For Today

 The Reiki precepts begin kyo dake wa, just for today ...

When we have Reiki, we can invite the energy to flow into our activities and interactions throughout the day. 

When Hawayo Takata, who brought Reiki to the West, awaited surgery in Dr Maeda's hospital in Tokyo, each of the meals prepared by the doctor's dietician sister was blessed with Reiki: green tea, Rice, beans, steamed vegetables, seaweed. 

As she learned Reiki herself, Mrs Takata blessed her own food and drink, and later recommended her students do the same.

Spiritual leaders and teachers from most traditions suggest blessing whatever we ingest. Say a little prayer before a meal, imagine rainbows in your water - if we do this daily, it soon becomes second nature. We can also use blessings and Reiki around the home:

• set up an altar (appropriate to your traditions and beliefs)
• Keep a gratitude journal - begin and/ or end your day with gratitude
• hold seeds, flowers or herbs a minute before planting 
• Go outside and welcome the day with thanks
• bless a craft project we're working on
• sweep the floor and imagine any negativity being swept up
• play a musical instrument
• atune to objects as we decide whether to keep them, or pass them on

My friend Candy Gordon told me her Cherokee grandmother was Christian, and walked with her ancestors' medicine ways, using teachings from both for good.  As a 'prayer healer,' she would lift up prayers for her friends and family, and was often thanked, 'I know you were praying for me!'

At a Reiki gathering 30 years ago, one participant brought news of a new grandchild with kidney problems, and our group of over 100 practioners 'sent Reiki.'  It was August, and his grandfather was at  Sundance in the Dakotas - when he asked for prayers, an elder told him, 'the men are ALREADY dancing for him!' ... and I pictured other friends or relatives lighting candles and lifting prayers in Christian churchs ... the child had begun to recover by the following day ....

What positive thoughts and actions can you take, just today?