| It is a source leading the way to health, and | | | | birds left his palm, their wings carried the stresses |
| happiness. It is under us, over us, and all around | | | | of his day away. |
| us. Yet in spite of this, it is might be the last | | | | One day walking in my yard I noticed a butterfly |
| source you turn to. The reasons are quite simple. | | | | thrashing about in the grass. Common sense says |
| There are not enough hours in the day, you do | | | | not to touch a butterfly's wings, but I lower my |
| not have the right equipment, you do not want to | | | | hand into the grass nearby the butterfly. The |
| get dirty, you do not feel your body is in the right | | | | butterfly crawled over and onto my palm. As I |
| shape, you do not have enough money, or you | | | | watched the butterfly moving its wings up and |
| find it a bit scary. | | | | down as it sat in my open hand my mind became |
| With all any of those excuses, it is easier to put | | | | peaceful. I sat down watching the butterfly in my |
| that source out of mind. While that is out of mind, | | | | hand and after a while it flew off leaving me with |
| things this source can help with are placed on the | | | | a smile. When connecting with nature, often all |
| back burner. Placing things on the back burner until | | | | you have to do is sit back and watch. |
| you have the time is fine. Fine until they boil over | | | | In all of nature, is that sometimes illusive stream |
| and create a mess. Once you tap into that | | | | of well-being. Take a moment and do this little |
| forgotten source, you can find a way to clean up | | | | exercise. Completely relax all your muscles and |
| almost any mess. The challenge is that it is | | | | your mind. Allow yourself to see, hear, feel, and |
| extremely difficult to tap into anything that has | | | | smell in any way that is comfortable for you. Do |
| been put out of mind. | | | | not rely on your eyes, ears, or nose, but simply |
| The solution to that is simple. Learn how to | | | | allow your whole self to receive. Focus on the air. |
| connect with the forgotten source and you have | | | | Is it moving fast or slow? Is it hot or cold? Is |
| the freedom to tap into it whenever you choose. | | | | there a color or scent in the air? As the air |
| Connecting with this source also helps to raise | | | | moves into your lungs how does it feel? Now as |
| your awareness. Raising your awareness helps | | | | you have that awareness of the air bringing |
| you to take care of those things on the back | | | | oxygen to you, which is absorbed into your cells |
| burner before they boil over. | | | | requiring it for life, you have received a taste of |
| Unlike such practices such as styles of Usui Reiki | | | | the energy nature has to offer. |
| Ryoho that honor the teachings of Mikao Usui, | | | | The location in which I teach Gendai Reiki-ho, |
| dedication to study and practice with a qualified | | | | Komyo Reiki, Meditation and Connecting with |
| Shihan (teacher) is not always required. Teachers | | | | nature is nestled in the trees. The moment a |
| are good, but the forgotten source is both | | | | person steps out of his or her vehicle balance and |
| teaching and forgiving once you have the | | | | harmony are offered by nature. What is in |
| introduction. | | | | balance and surrounded by harmony heals, and so |
| Finding that forgotten source can be easy and | | | | even the Japanese Reiki healing sessions I offer |
| when you look, you will find more than you seek. | | | | begin before the person I physically greet the |
| You can take pleasure in its beauty, discover its | | | | person. |
| range from soft to invigorating heat, bask in its | | | | Now turn your attention to those uneventful |
| pleasant smells or tastes, listen to sounds ranging | | | | backyards. Did you notice those bold flowers |
| from hypnotizing to scary, and much more. | | | | appearing in the most unlikely of places? Did you |
| As you no doubt have figured out, the forgotten | | | | spot either a toad or snake on patrol for |
| source is Nature. | | | | unwelcome insects in the garden or under the |
| Connecting with Nature can help you step into | | | | bushes? Did you see the dandelion whose roots |
| that stream of well-being. Standing near one of | | | | have been appointed as the soil's doctor? Did you |
| the breathtaking waterfalls at various locations on | | | | see the chipmunk dashing across the street with |
| this earth it is impossible to ignore the energy of | | | | his tail straight up so motorists could see him? Did |
| nature. As energizing as these locations are, you | | | | you feel the welcome softness of leaf or take in |
| do not have to go any further then your back | | | | the enjoyable smell of a flower? Did you see |
| yard, or window in your home to benefit for | | | | those busy little lives who take their task of |
| Nature's energy. Once you have learned to | | | | pollination so seriously? In the winter, did you see |
| connect with nature, regardless of where you are | | | | the turkeys and deer breaking up the ice on the |
| the life giving energy nature has to offer, is yours. | | | | driveway? Yes, even those backyards offer |
| When was the last time you looked up at the | | | | smiles that can cancel out most of the negative in |
| clouds and simply let go your worries and | | | | life, and allow you to change your thinking to |
| thoughts to be mesmerized by their form? When | | | | positive. |
| was the last time you could forecast rain by | | | | Nature is both forgiving and teaching. Everything |
| looking at the sky or the trees' leaves? When life | | | | you put into your body and surround yourself |
| seems overwhelming have you ever found your | | | | with traveled some path to you from the earth. |
| mind in that peaceful state as the stars in the | | | | Being omnivores by birth, people obtain energy to |
| night sky dissolved your worries, allowing you to | | | | maintain the physical body directly from plants, |
| see the solutions? Walking on the moon requires | | | | the produces, or other animals. Each person's life |
| technology and money. You can absorb the | | | | depends upon nature. Does not your awakening, |
| mystery and romance of the moon's wondrous | | | | production hours, winding down, and then sleep |
| energy by simply viewing it from a window. | | | | resemble the four seasons? We do not trap |
| The next time you step out your door look | | | | sunlight the way plants do, but have you ever felt |
| carefully at what is under your feet. In many | | | | "a bit off" during that time of the year when the |
| parts of the world that plant some people tag an | | | | hours of daylight are fewer then night or on |
| annoying weed, as written in Romeo and Juliet, | | | | some cloudy days? The next time you feel a little |
| can heal your skin and more. While that creature | | | | off on a cloudy day close your eyes and visualize |
| sunning itself on a nearby rock might make you | | | | the life giving sun shining. |
| run away, is it an actual danger or a danger | | | | So why not simply recognize your birthright |
| created by fiction? To connect with nature is not | | | | connection to nature and embrace that forgotten |
| to put yourself in danger, but rather to connect | | | | source of energy and wonderment. Take time to |
| and embrace the positive that you otherwise | | | | enjoy the beauty of some form of wildlife, to |
| might never see, feel, hear, taste, or smell. In | | | | laugh at the antics of other wildlife, or at a safe |
| some areas such as hiking, swimming and viewing | | | | distance be in awe at the power of still other |
| wildlife common sense comes into play. On the | | | | wildlife. All of wildlife has something to offer to |
| other hand, common sense is required every time | | | | you, and all you have to do is take the time to |
| you cross a street or step into any vehicle. | | | | accept. |
| An older man in a neighboring town had the | | | | The next time you crumble about the holes dug in |
| perfect alternative to alcohol or drugs for a | | | | your backyard, remember who made those holes |
| stressful day. His bird feeder and a little creative | | | | could be the same wildlife that gave up its home |
| thinking gave him the solution. On the days when | | | | for you to build your home. That same wildlife |
| he needed some relief, he would go outside and | | | | might also give you wonderful smiles that brighten |
| stand by the feeder. He would put some of the | | | | your day, if you simply take a few minutes to sit |
| seeds in his hand, hold his hand over his head and | | | | quietly and look. |
| at least one little bird would then land on his hand. | | | | The next time you feel a bit deprived because |
| He had learned to connect with one type of bird | | | | you have no backyard, go or the local park or |
| that never let him down. Landing in the palm of | | | | simply look out a window. |
| his hand always brought him a smile. Then as the | | | | |