Yes, I grew up Roman Catholic. I have made peace with this, thousands of dollars of analysis and years of wisdom later. It is difficult to find oneself in a religious community where one doesn’t fit. Shame, guilt and confusion haunted my waking hours and dreamtime.
But that was a long time ago. The hardest piece to reconcile was bridging the relationship with my parents, who I love deeply and are devout Catholics. We have forged unity based on the unconditional love that transcends the tenets of church doctrine.
Both my parents are elderly and my mother suffers from severe pain. She enjoys Reiki treatments from me, and I didn’t tell them when I recently read the Roman Catholic church decided to condemn the practice.
But today it is in the NY Times. I know they will read it; I know we will have a conversation. I trust they will stay on that bridge of unconditional love. And I am proud to be standing with the sisters who care more about easing pain and giving compassion, than the rules decreed by a papacy afraid to lose its power.
Reiki is nothing more than opening the heart to Divine Love… Jesus said: “Beloved, let us love one another, for Love is from God.”
© Cucinell 2009 All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher.
Hi,
I just want to say: Good job and keep the Faith. I’m not Catholic, but I can really appreciate your courage. I’m currently being certified for domestic violence training and the teacher is Catholic. She told me that nuns were practicing Reiki. I told her that I am a Reiki therapist and offered to teach her and another staff member. I hope this doesn’t discourage them.
Your sister in Christ,
Zena
Zena,
Thank you. I know nuns who help people and use Reiki as a tool. I understand the reaction of the Church hierarchy, since Reiki began in Japan… they feel it’s Buddhist. Reiki is simply one way a person can channel the Universal Healing… Jesus Christ, of course was a Master Healer.
Actually what the nuns are doing is Christ’s work. Reiki is simply a means to open up that Light. If the Church decides to come down hard on the nuns with this, I believe they will lose more nuns. Because these women want to serve and share compassion. To tie their hands is cutting off the lifeblood of what a church is supposed to do.
Keep spreading that Reiki Light!
Blessings to you,
Pamela
Reiki isn’t just universal life force energy, nor does it state that a client isn’t healed due to their lack of faith. Dr. Usui was a Christian monk whose student wanted to know how to perform one of Jesus’ miracles. He searched long and hard until he discovered how to do it. And, like the early Christians, he not only healed people, but taught other’s how to heal.
Reiki is the channeling of Divine Love. If it needed faith to be successful, why do babies heal when they’re treated? How much faith do they have? Reiki has been scientifically proven to work. As a matter of fact faith based practices have been proven to work anyway.
What if someone doesn’t heal if they’re treated with Reiki? Doctors don’t heal everyone either, yet you didn’t discount them.
Even Jesus said, “your faith has made you whole.” Why is that a bad thing? Not that Reiki should be used instead of doctor’s, but at least let a client decide to use if if it’s their choice and if Jesus used it, why can’t nuns. This does not mean that only Christians should use Reiki, as I am sure that Jesus loves all people, no matter what religion. I only hope that we can be as open minded and open to the ability to send loving thoughts even if it’s something that we disagree with.
As far as it being New Age, what people call new age has generally been around for centuries.
I think that it’s wonderful that you are a doctor, but I’m sure you know, like Jesus knew,” I of myself can do nothing. The Father within me, he doth the works.” In other words, the Reiki Practitioner doesn’t heal anyone, doctors don’t heal anyone, scientist’s don’t, and Dr. Mom doesn’t. Only God does.
thanks for the update, Zena… last counted the NY Times had 420 comments on this… it’s always good to get the communication out there- and thank you for your articulate explanation of Reiki and Dr Usui’s history –
Thanks Pamela,
Here’s my response to another post submitted by a doctor regarding the article in the NY Times:
Reiki isn’t just universal life force energy, nor does it state that a client isn’t healed due to their lack of faith. Dr. Usui was a Christian monk whose student wanted to know how to perform one of Jesus’ miracles. He searched long and hard until he discovered how to do it. And, like the early Christians, he not only healed people, but taught other’s how to heal.
Reiki is the channeling of Divine Love. If it needed faith to be successful, why do babies heal when they’re treated? How much faith do they have? Reiki has been scientifically proven to work. As a matter of fact faith based practices have been proven to work anyway.
What if someone doesn’t heal if they’re treated with Reiki? Doctors don’t heal everyone either, yet you didn’t discount them.
Even Jesus said, “your faith has made you whole.” Why is that a bad thing? Not that Reiki should be used instead of doctor’s, but at least let a client decide to use if if it’s their choice and if Jesus used it, why can’t nuns. This does not mean that only Christians should use Reiki, as I am sure that Jesus loves all people, no matter what religion. I only hope that we can be as open minded and open to the ability to send loving thoughts even if it’s something that we disagree with.
As far as it being New Age, what people call new age has generally been around for centuries.
I think that it’s wonderful that you are a doctor, but I’m sure you know, like Jesus knew,” I of myself can do nothing. The Father within me, he doth the works.” In other words, the Reiki Practitioner doesn’t heal anyone, doctors don’t heal anyone, scientist’s don’t, and Dr. Mom doesn’t. Only God does.
Pam,
I am affirming that your parents will stay on that bridge of unconditional love. Sending Love and Light your way,
Suzanne
.-= Suzanne @ vAssistant Services´s last blog ..Adventures in Changing Domain Names =-.
Pamela
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and this NY Times article. I also grew up catholic and no longer practice. HOWEVER, when I am practicing Reiki is when I feel closest to the best parts of being catholic or being religous. It is beyond unfortunate the the Church has chosen to pursue spiritual people who are on the right side of the law (nuns) but refuse still to pursue the pedophiles that run rampant in the priest community…still.
I cannot but help be kindered to you and your situation with your parents. My Mom is also very catholice but has received Reiki and found it helpful for pain management. Maybe this is an opportunity for you and YOUR Mom to talk about man’s law vs. god’s law.
Good luck. Again, thank you for sharing this information.
Rosemary
are there any other good internet links about Reiki? i am really interested about it.,~-
The International Association of Reiki Professionals
my father practices Reiki and it is helpful for the general health.’..
reiki is an interesting discipline that i would like to learn’:-
you can find Reiki teachers at: http://www.iarp.org/
“aspect of your post” cannot be used. the whole post can be used with my copyright on my approval.
Is the website to which you refer “learnitalianlanguage.info”? I don’t see where the content from my article applies.