AbouttheAuthor

MelissaTipton is a tarot reader,ReikiMaster, licensedmassage therapist, andwitch. She has been practicing yoga for over a decade and discovered that itcomplementswitchcraftverywell.

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LivingReiki:HealYourself&TransformYourLife©2019byMelissaTipton.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybeusedorreproducedinanymatterwhatsoever,includingInternetusage,withoutwrittenpermissionfromLlewellynPublications,exceptintheformofbriefquotationsembodiedincriticalarticlesandreviews.

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Contents

Introduction

1:ReikiandSelf-Transformation

2:Illumination

3:BeginningYourReikiJourney

4:TheReikiPractices

5:Submersion

6:Polarization

7:Merging

8:ReikiPreceptsandtheFirstThreeSymbols

9:Inspiration

10:BecomingaReikiMaster

11:Refinement

12:Integration

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction

Welcometothepathofthehealer.YouareembarkingonajourneythatwilltakeyoudeepintothemysteriesofReikiandself-transformation,blendingthetwoinapotentelixirofhealing,anelixirthat,iftakenwithanopenheartbythesouloftheseeker,willuniteyouwithyourTrueSelf.Amidstthebusynessofourlives,it’s easy to forget that we live in a universe that is positively hummingwithmagic.We’re too busy paying the bills thatwe forget to pay attention to oursoul.We’resowrappedupintheanxietiesandworriesoflifethatwenolongerrememberwhatitfeelsliketobewrappedupintheDivine.Andyet,wedon’thave to quit our jobs,walkout onour families, or trekup amountain to findsomething more, something deeper. We can find it right where we are, andindeed,wemust find itwherewe are.AsDoreenValientewrote in her poem“The Charge of the Goddess,” “if that which you seek, you find not withinyourself,youwillneverfinditwithout.Forbehold,Ihavebeenwithyoufromthebeginning,andIamthatwhichisattainedattheendofdesire.”Wearewhatweseek,andintheverystuffofourlives—thebeautifulmessof

it all—we find liberation and awakening.When we allow ourselves to spiralinward, it ishere,deep inourcore, thatweunderstandwhywecame into thislife,whatweasauniquebeingareheretodo,andafireissparked.Afirethatwillnotallowustobewaylaid,alanternamidstthedistractions.Withthislightto guide the way, our lives are radically transformed, and we embrace ourbirthrightasnaturalhealers.

YourHealingApprenticeshipInsideeachandeveryoneofusliesavaststoreofuntappedwisdom,seedsofpotential waiting for the right conditions to germinate. It is time. The time isnow.Ourworldisbadlyinneedofhealing,andweeachmuststartwiththeonlypersonwecanever trulychange:ourself.Themoreeachofusshifts intoourpower, reclaiming our original wisdom and weaving a web of healing, thegreater our communal strength becomes, the stronger theweb, the deeper thehealing,thebiggertheripplesofchange.TheformofReiki Ipractice,LifeAlchemyReiki, isapath thatemphasizes

self-transformation.Thisisthefoundationoftheentirepractice,forifyouhaveforgotten yourwholeness, how can you ever hope to remind others of theirs?Thisisnotapathof“fixing”yourselfor“fixing”otherpeople,asthatapproachstartswith a faulty assumptionofbrokenness. Instead,we seek to reinstill ourtrust in the unshakeable reality that we are already Whole. We are alreadyenough.Wehave simply forgotten.So, letus remember.Let’s embarkon thisjourneytogether,learningthewaysoftheReikihealer,blendingthemwiththemagicandpowerofself-transformation.

WhoIsThisBookFor?Thispathisopentoallwhofeelcalledtolearnthewaysofthehealer,whetheryouarejustbeginningorhavewalkedthehealingpathforyearsandyearntogodeeper.Inmypracticeasamassagetherapist,ReikiMaster,andtarotreader,Iam privileged to front-row seats tomy clients’ amazing spiritual,mental, andphysicalshifts,andittrulyisamagicalthingtobehold.Thenumberoneblockto these shifts, handsdown, is the falsebelief thatwe’renotworthy, and I’veseen time and time again that once this belief is released, spontaneous self-healingcanoccur.Dis-easecanbethoughtofasexistingoutofalignmentwithwhowe trulyare—inotherwords,outof alignmentwith the truth thatwearealready whole, that we are already one with a state of health. When we areseparated from this truth,we get stuck in seeing ourselves as broken, andwebelievethattheonlywaytoearnourreturntowholenessisbyeatingacertainway, exercising enough, getting another certification, landing the right job,

findingtheperfectpartner—andthelistgoeson.Andon.We’restuckinaloopofnotenoughness,andinordertohealthisdis-ease,inordertoreturntoastateofease,wemustrememberourTrueSelf.The tools and techniques presented in this course are designed to help you

shed, layerby layer, the filters andobstructions createdby the ego,which areobscuringyourTrueSelf fromview.Themoreyou release theseobstructions,themoreyouareable toseehowwonderfullyunique,how incrediblymagicalyoualreadyare,andfromthisnewvantagepointyou’llhave increasedclarityonwhatyoucameintothislifetodo.EachandeveryoneofuschannelsDivineenergyuniquely—no twopeoplewill channel this energy in the sameway, soyoucannotbereplacedintheunfoldingofthecosmos.Nooneelsecanweaveyourmagicforyou.Theworldneedsthegiftsthatyou,andyoualone,possess.If you are being called to walk the path of healing, let this book be a

companiononyourquest.Initspages,youwilllearnaboutthepracticeofReiki,movingthroughthreelevelsoftraining,eachlevelpunctuatedbyanattunementor initiation. Many of us receive our Reiki attunements in the context ofweekend workshops or brief online courses. In modern life, we have so fewinitiatoryexperiences,sofewritesofpassage,yetwithoutthesemindfulwaysofmarkingandcelebratingourlifetransitions,it’softendifficulttofullyintegratethechangesweseek.Wemighthavea luminously transcendentexperienceonSaturday,andthenfeelhitbythetsunamiwaveof“normal”lifecomeMonday,quickly getting sucked under by our routines and feeling progressively moredisconnected from the wisdom we unearthed during the workshop. The LifeAlchemypathisoneofweavingthemagicoftransformationintotheverystuffof life.Youdon’t have towait until you can get away for a retreat to do thiswork;ithappensrighthere,rightnow.Thepracticesbuilduponeachother,eachlevelculminatinginaReikiattunement,ofwhichyouwillreceivethreeintotal(Levels One, Two, and Three) over the course of your studies. If you havealreadybeenattuned inanother lineage,youcanuse thepracticesatyourownpace to deepenyour understanding andpractice ofReiki.Beginners andmoreadvancedpractitionersalikemayelecttousethetextwhiletakingmyonlineorin-person Life Alchemy course, receiving your Life Alchemy attunements(available distantly or in-person) as you reach the appropriate junctures in the

lessons,oryoucanuseitintandemwithanyReikicourseofyourchoosingasameans of deepening the experience. The practices are designed to help youinternalize the principles of both Reiki and self-transformation in new waysusing meditation, ritual, and other techniques to move beyond an intellectualunderstandingtoanembodiedwisdom.This course of study asks for fearless self-inquiry; we are calling on the

powersofReikiandself-transformationinordertoknowourselvesmoredeeply,anditisthisprocessthatignitesourinnerhealermorethananycourse,book,orattunementeverwill.WithoutintimateknowledgeofourTrueSelf,we’relikearudderless ship without a map, but through the magic of Reiki and self-transformation,wecanpickupthesubtlecurrentsthatarereadytoguideusbackhome.Thisjourneywilltakeusfarfromtheshoresofthefamiliar,andwe’llbeaskedtoshedourpreconceivedideasandleavetheposturingoftheegobehind.For,ifitisradicaltransformationweseek,wemustberadicalinourapproach.Wemustbewillingtopushourownlimits,stretchtheboundsofourminds,andexpandourviewofwhatispossible.Ifthecallisalivewithinyou,andyoucanfeel,inyourverybones,thatitistime,thetimeisnow,thenletusbegin.Letuspass through the veil of the known and unravel the hiddenmysteries and thesecretwaysofthehealerwithin.

[contents]

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REIKIANDSELF-TRANSFORMATION

The JapanesewordReiki roughly translates to “spiritual energy”or “universalenergy” with “rei” meaning “spiritual” or “universal” and “ki” meaning“energy.” Inothercultures, thiskiorenergygoesbyothernames, suchaschi(Chinese), prana (Hindu),manu (shamanicHawaiian), rauch (Hebrew), and soforth. Essentially, it’s the energy thatmakes life possible.When I learned thetranslationof“universalenergy,”myfirstquestionwas,“Well,ifit’suniversal,whydoIneedtogetanattunementinordertouseit?”MyconfusionwasrootedinthedifferencebetweenwhatthewordReikimeansinJapaneseanditsusageintheWest.IntheWest,Reiki isusedtodescribeaspecifichealingmodality,butinJapan,thismethodofhealingisoftendenotedwithmoreprecisenames,such as Reiki Ryoho, Reiki-ho, or Usui Reiki Ryoho, because again, ReikisimplymeansspiritualoruniversalenergyinJapanese.Thisverybroadtermisakintosayingthatyou’reinterestedinmovementversusspecifyingwhatkindofmovement,suchasyogaorballet,andinregardstoaReikiattunement,itmakesmoresensewhenyouthinkofanattunementasaninitiationintoaspecifictypeofmovement,likebeingtrainedinballetoryoga,asopposedtosimplyhavingthe innate ability to move. A Reiki attunement initiates you into a specificlineageandtraditionthatutilizesuniversal,spiritualenergy.If we look closer at the name Reiki Ryoho, a translation by Reiki

scholar/practitioner Frans Stiene gives us important clues as to the deepermeaningandpurposeofReiki(Steine2015,15).StienearguesthatReikicanbeinterpreted to mean your True Self, because Reiki, or spiritual energy, is ourTrueSelf.“Ryoho,”whichcanbeparsedasryô,meaning“tocureorheal”and

hô,meaning“method,teachings,truth,”givesustheinterpretation“teachingstocureandhealone’sTrueSelf.”AsStienewrites,“Ofcourse[thisis]ametaphor:tohealone’sTrueSelf.[Thetruthisthatthereis]nothingtoheal—wejustneedto remember ourTrue Self.”We’ll return to this concept of remembering ourTrueSelfquiteabitinfuturechapters,butfirst,let’stalkaboutwhereReikiasweknowittodayoriginated.

ABriefHistoryofReikiMikao Usui (1865–1926) is credited with developing the healing system ofReiki, andwhile there is agreatdealofmythand legendsurroundinghis life,I’mgoing to stick to the storyaspresentedbyHiroshiDoi, a renownedReikipractitioner and scholar. He went to great lengths to track down historicaldocuments and to speak to people who studied under Usui in order to piecetogether as close to first-hand information as possible. In short, his versionseemstocontainfarlessB.S.thanotherstoriesI’veread.In a nutshell, Mikao Usui was born in Japan, and as a dedicated student-

practitioner of Buddhism, he was very interested in answering the age-oldquestion,“Whyarewehere?”His studies ledhim tosurmise that theultimatepurposeoflifeistoattainAn-shinRitsu-mei,whichDoidefinesas,“YoushouldleavewhatyoucannotchangetotheuniverseandkeeppeacefulKokorowithoutworryingaboutanythingat all” 1 (Doi2014,35). Inotherwords, chillout;doyourbest,thensurrenderthethingsyoucan’tcontroltotheuniverseinsteadofworryingyourlifeaway.UsuitrainedinZenpracticeforanumberofyears,tryingtoreachthisstateof

An-shinRitsu-mei,butitremainedelusive,soinFebruaryof1922,heclimbedupMt.Kuramaandbegantofast.“Atmidnightafterthreeweeks,hefeltagreatshock in the center of the brain, as if being struck by lightning, and lostconsciousness for some hours” (Ibid., 35). When he woke up, Usui felt “anextremerefreshmentthathehadneverfeltbefore…ReikioftheUniversehadpiercedhisbodyandmind,andheresonatedwithReikiinhisbody.”InUsui’sownwords: “It is difficult to explain what it exactly is. I realized that I wasgranted the healing ability accidentally when I felt the sacred energy and gotinitiatedbythemysteriouswaywhilefasting”(Ibid.,101).In1922,Usuicondensedhisteachingsintoacoherentsystemandfoundedthe

Usui Reiki RyohoGakkai,meaning theUsui Reiki HealingMethod LearningSociety.Teachingwasdividedintothreelevels:Shoden(“theentrance”),LevelI; Okuden (“deep inside”), Level II; and Shinpiden (“the mystery” or “secretteachings”),LevelIII.They’resuchevocativenames,aren’tthey?

AtthispointinReiki’sstory,there’salengthysegmentregardinghowReikiwas almost entirely forgotten in Japan, how it made its way to the West,primarily through awoman namedHawayoTakata, and how it returned oncemoretoJapan,butIwanttoshiftnowfromthepasttothepresent.Ifyouwanttolearnmoreabout thehistoryofReiki, twoof themoreaccuratesourcesIhavefound thus far are A Modern Reiki Method for Healing (Doi) and The ReikiSourcebook(Stiene).

WhatIsReiki?Let’stakeacloserlookatthisenergywecallReiki.Forstarters,weknowthatit’s universal. This energy is in everything that exists, andDoi describes it as“the power that gave birth to the Great Universe, created the solar system,broughtaboutallthecreaturesontheearthandmaintainsthemingoodorder…Thisis thefineenergyvibration…ofLoveradiatingtotheUniversefromthehighestconsciousnesswiththepurposetocarryoutitswill”(Ibid.,19).Inessence, ifyouaredealingwithpureReikienergy, thisenergycandono

harm,becausebydefinitionitmoveswhateverit interactswithinthedirectionof love and light. This is one of themany reasons I love usingReiki. I havefound that, when used properly, Reiki is an effective healing method thatpreventsthetransferofenergeticickfromonepersontoanother.Duringenergywork,it’spossibleforthepractitionerorrecipienttotransferenergytotheotherinamannerthatisunhealthyforoneorbothparties.Youmaybefamiliarwithmassagetherapistswho“catch”theirclients’achesandpainsorintuitivereaderswho feel theemotionsof their clients longafter the session isover.Theseareexamplesofunhealthyenergy transfers,andReiki, inmyexperience,seems tohavebuilt-insafeguardsthatpreventthisfromhappening(toanextent;wealsohavepersonalresponsibilityinmaintaininghealthyboundaries).Therearedifferentformsofenergyintheuniverse,Reikibeingoneofthem

(we’ll talkmore aboutdifferent energy types in chapter3), and these energiesareoftencategorizedbytheirfrequency.Generallyspeaking,energiesinamorephysicalform,liketheenergyformingyourbodyorthechairyou’resittingon,areconsideredtobevibratingatalowerfrequency.Notlowerasin“bad,”justslower and different than the frequency atwhich other energies are vibrating.

Reikiissaidtovibrateataveryhighfrequency.Lookingatthisinthecontextofhumanhealth,ourpersonalenergy isoftenvibratingata lowerfrequency thanReiki.Throughout life,many thingsaffectour energy, fromphysical activities(or lack thereof), thoughts, emotions—youname it.Everythingweexperience,both externally and internally, affects our energy, and those effects can rangefrom helpful to harmful. Reiki, vibrating at a very high frequency, is able toenterourenergyfieldandclearawayblocksandstagnations,balancingdeficientorexcessivelyenergeticareas.Imagine a glass of water with mud on the bottom, representing a person’s

energy field. During a Reiki treatment, clear, clean water—Reiki—is beingpouredfromapitcherintotheglass.AstheReikipoursintotheglass,itmighttemporarilystirupthemudonthebottom,causingthewatertobecomecloudy,butafteracertainpointallofthemuddywaterhasbeenflushedoutandweareleftwith a glass of cleanwater.The energetic “mud” isn’t inherentlybad, it’smerely a matter of context. On the forest floor, this mud is fertile soil forsupporting life, but I don’t necessarilywant it inmywater glass. In our ownfield,energythatmaybecausingharminonecontextorlocationoftenneedstobereleasedandredirectedsoitcanserveabetterpurposeelsewhere,andReikiis a powerful method for doing so. There is, however, one critical differencebetween Reiki and our analogy: Reiki is conscious. It’s not just energy thathappens to be vibrating at a high frequency; it is imbued with Divineconsciousnessandknowspreciselywhatweneedtoreturntoastateofhealing.Toextendtheanalogyabitfurther,thestreamofwaterisaone-waypath:the

water in theglass is not flowingupward,back into thepitcher.WhenyouaregivingsomeoneaReikitreatment,potentiallystirringuptheirenergeticmudaspartofthehealingprocess,youarenottakingthiscloudywaterintoyourownenergy field.This isoneof themajor safeguardsbuilt intoReiki thatcanhelpyou,asahealer,stayhealthyevenwhileworkingwiththosewhoaresufferingfromvariousstatesofdis-ease.

ReikiandSelf-TransformationWhilehelpingothersfindhealingiscertainlyanimportantfacetofReiki,IhavefoundReikitobeinfinitelypowerfulwhenitisusedfirstandforemostasatool

toaffectchangewithinoneself.Whenhelpingothersbecomesoursolefocusweincrease our chances of burnout and “compassion fatigue.” Not to mention,neglectingourownself-workcausesustoeventuallyreachalimitinourhealingabilities,becausewecanonlyassistothers in travelingpaths thatweourselveshave walked.When, instead, we continually tend to our own sacred fire, weneverrunoutofSourceenergyandinsightfulinformationthatwecanthensharewith others. Therefore, in our journey with Reiki we will consider self-transformationasourprimarygoal,withhelpingothersasalovelybonus!

OneMind,OneThingTo access deeper levels ofReiki’s self-transformative power,we’ll look in anunlikelyplace:acreationstory,astoldfromaHermeticpointofview.Thestorybegins with an all-pervading consciousness, what some might call God, theDivine, the All, Infinite Consciousness—take your pick. This essence isconscious and it is everywhere. Nothing exists outside of the All. To helpvisualize this, let’s imagine a room. This room represents the sum total ofeverything that has been, is, and ever will be. This room is the All. A lightbegins tofill theroom:This light iscalledtheOneMind.However,aparadoxexists:Theroom(theAll)and the light (OneMind)areoneand thesame,yettheycanalsoappeartoseparate,andthisseparationallowsthemtointeractwithoneanotherininterestingways.Somethingbeginstomovedownward,precipitatingfromtheLightoftheOne

Mind.It’sadark,waterysubstance,andwewillcallittheOneThing:achaotic,roiling ocean at the bottomof the room.So nowwe have theOneThing, theocean,onthebottomandaboveistheLightoftheOneMind,bothcontainedintheroomoftheAll.TheOneMindyearnstointeractwiththeOneThing,anditdoes so by sending penetrating rays of thought energy into the water. ThisthoughtenergyhasbeencalledtheWordofGodortheSpiritoftheDivine.TheOneMindprojectsthoughtenergy,orideas,intotheOneThing,andindoingso,thefourelementsarecreated:earth,fire,air,andwater.There’sadistinctionbetweentheseelementsandwhatweknowaselements

inmodern-daychemistry,thingslikehydrogen,helium,andcopper.Thesefourelements are archetypal energies, not physical substances.Archetypes are like

theultimatetemplate,providingtheprototypeorpatternafterwhichotherthingsare modeled. For example, the Water archetype serves as a template for thecategoryofWaterenergy,acategorythatincludes,butisnotlimitedto,literal,physicalwater.Christopher Penzcak describes the four archetypal elements as“represented by the associated physical phenomena, but they are beyondmanifestation.They are archetypal forces influencing all of creation.They aregeneratedfromamysteriousfifthelement,knownasspirit…andtheyreturntoit” (Penzcak 2014, 58). Carl Jung believed that the archetypes of the fourelementsaresodeeplyingrainedinusthattheygenerateapowerfulurgetoseekbalanceamongsttheseelementswithinourselves,evenifwe’renotconsciouslyawareofthisdrive.AfterthefourelementsarecreatedfromtheinteractionoftheOneMindand

theOneThing,theOneMindcreatesanothermind,calledMindtheMaker,andMind theMaker is taskedwithusing thesefourarchetypalelements to fashioneverything else in existence. Mind the Maker is called the demiurge or theCreatorinsometraditions,andMindtheMakergoesaboutfashioningtheentireuniverse,usingthearchetypalelementsasitsbuildingblocks.After creatingMind theMaker, theOneMind leaps out of thewateryOne

Thing and returns to theAbove.Remember that all of these events are takingplacewithinthe“room”of theAll,andtheOneMind, theOneThing,andtheAll,while temporarily separated (in a sense) are ultimately one and the same.Thistemporary“separateness”inorderforthepartsofawholetointeractbefore“recombining” isa theme inHermetic teachings,and itwillbea theme inourworkaswell.AccordingtotheHermeticcreationstory,eachofusisacopyoftheuniverse.Theaxiom“Asabove,sobelow;asbelow,soabove”speakstothisfundamental reality. Thus, if we come to know ourselves, we can know theuniverseandviceversa,and ifwework tocreatechangewithinourselves,wecancreatechange in thegreateruniverse.Howdowedo this?Well, the storysays that eachof us contains amicrocosmic version of theOneMind and theOne Thing, thuswe, too, possess great creative powers.We can use the verysamepatterndepicted in the creation story as auser’smanual forour creativecapabilities,learninghowtoeffectivelywieldtheseinternalpowerstogeneratethelifeoursoulyearnstolead.Thisuser’smanualismappedoutinaseriesof

seven steps, which we’ll cover next. Master these steps and you unlock thefullness of your creative power, including the power to create health andwellness.

TheSevenStepsofSelf-Transformation

1. Illuminationistheprocessofsheddingthelightofawarenessonegoicelementsthatareclutteringourconsciousness,elementslikedefensemechanisms,projections,andothermentalconstructsthatcloudourabilitytoseeourselves,andeverythingandeveryonearoundus,asDivine.WecanthinkofthisasremovinglampshadesthatarecoveringuptheLightofourinternalOneMind.

2. Submersionbringsusintodeeperself-awarenessbywadingintothewatersofourunconscious,ourinternalOneThing,therebyopeningthedoorforproductivedialoguebetweentheconsciousandunconsciousselves,whichcanbethoughtofasourinternalOneMindandOneThing,respectively.Remember,it’stheinteractionbetweenthesetwothatpowersallofcreation,sogettingtheseforcesintoaproductivedialoguewithinusisimportantifwewanttocreatethelifeoursouldesires.

3. Polarizationisaprocessbywhichweheightenourawarenessofinnerduality—ourOneMindandOneThing—andexploretheparadoxoftheirunderlyingonenessandabilitytoseparate.Justaswesawinthecreationstory,thesetwointernalforcescanusetheirseparatenesstogenerateapolarity,likethechargeofabattery,andthisbatterypowersourcreativity.

4. Mergingistheinitialunionofthesepolarforces,whichcanalsobethoughtofasourinternalactiveandreceptivenatures,theconsciousandtheunconscious,thespiritandthesoul.Herewebegintoblendthebestofboth,givingbirthtowhatEgyptianalchemistsreferredtoastheIntelligenceoftheHeart,therebysuperchargingourinternalbatteryandourcreativeabilities.

5. InspirationtakesthecreativepotentialgeneratedbyMergingandanimatesitwiththeDivinebreathoflife,introducingnewelementsthatarebeyondourabilitytoplanfororcontrol.Thiselementofsurprisechallengestheego-self’sdelusionthatitisincharge,soacomponentofInspirationisallowingthisself-delusiontodieandfallawaysowecanberebornintotheLightofTruth.Inotherwords,sowecanrememberourTrueSelf.

6. Refinementtakesthedivinelyinspiredsolutionfromthepreviousstepandpurifiesitevenfurther,removinganylasttracesoftheegothatwouldotherwisecloudourabilitytoseeourTrueSelf.WeraiseourindividualpsychetothehighestlevelpossibletounitewiththeOneMind,andasyou’lllearnshortly,Reikiisawonderfultoolfordoingso.

7. IntegrationcompletestheprocessbyunitingthedistilledessenceofourOneMindandOneThing,allowingustoexperienceonadeepleveltheirinherentOneness.Thiscanalsobethoughtofastheunionbetweenspiritandmatter,soulandbody.Saidmorepragmatically,wetakethisstateofenlightenedconsciousnessandweweaveitintotheveryfabricofourday-to-daylives;it’snotsomethingweexperienceonlywhenwe’reonameditationcushionorinayogaclass.

And then, like the ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail, we return oncemoretothebeginning,butthistimebringingournewlytransformedperspectivetobear.These,inanutshell,arethesevenstepsofself-transformation,andnowit’stimetoweaveReikiintothepicture.

HowDoesReikiFitIn?Let’s skip right to thepunch line:Reikicanbe thoughtofas thepure thoughtenergyemanatingfromtheOneMind.Saywhat,now?Tomakesenseof this,recalltheHermeticcreationstory:TheOneMindusedthoughtenergytocreatetheuniverse; it sentpenetrating raysof thisenergy into theOneThing,and indoing so, the building blocks of creation were formed. Clearly, this thoughtenergyisincrediblypowerful,anditismybeliefthatReikiasahealingsystemisadirectchannelfor this incrediblypowerfulenergy.Aswearemicrocosmic

mirrorsoftheUniverse,learninghowtoreconnectwithourinternalOneMindandOneThingallowsus touse theuniversalbuildingblocks tocreate the lifewewant.Usui himself said, “I am theUniverse. TheUniverse isme,”whichparallels our Hermetic teachings (Doi 2014, 103), and we’ll see deeperconnectionsinchapter5whenweexplorethedifferenttypesofenergy.The healing systemofReiki is amethod for tapping into the energy of the

One Mind without the contaminations of ego. Remember our water pitcheranalogy? Reiki, when used properly, ensures that we are pouring from thepitcheroftheDivine,thereforetheenergywe’repouringisn’tcontaminated(andbonus:we’re not depleted in the process of channeling it). To understand thismore fully, let’s talk about this notion of contamination. Contamination isn’tsynonymouswith“bad.”Inthiscontext,Idefinecontaminatedasmorespecificordifferentiated,asopposedtolessspecificandexistingaspurepotential.Takestem cells, for instance. They represent the cellular version of pure potential.They haven’t yet differentiated into specific types of cells, like skin cells, ormusclecells,orbraincells;theystillhavetheabilitytobeanything.Inthesameway, energycanexist aspurepotential,or it candifferentiate to formspecificthings, like a chair, or anger, or clouds.When you’re facilitating healing foryourself or someone else, you don’t want to introduce a chair, or anger, orclouds into their system when perhaps they need something else. From ourlimited human perspective, it seems hubristic to assume that we will alwaysknowexactlywhatpeopleneed,especiallyifouregoicmindstepsinandtriesto“figure itout.”Farbetter tochannel theenergyofpurepotential,especially intheformofdivinelyconsciouspurepotential,whichwillknowexactlywhattherecipientneeds,howmuch,where,andforwhatpurpose:thisisReiki.Inthecontextofenergyhealing,themostcommonwaysforcontaminationto

occuris,one,byusingourownpersonalenergytotryandhealsomeone,ortwo,channelingatranspersonalsourceofenergy(includingReiki)andimposingouregoonit.Inthefirstcase,weareusingenergythatissuitableforus(ornot—our personal energy can be out of whack and causing us problems, too) butpossibly not suitable for the recipient. This is like putting diesel fuel into agasoline-powered car; it’s not suitable for optimal functioning. In the secondcase, the energywe’re channeling is suitable, butwe start to impose our own

stuff onto it, usually courtesy of the ego, rendering it no longer the energy ofpurehealingpotential,andtheresultsmightnotbesuitablefortherecipient.WhenweuseReikiwithout trying tocontrolorforce theoutcome—without

imposing our ego—Reiki will naturally enter the energy field as Divinepotential, the pure emanations of the One Mind, and from there, it will dopreciselywhatisneededtoreturnthingstoastateofbalanceandwholeness.Ilike to think of the emanations of theOneMind as a sort of divine templatecontaining, among other things, our blueprint of original wholeness, our TrueSelf. When this template is reintroduced to our system, we remember ouroriginal wholeness and our energy begins to repattern itself according to thisdivineblueprint.You can think of the seven steps of self-transformation as a framework for

makingcontactwiththisdivineblueprintoforiginalwholenessandintegratingitintoourdaily lives, longafteraReikisessionisover. Indoingso,weactivateour innate creative powers, which include the powers of self-healing and theability tomanifestwhatwe need in life, andwe grow in our capacity to helpothersdothesame.Inthenextchapter,webeginourjourneywiththefirststepofself-transformation:Illumination.

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1Theconceptofkokorohasnuancedmeaningdependingonthecontext,buthereitcanbeinterpretedasconsciousness.

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ILLUMINATION

The first of our seven steps is Illumination, and we’ll be working with thearchetypalenergyofFire for thisprocess, so let’s lookathowthisenergycanaffectusbyusingphysicalfireasametaphor.Forstarters,fireintroduceslight,so the energy of Fire can help us see things that would otherwise be hidden.When something is on fire, the process of burning changes its qualities—forexample,transformingalogintoapileofash—sotheenergyofFirecanhelpuschange form and qualities. And finally, fire removes water. When we viewarchetypalWaterassymbolicofouremotionsandtheunconscious,Fireenergyallowsustotemporarilyremovethoseaspects—forexample,bygivingussomedistancefromintenseemotionssowecanviewasituationinadifferentlight.

IlluminationandtheEgoInIllumination,wewillbefocusingthetransformativepowerofFireontheego,and specifically, the stories our ego constructs to help us make sense of theworld and our place in it. As we go about our daily lives, the ego takes ourexperiencesandturnsthemintonarrativesstarringusastheprotagonist.Byitsverynature, theegoisself-focused.Itmakeseverythingaboutus,sowhenweoveridentifywithourego,wetakeeverythingpersonally.Thatirritatedglancefromthewomaninthecheckoutline?Thatwaspersonallydirectedatyou.Thedisappointedvibeyousensedwhiletalkingtoyourmom?Alsoapersonalattack.The ego turns life into a battle of you against theworld, and it’s exhausting.Here’stheparadox,though,andit’sonethatcanserveasatrapinourpersonalevolution ifwe don’t grasp its deepermeaning:That irritated glance from thewoman in thecheckout lineand thedisappointedvibe fromyourmom—thosemight actually be directed at you.Andyet… they’re still not personal unlessyouchoosetotakethemassuch.Thistakesequalpartseffortandsurrendertofullygrasp,andherearesomeof

thethreadsbeingwoventogetherwithinthisparadox:

People’sbehaviorisareflectionoftheirinternalstate.Itisnotanaccurateappraisalofyouoryourself-worth.Ifsomeoneisangrywithus,weoftenwonder,“HaveIdonesomethingwrong?”Orifthatthoughtisuncomfortableforus,weprojectitbackontotheotherpersonandthink,“They’vedonesomethingwrong!”Anotherperson’sangerisjustthat—anotherperson’sanger;it’snotavaluejudgmentaboutyou.

Whilesomeone’sactionsmaybetriggeredbyorinresponsetosomethingyoudoorsay,andtheseactionsandwordsareyourresponsibility,thewaysomeonechoosestorespondisentirelytheirresponsibility.Iftheychoosetorespondinangerorinlove,neitherofthoseisareflectiononyou;it’saninternalchoicethispersonhasmade.Thus,youcannotmakesomeoneangryormakesomeonelove.

Likewise,noonecanmakeyoufeelanyparticularway.Ourlanguagecontradictsthis:“Hemademesoangry!”“Shemakesmefeellikecrapwhenshedoesthat!”However,thetruthremains:Yourfeelingsareaninternalexperience.Theyarenotthecreationofanotherperson,evenifyouarefeelingacertainwayinresponsetotheactionsofanother.(Don’tbelieveme?Let’ssaysomeonetellsajoke.PersonAfindsithilarious;PersonBisoffended.Ifemotionswerecreatedbythejoketeller,eachpersonwouldhavethesameemotionalresponse,buttheclearfactthattheydon’tindicatesthatemotionsareaninsidejob.)

While we might understand and even intellectually agree with thesedistinctions, in practice we often slip back into blaming others or blamingsituationsforhowwefeel,whichleavesusstuck:Unlesstheseexternalfactors,whichwe cannot control, change,we “have” to feel a certainway.Whenwefullyunderstandthatnoonecanmakeusfeelanything,weareliberated.Andonthe flipside, when we realize that we cannot make anyone feel, or do, or beanything(andwhenwesitwith thefear that this lackofcontrolmight trigger)we are free: free from the self-appointed task of controlling other people, andfreefromtheresponsibilitythatothersmighttrytounloadonusoftheirfeelingsandinternalstatesofbeing.Thisdoesnotabsolveusofresponsibilityforouractions,however—quitethe

contrary. Instead of fixating on other people’s actions and feelings,we centerfocusonourselves.Toooften,weadoptthehabitoftakingresponsibilityforthewayotherpeoplefeelandbehaveasadistractionfromself-responsibility.Anypartsofourexperiencethatwedon’twanttoown,weinvariablyprojectit“outthere”andseeitinothers.Wemighttellourselves,ifonlyso-and-sowouldstopdoing that annoying thing,wewould no longer “have” to feel irritated, sowedoggedlytrytogetthemtochangewhileignoringourroleinthesituation.Thiscycle of projection keeps us stuck and,more to the point, distracted fromourownexperienceandfromourTrueSelf,becausethevoiceoftheTrueSelfgetsdrownedoutbyallofthechatter,drama,andexternalfocus.Howdowebreakfree? By owning our stuff: the good, the bad, and everything in between. If

we’re feelingangry,weownouranger;wedon’tproject itonto someoneelseandthenengageinaself-constructedbattlewiththisexternal“angryperson.”Ifwe’refeelingvulnerable,wesitwithourvulnerability;wedon’tprojectitontosomeoneelseandeitherrushtotakecareofthemoractlikeabully,punishingthemforthevulnerabilitythat’stoouncomfortableforustofeel.

YourInternalFireThis brings us back to Illumination and Fire’s ability to temporarily give ussome space from watery emotions. Being able to witness our emotions, asopposed to drowning in them, allows an important shift to occur. When weexperience our emotions as overwhelming, we often develop dysfunctionalhabitsforminimizingthisoverwhelm,andthesehabitstypicallytakeoneoftwoforms: distracting ourselves from the troublesome emotions or locking theemotionsdownbeforetheyhaveachancetoget“outofcontrol.”There’sabigdifference between distracting ourselves from or suppressing emotions versuswitnessing them. Witnessing our emotions requires that we let them arisewithoutinterference.Wedon’ttrytopushthemdown,wedon’tusedistractionslike Facebook, eating, et cetera, to escape, and we don’t try to control ouremotionsbyintellectualizingorcreatingstoriestoexplainthemaway.These unhealthy habits serve to hide something from our conscious

awareness. What’s being hidden? Often, we fear that what lies beneath theemotionalchurningsisthemakingsofourundoing,soitfeelssafertokeepthisundoingand its emotionalharbingers fromknockingonourdoor,but in truth,what’sbeinghiddenisourTrueNatureandtheundoingofourego-ledlife.Forexample, while superficially we might fear failure (and, indeed, our ego canchurnoutstoriestothiseffectregularly),deepdownwe’reoftenmoreafraidofsucceeding—and not merely on a superficial level, but succeeding byembodyingour soul’s calling.The call of the soul isweighty stuff, and it canfeelscarytofullystepintothepowerthatliesdormantwithin,becausewiththatpower comes responsibility, aswell as an invitation todevelopnewskills andlife strategies to meet these responsibilities, all of which challenge the ego’sstatus quo. So instead, it can feel safer to stick with a small Tupperwarecontainerofpower.Outwardly,wemightcomplainthatwearen’tabletomakelastingchangeinourlifeorhavetheimpactwedesireintheworld,yetwehavehandicapped ourselves; we have subconsciously blunted our power becausewe’reafraidofwhatitcandoandwhatitmightaskofus.It’s time to own that power, to stop distracting ourselves from our full

potential.We distract ourselveswith codependent habits (e.g., taking on other

people’sbaggage,worryingaboutwhatotherpeoplemightthinkattheexpenseofbeingintouchwithourowninnerlife),byeating,byshopping,byworkingatjobs that suck us dry, by spending hours on Facebook, by complaining, bystayingwaytoobusyallthetime…andthelistgoeson.Ifwewanttoigniteourhealing abilities, it’s time toburn away thedistractions and come face to facewithwhatliesbeneaththecommotion.It’stimeforIllumination.

AcceptingversusFixingThisisagoodtimetotalkaboutacceptance,becausemanyofusonthepathofself-development get caught up in fixing ourselves. We perceive that we arelackingor broken in someway, andwego about trying to fix this by readingbooks,goingtoworkshops,meditating,etcetera.Andyet,inspiteofourefforts,we can never completely shake the fear that we’re not enough. We think,perhapsonemorebookoronemoreworkshop,and then I’ll feelwhole.Fromthismindset,it’salltooeasytojumptotheconclusionthatifonlywecouldgetridofthesebrokenthingswe’dbefixed.“IfonlyIcouldstopthenegativeself-talk, then I’d feel okay about myself,” “If only I could get rid of my shamearoundmoney,thenIcouldenjoyabundance,”“IfonlyIcouldstopbeingafraidofexpressingwhoIreallyam,thenI’dbefree,”andsoonitgoes.There’sareason,however,whymanypsychotherapistsandspiritualteachers

assertthatacceptanceistheprerequisitetochange.Imagine,foramoment,thatyouareaperfectlyroundcircle.Byyourverynature,youarealreadywholeandcomplete;there’snothingmissingfromyou,there’snothingbroken.Manyofus,though,onlyacceptapartofourselves.So,imaginenowthatthecirclehasbeendivided into pie-shapedwedges, and one of these is yellow. The yellow slicerepresents the thingsyou’rewilling toacceptaboutyourself: the“good”parts,thepartsthatensurepeoplekeeplikingyou,thatensureyoukeeplikingyou.Theproblemis thatnowyouseeonlyonepartofyourself—theyellowwedge–andforgetthatyou’retheperfectlywholecircle,andthisgeneratesapainthatcanbehardtoputyourfingeron.Somewhere, deep down, you remember that feeling of wholeness and you

want to get it back, so you go about getting a prettier yellow paint for yourwedge,andmaybeyouevenaddalittleglitter,butyoustillcan’tshakethesensethat you’re not enough. We get stuck when we believe that this nagginginsecurity isan indication thatwe trulyaren’tenough,when it’s simplyasignthatwe’veforgottenwe’reenough.Theperfectlyroundcircleisstillthere—it’sbeen there the entire time—we’re just not seeing it because we’re too busytryingtoperfectouryellowwedge.

Imagine,now,thatyou’rewillingtoacceptthosepartsofyourselfthataren’tsoeasytobearound:yourjudgmentalside,thosetimeswhenyou’renotfeelingcompassionateandyou’refeelingdownrightspiteful(weallhavethem),andanyotherpart of you that you thinkmight elicit shame,blame,or judgment.Witheachofthesequalitiesyouseeandaccept,youarewideningyourvisionofwhoyouare.You’renolongerjusttheyellowwedge,you’retheyellowwedgeandthatpiesliceoverhere…andoverhere…andalittlemoreoverthere.Beforeyouknowit,thoseshadowaspectsyou’vebeenspendingsomuchenergytryingtodisownordistractyourself fromare theverymeans throughwhichyouareabletoseetheperfectcircle:yourinnatewholeness.Youcouldn’thavereachedthat state by cutting out and throwing away thosewedges. Far from being anobstacle, the rejected wedges were instrumental to your remembrance ofwholeness.Throughradicalself-acceptance,wearecontinuallygivenaccesstomoreand

more of our True Self, not just the parts thatmeet the standards of our harshinnercriticortheexternalcriticsinourlives(whomweofteninternalize).We’renottryingtothrowawaythepartsofourselvesthatwe’vedeemedunacceptable.We’reworkingtoacceptourselvesinallourparts,andindoingso,thoseverypartsthatwehavestruggledforsolongtogetridof,theybegintotransformoftheirownaccord.Butacceptanceistheprerequisite.Wecan’tskipitandmoveontochange.Andwhenwestrugglewithacceptingourselves?Well,weacceptthat, too. And in doing so, our resistance to acceptance begins to soften andtransform. In the sameway, theFireof Illumination isnot creatingchangebygettingridofthingswedon’tlike.Insteadofthrowingtheundesirablesoutwiththetrash,thelightofFireallowsustoseethosethingsforwhattheytrulyare—valuable treasures leadingus toourTrueSelf—andindoingso, itchanges thenatureofthoseimbalancedareasandourrelationshiptothem.Onaglobal scale, thehealthof theworld is suffering, in largepart, froma

beliefthatwecanjustthrowawaythethingswedon’tlike,whenreally,thereisno“away”—thesethingsendupinouroceans,inoursoils,orinsomeoneelse’sbackyard.Noristhesolutiontoridtheworldofthepeoplewhomwedon’tlike.Whenwedon’ttakeresponsibilityforthepartswithinthatwestruggletoaccept,weprojectthese“undesirables”ontootherpeopleandsituations,andweseeour

trash in the world around us. The anger we don’t want to feel? We send it“away”andperceivetheworldasanangryplace.Thedisempowermentwefeel?Weproject it “away”andblame theworld forour senseofvictimhood,orweusescorntodistanceourselvesfromthoseweperceiveasbeingvictims,judgingthemasweakoreventoblamefortheabusestheysuffer.Thereisno“away.”Ourinnerworldbecomesourouterworld,andifwehope

tochange the latterwemustbeginwithour internal landscape, lestweforevertrytothrowour“trash”intootherpeople’sbackyards.Thekeytothischangeisradical self-acceptance, which is the focus of your first exercise.Most of theexercises in this book are done in a meditative state, so we’ll begin with aprocessforbringingyourselfintoandoutofthisstatebeforecontinuingwiththeexerciseproper.Referbacktothisprocessinfutureexercises,asindicated.

EnteringandExitingaMeditativeStateSettleintoacomfortableseatedposition.Closeyoureyes,andtakeafewminutestoslowdownyourbreath,becoming

aware of your current state: how you feel emotionally, physically, and thequalityofyourmind(thoughtsracing,calm,somewhereinbetween).If you notice anything that feels “off,” simply breathe into it and say to

yourself, “I love and accept you.” Give yourself at least one breath to reallyconnectwiththesensationofloveandacceptance.Take asmanybreaths as you need to prepare, andwhenyou feel calm and

centered,proceedwiththeexercise.Whenit’stimetocomeoutofthemeditation,bringyourfocusbacktoyour

breath,back toyourbody.Take in the soundsof the roomaroundyouasyougentlywiggleyourfingersandtoes,fullyreturningtothepresent.Whenyou’reready,openyoureyes.Youcandoanygroundingpracticesasnecessary,suchasplantingyourpalms

onthegroundandreleasinganyexcessenergyintotheearth,takingashortwalkoutside,comingintochild’spose,oreatingasmallsnack.Nowthatyou’refamiliarwiththeprocessofenteringameditativestate,let’s

proceedtothefirstexercise.

ExerciseOne:RadicalSelf-AcceptanceBefore you begin, decide on a recent experience that triggered a strongemotion in you; you’ll need to recall this situation to mind later in theexercise.Bringyourselfintoameditativestate(page26).Call up the triggering experience.Without getting into the storyline of

who’s rightandwho’swrong,outline theexperience inyourmind,doingyourbesttosticktosimpleobservations,tothebestofyourability.Avoidanalyzingwhysomethinghappened.Ifyoufindyourselfstartingtorantorcomplain,returntoamorecenteredplacebeforeproceeding.Let your thoughts begin to take a backseat. You don’t have to obsess

overhavingno thoughts, just turn thevolumedownon themabit.Get intouch with what you’re feeling in response to the experience. Are theresensationsinanyparticular locationinyourbody,andifso,whatdotheyfeel like—tight, hot, tingly, fluttery, buzzy? Give yourself time to reallyexplore what you’re feeling in response to this experience, rather thangettingoverlycaughtupinwhatyouthinkaboutit.Now,askyourself,“Iftherewerenorules,whatwouldIliketodoorsay

inthissituation?”Nomatterhowirrationaloroutofcontrolthatresponsemight seem, just let your fantasy response unfoldwithout judgment. Thekeyistofocusonhowyouwouldliketorespondinthisidealscenario,noton how the other person would respond if you had your way. Overimaginingtheotherpersondoingorsayingwhatyouwantthemto,imagineascenario inwhichyouhavefullpermissiontodoorsaywhatyouwant.Thisisavitalstepintakingresponsibilityforyourownexperience.Spend some time exploring your fantasy response by asking, “What is

thedeeperneedorbeliefunderlyingthisresponse?”Anexampleofaneedis, “I need to feel safe,”while a beliefmight be, “If peopledon’t act theway I expect them to, I am unsafe.”While they’re both dealingwith theissueofsafety,it’shelpfultoteasethemapart,andyoumayrecognizethatyouhavebothaneedandabeliefoperatingunderthesurface.

Now, accept that needorbelief, nomatter how irrational or irksome itmightseem.Itcanbeusefultounderstandthedifferencebetweenacceptingsomethingversusbelievingittobetrueoridentifyingwithit.Youcanfullyaccept a belief and at the same time hold the awareness that it isn’taccurate.Itsimplyis,andyouareacceptingtherealitythatthisbeliefexistsinyourpsyche,notitsveracity.Once you have identified at least one need or belief, accept it

wholeheartedly.Perhapsseetheneedpersonified,andwelcomethispersonwithageneroushug.Orrepeatthemantra,“Iloveandacceptyou,”whileholding in your awareness the need or belief.When you feel this lovingacceptancedeepwithinyou,thanktheneedorbeliefforteachingyou.Bringyourselfoutofthemeditation(seepage25–page26).

RejectionasStagnationAnother interesting facet to self-acceptance is its absence: self-rejection.Wheneverwerejectanaspectofourselves,itgetsfrozenintime.Youmightbefamiliarwiththepsychologicalconceptofarresteddevelopmentoccurringwhenweexperienceabuseortrauma.It’sasiftheclockstopstickingduringtheinitialwoundingandthattraumatizedpartisforeversixyearsold.Whenweareunabletoacceptanaspectofourselvesand insteadbanish it toour internalwastelandevenasadults—aformofself-inflictedtrauma—thatpartgetscutofffromthenatural flowof lifeenergy. Itgets shoved inadrawerandstagnates, frozen intime. Because of this, it can’t change and grow, so if this rejected part ofourselves is a belief, such as, “If I can’t control things, my self-worth is injeopardy,”thereisnoinfluxofnewenergy,nonewideas,nothingtochallengethatbelief, and itbecomes set in itsways. It’sno surprise that thispart,whentriggered,hasaverypredictable response; it’saone-trickpony. Itonlyknowsonebelief,onewayofseeingandreactingtotheworld.When we invite these parts back into the fold, they are availed of the life

energy of our entire being. They can now change and grow and update theirlimitedskillsandoutmodedbeliefs.Thebehaviorsthatoncesprangfromtheserejectedparts,thebehaviorsthatonceseemedimpossibletochange,arefinallyabletoshift.Andtheydon’tchangebecausewe’vefiguredouthowtogetridofthemonceandforall;theychangebecausewefinallychoosetoacceptthem.Justbecauseyouacceptsomethingdoesn’tnecessarilymeanyou’llneverhave

todealwiththoseissuesagain,butyouwillbringanewperspectiveandgreatermaturitytothetableiftheyreappear.Soplease,donotbediscouragedifthings,onceaccepted,returnindifferentforms.Yourjourneyisabeautifulspiral,notastraight line, and you’re not backsliding when you revisit topics from a newperspective.You’resimplybeinggiventhegiftofmoreofyourselftoacceptandwelcomehome,andindoingso,yougetalittlebigger,andalittlebiggerstill.Youexpand,whichispreciselywhatyoursoulisheretodo.

TheHealerWithinEverythingwe’ve talkedabout thusfar inregards toacceptingourstuffversusrejectingaspectsof self is crucial toyourdevelopment as ahealer.Toooften,people are drawn to learn the healing arts because (1) they want to “fix”themselves—anotherwayofsayingtheywanttothrowawaythe“bad”andholdontothe“good”—and(2)becausetheywanttoshift thefocusawayfromtheirpersonalwork to “fixing” other people.Whenwe approach healing from thatplace, consciously or subconsciously, we are merely perpetuating the self-rejectionanddistractionsthatareattherootofdis-ease.Thisiswhy,asaLifeAlchemyReikipractitioner,youwillputyourpersonal

growth first and foremost.Usui ispurported tohave said thatyoucannothealothersuntilyouhavehealedyourself.Untilyouarewillingtolookdeepwithinatthepartsthathavebeenbanishedtotheshadows,youcannottapintothefullextent of your power, and youwill find yourself attempting to useReiki as abandaidtodissolveshadowaspectssoyoudon’thavetofaceandacceptthem.When youworkwith others from this place, youwill find yourself taking ontheir issues (and possibly even their physical ailments) fueled by thesubconsciousdesiretousethisasadistractionfromyourownwork.Howoftenhaveyouencounteredhealingpractitionerswhoareconsumedwithfixingtheirclients’ issues, yet their own lives seem to be a bubbling cauldron of chaosyearningforattention?Self-care and self-love is your paramount duty as a healer.When you take

care of yourself,whenyou love and accept yourself in all your parts, you areabletobringyourrememberedfullnesstoyourhealingpractice.Youareabletoweaveyourmagicasahealerbecauseyoulivewiththeawarenessthatyouarealreadywholeandyourclientsare,too.Youarenotfixingyour“broken”clients,justasyouarenotfixingyourown“brokenness.”Andthisiswhyyourpersonalgrowthisvital:Ifyouyourselfhaveforgottenyourwholeness,howcanyoueverhopetoremindothersoftheirs?

JourneyingtoYourInnerForgeTodeepen our experience of the first step, Illumination,we need a few tools.ThisstepinvolvesusingarchetypalFiretotransformouregoconstructs,whichmeansthatweneed,one,accesstothisFire, two,awayofidentifyingtheegoconstructsthatwe’llbetransforming,andthree,acontainerinwhichtocarryouttheburningprocess,lestitrunwildandburnthingswedidn’tintendtoburn.Toobtain the ingredients for our spiritual recipe, we’ll break it down into three“shoppingtrips”orexercises.

ExerciseTwo:AttuningwithFireFor this exercise, you will need a candle and a comfortable place to sitwherethecandlecanburninfrontofyou.With thecandleunlit,use theprocessonpage26 toenterameditative

state.Flicker your eyes open and say to yourself, “I seek to attunewith the

elementofFireinawaythatiscorrectandgoodforme.”Lightthecandle.With a soft gaze, look at the candle flame.Notice the different colors,

watchitswayandflicker,allthewhileholdingyourintentiontoattunewiththeelementofFire.Dothisforafewminutes,thencloseyoureyes.Picturethecandleflameinyourmind’seye.Trytoconjuretheimagein

yourmind,graduallylayeringinmoreandmoredetails,fromthecolor,themovement,theheatandthesound.Don’tforceorstrain,justexplorehowyourmind is able to create this image andhave funwith it. If the imagecomesinandoutoffocus,that’sokay.Ifitfades,simplyrenewtheimageoncemore.Release the image of the candle and use your feeling sense to locate

wherewithinyouthissacredfireisalreadyburning.Perhapsacertainareaofyourbodycomes tomindoryou feel a slight increaseofheat inyourbellyorchest.Remaincuriouswhileyouholdtheintentiontoconnectwiththe sacred firewithinyou.Remember tobreathe, as fireneedsoxygen toburn.

When you have homed in on a specific area where you feel mostconnected to your inner fire, increase your presence in this area. Reallymove your conscious awareness there and notice if anything arises: anythoughts,anyfeelings,anyphysicalsensations,memories,smells,sounds,etcetera.Askyour innerfirewhatmessage ithasforyourightnow.Then,sit in

silenceandlisten.Ifyoufeelyourmindstartingtowander,saytoyourself,“I am listening,” and rein in your focus once more. Repeat as often asnecessarytobringyourpresencebacktothisreceptivestatewhereyouareopentoamessagefromyourinnerfire.Onceyouhavereceivedyourmessage,whichmaycomeintheformof

images, thoughts, feelings,oranyothermedium,say toyourself,“I thanktheelementofFireforitspresenceandguidance.”Bringyourselfoutofthemeditativestate(seepage26–page27).Jot down any messages or impressions from this experience in your

journal. And—this is important—take some time to process what thesemessages or impressions mean to you. Throughout our entire journey, IwantyoutobuildthehabitofinternalizingandwhatIcall“activating”theguidance you receive. Rather than simply writing in your journal, “Fireshowedmea crow,”use this image togodeeper.Beforeyou reach for abook or Google “crow symbolism,” take some time to think about whatcrowmeanstoyoupersonally.Doyouhaveanymemoriesofcrowsfromchildhood,dailylife,booksormovies,etc?Whatdoyouthinkorfeelwhenyouenvisioncrows?Whatdoyouknowaboutcrows,abouthowtheyliveand communicate,what they eat,when they’remost active?Does any ofthisresonatewithyourlife?Totaketheprocessevendeeper,gointomeditationandaskCrowtohelp

youunderstandwhyitappearedtoyou:“Crow,whatismostimportantforme to know about you right now?What messages do you bring?” Thisdoesn’thavetobealengthy,epicmeditation—evenfivetotenminutescanyield rich insights.Asbefore, jot downany impressionsormessagesyoureceive. And then, if you want to add another layer, look up crow inexternalresources.Iliketolookatspiritualandmythologicalsymbolismof

animals (or plants, crystals, et cetera), as well as information on theirbiology,behavior,etcetera.Whiledoingthisresearch,paycloseattentionto any details that resonatewith you. For example, if you read in a fieldguidethatcardinalsare“accomplishedsongsters,”meditatingonthisphrasecould reveal adesire to sing, speak, teach, and so forth.Use the symbolsand messages as an invitation to go deeper and to explore what thatresonanceisurgingyoutodo,be,orexperienceinyourdailylife.

Let’s move on to the second ingredient on our spiritual shopping list:identifying the ego constructs that prevent us from seeing ourselves, and theworldaroundus,asDivine.It’simpossibletoidentifyallofouregoconstructsin one sitting; this is a process that will continue to unfold throughout yourlifetime(s), so to be clear, you are seeking to identify the ego construct orconstructsthataremostimportantforyoutobeawareofrightnow,andyou’vealreadygottenatasteofthisworkinExerciseOne:RadicalSelf-Acceptance.

WhatAreEgoConstructs?Simplyput,anegoconstructisabeliefcreatedandemployedbytheegotomakesenseoftheworldandyourplacewithinit.Thesebeliefsareshapedbyyourlifeexperiences, and once they’re established, they continue to color yourexperiences long after their initial creation. Ego constructs aren’t just any ol’beliefs,though—theyareconcernedwithconstructingandpreservingyourself-image,thuswhenyoustarttoworkwithorchallengetheseconstructs,thiscantriggerawholehostoffeelings,includingfearandanxiety,andshame,solet’sdiscussthevalueofundergoingthisprocessandhowtostaygroundedandfeelsafeevenwhentheegoisgoinghaywire.Forstarters,youridentityisnotasfixedasyouthink,andtounderstandthis

let’stakeacuefromInternalFamilySystems(IFS)Therapy,aframeworkthatIhave found to be profoundly transformative. According to IFS, our psyche ispopulated by a colorful cast of characters that fall into one of two categories:protectors or exiles.Whoyou thinkyou are in anygivenmoment dependsonwhichofthesecharactersisdominatingyourinternalstage.IfaJudgeJudypart(aprotector) isonstage,youwillsee theworldandyourself throughhereyes.

Whileshe’s incharge,youwon’tdiscernadifferencebetweenJudgeJudyandyouridentity—inotherwords,youwillidentifywithJudgeJudyandthinkandact accordingly. But if a Worrywart part climbs on stage, you’ll switch toidentifying with this part, and your thoughts and actions will stem from thispart’sworriedworldview.ThroughIllumination,wearen’tseekingtoridourselvesoftheseparts—quite

thecontrary.Weareseekingtotransformourrelationshiptothem,startingwithawareness and acceptance. In order to accept these parts, wemust be able towitnessthem,andthisbringsusbackfullcircletoouroriginaldiscussionofFireasatoolforsheddinglightonhiddenaspects,suchastheseinternalparts,andasa tool to give us some space from emotional flooding (recall Fire’s ability totemporarily “dry out” thewaters of emotion),making it easier to remain in amoreneutralwitnessstance.Lifegivesusampleopportunitytowitnesstheseinternalpartsinaction:when

someone’scommentonourFacebookpostgetsusriled,whenlifeisn’tgoingthewaywe’dplanned,whenwereachoutandsomeonerejectsus,whenwehaveanargumentand reallywant tobe right.Therearenever-endingopportunities forawareness,andwhatmakesthissoliberatingisthis:WhenweusetheenergyofFiretobringawarenesstoandgiveusspacefromtheseconstructs,theirpowerover us begins to lessen. Why? In part, because whereas before we wereunconsciously identifying with these parts, seeing the world through theirlimitedlenswhenevertheysteppedonstage,whenwebecomeaware,thesimpleactofawarenessbringsus into the roleofwitness. Insteadof identifyingwithJudgeJudy,youarenowthewitnesswhoisawareofJudgeJudy.Howdoesthiswitnessawarenesshavesuchanenormousimpactonourlives?

Well,prior toawareness, if someonesayssomethingrudeonsocialmedia, forexample, anunconsciouspart gets activated, and this partmight be convincedthat we “have” to take the rude comment personally and defend against aperceivedattackonourself-worth.Whenweidentifywith thispart,weacceptits reasoning hook, line, and sinker, and while this part is activated we can’timagine approaching things any other way. The internal witness, however—whatwewill come to recognize as ourTrue Self—is able to offer a differentresponse. The witness can heal those internal parts that are being triggered

simplybybeingawareofandacceptingthem,andindoingso,itfreesusfromtheirrigidrulesofthoughtandconduct.Andviewingthisfromanotherangle,itfreesthosepartsfromtheirrigidrulesofthoughtandconduct.WhilewemightthinkthatJudgeJudy’sonlyroleistomakeusmiserable,Judyisperformingtherole of judge because she believes, from her limited point of view, that she’sprotectinguswithher judgment.When Judymeets thewitness, theTrueSelf,andisheldandacceptedbythatSelf,sheisnolongerlockedintoherjudgmentalrole, because she has learned that there is a larger Self that can handle thevicissitudesoflifewithoutherjudgmental“helping.”Shecanchooseanewroleinyourpsyche,onethatismoreinserviceofyourhealthandhappiness,andthismeans thatenergy thatwasonce trapped inacycleof judgmenthasnowbeenfreedformoresoul-alignedpurposes.Ittrulyisawin-win.In order to introduce these internal parts and the ego constructs they’re

carrying to the True Self, wemust first become aware of them, which is thefocusofyournextexercise.

ExerciseThree:IlluminatingEgoConstructsEnterameditativestate(page26).Whenyoufeelready,calltomindarecentsituationthatleftyoufeeling

triggered. Itcouldbesomethingas fleetingassomeonecuttingyouoff intrafficorsomethingmorechronic,likeanongoingsituationatwork.Ifthelatter,narrowitdowntoonespecificincident.You’regoingtopracticecreatingsomeseparationbetweenyouandthis

situation. Construct a stage in your mind’s eye, complete with curtains,spotlights, and rowsof seating, and then seeyourself taking a seat in theaudience,perhapsafewrowsbacktocreateadditionalspace.Takeasmuchtimeasyouneedtoimaginethestageandtopictureyourselfsittingintheaudience.Feeltheseparationbetweenwhereyouareandtheactiononthestage.Lookdownandsee thatyouareholdinga remotecontrol. Ithas large,

easy-to-readbuttons:playandstop.Still feeling yourself sitting in the audience, create the triggering

situationonthestage.Fillintheactors,oneofwhichisyou,because“real

you”issittingintheaudiencewatching.Asmuchasfeelsnecessary,fillinthesurroundingdetailstohelpcapturethefeeloftheevent.Pressplayontheremote.Letthesituationunfoldasyouwatchfromthe

audience.Whatdoesactoryousayordo?Whatdotheotherpeoplesayordo?Pressstop.Takeabreathortwo,perhapsre-establishtheawarenessthat

you’resittingintheaudienceandyou’renotonstage.AskforguidancefromyourHigherSelfandtheDivine inmeetingany

internalpartsthatarerelevanttothissituation.Press play again. The scenewill run again from the beginning, and as

youwatch,looktoseeifanynewcharactersappear,eitheronthestageorelsewhereinthetheater.Pressstop.Ifmorethanonecharacterhasappeared,focusontheonethatfeelsmost

interestingtoyourightnow—we’llrefertothischaracterastheFocusPart.Checkintoseehowyouarefeelingaboutthispart.Youwillknowyouarecentered in your True Self and serving as a healingWitness if you feelsomecombinationofcuriosity,openness,orcompassion.Ifanotherfeelingarises, perhapsworryor judgmentor anger, recognize that this is anothercharacter,andevenifyoucan’tvisualizeit,askthischaracterifitwillstepasidesoyoucangettoknowtheFocusPart.Ifitisn’twillingtostepaside,youcanexplain thevalueofallowingyou toproceed.Forexample, if anangrypartappears,youmightexplain that if itallowsyoutoget toknowtheFocusPart, youmight be able to resolve the issue that it’s feeling soangryabout. If it still isn’twilling tostepaside,make thispart theFocusPart. (Repeat thisprocessof askingparts to stepasidewheneveryou feelanother part appearing, taking you out of the role of the compassionateWitness.)WithyourattentionbackontheFocusPart,begintogettoknowit.You

canstartbyaskingitwhatit’sfeeling.Ifit’sconcernedorangry,etcetera,ask itwhat it’s concerned or angry about. Then, ask this partwhat is itsrole.Thisisimportant—youareexploringwhatrolethispartplaysinyourpsycheandyourlife.Ifyouneedmoreclarity,youcanasktheparthowitperformsthisroleortoshowyouanexampleofitperformingthisrolein

your life. It might show you an early memory or a scene that is moresymbolicthanliteral.Checkinwithhowyou’refeelingtowardthispart.Areyoustillcentered

in the True Self? Remember, if you’re feeling open, curious, and/orcompassionate toward the Focus Part, you are in Self. If you notice thatyou’retakingontheemotionsoftheFocusPart,askittoseparatefromyousoyoucangettoknowitbetter.Andifyouseeotherpartsappearingandtryingtotakeover,repeatthestepping-asideprocessfromearlier.Finally, ask the partwhat it’s afraidwould happen if it didn’t perform

thisrole.Askanyclarifyingquestionsasneeded.Whenthisprocessfeelscomplete,thanktheFocusPartforsharingwith

you,andthankitfortheworkithasdoneinperformingitsrole.Remember,eveniftherolehascausedproblems,thepartissimplytryingtodowhatitthinksisbestforyou.Thankitforallitshardwork.Whenyoufeelready,set theremotedownin theseatnext toyou, then

watchastheentireauditoriumfades.Bringyourselfoutofthemeditativestate(pages26–27).

Take some time to journal about the experience.Write down a descriptionand/ornameofanypartsyoumet,andfleshoutdetailsfortheFocusPart:whatits role is,howitperforms this role, its fears if itwere tostopperforming thisrole, and anything else that feels relevant. This material is your secondingredient, the ego construct youwill be transforming in sacred fire at a laterstage.Fornow,let’smoveontothethirdingredientonourlist.

TheSacredVesselI’mgoingtoskiptothepunchlineonthisone.Yoursacredcontainer?It’syou.It’s yourbodyandyour energy field. If our container is lacking strengthor isdamaged we’re not able to control incoming and outgoing energy veryeffectively.Toillustratethis,imagineagroupofpeopleeatingdinnertogether.Asyoulookcloser,youseethateachpersonhasholesindifferentareasoftheirbody, and as they eat, speak, think, and so forth, their energy escapes via theholes. Perhaps another person says something rude, and their word energytravels from theirmouth into ahole in someoneelse’sbody, and the recipientturnsredwithanger.Withoutahealthycontainer,ourenergyiseasilydissipatedandtriggered.Weoftenexpenda lotofeffortworkingtocontrol theenergeticflowof life

experiences by trying tomanage external factors. For example, we don’t likewhen someone’s critical energy enters our field, but too often, instead ofplugginguptheholes inourowncontainer,wetry tocontrol thesituationandtheotherpersoninthehopesofpreventingthemfrombeingcritical.Thisisalotof work, and our energy would be more productively spent working onbolsteringthestrengthandintegrityofourcontainer.Theenergeticflowsaroundus are very complex and far reaching. The critical person above is likelyrespondingtoforcesthatextendfarbeyondtheirpresentinteractionwithyou,atangled up ball of everything from their childhood to theirmorning commute,andtryingtocontrolthesecomplexenergyflowsisfruitless.However,whenwetendtotheintegrityofourcontainer,ourexperienceoftheseenergeticflowswillbe very different, allwithout uswastingmassive amounts of energy trying invaintomicromanagetheworld.Notonlydoesthequalityofourcontainerdeterminewhetherenergycanenter

orexit,italsocolorsourexperiences.Forexample,becauseofmyfamilyhistorywithmoney,whentheenergyofmoneyenteredmycontainer,itwouldactivatequalities like lack and feeling manipulated. When I made money, it was achallenge not to get rid of it right away so I didn’t have to feel thoseuncomfortable associations. I spent many years trying to control the overallenergy of money, but that wasn’t the issue—money itself is neutral. My

interpretationof it,duetothequalityofmycontainer,wasnot,but luckilymycontainer was something I could affect and transform, and in doing so, Itransformedmyrelationshipwithmoney.Ashealers,thisintegrityofourcontainertakesonevengreaterimport,foras

you work with Reiki you will be acting as a container for this energy. Theenergywillpass from theUniversalSource, throughyou,and intoyourclient.Whileoneofthe(many)wonderfulqualitiesofReikiisthatitcanberemarkablyeffective even under the most challenging of conditions, you can nonethelessenhanceyourhealingcapabilitiesbyboostingthestrengthandintegrityofyourcontainer. The energy of Reiki itself does not change, regardless of ourcontainer, but our experience ofReiki and our ability to effectively channel itwhenhealingotherscanbealtered.We’renotaimingforperfection,simplyanactive engagementwith the process of “vessel strengthening.”Youwill neverhaveaperfectcontainer,nordoyouneedto,butyoucanexpandyourcapacityforself-healingandhelpingothershealbyadoptingalifelongpracticeoftendingtoyoursacredcontainer.Soforourthirdandfinalingredientyouwillgetintouchwithyourcontainer

andreallyfeelintothesensationoftakingenergyin,containingit,andreleasingit.

ExerciseFour:YourSacredContainerBringyourselfintoameditativestate(page26).Bringyour awareness towhereyourbreath entersyournostrils.Really

focusyourattentionandseeifyounoticemorebreathenteringonenostrilovertheother.Noticeifit’seasiertoperceivethebreathasit’senteringorexitingyournostrils,orifit’shardtodiscernanyairmovementatall.Bringyourattentiontoyourbodyasawhole.Runyourawarenessalong

thesurfaceofyourbody,startingatthetopofyourhead,movingoveryourface, the frontofyourneckand throat.Traveldownoneshoulder,all thewaydownthelengthofyourarmtothetipsofyourfingers,andreturntoyourthroat.Repeatontheotherside.Continue this process of bringing your awareness to every surface of

yourbody,front,back,andsides,thenreturntothecrownofyourhead.

Feelthesurfaceofyourbodyasacontinuouswhole,asastructurethat,quite literally, contains your insides. Really focus your attention on yourbody’s ability to hold and contain, to act as a selective barrier betweenwhat’sinsideandeverythingelse.Shift your focus to your internal body, and feel how this space is

contained by your skin. If you’re visual, perhaps imagine yourself in thecenterofyourbody,lookingoutwardattheprotectivebarrierofyourskin.Expandyourfocus to includeyourbreath.Asyouinhale, imagineyour

internalspacefillingwithair,fillingwithlifeforce.Ontheexhale,seethisspace once again returning to emptiness. Continue this for a few moreroundsofbreath.Begintonoticeifthereareanyareasthatseemresistanttotheinfluxof

new air on the inhale, or areas that seem to hang onto or trap air on theexhale.Saytoyourselfthreetimes,“Mysacredcontainerishealthyandbalanced

onalllevels.”Now, bring tomind the feeling of love, perhaps picturing a person or

animalyouloveandusingthatimagetogeneratethefeltsenseoflove.Onthe inhale, breathe that feeling into your internal space.You can imaginethe energy as a particular color and see the color enteringyourbody andfillingthespace.Ontheexhale,seethecolorleavingyourbody.Dothisforafewroundsofbreathuntilyouhaveaclearsenseoftheenergyenteringandleavingyourbody.Try it again with another energy of your choice: perhaps awe, peace,

beauty,etcetera.Does it feeldifferent tocontain thisenergy?Noticeanysensationsthatarise.When the experience feels complete release the energy and bring

yourselfoutofthemeditativestate(pages26–27).

Journal about your experience, noting if therewere certain aspects that felteasier ormore difficult for you, or any thoughts,memories, or sensations thatfeelimportanttoremember.

PuttingtheIngredientsTogetherNow that we have our three ingredients it’s time to go deeper with ourunderstandingofIlluminationbeforeusingtheseingredientsintheIlluminationmeditation. In the Attuning With Fire Exercise, you made contact with yourinnerfire,whichyoucanimaginelikeaninternalcampfirethatyoucarrywithinyouatall times.Whenyou’resittingnearthecampfire—whenyou’recenteredin Self—you can see by its light.When you stray away from the campfire, itbecomes harder and harder tomake your way, and before too long, you findyourself lost in the darkness. This campfire represents your inner truth.Whenyou’renearthecampfire,youareintouchwiththistruth,youareintouchwithwhatlightsyouup,whatyoufeelpassionateabout.Whenyoustrayawayfromthefire,youstart tolosecontactwiththatknowledge,andyouaremoreeasilyswayedbyexternalinfluences.Let’s imagine that you’re having conflictwith a coworker. Formanyof us,

it’s easy to get caught up in analyzing why our coworker is acting in thisundesirableway.Wetrytocrawlintoherheadandfigureoutwhat’sdrivinghertobesuchaturd,andwesometimesgetstuckinthinking,“IfonlyIcouldfigureoutwhyshe’sdoingthis,thenI’llknowhowtorespondtomakeherstop.”Ninetimes out of ten, when we’re choosing our behavior based on how we thinkanother personwill react, we’re engaging in codependence, a type of relatingthat is characterized by relying on how other people are responding to us todetermineoursenseofself.Acommonpatternwithcodependence is trying tocontrolhowotherpeopleactandwhattheythinkaboutyoubypeoplepleasing.Ifyoureffortsdon’tresultinthemactingthewayyou’dhopedorinthemhavinga favorableopinionofyou,anxietyand resentmentoften result,becauseunderthesurfacethere’sanunconsciousbargainbeingoffered:IfItrytopleaseyoubybeingniceoracquiescingtoyourrequestseventhoughImightnotwantto,youhavetoreciprocatebyactingthewayIexpectyoutoact.Ifyoudon’t,IfeellikeI’vebeenused.To bring this back to the campfire metaphor, in order to engage in

codependency,wehavetowalkawayfromourcampfireasweseektofigureoutwhat’s going on in the other person’s head. You can see this as your ego

constructs luring you away from the light of your campfire and into the dark.Thesubconscious“reasoning”is,ifIcanfigureoutwhattheywantandgiveittothem,thentheywillrespondbygivingmewhatIwant,byactingthewayIwantthemto,orbynotrejectingme.Thelineofthoughtwe’reoftenmoreconsciousof is, “This person is being such a jerk. If they would just stopdoing/acting/thinking thisway, thiswouldn’t be an issue.”These two lines ofthoughtmightnotseem,onthesurface,toberelated,solet’sgodeepertofindtheconnection.When we struggle with codependency, experiencing conflict with another

person can be deeply upsetting and anxiety producing, not simply becauseconflictisdifficultbutbecausewefeelalossofcontrol.Werelyoncontroltoensure thatotherpeopleact inways that feelsafe tousand that theydon’tdoanythingthatfeelslikerejection.Whenourcontroldoesn’tseemtobeworking—whenwe’retryingourhardesttopleaseand/orcontrolthemandthey’restillnot doing what we want—it can feel really, really scary. In those moments,we’re no longer sure how to keep people from rejecting us. Our tools aren’tworking,andtheoutcomeisunsure.Rejectiondoesn’t simply take the formof, for example,beingdumpedbya

partner.Feelingsofrejectioncanariseastheresultofsomeonenottakingyouradvice, not valuing your contribution, misunderstanding what you’re saying,talking about you behind your back, telling you you’re overreacting or being“too sensitive,” continuing to act in away that you don’t like, et cetera.Andcodependencylinksour(imagined)abilitytocontrolthesethingswithoursenseofself-worth. Ifwecan’tcontrol theoutcome, itmustmean there’ssomethingwrongwithus,sowhensomeonedoesn’t takeyouradvice,doesn’tvalueyourcontribution,misunderstandswhatyou’resaying,andsoon,itfeelslikesomuchmore than that; it feels like they’re calling your self-worth into question. Inresponse,codependencyurgesustocrawlintotheotherperson’sheadandfigureoutthe“rightway”toactinordertogetthemtostartrespondinginawaythataffirms our self-worth. If they don’t, we feel lost and anxious, and if thosefeelingsaretoodifficulttobear,wemightretreattofeelingangryandresentfulattheotherpersonwhoisthe“cause”ofourpainfulfeelings.

Inshort,whenwe’reengagedincodependentinteractions,weleaveourowncampfire, we abandon our inner truth, and we spend our time trying to “fix”otherpeople.Over time,we forgethow togetback toourcampfire.We’re sofocusedonwhatotherpeoplewantthatweforgetwhatwewant.Welosecontactwithourinnertruth,andwefeeleasilyswayedbywhatotherpeoplethinkofus,thus fueling thecycle to tryandplease themso they’ll thinknicelyofus.Themorewestaycenteredaroundourowncampfire, themorewestay tethered toourownsenseoftruth.Overtime,webecomelessconcernedaboutwhatotherpeople think.We’re able to forge healthy connections inwhichwe can enjoytrue intimacy while remaining autonomous. We can experience love withoutcontrolling, or being controlled by, another person.We can be authentic andknow that we are innately worthy, even if someone is upset with us or notrespondinginthewaywe’dlike.Andwhenwedoexperienceconflict,wecanbring our full Self to the situation aswe creatively problem solve, rather thantryingtofigureoutwhichpartsofourselvesweneedtorejectinordertopleasetheotherpersonandmaketheconflictgoaway.This practice begins, as always,with awareness,with recognizingwhenwe

arestartingtostrayfromourinnercampfire.Arewe:

Replayinginourmindwhattheotherpersonsaidordid?

Tryingtofigureoutwhytheotherpersonisactingacertainwaywithoutdirectlyaskingthem?

Tryingtofigureoutwhattheotherpersonisthinkingorfeelingwithoutdirectlyaskingthem?

Unableorunwillingtoexplorehowwearecontributingtothesituation?

Feelingresentfulthattheotherpersonisn’tactingthewaywewantthemto?

Feelinganxiousthattheotherpersondoesn’tlikeus(evenifwedon’tlikethem)?

Sayingyeswhenwewanttosayno?

Feelinglikewehavenochoicebuttodowhattheotherpersonwants?

Asahealer, it’sespecially important tobeawareof theseredflags,becausemanyofusareinthehealingartsbecauseofacodependentdesireto“fix”otherpeople in order to feel needed and loved. It is our work to transform thecodependentneedtofixintothetruepracticeofhealing,whichrequiresustobefirmly attuned toour inner campfire.Ashealers,wehelpothers rekindle theirinner flame, to remember that they are already whole and have the answerswithin, but if we’ve lost the way to our inner fire, how canwe hope to leadothers back to theirs? For this reason, I consider Codependent No More byMelodyBeattierequiredreadingforallhealers.Viewitasatooltohelpyoufeelmoreempowered,moreliberatedinyourpersonalandprofessionalrelationships,andmoreattunedwithyournaturalhealingabilities.You cannot neglect your personal growth because you want to focus on

“serving”your clients. Ifyou thinkofyourhealingpractice as adoor throughwhichhealing andwisdomcanpass, doing self-workopens thatdoor forbothyouandyourclients.Neglectingself-workclosesthedoor,andneitheryounorthepeopleyouwanttohelpwillbeabletobenefitfullyfromyourhealingwork.Particularly forwomen, it can feel likewe’re being selfishwhenwe’re takingcare of ourselves, but know that you cannot truly offer another the gift ofhealing,love,oranyothertransformativeexperienceifyouarewithholdingthatgift fromyourself. Thewaywe learn to give these gifts to other people is bygivingthemtoourselves.Fromadeep,self-initiatedrelationshipwiththesegifts,we then understand more deeply how to receive, contain, and release them.Without this, we can only understand healing, love, and other energies on asuperficial level. Youmust allow yourself to experience thewonderful thingsyouwishtogivetoothers.We’vebegunour journeyofself-transformationinapowerfulway,working

with the archetype of Fire and connectingwith our inner fire, and nowwe’regoing to allow Reiki to take this process even further. Reiki is Divineintelligence, and it has amuchmore expansiveviewofour situation andhowourpersonalexperiencesrelatetothegreater,cosmicwhole,soitcanguideusin

waysthatwecannot imaginewiththeapproachof thefinitemind.Inthisnextstageofyour journey, youwill prepare to receiveyour firstReiki attunement,andthen,oncetheattunementiscompleteyouwillreturntoyourinnerfireandmeet with your Focus Part and its ego construct once more to see how thisinteractionchangeswiththepresenceofReiki.

[contents]

-3-

BEGINNINGYOUR

REIKIJOURNEY

To be a Reiki practitioner, you must receive an attunement, right? Well, tounderstandthisquestion(andtohelpyoudevelopyourowntakeonthematter),it’susefultodefinewhatanattunementis.Onabasiclevel,anattunementisaritualinwhichaReikiMastercompletesaseriesofmovementsaroundaseatedstudentusingenergyandfocusedintent.Inmostmodernteachings,thepurposegiven for the attunement is to open the student up to the channel of Reiki.Opinions vary as to whether or not the student was already capable ofchanneling this energybefore the attunement, but inmyexperienceweare allbornwiththeabilitytochannelReiki;theattunementsimplyallowsforamuchgreaterandclearerflowofthisenergy.Iwilladmitthatpriortomyfirstattunement,Iwasskepticalandassumedthat

theattunementwassimplyameansofcreatinganexclusivegroup.Whetherornotsomepeopleuseattunements in thismanner, Ican’tdeny that thefeelandquality of the energy I experienced before and after the attunement wasmarkedly different, as is the experience of receiving energy work from thosewhohavebeenattunedversusthosewhohavenot.Thisisnottosaythatthosewithout an attunement aren’t practicing legitimate healing and energywork—many of them are. It simply feels different, so clearly, some kind of shift isoccurringasaresultoftheattunement.To deepen our understanding of what might be taking place, I find this

analogyfromtheInternationalHouseofReikiuseful.Here,theauthorsreferto

anyReikitreatment,butIseethefollowingprocesshappeninginamorelastingwayasaresultofanattunement:

Ifwealreadyhaveenergyorki,whydoweneedthepracticeofReiki?Tohelp understand, imagine a free flowing river. This beautiful river is likeenergy flowing easily down through the body. Occasionally a pebble oreven a rockwill fall into the river,making the flow of thewater a littlemoredifficult.Thesepebblesarehumanworries,fear,andanger,andeachpebble builds on top of the other. Soon there is only a trickle of waterrunning in that once beautiful free-flowing river. And so it is with theenergy of the human body. Energy flow can be obstructed somuch thatphysicalpainmaybeexperiencedat thispoint.DuringaReiki treatment,thepureflowofenergyisrealignedwiththebody.Itwashesdown,clearingobstructionsand strengthening the flowof energy (InternationalHouseofReiki2010,ShodenLevel1ParticipantManual,2).

Inresponsetothequestion“Isanattunementallthat’sneededtopracticeReiki?”theaboveauthorsreply:

No,youmustworkwiththeotherelementsofthesystemofReikiandalsopractice.Rememberthatthissystemisaboutself-empowerment.Themoreworkyoudoonyourself,thecleareryourenergychannelswillbecomeandthehealthierandcalmeryourlifewillbe(Ibid.,11).

The insinuation here is that attunement produces a powerful shift in yourability to receive and channelReiki, but there is also the aspect of practice tomaintain these strong channels of energy flow.FransStieneprefers to use theword “initiation” over attunement, as that “indicates an ‘initial’ experience”(Stiene 2015, 118). In other words, the initiation is just the beginning, anopening of the door that you must walk through of your own accord.Furthermore,hangingoutjustbeyondthethresholdisnotthepoint;wecontinueto journey beyond that initial opening through our daily practice. Thus, it isimportanttorememberthatanattunementisnotlikecheckinganitemoffourto-

dolistwherewemightthink“A-ha,nowI’mattuned!Gladthat’stakencareof!”Itismerelythebeginning.

AttuningtotheTrueSelfAnattunementgivesusapowerfulglimpseofourTrueSelftoremindusofwhowe reallyare,but it isour responsibility to remain true to thisnatureafter theattunement is over. This is whywe don’t see all ReikiMasters automaticallyliving harmonious, balanced lives simply because they’ve received a MasterAttunement.Thechoicestheymakefollowingtheattunementdeterminewhetherthey live with remembrance of their True Self or slip into a place offorgetfulness.Stienewritesthatduringareiju(thewordUsuiusedforanattunement),both

teacherandstudentwillreceivethemostbenefit if theirenergyis“likeacalmlake,”which isastate that takesdedication tocultivate,particularly in today’sworld.Stieneexplains:“A calm lake is a mirror and a mirror can reflect everything. However, a

mirrordoesn’tjudgeorlabel,itjustreflects.Thereforewecanalsoseethereijuastheteacherholdingupaperfectlyclearmirrorsothatthestudentcanseehisown True Self. … If reiju allows us to glimpse our True Self, then we canremember it again and again in our daily life. Themorewe remember it, themorewewillembodyourTrueSelf”(Stiene,120).

SevenTypesofEnergyTo further understand how an attunement might work (and I say “might”becauseIdon’tthinkwecanknowwhatisoccurringwith100percentcertainty),I’llfleshoutmyowninterpretation,whichdrawsheavilyonmaterialfromTheSpiritofReiki,inwhichco-authorWalterLübeckoutlinessevendifferenttypesof life energy categorized based on their primary function, which, in turn, isrelated tohowwelleach typeofenergyisable toorganize(Lübeck2001,54–60).Thefirst typeofenergy,Kekki,hastheleastabilitytoorganize,whiletheseventh type,Reiki,has thegreatestability toorganize.We’llstartwithKekkiand move our way through the seven energy qualities until we reach Reiki;throughout,we’llconstructonewayofunderstandingattunements.Kekkiisassociatedwiththerootchakraandthedescriptor“Kioftheblood”

or “energy of the blood.”One of the primary functions of blood is deliveringnourishmentthroughoutthebody,andthisparallelsthemainfunctionofKekki,whichprovides.BecauseKekkiisalsotheleastorganizedorleastdifferentiatedtypeofenergy,“itisthereforetheeasiestenergyforthehigherorganizingforcestouseinnourishingspecificstructures”(Ibid.,54).It’sinterestingtotiethisinwiththeHermeticcreationstoryandtheconceptoftheOneThing,whichhasanundifferentiated, non-specific quality that then allows it to become, and tonourish,anything,similartoKekki.If Kekki nourishes and acts as a basic building block, then there must be

somethingthatrequiresthisnourishmentandfoundation;forthis,welooktothesecond typeofenergy,Shioke.“This is theformofKi thatgives thebody thestructureinwhichthevitality(Kekki)cangatherandhaveaneffect”(Ibid.,54).This form or structure may last for the life of a cell, the life of an entireorganism,orthelifeofagalaxy.LübeckalsosaysthisofShioke,whichIfindveryinteresting:“Somethingthatdoesnotwanttofulfillapurposedoesn’tneedastructurethatissuitableforfulfillingapurpose”(Lübeck,55).Inotherwords,Shioke, theenergyof structure,wouldnotneed toexist if life simply requiredthe basic building blocks of Kekki to sit around doing nothing. The fact thatstructure arises suggests the existence of an underlying purpose that thisstructure serves to fulfill. For example, without the need to eat, we wouldn’t

havethestructuresofourdigestivetract.Evolutionwouldnothavegivenrisetothem“justbecause.”If you recall, the Hermetic creation story shows that we are microcosmic

versions of the larger cosmos,making our structure a reflection of the cosmicstructure…socoulditbepossiblethatourindividualpurposeisalsoareflectionofgreatercosmicpurpose?Ibelieveso.Andwhatisthiscommonpurposethatweconceivablysharewiththecosmos?Iwouldofferthatitisadesiretoknowoneself,andthisdesireledtotheevolutionofhumanconsciousnessinthesamewaythattheAlldifferentiatedintotheOneMindandtheOneThinginordertoknowitselfmorefully.It’sasifallofexistenceisseekingtodifferentiateapartof itself from thewhole and so one part stand somewhere called “over there”looking back at and interactingwith itself in newways, thereby enriching itsself-awareness.“What is nowoccurringwithin individual humanconsciousness through the

personal transformations many people are experiencing is not an arbitraryprocess disconnected from what happens in the cosmos or from evolutionarychanges thathavegonebefore; rather, evolutionarycosmologyhelpsus to seethatthesepersonaltransformationsareacontinuationofevolutionandthattheyareintimatelyconnectedtothecosmologicalcontext inwhichtheytakeplace”(Le Grice 2011, 231). If it seems difficult to imagine that our individualdevelopment could have that much of an impact on the development of thewhole, think of how evolution plays out in the unfolding of a family and itsancestralline.Incertainformsofshamanism,thedreamsweexperiencebetweenmidnightandtwointhemorningaresaidtobemessagesfromourancestorswhoarehopingwewillbetheonestohealfamilywoundsandbreakfreeofharmfulchains,therebyfreeingourentireancestralline.Whetherornotyoubelievethistobetrue,imagineifeachandeveryoneofustookitasoursacreddutytohealourancestralwoundsandmultipliedthatdesireacrossallfamilies—we’dchangetheworld.Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit priest and paleontologist believed that if we

cametorecognizetheinextricablelinkbetweenourpersonalevolutionandtheevolutionof the entire cosmos, this realizationwould align “individual humanconsciousness,withitsownwill,intentions,purposes,anddesires[with]cosmic

will…”But in order for this to happen,wemust experience an activation ofenergy, an “awakening of those potent primordial drives ordinarily excludedfrom human experience. Once activated, those impulses for freedom andexcitementthattheindividualwasneverabletoactonbursttothesurfacewithall theurgency thatcomeswith theirsuddenrelease…all thepowerfuldrivesfor intense pleasure and depth of experience that could not previously beexpressedseizetheirchanceforgratification.”(LeGrice,234)CouldthisparalleltheenergyactivationofaReikiattunementoreven“just”a

Reiki treatment? Particularly with an attunement, many people experience an“awakeningofthosepotentprimordialdrives”intheformofgreaterawarenessofnon-physicalrealityandlatentdesiresbubblingtothesurface,yearningtoberealized,andsoforth.(Ibid.,234)Takentogether,thesethreadssuggestthatoneofthedrivingforcesoftheuniverseistoknowitselfandthissameforceresideswithinus.Thisforceispropellingevolutionforward,andouractiveparticipationis required, not only for our evolution as individuals but to further thegreaterevolutionofthecosmos.Wemustseektoknowourselvesasindividualsinordertoplayourpartinthebig-pictureunfoldingofcosmicself-awareness,andIseeReikiasapotentallyonthispath.Everylevelofexistenceisseekingtoknowitself;fulfillingthatpurposerequiresstructureintheformofShioke.The structural and organizing force known as Shioke requires relationships

and interactionwith other forces because it’s impossible to knowoneself in avacuum.Thisobservationagainparallels theAll separating into theOneMindand the One Thing in order to know itself more fully. By creating duality,relationshipbecamepossible.Forthisrelationship,welooktothethirdtypeofenergy,Mizuke.Mizukeawakens inusadesire toknow“theother,” tomergeanddissolvethesensationofseparatenessShioke’sstructurecreated.Thisistheparadox:wecreateseparationonlytoyearnfortheunderlyingunity.Thisunitydoesnotpermanentlydestroythestructureorseparationinthesamewaythatwecan experience deep intimacywith anotherwithout completely sacrificing oursense of autonomy and healthy boundaries. In fact, it is the awareness ofboundaries and structure thatmakes itmore potentwhenwe choose tomergewith another for a time. This ever-changing experience of dissolving andreforming,mergingand separating, captures theessenceofMizuke, “the force

that brings together the Kekki bound within the various Shioke forms …WithoutMizuke,theShiokeformswouldremainisolated…rigidandsluggishwithoutanygenuinemovement.”(Lübeck,56)In order to engage in this dance ofmerging and separation, forginghealthy

relationships without losing ourselves entirely, we require the fourth type ofenergy,knownasKuki.“Kukiimpartsthemotivationsforustowanttotakeourownpathandexperiencewhoweare.Kukialsomakessure thatwedonot letourselvesbecomedivertedfromourownappropriatecourseundertheinfluenceofotherpeople.”(Ibid.,57)IntheWest,whereindividualismisprized,I thinkit’s interesting to contemplate differentwaysof understandingwhatLübeck issayinghere.ManyWesternersarefamiliarwiththeideaofbeingourownperson(even if it’s sometimeshard to liveby), thumbingournoseat “theMan,” andgoingourownway.Ibelieveit’sfarmoredifficulttolearnhowtogoourownwaywithoutsimplyturningourwayintoarebellionagainstthestatusquo.Someofusbecomesofocusedonbeinguniqueandnotbeinghelddownthatwecandivertourselvesfromourappropriatecourse.Ourchoicesbecomedefinedjustasmuchbywhatwegenuinelywanttodoastheyarebydoingtheoppositeofwhatwethinkisexpectedofusbysociety,ourparents,andsoon.Neitherextreme—amindless sheep and a rebel without a cause—serves to connect us with ourpurpose;botharedistractions thatkeepsus fromrememberingour truenature.The deeper change comes with the appropriate use of Kuki, the energy ofgrowth,self-fulfillment,andself-awareness,andworksbestinconjunctionwiththefifthenergytype,Denki.Denki integrates our desire for self-fulfillmentwith the ability to remain in

relationshipwithothers. It iswhatLübeckdescribesas“theurge togrow inawayconsiderateofothers.” (Lübeck,57) JosephCampbell captures thisdancebetween the individual and the collective imperative beautifully in theculminationoftheHero’s/Heroine’sJourney,hiswayofdescribingthejourneyweundertakeinourquesttorealizeourTrueSelf.(Campbell2004,10)Aftertheheroinefollowsthecalltoadventureandtravelstostrange,new(inner)worldsto confront and transform beasts and monsters, another challenge awaits her:reintegratingwith theworld she left behind. She has changed dramatically onher journey, but can she bring that change back to the world and become an

agentofchangeherself?Inotherwords,canwetakeourindividualgrowthanddevelopmentandshareitinaworldthatmightnotalwaysunderstandoracceptthe gifts we have to offer, or do we shut down and adopt an attitude ofresentmentorvictimization?Thewhole ideais thatyou’vegot tobringoutagainthatwhichyouwent to

recover,theunrealized,unutilizedpotentialinyourself.Thewholepointofthisjourneyisthereintroductionofthispotentialintotheworld;thatistosay,toyouliving in the world. You are to bring this treasure of understanding back andintegrateitintoarationallife.(Campbell2004,119)Earlier I said thatwemust give to ourselves thatwhichwewish to give to

others. Ifwe arewithholding love fromourselves, it is hard to extend love toothers. Ifwearemisusingourbodies, it ishard to supportphysicalhealing inothers.Inthissense,ourpersonal journeyofseekingoutandwelcominghomethose previously rejected parts of ourselves allows us to help others feel safeseekingoutandwelcominghometheirrejectedparts.Tofacilitatethis,wemustfirstdo theworkofdescending intoourowndepthsand then returnandsharethefullnessofthatselfwejourneyedtoretrieve.Ifwecomebackandcontinuetohidethosepartsweworkedsohardtoretrieveoutoffearofrejection,we’remissingavitalpieceof thepuzzle.Howcanweshowothers that theirhiddenparts are safe and valuable to reveal if we are living in fear of revealing ourown?TheenergyofDenkisupportsusinconnectingwithourself-realizationinthe

contextofcommunityandtheself-realizationofallbeings.Andtosupportourquestforself-realizationDenkipartnerswiththesixthenergytype,Jiku.LübeckdescribesJikuastheforcethatdrivesustolookatourshadowaspects,includinglatent talents,with thepurposeofaligningourwillwithDivineWill. (Lübeck,58) Jiku becomes available when we accept and view as meaningful thechallengesof lifeanduse themtodeepenourunderstandingofourselves.Jikualso helps us forge deeper,more authentic relationshipswith others, springingfromadeeper,moreauthenticrelationshipwithourself.Asmentionedinanearlierchapter,seeinghowtrulyeffectivewecanbeinthe

worldgivesusasenseofresponsibility,whichiswhymanypeoplebelieveit’ssafer tostickwithasmallTupperwareofpower instead.Jikuhelpsusconnect

withthefullextentofourpowerbyconfrontingourshadowandintegratingtheenergyandgiftsitcontains,allowingustofullyexpresstheuniquepurposewecameintothislifetoembody.We finally arrive at the seventh energy: Reiki. Reiki brings together and

organizes the interactions between all of the other six energy types, whichunderscoresthesimilarityformebetweenReikiandthepureemanationsoftheOneMind,whichpossessa templateofDivineorganization.Lübeckdescribesanother typeofdivine energycalledShinki thatunderlies andgives rise to allsevenenergies,fromKekkitoReiki.Hesays:“Shinkiworksoutsidethematerialworld,throughReiki…Reikiiscloseenoughtotheprincipleofunity,aswellastheprinciplesofseparation,toformaninterfaceforcontactbetweenthetwo.”(Lübeck, 60)This description sounds strikingly similar to the idea of theOneMindarising from theAll, likeReiki arising from theunityofShinki and theOneMind,thenactingasanorganizing,intelligentintermediarybetweentheAllandtheOneThing.There is one more concept that can help us understand what might be

occurring in an attunement. Reiki has immense healing power but cannotoverrideourfreewill,asthiswillisagiftoftheDivineforce,abuilt-infeatureofour existence.Anattunement could thereforebe consideredan invitation totheDivine, an act ofgiving theDivinepermission towork in and throughus.While Reiki is everywhere and available to all, perhaps the attunement is aritualizedwayofgrantingReikipermissiontoco-createwithus,ofinitiatingthecouplingofourfreewillwiththewilloftheDivine.Takesometimetoreallysitwiththeimplicationsofthis,withwhatitmightmeantosaytotheDivine,“Yes,I want to be partners in co-steering the ship of my life.” Notice you are notabsolvingyourselfofresponsibility,norareyourefusingtosurrenderinordertomaintaincompletecontrol.Youareactivelychoosinganinterplayofboth.Youare surrendering the plans of your ego and allowing the Divine to guide youtowarddifferentchoices,choicesthatyoumustactivelyliveout.Itisadanceofsurrender and responsibility. How do you feel about stepping onto the dancefloor?

PreparingforYourAttunementIn mainstream culture, there remain very few initiatory experiences. Whentransitions in life aren’t fully honored, we often feel unprepared for the nextstage, and following the experience, the effects might be relatively fleetingbecause they haven’t been fully integrated into our life. If we are given aglimpse (or even a powerful vision) of ourTrueSelf yet don’t have away tointegrate thenewawarenessofwhoweare intoour life,we feeladisconnect,which we might try to blot out with any number of potentially unhealthydistractions.Instead, let’s take a different approach with your Life Alchemy Reiki

attunement.Herewe’llpreparefortheshiftandadoptsometoolsandstrategiesfor meeting the experiences that may unfold after the attunement with morefullness of self. We’re going to use a framework based on an ancient Celticpractice called the Tara tests, which were performed on the Hill of Tara inmodern-dayIreland,where today therestill standsan impressivestone thoughttobetheLiaFáil,orStoneofDestinyatwhichtheHighKingsofIrelandwerecrowned.ThetestsaspresentedherebuildonaninterpretationbypsychologistSilviaBrintonPerera.TheTaratestswereasetofmagicalchallengesapotentialkingwasrequired

to meet in order to assume kingship, but rather than thinking of them asquestions with right-or-wrong answers, think of them as a way of ignitingpotentially dormant qualities within you that are necessary to step into yourpower and become the sovereign of your life. In order to co-create with theDivine, youmust be a benevolent ruler of themany parts that comprise yourinternalsystem,notatyrantwhocannotbeartosharecontrolnoraservantwhocannottakeactionwithoutorders.Keepajournalofyourexperiencethroughoutthefourchallenges,andproceedwithopeneyesandanopenheartasyouseektoknowyourselfmorefully.

ChallengeOneThe significanceof the first challenge is to explorewhetheryour life supportsyour currentpath, in this case,your choice tobecomeattuned toReiki. In theCelticversionofthetest,“theregalaspirantpassedthefirsttestifhischariotdidnotflyupandthrowhim,andhishorsesdidnotattackhim.”(Perera2001,91)I’m not going to ask you to take to the streets in a horse-led chariot; insteadwe’regoingtolooktothetarotforamodernadaptationofthischallenge.Inthetarot,theChariotisoneofthemajorarcanacards;ahelpfulwayofviewingthiscardisastheculminationofaseriesofcardsdubbedthe“WorldlySequence”bytarotauthorRachelPollack.(Pollack1997,43)The Worldly Sequence depicts our developing maturity in relation to the

demands of outer life. Moving through this sequence, we are steeped in thedualityof thephysicalworldandmust learnhow to relate to thepolaritiesof,among other things, freedom and structure, pleasure and pain, autonomy andcommunity, giving and receiving. Through all of this, we are developing anability to balance the seemingly opposing aspects of our nature. We balanceanimalinstinctswithmoralreasoning,personaldesireswiththecommongood,andso forth.Thisbalance is illustrated in thecharioteer’sbringing togetherofthe beasts pulling theChariot, beastswhich are usually depicted as black andwhite.SomeofusstopquestingwhenwereachtheChariot.Whenwe’vereacheda

level of outward success, that of “having it all under control,”we feelwe’vedoneallthatwe’resupposedtodo,becauseaccordingtomainstreamculture,wehave.Butthereareothers—andifyou’rereadingthisbook,I’dcountyouasoneof them—who sense there’s something more… something more to life thanlanding the job, the partner, and the house with the white picket fence. Buthere’s the paradox: It can be difficult to pursue that “somethingmore” if wehaven’treachedabasiclevelofsecurityinthephysicalworld.Ifwe’reworriedaboutwhetherwecanpayrentthismonth,it’shardtoblissoutonthemeditationcushion. If our physical health is in shambles, it’s hard to devote energy toanythingbeyondthebarebonesofgettingthroughtheday.Ifwe’renotsureifwe’ll havemoney for groceries, it’s hard to drum up courage and a sense of

safetytoexploreourinnerdemons.Inshort,ifwe’restuckinsurvivalmentality,it’shardtothrive.ReachingthestageoftheChariotisanimportantfoundationforthedeeperworkofself-transformation,regardlessofwhetherthepathsthatledustherearemarkedlydifferentfromthestatusquo.OncewereachtheChariot,however,wefindthattheendisjustthebeginning

—inthiscase,thebeginningofgoingbeyondtheegowe’veworkedsohardtocreate.Totheego,thismakesaboutasmuchsenseasspendingyearsbuildingahouseandthensleepingoutsideunderthestarsinstead,butthecontinualprocessof letting go of structures once they’re no longer useful is one we must bewillingtoundergoifwedon’twanttogettrappedinashellwe’veoutgrown.Inthishumanlife,anegohelpsusfunctioninwakingconsciousnessbutbecomesdetrimentalwhenthestructuresoftheegonolongerfit,andweareunwillingtocastofftheshellbecausewe’reoveridentifiedwithit.Likethehermitcrabwhoknows she still exists even when she’s in between shells, we must learn toexpand our ability to dis-identify with ego structures. This enables us to usethemincontextswherethey’rehelpfulwithoutbeingboundbythem.Inaparallelfashion,thejourneyleadingtotheChariotideallyequipsuswith

theuniqueskillsweneedtocreatestabilityinourouterworld(findanicecrabshell),yetatthesametime,wedonotbecomesooveridentifiedwiththeseformsofouterstabilitythatwethinkthey’reallthereistolife.It’sallaboutbalance,baby.Canyouholddownameaningfuljobandknowthatyou’reworthyevenifthe job isnomore,ordoyougravitate towardoneof theextremes:becomingunabletosupportyourselfinthebeliefthatmeaningfulworkandwell-paidworkaremutuallyexclusive,orbecomingsoenmeshedwithyourjobthatitbecomessynonymouswithyourself-worth?IntegratingtheTrueSelfglimpsedduringtheReikiattunementintoourdaily

liferequiresustofindwaystoembodythedualityofhumanexistence,andwedothisnotbytryingtoremoveourselvesfromthemessinessoflifebutbyusingthatmessinesstoshowuswhereweneedtoexpand.Ifwegetcuriouswhenourshell feels too small, we are given glimpses of the grander totality we arestriving to embody—and remember, this grander totality is ourTrue Self. Forexample,whenwesuddenlyfeelthatouroldwayofpeoplepleasinginordertofeellovedisatoo-smallshell,inconfrontingthispatternwecatchaglimpseof

ourTrueSelf,whichexistsinastateofinviolableonenesswithLove.NothingcanseparateyoufromLove.Whileyou’reinsidethetoo-smallshell,youmightthink you’re separate fromLove, but this is an illusion. It just takes sheddingshells,againandagain,toremembermoredeeplywitheachsuccessivesheddingthat you are Love. In this human life, if we explore the areas wherewe feelconstricted,theypointtotheverywaysinwhichoursoulyearnstoexpand,sothosetoo-smallshellsarecluestoleadusbacktowholenessinaveryrealsenseifwetreatthemassuchandnotsimplyaspeskybarrierstohappinesswecan’twaittoberidof.Thus,returningtothefirstchallenge,“theregalaspirantpassedthefirsttestif

hischariotdidnotflyupandthrowhim,andhishorsesdidnotattackhim.”Wecanconsiderthischallengeaninvitationtolookatwhetherwehavecultivatedasenseofstabilityinourphysicalexistencesuchthatourchariotdoesnot“flyupand throw us,” while at the same time retaining awareness of our True Self.Whenwe can live in thisworld and enjoy ameasure of stability and successhoweverwedefine it (our chariotsdonot flyupand throwus)without losingtouchwith those parts of ourself that are not domesticated anddefinedby thelawsofsociety(our“horsesdonotattackus”),wehavepassedthefirsttest.The first challenge calls for compassionate self-inventory. If our physical

existenceisinshambles,thelessonsoftheworldlysequencearecallingforourattention. Trying to bypass the lessons of the physical realm by retreating tospiritualworkisnotthesolution.Doinganinventoryofthisareaisnotmeanttobeanopportunityforharshself-criticism;itismeanttoleadyoutoareaswhereyoursoulisaskingyoutoexpand.Areyoustuckinwhatfeelslikeadead-endjob?Yoursoulisaskingyoutoexpandbyexploringwhatmeaningfulworkfeelslike toyouandthebeliefsyoumightbeharboringthatmakemeaningfulworkseemunattainableormutuallyexclusivewithwell-payingwork. Isyourhealthdetractingfromyourabilitytoparticipatefullyinlife?Yoursoulisaskingyouto expand by exploring what is underlying the symptoms, the physicalmanifestationsofdis-ease,andwhatneedsaregettingmetbybeingsicksuchasfeelingdeservingofcareandattention,thatcouldbebettermetinotherways.Ifourouter life isn’twherewewant it tobe, areweunfit tomove forward

with the attunement? Not necessarily. Again, think of these challenges as

opportunities to explore parts of yourself thatmight be yearning for attention,notassomethingyouhavetogetrightinordertoproceed.Onlyyoucandecideif receiving an attunement feels in alignment with your journey right now.Askingthefollowingquestioncanhelpyoufeelyourwaytoadecision:“DoIbelievegettingthisattunementwillfixtheproblemsIexperienceinlife?”Reallythink about the answer. Perhaps you’re envisioning becoming a Reikipractitionerandditchingyourcrappyday job tobecomea full-timehealer.Ormaybe you want Reiki to create perfect physical health or mend yourrelationshipwithyourpartner.Maybeyoufeelitwillmakeyoumoreconfidentand less worried about what other people think, giving you the freedom toexpress your authentic self.Here’s the thing:Reiki can helpwith all of thosethings,andadesiretoexperiencechangeinthoseareasisnothingtobeashamedof.WherewesometimesgetstuckisinthinkingthatReikiisthehotnewthingthat we must have in order to finally be who we want to be. Remember, anattunementisadeclarationofpartneringwiththeDivine,ofcastingofftheroleof victim and taking ownership of your personal evolution. Reiki will not dothese things foryou,but itwillhelpyouaccessdormantpartsofyourself thatcontainthepowertocreatethelifeyoursoulisheretolead.If you are ready to step into your full power, even if youdon’t knowquite

what that looks like yet, this is a good indication that you’re ready for yourattunement.Ifyou’repreparedtolookhonestlyandcompassionatelyathowyouare helping create every situation in your life,Reikiwill support you on yourjourney.If,however,yourdominantneedisoneof“fixing”yourselfandothersto forego the challenge of accepting yourself and others and bypassing thedevelopmentofskillstoapproachpeopleandsituationswithoutfixing,itmightbe prudent to work on building a practice of self-love and radical self-acceptance, while also exposing yourself to alternative relationship tools andstrategies that do not involve rescuing and fixing.Codependent NoMore andNon-ViolentCommunication:ALanguageofLifeareexcellentresources.Andyet,Icannotgiveyouhardandfastruleshere.Weareallhuman;thereis

no perfect end goal that must be reached before attunement is “allowed” oradvisable.AndReiki canhelpagreatdealwithdissolving theaforementionedcodependentfixingandrescuing,soagain,thesearenotlinearmetricswhereA

must occur beforeB.Thepurpose of all of this questioning is in large part toclearly mark this attunement as an initiation. It is not something to be takenlightly and forgotten a month later when you take another workshop. Anattunement will fundamentally change you, so we must enter this stage ofinitiation with awareness to reap the full benefits of these divinely guidedchanges.Theinventory,then,seekstoprepareyoutoenterwitheyesandheartwide open, not instill fear that if you’re not perfect, you shouldn’t get theattunement.Nottoconjureupshameifyoufeelyourlifeis“outofcontrol.”Wewanttogiveourselvesthetimeandspacetofeelthefullnessofourdecisiontobeattuned,tohonortheinitiationweareabouttoundergo,tomarkthetransitionfromonephaseoflifetothenext.Weneednotdothisperfectly,simplywithanopenheart.Thisisthetaskofthefirstchallenge,sogiveyourselftimetoreallysitwiththequestionsandconceptspresentedhere.Asmuchaspossible,releasetheneedtoapproachthesequestionsasawaytoprovetoyourselforothersthatyou’reworthyoftheattunement.Andifyou’reaskingyourself,I’llsaveyouthetrouble: You’re already worthy. Journal on these questions, spend some timemeditatingonthem.Payattentiontoyourdreams.Payattentiontoyourphysicalbody—to your health or any sensations that arise. Open to receive amultidimensionalawarenessofyourresponsetothesequestionsthat isnot justmental but emotional, physical, and spiritual aswell.Whenyour internal cuesgiveyouthegreenlight,moveontothenextchallenge.

ChallengeTwoWhile in the first challenge, our inner sovereignwas taskedwith steering thechariotoflifeinameaningfulandeffectivemanner, thesecondchallengeaskswhetherthecloakofkingshipfits.Inordertobethesovereignofourlife,wearerequiredtohaveabalanceofhonoringourgiftsandsteppingfullyintoourinnerauthority while simultaneously avoiding the trap of grandiosity. It’s easy toresort to falsehumilitywhenwedon’twant toappear toobigforourbritches,but there’s a big difference between useful humility and trying to appearhumble.Thereisnoreligiousundertonetothishumility;Icallitusefulhumilityfora reason.The formofhumilitywe’reafter is the form that isuseful inourdailylives, inthesensethatithelpsuscarryonwithpursuingoursoul’sworkwithoutgettinginourownway.Weoftentripourselvesupwhenwehaveanoverblownidealofwhatwe’re

being called to do.When I experiencewriter’s block, it is oftenbecause I amsettingouttowritenotjustaverygoodbookaboutReikibuttheend-all-be-all-mother-of-Reiki books. It takes humility to accept that, as a human, I cannotwrite the perfect Reiki book, anduseful humility helpsme to keepwriting inspite ofmy imperfections. Perfectionism and narcissism often lead to chronicprocrastination,becauseifwecannotdoitperfectlyand/orwecannotbeartoseeourselvesassomeonewhocannotdoitperfectly,webelieveit’sbettertonotdoitatall.Ifwe are consumedwith a sense of unworthiness,we cannot step into full

sovereignty—thecloakwillbetoobigonourshoulders.Likewise,ifwe’retoofullofourselves,thecloakwillbetootight,andnotbecausesomepowerfromonhighispunishingusforourarrogancebutbecauseourself-inflationgets inourownway.SylviaBrintonPererasharestheexperienceofoneofherpatients,who had postponedwriting for decades “out of fear of her own incapacity tocarry her sense of awriter’s necessary greatness” and healing camewhen sherecognizedit“wasnotthemammothundertakingthatheridealizationhadmadeitseem.Itwas,assheputit,‘avastrelieftobefinallydoingit,butalsonobigdeal—justdailyhardwork.’”(Perera2001,92)

Weaimtocultivateahealthysenseofselfandamoreorlessaccuratesenseofourskills, talents,anddesires,andwemustalsocultivateusefulhumilitysothatgrandiose, idealizedvisionsofourselvesdon’tget in thewayofdoing thework.When we are able to strike this balance imperfectly and with an openheart, compassionate of our foibles and self-encouraging to keep practicing inspiteofthem,wedontheregalcloakofinnersovereignty.Soforthischallenge,exploreyourrelationshiptobothaspects:yourabilitytoownyourauthorityandskills and your ability to cultivate useful humility. Journal, meditate, payattention to your dreams. Perhaps use the following questions to spark innerdialogue:

Howdoesperfectionismplayoutinmylife?DoIsometimespostponeoravoiddoingthingsoutoffearthatIwon’tdothemperfectly?

DoIjudgeothersfornotdoingthingsuptomyexactingstandards?DoIoftenfeelthatIhavetodothingsmyselfbecauseotherscan’tbecountedontodothemwell?

AmIcompetitive?Howdoesthisplayoutinmyrelationships?HowdoesthisplayoutinhowItreatmyself?

HowwellcanItakeacompliment?DoIdeflectitorcanIsimplysay,“thankyou”andenjoyit?

HowwellcanIgivecompliments?WhatdoesitfeellikewhenIgiveacompliment?

DoIfindmyselftellingstorieswhereotherpeoplearevoicingtheaffirmationsandcomplimentsthatIwanttohear,eveniftheconversationsdidn’treallygothatway?Forexample,playinguphowcomplimentaryyourbosswasaboutyourperformanceduringyourreviewbecauseyoureallywanttoberecognizedforyourwork.

Give yourself time to explore your relationship to inner power withoutjudgment—whereitfeelsscarytoownitandwhereitfeelsscarytorelinquishit.These are potent clues leadingyou to areaswhere your soulwants to expand,

and the road toexpansion lies in seeing theseaspectsmoreclearly rather thantryingtopainttheminmoreflatteringormoreunbecomingcolors,andacceptingthemfullyinsteadofrejectingthemasstrikesagainstyouridealizedself.

ChallengeThreeIn the thirdTara testof theCelticHighKings itwas said that“the test stoneswill open to let the chariot through if the aspirant is destined to rule…Thisimplies that the transpersonalpath isopened.No longer impenetrable, thewayfeels right and clear” (Perera 2001, 92). Your next challenge, then, lies indiscerning the difference between what author Danielle LaPorte calls “cheapeasy”versus“qualityeasy,”becausebeingcomfortableoperating fromaplaceofqualityeasyisasignthat“thetranspersonalpathisopen”(LaPorte2016).Sowhatischeapeasyandhowdoesitdifferfromqualityeasy?Cheapeasyiswhatwetypicallymeanbythephrase“takingtheeasywayout.”It’sacompromise,skirtingaroundtherealworkyoursouliscallingyoutodo.Inourmoderngo-go-go culture, easy is often a catchall label for anything that doesn’t involveconstant“forward”movement.Fromthislimitedviewpoint,itdoesn’tmatteriftheforwardmovementisalignedwithyoursoulorifit’ssimplyameanstogetahead,butyour inner sovereignknows that thedistinction isvital.AsLaPortewrites, “cheapeasy is a sucker foradiscount.Cheapeasycan’t see that somelosses are gains. Cheap easy stays in a stifling relationship because it seemseasier than facing the heartbreak and dividing up the furniture. Cheap easy isfrequently in a rush, a smidge desperate, and usually scrambling for options.Cheapeasytellslittlewhiteliestogetthingsdone”(Ibid.).Wemust learn to feel intoourdecisions anddiscernwhenwe’reopting for

cheap easy, when we’re choosing chronic pain over conscious change.Whenwe’relivingasmaller,quieter,dullerlifethanoursouliscravingoutoffearoffailure, resentment, perfectionism, or any other obstacles that can tempt ustoward the path of cheap easy. When we choose cheap easy, we feel ahollownesswhereauthenticityusuallyresides.Deepdown—andat times, righton the surface—isanawareness that thischoice is atoddswithwhatwe trulyneedtogrowandchange.Indeed,cheapeasyoftenfeelseasierthanspeakingourtruth, walking away, or staying even when we want to walk away. In otherwords,doingwhatittakestostepoutofourcomfortzoneandintowhatDr.GayHendrickscallsour“zoneofgenius”(Hendricks2009,113).

And thenwehavequalityeasy.“Qualityeasyhas fewer thingson the to-dolistandisabrilliantdelegator.Qualityeasytruststhetimingofthings.Heknowsit’sbetter toholdout forwhat’s right than todealwith themessofextractinghimselffromabadcompromise.Theminuteresentmentandirritationsetintoatask,Qualityeasygoesonredalert…Overtime,Qualityeasygetscomfortablesayingno,thankyou,tothingsthatarejusttoocomplicatedandtoodistantfromwhatshereallywants.Sheiswillingto let itgo,getover it,andwalkaway—becauseshehasbetterthingstodowithherlifeenergy”(LaPorte2016).QualityeasyisapracticethatalignsuswiththeflowoftheDivine,choiceby

choice.Itkeepsusoncourseandvibratingwithoursoul’spurpose,notchasingmarkers of success that don’t really do it for us deep down. When we’rechoosingqualityeasy,there’sacertainfeelingofeaseandflow,of“Yep,thisiswhat I’msupposed tobedoingrightnow.”Thechallenge lies inbeingable tohome in on that feeling of quality easy,whichwon’t always look easy on thesurface; sometimes it inspiresyou toburn themidnightoilwritingyourbook;getupatsunrise,sliponyourmuddyrunningshoes,andhitthetrail;orcommittomeditatingtoday,evenwhenNetflixiswaiting.Buthere’sthething:Qualityeasynevertakesmorethanitgives,anditgivesintheformofeverrenewablepassion,inspiration,creativity,ideas,andenergy.Cheapeasy,ontheotherhand,isaslowdrainthatleavesyoudepletedandaimless.Asinnersovereign,yourdutyistolearnwhattheseformsofeasyfeellikefor

you,becausewhenyouareco-creatingwiththeDivine,qualityeasywillbecomeyourM.O.Doesthismeanyouwillneverexperiencesuffering?Ofcoursenot,butyouwillfeelconnectedtoasourcethatoffersever-renewablenourishment,evenamidyour suffering.Whenyouareco-creatingwith theDivine,youwillfeel a subtle (sometimes not-so-subtle) energy, like a wind in your sails or acurrent carrying you forward. “Quality easy brings a sense of expansion tothings.Qualityeasyiscompelling—becausewhenyousayyestograce,you’resayingyestothenaturalflowoflife”(LaPorte2016).For thischallenge,makea listofdecisionsyou’vemadein thepast that felt

likeyouchosecheapeasy.Reallygetintoeachmomentandlookateverythingfrom all angles; notice sensations in your body, perhaps familiar-soundingthoughtsthatarise,ormemoriesofanearliereventthatmightnotseemrelatedat

firstglance.Explore theshapeand feelofcheapeasyuntilyouknow it.Makenoteofthemarkersyoufeelinyourbodywhenyou’recourtingcheapeasy.Isitachillinyourgut?Asortofdesperateflutterinyourheart,afearthatthismightbeyouronlyoption so take it now?Learnwhatyour cheap easy tells are andwritethemdown.

Forexample:

Moment:WhenItoldChristhatI’dmeethimfordinnerbecauseitfeltawkwardtosayno,eventhoughI’mreallynotinterestedinspendingtimewithhim.

Feelings:Likerabidwoodchucksinmysolarplexusandbelly.Ifeellikemyintuitionisfiringonallcylinders,andI’mactivelyworkingtosuppressit.It’ssuperuncomfortable.Ialsogetatightacheinthebackofmythroatuptotheroofofmymouth,possiblyconnectedto“bitingback”mytruth.

Now,do thesameforqualityeasy.Makea listof timeswhereyoufeelyouchosequalityeasy.Again,get intoeachmoment; reallyfeel it fromallangles,anddescribeyourpersonalmarkersofaquality-easychoice.

Forexample:

Moment:WhenIpenciledinwritingtimeeveryweekdaythismonthandfollowedthrough.

Feelings:LikeIwasfinallyallowingenergythathadbeendammeduptoflow.Exhilarationinmyheartandthroatregion—anexpansive,sparklysensation.Aninterestingblendofcalmmindwithasteadyflowofideas.

Moving forward, use this embodied understanding to discern the differencebetweencheapeasyandqualityeasytosupportyourselfinempowereddecisionmakingandtostayinalignmentwithyourTrueSelf.

ChallengeFourTheroyalaspirantpassedthefinalchallengeiftheLiaFáil(StoneofDestiny),shriekedwhen the rightful king stood upon it, and this act “conveys the deepsense of entitlement and charisma that others intuit and cooperate to support”(Perera2001,93).Today,theword“entitlement”isaloadedone,solet’sdefineit in thiscontext. Ifweare tobecomechannelsofDivineenergy,wemustgetcomfortablewithourbirthrightasbeingswhoarebyourverynature,channelsofDivineenergy.Thisdoesn’tmakeussuperior toothers—thesimple truth isthateveryoneisbornwiththisability.Wethereforeneedtoownitandacceptasfactthatwehavetherighttochannelthisenergy.Ifwearetrappedinawebofself-effacing fears thatwe’rebeing too fullofourselves‚well, it’sgoing tobehardtostepupandbesovereign.Recallthesecondchallengeinwhichthekingisaskedtodemonstrateanabilitytobeinfullpossessionofinnerpowerwithoutgetting in his own way through grandiose or narcissistic tendencies. We areaskedtofullyownourpowerssowecanbeablepartnersinco-creatingwiththeDivine.Atthesametime,weareaskedtopracticeusefulhumilitytoavoidthetrap of making our work feel so big and important that we as mere mortalscouldn’t possibly carry it out, resulting in procrastination and disconnectionfromour sacred service.Here, too,wemust fullyownour roleaschannelsofDivine energy without becoming overly inflated by this role and trippingourselvesup.Forthischallenge,Iwantyoutomeditateonthemantra,“Ihavearighttobe

a channel for Divine energy.” Really open up to any thoughts, sensations, ormemoriesthatarise.Doesitfeeluncomfortabletosaythis?Ifyes,why?Doyoufeellikeyoumightgetstruckdown(orotherwisebroughtback“downtosize”)bythepowersthatbeorotherpeople?Ifthelatter,bywhominparticular?Whenyou imagine them putting you in your place, what does that look like, whatwordsdotheysay,andhowdoyoufeel?Whenyouusethismantra,doyoufeelembarrassed? Afraid of the responsibility? Or perhaps a rush of excitement?Really explore this. Do any images come up, any memories? Are there anygrandiosefantasies?

Thekeyis toexplorewithopeneyesandanopenheart.Judgmentwillonlycausethepartsofyourselfthatarelikelytomanifestlaterasobstaclestorunandhide in secret places where they become potholes on your path. If you canmaintain an attitude of curiosity and self-compassion, your inner sightwill bebetterable to identify thoseaspects thatyearn tobeacceptedand transformed.Forexample,perhapsyouseenanimageofyourselfhealingaclientandfeelingneeded and powerful. If you follow this with shame and self-judgment, thatimagewill likelygetpusheddown,freetoinfluenceyoufromthebasementofyour subconscious. The first step is acceptance. Seek to understand, not toshame.Exploretheimage;askwhatyou’regettingoutofthisdesire.Asenseofself-worth and a feeling of being loved and needed? These aren’t shamefulthings. By accepting your desire to feel worthy, loved, and needed, you canmakeconsciouschoicesabouthowyougetthoseneedsmet.Whenwesuppressthem,thedesiresarestilltherebuttheirfulfillmentisnowbeingorchestratedbytheunconscious.Wemight findourselvesengaging in relationshipsormakingchoices that don’t feel good to us, yet we feel powerless to stop because thedrivetomeettheunconsciousneedisstillpresent.Themoreyouacceptyourselfinallyourpartsandcanliveconsciouslyandmindfully,thelessyouaredrivenbydesiresandthoughtpatternshiddenfromconsciousview.

TheFinalPreparationCongratulationsonworkingthroughthefourchallenges.YourexplorationshaveclearedthewayforadeeperrelationshipwithyourSelf,arelationshipthatwillbe further enriched by your attunement.The night before your attunement, gooveryourjournalentriesfromthefourchallenges.Doyounoticeanythemesorwords that pop up repeatedly?Meditate on their significance for you. Plumbyourinnerdepthsforanymessagesthatwishtobeheard.Continuejournalingonanynewinsightsthatarise.The next exercise can be done the evening before your attunement or the

morning of—whichever feels best for you—and it’s designed to give you onefinalcheckinwithhigherguidancepriortoyourinitiation.Whetherornotyoureceivenewinsightsduringtheexercise,youarestillconnectingwithyourTrueSelf,andifyourecallStiene’srecommendationfromearlierinthechapter:both

teacher and studentwill receive themostbenefit if their energy is like a calmlake.ThisexercisewillhelpyouenterthatstateofcalmandonenesswithyourTrueSelf,pavingthewayforapowerfulattunement.

ExerciseSix:SecretGardenMeditationIt’s nice tomark thismeditation as different than themeditations you’vedonethusfar.Youcouldlightacandleorsomeincenseordabanessentialoilblendonyourpulsepoints (makesure todilute itappropriatelybeforeapplyingittoyourskin).Choosewhateverfeelsgoodtomarkthisspecialoccasion.Bringyourselfintoameditativestate(page26).Bring your awareness to your heart. Feel your heart beating. Then,

expandyourheartawareness toencompassyoursoul.Feelyourheartandsoulbeatingasone.Noticeifyourheartratefeelsrapid.Breatheslowlyanddeeplyintoyourheartandsoulasyousay,“Iloveandacceptyou.”Withyourattentionstillonyourheart,imagineasecretwalledgardenat

your heart center. As it comes into view, notice whether you are on theoutside of the garden wall or if you are in the garden itself. If you’reoutside,what is thewallmade of? Is it coveredwith plants?Take in thedetails,noticingtheseason,anyparticularflowersorplantsoranimalsthatappear.Ifyou’reoutside,looknowforanentrance.Isthereadoororisitsimplyanopening? Is thedoor lockedorare thereanyobstructions?Asknowtoenterthesecretgardenofyourheart.Makeyourwayinside.Once in the garden, take some time to look around.Make note of any

plants or animals, the season and time of day, and any other details thatappear.Whenyoufeelready,asktomeetwithyourHigherSelfhereinthesecret garden. Breathe and wait until you feel a connection with yourHigher Self. Do they appear in a particular form?What does it feel likewhenyou’reconnected?Takeyourtimeandnoticewhateveriscomingupforyourightnow.Tell your Higher Self about your upcoming attunement. Share any

thoughts or feelings you’re experiencing (excitement, trepidation,eagerness,peace,etcetera),andaskanyquestionsyoumighthave.Remain

opentoreceivingcommunicationfromyourHigherSelfinmultipleforms—sounds,sensations,sights,smells.Ifsomethingisuncleartoyou,asktobe given the information in a way you can understand. Ask any furtherquestionsyouhaveofyourHigherSelf.Whentheexperiencefeelscomplete,thankyourHigherSelfinwhatever

way feelsmeaningful to you. Prepare to leave the garden, then allow theimagetofadefromviewasyoubringyourawarenessbacktotheroom.Bringyourselfoutofthemeditativestate(page26–page27).Journalaboutyourexperience. Ifyoudid thisexercise thenightbefore

your attunement, you might choose to spend some time the followingmorningreviewingyourjournalentry,connectingwiththefeelingsenseofcommuning with your Higher Self in the garden, and/or reviewing yourdreamsfromthenightbefore.Onapracticalnote,besuretodrinkplentyofwaterbeforeandafteryourattunement.I’vefoundenergyworktobemuchmore powerful (and less likely to induce uncomfortable reactions) whenproperlyhydrated.Whentheattunementisreadytobegin,settheintentionto receive whatever you need in this moment and surrender to theexperience. Don’t worry about feeling the “right” thing; be curious andallowtheattunementtounfold.RememberthatReikiknowspreciselywhatweneed.Thelesswetrytomanagetheexperiencewiththeego,themoretransformativeitwillbe.Enjoyyourattunement!

IntegratingtheAttunementNow that you’ve received your attunement, it’s time to return to your innercampfire,whereyouwillonceagainmeetwiththeFocusPartyouencounteredinexercisethree,thistimewithReiki’ssupport.

ExerciseSeven:ReturningtotheFireEnterintoameditativestate(page26).Bring your awareness to the container of your body and energy field.

Feelhowyourbodycontainsyou,howitprovidesthespaceinwhichyoulive.Runyourawarenessovertheentiresurfaceofyourbody,fromcrowntofeetonallsides.Become aware of the integrity of your container, the strength of your

container.Saytoyourselfthreetimes:“Mysacredcontainerishealthyandbalancedonalllevels.”Breatheintoyourbody,feelingthecontainedspaceexpand to hold more air, then release, noticing the changes in yourcontainerasyouexhalealloftheairout.Repeatforafewbreaths.Bringyourattention toyour inner fire.Locatewhere inyourbodyyou

feelthefiremostintensely,andseeyourinnercampfireburninghere.Ifithelpsyou to connect, placeyourhandsover thispart ofyourbodywhileyoudeepentheimageofthesacredcampfire.Seeyourself sittingdownnext toyour inner fire.Giveyourself time to

attunetoyourinnerfire,breathingasyougazeintotheflames,feelingyourdeep,unbreakableconnectiontothissacredflame.NowbringtomindtheFocusPartandinviteittojoinyounearthefire.

Youmight call it by name, visualize it, envision themeditation inwhichyoufirstmet,orusewhatevermethodallowsyoutoreconnect.Maintaintheimageofthefireandyousittingbesideitandwaitforthe

FocusParttoappear.Whenyoufeelorseeorotherwisesensethepresenceofthispartjoining

you by the fire, allow it to sit with you for a while. Simply breathe,acknowledgeitwithanodandasmile,andmaintainyouropenawarenessandcuriosity.

Place your hands over your solar plexus and welcome Reiki to thecampfire. Breathe as you give yourself time to feel the flow of Reiki,perhaps as heat or tingling in your hands. Set the intention to transformyour relationship to this part in a way that is correct and good for allinvolved. Ask Reiki to guide the process and allow the experience tounfold.Ifyouneedmoredirection,askthepart“Whatmessagesdoyouhavefor

me?”Giveyourself asmuch timeasyouneed to sitwith theFocusPart,askingand learning.Remember togive thepartall theunderstandingandcompassionyouwouldadear friendbecause it is trying tokeepyousafeandwantstohelpyou.Whenthisprocessfeelscomplete,thankthepartforallofthehardwork

it’s been doing for you. Thank Reiki and your Higher Self. Thank yourbodyforprovidingastrongcontainerinwhichtodothishealingwork.Gradually let the image of the campfire fade until the screen of your

mindisempty.Returnyourawarenesstoyourbreath.Takeinafewdeepand nourishing inhales; let out long and cleansing exhales. Let go ofanything from your journey that doesn’t serve you in this moment witheveryexhale.Opentoreceivingwhatyouneedwitheveryinhale.Bringyourselfoutofthemeditativestate(page26–page27).

Journalaboutyourexperience,makingnoteofanychangesyouexperiencedbyintroducingReiki.HowdoyoufeelabouttheFocusPart?Havethosefeelingsshifted since your first encounter? Remember that healing these internal partsrequires thatwewitnessand relate to them from theTrueSelf.Reikihelpsusreconnectwiththisselfandthereforehastheabilitytosuperchargeourinternalhealing.Throughoutourjourney,we’llcontinuetobuildonthisconceptofusingReiki to return to a calm, compassionate center with the knowledge that anythoughts and actions arising from this state carry the potential for profoundhealing.Inthenextchapter,we’llgodeeperintoReiki’s teachingsandexpandthewaysinwhichyoucanusethispowerfulenergy.

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THEREIKIPRACTICES

Usui’s teachings included the following four components of Reiki practice:gassho, a ritual gesture in which the hands come together in prayer position;reiju, a practice in which you connect with your spiritual intuitive faculties;chiryo,orhealing treatments;andtheFiveReikiPreceptsorPrinciples. In thischapter, we’ll explore the first three components, and in a later chapter we’lllookattheFivePrecepts.Morethansimplygoingthroughthemotionsoutlinedfor thedifferent techniquesyou’reabout to learn, it’sveryuseful toalsobuildthe habit of paying attention to what you feel while doing each exercise. Attimes,youmightnotfeelmuch;here,acertainamountof“fakeit‘tilyoumakeit”canbeuseful.Bydoingtheseexercises,youheightenyourawarenessoftheenergy,what it feels likewhenyoubreathe it in,whenyousendit todifferentpartsofyourbody,whenyoubreatheitoutthroughyourfingertips,andsoforth.These practices will sharpen your skills as a healer if you move through theexercises with intention, even during those times when you’re not feelingenergeticbellsandwhistles.Trustthatwhendonemindfully,theseexercisesarechangingyourabilitytoperceiveandworkwithenergy.

ExerciseEight:GasshoGasshomeans“twohandscomingtogether,”andtoengagegasshoaspartofyourReikipractice,youcanusethisverysimplemeditation.Come into a comfortable seated positionwith a straight spine (support

your back as needed) and bring your hands together in prayer position,

palmstouching,eachfingermatchedupwithitspartnerontheotherhandfrombasetofingertip.Yourchin isslightly tucked intoyourchest to lengthen thebackof the

neck, which serves to open an important energy point called the WindPalaceinTraditionalChineseMedicine.Raiseyourhands toheart level;youshouldbeable to feel thewindof

yourbreathonyourfingertips.If it’s comfortable, breathe in through your nose and out through your

mouth.Youcanalsolightlytouchthetipofyourtonguetotheroofofyourmouth as you inhale through your nose, then let the tongue relax as youexhalethroughthemouth.Continuethispatternforsuccessiveinhalesandexhales.Throughouttheentiremeditation,trainyourawarenesstothemeetingof

your twomiddle fingertips.Wheneveryourmind starts towander, gentlyreturnsoftfocustothisspot,perhapslightlypressingthetwomiddlefingerpads together foramoment todirectyourconcentration. Ifyourarmsgettired,youcan loweryourprayerhands intoyour lap,still focusingon themeetingofyourmiddlefingertips.

FrankArjavaPetteroutlinestheesotericBuddhistsymbolismofthehandsandfingers,andthey’requiteaptforourself-transformativeworkwiththeelements(Petter2001,148).Thelefthandisrelatedtothemoon,whiletherighthandisconnectedtothesun.

ThumbssymbolizetheVoid

IndexfingerssymbolizeAir

MiddlefingerssymbolizeFire

RingfingerssymbolizeWater

PinkyfingerssymbolizeEarthWhenwebringourhands together ingassho, the sunandmoonandall the

elements come together. “Focusing our attention on the middle fingeremphasizes the fire aspect ofmeditation—awareness burning the unconsciouselements,”whichsoundsverymuchliketheprocessofIllumination,doesn’tit?Gasshomeditation is a greatway to prepare for Reiki self-healing or a clientsession.Ithelpsyoubecomecenteredandconnectedtoyourheart,andit’sgreattouseindailylife.Ifyou’refeelingoverwhelmedbyracingthoughtsorintenseemotions,trythegasshomeditation.ThesecondcomponentofUsui’steachingsisreiju,thewordUsuiusedfora

Reiki attunement that translates as “spiritual blessing” or “spiritual offering.”Doiwrites that reijuwas given regularly at studymeetings of theUsui ReikiRyohoGakkai,wherestudentswereencouragedtoattendasmanymeetingsaspossible to benefit from repeated reiju, and this makes sense if we view anattunement, reiju, or initiation—whichever term we prefer—as a means ofremindingusofourTrueSelf.Themorereminderswesee,themorelikelywearetostayinthisstateofremembrance.The concept of reiju sometimes causes confusion in modern Reiki circles,

because some practitioners use it to refer to an attunement received uponcompletionofalevelofstudy,whichthengivesthepersontheabilitytochannelReikiforhands-onhealing,whileothersuseittoindicateablessingthatcanbeperformed more often that may or may not give the ability to do hands-onhealing. Inmyview, thepoint ismootbecauseyoualreadyhave theability tochannel Reiki, whether or not you get an attunement or reiju. Usui used thisprocesstogivehisstudentsanexperienceof theirTrueSelf,andhecoupleditwithotherpracticesandprinciplessuchastheReikiPreceptstohelphisstudentsremembertheirTrueSelffollowingtheattunementorreiju.The third component of Usui’s teachings is chiryo, or treatments. The

followingisaselectionofpracticesIhavefoundtobebothincrediblyhelpfulinmy self-healing work and simple to implement on a regular basis, therebyincreasingthechancesthatI’llactuallyusethem.

ExerciseNine:KenyokuorDryBathing

Kenyoku is a great technique to have in your repertoire; as the namesuggests, ithasacleansingpurposethat’suseful inbetweensessionswithclientsorwheneveryouneedtowipetheenergeticslateclean.Ifyoufindyourselfruminatingonasituationlongafterit’soverorotherwisecaughtinaloop,tryusingKenyokutomakeacleanbreak.Thefollowingissaidtobe the method as Usui originally taught it, although there are othervariationsthatcanworkjustaswell.Whileseatedorstanding,placeyourrightpalmnearyourleftshoulder,

justover theouteredgeof thecollarbone (clavicle).Brush thishandoveryourskin,diagonallyacrossyourchesttoyourrighthip.Repeaton theoppositeside,placingyour leftpalmonrightcollarbone,

swipingitdiagonallytoyourlefthip.Repeatstepsoneandtwo.Useyour righthand to strokeyour leftwrist, overyouropen leftpalm

andofftheendsofyourfingertips.Useyourlefthandtostrokeyourrightwrist,overyouropenrightpalm

andofftheendsofyourfingertips.Ifdesiredrepeatstepsfourandfive.

The following technique, Joshin Kokyuu-Ho, means “breathing exercise topurifythespirit.”Tounderstandwhatitentails,weneedtotalkaboutthetanden.Thetandenisanenergycenterinthelowerabdomen,oftendescribedas1to2inchesbelowthenavel,closertoyourspinethanyournavel intermsofdepth.ThiscentercorrespondstotheLowerDantian(sometimesspelledtantienortantien) in Traditional ChineseMedicine. The tanden is your energetic center, acrucialenergypointthatwhendeveloped,canbalanceouttheWesternesotericandmysticalpractice tendency toemphasizedevelopmentof the thirdeyeandcrowncenterswhichcanleadtoastateofenergetictopheaviness.TaoistMasterMantakChiawrites:Theimportanceofthenavelcentercannot

beoveremphasized.Itisthecenterofphysicalgravity.Thebodymovesaroundthis centerwhen sitting, standing,orpracticingTaiChi.Thenavel center alsotransforms [many forms of energy] into life-force energy that is useful to thebody,inaprocesssimilartoourphysicaldigestionoffood…Thelowertantien

isalsothestoragesiteofOriginalChi,themotherofthebody’senergies,whichcan heal the human body and restore it to its original wholeness [like your]‘battery’or‘powerpack.’Itneedstobeclearofcongestionandtensionsothattheenergycaneasily flow inandout…The importanceof the lower tan tienstems in part from its role in the development of the embryo.Not only is thefetusnourishedbynavelenergy,butwasteiseliminatedthroughthenavel.Afterbirth,andthechild’sbodygrows,thebodycontinuestoeliminatetoxinsintothenavelarea…Thenavelcenteristhedoorwaybetweenthephysicalbodyandtheenergybody(Chia2007,26–27).Inthefollowingexercisesyou’lllearnhowtogetafeelforwherethetanden

is and then breathe into the tanden with joshin kokyuu-ho, the “breathingexercise to purify the spirit.” Petterwrites that this technique “magnifies yourReikienergyandhelpsyoufeellikeapieceofhollowbamboo—aclearchannelfor energy” (Petter 2001, 158). It’s a great preparation forReiki treatments oranytimethatyouwishtoconnectwithyourcenter.

ExerciseTen:FindingtheTandenTofindyour tanden,standwithyour feetshoulder-widthapartand takeafewdeep,cleansingbreaths.Thinkofsomethingpleasantwhileyoumoveyourawareness throughoutyourbody,breathing intoanyareasof tensionthatyoufind,sendingthemloveandacceptance.Breathe in throughyournose,optionallyplacing the tipofyour tongue

lightlyon the roofof yourmouth.Breatheout through themouth, lettingthetonguerelax.Beginbendingyourkneesvery,veryslowly,keepingyourkneestracking

straight forward,not letting thembowout to the sidesor inward.Asyoubendyourknees,focusyourattentiononyourlowerabdomenuntilyoufeelheightened awareness at a spot usually an inch or two below your bellybutton.Youdon’tneedtobendyourkneesveryfar—you’redefinitelynotdoing a squat—just a few inches is usually sufficient for heightenedawarenesstokickin.Thesensationcanbeverysubtle,sodon’tbediscouraged ifyou’renot

feelinganythingdramatic.Whileyourexperiencemightbedifferent,here

aresomepointers:Forme,ithelpstolightlytuckmytailboneunder.Ifyourpelvisisangledforward,suchthatyourtailboneistiltedupwardslightly,itcan be harder to sense the tanden. The sensation feels a bit like a stringtethered to the spine that is slightly pulling the navel area back. If thisconnection is not happening for you yet, don’t fret; you can still do thefollowing exercisewhile focusing your attention on the space an inch ortwobelowyournavelandacoupleinchesunderthesurfaceofyourskin.

ExerciseEleven:JoshinKokyuu-HoBreathingTechniqueNote: This exercise is not recommended for people who are pregnant orhave high blood pressure. If you feel light-headed at any point, stopimmediatelyandreturntonormalbreathing.To begin joshin kokyuu-ho, inhale through your nose and envision

drawingReiki into your body through your crown chakra,which is at orslightlyabovethecrownofyourhead.YoumightfeeltheReikienteringastingling,heat,vibrationorwavesand/oryoucanvisualizeitaswhitelight.Envision pulling the breath and the Reiki down to your tandenwith thisinhale.Ontheexhale,visualizetheReikistreamingoutthroughyourfingertips,

thepalmsofyourhands,thetipsofyourtoes,andthebottomsofyourfeet.With each successive inhale, focus your awareness on Reiki drawing

downintoyourtanden,followedbyReikiexpandingandpermeatingyourentirebodyontheexhale.

Nowthatyou’veexploredvarioustreatmentsforconnectingwithReiki,let’sputthatenergytouse!Inthefollowingsection,you’lllearnthetraditionalhandpositions for self-healing, and you can use them anytime you want to giveyourselfaReikitreatment.

TheBasicTwelvePositionsforSelf-Healing

1. Frontoftheface:Placebothhandsoveryourfacewithyourfingertipsrestingontheforeheadsotheupperpartofyourpalmsare

overyoureyes.

2. Sidesoftheface:Placebothhandsoneithersideofyourface,fingertipsrestingonthetemple,palmscurvingoverthejaw.Alternateposition:Bringthefingertipstogetheralongthemidlineatthetopoftheskull.Yourpalmswillfoldalongthesidesofyourhead,aboveyourears.

3. Backofthehead:Bringyourpalmstothebackofyourhead,formingatrianglewithyourhands—indexfingertipsandthumbtipstouching.Yourpalmswillbecradlingthebaseofyourskull.Alternateposition(andoneIespeciallylike):Placeonehandoveryourforehead,fingersparalleltoyoureyebrowsandtheotherhandonthebackofyourhead,oppositethefronthand.

4. Throat:Bringtheheelsofyourhandstogetherandbringthemclosetoyourthroat,fingerswrappinggentlyaroundeithersideofyourneck.Noneedtostrangleyourself;alight,gentleclaspiswhatyou’reaimingfor.

5. Thymus:Bringyourpalmsuptoyourchest,fingersrestingonthehollowbetweenyourcollarbones,palmsangleddownandouttoallowacomfortablepositionwithyourarms.

6. Upperstomach:Placeyourhands,fingertipstouchingandhorizontal,rightunderthebreasts.

7. Middleabdomen:Moveyourhandsjustbelowpositionsix.

8. Lowerabdomen/tanden:Moveyourhandslowerontheabdomen,justunderthenavel.Alternateposition(andanotherthatI’mquitefondof):Placeonehandoverthecenterofyourchestatheartlevelandtheotherhandjustbelowyournavel.

9. Upperback:Reachingoveryourshoulders,placeyourhandsonyourupperback.Dependingonyourshouldermobility,yourfingertipswillrestsomewhathigherorlowerbetweenyourshoulderblades.

10. Middleback:Thiscanbeabitdifficulttoreach,dependingon

shouldermobility,sokeepinmindthatReikiwillgowhereveritisneeded,evenifyourhandscan’treach.Ifcomfortable,bringyourhandsbackandaroundyoursides,placingthemonyourmidback.Sometimesithelpstoleanforwardabit,andyoucanalsodoonehandatatime.

11. Lowerback:Bringyourarmsaroundandback,placingyourhandsonyourlowerback.Yourfingertipswillbrushthetopsofyourhips.Aswithposition10,feelfreetodoonehandatatimeifthat’smorecomfortable.

12. Sacrum:Thesacrumisaboneatthebaseofyourspine.Thetipofthesacrumiscommonlyknownasthetailbone.Reacharoundyourbackandplaceyourhandsoveryoursacrum.It’susuallymostcomfortabletoanglethefingersdown,palmsangledupandout,formingaV-shape.

Hands-OnHealingforOthersWhile the primary focus of this book is self-transformation, Reiki is, ofcourse, awonderful tool for offering healing to others, so let’s learn thebasicframeworkforconductingahealingsessionforanotherperson.Themostimportantthingyoucandotoprepareistoconnectwithyour

TrueSelf,andyoucanuseanyofthetechniquesoutlinedinthischaptertocomeintoastateofcalm,presence,andgreaterconnectionwiththeSelf.Simply feeling your feet firmly planted on the ground and enjoying thesenseofstabilityandgroundednesstravelingupyourlegs,intoyourtrunk,andallthewayuptoyourcrown,canworkwonders.Youcanalsoimaginesending treerootsdownthroughthesolesofyourfeetand into theearth,givingyouafirmandstableconnection.Tocenter,youmightfocusyourattentiononyourtandenandconnectwiththisasbothyourphysicalcenterofgravityandyourenergeticcenter.Rockbackandforth,andsidetosideon your heels to get a sense of this gravitational center. And of course,deep, intentional breathing as you do any of these exercises (andthroughoutthehealingsession)isalwaysaplus!

Itypicallystartsessionswiththerecipientlayingfaceup,withtheReikipractitionerseatedat theheadof the table.Youcanplacea round,cushybolsterunderneath theperson’sknees torelievepressure in the lowback.Whenplacingyourhandsinthevariouspositions,allowthemtohoverjustaboveorafewinchesabovetheskinorclothing,orlightlyrestyourhandson the person’s body. The decision to touch or not to touch depends onseveralfactors:

•Therecipient’scomfort.Letthepersonknowwhattoexpect,includingwhichareasofthebodywillbetouchedaspartofthetreatment,andobtaintheirconsentbeforedoingso.Someonemighthaveahistoryoftraumaorotherreasonswhytheydon’twishtobetouchedinspecificareasandyou’llneedtomodifyaccordingly.

•Neverplaceyourhandsonareasofprivacy,suchasthegroinorthefemalebreasts.Whenworkingovertheseareas,hoverthehandsafewinchesabovetheperson’sclothing.Beawareofyourownbodyandclothing,notjustyourhands.Youmightbeleaningagainstthepersonunintentionallyoryourforearmcouldbeincontactwiththeundersideofafemaleclient’sbreasteventhoughyourhandsareonherabdomen.Beawareofallplaceswhereyouaremakingcontact.

•Oncertainareas,suchasovertheeyes,itcanbemorecomfortableforthepersonifyouhoverslightlyabovetheskinratherthanrestingyourpalmsdirectlyontheirface.Tryplacingafolded,cleantissueovertheeyesbeforelightlyplacingyourhandsontheareatopreventthesweaty,clammyfeelofskintoskincontact.

•Presenceofinjuries.Iftherecipienthasawoundorotherinjury,it’sprobablybesttohoverovertheskininsteadofmakingdirectcontact.Andofcourse,iftheinjuryisacute,sendthemtoamedicalfacilityand/orcall911!

Washyourhandsbeforethesessionandpayattentiontoyourhygiene.Itcan be distracting and unpleasant for the recipient to smell body odorsthroughout the session, including bad breath. If you smoke, please be

awarethatthesmellcanlingeronyourhands,breath,andskinevenifyouwashyourhandsandbrushyourteeth,anditmaybemuchmorenoticeableto a non-smoker than it is to you. I have not returned to a practitionersimply because the smell of smoke was so strong on their hands that itdetractedfromthehealingexperience.If youdo choose tomake skin or clothing contact, remember to use a

light touch. You aren’t massaging the client, you are merely allowingenergytoflow.Beawareofyourbodyandthepressureofyourhandsatalltimes.Ihavehadpractitionersunwittinglyleaningintomewithincreasingintensityas thesessionprogressed(as theywerepresumablygetting tiredofstanding),andincertainareas,suchasthebackoftheknee,thiscanbeuncomfortable and even harmful depending on the degree of pressure. Ifyoufindyourselfgetting tired,considerofferingshortersessions,usingachair,and/ordoingmovementandenergypracticesoutsideofsessions tobuildupyourstamina.Usingtherecipient’sbodyasasupportpostisnotideal!The twelve hand positions for self-healing described above can be

modifiedslightlyforgivingReikitoothers,butdon’tfeellockedintothesequence.WhenI’mworking,Itendtofollowmyintuition,andyoumightfindthatwhenyou’reusingReikiyourintuitionkicksinsooner thanyouthink, even ifyou’rebrandnew to thepractice.That said, ifyou’rebusysecondguessingyourself andyour ego is trying to think itsway througheverything, you might find it more difficult to sense your intuitivepromptings. In thesesituations, the traditionalhandpositionscanbeveryhelpfulbyprovidingyouwithasetsequencethatwillallowyourmindtorelax. Then, if intuitive guidance appears, you can deviate from thesequenceasneeded.Whenyourhandsareplacedonyourownbodyoranotherperson,you

might feel a slight energetic tug inyour hands that leadsyou toward thenextposition,orperhapsyoumighthearthenameofthatbodypartorseeitinyourmind—that’syourintuitionkickingin.Youmightnoticethattheheatortinglinginyourhandssuddenlyfades,oryou’llhaveasenseof“it’s

time tomove on.”With practice, you’ll learnwhat your individual cuesare,sopayattentiontothesensationsyouexperienceduringReikisessions.

1. TheBasicPositions1. Frontoftheface:Drapeacleantissueovertheclient’sclosed

eyes,thenplacebothhandsovertheperson’sfacewithpalmsgentlycuppingovertheeyesandfingertipsrestingonthecheekbones.Youcanalsoforegothetissueandhoveroverthisareawithouttouching.

2. Temples:Placebothhandsoneithersideofthehead,fingertipsoverthetemples,palmscurvingaroundthesidesoftheskull,possiblymeetingatthecrownofthehead,dependingonthesizeofyourhandsandtherecipient’shead.

3. Ears:Hoveryourhandsinacuppedpositionovertheperson’sears.Iprefertohoveralongthesidesoftheheadasopposedtocoveringtheears,asthelattercanfeelconstricting.Feelfreetoexperimentandcheckinwiththerecipient’spreference.

4. Backofthehead:Placeyourhandsoneithersideoftheperson’sheadwiththebacksofyourhandsrestingonthetreatmenttable.Gentlyrocktheirheadtooneside,enoughtoallowyoutoslidetheoppositepalmundertheirhead,andrepeatwiththeotherhandsoyouarecradlingthebackoftheirskullinbothhands.Makesureyouaren’twearingjewelryonyourhandsorwriststhatcoulddigintotheirscalp.

5. Throat:Twovariationsforthisone,dependingontherecipient’spreferenceandcomfort.Youcanlightlyplaceyourfingersoverthefrontofthethroatonbothsides.Yourfingertipswillmeetinthecenterinlinewiththesternum(breastbone).Beveryawareoftheamountofpressureyouareapplyingasalittlecanfeelconstrictinginthissensitivearea.AsecondvariationthatIpreferistoplacethepinky-edgeofthehandsontheclavicles(collarbones)sothefingertipsmeetatthesternumandpalmsarefacingtheundersideoftheperson’schin.Youareabletosend

energytothethroatregionwithoutapplyingpressuretothethroat.

6. Heart:Hoveryourhandsovertheheartregion.Youcanoverlapyourhandsintheairsothatthepalmofonehandpartiallycoversthefingersoftheotheroryoucanstackthemontopofeachother.Hopefullythisgoeswithoutbeingsaid,butdonottouchfemaleclient’sbreasts.

7. Ribs:Workingononesideofthebodyatatime,placeyourhandssidebyside(e.g.,onehandclosertotherecipient’shead,theotherhandclosertothehips)overtheirribs.Youcanmovetotheothersideofthetabletotreattheothersideofthebodyorsimplymoveyourhandsifyouaretallenoughtodosowithoutstrainingoroverreaching.

8. Lowerabdomen/tanden:Placeonehandabovethenavelandtheotherjustbelowthenavel.

9. Hips:Therearetwovariationsforthisposition.Youcanplaceyourhandsoneithersideofthebodyonthesidesofthehipsorplacedonthefrontofeachhipbone(wherethefrontpocketsofjeanswouldbe)avoidingthegroin.Youmightfinditmorecomfortableonyourwriststoplaceonehandwithfingertipspointinguptowardstheperson’sheadandtheotherhandwithfingertipspointingdowntowardstheirfeet.Removethebolsterfrombeneaththeperson’skneesandbringupthefacecradleonthetreatmenttable.Therecipientwillrollovertotheirstomach,placingtheirfaceinthecradle.(Facecradlesshouldbecoveredwithdisposablepaperorreusableandwashablefabriccoverswithafreshoneusedforeachperson.)Checktoseeifthecradleneedstobeadjustedforcomfort.Thebolstercanbeplacedundertherecipient’sanklesinthisposition.

10. Upperback:Usethesamestaggeredhandpositionasdescribedfortheheartarea,thistimeplacingyourhandsjustabovethe

scapulae(shoulderblades).Movedowntheback,placingyourhandsoverthescapulae.

11. Middleback:Movedowntothemiddleoftheback.

12. Sacrum:Thesacrumisaboneatthebaseofyourspine.Placeyourhandsattheuppermostpartofthesacrum,rightabovethetopoftheglutealcleftsoyou’renothandlingtheirglutes.

13. Knees:Placeyourpalmsoverthebacksoftheknees.Thisisanareawhereyouneedtobesensitiveofyourpressure.Therearenervesthatcanbecompressedifyouarebearingdownonthebacksoftheknees.

14. Ankles:Movetothefootofthetableandgentlywrapyourhandsaroundtheankles.

15. Feet:Placeyourhandsoverthesolesofthefeet,fromthetoestothemiddleofthefoot,dependingonthesizeofyourhands.

Toconclude the treatment,gently sweepyourhandsover theperson’s aura,usuallyaboutafoottoafootandahalfabovetheirskin,startingatthecrownoftheheadandendingatthefeet.Thisconstitutesonesweep.Walkbackuptotheheadof the table, repeatwith a second sweep, and concludewith a third aurasweep.Removethebolsterfrombeneaththeanklestomakeiteasierforthemtogetoff the table;provideassistanceand/or a stepping stool ifnecessary.Offerthe person a cup of water and the restroom if needed. You can use the DryBathing technique on yourself to completely end the session. If you madecontactwiththeclothingorskin,washyourhandsbetweenclients.Now that you have a solid foundation for usingReiki to perform hands-on

self-healing and healing for others, let’s return to our seven-step journey oftransformation,pickingupwiththesecondstep,Submersion,inthenextchapter.

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SUBMERSION

Thenextstepinourself-transformationprocessinvolveswadingintothewatersof the unconscious mind, and in doing so, forging a connection between theconscious,associatedwiththeOneMind,andtheunconscious,associatedwiththeOneThing.Ifyourecallfromchapter1,wewanttobringthesetwointernalforces together,as theHermeticcreationstory illustrated,because indoingso,weigniteourfullcreativecapacity,whichincludesourabilitytocreateastateofhealth. We’re going to start with an exercise, and it’s important that youcomplete thisexercisebefore reading the restof thechapter,as thiswillallowyoutoapproachtheexercisewithlessinterferencefromyourego.whichmightotherwise try to alter the experience to fit the material presented later in thereading.

ExerciseTwelve:ExplainYourPositionChoose a recent situation in which you felt strong emotions. It’s ofteneasier to start with unpleasant emotions, as these tend to readily triggerunconsciousmaterial.Write a description of the situation, including any backstory or other

contextual information that you feel is relevant. Imagine that youwill behanding this paper to someonewhowill then judge the situation and thepeople involved to determine what part each person had to play in theevent.Yourjobistodescribetheeventinawaythatyoubelieveaccuratelyreflectswhattookplacesothejudgecanproperlydotheirjob.Don’tfilteryourself;committopapereverythingyoufeelisrelevant.

Whenyou’redone,putthepaperinasafeplaceandleaveitaloneforatleast three days, during which time you can continue with the chapter’sreadings.

SubmersionandtheUnconsciousTounderstandtheprocessofSubmersion,recalltheencounterwithoneofyourinner protector parts during the first step, Illumination.With the Illuminationexercises,youbegantotransformyourrelationshiptothispart,whichhasbeeninfluencing your thoughts and actions, likely on an unconscious level, like acomputer program running in the background. In Submersion, we are goingfurtherbywading into thewatersof theunconscious tounderstandmore fullywhytheseprotectorpartsexistinourpsyche—whataretheyheretoprotect?In the languageof InternalFamilySystems, theprotector is guardingapart

knownasanexile,anothercharacterinthepsychethathassustainedwoundingandhasremainedtrappedtosomedegreeinthatoriginalwoundingscenario.Byenteringthewatersoftheunconsciousandgainingaccesstotheseexiles,wecanheal themwhile also releasing the protector from its need to protect. Both ofthese parts are then free to fulfill healthier roleswithin the psyche. This is inkeepingwithourworkwithReiki,inwhichweseektorememberourTrueSelf.Themorewehealtheseinnerparts,thelesstheywillfeeltheneedtooverthrowtheSelf in an attempt toprotect us fromperceived (or actual) threats, and themorewecanremainanchoredinourTrueSelf.

TheLureofProjectionsOneof themostcommonwaysprotectorsdo their job isbyshiftingour focusaway from the wounded exile and toward something else. While there are avariety of methods for attention shifting, we’re going to focus on a verypowerful andcommonmethod:projection.This conceptwas introduced in thestepofIllumination,andwe’llbetakingthisworkdeeperwithSubmersion.Inorderforthisworktotransformus,wemustaddressacommonbelief:the

belief thatwe are somehow immune toprojection: “other peopledo it but notme!”The irony,ofcourse, is that this is itselfaprojection. Ihavenevermetapersonwhodoesnotengage inprojection,myself included,sounlessyou’reaunicorn(andwhoknows—maybeunicornsaremastersofprojection),acceptingthatthisprocessisoccurringinyourlifeisaprerequisitetotransformation.One aspect of projection that I find particularly interesting is the human

tendencytounconsciouslyseekoutinotherstheverythingsweareprojecting.It’sas ifweknowdeepdownthatweneedtheseenergies tofeelwhole.Ifwecannot bear to see these qualities in ourselves, wewill instead find ourselvesencountering infuriatingpeopleagainandagainwho“hold” thesequalities forus. To use a simplistic example, if we deny ourselves the right to feel andexpress anger,wemight routinely findourselvesyoked to an angrypartnerorboss.Canyouseehowwegettrapped?Withprojection,wearelockedinseeingthe issueasbeing“out there.”Wesayand think things like,“ifonly theotherpersonwouldstopdoingsuchandsuch,thingswouldn’tbelikethis…”or“IfIcouldjustgethertoseethatsheneedstochange,thingswouldimprove…”We tell ourselves thatwhatwe’re experiencing is the annoyance or pain of

dealingwith theotherperson’sfaults—theiranger, inconsideratebehavior,andso on—but the deeper pain is about being disconnected from these potentenergieswithinourselvesandfeelingtrappedinunsatisfyingrelationshipswithpeoplewhoarecarryingtheseenergiesforus.Ifwecannotseethispain,wewillcontinuetoprojectthesourceofourmiseryontoothersandworkeverhardertochange it all the while feeling unable to shake the unfulfilling relationshippatterns.Evenifweleavearelationshipwithonepersonwe’velabeledasangry,

we’lleventuallyfindourselvesinanotheruntilwedotheworkofcallingtheseprojectionsbackhome.Our freedom thus lies in seeing our projections for what they are and

retrieving them from thepersonwho is serving as amirror forwhatwedon’twishtoseeinourselves.Indoingso,wereclaimtheseenergiesthatareintegralto our sense of wholeness, and we’ll begin this work in the next exercise inwhichyou’llseeaprojectioninaction.

ExerciseThirteen:SeeingProjections,PartOneGet out your written description from Exercise Twelve: Explain YourPosition.Go through and highlight or underline any phrases that refer towhatanotherpersonisdoing,thinking,orsaying,suchas:

Deniseturnedherreportsinlateagain.

Jimtalkedovereveryoneatthemeeting,andpeoplearereallygettingsickofit.

Whenyou’redone,putthepaperdown,closeyoureyes,andtakesometimetofocusonyourbreath.Begintolengthenyourinhalesandreallyfeelyourbodyexpandasyoufillwithlifeforce,thenstretchouttheexhalestoreleaseanythingyoudon’tneedtocarryintothenextmoment.Place one hand over your heart and one hand over your belly. Allow

Reikitoflowthroughyourhands,pouringintoyourbodyandenergyfield.Feelyourselfcomingtocenterasyouvibrateevermorestronglywith theenergyof love.Giveyourselfat leasta fewminutes toenjoy this feeling.Whenyou’reready,thankReikiandopenyoureyes.Return toyourpaper.Are thereanumberofphrasesmarked?Thiscan

indicateashiftinfocusawayfromyourownexperiencetotheexperienceofothers.There’snojudgmenthere;justholdthisinyourawarenesswhileconnectingwiththefeelingofloveandcenteringyou’vejustcultivated.Next,chooseoneof themarkedphrasesandreaditsilentlytoyourself.

Identify theactionyouareattributing to theotherperson (“Denise turnedher reports in late”), and brainstorm why you think this other person is

behavingthisway.Inthisexample,whydoyouthinkDeniseisturningherreportsinlate?Becauseshe’slazy?Doesshenotcareabouttherestoftheteam?Maybeshedoesn’tunderstandwhythereportsareimportant?Doesshe think she’s above the rules? It’s not important to know objectively,factually why Denise is missing deadlines; for this exercise, that’sirrelevant.WhatisimportantarethereasonsyouareattributingtoDenise’sbehavior.Noonewill see thisbutyou,sodon’tbeafraid to let itallout.Don’tworryaboutsoundinglikeajerk;trustthatthisprocesswillyieldrichrewardsonly if you’reunflinchinglyhonestwhile remainingconnected totheenergyofself-love.If theprocessstarts to feel intense, return tohandsoveryourbellyand

heart,letReikiflow,andperhapsusestatementslike,“EventhoughIthinkDeniseissuperlazyanddoesthebareminimumtokeepfromgettingfired,I deeply love and accept myself.” The format is, “Even though [insertchallenging statement], I deeply love and accept myself.” There may bemany reasons thatarise.Capture themallonpaper, takingasmanyReikibreaks as you need to stay connected with the energy of self-love.Remember,nomatterwhatyoudigup in thisexercise,noneof ithas thepowertomarkyououtasabadperson.Youmayinterpretthisinformationasproofofyourbadness,butthatdoesnotmakeitso.Whenthisprocessfeelscompleteandyou’velistedallofthereasonsyou

can thinkof, takeabreak from theexercise for at least forty-eighthours.Invite your True Self to offer its wisdom in the interim by saying toyourself, “I ask my True Self to retrieve any information from mysubconscious and consciousmind, aswell as fromanyother sources thatwillhelpmegrowinresponsetothisexercise.Iseektoknowmyselfinallmyparts.Somoteitbe.”Ifanythingcomesupthatfeelsrelevant,evenifyoucan’tverballyor intellectuallyvalidatehowit relates,write it inyourjournal. Pay attention to your dreams, thoughts, or sensations that arisewhen you’re spacing out, and so on.Allow your subconscious to delivervaluable informationbyremainingopen.Don’tdiscountanythingbecauseitdoesn’tmakesense.Thesubconsciousplaysbydifferentrulesthatseem

nonsensical to the consciousmindbut doesn’tmake information any lessvalidoruseful.

ExerciseFourteen:SeeingProjections,PartTwoAfterat leastforty-eighthourshavepassed,it’s timetomovedeeperwiththeexercise.Bringyourselfintoameditativestate(page26).Place one hand over your belly, one hand over your heart, and allow

Reikitoflowintoyourbodyandenergyfield.Connectwiththesensationofbeingcenteredwhilevibratingwiththeenergyoflove.When you feel ready, open your eyes and pull out the paper from the

previous exercise. Startingwith one of the reasons on your list, begin toexplorehowthisqualitymanifestsinyourlife.Forexample,ifoneofyourreasonsforDenise’s tardinessis“shetriestodotheleastamountofworkpossible without getting fired,” ask yourself, “Are there areas ofmy lifewhere I give less effort than I’m capable of?” See what arises. Don’tdiscount any thoughts,words,memories, and so forth that pop up.Writethemdowninyourjournal.

Let’s pause for a moment and introduce self-compassion by clarifying ourintent.We’renotdoingthisexercisesolelyforthesakeofself-judgment.Let’ssayyouidentifyanareawhereyou’renotgivingyourfulleffort:getcurious;askyourselfwhy. Possible reasons include feeling uninspired by thework,whichopensupimportantfollow-upquestions:Isthissomethingyoucanstopdoing?Is it indicative of a larger theme, such as choosing less challenging or lessmeaningfulwork because youdoubt your capabilities?Maybeyou’re carryingresentment for someone else involved and are trying to get back at them bywithholdingyourefforts.Orperhapswhenyouidentifyanareawhereyoufeelyou aren’t doing your best, it sheds light on your impossibly high standards.You’re not doing your best (nor do you perceive anyone else as doing so)becauseyourbest is unattainable.This realization in turn could lead to seeinghow you set sky-high standards that you know you can’t meet as a way ofjustifyinglesseffort.Ifyoucan’tevergetthegoldstar,whybother?Thislineof

questioningcould then leaddeeper asyouaskyourself, “Whatdo I thinkwillhappenifIdon’tgetthegoldstar?OrifIdo?”Allofthisisincrediblyvaluableinformation,andyouwillgleanthemostbenefitifyoucanbreatheyourselfbacktocenterandawayfromtheurgetoshametheseinternalpartsintohiding.Sometimes the reasons you listed forDenise’s tardiness reveal anopposing

quality inyourself.Forexample, ifyou judgeDeniseasbeing lazy, thismightspeaktoatendencytodriveyourselfintothegroundwithto-dosanddeadlines.In short, you resent what appears to be Denise’s ability to operate at a morerelaxedpacebecauseitissomethingyoudenyyourself.The projection exercise can be a tough one. It’s challenging to look at

ourselvesinthismannerbecausewhatwefindisn’talwayscomfortabletobear.Whenwedon’t engage in self-reflection, however,wehold this energy inoursubconscious where it can influence our thoughts, words, and actions inincredibly powerful ways. As Jung said, “Until you make the unconsciousconscious, itwilldirectyourlifeandyouwillcall it fate”(Jung1967,265).Iflikemostofusyouhaveissuesthatcropupagainandagain,suchasbosseswhooversharetheirpersonallifeorromanticpartnerswithapenchantforlyingandcan’tunderstandwhyyoukeepencounteringthesepeopleagainandagain(andagain), exploring projections is your key to liberation from these cyclicalexperiences.

ArchetypalEnergiesandProjectionAswego furtherwithprojections, it’s helpful to deepenour understandingofarchetypesandhowtheseenergiesarerelevant toour lives.WeexploredthemonamorecosmicscalewiththeHermeticcreationstoryinchapter1;nowlet’smake them intimately personal. In Jungian psychology, archetypes–theprototypesuponwhichallotherthingsarebased–areconsideredtoresideinthecollective unconscious, which can be thought of like a huge soup pot ofenergetic information that we’re all swimming in.When these archetypes arefloatingaroundinthegiantsouppot,theyexistaspurepotential.Forexample,we have the archetype of theMother or the Saint or theVictim, and each ofthesearchetypesrepresentsthesumtotalofallthedifferentwaystheenergyofthe Mother, the Saint, or the Victim can be expressed and experienced. Andthesearejustthreeexamples;therearecountlessothers:there’sanarchetypeforLove,Power,Justice,Earth,Fire,Water,andthelistgoeson.You can think of these archetypes as a universal paint palette.We all have

access to the full set of paints, but how we use them dictates whether weexperience our life as a smeared finger painting or a multi-dimensionalmasterpiece.I lovethisdefinitionofarchetypestakenfromthenovelTheSeedCollector:Archetypes are “every possible shape an ego can inhabit” (Thomas2015,249).Torelatethistoourinternalpartsexercises,archetypesrepresenttheavailable roles our internal parts can play, and each part has the ability tocombinedifferentarchetypesintoonecharacter.Forexample,youcouldhaveanAngryIntellectualoraStrategizingMother.Thetypesofarchetypalenergywechoosetochannelandthewaysinwhichwechannelitdeterminetheshapeofour ego in any given moment, so understanding these energies is extremelyimportant.While there aremany,manyways to explore archetypes—magick,therapy/psychology,religion,ritual,meditation,myth,andastrologybeingjustahandful of examples—the next exercisewill guide you through amethod thatconnectsarchetypestoourdeepeningunderstandingofprojections.

ExerciseFifteen:InternalActivationStartbyenteringameditativestate(page26).

Recallthelasttimeyoufellinloveorinlustwithsomeone.Reallytrytoputyourselfinthatspacewhereyoucouldn’twaittoseethisperson,whereyourthoughtswereconsumedbythem,whereyoufeltelectricandaliveintheirpresence.Giveyourselftimetoreallyembodythisexperience.Andifyou’reinthisplacerightnow,luckyyou!Thisexercisewillbeeveneasierforyou.Identifyonequalityintheotherpersonthatyoureally,reallyloveabout

them.Ifthisissomeonefromyourhistoryandthatloveisnowinthepasttense,recallbacktothehoneymoonstageandidentifyoneofthequalitiesthatmadeyoufallforthem.Imagineyourself inasituationwhenthispersonexhibited thedesirable

quality.Ifitwastheirsenseofhumor,imaginebeingwiththemasthey’remaking you laugh. If it’s their ability to listen, imagine them listeningintentlytowhatyou’resaying.Stayinginthescene,shiftyourfocusinternallyandtakeyourtimeasyou

homeinonwhat,inyou,isbeingactivatedbytheotherperson’samazingquality.Perhapstheirsenseofhumoractivatesinyouafeelingthatlifeisfunorsafeorenjoyable.Perhapstheirabilitytolistenactivatesinyouthefeelingthatyou’reinterestingorsmartorworthy.Ifyou’revisual,youcanimagine thisquality traveling in the formofcolored light intoyourbody.Seewhathappenswhenitentersyourenergyfield.Seehowyoufeel.Doany images or memories come to mind? Any thoughts or sounds? Anyphysicalsensations?When the experience feels complete, return from the meditation and

writedownyourimpressionsinyourjournal.

Let’s lookmore closely atwhatwashappening in this exercise.Acommonwaybywhichweinteractwitharchetypesisprojectingthemontootherpeopleandevents.Whilethereareahostofreasons,mypersonalexperienceleadsmeto believe that one key reason is that it feels safer and more manageable toperceivethesequalitiesasresiding“outthere.”Ifthey’reprojectedontoanotherpersonorsituation,wedon’thavetointerfacewiththefullenergeticpotentialofthese archetypes, including developing the skills, resilience, awareness, and

other tools required to embody and express these energies in healthyways. orexample, when we’re in the honeymoon stage of a relationship, it’s easy toproject archetypal images onto the other person and selectively filter outanything thatmight contradict this ideal. Though these idealized images havevery little (and at times, absolutely nothing) to dowithwho the other personactuallyis,theyhavemuchmoretosayaboutwhowewanttobe.NoticethatIdidn’tsaywhowewanttheotherpersontobebutratherwhowewanttobe.WhenImetmyhusband,Iwantedtofeelsafeandsecurenotmerelybecause

thisisaprettystandardhumandesirebutbecausemypastwasanythingbut.Myinternalworldfeltlikeachaoticbrewoffearandinstabilitymostdays,andmyexternalworldwasamirrorofthisinternalstate.Iwantedtofindmysafeharborinthestorm.Iprojectedthatstabilityandcalmontomyhusband,whowastherockintherelationship…untilhewasn’t.Myhusband,ofcourse,ishuman.Hecan’talwaysbestableandcalm,norshouldhehavetobeinorderformetofeelstableandsecurewithinmyself.He’shisownperson,notaprojectionofwhoIwanthimtobeormoretothepoint,whoIwanttobebutamafraidtoown.Byprojecting the archetypes of Safety andStability ontomyhusband, I absolvedmyself of the responsibility of activating and cultivating those energieswithinmyself.Andthereinliesthetrapofprojection:soonerorlater,therepositoryofour projections reveals themselves to be a person in their own right, someonewho exists far beyond the bounds of our tidy ideals, and the illusion shatters.Wherewebecomestuck is inassuming thatwhatwe’reseeingcanbeentirelyexplainedbytheotherperson’sshortcomings.He’ssuchajerk.Heisn’twhoIthought hewas.Toparaphrase JosephCampbell,when thehoneymoonperiodends,weoftensnatchbackourpreciousprojectionsandgoofftofindsomeoneelse toproject themonto.Butwhenwe recognizeourprojectionswecan thenaskourselveswherethesequalitiesarelyingdormantwithinus,yearningtobeawakened. In my example, how can I create my own sense of Safety andSecurity,ratherthanexpectingmyhusbandtoactivateor“carry”thatforme?Whenwe takebackourprojections,weare thenable toseeotherpeopleas

peopleintheirownright,andwhileI’mnotsurethatwecanevergettoastatecompletelyfreeofprojections(whilewe’rephysicalbeingsleadinghumanlives,at least),myexperienceis that themoreprojectionswereabsorbandintegrate,

themoreempoweredwefeel,becausewe’reowningourabilitytointeractwithand channel these powerful archetypes ourselveswithout an intermediary.Webecome better able to love others for who they are and not merely for theirabilitytomirrorbackthequalitieswewanttoseeinourselves.Inthesameway,we own the projections that represent less desirable qualities, like Selfishnessand Hate, and gradually resolve our unconscious need to keep close at handpeoplewhocarrythoseundesirabletraitsforus.ApowerfulwayofworkingwithprojectionsistousewhatIcall theButton

Pushermetaphor.Imaginethatyouhaveagiantconsoleofbuttonsandcontrolsinsideyourhead.Ifyou’veseenthemovieInsideOut,youhaveaready-madevisual.Whenwefeelsomething,wearepushingbuttonsonourinternalconsole.Here’sthekey—wearetheonesdoingthebuttonpushing.Nooneelsehastheability to climb inside our heads andwrest the console from our control. If abuttonisgettingpushed,youcanknowwith100percentcertaintythatthefingeronthebuttonisyours.Now, taking back your projections doesn’t mean that other people are

automatically pure, innocent saints who can do no wrong and you’re simplyprojectingnegativequalitiesontothem.Thislineofthinkingdoesn’tleadtoanymoreclarity thandoesprojectingallofour experiencesontoothers.Whenwetakebackourprojections,wedothisinordertoseeourselvesandotherpeoplemore clearly and to unravel the tangled threads of blame-shifting. To useDenise’slatereportsasanexample,youmightseethatDeniseisbringingsomebaggage to the situation and using her lateness to get back at coworkers sheresentswhile simultaneouslyyou’rebringinganeed todootherpeople’sworkforthembecauseyouassumetheywon’tdoitright,alongwithasubconsciousactivation of theMartyr archetype.When you call back your projections, youincrease your chances of seeing your assumptions, archetypal activations, andwhatliesbeneaththem.YoucanthenworkwiththisvaluablematerialandmightfindyourselflesstriggeredinthefuturewhenDeniseturnsinareportlate,or—and this isn’t a guarantee, but it can happen—perhapsDenise’s baggage is nolongerbeing triggeredbyyourunspokenassumption that she’lldoapoor job,andshe“miraculously”startsturninginreportsontime.Eitherway,youbecomeclearonwhatisyoursandwhatbelongstotheotherperson,andyou’reableto

make empowered choices to focusonyour internalworkovermicromanagingotherpeople.To connect thiswithReiki, recallReiki’s ability to reintroduce our original

blueprint to our system, reminding us of our True Self. This blueprint iscomprised of a unique blend of archetypes we can consider our “archetypalfingerprint.”Learninghowtoconnecttoandchanneltheseenergiesispartandparcelwith embodyingourTrueSelf.The archetypes are universal sources ofimmense power, available to each of us. The more we explore our personalrelationshipwiththesepowers,themoreweareabletochannelthemineffectiveways.We’reabletopaintthepictureofourlifewithmorebrilliantcolors,andindoing so, feel whole and integrated.We’re no longer scattering these powersaroundus,projectingthemoutwardandhopingthatotherpeopleandeventswillbe thewaywewant themtobe inorder tomaintainour relationshipswith thearchetypes. Instead,webring thesepowerswithin.Wecultivateourarchetypalrelationshipsfromtheinsideoutandreclaimourwholenessintheprocess.

OurLongingforArchetypesArchetypesdon’t simplycropup inour livesbyhappenstance; theyare inourlives because we possess an inherent, deep longing for them. Again, thesearchetypes are the sum total of the potentiality of any given quality, so, forexample, the archetype of the Mother is all the ways we can experience theenergyofMother.It’sthenurturingandcontaining,thecreativeandlifegiving.It also includes the shadow aspect of the Mother, such as the ravenous,devouringMother,liketheEarththatwereturntoafterthislifecomestoanend:theMotherofDeath,thesymbolicrepresentationofShewhoisbothWombandTomb.Theways inwhichweexperience thisarchetypedepend largelyonourpast

experiences(whichIbelieveencompassespastlives)andtheenergeticchannelscreatedbythoseexperiences.Forexample,ifyourhumanmotherwasneglectfuland resentful of your needs, certain energetic channels become established inyourpsyche;evensciencehasshownhowbiologicalpathwaysinthebrainareformedbyrepetitiveexperiences.Thus,theenergyofthearchetypalMothergetsfunneledthroughthesechannelsandmakesitdifficultforyoutoexperiencethisenergyasanythingotherthanthatofneglectanddenialofyourneeds.Inspiteofthis,wedon’tsimplyloseourdesiretoexperiencetheMotherarchetype,sowestrike a subconscious bargain: “Neglect and denial of needs is better than notexperiencingtheMotheratall,soI’lltakeit.”Asaresult,wefindourselvesinsituations that replicate the original sensations of neglect and need denial,representingwhatwe believe is our only shot at being able to experience thefuller, richer experience of theMother, with her more positive attributes: thenurturing and creativity, the safe container and unconditional acceptance, etcetera. We share a universal need for these qualities that is impossible toeradicate from our psyche, so the solution is not in denying that these needsexist; the challenge is to forge new channels throughwhich to experience theMotherandotherarchetypes.ThisrecallsourdiscussionsofReikihealingsandattunementsaspowerfulmeansofclearingourenergetic“pipes,”allowingforalessobstructedflowofenergy,includingtheenergiesofthearchetypes.

Ithinkwechoosethefamilythatweareborninto(acontentiousideaifyourrelationshiptoyourbirthfamilyischallenging),becausebyexperiencingthesemore limited representations of the full-bodied archetype, the acute sensationthat something is missing can lead us to seek the true wholeness that thesearchetypes represent. This is an apt prelude to our work with recovering andhealing inner exiles, because these exiles are often created in response to thevery same wounding events that give shape to our narrower view of thearchetypes. By healing these exiles (covered later in this chapter), we alsoreshapeourexperienceofthearchetypalforces.

ArchetypesandLifeSkillsAnother layer to our understandingof archetypes is to look at themanywaysthesearchetypes findexpression inour lives throughdifferent life skills.Let’stakethearchetypeofLoveandimaginethisarchetypeasarisingfromthe“soup”of the collectiveunconscious, theground substance fromwhich all experiencearises.It’samatrixthatweareintimatelyconnectedtobecauseweareformedfromthismatrix,henceeventhoughwemightloseourconsciousmemorythatthis matrix exists as our Source, we subconsciously remember and yearn toexperience merging with this matrix once more. Notice the parallels and theHermeticcreationstorywiththeOneMindseekingtoreturntoandmergewiththeOneThing,theformlesschaosfromwhichallformsarise.This is especially relevant toourworkwithSubmersion,because this is the

processofsubmergingourselvesintheunconscioustoreturntothematrix,sotospeak,sowecan rememberwhatunionwith thisSource feels like.Theego isopposedtothisunionbecausetheego,bydefinition,isthepartofusthatexistsin seeming separateness from the matrix. As part of the development of ourconsciousness,weneeded to separate from thematrix, just like theOneMindleaptupoutoftheOneThing.Thissenseofseparatenessallowsustofunctioninwaysthatwecouldnotconceiveofifwewereinastateofpermanentmerger,sowhile separation is not the enemy,we do need to remember that this state ofseparatenessisbutoneaspectofalargertruth.Returning to our example archetype of Love, when we were one with the

matrixwewerealsoonewith thearchetypeofLove.Whenwecame into thisworldandbegan todevelopanego,asenseofseparateness,ourexperienceofLovebecamelessdirect.Insteadofcomingstraightfromthesource,Lovewasmediated through our unique energetic channels, channels that are continuallyshaped and rerouted according to our life experiences. If we have healthyexperienceswiththeenergyofLove,ourchannelsgetroutedinaparticularway;ifwehaveunhealthyexperiencesofLove,ourchannelsgetroutedanotherway.These energetic channels have a corollary in our behavior. In essence, we

behave thewaywedobecauseenergy is running throughouruniquechannelsandactivatingcertainthoughts,reactions,physicalsensations,beliefs,andsoon

that are then translated into the fabricofour lives throughouractionsand thechoiceswemake.IfmyLovechannelconsistsofafewtwistsandturnsshapedbyaparentalconnectionthatleftmefeelinglikeIhadtoearnloveandwasnotinnately worthy of receiving it, the archetypal energy of Love gets funneledthrough that twisty channel intomy life, and the chances that I will gravitatetowardsituationsinwhichIfeelIhavetoprovemyselfworthyofloveincreases.If I encounter a situation in which love is freely given without my having“earned”it,Imightnotrecognizeitaslovebecauseitdoesn’tmatchupwithmyenergetic pattern, and/or it might make me so uncomfortable that I end uprejectingit.Wearethenbroughttotheconnectionbetweenarchetypesandlifeskills.IfI

want to transform my energetic Love channels, part of that healing processinvolveslearningnewskills.Thefirststepisrecognizingthatthepatternexists,exploring how that energetic channel was shaped, and seeing how it leads tocertain thoughts and actions in daily life, which is what our work withIllumination and Submersion addresses. However, simply knowing we havethesepatternsisnotenoughtofullyreleaseusfromtheirgrip.AspsychologistAnitaJohnstonwrites:“Coping with the ‘real problems’ [and not merely the symptoms] requires

skills thatyoumaynothave,andresolvingthemmayseemanimpossible task…Whenyouembarkonajourneytouncoverandresolveunderlyingconflictsand feelings,anddon’tallowyourself tobe fooledbyany illusionsofwhat istruly troubling you, youmay learn something important about the function ofyour[addictivepattern].Youmaydiscoverhowithelpstodistractyoufromtheissuesinyourlifethatoverwhelmyou,thatyouhaven’tyetlearnedhowtodealwitheffectively.Andyoumaydiscoverhoweffectively[theaddiction]distractsyou,momenttomoment,fromthefearoffacingthingsheadon,fromthepainofpasthurts”(Johnston2000,29).Anotherobstacletolearningtheseskillsistheshameofnotpossessingthem

inthefirstplace.Thisshameandbeliefthatwe“should”alreadyknowhowtodo these things can prevent us from seeking out the necessary instruction andsupport. Or we might obtain the instruction but are too ashamed to apply itbecause like anything else, these skills take practice and we’re probably not

goingtonailitrightoutofthegate.Thefearoffailurehasusretreatingtoourtriedandtruebehaviors,evenifwe’retiredofthelacklusterorevendestructiveresults.One of theways to help alleviate this shame or simply be presentwith the

shamewithoutallowingittodictateourlifechoicesistorecognizethatthelifeskills we have now made sense at the time we learned them. If we had anemotionallyabusiveparent,thelifeskillofshuttingdownandnotlettingpeopleinmadeperfectsense.Whileitmightnotserveusnow,wedidn’tdevelopthisskillbecausewe’reinherentlybad.Asatherapistoncedescribedit,“wecamebyithonestly.”There’snoshameinwhateverlifeskillsyoucurrentlypossess,andyounowhave theopportunity to expandyour skills to includeones that are abetterfitforyourlifetoday.Chancesarethatevenwithinthelifeskillsyou’veoutgrownaresub-skillsthatcanberepurposed.Forexample,theskillofshuttingpeople out can be transformed into the ability to set and maintain healthyboundaries.You’renottakingoutthetrashandstartingfromsquareone;you’retransformingthroughradicalself-acceptancetheskillsyoualreadyhave.

Projections,Protectors,andExilesWenowreturnfullcircletoourinitialdiscussionofinternalprotectorsandtheexilestheyservetoprotect.Welearnedthatoneofthewaysprotectorscarryouttheir role is distracting us from the exile’s pain, and projection is a commonmethodofdistraction.Throughoutthechapter’sexercisesyouilluminatedsomeof the projections active in your life right now, and in the next exercise, it’sfinallytimetomakecontactwithoneofyourinnerexiles.Inordertodoso,youmustfirstgetpermissionfromtheexile’sprotector,andthisexercisewillwalkyouthroughthisprocess.Exilesoftencarryintenseemotionsandstoresofpain,so before you embark on this exercise, let’s talk aboutways to stay groundedduringtheexperience.DuringExerciseThree:IlluminatingEgoConstructs,youpracticedremaining

inselfwhileinteractingwithinternalcharacters,andyouwilldothesamehere.First,learnhowtorecognizewhenyouareblendingwithaninternalpart.Whileyou are in Self, you will feel some mixture of compassion, curiosity, andopenness. If you notice other emotions or attitudes arising, it’s likely another

part has appeared and you are blendingwith it to some degree. As the namesuggests,blendingreferstosteppingintotheshoesofapartthattakesyouawayfrom the perspective of Self. For example, if you notice your curiosity isbecoming tingedwith impatience, an impatient part has entered the stage andyouarebeginningtoidentifyorblendwiththispart.Tounblendfromapart,asktheparttostepasidesoyoucangettoknowit.

You can visualize yourself standing some distance away to reinforce theunblending.Onceyouareunblended,youshouldfindyourselfonceagain inastateofSelf:curious,compassionate,and/oropen. If that’snot thecase,checkfor any new parts (perhaps an inner judge or an angry part) and repeat theunblending process. If a part is resistant, ask it what they are concerned willhappeniftheyunblendandaddresstheirconcerns.Forexample,ifthey’reafraidyou’llleaveiftheyunblend,assurethemyouwillnot.Remember this process as you begin to work with an exile. If you notice

yourselfstartingtotakeontheemotionsoftheexile—andtheycanbeintense—pauseandfollowtheunblendingprocess.IalsohighlyrecommendusingReikibecause it brings you back to yourself, which is where youwant to bewheninteractingwiththeseparts.Forexample,placeyourhandsoveryourbellyandheartandallowReikitoflow.Inthefollowingexercise,youwillbeginthejourneyofgettingtoknowand

healoneofyourinnerexiles,aprocesswe’llcontinueinlaterchapters.Beforeyou begin, go over your journal entry from Exercise Three, and refresh yourmemory of the Focus Part; this is the protector youwill be contacting in thisexercise.

ExerciseSixteen:EncounteringanInnerExileEnterintoameditativestate(page26).Bringyourawarenesstothecontainerofyourbody.Feelhowyourbody

contains you, how it provides the space in which you live. Run yourawarenessover the entire surfaceof yourbody fromcrown to feet on allsides. Say to yourself three times, “My sacred container is healthy andbalancedonalllevels.”

Breatheintoyourbody,feelingthecontainedspaceexpandtoholdmoreair,thenrelease,noticingthechangesinyourcontainerasyouexhalealloftheairout.Repeatforafewbreaths.Bringyourawarenesstoyourinnerfire.Locatewhereinyourbodyyou

feelthefiremostintensely,andseeyourinnercampfireburning.Ifithelpsyouconnect,placeyourhandsoverthispartofyourbodywhileyoudeepentheimageofthesacredcampfireinyourmind.Seeyourself sittingdownnext toyour inner fire.Giveyourself time to

attune to its energy, breathing as you gaze into the flames, feeling yourdeep,unbreakableconnectiontothissacredflame.Nowbring tomind theFocusPart fromExerciseThreeand invite it to

joinyounearthefire.Youmightcallitbyname,visualizeit,envisionthemeditation inwhich you firstmet, or use anymethod that allows you toreconnect with this part. Maintain the image of the fire and you sittingbesideitandwaitfortheFocusParttoappear.Whenyoufeelorseeorotherwisesensethepresenceofthispartjoining

you by the fire, allow it to sit with you for a while. Simply breathe,acknowledgeitwithanodandasmile,andmaintainyouropenawarenessandcuriosity.Ifneeded,unblendfromtheFocusPartoranynewpartsthatariseandplaceahandonyourbellyandheart,allowingReikitobringyoubackintoSelf.Whenyoufeelready,speakwiththepartandaskittoshowyouwhenit

firstappearedinyourlife.Allowanyimagesordirectknowingtounfold.Iftheprotectorisallowingyouaccesstotheexile,youwilllikelybeshownaliteralorsymbolicscenefromyourlifeinwhichyouwillmeettheexile,ortheexilepartwillsimplyappear.Ifthisdoesn’thappen,checkbackinwiththeprotectorbythefire.Askitspermissioninseeingwhenitfirstappearedinyour life. If it has concernsorobjections, address thoseconcerns fromtheSelf.Forexample,ifit’safraidthatthepainofthesememorieswillbetoomuchforyoutohandle,assureitthatyouwillstayinSelf;youaren’tseeking to flood yourselfwith this pain, youwant towitness it from thegroundedplaceofSelf.Iftheprotectorstillwillnotgiveyouaccess,don’tforcetheprocess.ThiscouldbeasignthatyouhaveslippedoutofSelfand

arenowblendedwith,say,ajudgmentalpart,andtheprotectorsensesthis.Inthiscase,askthejudgmentalparttoseparatefromyou,andallowReikito help you recenter in Self before trying again. Alternatively, you mayneedtofocusonbuildingadeeperrelationshipwiththeprotectorbeforeittrustsyouenoughtoallowaccesstotheexile.Inthiscase,continueaskingquestionstoget toknowtheprotector,suchas,“Whatdoyouneedmetoknowaboutyou?”and“Isthereanythingthatyouneedfromme?”

If you are granted access to the exile, get to know it, just as you did theprotector.Askitwhatitwantsyoutoknowaboutit.Askittotellyouitsstory.Askwhatitneedsfromyou.Checkinasneededtoseeifyouareblendingwiththe exile, then follow the steps for unblending, and place your hands on yourbellyandhearttoallowtheflowofReikitoassistyouinreturningtoSelf.When this process feels complete, invite the protector, exile, and any other

partsthatappearedtostaybytheinnercampfire.Tellthemyouwillbebacktoseethemagainsoonandthankthemforbeinghereandsharingtheirexperience.Sayyourgoodbyesandpreparetocomeoutofthemeditation.Graduallylettheimageofthecampfirefadeuntilthescreenofyourmindisempty.Returnyourselftoanormalstateofconsciousness(page25–page26).Journalaboutyourexperience,andifyoumetanexileoranyothernewparts,

writedownasmanydetailsabouteachpartthatyoucanremember.Imagineyouarecreatinganinternaldirectoryoftheseparts,makingiteasiertocontacttheminfuturesessions.Inthischapter,youmadecontactwiththewatersoftheunconscious,bringing

thehealingpowerofawareness topreviouslyhiddenaspectsofyourself,partsthatmayhavebeen trapped at earlier stages of development.This is powerfulstuff, and by bringing Reiki into the process, you have invited the Divine toguideyou,infusingthisworkwithinfinitehealingpotential.Inthenextchapter,you’ll move on to the third step of self-transformation, Polarizing, which isdesignedtosuperchargeyourinternalbattery.

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POLARIZATION

Thenextself-transformationstepisPolarization.Here,wedeepenourawarenessoftheinternalpolaritythatservesasourcreativeengine.Likethetwopolesofabattery,wecontainthedualityofactiveenergyandreceptiveenergy,andtheirinteractiongeneratesthebattery’scharge,givingrisetoourcreativepowers,justastheOneMind(active)interactedwiththeOneThing(receptive)tocreatetheworld. You can think of these principles we’re about to learn as operatinginstructions. If you were given a machine, it would be of limited usefulnessunlessyouknewwhatitwasforandhowitworked.Similarly,weareallgiventhisinternalpolaritybutifwedon’tunderstandhowitworks(orareunawareofitsexistence),we’llhaveamuchhardertimeutilizingourfullpotential.A Hermetic text called The Kybalion describes the Principle of Polarity as

“Everythingisdual;everythinghaspoles;everythinghas itspairofopposites”(Anonymous2017,18).Allexperienceexistsonaspectrumthatrangesbetweenopposites: love/hate, hot/cold, high/low, and so forth. The power lies inunderstanding how to work with this spectrum more consciously rather thandenying the existence (and power) of a side thatwe’re less comfortablewith.Returningtothemetaphorofthebattery,eachoftheseoppositesisrequiredinorder tocreate thebattery. Ifwe try toeliminateone,wedecouple thebatteryand it no longer produces a charge, and in practice, one of themost commonwayswedecoupleourbatteryisbyprojectingonepoleontoothers.Forexample,ifwecan’townouranger,weprojectit“outthere”andseeanangryworld,andindoingso,weweakenourinternalcharge.Now,tobeclear,thisdoesn’tmeanthatourcharge

comesmerelyfromallowingourselves tobefullofandactingfromaplaceofanger. It means that instead of denying when we are angry, we allow ouremotions to arise, creating space for them to simplybewithout gettingoverlycaughtupintheego’snarrativesaboutwhywe’reangry,whywehavearighttobeangry,andonandon.Weletthestoriesfloatby,returningourfocustooursacred container, the space inwhich the emotional energy is flowing, andwetrust that the intensitywillpass,knowing thatweare improvingourhealthonmany levels by allowing our emotions to exist. In doing so, we have anopportunity to witness and feel our internal polarity.We can feel the energyflaringatonepole—anger—andnaturallyfindingitswaytoaplaceofbalance,perhapssettlingatcalmoracceptance.Wemightstillfeelanger,butourenergyhasshiftedfromtheintensityofoneextremetoamoreblendedpositiononthespectrum.We’llfocushereonactiveandreceptiveenergiesbecausethesetwoforcesare

theingredientsnecessaryforcreatingeverythinginyourlifefromyourphysicalandfinancialhealth,toyourrelationships,moods,job,andsoon.LearninghowtoworkwiththeseenergiesisoneofthemostpowerfullifetoolsIhavefound,andmyexperiencehasledmetoidentifyfiveactivepowersandfivereceptivepowersIcollectivelycallthetenDivinepowers.

TheTenDivinePowersThefivereceptivepowers:1.Gestationalsleep2.Receptivelistening3.Spiritualsynthesis4.Selflesssupport5.Laboroflove

Thefiveactivepowers:6.Restorativesleep7.Courageouschampioning8.Self-sovereignty9.Consciousclearing10.Purposefulprocurement

Gestationalsleepis theabilitytomoveinwardandallowyourself totrulyrest,bothintheformofphysicalsleepbutalsomental,emotional,andspiritualrest.In this state of quiet enfoldment you are able to gestate your creations—theseeds of what will eventually sprout and bear fruit in your life. Withoutgestationalsleep,yourcreativecapacityisshort-circuited;youmightfeeldevoidof ideas or describe yourself as not very creative, while in truth, we all aredivinely creative beings. You might feel stuck and unable to envision newpossibilities, or the mere thought of pursuing those possibilities exhausts oroverwhelmsyoubeforeyouevenbegin.Receptivelisteningisbeingabletolisteninconversationaswellasadeeper

listening that comes in many forms such as listening to your body and yourhigherwisdom,totheDivineperhapsintheformofcommunicatingwithguides,andbeingopen tonew ideasand lessons.Whenweareunable to tap intoourreceptivity,weblockchange,growth,andblessingsfromenteringourlife.Ifyouhear yourself repeating the same stories again and again or thinking the samethoughtsonrepeat,thisisacluethatyourinternalstateisoneofrecycling.Notalotofnewenergyiscomingin,soyou’recontinuallychurningaroundthesame

old, same old in a relatively closed system. Additionally, if you feel likeeverythingrestsonyourshouldersorotherscan’tbetrustedtodothingsright,thisisasignalthatyourreceptiveabilitiesneedtobeactivated.Spiritual synthesis is the ability to see common threads running throughout

your lifeandallexistence.Synchronicity isa formofcommunicationwith theUniverse, and the power of spiritual synthesis allows you to tap into thisconversation and access awisdom far beyond the confines of your individualmind. It also helps you take this information and integrate it in daily living,which is how true wisdom is cultivated. If we were to ground this powerspecificallyintheareaofphysicalwellness,forexample,spiritualsynthesiscanhelpyousiftthroughtheoverwhelmingbarrageofconflictinghealthinformationinordertocreateaholisticwellnessplanthatworksforyouruniquebody.Wecantakethissynthesisastepfurtherbyintegratingnotonlyyourphysicaleffortsbut also your spiritual practice and emotional and mental health into yourwellnessplan.Selfless support came to me intuitively as the archetypal relationship of

MotherandChild.TheMother is fullyengaged insupporting theChild, ratherthancompetingwiththeChildoutofafearthattheChild’ssuccesswillupstagetheMother.TheparadoxisthatthisdivineselflesssupportarisesfromthedeepknowingthatweareallOne,sowhentheMotherissupportingtheChild,sheissimultaneously supporting herself. This power expresses itself not only in ourrelationships with others but also in howwe relate to and care for ourselves.When mastered, this power heals dysfunctional expressions of this energy:codependency,amartyrcomplex,andnarcissisminsomeofitsforms.Thephrase“laboroflove”referstothecreationofsomethingfromaplaceof

pure love. It’seasy tograspwhenwe lookatways tobirthsomething thatarenotarisingfromthisplaceoflove.Someonemightwanttohaveachildbecausetheirintimaterelationshipisn’tsatisfyingandthey’rehopingachildwillfulfilltheirunmetneeds.Orperhaps someonecreates abusiness solelybecause theywant tomakemoney (not thatmakingmoney isunhealthy,but a creation thatarisessolelyfromaplaceofneedratherthanlovewillbeimbuedwithdifferentqualities). In contrast, a labor of love is birthed because the creator simplycannot help it; the creation is bursting forth spontaneously as a result of love.

Youmight think of an artistwho can’t help but paint; they have ideaswithinthemthatsimplymustcomeout.Let’sshiftnowtothefiveactivepowers,andthenwe’lldiscusswherethereal

magichappens:intheinteractionbetweenthetwo.Thefirstactivepower isrestorativesleep.If theactiveenergyisperpetually

on the go, itwill become depleted. It needs time to rest and recharge, and aswe’ll talk about shortly, connect with the wellspring of receptive energy, itssourceof inspirationandnourishment.Without this connectionandnourishingfallowperiod,theactivefizzlesout.Ifyoufinditeasiertostartprojectsthantofinishthemorhavealotofenthusiasmthatdoesn’tseemtoleadtoproductiveaction,youmightbeinneedofrestorativesleep.Aswiththereceptiveform,thisrefersasmuchtothephysicalactofsleepingasitdoestoemotional,mental,andspiritualtimesofrest.Courageouschampioningisthepoweroflivingintheworldandassertingthe

value of your gifts,which are a product of your receptive and active energiesworking together. Recall in chapter 3, Joseph Campbell’s assertion that thejourneyofretrievingtreasuresfromourdepths ismerelypartof thechallenge;oftenthemostdifficultstepliesinbringingthosetreasuresbackintotheworldand having the courage to share those gifts with others. For example, if youcreateabusinessbuttheenergyofcourageouschampioningisnotactivated,youmightunderchargeforyourservicesorfailtodoanymarketing.Theendresultis that your creation—the business—falters or fails because it is not beingchampionedanditsvaluegoesunrecognized.Self-sovereignty is the inner seat of true power. When this energy is

dysfunctional, it seeks to attain a senseof rulershipbydominationof self andothers.Whenhealthy,itnolongerneedstogoarounddominatingeverythinginsightbecauseitrestsintheassurednessofitsowninnerpower,whichcannotbetaken away by any external force. If this power lies untapped within you, itmight manifest as being very controlling of yourself (strict diets, punishinghabitsandself-talk)andcontrollingofothers.Itmightseemparadoxical,butthiscontrollingbehaviorisusuallypairedwithequallyout-of-controlbehavior—forexample,adheringtoarigidlystrictdietinterspersedwithboutsofbingeeating.Again,thisisaresultofbeingdisconnectedfromtrueinnerpower(feelingout

ofcontrol)andthebacklashthatfollows(attemptingtoregaincontrolbybeingoverlyrigid).Consciousclearingisthepowerofremovingobstructions,ofclearingthepath

sothattheoutpouringofyourcreativeenergyisn’tblockedorimpeded.Ifyouhavegoodideas,butseeminglyinsurmountableobstaclesroutinelyappear, thisisoftenasignthatthechannelisblocked.Here’sanexampleofthisinaction:Anacquaintancewasexplainingabusinessidea,andwhileitwasclearthattheyhad a lot of passion and weren’t lacking in energy or motivation, theirdescription was so convoluted I could barely figure out what, exactly, thebusinesswouldbeoffering!Iseethisasanideatravelingthroughcloggedpipes,backtrackingthiswayandthatas it tries tofindaclearroute, leavingoneinastateofconfusionandstuckness.Purposefulprocurementistheactofengagingwiththeworld,identifyingand

procuring what you need in order to fulfill your soul’s purpose. Our activeenergiesarewiredtoseekoutandmergewith theircomplement,ourreceptiveenergies,butwhenthebridgebetweenthetwoisdamaged, theactiveenergy’sseeking can become obsessive.What it seeks takes on the form of a mirage,always just out of reach, and the dysfunctional active energy spends its lifetryingtoclosethegapbyseekingmorestuff,morerelationships,moreeventsonthesocialcalendar,andsoon,whileneveractuallymergingwith thereceptiveenergy it desires. When the power of purposeful procurement is activated,however,weareable tomove through theworldseekingandfindingwhatweneed to further our evolution rather thanmindlessly amassingmore andmorestuffthatsimplycluttersupourchannelsandblocksusfromtruesatisfaction.Nowthatwehaveabasicgraspofthetendivinepowers,let’stalkaboutthe

importanceofthedialoguebetweenthetwo:thedivinemarriage.Wecanlookatthisinteractioninvariousforms:onewaytoenvisionitistoimaginetheactiveenergyprotectingandsupportingthereceptivesothat thereceptiveenergycanfocus on what it does best. In turn, the receptive nourishes and supports theactive so it can focus on doingwhat it does best, and around and around thecyclegoes.Forexample,theactiveenergyengageswiththeworld,performingits outward-projecting functions (recall the thought rays of the One Mindtraveling outward), freeing the receptive energy so it can turn inward and do

deep,creativework(theOneThinggestatingandcreatingtheworld).Here’sanexample of what can happen if this dialogue between receptive and active isthwarted: Let’s say the active energy isn’t “pulling its weight” (which canhappen when this energy isn’t well developed within us and/or when we’reprojectingtheseenergiesinsteadofowningthem),sothereceptiveenergyhastowork overtime and perform both receptive and active duty. When receptiveenergy tries to fulfill an active role, this action assumes less functional formsbecausethisisn’tthereceptive’sstrongsuit.Ifwe’reaskingourreceptiveenergytocarryouttheactivepowerofpurposefulprocurement,thereceptivewillmoveoutwardandtrytoprocurewhatweneedbutinamannerthathasadistinctivelyreceptive flavor to it: that of nurturing and giving. In practice, this mightmanifestasthereceptivestrikingabargaintonourishandgiveinexchangeforgettingwhatitneeds.Incontrast,activeenergygoesout,identifiesthenecessaryingredientsforthe

soul’s path, and procures them without apology. Take a squirrel hunting foracorns to satisfy its hunger and stay alive.When it finds one, it doesn’t feelguilty(asfarasweknow)abouttakingtheacorn;itjusttakesit.Aftereatingtheacorn, the squirrel will eventually give back to the ecosystem in the form offertilizing squirrel poo.When the squirrel is in active-energy mode gatheringacorns, it isn’tworriedaboutwhen it’sgoing to“payback” the tree foreatingthe acorn. The active and receptive energies are in communication, and thesquirrel knows that one will naturally follow the other—no bargaining orapologizingneeded.How does this energetic power use look in human terms? One way this

behaviormanifestsisthroughcodependency.Apersonneedsandwantscertainthingsbutforvariousreasonsmaynotknowhowtogoaboutgettingneedsmetin a healthy manner, so instead they do things for other people with thesubconsciousexpectationthattheotherpersonwillreciprocate.Insimplerterms,let’s sayMarkwants to feel appreciatedbutheeitherdoesn’tknow this abouthimself or isn’t comfortable expressing this need. Instead, he lavishesappreciationonhisboyfriend,Alex,subconsciously(orconsciously)hopingthatAlexwillreturnthefavor.IfAlexdoesn’tpickuponMark’sunexpressedneeds,Mark will feel unappreciated and resentful: the markings of a codependent

relationship. Contrast this to Mark clearly expressing his needs (his activeenergy courageously championing for his receptive need) and Alex gladlyreciprocates because he is no longer expected to read his boyfriend’s mind.Mark’s receptive energy is then able to receive this appreciation, and togethertheycanbuildthefoundationforahealthier,morenurturingrelationship.Anotherexample:Let’ssaytheactiveisdisconnectedfromthereceptive,thus

it feels separated from the infinite wellspring of creative potential andnourishmentthatthereceptiverepresentsandinsteadexistsinastateoffearthatit’snotenough. It respondswith theveryactive toolsat itsdisposal:bygoingout into theworld and aggressively attempting to obtain thesewellsprings foritself, essentially seeking to own these sources of nourishment and“enoughness.” This manifests as trying to exert power over instead ofdeveloping power within. In practical terms, we see this in the devastatingtraumaofrape,bothofpeopleandoftheEarth,andinwarandtyranny.Thisisnottruesovereignty;thisisacontrollingforcethatisattemptingtorecreatethelost feelingsof empowerment andconnectionbyexertingdysfunctionalpowerover others. The cycle continues when the active, now so cut off from thecapacityofthereceptivethatitnolongertrustsinthesepowers,startstodevaluereceptivity,equatingitwithweakness.Whentheactivenolongervaluesortrustsin the immensepowerof the receptive, it seeks to suppress receptive energiesandobtain“power”throughtheharmfulmeansmentionedabove.On the flipside, the receptive in this scenario no longer trusts or feels

protectedby theactive,andso the receptive feels that it toohas to fulfillbothenergeticrolesonitsown,leavingthereceptivedepletedandunabletocreatetoits fullpotential.Thiscouldmanifestasworking longhoursandfighting forapromotionfromaplaceoffearthattherewillneverbeenough(i.e.,thereceptiveisunabletocountontheactiveforsupport),suchthatthereislittleifanytimefor self-care. This person’s receptive energy starts to wither and dry up, andbecausethereceptiveisasourceofnourishmentfortheactive,theiractionsareunsustainable and eventually lead to burnout and collapse. To postpone theinevitable collapse, theymight seek shadow forms of “nourishment,” such ascoffee, sugar, recreational or prescription drugs, unhealthy relationships, or

excessiveTVwatchingorFacebookchecking,noneofwhichleavethemfeelingtrulyreplenished.It is not enough to have well-functioning receptive energy and well-

functioningactiveenergyinisolation;theymustexistinproductivedialogue.Asimpleexerciseillustratesthiswell:Walkinastraightline,allowingyourarmstoswingfreelyatyoursides.Asyoumove,noticethatwhenyourrightlegstepsforward, thismovement ispairedbyyour left armswinging forward.Now trydisrupting thispatternbymovingbothyour right legand rightarmforwardatthesametime,followedbytheleftlegandleftarmmovingforward.Nodoubtyou feel (and look) like a toy soldier,mechanically jolting forwardwith eachawkwardstep.Thiswalkwouldn’tbemadeanylessawkwardbyincreasingthestrengthofyourarmsandlegs;youneedtheoppositionofrightandlefttobringfluidityandeasetoyourforwardmovement,andyourenergyismuchthesame.Inordertotapintoyourfullpower,theactiveandreceptiveenergiesmustbeinhealthy dialogue, partnered together in the divine marriage. When thiscommuniontakesplace,youareabletobirthalifeofpurposeandpassioninawaythatissustainableandsatisfying,notdraininganddepleting.Youareabletomoveforwardinlifewithfluidityandgrace.

WorkingwiththeDivinePowersWe’regoingtoworkwitheachofthetenpowersthroughmeditationanddailylifepractices.AswiththeReikitechniquesinchapter3,theideaistoreallypayattentiontowhatyoufeelasyoudotheexercises,becauseyou’relearningwhatthese energies feel like for you. This is more important than simply goingthroughthemotionsanddoingit“right,”althoughagain,there’snothingwrongwithgoingthroughthemotionswithintentionuntilthefeelingskickin.ManyofthefollowingexercisesaskthatyouestablishaflowofReikithrough

your crown chakra and into your tanden as described here. Refer to theseinstructionswhenindicatedinfutureexercises.

EstablishingaFlowofReikiBringyourawarenesstoyourlowerbelly,toyourtanden,andbegintobreatheinthroughyournosewiththetipofyourtonguelightlytouchingtheroofofyourmouth.Exhalethroughyourmouth,lettingyourtonguerelease.Continue this pattern for a fewmore rounds, thenwith each inhale, start to

bring Reiki down through your crown and into your tanden. On the exhale,maintain theReiki inyour tanden, letting it swirlandbuild in this lowerbellyenergycenter.Continuewiththerestoftheexercise.

GestationalSleepThemetaphor of the seed or egg is really useful, because gestational sleep iscarriedoutwiththeintentionofpavingthewayforfuturegrowthandexpansion.Our creations need time and space to gestate, time to stew and brew as theydevelopintotheirfullexpression,likeaseedthatneedstimeandspacetosprout.Just as you wouldn’t be angry at a seed if it didn’t sprout immediately,acknowledgingthatourowncreationsneedtimeallowsustobepatientwhenonthe surface, nothingmuch seems to be happening.A powerfulway to deepenyourconnectiontogestationalsleepis torecognizethatyoupossessthepowerofcreation.This isnotapower that resides somewherecalled“out there”youmustsomehowearnorobtain.Whatisnecessaryisembracingthisinnatepowerandnurturingit.Whenwe’reconvincedthatwhatwe’reseekingisexternal,weremainblindtothepotentcreativecapabilitieswithinlyingdormant.Toopenaconnectiontotheenergyofgestationalsleep,let’sdoasimplemeditation.

ExerciseSeventeen:TheGoldenEggIfyoulike,burnanearthyincenselikepatchouliforthismeditation.Bringyourselfintoameditativestate(page26).EstablishaflowofReiki(page125).Visualize thisenergycoalescing into theshapeofagoldenegg inyour

tanden.Takeyourtime,andonceyouhaveconjuredthisimage,holditinyourmindasyoubreathenaturally. If the image falters, simplybring thegoldeneggbackintofocus.Saytoyourselfthreetimes,“Ifullyactivatemycreativepowersinaway

that is correct and good for me.” Continue to breathe and focus on thegoldenegg.Saythreetimes,“Iattunemyselfwiththepowerofgestationalsleep.”Letanysensationsorfeelingsariseinyourbody,mind,andsoulasyou

simplysitandbreatheforafewmorerounds.Whentheexperiencefeelscomplete,releasetheimageofthegoldenegg.

Ifyou’refeelinglightheadedorspacey,bringyourawarenesstoyourcrownchakraandsettheintentiontoreturntoanormal,balancedstateforyou.If

needed,visualizeanyexcessenergyflowingintotheearththroughthebaseofyourspineorthebottomsofyourfeet,leavingyouenergizedbutwithoutanyjittersfromanoverabundanceofenergy.Bringyourselfoutofthemeditativestate(page26–page27).Giveyourselftimetojournalabouttheexperience,inparticularmaking

noteofanysensationsthatwillhelpyougetafeelfortheenergeticqualitiesof gestational sleep. Was there an energetic weightiness or a sense ofturning inward?Didyou feelmore rooted to the earth?Didyour internallandscapefeeldarker,quieter,orlush?Begintolearnwhatthispowerfeelslikesoyoucanmoreeasilycultivateitwhenneededandrecognizeitwhenyouareexperiencingit.

Foryourdaily lifepractices, focuson thequalityofyour sleep,particularlyyour ability to carve out time for needed rest. Are you staying up too latewatching Netflix or scrolling through your Facebook feed? Are you overscheduling yourself socially?Are you trying to fit in earlymorningworkoutswhenwhatyourbodyreallycravesismorerest?Inordertotapintoandsustainourcreativecapabilities,wemustbefiercelyprotectivelikeamamabearofourdowntime.Ifyouhavesocialplanseverysingledaythisweek,nextweekcarveout at least one day for yourself. If we are constantly surrounded by otherpeople,it’shardtoconnecttothedarkstillnesswithin,ourfertileinnergroundinwhich toplantourcreativeseeds, so it’s important toconsciouslycarveoutsolitude,particularlyifthepowerofgestationalsleepfeelsoutofbalancewithinus.Thisbringsustoanotherimportantqualityofgestationalsleep:silence.When

we are in constant communication with external forces, be it in the form ofmedia, friends and family,orother stimuli suchas shoppingorbeing stuck intraffic, we can lose focus on what matters to us and only us, those personaldesirescradledintheseatofoursoul.Andwhenwelosetouchwiththesedeeplypersonaldesires,wefeelaimlessandmoreeasilysweptintootherpeople’sideasofwhatitmeanstofindsuccess.Inthisdisconnectedstateofbeing,it’salltooeasy to get caught up in seeking approval and external validation becausewearen’tconnectedtoourownmetricsofhappinessandwell-being;we’relocked

intoachievingexternalawards,honors,andpatsonthebacktofeellikewe’reontherighttrack.Ingestationalsilence,wereconnectwithoursoultruthandlearnhow to cultivate the fertile soil for this truth to take root and blossom in ourlives.Gestationalsleep,likeallofthedivinepowers,isfarvasterinscopeandmore

multidimensional thanwe could possibly tackle in the allotted space, but herearesomeadditionalwaystoexplorethispowerinyourlife.

Practiceallowingenergiestobuildbeforereleasingthemwhetherintheformofmoneyinasavingsaccount,creativeideaspriortomanifestation,oremotionsbeforechoosingamindfulcourseofaction.Cultivateagestationalpauseofsilenceandseehowthistransformstheeventsthatfollow.

Playwiththepowerofsilenceinsituationswhereyourinclinationistotalk.Forexample,ifyou’reexcitedaboutanewprojectyou’reworkingon,spendafewdayssimplyenjoyingtheexcitementandcontainingthatenergybeforereleasingitintheformoftalking.Ontheflipside,ifyou’refeelingfrustratedandhavetheurgetogossiporcomplain,trysittingwiththethoughtsandemotionsfortwenty-fourhoursandseeinghowtheytransformbeforedecidingwhetherornottospeak.

Ifyoufindyourselfworryingaboutsomething,writeitdownonaslipofpapertogetoutanythoughtsandconcernsyoumighthave.Puttheslipofpaperinaboxwithalid.Placetheboxsomewheredark(notunderyourbed),suchasacloset,wrappedinablanket,orburiedshallowlyinthegroundandsay,“Icallonthepowerofgestationalsleeptotransformthissituation.”Waitthreedays,duringwhichtimedoyourbesttoreleaseanyworriesorthoughtsthatarise;remindyourselfoftheboxandknowthatyourconcernsaresecurelyheldandaregestating,“solving”theproblemforyou.Attheendofthreedays,opentheboxandtakenoteofhowyoufeelaboutthesituation.Youcanthenburnthepaperandburytheashesintheearth.

ReceptiveListeningTherearemanyformsoflisteningandreceptivelistening,inparticular,asksustoremaintrulyopen,toremainreceptive.Weoftenbringourpreconceivedideaswithusinconversationwithanother,inourinternaldialogue,orinthewayswelookatandprocessourexperiencesoftheworld.Whenwebecomemoreawareof these preconceived notions (something our work with projections helps usdo),wecanconsciouslysetthemasideevenifjustforthespanofaconversationandadoptamental,physical,andspiritualpostureofopenness.Inthisspace,welearn.Wegrow.Wechange.Wearen’tsimplyrecyclingthesamethoughtsandideas;we’reactivelyreceivingnewwaysofbeingintheworld.Ashealers,thisabilityisespeciallyimportantbecauseeachclientisunique;if

wesimplyoverlayourpreviousideasontoaclient’sexperience,wearelimitingourabilitytoseeanindividualforwhotheytrulyare.Manyofusmovethroughlifehavingrelativelyfewexperiencesinwhichanotherpersonistrulylistening,genuinely focused on witnessing our authentic expression without judging,waiting for their turn to speak, or evaluating our expression to determinewhetherornottheyagree.Toprovideaspacewhereyourclientscanfeeldeeplyseenandheardisinandofitselftheverystuffofhealing.Providingthissacredspace is the singlemost transformative technique,more than anyother energyworkorfancybellsandwhistles.Treatpeoplelikeabookcontainingfascinatingsecretsanddeepwisdomthat requirepatienceandreceptivity toreveal. In thisspace, their soulwill feel safe enough to converse, and that’swhenyouknowyou’re reallygetting somewherenotdistractedby small talkor symptomsandyou’remakingcontactwiththeheartofhowtheyneedandwanttoheal.Tohelpourselvesandothersreconnectwithwholeness,wemustremainopen

to the immense variety of possible expressions of that wholeness, even whenthey seem contradictory in nature. As Hugh Milne writes, “Go beyond theanalyticmind.Go forwhat is present, notwhat youwould prefer to be there.Incorporate thecomplexitiesofcontradictory truths intoyourbeing.Only thenwillyoubepresent inallofyourquietenergeticsplendor” (Milne1998,135).The more you are able to cultivate this presence within yourself and bear

compassionatewitness to those numerous complexities of contradictory truthswithinyourself,themoreyouwillbeabletoprovidethisspaceforothers.Another aspect of receptive listening is being aware that we take in

informationfromavarietyofsources,afactthatbecomesclearwhenweexpandour notion of information as strictly the currency of rational, linear thinking.Functional medicine doctor Mark Hyman encourages us to think of food asinformation.Whenyoueatapieceofkale,whatinformationareyousendingtoyourgenes,toyourendocrinesystem,toyourbrain?WhataboutwhenyoueataTwinkie? Energy worker Cyndi Dale writes that “energy is information thatvibrates,”andwhenweexpandourdefinitionofinformation,weseethattherearemanyformsofreceptivelistening.WecanlistenwithourhandswhilegivingReiki(Dale2009,18).Wecanlistenwithourthirdeyewhenwe’retuningintointuitiveguidance.Wecanlistenwithourheartrateandnoticewhenit’sracingduetostressanduseourbreathtobringourheartbeatintoagentlerrhythm.One concept in nature I find particularly interesting is mycorrhizal

associations,whicharepartnershipsofvastnetworksof fungus in the soil andplant roots through which plants can communicate with each other. Thephenomenon has been dubbed the “wood wide web” by some scientists, andaccording to theBBC,“by linking to the fungalnetwork [plants] canhelpouttheirneighboursbysharingnutrientsandinformation—orsabotageunwelcomeplants by spreading toxic chemicals through the network”(BBC Earth, 2017).Theimageofanetworkofrootsandfungicommunicatingacrossvastdistances,providesthefoundationforournextexerciseinreceptivelistening.

ExerciseEighteen:ListeningThroughtheRootsBringyourselfintoameditativestate(page26).EstablishaflowofReiki(page125).Focusonthebaseofyourspine,andimaginerootsextendingfromthis

base,deepintotheearth.Allowtheimagetoexpand:asinglerootbranchesinto many. Appreciate the complexity of your roots, the vastness of thenetworktetheringyoutoandmakingyouonewiththeEarth.Allow the stream of Reiki entering your crown and gathering in your

tandentotraveloutthroughyournetworkofroots,absorbingintotheEarth.

Allow theReiki to continue to flow but release your focus on it. Set theintentiontoreceiveviayourrootstheinformationthatiscorrectandgoodforyouatthistime,thenallowtheexperiencetounfold.Maintain gentle awareness of the root network and allow any thoughts

andsensationstoarise.Youmightseeimages,hearwords,noticethoughtspopintoyourhead,andsoforth.Allowtheinformationtoflowintoyou.Whentheexperiencefeelscomplete,givethanksasfeelsappropriateto

you,andgentlyallowthestreamofReikitotaperoff.Envisionyourrootsreabsorbing into your body, and bring your awareness fully back to yourcenter,yourtanden.Returntoanormalstateofconsciousness(page26–page27).

For your daily practicewith receptive listening, experimentwith this powerboth in conversation with others and within yourself. In conversations, reallypracticetheartofgivinganotherhumanbeingyourfullattention.Sometimeswebecome distracted from this practice because we’re worried we won’t haveanythingtosayoncetheotherpersonisdonetalking.Inmyexperience,thisisrarely thecasebecausewhenwe’repracticingreceptive listening,we’re takinginsomuchinformationthat there’sactuallyanabundanceof thingstorespondto,thingsthatwemighthaveoverlookedwhenwewerebusytryingtothinkofsomething to say. If there is apause, it’s apowerful thing tobe able to enjoymoments of silencewith another personwithout frantically trying to fill themwithsomething,anything.Andyes,Iknowhowuncomfortable thiscanfeelatfirst. Inmanycultures,peoplearesociallyconditioned toviewthesepausesasawkward,butlikeallofourpractices,itsimplytakestimetoadjusttoanewwayofrelatingtotheworld,onethatdoesnotinvolveattackingeverysinglemomentofsilencewithaverbalhatchet.Usethesemomentsasanopportunitytositwiththe feelings that arise, possibly with a relaxed, open smile on your face thatalertsyourconversationcompanionthatalliswellandthere’snoneedtopanic.Thisdailypracticeof receptive listeningcanbedone internallybyallowing

for silence and pauses in your mental chatter. I find the breath helpful incultivating thesepauses, focusingmyattentionon the inhales and exhales andletting everything else drop away, even for just a few breath cycles, perhaps

whilewaitingfor tea tosteeporsitting in traffic. In thosemomentsofsilence,set the intention to listen receptively and be open to receiving informationthrough myriad ways: physical sensations, thoughts and memories, desires,images,therefrainfromasongyouhaven’theardinawhile,abirdlandingonthewindowsill,etcetera.Theuniverse is inconstantcommunicationwithyou,and receptive listening is a powerful way to interact with this web ofsynchronicity.Thewebisheretoguideyouinstepwithyoursoul,andthemorewestaypresentwithopeneyesandanopenheart,themorewebecomeawareofwhatisactuallyoccurring,overourego’sinterpretations,andfromthisvantagepointweareledtowiserchoicesinmattersbigandsmall.

Additionalwaystoworkwiththepowerofreceptivelistening:

Thenexttimeyouarefacedwithadecision,giveyourselfsometimetotuneintoyourbodilysensations.Resisttheurgetouseyourmindtoanalyzethesituation.Focusinsteadonhowyoufeelinyourbody.Whenyoubringthedecisiontomind,doyoufeelasenseofexpansionorconstrictioninyourbody?Doesyoursenseoftemperaturechange?Doyounoticearinginginyourearsorthefirsttwingeofaheadache?Doyougetexcitedbutterfliesinyourstomach?Basedsolelyonbodilysensations,whatoptionfeelsbest?

Forthenexthour,payattentiontoyourthoughtswithoutjudgment,resistingtheurgetogetengagedbyagreeing,disagreeing,orotherwiselatchingontothem.Justnoticewhattheyare.Reallylistentoyourinternaldialogue.Wouldyousaythesethingstosomeoneyoulove?Ifnot,whatsortsofthingswouldyouliketohearinstead?

Experiencebeinginasafespaceblindfoldedforashortperiodoftime.Whatdoyounoticewhenyoucan’trelyonsight?

SpiritualSynthesisI find that one of the more challenging aspects of spiritual practice issurrendering to divine flow without knowing where the flow goes beyond,perhaps,thenextoneortwosteps.Asarecoveringcontroladdict,Iliketohaveeverythingmappedout,butlivingasoul-ledlifeisanentirelydifferentanimal.This doesn’t mean I can’t plan at all, but I am more keenly aware of thelimitations of those plans. Plans are a nice starting point, but rarely do thingsunfoldprecisely according to them, and if I attempt to force events I generatemore stress for myself (and others) while limiting the abundance I canexperience.We talked earlier about using synchronicity as a guide like lights on the

riverbanks of divine flow that ensure we stay in tune with the river. Withspiritual synthesis, we interpret daily experiences through the lens ofsynchronicity using the details of our life as lights guiding our way. Usingreceptive listening, we learn how to engage in constant dialogue with theuniverse,payingattentiontoabirdthatswoopsoverourpathwhilewe’reoutforahikeoraninsectcrawlingonourwindshieldasweloadgroceriesintothecar.Wemakenoteofsomethingafriendsaysthatreallystrikesachordorthelyricsto a song that stickwith us all afternoon.We listen to our dreams, our innervoice,ourbodies’ signals.And throughspiritual synthesiswebegin to see thecommonthreadsandweavethemintoalifeofmagic.Thatcardinalremindsusofourdreamlastnightinwhichwewerecaughtinahouse,ablazewithbrightredflames.Atlunch,wetuneintoatwingeofheartburnthatagainremindsusoffire,andwefeelinspiredtolookatnaturalwaystohealheartburnbyadjustingwhatweeat.Andthatnightinmeditationwereceiveintuitiveurgingtolookatthe emotional and symbolic meaning of “heart burn.” What pain are weharboringinourheartthatisyearningtobehonoredandtransformed?Howdoesitrelatetoourdreamoftheburninghouse?This is the art of spiritual synthesis: seeing the common threads in our

dialoguewiththeuniverseandusingthosethreadstoguideusonourpath,onestepata time.Usingtheaboveexample,rarelywillwegetonegiantchunkofinformation thatmaps out everythingwe need to do to heal our physical and

emotionalheartburn.Wewill,however,getbite-sizedchunksofinformationthatwecanuserightnow.Whenweusethem,wearethengivenmore.Wegetstuckwhen we postpone taking action until we know the entire plan and refuse toengagewith step one becausewe don’t knowwhat step tenwill be.This is ahabitwemust learn tobreakbecause itwillhaveuswaitingavery long time,indeed.Lifeismorelikeadivinescavengerhunt,eachclueleadingtothenext,and we’ll never move past clue one if we’re not willing to engage with themystery.Andnottobemorbid,butifwetrulyrequireananswertowhattheendholds in terms of this physical lifetime, we already know: death. We’re allheading in that direction, so we might as well make the steps in between asmemorableandrichaspossible.

ExerciseNineteen:DivineScavengerHuntFor a full day, you will undertake a divine scavenger hunt. The nightbefore,chooseaquestiononwhichyouwishtoreceiveguidance.Acoupleof guidelines: be specific and avoid simple yes/no questions. The cleareryourquestionis, theclearertheguidance.Replacethis:“Idon’tknowifIshouldtakethejobdowntownoriftheoneoutinthesuburbswillbebetterforme.Ihategettingstuckintraffic,andIguessdowntowntrafficwillbeworsethattimeofday,but…”withthis:“Whichjobismostinlinewithmysoul’s calling: thedowntownposition, the suburbposition,or anotheroption that I’m not aware of yet?”You’ll often receive informationwithgreater depth when you’re not expecting a simple “yes, do this” or “no,don’tdothat.”RememberthatasLifeAlchemyReikipractitioners,weareconsciously choosing to co-create our lives with the divine; we’re notsimplylookingfortop-downorderstoblindlyfollow.Wewantinformationthatwillchallengeustogrow,change,anddeepenourwisdomonmultiplelevels—atallorderforasimpleyes/noquestiontofill.Onceyouhaveyourquestion,writeitdown.Readyourquestionaloudor

toyourselfwithintentionfirstthinginthemorning.Followitwith,“Today,IamopentoreceivingguidanceinresponsetomyquestioninwaysIamabletounderstand.Thankyou!”Itcanbeeasytolosesightofthehuntas

theeventsofthedaydistractus,solet’sestablishsomehelpfulstructuretokeepusengaged.Bringyourjournalsoyoucanrecordanyguidanceyoureceive.Everytimesomethingresonateswithyou(inapositiveornegativeway;

eitherlightingyouuportriggeringyou),makeanoteofit,suchasaquotethatgrabsyou,abird thatcatchesyoureye,acommentfromaco-workerthatirksyou,andsoon.Ifitresonates,treatitasaclueonyourscavengerhunt.Throughouttheday,everytimeyouchangelocations(movingfromthe

officetoarestaurantforlunch,fromyourdesktotherestroom,andsoon),mentallyrecapyourtimeatthelocationyou’revacatingandmakeanoteofatleastonethingthatresonatedwithyou.Ifmorethantwohoursgobywithoutalocationchange,setanalarmon

your phone and carry out the same process: mentally recap the last twohoursandmakeanoteofatleastoneclue.Thisstructureshouldprovideenoughreinforcementtokeepyouengaged

with the process even amid your busy day. This training is important,because how often do we get to escape to a serene mountaintop ormonasterytodothiswork?Ifyou’relikeme,notvery,sowemusttraininreceivingguidance in the livesweareactually leading, insteadofwaitingfor our future fantasy monkhood in which to feel connected with divinewisdom. With practice, you won’t need this kind of structure; you’llnaturallymakenoteofcluesnomatterwhereyouareorwhatyou’redoing.Building this habit now is a greatway to exercise the power of spiritualsynthesis.Attheendoftheday,giveyourselftimetolookoveryourclues.Doyou

see any themes, even if you can’t fully explain them through logic andlanguage? Do any intuitive knowings arise, possibly in the form ofthoughts, memories, bodily sensations, or emotions? Step away from thecluesfortenminutes,thenreturnandaskyourquestionagain.Ifyoumaketheassumptionthatthesecluessomehowadduptoaresponselikeadivinewordjumble,whatmightthatresponsebe?Youcanalsolookupsomeofyourcluesinbooksoronline.Perhapsyousawacardinalonyourwayto

work, and when you look up cardinal in the field guide the phrase thatresonateswithyouis“accomplishedsongster.”Asyoumuseonthewords,you’re reminded of your desire to take voice lessons. Just for fun youdecidetolookuplocalvoiceteachers,andloandbehold,there’sateachertwo blocks from the downtown job. The thought of taking voice lessonstwonightsaweekafterworkfillsyouwithexcitement,andthisleadsyoutoseeotheraspectsofthedowntownjobthatfeellikeagoodfitrightnow.Engagewiththeclues.Meditateonthem.Askforclarificationifyou’re

notsurewhattheymean.Butmostofall,practicereceptivelistening.Quiteoften, we’re receiving guidance, but we’re so worried the guidance isn’tcoming that we drown it out with fear-based mental chatter and thetendencytooveranalyze.Maketheassumption,evenjustforthisexercise,that theguidance is flowing.Don’tpanic if youcan’thearor see it quiteyet;usethisopportunitytopracticereceptivelisteningandtrustthatitwillcome.“Waitinginvolves‘simply’beingpresent,attentive,andmindful…Itisasifyouconsciouslycreateavacuum[withinyourself],whichnaturewill thereforefill.Therearesomelawsofphysicswedonotknowabout,andtherearesomelawsofgracethatareseldomexperienced”(Milne1998,138).

Otherwaystoengagewiththepowerofspiritualsynthesis:

Meditateorjournalonthispassage:“Wemayfeelfearfulanddenyorhideourselvesfromthechallengesoftheunknownthatlieahead.Intothisnew‘unknown’weprojectourfearsofwhatisworsethanfamiliardiscomforts.Indeedmanyofthefears,guilts,thoughts,andconclusionsweholdaredefensesagainstnotknowing.Thustheabilitytotoleratenotknowingisasignofpsychicstrength.Itatteststothedevelopmentofbasictrustinthe[Source]anditsmeaningfulprocesses.Suchtrustenablestransformation”(Perera2001,269).

Begintoblendyourspiritualpracticeintomoreaspectsofdailyliving.Perhapsdevoteyourexercisesessiontodaytoaspiritualbeingordeityandusethistimetoopentotheirloveandguidance.While

cooking,focusonqualitieslikeloveoranopennesstochange,imaginingthementeringthefoodasyoustirorsprinklejustlikephysicalingredients.Whatareotherwaysyoucancoaxoutthemagichiddeninthemundane?

SelflessSupportTotap into thepowerofselflesssupport,wearegoing to focusonseeingandfeeling the connectionbetween takingcareofyourself andbeingof service toothers.Ashealers, it’s far tooeasy toput self-careafter thecareofothersbutthis simply isn’t sustainable, nor arewe able to bring our best to our healingwork when we do this. Remember, we cannot give to others what we areunwillingtogivetoourselves,soifyoupushyourselfwiththewhipofaninnertyrant, this energy is affecting your interactions with others, even if youconsciouslystrivetobegentleandacceptingoftheirstruggles.Theeasiestwayto ensurewe’renotunloadingourownpsychicbaggageontoothers is to takecareofourselves.Likealldivinepowers,selflesssupporthasashadowside:codependencyand

amartyr complex.Whenournaturaldesire andability to care forourselves isstunted,wedon’tloseourneedforself-care;insteadwetrytoachieveitthroughlessdirectmeans,likecodependentlysupportingothersinthehopethattheywillreturnthefavororplayingthemartyrorvictimwiththedesirethatsomeonewilltake care of us in the ways we aren’t caring for ourselves. There are manyreasons we do this that typically reach back to childhood. If our primarycaregiverswereunableorunwillingtogiveusadequatecareratherthanassumeit was because they were lacking as caregivers (to a child, this notion isterrifying) we think there must be something wrong with us, making usundeservingofcare.Traumaandabusealsothwarthealthychannelsofself-careinprofoundways.Andaswomen living in a culture that idealizes the selflessmother and wife, most of us have internalized to some degree the damagingmessagethatweareselfishifwedon’tputeveryoneelse’sneedsaheadofourown. In addition, in theWest it’s hard to completely escape themessages ofspiritual suffering andmartyrdom thatChristianityholds inhigh esteem.Evenour secular culture is steeped in theenergyofheroeswhosacrificeeverythingfor noble causes, and to buck this trend canmake us subconsciously feel likewe’re choosing the path of a degenerate narcissist. Needless to say, there aremany reasons self-care canbea challenge,but inorder tobeeffectivehealers

and happy human beings, it is vital to care for ourselves with love andcompassion.Anotherdimensiontoselflesssupportisthebeliefthatweareallone.Ifyou

subscribetothisbelief,youcannotcreatepositivechangeintheworldifyouaretreatingyourselflikecrap.Thewayyoutreatyourselfisthewayyoutreatothersand theworld aroundyou (particularly on a subconscious level), so let’s do ameditationtoactivateselflesssupport.

ExerciseTwenty:LoveExpansionBringyourselfintoameditativestate(page26).EstablishaflowofReiki(page125).ContinuetobuildReikienergyatyourtanden,bringinginmoreoneach

inhale,andwitheachexhale see theglowingballofReikiatyour tandenexpand,graduallyfillingyourentirebody.ContinueasyouexpandtheReikiouttotheedgesofyouraura.Takea

few moments to notice what it feels like to vibrate so fully with Reiki.Knowthatyouareengaginginanactofprofoundself-care.Reikinaturallyflowsinthroughyourcrownchakraandsuffusesyourentireenergyfieldasyoucontinuebreathingmorenaturally.WiththeReikiflowingfreely,begintoextenditsreachbyvisualizingit

spreadingoutwardfromyouraura,fillingtheroomyouarein.Imaginethefurniture,thefloor,thewalls,beinginfusedwithlight.Continuetobreatheasyouexpandevenfurthertofilltheentirebuilding

with Reiki. Feel yourself as a channel of limitless Reiki. Continue toexpand, filling theentireblock.Perhapsshiftyour innerview toanaerialperspective,andseeReikiexpandtofillyourentiretown.Keepbreathing.Expand to fill the entire state. Then the country. Finally, see Reiki

suffusetheentireglobe.Ifyouwanttokeepgoing,sendReikioutintothecosmos,usingwhatevervisualsorsensationsworkbestforyou.Breathe for a fewmore cycles and feel your connection to everything.

Feel how this act of self-care, this time that you have taken to love andsupportyourself,isbeamingforthandshoweringloveontheentireworld.Feelyourself at thecenterof thisenergyexpansion.Know thatyouarea

vitalpartofthisprocess,thatyouareavehicleforReikienteringtheworld.ThankReiki and honor yourself for taking this time to cultivate the lovewithinandshareitwithothers.When you feel ready, release your energetic focus on the expanded

energy. Don’t call it back in, let it continue to expand outward, butconsciouslybringyourawarenessbacktoeversmallerscales—backtoyourcountry,your state,your town,yourblock, thebuilding, this room.Bringyourawarenessbacktotheedgeofyourauraandfeelyourcenterinyourtanden.Focusyourenergybackinyourbodyandreturntonormalconsciousness

(page26–page27).

Foryourdailyselflesssupportpractice,carveouttimeeverysingledaytodosomething just foryou,whether it’s a shortwalkonyour lunchbreakwithoutcheckingyourphone,ayogaclassafterwork,ahotbathbeforebed,oranhourto curl up and readwith no distractions. If you livewith others, explain yourplan for self-care. If they’re resistant, let them know why this is importantwithoutgettingdefensive.Practicewhatyou’regoingtosayaheadoftimesoit’seasier to remain neutral in your tone. Remember, you don’t need to convinceanyoneofyourright toself-care,soif theyseemintentondisputingthisright,perhaps respondbymirroringback theirconcerns followedbyreinstatingyourintention:“Ihearthatyou’reconcernedIwon’thaveasmuchtimetospendwithyou.Spending timewithyou is super important tome too, and Iknow I’ll bebetter company if I’m taking care ofmyself. I’m going to take an hour afterwork to read and take a bath.” Remain loving yet firm. If there are practicalconsiderations,suchaswhowillcookdinner,pickupthekids,etcetera,addressthosewhileremainingcommittedtoyourself-careplan.Ifyou’reaccustomedtodoing all of those things yourself because “that’s theway it has always beendone,”askforsupport.It’salsoagoodpracticetorespectotherpeople’sneedsforself-care,perhaps

by honoring their private time or requests for reasonable support. You’remodeling what it looks like to practice selfless support, which is incredibly

powerful.Thisworldneedsmoreofthattobalancetheabundanceofimagesofoverworkandself-sacrificingmartyrdom.

OtherWaystoEngagewithSelflessSupport:

Ifyoufindyourselfworryingaboutwhatsomeoneelseisthinkinginasituation(“DotheythinkI’mstupid?”“Aretheygoingtoleave?”)orwhatthey’refeeling(“AretheymadaboutwhatIjustsaid?”“WhatcanIdotomakethemhappyrightnow?”),shiftfocus.Whatareyouthinkingrightnow?Whatareyoufeeling?Formanyofus,wemustretrainourbodiesandbrainsonadeep,energeticleveltoreturntocenterratherthanscramblearoundtryingtopleaseandappeasetheworld.Trustthatbygettingintunewithyourowninternallandscape,youwillbebetterpoisedtomakechoicesthattrulyservethehighestgoodofeveryoneinvolved.

Allowyourselftoreceiveasanactofservice,bothtoyourselfandthegiver.Haveyouevergivensomeoneagift,compliment,orassistanceanditbroughtyoujoy?Byopeningtoreceive,youareallowingotherstoenjoygiving.Soakitupwithloveandjoy;expressyourwholeheartedappreciation.Allowtheenergyexchangetoflowfreelyinsteadofblockingitbydeflectingthecomplimentorshuttingdownwhensomeoneofferssupport.

Practicegivingfreelywithoutexpectationofreturn.Ifyou’reunlearningcodependenthabits,afunwaytopracticeisbyleavinganonymoussurprisesinpublicplaces.Thatway,it’snotpossibletomonitorsomeoneelse’sbehaviortoseewhetherthey’llreciprocate.Tryleavingnotesonparkbencheswithhappyaffirmationsorleaveabookinacoffeeshopwithanotetoitsfutureownermentioningapartyouespeciallylikedandthehopethatthey’llenjoythebook,too.GetcreativeandplaytheGiverFairyaroundtown!

LaborofLoveThisdivinepowerspeakstothedistinctionbetweenbirthingsomethinginorderto fill a perceived lack versus birthing something because the creation isnaturally bursting forth from a place of love. We can think of this birthingprocess inmany contexts. For example, parentsmight have kids to assuage asense of loneliness, save theirmarriage, or live vicariously through their kids,pushing themtodo things they themselvesdidnothave theopportunityor thecouragetodo.Admittedly,thisdoesn’tpaintacheerypictureofparenthood,andcertainlytherearemanywonderfulreasonspeoplechoosetohavekids,butthesereasonscananddocomeintoplayattimes.Anotherexampleisbirthingasong,abook,orapainting.Anartistmightforcethemselvestocreatetofeeldeservingofloveandacceptance,bolstertheirsenseofself-worth,orfulfilltheiridealizedself-imageofwhatitmeanstobeanartist.Justsoourviewofhumanmotivationdoesnotslipintooverlydrearydepths,

let’s look at the flipside of this: creation as an expressionof love: the parentswhoareexcitedtowelcomeanewpersonintotheworldandsupportthischild’sdevelopment as a unique expression of self; the artist who is bursting withimagesthatsimplymustbecommittedtocanvas;thewriterwholoveslanguageandcan’thelpbutexpressherself.Whenweare tendingour innerfire throughself-care,weactivateourinnateabilitytobeasacredvehicleforlaborsoflovetoentertheworld.Thisdoesn’tmeantheprocessisalwayseffortless,althoughcertainlyitcanfeelthatwayattimeswhenwearesoengagedinthetaskthatweenterastateofflow.Wemightfeelthelaboraspectofthispowermoreacutelyat times, but the creative act itself remains an expression of love.We’re notlaboringawayatsomethingbecausewethinkwe“should”;oursoulisyearningtofindexpressionandwearedevotedtopavingthewayforthatoutpouringofsoulenergy.Thatisthelaborofloveinaction.Aclearsignthatweareblockingthispowerisresentment.Whenthisemotion

cropsup, take this as a cue to stepback and engage in self-exploration.Whatexactlydoyoufeelresentfulabout?Whyareyoudoingthisthingthatgeneratesresentment?Whatareyouafraidwouldhappenifyouweretostop?Whatmightbesomepositiveeffectsofstopping?Useresentmenttoilluminateareasofyour

lifewhere your soul is feeling cramped.These clues are not invitations to digyourheelsindeeperand“grinandbearit,”they’reinvitationstoexplorewhereyou’vebeencompromisingthefullexpressionofyoursoulsoyoucanchoosetoexpandinstead.

ExerciseTwenty-One:GivingBirthtoLoveThink of a hobby or interest you feel passionate about. Even if it’ssomething you haven’t done in a while, no judgment—just choose anactivitythatyoufeelorhavefeltpassionateabout.Enterintoameditativestate(page26).EstablishaflowofReiki(page125).Calltomindasettinginwhichyoucanengageinyourchosenactivity.If

painting,imagineapleasingroomwithnaturallight,plentyofsupplies,anda canvas. If dance, picture a place where you would love to dance. Ifteaching,imagineyourselfinasettingwhereyoucanshareyourknowledgewithothers.Takeafewminutestobuildoutthescene,creatinganydetailsthat feel important.Notice your choices and the feelings that accompanythesechoices,suchasjoy,excitement,orpeace.ShiftyourfocusbacktotheflowofReikiandallowittoinfusethescene

asyoubirthyourcreation.Ifyou’redancingseeorfeelReikimovingwithand swirling around your body as you move, like an energetic dancepartner. If you’re painting, see Reiki flowing down your arm, into yourhand,andoutthroughthebrushasitmovesacrossthecanvas.Ifteaching,seeReiki flowing from your throat chakra, from your heart chakra, fromyourhandchakrasasyousharethislightwithyourstudents.Giveyourselftime to explore the experience, allowing the Reiki to flow through yourcreativeexpression.Takenoteofwhatyoucreateandhowit feels,noticeanydetails,anysensationsthatarise.Soakitallin.Whentheexperiencefeelscomplete,thankReikiandallowtheimageto

graduallyfade.Returntoanormalstateofconsciousness(page26–page27).

Takesometimetojournalaboutyourexperience.Whatdidyoucreate?Didittakeshapeinwaysthatdifferedfromyourexpectations?Whatotherdetailsdidyousee,hear,smell,taste,feel?Whatemotionsaroseasyougavebirthtoyourlaboroflove?In the days that follow, think of how you can integrate this meditative

experienceindailylifeandtakeaction.Carveouttimetopaint,closeyourofficedoor and dance on your lunch break, volunteer to mentor at an after-schoolprogram,or teachaclassatyour localcommunitycenter.Startablog.Cookahealthy meal. Dust off those hiking boots. Engage in an activity that is anexpressionoflove,anoutpouringofthepurejoyofcreating.Themoreyoudothis even in the littlest of ways, themore you activate this divine power andtransform daily events from things to check off your to-do list to experiencesthat engage, awaken, and transform you. Make your life a labor of love onechoiceormomentatatime.

Otherwaystoexplorethelaboroflovepower:

Honoruniqueexpressioninsomeoneelse.Helpthemseeandappreciatetheiruniquepassionsandofferencouragementtofollowthem.Neverunderestimatehowpowerfulitcanbetohaveyourpassionsandgiftswitnessedbyanother.Loveiscontagious—spreadit!

Whenyoucreatesomething,giveyourselftimetobaskintheafterglow.Toooften,wejumprighttothenextprojectwithoutsoakinginthepleasureofourefforts.Beforestartingsomethingnew,carveouttimetoreallysteepintheexperienceofyourcreation.Getcomfortablecozyinguptoyourlaborsoflove.Intimatelyexplorewhattheyfeellike,looklike,soundlike,smelllike,andtastelike.Themoreconnectedyouaretothesesensations,theeasieritwillbeforyoutoconsciouslycultivatethelaboroflovepower.

RestorativeSleepWhenIfirstdiscoveredthetendivinepowers,Iwonderedwhythereweretwoformsofsleepbutnoneof theotherpowersaresoobviouslypaired.Acoupledaysafterposingthisquestion,thefollowingpassagefromTheSleepRevolutionbyAriannaHuffingtonstoppedmeinmytracks:

Pre-industrialsleepdifferedfromourownnotjustinthereverenceattachedto it but in the nature of sleep itself. In most cultures, sleep wasn’t theuninterruptedstretchoftimeitisnow.Throughoutmostofhumanhistory,nightwasdividedintotwoseparateperiodsofsleep,knownassegmentedsleep.OneoftheearliestreferencestothispracticeofsegmentedsleepisinThe Odyssey, where Homer wrote about “first sleep.” Between the twosleep stageswas a periodofwakefulness,whichwould last up to severalhours…[and]wasaprizedandvaluabletime…‘Nootherperiodaffordedsuch a secluded interval of darkness in which to absorb fresh visions ofsolace, spirituality, and self-revelation.’ The quiet relaxation of thesespecialhours,withoutthedistractionsofdailyactivities,allowedpeopletobecomeawareofsubtlerthingsanddigesttheuniqueinsightsthatsooftenoccur in that transition state between waking and sleeping (Huffington2016,72).

Ihaveastrongsensethatthesetwosleep-relatedpowersaredirectlytiedtoourancestral sleep stages, and by comparing and contrasting gestational andrestorative sleepwe can deepen our understanding. Both powers are clearly aformofrest;theyareactivatedwhenwearedisconnectedfromthefasterpaceofwakefulnessand thedistractionsof theouter environment.While their form issimilar,however,theirpurposeissomewhatdifferent.Gestationalsleepisastateofcontainment.Herewehaveallthatweneedinordertocreate,andtheprocesssimply requires time and stillness to unfold. Restorative sleep is a state ofrefillingourinnerstores.Ifwelookatthereceptiveandactivequalitiesofthesetwopowers,weseethatgestationalsleeprelatestothereceptivestate’sabilitytocreatenewlifegiventhetimeandsupporttodoso.Incontrast,restorativesleep

isatimewhentheoutward-reachingactiveenergytakesabreakandreconnectswithitssource,thereceptivewellspringwithin.Restorative sleep’sactiveenergy takesamuch-neededpause to retreat from

theouterrealmofdoingandreconnectswithadeeperstateofbeing.Duringthisfallow time, stores can be replenished, wounds healed, and baggage released.There’s a fascinating corollary in our biology. A Scientific American articleexplains:

Everydaythebraineliminatesaquarterofanounceofusedproteins thatmustbereplacedwithnewones.Thewaste-disposalprocesstrafficshalfapoundofdetritusamonthandthreepoundsayear,equivalenttothebrain’sown weight. The glymphatic system, [a pathway in the brain for …cleansingfluidstoeffectivelysweepawaywasteproducts],maybecomeacriticaltargetfortreatmentofneurologicaldiseasessuchasAlzheimer’sorParkinson’s that result from the buildup of toxic proteins that are notclearedfromthebrain(NedergaardandGoldman2016,46–49).

Andwhen is the glymphatic systemmost active?Yep, during sleep.Not onlydoes this system removewaste, it has also been shown to deliver nutrients tobrain tissue. Studies are underway to see whether the brain may rely on theglymphaticsystemtomaintainthestructuralintegrityofbraincells.Tosupportthemyriadfunctionsrequiredfordailylife,weneedtheinterplayofgestationaland restorative sleep on biological, emotional,mental, and spiritual levels. Sonowlet’scoupleourearlierexerciseforgestationalsleepwithanexplorationofrestorativesleep.

ExerciseTwenty-Two:HeldbytheDarknessEnterameditativestate(page26).IntroducetheflowofReiki(page125).On the exhales, feel Reiki suffuse your body, gradually spreading

outwardtofillyourentireaurawitheachsuccessivebreathcycle.EstablishthesensationofbeingachannelandacontainerforReikiasyouprepareforthenextstage.

Bringyourawarenesstoyourinnercampfire,perhapsplacingyourhandsoverthatareaofthebodytoconnectmorefully.Conjuretheimageoftheinnerfireasyouenvisionapproachingitswarmthandcracklingenergy.Sitnexttothefireandgazeintotheflamesforafewminutes.Withloveandintention,allowtheflamestosubsidegradually.Youcan

use a poker to separate the burning logs or simply use your intention tobringtheflamesdownuntilyouareleftwithwarm,glowingembers.Noticeifanythoughtsorfearsariseasthefiregoesdown—perhapsfearsthatyouwon’t be able to get the fire rekindled, that it might be completelyextinguished.Noticewithoutjudgment.Asyousitbytheglowingembers,prepareacomfortablebedforyourself

a short distance from the coals, conjuring up a fluffy sleeping bag orwhateverfeelsmostdelightfultoyou.Curlupandallowyourinnerselftoclosetheireyes.Feelthedarknessaroundyouandknowthatitissafe.Thisplaceholds,supports,andnourishesyouinwhateverformsyouneedmost.Opentothisnourishmentandremaininastateofrestandreceptivityforaslongasyoulike.Ifyourmindwanders,gentlyrefocusonthe intentionofopeningtonourishment.Noticeifanyimages,memories,colors,orothersensationsariseduring

thisperiodofrestoration.When you feel ready, thank the wellspring of the receptive for its

nourishmentandsupport.Gentlyawakentheinneryou,perhapsstretchingandyawningbeforeclimbingoutofyourbedding.Returntothefireandrebuilditwithintention.Askthatthefirereachan

intensity that is correct and good for you at this time. You will findeverythingyouneed(kindling,logs,etcetera)tobuildthefire,andsoonitiscracklinganddancingwithrenewedvitality.Thankyourinnerfireforitspassionandguidinglight.Whentheexperiencefeelscomplete,allowtheimagetograduallyfade,

andreturntoanormalstateofconsciousness(page26–page27).

Takesometimetojournalonthisexperience,makingnoteofanyinformationthatcame throughatvarious stages:whileyouwere seatednext to the fire, as

youbegantodampenit,whileyourested,asyourebuiltthefire.

Otherwaystoengagethepowerofrestorativesleep:

Researchadrenalfatigue.Doanyofthesymptomsresonatewithyouandyourcurrentstateofhealth?Ifso,lookintoholisticapproachestohealing.Inarelatedfashion,ifyousufferfrominsomnia,begintoexperimentwithwaystobalanceyoursleep,perhapsavoidingelectronicdevicesforatleastanhourbeforebed,changingthetemperatureofyourbedroom,givingyourselfaReikitreatmentbeforebed,writingdownanystressorsorworriesfromthedaytogetthemoutofyourheadandontoapieceofpaper,cuttingbackonsugarandcaffeine,andsoon.Sleepisoneofthemostpreciousresourceswehaveforouroverallwell-being—nurtureandprotectit!

Thisweek,removeatleastonenon-essentialtaskfromyourto-dolist.Ifyou’rereallyfeelingmotivated,removeatleastonethingeverydayfortheentireweek.Noticehowyoufeelasyouremoveeachtaskfromyourlistandcheckinattheendofthedayandattheendoftheweek.Doanyfearscomeup,perhapsthatyou’renotdoingenough,thatthingswillfallapartwithoutyourefforts?Explorethesewithoutjudgment.

CourageousChampioningThisdivinepowerisallaboutassertingyourneedsandinherentvalueinordertocarry out your soul’s mission. This power is vital if we want to experiencebalance between ideas andmanifestation, and one of the primary obstacles tofullexpressionofthispowerisamisconceptionregardingourworth.Ifwedon’tbelievethatweareinnatelyworthy,wemayfinditdifficulttoassertthevalueofourgiftsandcontributions.Lackofself-worthcanalsomanifestasfalsebravadoand “used car salesman”-type techniques.Whenwe fear that we’re not reallyworthybutpretendtobeso,weoftenfeelthatwehavetoresorttomanipulationorgimmickstogetpeopletoacknowledgeourshakysenseofself-worth,andwemaystrugglewithfeelinglikeafraudorthefearthatwe’llbe“foundout”atanymoment.Thus, courageous championing relies on a diligent practice of self-care that

routinely self-affirmsour inherentworth.Whenwe take care of ourselves,wearesendingapowerfulmessagetoalllevelsofourbeingthatweareworthyofcare. When we break self-care commitments or when we don’t even makecommitments to ourselves in the first place, we are sending themessage thatwe’renotworththeeffort.Let’schangethechannelandstartsendingmessagesthatarereflectiveofourworthasdivinehumanbeings.Indoingso,weactivatethepowerofcourageouschampioning.

ExerciseTwenty-Three:YourInnerKnightEnterameditativestate(page26).EstablishaflowofReiki(page125).Bring your awareness to your inner campfire. You might place your

handsonthisareaofthebodytoconnectmorefully.Conjuretheimageoftheinnerfireasyouenvisionapproachingitswarmthandcracklingenergy.Sitnexttothefireandgazeintotheflames.Asktomeetyourinnerknight,yourinnerchampion.Repeattherequest

threetimesandsettleintoareceptivestate.Whoapproaches?Whataretheywearingorcarrying?Introduceyourself

andaskiftheyhaveanymessagesforyou.Listentotheresponse.Givethe

experiencetimetounfold.Next,yourinnerchampionofferstooutfityouwiththearmorofaknight

toshieldandprotectyouasyoucourageouslychampionthevalueofyoursoul’s gifts in the world. What does the armor look like? Is it made ofmetal,fabric,ortreeleaves?Whatcolorsandtexturesdoyounotice?Takeinthedetailsandseehowitfeelsasyouputiton.Arethereanyareasthatseemmore defended than others? Is it comfortable? Ask the knight anyfurtherquestionsyoumighthave.Whentheexperiencefeelscomplete, thanktheknightandslowlyallow

theimagestofade.Returntoanormalstateofconsciousness(page26–page27).

Takesometimetojournalonthisexperience.Reallyestablishthememoryofwhatitfeelsliketowearyourknight’sarmor.Whenit’stimeforyoutoengagethepowerofcourageouschampioningindailylife,mentallydonyourarmorandfeeltheenergyofthisdivinepowerinfuseyou,enablingyoutocarryoutyourtaskwithassertiveness,wisdom,andgrace.On a practical level, can you identify an area in your life where you have

expended creative energy but the power of courageous championing was notfullyemployedtoassertthevalueofthatcreativeoutput?Championingdoesnotoccuronlyin thecontextofhelpingotherpeoplesee thevalueofyourefforts;we also employ the power of courageous championingwhenwe assertwithinourselvesthevalueofourexpression.Howoftendoyouhearpeoplesay,“Oh,I’m just not that creative”? We are all creative, and that energy might findexpression through avenues we don’t value as such. Many of us think ofcreativity as strictly the domain of fine artists, but we are creative when wegardenandcook,whenwethinkofnewwaystoapproacharelationshiporworksituation,whenwe interactwithnature,whenweparent,whenwe’rechoosingouroutfitfortheday,whenwejournal,duringayogapose,whenwedream,andyes, when we paint, sing, sculpt, and dance. Learn to see themany beautifulwaysthatcreativeexpressionexistsinyourlifeandhonorthem.Celebrateyourcreativity and resist the urge to describe it in diminishing terms. Own yourpowerandcourageouslychampionyourgifts.

Otherwaystoexplorethepowerofcourageouschampioning:

Learnsomethingnewaboutmarketing.Someexcellent,non-sleazysourcesincludeMarieForleo.com,IttyBiz.com,andAlexandraFranzen.com.Evenifyoudon’tconsideryourselftobeanentrepreneur,wecanallbenefitfromlearninghowtoconveythevalueofourgiftsmoreeffectively,andmarketingisafieldthatexplorespreciselythattopic.Thereisanewwaveofmarketingexpertswhoarecastingasidethe“usedcarsalesman”techniquesinfavorofauthenticexpressionofvaluewiththegoalofconnectingyouruniquegiftswithpeoplewhowilltrulybenefitfromthem.Evenifyoudon’tusethisknowhowinthecontextofgettingpaidforyourgifts,thesetechniquescanhelpyougetclearonthevalueofyourofferingsandhowtocommunicatethatvalueinmanycontexts,beitinrelationships,inavolunteeringsituation,orsimplywithinyourself.

Exploretheenergyofthispowerthroughphysicalmovement.Courageouschampioningisallaboutmovingintotheworldandengaging.Whilethatmovementissometimesmoresymbolicthanliteral,wecanstillconnectwiththissymbolicpowerbyphysicallymovingwithintentionandgettingcomfortablewithwhatthatfeelslike.Whatdoesitfeelliketomindfullymovefromoneyogaposetoanother,tohikeupahillorswimalapwithintention?Ifyouhavedifferentmovementabilities,explorethefeelingofmovementhoweveryou’reable,perhapsmovingyourarmsandhandsintoayogamudra,suchasprayerhandsattheheart.Marvelatthepowerofintentional,courageousmovement.

Self-SovereigntyWe’ve already explored this power in great depth with the Tara tests of theCelticHighKings,butlet’slookmoredeeplyatonespecificaspect,thatofthebeneficent sovereign versus the tyrant by exploringwhetherwewere allowedage-appropriate choices as a child. Some parents adopt the “my way or thehighway”approach,but inordertodeveloptheabilitytomakewisedecisions,

it’s paramount that we’re given the opportunity to practice through age-anddevelopmentally appropriate choices (e.g., at age four,we get to choose fromtwo or three healthy-ish snack options, not whether or not to drop out ofkindergarten) over having our lives dictated to us. By honoring our choices,parentshelpusrelatetoourneeds,internalcues,andintuitionasvalidsourcesofinformation,notasshamefulorwrongsimplybecausetheyareinconvenientorpose a challenge to the adult’s authority. Many of us did not grow up inenvironmentsthatrespectedourabilitytoknowwhatwewerethinking,feeling,wanting, andneeding and tomake choices basedon that information. Instead,manyofthosechoicesweremadeforus,andinthatprocesswewerestrippedofvaluablepracticetimeandinstructionintheartofself-sovereignty.As adults, if we still have not developed this skill, our internal decision-

making “apparatus” or inner rulermay bemodeled after the archetypal bully,dictator,ortyrant.Wedon’tknowhowtomakedecisionsinanyotherway,sowecreateapartwithinourselvesthatreplicatesthedomineeringparent, tellinguswhattodoevenifthosedirectivescontradictwhatourthoughts,feelings,andintuitionaresaying.Asfarastheinnerdictatorisconcerned,“it’smywayorthehighway,”arefrainwe’vebeentrainedtoheed.Thisfigureisconstantlyvigilantagainst the presumed chaos and destruction of emotions and other nonlinearstates of being. The problem (one of many) with this approach is that thisdysfunctionalpowerisshaky;wemustexpendincredibleamountsoflifeenergymaintaining itsbrittle structure.We’re leftwithanagging fear that thingswillfallapartifwe’renot‘round-the-clockvigilant.Andbecausemanyofourotherparts are being suffocated under this stifling rulership, they often rebel. Wemightseethisinourliveswhenweattempttosticktorigiddietsbecausewefeartrustingourbody’srhythmsandnaturalhunger,andthenwerebelintheformofcheatdaysandbinging,onlytohavetheinnertyrantcomedowntwiceashard.Somuchofourenergyis tiedupintheviolentbackandforthbetweenheavy-handedoppressivecontrolandself-destructiverebellion.Tohealthisenergy-sappingcycle,wemustrelearnhowtomakewisechoices

andgiveourselvesthetimeandspacetopractice.Aswebuildourskillsinthisarea, we must allow the True Self to lovingly repattern the inner tyrant,

repurposing that energy away from pursuits related to control and dominancetowardcreatinghealthystructureandsupport.

ExerciseTwenty-Four:ThePowerofChoiceEnterameditativestate(page26).EstablishaflowofReiki(page125).Bringyour awareness toyour solar plexus.This is the energetic center

mostassociatedwithyourabilitytoexecutethepowerofchoice.Itcanfeelenergetically closed down, constricted, dense, entangled, or otherwise offbalancewhenourabilitytochoosehasbeenroutinelycompromised.Noticewhat this area feels like for you, perhaps placing your hands over yourupper abdomen to help concentrate your awareness. Do any images,thoughts,memories,orsensationsarise?Think of a time in your youth as far back as you can rememberwhen

yourabilitytochoosewasdenied.Itdoesn’tmatterifyouradultselfthinkstheadultswerejustifiedindenyingyouthischoice,perhapsforyoursafety.For now, simply bring a situation to mind that feels intuitively relevant.Recreatethesituation,buildingthesettinginasmuchdetailasyouwish.Imagineyourself as a child and see if you can feelwhat itwas like to

have a desire for choice that was denied. Do you notice sensations in aparticularareaofyourbody?Ifso,whichareaandhowwouldyoudescribeit?Now imagine your caregivers allowing you the option to choose. If it

feelstootriggeringtopictureyouractualparent(s),chooseanadultfigurewho feels more neutral or benevolent; even a character from a book ormoviewilldo.Imaginethemkneelingdowntomeetyouface-to-face.Withpatience and openness, they listen to your choice. If your inner child isfeeling overwhelmed or throwing a fit, the adult waits without judgmentandofferssupport.Whenyoufeelready,switchyourawarenesstotheadultandofferyour

inner child whatever comfort, support, and guidance you wish you hadreceived.Atanypoint, feel free toswitchback to theperspectiveofyourinnerchildandfeelwhatit’sliketoreceivethatcomfortandsupport.

When the experience feels complete,maintain awareness of the imagewhile you bring attention to your physical hands. Feel the flow of Reikithroughyourpalmchakrasandplaceyourhandsoveryoursolarplexus.Asyoudo so, imagineReiki showering the entire scene and infusing itwithDivineconsciousness.Whenyoufeelready,thankReikiandyourHigherSelf.Saythreetimes,

“I honormy right to choose. I makewise, empowered choices.” Let theimagefadeasyoubringyourawarenessbacktoyourbreath.Bringyourselfoutofthemeditativestate(page26–page27).

For your daily self-sovereignty practice, you will create an environment inwhichtopracticetheartofwisedecisionmaking.Startsmall,perhapsfocusingon choices regardingwhat to eat for lunch orwhich book to read next.Don’tminimize these experiences, though, because when done with intention, theseseeminglytrivialdecisionsareapowerfulwaytoreconnectwithalltheinternalcues thathelpyoumakesounddecisions,cues thatyoumaybeaccustomed tooverridingor ignoring.Start to tune intohowyourbody feelswhenyoudon’twantsomething.Doyoufeelmoreclosedofforconstricted?Doyouphysicallypullaway,evensubtly,fromthethingorsituationyoudon’twant?Whatdoesitfeel likewhenyoudowantsomething?Doyoufeelmoreopenandexpansive,morecuriousandexploratory?Beyourowninnerdetectiveandstarttoidentifyyouruniquecues.Journalaboutyourexperiencesoyoucanseepatternsovertime.Makeanote

of decisions, which option(s) you chose, and the result. Do you notice anycommon threads? For example, perhaps you notice that when you take thatchurning feeling in your gut as a negative cue, those are always times thatlookingback,you’regladyousaidno.Perhapsyouseethatwhenyouoverrodethatcueandsaidyes,youdidn’tenjoytheexperienceasmuch.Begintobuildyourownsensoryvocabularythatwillhelpyoumakedecisionsthatincorporatetheconsensusofyourwholebeingratherthanallowingyourselftobewhippedintosubmissionbythedomineeringvoiceofaninnertyrant.

OtherWaystoExplorethePowerofSelf-Sovereignty:

Doyoufindyourselfapologizingifyoubumpintosomeoneorforotherminorinteractionsinwhichyouhaven’tactuallydoneanythingthatwarrantsanapology?Womeninparticulardevelopthehabitofchronicapologizing,soreleasingthishabitisapowerfulwaytomoveintoself-sovereignty.Thistendencycanmaskabeliefthatwedon’thavearighttobewhereweare,takeupspace,havewantsandneeds,ortobeseenandheard.Explorewhetherthisistrueforyoubychallengingtheimpulsetoapologize.Inmanycases,simplysayingnothingisanexcellentalternative.Ifyoubumpintosomeone,trysaying“excuseme”withasmile.Whatcomesupforyouinthesesituations?Wemightfeelexposed,overlybrazen,oranyotheremotionsthatcansurpriseuswiththeirintensity.Observewithoutjudgment,andjustasyoudidwithyourinnerchildintheprecedingmeditation,practicesoothingthepartofyouthat’sfeelingoverwhelmedwithcompassionateinnerdialogueandReiki.

Payattentiontoyourthoughts.Aretheretimeswhenyouspeaktoyourselflikeatyrant?Doyoumakedemandsandthreatsorusescaretacticstogetyourselftoactthewayyouthinkyoushould?Forexample,“Ifyoudon’tgotothegym,you’llbedisgusting”?Or“You’llgetthisworkprojectdonetoday,andyou’renotgoinghomeuntilyoudo!”Bringawarenesstothesemoments.Breathe,giveyourselfsomeReiki,andaskwhat’sunderneaththenoiseoftheinnertyrant.Whatareyouafraidwillhappeniftheinnertyrantisn’tincontrolrightnow?Explorethosefears.Aretheyrealistic?Ifthosefearswererealized,wouldtheyreallybethatbad?Howmightyourespondiftheinnertyrant’sworstfearsbecameareality?Manyofourfearsbegintodeflatewhenwefacethem.Theirpowerliesintheirabilitytotakeonanyshapeandtoshiftintonewformstokeepusanxiouslyonguard.Whenweseethemforwhattheyare,they’reusuallyincrediblylimitedandoftenunrealistic.Evenifwhatwefearispossible,ouractualfearsthemselvesareoftennotnearlyasdifficulttohandleasweoncethought.

ConsciousClearingIn order to bring our thoughts and ideas into the manifest world, we need achannel.Thedegreetowhichthischannelisclearandfreefromobstructioninlargepartdetermineshoweasymanifestationfeelstous.Ifwehavegreatideasbut the process to bring them into reality feels overwhelming and exhausting,there’sagoodchancethepowerofconsciousclearingneedsactivating.Howdoourpipesgetclogged?We’vetouchedonthisalreadyinourearlierdiscussionofReiki. The short answer is: life. As we move throughout our days adoptingbeliefs, forming opinions, and creating ego structures, our piping system getsmore and more complex and can become cluttered with debris. To a certainextent,thisisunavoidable.Ourbrainshaveevolvedtocreatebeliefsandmentalmaps that provide shortcuts. For example,we don’t have to consciously thinkabouttheprocessofbrushingourteethinpainstakingdetail.Ourbrainhelpsusautomate the process so we can expend energy on other things. While thisautomation is necessary for less laborious functioning in daily life, it can alsolead to autopilot assumptions that exert major influence over our days. Forexample, we’ve evolved to remember negative occurrences more easily thanpositiveonesnotbecausewewanttomakeourselvesmiserablebutbecausewewant to stay alive. If our ancestors sawa tan lumpbehind a tree and thought,“Yikes, thatcouldbeapredator.Time to skedaddle!” thosecautiousancestorsweremorelikelytosurviveandpassontheircautiousbrains,evenifninetimesoutof ten that tan lumpwasonly a rock.The ancestorwho saw the same tanlumpandthought,“I’mjustbeingparanoid!That’sprobablyarock,”mighthavebeenlionlunchmoreoftenthantheircautiousneighbor,thusourpredisposalisasurvival mechanism to more fatalistic thinking. However, today that thinkingdoesn’t always serve. Most of life’s challenges are not as life-or-death as ahungry lion, butwe tend to treat them as such and let our negativity bias rununchecked, stewingover that rudecomment someone leftonFacebookor that“stupid”thingwesaidatourworkmeeting.Wealsodevelopbeliefsthatinformoursenseofself-worth.Let’ssaywehold

the belief that we have to be the best at something in order to earn love andaffection, and sowe competewith others, even ifworking togetherwould be

more in service of our ultimate goal. In doing so, we end up feeling moreisolated,reinforcingthebeliefthatwe’reunworthyoflove.Then,imaginewe’regivenanopportunityforapositionthatmeetsallofourdream-jobrequirementswiththeexceptionthatwe’dbeworkingonaclose-knitteam—inotherwords,in a situation where we’ll have to radically adjust our competitive MO. Wemighttalkourselvesoutofthejobforunrelatedreasonsthatwethenbuildupinourminds:“I’llhavetodriveacrosstowninrushhourtraffic”(nevermindthatwe’re already doing that for our current job) or “There aren’t any vegetarianrestaurants nearby for lunch” (nevermind that the office has a well-equippedkitchenandwecanbringour lunch).The real reason is thatwedon’twant tochallengeourbeliefthatwemustbethebestinordertoearnloveandaffection.Itfeelslikewe’regivingupouronlyshotateverexperiencingloveifwereleasethisbelief,socooperationisoutofthequestionandweturndownthejob.Thepowerofconsciousclearinginpartnershipwiththeotherdivinepowers

helpsustoidentifywhat’sreallygoingon;wecanseetheclogsinourpipesanddevelop the courage to transform those clogs.Thispaves theway for learningnewlifeskillsbecausethesebeliefsoftenserveasacrutch,preventingusfromlearningnewwaysofoperating. Itcanbe incredibly liberating tofinallyadmitthat you don’t yet have a particular skill rather than using energy-intensiveworkarounds tocompensateand then togiveyourself the time,space, support,and compassion to learn that skill. Forgiving yourself is a major piece ofrecovery from addiction. And even if not the more overt form of substanceabuse, it’smyopinionthatmostofusstrugglewithaddiction.Whateverwe’rehooked on acts as a substitute for true satisfaction of the deeper need anddevelopmentofthelifeskillsthatcanhelpusmeetthatneedinhealthierways.Forexample,Iwasintenselyaddictedtosugarfordecades—itwasasubstituteforthe“sweetness”ofunconditionalacceptanceandmaternalnourishmentIwascraving, aswell as a substitute for learning life skills thatwouldenableme tosatisfy those legitimate needs in more life-affirming and less self-destructiveways.An important facet of conscious clearing is trusting that our needs are

legitimate.Ourcoreneedsareoftenmaskedbymoresuperficialwantsbut theunderlyingneedsmustbe soughtoutandhonored ifweare toheal.The inner

tyrant would have us wield willpower and shame in the hopes of eradicatingthese deeper needs, but our needs are not the enemy.Whenwe learn how tosatisfytheminmoresoul-alignedways,theyhelpguideus,andtheyinfuseourlifewithdepth and richness.Oftenourpipesget cloggedbecausewedisavowourtrueneeds.Thisdenialcreatesroadblocksinourenergychannelbutbecausethe need still exists, it also spawns twisty side roads and back alleys in anattempt to find other means of getting them addressed. These side roads andbackalleyscreatetheexperienceofbeingscattered,confused,andunabletogaintraction, so let’s do an exercise thatwill help you return to amore clear andfocusedstate.

ExerciseTwenty-Five:ClearingtheWayforFlowEnterameditativestate(page26).IntroducetheflowofReiki(page125).Bringtomindariverandfindyourselfstandingatitsbanks.Noticethe

qualityof thewater—is itmoving? If so, is thecurrent fastor slow?Canyouseetothebottomoftheriverorisitcloudy?Whatotherdetailsdoyounoticeintheriveroralongthebanks?Walkalongtheriveruntilyouseearock,log,orotherobstructioninthe

water, and start to explore the nature of this obstruction.Conjure up anytools you need to feel safewhile you explore the obstruction, such as aninnertubesecurelytetheredtotheland,theabilitytofly,extra-longarms,andsoon.Touch theobstruction. Is ithardor soft, smoothor rough,hotorcold?

Whatis itmadeof—stone,wood,plastic,somethingelse?Arethereotherobjects trapped in it, such as toys, pots and pans, books, et cetera? If so,explore them.Ask theobstructionandany trappedobjectswhatmessagestheycarry.If you wish, swim below the surface of the water to explore the

submerged portions of the obstruction. Is it connected to the riverbed orfree floating? Is it made of different materials than the exposed upperportion?Continuetoexploreandaskquestions.

Whenyoufeelready,preparetosendReikitotheobstruction.Placeyourhands anywhere on your body that you feel intuitively drawn and allowReikitoflowintotheobstruction.Noticeiftheobstructionchangesinanyway.Whentheexperiencefeelscomplete, thankReikiandyourHigherSelf.

Thanktheobstructionforteachingyou.Returntothebanksoftheriverifyou are still in the water, make note of any final details that arise, andgraduallylettheimagefade.Return to a normal state of consciousness (page 26–page 27). Give

yourselftimetojournalaboutyourexperience.

For your daily practice, bring awareness to situations that you perceive asbeingcomplicated,confusing,oroverwhelming.Startwithoneratherthantryingto work with a dozen situations at once. Begin by writing down what feelsconfusingabout thechosenscenario.Commit itall topaper, thenwait twenty-four hours. Next, pretend that a total stranger handed you this paper and isasking for your help in brainstorming solutions. Imagine that you have zeroattachment to thepeopleinvolved, includingyourself,andwritedownpossibleresponsesandsolutionsforeachconfusingaspect.Forexample,inresponseto“Ican’t look for another job, so I’m stuck with this one,” you might make thefollowingnote:“Whycan’tyoulookforanotherjob—whatdoyouperceiveasblockingyoufromdoingthis?”Giveyourself time tomakean initialpassover the listofconfusingaspects

andmakenotesasyougo.Thengobackandaddressanyquestionsorcommentsin your notes if youwish. In the above example, you could explorewhat youperceiveisblockingyoufromlookingforanotherjob.Perhapsit’sfearthatyouaren’tcapableoflandingabetterpositionandyou’drathernotconfirmthisfear,ormaybeyouregoischurningoutunsubstantiatedopinionsandpresentingthemas“facts”suchasyou’llnevergetpaidasmuchasyoudonow(isthistrue?Andifso,isitactuallyimportanttoyou?),you’llhavetoworklongerhours(again,isthis true? Is it important?), and so forth. Our egos have a limitless supply ofreasonstokeepusfromexploring,butwhenwestepoutsideofourcomfortzoneandstartfactcheckingtheego’sassertions,oftenthingsdon’taddup.

Getinthehabitofquestioningyourego.Tocreatethosementalshortcutswetalkedaboutearlier,theegowillcreateobstructionsbasedonpastexperiencetorerouteenergy.Forexample,ifwewereshamedasachildforsingingbecauseanadulthadaheadache,ouregomightrerouteanyenergyconnectedtosingingdown different channels, putting up a barricade at the channel entranceconnectedtotheshamingexperience.Thiscanclutterupnotonlyourabilitytosingbuttoexpressourselvesingeneral.Youregothinksit’shelpingbykeepingyousafefromreexperiencingtheoriginalwoundbuttheego’sdefinitionofsafeisnotalwayssynonymouswithhappy,healthy,andspirituallyalive.Youregoisatoolandcanbehelpfulassuch,butittakesself-awarenessandquestioningtomakesureyoudonotbecomeatoolofyourego.

Otherwaystoexplorethepowerofconsciousclearing:

Thenexttimeyoufeelintenseemotions,don’ttrytohalttheirflow.Practicebeingpresent,perhapsclosingyoureyesandfocusingonyourbreath,placingyourhandsonyourbellyandfeelingyourhandsmovewithyourbreath.Remindyourselfthatyouarenotyouremotions.Youareachannelthroughwhichtheyareflowing,andtheywillpass.Whenthisprocessfeelsespeciallydifficult,identifymorestronglywiththechannelthantheflowofemotions;perhapsimaginingyourselfasastrong,indestructibletubethroughwhichemotionsareflowinglikecoloredwater.Noticehowemotionspassoftheirownaccord—theydon’tlastunlesswetrytostopthem,clingtothem,orotherwiseimpedetheirflow.

Bemindfulofsituationsinwhichyoucomplicatethingsinordertostaystuck/safe,perhapsbythinkingyouhavetoknowthenexttenstepsbeforetakingaction.Tryingtomapouttheentireplanoftencausesustoswingbackandforthbetweenwantingtofeelpreparedandhavingsomuchinformationthatwe’restuckinanalysisparalysis.Whenyoufindyourselfprocrastinatingbecauseyoudon’tknowhowthingswillpanout,askyourself,“What’sthenextstep?”Thendoit.Andrepeat:“Now,what’sthenextstep?”Doit.Keep

moving,onestepatatime.Insteadof“Writeabook,getanagent,andlandapublishingdeal,”whynottry“Setasidetwohourseverydaythisweektowritearoughchapteroutlineofmybook.”Thendoit.Liberateenergythathasbeentrappedinstuckpipes,andyoucanreroutetheflowofyourentirelife.

PurposefulProcurementAssomeonewhohasusedshoppingasawayofself-medicatingin thefaceoffear,self-doubt,andotheruncomfortableemotions, Iamparticularly interestedin thepowerofpurposeful procurement. I struggled for a long timewithoverbuyingbooksandcoursesasasubstituteforwritingmyownbooksandteachingmyowncourses,andwhenIamfeelingoverwhelmedattheprospectofwritingorteaching,itfeelseasiertosuperficiallyscratchthatitchbyshopping.What’sinterestingishowbuyingbooksandtakingcoursesmadeitmoredifficultformeto livemy soul’s calling, because Iwas so busy reading other people’s booksandtakingtheirclasses!This ispurposefulprocurementgoneawry.Notice theparallels with conscious clearing and identifying and honoring the underlyingneeds.At this point inmy life, it does feel like a genuineneedofmy soul towriteandteach,buthowIgoaboutgettingthatneedmetdeterminesthequalityofmylifeinrelationshiptothatneed.Icanbingeondistractionsandsubstitutesoractivelyengagewithwritingandteaching.Whenthepowerofpurposefulprocurementisactivatedandhealthy,wearen’t

throwing up self-made obstacles to pursuing our soul’s calling. We’re notapologizingfortakingupspace,forbeingseenandheard,andforexpressingourtruth;we’retoobusylivingtoworryaboutthosethings.Rememberthesquirrelfromearlierinthechapter:Whenthesquirrelfindsanut,itsnatchesitwithouthesitation; it doesn’t spend ten minutes apologizing to the oak tree andpromising to pay the tree back. We might imagine that the squirrel has aninstinctualspiritualawarenessofthecyclicalnatureofthings,thatthenutwillbe“repaid” in the form of fertilizing squirrel poop and, eventually, fertilizingsquirrelbody.While thereare limits to thismetaphor in termsofhuman interactions—I’m

not advocating snatching up resources without a second thought—it’snonetheless useful to examine the ways in which we keep ourselves smallbecause of a perceived debt we can never hope to repay. By its very nature,livingconsumesresources;wecannotescapethisfactoflife.Wecan,however,learn to become finely attuned to the call of our soul so that our resourceprocurementandconsumptionservesthepurposeofoursoul’smissionandnot

merely thewhimsof themoment.Willbuyinganotherbookor takinganothercourse helpme fulfillmy soulmission?Sometimes, but not always.And it isherediscernmentisrequiredtoprocurepurposefully.Therearenotone-size-fits-all rules.Wemust check inwith our changing selves in themoment and seewhat’sreallygoingon.Whatdeeperneedsarecallingoutforattention?Areweprocuring things that actually address these needs, or are we grasping foranythingavailabletofillwhatfeelslikeagapingvoid?Let’sdoanexercisetoexplorethispowerfurther.

ExerciseTwenty-Six:CommuningwithYourHigherSelfEnterameditativestate(page26).IntroducetheflowofReiki(page125).Bring your awareness to your heart. Feel your heart beating. Then,

expandyourheartawareness toencompassyoursoul.Feelyourheartandsoulbeatingasone.Noticeifyourheartratefeelsrapid.Breatheslowlyanddeeplyintoyourheartandsoulasyousay,“Iloveandacceptyou.”With your attention still on your heart, imagine the secret garden from

ourearliermeditation.Asknowtoenterthesecretgardenofyourheartandmakeyourwayinside.Takesometimeto lookaround.Makenoteofanyplants or animals, the season and time of day, and any other details thatappear.Ask tomeet with your Higher Self. Breathe and wait until you feel a

connectionwithyourHigherSelf.AskyourHigherSelftoshowyouwhatyoursoulmostneedsrightnow.

Remainopentoanswers.Youmighthearphrasesorsounds.YourHigherSelf might show you objects or scenes, you might have memories orthoughts, youmight notice sensations in your body.Be open to differentforms of communication. If you feel confused, don’t be afraid to ask forclarification. Are you getting a sense of what your soul is seeking rightnow?Answersyoureceivedon’thavetobeimmenseorepic;theymightbesimple, like more leafy, green vegetables in your diet or time in nature.Rememberthatweareoftengivenasteportwoatatime,andthat’sallweneed.

Whenyouhaveaclearsenseofwhatyoursoulistryingtoprocurerightnow,placeyourhandsoveryourheartandsendReiki.Saytoyourself,“Iactivate the power of purposeful procurement inmy quest for _______.”(Fillintheblankwithwhatyoursoulisneedingrightnow.)Whentheexperiencefeelscomplete, thankReikiandyourHigherSelf.

Lettheimageofyourheartgardenslowlyfadeasyoubringyourawarenessbacktoyourbreath.Return to anormal stateof consciousness (page26–page27), andgive

yourselftimetojournalabouttheexperience.Indaily life,activate thispowerbypurposelyprocuringwhatyoursoul

needs.

Otherwaystoengagewiththepowerofpurposefulprocurement:

MeditateandjournalonthispassagefromJosephCampbell’sRomanceoftheGrail:TheMagicandMysteryofArthurianMyth:“Theeyesarethescoutsoftheheart.Theyarelookingforanappropriateobjectofbeauty;thatistosay,theyareselective.Thisisdiscriminative…thisispersonalchoice,andhavingfoundtheirimage,theeyesrecommendthatimagetotheheart—notjusttoanyheart,thegentleheart,theheartcapableoflove;thisisnotacaseofsheerlust.Whenthesethree,thetwoeyesandtheheart,areinaccord,loveisborn…Theeyesquestintheouterworldfortheobjectofinspiration,andtheheartreceivestheimage”(CampbellandSmith2015,26–27).

Fortwenty-fourhours,asmuchaspossiblebeforeyoubuy,eat,orotherwiseconsumeanything,includingmedia,food,sex,andsoon,checkinwithyourself.Isthissomethingyougenuinelyneedtoprocure?Doesthisfeelinalignmentwithyoursoulorareyoumerelyfillingspace?Often,creatingspaceispreciselywhatweneedinordertomakeroomfordeeperfulfillment.Bemindfulofrushingtoconsumethingssimplybecausethey’reavailableandyoudon’twant

tofeelempty.Explorewhatemptinessfeelslikeforyou.Doesitcontainhiddenneedsthathavesomethingtoteachyou?

InfinitePowerWithinFiniteRealityOneof thekeyaspectsofworkingwith the tendivinepowers is tounderstandthatultimately,thesepowersareone.InthesamewaythattheAlldifferentiatedinto theOneMindand theOneThing torecombineandcreate,weare teasingapartthetenpowersinordertorecombineandcreatewiththem.Soalthoughwemust develop all of the powers within ourselves, rarely are we using all tenpowers simultaneously. The ten divine powers are infinite and archetypal, butweareexperiencing thesepowers throughaphysicalvessel that is finite.Thuswehavetheuniquechallengeofchannelinginfiniteenergies intofinitereality,whichrequiresdiscernment.Bydefinition,finitecannothaveorbeeverythingatonce—itmustpickandchoose.Masteringourfiniteaspectissynonymouswithmastering the art of discernment. You can see this challenge expressed insomeonewhoistryingtodoitall.Theirfiniteresourcesarestretchedsothinthattheyoftenappeartoberunningonfumes,alwaysasmidge(oralot)latewithathinlyveiledimpatienceintheirdealingswithothersandthemselves.Theyhavenot accepted the limitation of finite existence and hence cannot master it.Instead, limitation masters them. You can hear this sentiment in oft-repeatedphrasessuchas,“Ineverhaveenoughtime,”asiftimeisbeingportionedoutbya miserly boss and the person is always last in line. Paradoxically, when weacceptandcomeintoanalignedrelationshipwithourfiniteaspects,wetapintotheinfinite:weseemtohaveallthetimeandalltheresourcesweneed.We cannotmanifest all possible outcomes simultaneously; wemust choose

which outcomes to channel our energy into, and so it is with the ten divinepowers. Channeling these powers effectively into the physical world meanslearninghowtodiscernwhichpowerismostrelevantinanygivenmoment.Doweneedtochannelcourageouschampioningandspiritualsynthesisrightnow?Orperhapsweneedtodevoteeverythingtoconsciousclearing,at leastfor thenexttenminutes.Thisiswheretruemasteryunfolds,andthere’saninterestingbiological parallel to this process of discernment and selective focus, and itseffects on our sense of self. In his book Head in the Game: The MentalEngineeringoftheWorld’sGreatestAthletes,BrandonSneedwrites:

We’veallheardthemythabouthowweuseonly10percentofourbrains.The truth is that our brains are generally running close to 100 percent—exceptforwhen…flowhastakenoverandwe’vegoneautomatic;inthosemoments,mostof thebrainactuallyshutsdown,exceptforonly themostnecessaryparts.WhenEminemrapsabout“loseyourself in themoment,”there’s scientificbasis for that.Onautomatic,oneof theprimarypartsofthebrainthatshutsoffistheneocortex…Thisisthepartofthebrainthatmakes mammals, and humans in particular, so unique … Among otherthings,theneocortexisthepartofusthatisawarethatweare“someone,”that we have a “self.” In flow, the neocortex shuts down, andwe forgetabout ourselves. And so worries about ourselves disappear (Sneed 2017,67).

It’sfascinatingtopondertheconnectionbetweenthenarrowingoffocus,theselectiveshuttingdownofcertainpartsofourselves,andafeelingofexpansionandtranscendenceofourindividualself.It’sasifbyhonoringourfiniteaspectandtherealitythatallthingscannothappensimultaneously,wearegivenaccesstoourinfinitenature—thetwosidesofthesamecoinreachingtheirfullpotentialwhentheiropposingnaturesarefullyhonored.Whenwearen’tforcingthefinitetobeinfinitebymultitaskingourselvesintotheground,forexample,andwhenwe’renotforcingtheinfinite tobefiniteby,say,expectingarchetypalLovetonever changewithin the context of a finite human relationship, each aspect ofourdualexperiencecanshineinitsfullglory.We’ve covered a lot of ground in this chapter, all under the step of

Polarization, the third in our series of seven steps. By learning about the tendivinepowers,we’veexploredtheinnerpolarityofactiveandreceptiveenergieswithinus, apolarity that, through its interactions, creates thevery stuffofourlives. With our internal battery charged and primed, let’s return to ourexplorationofReikiprinciples.

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MERGING

It’s time to explore the fourth step of self-transformation: Merging. In ourprevious step, Polarization, we gained awareness of our inner “battery” byexploring the ten divine powers, five receptive and five active. Throughexercises,wegotasenseoftheenergeticflavorandfeelofeachofthepowers,andwealsodiscussedhow the interplaybetween them ismore important thanany one power in isolation. It is this interplay that we will work with moredeeply inMerging, for this is the step inwhich our inner receptive and inneractivecometogetherinthedivinemarriage,orhierosgamos.Theproductofthisunion,theDivineChild,isnotyetstrongenoughtogoforthonitsown,anditisvital at this stage that we learn how to nurture this “child” and support itsdevelopment.What does this mean in less arcane terms? As we learn how to use our

receptiveandactiveenergiestogether,theresultofthatpowerfulinterplaywilllikelyfeelnew,andattimes,awkward.Itisimportanttosupportourselvesaswelearn new ways of being and relating during this stage. We must cultivatecompassionandpatienceasweexperiment,makemistakes, and tryagain.Wewillsetourselvesupforfrustrationifweapproachthisstepwiththeexpectationthatwe’lltransitionovernightwithperfectexecution.Justaswewouldn’texpecta child to instantly learn something new and punish them if they needed topracticeandmademistakes,sotoomustwebekindandpatientwithourselves,and we must consciously create safe space in our lives in which to do thisexploratorypractice.

Duringpolarization,yougainedasenseofwhateachofthetendivinepowersfeelsliketoyouasauniquebeing.Thisawarenessisimmenselyuseful,becausewhen you knowwhich of the powers you are exhibitingmost strongly in anygivenmoment,youcanuseyourintuitionandyourrationalmindinpartnershiptoprovideasortofgentlechecksandbalances,inquiringwhetherthisparticularpoweriswhatistrulycalledforrightnoworifit’ssimplywhatyou’reusedtoresorting to in these situations. Or perhaps you’ll see that, yes, this power iscalledforbutalsoneeds tobe temperedorevenactivatedwith theadditionofanotherpower,afterwhichyoucancallinthatcomplementarypowertobalanceorigniteyourcurrentenergystate.Let’ssayyou’rearguingwithyourpartneroverwhopullsmoreweightwhen

itcomestohouseholdchores.Thetwoofyouarelockedinatugo’warbecauseeachofyoubelievesyou’recontributingyourfairsharewhiletheotherpersonisslacking.Youcansensethattheargumentisescalatingwithoutheadingtowardaresolution, so you both decide to take a ten-minute break to calm and collectyourself. As you’re splashing cool water on your face and focusing on yourbreath,younoticethatyourjawisfeelinglockedandtense.Youaskthistensiontoshareitsinsights—whyisitsotense?Isittryingtoprotectagainstsomething?At thispoint,you’re feeling less invested inwhodoeswhichchoresandmorecurious to know what your tension has to share with you because you’veswitchedtoaninternalfocusinsteadoftryingtofigureouthowtochangeyourpartner. You call upon the power of receptive listening, and your energeticsensesopen.Yourecallamemoryfromwhenyouwereeightandweretoldtotakethegarbageout.Youforgot,andyourmomwasfurious;sherefusedyourallowancethatweekandyouweregroundedforthenight.Youhadcompletelyforgotten this incident,andasanadultyour initial reaction is,“What’s thebigdeal?Thatcouldn’tpossiblyhavehadthatmuchofanimpact.”Butyourtensionrecalled thismemory for a reason, and as you tap into the power of spiritualsynthesis,youbegintoseethecommonthreadsbetweenpastandpresent.Yourecallhowyoufeltlikeyouwereoftenwalkingoneggshellsasachild,

howthelittlestthingcouldsetyourmomoff.YouneverknewwhensomethingwouldbenobigdealoratriggerforWorldWarIII.Youcanseenowhowherbehavior made it difficult for you to discern the magnitude of events. While

magnitude is partly subjective, of course, there is ameasure of objectivity aswell:nottakingoutthetrashisnotequivalenttoburningdownthehouse.Youfeel a little silly admitting this, but it’s difficult for you to tell the differencesometimes, especially when you’re stressed or neglecting self-care. In thosemoments, you’re more likely to respond to trash-removal forgetfulness withhouse-burning-down intensity.This leads you towonder if your partnermightactuallybepullingtheirfairsharewhenitcomestochores,buttherareoccasionwhentheydoforgetfeelshuge…andovertakesthetimeswhentheyremember.You then call upon the power of self-sovereignty, your kind and just inner

ruler, who suggests a simple support, a structure that will help you and yourpartnercreatespace topracticediscerning thedifferencebetweenaoneon themagnitude scale versus a three or a ten.Youdecide to create a list ofweeklyhouseholdchoresonawhiteboardwith twocolumns:one foryouandone foryourpartner.Eachweek,youdecide togetherwho’sdoingwhat, andonce thechore is done, the doer checks it off. This tally creates a structure that’s notbeingimposedbyonepersonortheotherintheformofnaggingorarguing;it’sa structure you co-created and in which neither is being appointed the chorepolice.Ifsomeoneforgetsachore,youcanusethisasanopportunitytopracticerefining your sense of magnitude. If you forget to vacuum and your internaldialogue is harsh enough that you’d think you’dmurdered someone, you canpracticemoderatingthisresponsewithcompassionateself-talk:“Itfeelslikeit’sareallybigdeal—anineoutoftenonthemagnitudescale—thatIdidn’tvacuumthisweek.Evenso, I loveandacceptmyself.”Aftera fewroundsabreathingandperhapsalittlehands-onReiki,thingsmayshift:“WhenIthinkaboutit,itseems like this ismore of a two on the scale, so I’m going to use this as anopportunitytoturndowntheintensitydialsoitreflectswhatIknowaboutthissituationmoreaccurately.”Youcanevenpictureacontrolpanel inyourmindlabeled“MAGNITUDE”and seeyourselfmovingadial from10 to2.This isjustoneexampleofhowwecantuneintothepowersthataredominantinanygivenmomentandcalluponthebalancingandsupportingeffectofotherpowersasneeded.

DivinePowerAlchemyToreplicate thisprocess regardlessof thedetailsof thesituation, startwithanintention: the intention to identifywhichpowerorpowersaredominant in thepresentmoment. I like topose thequestion tomyHigherSelf: “Whichof thedivinepowersaremostdominantformerightnow?”Itakefiveminutesofquietreflection to receive the response, which can come in the form of images,sensationsinthebody,memories,fullyformedthoughts,smells,andsoon.Overtime,youwilllearnyourownintuitivelanguageandhowtointerpretit,andthemoreyoupractice, thedeeperyourunderstandingwillbecome.Andrememberthat ifyoudo theexercises fromchapter six inwhichyouexploreeachof thedivine powers individually, you’ll create your own frame of reference, yourinternalRosettaStone.Theexercisesgetyouintouchwithwhateachenergeticpowerfeelslike,allowingyoutocompareandmatchthosesensationswiththeenergiesyou’reexperiencinginanygivenmoment.Onceyou’ve identified thepowerorpowers thatarecurrentlyactivated,use

bothyourrationalmindandintuitivefacultiestoassess.Givenwhatyouknowabout the situation,does this seem like themost effectivedivinepower touseright now? If not, which power might be more effective? To kickstart thisassessment process, here are some examples of when each of the powers aremost and least effective. This is by nomeans an exhaustive list so use thesepointersastoolswhileyoudevelopyourownwisdom,notasfixedrules.

GestationalSleepGestationalsleepismosteffectivewhenyou’renursingtheideaforafreshstartoranewproject,whetherit’saphysicalproject,apersonalgrowthcommitment,a new relationship, a new way of looking at things, or any new beginning.Gestational sleepmight be neededwhen you’re feeling a lack of creativity ordecreasedmotivationtochangeandgroworwhenyou’refeelingoverwhelmedorconfusedastowheretobegin.It’salsohelpfulwhenyouhaveideasthatseemstrikingly similar to ones you’ve had in the past that didn’t seem to leadanywhere fruitful. In this case, gestational sleep can help you take stock anddiscernwhethertheidealackssparkbecauseit’ssomethingsmallandsafe(orsoyoubelieve)that’skeepingyouinyourcomfortzone,orifitfeelsbigandscarybecauseit’schallengingyoutostepoutofthiszoneandyouregoisthrowingupdefensesintheformoffalseboredomandapathy.Gestationalsleepmightbelesseffectiveifyourideaisalreadyfleshedoutand

youhavemostofthetoolsyouneedtogetstartedbutarehesitanttodivein.Inthis case, you might be more in need of labor of love power (the near-unstoppable passion to birth something from the heart), self-sovereignty (thecreation of inner and outer structure to make time for and apply peacefuldiscipline to the project), or courageous championing (the inner knight whobelievesinyourideaandwillchampionitwithgusto,eveninthefaceofself-doubt).

ReceptiveListeningReceptivelisteningismosteffectivewhenyoufeellikeyou’regoingaroundincircles: your thoughts feel repetitive, you hear yourself repeating the samecomplaintsor rationales,oryou feel likeeverypossible solution isdestined tobecome a dead end. Receptive listening might be needed when you feeloverburdened, like everything depends on you and other people aren’t pullingtheirweight or can’t be trusted to do things properly. Receptive listening canhelpyoure-attunetotheDivineradiofrequencyandallowyoutoreceivefresh,new information from a source beyond the ego. It helps you realignwith theflow of your soul’s energetic path rather than fight your way upstream usingoutdatedmethodsoftheego.Receptivelisteningmightbelesseffectivewhenyoualreadyknowwhatyour

next step is but you find yourself asking friends formore advice, doingmoretarot readings, researching “just a little bit more,” and otherwise going intoanalysis paralysis. In this case, the information you already have (albeitincomplete, as our information will always be no matter how diligently weresearch) needs to be transformed into knowledge through action. The near-unstoppablepassiontobirthsomethingfromtheheart(calleda“laboroflove”),consciousclearing (mindfully releasingobstructions to takingaction, includingtheego’sfearthatyoumustknoweverythinginordertotakethefirststep),andcourageous championing (the inner knightwho believes in your idea andwillchampionforyouthroughreal-worldaction)areallpowersthatcanbehelpfulinthiscircumstance.

SpiritualSynthesisSpiritualsynthesisismosteffectivewhenyou’vedonetheintuitiveandlogicalresearchandnowyouneedaglimpseofthebigpicturetohelpinspireandguideyour actions. It’s also helpful when you sense that you’re engaged in anunhelpfulpatternandwanttouncoveritsrootstolearnthelessonandmoveon.Spiritualsynthesismightbeneededwhenyoufeeldisjointedorasifyourwork,spiritual,social,andotherlivesareatoddsorbattlingforlimitedtime.Oneredflagisfeelinglikeyouhavetobedifferentpeopleindifferentareasofyourlife.The power of spiritual synthesis is also useful when you have a lot ofinformation but don’t know how the parts relate to thewhole andwhat to dowith it all. It canalsohelpwhenyou’recaught in information-gatheringmodebutarestruggling tosee thepersonalsignificanceofwhatyou’re learning.Forexample,ifyou’reawareofsynchronicityintheformofanimalmessengersandmeaningful dreams and other clues that resonate with you but haven’t gonedeeper with these clues by meditating or journaling on the common threads,spiritualsynthesiscanhelp.Spiritual synthesismightbe less effectivewhenyou’reworkingon taking a

one-step-at-a-timeapproachinrelationtoasituationthatfeelsbiginsomewaywhetheritbeemotionallyoverwhelmingorasituationinvolvingalotofpeopleorcomplexfactors,mostofwhichyoucan’tcontrol.Whileitcansometimesbehelpful to see the big picture in these situations, it can also add to theoverwhelm. It’smore effective at times to simply stickwithwhat you can dorighthere,rightnow,andlettherestunfoldasitwill.

SelflessSupportSelfless support is most effective when you’re suffering from a comparisonhangover:inotherwords,you’respendingtoomuchtimecomparingyourideasandeffortstootherpeople’sandgeneratingadownwardspiralofenvyandself-doubt. It’salsousefulwhenyou feelalone,unsupported,andoverwhelmedbythe immensity of your current tasks. Selfless support might be needed if younoticethatyou’refeelinghypercriticalanditfeelshardtostopfixatingonwhatisn’t working and any mistakes that have been made, either by you or otherpeople.It’salsousefulwhenyoufeeltrappedbyotherpeople’sexpectationsorwhat theymight think of you. If other’s opinionsweigh heavilywhen you’remaking a decision, selfless support can remind you that self-care is thefoundation upon which all your service to the world rests, and it is the bestmetricwhenmakingadecision:WoulddoingXbelovingtomyself?Selfless support might be less effective when you’re finding it harder than

usualtoreleaseinternalstoriesthatcastyouinthevictimormartyrrole.Inthiscase, calling on restorative sleep (recharging your batteries and reconnectingwithself-carepractices),purposefulprocurement (gettingcrystalclearonwhatyou need and taking direct steps to meet those needs, rather than trying tocovertly rope others into meeting them for you), and self-sovereignty(reclaiming your inner seat of power and moving out of victimhood) can behelpful.

LaborofLoveLaborofloveismosteffectivewhenyou’rereadytogivebirth,whetherintheform of creating a work of art, birthing a baby, embarking on a relationship,launchinganewproduct,andsoforth.Thispowerhelpsyoueffectivelychannelyourenergyandfocusyoureffortsonusheringyourloveprojectintotheworldin away that is simultaneously supportive of yourself and your creation.Thissupportwillbeuniqueeachtimeyougivebirth,e.g.,creatingidealconditionsinwhich to finish the painting you’ve been working on will be different thancreatingtheidealconditionstofeelsupportedasyouasksomeonenewoutonadate. Labor of love is also useful when you’re bursting to create, yet you’reworriedthatotherpeoplemightthinkyouoryourcreationaren’tgoodenoughortheywon’tunderstandwhat it isyou’recreatingandwhy.Laborof lovehelpsyoureconnectwithyourinsatiablepassionthatwon’tsettleforholdingbackoutoffear.Thisloveisburstingtocomeintotheworld,comehellorhighwater.Labor of love can be less effectivewhen you’re struggling to identifywhat

youneedandconsciouslyownthoseneeds.Whenwearen’tclearonourneeds,wesometimesdivertthelaborofloveenergythroughlessproductivechannelsinorder to get our unexpressed (and possibly unconscious) needs met. Forexample,welaunchanewproductwiththeunexpressedneedforapproval,andthe laborof loveenergygets shunteddownapproval-seekingpipes rather thanflowingfreelythroughourcreativechannel.Inthesecases,callingonpurposefulprocurement (gettingcrystal clearonwhatyouneedand takingdirect steps tomeetthoseneeds),consciousclearing(releasingoutcomesandexpectationsthatarebeyondyourcontroloratcrosspurposestothespiritofyourcreation),andrestorative sleep (tending to your inner fire, so you are fulfilled and can givebirthtoyourcreationfreely,withoutexpectinganimmediate,orany,return)canbehelpful.

RestorativeSleepRestorativesleepismosteffectivewhenyou’refeelingdepletedandburntout,particularly if these feelings are accompanied by aworldweariness related tofeelinglikethere’sneverenoughtime,resources,ideas,orsupporttogoaround.Whenyoucan’tseemtoconnectwithasenseofabundance,restorativesleepcanreunite you with the infinite wellspring within, a sustainable, ever-flowingsourceofnourishment.Restorativesleepisalsousefulwhenyou’rephysicallyillorotherwiselowinenergyandisgreatafteryou’vefinishedaprojectandfindyourself stuck ingo-go-gomode.Allowingyourbody,mind, and soul time todecompress and process in between bursts of effort and energy establishes amoresustainablepatternandhelpstowardoffailmentslikeadrenalfatigueandheadaches.Restorative sleep can be less effective if you feel like you’ve been in

hibernationmodeandyou’restruggling togetmoving. Itcanbehelpful togettherapeutic support, like speaking to a counselor to see if you might beexperiencing depression, or a holistic practitioner to see if a physical issue issiphoning away your energy. In addition, calling on the powers of selflesssupport(prioritizingself-care,evenwhileyouareoutintheworldtakingaction),receptive listening (tuning into your body,mind, and soul to uncover the rootcauses of your flagging energy), and courageous championing (honoring thevalueofyouruniqueself-expressionandofferingittotheworld)canbeuseful.

CourageousChampioningCourageouschampioningismosteffectivewhenyouhavesomethingyouwantto share with the world and you’re unsure how or are feeling insecure aboutdoing so. Whether you’re starting a business, asking for a raise, buildingawareness for a causeyou feel passionate about, or simply finding avenues toshare your gifts and be of service, courageous championing can help.Courageouschampioningisalsousefulwhenyou’restrugglingtorecognizethevalueofyourreceptiveenergies,asitisachallengemanyofusfaceasaresultof living in an extroverted, action-oriented culture. If you associate receptiveenergy with being weak, “overly” emotional, or irrational, for example,courageouschampioningcanhelphealthismisperceptionandassertthevalueofthereceptive.Courageous championing can be less effective when you feel like you’re

pushing and striving to make something happen, and you’re not getting theresultsyouwant.Inthiscase,it’softenmorehelpfultostepbackandreevaluaterather than forgeahead.Callon thepowerof receptive listening (quietingegochatterand tapping intodeeper insights),gestationalsleep(allowingnewideasandperspectivestobubbleupfromthewellspringoftheunconscious),andself-sovereignty (the calm inner rulerwho cultivates patience andwisely assesses,evenwhentheegowantstoforceandrush).

Self-SovereigntySelf-sovereigntyismosteffectivewhenthedesireforcontrolgetsinthewayofcreativeandfreeexpression.Ifyou’reafraidthingswillfallapartifyoureleaserigidcontroloveryourself(perhapsbydenyingyourneedsoremotions)orareexcessively anxious or irritated when you don’t have control over externalcircumstances and other people, self-sovereignty can bring you back to yourinnerseatofempowermentandhelpyoureleasetheneedforpoweroverselfandothers,whichcandrainyourenergyandsquelchcollaborationandsupport.Self-sovereignty is helpful when you feel beset with inner conflict, as if there arewarringfactionswithinyou.Yourinnersovereigniscapableoftakingseeminglyopposing wants and needs and finding the deeper, core needs that crave

fulfillmentbyallparties; fromthere,youarebetterable tomoveforwardwithpurposeandinnercoherence.It’sequallyhelpfulwhenthemetaphoricalwarringfactionsareexternal,i.e.,youandotherpeople.Self-sovereigntycanbelesseffectivewhenyourneedtocontrolyourselfand

othersistiedtochemicaladdiction,processaddictions(suchasdisorderedeatingor obsessive-compulsive behavior), or other behaviors that feel too difficult toreleaseonyourown.Inthesecases,it’swisetoseeksupportfromatherapistormental health professional to assist as you learn how to differentiate betweenyour Higher Self and the inner tyrant and inner rebel. In conjunction withprofessionalsupport,callingonthepowersofpurposefulprocurement(learningtodiscernbetweenwantsandneedsandidentifyingwhichof thesearetrulyinserviceofyoursoul’swork),receptivelistening(attuningtoyourdeeperneedsovertryingtofindsatisfactionthroughsuperficialfillers),andspiritualsynthesis(identifying self-defeating patterns and self-supportive patterns so you canconsciouslychoosethelatter)canbehelpful.

ConsciousClearingConsciousclearingismosteffectivewhenyou’refeelingconfusedastowhattodo next, when you have a lot of ideas and no clue how to pick one and getstarted (for example, if you have no idea which of these ten powers to startworkingwithfirst!),orwhenanissuefeelssocomplexthatitseemsimpossibletofindresolution.Consciousclearingcanhelpyouidentifywhereandwhyyourenergeticpipesareclogged, allowingyou to learn fromandeventually releasethe obstruction, rather than subconsciously creating elaborate workarounds toredirecttheenergy,leavingyoufeelingscatteredandlost.Consciousclearingisalso helpful if you’re having trouble communicating effectively, whetherspeakingorlistening.Ifotherpeopleseemtomisunderstandyouorifyouoftenmisunderstand others, conscious clearing can help you release communicationblocks,assistingtheenergyinflowingclearlyfromonepartytotheotherwithlesspotentialformisinterpretation.Consciousclearingcanbelesseffectivewhenyouhavetroubleseeingthings

throughtothefinishline.Inthiscase,itcanbemoretransformativetoseewhatmakesithardforyoutosustainenergyandinterest,ratherthansimplymakingafresh sweep andmissing potential lessons. Calling on the energy of receptivelistening (illuminating hidden fears and other elements that can cause us toabandonshipprematurely), restorative sleep (self-care thatprovides the steadynourishment required to cross the finish line), and spiritual synthesis(discoveringhowchoicesandeffort in thepresentcreate the futureandweavetheoveralltapestryofyourlife)canbeuseful.

PurposefulProcurementPurposeful procurement is most effective when you have clarity on the nextstepsofyoursoulpathandyouneedresources,whetheritbetime,information,money,orsupport to takeaction.Tapinto thispowertogetclearonwhatyouneedandwhatyoudon’tsoyou’renotboggingyourselfdownwithunnecessarybaggageorgettingwaylaidbyquestsfortheirrelevant.Purposefulprocurementcan alsobehelpfulwhenyou feel overburdenedby stuff, yet everynew thingyou encounter feels, in themoment, like something you genuinely need or atleastsomethingyoutrulywantandthinkyou’llenjoy,andonlylaterdoyouseethat itwasunnecessary filler.Thispowercanhelpyoudiscernbetweenwantsandneedsandsiftoutdesiresthatwillbringjoyversusdesiresthataremaskinga deeper need that cannot be fulfilled simply by acquiring more stuff orexperiences.Purposeful procurement can be less effective when you struggle with self-

worth in such a way that it’s hard for you to justify procuring anything—forexample, if it’sdifficult tospendmoneyunless it’s tobenefit someoneelse. Ifyoustrugglewithdeepfeelingsofguiltwhenyoutakecareofyourownneedsorwants, the energy of purposeful procurement can be misdirected and used tojustifyevenmorestringenthabitsandunhealthyabnegation.Itcanbehelpfultobalance thiswithreceptive listening(openingup to thedeeper,coreneeds thatarecallingtobemetandthereasonswhyyoufeelthatyouareundeserving)andselflesssupport(recognizingthattakingcareofyourselfisagifttothosearoundyou because you’re not subconsciously shifting the responsibility of meetingyour needs onto others). On the flipside, if you find yourself consuming inexcess, the power of spiritual synthesis in conjunction with purposefulprocurementcanhelpyousee the largerpatternofunmetneedssoyoucangoaboutaddressingthecoredesiresratherthanchasingsuperficialsatisfaction.

GoingDeeperWiththePowersYoushouldnowhaveafirmfoundationuponwhichtoexperimentwiththetendivinepowers.Learntorecognizewhichpowerorpowersaredominantinanygivenmomentandassesswhethertheadditionofadifferentpowerhelpsbalanceoractivateyourcurrentenergystate.Rememberthatwhat’scoveredhereisjustthetipoftheiceberg;eachpowercontainsauniverseofnuancethatisuptoyoutodiscoverforyourself.Themoreyouworkwiththesepowers,thedeeperyourunderstandingwillbecome.

Hereareotherwaystodeepenyourrelationshipwiththepowers:

Meditateonapower.Youcanchooseacharacterthatembodiesthispowerforyou(suchasafigurefromliteratureorthetarot)andseektointeractwiththisfigureinyourmeditation.Youmightstepintoatarotcardsceneorimaginemeetingthischaracteratacafe,aclearinginthewoods,oranotherinspiringlocation.Next,askquestions.Listen,watch,receive.Meditateonthesamepowermultipletimesandseehowtheinteractionschangeanddeepen.Youcanalsousethistechniquetoseehowdifferentpowersinteractbypersonifyingtwopowersandaskingtoseehowtheyrelatewitheachother,bothbeneficiallyanddetrimentally.Journalaboutyourexperiences.

Asktobegiveninformationregardingaparticularpower(oracombinationofpowers)inyourdreams.Uponwaking,immediatelyjotdownwhateveryoucanrememberaboutyourdream.Youcanalsoextendthisexperiencebylatermeditatingandreturningtothedreamtogetadditionalinformation,toexperimentwithalteringthecourseofdreamevents,toaskquestionsofanycharactersinyourdream,andsoon.

Ifyouhavetroubleconnectingtoaparticularpower,askReikiforhelp.Thisprocesscanbeassimpleoraselaborateasyoulike.Forexample,youcanchargeacandlewithReikibyholdingthecandleinyourhands,allowingReikitoflowthroughyou,andenvisioningit

fillingthecandle.Asyoulightthecandle,settheintentionthatitwillhelpyouconnectwiththepowerinawaythatiscorrectandgoodforyou.Youcanthenmeditateinfrontofthecandle,gazesoftlyintotheflame,freewriteinyourjournal,orleavethecandletoburninasafeplacewhileyoudootherthingsaboutthehouseandstayopenandreceptivetoinsights.Ifyouwanttoplaywithamoreelaboratetechnique,useReikiinconjunctionwiththefirstsuggestioninthislist.Ifyouaresteppingintoascene,createalantern,candle,orotherlightsourceinyourmindandimbueitwithReiki.Inessence,imaginethatthelightsourceisReikiandwillflowwhereveryoudirectthelight.Ifthere’sanythingyouhavetroubleunderstanding,shinethelightofReikionitandseewhatchanges.Ifyouarecreatingamentallocationinwhichtomeetyourcharacter,youcancreatethescenewithReiki,suchasmakingthewindowsandwallsoutofReiki,markingoutapathwithReiki,andsoon.Getcreative!SeeifmeetingthepersonifiedpowerinaReikiroomchangestheinteraction.

Writealettertoyourselfasoneofthepowers,notingeverythingyouthinkthispowerwantsyoutoknowaboutit.Letyourselfwritewithoutcensorshipandyou’llbesurprisedhowmuchknowledgeyoucontain,asifitwassimplywaitingforanavenueofexpression.Youcandoasimilarprocessthroughothermediumssuchasfingerpainting,workingwithclay,makingmusic,oranythingelsecreative.

Whileembodyingapower,youcanwalk,dance,orotherwisemoveyourbody(thiscanbedoneinachairandusinganymovementexpressionaccessibletoyou),seeingwhatitfeelsliketobethispower.Doyoumakecertainfacialexpressionsorhandgestures?Doesyourbodywanttomoveinwaysthatfeeloutoftheordinaryforyou?Journalaboutyourexperiences.

Callaforgottenpowerbackintoyourlife…bythrowingawelcomehomeparty!Ifyouhavefriendswhoarealsoworkingwiththedivinepowers,youcanthrowapartyforeveryone’slong-lostpowers.Make

thingsassimpleorelaborateasyoulike.Thepointistohavefun,enjoyconnectingwiththesepowers,andrecognizethatourlivesareenrichedbytheirpresence.Youcancreateinvitationsthatbrieflycaptureinwordstheintentionforthegatheringsuchas,“Joinusforacelebrationofpurposefulprocurement.Let’sreconnectwithourinnercompassthatknowsjustwhatoursoulsneedtolivefullyandfreely!”Ifyouwant,youcanmakefoodsthatfeelconnectedtothispowerand/orcomeupwithactivitieslikeaspiritualscavengerhuntforpurposefulprocurementthatwillhelpyouallcelebratethispowerinanewway.Letyourimaginationrunwild;themoreyouengageyourwholeselfasyouexploreandinteractwiththesepowers,themorerealtheywillfeeltoyou,andtheeasieritwillbeforyoutorecognizeandcalluponthemwhenneeded.

Becoming more mindful of the ten divine powers and how they affect yourmoods, behavior, thoughts, and energy level throughout the day is a powerfulpractice in self-awareness. By exploring which powers are easier or morechallenging for you to activate, you can get a better sense of how energy isflowing through your life—including where it might be getting stuck. Thesimple act of bringing awareness to the energies helps transform unconsciousinfluencesintoconsciousmaterialthatyoucanworkwithmoreproductively.Inthenextchapter,wereturnourfocustoReikiasweexplorethefivepreceptsandthefirstthreeReikisymbols.

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REIKIPRECEPTSANDTHEFIRSTTHREESYMBOLS

PartofUsui’soriginalteachingsincludedsomethingcalledthefiveprecepts,orGo-kai,whichwere recitedby students everymorningand evening.There aretwo titles for the fiveprinciples, and they’re bothquitewonderful: “the secretmethod to invite happiness” and “the miraculous remedy for all diseases.”Here’saversionof theGo-kai fromUsui’smemorial stone, the translation forwhichisprovidedbyHiroshiDoi:

Fortoday—DonotbeangryDonotworry—BeThankfulDowhatyouaremeanttodo—BekindtoothersMorningandnight,withyourhandsinGasshoPuttheminyourkokoroandrecite

ImprovementofMindandBody

UsuiReikiRyohoFounder,MikaoUsuiThepreceptsarethefivephrasesinbold,andwhilethereareslightly

differenttranslationsoftheseprinciplesdependingonthesource,themeaningisconsistent.Let’slookateachphraseindividuallyandexplorehowtheseprinciplescanhelpusonourjourneyofself-transformation.

ForTodayThisphraseismeanttomodifyallofthephrasesthatfollow;forexample,“Fortoday,donotbeangry,”“Fortoday,donotworry,”andsoforth.Weareaskedtofocusonthepresentmoment,whichiswherewearemosteffective.Focusingon the present introduces a healthy perspective check, especially when we’refeeling anxious or overwhelmed.Quite oftenwhat is being asked of us in thepresentisfairlystraightforwardandwellwithinourabilitytodo,butwhenwe’respinning out into the past and future things rapidly start to feel morecomplicated.Forexample, ifyou’rebeginningahealingsessionwithsomeoneandarewellgroundedinthepresent,youwillinvariablygetasenseofwheretoplaceyourhands;however,youmightworry thatyouwon’tknowwhat todonext or beat yourself up for not practicing your Reikimore intensely the daybefore.Neitherofthesethoughtsareparticularlyhelpfulinthepresentmomentandaredistractionsfromthegreatesthealinggiftyoucanoffertoyourselfandothers—fullpresencerighthere,rightnow.I remember starting a session as a new therapist with the fear that Imight

screweverythingup.Apartofmerecognizedthatthiswasnotthemosthealingofmindsets,sowhilemyclientwasgettingpreparedIlefttheroomandfocusedonshoweringmyselfwithlove.Icouldn’trunthrougheverythingIknewaboutenergyhealing(nordoIthinkthiswouldhavebeenusefulevenifIcould),andIknew better than to suppress my feelings. What I could do was accept mynervousnessandfearandlovethecrapoutofmyselfjustthesame.Here’swherethingsgot interesting: Ibegan the sessionbyplacingmyhandson theclient’sankles.Theentire time, Iwas internally showeringmyselfwithwordsof love,suchas,“Iloveyousomuch.Iamintherightplace,attherighttime,doingtheright thing. I am loved. I am love.”By the time I reachedmy client’s head, Inoticedthatshehadaverypeacefullookonherface,tearswerestreamingoutofthecornersofherclosedeyes,andhermouthwascurvedintoagentlesmile.Attheendofthesessionshesaid,“Itwasthemostamazingthing.Assoonasyouputyourhandsonmyfeet,Ihadthisoverwhelmingfeelingthateverythingwasgoingtobeokay.”

Evenwhenwearefeelingsmallandscared,wecanhaveaprofoundhealingeffectonourselvesandonothersbycultivatingandpracticingself-love.Forthishealing to happen, however,wemust be anchored in the presentmoment andwilling to trust thatallweneed ishappeningrighthere, rightnow,even if thepresentmomentbringsusintouchwithournervousness,fear,orvulnerability.Trust that even these so-callednegative emotions areokay and that simplybybeingpresentwiththem,you’re“doingitright.”

DoNotBeAngryMostof the traditional interpretationsof thisphrasearepretty straightforward:donotbeangry.Angerisseenasapotentiallydestructiveforcethatwe’rebetteroff transcending. While I certainly agree that anger has the potential to bedestructive,Idonotfindtheimperative“donotbeangry”particularlyhelpful;when anger arises, it’s easy to start the internal song anddanceof shame andblame:“Ohcrap,I’mangry.I’mnotsupposedtobefeelingangry.Argh,ifonlyso-and-sohadn’tbeensuchajerkIwouldn’tbefeelingangryrightnow.Screwhim! I’m so angry!”And on it goes.We’ve alreadyworked a great dealwithvariouspracticesdesignedtohelpussitwithandbepresentwithouremotions,and these practices lay the foundation for what I believe is a more helpfulapproachtothisprinciple.Whenangerarises,bepresentwithit.There’snoneedto react to it internally by recounting events in our head, justifying our angerwithstoriescastingusasthevictimorrighteousrebel,orshamingourselvesforour anger, or externally by taking it out on other people overtly or passive-aggressively.Whenweare simplypresent,westart to feel thegapbetweenouremotions

and our reaction to them.Without this practice, emotions and reactions flowtogethersoseamlesslythatitmightseemimpossibletoexperienceonewithoutthe other. Our self-sovereignty lies in re-establishing this gap, and one of thewayswedoit isbyfocusingawarenessonourbody,thevesselthroughwhichtheemotionalenergyissurging.Westrengthenidentificationwiththevesselasopposed to theenergy it is temporarilycontainingbybecomingawareofwhatourbodyisexperiencing,perhapsmakingmentalnotesassensationsarisesuchas, “My hands are trembling. I feel heat in my belly. My breath is fast andchoppy.”Trustthatyoudon’tneedtomentallyfigureoutwhattodoorsay.Justbepresentwithyourbodyandlettheemotionalenergyrunitscoursewhileyouabstainfromsayingordoinganything.Theoneexceptiontothelatterisifyoufind it helpful to move your body, like walking or following other intuitiveguidancesuchaswrappingyourarmsaroundyourselforsittingon thegroundandswayingbackandforthgently(youmightwanttofindprivacyforthatone,lest your coworkers or family get concerned). If movement helps, go for it.

WhenIsayabstainfromdoinganything,Irefertotakingactiontotry“solving”or distancing yourself from your anger, such as calling someone and venting,gettingonFacebook,eatingsugar,orrushingtocreateanactionplan.Withpractice,ourpresencelessensthefearofouremotions.Weseethatthey

canindeedbequiteintenseattimes(sometimessurprisinglyso),butwealsoseethatwehavethetoolstoweatherthestorm,andthetoolsarealwaysavailable:we always have our body—our vessel—and we always have the option ofchoosingtobepresent.Thisexpandedresilienceinthefaceofemotionsliberatesus;webecomelessandlessconcernedwithtryingtomicromanageourinternaland external environment (including other people) in an attempt to avoidtriggeringencounters. Insteadwecan simply liveand trust thatwecanhandlewhateverarises.

DoNotWorryThere simply is no benefit whatsoever toworry. Not only does it pollute ourstateofmind,whichthenpollutesourenergyfield, itaccomplishesnothing…nada, zip. Ifwe are in the habit ofworrying,wemay find that it serves as asubconscious crutch when we examine this habit more closely. The crutchallowsusto thinkwe’redoingsomethingabout theissueathand(afterall,wewereupallnightworryingaboutit)andhelpsusstayimmobilized,absolvingusofanyrealresponsibilitytofacetheissueoutsideoftheconfinesofourworriedmind.Wecanbecomeaddicted toworry,oranyotheremotionand thecascadeof

chemicals released in the body, to the familiarity of the sensation (howeverunpleasant),andtothebufferitprovidesfromlearningandusingnewlifeskills.Forexample, Iused tochronicallyandhabituallyworryaboutmoney. I’dstayuphalfthenight,thinkingaboutwhetherornotIwasgoingtohaveenoughandpanic over all of the possible consequences if I didn’t.Theworry served as adistraction to actually looking at the patterns underlyingmy state of perpetualfinancialcrisisandlearningtheskillsnecessarytocultivatelong-termfinancialstability.Insteadofsittingwithmyemotions,Iinsteadtemporarilyignoredthemand went shopping, a distraction that clearly wasn’t in support of financialstability.Ifyou’vebeenworryingforaslongasyoucanremember,itcanfeelhardto

break this habit. My suggestion is to practice what we’ve been learningthroughout our entire journey thus far: proceed with open eyes and an openheart. If you find yourselfworrying, pause and look closerwithout judgment.Whatareyouworriedabout?Ifithelps,gettheworriesonpaperasasymbolicactofgettingthemoutofyourheadandintoamoremanageableform.Writingalsoservestocreatethegapmentionedearlierbetweenatriggerandahabitualreaction. Next, really look at your concerns. Circle the ones you can actuallytakeactiontoaddress.Forexample,“I’mworriedthat if Idon’thangoutwithSarahonFriday,she’llthinkIdon’tlikeher…butI’mreallytiredandneedtorest.”Possibleactionsincludesittingwiththediscomfortasitarises—yes,thisisanaction,anditcanfeelaschallengingasrunningamarathon!Youmightalso

call Sarah to explain exactly what you’re feeling. Sometimes examining yourworrieswillilluminatepreviouslyhiddenbeliefsandself-imposedrules,suchas,“Ican’tsimplytellSarahthatI’mafraidshe’llthinkIdon’tcareifIdon’tcomeonFriday.”Wait…what?Sayswho?Whenwedomake theeffort toexpressourfeelingsandshowvulnerability,italmostinvariablydeepensthefriendshipwhilealsoopeningthedoorforotherstobehonestinreturn.Openingthisdoorislikelettingabig,beautifulgustoffreshairintotherelationship,andyoucanpractically feel the mutual sigh of relief: “Oh, thank God.We don’t have topretendanymore!”Forthoseitemsonyourlistthatyoucan’toraren’tinterestedintakingaction

toaddress,letthemgo.Ifyoudon’tplanontakingaction—andthat’stotallyfine—resist the urge to pretend you’re doing something by worrying. Let it gointentionally.Theremaybemanythingsonyourlistthatyoucan’taddressevenifyouwantedto.Letthemgowithintention.Writethemonapieceofpaperandburn it.Tryusing theSerenityprayer likeamantra:“Grantme the serenity toaccept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and thewisdomtoknowthedifference.”Amentothat!

BeThankfulGratitude is a game changer.We talked earlier about ourmind’s evolutionarypredisposition to seeking out the negative, butwehave a powerful antidote atourdisposal:gratitude.Therearemanywaystoincorporatemoregratitudeintoyour day, and as with all of the practices we’re learning, doing them withintentioniswhatreallycounts.

Startandendyourdaybysayingthree thingsyou’regratefulforeither toyourself or to someone else. You could also journal your gratitude in aspecialnotebookandflipthroughitwheneveryou’restrugglingtoconnectwithgratitude.

Maketheritualfun.Yearsago,mystep-dadandIstartedapracticecalledLDS:LifeDoesn’tSuck.Itbegansomewhatasajokebutyearslaterwe’restill emailing or texting each other our list of reasons why Life Doesn’tSuckonaregularbasis.

Createagratitudebox,atwistonapiggybank.Wheneveryoufeelinspired,write down something you’re grateful for and put it in the box (bonuspoints: decorate the boxwith glitter, collage elements, quotes, et cetera).Whenyou’restrugglingtothinkofsomethingyou’regratefulfor,pulloutoneofyourbankedgratitudeslipsand“cashitin”forahelpfulreminderoflife’ssweetness.

Explore finding gratitude even amid struggles. Let’s say you’re arguingwithacoworker.Youdon’tneed towhitewash thesituationandcomeupwith sappy sweetness that doesn’t actually resonatewithyou; instead, trysomething even more powerful: Find gratitude for your ability to makeempoweringchoices even indifficult timesand thenexercise that choice.For example: “I’m grateful that I have a choice to go outside, get somefreshair,andcollectmyselfforfiveminutes.”Thendojustthat.Youmighteven inject powerful vulnerability and authenticity into the situation bysaying,“Youknow,I’mnoticingthatI’mfeelingprettyscatteredrightnow,

andI’mnotabletobeaspresentinthisconversationasI’dlike.I’mgoingtogooutsideforfiveminutesandclearmyhead,andthenI’llbebacksowecantalkaboutthis.”

DoWhatYouAreMeanttoDoI particularly like thewording “Dowhat you aremeant to do” as opposed toother translations I have read, such as “work hard,” which in this go-go-gocultureusually isn’t somethingweneed tohear anymore thanwealreadydo.“Dowhatyouaremeant todo”evokes formeacall to findyourpurposeandlive it one day at a time. It also brings to mind Don Miguel Ruiz’s fourthagreement, “always do your best” and the helpful reminder that our best canchangefromdaytoday(Ruiz2008,75).Ashealers,thisreminderisespeciallyimportant.We cannot do ourwork sustainably if we are holding ourselves tounwavering standards that fail to take into account how we’re feeling in thepresent.Ifyou’retired,carveouttimeforrest.Itservesneitheryounorotherstopushthrough,tryingtodelivertheexactsamelevelofeffortdayinanddayout.Bymodelingself-care,youcaninspireotherstodothesame.There’s another interesting aspect to releasingyourself from thepressureof

unchangingperformance: you leave room for surprises.Whenyouhonor yourinternal rhythms and cycles, you might see that doing your best takes ondifferent flavors and nuance, depending on the day, the season, the time ofmonth.Forexample,womenmightfindthey’reespeciallyintuitiverightbeforetheir menstrual cycle and it brings something different to the energy workprocess—beautiful!Workwith that.Therearecountlessvariations thatexist inyourunique cycles thatwill remainuntapped if you try to conform to a rigid,perfectionisticstandard.“Do what you are meant to do” also challenges us to be authentic in our

choices,whetherthatbeinourchoiceofvocation,friendsandlovers,thewordsweuse,howwespendour time,andso forth.Themoreattunedweare to thevoiceofoursoul,themoreweknowinourheartwhenwearedoingsomethingdiscordant. We know that we’re shortchanging ourselves when we choose togossip,indulgeinworriedthoughts,spendtimewithpeoplewhodragusdownwith jealous discouragement, or stay in jobs that drain us becausewe fearwe

can’t findanythingbetter.Whenwedo these things, itsimplydoesn’tsit rightwithus.Thekeyistousethatinformationtomovetowardchoicesthataremoresoul-affirming,todowhatwearemeanttodo.

BeKindtoOthersThemorewedeepenourconnectiontospirit,themorewefeelonadeeplevelthatweareallone.Weareindividualsandknowthatexploringandexpressingindividualityisimportant;consider,however,thatgrowthisbetterservedwhenwedosowhile stayingconnected to the truth thatweareultimatelyone.Thisconnection helps balance the oppressive drive to compete, which is fosteredthroughsomanyfacetsofWesternculture.Thecompulsiontowardcompetitioncanleadustofeelanuncomfortablemixtureofsuperiorityandinsecurityasweconstantly fight to maintain the false and slippery sense of being better thanothers.Wecanwasteagreatdealofourpreciousenergyfightingthisimaginarybattle; indeed, our culture encourages this, especially in the areas of business,sports,andsexualrelationships.Wearemoreoftenblindedtothegreatergainstobemadeifweworktogether.Being kind to others serves to dissolve the barriers of false superiority that

keepus feeling“safe”andseparate;however, inorder todoso,wemusthavehealthy boundaries. Many of us were not taught how to create and maintainhealthyboundaries inrelationshipsandmayhaveseenadults inour lifemodelquite the opposite. If our early caretakers felt threatened, rejected, orinconvenienced when we explored our autonomy and healthy differentiation,theymayhaveshutdownourattempts to forgeboundaries.Traumaandabuseare also devastatingly effective at destroying boundaries. If this has been ourexperience, wemust learn new life skills and create boundaries.Without thisskill,wewill not feel safe enough to release the lesshealthymeans—judging,chronicanger,depression, illness,body image issues, and so forth—of stakingoutourterritory.Alloftheseandmanyotherself-destructivebehaviorscanactasashieldthatkeepsotherpeopleandaspectsofourselvesatarm’slength,butas we learn how to construct healthy boundaries, the need for these lessfunctionalprotectivemethodsbeginstolessenandthehabitsaremucheasiertorelease.Whenwehavehealthyboundaries,it’smucheasiertofeelcompassionand choose kindness because we’re not walking through life feeling like aresentfuldoormat.

OtherComponentsoftheGo-kaiInadditiontothefiveprecepts,thego-kaicontainstwoevocativetitlesthatsumupwhyonemightwishtousethego-kaiinthefirstplace:tofindhappinessandimprovetheirwellbeing.Followingthefiveprinciplesarefurtherinstructions:

Morningandnight,withyourhandsinGasshoPuttheminyourkokoroandrecite

ImprovementofMindandBodyHere we are given the suggestion to do these practicesmorning and night,

whichcouldbetakenliterallyormorefiguratively,asindothesepracticesoften.Themoreyouusethem,themoreyouwillbenefit.Thepreceptsconcludewith:

UsuiReikiRyohoFounder,MikaoUsui

Aswediscussed in chapter 1,Reiki scholar-practitionerFransStienewritesthatUsuiReikiRyoho“canbe readas:Usui’s teachings (dharma) tocureandheal one’s True Self.” (Stiene 2010, 15) And he further explains, “Of courseMikaoUsuiisusingametaphor:tohealone’sTrueSelf.Heknewthattherewasnothing to heal—we just need to remember our True Self” (Ibid.). As wecontinue to look at Reiki principles and learn the symbols and mantras, thedifferentpossible translationscanseemoverwhelming. It isvaluable todoourbest in learning the material accurately, particularly if we wish to teach thisinformation toothers,but it is equally important toactivelyengagewith theseconcepts in our practice and in life. Beyondmemorizing these principles, wemust live them. The idea is not to know aboutReiki, the idea is tobe Reiki.Keepthisideainmindasweaddmoretermsandconceptstotheteachings.

ReikiSymbolsWhatareReikisymbolsandwhydoweusethem?Toexplorethisquestion,I’llcompare and contrast what I was originally taught as the common Westernperspective on the symbols with alternative viewpoints. Typically, WesternstudentsaretaughtthreesymbolsaspartoftheirLevelTwotrainingandreceivethe fourth symbol during Level Three or Master training. Since Reiki’sinception,however,somehavedevelopedtheirownReikisystemsandsymbols.Herewewillbediscussingonly the foursymbols thathavebeenconnected toUsui’s original teachings (though some sources credit Hawayo Takata withintroducing the Fourth Symbol). If you’re interested in learning about thedifferenttypesofReikiandtheirsymbols,ChristopherPenczak’sTheMagicofReikiprovidesagreatoverview.IwasinitiallytaughtthattheReikisymbolsconsistofboththeimageandthe

associatedname.Usingthesymbolsmightinvolvedrawingthemintheairwiththefingerormentallyinone’shead(orinsomecasesintheinsideofthemouthwiththetipofthetongue)usuallywhilesilentlyrecitingthenameofthesymbolthree times.The three symbols taught inLevelTwoareSymbolOne (mantra:ChokuRei),sometimesreferredtoasthePowerSymbol;SymbolTwo(mantra:SeiHeKi),thementalandemotionalsymbol;andSymbolThree(mantra:HonShaZeShoNen),thedistancesymbol.Mainstream teachings describe the first symbol’s primary characteristic as

power.Itcanbeusedtoamplifyenergy,forexample,bytracingthesymbolonthepalmsofthehandsbeforegivingaReikitreatmentorbytracingaverylargeversioninfrontofandaroundthebody.Itisassociatedwithactivating,strengthbuilding, dispelling harmful energy, and bringing and sealing in Light. Thesecondsymbol’smainstreamassociationiswithmentalandemotionalhealing;itisalsoconnected toprotection,balancing the leftand righthemispheresof thebrain, releasing attachments and habits, healing psychosomatic issues, andletting go of harmful thinking patterns. You might trace the symbol oversomeone’s body to help heal any of the above issues. I was also taught thatSymbolTwohadtobefollowedupbySymbolOnebecauseitwastoofragilebyitselfandneededtobe“fixed”bythepowersymbol,butIhaven’tfeltthattobe

true with continued practice. The third symbol’s mainstream association isdistancehealing.ItisusedtosendReikieithertoanotherplace(includingotherdimensions) or another time. For example, you might use this symbol toestablishaconnectionwithsomeoneinanotherlocationbeforeyousendReiki.IwasoriginallytaughtthatSymbolThreewasintendedtobeusedwiththeothertwo symbols in this order: First SymbolThree, thenSymbolTwo, and finallySymbolOne.Icertainlydon’tthinktheaboveassociationsfortheReikisymbolsareuseless

—far from it—but I do think they’re more of a starting point, not the wholepicture.Forexample,IhavefoundSymbolOnetobequitegoodathelpingmegetintouchwithmypowercurrent,butI’vealsofoundittobeusefulinleadingmetoaclearerunderstandingofmyinnertruth,somethingthatextendsbeyondits common associations. Let’s look deeper at the possible meanings of thesymbols,andthenexploredifferentwaystousethem.

TrueSymbolsTo start, we need to define what a symbol actually is. Many of us wouldconsideralogoforawell-knowncompanyorastreetsigntobesymbols,butC.G.Jungarguedthatthesearenottruesymbolsbecauseweknowpreciselywhatthey stand for. When we see the golden arches, we know this stands forMcDonalds.Whenwe see a red signwith theword “stop,”we know exactlywhatthatmeans.Atruesymbol,ontheotherhand,isanimagethatservesasthebest representationwehave topoint tosomething that isbeyondourability tocapturewith language andothermental constructs.The symbol doesn’t neatlymatch up with any one definition; we use the symbol precisely because it’simpossibleforustosumuptheconceptinanyotherway.Inessence,thesymbolis a signpost pointing us in a particular direction; it’s merely a guide to theexperienceandgnosisofsomethingthatisbeyondwords.Whilethesymbolisnotthethingtowhichitispointing,thisdoesnotmean

thatthesymbolitselfiscompletelyuseless.Asanoccultist,Iholdthebeliefthatsymbols are both signposts guiding us to something more expansive andenergetic entities imbued with their own power. In my practice, Symbol Onerepresents all of the common associations listed above as well as somethingbigger and more complex than any of those words could possibly capture.Additionally,Iusethesymbol(drawingormentallypicturingit)becauseIfeeltheimageinandofitselfcausesashiftinenergy.Ithinkonecontributingfactorto theirpower is thatmanypeoplehavebeenusing them intentionallyand forspecificpurposes repeatedly.Repeated intentionalusehascreatedanenergeticcurrentassociatedwitheachsymbol,likethousandsoffeetwearingapathintheearth.Andjustasthepathmakesiteasierforotherstotravelalongthisroute,therepeateduseofasymbolmakesiteasierforustotapintotheenergeticcurrentitembodies.Furthermore, in thesamewaythat thewell-wornpath isn’t theonlyway to get fromA toB, the symbol certainly isn’t theonlyway to tap into aparticularenergycurrent; it’ssimplyonewaywithbuilt-upmomentumwecanusetoouradvantage.

SacredSoundEachsymbolisalsoconnectedtoamantra.WhileintheWestthesemantrasaresometimes considered to be the names of the symbols, Stiene teaches that thesymbols are known simply by numbers: Symbol 1, Symbol 2, and so forth inJapan (Stiene 2010, 87). The mantras, or jumon in Japanese, are sometimescalledkotodama,anotherJapanesewordthatmeansroughly,“thespiritsthatliveinsideawordandgive ita specialpower” (Ozeki2014,98).According to theInternational House of Reiki, “Kotodama and jumon were ancient Shintopractises that used vibrations to interact with the natural environment. It wasbelieved that the use of these sound vibrationswould ultimately bring us to acloserconnectionwithourselvesandtheuniverse”(Various2010,7).Iliketothinkofmantrasasawayofunitingourbody,mind,andspirit.We

are using our physical body to create sounds initiated by ourmind to connectmoredeeplywithspirit,weavingthethreetogether;thatspiritisinturnaspiritwe sharewith all that exists, connectingus to thegreaterwhole.Chanting themantrascanalsohelpusconnectwiththetanden,ourenergeticcenter.Whenwefullyembodythesound,we’relikelytofeelavibrationinthisareaafewfingerwidthsbelowournavel,deepinourabdomen,closetothespine.Bringingourawarenesstothisspacecanincreaseoursenseofgroundingandcenteredness,sothesemantras are excellent tools tousewhenwe’re feeling scattered, anxious,indecisive, flighty, or otherwise disconnected. They bring us back into ourphysicalvesselwhilealsoresonatingwithourmentalandspiritualdimensions.It’slikeathree-for-onespecial!Tochantthemantras,youcanintoneonlythevowelsortheentiremantra.I

wouldrecommendexperimentingwithbothtoseeifyougetdifferentresults.

ChokuReicanbepronouncedasfollows:

CHO(rhymeswith“show”andispronouncedwithahardCHsoundasin“chop”)KU(rhymeswith“moo”)REI(soundslike“ray”)

Analternatemethodisintoningonlythevowels.Anyvowelsthatarenexttoeachotheraresoundedindividually,asshownbelowintheseparateintonationoftheEandIattheendofREI.

O(liketheoin“slow”)U(liketheooin“moo”)E(liketheayin“pray”)I(liketheeein“spleen”)

Togiveyouabetterideaofthesoundofthevowel-onlychantwhenit’sstrungtogether,itwouldsoundlike:

OHHHHOOOOOAYYYYEEEEESeiHeKicanbepronouncedasfollows:

SEI(soundslike“say”)HE(soundslike“hay”)KI(soundslike“key”)

Ifyou’reusingonlythevowels:

E(liketheayin“pray”)I(liketheeein“spleen”)E(liketheayin“pray”)I(liketheeein“spleen”)

Andfinally,thepronunciationofHonShaZeShoNen:

HON(rhymeswith“bone”)SHA(rhymeswith“blah”)ZE(rhymeswith“meh”)SHO(soundslike“show”)NEN(rhymeswith“pen”)

Whenusingthevowel-onlyversionofthismantra,youwilloftenheartwoconsonantsincluded,theZandtheN,butfeelfreetoexperimentbydroppingboth:

O(liketheoin“slow”)A(liketheain“tralala”)ZE(rhymeswith“meh”)O(liketheoin“slow”)NE(rhymeswith“meh”)

UsingtheSymbolsThe symbols can be used in a variety ofways, and I encourage you to honoryourintuitionasyouexperiment.Youcanmeditateontheimageorthemantra,perhapsby imagining the symbolasahedgemazeorpath inyourmind’seyeandwalkingthepathinmeditation.Thesymbolscanbedrawnintheairwithafingertip,insidethemouthwiththetipofthetongue,onpaper,orinyourmind’seye, and you can do this in a variety of situations such as before or during ahealing session, upon waking and before sleeping, before meditating orjournaling, or before approaching a challenging situation. You can also getcreativeanddraw themonyourwaterbottle to infuseyourwater,create themwithicingonacake,drawtheminbathroommirrorcondensation—younameit!Regardlessofthemediumyou’reusingthereisatraditionalpatterninwhichtocreatethelinescomposingeachsymbol,andsometeachingsindicatehowtosaythemantrasothatitcorrespondstospecificpointsofthedrawingprocess.Let’slook at how thisworks for the first three symbols, andwe’ll cover the fourthsymbolinalaterchapter.

DrawingSymbolOne:Followthedirectionalarrows,drawinglineone, thenline two,andspiral line threearoundthecentralshaftthreetimestocompletethesymbol.Pairingthesymboldrawingwiththemantra,ChokuRei:WhenyoureachPointA, intoneChokuReioncepereachrevolutionaroundthespiralforatotalofthreetimes.

DrawingSymbolTwo:Followarrow1,creatingtheentireleftsideline.Moveuptothetopandfollowarrowtwo,drawingthelineall theway to thebase.Return to line threeanddraw thelittlehump,followedbylinefourandthesecondhump.Pairingthesymboldrawingwiththemantra,SeiHeiki:Intoneonesyllableperlinesegmentasfollows:SeiasyoudrawfrompointsA toB,HeasyoudrawfrompointsB toC,andKias

youdrawfrompointsCtoD.Repeatthemantraasecondtime:SeiasyoudrawfrompointsDtoE,HefrompointsEtoF,andKifrompointsFtoG.Then,startatpointHandsaySeiasyoudrawdown topoint I,Heasyoudraw frompoint J toK,andfinishwithKiasyoudrawfrompointLtoM.

DrawingSymbolThree:Followthedirectionalarrows.Pairing the symbol drawingwith themantraHonShaZe ShoNen: Say Hon Sha Ze ShoNen, one syllable per line as youcreate linesonethroughfive.Repeatwithonesyllable intonedperlineasyoucreatelinessixthroughten.Repeatthemantraathird time, one syllable per line, as you create lines eleventhrough fifteen. Then, say the numbers one through seven asfollows:one(pointsAtoC),two(pointsAtoB),three(pointsDtoE),four(pointsFtoG),five(pointsHtoI),six(pointsJtoK),andseven(pointsLtoM).

MyExperiencewiththeReikiSymbolsItwasFransStiene’steachingsaswellasmyoccultstudiesandpracticesthatledme to explore deepermeanings to theReiki symbols by chanting themantrasand meditating on the symbols. Interestingly, my meditative experiences hadmuch in common with the material presented in Stiene’s The Inner Heart ofReiki.WhilemeditatingonSymbol1,Ifollowedthetrajectoryofalargegoldenarrowthroughdeepwoodsandwasledtoacave,thewallsofwhichwereaglowwithanorangey,red-pinklight,likeagiantamnioticsac.IknewIhadtoenterthesac,andonceinsideIsawmyselfinfetalformfloatinginthefluid.Iasked,“WhydidIcomeinto this life?”Theresponse:“IamaWaymaker.”Mybodyeruptedingoosebumps—thiswasawordI’dheardinmeditationayearbeforethatdeeplyresonatedwithmeforreasonsIcouldn’tfullyarticulateatthetime.I compared my experience with Stiene’s teachings on the symbols. Stiene

believes theyaresignpostsUsuiemployed topoint studentsback to theirTrueSelf,while each symbol contains its own nuance, all point to the same place.StienetranslatesChokuReiasliterallymeaning“straight,”“direct,”or“correctspirit,”andthepracticeofChokuReiisoneinwhichouraimistorememberorrediscover our True Self (Stiene 2010, 64). We can do this through self-reflection,throughpracticeslikemeditationandjournaling,andalsobyactuallylooking at our reflection in the mirror for long periods of time until ourawareness shifts andwe can sense a deeper level of being that is beyond yetmingledwithourphysicalappearance.Thiscanbeveryuncomfortable,whichisa great reason to do it! Choku Rei also carries the quality of focus. It is notenoughtogetaglimpseofourTrueSelfandthenwanderoff.Wemustremainstraight,direct,andcorrectwithanunwaveringfocusonourTrueSelf,likethearrowinmymeditation.Whenwebegintowander,wecompassionatelygatherour focus again. And again. The Reiki precepts are helpful in regaining thisfocus,becausetheyalertustopotentialdistractionssuchasanger,worry,andalack of gratitude.When we find ourselves experiencing these states, this is areminderthatwearen’tfocusedonourTrueSelfandthatweneedtoadjustourfocus.

ChokuReiisalsoassociatedwithourvitalconnectiontoearthandourabilitytobefullygrounded.ChokuReiteachesthatrememberingourTrueSelfisnotabout transcending our body; it is about connecting with our True Self andembodyingthisSelfintheworld.ThishasaninterestingcorollarytoRabbiRamiShapiro’sunderstandingofangels,whichhedescribesas theaspectofhumansthat can interfacedirectlywith theDivine, unfetteredby the ego. InShapiro’sview, angels are not entities separate from us, they are us. Spiritual energy,whether it be angels, Reiki, or any other form, cannot execute actions in thephysicalworldwithout a physical vessel serving as a conduit for that energy.Thus,inordertomakecontactwithourdivinenature—ourTrueSelf—andcarryout its work in this life, we must be grounded, we must have an intimateconnectiontoEarth.Thisisanotherreasonwhyitissoimportanttocareforourbodies.It’snotenoughtomeditateforhoursonend,onlytotreatourbodieslikecrap.Alloftheseteachingsseemtoparallel thedetailsofmymeditation,fromthe need for direct, one-pointed focus to lead one back to the True Self,representedby thegoldenarrow, to theearthygroundednessofembodying theSelf in this life (thecaveand the fetus),which thensheds lightonwhatwe’reheretodo(embracingtheroleofaWaymaker,inmycase).Thefollowingnight,ImeditatedonSymbol2(SeiHeiki).Thesymbolformed

adoor,andwhenIsteppedthroughIfoundmyselfinaquiethallatdusk.Therewasalongmahoganytable,andtheroomwascompletelyempty.AsIsatdown,suddenlythetablewasfilledwithfacesofallraces,ages,andgenders,andIfeltadeepsenseofconnectionandhomecoming.Inamazement,Iasked,“Howdoweknoweachother?”and thegroup replied, “Weare allWaymakers.”Thesewere my people. I was humbled, filled with love, and overflowing withquestionsallatthesametime.Ispentquitesometimeinthismeditation,askingquestionsandlistening.WhenIleft,Ifeltgreatclarityandaknowingthattiedtogethersomanyseeminglydisparatechoicesthroughoutmylife.Stiene’s takeon themantra is thatSeiHeikiheals thementalandemotional

tendencytomistakenlyseerealityasdualinnature.(Stiene,65)Non-dualityisalargeconceptthatcanbethoughtofsimplyastheacknowledgmentofarealitybeyond the apparent world of this/that, black/white, body/spirit to reveal theunifyingonenessunderlyingeverything.Themoreweareable toconnectwith

thisoneness, the less temptedweare to labelourexperience indualistic termssuch as “This is good!” and “That’s bad!” Instead, things simply are. Inconnecting us with the knowledge that all is One, despite appearances to thecontrary,SeiHeikiconnectsuswithourTrueSelf,aSelfthatfullyknowsandisthisOneness.ThisstateofbeingisassociatedwithanotherqualityofSeiHeKi—harmony—cultivated when we embrace the beautiful duality of ourexperience: our physical, earthly nature (Choku Rei) and our spiritual,“heavenly”nature(SeiHeiki).Whenweonlyperceivethedifferencesbetweenthesetwostatesofbeingandwecannotseetheirunderlyingunity,welosethesense of harmony and Oneness symbolized by Sei Heiki. Stiene writes that“discovering our True Self … is really the heart of Sei Heiki. WithoutrediscoveringourTrueSelf,wewillbeattachedtoandcreatenewemotionalandmental habits all the time,” habits that blind us to our innateOneness (Stiene2015,76).Inmymeditationexperiencewasthecontrastbetweenbeingaloneatfirst(the

emptyhall)andbeingjoinedbymysoulfamily,andthefactthateventhoughImight appear to be carrying out this work in my individual life, the work isconnectedtothewebofmyfellowWaymakers—andindeedalllife—becauseoftheunderlyingOnenessofallthatis.Embracingandlearningtolivewithinthisseemingdualityhelpsweavetogetherthefibersofourlivesthatotherwisemightseemtobeanincoherenttangleofthreads.Inthissameway,rediscoveringtheTrueSelfcanunitetheillusionofdualityintothetruthofOneness.HonShaZeShoNen,oftencalledthedistancesymbolinmodernteachings,is

typically usedwhen performing healingswhere the recipient is not physicallypresent.Fromthestart,Ihadtroublewiththissymbol,asitdidn’tentirelymakesense tomewhydistancewasevena factorwhen it came toReiki. It seemedthatReikiwasmore thancapableofbeingwhere itneeded tobe regardlessofdistancewithouttheneedforametaphoricalbuspass.IthenwonderedwhywearetaughttoplaceourhandsoncertainareasofthebodyandtaughtthatReikiwill automaticallygowherever it isneeded.Whywould itmatter ifmyhandsare on someone’s knee or their ear? In usingReiki,my current understandingover theyears is thatReiki isabsolutelycapableofbeingwhere itneeds tobebecauseit’salreadythere—it’suniversal.Thereisnosuchthingastravelingfor

Reiki, because it is here—and there. To that end, it can be helpful for us asbeingswhoarebothuniversalandfinitetofocusifwehaveaplacetoputourhandsandourthoughts, ineffect.Idon’tthinkwenecessarilyneedtofocusinorderforReikitodowhatitneedstodo;thefocusismoreimportantinkeepingtheegooutofthewaysowedon’thinderReiki.Forexample,ifmyegothinksthat all Ihave todo isplacemyhandson someone’skneeandallowReiki toflow, I will be less likely to start orchestrating complex healing plans in mymind.My egowill be pacified in knowing that I’ve donemypart and can letReikidoitsthing.Ourtouchalsobringstherecipient’sfocustothearea;whereattentiongoes,energyflows,allowingtouchtoaidintheself-healingprocess.IfHonShaZeShoNenisn’t reallyaboutdistance, thenwhat is thissymbol

heretoshowus?HonShaZeShoNeniskanji,orJapanesewritingcharacters,andwecangetcluesbylookingattranslationsofthecharacters.ThefollowingaregivenbyStiene:

Hon:true,book,origin,real,tofindtheoriginin

Sha:person,someone,theone[who/which],he/shewhois

Ze:right,correct,justso,this,justice,perfectly,itisthis

Sho:correct,true,straight,thebasisofcorrectknowledge,righteous

Nen:thought,feeling,mindfulness,mind,memory,meditativewisdom,patience,forbearance

I encourage you to meditate on these translations and combine them indifferentwaystoseewhatmessagesariseforyou.Onemeaningthatresonateswithme is“meditatingon thenatureof theTrueSelfallowsus to reclaimouroriginal wisdom.” In other words, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen acts as a signpost,guidingusbacktoourTrueSelf.WhenwefocusonourTrueSelf,wewillfindgenuinewisdomthathasalwaysexistedwithinandneedsonlytobeactivated.Thisfocuschallengesthetypicalview—lookingoutsideoneselfandthedrivetogathermoreandmoreinformation,tostudywithpeopleconsideredexperts,andtoseeourstateofbeingasoneof lack thatmustbe rectifiedbyfilling itwithexternalthingswebelievewearemissing.WhenwemakecontactwithourTrueSelf,weareawarethatwealreadyarewhole—we’renotmissinganything.We

can still learn new things, embrace the wisdom of our fellow seekers, andotherwise engage ourminds and hearts, but we do so for the pure joy of theexperience,nottodrownoutagnawingfearthatwe’relacking.Whenwe rememberourTrueSelf,we start to operate from the assumption

that we are already whole, and from this mindset we have access to innerresources that we couldn’t see. It’s as if we switch out our “I’m broken andunhealthy”glassesthatcausedustoseetheworldasfilledwithvalidationofthisfaulty beliefwith “I amwhole and healthy” glasses. Is it possible that seeingourselvesas either sickorwell rigidifies energy thatprefers tobemore fluid?These labels turnhealing intoa statewe thinkwehave toget to rather thanastate inwhichwealready exist.Whenwe thinkwe are not healthy andmustsomehow get there, wemake lists of things we think wemust do (such as aparticulardietorexercise)orwayswemustbe (wealthier, ina relationship,etcetera) in order to experience wellness. This black-and-white thinking createsrigidenergychannelssuchthatifliferefusestoflowthroughthesechannelsandwe can’t check off the boxes on our list of wellness requirements, we areconvincedwemustremainunwell.What’s interestingis that theseverybeliefsmake it harder to follow through on the things that could support our health,suchasahealthydietandexercise.Ifwe’recurrentlyidentifiedwithastateofunwellness,doingthingsthatmakeuswelllikeeatinghealthyfoodorexercisingfeel wrong, like a mismatch to our current state. As a result, our efforts arehardertosustain.ToseehowtheseconceptsmightconnectwiththeinterpretationofSymbol3

asthedistancesymbol,consideronetranslationofHonShaZeShoNen:IamRightMind. Takuan Sohowrites, “TheRightMind is themind that does notremaininoneplace.Itisthemindthatstretchesthroughouttheentirebodyandself. The Confused Mind is the mind that… congeals in one place” (Stiene2010, 77). We could say that the Right Mind travels, in the sense that byremembering itsOnenesswith all things, it can be in all places and all timesbecause it isallplacesandall times. It transcendsourrigid labels indoingso.Perhapswhenweareusing thedistancesymbol toheal,healingcomes inpartfromtherealizationthatthedistanceitselfisanillusion—youandIareactuallyOnewith all that is, and thus anythingwe thinkwe’re lacking—anythingwe

perceiveasseparatingusfromastateofwholenessandhealth—isanillusiononsomelevel.Thisalsospeakstoanimportantfacetofhealingwork:theabilitytorecognize

this Oneness while simultaneouslymaintaining healthy boundaries. Recall theHermeticcreationstory:TheAll(Oneness)wantedtoknowitselfmorefully,soit separated into theOneMindand theOneThing, creating thepossibility forrelationship and greater self-awareness. In the same way, you and I are likeindividualdropletsoftheuniversalocean;we’remadeofidenticalstuff,butlifelooksdifferentthroughyoureyesthanitdoesthroughmine.Theviewwhenweputourviewpointstogetherisgreaterthanthesumofitsparts,andthisisonlypossiblebecausewearehonoringnotonlyourOnenessbutalsoourseparation.ThisisespeciallyimportantforushealersbecauseitmeansthatinspiteofourOneness,Icannotpracticallyliveyourlifenoryoumine.Weeachhaveourownpath,andhealingdoesnotentailmelearningyourlessonsforyou,forcingyoutochange,ortryingto“fix”you.HealingrequiresboththecompassionthatspringsfromawarenessofourOnenessandhealthyboundariesthatarisefromhonoringourseparateness.Wecontinueour journeyof self-transformation in the next chapterwith the

fifthstep,Inspiration.ThisstepwillserveaspreparationforyoursecondReikiattunement.

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INSPIRATION

The fifth step of self-transformation, Inspiration, builds on our previousworkand prepares you for your second attunement by taking the product createdthrough Merging and completely changing its characteristics. This change istwo-foldandinvolvesallowingthisproduct—whatwewillrefertoastheDivineChild—todieandthenbreathingnewlifeintoit.Whykilloffwhatwe’veputsomuch work into creating, only to bring it back to life? In short, this newlytransformedproductmustdietotheworldofillusioninordertobereborntothelight of truth (enacted through your second attunement), andwe’ll expand onwhat thismeans later in the chapter. To accomplish this rather epic-soundingaim, we’re first going to deepen our work with projection, starting withexploringhowtheactofprojectionissimilartotheHermeticcreationstoryandhow it’s different. In doing so we will discover that our human tendency toprojectcanbeusefulifwedoitwithintentionandawareness.RememberthatthecreationstorybeginswiththeAllseparatingintotheOne

MindandtheOneThing,drivenbytheAll’sdesiretoknowitselfmoredeeply.Bylookingatitselfthroughdifferentperspectivesandbyexperiencingitself inthe context of relationship, the All builds a more nuanced self-image. In asimilar fashion,we can approach projection—a temporary “separating out” ofaspectsofourwholeness—asawaytoexpandourself-awareness.Thecreationstory is not referring to something that happened once, way back when; it isreferringtoaconstantlyunfoldingprocess.TheAllisalltimesandplaces,soitsactionsareoccurringinalltimesandallplaces,includingrightnowinallofus.Eachofusiscontinuallycyclingthroughthiscreationstory.Ineachmoment,we

have the ability to separate different self-aspects from one another and learnfromtheirinteractions—forexample,byusingtheinnerwitnesstoobserveyouremotional experience or by using your body to sense the environment andprocessing that inputwith yourmind. There aremyriadways to explore yourexperienceandtheyouwhoisexperiencingit,andthisdiversityallowsyoutocreateamorenuancedunderstandingofyourself.Projectionisonewayofseparatingoutandunderstandingour inneraspects.

We project these aspects onto other people and situations, even the world atlarge. As we work to develop skills and strategies for dealing with those“external”forces,thereisalsothepotentialthatwewilllearnhowtodealwiththose aspects within ourselves. However, when we are not conscious of thisprojection and only see these qualities as existing externally, we get stuck intrying tomake other people and external situations change to fit our view ofwhat’s right or in eradicating them entirely without increasing our self-awareness. The process of eradicating is also mirrored within (oftensubconsciously)—just as we seek to rid ourselves of the supposed externalenemy,weareseekingtodestroythataspectwithinourselves.Weareharmedinthisprocessjustasmuchasourexternalenemiesare,andthisisanunavoidableresult of engaging in this unconscious battle.We cannot wagewar externallywithoutwagingitwithin.Becomingawareofthematerialweareprojectinghelpsustakeresponsibility

forallofourparts,notjustthesunny,happyones.RabbiRamiShapirowrites,“TheDevilsymbolizesthedarksideofthehumanpersonality.Itisthedevilweknowbecauseitisthedevilweare.Itiseverythingwearethatwewishwewerenot.Aslongasweadmitthatwehaveadarkside,wehavethepotentialtotameit. But most people do not admit this, and project their devil onto others”(Shapiro 2009, 138). He continues: “What then shall we do with the evil ofwhichwe are capable?RebNachman ofBreslov, a nineteenth-century Jewishsage,sawtheanswertothisquestioninthecommandto‘loveyourneighborasyourself’ (Leviticus 19:18).While the plainmeaning of the text is clear—oneshouldtreatotherswithloveandrespect—RebNachmansawanothermeaningaswell.TheHebrewphrase ray-ah-cha, ‘yourneighbor,’ could (given the factthat the Hebrew Bible is written without vowels) also be read as rah-ah-cha,

‘yourevil.’Weshouldcometoacceptourdarksideaspartofourselves,nolesspartofourselvesthanourlightorgoodside”(Ibid.,141).How is it possible to love your evil as yourself?One of themost powerful

ways I have found is to look beyond manifestations of evil and seek theunderlying need motivating it. While we may find the outward behaviorsabhorrent, it is often easier to relate to the underlying needs. Let’s use anextremeexample tosee this inaction.While itcanfeel impossible to relate totheactionsofaserialkiller,wemight find iteasier to relate to theunderlyingneeds—perhapstheneedtofeellovedorsafefromabandonment.Weallwanttofeelloved,andweallhaveaninnate,biologicalfearofabandonmentbecauseasinfantswearedependentonourcaregiversforourverysurvival.Abandonmentcouldliterallymeandeath.Whilethevastmajorityofuscouldnotconceiveofkilling someone—thankfully—to prevent them from leaving us, we canunderstand the fearofbeingabandonedandbyextension, theunderlyingneedthatismotivatingtheextremeandmuchhardertounderstandbehavior.MarshallRosenberg, author ofNon-ViolentCommunication:ALanguage of

Life,writes,“Everythingwedoisinserviceofourneeds.Whenthisoneconceptisappliedtoourviewofothers,we’llseethat…whatothersdotousisthebestpossible thingtheyknowtodotoget theirneedsmet”(Rosenberg2016,206).What would change in your relationships and even brief interactions withstrangers ifyoubelieved thatotherpeople’sactionswerenotapersonalattacknorareflectionofwhattheythinkofyoubutsimplythebestwaypeopleknewto fulfill a need? The way people treat us is a direct reflection of theirrelationshipwiththemselves;anexpressionoftheirneeds.Let’slookattheseprinciplesinaction.Politically,Ihavealotofopinionsand

sometimes strong reactions toworldevents; it givesme fertile (and frequentlytriggering!) ground for exploringmy projections and findingways to channelthisenergymoreproductively.AttheheartofthisstruggleisnavigatinghowtorecognizemyprojectionswithoutattributingeverythingIseeintheworldtomyown baggage. As I write this, the current president brings up such volatilefeelingsformethatitisdifficulttoevenlookatphotographsofhisface.Partofmyworkinvolvesworkingonmyprojections,beingpresentwithmyemotions,and returning to my own center in the midst of this whirlwind of triggers.

However, I don’t believe my work ends here. As a member of the humancommunity,Iwanttocontributemytimeandenergytoaffectingchange.HowdoIdeterminethecourseofrightaction(toborrowaBuddhistterm)inthefaceofradicallyopposingviews?Tendingtomyinternalstateisparamount;Icannotcreatepeaceintheexternalworldifmyinternalstateisoneofstrifeandwarfarebecause even when I consciously work to create peace, my methods forobtaining it will be defined by looking for enemies and fighting them in thename of “peace.”Our internal environmentmirrors the actionswe take in theworld, regardless ofwhether or notwe are consciously trying tomake a verydifferentimpression.It’shelpfultosimplyletmyselffeelwhatarises.Idon’ttakeactionormake

decisions from a place of disagreement; I simply allow the feelings to exist.Then,Iworktogetintouchwiththeneedthatismotivatingmeinthissituation.IfIamriledupaboutIssueA,Iaskmyself:“Whatneeddoes this issuespeakto?”or“IfIssueAdoesn’tgothewayIwantitto,whatneeddoIfearwillgounmet?”WhenIfeelready,Ithentrytoputmyselfinthepersonorpeoplewhoare preventingme from solving the issue’s shoes and imaginewhat need theymightbetryingtomeetinthissituation.CanIempathizewiththatneed,evenifI don’t agreewith themethod being used tomeet it?This processmight takedaysorevenweeks,dependingonhowattachedIamtomyviews.Finally,Iexplorewaysthatbothpartiescouldgettheirneedsmet.Evenifthe

ideasseemfar-fetched,simplyconsideringthepossibilitythateveryone’sneedscan be honored rather than trying to eradicate the opposition is a powerful,consciousness-expanding process. If our solutions carry the expectation thatotherpeoplewill somehowstopneedingwhat theyneed,wewillbewaitingaverylongtimeindeed.JenniferLehrwrites,“Needsdrivebehavior.Wehumansneedwhatwe need.Needs aren’t luxuries. If a [person] isn’t responding to areasonablerequest, thentheirbehaviormustbemeetingamorepressingneed”(Lehr 2016, 201). From this foundation, I can choose actions that are morealignedwith the outcome I seek to bring about (such as peace) and ammoreopentodifferentpeoplearrivingatthatoutcomeintheirownways.HowdoesthisrelatetoInspirationanditspowertoaffectdeepchange?Atthe

riskofstatingtheobvious,changerequirestheadditionofsomethingnewora

transformationofanexistingstate.Wecannotexistexactly thesameaswedonow and experience change.Duh, right?And yet I often findmyselfwantingwhatIperceiveasthebenefitsofchangewithouthavingtoexperienceanyoftheactualchangeitself.Iwantallofthesamecomfortsandtouchstonesinmylifetocontinuejustastheyarebutalsowantthatannoyingthought,feeling,person,orsituationtojustgoaway.Ifwereturntoourprojectionwork,werealizethereisno “away.”Wemust be willing to undergo internal change if we expect ourexperienceoflifetobedifferent:ourexperiencesatwork,inourrelationships,inourbody,inanyareaofourlife.Lookingbackatthepreviousstep,weconjoinedtheinneractiveandreceptive

energies during Merging, and their union produced a new being, the DivineChild.Yetnowhereweare,lettingthischilddie.Why?Pragmatically,wemustbecome accustomed to allowing change, even—especially—in areas that feelnear and dear to our hearts. On one level this step is challenging the naturaltendencytogetagoodthinggoingandthentrytosetthingsinstonesotheywillnevereverchangeandwewillneverever lose theawesomeresult. Inspirationburstsin,entirelyunplanned,scattersthepapersofourconcreteknowledge,andchallengesus to confrontwhowe really are and the inevitable truth that theseawesomethingswillchangeandevendie.The Divine Child is the precursor to realization of our True Self that

encompasses both the physical and the divine, but at this new stage ourawarenessandskillsaren’tyetstrongenoughtoserveasasturdybridgebetweenourphysicalanddivinenatures.Atthisstage,whatwehaveismorelikearopebridgeswayinginthewind,indangerofcollapsingatanymoment.Thebridgemust undergo further transformation in the form of death followed by rebirth.Wecancontinuethismetaphorbysayingthatratherthanbeingtransformedintoamorepermanent, concrete structure between thephysical and the divine, theropebridge is insteadallowed tocompletely fallaway inorder thatwecanbereborn with the awareness that we don’t need the bridge. Our True Self issimultaneouslyphysicalanddivine—wedon’tneedabridgetogetthere.Whatis really dying is our attachment to the world-and self-view defined byseparation between the physical and the divine. This way of seeing life aseither/ormust die inorder togive rise to anewview that sees theunderlying

unityofAll.Whenthefalsebeliefthatourfiniteandinfiniteaspectsareseparatedies,werememberourtruewholeness.

WantsandNeedsOneof thewayswecan initiate thisdeep levelofchange isbydevelopinganawareness of our needs and how those needs differ from ourwants. The twomightseemunrelated,buttheyofferatangiblewayofworkingwithInspiration,whichcanotherwisefeelslipperyandabstract.Theprocessisthis:Bylearninghow to separate our core needs fromourwants,we are in a better position torelease attachments to superficial wants that have served as energy-drainingdistractions.Wecan thenconcentrateoureffortsonmeetingdeeperneeds thatwhenmet,willsustaintheworkthatoursoulcameheretofulfill.Ourindividualneedsreflectuniversalhumanneeds;byreconnectingtothem,wealsoreconnecttooursharedhumanity—ourunderlyingoneness.While therearedifferentwaysof labelingandcategorizinguniversalhuman

needs, I find the Needs Inventory compiled by The Center for Non-ViolentCommunication to be quite useful. It divides needs into the categories ofconnection (acceptance, belonging, cooperation, intimacy and love, et cetera),physical wellbeing (food, water, sexual expressions, shelter, touch, et cetera),honesty (authenticity, integrity, presence), play (joy, humor), peace (beauty,ease, equality, et cetera), autonomy (choice, freedom, space, et cetera), andmeaning(challenge,contribution,growth,hope,learning,etcetera.)2Whilethelistisnotmeanttobeexhaustive,thesecategoriescanhelpusdiscernourcoreneedsbygivingusaframeofreference.Ifallourbehaviorisanexpressionofoneormoreof theseneeds, it stands to reason thatgettingmore familiarwiththemwill yield rich insights intowhywe—and others—do the thingswe do.Using this list helps us approach the first step in the Inspiration process:identifyingourdeeperneeds.Next,welearntodiscernthesedeeperneedsfrommoresuperficialwants.The

pointofthisexerciseisnottodenyourselvesofeverythingwewant;thepointistodevotemoreeffort tomeetingthecoreneedsthatwill leaveusfeelingmorenourished than we would if we focused only on chasing surface-level wants.Let’slookatanexample.Theuniversalneedforcontribution,forfeelingthatwe

areaddingsomethingtoanidea,acommunity,amovement,etceteracanbemetinmanydifferentways. I classify thevarietyofways thisneedcanbemet aswants.Weneed tofeel likewe’recontributing,butwemaywant todothatbyvolunteeringatthelocalsoupkitchen,bygettingmoreresponsibilityatwork,orby joining the streamclean-up team.However, Iwouldargue that the specificactof,say,volunteeringatthelocalsoupkitchenisnotaneed,it’sawant.Weneed to make a contribution, but we want to do so in specific ways. If weconflatethetwo,thenwecreatethebeliefthatwecanonlymakeacontribution(i.e.,getourdeeperneedmet)byvolunteeringatthesoupkitchen(i.e.,fulfillingasurface-levelwant).Whydoesthismatter?Well,thinkofallthecircumstanceswherethingsdidn’t

gothewayyou’dhoped:Maybeyoudidn’tgettheadditionalresponsibilitiesatwork,oryoudidandyouwereoverwhelmedandstartedhatingyourjob,oryoudidbutitalsomeantyouwerenowworkingwithsomeonewhogratesonyournerves,andsoon.Ifyouareattachedto thisspecificwantbeing theonlywayyoucangettheunderlyingneedforcontributionmet,nowwhat?You’reliabletofeelprettystuck. Ifyougiveup theworksituationorchange it inanyway,you risk losing your supposed “one shot” at getting this need for contributionmet. Fast forward to retirement—what happens when you aren’t workinganymore?Howwillyoumeettheneedofcontributionthen?Insteadofchasingwantsandspendingvastamountsofenergytryingtoforce

externalcircumstancestounfoldaccordingtoourplan,wecanlookbeyondthewants to the underlying need and unlock a multitude of previously hiddenoptionsforgettingitmet.Thiscanalsohealperpetualtug-o-warsbetweenwhatwe believe are opposing parties, because if we both want that soup kitchenvolunteerpositionandonlyoneofuscanget it,we’resettingourselvesupforproblemswhenwebelievethispositionistheonlywaytomeetourcoreneedofcontribution. As Lehr writes, “We humans need what we need. Needs aren’tluxuries” (Lehr 2016, 201). If our solution to the problem is convincing our“opponent” that they should foregohaving their needsmet,we’re going to bewaitingalongtimeforresolution,andtheotherpartyisinvariablygoingtoreactwith indignation and anger (see all political issues throughout all of humanhistoryforexamples).Ashumans,weallstrivetogetourneedsmetaslongas

we are alive.Expecting other people to foregomeeting their needs sowe canmeetoursisnotaviablesolution.Ifwearewilling to loosenourgriponspecificwants,we release the sticky

attachmentsthatgeneratesuffering(forusandforothers)andcanfocusinsteadonmeetingourneeds.Bydoingso,weareabletochannelourlifeforceinmoreeffective ways. Think of howmuch energy we often spend on the pursuit ofwants.As an example, aneed is shelter; awant is a specific house that costs$300,000. Ifweconflate thewant for theneed,wemight feel likewehavenochoice other than to work a particular job for decades in order to afford the$300,000house.Thatdecisioncanresultinthousandsofhoursofourlifespentworkingforahouse.If thehousetrulydidsatisfythisneedandwefeltdeeplyfulfilled by the house, that’swonderful; there isn’t anything inherentlywrongwiththishypotheticalhouse,butrarelydowantslikethissatisfyadeeperneed.Inmostcases theybarelyscratch thesurface.What’sproblematic is tradingsomuchofourprecious life force for something thatdoesn’t achieve thedesiredresult.Thissortoflifemathjustdoesn’taddup.Whenwe learn how to identify our true needs,we can spend our time and

energymeeting them. Andwhenwemeet those needs, wewill feel a deepersenseofnourishment that provides the foundation andenergy for carryingoutthemissionoursoulcameintothislifetofulfill.Chancesarethatyoursouldidnot incarnate to buy that specific $300,000 house. Pardon my French, but Iwouldimaginethatyoursouldoesn’treallygiveashitaboutthathouse.Itmayhavecomeheretolearnhowtofeelworthyoflivinginabeautifulandnurturingenvironment,but therearemany,manywaysofmeeting thatneed thatdonotfallapartifyoucan’taffordthatparticularhouse,someoneelsebuysitfirst,orany number of potential situations arise where this specific want could gosideways.Focusingonour true needs rather thangettingoverly attached to ourwants

allowsustogetcreative,thinkoutsidethebox,andfindsatisfactionindifferentformsthanweinitiallythoughtpossible.Thisliberatesusfromthecageofourego and opens us to a more intimate experience of life as it is, rather thanholdingbackonthesidelinesuntil life isaswewantit tobe.Welet theego’srestrictiverulesthatdictatehowweshoulduseourlifeforcedieoff,allowinga

new world of possibility to be reborn. The Divine Child is freed from falselimitations andbattlewithperceivedenemies andwe see theworldwith fresheyes that find potentialwhere once therewere only problems.This awarenessallowsustochannelourlifeforcemoreproductivelyinserviceofmeetingourcore needs.We share those needswith all of humanity, so channeling in thismannerhas thepower to turnperceivedenemies into fellow travelerswhoaredoingthebesttheyknowhowtogettheirneedsmet,justlikeus.

ExerciseTwenty-Six:FreeAssociationofWantsandNeedsGrab a pen and paper or do this exercise in your journal. Write downsomethingyouwantrightnow.Itcanbeaphysicalitem,arelationship,orachangeincircumstancesuchasanewjob,lessarguingwithyourpartner,etcetera.Spendsometimeexploringwhyyouwantthisandhowyouthinkthings

will change if youget it.Let yourmind free associate as you takenotes.Youcancallonthepowerofreceptivelisteningtoaidandguideyou.When this process feels complete, shift to identifying the underlying

needor needs.Youmight alreadyhave some inmind—if so,write thosedown.I’drecommendlookingattheNeedsInventory(page217)toseeifitpromptsanyadditionalinsights.Whenyouthinkabouttheseunderlyingneeds(workwithoneatatimeif

you identifiedmultiple needs), do anymemories or associations come tomind?Whenwasthefirsttimeyourememberfeelingthisneed?Wasitmet,and if so,how? If itwasn’tmet,doyou remember the situationandhowyou felt? Can you see any parallels between these memories and thepresent;arethereanythreadsthathavewoventhroughyourlife?Youcancallonthepowerofspiritualsynthesistoaidandguideyou.Ifyou’dliketodoanyadditionaljournalingorcontemplation,feelfree.

Whenyoufeelready,takeaslipofpaperandwritedownboththewantyouchose to work with and the associated need(s) you uncovered in as fewwordsaspossible.We’llgodeeperinourworkwiththesewantsandneedsthroughameditation.

The following meditation is divided into two parts (part two is exercisetwenty-eight beginning on page 228). Important: Please do not do the firstwithoutdoingthesecond.Youendthefirstmeditationleavingyourastralselfintheearth,soitisveryimportanttocompletetheprocessbybringingyourastralself fully back into your body. Choose a time when you can perform themeditationsroughlythreedaysapart.Thethree-dayinterimwillallowyoutogetthemostoutoftheexperience.Youwillbeaskedduringthattimetopayextraattention to your dreams, emotions, thoughts,memories, synchronicity, and soon,soit’sbesttoschedulethisforatimewhenexternaldemandswillbefairlyminimal. You’ll do much better if you are able to focus on your internalprocesses,i.e.,youdon’thavetotaketimeoffworkbutavoidschedulingduringa higher-stress period of tight deadlines. If something comes up and you’reunable toperformthesecondmeditation threedays later,performitbefore thethree days is up if needed, or as soon as you are able to after the three-dayperiod.

ExerciseTwenty-Seven:TransformationofWantsRetrieve your slip of paper from the previous exercise and read it over afewtimestocommitthewordstomemory.Enterameditativestate(page26).IntroducetheflowofReiki(page125).Bringyourawarenesstoyourinnercampfire,focusingontheareaofthe

bodywherethisfirefeelsmostpresent,perhapsplacingyourhandstheretoconnect more fully. Conjure the image of the inner fire as you envisionapproachingitswarmthandcracklingenergy.Sitnexttothefireandgazeintotheflames.Lookdownandseeaglassbottleinyourhandwithacorkstopper.Bring

to mind what you wrote on the slip of paper—your wants and needs.Uncork thebottleandenvisionsending thosewordsand theirenergy intothe bottle. You might see pictures, colored light, or words entering thebottle.Continueuntiltheprocessfeelscomplete,thencorkthebottle.FeelReikitravelingdownyourarmandintoyourhand.Placeyourhand

over the bottle and use Reiki to seal the cork. The bottle is now

hermeticallysealed.Holdthebottleinbothhandsandbegintomergewiththebottle,shifting,

shifting, shifting until your body is the bottle in which your wants andneeds are contained.Your body is the vessel inwhich the transformationwillunfold.Feelthatconnection,thatstrongsenseofyourbodyassacredvesselandthewantsandneedscontainedwithin.When this process feels complete, look beyond the campfire’s glow to

thesurroundingforest.Youwillseeashovelleaningagainstatree.Gotoit.Theearthisrichandfertile,andyouusetheshoveltodigalargehole.You,yoursacredvesselcontainingyourwantsandneeds,arenowready

toclimbintothewomboftheearth.Loweryourself intotheholeandaskthattheEarthgentlyembraceyouastheholefillswithearth,enclosingyouinwarmsoil.Knowthatyouarecompletelysafe,thatyoucanbreathe,andthat you can easily leave at any time. Be present with any fears ordiscomfortthatarise,andremindyourself,“Iamsafe.”In your sacred vessel, the energies of your wants and needs begin to

break down and reduce to smaller and smaller components no longerassociated with this particular want or that specific need. The energiesslowly return to a primordial state full of potential, no longer attached toanyonestateofbeing.Feelasyourinternalheatbeginstobuild,likeinacompost heap. The primordial energy cooks gently yet thoroughly.Continuetobreatheandallowthisprocesstocontinue.When the process feels complete, youwill comeout ofmeditation but

awakenwithoutleavingyourearthlywomb.Hereyouwillremainforthreedays, allowing the transformative magic to unfold. Still envisioningyourselfintheholeoftheearth,warmandsafe,returntoanormalstateofconsciousness (page 26–page 27). Do any grounding and centering asneeded.

Duringyourthree-dayInspirationperiod,beextraintentionalwithyourfocus.As you are undergoing this transformation there are numerous reactionsoccurring that build heat. This heat often feels different than the fires ofIlluminationyouhavealreadyexperienced; itmightbuildmoreslowlyyetfeel

morepervasive.Everyone’sexperiencewillbeuniquebutthepointistonotbealarmedifthisthree-dayperiodfeelsintense.Yourgoalistobuildinternalheatso that things can break down and be transformed. In order for this work tooccur,weneedtodoourbestnottodissipatetheenergy.Thesacredvesselofyourbodyismorethancapableofsafelycontainingthis

heat,butdissipationoccurswhenweoverridethisabilityand“blowoffsteam.”Toaidyouinrecognizingwhenthisheatdissipationisoccurring, imaginethatyou have a large internal temperature gauge like a numbered thermometer—oversizedforgoodmeasure.Whenfeelingsaremounting,thoughtsarechurning,orbodilysensationsareintense,bringthethermometertomindandask,“Whatismyinternalheatlevelrightnow?”It’snotimportanttogetanexactmeasure;you’resimplylookingforarelativeindicator:istheheatlow,medium,orhigh?Whenthegaugeishigh,wefindwaystoconsciouslyandsubconsciouslyreleaseheat,mostcommonlythroughsomeformofactivity.Thinkoftheactionastheopeningofasteamvalveand…ahhh,theintensitylessens.Youmightreleasesteam through words—talking about your feelings, hashing out problems,venting, or complaining. Youmight release steam through physical actions—exercising,constantlyhavingthingstodo,havingsex,eating,ordrinking.Youmightreleasesteamthroughthoughts—perhapsbytellingyourselfastoryaboutwhat happened to feel better, by cycling through habitual thoughts to calm ornumbyourself, or even focusingon triggering thoughts andgoing through therollercoasterofretriggeringyourself,gettingabigadrenalinerush,andcrashing.Duringthisthree-dayperiod,youwanttoresisttheurgetodothesethingsas

much as possible. That said, safety first. If things feel truly untenable, getsupport. Don’t deny yourself talking to a friend or running around the blockwhenyou feel likeyou simplycan’thandle it any longer.Do know,however,thatthistimeismeanttobeintenseandbringupthingsthatareuncomfortabletosee and to feel.Ourmind oftenwants to turn to habitual steam releaserswellbeforewe’ve actually reached our capacity, sowhile Iwant you to trust yourintuitionand take careofyourself if you feelyouaren’t safe, I also challengeyou to pause and see if your mind is convincing you of danger that is lessimminent than it appears. Our ego cringes at the first sign of discomfort andjumpsintoaction-mode:HowcanImakethisdiscomfortgoawayASAP?!This

isoneofthehabitsourentirejourneythusfarisseekingtorelease.Theconstantchasingofrelief—evenwhenthediscomfortistemporaryandcarriesimportantlessons—stalls our growth. Ifwe believe that our resiliency is so low thatwecannotwithstandeventhesmallestdiscomforts,ourprioritywillbeonsecuringcomfort at all costs, even at the expense of facing difficult things that leadtoward transformation and freedom. It’s quite possible that our resiliency isactuallylowifthishasbeenahabit,butthisprocesscanhelpustorebuildourstrengthtofacelife’sstorms.When things feel intense, try using some of the tools you’ve learned from

earlier chapters.This is agreatway tobuildhabits that are truly in serviceofyour growth over temporary “steam releasers.”You can give yourself aReikitreatment. You can focus on your breath. You can chant themantras—this isespeciallygreatwhenyou’refeelingantsyandyouneedsomethingalittlemoreactive.Youcanwalkindoorsoroutinameditativefashion(perhapsinaspiral)whilechanting.Youaredoingwonderfulthingsforyourselfwiththesepracticesanddemonstratingtoyouregothatwhenthingsfeelwonky,youcanreturntoasense of safetywithout reaching for the habitual patterns that serve to distractyouordissipateenergy.Youareexperiencingthepowerofbeingfullypresentwith your experience. Additionally, you are activating your spiritual healingabilities inmomentswhenyou reallyneed themmostbyengagingwithReiki,themantras,oryourbreath—inshort,it’sawin-win.AnothertoolIhopeyou’lluseduringthistimeisjournaling.Journalaboutyourdreams(eveniftheydon’tmakesense rightaway),yourmeditations,anddaily lifeexperiences includinganysynchronicitythatoccurs.Journalthethingsthatresonatewithyouwhetherthatresonancefeelscomfortableoruncomfortable.Notonlycanwritinginthismannerhelpyoubepresentwithyourexperience,chroniclingthisprocesswillallowyoutogobackandgainadditionalinsightslater,perhapsfromadifferentframeofmind. In fact, Iurgeyou to rereadyour Inspirationentriesafteryoursecondattunement,whichcanbeseenasaformofDivineInspiration,toseeifyourperspectivehaschanged.

BringingintheNewAs with all the steps in self-transformation, there’s a great deal of changeoccurring under the surface with Inspiration. We’ve been focused here onuncoveringour coreneeds toheal issues associatedwith attendingonly to themore superficialwants, but there’s another important aspect to identifyingourneeds. Our True Self is both physical and divine, whichmeans that we haveneedsthatcorrespondtobothourhuman,finitenatureandtoourinfinite,divinenature.Thinkofitlikethis:Whenweareborntothisphysicallife,adropofthecosmic ocean “separates” from thewhole and is encapsulated in our physicalform,givingrisetoneedsthatareuniquetophysicalexistence.Butourspiritualneedsdidn’tgoawayeither.Ourinfinite“cosmicocean”aspecthasneedsofitsown, includingregularandnourishingcontactwith theoceanfromwhencewecame.Ifourdropletdoesn’tretainitsconnectiontothegreaterocean,itdriesup.Weneedtranscendent,spiritualexperiencesjustasmuchasweneedimmanent,physical experiences, and in Inspiration is an emphasis on the transcendentaspect.Noticethisstageoccursfaralonginourjourney;wedidn’tskipoverthephysicalexperiencesjusttogettothe“goodstuff.”Westillneedtopayourbillsanddothelaundry,justasmuchasweneedtonourishandtendtoourspiritualnature.Weareactivatingtheawarenessthattheimmanentandthetranscendentare two sidesof the samecoin, neitherbetter than theother.Weneedboth tofullyrememberourTrueSelf.Thewaysinwhichweexperiencetranscendencewillbehighlyindividual,but

some common avenues are throughmeditation, being in nature, intentional orecstaticmovement,prayerorchanting,sex, therapy,visionquests,creatingart,anddreaming,amongothers.Itcouldtaketheformofanexperiencethatseemssupernatural or even a shift in perspective that leaves a deep impression. Themethodsaremanybecausethereareinfinitewaystocommunewiththedivine.Even this descriptor shows the limits of language: “Commune” is misleadingbecause it suggests that we weren’t already in communion with the divine.(Because we are divine, this is of course fiction.)More accurately, when wecommune we are aware of our ever-present oneness with the divine, anawarenessthatistoooftenforgottenamidthehustleandbustleofdailylife.

While these transcendent experiences are vital for many reasons, one thatoftengetsoverlookedisthattheycanparadoxicallyhelpusbemoregrounded.Many of us are desperately seeking these enlightened states, trying thismeditationor thatvisionquest, thisdrugor thatweekendworkshop.WhenwerememberourTrueSelf,weseethatwedon’tneedtoearnourconnectiontotheDivine or go to a special place for it to occur.We realize thatwe are alwaysconnectedandhavesimplyforgottenwhat it feels like,andit’sas ifourentirebeingbreathesahugesighofrelief.Thosespiritualsayingslike“youarewhatyouseek”thatseemedannoyinglyclichésuddenlymakesense.It’snotthatwewillnecessarilyhavethisfeelingofintensespiritualityeverymomentofourlife,butonceweexperienceitweareforeverchangedbecausenowweknowthatthefeelingisavailabletousjustbybeingus.Wedon’thavetotakeacourse,liveinan ashram, or take ayahuasca. It’s available while we’re hiding out in thebathroomatworktoescapeaparticularlyboringmeetingjustasreadilyasatafancyspiritual retreatbecauseweare thatwhichweseek.Whenwecarry thisawareness within us, we can finally sink fully into groundedness because weknowthatbydoingso,we’renotmissinganyopportunities for transcendence.It’s as if we were tiptoeing around before and taking little hops and jumps,constantly trying to take flight into enlightenmentbecauseourphysicalitywasseenasanimpedimenttofeelingthetranscendencewesocraved.Weneverfullyaccepted our connection to the ground.We felt scattered, flighty, resentful ofwork,healthissues,andotherpracticalaffairsthatseemedinoppositiontobliss.When we learn how to embody our bliss, to experience the True Self that isalready both physical and transcendent, we are free of the yearning to beelsewherethanwhereweare.TheTrueSelfisavailablerighthere,rightnow.The next exercise is part two of the meditation you performed in exercise

twenty-seven: Transformation of Wants. Ideally, the second part will beperformedroughlythreedaysafterthefirst,butyoucanadjusttoyourscheduleasneeded.Inthissecondmeditation,youwillcomeoutoftheearthwombyouenteredinpartoneandreadyyourselffor inoculationwithdivineenergy:yoursecondReikiattunement.

ExerciseTwenty-Eight:LeavingtheWomb

Enterameditativestate(page26).IntroducetheflowofReiki(page125).Bringyourawareness toyour innercampfire.Conjure the imageof the

innerfireasyouseeyourselfapproachingitswarmthandcracklingenergy.Move your awareness a short distance from the fire, where you are

restinginyourEarthwomb.BecomeonewithyourselfintheEarth.Smellthefertilescentofthesoil,feelitswarmembrace.Andthen,reachup,up,up,asyouclimbout,climbout,climbout.FindyourselfonthesurfaceoftheEarthoncemore, feel the rushof freshaironyourskinand intoyourlungs.Breatheinandwalktowardyourinnercampfire.Raise your arms up in a V and welcome Reiki. Feel as the energy

showersdown throughyourarmsand intoyourcrown,washingoverandintoyou,cleansingyouofsoil,fillingyouwithlight.Whentheexperiencefeelscomplete,begintoreleasetheimageofyour

campfire. Gradually return your awareness back to the physical. Feelyourselffullygroundedinyourbody,intheroom,inthehereandnowasyoubringyourselfbacktoanormalstateofconsciousness(page26–page27).

Retrievetheslipofpaperfromexercisetwenty-sixandcheckin:howareyoufeeling toward these wants and needs now?Have any new options arisen formeeting thecoreneeds?Doyoufeel lessattached to thespecificwants?Whatdoes it feel like to connect to the deeper need and release your attachment, ifonlyslightly,tosomeofthewants?Journalaboutyourexperience.

YourSecondReikiAttunementThe work of this chapter was designed as a prelude to your second Reikiattunement. The night before your attunement, spend some time incontemplation. You may want to go over your journal entries, review yourjourney thus far,andallowanymessages toarise.Youmightchoose to repeatanypreviousexercisesthatfeelrelevantrightnow.Beforebed,callonthepowerofgestationalsleep(oranyotherpowersthatfeeluseful)toaidyouontheeveofyoursecondinitiation.Afteryourattunement,checkinwithhowyoufeel.Didtheexperiencefeeldifferentthanthefirstattunement?Besuretojournalaboutyourexperience.Beforewemoveon,thisisagoodtimetotalkabouttheincreasedenergyyou

might experience as a result of Inspiration and your second attunement.Increasedenergy isgenerally thoughtof as adesirable thing, and it absolutelycanbewonderful.That said, theenergy itself isneutral,neithergoodnorbad,anditcangivemoreoomphnotonlytoourhealthy,desirablepursuitsbutalsotothings thatare lessalignedwithoursoul.Myenergybaselinehasalwaysbeenhighthroughoutmylife,butIwasnevertaughthowtousethisenergyskillfully.Massive amounts of energy paired with a lack of know-how meant that Iexperiencedlifeasprettyseverehighsandlows.Itwasn’tuntilIbegantostudyenergyworkandmagicthatIlearnedhowtoconsciouslychannelandshapemyenergytomanifestthedesiredresults.ItbecameclearthatIhadusedaddictionto dampen the force ofmy energy—high energywielded unskillfully can feelunpleasantlyintense.Thingslikealcohol,pot,andlackofsleepcouldhelpdullthe intensity, and I’d also create energetic surges and crashes with sugar,excessiveexercise,andsextooffloadanyexcess.Itisn’tcoincidentalthatwhenI began to meditate regularly and learned how to work with my energy, mydesirefordrugsandalcohol,amongotherthings,disappearedcompletely,asdidmydesiretosugarbinge.Wemustchoosehowtochannelourlifeenergy.Andwhenourenergyflow

increases,thesechoicesreallycometothefore.Followingyourattunementandat this stage in your self-transformation work, it’s common to feel called toexpandandchange.Ifyouignorethiscallandtrytocontinuewithbusinessas

usual, the increased energy can become destructive, like water building in acloggedpipe,threateningtoexplode.Ifinsteadyouembracethecalltoexpandand evolve, youwill increase your ability to channel ever greater amounts ofenergy.Themoreenergyyouhaveavailable toyou, thegreateryourpotentialimpact in this life. It’s a beautiful thing and a divine responsibility—wield itwisely.

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2Youcanseethefulllistathttps://www.cnvc.org/Training/needs-inventory.

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BECOMINGAREIKIMASTER

In this chapter,wewill be exploring the fourth symbol, sometimes called theMaster Symbol as it is typically taught in the final/Master level of Reikiinstruction.ThisexplorationwillprepareyouforyourMasterAttunement.Thefourthsymbolisbelievedtohelponeconducttheenergytransmission—thatis,performanattunement—forallthreelevelsofReiki.Thissymbolisalsosaidtogenerateenergy,purifyselfandspace(particularlyofelementsblockinggrowthand evolution), activate the crown chakra, introduce balance and healing, andconnectonewithspiritguides.Thefourthsymbolcanbeusedinallofthewaysoutlined for the first three symbols, such as tracing it in the air,writing it onpaper,etceteraDrawingSymbolFour:Followthedirectionalarrows.

TheassociatedmantraisDaiKômyô,anditispronounceddie-COE-myo.Pairing thesymboldrawingwith themantra,DaiKômyô:For thefirst three

lines, intone one syllable per line: Dai-Ko-Myo. Do the same for lines fourthrough six, then repeat for lines seven through nine. You’ve now said themantra three times.Youwill draw the remaining lines, ten through seventeen,withoutchanting.Dai Kômyô can be parsed into the following translations, given by Frans

StieneinTheInnerHeartofReiki:

Dai—large,great,big

Komyo—hope,glory,brightfuture

Kô—rayorlight

Myô—bright,light,spell,mantra(Stiene2015,94)

In some Japanese esoteric schools, the kanji (Sino-Japanese characters) forDai represents the five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and space or void(comparetotheelementalassociationsforgassho—page79).Lookingatallfoursymbols, Hiroshi Doi lists the following correspondences: Symbol OnerepresentsEarth;SymbolTwo,theMoonandWater;SymbolThree,theSunandFire;andSymbolFour,theWholeUniverseandWind(Doi2014,8).WhileIamnotsuggestingthat theReikisymbolswereoriginallyintendedtobecorrelated

withhermeticteachings,inmyownpracticeIhavefounditrelevanttoexploretheconnections.IntheEmeraldTablet,acentralHermetictext,weseeallofourmajorplayersrepresented:theEarth,Moon,Sun,Universe,andWind.“ItsfatheristheSun;itsmotheristheMoon.TheWindcarriesitinitsbelly;

itsnurseistheEarth.ItistheoriginofAll,theconsecrationoftheUniverse;itsinherentStrengthisperfected,ifitisturnedintoEarth”(Hauck1999,45).Ifweweavethisadagetogetherwithwhatwe’velearnedthusfar,bothabout

Reikiandself-transformation,oneperspectiveisthatthefirstsymbol,whichisassociatedwithEarth,representshowyouwillexpressyourTrueSelfinthehereandnow,asabeingwhoisabletooperateinthephysicalEarthplane.AsbeingswhoarebothphysicalandDivine,weare inauniqueposition tobringDivineWillintothephysicalworld,channelingitintotangiblemanifestation.WebringthepowerfulthoughtenergyoftheOneMindintothephysicalrealmwhere“itsnurseistheEarth.”WhenthiscreativeactisinalignmentwithourTrueSelf,weare,quiteliterally,embodyingtheenergyandmeaningofthefirstsymbol.Thesecondsymbol,associatedwiththeMoon,representsyourconnectionto

theunconscious,whichwecancomparetotheOneThing.Throughoutourentireself-transformation journey, we have been working to forge a vital bridgebetween the conscious and unconscious realms of experience by bringingawarenesstoourprojections,thearchetypes,activeandreceptiveenergies,andso forth, becausewithout this linkweare like apuppet, our strings constantlybeingyankedthiswayandthatbyunconsciousmaterial.Wecannothopetoliveas empowered beings without cooperation between the conscious andunconsciousforceswithin.The third symbol, associated with the Sun, represents your conscious

landscape. This relates to how skillfully youwield your conscious awareness,primarilybywhatyouchoosetofocuson.Energyflowswhereawarenessgoes,thusyou are directing energy, includingyour vital life force, towardwhateveryouchoose tofocuson—something toponderwhenyouhave theurge toventandcomplain!Witheveryounceoffocusyoudevotetoyourcomplaints,youaretrainingmoreofyourlifeenergyonthispersonorsituationyoudon’t like.Asmymomonceheardapastorsay,“Complaining isprayingforwhatyoudon’twant.”TheSunrelates to thefivedivineactivepowersand theways inwhich

you relate to the external sphere, including your relationshipswith others, thework you do in theworld, and so forth.Our personal evolution occurs in thecontextofourrelationshipswithothersandthevariouslevelsofcommunityinwhichweparticipate,fromthehyperlocaltotheglobal;wecannotoperateinavacuum.Thus,learninghowtoeffectivelyrelatetotheexternalworldisavitalpart of our spiritual practice. Your day job is no less spiritual than yourmeditationsessions,andthemorewecanoperatewiththisawareness,themorewestayintouchwithourTrueSelf,regardlessofexternalcircumstances.Andfinally,wehavethefourthsymbol,associatedwiththeUniverse.Thisis

wherewemakedeepcontactwiththetruththateverythingisone,everythingisadimensionof theAll.TheMoonand theSun, the receptiveand theactive, thephysicalandthespiritual,youandme—we’reall,atourcore,One.Whenweareable tohold this awarenessevenaswemove throughout life inour individualmeatsuits,webringmorewisdomtoeveryencounter,whetherthatencounterishappeningamongstinneraspectsoftheselforwithexternal“others.”WhenweintegratethetruthofOnenessintoourverybeing,it’smoredifficulttoresorttothe ego’s standard repertoire of fear-based thoughts and behaviors such ascompetingwith and undermining others, ditching self-care to cater to externaldemands,limitingourpotentialforfearoffailureorsuccess,andsoforth.Whenwerest in the truth, thesedysfunctionalpatternsmake lessand less sense,andinstead we seek responses that express love, not fear. By doing so, our lifebecomesanexpressionofourTrueSelf.Thenextkanji,ko,canbetranslatedas“ray”or“light.”Herewearereminded

of the uniquely human function of channeling the energy of the elements andtransmutingthemintothelightofspirit,andviceversa—channelingtheenergyofspiritandtransmutingitintothevariouselements.Inlessabstractterms,weare able to take pure energy and turn it into things we experience as part ofphysical existence, things likeour job, family, home, and so forth.And in thereverse, we can interact with tangible things and transmute them into pureenergy: Think of seeing a beautiful sunset—something tangible—and creatingthepureenergyofaweandpeacefromtheexperience.Wepossess thisabilitybecausewearebothphysicalanddivine,andallthewaysinwhichwechannelenergy add up to create our soul’swork in this life.No one else can channel

these energies exactly the way you do; your contribution to this Universalcyclingofenergyisuniqueandcannotbesubstitutedwithanother’sefforts.Myô is composedof two separatekanji characters, one representing the sun

andtheother themoon.Together, thecharactersspeakdirectly to theunionofopposites,thecreativedanceofreceptiveandactive,innerandouter,consciousand unconscious. Recall our discussion in chapter 6 where we saw how lifemasteryinvolveshonoringthedifferentstrengthsofeachaspectofourbeing—thephysical,finiteaspectandthedivine,infiniteaspect.Youallowthefinitetobefiniteandtheinfinitetobeinfiniteratherthantryingtomakeeitherwhatitisnot,andindoingso,youunlockandunitethepowerofboth.Stienewrites,“Thesun and moon combined together into one symbol represent the union ofabsolutetruth(Jp.kutai)andrelativetruth(Jp.ketai).IntheMahayanaBuddhisttraditions, kutai is the truth of emptiness, while ketai is the truth oftemporariness”(Steine2010,97).Inotherwords,weareunitingabsolutetruth—the emptiness of our infinite, divine nature—with the relative truth: thetemporarinessofourfinitephysicalnature.Inmyownexplorationswiththefourthsymbol,Ifoundmyselfinapeaceful

andsilentTimesSquareinmeditation,whereIlearnedthatthissymbolcanhelpusfindthestillnessinthenoise,thebalanceinthechaos,ourcenterinthestorm.Wedon’thave to leave thisphysicalexistence to findpeaceandstillness; thisstillness comes in large part from cultivating the ability to simply be. Just asapplyingeffortisaskill,sotooisitsconceptualopposite:being.Wemustlearnhow to skillfully be just as much as we learn how to skillfully apply effort.Withoutbeing,wewillbetrappedonthenever-endinghamsterwheelofendlessto-dos,butwhenwebalanceeffortwithbeing,wetapintotheawarenessthatwearealreadyOnewithalltimes,places,people,andevents—nostrivingrequired.Itisinthebalanceofeffortandbeingwherewefindpeace.Eventually,eveninthemidst of “efforting” we are centered in being, and our efforts take on anentirelydifferentfeelandenergeticpower.Ratherthanexertingourselvesfromaplaceofforceanddesperationdrivenbythefearthatwearenotenoughunlesswecontinuouslyapplyeffort,weinsteadoperatefromaplaceofpeaceandhaveasenseofbeingthatisunshakable…andcompletelyindependentofourefforts.Wecanrelaxonaprimallevelintothetruththatwearealreadyenough,thatwe

don’thave toeffortourway intoearning“enoughness.”Wesimplyare.Whenwe’renotoperatingfromthemisguidedbeliefthatwehavetoearnourrighttoexist,wemakedifferentchoices.We’reno longer inbattlewithourselvesandtheUniversetryingtoproveourrighttobehere,whichfreesupsomuchspaceandenergythatcannowbedevotedtolivinginalignmentwithourTrueSelf.

ManySignposts,OneDestinationAuthorBarbaraHurdwritesaboutherexperienceintheHimalayaswithaHinduholy man who said, “The heart is the only real temple. Worship there.Everything else is a distraction” (Hurd 2008, 167). A sage reminder on ourjourneyaswe’relearningaboutthevariousstagesofself-transformationandthedifferentReikipreceptsandsymbols,for,asStienewrites,“MikaoUsuiputlotsof signposts in his teachings, but they all point towards the same thing:rediscoveringyourTrueSelf.Don’tgetdistractedthattherearemanydifferentsignposts, as they are all pointing to the same place” (Stiene 2015, 101). In apassagemirroringmyTimesSquaremeditation,Hurdaskswhetherthisstillnesscan be found everywhere, “In the middle of Times Square, in a roomful ofpeople?Andinus?Inallofus,somewhere,eveninthecacophonyofemotionalconfusion”(Hurd2008,168).ShereferencesaTibetanword,shul,meaning“thehollowthatremainsaftersomethinghasmovedthrough,”(it’salsotheYiddishword for temple): “First emptiness, then form. Probably emptiness again …wherewecan’tsee,wherethenormalconstraints,thehabits,identities,andthedefinitions by which we live might lift, disperse momentarily, leave us inenormous space…Westand in the absence, in the clearing, thehollowed-outplace and discover, notwisdom or enlightenment, but spaciousness. Room.Ashul”(Ibid.,170).Theinnerstillnessandtemporaryreleasefrompreconceivednotionsspeaksto

the deeper teachings of the fourth symbol: the willingness to go beyond ourattachmenttowhatwethinkweknow,beyondwhowethinkweare.Tosimplyexistinspace,tofeelthespacewithinus,aspacethatwetoooftentrytocramfull of stuff—physical, mental, and emotional—in an effort to resist thisspaciousness,whichcanfeeldisorienting,likewe’readriftwithnotether.Whenweallowourselvestoeaseintothisspace,toslowlyrelax,toloosenourgrip,to

simplybe,itisherewherewerememberthatwearealreadyonewithourTrueSelf.

APersonalConnectiontotheSymbolsInthenextexercise,youwillbemeditatingwitheachofthefirstthreesymbolsindividually,andafteryourMasterAttunementyoucanrepeatthisprocesswiththefourthsymbol.Theformatofthismeditationispurposelyopen,allowingyouto develop a very personal connectionwith the symbols. It also asks that youdirectmanyofthemeditationcomponentsyourself,preparingyouforincreasinglevels of self-directed spiritual exploration, an important component ofMasterLeveltraining.Youwillperformthefollowingmeditationthreetimes,eitherinonesittingorindifferentsessions,oneforeachofthefirstthreesymbols.

ExerciseThirty-One:EncounteringtheSymbolsBringyourselfdownintoameditativestate(page26).IntroducetheflowofReiki(page125).Stateyour intention tounderstand thedeepersecretsof thesymbolyou

arefocusingon.Forexample,“Inthismeditation,IseektoknowthedeepersecretsofReikiSymbol1.Onthescreenofyourmind,callupadoorandseethesymbolimprinted

on thedoor.Beginchanting themantra, eitheraloudormentally, toopenthedoor.Stepthroughthedoorandallowtheexperiencethatiscorrectandgood

foryou tounfold. If you start to feel likeyourmind iswandering at anypoint, restateyour intention;youcando thisasoftenasnecessary. Ifyoufeelstuck,trythemantra,“TheWayisclear,theWayisclear,theWayisclear,”untilthestucknessdissolves.When the experience feels complete, thank any beings you may have

encountered, thankReiki, and thankyourself.Thenexit through the samedooryouentered.Returntonormalconsciousness(page26–page27).

Recordyourexperiences inyour journal. Iencourageyou todo this symbolmeditationmore than once for each of the symbols to help you see howyourconceptionofandrelationshiptothesymbolsischangingovertime.Youmightchoose tomeditate on the symbols at least once a year to refresh and deepenyourconnection.

WhatisaReikiMaster?As you prepare for yourMasterAttunement, it’s helpful to talk aboutwhat itmeanstobeaReikiMaster.AsaMasteryouwillbeinstructedinthewaysofattuningotherstoReikionapracticallevel.YouarealsoinapositiontoteachReiki principles and practices, should you choose. Unfortunately, I have metmany Reiki Masters who stop studying after they finish their Master leveltraining, which I believe somewhat defeats the purpose of becoming a ReikiMaster.The term “master” in andof itself can be a bitmisleading, at least inlightofourmoderninterpretation,whichseemstoconnoteasenseofcompletionoranendpoint.Inpractice,however,thisinterpretationcouldn’tbefurtherfromthetruth.AsaReikiMaster,youareembarkingonapersonaljourneyinwhichyou are continually practicing the art of mastery—yes, of Reiki precepts andpractices,butmoreimportantly,overtheprinciplesandpracticesofyourlife.When we covered the process of attunement and why people aren’t

permanently “fixed” once they receive one, we saw that it is the choices wemake following an attunement or Reiki session that determine whether ourenergychannelsremainclearandfreeflowingorbecomecloggedwithenergeticick.Someickisinevitabletoacertainextent,butallowingittostickaroundisnot;wealwayshave thechoice to releaseobstructionsand return to a stateofclarity and flow. Thus, as Reiki Masters, as people who have committed toprioritizing theclearingofobstructions inourselvesand toassistothers in thisprocess,wearecalledtowalkthetalkandpracticethedailyartofReiki.WedomorethansimplygiveReikisessionsandtalkaboutReiki—weareinsteadbeingReiki.AsHiroshiDoiwrites, “Peoplewillgiveup theeasygoing idea that thewhole ability is given only by the attunement. They will understand that theattunementopens thedoor;and thatafterentering thewayofReiki, theymustdevelopandenhancetheirtrueabilityontheirown”(Doi2014,42).

HowdoesonebecomeReiki?Asyoumighthaveanticipatedbynow, thereisn’ta simple, step-by-stepanswer to this,but thereareguideposts,andwe’vebeen covering them throughout our entire journey thus far. Usui left manysupportsintheformoftheReikiprinciplesandsymbols,andotherteachings,soforstarters,wecanmeditateonthesetools.Wecanapplytheminourdailylife.We can mindfully connect to the Reiki that is flowing through all thingsthroughoutourday,sensingwhat this flowfeels like inourbody,mind,heart,and soul. I’d like to offer something even more concrete, though, somethingintimatelyconnectedtothespiritofwhatitmeanstobeaReikiMaster.Oneofthe most effective things you can do on your path to (remembering your)onenesswithReikiistomindfullydevelopyourownpracticesforreconnectingwith this wholeness. Think of this as creating your own user’s manual, acollection of practices and teachings that work especially well for you. Formyself,thismanualtakestheformofajournaloftechniquesandteachingsthathelpmefeelmoreintunewithmyTrueSelf.Forexample,ifIdon’tgetoutsideatleastafewtimesaweek(ideallyeveryday),Icanfeelmyenergyshift,andnotforthebetter.I’mmorefoggyandirritable,mybodyfeelslessgroundedandmorerigid,andI’mmorepronetopessimisticthinkingandcomplaining.Idon’tneed togoonanepicoutdooradventure to reap thebenefitsofnature;evenastroll around the yard is usually enough to get me feeling clear headed andenergeticallyflowing.Thesameholdstruefordailymeditation:IfIslack,Ifeelit…anditain’tagoodfeeling.Ifyoureada lotofself-helpandmetaphysicalbookslikeme,youknowthe

feelingofbeingoverwhelmedby thenumberofmeditations, chakra clearings,shamanicjourneys,andothertechniquesyoucouldpotentiallyuseinanygivenmoment.Thetruthisthatnoneofthesepracticesareallthatusefulifwedon’tusethem.Inthatspirit,yourmasteryjournalshouldbeaplacewhereyoucollectpractices that work well for you along with commentary that might come inhandy later such as notes regarding when a certain meditation is especiallyuseful (e.g.,whenyou’re having troublemaking a decision or feeling irritableand impatientwithpeople). Ifyouwant toget superorganized,youcanuseabinderor indexcardfile thatallowsyoutoreordercontentasneeded,andyoucan gather practices under tabbed sections that are relevant to you such as

“StressRelieving,”“ChakraClearing,”and“BeforeHealingSessions,”makingtechniquesandotherinsightseasiertofindwhenyouneedthemmost.In addition, Iwould recommendcomingupwith a short sequenceof things

youdoeverydaythatyoudon’thavetolookupinabook—practicesthataren’toverlycomplicated.Forexample,youmighthaveafewbasicstretchesyoudoevery morning when you wake up, followed by five or ten minutes ofmeditation,followedbylistingthreethingsyou’regratefulfor.Andthenboom,you’redone.Do that everymorning asoften aspossible (bonus if youhave ashort sequence you do before bed, too.) This basic sequence becomes thefoundationof your daily practice, andyou can supplement it at any timewithadditionalpracticesfromyourmasteryjournal.Thatsaid,docommittoatleastdoingyourbasicsequenceeverydaysothatyou’reregularlyreconnectingwithyour True Self. A daily practice also makes it easier to do more advancedpracticesbecauseyou’renotstartingfromscratcheverytimeyoudecidetocrackopen your self-care journal; you’re building on an already establishedfoundation. If you decide to do a longer chakra balancing meditation thisweekend,itwillbemucheasierifyou’vealreadybuiltupthehabitofmeditatingtenminutesaday.Whilecompilingthisjournalisvaluableasaself-awarenessandself-caretool,

there’s another reason this process is useful to your development as a ReikiMaster. I view this level of study as primarily self-propelled and self-initiatedspiritualgrowth.Ratherthanconstantlyseekinganswersfromotherexperts,youarelearninghowtodevelopandtrustyourownwisdomthatisrootedinpersonalpracticeandexperience,notconfinedtounpracticedtheoreticalknowledge.AsaMaster,youarecontributingtothebodyofspiritualknowledgeandtechnologythatisReikibyaccumulatingyourownexperienceratherthansimplyabsorbingthe teachings of those who have gone before. Also remember that you aren’tdoing your work here simply to fill a book with information; this practice isdesignedtohelpyoustayalignedwithyourTrueSelfandtoreturntoalignmentwhenyougetoffcourse,aswealldofromtimetotime.Thisjournalwillserveas an interactive reminder of your True Self and help you shake out of thetrance-like state of going through themotions. As a result, youwill be fully,mindfully,vibrantlyliving.

TheMasterasBeginnerAswitheverythingelsewe’vebeenlearning,thetopicofmasterycomeswithitsownparadox, becausewhile aReikiMaster is self-initiating and self-directed,guidedbytheirTrueSelfrather thanconstantlyseekinganswersfromwithout,they are also a dedicated student of the universe. TheMaster simultaneouslyknows that all answers canbe foundwithin and every situation andbeing sheencountershassomethingtoteachher.TheMasteralsoknowssheisinfinitelywiseand shebarelyknowsanything.Remember thatnomatterhowmuchweknow, there is stillmorewe can learn from those aroundus, be theyhumans,animals, trees, rocks,spirits,oranyother typeofbeing.Wenarrowourmindsand constrict the flow of wisdom when we decide that we’ve “mastered”somethingandnolongerneedtoreceivefeedbackorinsightsfromothers,whenwetalkmuchmorethanwelisten,andwhenweareunwillingtoquestionwhatwethink,believe,say,ordo.Beingastudentoftheuniversegoesbeyondadoptinganattitudeofhumility

—or even less helpfully, self-deprecation—merely because we believe this iswhat “spiritual” people are supposed to do. Our humility is not a personaadoptedwith theaimof lookingmore“spiritual”;ourbeginner’smindoutlookinspiresgenuinehumilitybecauseweareawarethatwecannotpossiblyknowallthereistoknow.Whenwelivefromaplaceofgenuinehumility,wefreeupsomuch energy that the ego’s posturingwould otherwise consume as it displaysanddefendswhatitalreadyknows.Itcanbechallengingtoreleasethishabitofdemonstrating our knowledge (and I speak from experience) because in itsabsenceweoftenfeelvulnerableandlessincontrol.Ifwearewillingtositwiththisdiscomfort,however,itcanbeincrediblyliberating.I felt much less pressure in my life when I became more mindful of my

motivations for sharing information. I asked myself: “Is this relevant? Is ituseful?AmIjusttryingtoshowthatIknowsomethingaboutthis?”Ididn’tfeeltheconstantneed tocomeoffasanexpert,evenon things that Iknowagreatdeal about. It was quite a relief! And while my ego was afraid that my newoutlookwouldleadtopeoplethinkingIwasincompetentandclueless,Inoticedthatinstead,peoplecametotrustandvaluemyinputmorewhenIdroppedthe

posturing.Whensomeoneispeacockingorshowingoffwhat theyknow,theseinteractions often leave the listener with an impression of the speaker’sinsecurity rather that theirwisdomorexpertise, theexactoppositeofwhat thespeaker is intending. Beyond being a lousy conversational habit, peacockinginterfereswiththeabilitytodevelopandexpandourwisdombecauseitservesasashieldagainstnewinformation.There’ssuddenlyalotatstakeifwe’rewrongwhentheegoisinchargesuchthatourgoalininteractionisnolongertoenrichand enhance our perspective—it becomes about defending what we think weknow.Ifwerelatetalkingtooutputandlisteningtoinputonanenergeticlevel,we’remessingwith our flow becausewe’re spewing a bunch of outputwhilerelatively little input ispermitted.This stagnationcanmanifest as lackofnewideasandcyclicalthoughtsandfears;whenitprecipitatesonthephysicallevel,evenourbodiesstarttofeelrestrictedandrigid.Another component of Reiki mastery is teaching. The more we share our

knowledgeandexperience,themorewechangeandgrow.Asaresult,wehavemore knowledge andwisdom to share. That knowledge andwisdom truly areinfiniteprovidedwestayconnectedtoSourceenergy,whichwedoinlargepartbypracticingself-care.Notonlydoesself-carekeepuspluggedintoSource(theorigin of the material we’re teaching), it also keeps our channels functioningwellsotheenergywereceiveproductivelyflowsintoandthroughus,allowingus to effectively transmit thematerial to others. I have found that themore Iwrite and teach (two of theways I am called to share), themore informationfloods to me during meditations, dreams, and daily life that I can then writeabout and teach. It’s like turning on an inexhaustible faucet, and the morecommittedIamtoself-care,thebettermyenergyisabletoflowclearlyintomywritingandteaching.

CommittingtothePracticeAsyoupreparetogodeeperwithyourrelationshiptoReikiandyourTrueSelfby receivingyourMasterAttunement, take some time todevelopabasic self-care sequence you can commit to every day. Write the sequence down, andspend some time thinking about why you’ve included each component. Forexample, if meditation is part of your daily sequence, what do you hope toexperience? Connectionwith your True Self?A feeling of calm and renewedclarity?Communionwithspiritguides?Alloftheabove?Taketimetogetclearonwhyyou’redoingthesethings,evenifthosereasonschangeovertime.Whenyouhavethisclarity,you’relesslikelytofallintoarutandsimplygothroughthemotions.Itcanbehelpfultowritedownyourreasonssoyoucanlookbacklaterifthepracticeisstartingtofeelrote.Youcanalwaysadaptthesequenceifitbegins to lose its luster,althoughIchallengeyoutostickwithonesequencefor a full month to gain the benefits of mindful repetition and the energeticmomentumitcarries.Ifyoumissadayortwo,noshameorguilt—justreturntothepractice.Priortoandfollowingyourattunementasyou’redevelopingyourownideas

onwhatitmeanstobeaMaster,reflectonthefollowing:

“Wisdomisknowledgebeyondknowing; theneed toknowis theshadowsideofwisdom”(Milne1998,128).

“Lifeinevitablybringsprofoundquandariesandstress.Whiletheyarenotnecessarilyourfault,theymaybeourresponsibility”(Perera2001,310).

“Small and large issues alike can feel overwhelming, but often this is aresultoftryingtosolveproblemswithoutchanginganythingaboutthelifethatcreatedthem”(Bowman2016,8).

“Before the creation of humanity and, by extension, sin, God createdteshuvah, repentance. Literally, teshuvah means ‘return,’ implying thatwhenonesinsoneturnsawayfromone’struenatureandtruepath,andthatrepentanceisreturningtothattruenatureandpath”(Shapiro2009,42).

“There is a throne. It’s there for you.The only personwho can enthroneyouisyou.Thethroneisyourdestiny.Thethroneiswaitingforyoutobebraveenoughtobeyou”(Jagat2017,252).

AfteryourMasterAttunement,usethefollowingmeditationtoreallyfeelthepowerandenergyofallfourReikisymbolsonalllevelsofyourbeing.

ExerciseThirty-Two:MeditationwiththeFourSymbolsEnterameditativestate(page26),givingyourselfasmuchtimeasneededtofeelfullycenteredandpresent.Chant the Choku Rei mantra in vowel form, chanting on the exhale,

pausingasyouinhale:OUEI.Itwillsoundlike:OhhhhhooooooaaaaayeeeeeeContinuechantingasyoubringyourawarenesstothebaseofyourspine

orthesolesofyourfeet—whicheverismakingcontactwiththeearthorthechair—andbreatheReikiinthroughyourbase.FeelReikiarisingfromtheEarthasyouchantandallowtheenergytoriseintoyourtanden.Pause the chant asyou sink intodeeper connectionwith thegrounding

sensation of the energy connecting you to the Earth, lending weight andgravity to your inner center of gravity, your tanden. Take a few morebreathsinthisplace.Shiftyourawarenesstoyourcrown.YouwillnowbegintochanttheSei

Heikimantrainvowelform,chantingontheexhale,pausingasyouinhale:EIEI.Itwillsoundlike:aaaaayeeeeeeaaaaayeeeeeeContinuechantingasyoufeelyourcrownchakraunfold.BreatheReiki

downthroughyourcrown.FeelReikiwashingdownthroughyourcentralchannel, collecting at your tanden. Continue chanting for a few morebreaths,allowing theheavenlyenergy tomixandcombinewith theEarthenergyatyourtanden.Pause the chant as you sink into deeper connection with the union of

heaven and earth, above and below, active and receptive. Feel theseenergiescontinuetobuildandblendinyourtanden,generatingheatastheydoso.Allowthisheattobuildinawaythatfeelscorrectandgoodforyou.

Lettheheatriseupthroughyourcentralchannel,travelingthroughyourabdomen, heart center, throat, face, and through your third eye until itreachesyourcrown.Thisheatbegins tomelt theheavenlyenergyatyourcrown, creating a rain of energy. Feel and perhaps envision this energydrippingdownlikespringrainintoyourheartcenter.Astheraingentlyfallsintoyourheartcenter,chanttheHonShaZeSho

Nen mantra: O A SE O NE. It will sound like: oooooh ahhhhh zehhhhooooohnehhhhContinuechantingastheheavenlyrainwatersthegardenofyourheart,

softening your heart center and allowing peace to blossom. Continue tobreathe for a few cycles, enjoying this sensation of peace and harmonybetween heaven and earth, and the flowering of the Intelligence of theHeart.Andnow,begintochantDaiKômyô:DyyyyekohhhhmyoohhhLetyourawarenessexpandtotakeintherisingofEarthenergy,therain

of heavenly energy, and the blossoming of the heart. Feel this powerfulcyclesuffusingyourentirebeingwithpeaceandwellbeing.Feelthesteadyflow of energy from your tanden to your head, back down to your heartendlessly cycling, the dynamic flow of life. Breathe in the energy ofharmonyandbalance.Whenyoufeelready, thankReikiandgentlyallowanyimagestofade.

Settheintentionthattheflowofenergywillreturntoastatethatiscorrectandgoodforyou.Returntoanormalstateofconsciousness(page25–page26).Journal about your experience. It’s recommended to do thismeditation

more than once, as it helps you to connect with the deeper teachings ofReiki by embodying them. You might perform this meditation inaccordancewith a cycle that ismeaningful for you, such as every full ornewmoon.Inthenextchapter,youwillbuildontheenergeticshiftofyourMasterAttunementwiththesixthstepofself-transformation:Refinement.

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REFINEMENT

Thissteptakesthematerialthatwehaveuncoveredandtransformedthroughoutour journey thusfarandremovesadditional tracesof theego’s limitations thatarepreventingusfromfullyembracingourTrueSelf.WithRefinement,weraiseourpsychetothehighestlevelpossible,tounitewiththeOneMind.Thismightsoundfineanddandy,buthowintheworlddowegoaboutthisprocess?Let’sputthisstepintocontext.InIlluminationwebegantheprocessofburningawayegoicclutter;theninSubmersion,wewentevendeeperbysoakinginthewatersofourunbconsciousmind,uncoveringaspectsofourselvesthathavebeenburiedandrejected,andwelcomingthembackintothefoldsowecouldreclaimmoreofour innatewholeness.Polarizationheightenedourawarenessofour internalopposites—in particular, our active and receptive natures. Temporarilyseparating these powers allowedus to better understand their unique strengthsandchallengessothatwecanmoreskillfullyrecombinetheminlifeandinlatersteps.Mergingwas the initial union of the polar forceswithin, the active andreceptive, the rational and the unconscious, giving birth to a new form ofconsciousnessandanewwayofbeing.Andfinally,Inspirationtookthisproductandseededitwithnewlife,injectinguswithdivineinspiration.ThisbringsustoRefinement,aprocessthatcentersonbecomingevenmore

awareofwhowe trulyarebyparadoxicallyadoptinganoutlookof life that ismuch larger thanour individual self.You’regetting abird’s-eyeviewofyoursoul’s journey and then applying that big-picture view to the more intimateexperiences that constitute daily life. Two of the skills developed in previousstages are particularly relevant here. The first is our work with projections,

wherewelearnedhowtorecognizewhenwearetakingourinnermaterialandprojectingitontotheexternalworld,absolvingourselvesofresponsibilitywhilesimultaneouslydrainingourpersonalpower.Thesecond is learninghow tositwith emotional energy rather than dissipating it as a means of “blowing offsteam.”Bothofthesepracticesresisttheurgetoscatteranddissipateourenergyand thus help us staymore centered and in possession of our natural state ofwholeness.With Refinement, we now use these skills to look at the events of our life

from a bigger perspective, a transpersonal perspective.Transpersonal refers tothatwhichisbeyond(“trans”)thepersonal;inotherwords,beyondtherealmofpersonal identity. For many of us, it might seem odd to consider our lifeimpersonally.Whilethemajorityofourconsciousmomentsarespentlookingatlife through our individual perspective, we have the ability to transcend thisview,andthemorewepractice,themoreoftenandthemorereadilyweareableto do so when needed. Why would we want to transcend our personalperspective?Oneoftheimmediatebenefits is that itgivesustheclaritythat isoften hard to obtain when we’re stuck in our personal identity, which bydefinitionislimitedinfocus.Whenwetranscend,weareabletoseesolutionstoproblemsthatwerepreviouslyhiddenbecausetheydidn’tfitwithourpersonalperspective.Here’s a practical example: Throughoutmy childhood and youngadulthood,Ihadnoideathatscoliosiswaspotentiallyreversible.Ihadbeentoldbydoctorsthatitwasaconditionthatcouldatbestbemanaged,orIcouldhavesteel rods inserted alongmy spine. Based on this, I didn’t bother to seek outinformation to thecontrary.Manyyears later,when Ibegan studyingmassagetherapy,Ilearnedthatnumerousmethodsexistforreversingthespinalcurvatureofscoliosis tovaryingdegreeswithoutsurgery.Iwasastounded.All this time,mybelief that scoliosiswas an irreversible condition limitedmyability to seealternatives.We limitourperspectiveall the time.Ourbraincreates shortcuts tohelpus

accomplishmorewith less conscious thinking to conserve resources, but overtime this whittles down our range of possibilities becausewe start to see ourshortcutsastheonlyroutesavailable.Wegetusedtotakingacertainwayhomefromwork,wegetusedtorelatingtoourmotherinaparticularmanner,weget

usedtotreatingourbodyinacertainfashion,andonandonitgoes.Whenwetranscendourpersonaldatabase,weopenourselvestoavaststoreofknowledgeandenergythatwaspreviouslyunavailabletoourconsciousmind.Now that we understand why we would want to transcend our personal

identity, let’slookathowtogoaboutdoingthis.WithRefinement,wedeepenourabilitytotakeourpersonal,individualexperiencesandraisethatmaterialtoahigherlevelthatallowsustoseethingswithlessdrama-inducingattachmentsand other reactions that serve to confuse and constrain us. This process isn’tnew;inmanyofthepreviousexercisessuchasexercisesthirteenandfourteen:SeeingProjections,youdevelopedyourabilitytoseparateobjectiveeventsfromthe subjective stories of the ego. The difference duringRefinement is thatwewillbecreatinganevenwiderseparationbetweenobjectiveoccurrencesandtheego’sinterpretationsusingthepowerofmyth.Inthespacecreatedthroughthisseparation,newwaysofseeingandthinkingcanemerge.Howdoweusemyths toelevateourconsciousness?Theshortanswer isby

seeing ourselves in themyths, somethingwe already dowhenwe’re lost in agoodbookorfilm.Weidentifywithoneormoreofthecharacters,seeingpartsorallofourselvesinthem,andthelinesbetweentheiradventuresandourownrealityblurs.Whilethisidentificationoftenendswiththecompletionofthefilmorthebook, itcansometimesextendintooureverydayconsciousness,perhapsinspiringus todo thingswewouldn’tnormallydoor see things innewways.With Refinement, we will consciously identify with figures in myths bothancientorcontemporaryandusethemtoactivateourtranspersonaleyesight.Tomaketheprocesseasier,it’sbesttochooseaspecificquality.Forexample,ifweweretochooseHermioneGranger,wemightfocusonthetendencytogetcaughtupinamassinganddisplayingintellectualknowledgeattheexpenseoffosteringconnections with others, something that Hermione herself learns on her ownjourney.We can use thismodernmyth to help see ourselvesmore clearly: inwhatwaysarewe likeHermione?How isour life affectedby thosequalities?Arewe happywith the effects or arewe seeking different outcomes, such asgreaterintimacywithothersorlesspressuretoproveweareintelligent?Wethentake the process further by applying this self-inquiry in times of personalchallenge.Let’ssaywe’reinaworksituationwhereouregoisflaringandour

go-toresponseisdemonstratinghowmuchweknowinordertofeelsafe.Intheheatofthemoment,itcanbehardtoseebeyondthepanickingegoasittriestoconvinceusthatsomethingverybadwillhappenifwedon’tdisplayourintellectpronto!Inthisstateofmind,everythingfeelsextremelypersonal:ourpersonalreputation is at stake, ourpersonal authority is being threatened. Through thepowerofmyth,wecan see thatwearenot theonlyhuman inhistory tohavefaced this challenge. Many others before us—such as Hermione from ourexample—havefelt triggeredandhaverespondedbyspoutingfactsandrigidlydefending the ego’s stance. And many others before us have found that thistacticusuallyonlyservesasatemporaryfixatbestthatdoesnothingtoinstillasense of inner safety and stability that is not tied to how smart we appear toothersandourselves.Whenweseethatthismomentintimeinwhichouregoisontherampage—

our personal challenge—is not unique, it’s easier to grasp that while thisparticularmomentisonewehavetheoptionoftakingpersonally,weareneitherlimited nor obliged to do so. We could instead choose to identify with thetranspersonal nature of the situation, to the archetypal, universal scenario ofhavingabruisedego,something thatmanyothersare likelyexperiencingrightnowaswespeak.Inotherwords,wecanseethatthisoccurrenceissimplypartofhumanexperience,notapersonalaffront.Whenweadopt this transpersonalperspective,therantingsoftheegostarttorecedeintothebackgroundifonlyalittle,andfromthisplaceofgreaterstillnesswecanassessthesituationfromadifferent vantage point. Perhaps we see our coworker’s insecurities that arecontributingtothesituationandmaybecanevenempathizewiththem.Doingsocouldprovideuswithaglimpseofanunderlyingneedourcoworker ishavingtrouble expressing. We might then pose the question: “It seems like you’refeeling rushed on this project and would like more time—is that accurate?”Maybetheconversationgoesinanentirelynewdirection,towardsolutionratherthanstandoff.Thisoutcomecontraststotheframeofmindhadwetakenthingspersonally,of the“Howdarethey!”storylines thatcauseus tofeel lockedintodefending ourselves, thereby limiting our options and the ability to see moreclearly.Workingwithmythshelpstocreatespacebetweenusandourhabitual

waysofreacting.Indoingso,wetapintoapowerandawarenessthatisgreaterthanourindividualreserves:archetypal,transcendentwisdom.

ThePowerofArchetypesMythsarepopulatedbyarchetypes;forourpurposes,wecanthinkofarchetypesascharactersthatserveastemplatesorexamplesofallthedifferentwayswecanexpress our energy. You can imagine the archetypes as filters: As theundifferentiated, divine energy of pure potentialmakes itsway from the greatcosmic ocean into amore unique expression in the form of our life, it passesthroughthefiltersofthearchetypes.Aswelearnedwiththetendivinepowers,insomecircumstances,onepowermightbejustwhatthedoctorordered,whileinothers it’s lesshelpful, and in the sameway,certainarchetypesare ideal insomecircumstancesbutlessfunctionalinothers.Let’spullanarchetypefromthetarottoillustratehowthisprocessworks.The

Emperorisacardofstructureandboundaries,rulershipandlaw.Whenneutral,universal energy flows through this archetype it becomes temporarily flavoredwith these qualities. If you wanted to do an unstructured, free-flowing fingerpainting session, you probablywouldn’twant to activate your inner Emperor.However, if you were struggling to carve out time in your schedule for yourpaintingsession,Emperorenergycouldcomeinhandybyhelpingyoutocreatethe structure to support your creativity and maintain boundaries to preventdistractionsfromencroachingonyourcreativetime.Archetypal selection is happening throughout our day, although usually

without our conscious awareness.Wemight be in the creative flow and filterenergy through the Artist all morning, and then a coworker says somethingtriggeringin themiddleofaworkmeetingand—bam—theJudgeappears,andwe see ourselves and the world around us through this judgmental lens. Thissimpleexamplemightsuggestthatsomearchetypesare“good”whileothersare“bad,” but it’s all about context; if we’re researching which car to buy, forexample,theJudgemightbehelpful.Justlikethedivinepowers,whatwereallywant is to make the process of selection more conscious so we can choosearchetypesthatbestsuitourcurrentneeds.There’s another layer to our experience of the archetypes: our ability to

personalizethem,therebyalteringtheircharacteristicsandbyextensionthewayenergyisfilteredthroughthem.Forexample,yourexperienceofyourfatherin

childhood might match up in many ways with the archetypal figure of theEmperor,sothisarchetypeisincorporatedintoyourpersonalrepertoire.Asyoustarttointernalizethisarchetype,youaddyourowntwisttoitandunconsciouslymodify it tomatchupmorecloselywithyourdad.While thearchetypeof theEmperorisconnectedtorulershipandlaw,initshealthyexpressionthisenergyis in service of harmony and stability; it’s not punitive. Your father, beinghuman,mightexpressthisenergydifferently—maybehewieldedrulesasawaytoinstillfearandexertunduecontroloveryou.Asaresult,youtakethisinputandmodel your internalEmperor accordingly.Henceforth, your experience ofthisarchetypewillbe filtered throughyourunique“brand”ofEmperor,whichmightbequitedifferent frommineeven thoughwebothstartedwith thesameEmperorarchetype.Byusingmythsasatoolforself-awareness,wecanbegintorecognizewhich

archetypeswehave internalized andhowwemayhave altered thembasedonour personal experience.We can then reflect onwhether these archetypes areusefultousrightnow,iftheywouldbemoreusefulifgivena“reboot”toreturnthemtotheiroriginalstate(priortoourmodifications),orifanentirelydifferentarchetypewouldbemore appropriate.Again, the reasonwewant tobringourarchetypal relationships into conscious awareness is because we use thearchetypes all the time, whether we’re aware of it or not. The archetypes wehave chosen and theways inwhichwehavemodified thembasedonour lifeexperiencesdictateshowwechanneltheenergyofthegreatercosmicoceanintotheday-to-daystuffofour life. Ifwe’rechannelingenergy througharchetypesthataren’tsuitedto thesituationorhavebeenmodifiedindysfunctionalways,the energetic blueprint of our life will be out of whack. By healing ourarchetypal relationships,our efforts aredirected to the sourceof the issue,notthesymptoms.These archetypes are the bridge from our individual consciousness and the

greatercosmicconsciousness,soit’stoouradvantagetouse(andchoose)themwisely. They enable us to channel more energy than we can contain in ourpersonal reserves, and because energy is information, we’ll have access toinformationthatmightotherwisebeunavailabletoourpersonalawarenessfield.Forexample,whenweembodytheHealerperhapsinthearchetypalformofthe

GreekgodAsclepius,wemightseepreviouslyhiddenoptionsandsolutionsorreceive intuitive insights thatpropelourhealing forwardby leaps andbounds.Our perspective is broadened and we enter the realm of transpersonalconsciousnessbychannelingarchetypalenergy.Inthisspace,wearenolongerlimitedbyourpersonal identity and theassociatedbeliefs, thoughts, andothertrappingsthatmaybedampeningourconnectiontoourTrueSelf.

YourPersonalGrailQuestInaddition togivingusaccess togreaterstoresofenergyand information,wecan also apply the power of myth on a grander scale. By pulling back andlookingatour lifeorat stagesofour life throughmyth,wecangainaclearersenseofour soul’squest.Oneof the reasons I thinkmanyofus aredrawn topast-life exploration is because it gives our life a sense of scale that ismuchlarger in scope thanaone-life-and-you’re-doneperspective. It feelsmoreepic,like a grand quest with a purpose. When life feels a little too sloggy anddirectionlessandwecan’tseetheforestfor thetrees, it’snatural tohungerforsomethingmore, somethingbigger thanhitting the snooze button for the thirdtime and getting stuck in rush-hour traffic on our way to work. And here iswhere the power of myth comes in handy, for not only can we refine ourmomentarystruggles,wecanalsorefinethesumtotalofourlives.Wecanraiseourlifestorytothelevelofmythandtherebyinfusethemorningbattlewiththealarm clock and the slow inching of trafficwith spiritual purpose. Rememberthatalltheworkwe’vebeendoingisnotdesignedtomakethealarmclocksandthetrafficjamsoftheworlddisappear;it’smeanttorevealthedivinenatureofeventheseeminglymundane.Theabilitytoseethemagicinthemundaneanduniteourhumananddivine

naturehasbeenamajorfocusofourtransformationalwork.Wearenotphysicalbeingsbyaccident.Wedidnotincarnatesimplytolearnhowto“riseabove”ourphysical nature. Our soul has chosen life in a physical body to learn what itmeanstobefleshgivenspirit,embodiedspirit,tobewewhohaveresidedinthepurelyspiritualrealmsanddescendedtoearth,unitingthepowersoftheaboveandthebelow.Learningtoembracethefullgloryofbothourphysicalandourspiritualnature iswhywearehere.Whenwedo this,weareable tounite thebig-picture, transpersonalvisionofspiritwith thefleshlyvessel throughwhichweareabletocarrythisvisionintotheworld.Howyouasauniquebeingusetranspersonalenergytomakeanimpacthereonearth—thatisyoursoul’squest,your raison d’être. In other words, the ways in which you embody spirit aresynonymous with your soul’s purpose, for no one else on earth will embodyspiritquitelikeyou.

In the bookTheMaidenKing, Jungian analystMarionWoodmanwrites:“Many people are undermined by a loss of connection to their own lifeenergy in their own body. [emphasis mine] Patriarchal judgment in bothmothers and fathershas cut themoff, leavinga trailofwounding inbothsons anddaughters. If their natural desiresweremet by a constant “No,”theygraduallydisconnectedfromtheirown“Idesire”inthesurvivalchakrainordertoplease.…Asadults,theylookatotherpeoplewhoseemtolovelife and wonder why they themselves do not. They pretend, even aschildren,tobereachingfromtheirowndesire…[but]becausetheirbodiesare not expressing desires that come from natural instincts, they fall intounnatural desires, driven desires that overwhelm them with stupor andmanifestasaddictions.Theycrave food thatbrings themnonourishment,drinkthatbringsthemnospirit,sexthatbringsthemnounion…Thedrivethat remains hidden is compulsion; the drive that is revealed is freedom”(BlyandWoodman1999,130).

Whenourself-reflectionandprocessofself-growthdoesnotencompassourdualnature,physicalandspiritual,wearethepersonwhois“underminedbyalossofconnectiontotheirownlifeenergyintheirownbody,”adisconnectthatoften manifests in very tangible ways—in our health, finance, and livelihoodissues, as well as in spiritual ways such as lack of purpose and clarity and afeelingofseparationfromourintuitivepowers.Thesedisconnectsfromvariouspartsofour life combine toproducea sortofmalaisewe try tomask throughaddictionandalltheotherwaysinwhichwenumbthepainofbeingoutoftouchwith our wholeness, such as staying busy, depression and anxiety, beinghypercriticalofselfandothers,andsoon.Whenwearedisconnectedfromoursoul’spurpose,itcanbeeasytofixateon

externalsituationsthattriggerworry,fear,anger,andjudgment,whichbringsusright back to our work with projection: It’s painful to look at our internaldisconnect,soweprojectitontotheworldandseeexternalsituationsandpeopletoblame for thewaywe feel. Ibelieve this fixation is rooted in the followingdynamic:Whenwedon’thaveanintimateconnectionwithoursoul’spurpose,

our entire being experiences a nagging uneasiness, a feeling of dis-ease. Weknow something is amiss, but when we can’t bear to own this seemingemptiness,weprojectitontotheworldaroundusandbecomefixatedonalloftheawful thingswesee in thenews, the things thataren’tworkinginourownandotherpeople’slives,andthethingsthatleaveusfeelingangryandhelpless.Fromtheego’spointofview, it is farbetter to live inahopelesslymessedupworldandspendourtimecomplainingaboutthatstateofaffairsthanitistotakeresponsibilityforre-creatingintimacywithoursoul.Why?Theegohasn’tacluehowtoaccomplishthelatter,butitdoesknowhowtocomplain,worry,rage,andobsess.We are given the choice in each moment to feed the ego by complaining,

fixating on our fears andworries, being hypercritical of ourselves and others,and outlining all the reasons something won’t work before we even try.Alternatively,wecouldchoosetobethewitnesstotheegoandstaycenteredinourTrueSelfamidsttheegochatterwithcompassionandself-love,abstainfromcomplaining,replace“I’mworriedthat…”with“Iwonderif…,”andforgiveourselvesandothers.Wecantrustthatruminatingoverworst-possiblescenariosdoesnotmakeusmoreprepared.Wecancontinuallyopenourselvesup to thesoul’spossibilitiesrather thanstaylockedin theego’sfalsecertainties.Oneofourmostpowerful tools for thisprocessofnourishing theTrueSelf insteadoffeeding the ego ismyth;we can use it to refine our personal experiences andraise them to the levelof the transpersonal, thereby freeingourselves from thetrapoftheego,whichbydefinitionisconfinedtothepersonallevel.RecallourdiscussionoftheEmperorandhowweinternalizeandmodifythis

archetype based on our life experiences, thereby affecting how we channelenergythroughtheEmperorandintoourlife.Dependingonourmodifications,the energy could be more that of stifling hierarchy and patriarchy, harshpunishmentand rigiddiscipline,andnegationof intuition—theshadowsideoftheEmperor—andthiscanleadtoadysfunctionalrelationshiptostructureandauthority. We might routinely find ourselves at war with authority figures,makingworkasourceofconstantstress,orwemight throwthebabyoutwiththe bathwater and reject helpful structure altogether, making it difficult toprioritize things that are important to us such as healthy eating or time for

creativepursuits.ThisiswhyweencounterRefinementonlyafterhavingdoneagreatdealofself-transformationwork.Thepreviousstepshelpedusworkwiththese archetypal energies in a way that is less clouded and cluttered by egochatterandotherfilters,andnowaswelearnhowtoapplymythtoourlives,wecanexperiencetheresultantenergyinamorepowerfulway.At its heart, myth is a way of making meaning from the forces and

complexitiesoflife.Wearemakingmeaningfromtheeventsweexperienceallthroughoutlife,internallyandexternally.Wecanallowtheegototakechargeofthismeaning-makingprocess,inwhichcaseweoftenendupwithinterpretationslike,“Kyleissuchajerk,andifIdon’tfixateonwhathe’sdoingandhowit’sapersonalattack,thenIwon’tbesafe!”Theproblemwiththisstorylineisthatittraps us in misery, powerlessness, and unappealing choices, but it’s also aninaccuratereflectionofreality.Theego’sstoryisneverthewholestory.Itmightcontain fragments of truth (or it might not), but it can never capture the fulldepthofmeaning.Theegoboilsthingsdownintoasimplisticportraitofblackandwhite, us versus them, this or that; in doing so, it loses 99 percent of thepicture.Incontrast,mythexpandsourview,biggerthananyoneinteractionwithKyle “the jerk”—bigger than any individual, personal life.Myth expands thelevelofmeaningwe’reabletoaccess.

TheExpansionofAcceptanceLife is complex and ultimately a mystery, but the ego wants none of that; itwantstofileeverythingawayinorderlyandlabeledboxestobestoredinoneoftwoclosets:GoodorBad.Inordertoachievethisgoal,itthrowsanythingthatdoesn’tfitintotheseboxesintotheunconscious,andourlivesarewhittleddowntoaslimshadowof theirfullpotential. It’snowonderwefeel“less than”andstrugglewith fears thatwe’renotenough.These fearsdon’tpoint toanactualnot-enoughnesswemustfixbystrivingforperfectionormoreorderlylabelingand shoving into closets—they point to the truth thatwe are only accepting amere fractionof our total selves.There is somuchmore to us thanmeets theego’s eye, and by raising our life experiences above the narrow lens of thepersonal—byRefiningthem—wegainavantagepointfromwhichwecantakeinandremembermoreofourTrueSelf.Thisexpansionservestobringmoreofourabilitiesandhiddenpowerstothe

forefront, because with the ego busily throwing away everything that doesn’tmatchupwith its simplistic stories,we’re leftwith apaltry subset of our trueskills and originalwisdom. ThroughRefinement,we throw open the doors topreviouslylockedroomsandunearththetreasureswithin.Thisprocessisn’tallcupcakes andunicorns, but the difficultmaterial—our secret shames anddeepwounds—is not separate or different from our gifts. The two are one and thesame.Wemustresisttheegosteppinginandshovingthismaterialbackintotheclosets.Itwilltrytoconvinceusthatweshouldpickthroughtheboxesandonlytake out the pretty things, but oncemore, the ego’s perspective is limited andinaccurate, for the parts of us that are beat up, tarnished, and looking a littleworsefortheweararepreciselywhereourmagiclies.Withinourwoundsisthevery cure forwhat ails us, butwemust bewilling tomeet them face to face,hearttoheart.Wemustacceptthem.Wemuststoprunning,hiding,andtryingtohackoffpartsofourselvesinsearchofhealingandwholeness.

Everydark thingone falls intocanbecalledan initiation.Tobe initiatedintoa thingmeans togo into it.Thefirststep isgenerallyfalling into thedark place and usually appears in a dubious or negative form … The

shamanssaythatbeingamedicinemanbeginsbyfallingintothepowerofthedemons;theonewhopullsoutofthedarkplacebecomesthemedicineman,andtheonewhostaysinitisthesickperson(VonFranz1993,64).

Myth canhelp lift us out of our darkplaceswhile retaining thewisdom theseplacescontainbyshowingusunconsciousaspectsofourselves,thingswecan’tseethroughtheordinaryeyesofconsciousness.

TheRefinementProcessMythservesasa translator,ago-betweenforourunconscious tocommunicatewithourconsciousmind,enablingustochoosearchetypesthathelpusconnectwithourTrueSelf,andtherearetwoprimarywaystokickstartthisprocess.Oneis to immerse yourself inmyths. Deliberately expose yourself to these potentstories.Readmythsfromdifferentcultures.Readdifferent tellingsof thesamemyth.Research interpretations of themyths.Watch films based onmyths.Asyoudoso,youdeepenyourability to“speak”Myth.Youhoneyourability toseebeyond the literal, to thinksymbolically, to thinkmythically.Thispracticeincreases your contact with the transpersonal and your ability to tap into thismodeofconsciousnessatwill.Whenyouareinachallengingsituation,thiswillhelpyouaccessnewperspectivesmorereadily.Thinkoftheseperspectiveshiftsas your ticket aboard the transpersonal express, the train from the limitedconfines of personal identity to a more expansive vantage point where you’llhaveaccesstonewwaysofresponding,newchoices,andnewideas.Everytimeyou tap into this,youarebreakingoutof ruts thatmightbeverydeep indeed,what yogic philosophy calls samskaras, the mental and emotional habits thatkeepustrapped.Thesecondwaytokickstartthisprocessistopayattentiontothestoriesthat

resonate with you, and this resonance needn’t be restricted to the pleasantvariety. When you’re reading the news, watching movies, lost in a novel,looking at a painting, and so on, pay attention to the stories that make youuncomfortable, that push your buttons, that fill youwith emotions.When youfind yourself drawn to a particular story, pay attention—it’s pushing yourbuttonsforareason.Ifyoufollowthebreadcrumbs,you’llbeledtoaninteriorspacethatyourconsciousmindmightnotbeabletofindonitsown.ThemoreIexposemyselftomyths,thelargermymythical“vocabulary,”andtheeasieritisformetoseethemythicaspectsinmyownlife.ThemoreIpayattentiontothestoriesthatengagemeonadeeplevel,themoreIamledtoareasofmyselfthatareyearningtobeaccepted,understood,andrefined,therebyreleasingtrapped,stagnantenergyandbringingmebacktomyTrueSelf.

In addition to these two approaches, here are other ways to engage withmythicelements:

Chooseamythanddevelopyourowninterpretationbeyondtheliteralmeaning.Besuretowriteitinyourjournal;yourtakeonastorymightchangeovertimeintellingways.

Meditateonamyth—gointothestoryinyourmindandseewhathappens.Whatdothecharacterssaytoyou?Areyouoneofthecharacters,andifso,whichone?Whatdoesitfeelliketobethischaracter?Whatkindsofthoughts,desires,andemotionsdoyouhave?Doesyourparticipationalterthestory?

Readthemythsbeforebedandpayattentiontoyourdreams.Writetheminyourjournalthefollowingmorning.

Retellthemythtoothers,activatingtheenergeticpotentialofthesestories.

Actthemythoutwhenyou’refeelingstuck.Howdoesthisenergyfeelinyourbody,mind,andsoul?

Approachasituationyou’restrugglingwithasacharacterfrommyth.WhatwouldApollodo?WhatwouldLittleRedRidingHooddo?WhatwouldKalido?

Tellthestoryofyourcurrentsituationintheformofamyth,perhapstranslatingintoabedtimestoryorfairytaleformat.Lookbeyondtheliteralevents,beyondthehe-said,she-said,andsearchforsymbolicmeaning.Losingyourvoicecouldmeanastruggletospeakyourtruth,anargumentthattookplaceinthekitchencouldsuggestaconflictaroundbeingnourishedbylife,andsoon.Howdoesthisreframealteryourperspective?Canyouseeanythingnowthatwaspreviouslyhidden?

Ifaparticularsymbolinamythisspeakingtoyou,likeagoldenappleorrubyslippers,meditateonwhatthesymbolrepresents.Lookitup.Journalaboutit.Makeapieceofartinresponsetothegolden

apple,wearredshoestowork.Howdoesthischangeyourperspective?

Regardlessof themethodyouchoose, theaimis tocontinuallyexpandyourperspective.Thinkofyouregomindlikeaplotofsoil.Whenyoukeepwalkingback and forth over the same area, the soil becomes compacted, dense, anddifficult toworkwith. It’s hard for anything but the toughest of vegetation togrowhere.Everytimeyouengagethetranspersonalmind,youarebreakingupanotherclodofsoil,allowingittobecomemorebreathableandreceptivetolife.You’reintroducingcompost,neworganicmatter,newideas,newwaysofbeing.Wealwayshavethechoicetobecomemoresetinourwaysorcontinuallyseekexpansion,growth,andpossibility.The ego tries to establish fixed ways of reacting to simplify reality.When

someone does something we don’t like, we respond in predictable ways—sopredictable,infact,thatitcanfeellikewedon’thaveachoice.Ifsomeonesayssomethingrude,wehavetogetmad,right?That’sa“normal”response.Wetellourfriendshowrudethepersonwas,theyagreewithouranger,andourbeliefthat we responded in the right way is solidified. However, we always have achoice.Whileeveryoneelseisbusygettingangry,youcantakeatranspersonalview and see what is hidden in plain sight; what is everyone else missingbecause they’recontentwith thereact torudenesswithanger, rinse,wash,andrepeat formula? While others complain about the specifics of their worksituation,youcanpullbackandtakealesspersonalview,amoremythicview.Whatmight you see if youweren’t limited to seeing only through your eyes?Whatoptionspresentthemselvesandroutinelygetignored,drownedoutbythedin of habitual reaction?What pearls ofwisdomare hiding in plain sight thatpeoplekickoutofthewaytopavetheroadforthesafecertaintiesoftheego?

ExerciseThirty-Three:TappingIntothePowerofMythChooseamythtofocusonforthisexercise.Myrecommendationistoseekintuitiveguidancebeforehandandaskforthemyththatiscorrectandgoodforyouat this time tomake itselfknown.Thenmakea trip to the library

and choose a book that resonateswith you. Check inwith your intuitionagainandasktobeledtothestoryyoumostneedtohearrightnow.Once you’ve selected yourmyth, read it. Soak it in.What impressions

cometoyouwhilereadingorlookingatthepictures?Writethemdowninyour journal. Then go back over the story and look at individual detailsmoreclosely.Don’tworryaboutinterpretingthem“correctly.”Now take a situation inyour life aboutwhichyou’d like tohavemore

clarity.Assume that themyth contains exactlywhat youneed inorder toshift your perspective; thewisdom is hidden in plain sight. Freewrite orspeak aloudways that themyth addressesyour situation.What comesupforyou?Reflectonhowtheinformationpresentedinthemythcanusherinanew

wayofthinkingaboutandrespondingtoyoursituation.Howwouldvariouscharactersinthestorybehaveinyourshoes?Whatadvicewouldtheygiveyou? Imagine yourself responding in these different ways. How does itfeel?What sensations doyounotice in your body?What emotions arise?Keepjournaling.Capturethethreads.Seekwhatishiddeninplainsight.Comeupwithatleastonewaytotakethisnewinformationandapplyit

to your life.Commit to taking this newaction thisweek.What happens?Howdoes it feel?Does it change howyou interpret themyth?Howyouinterpretyourlifesituation?

Themorefamiliaryouarewiththelanguageofmyth,themorelikelyyouaretoseethehiddenrealityofyourlifeandthemorereadilyyoucaninterprettheliteraltoextractahigherlevelofmeaningthatgoesfarbeyondtheego’slimited,reactionary meanings, such as, “When I’m threatened, I need to responddefensively or people will take advantage of me.” “When I don’t have ananswer,peopleloserespectformesoit’sbettertosaysomethingevenifit’snottrue.”“Whenpeoplecrossmyboundaries,they’redeliberatelytryingtohurtme,andI’mjustifiedinpunishingthem.”Wemightreadtheseegostatementsnowand consciously disagree, but these are often the very beliefswe fall back onwhenwe’re actually in challenging situations. If things go sideways,weoftendon’tstoptoquestiontheefficacyofourapproach…wejustdoitharder!Using

mythtodialdowntheintensefeelingofbeingpersonallyattackedallowsustopausebeforethereactionarystorm.Themorewebecomeaccustomedtocreatingthis reflective pause, the longer it lasts, and eventually the storm is no longerinevitable.Wenolongerexperiencewhatwebelievedwereexternalphenomenaoverwhichwehavenocontrol.Weseethatthestormswerealwayschaosofourown making, perhaps ways we justified lashing out in anger, feeling self-righteousandhoppingonoursoapbox,beingcontrollingandcritical,wallowinginvictimhood,oversteppingpeople’sboundaries,orindulginginaddictions.Wecan now choose to create clarity and calm instead. We can call back ourprojectionsandtakeresponsibilityforthewayweseetheworld.Whenwetakeresponsibility in this way, we feel our power gather and build rather thandissipateaswesearchforsomething—anything—toquellthestormwithin.The work we are doing helps us release the drive to look for answers

externally,whichissomethingwebelieveweneedwhenwebecomefixatedontrying to figure outwhat’s going on in someone else’s head (“Why didn’t hecall?”“Whydidmybosssaythattome?”“Whyisshebeingsuchanass?”)orwhenweequatesolvingaproblemwithchanging thescenery: (“I justneed tofind another job, another house, another girlfriend, another…and then thingswillbedifferent,”“Ifworkwasn’tsuchamadhouse,Iwouldn’tbesoanxious,”“Ifmymomwouldstopnaggingme,thenI’dbehappy.”).Insteadwesee,feel,andknow theaxiom“asabove, sobelow;aswithin, sowithout.”Thewayweexperience the world is a direct reflection of our relationship to our self.Changingthesceneryisn’ttheanswer.Changingotherpeopleisn’ttheanswer—and we couldn’t even if it was because people only change by their owninitiative.Changinghowwerelatetoourselvesiseverything.Takethespecificsofyourlife,thephysicalityandtheliteralnessofitall,and

rather than allowing this tobecomeaprisonofmatter, imbue this physicality,thisliteralness,withspiritintheformofmyth.Unitetheaboveandthebelow;bringout thebest inboth.Take thegloriousmessofhuman life—theups, thedowns,thebitterandthesweet,theheartwarmingandtheheartwrenching.Takeit all. Don’t throw any of it out; it’s all gold. Lift this beautiful mess to theheavens,letitbetransformedinthemythicrealmsofspirit,andthenembraceitwholeheartedlyasitreturnstoearth,hereandnow,inyourmorningcommute,in

your lover’s embrace, in the harsh words of a coworker, in the smile of astranger.Letitpenetratealloflife.Everylastbit.Inthisstateofacceptingthefullrangeofyourselfandthefullrangeoftheworld,nothinggetsleftout.Youandtheworldareasyouwerealwaysmeanttobe—whole.Everyfiberofmatteris perfused with spirit. The receptive dances in step with the active. Yourintuition partners with intellect. Your darkness breaks bread with your light.Your life is adailypracticeof embodying thedivine, andyou rememberyourTrueSelf.YoubecomeReiki.

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INTEGRATION

We have come to our final step of self-transformation: Integration. What ajourney it has been! We have been illuminated, submerged, polarized—younameit—all inpreparationforourclimax:bringingitallhome.Thisphrase isapt:byintegratingwhatwehavelearnedonourjourney,wearecominghometoourselves, embodying the spirit of Reiki.We are remembering our True Self.Throughoutourjourney,wehavebeenworkingwiththeconceptofoppositesinvariousformsbothhelpfulandharmful.Wehaveexploredprojection,inwhichwecastaspectsofourselvesontootherpeople,creatingtheperceivedoppositionof us versus them. This process generates internal opposition in which wecategorize aspects of our selfhood into acceptable versus unacceptable. In thisstate of fragmentation, we seek ways to distract ourselves from the pain offeeling disconnected from our natural wholeness, and these distractions oftencomeintheformofhabitualresponsesandaddictions.Wealsolearnedaboutourinternalpolarityofreceptiveandactiveforcesand

how this polarity can generate a great deal of energy, which can then bechanneledintoproductivepursuits.Wehadourfirsttasteofthebeneficialsideofopposition,which is importantbecausesocietygenerally teachesus toviewoppositionas something tobeeradicated.However, themoreweseek towipeoutthe“other,”thestrongeritssubconsciousholdoverus.Webecomelockedina never-ending struggle.Neither side canwin in a scenario of the absence ofopposition, so we must seek another way out of this quandary—embracingparadox.IfwegobacktotheHermeticcreationstory,thingsbeganwhentheAllchose to separate into the OneMind and the One Thing, but in spite of this

separation, both the One Mind and the One Thing are still the All. They’reseparateandthey’reone.Inthesameway,youandIareseparateandwe’reone,andyoucancontinuethispatternforallofexistence.Hereisanothersignpostonourpath:Inordertoevolve,wemustreachapointwherewecanfullyembraceparadox in all areas of our life. Themorewe are able to do so, themorewerememberourwholeness,ourTrueSelf.InTheMaidenKing,authorsBlyandWoodmanspeakofaprogressionfrom

thinkingaboutthingsliterallytopsychologicallytomythologically.Weworkedwiththisagreatdealinchapter11butitbearsanotherlookhere:Whenwearestuckinliteral thinking,wecannotgetpast thegateof theego.Wecannotseepast the literal events of a situation and our ego’s narrow, literalisticinterpretationofthem.Hereiswherewetakeeverythingpersonally.Eachtimewe encounter a person who says something unkind to us, we respond inpredictableways:weinterprettheirbehaviorasapersonalattackandreactfromaplaceofhabit.Theegocandothisrepeatedly,itnevertiresofit.Atacertainpoint, we get tired of it, though, and then we begin to shift to a morepsychologicalviewpoint—webegintothinkaboutwhatmightbemotivatingtheother person to act in this way and are more open to that reason not havingmuch,ifanything,todowithus.Webegintothinkaboutwhat’smotivatingusandwhywe tend to react in the samemanner in these situations and reach apoint where we are sometimes (maybe even frequently) able to choose adifferent response. If we decide to take our work even further, we tap into amythologicalperspective:westarttoseetheoverarchingthemesandarchetypalenergies at play. Things become less about “Brian acting like a controllingasshole”andmoreaboutseeinghowoursouliscurioustolearnhowtorelatetoauthorityindifferent,moreenliveningways.Fromthismythical,transpersonal(that is, “beyond personal”) perspective, we are better able to take in the richcomplexitythatislife.Ifwearestucktoreducingeverythingtoanegoiclevelofsimplicity,weare

forgettingthenatureoftheTrueSelf,forthetruthisalwaysmorecomplexthanwe can ever see from our finite point of view. In our current state ofconsciousness, as far as I can tell, we are never privy to all possible factorscontributingtoasituation;therearesimplytoomanymovingparts.Andwhile

wedon’tneedtoseeallof thesefactors inorder tomovethroughlife,wewillbenefit fromacknowledging their existenceevenwhenwecan’t see them.Wedo thisbyadmitting thatnomatterhowcertainour ego is, the truth is alwaysbigger. No matter how strong our opinion, other people are allowed to feeldifferently,anditdoesn’tautomaticallymakethemwrong.Nomatterhowwellsomethingworksforus,itdoesn’tmeanit’srightforeveryone.Andonitgoes.Now, we don’t have to agree with everything and everyone, and we can

certainlytakeastandonissuesthatareimportanttous.Aboveall,wehavetobebigenoughandexpandintoourtruefullnesssothatweareabletoholdspacefortherealityofdifferences.Whenweareoverlyidentifiedwiththeego,whowebelieveourselvestobeisrelativelysmall.Let’susetheanalogyofahouse.Youarethishouse,andyouregoisonlyawareofthefirstfloor.Thebasementandtheupstairsareacompleteunknowntotheego.Asyoustartfillinginthefirstfloorwithallofthethingstheegoknows,suchasyouropinionsandbeliefs,itstartsgettingprettycrowded;ifsomeonecomesalongwithadifferentopinion,theegoisloathtomakespaceforit.Itsmodusoperandiistoslamthedoorandstayinside,surroundedbyitsfamiliaropinionsandbeliefs.Wecanthinkofthisshutting-downprocessascomingfromalackofmetaphoricalspace.Thereisn’tenoughroomtoaccommodatebothyourandsomeoneelse’sopinions,soyou’refacedwithanall too familiarscenario:shut thepersonout, try tochange theirmind,and/orviewthemas“theother”whilewarilywatchingthemfrombehindcurtainedwindows.Butwhatifyoucouldmakemoreroom?TheTrueSelfisawareofyourentire

house,astructure that is infinite in reality.There isno limit tohowmuchyoucanexpand,buttodosoyoumustbewillingtostepoutsideoftheego’sfamiliarterritory.Whenyoudo, there’smoreroomtoacknowledge—evenifyoudon’tagree with—other people’s opinions. Your goal here isn’t really aboutagreement;it’sabouthavingenoughspacethatbothcanexistwithoutconstantlysteppingoneachother’s toes.When there’senoughspace, there’s lessneed toeradicate the opposition because you both can live comfortably. In practicalterms,youareable toacknowledge thatsomeoneelsefeelsdifferentlywithoutthis difference stirring up somuch internal discomfort in your crowded housethat you must rush to change their mind or shut them out. This doesn’t

necessarilymean that youwon’t feel discomfort; it simplymeans that in yourinfinite house, there is enough room for the differing of opinions and thediscomfortthatarisesasaresult.There’sroomenoughforallofit—good,bad,andneutral.There’saplaceatthetableforallofyourpartstosit,andthereisnoneed tocastoffaspectsofyourselfandproject themontootherpeople,whomyouferventlytrytokeeplockedoutside.Thisiswhatwemeanbybringingitallhome:Youallowallpartsofyourselftobeapartofyou.Andthesecretisthateven if theegowasn’tallowing themtobeapartofyou, they’rehere just thesamebutarestuckinthebasementoftheunconsciouswheretheycanwreakfarmorehavocthaniftheywereinvitedtothetable.Reflecting ourworkwith projection, part of themotivation for keeping our

windowsshutteredandourdoorslockedisthebeliefthatwecontainacceptableparts and unacceptable parts. The latter get shoved into the basement of theunconsciousandprojectedontotheexternalworld.Theillusionthatthesethingsonlyexistsomewherecalled“out there”feelssafer; itkeepsusfromhavingtoseethatallthesepartsexistinsideourhouseaswell.Aslongaswe’reattachedto this illusion, theharderwewillwork tokeep these forces“out.”Thiseffortand strain manifests as being rigidly tied to our beliefs and opinions andrespondingtodifferencesbyeithertryingtoconvertpeopletoourwayofseeingorshuttingthemout.OurworkwithIntegrationisthereforeallaboutgatheringthe pieces together—what we call good and bad, as well as the neutral—andmakingspaceforallofthemtoexist.Thisgatheringofpiecesparallelsametaphysicalprocessthatoccurswhenour

soulentersphysicalexistence(i.e.,whenweareborn).Whenweincarnate,thesinglenessofspiritissplitintothefourelementsthatgiverisetophysicalreality.Think of this process like the white light (spirit) refracted into a rainbow ofcolors. Our soul is aware that underlying the presentation of different colorsexistsasinglesource,thewhitelightofspirit.Asweliveinthephysicalworld,it’s often easier to identify with the colored lights—the matter—than it is toconnectwiththecohesivewhitelightofourspiritualessence.Transformationisnotaboutnegatingtheexistenceofthecoloredlights—they’rehere,wecanseethem all around us, and they’re a facet of reality wemust accept—it’s aboutbeingable tohold inourawareness theexistenceofboth the rainbowand the

whitelight,thematterand thespirit,andtounderstandthattheyareultimatelyOne.Wedonothavetoleaveourphysicalexperiencetounitewiththedivine;ourphysicalexperienceisdivine.

Jumpintotheexperiencewhileyouarealive!

Think…andthink…whileyouarealive.

Whatyoucall‘salvation’belongstothetimebeforedeath.

Ifyoudon’tbreakyourropeswhileyou’realive

Doyouthink

Ghostswilldoitafter?

Theideathatthesoulwilljoinwiththeecstatic

Justbecausethebodyisrotten—

Thatisallfantasy.

Whatisfoundnowisfoundthen.

Ifyoufindnothingnow,

YouwillsimplyendupwithanapartmentintheCityofDeath.

IfyoumakelovewiththeDivinenow,inthenextlifeyouwillhavethefaceofsatisfieddesire.

—Kabir(1977,8)

Inthenextexercise,youwillexploreyourcurrentrelationshipwith thefourelements. In order to fully remember our True Self, we must be comfortableembodyingalloftheelements,butinpractice,wetendtofavoroneortwo.Thisexercise will show you which elements need more attention in your life,allowingyoutoconsciouslywelcomethoseelementsbackhome,gatheringtherefractedcolorsintothewhitelightofspirit,yourTrueSelf.

ExerciseThirty-Four:TheQuaternioEnterameditativestate(page26).IntroducetheflowofReiki(page125).Createanimageinyourmindofthequaternioasifitwerepaintedonor

etchedintotheground.

TheQuaternio

See the four directions: north and south, east and west. See yourselfstandinginthecenterofthequaternio,facingnorth.Startingwiththenorth,feelthepresenceofearthinfrontofyou.Notice

sensationsinyourbody.Doanyimages,thoughts,oremotionsarise?Allowthe experience to unfold naturally as you connect with the earth of thenorth.In yourmind’s eye, turn to the left, facing west. Feel the presence of

water in front of you. Notice sensations in your body. Do any images,thoughts,oremotionsarise?Allowyourselftoconnectwiththewaterofthewest.Inyourmind’seye,turntotheleft,facingsouth.Feelthepresenceofair

infrontofyou.Noticesensationsinyourbody.Doanyimages,thoughts,oremotionsarise?Allowtheexperiencetounfoldasyouconnectwiththeairofthesouth.Inyourmind’seye,turntotheleft,facingeast.Feelthepresenceoffire

infrontofyou.Noticesensationsinyourbody.Doanyimages,thoughts,oremotionsarise?Allowyourselftoconnectwiththefireoftheeast.Turn so you are once more facing north, and this time, tune into the

energiesofthefourelementssurroundingyouwithoutturningtofaceeachone.Feeltheenergyofearthinfrontofyou,thepresenceofairbehindyou,watertoyourleft,andfiretoyourright.Seeifyoucanholdawarenessofallfourelementsatonce,perhapsshiftingfromonetothenexttothenext,againandagain,untiltheybegintoflowtogether.

Now, ask your True Self to indicate where you are right now inrelationship to the elements. Are you emphasizing one or more of theelements?Ifso,youwillfeelashiftandperhapsseeyourselfbeingpulledtowardonesideofthequaternio.Don’tresist,allowtheshifttooccur.Ifyouhaveshifted,wherehaveyoushiftedto?Areyousolidlysituated

near one element or part way between two? If you’re between twoelements,areyouabitclosertooneortheother?AskyourTrueSelfanyquestionsyouhaveatthistime.Youmightasktoseewhatunderliesyourelementalimbalanceandhowyoucanreturntoamoreunifiedstate.Theelementsaroundyoubegintoglowwiththecolorsof therainbow,

andyouaresurroundedbyacircleofrainbowlights.Takeafewbreathstoconnectwith the image and feel a sense of the rainbow lights encirclingyou.Shift your awareness to your heart and feel your heart energybegin to

expand.Yourheartenergypushesoutward,movingbeyondyourskinonallfour sides. It moves outward further, reaching the limits of your aura.Continue expanding your heart, using the breath to guide this expansion.Each breath expands a bitmore. See as your heart energy expands largeenough to encompass the entire circleof rainbowcolors…as it does so,theyare transformed topurewhite light.Rest in thepresenceof thispurewhitelightforafewminutes.Whenyoufeelready,graduallybringyourheartenergyinward,allowing

ittoreturntoastatethatfeelscomfortableandnaturalforyou.Oncemoreyou are standing within a circle of rainbow colors, but you retain theawarenessthattheyaresimultaneouslythewhitelightofSpirit,justastheyaretherainbowspectrumofmatter.Youaresimultaneouslythewhitelightof spirit, just as you are the rainbow spectrum of matter. You have theabilitytotransformenergyatwill,transmutingitfromspirittomatter,frommattertospirit.Holdthisawarenessinyourentirebeingasyoubreatheinandout,inandout,feelingyourfleshandbloodanimatedbythebreathofspirit.When this process feels complete, thank yourTrueSelf, thank each of

the fourelements—earth, fire,air,andwater—andspirit.Begin to release

theimageofthequaterniofromyourmindandbringyourawarenessbacktoyourbreath.Returntoanormalstateofconsciousness(page26–page27).

Journalaboutyourexperience,makingnoteofanyinsightsyoureceivedfromyourHigher Self.What did each of the elements feel like to you?When youasked to see your current elemental relationship, what happened? Whichelement(s)wereyoupulledtowards,andwhatinformationdidyoureceiveabouttheunderlyingcauseofthisshift?Followingthisexercise,begintoresearchtheassociationsforeachelement.Agreatplacetostartiswithabookonthetarot.Theportionofthedeckknownastheminorarcanaisdividedintofoursuitsthatareassociatedwith—youguessedit—thefourelements.Youcanthinkofeachsuitasamap,whatPenzcakdescribesinTheWitch’sCoinas“asacredquest,ajourney we undergo several times in our lives in a desire to pierce the fourmysteries.”(p86)IftheelementsarethebuildingblocksoflifeastheHermeticcreation story explains, learning how you uniquely channel these energies tocreateyour life is immenselyuseful.By lookingat the flowof theseenergies,youcanseeareaswhereyoutendtogetstuckorareasthatcomemorenaturallytoyou.Together,you’llhavearicherpictureofthereasonyoursoulcameintothisparticularbodyinthisparticularlifetime.Jungbelievedthatthearchetypesof the four elements are so central to our human experience that we all seek(oftenunconsciously) tobalance theseelements throughoutour lives.Wehaveaninnatesenseofharmonyandunityamongsttheelements,whichIbelieveisamemoryofourpre-physicalexistenceasawholeandself-containedwhite-lightbeing before the light separated into the four elements, signaling our entranceintothephysicalworld.Weseektoreturntothatstateofwholenessandunity.Howmucheasierwouldourtaskbeifwehadinsightsastowherewemightbeoutofsyncwithaparticularelementorelements?

ExerciseThirty-Six:TheHierosGamos

For your final exercise, I offer you inspiration. What you do with it isentirelyuptoyou.Asthemasterofyourowndestiny,youarethesovereignof your life. To honor your remarkable passage into selfhood, perform a

marriageceremony:acoagulationoftheinneropposites,ameldingofspiritandmatter,OneMindandOneThing,activeandreceptive.Thisunion iswhatHermeticistsreferredtoastheHierosGamosordivinemarriage.ThespecificsoftheceremonyIleavetoyou;thisisadeeplypersonaltransitiondeservingofanequallypersonalritualcelebration.Ioncereadofawomanwhohikedout toa remote lake,donnedaweddinggown,andsubmergedherselfinthewater,baptizingherselfthatshemaybebornanew,whole.Afriendspentthreedaysonasolitaryvisionquestthatculminatedinanakedritual, and danced beneath the moon and stars. Remember the tools andskills you have acquired along the way—meditation, calling back yourprojections,theReikiprecepts,thesymbols,themantras.Perhapssomeorallofthesearemeanttobepartofyourceremony.Takeyourtime;letyourintuitionandyour intellectpartner in thecreationofyour riteofpassage.Do it soloor invite someofyour fellow travelerson thispath.Allow thecreation and the act of this ritual to be an expression of your True Self.And,asalways,recorditinyourjournal.Thisisoneexperienceyouwon’twanttoforget.

BecomingtheTrueSelfAndnow,wereachtheend…whichisofcoursealsothebeginning.Wheretofromhere?That isup toyou,myfellow traveler, foronlyyoucanknowyourTrueSelf.Youhavemany tools atyourdisposal andmany signposts toguideyour path.Use themwell.Use them often.Remember that they are tools andsigns,theyarenotthetruthtowhichtheylead.Usethemwhentheyserveyourcontinual evolution and unfolding, but don’t allow them to constrain theexpansionofyoursoul.Youareadivinebeingbeautifullywovenintoaphysicaltapestry.EmbraceyourdualnaturethatisOne,embracetheparadox.RememberyourTrueSelf.

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Conclusion

You’vemadeit—you’rehere!Totheendandthebeginning,allrolledintoone.AndwhatbetterwaytosendyouoffthanwiththetimelesswisdomofDr.Seuss:Congratulations!Todayisyourday.You’reofftoGreatPlaces!You’reoffandaway!

Youhavebrainsinyourhead.Youhavefeetinyourshoes.

Youcansteeryourselfanydirectionyouchoose.You’reonyourown.Andyouknowwhatyouknow.AndYOUarethe[one]who’lldecidewheretogo(Seuss2011,1).

You’ve come a long way, shedding the light of awareness into the hiddenhallways and boarded-up windows of the unconscious, all in service ofremembering your birthright: yourTrueSelf. Throughout this journey, you’vegathered valuable tools and knowledge to help you stay alignedwith this selfandtoreturnwhenyouwander,aswealldofromtimetotime.These practices and principles are designed to help you findwholeness and

happinessamidstthemessinessofdailylife,for,asyou’vediscovered,youdon’tneed to retreat toamountaintop to find them.Andeven theword“finding” isinaccurate—thiswholeness,thishappinesswasnevertrulylost,merelyobscuredbyegoicclutter.Inanymoment,nomatterwhereyouare,whatyou’redoing,orwhom you’rewith, you can choose to rememberwho you really are: you areluminous divine energy inhabiting amiraculous physical body. Embrace bothaspectsofyournature—thephysicalandthespiritual—fortheyequipyouwithwonderfulabilitiesthatneithercanachieveinisolation.Thewaythatyouasauniquebeinglearntoliveasbothphysicalanddivineis

yoursoul’scallingexpressed throughyourwork, relationships,health,hobbies—througheveryaspectofyour life.Nooneelsewillexpress thisdualityquitethewayyoudo,andtheworldneedsyouruniquecontribution.Thetimeisnow.Reclaimyourinnerthrone.Nooneelsecanfillthisthrone;itiswaitingforyou.Rule yourself with compassion: seek out your hidden aspects, your rejectedaspects,andwelcomethemhomethroughacceptance.Trustthatallofyourpartsareworthyofthisacceptance,notjusttheshinyandprettyones.Themoreyouareabletoacceptyourinternaldiversityandinternalparadox,thelessyouwillseektoeradicatedifferencesinthepeopleandintheworldaroundyou.Youwillrealize that your True Self is big enough to contain all paradox, and you canwalkawayfromtheendlessegobattlethatnoonecanwintowardvibrant,soul-ledliving.

RememberalsothatyouhavethesupportoftheReikipracticesandprecepts,theguidepostsUsuileftussothatwecanalwaysfindourwaywhentimesgetdarkandthepathishardtosee.Usethemoften;makethemapartofyourdailylife.ThemoreyouconnectwithReiki,theeasieritistorememberthatyouareReiki, and your thoughts, words, and actions will spring from this place ofwisdom and clarity, giving birth to a life that is in alignmentwith your soul.When you feel stuck, return to the stages of self-transformation: Which stepseemstoresonatewithyoumostrightnow?Returntothatstageandengagethepractices; go through the exercises, ask for andopen to receiveguidance.Youareneveraloneon this journey.Allof thebeingswhohave traveled thispathbefore and who are traveling it with you now have left footprints of light,markingtheway.Usethepracticesinthisbooktoreconnectwithyourownlightofawareness,andthepathwillemergefromtheshadows,andyou,too,willaddyourfootprintsonthecollectivejourneytowardremembranceoftheTrueSelf.

[contents]

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[contents]

TheHealingPowerofReikiAModernMaster’sApproachtoEmotional,

Spiritual&PhysicalWellnessRavenKeyes

The ancient art of Reiki has the power to heal ourminds, bodies, and spirits in ways few of us canimagine. The first Reiki Master to practice in anoperatingroomunderthesupervisionofDr.MehmetOz, author Raven Keyes has brought Reiki to thedefining events of our time. With engaging prose,Keyes tellsmoving stories of givingReiki to rescueworkers at Ground Zero, PTSD survivors,

professional athletes, trauma patients, and those suffering from cripplingemotionalpain.Keyesoffersinspirationalexperiencesofconnectingwithangelsandspiritguides,andshares the joysandpainsofworkingwithpatients, theirlovedones,andtheircommunities.Throughstoriesandmeditations,readersarefilledwithhopeandasenseofgoodwill.Helpfulexercisesandmeditationsareincluded to invite healing and provide the opportunity to engage with Reikienergymoredeeply.

978-0-7387-3351-7,288pp.,51/4x8

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MagickofReikiFocusedEnergyforHealing,

Ritual,&SpiritualDevelopmentChristopherPenczak

WhatisReiki?HowhasthisJapanesehealingtraditionevolvedovertheyears?How are modern magick practitioners using Reiki energy in their spells andrituals?ChristopherPenczakanswersthesequestionsandmoreinhisgroundbreaking

examination of Reiki from a magickal perspective. The history, mythos,variations, and three degrees of Reiki are discussed in depth. Penczak alsosuggests way to integrate Reiki and magickal practice, such as using Reikienergyforpsychicdevelopmentandwithcandlemagick,crystals,herbs,charms,andtalismans.Winner of the 2005 COVR Award (Best Alternative Health Book) 978-0-

7387-0573-6,288pp.,71/2x91/8

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TheInnerTempleofWitchcraftMagick,MeditationandPsychicDevelopment

ChristopherPenczak

Explore your Inner Temple—your personal sacredspacewheretherearenoboundariesandallthingsarepossible. With study, dedication, and practice, thelessonsandexercises in thisbookwillempoweryouto transform the repetitive rigors of the daily grindintoawitch’swebofmagickalexperiences.

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft is a thorough course of education,introspection, meditation, and the development of the magickal and psychicabilities that are thebirthrightof thewitch.Four introductorychapterspresentthehistory,traditions,andprinciplesofwitchcraft,followedbythirteenlessonsthat start with basic meditation techniques and culminate in a self-initiationceremony equivalent to the first-degree level of traditional coven-basedwitchcraft.

978-0-7387-0276-6,352pp.,71/2x91/8

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TheWitch’sCoinProsperityandMoneyMagickChristopherPenczakAlongwithquick-fixmoneyspells,thistimelybookexplorestheconsciousnessofprosperityandhowtotransformpovertyintoabundancethroughmagick,meditation,affirmations,andastrologicaltiming.TheWitch’sCoinoffersamateriamagickaofthemostpowerfulcorrespondencesinwealthspellwork,includinggods,stones,metals,herbs,andcoins.Unlikemostmoneymagickbooks,itbuildsuponafoundationofreal-worldfinancialprinciples.

Penczakalsodiscussesofferingmagickalservicesprofessionally,includinghowandwhentochargeforreadingsandhealings.

978-0-7387-1587-2,288pp.,6x9

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AnimalSpeakTheSpiritual&MagicalPowersof

CreaturesGreatandSmallTedAndrews

Openyourheartandmindtothewisdomoftheanimalworld.

AnimalSpeakprovidestechniquesforrecognizingandinterpretingthesignsandomens of nature.Meet andworkwith animals as totems and spirit guides bylearningthelanguageoftheirbehaviorswithinthephysicalworld.

978-0-87542-028-8,400pp.,7x10

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