Emma's Den

Moved to Tumblr!

2011-07-16T16:58:00.001-07:00

This blog has now been permanently moved over to tumblr. You can find us at http://EmmasDen.tumblr.com or by going to EmmasDen.com. There, you will be able to subscribe via email, subscribe via RSS feed, or follow on tumblr. See you there!

For Today: Be Grateful

2011-05-03T10:19:00.000-07:00

Emma '98

Who is one person in your life for whom you are grateful? Is it a family member (human or animal), a friend, a co-worker, perhaps a teacher or mentor from your past? Think about them today, and throughout the day, and why it is that you appreciate their presence in your life. As you think about them, imagine that you’re sending them the gratitude and appreciation you feel. Then see how your day changes.

OBL

2011-05-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reiki isn't difficult: it's discipline

2011-04-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When teaching basic exercises such as Joshin Kokyu Ho, students are often deceived by the inherent simplicity. After all, you’re just breathing in, breathing out and adding some basic visualizing, right?

Yes! That’s what makes the system of Reiki so user friendly. It doesn’t require you to subscribe to an elaborate dogma, change the way you eat, or get in better shape. But simple does not equate with easy. The challenge of this kokyu ho (breathing exercise) is often just to be in it, in the space you’ve created; to experience it as it is, rather than becoming impatient because it doesn’t seem to be “working,” or you’re waiting for something to happen. The technique itself is the goal.

The system of Reiki isn’t difficult, it’s discipline. When you can’t concentrate, keep doing it. When you’ve reached a plateau, keep doing it. When you feel you’ve learned all you can from it, do it longer. There is always room to grow, room to learn, room to develop. This is a journey. Go ahead and talk it out if you need to. Then grab a drink of water, and keep doing it.

Meditation: Attention to You

2011-04-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

Have you meditated yet today? What does that word mean to you? Have you tried before, and given up? Do you roll your eyes at the idea, or the thought that you’d have the time? There are many different ways to meditate, and not all involve chanting “Om” for an hour while sitting with your knees crossed.

Did you walk your dog? Ride your bike? Work out at the gym? Go to mass? Did you sit quietly for a few moments? These are all forms of meditation. The goal isn’t to “check out” into realms unknown and float around in the psychic abyss. Rather, the goal of meditation is to be Completely Present: without an agenda, without goals, without plans or strategies; to just be who you are at this moment, in this space.

This “doing nothing” can be challenging to those used to running around, achieving all the time - but the Mind is only one tool in your toolbox, and letting it run the show is as misguided as trying to build a house with only a hammer.

Here’s a simple way to begin: find a spot where you can sit quietly, or listen to some music (headphones are great!), and start by paying attention to your breath. As you breathe in through your nose, and then out, notice how long each breath is without trying to control it. Don’t adjust it: just pay attention. Notice how the air feels as it passes through your nostrils, how your abdomen moves in and out, how the rest of your body begins to settle in with each inhale and exhale. Let any thoughts that come to mind pass through like clouds floating by on a clear blue sky: without judgement, without trying to control or stop them, without effort. Be grateful to your mind for doing its job - and bring your attention gently back to your breath. The thoughts will eventually begin to slow down, even settle a bit. You’ll begin to experience what it is like to just sit, and Be.

As little as five minutes will make a difference to your blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety and stress level. With practice, your thoughts will settle down more quickly and more easily as the muscle memory of the exercise begins to take form. The more you do this, the more you’ll wonder how you ever got through a day without it.

You’ll discover the clarity of thought that comes with giving your mind a chance to run loose and exhaust itself, without asking anything of it. You’ll find the moments when you do need to use that tool - the Mind - thoughts are more efficient, with less accompanying chatter. With practice, you’ll find it easier and easier to find that resulting space of inner quiet, where intuition dances freely and peace gently reasserts itself as your natural state. Give yourself the gift of attention, and see how your life changes.

"Do not worry"

2011-03-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

It sounds oversimplistic, doesn’t it, even a little patronizing. Everybody does it. How can you stop? And we have to worry, right? Or we’ll be caught off guard, be vulnerable to injury or even attack. It’d be irresponsible, even. We’d be putting our safety, our future, in the hands of others.

But what is worry, but an emotional response (fear) resulting from focusing on negative events that have not happened yet. In other words, Fear of Events That Don’t Exist. There is a common expression about intuition, “It came to me out of the clear blue sky!” I’ve yet to hear, “It came to me when I was in a state of panic!” A worried mind is clouded, cluttering our thoughts with foggy shapes and illusions, and distracting us from our own intuition.

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Reiki precept “Do not worry” does not mean “do not plan” or “do not be practical.” It encourages present moment awareness, being in the here and now, which is the only place we ever actually are. Our ability to act, our effectiveness, our power, is only ever here. Now.

So, practically put, how do you do this? How do you stop worrying? Well, first, notice that you are: that’s the biggest step. Then, gently move your thoughts to what is in front of you at the present moment. What can you do, right now? Not in an hour, but right now? Next: is it a good idea to do that right now? No? Okay. Yes? Okay!

When disasters like the earthquake and tsunami in Japan occur, what can you do Right Now? Worrying about loved ones, or even how potential dangers may impact you personally only clouds your ability to make decisions, and delays your response time. What can you do, right now? Can you offer a practical skill? Can you donate money or resources? Can you pray, or visualize safety and healing? Can you better prepare for a disaster in your own area?

“Do not worry” is a gentle reminder to come back to where you are right now, which is - - where you are right now. Be here, now. That’s where you are.

One

2011-02-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

Over the last month, a couple of my animal clients have passed. It always hits me when I get the news, even if I’ve only connected with them once. Some of them pop in later to say hello, but I wouldn’t say that’s the norm.

It’s a job hazard, of course - people tend to seek out animal Reiki or communication as a last resort, when they don’t know what else to do. They’re willing to try anything, and that led them to me. I’d guess that 80% of my clients are already in hospice when their human calls.

But healing isn’t always about curing.

It’s hard to be on the losing side, but there’s a part of me that knows better: that knows that while helping one may not make a huge difference in the big picture, it makes a difference to that one. But sometimes, it’s just hard.

Blame Game

2011-01-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Blaming or condemning others (which is ego-based: 'I'm right and you're wrong') holds us in their perspective (their vibration). One cannot fight darkness with darkness because fighting cannot bring peace. By practicing compassion, we hold to a perspective of peace, overcoming darkness by simply being a light.

Communication vs Bias

2011-01-05T09:51:00.000-08:00

AKARAKINGDOMS

What we say is not as important to communication as what we think about what we say. When communicating with animals, we learn the importance of perception and attitude. Stereotypes of personalities based on species or breed, for example, (cats are aloof, dogs are playful, dolphins are wise, etc.) cloud communication with pre-conceived notions, limiting our ability to truly communicate. When a message seems filled with generalities (he enjoys the session), is gratitutious (she really likes Reiki), or is practitioner-focused (he would like another session), it is time for an ego-check: specifically, for prejudice. A limited view of another only serves to limit the communication that is possible.

New Year's Eve

2010-12-31T08:58:00.001-08:00

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

New Year's Eve can bring relief at letting go of the trials and stresses of the past year, and invoke excitement or apprehension for an unknown future. This places our attention in the past, and in the future - two locations which are out of our control. In the Five Precepts of Reiki, we may find the only resolution we need in the first two words: "For today..." By viewing each experience as it occurs as neither good nor bad (without judgment), we free our perceptions to see the myriad of opportunities and blessings around us. May we all live each day of the New Year fully, experiencing and enjoying each moment as it reveals itself. Happy New Year!

Criticism

2010-12-23T22:33:00.000-08:00

Criticism meant to provoke change in another comes from judgment, which is ego-driven. In Reiki, we learn that attempts to direct energy for a specific outcome serve only to disrupt the process. Continued compassionate availability, on the other hand, supports another to the degree they are capable of healing at that time.

My weekend with Magi - by Sarah Fraunfelder

2010-12-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

Hadley

Late last Saturday night I realized with a mix of panic and sadness that my cat, Hadley, was missing. This happened after spending all day peacefully meditating and absorbing valuable information in Magi's Animal Reiki weekend seminar. Needless to say the irony of the situation was not lost on me and I felt like an absolute loser. An absolutely heartbroken loser. I would describe Hadley as the cat equivalent of Russell Brand (with a dash of Kramer from Seinfeld thrown in). Lanky, lovely, and totally ridiculous. An indoor kitty by choice, she sometimes pokes her head out the door to explore the porch before scampering back inside.

After a fitful night's sleep, getting up every few hours to go out to look for her, I emailed Magi in desperate need of advice. She immediately got back to me and suggested I center myself and meditate on being a beacon of light to show Hadley the way back... like a lighthouse. Apparently being a freakish mess and fretting over what her disappearance was doing to me was actually not sending the right message to Hadley. Being a freakish mess was SO much easier, but okay, guess I was going to have to put on my big girl panties give it some effort. Acceptance, love, and guidance home (if she wanted it) were what I had to offer. It sounded great in theory, but I just wanted to kick and scream until I got my fluffy bottom kitty back. But I was supposed to RELAX and embody ACCEPTANCE give her a freakin' say in whether she wanted to come home?!? Damn. This was becoming quite the challenge.

Hadley had let Magi know that she was close by and near a red box. This information was such a relief to receive, although I didn't really know what it meant. I was convinced the red box was a fenced in square seating area with red furniture in my courtyard. So I sat there and meditated for a while before hanging up flyers and reluctantly heading up to Animal Acres for the second day of the Reiki workshop leaving all of my neighbors on the lookout. A few hours later, after getting up close and personal with some white turkeys and a pygmy goat named Lulu (who I believe was healing me by the way and not the other way around) I received a call from my neighbor that Hadley was spotted in our neighbor's yard next to a red cooler (the red box!!!) She wasn't coming to anyone, but she was there. I nearly wept with joy and amazement at Magi's ability to communicate with her. I raced home after the seminar and sat in the dark in the rain trying to "be the beacon". If it's one thing Magi taught me it's that every animal is an individual and should be treated as such. I had to accept that the situation was not mine to manipulate. Always tough to accept. Especially in the dark. And the rain.

After a few hours and one glimpse of her tail by the red cooler before she dove out reach under the neighbor's deck, I emailed Magi what was happening before heading back out to be the beacon. Fighting utter discouragement, I tried meowing to her (this didn't help the loser feeling I mentioned earlier) but faintly, through the pouring rain, I heard her meow back! It was a divine moment for this loser! She was in a thicket of bushes now, even closer to my house. I sat in the bushes meowing with her until she finally emerged. Beaming and filthy and soaked (me not her), with sticks and leaves in my hair and pulls in my sweater, I sent an email to Magi with the good news. Just before I hit send, I got a message from her saying she had just spoken with Hadley to thank her for sharing about the red box and offered to her the idea that, if she was ready, I would be elated to have her back home...

And that is just what happened! Meow.

My deepest gratitude to Magi for sharing her extraordinary gift. Her wisdom is invaluable and inspiring.

Consumer's Guide to Reiki

2010-11-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

Reiki sessions may be spiritual in nature, but don’t let that dissuade the use of your common sense when purchasing a service. If you’re looking for a Reiki Practitioner for yourself or your animals, here is a Consumer’s Guide to the process.

Reiki is not currently licensed by the State of California, nor by the Federal government. This means that anyone can hang a shingle stating they are a Reiki Practitioner without any type of legislated certification, and without ever having accrued in-person practice or session hours. There are a multitude of internet sites available offering online Reiki courses and ‘attunements’ completely without in-person instruction, and a multitude of Practitioners offering distance treatments who have little to no in-person experience.

Reiki is regulated in the State of California. According to SB577, Reiki Practitioners must provide clients with a disclosure statement prior to any sessions, and keep a client-signed copy on file for a minimum of three years. The information disclosed includes a description of what techniques the Practitioner will use, what their training is, what to expect from a session, what medical degrees or certifications they do or do not have, and any cancellation policies. With regard to animals, this information would include statements as to whether or not the Practitioner is a trained veterinarian. The disclosure must include a statement that the Reiki Practitioner may not diagnose or dispense legal advice, unless they have such licensure.

Reiki is regulated differently in different cities. The City of Los Angeles currently allows Reiki practitioners to use “hands-on” methods, as long as they do not include massage or musculoskeletal manipulation. Other cities in California do not allow physical contact unless the Practitioner is licensed in some other capacity, such as in massage.

Look for professional association credits. Professional associations are joined voluntarily, and in any non-regulated field, such willingness to self-regulate is a good sign. The International Association for Reiki Practitioners is one fee-based association available to Reiki Practitioners that requires acceptance of a Code of Ethics, as well as proof of liability insurance coverage. Their Code covers issues such as how to hold sessions, confidentiality, community involvement, continued Practitioner education, and diagnosing. The issue of curing is also covered in IARP’s Code, which specifically states Practitioners must explain that “sessions do not guarantee a cure nor are they a substitute for qualified medical or professional care.”

Reiki lineages are a matter of debate. Due to the cultural and historical time frame during which the founder, Mikao Usui, developed his system (early 1900s Japan), historians are still sifting through the abundance of misinformation in order to link specific teachings and techniques directly to Usui. Until further quantifiable research is done, Practitioners claiming ‘the only true lineage’ are claiming something that cannot be proven, and calling something a ‘traditional practice’ is a matter of opinion.

The ‘Healer’ is the client, not the Practitioner. The system of Reiki is an inwardly-focused system of spiritual growth and self-development. A byproduct of that development is the ability to support the healing process of another individual by acting as a conduit, or channel, for the Universal Ki energy. As Universal Ki, Reiki flows to the root of any issue, seeking to re-establish an overall state of balance and harmony. It is not, therefore, directed by nor dependent upon the skill of the Practitioner, as with other energetic practices such as acupuncture or qigong. Practitioners that take credit for cures or refer to themselves as healers are claiming something contrary to the definition of Reiki.

The main contributing factor of a Practitioner is the quality of their self-practice. If a Practitioner is out of balance themselves, the Reiki energy channeling through them will be focused on the Practitioner's own issues, impacting the flow available to the client. An active self-practice involves self-healing, as well as meditative techniques designed to facilitate the flow of Reiki within the Practitioner.

More Practitioners does not necessarily equal more healing. As any healing is due solely to the client’s level of acceptance or resistance, claiming that ‘two is better than one’ is inaccurate. The quality of a Practitioner’s daily practice is the relevant issue, not the number of Practitioners. A level one Reiki Practitioner with a disciplined daily practice may provide a more open conduit than two Reiki Masters without one.

Reiki in Hospitals

2010-09-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

What is Reiki?

The word Reiki comes from the Japanese Kanji Rei, which represents the spiritual source of the universe, or God, and Ki (like the Chinese 'Chi'), which represents the life energy of the universe. Reiki is often described as spiritual energy.

Reiki Practitioners use a Japanese system of self-development and spiritual growth developed by Mikao Usui (1865-1926) in the early 1900s that use this spiritual energy. Usui’s system developed from his roots as a Japanese martial arts practitioner, and his extensive training with Shintoism (the Japanese folk religion), Japanese buddhism (Tendai) and Shugendo (a spiritual mountain practice).

Reiki Treatments
Sessions may be used to address specific issues or for overall relaxation. During a typical Reiki session, a client may lay on a special table, or sit on a chair, while the Reiki Practitioner moves their hands on or over their body. The client remains fully clothed at all times, with no physical contact taking place on private/taboo areas. The experience is generally one of relaxation, and many fall asleep.
Reiki aids everything from the healing of injuries, muscle soreness, post-surgery recovery to so-called chronic conditions, as well as emotional issues, such as deep seated fears or groundlessness. Its calming and relaxing effect make it a wonderful compliment to any and all medical and therapeutic techniques, often increasing their effectiveness.

Reiki In Hospitals
Reiki is offered in many hospitals as an alternative therapy (such as acupuncture, massage, & reflexology). Seattle Children’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, The Cleveland Clinic, and The Cancer Treatment Centers of America are just a few organizations that offer Reiki as a part of their integrative services.

Reiki for Hospice
Seniors or the chronically ill benefit from Reiki’s gentle energy, as it creates a space of peace and healing, offering relief of physical symptoms, such as arthritis, as well as fears and anxieties, while improving quality of life.
Reiki in the Media
Dr. Andrew Weil, international speaker, author and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, refers to Reiki as “a powerful way to enhance the healing process.” TV’s Dr. Mehmet Oz, Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University, featured Reiki on his Emmy-winning TV show, saying, “First off, try Reiki. This alternative medicine treatment can manipulate your energy and cure what ails you."
Reiki is a holistic healing practice that seeks harmony and balance in all areas, bringing relaxation and calm, making it a wonderful compliment to all medical and therapeutic techniques.
Click here for more information about Reiki.

How To Help Animals

2010-05-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks, several people have asked me for suggestions on where and how to volunteer in their communities. With the recent Ohio Conklin Dairy Farm video scandal, even more people have asked for suggestions on how to get involved in animal rights and welfare issues. Hopefully, this will help.

First, let's briefly cover what are often called "factory farms." Farms of the Old MacDonald variety are disappearing as industrialization has consolidated and almost completely automated the process. Small farms exist, but most have contracts with larger corporations that push industrialization as a means of survival. As of 2002, only three companies controlled nearly 80% of the U.S. cattle slaughter/packing market: Tyson Foods Inc., Cargill Meat Solutions Corp., and Swift and Company. Animals are no longer mated, but artificially inseminated, genetically modified and injected with steroids and hormones to increase production.

Animals bred for food, or "livestock," are not governed by the same rights as your cat or dog. The initial argument (by the FDA, the Department of Agriculture, the Dairy industry, etc.) was apparently that since these animals are being bred, and ultimately killed, for their meat or byproducts, they are an exception to animal cruelty laws. What has resulted is an industry fraught with common practices and procedures that are horrific, yet legal. Unanesthetized tail docking, debeaking and lifetime cage confinement are a few of the tamer methods: sites such as FarmSanctuary and Vegan Outreach describe these inhumane practices and others in greater detail. Undercover investigations by such organizations as PETA and Mercy For Animals have accumulated a catalog of videos that show not only these methods, but the sadistic animal abuse that so often that follows. In 2002, Sierra Club researchers created The RapSheet on Animal Factories, documenting “crimes, violations or other operational malfeasance at more than 630 industrial meat factories in 44 states.” That's just the ones that were caught.

So what can you do?

1. Educate yourself about where your food comes from. Reading labels isn't enough. For example, free-range and cage-free are terms that sound nice, but apply only to birds raised for food (not for eggs), are only partially regulated by the USDA (cage-free is not regulated at all), do not require third party certification, and are thus essentially meaningless. Organizations like Vegan Outreach attempt to educate the public on these types of issues (labeling, certifications, common practices, etc.) through their website, educational programs and booklets - and so does almost every organization mentioned in this blog entry.

2. Sign up for Action Alerts about upcoming legislation in your area. Many different non-profit orgs, such as FarmSanctuary, AmericanHumane, The Humane Society (HSUS) & WSPA have email alerts, and will send you a notice when a new measure is up for a vote, or a petition is looking for signatures. Born Free USA and Wildlife Conservation Society cover a broader spectrum of animal issues, such as animal abuse in circuses, zoos, puppy mills, and wild horse slaughter.

3. Modify your diet. Voting with your dollar has an impact, and even one day less of animal products makes a difference to animals, to environment, to health. For example, a 2006 United Nations report found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gasses than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined. Meat Free Monday is a non-profit started by Sir Paul McCartney with the goal of raising awareness about the climate-changing impact of factory farming.

Target, and even Costco, sell "meatless" garden burgers, bacon and sausages, as do more health conscious stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. There are some great faux cheeses out there (Daiya is a personal favorite) that melt just like the original. Soy or rice milk are easy to find alternatives (I prefer almond or hemp), and there are even dairy-free coffee creamers! Experimenting with foreign foods is fun, and a lot of the ingredients are now available at your local supermarket. Other cultures are often a lot less dependent upon animal products in their food, particularly milk or cheese. The web is full of incredible recipes and suggestions on how to widen the scope of your eating habits without sacrificing taste: the site GoVeg even has a free Vegetarian Starter Kit to give you ideas and help with the transition.

4. Donate. Donate your money, donate your time. Hands On Network is a great site to connect you with volunteering opportunities in your area. If you're here in Los Angeles, Animal Acres and The Gentle Barn are just two of the farmed animal sanctuaries in the area that hold tours, and always welcome volunteers. There are dozens of companion animal rescues throughout the city, such as Molly's Mutts and Meows, that rescue animals from city shelters, then foster, rehabilitate and often train them to prepare them for a loving forever home. American Humane and FEMA both offer animal rescue training for all kinds of disasters, from tornadoes and flooding to hoarding situations.

I'm sure there are a million other ways to help, but hopefully this will get you started. Please feel free to add suggestions and links in the comment section. To paraphrase a favorite parable, helping one animal may not seem like it makes much of a difference, but it makes all the difference to that animal.

Saturn's Rings

2009-11-01T20:13:00.000-08:00

My Saturn suffered a heart attack last week on highway 14, one so severe that no defibrillator would resuscitate it. My situation such as it is, I hardly need a new major expense. The choices are to scrap it and buy a new one, purchase a new engine from the dealer to the tune of $5k, or take my chances at a mechanic replacing the engine with a used one for about $1500. Incredibly, I didn’t get upset until I told someone what had happened. Then I cried like a baby.

Shortly after that, a phrase pinned to my bulletin board flashed through my mind: “I realize that I do have a choice in all that matters to me. I can choose how I respond to life's situations and to those around me - in what I do or do not do.” Okay. Let's see if I can put my money where my affirmation is. What if I don’t have a car? Is it the end of the world? What would I do if I didn’t have a car for say, a few months? Inhale. Exhale.

LA isn’t exactly known as a walking city, being ridiculously spread out, and where side streets and sidewalks are a sporadic occurrence. I know a few people who don’t have cars, and I’ve received more than a few panicked voice mails searching for a ride to a last minute audition. The subway system is in its infancy, and the bus system is basically, well, scary. Even by car, auditions and gigs are at least a 45 minute drive or longer. It’s no wonder we Angelinos are so attached to our cars, and that, here, the Extras are considered Necessities: the sun roofs and A/C, the mp3 players and satellite radios. We spend quite a lot of time in there, so it damn well better be pleasant. It’s not so much a love affair, as a co-dependence. It’s very true that, quite often, you can’t get there from here - without a car.

And I love my car. I love driving. I love road trips. My car is more than what gets me from Point A to Point B. It's my ticket to adventure, to freedom! It takes me to the beach. It takes me to the mountains. It takes me wherever I want to go, when I want to go. It’s I Can Get The Hell Out Of Here, If I Want To.

On the flip side, I also enjoy walking. It's how I start my day - a habit that began back in Seattle in ‘97 when my dog Emma adopted me, and the Vet told me that this wee little puppy would need to be walked 15 minutes each day, for starters. The 15 minute walk for her quietly transformed into a 30 minute walk for both of us, growing to 60 minutes, adding in sprints, and quickly becoming the required pre-production meeting of the day, no matter the schedule, no matter the hour.

That expanded even further in '06 when I did a play in Cardiff, Wales. We walked everywhere – to the theatre, the museums, the pubs – without a second thought. So, in January of ’07, further inspired by the New Year, I decided to adjust my lifestyle and start walking even more. I began walking to the bank, to the post office, to the grocery store, to the video store – anywhere within 3-3.5 miles round trip. Skyrocketing gas prices cemented that lifestyle choice: I drove my car less than 7,000 miles last year.

But I still manage to find myself falling into a rut. I’ll navigate a new route for one reason or another, and then stick to it for months. This one has less lights, so I don’t have to stop for traffic. This one is mostly in the shade. This one has working street lights, which is important in the wee hours before an early call. I wake up, meditate, do yoga, and head out there on autopilot for My Morning Walk, no thinking required. Actually, that’s kind of the point. It’s my moving meditation.

So this time, I’m hoofing it out of necessity, and decide to incorporate an errand into my morning ritual. I ambitiously forge a trail to my favorite grocery store two miles away, not the chain store that's a lot closer. Since it doesn’t open until 9 a.m., I’m heading outside later than I’m used to, so I feel safe cutting through the neighborhood, and veer through some side streets I haven’t been down recently.

Oh, that’s right, Halloween is this weekend. I don’t have kids, and I live in a secure building, so Halloween can come and go like a Tuesday in April if I don’t pay attention. There are ghosts hanging from trees, and headstones in almost every front yard, and a few KEEP OUT signs that make me chuckle. There are more people out later in the morning, it seems, and I pass a few human-dog pairs, some cyclists, and some other walkers, and we all greet each other with a smile, and sometimes a hello. I pass some small storefronts I hadn’t noticed before. Can places really survive just selling wedding cakes? A pub is closed. A liquor store is open. Birds are chirping loudly from an open pet store. A few folks are in their yards, adding flowers to flowerbeds, raking leaves and grooming their homes.

Are the people that live in these houses in the industry? Maybe, maybe not. Hollywood is not Los Angeles but it’s easy to forget that sometimes. The biz, my career, and financial concerns can become a gold coin held two inches from my nose: one that I can see clearly, but also blocks my view.

I love my morning meditation. I love that I can step out into nature and turn off the chatter while I move through my body, shaking out the kinks and crimps and twists of the day before, enjoying the world outside, knowing that if an inspiration comes through and I become lost in thought, my legs will keep on going home, home, home. But there is a delight, too, in a different neighborhood, where Halloween is as important as a Snow Day, and the pagan New Year Samhain is a reason for people to decorate their houses, dress in ridiculous costumes, open their doors and share treasures with passing children.

Make no mistake, my car is currently in surgery undergoing a heart transplant, and I’ve been given every reassurance that it will enjoy a full recovery, but I am choosing to respond to this latest adventure with another phrase that stamped itself in my psyche long ago, a nod to one of my favorite trios. I'm choosing to take a cue from The Three Wise Men, and sometimes, going home by a different route.

(*originally posted 11/01/09 http://magiloucks.blogspot.com/2009/11/saturns-rings.html)

Healing vs. Curing

2009-09-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

After becoming certified as a Reiki Master in 2007, I found that while I wasn’t interested in opening a Reiki practice, I was drawn to the idea of Reiki for animals. As I began reading whatever I could find on the subject, references to animal communication kept popping up as sort of par for the course. I had found in my experiences with Reiki that I often received images and ‘knowings’ during a treatment. While this didn’t exactly surprise me, this idea that practitioners might receive similar messages while treating animals, or even from the animals, was enticing, and began to draw me in. Dr. Doolittle? For real??

Over time, as I practiced Reiki on my own animal companion, Emma, I learned some hard lessons about sending energy versus offering Reiki, and the difference between curing and healing. The first animal communications I consciously attempted were with my girl, and she was not pleased with me. I was so shocked, and hurt, I stopped. I believed it because it was certainly not what I had expected in a million years - and of course I knew she loved me - but I wasn’t about to keep at it. So, I acted like it hadn’t happened and kept trying to send Reiki to her, but she just didn’t seem to be accepting it. When she started having bladder infections, I sent it even more, but usually she’d leave the room, uninterested. I was so frustrated, and scared, and as the infections continued and the vets supplied no answers, I fired away, aiming Reiki like a forcible magic wand, willing it to fix her.

As months of veterinary visits and antibiotics and tests went by, and the infections kept coming back, and she developed debilitating arthritis in her spine and hips, something inside me changed. While I still was intent on fixing her and solving this infuriating health crisis, the intent of sending Reiki seemed to subtly shift. I just wanted her to feel better. I wanted her to have some relief. Miraculously, she began to accept it. The two of us were always together, going on adventurers or just hanging out, but now, we added Reiki. We would sit together, just being, just loving, and I would hear her sigh, and see her roll over, calm and peaceful, and I would thank God.

Emma passed unexpectedly in my arms on the morning of September 11, 2008. While she had lost a lot of weight and was weak and tired, she did not have any of the symptoms you commonly see with animals nearing death, such as loss of appetite, diarrhea, labored breathing, etc., and her arthritic symptoms had all but disappeared. I am convinced it is because of Reiki.

The following spring, I was privileged to study with Debbie McGillivray, animal communicator and author. This afforded me the opportunity to practice and learn from a variety of animals (and species) that I didn’t know and had no emotional involvement with, making it very clear - even to me - that I have an affinity for animal communication and animal Reiki. It was just a matter of time before I realized that while a Human Reiki practice hadn’t seemed to be calling my name, an Animal Reiki practice had already sprouted roots.

While miraculous recoveries and repaired injuries are definitely a part of the Reiki story, quality of life is an important one, too. Emma taught me that Reiki is really about healing. This is all for her. Happy Birthday, baby. BFF.

Animal Communication

2009-08-31T22:54:00.000-07:00

Before we moved 2000 miles to LA, Emma spent a bit of time with her Grandma. After we moved, Grandma was known to call me and ask for Emma. I would yell, "Hey, Emma, Grandma's on the phone!" and she would come running to the handset, slamming on the brakes just underneath, and begin sniffing the phone emphatically. She'd tear around the apartment, searching for Grandma, then come running back, lather the phone with kisses, her tail wagging. Grandma would talk, telling her how much she missed her and what a good girl she was, and Emma would sit there, listening. After we'd been down here for awhile, Emma stopped searching the apartment, and would just sit and listen to the receiver, tail wagging, occasionally licking it and giving it kisses. I thought *that* was cool.

But what if Grandma didn't need a phone? Animals, like us, are spiritual beings having an earth-bound experience. Like us, they communicate telepathically. Wait, what?

That’s what I said. The trouble is, as humans we’re taught from birth to use primarily verbal skills, so ‘use it or lose it’ kicks in, and we stop stretching that particular communication muscle. Regardless, there is still a pre-verbal process going on long before the words in our thoughts are formed in English (or French, or Spanish, or Russian...). Ask any deaf person.

We think in concepts and pictures, not in words, and by slowing down, and consciously using and re-developing this all-but-forgotten-yet-still-present muscle, this ability from our past can be re-trained, enabling us to take part in inter-species communication. Some might have more of a knack for it than others, but that's true of basketball. Anyone can do this. Seriously!

Most pet owners are familiar with the 'my dog knows when I'm coming home' phenomenon. Rupert Sheldrake, a Ph.D. in biochemistry at Cambridge and Harvard philosophy student, wrote a book on it aptly titled, "Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home." His studies are a fascinating read, indicating that the animals know when their human *decides* to come home, so they know to wait. If the human changes their mind - damn, I forgot, I need to go to the drug store - the animal (be it cat, dog, bird, horse, etc.) responds in turn.

As with Reiki, animal communication is not limited by distance: you could be anywhere in the world, or just in your living room. And I've done it. And freaked myself out a bit. Okay, the first few times, more than a bit, and I'll write about that another time. If you're a pet owner, you can probably recall times your animal somehow knew you needed a little extra love and attention, or did what you were just about to ask them to do. If you're a Reiki practitioner, you may have already received images and knowings and that sort of thing when you were giving a treatment. It's really not that different. As with Reiki, anybody can do it. Anybody. You just have to listen. They've got stuff to say.

Reiki for Animals

2009-08-31T22:40:00.000-07:00

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." - Aristotle

By now, you've probably heard of Reiki, or know someone who does it, or perhaps have even experienced it yourself. Just in case, Reiki is a Japanese method of stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Pronounced 'ray-kee', it is a gentle, noninvasive energy work that is holistic in nature, using the body's own natural healing capabilities to help clear and balance one's physical, emotional, mental and spiritual being.

Very generally, Reiki practitioners examine the client’s aura and energy field to help identify, and then release, any blocks that may have developed. The same may also be done with locations and situations. Reiki's calming and relaxing effect make it a wonderful compliment to any and all medical and therapeutic techniques: for example, it's been known to decrease recovery time and assist with pain management.

The word Reiki comes from the Japanese Kanji Rei, which represents the spiritual source of the universe, or God, and Ki (like the Chinese 'Chi'), which represents the life energy of the universe. Reiki is often described as 'spiritually guided life force energy.' Because the Reiki practitioner acts as a channel for the Ki energy rather than relying on their own abilities or talents, as with some energy work, Reiki goes where it is needed, whether the cause of the imbalance is known or unknown. This channeling effect also results in one of the unique characteristics of Reiki: that when one is giving, one is by definition also receiving. It really is the Prayer of St. Francis in action.

The Original Reiki Ideals

Just for today, do not be angry.
Do not worry, and be filled with gratitude.
Devote yourself to your work and be kind to people.

Mikao Usui

Reiki for Animals?

I was initially drawn to Reiki as a method of personal healing and spiritual development, not at all interested in opening any kind of practice. As I studied Reiki 1 and 2, I found myself intrigued by the idea of Reiki for animals. A Feng Shui armchair amateur, I knew about the fantastic positive energy that animals bring to their environment, increasing the flow of Chi, and I'd certainly experienced that firsthand. So, I started reading about the subject, and practicing on Emma and on my boyfriend's two dogs, Woody and Maggie, and any other animals that'd let me.

One of the unique and wonderful things about Reiki is that it does not require any physical contact. The animal fully controls the treatment, accepting as much or as little energy as they wish, in whatever way is the most comfortable for them, be it hands-on or from a distance. The animal is in complete control, and in a loving and supportive environment.

Reiki for animals offers healing with everything from physical ailments to behavior issues to past emotional trauma. Reiki's impact at animal shelters and with rescue organizations is a subject dear to me, and I watch with excitement the work of the new non-profit SARA, the Shelter Animal Reiki Association. The anecdotal evidence for adoption rate increases and healings is there, and I eagerly await the findings of the more scientific studies on the horizon.

I have seen first-hand the effects of Reiki on domesticated animals, and felt the energy being spontaneously pulled from my hands by wild and exotic animals along my path. After becoming certified as a Reiki Master in 2007,* it became apparent that if any Reiki practice were to evolve for me (which I really wasn't interested in, remember) it would be one focused on Reiki for Animals. In August of 2009, it seems that's exactly where I was headed after all. I look forward to seeing how this is going to unfold.

Plus, they have good mojo.

* Certified as a Reiki Master by the International Center for Reiki Training, Usui/Tibetan Reiki System

Emma's Den: Who We Are

2009-08-31T21:30:00.000-07:00

When my best friend and soul mate Emma passed over unexpectedly in 2008, leaving my life as dramatically as she had entered it, she changed the course of my life once again. My overwhelming grief and despair at her loss, my inability to save her, along with a general lack of understanding by most people of our relationship and what the loss meant to me, stripped me raw of the non-essentials that I had accumulated along the way. All my priorities, my goals, my dreams, my perceptions of what I had wanted, or thought I wanted - they all disappeared. As I struggled to simply live each day without her, I struggled, too, to continue believing in what I had known to be true before she had passed: that death is not the final chapter, and that Love is Always. I eventually found some solace in prayer and meditation, and the knowledge that energy does not end, but simply transmutes into a different form. The last part, at least, was scientific fact. It just wasn't enough.

Every aspect of my day was wrong and irrelevant. The reasons for everything no longer existed, from the time I got up in the morning, to when and how I exercised, where I drove, and why I left the bathroom door open. Everything needed to be re-evaluated, as the motivation was gone. Often times, my singular saving grace was the thought that I didn't want our time, her time, to be a waste. She taught me so much, gave me so much. So I tried to focus on our friendship and our love, the blessings and the Divine presence that existed in our relationship, as I cried and wept and grieved and mourned.

As the old dreams left a vacuum, new ones that involved Reiki and animals and healing began taking their place. I went back to the old books, and started practicing again. People from my Reiki past began to re-surface in emails and phone calls. Opportunities to stretch my knowledge and skills were dropping themselves at my doorstep. Maybe these dreams weren't so new, after all.

As has been a common theme in my story, I find it simple enough to do readings for others, and extremely difficult to do them for myself. I look forward to the day when enough of the emotional charge has healed that I will be able to communicate with Emma as easily as I do with other animals. I talk to her, of course, wherever and whenever, and am blessed with messages from her more frequently than I dared hope for - from the subtle to the stop-you-in-your-tracks - and I write each of them down and keep a record of them in my heart. And I cry and weep and grieve and mourn. In the meantime, Emma patiently continues to encourage and support me, and is, as always, my inspiration. BFF

Emma's Den

2009-08-28T13:14:00.000-07:00