reiki4writers

Your Inspiration for the Week . . .

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:25:00 +0000

Reiki class reminder

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Just a reminder to let you know that we will be having a reiki I and II class this weekend. There is still room, so please give Dee a call at 646-355-7934 if you are interested. Or you can sign up at our website. We'd love to see you in class.

Sharing is Caring, but only in New York

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:08:00 +0000

As half of the sister team at Healing Hands of Reiki, I invite anyone in the NYC area to join us for Reikishare in the new year. HHOR Reikishares meet once a month on the second Monday. Our dates for the beginning of 2010 are February 8, March 8 and April 5. We gather at 7 pm.

Each Reikishare consists of a meet and greet, meditation, sharing (everyone gets a turn on the reiki table receiving reiki and helping to give reiki to others).

Space is limited to ten participants, so please call (646-355-7934) early to reserve your place. Light refreshments are served. The cost is $20.

Hope to see you there!

Energize me

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:07:00 +0000

It seems to me that one of the main reasons that many writers don't complete their projects or take forever to do them is that they lack the energy for sustained sessions at the keyboard. Most writers work at something other than their novel and real life can be exhausting. Still there are ways to boost your energy level that have nothing to do with Red Bull or other over the counter pick-me-ups.

First, learn to feel the energy field that flows around you. Yes, we're talking about the aura. Sit up straight in a firm chair with your feet firmly on the floor. Rub your hands together vigorously for a couple or three minutes. Your palms should be warm and possibly tingly. Spread them apart slowly, keeping them parallel to one another until there is about six inches between them. Then slowly (again) move your hands together. At some point you should feel resistance to bringing your hands together, like two opposite poles of a magnet repelling. This is a very subtle energy, so don't expect to get knocked over the head with this sensation. When you can feel it slightly, cup your hands a little like you a holding a ball. How big a ball do you have? Try to expand it by pulling your hands apart like you are pulling taffy, then try to make a bigger ball. With practice this should be easy to recognize and to do.

Now to build energy for stamina. Sit comfortably with your back straight and your feet on the floor. Inhale and imagine your body drawing in white light instead of oxygen. Breathe deeply, pulling air into tanden rather than the lungs. The tanden is the gravitational center of the body believed to be the true energy source inside the body. As you exhale, imagine this white light spreading out through your aura invigorating your whole body. Make sure your breathing is deliberate--in through the nose and out through the mouth. While you're at it, you can repeat an affirmation of your choosing about your skill, prowess and creativity as a writer, but that's up to you.

I've talked before about kundalini energy and its ability to rise through the chakras. You can help it flow by activating each chakra by chanting its sound in order. The AM sound should be like ohm as in bomb (not am as in lamb). The sounds are:

root--lam

sacral--vam

solar plexus--ram

heart--yam

throat--ham

brow--om

crown--silent aum

Chant each sound seven times, visuaizing the energy from that chakra increasing with each repetition, before moving on to the next. When you get to the crown chakra it's more of an internal vibration than an actual sound. Let me know how this works for you.

Heading in the right direction

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:09:00 +0000

The crown chakra is the last of the major seven and is seated predictably at the crown of the head. It is the portal of spirituality, divine guidance and psychic ability. Body parts associated with this chakra are the pituitary, pineal/cerebral cortex and the skin. The colors of the crown chakra are violet and white. Crystals that work well with this chakra are clear quartz, amethyst and diamonds. Scents are rosewood and frankincense. Someone with a balanced crown chakra has greater spiritual potential, is able to find and follow bliss. Someone with an unbalanced crown chakra can suffer from depression, obsessional thinking and confusion.

To stimulate the crown chakra, try prayer. visualization or meditation. One of my favorite meditations for chakra balancing comes from Laurelle Shanti Gaia. Try Infinite Spectrum every day for a week and see if you notice a change.

The eyes have it

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:43:00 +0000

We are now at the penultimate chakra, the brow or third eye chakra, that, not surprisingly, can be found between the physical eyes on the brow bone. This chakra is indigo in color and governs issues of intuition, imagination, dreaming and wisdom. Opening and expanding the third eye is a pursuit that leads to greater psychic abilities and a deeper connection with the divine. Crystals that aid with brow chakra work are lapis lazuli, azurite and especially amethyst. Hyacinth and violet are two scents associated with this chakra. The brow chakra's element is that of light energy.

A person with a balanced third eye chakra has a healthy sense of ego, presience, ability to learn and think creatively. Someone with an unbalanced third eye chakra can be short-sighted and prone to nightmares and learning difficulties.

Clearing your throat

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:43:00 +0000

The throat chakra is one of the most important for writers and other creative folks. The throat chakra governs communication, creativity, and self-expression--everything a growing writer needs. The throat chakra is located at the base of the throat and is linked to the thyroid, neck, ears, and teeth. It's color is blue; crystals that resonate with it are turquoise, agate, sapphire and sodalite (my favorite). Scents are myrrh and chamomile.

Not surprisingly, a person with a balanced throat chakra is able to organize, accept situations as they are, communicates easily. Someone whose throat chakra is out of whack is perfectionistic, unable to express words and emotions. Sounds to me like when the dreaded internal editor is working overdrive.

So the next time you're feeling writer's block, maybe it's your throat chakra that needs clearing. One way to do this is to find a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down. Imagine your body relaxing part by part, from the soles of your feet up to the crown of your head. Imagine a pool of deep blue at the base of your throat (the chakra). Is the color muddy or clear? Does the chakra spin and if so easily or sluggishly? Focus on the chakra until the color runs clear and spins easily.

I often find when I am clearing my chakras that I feel the urge to lie down and if I do lie down I fall asleep. If this happens to you, pay attention to what you dream. Often it will have to do with the issue causing the block.

Testing . . . testing

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Now we've reached past the halfway mark in talking about the chakras, let's have some fun. I don't vouch for the reliability of any of the following, but I found them enjoyable, if that means anything to you.

Click here for a cool chakra test. You can also find more ways to open and expand the chakras.

Here's another quiz.

If you've got children, you might appreciate Selena's goddess pages for another quiz.

Or you can take the chakra test. Below are my (not surprising) partial results.

The Artistic One

You have scored 100% Expression - Your dominant Chakra is the "Throat or Blue Chakra"

The "Throat or Blue Chakra" is where the energy for communication and self expression originates from. It is located - as one may easily assume by its name - in one's throat. And this is the chakra which is most developed in you at this time.

Depending on your percentage score, there is always more room for development. When this chakra is under-active, you may stop speaking, become introverted and shy, and not be willing to communicate and express yourself. In many cases this may be due to your fear of speaking the truth. If over-active and out of balance with your other chakras, you may tend to become domineering, and also distance yourself from others. Your talents can suffer greatly when this chakra is out of balance. What is most important is to find balance amongst all 7 chakras.

The Heart of the Matter

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:18:00 +0000

The heart chakra is the fourth of seven and needs little explanation. It is located in the fenter of the chest, near the actual heart. It is the dividing line between the lower chakras (base, sacral, solar plexus) and the upper (throat, brow, crown). The energy of the heart chakra affects the lungs, the heart and the thymus. The color of the heart chakra is green (or a soft pink). Both pink and or green stones resonate with the heart chakra including calcite, jade, moonstone, rose quartz, and malachite. Aromatherapy scents are bergamot, Melissa and rose.

A person with a balanced heart chakra is compassionate, understanding, loving, able to fall in love easily. Someone with an unbalanced hear chakra is fearful, co-dependent, and dreads both commitment and betrayal.

To expand your heart chakra: Get into a comfortable seated position with your back straight and your feet on the floor. Close your eyes and breathe deeply (to a count of three). As you inhale imagine that you are taking in bright, healing, loving light. Exhale just as slowly, imagining that energy spreading throughout your body, more and more with each breath. Let your energy go down to the Earth through your feet and up to the heavens through your crown. When you are ready, come back into yourself and open your eyes. You should feel calm and more relaxed.

Power of Three

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:14:00 +0000

The third chakra, the solar plexus chakra, is also known as the power chakra. It is the house of the personality, purposefulness, endurance and self-esteem. Yellow is the color of this chakra that is located between the ribcage and the navel. Body parts associated with this chakra are the ovaries and testes/stomach, bladder, circulatory system. Aromatherapy scents: vetvert, bergamot, frankincense. Corresponding crystals are yellow citrine, aventurine, malachite.

A person with a balanced power chakra is outgoing, sociable, confident. Signs of an unbalanced third chakra are aggression, low self-esteem, critical, addictive personality.

The third chakra houses the ego the part of our psychological make-up that causes the most problems and opportunities. We all need an ego, buy it doesn't necessarily have to be the part that controls everything. Learning to quiet the voice of the ego, the demands of the "I" can do wonders for your life.

Do it til you're satisfied . . . or don't

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:48:00 +0000

And now for the writing portion of the program. I just happened to be tooling around the internet when I found this article from the Romance Writers of Australia on the do's and don'ts of writing paranormal romance. I especially like Nancy Strickland's iceberg analogy of world building.

I'm really trying to build my library of paranormal/fantasy sci fi at the moment, so tell me who are your favorites? What do you like about these particular authors/stories?

Sexual Healing

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Let's turn our attention to the second chakra, often called the sacral or creative chakra. It sits in the abdomen, about midway between the navel and the pubic bone and is associated with the color orange. This chakra is related to the reproductive organs, hence the concern with sexuality and creativity (as in the creation of life). Here we are no longer concerned merely with issues of survival, but also more advanced concerns of sexuality, nurturance and emotion.

The bodily organs associated with the sacral chakra are the gonads, bladder, prostate womb. Crystals associated with this chakra are citrine, carnelian, golden topaz and others. Aromatherapy scents are jasmine and sandalwood.

Someone with a balanced second chakra has a strong sex drive, is energetic, and able to express power constructively. An unbalanced second chakra can lead to feelings of isolation and a lack of joy in life.

Keep in mind that when we talk about the chakras being balanced, your energy can be blocked temporarily due to a sudden life event, be blocked for a time during a trying period or it can be a habitual pattern. For example, if you are going through a divorce, this chakra may be out of whack for a time since your emotions, your sense of connection/isolation and probably your sexuality are involved--but you recover. However, if you are chronically shy, inhibited, or joyless, the blockage in your chakra is more profound.

Getting the 411 on the 212

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:47:00 +0000

I just posted the latest Carnival of Healing (212) on my other blog On a Mission from Goddess. Please stop by and take a look. Leave me a comment if you are thus inclined. There are a couple of writing related articles you might like.

Getting to the root of it

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:47:00 +0000

The first chakra, the root chakra is also called the base chakra. It is located at the perineum, between the anus and the genitals. Each chakra is depicted as a lotus blossom with varying numbers of leaves. In this case, the lotus has four leaves with the sanskrit symbol for the chakra at the center. The base chakra governs and is governed by an individuals feelings about health and fitness, survival, security, prosperity, grounding and stability--all those very basic issues of physical existance.

The parts of the body affiliated with the base chakra are the adrenals, kidneys, skeleton and legs. Problems in these areas suggest an imbalance in the root chakra.

Aromatherapy scents associated with the root chakra are myrrh, lavender, musk and patchouli. Crystals (stones) associated with the chakra are hematite, onyx, garnet, ruby, and my favorite, red Jasper.

Remember that chakras are vortexes, meaning they spin, how fast or how well depends on how blocked or free your energy is in this field. Stagnant energy/imbalance can lead to problems in the physical, emotional and spiritual bodies. Someone with a balanced root chakra is healthy, energetic, financially secure (regardless of the amount of money they make). Someone with an unbalanced root chakra is egotistical, greedy, overly sexual, fearful.

One other thing to note about the root chakra is that it is the home of resting kundalini. Most folks liken kundalini (feminine energy) to a coiled snake awaiting stimulation to rise through the chakras. Think about sexual arousal: it starts in the groin, in the genitals and rises often into the belly (or for women, the womb). Most times it stops there, due to either orgasm or absence of continued stimulation. However it is possible to have the kundalini continue to rise though the physical body. That's the point of tantra. Kundalini can also be stimuulated through breath work, yoga, and chanting the names of the chakras in order.

That's all for today. Any questions? Comments? Have at it.

Energy basics

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:50:00 +0000

When we talk about reiki, when we talk about life, we are talking about energy. This kind of energy is called ki, chi, prana, sekhem and ither names in other cultures. If you are a Star Wars buff, you make think of it as " the force."

Whatever you call it, each of us humans has an energy body as well as a physical body. We modern day folks think of this as the aura, but from ancient times most cultures knew of this energy body and had some way of defining the various energy vortexes (chakras) in the body. For the sake of clarity and my own personal preference we'll work with the Eastern chakra system, since it is also the one most people are most familiar with.

This system describes seven vortexes seated in the sushunma, a sort of energy spine that runs up the body. The seven chakras are the root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye and crown. Each chakra is related to a color, a sound, an organ in the body and a life issue. The chart below outlines these:

Chakra	issue	color	sound	ruling glands
root	survival	red	LAM	adrenal
sacral	sexuality	orange	VAM	sexual organs
solar plexus	power	yellow	RAM	pancreas
heart	love	green	YAM	thoymus
throat	communication	blue	HAM	thyroid
third eye	intuition	indigo	AUM	pituitary
crown	spirituality	violet or white	AH or AUM	pineal

There are, of course, other chakras as well. The palm chakras are activated during a reiki attunement. There are chakras in the soles of the feet as well. The Mouth of God chakra is at the nape of your neck and you feel its activation as the hairs on the back of your neck standing up.

Chakras are affected by both the governing channel (male) that runs down the spine and the creative channel (female, kundalini) that runs up the front of the body.

If all this sounds a little much to take in, don't worry. I will be devoting the next seven posts to explaining each of these chakras. Then I will discuss how you can clear your chakras and also how you can use chakras to aid in developing your characters (now you know what this has to do with writing). Hope you'll stick around for the whole series. As my grandmother used to say--you might learn something.

Let's start at the very beginning . . .

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:54:00 +0000

The first question to answer, I suppose, is what is reiki? I offer you the definition from my website Healing Hands of Reiki:

Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) is an ancient hands on healing modality re-discovered by Mikao Usui, that accesses Universal life force energy. It can be used for stress reduction, relaxation and to promote healing and balance. The word Reiki comes from the Japanese word Rei, which means universal, higher spiritual consciousness, and Ki, which means life force energy. Reiki is spiritually guided life force energy. Anyone can benefit from Reiki. Anyone can learn Reiki. Reiki never causes harm and can be used in any situation. It works on all levels–physical, emotional and spiritual.

The ability to channel Reiki energy cannot be learned by studying it. This ability is transferred to the student by the Reiki Master during an attunement process.

What Reiki can do for you

Reiki . . .

reduces stress
promotes relaxation
increases energy
encourages restful sleep
relieves aches and pains
stimulates the immune system
supports the healing of serious illness

What Reiki is not

instant healing
an excuse not to visit the doctor (Reiki works in conjunction with medical or psychological treatment)
new (or new age) forms of energy work have existed since recorded time. Such practices have been re-discovered but they are not new.

Learning reiki is not essential to energy work. There are many modalities of healing, working with energy and other means of expanding one's creativity. However I've found reiki invaluable in my life. To learn more about reiki go here.

Hello and welcome

devioftherose@yahoo.com (devi of the rose) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Glad you decided to stop by my new blog. Okay, I admit the title might be a bit of a misnomer, since I plan on discussing not only reiki but all sorts of energy topics. In particular I will be focusing on how to improve creativity, stamina, the ability to manifest great things in your writing career.

Although I have published over a dozen books to varying degrees of success, I don't present myself as any expert. I am on the journey, too. Hopefully, I will provide you with needed information and a place for ideas. Feel free to comment or disagree or whatever. As long as you hang on we're in this together. So let's explore.