to define what occurred patterns had improved. He was sleeping at each session, Thomas was conscious longer and able to control any anxiety or they were doing him good. His panic attacks during the wakeful periods comments included, "The depression's by saying a short prayer to calm himself still there, but the despair and psychosis while placing his hands on the front of are gone . . . The periods of daylight are his torso. He would then go back to longer and more frequent . . . The worst sleep, whereas previously he would have is now behind me." gotten up and walked around for about an hour. With busy family activities following Christmas and the New Year, four weeks Release passed without a Reiki treatment. Thomas had been remarkably well After the eighth session, he during that time. We both perceived the commented that he had experienced next Reiki treatment as calm and peaceful some painful, unpleasant sensations and deep. His body seemed very thirsty during earlier treatments, but that these for the energy. no longer occurred. I had noted in earlier treatments that after about fifteen Before starting the next session a few minutes, I was aware of a particular odor. days later, I prayed that the final traces of This had diminished and was barely depression be lifted from Thomas, that noticeable that day. It occurred again healing energy flow into every last dark about a week later when we were both crack and crevice of his being. aware of a lot of activity during the Reiki. To me, that treatment was quite troubled—tremors and jerks ran through 12 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Thomas's body many times. Yet, when years. He recognizes the benefits of Thomas opened his eyes, he said how regular Reiki, but has continued in good wonderfully relaxing the treatment had health since the intensive six months that been. He had been unaware of the jerks began nearly four years ago. and tremors. It was the first time he had experienced such deep relaxation Since then, I have shared the healing throughout a treatment. A week later, path of many people with depression and Thomas had a similar Reiki experience, anxiety. I will always be especially and this time, it was also deeply relaxing grateful, though, for that very first for me. I sensed the energy around his experience of the power and peace of body to be balanced and strong. Reiki in restoring health—mental, emotional and spiritual. Peace You may contact Margaret He received two more treatments Yarnton at 613 5668 1561 or over the next two weeks—a total of [email protected] thirty-six Reiki sessions over nearly six Reprinted from Reiki Magazine International, months. It was eighteen months before he June/July 2004, © Margaret Yarnton, 2004 returned for another Reiki, and I have not seen him professionally for nearly two

I prayed that the final traces of depression be lifted.

13 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Can I Help? by Barbara McDaniel

Every one of us can use Reiki in our daily lives to help people

With First Degree Reiki, you learn to treat yourself, family, and friends. Judy Blalack, whose life is all about service, demonstrates how to offer Reiki wherever a need arises.

The Silver Bulletin newsletter carried you.’ So this lady—I still don’t know her this New Testament advice from the name—walked around behind my Apostle Peter: “Be hospitable to one mother and put her hands on her head another without grumbling. As each one and neck. Mother looked over at me and has received a gift, minister it to one said, “You could do this, Judy. You just another, as good stewards of the get these little heating pads for your manifold grace of God.” Newsletter fingers.’ I knew something was editor Judy Blalack embodies this happening. My mother was very alert, message as she volunteers in her rural but she couldn’t see what the woman Idaho community, helping to provide was doing behind her.” housing through Habitat for Humanity and offering Reiki to anyone who hurts. Judy wrote the name of the friend’s practice— R-E-I-K-I —on a piece of paper The beginning and stuck it in her wallet. She didn’t hear that unusual word again until she and About twelve years ago, Judy and her Verne moved back to Cataldo. “That’s husband, Verne, retired to his childhood when I discovered that my sister-in-law home in Idaho’s Silver Valley. It just so was working at The Reiki Alliance happens that office,” she laughs. Reiki Master Shortly Paul Mitchell ‘You could do this, Judy. You afterwards, she lives there too, took a First Degree and Judy had just get these little heating pads Reiki class with been looking for Paul. Since then, Reiki. for your fingers.’ her three grown children, sister, “I was taking care of my mother before daughter-in-law, remaining sisters-in- she passed away from Parkinson’s law, and quite a few local people have disease,” Judy recalls. Her mother rarely taken the class as a result of Judy’s complained, but the day Judy’s aunt enthusiasm. “I do Reiki probably every visited with a friend, she mentioned day,” she says. “It’s just become a part of having a headache. “My aunt said, ‘My me.” friend here is a healer and she can help

14 Wonderful Reiki Stories

At about the same time she took Reiki, had cut her finger on the railing, and so I Judy and Verne got involved with the offered. 'I can help.' I treated her hand local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. for about five minutes, looked up, and Habitat is a nonprofit, non- asked if she was okay and she nodded. denominational, Christian organization Her parents were extremely concerned, that make houses affordable to low- and so they thanked me and we went on income people worldwide. Volunteers out. We got to the bottom of the basilica provide most of the labor and donors with all those huge statues and all the provide the money. Both Judy and Verne tourists mingling. The parents found us have served on the board. Verne works in all that crowd and thanked me again. with the building crews. Judy edits the The father said they were from Malaysia. newsletter, cooks, and gives lots of Reiki. They didn’t know anyone there who Judy’s on-site treatments have led several spoke English. When he’d seen how bad Habitat volunteers to Reiki. “It seems the cut was, he was sure he would have about every year or two we have some to take her to the doctor. He said after people who have heard about Reiki from her treatment, he could see where the other people, who want to take the skin was already starting to heal class,” she says. together. It was just “After her treatment, he really awesome. But he Judy’s faith understood. It wasn’t supports her work could see where the skin my spirit. I was just the with Habitat and conduit." with Reiki, “Since was already starting to I’m Christian,” she "I did Reiki on a friend explains, “I believe heal together.” when we went to Turkey. the energy comes This gal had done from God, but, of course, you don’t have something to her back. She was really to be any religion or faith in order for it having trouble and I said, 'I can help to work. It’s just like the rain; it falls on you.' So we stayed on the bus. We went everybody.” to the back of the bus where she could stretch out. 'I can’t handle any massage,' I can help she told me. So I said okay. She hadn’t slept the night before, and within five Judy is a world traveler with endless minutes she was fast asleep and relaxed." stories about offering Reiki to complete strangers in places like Hawaii, Rome, Good steward Turkey, and the Phillipines. Her confidence in Reiki makes her fearless, "On that same trip was a fellow who and people seldom refuse her offered was really having trouble breathing, and hands. he wasn’t able to sleep at night either. I gave him a treatment, and he was able to "Once we were in Rome at St. Peter’s sleep. He was able to get the fluids out; Basilica and we had gone up into the one lung had actually collapsed. Reiki cupola. We were coming back down and really helped him get through the rest of I heard this child cry above us. The stairs the trip. You never know when people were extremely narrow. Finally I found a are going to have accidents." spot where you could step off and wait. The family came down. The mother had “I got over the shyness of wondering this big white, bloody tissue. The girl whether anybody would look at me 15 Wonderful Reiki Stories

rather strangely if I offered,” she says. very strong Southern Baptist family and “Some of them still do. But mostly if was concerned. I was in his house people are hurting, they’re willing to give treating his wife, and he was looking in it a try. Generally, I just ask if I can put the Bible and came across this verse in my hands on,” she advises. “I say, ‘I can Mark 9:38-40 where the man was healing help if you like.’ And then I may tell in Jesus’s name. Jesus was questioned them it’s Reiki. Most people have no about this and he answered, ‘If he is not idea what Reiki is. When they ask what against us, then he is for us.’ That it is and where it satisfied him, and the comes from, I tell treatments were really a them it’s hands-on “If I can convince them benefit to his wife.” healing, that Reiki is Japanese, and it to come and take the “I have friends, people means universal life class, they can treat at my church, who don’t energy. I say, ‘I’m want me to treat them. just a conduit. They themselves.” That’s okay. They’re still offer classes. Please my friends,” she adds.

take them.’” “Some people ask, ‘Is this Jesus’

“If I can convince them to come and energy?’ I won’t say that. This is energy take the class, they can treat themselves, that comes from God, but I’m not going so that’s what I try to do. I just explain to say this is exactly what Jesus was out how I became involved and what it’s there doing. I’m certainly not going to done for me. I’ve traveled many places put myself in his shoes. It’s extremely and generally somebody’s hurting, so I powerful. I find this awesome—the true offer. They can always refuse if they meaning of awe—because I feel that I am don’t want it.” an instrument. I give thanks every time I do it. And I’ve had incredible Energy from God experiences with it.”

What about Christians who criticize Though Judy’s husband, Verne, doesn’t Reiki? “A lot of people are fearful of do Reiki, he supports her practice. He something that’s unexplainable,” Judy tells people, “It does work. I don’t know says. “Or they think maybe they’re being what it is, but she can’t keep her hands misled away from the true faith. I can off of you.” It’s sort of like the Apostle understand that, and I obviously don’t Peter suggested: Judy Blalack ministers push it on anybody that doesn’t want it. the gift of Reiki in the spirit of being a I always ask, ‘Would you like me to help good steward of the manifold grace of you with your shoulder? Yes or no.’ It God.

depends on the person.” Reprinted from Reiki Magazine International, “I helped a doctor’s wife that had brain June/July 2004. © Barbara McDaniel, 2004 cancer,” she goes on. “He was from a

16 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Healing the Healer by Olivia Salazar, Heidelberg, Germany

A little girl’s miraculous recovery brings healing to her physician

Olivia Salazar offers Reiki by request at a medical clinic in Heidelberg, Germany. She tells of treating a little girl who was badly burned and in critical condition.

We had our own small Reiki circle operations to reroute the blood through around a little girl who had been badly the lungs in order to keep her alive. Her burned and was expected to die as she grandmother gave her a direct Reiki had so little resistance. Both of her treatment this morning. parents have Reiki, so we treated her constantly in turn, alternating with ***** distant treatments. On Sunday she . . . A few years have passed since I suddenly awakened during the doctor's wrote this piece and it’s now August examination. All of her vital signs were 2006. Today, the little girl who was normal. Her arms and legs showed no burned and her family still visit signs of the third occasionally and will degree burns. On All of her vital signs were be moving to Ireland her body, most of soon. She has the blisters were normal. Her arms and legs learned Reiki and she dry. She had no pain. showed no signs of the third and her parents have a daily hug session We thought the degree burns. with their most doctor would beloved activity. collapse as he continued his examination. Later, the nurse asked me to go to him in The doctor’s daughter still needs his office. He had been weeping for a further operations as she grows, probably long time and was quiet. He asked for a until she is a teenager. Her recovery time treatment and fell into a deep sleep. after surgery is much shorter because her Soon he plans to learn Reiki. parents both treat her and have convinced others involved with medicine For months this doctor had forbidden to learn for themselves. his mother-in-law, who practices Reiki,

contact with his two-year old daughter. Reprinted from Reiki Magazine International, The child was born with only one heart October/November 2000. ©Olivia Salazar, 2006 valve. She has undergone three

17 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Field Hands by Leila Stewart, County Mayo, Ireland

Treating “others” can include plants, pets, and farm animals

Living in rural County Mayo, Ireland offered unusual opportunities for Leila Stewart to use Reiki.

I know you won’t be surprised by what was still lying down on his right side. I am about to tell you, but since my Reiki His eyes looked at me saying, “Please, Master came to Ballinrobe, County Mayo somebody help me!” He was a huge in July of 1999 to teach our First Degree woolly creature with enormous horns, Reiki class, all sorts of very unusual but and to see him lying there, only able to lovely things have been happening to me move his head and his legs a little, was so and mine. I thought I would use my sad. newly learned Reiki knowledge to help my multitude of Rescued Cats, but I had Ken and I pulled him up by his horns no idea I would be involved in trying to and propped him up against a bale of help a Ram! straw. He just sat there quietly while I put my hands on his head, touched his The Ram’s story ears, and pulled out the pieces of straw that had gotten stuck in his mouth. Then My husband, Kenneth, has been Ken went back to the barn, and I went on helping to feed a friend’s horses. He to my shopping. came home one day and told me how sorry he was for an old Ram who had Five hours later, the Ram was walking, been put in one of the stables in the barn. very slowly and staggering slightly, but He had been found collapsed in the field, he was on his feet! apparently having been involved in a The next day I fight with a young ram. went to see the Ram Ken had been making PJ was afraid the vet again, but only sure he could get water because we were on and a little food, but would say that the Ram our way to see even with this help, the someone’s new bar Ram could not stand should be put down. that was opening up. I asked what the that night. This vet had said, but the vet had not been time I took a large damp towel with me called. PJ, the farmer, was afraid the vet because I had read a wonderful Reiki would say that the Ram should be put book, Principles of Reiki by Kajsa Krishni down. Borang, that said this would help spread The Ram had been in the stable for the Reiki on large animals. We propped about five days before I went to see him him up against a straw bale again and on my way to do some shopping. He stayed with him for nearly an hour. I 18 Wonderful Reiki Stories

told him how pleased I was with him for because this time PJ had actually asked being on his feet. for my help. It was different with the Ram. I had just seen him by chance on The Ram stayed in the barn, getting my way to do some shopping. stronger each day. PJ, the farmer, even put a ewe in the barn with the Ram to We were told the Cow was in the big keep him company. About four weeks field behind the barn. There she was, later, he went back about a hundred into the field (not To everyone’s astonishment, yards from the gate, with the young lying absolutely still, ram), and the last Mum slowly got up and fed completely stretched time I saw him, he out flat on her right was happily eating her baby calf! side with her back grass. facing us.

I didn’t tell anyone what I had done, but Ken and I looked at one another as we Ken told PJ the farmer I had given the were still walking to the field, and I said, Ram Reiki. I am positive he had no idea “Poor thing, she’s dead. We should have what Reiki was, but nevertheless, he was come yesterday.” very pleased that his favorite old Ram— apparently called Scrapper— was still First treatment alive. As we spoke, she twitched her left ear, Everyone thought it was a miracle, and I rushed over to her and tried to raise including me. her head with no success. Ken went back to the barn to feed the horse, and I was so The Cow’s story delighted to find she wasn’t dead that I put my hands on her back. Before I My husband, Ken, was asked by PJ, the realized what had happened, she flicked farmer, who owned Scrapper, the Ram, if her head backwards and knocked me on I would be able to help an old, in-calf my back, in the mud, with my little legs Cow who had slipped over and sticking up to heaven. I quickly picked apparently injured her back and could myself up and looked around to make not get up. PJ said she had fallen down sure that no one had seen me looking so some time during the week, but no one utterly ridiculous. Then I did what I had found her until Saturday when she should have done originally. I went was moved by a tractor to the field around to the front of her, said hello, and behind the barn. I asked what the vet told her I had come to help her. I went had said, but no vet had been called. behind her and covered her back with a Since the Cow was old, he would big wet towel to spread the Reiki energy. probably suggest that she might need to She still wasn’t happy with me though. be put down. She kept moving her head to get rid of

We went to the barn very early Sunday me.

morning. This time I was apprehensive I heard someone walking towards me about what I could do as a very from behind. I shielded my eyes from inexperienced First Degree Reiki student. the morning sun and recognized a local I was not in doubt about the power of farmer. I said good morning and asked Reiki, but I was worried about myself, him if he wondered what a strange 19 Wonderful Reiki Stories

woman was doing sitting on a cow in the pushed them near her. I got her another middle of a field with the cow covered in three buckets of water, and she sat there a bright yellow bath towel. It must have enjoying her “field service.” She been quite an unusual sight! He knew it continued to chew contentedly while I was me because he had seen Ken’s car. spread my damp towel over her He didn’t even ask what I was doing! He enormous belly. I stayed there an hour, had come to see how the Cow was doing watching the calf kick frantically inside because he had helped move her the day of her, and trying to keep the towel in before. I asked him to help me by place, as it was blowing a gale. I said bringing a bale of hay from the barn to goodbye to her and told her I wanted her put under the Cow’s shoulder. With him to get up before I came to see her again. pulling her by the head and me pushing Two days later, Tuesday evening, Ken her, we were able to prop the Cow’s front helped bring her beautiful, healthy heifer end up slightly. After that, he left. calf into the world.

Relief and delight Everyone, including the Cow, was delighted and relieved, and frankly, As soon as she was propped up, she mildly surprised. The calf was not able managed to turn her head backwards, to suckle because Mum was still lying and she started to devour the hay. Then I down. PJ took some milk from Mum, realized she needed water. I fetched a bottle fed it to the calf, and put the baby bucket of water, and she siphoned it in safely in the barn overnight. five seconds flat. I filled her bucket three more times! After that, she seemed to be The next morning they brought the calf absolutely content, and she let me drape back to Mum, and to everyone’s her with the towel and put my hands on astonishment, Mum slowly got up and her back. I stayed there for nearly an fed her baby calf! She had been down for hour. I said goodbye to her and told her I nearly fourteen days! She looked a bit wanted her to try to stand up soon. Ken tatty and muddy, but she was up! She went to see her and feed her daily and was very happy to be in the same field reported back to me. with her lovely calf!

The following Sunday we both got up That next summer, the heifer calf born very early and went to see her again. to the old Cow won Best in Show in Although she hadn’t managed to stand Crossmolina, County Mayo!

up at all throughout the week, she was able to dig her front feet into the grass Leila Stewart lived in County Mayo, Ireland. Her and drag her back end to move around. I friends—animal and human—felt blessed by the could see all the marks from where she touch of her hands. And all who heard Leila’s had been moving. This time I stories delighted. Leila died October 26, 2003. remembered to say hello. I fetched her a bucket of water, and picked up various Reprinted from Reiki Magazine International, bits of hay strewn around her and June/July 2004. ©Leila Stweart, 2004 .

20 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Reiki in Recital by Jim Frew, Bittern, Australia

Helping a piano student tickle the ivories

Artists often find Reiki refines their skills and performance. In Jim Frew’s story, a young piano student shows remarkable technical improvement after a single Reiki treatment.

This interesting conversation took exploring the possibility of learning Reiki place with a lady who called me seeking so that she can not only help herself, but information about Reiki. also so she can offer Reiki to her piano pupils as a coaching bonus! This lady is a teacher of piano with students at concert standard. She told me of a recent student of hers who had to take an exam in piano. Reiki was the only The teacher heard the student perform and was astounded by the dramatic likely reason for the improvement in her keyboard touch from the previous time she had heard her play, improvement in the just days before. student's touch,

She questioned the student about what especially in the was responsible for this dramatic improvement. A couple of reasons were weaker fingers which suggested, which the teacher totally discounted. As an afterthought, the was nothing short student then volunteered that she had of amazing. had a Reiki treatment the previous day. My caller felt that this was the only likely Jim Frew is a Reiki Master living in Bittern reason for the improvement in the on the Morningstar Peninsula near student's touch, especially in the weaker Melbourne, Australia, fingers which, she said, was nothing [email protected] short of amazing. Reprinted from Reiki Magazine International, My caller, who currently has Ross River June/July 2000 fever and several other problems related to depressed immune function, is now .

21 Wonderful Reiki Stories

After All These Years by Susan Mitchell, Cataldo, ID, USA

Twenty-one days of treating chronic headaches led to finding the source of the dis-ease

This article was written after Susan was diagnosed with severe anemia in 1998. Distant Reiki treatments, a skill learned in Second Degree Reiki, healed the anemia and inadvertently led her to the underlying cause of her chronic headaches.

I'd practiced Reiki for twenty-two naturopath was pumping me full of iron years. I started treating myself after that from assorted sources. In seven weeks first night of class in 1978 and have my iron count rose more than three seldom missed a day since.2 Recent points. I've since learned it often takes events pushed me to look more closely at months for the blood count to rise a the healing power of Reiki in my own single point. life. I felt like I had experienced a nearly For months I'd been puzzled by my miraculous recovery. I was also diminishing overwhelmed by the energy. I kept I often doubted whether I effectiveness of the thinking this was distant treatments the result of aging would ever truly get better. and the dedication and wondering and love of my how I'd be getting around at eighty. By friends. In hindsight, I felt like the early April 1999, I thought something anemia set the stage for what was to must be really wrong. I went to the come. doctor for a blood test. The results indicated serious anemia. "Get better or No medical conditions or causes for the get transfused," said my naturopath. I anemia were found, but I heard from a was relieved it wasn't leukemia, but felt friend that anemia can result from like I still might die of tiredness. overuse of aspirin. This was frightening. I'd had chronic headaches and been Setting the stage aspirin dependent for thirty years. Physically, my headaches came from At the outset of the anemia diagnosis, extensive dental work and scarring one of my friends started giving me following a dozen surgeries for cleft thirty days of distant Reiki treatments. palate and a harelip. In 1990 a head-on Another friend began almost daily car accident caused a whiplash injury distant treatments. Meanwhile, my that only exacerbated the problem.

2 Self-treatment is the foundation of the First Degree Taste of freedom Reiki class. Every beginning student is encouraged to treat herself every day. 22 Wonderful Reiki Stories

The mental and emotional side of my As I neared the end of the thirty days of headaches stem from the same distant treatment, I started having experiences. I have spent my life headaches again. I had thought I could clenched and gripping since that first go "cold turkey" and take no more surgery two days after I was born–– aspirin. But I didn't have the strength to anxiously waiting for inevitable tolerate the pain. I was awed by the abandonment and loss. Even the effects of the thirty days of distant Reiki smallest events of my days have been treatments and wondered what the result stamped with this subtle imprint. of hands-on Reiki might be. I asked my friend, Bonnie, if she'd be willing to treat Over the last few years I had taken me daily for twenty-one days. aspirin almost daily. Aspirin enabled me to keep going. I managed my life I'd never considered doing this many around my pain: avoiding sun, treatments before: aspirin had always videos, reading, hot tubs, saunas, covered my pain. I did my best and tried to accept the rest. alcohol . . . I had worked with these headaches for years and from Twenty-one days numerous angles––more dental work, Rolfing, deep tissue massage, cranial Bonnie and I arranged our schedules so sacral, Reichian therapy, nothing interfered with the treatments. homeopathy, and, of course, treating Occasionally we had to meet very early myself daily with Reiki. in the morning or late at night, but we never missed a day. During that period I I often doubted whether I would ever had many days of no headache or light truly get better. Now I clearly heard the headache that disappeared by the end of anemia saying, "No more aspirin." the Reiki treatment. After so many years Within a few of chronic pain, I days of hearing I am slowly learning that I cannot adequately this "voice," my describe how hips and back don't have to hold on. Love amazing and glorious went out. I this time was. literally could is surrounding me all of the not go another time if only I'm able to The Reiki step further. treatments helped me surrender to it. to surrender more And then, fully to my own stuck in bed, I weariness. I slept found myself with no headaches. I could through many of the sessions. When I read and watch videos for hours––and was headache-y, I could feel my energy still be headache free. Being in bed with clogged up in my head. Treatment almost no mobility, no headaches, and no opened the congestion. I didn't have to aspirin lasted for eight days. The "do" anything. In fact, I had to stop experience felt inexplicable and doing. That, in itself, made me better. miraculous. Those eight days also gave me greater faith that I could be headache From April to late July, I lived in a and aspirin-free. protected, quiet world. I saw few people outside of my family, went few places, and worked only in my garden. I had 23 Wonderful Reiki Stories

one or two headaches a week and two moments, my head, and every bit of me, ten-day stretches pain free. I thought I is resting there. Sometimes I can fully was nearly "cured." relax into the little moments that make up me and my life—saying goodbye, As I started to re-enter "the world," that facing the day, buzzing down the anxious internal imprint lay waiting, highway. And the pain lessens, and my ready to pounce. I started having daily relationship to everything changes. headaches. I was returning to my old familiar driven-ness and gripping. I had Now, when I treat myself each day, I'm hoped that maybe, somehow, I was cured more and more able to experience that and if I would just be really, really grateful wave of surrender. . . . I simply did not know what else to do. This experience is new. I don't know how I'll sustain it in the coming months. Surround me Maybe that's a part of the purpose of this little story––so I can return to it and Though I couldn't have said it this way remind myself. I do know that Reiki at the time, I have since realized that brings us one way to receive this infinite, during those twenty-one days of Reiki all-comforting love. All, absolutely all, treatments, I was being held by love, we have to do is place our hands on divine love. I could feel that I didn't have ourselves or someone else and step out of to grip. When I wasn't gripping, the pain the way. lessened or went away. Now I am slowly learning that I don't have to hold on. Reprinted from Reiki Magazine International, Love is surrounding me all of the time if February/March 2001. ©Susan Mitchell, 2001 only I'm able to surrender to it. In some .

All, absolutely all, we have to do is place our hands on ourselves or someone else and step out of the way.

24 Wonderful Reiki Stories

Miracle in Seattle by Katie Hume, Bellingham, WA, USA

Healing the mind, the spirit, and the physical trauma from cerebral hemorrhage

Shortly after Katie Hume’s mother moved to Seattle, she experienced three cerebral hemorrhages that left her with extensive brain damage. Helped by Reiki and conventional medical treatment, mother and daughter made the journey of recovery together.

On October 8th, 1995, I walked out of community in Scotland where she lived the hospital onto Madison Street. There for two years. She offered me my first in the newspaper box was the largest treatment when I arrived at Findhorn, headline I’d ever seen, which said: weary after my transcontinental flight. I “MIRACLE IN SEATTLE!!!” In my was twenty-six and she was fifty. We altered state of mind, brought about by traveled together for the first time, days of little sleep and the stress of leaving our bumpy mother-daughter watching a life hang in the balance, I history behind us for a week of walking thought the headline was about my the rocky coasts. mother. Four days after emergency brain surgery, she had regained consciousness. Days of waiting And it was front page news! Then I Ten years later, Elizabeth lay in the realized most of the city thought the intensive care unit in Seattle. She was headline was about the Seattle Mariners hooked up to a respirator and monitors, beating the Yankees in with a tube for cerebral the playoffs for the first fluid coming out of her time in baseball history. She was in unbearable head like a metal halo. A It’s hard to write a pain and told me to Reiki Master was treating story about illness and her. When she was recovery, trauma and call 911. finished, she turned to me healing without and my sister and said, sounding sentimental “This may sound strange, or grandiose. But when I was asked to but your mother seems really strong.” write the story of my mother’s journey My mother had never met the woman back from a brain injury, I jumped at the treating her, who was a friend of a friend chance. It’s a story I’ve been wanting to of mine. But I knew she believed very tell. Reiki helped heal my mother and strongly in healing arts, and I knew she also brought a sense of community to us had tried to contact a Reiki circle when for the first years of her recovery. she moved to town. I didn’t know until My mother, Elizabeth, first took a Reiki later that she had called the Reiki Center course in 1985 at the Findhorn and left a message for the very person who was now treating her. In this way, 25 Wonderful Reiki Stories

my mother found the Reiki circle and the asked her what month and year it was, Reiki circle found me. her name, the current president, in order to check her coherence. One time in the She had the cerebral hemorrhage just middle of the night, when they asked her after her sixty-first birthday, three weeks if she knew where she was she answered after she had temporarily moved in with “A loony bin?” Even though the me. The first hemorrhage, which environment and routines of the hospital miraculously stopped itself, went made no sense to her, she did her best to undiagnosed and untreated. Even reach out. “You look tired,” she told one though she had a terrible headache, she doctor, “would you like to lie down?” was new to Seattle and afraid her health insurance wouldn’t cover a doctor’s visit. Rehab and recovery When the internal bleeding started a second time, she was in unbearable pain With a lot of practice she learned to and told me to call 911. By the time my walk, spiriting herself down the hallways family had all arrived from the East with tunes from old musicals. After four Coast, we were taking turns waiting for weeks in rehabilitation, just before her to come out of a coma. My siblings Thanksgiving, they sent her home to my and I had a meeting to decide what to do house. The rehab specialists warned me if she didn’t regain consciousness. After that she might never recover much four days of watching coherence or and waiting, taking short-term turns by her bed, my We were so busy hoping and memory. After all, mother “woke up.” praying she would live, we she answered the She spoke to my question “What sister. She squeezed had little opportunity to month is it, Mrs. our hands. We made Hume?” with a sly the decision she think about what her grin and the should undergo brain words “Apple surgery for what had recovery would be like. time.” (Well, turned out to be three when she went ruptured brain aneurysms. After the into the hospital, the ripe apples were surgery, she was unconscious again for falling on my driveway!) “She’s a several days and had a minor stroke. The gardener,” I said, “she follows a seasonal day she woke up was the day the calendar.” I didn’t know if she would headlines proclaimed “Miracle in ever re-engage with the linear concept of Seattle!” time; she lived in the moment, with little sense of time passing or the need for the We were so busy hoping and praying human constructs of hours, days, weeks. she would live, we had little opportunity to think about what her recovery would My mother had moved from the East be like after what we were told was Coast hoping to find work in her field of extensive brain damage. She knew her horticulture. She also wanted us to have name. She knew her family members. the opportunity to get to know each other But she had no idea why she was in the better. We laugh about that now. We got hospital, or even that it was a hospital. to know each other, but not in the way The nurses woke her up every hour to either of us expected. I tell her stories check her pupils with a flashlight. They from the six months she doesn’t 26 Wonderful Reiki Stories

remember at all. She has seen me as to pay for First Degree Reiki training for fierce mama lion, telling her to grab the me, which I accepted. It is a gift I will handrail when she teeters at the top of an always have with me. escalator. At first, after she came home

from the hospital, our roles were Integration completely reversed. I brushed her hair. I listened while she cried that I had After a Reiki treatment, Elizabeth was hidden her car keys. I prompted her to always clearer. She seemed to stand bathe and dress. When her friend from taller, her jaw more relaxed, less set Maine came to visit, we looked into against the horse bit of the respirator that apartments at a nearby retirement home. had kept her alive for weeks. One time During this time, in addition to she became violently ill. I wondered scheduling Reiki sessions at home, I what aspect of the trauma she was started taking my mother to the Reiki expelling. Another time, after a circle once a week. treatment, she gave me a clue about her perceptual changes. She told me the The Reiki circle allowed me to let other reason she had such trouble path-finding people think about her for a few hours. It from the front room to the bathroom was gave her a familiar discipline to practice. that, when she first came I was invited to join the home from the hospital, circle, even though I After a Reiki she just floated through the saw myself at first as walls. Learning to find the just my mother’s treatment, Elizabeth doorways seemed such a chauffeur. They bother. Finding her own welcomed me, showed was always clearer. feet was hard enough. me the hand positions This helped me understand how hard her as we took turns on the table for body and spirit were working to treatments. They didn’t look irritated integrate forces. More often than not, she when my mother forgot to take off her emerged from a treatment with a better shoes by the door. They had a chair sense of balance in all respects: physical, ready for her to sit on. They told us they emotional, mental, and spiritual. were glad we came. A few months ago, my mom called me I think of the circle with gratitude. I from her retirement home and told me remember the Thanksgiving cactus she wanted to get the rest of her books covered with bright pink blossoms and out of my basement. “I saved all those the original paintings on the walls. The books, the Quaker history, the family way the circle held us all, our truths and genealogy, for my retirement. And I’ve our mistakes, our falling apart selves and just realized I’m retired now! So I’d like our strongest core. The feeling of calm as to have them.” She had just finished we formed the circle after the rush reading biographies of Nixon and through city traffic to get there. This Kennedy. She had also finished her first circle of healers witnessed my mother’s knitting project since the brain injury, recovery over three years, as well as the initiating it from start to finish. She’s realities of our mother-daughter taking piano lessons to learn to play her relationship, turned for a time on its favorite tunes by ear. For her sixty-sixth head. Almost a year after we’d been birthday, my siblings bought her a new going to the Reiki circle, Elizabeth offered computer. 27 Wonderful Reiki Stories

establishing the synapses of an organized We don’t go to the Reiki circle brain. anymore. Elizabeth asserted her independence and said she had other But it was my mother’s mind and spirit things to do on Tuesdays. I moved to that had the hardest task. Reiki helped Bellingham, ninety miles north. I check her regenerate cells and create new in with her often. She spends the pathways of learning. As she gained an weekend at my house once a month. We awareness of her altered abilities, it garden together, make dinner, tell each helped her to grieve what she’d lost other stories from other times in our overnight and accept what she still had. lives. The first time she took the train Her illness brought our family closer home on her own, she called me to say together and her recovery showed us the she saw thirty blue herons and a depth of her strong and generous spirit. kingfisher. One of these days, I’d like to make the Sometimes I’m still amazed at how far trip to Seattle for the Reiki circle again. I she’s come. She’s had a community remember forming the closing circle after garden patch and grown sunflowers, trading treatments and feeling the energy strawberries, catnip, and sage. Her short- move from hand to hand. And I term memory, the hardest-hit area of the remember hearing everyone whispering brain, has made a remarkable come back. the names of people we love, and people She’s in step with calendar time now. we struggle with, into the center of the Sometimes I miss watching her delight in circle for healing. And how we send that every discovery. Sometimes I even miss energy out to people and places in the the struggles. world that may need it most.

Walking miracle Katie Humes is a poet who lives in the Northwest corner of the United States. She works as a family Her doctors really do say she’s a resource coordinator for parents of deaf infants. walking miracle. Most people don’t survive one ruptured brain aneurysm, Reprinted from Reiki Magazine International, and she came back from three. She had February/March 2001. © Katie Hume, 2001 excellent surgeons and nurses and a devoted team of rehab specialists. They all played their part in repairing and re- .

Most people don’t survive one ruptured brain aneurysm, and she came back from three.

28