An open letter to A about the importance of being kind:
I remained silent the first three times I heard you speak ill of Reiki energy, but upon hearing this fourth story, I feel compelled to write to you. I still choose not to speak to you in person (yet) about this, but the time may come when I need to do that, as well. I know you had a bad experience with Reiki. That woman who first attuned you had no right to change the symbols or the attunement process. I acknowledge that that messed up your energy fields, but I was also honored that you asked me to re-attune you all those years ago, and I believed you when you said you felt much better, and thanked me for my kindness. I was happy to oblige.
Firstly, for me and my life, Reiki has been the catalyst for all of my great changes. It opened me up to the larger spiritual community, helped me embrace and actuate the power of unconditional love, for that’s all the Reiki is - unconditional love. It cannot harm, it can only heal. It is gentle, healing, powerful, but does not force. It only encourages and supports. It does what it needs to do, goes where it needs to go to be of greatest help to everybody and everything in this whole Universe. It is energy, a part of the river, and there are other healing energies, to be sure, but for me, I resonate with its warmth, its love, its gentleness, and its unlimited Power.
For you to tell other Reiki students and potential Reiki students that Reiki is ‘bad’ and is on its way out, is at best confusing for me. How do you dare to act as Lord and Master of the Universe? You have the right to offer your opinion on something, and maybe that’s what you would tell me you HAVE done, but many people are upset by your words, and I know because they’ve been calling and e-mailing me. You profess to be a spiritual teacher and leader, and I know that you know some things, but no more than anyone else. To set yourself up as an ultimate authority on something you are prejudiced against is not only unprofessional, it is unethical, and smacks of the old, lower energy we are swiftly moving away from. If I have issues with something or someone, I try to state honestly that these are MY issues, MY experiences, MY opinons, but I also realize that people choose different paths, and I respect that. I hope I respect that always. But it saddens me when that masculine energy of force and coersion comes from a person who is purported to be of the new energy.
From what I know, the new energy works together - it uplifts and supports individual paths and journeys, it is inclusive, it is respectful of other ideas and beliefs. It is powerful, however, to correct imbalanced behavior, and that is what this feels like, A. It feels as if you are still hurting from a wrong done to you years ago, and you are taking it out on Reiki, negatively hurting many people, for for every person who’s called me, I’m sure there are 100 more out there that haven’t called. I respectfully ask that you may want to examine your own life, your own hurts, your own belief systems. Do you honestly believe that your tubes of light (or whatever mode of healing you’re now doing) is superior to Reiki, or any other form of healing, for that matter? Do you honestly believe your way is THEE best way for everybody else in the world? Do you really feel the need to put down others in your quest for spiritual superiority? Do you honestly believe your words are the best expressions of Who You Are?
I challenge myself exactly the same as I am challenging you. I ask myself these same questions every day, as I’m forced to look at my ego and pride. When someone lies to me, I want to hurt them, but is that the best tactic? I ask myself, ‘how can I heal this situation?’ Maybe what I need to do is get inside your head for a moment, using my Work, so that I may understand what you’re going through. With your tacit permission, here is what I’m seeing as the broader picture at this time. This will now be YOU speaking to me.
“I apologize in advance for anything I’ve done to personally hurt you. I honestly only want to do Good in this world, but I get stuck with my old notions of how to get my message across. For me, the more forceful and confident and knowledgeable I appear, the more people will listen to me. I wasn’t always listened to in my life, especially when I was younger. I was taught to listen to those who are in control, those in positions of power, and that is why I keep seeking for the Work that will bring me to a position of power, because I don’t always feel that in myself. I pretend to present that to the world, but it also frightens me that you appear to see right through that. In fact, I’ve heard that from many other people - you see through their facades, the fake veneers they’ve carefully set up to navigate safely through the world, and that’s forced them to do things differently, and they don’t always like that. There are some who wish you’d stop doing your Work, but Susie, I will tell you a big secret, if you promise never to use it against me. I highly respect you - your Work is sacred, and important, and if people aren’t willing to change, then they are making the conscious decision to not change. For you to shine the light of consciousness onto them is important. Please don’t judge me too harshly. I’m doing the best I can. I don’t mean to hurt anyone. But this is difficult. We’re not doing too well financially, and this current line of Work isn’t lining up to be exactly what I thought it would be, but I’m too embarrassed to admit it. I may need to move onto something else. I don’t know what else to do. Will you keep believing in me? Will you send me energy of support and that unconditional love you speak of? I could sure use it right now. Again, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m 1000 times sorry. I keep trying to do better, to do my best, but sometimes I just don’t think. I’m sorry.”
So I sit here shocked, wondering what this all means, A. I hear what you’re saying, and I understand. I do. So now are you willing to be gentler with the Reiki energy? For it’s not the energy’s fault that you are hurting - Reiki is Reiki, and will always be here, no matter what we say or do or try to squelch. It just is. Just like love. Just like kindness. So yes, I will send you good wishes and energy of support for your journey. I hope you find peace, and the position of power within YOURSELF that you are seeking, for you can’t find it anywhere else. And yes, I send you love.