Mount Kurama, near Kyoto, Japan is very special to me. It was during a visit to the mountain, and to Usui Sensei’s memorial that my appreciation and awareness of Reiki as our pathway to peace grew deeper.
As a teacher and practitioner of Reiki, I had enjoyed sharing the "traditional" story of the history of Reiki as taught in the West. However, somehow it never felt complete. In the autumn of 1997, William Rand and I had the opportunity to journey across the planet and back through time to learn the true history of Reiki.
Many synchronistic events occurred in connection with our trip to. These events led us to Arjava Petter, a wonderful Reiki historian, author and researcher and two other wonderful Reiki Masters, Yuki and Friedemann who offered to be our guides on the mountain.
Together we journeyed to
Mt. Kurama, the sacred site where Reiki was first experienced by Dr. Usui in the 1800’s. Mt. Kurama has wonderful and very powerful energy! To visit the temples requires several hours of hiking up and down the mountain. This would normally be very tiring, but as soon as we took a moment to rest, our energy was restored. Mt. Kurama is truly a "power spot" and the energy there is very uplifting yet calming. There is a feeling of contentment and peace.
The Usui monument in Tokyo has an inscription which indicates that Usui Sensei had studied many things, but he was met with several challenges, which is why he decided to go to Mt. Kurama to meditate for an answer. Mt. Kurama is known to offer an energy of transformation to those who seek this. Usui was like many of us, who seek ways to heal our life through our connection to our spiritual source. Usui opened to the Divine healing power of the Universe and not only received a healing for himself, but discovered a way to help others.
Mt. Kurama is covered with giant cedar trees and as we hiked upward we passed through a section of the trail near the top of the mountain covered with roots. The trees and there vast root system possess a strength, power and peace, much like the Reiki energy itself.
When we reached the top of the mountain we found a quiet place with a small shrine called Okunoin Mao-den. This area is very peaceful and we could hear the sound of running water and the wind whispering through the trees. We spent hours meditating, sharing Reiki treatments and attunements with each other there.
With the help of Arjava, William and I found our way to the memorial dedicated to Usui Sensei as the founder of the Reiki healing system. It is located at the Saihoji temple in the Suginami district of Tokyo. The memorial was created by the Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho shortly after Usui Sensei's transition. This is the organization Usui Sensei started to promote the practice and teaching of Reiki. The memorial site is also maintained by the Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho.
We were surprised to learn that the Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho still exists because part of the "traditional" story stated that all the members of this group had died in the war or had stopped using Reiki and that Mrs. Takata had been the only remaining teacher of the Usui system. At the memorial we learned that the Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho had existed for many years and still exists today. They have been teaching and practicing Reiki in Japan all this time.
The memorial consists of a large monument about four feet wide and ten feet tall. On it is written in old style Japanese kanji a description of Usui Sensei's life and his discovery and use of Reiki. It is located in a public cemetery at Saihoji temple next to Usui Sensei's grave stone where his ashes, along with those of his wife and son, have been placed. Many interesting facts are listed on the memorial stone.
When we went to the memorial site, we brought gifts of flowers and incense. We also ceremoniously burned sage. We invoked all the Usui Reiki symbols and sent Reiki to the spirit of Usui Sensei in gratitude. Then we joined hands and prayed asking that Reiki and Usui Sensei guide us in bringing a more accurate understanding of Reiki known all over the world.
We asked also that this new information help unite all Reiki practitioners in harmony and inspire them to use Reiki to heal each other and all the people of the world and Mother Earth. We asked that we be guided in ways that Reiki energy can help awaken the world to peace. Just as we completed our prayer a white butterfly came and landed on the flowers we placed at the site and there was a deep sense of calm.
While meditating, we became aware of the spirit of Usui Sensei and a bright light all around him. We sensed that he was very pleased that a clearer understanding of how he practiced Reiki would be known.
I watched as the light around and within this vision of Usui Sensei grew brighter and larger, until it felt as if it encompassed the whole world. I felt a deep sense of Divine Love and Peace. As these feelings embraced me, I realized this light had created the form of a large, most magnificent, luminous, white butterfly. Just as I recognized the form, the light burst into millions of little white butterflies.
In that moment I realized that the message was,WE, the Reiki practitioners around the world, are like the butterflies. By sharing Reiki with others, we are the messengers of peace, love and healing.
Laurelle@ReikiClasses.com
The guidance we receive from Usui Sensei and the sacred mountain of Kurama continues to this day.
My guidance from the mountain has recently taken the form of being asked to create tributes to Mount Kurama here, in the United States. One such tribute is the creation of our new healing center in Sedona, AZ. This space has been dedicated in part to Usui Sensei, to Reiki and to the mountain. We have created nearly life- size photographic murals on the walls. These murals depict the site where Usui Sensei first received Reiki. www.PeacePlaceSedona.com
We have also been guided to publish a book entitled “Reiki’s Birthplace, A Guide to Kurama Mountain” written by Jessica Miller. This book is a beautiful way to experience the essence of the mountain, and to learn more about “the birthplace of Reiki”.
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Laurelle Gaia is the author of "The Book On Karuna Reiki...Advanced Healing Energy for Our Evolving World". She is the founder of the Infinite Light Healing Studies Center in Sedona, AZ and Dir. of Teacher Licensing for the International Center for Reiki Training.
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Our Blog from "Peace Place" in Sedona, Arizona
The Home of Infinite Light Classes, Spiritual Stuff 4 U Gift Shop, and Sedona's Reiki Community Room.
In February we hosted the Reiki & Sound Healing Conference. Many of the participants ventured to Peace Place and Spiritual Stuff 4 U to share Reiki and purchase some "Reiki-fied" gifts to take home. Thank you to all of you who helped with the conference, the store, and Reiki shares, during such an exceptionally busy time.
Several powerful Reiki exchanges, and sessions have taken place during the past month and the vibrational frequency of this sacred space continues to increase.
Last night some visitors from New Jersey attended our weekly Reiki share. One of them stated that he is usually unable to feel energy, yet he felt so peaceful during his first visit to Peace Place earlier in the day, he decided to return to experience his first Reiki share.
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One exciting moment for us in February was the long awaited delivery of our sign. Why is that exciting? ...
...because it is bringing people in the door, who have never heard of, nor experienced Reiki.
This is one of the primary reasons we decided to take the leap and purchase a commercial building...with a BIG sign ... to bring Reiki to the awareness of more people.
Sedona is a destination for visitors from all around the world. We are blessed with the opportunity to introduce Reiki to people, who might not learn of it another way.
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Our Peace Pole is scheduled to be shipped next week, so stay tuned for information about our Peace Pole planting ceremony.
We continue to give thanks that all the helpers needed to complete and energize the Peace Place, Infinite Light, and Spiritual Stuff 4u ; and will assist with our growing administrative needs, are called by the Reiki energy. We give thanks that these helpers are in alignment with the integrity of Reiki and share our passion for helping Peace Place be successful in it's mission to help Reiki spread around the world.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Max, Noel, Pat, Brian, Christi, Lisa, Christine, Katie, Nick, Martine, Dorian, Francois, Tony & Christy Harper,
Septimus and his VVS crew. PLUS thank you to all of you who have been sending Reiki for the project.
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Spiritual Stuff 4U Gift Shop is progressing nicely and will be complete soon. We appreciate all Reiki that you continue to send to support this project and we send our love in return. |
We give thanks that Peace Place is in service to the highest good of all, and helps to create, love, peace, health, prosperity & well-being for all people.
We are humbled and honored to have been called to be guardians of this sacred place at this time.
We would love for your to visit us and share our joy and awe at the miracle of Peace Place.
Peace Place is dedicated in service to Divine Love, Planetary Peace, Kurama mountain, Usui Sensei, and all the Reiki practitioners and peaceweavers on the planet.
Love and infinite blessings.
Laurelle
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Healthier Living with Plastics
by Noel John M. Carrasco, MD
After recently buying some beverages (juice, nectars) in plastic containers, I reviewed the type of plastic composition they were in. I was quite surprised at what I had learned and I transferred the liquid into glass bottles.
Admittedly plastic food wraps and containers play an important role in protecting us against the dangers of food-born illnesses. They help keep foods fresh, handy and portable. It's also durable and lightweight, but recent studies show that plastics affect both our food and health. Not all plastics are created equal, and some are safer to use than others.
A Closer Look - are plastics permeated with peril?
Plastic chemicals have been shown to alter normal development, biologic function, disrupt normal hormonal activity and may reduce immunity, alter behavior in adults and cause cancers and irreversible organ damage in fetuses and children. The most offensive of these chemicals are bisphenol A (BPA), adipates, phthalates and other plasticizers. Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) found that BPA simulates the action of estrogen when tested in human breast cancer cells. A recent study on the decrease in male rats testosterone from exposure to BPA is significant enough to evaluate the risk in humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detected BPA in the urine of a majority of the thousands of people it tested in the United States.
Have you ever wondered about those little numbers with the chasing arrows around them, on the bottom of plastic containers? The numbers on the bottom of plastic containers are “resin ID codes” intended for sorting in recycling. It doesn’t mean it is made from recycled plastic.
To read the remainder of this excellent article on Dr. C's website Click Here
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What IS Reiki?
Reiki (ray-key) is a multi-faceted spiritual energy that can be used to help us with meditation practices, spiritual growth, healing relationships, manifestation of goals, and activating the Divine healing power within all living beings. Reiki is a tool to help us develop “wellness consciousness” and also to understand, on an experiential level, what it truly means to be “One with all Creation”.
The Japanese Kanji characters that represent the word Reiki can be translated to mean; Rei = Spiritually guided or wisdom of God and Ki = Life force energy. Rei can also be translated to mean Holy and Ki as spirit.
Reiki is usually considered to be a “hands-on healing technique”. This is one application, but it is so much more.
Mikao Usui, the founder of what we know to be Usui Reiki, was born August 15, 1865. One day he went to Mount Kurama, a sacred mountain in Japan, on a 21 day retreat to fast and meditate. At the end of this period he suddenly felt the great Reiki energy at the top of his head, which led to the Reiki healing system. He first used Reiki on himself, then tried it on his family. Since it worked well for various ailments, he decided to share this knowledge with the public at large.
He opened a clinic in Harajuku, Aoyama, Tokyo in April of the 11th year of the Taisho period (1922). He not only gave treatment to countless patients, some of whom had come from far and wide, but he also hosted workshops to spread his knowledge. In September of the twelfth year of the Taisho period (1923), the devastating Kanto earthquake shook Tokyo. Thousands were killed, injured, or became sick in its aftermath. Dr. Usui grieved for his people, but he also took Reiki to the devastated city and used its healing powers on the surviving victims. His clinic soon became too small to handle the throng of patients, so in February of the 14th year of the Taisho period (1925), he built a new one outside Tokyo in Nakano.
Everything in our Universe is energy. There are many forms of healing energy and Reiki is one of many healing rays. Reiki is unique in that it is truly guided by the Divine heart and the Divine mind. This energy is infinitely wise and knows precisely what we need to relax, release stress, and activate the healing power within.
All forms of healing whether traditional, complementary or alternative have an impact on the human subtle energy system. Each method also carries a unique vibrational frequency and consequently will create different effects. A beautiful characteristic of Reiki is that it has the ability to harmonize energies that may normally be incompatible and can create the best possible outcome. Therefore Reiki enhances anything we do.
Many people are practicing techniques to improve their health such as meditation, exercise and improved diet. As this is done, a deeper awareness often develops concerning the flow of subtle energies in and around the body and the connection between these subtle energies and one's health. This developing awareness validates the ancient idea that strong life force energy contributes to good health. Conversely a diminished supply of life force energy can contribute to illness. The existence of life force energy, and the necessity for it to flow freely in and around one's body to maintain health, has been studied and acknowledged by health care practitioners and scientists.
Our body is composed not only of physical elements such as muscles, bones, nerves, arteries, organs, glands, etc.; it also has a subtle energy system through which life force energy flows. This subtle energy system is composed of energy 'bodies' which surround our physical body and assist us in processing our thoughts and emotions.
The energy bodies have energy centers called chakras, which work somewhat like valves that allow life force to circulate through the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. We also have energy meridians and nadas. These are like rivers, or streams, which carry our life force energy throughout our physical body, to nourish us and assist in balancing our body’s systems and functions.
Our physical body is alive because of the 'life force energy' that is flowing through it. If our life force is low or blocked, we are more likely to become ill, but if it is high and free flowing, we more easily maintain health and a feeling of well-being. One thing that disrupts and weakens the flow of life force energy is stress. Stress is often caused by conflicting thoughts and feelings that become lodged in one's subtle energy system. These include fear, worry, doubt, anger, anxiety, etc. Medical research has determined that continual stress can block the body's natural ability to repair, regenerate and protect itself.
The American Institute of Stress estimates that 75%-95% of all visits to doctors are the results of reaction to stress. The effects of unreleased stress range from minor aches to major health concerns, such as heart disease, digestive disorders, respiratory and skin problems.
Stress can also activate our fears and cause our life force energy to diminish. When this happens we weaken our ability to respond to fear appropriately and to transform it.
Reiki is a technique that aids the body in releasing stress and tension by creating deep relaxation. Because of this, Reiki promotes healing and health.
The Reiki system is comprised of techniques for transmitting this subtle energy to yourself and others through the hands, eyes or chakras into the human subtle energy system. Reiki restores energy balance and vitality by relieving the physical and emotional effects of unreleased stress. It gently and effectively opens blocked meridians, nadas and chakras, and clears the energy bodies, leaving one feeling relaxed and at peace.
Reiki is truly “Limitless Love”. There is nothing that Divine Love cannot heal, and Reiki is a form of Divine Love that can be learned by anyone and used to help themselves, others and the planet.
A treatment feels like warm, gentle sunshine, which flows through you, surrounds you and brings comfort. Reiki treats the person’s body, emotions, mind and spirit as a whole. Reiki is powerful, yet wonderfully gentle and nurturing. During a treatment, the recipient remains fully clothed. Reiki supports any medical, or supplemental healing methods a client may be using and is of growing interest to chiropractors, medical doctors, physiotherapists, psychotherapists, psychologists and hypnotherapists.
Anyone can learn to tap into an unlimited supply of 'life force energy' to improve health and enhance the quality of life by learning Reiki, or by receiving treatments from a Reiki Practitioner or Master.
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