A Milestone Celebrated

On August 13, 1995, I got my Reiki Level 1 training and attunement.  My life changed that day, even though I didn't know it yet.  I would not be aware of it for, well, about 20 years!

I met my Reiki teacher via a friend.  I never heard of Reiki before and all anyone could tell me was "It's energy healing" as if I should have know that and obviously since I didn't I must be from another planet.  Well, that is true and that story is for another day.

My Reiki teacher was so calm and peaceful, such a beautiful soul.  I was bouncy and scattered. I didn't think I fit in the spiritual world no matter how much it was calling to me.  How could I?  I was not calm and gathered like everyone else I met.  However, she accepted me as a student and off I went to her class that beautiful Summer day.

There were at least 12 other participants.  The day was packed with information and a new way of looking at healing.  I was fascinated. I was hooked.  I wanted to heal the world!  Except the world did not want to be healed.  At least not my world.  Whenever I mentioned Reiki, you know, energy healing, I was met with looks that clearly showed they thought I had three purple heads...and slowly backed away.....   So I spent the next few years healing animals.  I saved a stray cat that was hit by a car with Reiki.

I intended to get my Level II Reiki as soon as I could - within the three months that I was allowed to. But it did not happen.  Each time she scheduled a class. I was not available, did not have the money, etc, etc. etc.  Seven years passed and then.....

I met an Intuitive Healer and Reiki Master at my corporate world job one day.  He walked in, sat down in front of my desk and said "It sure is busy in here".  I replied "Yes, this is a very busy office". He looked straight at me, smiled and said "No, I mean busy in "here"..."....meaning my cubicle space, meaning...ME!  He then proceeded to tell me a whole bunch of stuff - about me!  After 15 minutes, he left and I was in tears.  I knew then and there I would be studying with him.

Roughly 6-8 months later I saw a class he was teaching and I immediately signed up.  It was called Intuitive Living.  I had so much fun!  I left that class with three new friends and a new Reiki teacher.  I took my Level II from him a month later.  I felt guilty for not going to my original Reiki teacher as I felt since I started with her, I should continue with her.  I soon realized why I never did get to a Level II class with her.  My new teacher saw the potential of Intuitive Healing in me and proceeded to tutour me for the next six months.  This is something my other Reiki Master did not do, she kept to traditional Reiki treatments.  This is not a negative thing, this is just not, apparently, what I needed.

Eventually I also obtained my Level 3 and then my Master Teacher Level.  I did not intend to be a Reiki Teacher, I loved doing healing sessions and that is all I wanted to do.  One day my Guides said to me "You will become a Reiki Master and teach Reiki to others!"  This totally took me off guard and all I could do was say "Ok" in a sheepish voice (in my head that is).  And so I did.  That was in 2004.

So I began teaching Reiki to others in 2004.  My student list was growing steadily.  Then one day I started to hear from people that were attuned Reiki Level I from another teacher and they wanted to take their Level II from me. They heard I was an Intuitive Healer and they wanted to learn that from me (you see, in Level II I throw out the hand positions and introduce intuitive healing).  At first I felt awful "taking" students from other teachers. I had to remember that students have the right to choose their teacher.  (No doubt some of my students made their way to other Masters too).  And then it hit me - I found myself working with another Master because I needed the Intuitive Training, so others would feel the same call! Once I had that realization, then I was okay with it.

Then something else started to occur,  I heard from people who had Reiki training but did not feel anything, or think "it took" and asked me about it.  This I found to be odd.  I never heard of that before nor did I understand how that could happen - everyone can be attuned to Reiki.  I soon learned why.

Almost the same time, I began hearing of other Reiki types.  Honestly, I paid little attention to them. They did not jump out at me as something I would want to learn.  Then I made the connection between people not feeling anything and these new types of Reiki.  Many of these were taught distantly, the attunements were not done in the students actual energy field.  So again, I stayed away from them.

Jump ahead several years...  I have been teaching Reiki for about 11 years, giving healing sessions for 12-13 years and still Reiki was not accepted by medical insurance companies - unless you were a massage therapist.  I felt insulted by that!  I took Reiki seriously and abided by a code of ethics, took time to learn anatomy, etc. I did not feel that was fair.

In talking with several other Reiki teachers and practitioners about this, it became clear as to why. The evolved Reiki forms had changed Reiki so much over the years, there was no standardized training, as other energy healing modalities had.  This was ruining the reputation of Reiki!

So, one day a year ago, a friend and I decided we should create a professional association for Reiki and that evolved into an association for energy healing in general. We want to show the medical world and the general public that Reiki  (and I mean the traditional Usui Reiki) does work and that there are teachers and practitioners that take Reiki and their businesses seriously.  We had other energy healers join us to create the association, to create the by-laws, Code of Conduct and.....standardized teaching.  And we are making great headway!  We are not even a year old yet and we have already made great strides!

Reiki has most certainly changed my life!  In addition to the personal and spiritual growth it brought to me, Reiki was the first class I taught - and I am now a full time healer and teacher.  And the co-creator of this association which will help the businesses of all energy healers grow and give people in our community faith in - and a new way of looking at - energy healing!

So, as I celebrate this 20 year milestone and reflect upon the past 20 years, I must express gratitude to my Guides for "nudging" me to become a Reiki teacher.  I would not be where I am today, if they didn't push me beyond my comfort zone.  So Guides - thank you!

Angela Jeffreys

P.S. Now, I do want to add something.,  I have since explored some of these new Reiki forms. What I have discovered about some of them is that they do not have anything or have very little to do with original Usui Reiki.  That does not mean they are not good healing modalities in themselves.  They just are not Reiki.

End of August Musings.....

The end of August is upon us. Although it is technically still the season of Summer, the energy changes when September arrives. The weather changes, the air feels different, the colours around us change. The relaxed aloofness of Summer returns once again to an organized and productive schedule.

No doubt our ancestors felt this too. Although their lives were not as complicated as ours, it was still a busy time. They concerned themselves with preserving and storing food for the winter and stacking wood for heat and cooking, returning their animal stock to their winter homes .

Our ancestors felt another shift in the energy, one most of our society has forgotten. It is the change in the Veils between the Realms. This is the time we can feel our Ancestors energies, the deceased will talk to us. Additionally, as we head into the darkest time of the year, this is a time in which we can look deep into ourselves and search for our own Inner Light.

As much as I am sad to see the end of summer, the hot days and summer fun come to an end, deep down I always look forward to this time of year. It calls to the core of my being, awakening my every sense.. I feel the most alive, ironically, in this time of dying and death.

As we say goodbye to Summer, I once again embrace the Autumn with the usual anticipation of exploring the depths of living and dying. Once again this Autumn, I will allow death to show me the way, so that I may re-emerge in the Light of Winter renewed and very much alive!

How to do a Fire Releasing Ceremony

     One of the things I frequently recommend in my healing sessions, whether it be with Intuitive Healing or Shamanic Soul Retrieval sessions, is a Fire Releasing Ceremony.   Many people have the impression it is a very scary ceremony that requires a lot of complicated rituals, including things they would not feel comfortable doing. A Fire Releasing Ceremony is nothing like that.  Yes, it can be a very rich ceremony with a lot of people, drumming, loud noises, etc, however it can also be a very simple, quiet, and deeply personal ceremony.

     One huge misconception is that you must be a Shaman or be Wiccan to do a Fire Releasing Ceremony. That is not true.  All that is required is that an individual must want to release an particular emotion (i.e. pent up anger), a limiting thought process and/or attitude (i.e. I am not deserving of a happy life), or memories from an ended marriage or an old job.  That is it.  What you add to the ceremony, you decide for yourself.  You can make it a large ceremony or keep it quiet.    

     Non-spiritual, people when they first hear about the concept of a Fire Releasing ceremony, love it!  Without understanding many spiritual principles, they like the idea of ridding themselves the memories of past relationships or old jobs so they can move forward. 

     There are two ways to conduct a Fire Releasing Ceremony.  The traditional Shamanic way, and a more modernized way.  Below are instructions for both.  Both are just as effective, the only difference between them is your personal preference. 

Part 1

Traditional Shamanic Way

     Gather a bunch of materials. String, yarn, feathers, paper, sticks, acorns, glue, ribbons, shells, sea sponge, dried seaweed, etc, anything you have or can find. There is no need to purchase anything. If you do not have an assortment of things, go for a walk in the woods or along the beach and collect things.

     When you have time and will not be interrupted, sit quietly with the assortment of materials laid out in front of you. Take a couple of deep cleansing breaths and bring forward the emotion/attitude/etc you wish to release.  Feel the emotion, attitude, etc that you wish to release. 

     Begin to assemble some of the materials to make an object of some sort. As you do this, feel the energy of that attitude or emotion flow through your arms, into your hands and into the materials. Continue creating until you feel as though all the energy has been released. 

     The object does not have to look like anything in particular.  The point is not what you make, it is to release the energy.  Even if you just take a stick and a ball of yarn and wind the yarn around the stick while releasing the emotion!  This is called a Power Object.

Modernized Way

     This method is more commonly used when releasing an emotion connected to a specific person, however, it can be used for any thing you wish to release.
     Gather some paper and a pen.  Be sure to have plenty of paper.  When you have time and will not be interrupted, sit quietly with the pen and paper.  Take a couple of deep cleansing breaths and bring forward the emotion/attitude/etc you wish to release.  Feel the emotion, attitude, etc that you wish to release.  Now pick up the pen and begin writing.
     If you are releasing emotions connected to a person, you may write as if you are writing a letter to that particular person. Tell them what you feel and think about them or how s/he made you feel, etc.  Let it all out! Don't hold anything back, release it all from your body. Continue to write until you feel you have released all the energy, no matter how much paper you use.  Use as much as you need whether it be 2 sheets of paper or 20!
     For any other purpose, write what you want to release.  For example, you are releasing an old job.  You could write " I release all memories from my job at _______" or "I now forget all the experiences I had when working at __________".  Write whatever you feel you want/need to write. As you write, allow all the energy, emotions, etc to flow down along your arm, into the pen, into the ink and onto the paper.  Continue to write until you feel you have released all the energy.

Part 2

Fire Ceremony

- Holding the newly created Power Object or the paper, stand in front of a Fire.  This can be a fire outside in a bonfire setting (in your yard or on a beach) or in a fire pot, even your fireplace inside your house, if you have one, works well.  If you do hot have access to any of those, then use a large metal garbage can but with paper only. 

-Smudge, rattle to create Sacred Space, drum to call in your own Animals/ Guides.**

-Focus on the Power Object or paper in your hand and the energy that you are releasing.

-When you are ready, toss the item/paper into the Fire.

-Watch as the object/paper burns and the smoke rises. “See” that the energy you placed in the Power Object or paper as being sent into the Universe to be transmuted into positive energy.

-Once the Power Object or paper has completely burned, give thanks to the Fire, and release all helping spirits and allies.  Douse the Fire.     

**If you do not know what smudging is, or know how to call in your Guides and Allies, you can eliminate this part.  Just follow the remaining directions and the ceremony will still be a success.

Conducting a Fire Releasing Ceremony is so liberating! Why not include some friends and support each other! Providing the space for others to be able to release old emotions can be one of the best gifts you can give another person.   If you decide to include others, here is how you would include this in:
1.  As you write out your letter or make your Power Objects. do not chit chat amoungst yourselves.  Stay focused on releasing the energy.  Chit chatting will distract you from doing so.
2.  When you are at the fire, stand in a circle as best as you can.  Each person, when the feel ready, approaches the fire and tosses in their paper or Power Object.  As the person tosses it in, all the other participants shout, hoot and holler in support and encouragement. Shout comments such as "WooHOO!"  It can sometimes be difficult to release these old emotions and having support makes it all the easier.
3.  If you have drums and rattles, hold a steady beat throughout, and when a participant is at the fire, increase to very rapid beats when you do the shouts of encouragement and support.

Copyright - Angela Jeffreys 2014, All Rights Reserved.

Busy as a Bee

Copyright - Angela Jeffreys

     For the past few weeks a Bee has been hanging out with me.  It usually sits on the support beam on our balcony, and now and again it will come into the apartment and fly around me.  Many times while hanging out on the balcony to take a short break and get some sun, it will fly around me in circles.  At first I did not think much about it as we are surrounded by gardens and I like Bees so they do not scare me. But then one day I realized we are in a fifth floor apartment.  I didn't think Bees would fly that high.  How many flowers would be this high?  So I began to ponder Bees constant visit.

     I never thought Bee could be one of my Animal Guides, but now that I think about it, I think he is!  I have always been fascinated by Bees, sign #1.  I love to photograph them at work thus I have 100's of photos of Bees. Sign #2.  I have always been a hard worker, quite often working two jobs at any given time.  One full time job in an office and I always had some sort of part time home business.  One of Bees aspects is busyness and productivity.  Sign #3.  How many more do I need?

     So in pondering this Bee that has been hanging around, I realized that for the last three weeks, I have been in overdrive.  I no longer have an office job as my main income.  My spiritual work is, and has been for a number of years, my only job and thus only source of income.  I am one of the few in my community where spiritual work is the only job, so I am very blessed that way.  But it also means I work hard.  Very hard.  And that I have been doing.  So, I think Bee has been around lately to help me with that, to stay focused, and to remain productive.  And I have been productive, therefore I must say to Bee - Thank you!!!  Feel free to come visit me anytime.  :)

Angela Jeffreys
https://www.facebook.com/AngelaJeffreysTeacherHealer

All photos property of Angela Jeffreys