Yesterday Kari posted on this blog a piece on research and tea leaves--that is, thinking through how the mystical fits with her next book. Others chimed in with both skepticism and agreement that the world of the occult, supernatural, or what ever one calls it, exists. I too, with Liz, have always been a doubter. After all, my PhD is in research methodology. What more grounded in data leading the way can that be?
Well, I'm now I'm not so sure. Yes, there is much to learn from the evidence based practice model I have endorsed for years. I still am firmly based in that mind-set. Yet, there is something more.
I become very interested in Reiki a few years ago. Truthfully, I can't tell you why. I just was drawn to it. I studied, attended workshops, worked with people who were very knowledgable about Reiki and then decided to become a Master. Those who practice Reiki, divide the level of expertise into a number of categories based on the training one has accomplished. Master is the highest level.
Reiki is also called Energy Healing. It is the process of taking the energy that surrounds each of us and assisting in both the realignment of the energy around us and in assisting someone to open energy fields we have within ourselves.
Yup, I can hear you now. Nutty she is. Crazy. Totally loopy. I used to think that too. That was until I had a few experiences that caused me to stop and consider that maybe, just maybe there was something to this.
I haven't included descriptions of some of my Reiki experiences in my manuscripts. But some day I might. The occurrences have been powerful and actually a little disturbing. One the challenges of doing Reiki on another person is to not absorb his/her energy into oneself. I have had this happen. It can be almost painful.
My Reiki experiences are definitely mystery story worthy. There was the time I learned about an abortion a client of mine had--one that she had never told anyone about, not even her wonderful husband. There was the time I had small creatures flying at me; my client saw them too. We both had to duck. There was the time...well, I could go on.
By now you are shaking your head and thinking that I've "lost" it. I haven't, folks. Not at all. But, it does add for some interesting elements as we write.
Kari, you started this! There certainly are lots of forms of research we writers use. But, I also think we have to be careful which questions we ask and how we find those answers. Reiki is powerful-- in many senses of that word. There is much to be discovered. Our research and our writing are opportunities to share what others might not discover on their own.
Happy writing, folks.
9 comments:
Cassy, I had no idea Reiki involved a little supernatural. I just assumed it was some form of holistic medicine.
Like you, I sometimes lean toward believing, but I usually go back to my "doubting Thomas" ways.
I do have one story to tell - actually two- about Chinese fortune cookies.
In 2002, when I was nearly ready to give up writing and do nursing full time, I opened a cookie up and (I swear.) it said, "You will be a successful writer." I nearly flipped out. Then, in December of 2009, when I had just discovered I was a mystery writer and not a romance author, my cookie said, "Someone thinks you are wonderfully mysterious."
The next week, Christine sold my mystery series. (I still have both fortunes!)
Coincidental - probably.
Fodder for a great debate about the occult - definitely.
Good subject today.
Liz: I am in no position to say if your fortune cookies were coincidences or not. But, I have come to strongly believe that we can't always find a simple answer for each thing that happens in our life. My husband often teases me that he could never do anything "wrong," for I'd know about it before he even had the thought.
But, I will say, I sure am glad you stayed with the writing. We all are beneficiaries from your talent!
I'm telling you, the tea leaf reading and the past life reading were so unbelievably spot on, that I had no choice to become a believer.
And a couple of years ago, Cassy performed Reiki on me. She paused over the exact spot where the pain was in my back (I had not pointed it out to her) I mean the "exact"!
Then I felt all this heat, yet Cassy wasn't even touching me. Her hands were above me by a couple of inches.
We didn't get to do it long enough, but it did feel a little better. There is no explaining the heat or her pinning the exact location other than "believing" :-)
Kari: You are so sweet! I remember well having you spread out on the floor upstairs in the lobby at Nationals. I do remember that spot on your lower back. It "talked" to me. And, I worked on Christine's ankle as well. There is something to all of this.
There was another time I worked on a client of my husband. The gentleman really didn't like to be touched and shall we say is not a "believer." I confess there was a little wine involved on his part, but he willingly spread out on the floor in a fancy hotel (this was on the Mediterranean coast of Italy) where they weren't used to seeing a business man in a suit stretched out on the floor of the main salon. The waiter literally stepped over us as he brought a round of drinks to the table. I worked on this not-to-be-named-high-end-client until he declared he was out of pain. NO, I was not inebriated. For the next two nights he asked if I could do it again. Needless to say, when my husband and I arrived the following year at the same hotel, we were greeted by name and were asked if I was going to be helping with back pain again this year.
Just because we can't see, feel, touch, taste something doesn'tmean it, whatever it is, doesn't exist. As I said yesterday the seance at Crime Bake brought me into the realm of maybe not a total believer but at least willing to accept things that do 'go bump in the night'.
Great post Cassy. Now can you do something about this horrible weather.
Okay, the storm in NE has truly hit yet again. I will check in today as I can, but we now have no power. For us that means no water, no heat, no nothing. I' m saving my computer battery as best I can. This is from my iPad. Continue on with this fun discussion.. I'll be as I can. Now off to make a fire to try and keep the house warm!
Cassy, I've always been interested in Reiki. Though I admit I do not completely understand it.
Great post, thank you!
Cassy, hope you get your "other" power back on soon. Mine went out for a bit earlier today, but it's good now. I keep looking outside at the snow dunes, wondering where it's all gonna go when it melts.
I'm fascinated by Reiki, and had no idea it involved more than holistic medicine. There are plenty of unexplained things in life, and I think it's good to be open to them. :)
Liz, I love your fortune cookies!
Tokay, still no power. Two fires going, living room and dining room. Temp inside is now 58 degrees. Good thing I have lots of sweaters.
I'd live to talk about Reiki any time someone's interested. Feel free to find me off loop. Ok. 70% left on my phone and the computer is now down. I'll be in touch when I can. My silly pup thinks this the best thing ever. Plays in the snow non stop, comes in by the fire, heads out again to dig more tunnels in which to hide then find her tennis ball. Oops, 68% on the phone. Bye for now.
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