Concerned Loved Ones
Occasionally I receive email from people who are concerned about the well-being of loved ones.
On one occasion a son inquired whether one to three consecutive Reiki sessions would make a difference for his mother or if treatment would eventually become a huge ongoing expense. His mother suffered from a list of ailments that included elevated blood pressure, stress and depression, plus symptoms of possible Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Evaluation
Without proper medical evaluation and testing (blood work, joint manipulation, x-rays, hereditary factors, etc.) it’s hard to determine whether her joint pain is actually created from Rheumatoid Arthritis. There are other health conditions that can mimic the symptoms. Normally, rheumatoid arthritis affects both sides of the body simultaneously, which produces pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced mobility or joint range-of-motion, as well as reduced strength. If the doctor thinks that it’s a possibility, then a person should be examined by a rheumatologist. Proper treatment received within the first 2-years following diagnosis may help prevent future joint deformities.
Significance of Symptoms
Physical symptoms are signs that the person is way out of balance or that there is a disconnection – mentally, emotionally, physically or spiritually. At this point the body is telling them to pay attention and to make the necessary changes in their life in order to improve or alleviate the symptoms. If they choose to ignore the warnings, then the symptoms can possibly develop or manifest into chronic illness or disease.
Conventional Treatment
Doctors can prescribe medications to ease symptoms or to give temporary relief, but these only mask the underlying issues and usually create unpleasant side effects as well. In extreme cases, surgery or joint replacement may be offered as another option.
Seeking Reiki Treatment
Reiki will give relief to the symptoms, but Reiki is NOT a cure-all, nor should it be thought of as something magical. One to three treatments will definitely help to balance a person’s energies (at the four levels) and will help reduce pain or discomfort, plus help release energy blockages, but it is impossible to say how many additional treatments are required.
As a rule, I prefer to book a client one session at a time. I also avoid telling them when or if they should return for additional treatment. This decision I leave for the client to make. I give them the responsibility to observe any obvious changes or progress that encompasses all levels - mental, emotional, spiritual and physical, before deciding whether they feel it’s necessary to return for additional treatment.
However, depending on the problem (E.g. blocked energy resulting in extreme pain), sometimes it is necessary to have three consecutive treatments before noticeable relief from pain or discomfort is felt. In-between each treatment the person may feel movement of pain within the body that goes from the original pain site to another site. This is simply released stuck energy travelling to an exit point for permanent discharge. In this case the old adage is true….. “No pain, no gain”.
For health sufferers, it is necessary to be a willing participant in your own healing treatment plan in order to experience long-term effects. It is useless to go for Reiki only to please somebody else or to shut them up. The reason for going for any type of treatment should be because you want to, not because you are coerced by others. It is essential to be a willing and “active” rather than a “passive” participant.
Victim Mentality
Instead of becoming a “victim” to existing conditions or circumstances, a person must become a fighter and be prepared to do whatever it takes to find relief from present symptoms. However, this takes open awareness, complete willingness, courage, commitment, dedication, determination, discipline, time and hard work.
This may involve making changes in several areas such as:
- Develop a positive thinking pattern.
- Resist focusing or obsessing on the negative or on what you have no control over.
- Release past issues; just learn the life lesson from the experience, then let it go.
- Stop making excuses for nonsense behaviour.
- Cultivate clearer perception.
- Become totally truthful to self.
- Release expectations
- Be less judgmental or critical of self and others.
- Avoid blaming others or circumstances for your unhappiness.
- Have a more patient and tolerant attitude.
- Release unhealthy habits, beliefs and attitudes.
- Lose any false sense of entitlement.
- Improve your action or re-action toward people or situations.
- Improve your diet and nutrition (especially increasing water intake, plus reducing sugars, fats and salt).
- Improve your sleep pattern.
- Incorporate daily meditation.
- Do low-impact daily exercises such as stretching, yoga, fast-paced walking, rebounding, swimming or water exercises.
- Balance your daily routine and lifestyle.
- Grow up - become accountable and responsible for your decisions and actions.
Who’s Responsible?
Those who seek help or solutions on behalf of loved ones, it is evident of the deep concern you have about their health and well-being. No doubt it's wonderful to have compassion and love for another. However, this doesn't mean that you should allow the problems or responsibilities of others to be transferred to you - in other words, it becomes your problem instead of theirs. Don’t be mistaken that you are being uncaring, self-centered or selfish by establishing healthy boundaries in order to keep the situation in proper perspective.
In reality it should be the responsibility of the sufferer to seek out their own treatment unless they are mentally or physically incapacitated and therefore it’s not feasible. Otherwise they can become co-dependent on others to bail them out without making any effort themselves. Or they may assume false expectations for a miraculous healing. Or they may feel a sense of entitlement – that they are "owed" by others or by society. Thus they may make a multitude of excuses to play the “victim” role and to either give up, remain lazy or become negligent for their own well-being.
It is always preferable to encourage people to learn how to help and think for themselves, rather than become dependent on a health practitioner or on others to bail them out, solve their problems or to do their own practical decision-making.
Reiki Self-Application
For chronic health conditions that require constant treatment, in order to keep the symptoms under control it’s more beneficial to take the Reiki Level 1 course, which is the self-healing level.
Daily Reiki self-treatment accomplishes several things:
- Reiki can be applied anytime, anywhere whenever required.
- It’s less expensive than going to a Reiki practitioner on a continual basis.
- It promotes active participation.
- It relieves pain, stiffness or discomfort by releasing stuck energy.
- It encourages self-responsibility for your own well-being.
- It stimulates the body to heal itself.
- It promotes clearer perception and positive thinking.
- It activates increased creativity and intuition.
- It relieves insomnia through intense relaxation.
- It makes a person more aware of their own inner well-being.
- It helps relieve stress, thus producing calmness and peacefulness.
- It helps create and maintain constant balance between body, mind & spirit.
Uninterested
Naturally for those who have absolutely no interest in practicing Reiki, or any other energy-based healing modality, then of course continue treatment with a qualified practitioner. However, for more beneficial long-term results, be sure to make a concerted effort to be actively responsible during the treatment program.