Being spiritual is having the awareness that we are all connected to the universe, and to everyone and everything in it - that we are One. Having that awareness means we understand that our thoughts and actions may decrease or increase the intensity of that connection.

Possessing freewill is a powerful inherent facet that we humans have. We need to fully understand that our thoughts and actions, like pebbles thrown into water, create ripples that affect each and every one of us. Remember, we all are connected.

Being spiritual does not mean you have to retire to a cave and meditate endlessly and mindlessly. Lighten up! Have fun and laughter in your life. The fact that we are human indicates that Perfection is unachievable! What we can attain is a better connection.

Being spiritual means we take responsibility for our conscious thoughts and actions to ensure that our connection to the Universe and to all in it is strengthened.

Being spiritual brings a sense of wellbeing, a sense of being whole and a better understanding of the Self. It's about your attitude to life, how you think and feel about life and its challenges, your thoughts about Yourself, your thoughts and actions for others, and the affection and love for others and Yourself.

Being spiritual is very subjective. Each and every one of us expresses spirituality in very different ways. The awareness you have that we are all connected enables you to respect others' expression of this connection.

Being spiritual enables you to be centred and to be more calm, despite the challenges of life.

Usui's Reiki - A Pathway to Spiritual Development

Mikao Usui developed his system of healing, initially referred to as just Usui-do or Usui teate (Usui's method) specifically for his own personal and spiritual development.

Healing others was a by-product of this spiritual development process, which took years.

This by-product of healing others, later known as Reiki, was further developed by Chujiro Hayashi, a surgeon. By the time, Reiki was brought to the west in the early 1970s by Hawayo Takata, the system did not resemble the original one that Usui developed. When the New Age movement arrived in the 1980s, Reiki was seen as a healing therapy, with the practitioner doing all the work, while the recipient enjoys the relaxation and benefits of the soothing energy.

Reiki is a system of energetic and spiritual healing which promotes all the aspects of an individual - the mental, emotional and physical - to come to a point of balance.   Healing does not mean cure.  Healing enables the energy centres and spiritual layers of a person to come into alignment.  The Reiki practitioner works in partnership with Spirit/Universe/Source to assist in bringing all aspects into alignment. The recipient of the healing is the one who is responsible for taking steps to recover and move forward. It is very much like an individual undergoing counselling. The trained counsellor or psychologist assists the client in taking steps to resolve issues, enabling him to move forward.

The counsellor uses techniques learnt during training and work experiences to empower the client to make choices and take the steps forward. The counsellor cannot make the choices for the client nor can he take those steps for the client. Likewise, the Reiki practitioner. The well-trained counsellor with a great deal of experience can be very effective in assisting a client achieve his goals. But the counsellor has to put in a lot of training hours and work hard to gain that experience. Likewise the Reiki practitioner.

When the Reiki practitioner spends time committing to personal and spiritual development, he too will become very effective as a clear channel for healing. Just by lifting his energetic frequency, the higher vibrations will affect all and everything around him. Working with higher frequencies enables the healer to become highly sensitive to messages revealed by Spirit.

The Reiki Pathway

Reiki promotes self healing.  Reiki Level 1 is designed specifically for that purpose. Being aware of one's energy centres or chakras, how they tie in with the major organs and the endocrine system, meditation, the power of Intention, to always heal for the highest good, and to follow Usui's precepts of living a meaningful life form the basics of your own spiritual awareness, healing and development.

Initially, Level 1 or Shoden, as it was initially taught in the west, consisted of 4 sub-levels, thus the 4 attunements given at this level. It would take the student a while to complete this level. This level teaches how to open up and align the energy centres, thereby raising energetic vibrations - that is, if the student is prepared to practise and work on themselves.

Reiki Level 2, called Okuden meant 'inner teaching', and initially was taught in two parts. Modern Reiki has combined this into one level of teaching and learning. It was designed to increase and focus on more refined energy grids with the introduction of symbols. Distant Healing encourages the practitioner to go beyond the 5 senses in transcending distance, time and space, and to be connected with others as One.

There is a quantum leap going from Level 2 to Shinpiden ('mystery teaching') or what we call Level 3 in the western world. Through constant practice and self-healing, the energy frequencies become even more refined. For those taking on the Master Level 3 without commitment, healing reactions may be experienced. Without preparation, the sudden lift in energetic frequency intended during attunement, may upset the alignment of the mental, emotional and physical energetic layers.

Acquiring Reiki Master status does not mean the end of the learning process. In fact, it is only the beginning of the walk on the spiritual path. Early learning and primary education have finished - the serious learning begins!

Here Comes A Great Opportunity

Every astrological cycle of 26,000 years brings about great cosmic changes. The Mayan calendar signals the date of 21st December 2012 as the close of one of those cycles. Coincidentally, according to the calendars of the Incas, Aztecs, Maoris and Jewish cultures, changes in our consciousness will take place around the same time.

This dynamic shift to the new cycle commenced at the end of the 1990s.  It offers unprecedented opportunities for spiritual growth, and souls from all universes are seeking to reincarnate on earth, either to complete their karma or to make use of this opportunity to spiritually grow. This wave of opportunity has already begun and the transition stage will take some 20 years. The coming decades will be known as the Golden Age.

It is believed that Planet Earth's longevity in the dense energy of the Third Dimension is holding back the progress of other galaxies. The Intergalactic Federation and Lady Gaia, Mother Earth, decreed we need to get our act together so Planet Earth can move forward. In order to ascend, that is, to draw in more light, all on Earth must raise their energy.

We are already experiencing the new wave of consciousness spreading around the globe. The past two decades have seen a wave of energy passing through our galaxy. Our psychic portals are opening rapidly to absorb the energy and messages coming through. We are more sensitive to psychic experiences. There is curiosity, interest and thirst for more knowledge of ourselves beyond our five senses and of the spirit world. As our consciousness expands and our psychic channels open wider, the more messages, lessons and knowledge we can receive. For example, medical science is advancing in leaps and bounds, and cure for a lot of illnesses are taking place.

As our consciousness is evolving, so is our aura - our energetic body, our body of light. As this energy frequency rises, it affects all that is around us, and the ripple effect begins.

As our vibrations begin to climb, we need to change the way we think and act in order to adapt the physical body to this finer grid of energy. We are more conscious of what we eat, our diet changes, we become more sensitive to certain foods, we begin to understand that a certain level of fitness is beneficial and we may seek creative activities to balance our intellectual mind - working the right and left hemispheres of our brain. We are taking steps to preserve our ecosystem, as well as protecting endangered species of flora and fauna.

It is interesting to note that your reading of this article is a positive sign that your personal spiritual journey has begun, and may even have moved further along the pathway.

Hope to meet you along the way!