Reiki 3 Coming in a Couple Weeks

For those that have taken Reiki 1 and Reiki 2 from me, you are eligible to take the Reiki 3 (Masters) class on Saturday, April 5^th. I know some have missed previous classes, and want to take it. So, here is your chance. I need to have 4 students signed up by March 27^th to have it at the hotel. 

If you are interested in taking this class, please sign up as soon as possible.

Good Classes This Past Week

There were some good classes this past week. On February 28^th Reiki 1 was taught to two students at my house. Both had received training in Reiki 1 before, and one had received training in Reiki 1 and Reiki 2. One had been signed up for the class early in February, but could not make it. 

The good news is that both saw something that they had not seen in any of their previous classes. When someone comes to me to take a higher level of Reiki, I usually tell them they have to take the previous levels first. This is because no two instructors teach the same thing. We usually find that I teach more. I was glad to see that both saw new things that they did not see in their previous classes.

Then on March 1^st, we had six students in a Reiki 2 class (this included the two from the day before). It was a fun day of Beaming (not the Star Trek type), and distant energy healing (singly and as a group), and finally as a group working on one person on the table.

It was a great class with lots of information learned.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

by Brian Dean

There is an old joke which states that the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off for maintenance. But what is the light?

The pessimistic would say that it is an oncoming train signifying that there is no end to the darkness, the misery, the problems one is going through.

In truth, the light is hope, and we have to believe it is there, that it exists. We have to know, at least internally, that there will be an end to the struggle, a point where things will get better, where the skies will brighten and the light will shine on us, lifting us out of the dark. It is this belief, this hope, or faith (if you will) that keeps us moving forward, keeps us pushing against whatever we are fighting.

We live in a time of strife where we wonder how bad it will get. We live in a time of an uncertain future. We may push against this, but it pushes back. We need to believe we can change the things affecting us, that things will eventually get better, and we can, but we need to believe.

According to the Mayans (and this was told to us by Eamonn Downey), we have periods with 40 year “hells”. It is possible that we are in that now. This means that it will take a while to get through it, and it may, but we will get through it. We have to believe, and we have to keep putting out that positive energy. 

As I look out over the landscape, I see darkness. But I also see points of light, and those points are growing, pushing back at the darkness. And I remember that darkness can not exist in light. I do not know if this change will occur in my lifetime, but while I am on this side, I will keep the light shining, and passing it to whomever wants it. Every change has to start somewhere, and those that start it may not see the end of the process (at least from this side). But we push out knowing that it will eventually make a difference.

What can we do so we are not swallowed by the darkness? First, we can limit our news intake. Yes, we need to keep aware of the things that are going on, but we need to not be inundated with negative information. We have to also know that there are good things happening out there. There is positive energy. Feel it. Pass it on. Look for the good that is being done in the world whether it be those helping others less fortunate, or people rescuing abandoned puppies. Good things are happening, we just need to make ourselves aware of it.

Someone once said, “Miracles happen every day, but no one notices. I think I’ll start noticing more.” Yes! Look around and see the positive. Let there be balance. 

So, even though we might not see the light at the end of the tunnel, we have to believe that it is there, and that we will reach it. And we need to not lose this faith. We need to hope. 

Solving a Problem

by Brian Dean

We all have problems, some big, some small, some in between. Now, we have heard that we can’t solve all our problems overnight. And that is true. It would be nice if we could. But we can work on pieces until the whole is complete.

There are several steps to solving a problem, and they really all need to be done. The first is to look at your mental attitude and thought. One needs to be in a positive mindset to realistically solve a problem. We can not solve problems through hate or fear (at least not without creating more problems that could be far worse than the ones being dealt with). We have to start by thinking positively, and believing we can.

Next, problems are usually not simple. In fact, most are complex. We need to define the problem and its components. The thing here is to break down the problem into pieces. It is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Usually one groups similarly colored pieces together and finds what fits, making bigger pieces. When we have many big pieces, we start piecing them together. 

The same can be said about most problems. We break it down into parts, and then begin solving each part. When all the parts are done, we have solved the whole thing. 

But we follow a process with each piece. We define each piece’s components (yes, things get broken down smaller still… problem, bigger component, smaller component). We look at possible solutions (or theories/hypotheses if you will) and figure out the best possible one. Then we implement this theory and see if the problem piece is fixed. If it is not, we try something else. This is where one needs to be open and creative. Let that spark come to you. Once this piece is solved, move onto the next.

Once each of the smaller components are done, they can be added to the bigger component. Once each of the bigger components is solved, we have solved the problems, and we move onto the next problem.

If one thinks of this as a computer programmer would, each system is comprised of programs, it is never one big program. By working on one of those programs, one is actually working on the smaller components. The trick is to make sure all the components interact with each other, and that they all support the entire system. 

And that brings us to one more key. When you are working on any problem, make sure you keep stepping back to see how it will interact with the rest of the pieces, and that they all work toward your goal. Basically, don’t lose sight of the big picture.

When Faced With An Objective, One Should…

Define the pieces that need to be addressed.

Anticipate all problems prior to their occurrence.

Create and test theories that could solve these problems,

Implement the necessary steps thus completing the task

However,

When you’re up to your ass in alligators, it’s hard to remember that your objective was to

Drain the swamp!

An Interesting Problem

by Brian Dean

First We built a squirrel feeder, and have been leaving nuts for the squirrels, and they have been eating them up. Then we found that the bulbs on this string of lights we hung out there months ago are going missing. They are not on the ground anywhere. We’ve gone from 20 bulbs to three.

We watched a squirrel climb the wire, gnaw the wire holding the bulb, and then run off with the bulb. Maybe they are putting in a skylight or windows in their nest. They are plastic, so they won’t break and hurt the squirrels at any rate. 

Possible solutions include moving the feeder, and getting a different type of light string. Another possibility is to coat the wire with something that would not taste good to them. 

Will keep you posted on this one. No good deed goes unpunished.