One of my classic B-isms: Not everything is for everybody. Reiki is such a strong example of that. It’s subjective. It’s situational. It’s suited for some, or from some and not for others, from others or between others. Like a massage—what feels good for me might not be what you need. Or choosing a meal from a menu—you and I probably don’t order the same thing(s). And it’s all good. You don’t have to like what I like. I don’t have to find peace on the same path where you wade through yours.
I met with a first-time client this week. When I tell you that animals pick up on and respond to our energies, this family could be the textbook case. The matriarch of the family presented some specific questions and issues she wanted me to address with her companion animal. Before I could explain to her that Animal Reiki doesn’t necessarily work that way (your animal is not filling out a questionnaire or being hooked up to a lie detector), she then changed all of her questions and purposes. Her energy was like a bouncing rubber ball, pinging off of every surface, sometimes with grace and sometimes with force, trying to communicate what she thought we needed to attain from our time together… I wonder why your cat is an anxious little guy?!
I share this anecdote as a lesson: Be open. Or not. Reiki, like anything else, doesn’t suit every being or every situation. But if you do want to try giving or receiving energy work in Reiki or in another capacity, please exhale and let it flow. Energy work is not to be micro-managed (and this is coming from the queen of micro-management!). There’s an openness, an exchange, a flow that needs to be accessible for the energy to work its magic. It’s not for everyone. There are some days that I, as a practitioner, am not in the best head-space to give or receive either. Like I said before, it’s subjective. But it’s damn powerful. So don’t focus on feeling “ready” or looking for the right time, place, set and setting—just be open. Be open to the magic, to the possibilities.
Totally agree with you, and I’m glad I came across your blog, we have so much in common!