The Reiki Cafe 

I've been with the same Teacher now, for just about 5 years;avery lovely woman. Now though she is hosting a Seichim Master workshop, and I'm wondering If I should look for another teacher instead of going to her. If it ain't broke, why fix it? But, the question is there.

Hi Jaguar
I changed Reiki Master after a few years, as I felt drawn to do so & I got drawn to the best one for me. The master I left was great as in her words "if you need to change to further your spiritual development then you must do it." We are still in touch, but her words did ring true.

So don't be scared to do it if you need to!

Love & light
Paul

Otoharo!

You are the one in charge of your life. Do not give your power away.

finality

Dear Jaguar,
Would suggest thinking about what is behind your thoughts of another teacher and go from there.

peace & joy,
holobon

jaguar,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- would you be able to clarify what seem to be some sort of doubts?

- are you unsure you want to do this workshop?

- are you feeling unloyal if you do not sign up?

- are you doubting the Teacher becasue she is offering one of the Reiki spin-offs?

- is it somethng else???

- have you felt the need to 'move on' before??

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Hi, Thank you guysn gals. Seichim as far as I know, Is not a spin off of Reiki, but incorporates it into the flow. I remember when before I did my r3, I had doubts and made excuses but my teach then persuaded me that I was committed to this enterprise and so had to follow through, I owed it to myself. I suppose fear had a lot to do with me having the collywobbles. I'm glad now I did it, maybe just to prove it to myself, I guess. It feels like history repeating itself, this time.Last week was a bad week for me,. I've a history of depression, or histronics, and although I keep it to myself, my self-doubt gets the better of me. I'm better this week though. So maybe my saying no this time is my way to assert myself, and be in control. Kind of like a hissy fit. Just to draw attention to myself. I don't know if I come across as being shallow, but ... Opps, just lost the run of myself, I could go on all night.

Dear Jaguar,
We can be committed to Reiki without ever taking another class or another level. Healing self is important & giving ourself the time time to heal & to grow in Reiki at our own pace is important.
peace & joy,
holobon

Yup, sounds good to me. I'll think on it, let my teacher make the next mov, and won't worry till then. Theank you peeps.

jaguar,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- there are those who view Seichm as, sessentially, a spin-off

- be that as it may (it has been debated before and I have no need of a reprise)

- however, being assertive is healthy (as long as you don't "dramatize" it)

- then the value of being appropriately assertive is somewhat dulled

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

You have a point. At the mo i'm going through a rough patch. So I don't really know what I want or what I want doing. I've since been thinking that I should and am concentrating on Reiki on it's own and not 'calling' on the other healing rays. I'm comfortable with this. I went to a sweat lodge about four weeks ago, and since then I've being feeling drained and tired. Anything in your experience account for this fkr?
As is I'm going to lay low for a while and try n take things easy.
Nameste

jaguar,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- hard to say since I do not know anyhting about the experience and skill of the person who poured the sweat or how hot the sweat was taken or any other circumstances of the sweat

- but, in general, the proecess of sweat I was taught was at least two-fold - the first is to release 'the nasties' in the sweat

>:-}}

- the second was to reconnect with Spirit and 'be nourished', so to speak

- did you do a cold water swim or other rinse after the sweat (the lodge I built for my wife and I had no mountain stream or lake handy for a post-sweat dip so we rinsed with the garden hose - interesting experience during winter)

bagl (and shivering)

LOL

- did you hydrate porperly before the sweat?

- did you make an offering before the sweat? Make tobacco ties or some such??

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

post sweat, there was a barrel of cold water, and I poured this water over my self, on of the other guys was standing there shivering, and he said that he wouldn't be able to do so. It was very refreshing. Add to that that I have a hairish build, and with the sweat, I was all over mud. since the floor of the lodge was earth, and cold, when things got too rough I'd lay down, and wallow like a pig, basicly.I was a mess. funny now though. I didn't hydrate properly before I think. I mad an offer of a Quartz crystal. I wasn't asked to do this, but It felt so right.
since this was my first sweat, I have nothing to compare it to. It was great though. We had a bonfire where we stood around drumming sang a prayer honouring the four corners eaarth and sky. Sat around in the tepee and drummed some more. There were four rounds, in the lodge. The heat was intense. A very good experience. We were smudged before going into the lodge as well., just remembering and I feel very positive and peace.
I'm reading a book by medicne grizzly bear. I can't remember the name ofhand, but its very good. Makes me think.
Nameste

jaguar,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- after my very first sweat, lo these many years, there was a mountain stream handy on the land where the retreat was held, it was late March, and I took a dip in a pool
(that ran about 4 feet deep) which had formed below a small bridge that continued the path from the camping area to the sweat lodge area. The water was partly snow melt run-off. :-}}

- a friend and I were the only ones to do a rinse and even he, an experienced 'sweater', would not duck himself in the pool - he asked me to use a a bucket and pour water over him - which was a bit hilarious to do

bagl

- one of the issues with sweats which proper hydration before and after addresses is keeping one's electrolytes in balance as much as possible

- one loses all sorts of fluids and minerals, etc during a good sweat

- nowadays, a good supplimental sports drink that replenishes the electrolytes would be excellent before and after a sweat

- we only drank water and one did feel a little "off" for a while until other food and drink restored electrolyte balance

- hope this helps

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Yes. Thanks It makes a whole load of sense. next time(if i go again) I'll remember. I'm still a little off. Think I might have to go to a regular docter. I'm getting some chest pains. I''m not sure it would be a good idea to have a sweat if my ticker isn't up to it.
This being a funny thing. A week after getting Reiki Master attunement, my heart began to take little pauses kind of like palpatations, and still does, that was a year and a half ago.

Otoharo!

many years ago, I was having some similar feelings. I told my doctor that my heart was skipping beats. He explained that it could never skip a beat, it only may beat faster once in awhile. His remedy for me was complete bed rest for five days and nights. that was when I had teenagers at home, worked full time, had a leadership role in our church, etc. He knew me because we both were consultants in the alcohol clinic weekly. when I could not figure out how to take the time off, I finally just could no longer function, he hospitalized me for five days and nights, and that renewed me! Decades before I knew reiki.

finality

jaguar,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- yes, being in sufficient physical health to do a sweat is Key

- I know a couple of people who no longer do "intense' sweats due to blood pressure issues - but they will still do milder sweats or sit in one of those sauna closets that some hotels have (where one can control the temp and there is a ceiling on how hot one can make it - liability issues, of course)

- the heart 'flutter' may have been developing anyway

- hard to say it was in any way connected to the attunements

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Cheers. Still havn't heard form my teach. She probly didn't get the message. So I will let things be, and not make a big issue of it. About the sweats, I'd like to do another. I felt such a sense of community after.
Question, being naked or not. our sweat was mixed, so we all wore shorts or swimwear. does it make a difference?
personally, I'd feelsomewhat embarrased if it were a naked thing but I guess it wouldn't matter and I'd get over it.

jaguar,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- some traditions do not do mixed sweats and even may have separate lodges for the men and women - so the sweats in such un-mixed groups may be, among other things, sans all garb

- another reason is that the the un-mixed sweats can focus on the issues specific to the gender doing the sweat

- I have done mixed and unmixed sweats (the group mixed sweats were shorts or bathing suits for all) - except when my wife and I do sweats together, alone, we go the nude route

>:-}}

- so, wearing the minimal amount of cover for modesty will not hinder any sweat

- remember, a sweat is as much or more about what is at or abouve the Heart Centre than what is "below"

bagl

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Otoharo!

I have been to the reiki retreats at breitnbush a number of times. There are natural hot springs and the custom is to not wear clothing. My first time there, I arrived down the path, finding a young family in. I removed the last of my garments, saying, there is nothing like the maiden voyage. After that, it was no big deal. People are all sizes and shapes. The young adults on staff, come in from time to time, one at a time, at each cite. So they have a feeling for how we are doing.

finality

Hmm, thanks, I think.I'm a bit of a prude about showing my body. But having said that I was very comfartable that time, although I wore shorts, It was no big deal. Or If It were, I got over it. If for nothing else, It was a good experience.