How to choose a Reiki Teacher

Reiki and other healing modalities are fast growing , in demand and taught by multiple indiviuals, institutes, trainers etc. So in this " Ho-hum" it can be confusing and difficult to choose the right teacher. It is interesting to note that some reiki teachers can be grand masters,  practicing for many years  & claiming to be spiritually advanced yet the other person is unable to resonate or connect at a deeper level.

Mikao Usui-Our Reiki Teacher :)

Below are a few pointers that can help one to choose a reiki teacher:-

• How well do you connect and feel compatible with the reiki teacher. Trusting your intution is very important. Some teachers are not natural healers and can get you into sweet talk.What is your gut?
• Understand if the teacher will be caring, considerate towards you during teaching, will guide you personally?
• Number of years practiced, training undergone is usually looked at while considering a teacher. But in my view number of years has less relevance if the reiki teacher is grounded, natural healer, considerate about healing overall. 
• Genuine background of the teacher-prospective clients, interests
• What all the reiki teacher covers in the different levels- from level 1 to master level, course material, length of the course.
• Reiki can sometimes open esoteric channels, so will the reiki teacher be supportive and be available in clarifying any experiences or doubts.
• Fee structure vs. Time duration or are they are just over priced claiming to be super healers !!!
• Try and analyse how the course will be if its a level 1 and 2 combined on as a weekend course, evaluate of your energy levels can assimiliate it all in one go. 
• Does the teacher do reiki self treatment
• Number of students in the class. 5-10-30-40-50 students??? What do you prefer smaller groups or large groups
• Is your reiki teacher tolerant of other healing modalities, religions, ideas, views, regions or is deeply engrossed in themselves and their reiki practice eventually maligning others!!!. Basically a humanitarian should be preferred.
• Sometimes in course of reiki learning the student becomes a better healer than the master and popular too, will the teacher be tolerant of the same.. Do you see an ego could interefere??

In all the key is to talk more with the reiki teacher and understand how your energies resonate. 

Hope you choose the right teacher you connect with eventually!!!!!!

Attitude of Gratitude- Reiki

" O my good angel whom God has appointed to be my guardian and enlighten and brighten my day, thank you for all the blessings and protection during the day" .
                                                          My prayer before leaving the school premises.

Life is about choice-- let us respect every choice we or
Others make--- Attitude of Gratitude with Love

In reiki the first thing taught to us is that the energy which heals is of the universe, the energy which flows through us is of the universe and we should be grateful to it. It true for all of us that for whatever work we do in job, relationships , life etc. we are acknowledged.

By thanking others and the universal energy for all their kindness we get elevated to greater heights and levels. Gratitude from heart is gratitude , respect and love in one of its highest forms.


Attitude of gratitude before start  and closure of self reiki healing-

" I am thankful to the universal energy ( add any specific god/faith you believe ), angels, archangels ( if you believe), reiki teacher/other teachers, reiki, ownself and specific ailment/body part."

Attitude of gratitude before start  and closure of in person /healee reiki session-

Ask the healee which faith or specific gods they believe in , their name before attitude of gratitude

" I hereby thank  the universal energy ( add any specific god/faith ), angels, archangels ( if healee believes), reiki teacher/other teachers, Healer name,  reiki, Healee and specific ailment/body part."

Attitude of gratitude before start  and closure of in reiki session for distant healing

Declare the person/incident on your hand

" I hereby thank  the universal energy  angels, reiki teacher, Healer,  reiki, Healee and specific ailment/body part."

Attitude of gratitude before start  and closure of crystal healing or cleansing session


Imagine the color of crystal and the corresponding light cleansing


" I hereby thank  the universal energy ( add any specific god/faith ), corresponding angel/archangel/God , reiki teacher/other teachers, self ,  reiki, and person and or crystal."

Thank You for reading this article

Gassho Meditation

Gassho meditation is simple meditational technique for balancing the third eye and increasing calmness in the body. This primarily taught either with level 3A or as a part specific meditational techniques under different healing modalities.It is actually like first initiating or learning of meditation as a part of the hatsurei ho meditation. Gassho position is like a prayer position mainly in hindu, sikh, buddhist & jain religions.

Gassho means " two hands coming together". Below are the steps to practice gassho meditation:- 

Gassho- respect and gratitude to one & all

• Sit in a comfortable position and relax your body & let it be loose.
• Place your hands in prayer position towards your heart chakra-- initially let there be some space between the palms and when feel energy is balanced 
• Hands in prayer position- concentrate on the tips of the middle finger and essentially let go of all throughts
• Breathe in gently/inhale from the nose ( preferably tongue touching the roof palatte of mouth) and exhale through the mouth ( preferably tongue out).

Things to try include while doing gassho meditation-

• Sit is half lotus position , keep you spine erect ( this is not very easy)
• Try to keep your eyes closed
• Practice it for 10- 15 min daily preferably after reiki healing- self healing
• Practice doing gassho meditation alongwith the client after reiki healing- healing others
• If your shoulders hurt or back becomes stiff - you can keep the hands towards your lap or hara chakra
• You can combine this meditation with Gyan Mudra too
• Everytime you inhale imagine every pore takes in positivity, with every exhale imagine or give the intention that reiki takes the negativity and turns it into positivity
• Initially the breath might not be regulated there is no need to worry- it would become better with time.
• Try and use emotional healing symbol also before the initiation.

Pratice and share your experiences :)

Mesothelioma Cancer - Awareness

WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA CANCER- Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer affecting the membrane lining of the lungs and abdomen.The primary cause and risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma Cancer- post is the first of the guest post of LoveandHeal Blog. 
The Author/Guest Blogger of the post is Melanie Bowen from Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.

Melanie Bowen- Guest 
Blogger

Types and Benefits of Psychotherapy during Cancer Treatment

Psychotherapy is recognized as an adjunct treatment for cancer. Although it is certainly not a cure and should never be used as a sole treatment source, it has shown in multiple studies to have greatly beneficial effects on patients undergoing cancer treatments. Different types of psychotherapy can offer a wide range of potential benefits to the patient and his family members.

The first type of psychotherapy generally used in these circumstances is individual sessions. In this mode, the patient alone visits with the psychotherapist, who may focus on a variety of concerns. Two of the most common stressors during cancer treatment are depression and anxiety. Depression often occurs along with the diagnosis as the patient attempts to cope with the actual and potential changes in his life and as he thinks of the future. Anxiety is also quite common as many parts of cancer diagnoses and treatments are uncertain.

The National Cancer Institute states that, anxiety has many negative effects including increased pain and an increased chance of delaying treatment. Some individuals may also struggle with a fear of particular treatments including needles or larger diagnostic modalities such as body scanning equipment. A licensed psychotherapist will be able to discuss these concerns with the patient, look at his personality and his past and offer constructive, helpful solutions.

Family therapy is another useful treatment type. It is often employed as an assistant to individual therapy. In this setting, the patient, as well as his close family members or support people, will come together to meet with the psychotherapist. This treatment is beneficial since many family members struggle with various aspects of cancer. They may also have trouble accepting the diagnosis or clearly seeing the changes that they will need to make. They may feel that they have lost their family member, as they once knew them. Discussing these concerns with a psychotherapist can greatly decrease anxiety and denial among families.

Finally, group therapy is a chance for the patient to meet with a psychotherapist along with a group of patients in similar situations to his. The people in his group may be at various stages in the cancer diagnosis, treatment and remission process and as such may be able to offer valuable answers and support. The psychotherapist will guide discussion among participants and will offer helpful coping methods of his own. Often, group participants will form important relationships among each other that will last for months and even years. The therapy group may even become like a family to each other. Group sessions can occur weekly or less often for as long as the patient needs to attend.

Psychotherapy, while not providing a cure for cancers such as breast cancer or mesothelioma treatment, can provide a wonderful and powerful adjunct to traditional treatments. The type of psychotherapy chosen depends on the patient and on the availability of options. However, any one of these types can provide the answers to important questions and concerns that the cancer patient may have.

If there is a chance to bring your mind some clarity amidst a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs throughout your cancer recovery; why not jump on all therapy has to offer? Allow yourself to let in positivity and talk to someone who not only cares but can truly help.

About the author- 

Melanie Bowen joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2011 as an awareness advocate for natural health and cancer cure initiatives. You will often find her highlighting the great benefits of alternative nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness. She also assists in social media outreach in her efforts to spread awareness.

You can reach out to her at - http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/melanie/

Thanks Melanie !!!

Navratri- Nine goddesses & Chakras

Every year we celebrate Navratri in India which is followed after observing Shradh ( Pitr Paksh/ Prayers for Ancestors). Though throughout the year there are 5 Navratris which are observed in India- Hindus but this Shradh Navratri which falls in the months of Sept- Oct( Ashwini ) has a bigger significance.

Sherawali Mata

During this time - Shakti in various forms is worshipped for 9 days and 10th day Vijaydashmi/Dusshera is celebrated. The first three days - Shakti in durga/MahaKali form is worshipped, next 3 days MahaLakshmi is worshipped, and last three days Maha saraswati is worshipped.  The three goddesses are related to be better halves for Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. In India different states celebrate navratri in different ways each having a significane of their own but popular ones are in Bengal, Karnataka, Himachal Pradhesh and Gujarat.

This year Dusshera is on 24-10-2012 ( as per lunar calendar) as Navratri starts on 16-10-2012 after the Pitr Paksh Amvasya on 15-10-2012. This varies every year.

Forms of  Nau/Nine forms of Mata :-

Here the Message column means what the Mata/Goddess teaches us, the nature of vehicle is extension of character and also what needs to be improved or tamed, color represnts the specific quality and related chakra areas.

Goddess Name	Meaning	Teaches us/Message	Nature of vehicle	Color	Chakra
Maa Shailputri	She is Parvati/Hema vati, re-birth of Sati	Toughened by life, confident to deal with situations	Sturdy & experienced	Green- Nature	Heart
Maa Brahmacharini	Higher and peaceful form in meditation, related to severe penance taken by Sati and all fasts	Meditative person, spiritual and chaste	Spiritual	Indigo- devotion	Third eye ( Vedic astro-places Hara Chakra)
Maa ChandraGhanta	Terrible form of Mata when provoked can be malevolent	If  disharmony deal with it	Aggressive	Pink- beauty	Heart ( vedic astro places Manipura)
Maa Kushmanda	Happy form of mata ( ashtbhuja), when she smiles the darkness ends and creation starts	normal happiness and leads a normal life	Comfortable	Violet- New Beginnings	Crown and 8th Chakra
Maa Skanda	Mother of skanda, has all motherly love	Loving and motherly	Placid	Yellow- Hard work	Manipura( vedic astro places Throat Chakra )
Maa Katyani	She is epitome of love and happiness but when angered can be ferocious	Balance	Contemplative	Orange- Courage	Hara Chakra ( Vedic astro place third eye)
Maa Kalratri	Destroys ignorance and darkness, very ferocious and violent form of mata, supposed to have drank blood from Rakht Beej	Fierce when time comes, a different side to us	Free-Spirited, does what it wants	Blue- Illusion	Crown , Third eye & Root Chakra
Maa Mahagauri	Purity, form of durga which did penance to get Shiva as her husband	Noble and generous	Proud	Red- Purity	Root and Crown Chakra
Maa Siddharatri	Mother of Knowledge , she removes ignorance, she makes us realize everything is supreme in its form	Teacher and giver	Teacher	Grey & White	Crown Chakra

One can meditate on the specific Mata/Goddess or recite mantras and balance the chakras and inculcate qualities of the goddess within .

" Sherawali Mata Teri Sada Jai" 

Laughter and Healing

Laughter is to express certain emotions especially delight by series of spontaenous sounds or to feel triumphant or exultant sense of well being. 

Child like Laughter opens & makes
the heart grow fonder & fonder

Laughter is related to the heart chakra and tends to produce hormones which help the physical, mental and emotional body to return to relaxed state. It tends to jiggle and wiggle and shake our body completely. 

Laughter- the chakra journey 

The whole laughter experience starts at the manipura/solar plexus chakra which opens it- releases the old thoguhts &  patterns,   jiggles the lower chakras aka stimulates the genitals especially , thereby goes up to the heart chakra opens its by couple of diameters and that is when the heart jumps and pumps more blood,  goes upto the throat chakra ( prime location) and gushes the center , this inturn goes upto the third eye chakra and opens it and thats when one it completely opens and one can see stars or vivid colors around in form of specks /sparks and flows all the way up to the Crown chakra and balances it all i.e: clears the mind and help in decision making based on facts not only hope.

I always compare this with the Chinnamasta devi transcendal journey of the spirtual awakening . Refer Chinnamasta- Transcendal awakening

 Since laughter plays such an important role in improving our immunity and releasing fears and old patterns. Here are a few things which can help one to laugh  ( quite simple)-

Bring a smile to someone

• Reiki- Performing the full body healing and inviting Maitreya - Laughing Buddha and laugh by invoking emotional healing symbol
• Laughing Yoga or Hasyayoga- Laughter is involuntarily and can be induced. One can perform this yoga indiviually or with a group of people and laugh, else join laughter clubs. A group work always improves cohesiveness and promotes positive attitude.
• Childlke activities- Do things you used to do as a child eg: playing in parks, watching a funny/kids movie, meet yourchildhood friends, play childhood games, sing children songs, watching comedy serials etc. This will literally bring back happy memories and make you laugh
• Inner child work- Do a inner child work workshop and get in touch with your core innocent self. 
• Reading- Read cartoons, jokes, funny illogical emails, have funny posters, keep a mood lifter diary or comic, have a section of funny books in your library.
• Family and friends- Meet and spend time with your family and friends, this will lighten and relax you and strengthen your bonds. Try playing chilhood pranks :)
• See yourself as third person- If you are in a stressful situation, see yourself and the state as third person ( very difficult to do) and imagine your life as a comedy story and laugh at it. This could be mometary but will atleast help you in someway.

We always have a choice, try and bring laughter into you life,try something silly, do something for a change that you want to do .... laugh laugh cause it doesnt cost a thing ( no matter how difficult it is right now) it might just make life a bit better than what it is today... Nothing to lose... so smile and laugh :)... Best things in life are free and laughter is just one of them

Do Laughing Yoga Like Calvin and Hobbes aka
Kitto and Kitto :)....
Sing along- "Hey I put on new some shoes on & everything
is different and I can see new smiles "... "slowly
i can see bright sun & its all inviting"

Hand Mudra Basics

World, every organism, including humans is made up of five elements- water, air, fire, earth and ether i.e: In some humans water is more and earth elements are less. Our fingers and thumbs have the power of deciding or one the critical factor that decide the nature of the physical, mental or psychological health.

Reiki is one form of healing that help us understand that our hands and body are reservoir of energy, so now if we focus on each thumb or fingers or combinations it could be invariably channelize energy. Hand Mudras correspond to fingers, thumbs and corresponding chakras.Below is the table for the basic, the planets section is based on my understanding but it can change based on vedic or western astrology or others.

Fingers	Planet	Element
Thumb	Mars	Fire
Index Finger	Jupiter	Air
Middle finger	Saturn	Space/Ether
Ring Finger	Moon/Sun/Mars	Earth
Little Finger	Mercury	Water

Reiki and Healing Hurt Feelings

Inner Peace lets you be with your self

Feelings are like water they come and go a temporary state, a fluid state of emotions.  Water or emotions if  remain in the same state for long can begin to stink e.g: rain water collected in a pond and never cleaned, dirt is absorbed and affects the overall being. It is strange that people who love you sometimes also tend to hurt our feelings. Hurt can be by mere words in form of mockery, abusive words, judgement, criticism which leaves deep scars.

Typically these words affect the mind and keep hovering and lead to bitterness. In healing systems mainly, each hurt or painful words affect our specific chakra and it tends to get unbalanced and affects us. e.g: hurtful words for character tend to affect the hara chakra i.e: one questions ones relationship with others, sexuality issues, lack of expression.

For now lets look at how to heal your hurt feelings ( quite a task can take days/months /years cos this to form a better relationship with own self):-

• Evaluate your feelings-. Understand if this your own feeling or projection of other persons feelings or you past emotional state e.g: words like " your good for nothing" can trigger feelings of repressed childhood memories  or have an impact that one becomes overtly competitive etc.It very important to understand to what extend. Suggested therapies- Letter writing, meditation, working or inviting messages from Archangel Ariel and Sandalphon, healing front and back third eye chakra and throat chakra along with back root chakra.
• Purpose- In Hinduism it is understood that everything happens for a reason mainly karmic which may or may not be related to past lives. Looking in the real practical world too there are triggers in our lives some in form of hurtful words change our lives or make us find a new self.  How you found that new self is what you have to understand. e.g: a girl child who is  consistently verbally abused tends to get bitter and eventually works hard and becomes a scholar etc. Suggested Therapies- Past Life regression therapy , Hypnotherapy, working or inviting messages Archangel Raziel and Zadkiel , healing the crown chakra, front and back third eye chakra and root chakra.
• Forgiveness- " Forgive and Forget" is the biggest mantra and solution for most of the issues. Though it is easier said than done. It better to not enslave oneself with past hurt feelings. After forgiveness too feelings of hatred will come back best is not resent but acknowledge it without resistance. Suggested Therapies-  Cord Cutting,  working or inviting messages from Archangel Raphael,  writing hurt incident on paper and healing it with Reiki and burning it, healing Front and back Heart chakra, Music Therapy
• Pray -  Pray for healing. Time is sometimes the best healer.Additionally heal the crown chakra with selenite crystal.

You can also read up the post "  Chakra - Emotional Energy Areas"  too for more information or understanding.

Forgiveness Heals no matter how
difficult it may seem

Chakra Beej Mantras

A, Aa, E, Ee, O, Oo etc are all vowels and are spoken with sounds that come from within i.e: stomach, buzzing in the ear, nasal tones, tongue rolling etc. each of which stimulates one part of the body or other thereby corresponding to a chakra.
Chakras have different tones and move and different frequencies, the root being the slowest and most dense to Ajna or third eye chakra being the fastest . The beej mantra or single seed syllable  of the chakra balances the chakra and thereby purifies it.

Chakra	Beej Mantra	Associated Planet	Presiding lord	Goddess
Muldhara-	LAM	Shani and Uranus but elements of Sun	Ganesha with Siddhi and Buddhi	Dakini
Svadhisthana	VAM	Guru/Jupiter and Neptune, but elements of moon & venus	Brahma in child form with Savitri	Rakini
Manipura	RAM	Mangal/Mars and Pluto, with elements of jupiter	Vishnu	Garbha and Kundalini chakras are associated. Lakini
Anahata	YAM	Venus  but elements of sun and mercury	Mahadeva in rudra form  with Uma	Kakini
Vissudhi	HAM	Mercury but elements of jupiter	Jiva and Adya sakti	Shakini
Ajna	OM	Moon mainly but elements of Sun	Parannath and Param Sakti , Hamsa Devata and sushmana sakt	Siva and Sakti
Sahashara	OM	All Unite

Beej Mantra Chanting-

• Sit in a comfortable position, focus on the beej mantra and the associated body parts if possible - u can say it in the heart or aloud but the intention is to be correct
• Say the beej mantra in soft yet loud manner
• SAy each mantra starting 3-4 times upto 20 times for the associated chakra
• Once done move to the next chakra
• Once you start practicing it for a few days, it will resonate with your energy system.

Enjoy the Music.