The Reiki Principles

The Reiki principles, passed down from Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki, are an important part of Reiki training. They become your daily mantra, prayer & meditation…a way of life really. The wording may vary slightly, but the impact they make in healing yourself and others can be significant. They keep you grounded and remind you of the kind of person you should be. The principles will work for anyone really (whether a Reiki practitioner or not), if you choose to adapt them into your life. It encourages us to eliminate ideas that can be harmful and to adapt a more loving mindset. Here, I will explore each of the five principles and what they mean in my own life. They may have different meaning for you, and that’s okay.

Each of the principles starts with “Just for today”. A lovely reminder to live in the moment, but “Just for today” refers to each and every day. I like to take a deep breath before reciting each principle…breathing in their meaning and allowing my mind and body to absorb it.

1. Just for today, I will not anger.

Anger often comes from fear, and fear comes from what we don’t know or understand. Take a step back and ask yourself why the situation elicits a response of anger. There could be deeper triggers that have absolutely nothing to do with the situation at hand. Calmly work through the anger and then let it go. Holding onto anger can manifest within us as illness or disease. Reacting in anger only escalates the situation. It takes more courage to diffuse it. Take a few deep breaths and ground yourself. This will assure that nothing is said or done that you will regret later. Eventually, you can learn to acknowledge the feeling, but deal with it more efficiently, in a less toxic manner.

2. Just for today, I will not worry.

At some point in our lives we all worry about something or someone. Whether it be a child, a parent, a sibling, a friend, a spouse, etc., or it can be money, a job, housing…well, you get the idea. We worry…a lot. But worry itself is often counterproductive. It can actually contribute to a negative outcome by putting negative vibes out into the universe. If the situation is something you can fix, then fix it. If you can’t fix it, then let it go. No point in holding onto it. Instead of worrying, take a deep breath and envision the best possible outcome. Hold onto that instead.

3. I will honor those who passed before me.

I’ve heard some variations on this third principal. From “honor your elders” to “be grateful for your many blessings”. I choose to use this one since I am already so grateful for the blessings in my life and already consider myself to be quite respectful of my elders. After all, they’ve lived longer and have probably learned so much about life if you just take the time to listen to them. “Honor those who have passed before you”, reminds me to behave in such a way that would make them proud. Whether that be great Reiki Masters before me, other teachers or members of my own family. Behave in such a way that they would happily support what you do. Behave in such a way that honors them. Be honorable.

4. I will earn my living honestly.

This principle reminds us to live a life of integrity. It’s understood that one needs to earn a living in order to support themselves, but one should always be honest and fair. Never take advantage of anyone and never let greed be a motive for what you do. This doesn’t mean you have to give away your gifts or craft, although occasionally donating your services can be equally rewarding to the recipient, as well as the giver.

5. I will have true compassion for all living things.

This is another principle that has a few variations. Some may say “be kind to all living things” or “be kind to your neighbor”. I opted to elaborate on it, because I not only want to be kind, I want to be compassionate too. And not only to people, but to all things that have life. This is where I am in my own journey. If you have not gotten there yet, then start smaller and work your way up. It seems like such a no brainer to be kind, but putting it into daily practice can be a challenge, especially when faced with people who can be challenging. Often those people are the ones who need your compassion the most. They own their behavior, but you own your reaction to it.

Those are the five principles as I see them. Don’t be afraid to make them personal to you. I live these words. I breathe them in daily. I meditate on them. I put them into practice not just for today, but every day. As a Reiki Master/Teacher they have special meaning in my daily life, but as a human being they are equally valuable. Just for today incorporate them into your own life.

Blessings – Leslie ❤ Inner Calm Reiki

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Meditation & Reflection

I recently had a conversation with someone seeking my guidance on meditation & reflection. How do I meditate and what does reflection mean to me? I love when I’m presented with questions that make me look deeper for the answers, especially when something is such a habit for me that I no longer think about the how, but rather just do it. So first the question was about the act of meditation itself. Not everyone believes they can master meditation, but I think that’s because they believe that it’s something to be mastered. I know there are many out there who will disagree, but I think people meditate in some form or another all the time. Perhaps we lose track of time in a daydream or we unintentionally daze out for a moment. Sometimes we may even find ourselves blankly staring out at nothing, but our minds are quiet for those few moments. When that happens, you may even find you shake your head a little to bring yourself back to the present moment. Often those states of mind happen so quickly we’re not even sure how we got there. To me, those are all being in a meditative state. Try to duplicate or remember that “feeling” when you attempt to actually meditate.

One way to get started is to set aside a little time each day and find yourself in a quiet & safe space. Some believe you should sit like a pretzel on the floor with your hands facing up on your thighs and your thumb touching one of your other fingers. Although each position has particular meaning, I prefer my thumb and pointer finger to gently touch, and I prefer sitting upright in an over-sized chair or sofa with my legs folded like a pretzel. Mostly, I just sit however I am most comfortable at the time, and sometimes I may even lie down and meditate before going to sleep. The key is keeping a straight spine, so you can incorporate some deep breathing or “cleansing” breaths as well. Oxygen is so essential to our well being and many, myself included, are such shallow breathers. Try it now. Take a deep breath in through your nose…as much air as you can, hold it for 5 seconds and then force the air out through your mouth…almost as if you were going to cough. Repeat one or two times more.

Set your space up and make this your own special time. Use essential oils (like lavender) in a diffuser or on your hands, or burn incense or a candle that helps you feel calm and relaxed. Play soft meditative music in the background. There are also many wonderful guided meditations on YouTube that you can follow along with, and I also sell ones through my website that I personalize.

Once you have set yourself up. Close your eyes and clear your mind. Let your thoughts pass through, but don’t fixate on them. Whatever you see (or don’t see) in your mind’s eye at this point is fine. Ask to be shown what you need to see to help you on your journey. Think about your life and all that you have accomplished so far. What are you most proud of? What are you not so proud of? How can you be better? How can you help others? Don’t be judgmental, just reflect on it. Be gentle with yourself.

I think of reflection as looking in a mirror to see yourself, only without the mirror. In a mirror we see our outside reflection, the vessel that carries our soul. In self-reflection we want to look from the inside out. Remove your body and all that is physical from the equation and touch the spirit within you. In meditation, you may sometimes see a light, but you’re still aware of your physical body. I challenge you to merge with the light and leave your body behind for just a moment. Knowing you can return to it whenever you want. It’s then that you can see yourself from the outside looking in. It may take practice and that’s okay. There’s no such thing as bad meditation, as long as you feel relaxed afterwards. Sometimes we try too hard to control it, when in fact we need to just let go. Just relax and enjoy the process. You should be left feeling at peace. I truly hope you find what you are seeking and that what you are seeking finds you as well.

Blessings – Leslie ❤ Inner Calm Reiki

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