reikijoyliving

Like many authors, I’m getting ready at 12:01 AM to start NaNoWriMo. This month-long writing frenzy means lots of caffeine, long nights, and really not taking care of myself. I am not alone. As writer’s we’re focused on the word count, on the story, and other things fall by the wayside.

So as a writer and a reiki practitioner I’d like to propose that we use reiki in the following ways during NaNoWriMo

• 1) As a way to reduce stress. When the word count is done, sit back with a lavender eye pillow across your face, relax, and give yourself reiki
• 2) Support your working digits by reikiing your hands periodically during your marathon writing sessions
• 3) Give reiki to your ears and your eyes to help support them while you focus on your story
• 4) And reiki your neck and shoulders to reduce strain

You can do it. I know you can reach 50,000 words during the month of November. But be smart about it. Pace yourself, and use reiki! It may not be “the force” but it sure helps a lot. Good luck!

We’re nearing the first part of November where thousands of people join in what is affectionately known as NaNo-National Novel Writing Month (http://www.nanowrimo.org/). During the month of November, those of us of the kind of crazy persuasion, decide to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. It breaks down to 1667 words a day, and really for those of us who already write that’s not such a bad number. It just means applying fanny to computer chair and fingers to keyboard.However, as a two time participant (this year will be my third) and two time winner, I’ve found that reiki helps me with NaNo. By plugging into the energy, I find I can open my muse and my inspiration. I also use it to help relax me and I know I’m hitting a really good passage because the energy just clicks on like a light bulb.

Candles. Chanting. Prayers. Bribes. They all work well too for those looking to win Nano (If I write 100 more words I can get up and get some coffee/chocolate/aspirin/whatever we need). We sacrifice ourselves on the altar of creativity. Luckily for me, reiki is there and can help me get through it.

We’re at T-48 hours. Ready. Get set. GO!

Following up on yesterday’s post, I’m going to list a couple of essential oils that I love to use to help support my body during bouts with allergies and colds. Please note that these are items that I use personally. I am not a doctor and this advice does not take the place of medical treatment. I also do not take these essential oils internally. They are applied diluted with a carrier oil like almond oil or used in an oil diffuser.

My favorite oil has to be peppermint. A bit of peppermint on the back of my neck and dotted on my cheek bones really seems to help clear things out. Likewise, I find lavender dropped on a cotton ball and put inside my pillow case helps me to sleep at night.

In an oil diffuser, I like to use tea tree oil, pine, and cedar oils. I first heard about these in an article on essential oils for horses, and like the fragrance they offer as well as the relief. Plus, tea tree is anti-viral, so for those pesky colds, I like the help and support it brings.

For my oils I use the highest grade oil I can purchase. Cheap oils are often filled with fillers or other chemicals that render them useless for anything other than as a ritual or annointing oil. I like to purchase my oils at a health food store.

I find that for me, essential oils combined with reiki creates a potent combination to help get me through the times of sinus problems and colds. And, of course, don’t forget to stay hydrated and drink your juice.

It’s either a head cold or a latent sinus infection. I can’t decide. I’m tired all the time, like I am with a sinus infection, but without going into too many details, well without the Technicolor tissue fun of a sinus infection. So I’m leaning towards head cold, since occasionally my throat gets scratchy and my ears feel full or a bit achy.

By the time you reach adulthood, most of us know that if we go to a doctor for a cold, then we’re going to get told to go home and stay hydrated and go to bed, especially in this anti-antibiotic era. It used to be that 1000mg of Ciproflexen cured me right up when I had a sinus infection. Then, one day, a doctor looked at me and said “But what if you get anthrax? It’s the only antibiotic known to treat anthrax and we don’t want people getting immune to it.” Considering the fact that I’m immune to pseudoephedrine because it was poured down me by the bottle loads when I was a kid, yeah, that’s a serious fact. But also considering that with my sinuses, I really can’t breathe on the best of days…well…hand over the drugs, doc.

And then I learned reiki. No, I’m not going to say that it’s a cure-all or some magic fix for my ills. I wish. But, I find that it can support whatever medical treatment I am, or am not, pursing at the moment Luckily, reiki has a few hand positions that work really well for the sinus problems.

The three hand positions are the eyes, the ears, and the throat. For the eyes, the hands are covered over the closed eyes, usually about four to six inches away. For the ears, the hands are cupped over the ears, and also held about four to six inches away. The throat position has the hands gently cupping the chin (or the same four to six inches away) and directing energy into the jaw and throat. I add a fourth one in my personal practice, and that is cupping my hands on the back of my neck, usually with my fingers in the ridges where the skull meets the neck, and giving reiki there, too.

I tend to use these four positions nearly exclusively when I’m working on my own sinus problems. Oftentimes, I’ll add a cold pack (or cold stones) to my face or the back of my neck, for additional relief. It’s starting to be that time of year, so anything we can do to help support ourselves before the colds and flu hit will make it hopefully easier when they do.

These statements have not been endorsed by the FDA and are my own personal experiences. Please seek the treatment from a medical doctor if you feel you need to do so.

In the Abundance Journal series I talked about retelling your life story the way you want it to be. Today, I want to introduce you to a book that tells the stories of others, and in the end, you learn that their stories are your stories.

The Oxford Project

Maybe it’s because I grew up there. Maybe it’s because my picture was taken all those years ago. Maybe it’s because I know these people, and yes, learned things that the “old lady gossip line” didn’t know. Or maybe, it’s becuase in my heart I’m a writer and I love stories. It doesn’t get any more real than “real life” and you can’t make up things any more interesting than what happens to these people.

When we create our stories we write them just as these people’s stories fill this book. And in the end, I think all of us want our own personal stories to be as powerful as what is in this book.

(read more at this CNN news story: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/07/oxford.project/)

(or check it out at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Project-Stephen-G-Bloom/dp/1599620480/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1225063477&sr=8-1)

I had plans for today. Mother Nature had plans too. She was blowing through a cold front to remind us that it is late October and winter is just around the corner. Because of her plans, I awoke earlier than I thought. Running on three hours of sleep is pretty normal for those who work the night shift and allowed me to make subtle shifts in my schedule for the upcoming days.

Well the plans progressed well. I ticked things off on my to do list, and it was time for an event. I went early, stopping at a store to run an errand for my grandma. Oops! I’d forgotten my billfold on the table. Okay, so I drive back, get my billfold and head to the event. Except I’d gotten my wires crossed and it wasn’t where I was. Oops again!

I could have gotten mad. I could have said bad words. Instead, I enjoyed a very delicious Café Mocha, bought a dozen bagels, and came home. I laughed my foolishness, especially when I realized what I’d done. And, I understand that sometimes, the universe has its own plans for us. It’s up to us to tune into the station and listen.

 Following is a sample “write your own story” from an abundance journal. I hope you can use this to craft one that works for you.

***

I work at a good job that provides prosperity and abundance for me and my family. My work is appreciated, and I am considered a valuable member of my team. My supervisor sees my contributions and rewards me for them. My paycheck allows me to pay my bills and have money left over for luxuries and fun events with my family.

My environment supports me. My partner cares for me and provides support and love. I live in a good neighborhood. I have all my needs met personally, professionally, spiritually and emotionally. All is well and the Universe hears my needs and takes care of them. I want for nothing. Everything I need is provided for me by the Universe. So Mote It Be.

***

You can add an “Amen” or whatever works for you on the end of that, but basically you’re looking at this like a prayer. This is what you are telling the universe you want.

So we’ve thought about wording our requests in a positive manner. We’ve thought about what we want and where we want to be. We know what kind of abundance and prosperity we want to bring into our lives. Now, it’s time to write your story.

When writing your story it’s important to remember a few things. First, make strong, powerful statements that reflect a positive attitude and what you want. This is not a time for wimpy language. Words like “should” or “hopefully” or “maybe” have no place in your story. Write what you want as you want it to be.

Second, don’t be afraid to get specific. If there is a certain dollar amount you want to make, write it down. If you’re looking for concrete goals, then make sure they’re in your journal. Studies have shown the more concrete the goal, the better someone’s chance of achieving it.

And lastly, don’t get caught up in “but it isn’t like this now.” You’re not writing about now. You’re writing your story as you want it to be, as you expect it to be. This is the world that you’re envisioning for yourself, one full of abundance and hope.

Things aren’t going to happen overnight. They may not change in a week or a month. But to me, writing your story in an abundance journal is part of good goal-setting habits. Using an abundance journal, along with other processes, will help you to work toward your goals.

In addition to thankfulness, the second part of an abundance journal is to create your own story. You have to believe your story in order to live it. So that means sitting down and thinking about what story do you want to create. Don’t say “I wish I had more money.” Statements like those focus on the lack. Say “My prosperity allows me to live a comfortable life. I can pay my bills, put food on my table, and have money left over for luxuries.” Don’t say “I wish my job didn’t suck.” Say, “My job fulfills me and allows me to use my talents.” Focus on what you do want, not what you don’t have.

So for today, think about those statements that you want to make about your life and rewrite them to be positive and focus on what you want. Turn those negatives into positives. Then, you’ll be ready to write your story.

The first half of your daily abundance journal entry should be thankfulness. After all, it’s only polite to thank the universe for whatever you receive. I also think it helps to set the proper mood for creating our story and inviting abundance into your life. Otherwise, if you simply ask for what you want without being thankful for it, then that makes you look greedy. There’s plenty for everyone. We just need to not be greedy and accept our share.

Finding things about which to be thankful shouldn’t be difficult. The daily list can be a mix of small things (thankful for getting a good parking spot, for example) and large (thankful for a continued ill family’s members improving health). And, being thankful doesn’t have to be strictly money related. Abundance and prosperity isn’t just dollars and cents. We have an abundance of joy, health, friendship…there are many things we can be thankful about, and by letting all the forms of abundance into our live we can “pave the way” for prosperity.

The important part is to make the thanks you offer meaningful. Don’t be thankful about something that you’ve griped about all day. Be thankful about things that you really do want more of in your life. And, don’t stress over this. Simply relax and let it flow. At first you may not be able to list a lot, but as your work with the abundance journal goes on, you’ll find more and more things you’re thankful about. Once you have that, then writing your own story comes naturally.