The Reiki Cafe 

The Shaman Way: Gratitude ~ Embracing Every Blessing
By Shaman Elder Maggie Wahls

Walking in gratitude is not a hard thing to do yet it is the basis of a happy life and your own personal power. Native Americans give thanks to Mother Earth for everything they have. Christians give thanks before they eat. Shamans give thanks to the universe for all that they are.

When we walk in gratitude we find again that sense of wonder in everything around us. We realize the bounty that we have in life. We appreciate the beauty we see. We hear the beautiful winds in the trees. We smell the flowers. We know how much is given to us that we didn't even have to work for. We walk with a sense of smallness against this gift, this experience of life.

Being grateful is as much a part of being mature as having wisdom or discernment. Gratitude teaches us to admire those around us, to lend a helping hand to those who need one. And who are we not to be grateful? Do we not see the blessings of the air we breathe? Do we not realize how fortunate we are to be walking this land? Just look around at all the places you could be.

Did you have a good idea today? Be grateful for that! Did you eat today? Be grateful! Is there a dollar in your wallet? Can you be grateful for that? When was the last time you looked into the heavens and said, "Thank you!"

Albert Einstein was one of the greatest thinkers in history. He was always aware of what could have been and expressed his thanks each day. Gandhi had nothing and yet was one of the most grateful men who ever lived. It isn't about who you are or what you have, what station in life you have been blessed with. It is simply to be. To be is worthy of thanks.

Some people feel they have nothing to be thankful for. But do they have air to breathe? Did they get up this morning and find the sun shining? Did they find another human being to talk to? Companionship, caring, compassion, beauty, life, seasons, the earth, these are all worthy of our thanks.

The Shaman cannot heal without gratitude. It is not the Shaman who creates any healing, who finds the lost souls, who comforts the dying with hope in new life. These things are greater than any man, Priest or Shaman. It is our interconnectedness with each other through the universe that gives us what we need, what we want and even more than we imagine.

Start each day with a prayer of thanksgiving. Tell the universe how happy you are to find the sun shining in your window, to hear the birds singing and see the green grass glowing with dew. Thank your Creator for the gifts you will receive this day. Humble yourself at the magnificent creation of life and give gratitude for being an observer of this most holy miracle today.

By giving thanks you are opening yourself to all the possibilities of goodness. You are joining into the universal awareness as a participant in life. You are forming a council and taking your seat in the creation of the day. You come with open hands to receive and ready to give your blessings to those around you. You realize your fortune and you wish that same fortune for all.

Being grateful sets the place for goodness and open communication with teachers and guides. It shows your willingness to learn and your respect for what is. Gratitude manifests more things to be grateful for. If you make a list each day of those things you feel grateful for you will find that your list will grow over time. It will change from things seen to those things that are unseen and far more important than material possessions or fame. You will touch the very fabric of your soul and feel the blessings you have that are so worthy of your gratitude. In humbleness, you receive more than you could ever receive with pride. Gratitude begets humility in this awesome life experience.

A Shaman knows this humility and often falls to his knees to return the heartfelt love that he recognizes and honors. The power of the Shaman comes not from within but from without because a man standing on his own is just a man but a man standing on the grace of gratitude walks with Spirit and is given everything - even the ability to heal. Approach each day, each hour, each minute with gratitude in your heart and find love filling your spirit with its own power and truth.

Copyright © 2005 Shaman Elder Maggie Wahls. All rights reserved.

I hope everyone finds something they can take from this.

Happy Thanksgiving

Donna

Dear Donna,
Thank you for sharing this and reminding us that Thanksgiving carries a more powerful message than turkey & the trimmings...you reminded me of how much I take for granted...."We hear the beautiful winds in the trees" brought back a reminder of a winter's day walk through a park with the wind whipping through the branches & my companion who remarked that he could not hear it due to a hearing loss. It was like being hit over the head with a brick: how could I be so tactless so insensitive so unappreciative! I suddenly realized how much I valued my hearing & how blessed I was to have it. Yes, everyday is a good day to be thankful.
peace & joy,
holobon

Thank you, Donna, for a lovely share.

Feeling gratitude is like breathing. Everywhere I look I see wonders to be celebrated and I feel grateful to be in this place, in this moment, to experience this life.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone...may you never stop counting your blessings and feeling blessed!

Lesley

Thank you very much for this wonderful post.Life is more enjoyable and beautiful if we remembered and thanked for what we have received. Thanks much.

Donna,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- being thankful is always important - when I take a bay leaf or two for the pot from my bay laurel tree I always thank it

>:-}}

- it is also true in shamanic work that the shaman's personal energy may be very important

- and, as we know as well, not all shamans are born 'equal' nor develop 'equally' either in skill or ethics

- so I am always thankful for the ethical and powerful shamans

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

yes indeed,
there is much sickness,sadness, & poverty in the world,I 'thank each day' that I have on this planet,
when you realize 'just' how truly blessed you are,..we may whine about the price of gass!..but at least the most of us, have 'SOMETHING' to put 'gas' into!!..... not the case in a lot of countries, we may whine about the health system, 'but we have one'... etc, etc, etc, I rest my case..
we are truly blessed..luv Wendy Ann xxx

arhhh! FK,
indeed 'ethics' are so important in living a 'good honest life'....a life with out-out ethics, a 'no go zone' with me, all of natures wonders (& not so wonders!!) have their place in our lives...my 'true' belief is 'TO BE AWARE OF ALL THINGS GOOD & BAD', for all have a reason.....
luv wendy ann xxx

Otoharo!

I learned that there are no needs. All needs are met by the Holy. The only prayer is "Thank You".

finality

sorry to disagree finality,
but it never hurts to be grateful, & say thank-you, be it to the Holy, or, who,or what ever..
"thank-you" is a 'small' word with a 'huge' 'meaning'
luv, wendy xxx

Otoharo!

Wamps, isn't that exactly what i said?

finality

yes it was,
sorry finality, not been quite myself lately,
that 'IS' exactly what 'you' said, please except my apology...
luv Wendy xxx

wendy,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- yes, the 'good', the 'bad' and, the "not either good or bad"

- neti neti, neti

>:-}}

- and, it is also Key not to imagine we know all (or even a few) of those 'reasons'

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Oh My God.......

Thank you so much for this.

Be