Our autumn issue is out now. Editor Alison McEvoy writes on the practice of Reiki. Dive on in to find out more…
The Beauty of Reiki
PURE AND SIMPLE
by Alison McEoy
“Universal energy (Reiki) is available to all who open their heart and being purely to it.”
The ‘Universal Energy’ which is Reiki, turned Gillian McNamara’s life around. “I ended up having three whiplash injuries in the space of 18 months… it was the universe trying to tell me to change course and I wasn’t listening.” A co-worker began practicing Reiki on Gillian on their tea break. As soon as the opportunity arose for Gillian to take a career break, “one of the first things I did was to find a teacher. In 2007 I found Angela Gorman, one of the founders of the Reiki Federation.” “I’m able to manage the pain myself now…I was in agony for a long time. Medical intervention never worked for me. A combination of osteopathy and Reiki is what works.” Not only did Reiki change Gillian’s relationship to her pain, it changed her life inside and out. “It changed my personality as well…I had been very anxious before. Reiki gave me a purpose and drive that I didn’t have before…I wasn’t happy and this lifted a blind and allowed me to see things differently. It’s like I’m a completely different person.”
A VOICE FOR REIKI IN THE COMMUNITY
Gillian and her friend and colleague Anne Marie Creighton are committee members of Reiki Federation Ireland (RFI), with over twenty years’ experience between them supporting the aims of the RFI – namely, to be a “Strong clear voice for Reiki providing standards and guidelines for Reiki practice.” Anne Marie is passionate about Reiki finding its place in the medical arena in Ireland, as it has in other parts of the world. She spoke excitedly of a ten-month trial in the National Maternity Hospital just before lockdown. The feedback from staff and clients was overwhelmingly positive and, “down the line Holles Street would like to have a complimentary clinic.” The RFI also has a presence in the Sister Sheds – women’s gatherings around Dublin to provide much-needed support and camaraderie for women. Offering Reiki to the Bluebell Sister Shed, they found many of the women were simply “blown away” by the experience.
100 YEARS OF REIKI
This year sees the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the first Reiki School in Japan, by Master Usui in 1922. To celebrate, the RFI and their members will be having a big day out in Wicklow including Reiki shares, sound baths and a labyrinth walk. Part of the beauty of Reiki is that, “anyone can train to be attuned to Reiki. You don’t have to have a gift, just an open mind. It’s something we are born with, but with conditioning, we lose the ability. It’s something literally anyone can do.” Universal energy (Reiki) is available to all who open their heart and being purely to it. Reiki practitioners attune to this energy, call it in and run the energy to the receiver. From there, the energy’s intelligence itself kicks in and it interacts with the body and being of the receiver in a delicate yet powerful dance of healing.
A GIFT FROM REIKI TO YOU
Master Usui believed that the Reiki principles are the key to living a happy life and serve as ‘medicine’ for the soul. Reiki energy is embodied in these five principles and, should you feel the call, you are invited to repeat them to yourself now and see how this energy sits within you: Just for today, I will not worry. Just for today, I will not be angry. Just for today, I will be grateful. Just for today, I will do my work honestly. Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.
Find out more at: reikifederationIreland.com
