Love Divine

My very first experience of Reiki happened at a social gathering both Ellen and I were attending. I asked Ellen what Reiki was and rather than going into lengthy explanations, she showed me. The nature of the gathering was such that it couldn't last long, but was enough to, well, even after all these years, words fail me. But from that moment on I was hooked, committed, had to have this wondrous thing. I still remember what that first experience felt like and how I felt about it. This was 12 years ago. I received my First Degree Attunement with Ellen 6 months later and my Second Degree 6 months after that.

In 12 years I've had many experiences with and through Reiki that have made me, well, go WOW! But in thinking back over those years I find there are two very personal gifts in particular that I cherish in my heart and soul and would now like to share with you.

They both happened during the first year or so of my Attunements at a time when I had the admirable routine of starting my day at 5:30 am and giving myself Reiki. These sessions were simply Reiki for Reiki's sake, rather than wanting to 'fix' an identified something that might ail me, either physically or spiritually. During one session I was spontaneously bathed completely in Love. I hope I'm explaining properly that this was not love from me, as in say huge outpouring from the heart chakra; this was Love from outside me - embracing me, flowing over and through me. It was an ineffably exquisite gift and my very first conscious experience of Divine Love. It slowly faded leaving me awed (major understatement) and with tears of gratitude streaming down my face. There is a hymn from my distant Church of England upbringing that says it best, I think: Love Divine all Loves excelling, Joy from Heaven to Earth come down.

The other experience I hold especially dear came about as a result of me not being able to see auras. I was grumbling about this to a co-worker, actually my employer. Saying something like, "Wouldn't you think I'd be able to see them, what with all my Reiki................da da, da da, da da," and so on. She said, "You can see them, you just don't know how," and proceeded to show me. So I practiced and practiced and practiced. Wherever I was, the street, the mall, the grocery store, I focused on seeing auras and I'm sure more than a few people must have thought I was a real weirdo, staring at them with this fixed, glazed expression. Plants were easier. I didn't have to worry about embarrassing myself or them. Anyway, although practice never did make perfect for me I eventually got into the habit of just being visually conscious of energy fields without having to struggle so hard.

During this time I was still doing my 5:30 am Reiki sessions and after a session it was my habit to just lie peacefully for a few minutes (should mention I always gave myself Reiki with my eyes closed) then leap out of bed for the morning get-to-work-on-time marathon. The morning that made such a huge impact on me, I changed my routine slightly. I'd finished my session and as I lay there gathering my thoughts for the day, casually wondered what my hands would look like, energetically, after Reiki. So I held them out in front of me, opened my eyes and saw HUGE MITTS OF WHITE LIGHT that stayed with my hands as I moved them back and forth. The light gradually faded as I became increasingly centered in the immediate (getting up and getting to work.)

It would be wrong, and I feel somewhat diminishing, for me to say these experiences proved or clarified something for me because from the very beginning I have felt clear about what Reiki is and my role in giving Reiki to myself or others. I have never felt I needed proof. Rather, I was honoured with gifts, far more precious than any material gift, that along with Reiki, have played a deeply significant role in my spiritual journey. I am full of gratitude for Reiki and all it has brought me.

--- - submitted February 2006, by Barbara Carson