Another Day

Lately I have been noticing a trend in my heart--I am not 'getting into' holidays like I used to.  Is it my age? Have I seen enough of them? Is it that I have to go to work at the hospital during them so much? Is it the sharing of the holdiays with my ex? Perhaps. But like the moose in the above photograph, I am starting to notice that I am neck deep in advertisements for each and every holiday.  Yesterday I got the feeling that someone wants me to shop on cue.  I did not like it. Something deep inside of me said, 'no!'.

I spoke to my mom about it. She has a Russian friend who says, 'your holidays are--(insert favorite word here)! Who says you have to buy presents for everybody? All the family, the teachers, the people who help you every day want a tip...in Russia we do none of those things! We give a gift to the family: a bottle of wine, a box of cookies, and we celebrate with joy in our hearts! All of this looking for the deal-deal-deal! I will never understand your ways!'

Mom laughed. Back in Italy, the holidays were more laid back. Like her Russian friend. Mom has been saying we should go back to those days for most of my life. With the economy the way it is, it makes sense.

What does Reiki have to do with it? Well for me, I have opted out of the shopping mall and plan to give cash. Just like my grandparents. I will give business gifts and buy for the children online. I think this new idea of freedom at the holidays stems from being in touch with what I want and what I observe around me. Reiki also is needed by the world, as depression and financial over-extension lead to stress this time of year in those who are around us. Be Reiki wherever you go. Put in place the five principles daily (see box at right, 'Just for today'...).  And see! Look for yourself to see where your dollar is spent, and ultimately where it will go. Think of it as 'voting' to support places you would like to see in business. Times are tough, and I am sure it will be appreciated very much by some people who are struggling to stay afloat with their store.

Long story short--be rich in celebration, but wise in how you choose to spend your energy in time, talent and treasure. Enjoy time spent with loved ones, for they are the greatest treasure anyone can ask for. Even the not-so-easy-to-be-with ones! Who else can you mutually burn Karma together and advance as gentle souls? It was not by accident that you are related! If, on the other hand, there is abuse in the relationship, let it go. You deserve to be treated with Light, even if you have to be the one to shine it yourself. Angels are with you no matter what.

That being said, Happy Thanksgiving! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Blessed Solstice! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Eid! Happy New Year! May the best be ahead for all of us at this wonderful time!

Namaste,

Reiki Doc

I Give Thanks

Love your trolls! Love the people who look at you in a negative way. They give so much more than friends in their own way!

• They give you the opportunity to be the bigger person!
• Trolls give you the chance to reach out and seek comfort from knowledgeable blogger friends
• You gain depth and compassion, for those in the public eye who deal with this every day, not just on some blog
• They expect 'more' from you, and the Universe helps you find it. For example, the work of Daniel J. Benor, MD, ABHM, is studying the effect of prayer on patient outcome. There is also this recommendation straight from a worker from the NHS: 'Spiritual Healing - Scientific Validation of a Healing Revolution' (this book was also written by Dr. Benor)  And there is a Reiki Master in Arizona who is just starting a randomized-double blind study with a Radiation Oncologist on Reiki and Cancer Treatment. 
• Trolls are ideal persons to pray for. Little do they know it, but Reiki is being sent to everyone reading these words. Daily! Including those who mock my words. Detaching with love is a powerful lesson in life.
• There is no anger, as who is to fault them for being upset about others seeing something that they can't 'see' or 'understand'? I would be frustrated too if I were in their shoes. A shark is equipped to detect electrical impulses in the water like no other animal, and can smell one drop of blood a mile away. With them, we say, a shark is a shark. But for humans who for some reason have the ability to experience clairvoyance, claircognizance, clairsentience, clairaudience, and other extrasensory perception? All humans are not alike..some are 'different' and others might have trouble accepting this. It makes sense, does it not?
• Acceptance of 'what is' is the highest gift you can give to yourself. That gift can be given no matter what anyone else thinks!

Last, here is a wonderful quote from former attorney Jeff Brown to keep in your back pocket as we face the holiday season: 

"Words. So powerful. They can crush a heart, or heal it. They can shame a soul, or liberate it. They can shatter dreams, or energize them. They can obstruct connection, or invite it. They can create defenses, or melt them. We have to use words wisely."--Jeff Brown

I highly recommend all of his work

Namaste,

Reiki Doc