To this day, my journey through life and Reiki surprises me, and leave me with deep gratitude.
I was raised in the Christian faith, of the Evangelical/Penticostal tradition. I followed this path with enthusiasm until the age of twenty, when I was led to leave and explore outside of the Christian tradition. Leaving Christianity was an incredibly painful experience for me, which left me depressed and I soon developed a serious bout of glandular fever. I resolved to get out there and explore both my internal world and the world at large, and before I knew it, I was in India, learning about Buddhism, Tai Chi, and how to find a bed for 35 pence a night.
I continued exploring the world within and without in South East Asia, and amid many strange and wonderful experiences I began to find a sense of self and peace. This development continued during regular Zen practice, and work in mental health administration at Wellington Hospital, New Zealand. One day I came across the word 'Reiki'. Without knowing anything about it, I had a deep inner knowing that I was to explore it. After reading a couple of books I took the plunge and spoke to a Reiki Master in Dunedin. When my contract at the hospital expired, I hitch-hiked down the west coast and mountain passes of New Zealand's South Island to find her. Her name was Janine Joyce.
On receiving my first level attunements, I had a profound knowing that the energy of Reiki is the same essence as the Holy Spirit of Christianity. I had a deep sense of recognition of an old friend who I had not been with for a long time. This experience weaved together some of the threads of my life into a recognisable pattern, and helped me understand why I had been led to leave Christianity.
And so began a year of daily self-healing and exploration of the spiritual world. I started experiencing the miracles Janine told me would become commonplace. I began giving friends and people I met treatments, and was humbled by their healing experiences.
I returned to my family in England, and got a job. My glandular fever had waxed and waned, but at this point was having such a significant impact on my life that I could not even work a full-time job.
Months later I was led to my second teacher, Richard Ellis, who took me through the second level. I was given a dramatic and deep healing on this course, and within 2 weeks all symptoms of the glandular fever had left me. My energy levels rose, and with that came a sense of personal strength. Reiki began to pervade my everyday experience, bringing love to myself and others, in situations where it previously would have been lacking. My third level with Richard soon followed.
At the end of the third level course I was taken through a tremendous release of blocked energy. This healing involved a huge amount of energy and utterly exhausted the two people who were working on me. Through the session I went through several dramatic manifestations of the internal changes taking place. I was left in the state of calm that must follow a massively destructive hurricane, the feeling of stillness when the storm has done its work, but of desolation after what has been lost in the process. For two weeks I felt empty and cried. The contrast between the energising and strengthening of the second level, and the cracking open and pain of the third, could not be more striking.
I completed my Master/Teacher level (certificate) with Richard, plus his Chakrology course, shortly before leaving England for Asia. Following a call to Tibet, I found myself on the dusty road again, though a totally changed person. In Tibet I was cracked open still further, received a special once-a-year blessing from a high Lama, and was given experience of some of the deep insights and blessings of Tibetan Buddhism.
I now teach English in Bangkok, Thailand, and am furthering my Reiki practice and teachings as I go.
In addition to Reiki and travel, I love Aikido, languages, spinning poi, kitesurfing, Ultimate Frisbee, music, poetry and Tai Chi.
