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    • Using Reiki Magick

      by Christopher Penczak

      (Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

      Reiki is the power to heal using "universal life force." Reiki itself is a system of natural healing coming to the west from Japan. A trained practitioner of Reiki healing has the ability to channel pure life force—what is known as ki, chi, or prana—and gently allow the recipient to absorb this life force. The recipient's own body can use the energy to heal, gently removing any blocks to health and increasing the flow of life force to areas that are ill or injured. Reiki also works on the energy bodies. Healing can occur on an emotional, mental, or spiritual level. Reiki differs from other forms of energy healing, because the recipient is said to be in charge of the transfer of energy. The recipient's "higher self" or "body wisdom" controls the flow, preventing any overload from too much energy. The Reiki practitioner is like a straw, the recipient sucks energy through the straw, and just like having a drink, when you've had enough, you stop drinking. The recipient cannot "choke" or overload on the healing energy.

      As a practicing witch, I use healing magick in my life all the time. I was interested in learning how Reiki and magick were the same and how they were different. Although there are many traditions and teachings of magick, anyone can learn to use it. With some very basic knowledge, or even by closely following a spell recipe book, you can have successful results working magick without a lot of training. Magick is a method of speaking your intentions to the universe, and by using the symbolic language of ritual, you can speak your intention very easily. Tried and true ritualists know magical theory well enough to design their own rituals and spells, but anybody can learn a few basic techniques. Traditional spells become traditional because they work for a variety of people and get recorded in someone's spell book.

      To practice Reiki, technically you must be initiated into the tradition. To do this, you must receive what Reiki Masters call an attunement (so called because your body is attuned to the natural flow of universal life force energy) through a ritual and variety of symbols. There are a variety of healing energy techniques that are similar to Reiki, but without the attunement, you are not practicing Reiki. The benefit of doing Reiki healing specifically is all the safeguards that come with the system. Not only will you never overload the recipient, but you cannot take on the illness of the recipient. The flow of energy is one way. Other forms of energy healing do not have these built-in benefits.

      I know quite a few witches who get initiated into Reiki to supplement their magical energy. These witches use Reiki not just for healing, but also for many purposes. They use Reiki energy to charge candle spells, to consecrate herbal potions, and to cast the magick circle. The Reiki energy will flow wherever it's needed, not just into the body of one who is ill.

      I've also found those who are versed in magick, but not initiated into Reiki, using the symbols associated with Reiki in magick. Originally the symbols were kept secret from the uninitiated. They were passed on and memorized, with few written copies preserved. Later, when Reiki became more mainstream, the symbols appeared in books and online websites. Now anybody can find them.

      Although these symbols were kept secret to prevent people from using them without an attunement into Reiki, some believe they were kept secret so Reiki teachers could charge huge amounts of money to reveal the secret symbols in class. Lore about the danger of using them when you are not attuned to Reiki grew, and tales of how the Reiki symbols were misused in Egypt or Atlantis became a part of the teachings. Personally, I think they can do no harm. They convey healing energy that is guided by the higher self of the recipient. I think the danger is in thinking if you know the symbols, you have been attuned to Reiki, and have all the safe guards to do healing work with others. Someone using the symbols without an attunement may mistakenly use their own personal energy to heal, and become sick, taking on the illness of another. Or they might overload the recipient with too much energy. That's the only danger.

      The benefits of using the symbols, even without having an attunement, can be great. I've given clients symbols written on paper to meditate on after a healing session. The names of the symbols can be used like mantras, to evoke their healing power personally into you. I even know someone who, before coming to a workshop, read my book, Magick of Reiki and found the symbol Cho Ku Ret from the Seichim Reiki traditions, which is used to heal inanimate objects. Her car broke down and she used the symbol on it, drawing it and chanting its name. Her car started back up again and she got to my workshop on time. I found that quite amazing.

      I think chanting the names of the Reiki symbols in meditation is one of the easiest and safest ways to work with them if you are not attuned. Different teachers pronounce them slightly differently, so do your best and see what effect each has on you.

      • Cho Ku Rei: increases energy and power in general
      • Sei He Ki: for emotional and mental balance
      • Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen: to heal karma, healing the past
      • Di Ko Myo: to connect with the higher self
      • Raku: for grounding
      • Nin Giz Zida: to align the chakras, to active energy
      • Zonar: to heal on a multidimensional level
      • Shanti: creates a sense of peace
      • Gnosa: clears the mind
      • Cho Ku Ret: heals inanimate objects and helps make connections to rituals tools and crystals.
      • Lon Say: creates a sense of love

      Explore working with Reiki through chanting. If you find the energy it evokes speaks to you, explore learning more about Reiki, researching the symbols, and even taking a class with a certified Reiki teacher to become attuned to it yourself.

      Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2005. All rights reserved.

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    • Double Vision: When Your Family Holds a Grudge

      7-im-nov

      I’ve got a family situation I hope you can shed some spiritual light on. Two years ago when my father was terminally ill, I questioned the way one of my siblings was not helping. She would visit then conveniently leave before it was time to bathe Dad and get him to bed. Because my husband and I live next door, we were expected to be there, and 99 percent of the time we were. We helped without question and without complaint. In fact, we moved here specifically to take care of him, and we never shirked that duty or regretted our decision. Anyway, on one occasion I asked my sister why she couldn’t stay to help, and since then, I’ve been rejected by my family. They don’t invite us to family functions, they don’t wave when they see me, they have family holidays and parties without us. Spirit tells me to just get over it and I’m trying, but it’s hard not to be hurt by their actions. My mother should be the take-charge person who tells them to grow up, but she refuses to say a word. She’s a Libra and is too wishy-washy to take a stand. I have tried to extend the olive branch, but with no luck. I’ve invited them here and they don’t respond or never show up. I’ve emailed to tell them that we should just let bygones be bygones and start fresh, and the very next email I got was from my sister, who said in no uncertain terms that I am no longer allowed to buy her child a Christmas gift. This is crazy! I’m an Aquarius, and the siblings involved are one Leo, one Pisces and one Libra. Any insight you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

      Grace

      Dreamchaser:

      Grace, there is so much more to this story than you had room to mention in your question. It goes back to your early childhood and continues from there. The truth is that, obviously, lines have been drawn in the sand.

      I do have a suggestion: Stop trying. You and your family are never going to get along. You never have, and you never will. You feel used and abused because you were the one who took care of your dad, and you feel that the situation there is indicative of your whole life. You feel like you have had to do everything while your sisters just ran around doing whatever they wanted to do.

      Do you really want to go to family functions? I think not. When you were invited you sometimes would not go, and you complained about the ones you did have to go to. So take this situation as a gift, for now you do not have to show up and you can do your own thing.

      You see your mother as wishy-washy, but she really is just being a Libra. She is trying to find and maintain balance, not only in the family, but also inside of herself. She can’t stand how the family has turned out. She is not going to take sides, however. She understands both sides. You only understand your side, and your sister only understands her side. Your mother can see more clearly than you give her credit for. You are angry with her for not taking your side. You feel like she has done this throughout your life. This, however, is the straw that broke the camel’s back.

      Obviously your entire family has shared much drama and trauma, and for things to work, you all would need to do a few things. First, individual and family counseling is highly recommended. Second, everyone (including you) is going to have to get over themselves and their egos and get real. You think you are 100 percent in the right, but in truth, every other family member feels the same way about their own stance, so you have a whole pack of indignant people thinking their way is the only way. Since the whole family will never go to counseling and never admit that their stance may not be perfect, I think you should choose to just stop trying.

      You have friends who are wonderful to you, and you are happy in your life. Why do you need to let family make you miserable? Just because someone shares our blood does not mean we have to like them; sometimes those people hurt us the most. I think that is the case with your family. Accept how things are, and seek grace and happiness outside of your bloodline.

      I wish you balance in your own life.

      *****

      Astrea:

      Family dynamics are difficult to understand. Your family is being very small and petty. They are jealous of your ability to be so giving and capable, and of your relationship with your parents. They wanted stuff from your parents, but they didn’t want to do anything to earn it, so now they are too embarrassed to face you.

      It’s easy for them to pretend to be angry with you and to shut you out. You remind all of them that they did nothing but shirk their duty to help you take care of your dad. I’ve seen this happen in families over and over again. It is horrible for you and your husband. Your sister pulled a power play in the family to cut you out of everything, and she did it out of pure spite.

      If you really only mentioned this once to your sister, they were all just looking for an excuse to cut you out of their lives. The others look to her (and always have) for leadership. They are sheep. They fear her because she has your mother so fooled — plus they still want their stuff. Your sister has made it clear to them that anyone who sides with you will be cut out of everything. She is so controlling and manipulative that all of the others are afraid to cross her, for fear she will cut them out of the family too.

      I’m glad that you understand your mother’s passive Libra attitude. She can’t bring herself to create any conflict, even on her own behalf. She is so afraid that something might happen to you, and the rest of them would desert her, and you know what? She’s right! If you aren’t there, the second that she is too old, they will slam her into a nursing home as quickly as possible so that they are able to take over! While it’s hard to keep being so unappreciated by the rest of the family, you can soothe yourself with the knowledge that at least you love your parents enough to do the right thing.

      Spirit is telling you to get over it. That is exactly what you need to try to do for now. Don’t worry: When your mother can no longer care for herself, they’ll expect you to do that too, so they’ll have to include you then. At that time, you can decide if you want to let these selfish, mean people back into your harmony.

      The saddest part of all this is that I know you love them all. I wish they knew the value of that love too. Some of them will realize, as time goes by, that at the expense of your life and happiness, you paid for their freedom from worrying about your folks. For the ones who don’t, well, there is always the next incarnation!

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