5 Guidelines to a blissed out life

Just for today - let go of anger

Just for today - let go of worry

Just for today - give thanks for many blessings

Just for today - do my work honestly

Just for today - be kind to my neighbour and to every living thing

The five principles behind Reiki are simple and effective, unless you are Peter Griffin or Homer Simpson, in which case they will be near impossible to master.

But these principles mean different things to different people.  This is just our interpretation of them.  You may see them differently.  You may see a pattern, though: Just for today.   We feel this is for two reasons:  Just for today  sounds less scary than every day for the rest of your life.  So psychologically, we may feel this is more achievable if it is only for today.  Also, it reminds us that all we have is today.  In fact, all we have is this present moment.  Right here.  Right now.  Although, what I also love is that I am writing this right here, right now and when you read it, it will be later for me, but right here and right now for you.  I get kind of excited that writing transcends time and space.

We can group the first two principles together.  Why let go of worry and anger?  Basically because they are fear-based emotions that are destructive, whereas the Reiki Path is a constructive, creative and loving one.  Negative emotions drain and block our energy, which in turn affects our well-being.  Therefore, chuck 'em out!  They don't serve us on the happy hippie highway.  They are merely the roadworks, diversions or speed bumps that slow us down or throw us off course.

Give thanks for many blessings and many blessings will come your way.  When you pay attention to all the things and people you are grateful for, no matter how small or big, you begin to notice more and more things to be thankful for, until you can't believe how freakin' awesome life actually is.  It is lovely to end the day and drop off to sleep with your mind tumbling with lovely things you are grateful for.  Like attracts like and when you focus on nurturing an attitude of gratitude, the Law of Attraction will ensure you life is filled with bliss and blessings.

The way I interpret Do my work honestly is to be authentic and honest in everything I do and to give 100% attention to what it is that I am doing.  Even if it's putting the washing on, I kiss the machine and give thanks that it washes our clothes in thirty lickitysplit minutes, rather than me having to stand with a scrubbing dolly and a bar of soap all day.  If you are not in the mood to do something, you are better off leaving it till you are in a better frame of mind, because whatever you do is infused with your energy. 

Be kind to my neighbour and to every living thing - I think this should read: be kind to myself, but seeing as many people are so self destructive, they will probably find it easier to be kind to others than themselves to start with.  Even if it is letting someone out in the traffic ahead of you or smiling at someone.  Acts of kindness bring so much joy into the world.  Don't react to how others behave.  I always taught my kids that if someone is horrible to you, it's because of some fear or insecurity, so in fact, they just need love rather than revenge or retaliation.  It's amazing how you can diffuse a difficult situation by being kind and calm, instead of feeding into the drama.

So that's pretty much it.  See how well you do in a given day and give yourself a pat on the back; no matter how big or small your positive thoughts, words or actions.  They all count in this game.  Everyone is a winner!

Buzz Buzz Buzz I Wonder Why He Does?

Today I was blessed to have initiated another beautiful human bean into Reiki.  It was a truly beautiful experience.  I was receiving a Reiki treatment, outdoors in the peaceful heart of the country, when a wasp danced around my face; waspishy flitting from ear to ear.  It was so close I could feel the air from its wing vibrations tickle my skin and its buzz was a Formula One engine. 

At that point I realised this wasp was giving me healing, too.  When it landed on my cheek I felt a tickle on my soft palate, at the back of my mouth that spread down my throat.  When I couldn't stand the tickling any more I sat upright and thanked the wasp for the healing.  It flew away and never returned.

That experience got me thinking.  I had never considered wasps to be healers.  Until that moment I had always noticed that wasps were attracted by fear.  People resistant to healing may be fearful, angry or aggressive. But it is the flapping, flailing and shouting at wasps that results in a nasty sting.  Animals can sense fear and react to it instinctively.  If people could stay calm and ask nicely, a different outcome is possible.  

MiBu once politely asked a wasp to leave his coffee shop as it was distressing the customers.  He told the wasp that he loved it, but would it mind leaving and held the door open.  The wasp then flew straight outside.

However, I now see that while wasps may be attracted to lower or negative energies, they also have an ability to transmute negativity, if we are willing to trust them and let them into our space.  

Obviously if there's a swarm of angry wasps headed straight for me, I'll take that as a warning and run like the wind, but in that peaceful, healing space in the countryside, I am truly grateful for its loving presence.


It is a shame some people fear creatures because they aren't fluffy or cute.  A friend of my daughter had a fear of spiders, until one day she decided to name our house spiders and give them life stories.  The naming and storytelling process dispelled her fear. 

So, maybe next time you're face to face with your greatest fear, just ask what it's name is...