02/06/2026
A recent experience has given me hope and also motivation to look more deeply at myself, what I hold dear, and toward what my thoughts and emotions focus. I am being tasked to remember who I am and why I am here. These are all pertinent questions for anyone and ones I tend to ask myself rather frequently.
The Venerable Monks recently came through the town in which I live and I was one of the members of the medical team set up to provide care. Being of service to those who are giving so much was an honor I really can't begin to describe. I still get a little moist in the eyes when I think of it. One of the elder monks sat with the remaining team members at the end of the second night and spoke to us of peace.
When I see racism, sexism, discrimination, violence, oppression, astronomical imbalances of wealth, and neighbor pitted against neighbor, among many other present-day horrors, it is really difficult for me to find peace. In fact, I feel it is necessary to feel our feelings, however uncomfortable, rather than pushing them away. I am reminded that, while peace is a noun, finding peace is an action. It's already inside us. We have to carefully remove the obstacles to its awareness. That's a big reason why I do what I do and why I want to share this now. My work is sacred work. I truly believe we need one another now more than ever, and that practitioners of the healing arts are a quiet force behind the scenes. We help people find a moment of peace and a space to reset in order to simply be a human during these dark times.
Usui Sensei (Mikao Usui), the founder of Usui Reiki, gave us five principles, all the product of his life experience, events of the time, and culture from which they came. I've been leaning into these much more lately, thanks to a fellow practitioner who reminded me of why we have them to guide us. There are varying versions out there, but all essentially speak the same message. These principles are not a destination for me, but rather are a process. As long as we are human and living in the world, I don't know that the majority of us are able to maintain any of these 100% of the time. We simply do our best.
Just for today, I will give thanks.
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not be angry.
Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
Just for today, I will be kind to my neighbors and all living things.
To book online https://bit.ly/3MpDWA6