I discovered Reiki thanks to the fine folks at Stewart’s Caring Place just as I was entering my second week of radiation treatment last fall. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I’d never had a Reiki treatment before but I figured I’d try anything to help get me through treatment.
I’m a Sagittarius, we are kind of adventurous like that.
I’ve loved it and I’ve been going once or twice a month for treatment since. It is never exactly the same but always enlightening and relaxing.
I’ve come to trust and feel comfortable with a couple of the Reiki Masters there and I was talking with the Reiki Master as I got my latest treatment and she asked how my mother was doing. In the course of the conversation I said something about how I wish I could get down to see her more and that it makes me feel super guilty that I can’t go more often.
She said something that made total sense and I thought I would share it with you.
She said, “Your mother doesn’t need your guilt”.
I paused a minute and then she explained it something like this…
Your mother doesn’t need to hear about how badly you feel that you can’t be there more. She needs to feel your FULL presence and attention when you are there.
And that got me to thinking about all of the gajillion things we women feel guilty about – and if you grew up in one of those “guilty” religions like I did you can probably add another gajillion things to feel guilty about.
- We feel guilty if we work away from home.
- We feel guilty if we stay home with our children.
- We feel guilty for not exercising enough or eating right.
- We feel guilty for not going to church regularly.
- We feel guilty that we can’t be everything to everyone.
- And the list goes on… indefinitely.
The thing is, the world doesn’t need our guilt. The world needs us to be fully present in the moment not fretting on what we should have, could have, might have.
Don’t feel guilty about the endless list of things that we ought to be doing rather than the thing we are doing now. Be present in the moment.
Just imagine how much more peace you can have if you ditch that guilt. Who need it?
Great words – thanks for the reminder! I found Reiki in my early 30’s and also find it beneficial, I am glad you have that healing energy in your life!
Thanks Deborah, I’m actually going to take a class on Sunday to get my Reiki II certificate. I love it! 🙂
I think that Reiki is one of the most subtle and profound healing avenues out there. So is letting go of the guilt and all of the negative energy that goes along with it Yeah on both accounts.
It’s all about the energy Kris. Learning to flow with it and learning how to use it to our advantage.
Guilty here as well. *LOL*
All my life I’ve expended copious amount of energy on feeling guilty about everything. When tired of feeling persecuted, I spent 2 years, twice a week in counseling; riding myself of past guilt while learning to NOT accept culpability for things I have no power over. However, a life long habit cannot be broken in a matter of minutes, so I still struggle with it. But I’ll keep beating that devil [guilt] back when it wants to rear its ugly head. *S*
You are right, Pamela. Habits don’t change over night and we have to give ourselves time. Just keep plugging away.
You are sooo right! I often lay in bed at night for hours rehashing all the issues that come up from my perception of hurting people in my life – some are still in my life and some, I believe chose to move on because of the things I’d done.. But you’re right about what is NOT needed. I can only be responsible for my choices in this moment. The past is the past and will heal itself in whatever way it can. Thanks for bringing this to my awareness again. I will go to bed tonight remembering this.
We all do the best we can, Carol. It’s not easy to let go but it sounds like you are on the right track.