Reiki and Pregnancy

Recently a client asked me if I knew of any instances where Reiki had helped infertility. I answered as a matter of fact I do know of one case. I had a student in my class last March who had undergone treatment for infertility taking medications without positive results. She had nearly given up on the idea of having a child. During her Reiki I and II weekend she remarked to the others in the class that she had felt something 'pop' in her lower abdomen. Approximately 6 weeks after the class I received an email from her that she had become pregnant after she returned from her Reiki training weekend. She delivered a healthy baby last November.

In another situation I had a client who was four months pregnant when she decided to take a Reiki I workshop. During her attunement, Tonya experienced the baby responding to the energy flow. As her pregnancy progressed she gave 'Noah' reiki treatments. After his birth he was nicknamed the 'Reiki Baby', as he was so relaxed and contented. Tonya says that on many occasions it appears that Noah reaches out to exchange Reiki energy with her and others. She has also used Reiki to help him through teething, childhood falls, and illnesses.

Another Reiki client of mine heard about the positive benefits of having a 'Reiki Baby' and decided to take a Reiki I and II workshop after she found out she was pregnant. The week of the class, Victoria was told that she was carrying twins. After becoming a Reiki Practitioner, Victoria gave her 'boys' a Reiki treatment every day. She was able to carry the twins almost to full term and reports that they are easy to care for, whenever they are fussy she gives them Reiki and they calm down.

I had a student this past summer question me about a statement she had read in a book on Reiki which said that Reiki should never be given to a women late in her pregnancy. She asked for my reaction to the statement. I told her I expected it came from the thought that the Reiki energy might cause labor to prematurely start. I did not believe that to be true because I knew from my private practice and from my students that Reiki had only benefited them during their pregnancy. I also believe very strongly that 'Reiki can never cause harm' and is appropriate for all situations, therefore can be used at any point in the pregnancy for the highest good.

There is a differing opinion among Reiki Masters regarding the unborn baby receiving an attunement to the Reiki energy. Some feel that as the mother is being attuned the baby is also being attuned to Reiki. Others disagree, saying that the baby is in no way part of the attunement process. I personally feel that since the baby is part of the mother's energy system during the attunement process he/she receives the benefit of the attunement. There is a connection or bond between the baby and Reiki. Does this mean that the baby is a Reiki Practitioner, only spirit knows the answer to that question? I do know that 'Reiki Babies' seem to respond to the world around them differently than other babies.

I realize that there is no controlled scientific study in these cases, however there is certainly evidence that the use of Reiki before, during, and after pregnancy has positive results both for the mother and baby. My daughter, Wayles (who is a Reiki Master), and I have talked about her future pregnancies. There is no question, she will be receiving a Reiki attunement during her pregnancy and will use the Reiki daily during pregnancy for the health and contentment of her baby and herself.

The Reiki Symbols

One of the joys of Reiki is learning and using the Reiki symbols. We are more connected to the source of divine guidance, intelligence and power once we are attuned to Second Degree Reiki and given the symbols. The power of the symbols becomes clear to us when we begin to use them. How and what they can be used for is a question often asked. The symbols and their uses are discussed at length in 'Reiki: The Healing Touch,' the Reiki I & II manual by William Rand. This article describes the power symbol and the mental/emotional symbols in ways that I have been inspired to use them.

Being a visual person, I have found that the symbols, if I look at them in a certain way, often tell me what they do. The lines and the shapes of the symbols have a meaning and energy of their own.

The Power Symbol

The power symbol, when translated, means 'put the power of the universe here.' The top horizontal line represents 'shiva' or the male energy of the universe. The line coming down represents the energy coming down to earth or down the spinal column. The spiral represents 'shakti,' the female, or earth energy. The spiral then crosses the vertical line seven times representing the seven chakras.

To me, that spiral often represents a cocoon of protective energy, much like being in a labyrinth. The power symbol can be used to create a sacred or protective space around you. You can imagine yourself within that spiral, protected by Reiki energy. If you feel threatened by people around you, or are surrounded by negativity, you can imagine yourself within that labyrinth and the Reiki energy creates a protective field around you. The energy vibrates around you and sends the energy out as well. Another example is that if someone is verbally attacking you, you can envision a power symbol in front of you, protecting you like a shield and keeping their negativity out of your energy field.

Before I send my children to school each morning, I put a power symbol over the top of their head with the intent that they are surrounded and protected by Reiki energy all day. This can be done with pets as well.

Putting the power symbol on each chakra and in the palms of your hands, clears your channel and empowers your hands before giving a treatment. Placing the power symbol over the crown of the person's head creates a cocoon of Reiki energy around the client and a sacred space to work in. Putting the symbol over the back of the heart and end of the spine (low back) when you end the treatment seals the energy in.
The power symbol can be visualized in the palm of your hand when you go to shake someone's hand. This way you are bringing the power of Reiki to your encounter and giving the other person a blessing.

Placing the power symbol on medication before you take it has the effect of helping your body to receive the medication with the least side effects. The power symbol placed over your meal before you eat serves as a blessing for the food, removal of negative energies by anyone that handled the food, and receiving the food so that it truly nourishes your body.

One of my favorite ways to use the power symbol is when I fly. I have a Reiki ritual that includes visualizing the distant healing symbol laying down in front of the plane and becoming a 'Reiki bridge' of safety to my destination. Then I imagine the power symbol spiral coming down over the nose of the plane to the tail (including the wings), placing the entire plane in a protective cocoon of Reiki energy.

The Mental/Emotional Symbol

This symbol translates to mean 'God and humanity become one.' The sharp angles on the left side of the symbol represent logical, linear, or male side of the brain. The curves on the right side represent the intuitive, creative, imaginative or female side or right brain. So one can see how using this symbol balances the left and right sides of the brain and helps in any mental (thinking, analyzing, studying) or emotional (feeling) situation.

The mental/emotional symbol can be used on yourself (or others) when feelings of fear, anxiety, anger or depression come up. The Reiki energy helps to calm the emotion and help one see clearly. It is often said that many illnesses begin as blocked emotions. The next time an uncomfortable emotion (fear, sadness, anxiety, anger) comes up (for you or your client), don't try to stop it. It is there for a reason. Take a deep breath, activate the symbol, place your hands on your heart chakra and solar plexus chakra and give yourself Reiki. Imagine the power symbol there as well. Stay with the emotion and allow yourself to feel it. Wait with it. Thank it for coming up. And then release it.

Other uses for the mental/emotional symbol are when trying to learn something new. You can place the symbol on the paper or book, asking that Reiki energy help you to understand it more easily or clearly. Or, place your hands on top of your head, activate the symbol, and allow it to relax your brain so concepts or ideas will enter (and stay) more readily.

This symbol is also helpful in healing relationships. This can be between friends, lovers, family, peers, bosses, etc. What the Reiki energy does when this symbol is used is harmonize the situation between people. It helps calm the emotions so one can see the situation clearly or see it from the other person's perspective. Reiki cannot be used to control the relationship, but works for the highest good. Reiki brings about the best outcome for the relationship and/or the situation.

A visualization that I use when asking for healing between two people is to imagine that the two people are standing on opposite sides of the mental/emotional symbol. The Reiki energy comes up like a cloud of smoke and fills the symbol. The energy then comes out of the symbol and surrounds the two people involved in a cocoon of Reiki energy so that they are bathed in healing energy.

These are just a few ways that you can use the symbols. Allow yourself to work with them more closely, feel their energy, meditate with them, and let them tell you what they do.

Know Your Reiki Guides...

the Art of Listening
Isn't it interesting how the Universe brings lessons to our attention repeatedly, until we listen? The other day I observed my friend Michael having a telephone conversation with a business associate. I was amazed at how often Michael was interrupted by the person he was talking too. Every time Michael would attempt to answer a question, the other person talked over him, and he never had a chance to fully answer. Shortly after this, I observed a couple in a restaurant, and they too were talking over each other, and neither was hearing what the other was saying. They weren’t arguing, simply trying to have a conversation. Then in the grocery store, a little boy was trying to tell his father something, and it was as if the boy were invisible, he was never even acknowledged. Suddenly I felt a little twinge in my heart, that I hadn't noticed for a long time. I knew that twinge was a signal from my higher self and my guides. I have felt this in the past just before I received a message, or inspiration about something in my life.

I began to reflect on the art of listening and recent events in my life. As I did this I had one of those A ha! moments. There has been an unusual amount of confusion in my life lately, at times I felt overwhelmed by all the sudden changes, and just couldn’t seem to get clarity on some issues. I had become a little disappointed with this unusual lack of connection with my spiritual guidance. As I was pondering on this lesson in listening, I realized that I had allowed all the upheaval in my life to prevent me from tuning into my heart. I was trying to sort things out mentally, and I was not hearing my heart's message.

Then I thought of all the times students have asked me How can I talk to my guides, how do I know they are there? My answer to this question has always been Listen with your heart.

If I need guidance I find it works best for me to stop whatever I am doing, take a deep breath, say a prayer, invoke the distant healing symbol, and ask that the Reiki energy help connect me with my guides. When I feel the energy flowing, I will ask a specific question, stay very quiet and pay attention to what I hear. Now I don't usually audibly hear voices, but I FEEL them.
For example, I knew I was to move to a new home in Colorado, however I wasn't sure where. To discern this, I asked my guides to tell me where my next home was to be. Then I just felt a warm glowing sensation in my heart, and had an idea of a place that I had never been, but was feeling very curious about. I immediately went to this area, and within two hours had found my new home.

This same technique applies for me when I am doing Reiki treatments on others. When I find an area of the person's body that has a blockage, and I feel that we need additional information about this, I use the same process of connecting with my guides to receive a specific answer.

Two things that I have learned about communicating with guides is that they take many forms, and if they are acknowledged and thanked they appreciate it and then teach me more.
When we are frustrated because we don't feel our guides presence, it is simply because we have placed a veil between ourselves and our guidance. We do this in many ways but the most common ways are by holding an expectation of the form the guide should take, trying too hard, staying so busy that we don't allow ourselves the opportunity to listen, or by focusing our attention on what others are doing rather than on our own thoughts, feelings, actions and behavior.

Listening is a healing art. I learned this years ago by observing some of my greatest teachers. They each had this amazing ability to make me feel like I was the only person on the planet during the time I was talking with them. I never doubted that they truly heard what I was saying.

I find this important to do, especially when working with clients and students. It is very healing to know that someone cares enough to really listen. Sometimes I find it helpful to invoke the distant symbol when I am having a pre-treatment dialogue with a client. In this case I do so with the intention a bridge of light connects our higher-selves and guides, and that we are conversing from our higher minds and hearts. This enables me to hear things that may not be verbalized but are important to the healing session.

In closing, I would like to borrow a phrase from the Course in Miracles, “Every encounter is a holy encounter. If we remember this whenever someone speaks to us, we have an opportunity to be Divinely blessed by simply giving that person our undivided attention, really hearing what they have to say, and listening with our hearts..

In the Light of the Creator... We See Only Love