| Let's go camping. | | | | reached; you glimpse a sense of inner peace or |
| (If you have never been camping before then we | | | | perhaps feel momentarily connected to everyone |
| recommend you suspend your disbelief and we'll | | | | and everything in the room or, more intensely, |
| attempt to conjure up a likely image for you.) | | | | the universe. |
| It's a gorgeous day, you've been wandering | | | | You have been gifted with a promise. This |
| through the bush for a couple of hours looking for | | | | promise is a transaction between you and |
| the perfect camping spot (yes, let's make it an | | | | something deep inside you that is normally |
| Australian camping story). You startle a wallaby as | | | | covered with a thick veneer of society. You have |
| you turn a corner and she hops away as fast as | | | | just been offered a view of something that is |
| her powerful legs can carry her. The white | | | | beyond imagining; beyond your daily routine of |
| cockatoos screech at each other from towering | | | | work, recreation and sleep. But it is up to you to |
| gum trees and the exotic scent of sweet wattle | | | | fulfil the promise. |
| hangs in the warm air. | | | | Do you want that sense of inner peace to return |
| Ahhh this is the life. | | | | again and more regularly? |
| You're searching for the perfect camping spot; | | | | Imagine continuing the experience of |
| one that will keep you safe and warm throughout | | | | connectedness with everyone and everything? Do |
| the night. | | | | you want to try to be always moving with the |
| On the other side of a great red boulder you | | | | flow of the universe and simply Being? |
| finally see it... a clearing at the edge of a deep, | | | | Now you can. Your fire has been ignited. |
| vast valley with an uninterrupted panorama as far | | | | You must, however, feed it. Go gather more |
| as the eye can see of the wild Australian bush | | | | sticks, keep your fire burning. |
| and its turquoise sky. | | | | At your course your teacher hands you |
| At the centre of the clearing you notice a small | | | | something to take away. A practice and full |
| clump of ashes with a log lying nearby that will be | | | | support. Know that if you practice too little - your |
| perfect for a fireside seat; you realise that | | | | fire will go out. At times of doubt grab for that |
| someone has camped here before. This is always | | | | lifeline of support - or else you will forget the |
| a good sign. You are not the first to have chosen | | | | promise and your Reiki course will become nothing |
| this path, it must hold some merit. | | | | more than a pleasant memory. |
| You walk to the edge of the precipice. Breathe in | | | | Extend your given practice from 5 minutes a day |
| deeply. You're ready. All the equipment you need | | | | to 10 and so on. Be aware of balance in your |
| is in your backpack, you just have to make sure | | | | practice; some days you need a bit more and |
| you use it correctly. | | | | other a little less. It all depends upon your inner |
| **************** | | | | barometer and you are paying attention now, |
| Camping out could easily become an analogy for | | | | tending your fire. |
| the wonderful world of Reiki. Or have we been | | | | So find yourself a comfortable spot near your |
| too obvious already? Probably. | | | | great campfire that will warm you, feed you and |
| Choose your Reiki path with care. Will the course | | | | light your way through the dark night. Build the |
| offer you the tools you need, will it build your | | | | fire gradually with the appropriate size logs until its |
| independence and yet highlight a path that has | | | | constant white heat warms your inner soul. This |
| shown itself to be successful for others? | | | | spot will be like no other - it is individual to you. |
| Back to the story.... | | | | Sitting at ease on your log, you notice the firelight |
| ****************** | | | | flickering against the mottled trunk of a nearby |
| You are at your chosen camping spot. While it is | | | | tall tree. You are reminded that the grand gum |
| still light you begin to unpack your backpack. You | | | | trees of the Australian bush purposefully litter the |
| have everything you thought you would need as | | | | ground with their leaves to encourage fire. Fire |
| well as all those things that your friends and the | | | | offers this unique flora regeneration. It is when |
| camping store had recommended. Most | | | | the perfect combination of eucalyptus oil and dry |
| importantly you have the basic elements of | | | | heat unite, combustion occurs and the bush is |
| nourishment, water, shelter, your torch and ... for | | | | caught in the renewing force of fire. |
| an emergency your charged up mobile. | | | | Enjoy the night sky, watch the stars sparkle in |
| But there is something special that you require | | | | the heavens and sip your *billy tea. |
| when you go camping out overnight that you | | | | It is humanity's innate ability to find peace within. |
| can't buy. It's something only you can make. | | | | Foster the right conditions, keep the fire of |
| ****************** | | | | practice burning like a wonderfully controlled |
| Back in the world of Reiki you've paid for your | | | | campfire, and enjoy the fruits of life in action. |
| course and you are being taught the basic | | | | GLOSSARY |
| elements of the system; hand positions, | | | | *Reiju: In Japan, reiju is the name given to the |
| techniques and meditations, symbols and mantras, | | | | method a teacher uses in order to communicate |
| and precepts. You receive *reiju and you begin to | | | | with individual students on an energetic level. In |
| feel ready to start your practice. | | | | the process of moving from Japan to the West, |
| But there's something more to this as well ... | | | | reiju changed a number of its aspects including its |
| ****************** | | | | name. In the West its altered form is usually |
| Fire. | | | | known as an attunement, initiation or |
| Building a good Reiki practice is like building a great | | | | transformation. |
| campfire. | | | | *Hatsurei Ho: You will find versions of this |
| First of all your practice needs to be ignited. | | | | technique here, in The Japanese Art of Reiki. |
| Without ignition the fire doesn't burn and there is | | | | *Billy tea: Billy tea is created in a billy can or billy. |
| no promise of future warmth or wisdom. | | | | This is a traditional Australian utensil for making |
| Obviously, you need good solid material to begin | | | | tea over a fire. It is a cylindrical can with a lid. A |
| your fire with - kindling, dry matches and the | | | | stick is poked under its wire handle to enable |
| perfect position. If all you hold in your hand is a | | | | easy movement on or off the fire. How to make |
| pretty piece of paper, it will go up in flames in | | | | Billy Tea: Pour water into a billy can, place in fire |
| seconds leaving you with a smattering of | | | | and wait for it to boil. Remove from fire and add |
| uninspiring black ash and sore fingers. | | | | a couple of teaspoons of black tea. Hold the billy |
| Ignition is therefore a direct result of your | | | | by its handle and swing in a great arching circle |
| experience during a quality Reiki course. | | | | from the ground to the sky a number of times. |
| Something catches alight when you bring together | | | | The pressure of the fast movement ensures that |
| the basic elements of the system along with an | | | | the tea remains in the billy and doesn't end up all |
| accomplished teacher and your fellow students. | | | | over you. Let it sit briefly before pouring. This |
| This magical combination creates an environment | | | | unusual process ensures that the tea leaves settle |
| predisposed to fire. | | | | well, yielding up a delicious cup of billy tea without |
| It might be during the practice of *hatsurei ho or | | | | having to use a strainer. Mmm mmm. |
| when you receive reiju that combustion point is | | | | |