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You know everyone has dark moments
Sometimes there's no logic to darkness
Then you realize :D that you have been so freakin stupid
What on earth was going through your feeble mind?
You laugh your head off at the people around you.
You laugh your head off at yourself.
You realize a game people are playing
Then you realize how candles are lit
How transparancy is obtained
transparancy is obtained through honesty
being honest with yourself and with those around you. :)
When you are honest with both your heart is free
I feel free because i have been honest with myself
Of course everyone has their grandiose daydreams
Expect no wishes and make things happen.
Don't sit on the backseat of your bus and miss your ride.
Oh wait, you already have.
The resume bloopers
These are taken from real resumes and cover letters and were printed in Fortune Magazine:
1. I demand a salary commiserate with my extensive experience.
2. I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor and spreadsheet progroms.
3. Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year.
4. Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave.
5. Wholly responsible for two (2) failed financial institutions.
6. Its best for employers that I not work with people.
7. Lets meet, so you can ooh and aah over my experience.
8. You will want me to be Head Honcho in no time.
9. Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.
10. I was working for my mom until she decided to move.
11. Failed bar exam with relatively high grades.
12. Marital status: single. Unmarried. Unengaged. Uninvolved. No Commitments.
13. I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse.
14. I am loyal to my employer at all costs... Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voice mail.
15. I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely no one and absolutely nothing.
16. My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I possess no training in meterology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage.
17. I procrastinate, especially when the task is unpleasant.
18. As indicted, I have over five years of analyzing investments.
19. Personal interests: donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far.
20. Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store.
21. Note: Please don't miscontrue my 14 jobs as job-hopping. I have never quit a job.
22. Marital status: often. Children: various.
23. Reason for leaving last job: They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45 a.m. every morning. Could not work under those conditions.
24. The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers.
25. Finished eighth in my class of ten.
26. References: None. I've left a path of destruction behind me.
You can tell when there is love in the world, it's on the last day for getting father's day gifts and the aisle to walmart's father's day cards have about 30 people in the same spot. Yes there is love in the world regardless of how things look on the outside. People do really care about other people, it's only a few turds in a bucket that makes a mess of things. I guess we need to thank God we are all alive and try to create a better world instead of accumulate. harmonize and go ommmmmmm... just kidding btw. :)
art Five: The Single Hound
LIII
THE LONG sigh of the Frog
Upon a Summer’s day,
Enacts intoxication
Upon the revery.
But his receding swell 5
Substantiates a peace,
That makes the ear inordinate
For corporal release.
Part Five: The Single Hound
CXXXVII
JUST so, Jesus raps—He does not weary—
Last at the knocker and first at the bell,
Then on divinest tiptoe standing
Might He out-spy the lady’s soul.
When He retires, chilled and weary— 5
It will be ample time for me;
Patient, upon the steps, until then—
Heart, I am knocking low at Thee!
Part Five: The Single Hound
CXLII
GIVE little anguish
Lives will fret.
Give avalanches—
And they’ll slant,
Straighten, look cautious for their breath, 5
But make no syllable—
Like Death,
Who only shows his
Marble disc—
Sublimer sort than speech.
Stars
How countlessly they congregate
O'er our tumultuous snow,
Which flows in shapes as tall as trees
When wintry winds do blow!--
As if with keeness for our fate,
Our faltering few steps on
To white rest, and a place of rest
Invisible at dawn,--
And yet with neither love nor hate,
Those starts like somw snow-white
Minerva's snow-white marble eyes
Without the gift of sight.
Into My Own
One of my wishes is that those dark trees,
So old and firm they scarcely show the breeze,
Were not, as 'twere, the merest mask of gloom,
But stretched away unto th eedge of doom.
I should not be withheld but that some day
into their vastness I should steal away,
Fearless of ever finding open land,
or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand.
I do not see why I should e'er turn back,
Or those should not set forth upon my track
To overtake me, who should miss me here
And long to know if still I held them dear.
They would not find me changed from him the knew--
Only more sure of all I though was true.
The Self-seeker
"Willis, I didn't want you here to-day:
The lawyer's coming for the company.
I'm going to sell my soul, or, rather, feet.
Five hundred dollars for the pair, you know."
"With you the feet have nearly been the soul;
And if you're going to sell them to the devil,
I want to see you do it. When's he coming?"
"I half suspect you knew, and came on purpose
To try to help me drive a better bargain."
"Well, if it's true! Yours are no common feet.
The lawyer don't know what it is he's buying:
So many miles you might have walked you won't walk.
You haven't run your forty orchids down.
What does he think?--How are the blessed feet?
The doctor's sure you're going to walk again?"
"He thinks I'll hobble. It's both legs and feet."
"They must be terrible--I mean to look at."
"I haven't dared to look at them uncovered.
Through the bed blankets I remind myself
Of a starfish laid out with rigid points."
"The wonder is it hadn't been your head."
"It's hard to tell you how I managed it.
When I saw the shaft had me by the coat,
I didn't try too long to pull away,
Or fumble for my knife to cut away,
I just embraced the shaft and rode it out--
Till Weiss shut off the water in the wheel-pit.
That's how I think I didn't lose my head.
But my legs got their knocks against the ceiling."
"Awful. Why didn't they throw off the belt
Instead of going clear down in the wheel-pit?"
"They say some time was wasted on the belt--
Old streak of leather--doesn't love me much
Because I make him spit fire at my knuckles,
The way Ben Franklin used to make the kite-string.
That must be it. Some days he won't stay on.
That day a woman couldn't coax him off.
He's on his rounds now with his tail in his mouth
Snatched right and left across the silver pulleys.
Everything goes the same without me there.
You can hear the small buzz saws whine, the big saw
Caterwaul to the hills around the village
As they both bite the wood. It's all our music.
One ought as a good villager to like it.
No doubt it has a sort of prosperous sound,
And it's our life."
"Yes, when it's not our death."
"You make that sound as if it wasn't so
With everything. What we live by we die by.
I wonder where my lawyer is. His train's in.
I want this over with; I'm hot and tired."
"You're getting ready to do something foolish."
"Watch for him, will you, Will? You let him in.
I'd rather Mrs. Corbin didn't know;
I've boarded here so long, she thinks she owns me.
You're bad enough to manage without her."
"And I'm going to be worse instead of better.
You've got to tell me how far this is gone:
Have you agreed to any price?"
"Five hundred.
Five hundred--five--five! One, two, three, four, five.
You needn't look at me."
"I don't believe you."
"I told you, Willis, when you first came in.
Don't you be hard on me. I have to take
What I can get. You see they have the feet,
Which gives them the advantage in the trade.
I can't get back the feet in any case."
"But your flowers, man, you're selling out your flowers."
"Yes, that's one way to put it--all the flowers
Of every kind everywhere in this region
For the next forty summers--call it forty.
But I'm not selling those, I'm giving them,
They never earned me so much as one cent:
Money can't pay me for the loss of them.
No, the five hundred was the sum they named
To pay the doctor's bill and tide me over.
It's that or fight, and I don't want to fight--
I just want to get settled in my life,
Such as it's going to be, and know the worst,
Or best--it may not be so bad. The firm
Promise me all the shooks I want to nail."
"But what about your flora of the valley?"
"You have me there. But that--you didn't think
That was worth money to me? Still I own
It goes against me not to finish it
For the friends it might bring me. By the way,
I had a letter from Burroughs--did I tell you?--
About my Cyprepedium reginæ;
He says it's not reported so far north.
There! there's the bell. He's rung. But you go down
And bring him up, and don't let Mrs. Corbin.--
Oh, well, we'll soon be through with it. I'm tired."
Willis brought up besides the Boston lawyer
A little barefoot girl who in the noise
Of heavy footsteps in the old frame house,
And baritone importance of the lawyer,
Stood for a while unnoticed with her hands
Shyly behind her.
"Well, and how is Mister----"
The lawyer was already in his satchel
As if for papers that might bear the name
He hadn't at command. "You must excuse me,
I dropped in at the mill and was detained."
"Looking round, I suppose," said Willis.
"Yes,
Well, yes."
"Hear anything that might prove useful?"
The Broken One saw Anne. "Why, here is Anne.
What do you want, dear? Come, stand by the bed;
Tell me what is it?" Anne just wagged her dress
With both hands held behind her. "Guess," she said.
"Oh, guess which hand? My my! Once on a time
I knew a lovely way to tell for certain
By looking in the ears. But I forget it.
Er, let me see. I think I'll take the right.
That's sure to be right even if it's wrong.
Come, hold it out. Don't change.--A Ram's Horn orchid!
A Ram's Horn! What would I have got, I wonder,
If I had chosen left. Hold out the left.
Another Ram's Horn! Where did you find those,
Under what beech tree, on what woodchuck's knoll?"
Anne looked at the large lawyer at her side,
And thought she wouldn't venture on so much.
"Were there no others?"
"There were four or five.
I knew you wouldn't let me pick them all."
"I wouldn't--so I wouldn't. You're the girl!
You see Anne has her lesson learned by heart."
"I wanted there should be some there next year."
"Of course you did. You left the rest for seed,
And for the backwoods woodchuck. You're the girl!
A Ram's Horn orchid seedpod for a woodchuck
Sounds something like. Better than farmer's beans
To a discriminating appetite,
Though the Ram's Horn is seldom to be had
In bushel lots--doesn't come on the market.
But, Anne, I'm troubled; have you told me all?
You're hiding something. That's as bad as lying.
You ask this lawyer man. And it's not safe
With a lawyer at hand to find you out.
Nothing is hidden from some people, Anne.
You don't tell me that where you found a Ram's Horn
You didn't find a Yellow Lady's Slipper.
What did I tell you? What? I'd blush, I would.
Don't you defend yourself. If it was there,
Where is it now, the Yellow Lady's Slipper?"
"Well, wait--it's common--it's too common."
"Common?
The Purple Lady's Slipper's commoner."
"I didn't bring a Purple Lady's Slipper
To You--to you I mean--they're both too common."
The lawyer gave a laugh among his papers
As if with some idea that she had scored.
"I've broken Anne of gathering bouquets.
It's not fair to the child. It can't be helped though:
Pressed into service means pressed out of shape.
Somehow I'll make it right with her--she'll see.
She's going to do my scouting in the field,
Over stone walls and all along a wood
And by a river bank for water flowers,
The floating Heart, with small leaf like a heart,
And at the sinus under water a fist
Of little fingers all kept down but one,
And that thrust up to blossom in the sun
As if to say, 'You! You're the Heart's desire.'
Anne has a way with flowers to take the place
Of that she's lost: she goes down on one knee
And lifts their faces by the chin to hers
And says their names, and leaves them where they are."
The lawyer wore a watch the case of which
Was cunningly devised to make a noise
Like a small pistol when he snapped it shut
At such a time as this. He snapped it now.
"Well, Anne, go, dearie. Our affair will wait.
The lawyer man is thinking of his train.
He wants to give me lots and lots of money
Before he goes, because I hurt myself,
And it may take him I don't know how long.
But put our flowers in water first. Will, help her:
The pitcher's too full for her. There's no cup?
Just hook them on the inside of the pitcher.
Now run.--Get out your documents! You see
I have to keep on the good side of Anne.
I'm a great boy to think of number one.
And you can't blame me in the place I'm in.
Who will take care of my necessities
Unless I do?"
"A pretty interlude,"
The lawyer said. "I'm sorry, but my train--
Luckily terms are all agreed upon.
You only have to sign your name. Right--there."
"You, Will, stop making faces. Come round here
Where you can't make them. What is it you want?
I'll put you out with Anne. Be good or go."
"You don't mean you will sign that thing unread?"
"Make yourself useful then, and read it for me.
Isn't it something I have seen before?"
"You'll find it is. Let your friend look at it."
"Yes, but all that takes time, and I'm as much
In haste to get it over with as you.
But read it, read it. That's right, draw the curtain:
Half the time I don't know what's troubling me.--
What do you say, Will? Don't you be a fool,
You! crumpling folkses legal documents.
Out with it if you've any real objection."
"Five hundred dollars!"
"What would you think right?"
"A thousand wouldn't be a cent too much;
You know it, Mr. Lawyer. The sin is
Accepting anything before he knows
Whether he's ever going to walk again.
It smells to me like a dishonest trick."
"I think--I think--from what I heard to-day--
And saw myself--he would be ill-advised----"
"What did you hear, for instance?" Willis said.
"Now the place where the accident occurred----"
The Broken One was twisted in his bed.
"This is between you two apparently.
Where I come in is what I want to know.
You stand up to it like a pair of cocks.
Go outdoors if you want to fight. Spare me.
When you come back, I'll have the papers signed.
Will pencil do? Then, please, your fountain pen.
One of you hold my head up from the pillow."
Willis flung off the bed. "I wash my hands--
I'm no match--no, and don't pretend to be----"
The lawyer gravely capped his fountain pen.
"You're doing the wise thing: you won't regret it.
We're very sorry for you."
Willis sneered:
"Who's we?--some stockholders in Boston?
I'll go outdoors, by gad, and won't come back."
"Willis, bring Anne back with you when you come.
Yes. Thanks for caring. Don't mind Will: he's savage.
He thinks you ought to pay me for my flowers.
You don't know what I mean about the flowers.
Don't stop to try to now. You'll miss your train.
Good-bye." He flung his arms around his face.
BIRCHES
When I see birches bend to left and right
Across the lines of straighter darker trees,
I like to think some boy's been swinging them.
But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay.
Ice-storms do that. Often you must have seen them
Loaded with ice a sunny winter morning
After a rain. They click upon themselves
As the breeze rises, and turn many-coloured
As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.
Soon the sun's warmth makes them shed crystal shells
Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust
Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away
You'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen.
They are dragged to the withered bracken by the load,
And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed
So low for long, they never right themselves:
You may see their trunks arching in the woods
Years afterwards, trailing their leaves on the ground,
Like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair
Before them over their heads to dry in the sun.
But I was going to say when Truth broke in
With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm,
I should prefer to have some boy bend them
As he went out and in to fetch the cows--
Some boy too far from town to learn baseball,
Whose only play was what he found himself,
Summer or winter, and could play alone.
One by one he subdued his father's trees
By riding them down over and over again
Until he took the stiffness out of them,
And not one but hung limp, not one was left
For him to conquer. He learned all there was
To learn about not launching out too soon
And so not carrying the tree away
Clear to the ground. He always kept his poise
To the top branches, climbing carefully
With the same pains you use to fill a cup
Up to the brim, and even above the brim.
Then he flung outward, feet first, with a swish,
Kicking his way down through the air to the ground.
So was I once myself a swinger of birches.
And so I dream of going back to be.
It's when I'm weary of considerations,
And life is too much like a pathless wood
Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs
Broken across it, and one eye is weeping
From a twig's having lashed across it open.
I'd like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over.
May no fate wilfully misunderstand me
And half grant what I wish and snatch me away
Not to return. Earth's the right place for love:
I don't know where it's likely to go better.
I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree~
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.
PUTTING IN THE SEED
You come to fetch me from my work to-night
When supper's on the table, and we'll see
If I can leave off burying the white
Soft petals fallen from the apple tree
(Soft petals, yes, but not so barren quite,
Mingled with these, smooth bean and wrinkled pea);
And go along with you ere you lose sight
Of what you came for and become like me,
Slave to a Springtime passion for the earth.
How Love burns through the Putting in the Seed
On through the watching for that early birth
When, just as the soil tarnishes with weed,
The sturdy seedling with arched body comes
Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs.
My mom left some red snapper she had cooked in the refridgerator. It reminded me how life stinks and how bad people can leave a terrible taste in your mouth. I don't care, maybe life is better alone. No one can hurt you if you are to yourself.
i saw one of those commercials about the thick burger and i want one. :) I know they are the cost of a box of diskettes, but sometimes you have to feed your need. So i want a thick burger :) got to get one.
MS Studies
There are 85,000 Multiple Sclerosis patients in the UK. It is believed to be an auto immune disease destroying the protective myelin sheath around the nerves. This results in some or all of the following symptoms: - Lethargy, depression, cognitive (memory) problems, motor problems, pain, fatigue, urine problems, bowel problems, and difficulty in walking. The only real treatment for this is Beta interferon. However this is extremely expensive (£9,000 - £12,000) per patient per year, it is not available to all people with Multiple Sclerosis as it is believed to be less effective in some groups.
In 2002 it was decided that due to the wide range of symptoms involved in M.S. and the lack of freely available therapy that Reiki would be offered free of charge to 13 people who wished to be part of the case studies to investigate the effects of Reiki on a wide variety of symptoms. The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Medway, Sittingbourne and an open minded GP from Dartford referred 13 patients for us to treat. Following advice from Dr Chong Consultant Neurologist at Medway Hospital, Kent, certain measuring devices were used to ascertain the effects of Reiki on a weekly basis prior to each treatment session. At each weekly session a visual scale was given by the patient and recorded. (0 = no problems 10 = the most severe possible). Where able to, the patient was asked to walk 10 meters and this was timed. Each patient was seen for 1.5 hrs once a week for 12 weeks. At the beginning and end of each patients case study, the SF36 questionnaire was completed by the patient. This was used to evaluate the effects of the Reiki treatment.
Summary of Results of the 13 Case Studies
All patients improved in at least 3 of their measured parameters
The following are average percentage reductions.
90.2% Reduction of Lethargy
87% Reduction of Depression
78.7% Reduction of Cognitive Problems
75.3% Reduction of Motor Problems
73.5% Reduction of Pain
70.2% Reduction of Fatigue
69.1% Reduction of Urine Problems
62.8% Reduction of Bowel Problems
38% Reduction in Walking Time
An Example of the Results in the form of a Graph is as Follows
(9 patients suffered with depression hence 9 lines on the chart, 10 people suffered with pain, therefore there are 10 lines on the depression chart
It can clearly be seen that all patients’ symptoms were reduced over the treatment period. (Weekly graphs are also available for those who are interested on request). They show that there is change in symptoms on a weekly basis but a significant reduction in symptoms after session 3, 7, 10 and 12. Some of those who have had this intensive 12 week Reiki treatment appear to have maintained the improvement in their symptoms, even 9 months after the conclusion of any treatment. Others have symptoms returning after 6 – 8 weeks. This indicates the need for a monthly top up program to be put in place to maintain the benefits gained. Sadly this has not been possible for many of those in the case studies due to financial constraints.
An Investigation into the Effects of Reiki On the Symptoms of M.E.
Introduction
The M.E. Society was contacted to ask if any of their members would be interested in taking part in our case studies. A letter was sent out to the members of Medway Maidstone and Sittingbourne. Although we were hoping for at least 12 people to take part we eventually had 11 people who were recruited. (One of whom dropped out after one session.) The Reiki Research Foundation made no charge for this work.
Method
The Reiki practitioner spoke to each potential recruit to explain what Reiki involves. They agreed that they would have a Reiki treatment once a week for up to 12 weeks. They signed a consent form where they declared any past medical history, stressful events, medical GP and Consultant if applicable and medication taken. It was explained that there was no guarantee as to whether Reiki would help their M.E. symptoms. Each client was treated for one hour each week.
Results
Those recruited varied in age from 35 years to 60 years old, and had a minimum of 6 treatment sessions and a maximum of 10 sessions. The reduced sessions were due to late recruitment and the Christmas Holiday Period.
Six sessions – Cases 8 and 10
Seven sessions – Cases 1, 3 and 9
Nine sessions – Cases 2, 4, 5, and 7
Ten sessions – Case 6 This lady eliminated all her symptoms.
Not all the symptoms measured were present in everybody, hence some graphs show more cases than others.
7 out of 10 cases had a reduction in Fatigue (70%)9 out of 10 had a reduction in pain (90%)4 out of 6 had a reduction in Urinary symptoms (66%)
3 out of 5 had a reduction in Bowel symptoms (60%)
5 out of 10 had a reduction in depression (50%)
6 out of 10 had reduction in Lethargy (60%)
8 out of 10 had a reduction in Motor Problems (80%)
3 out of 7 had a reduction in Symptoms in their arms (42%)
5 out of 7 had a reduction of Symptoms in their legs (71%)
Dizziness, Anger, Sleeplessness and Stomach Pains were reduced in those who complained of these symptoms.
An Example of the Results in the form of a Graph is as Follows
Conclusion
The results vary from person to person. Some people’s symptoms were reduced whilst other people did not seem to benefit from a reduction of symptoms. However in nearly every case the person being treated expressed that they had felt able to do more and had been able to deal with personal issues which previously they had been unable to deal with.
Unfortunately as previously, stated some people were recruited later than others and the Christmas break curtailed further treatments. As stress appears to increase symptoms and Reiki energy helps bring emotional issues to the surface so that they can be dealt with, this may be why some people did not appear to do so well. The symptom which appears to have been most successfully addressed was pain (90% of those in the case studies felt a reduction in pain) the least successful was reduced symptoms in the arms (42% of those in the case studies felt a reduction in symptoms in their arms).
Those who confronted their stressful life events had the greatest reduction in symptoms whilst those who did not do so well found this much more difficult. The lady who had no M.E. symptoms at the end of her 10 treatments had to confront many emotionally draining past life experiences and worked very hard to do so. Her results clearly show what can be achieved with a positive and determined attitude. She had and still has no M.E. symptoms remaining. She has taken a Reiki attunement and is now healing herself and plans to use her experiences in order to help others in a similar situation. She is a wonderful example of the results which can be achieved when such courage is displayed.
Discussion
As there were only 10 people in the case studies and there were not a constant number of sessions, it would be very difficult to establish conclusively the effects of Reiki on the symptoms of M.E. I have therefore asked each of those people who have taken part in the study to write their thoughts. These will be sent directly to Joe March (M.E. Kent and Sussex) so that there is no bias from the Reiki practitioners who took part.
The Reiki Research Foundation would like to take this opportunity of thanking all those people involved who took part in these case studies and to the M.E. society of Kent and Sussex for their help in recruiting.
If you would like more information on this case study or any other Reiki issue please contact the Reiki Research Foundation.
Other Research Available
Reiki To Manage Pain – Martha Lucas, Karin Olson et al Cancer Prevention and Control 1997;1:108-13
Pain, Anxiety and Depression in Chronically Ill Patients and Reiki Healing – Linda J. Dressen et al – Subtle Energies 1998
Zimmerman 1990 Biomagnetic Fields from Reiki Practitioners Hands - Scientific and Medical Network Cortona Conference
Increase in Haemoglobin Values – Otelia Bengssten MD Reiki Research Organisation
Reduction in Anxiety Levels – Janet Quinn University of Carolina
Reduction in Post Operative Complications in Heart Patients – Dr Mehmet Oz Consultant Cardiologist and Julie Motz RN.
Tuscan Medical Centre Arizona – Use of Reiki on the Cancer Care Unit
Effects of Therapeutic Touch on Anxiety Level of Hospital Patients – Patricia Heidt – Nursing Research 1981
Anxiety in Hospital Patients and Theraputic Touch – Janet Quinn – Advances in Nursing Science 1984
Abdominal Hysterectomy and Relaxation Touch – Concepcion Silva - Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 1996
The Anticipatory Effects of Chemotherapy with Therapeutic Touch and Relaxation – Kathleen Anne Sodergren – University of Minesota 1993)
Post Operative Pain and Healing Touch – Victoria E. Slater – University of Tennessee College of Nursing, 1996)
Headache Pain and Therapeutic Touch – Elizabeth Keller – Nursing Research 1986
Arthritis Pain and Therapeutic Touch – Susan D. Peck – University of Minesota 1996
Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Therapeutic Touch – Andrea Gordon et al – Journal of Family Practice 1998
Cancer and Therapeutic Touch – Marie Giasson et al – Journal of Holistic Nursing 1998
Depression and Healing Touch – Catherine S. Leb – University of North Carolina 1996
Nuns, Priests and Ministers
Who Practice Reiki
Sister Mary Mebane
I am a Franciscan Sister, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, headquartered in Redwood City, CA, and am stationed at Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA, where I am a Chaplain. I have been a Sister for 42 years and counting.
I found answers to the questions I had about Reiki in the Bible. Laying on of hands is a gift of God and was used extensively by Jesus and his followers and still is! Reiki is spiritual - a spiritual way of "Being" and not a religion. The Reiki Ideals/Principles are a firm foundation and I can always get deeper and deeper into them.
In my morning prayer I always make the intention that anyone who wishes to receive Reiki through me will. (Rom. 14:7: The life and death of each of us has its influence on others.)
I felt the hand of God in my life even as a very small child and I felt the call to healing a long time ago, but was not sure how to go about "getting it." I would timidly ask God for it, then withdraw the request as I did not feel I was "worthy."
In 1997 at Marian Medical Center I saw a flyer about a Retreat featuring Tai Chi, massage, and something called "Reiki." As I wanted to learn Tai Chi, I signed up. I did not learn Tai Chi, but came away with something much better, the healing gift of Reiki. In the preliminary talk I heard that I could receive this gift and that the only thing that could stop the gift was to consciously block it. I had no intention of doing that, so at Zaca Lake Retreat Center, sitting in the Sacred Grove, I received my first Reiki attunement from Jeanette McDaniel, RN. As the attunement began, I saw a huge fountain from which poured forth healing energy and a path that stretched from horizon to horizon. I heard a voice saying that I could step on the path if I wanted to. I did not have to be told twice!
I mentioned that I make my intention daily to be a healing channel for anyone who wants to receive it from me. God has given each of us free will, and God will not violate this. When I ask patients if they would like me to pray with them, they know I am praying for healing. I ask permission from unconscious patients on the mental level, knowing their Higher Self will respond. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, sometimes I do not get an answer. In that case I send Reiki with the provision that if the person does not want to receive it, that it go to someone who does. My model is Jesus asking the man at the pool of Bethzatha (The Sheep Pool) if he wanted to be healed. (John 5:3-9) He did not just heal him without his permission.
Healing of body, mind and spirit is exemplified for me by Jesus in the story of the 10 lepers (Luke 17:11-19). They came to him for healing and they were healed: physically, emotionally and mentally (their self-esteem was restored and they "got their lives back") and they were restored to the worshipping community. It is interesting to note that the one who returned to express gratitude for the healing was not a Jew, he was a "foreigner." Dr. Usui, as we know, was Japanese and a Buddhist.
In the matter of sending Reiki, it is good to remember that Jesus sent healing also. Note Matt. 8:5-13, the cure of the centurion's servant and the cure of the Syrophoenician woman's daughter (Mk. 7:24-30). In Luke 10:1-6, the disciples were sent out and were to send "peace" to whatever house they wanted to stay in. If the peace was not accepted, it was to return to them. So, too, if Reiki is sent and is not wanted, it is sent back to you, or you can send it to others, or to Mother Earth.
I have sometimes given a gift of Reiki, a bear or piece of jewelry, etc., which I have charged with Reiki energy. This, too, is very Christian. In Mt 9:19-22 and Mt. 14:35-36, healing flowed out of the hem of Jesus' cloak or the fringe on the cloak. In Acts 19:11-12, handkerchiefs or aprons that were touched by Paul brought healing to the sick and people would place the sick where Peter's shadow would fall on them and bring them healing.
Last, but not least, Jesus Himself told us (Mk 16:18) that we would lay our hands on the sick and they would recover and in John 14:12ff Jesus said that "I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works because I go to the Father."
I believe there are many paths to healing, but the Reiki path is the one I have been called to, and with the Lord's help/support/encouragement, through the Bible and through those people He places on my path, I hope I will become an even better Christian and Sister. I ask God to continue to bless me and my work as a Practitioner and a Teacher.
Peace, Love, Light,
Sister Mary Mebane, OSF
Exegetical Notes on 1 Corinthians 12
Features of the literary structure
Paul writes, I don’t want you to be ignorant about the spiritual things (v.1). This is similar to 7:1, so Paul may be addressing the topic of spiritual things at the request of the Corinthians. Fee notes that "this is a nearly universal conviction (570n), but notes that Paul’s corrective comments imply that the Corinthians were not simply asking for information. I suspect that they did not admit any ignorance about this topic, so 12:1b may indicate that Paul is initiating the topic (cf. 11:18). His comments in chapter 14 suggest that he would have addressed the topic of spiritual gifts whether the Corinthians had asked or not.
Verse 2 refers to voiceless idols, and v. 3 to speaking. Chapter 14 makes it clear that the spiritual gifts of greatest interest to the Corinthians and to Paul involved speaking.
Verse 3 contains trinitarian words, but not in formula. Verses 4-6 mention Spirit, Lord, and God, but "God" here does not seem to be the Father, as distinct from Spirit and Lord. Rather, "God" encompasses both. No matter what kind of gift, no matter who has it, God, by means of either the Spirit or the Lord, is the one working in the person.
The parallels of verses 4-6 at first suggest that charismata, diakonia and energemata are three types of pneumatika (=manifestations of the Spirit). Martin seems to follow this view, saying that Paul sets the pneumatika "within a larger framework of God’s charismata, a broader term referring to all manifestations of God’s favor" (1016). However, Paul seems to vary his terms without necessarily implying distinct categories (Barrett 285, Fee 585-6n12). Paul seems to use charismata and pneumatika interchangeably (cf. v.31a and 14:1; cf. Fee 576).
The list of gifts does not seem to be in any well-defined order. (Other lists are in different orders — cf. vs. 28-30 and Rom. 12:6-8.) In 1 Cor 12:8-10, Paul begins with two gifts of words, perhaps due to the interest in gifts of speaking, or perhaps due to the Corinthians’ interest in wisdom and knowledge. Faith, healing and miracles may form a group. He ends with two gifts of tongues, putting the gift causing the most problems last (Fee 591, 619). But the gifts of prophecy and discerning spirits don’t seem to be in any particular order or logical connection. None of the lists is exhaustive. "Paul’s concern here is to offer a considerable list so that they will stop being singular in their own emphasis [i.e., expecting all Christians to speak in tongues]" (Fee 585).
Paul does not prove that the diverse gifts are all inspired by the same Spirit. He simply repeats this truth in various ways. His analogy shows that it is possible, but doesn’t prove that this is the only possible explanation for diverse gifts.
Did Paul emphasize diversity, or unity? Fee argues for diversity, but I think Paul was keeping both in balance. As Fee points out, there doesn’t seem to be factions due to charismata, but there were factions over leadership (1:10-12) and social status (11:17-34). Paul is encouraging them to have greater diversity in charismata and less diversity in factions; thus he has to keep balancing unity and diversity. The principle of love and mutual benefit achieves both of Paul’s interests.
Paul argues that the diversity originates from a common source, and he develops that thought into the fact that God’s gifts are distributed (vs.11, 28). This seems to be important, because from the concept of distribution comes several important corollaries: 1) Gifts are given for a good purpose. 2) God designs the distribution of gifts. 3) Not every member has every gift. 4) All gifts are important. 5) Gifts are for the benefit of the community.
Verse 31a is interpreted as an imperative in the RSV and NIV. The NIV footnote acknowledges that the word could be taken as indicative. The Corinthians seem to have been eagerly desiring a particular spiritual gift; why would Paul command them to continue? The answer is in v.31b: Paul is going to clarify for them what the best spiritual way is, laying the foundation for chapter 14, in which he encourages them to seek a spiritual gift that is more helpful.
Outline
1. Introduction to the topic of spiritual gifts. vv. 1-3
2. One Spirit inspires a variety of divine gifts -- vv. 4-11
3. Analogy of the human body to show how diversities work together
4. God distributes his gifts -- vv.28-31
Cultural and contextual background
This chapter has numerous interesting words. Some are not found elsewhere in the New Testament, because few passages discuss the topic of spiritual gifts. Interest is increased, and opinions multiply, because of current controversies about charismata.
Verses 4-6: varieties (diaireseis) may imply distribution, rather than simple variety. The related verb in v. 11 clearly means distribution (Earle 234-5, Barrett 283). Although diaireseis might have been ambiguous on first occurrence (Fee 586n13), Paul’s later use of the verb would make the meaning more clear on subsequent readings of the letter.
Verse 9: Faith "is the only charisma listed in 1 Cor. 12 that is also listed as a `fruit of the spirit’ in Gal. 5:22.... Here, however, pistis seems to mean an unusual degree of faith" (Spittler 603). "Faith cannot be that faith by which alone the Christian life is begun and maintained, for this could not be spoken of as a gift enjoyed by some Christians but not others" (Barrett 285).
Verse 10: Discernment of spirits "refers to the ability to evaluate [1] either the spirits themselves [cf. 1 Jn 4:1] or [2] spirit-inspired utterances [cf. 14:29]" (Spittler 603-4). "It was necessary (and it required another gift) to know whether the inspired speaker...was actuated by the Spirit of God, or by some demonic agency" (Barrett 286; he should have added as a third option that the person could be speaking of his own spirit).
Verse 10: Tongues. Fee lists the following as certain: It is an unintelligible Spirit-inspired utterance, directed to God and under the control of the speaker. "What is less certain is whether Paul also understood the phenomenon to be an actual language" (Fee 598). Fee gives evidence against glossolalia being a human language, but he also says the question is irrelevant.
Verse 11: "as he wills." The Greek verb bouletai implies "the deliberate exercise of volition" (Earle 235, citing Abbott-Smith).
The message and application
When discussing spiritual gifts, the best starting point is the realization that we cannot naïvely accept all impressive gifts as having divine origin. Non-Christian religions have some dramatic phenomena, but such phenomena are not evidence of value or authenticity. Rather, value is seen in relationship to Jesus Christ our Lord. If phenomena (including supernatural, seemingly miraculous powers) work against Jesus, they are not inspired by God. That is a reliable criterion. If miracles are used in association with a false gospel or a misleading message, we must not be misled by the display but rather judge the truthfulness of the message. If the phenomena are used to promote the Lordship of Jesus Christ, they are good, and the message of Lordship is inspired.
Next, we should realize that spiritual gifts come in great variety. Even though there is only one Lord and only one Spirit, God works in every Christian, using every variety of spiritual gift. We must not expect uniformity or be misled by the diversity. Spiritual gifts are distributed with purpose and thought, according to the divine will, therefore for our good, and we are likewise to use them to serve one another.1
God inspires a large variety of abilities. We cannot expect any person to have them all, or any of them to be experienced by all Christians, because God purposely distributes them. By dividing the skills, God encourages members to work with and help one another. The human body is an apt illustration, since it contains many types of organs. This analogy helps us see how foolish it would be to conclude that we must have one particular ability or else we don’t belong. Because if the entire body were only one type of tissue, it couldn’t function. Rather, the organs are interdependent, by divine design.
Just as we shouldn’t lament our lack of a particular ability, we shouldn’t disown or exclude those who have a different ability. That’s because we are often unable to correctly judge the usefulness of various abilities. Our internal organs may be weak in some respects, but they are nevertheless essential. The point is that we can’t judge value the way God does, so we must tolerate and try to understand differences within the church. God is the author of the variety, even though he isn’t a creator of confusion. Rather, he wants the variety to have harmony and unity, not discord and schism. Members of the church need to care about one another, without haughtiness or envy. The haves and the have-nots must remember that they are part of the same body.
God has distributed within the church gifts of leadership, miracles and service. None of these gifts are universal — God distributes them as he wishes. We should seek not for the gifts of our own choosing, not for the gifts we perceive to have honor,2 but we should seek to allow God to give us greater gifts, which operate within the parameters of love and humility rather than schism.
Endnotes
1 "One of the great tragedies of history is that many people have thought that salvation comes by being a `member’ of some church" (Earle 235). Membership isn’t enough; we must become involved with one another.
2 "It is not for Christians to dictate to the Spirit what gifts they (or others) should have, though they should strive for the greater (and perhaps less spontaneous) gifts (verse 31). The Spirit chooses what gift shall be given to each Christian, so that none has occasion for boasting, or for a sense of inferiority" (Barrett 286).
Bibliography
Barrett, C.K. A Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Harper’s New Testament Commentaries. New York: Harper & Row, 1968.
Earle, Ralph. Word Meanings in the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977, 1986.
Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.
Martin, Ralph P. "Gifts, Spiritual." Anchor Bible Dictionary, edited by David Noel Freedman. Volume 2, pages 1015-1018. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Spittler, R.P. "Spiritual Gifts." International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. Volume 4, pages 602-604. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988
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