Learning about energy healing

3 09 2009

Often I’ve heard or read writings from healers who say they chose their vocation after a personal transformational experience. An unexplained miracle of healing at the time caused them to wonder and ask questions, leading them to learn how it was done so that they could help others.

My story with Reiki is not so dramatic, but I thought I would share how it evolved.

It began with a weekly meditation group in Honolulu at the residence of a psychic who ran a healing center and taught lots of interesting things. She was a lightworker. After she moved to Colorado, I was on the lookout for another teacher. That new teacher is Alice Anne Parker, an author and also a professional psychic, who suggested two years in a row that I take her Reiki class. The third year I said yes, thinking, she’s asked so many times, maybe I should. I had heard her lecture to public groups and had gone to her other workshops, including one on time travel and two on understanding dreams. I’d read her books, and she could read me!

I had no idea what Reiki was. Are there any prerequisites? I asked. Not really, just come with an open mind and a willingness to learn, she said. I signed up.

The weekend intensive course was in the Unlimited Reiki System of natural healing, and I attained the Initiation and completed the Attunements for Levels I, II, and Master. After the training, I had knowledge of using Reiki to heal myself, to heal others, and to teach it to others. The knowledge to teach the Unlimited Reiki System to others is what is meant by the title “Reiki Master.”

Now, if this is already getting a little woo-woo for you, or you want to know what Reiki is before reading further, you may click on REIKI HEALING BY OELEN in the menu bar for some background. Then click on your Back Button to return to this page.

AliceAnne explained that previously and even currently in some schools of Reiki (there are many), learning Reiki well enough to practice on others required years of training and experience, and that the cost of the training was (and still can be) very expensive. The price of a Reiki treatment used to be (and still can be) hundreds of dollars. She further taught that now, especially in the times that we live in, Reiki is available to anyone and everyone. We all need healing every day, and Reiki should be accessible.

However, with just three days of training, I wasn’t entirely comfortable hanging out my shingle, but I was still interested. At first I practiced on myself, next on darling husband and puppy dog. Those two are good receivers! Then, for about two years I gave 20-minute demos at health fairs for free. As a practitioner, I don’t know what the client feels during a Reiki session, which is why I welcome clients to report back. I, myself, don’t feel anything during a session, only the same as I feel normally, because I am channeling the energy, the Universal Life Force Energy found in all living things.

98% of the feedback was positive. Each person experiences Reiki differently, I was told, and for a person, it can be different from session to session. These are the kinds of statements people made: “You really have good hands.” “I have never had an experience like that in my entire life.” “As you moved your hands I felt as though my blood was being cleansed from head to toe.” “I have a pin in my right foot, but I felt a sensation in my left foot.” “I had so much energy afterward, I went home and cleaned my whole house.” “Your hands are so warm, they feel really good.” “After the Reiki session the pain from my surgery went away and never came back.” I made the decision to keep going.

There are many alternative healing modalities, different types of “energy work” across all cultures that have been practiced since ancient times, rediscovered and renamed in modern times. The practitioner will select the modality that feels right to him/her, and it can be a combination of methods.

As Oe-Len (that’s my Reiki name), I give straight basic Reiki the way I was taught. My learning hasn’t stopped. Most recently my study of tai chi and qigong, as well as learning about and witnessing The Reconnection, have helped me to better understand the workings of the Universal Life Force Energy. I continually learn from my clients’ feedback, too. Everyone has the ability to heal, just as most people have the ability to make music or, say, run. Some just have a stronger ability, interest or aptitude and spend more time in fine tuning the art. ~ Rebekah

Oelen healing space

ANNOUNCING REIKI FRIDAYS.  Oelen’s new healing space in Kaaawa is open for Reiki sessions every Friday,  from  10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For an appointment, directions, and rate information, please call 808 220-9642.

Copyright 2009 Rebekah Luke



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Flowing like water

28 08 2009

I visited the People’s Republic of China twice, once in 1978 with my father on a special cultural tour from Honolulu, and again in 2005 with my Sunset foodie friend on, what else?, a custom eating tour! Like all first-time visitors to China, we were impressed by the modes of transportation, the humongous population, and the bad traffic in the cities.

In 1978 the people traveled by one-speed bicycle, I recall. Valerie of our group arranged to meet relatives of friends outside the Friendship Store where only tourists were allowed to shop, and where the goods were of export quality. They gave her some money, she went inside, and in a few minutes she emerged wheeling a brand new bicycle. The family was overjoyed and so grateful. It was like getting a new car, I guess, or, perhaps greater, getting one’s first car. At that time, even if I knew how to ride a bike, I don’t think I would have, for fear of getting smooshed or yelled at in Chinese in the peloton. Except unlike a peloton, the Chinese didn’t seem quite as orderly, so how would I merge into the traffic in the first place? Let’s just say all those bicycles were awe inspiring.

In 2005, things had changed, of course. Capitalism and automobiles had arrived. Not as many bicycles—although still enough for darling husband’s jaw to drop. Like describing the ocean surf, I informed, “You should have been here when”— and where were all the people? Answer: In their cars! We were chauffeured by bus with a good view of the traffic below, and all we could think of was, yikes! so many first-time drivers! Some of our travel mates/side-seat drivers actually closed their eyes. In China, it seemed, there was no regard for lines or arrows on the street. No one really stopped or reduced speed. My heart skipped a beat when the tourist bicycle rickshaw we were in crossed in front of a bus.

China traffic

All types of transportation are mixed up together: cars, trucks, bicycles, taxis, carts, motorbikes, three-wheel minis, rickshaws, pedestrians, you-name-it. The amazing thing is, we never witnessed a crack-up. Traffic there is like water. It just flows. How do they do it?

A better question is, why? I think it has to do with the practice of qigong. Masters of the art taught just a few others in ancient China, passing it down from generation to generation, but back then qigong was somewhat of a mystery.  Since the mid 1950s qigong and tai chi forms have been practiced widely by the Chinese. The Communist government endorsed it for health and healing. In 1978 I watched young and old alike in parks of the places we visited as they engaged in the slow moves of this exercise. Their hands, arms, legs, feet, and entire bodies moved gracefully and at a steady tempo, one movement flowing into the next as they replenished stale energy with fresh energy.

I started practicing tai chi and qigong (“chi” or “qi” are the same words meaning life force energy) with the WCC Tai Chi Class only a few years ago. It’s the same energy as the “ki” in Reiki that I do for others and myself. My understanding expanded when I read about qigong in a book my cousin gifted me. There is a way to heal, harmonize, and balance one’s mind, body, spirit, and emotions. There is a way to remove blockages and have your energy flow like water for your highest good. The technique is available to anyone. Anyone can learn to do it, provided they have an open mind and are willing to receive. As a Reiki Master and practitioner, I can show you how. ~ Rebekah

Copyright 2009 Rebekah Luke

For more on Reiki, click on Reiki Healing by Oelen on the menu bar. From now through November, we are open for Reiki Fridays.

Suggested reading: Orr, Katherine. Beautiful Heart, Beautiful Spirit Shing-Ling-Mei Wudang Qigong. Kaneohe: DragonGate Publishing, 2005. ISBN 978-0-9765178-0-1


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Milestones to celebrate

25 08 2009

I turned 60 this year and must say I like it up here! Today darling husband and I complete 25 years of marital success. We welcomed our first grandchild, a girl, in May. What fascination! My puppy dog whose job is to give everyone joy turned 6 and technically she’s not a puppy anymore, so it’s probably okay that she’s upstaged by the baby. The raised garden beds were put in at last and yielded wholesome food. The eggplant, Manoa lettuce, and bok choy did great. A section of our home was dedicated and transformed into a wonderful healing space. We had a proper Hawaiian blessing for the entire property, and I resumed my Reiki practice. Equally satisfying has been my return to painting. When I remember to be mindful of the present, keep my intentions correct, and relax, I am shown that life is abundant and all is well.

Thanks to Alice Brown, Pete & Ayla


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