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Since beginning my yoga practice, and later my Reiki practice, I find that I have lost patience with getting sick myself. I violate almost all of the precepts: I get angry, I worry, I feel less-than-humble (I practice Reiki therefore I should have a super-human immune system), and I definitely lack compassion for myself and others.
In short, catching cold feels like a personal failure on my part. I feel like I have not adequately cared for myself, leaving myself vulnerable to the ravages of job stress and too much on my plate. I have not practiced what I preach. I am not walking the talk as much as I could.
Even as I confess this to you, I know *intellectually* what to do to get myself back to balance. And I know that "colds happen". So I'll get back to my happy Reiki place eventually. All is impermanence.
I know there are those of you out there that will not relate, because you truly never get sick.
In the mean time, those of you who, like me, catch cold from time to time might like to share how you deal with illness when it shows up. How best does one care for the caregiver and "heal the healer"?
What spiritual lessons are found in being the one needing a treatment?
In short, catching cold feels like a personal failure on my part. I feel like I have not adequately cared for myself, leaving myself vulnerable to the ravages of job stress and too much on my plate. I have not practiced what I preach. I am not walking the talk as much as I could.
Even as I confess this to you, I know *intellectually* what to do to get myself back to balance. And I know that "colds happen". So I'll get back to my happy Reiki place eventually. All is impermanence.
I know there are those of you out there that will not relate, because you truly never get sick.
In the mean time, those of you who, like me, catch cold from time to time might like to share how you deal with illness when it shows up. How best does one care for the caregiver and "heal the healer"?
What spiritual lessons are found in being the one needing a treatment?
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Colorado
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Re: If I practice Reiki, then why do I have this cold?
Sat, February 21, 2009 - 8:37 PMReiki doesn't give you superpowers. You're human, stressing yourself out only aggravates health issues. I still get sick, infact I got the flu right after my attunement. Just do whatever you can to get better, including self reiki. It does still help. And most importantly
RELAX.
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Re: If I practice Reiki, then why do I have this cold?
Sat, February 21, 2009 - 10:48 PMHA!
Why? Because you're human. And especially in Colorado, what with
the erratic weather, I don't know how anybody there survives the assault--
hot one, day cold the next.
Try maintaining awareness of the quality of your food, the consistency of
your sleep, the balance of work and play, appropriate exercise, spiritual
practice, being in community... etc. You can recognize to much and too little.
Of course, self-treat daily. And consider that guilt isn't helpful. Check this out:
if you realize that you've taken a poison, you go right to taking the antidote--
you don't waste time compounding the problem with questions like "why?" !
If your windows are dirty, its just that they are not functioning well for seeing
through-- how they got that way, who neglected what, or did it to them is really
beside the point. Right?
Since we rarely eat ideal diets, we take herbs and the like, and sometimes if
blockages develop we even see an acupuncturist. Maybe its a good idea to
have a body tune up at least as often as we do it for our car! :-) -
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Re: If I practice Reiki, then why do I have this cold?
Sun, February 22, 2009 - 6:08 PM"And especially in Colorado, what with the erratic weather, I don't know how anybody there survives the assault-- hot one, day cold the next. "
I see that you've been here!
"Try maintaining awareness of the quality of your food, the consistency of your sleep, the balance of work and play, appropriate exercise, spiritual practice, being in community... etc. "
I think that awareness is not enough. In the US, salaried employees have no protection against overtime. We are told that we have to "do what it takes to get it done", which generally means long days and weekends. No overtime. No comp time. And the blatant threat that "not only *can* we replace you, we *will* replace you in a heart beat."
Still, I choose to stay there. I actually love being a technical writer, just don't love the corporate mentality right now. My food quality is very high - organic and vegetarian for many years now - I self treat and practice yoga and meditation daily.
So, it happens. People catch cold. I just thought it would be fun to see what people had to say about it! -
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Re: If I practice Reiki, then why do I have this cold?
Sun, February 22, 2009 - 8:38 PMIndeed. Awareness is not enough, doing something consistent
with that awareness is the main thing. -
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Re: If I practice Reiki, then why do I have this cold?
Sun, February 22, 2009 - 8:42 PMExactly.
Good news is, I feel darn fine right now!
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Re: If I practice Reiki, then why do I have this cold?
Sun, February 22, 2009 - 9:19 AMI have found that the times I get sick are always when I have let myself get run down, through too much work, or not getting enough sleep, etc. I have become better at recognizing when I am getting worn down, and giving myself time to rest and recuperate, BEFORE I get full-blown sick.
Be gentle with yourself, and feel better soon!
Sending you a Reiki boost!
~Pippi
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Re: If I practice Reiki, then why do I have this cold?
Sun, February 22, 2009 - 6:13 PMThanks for the Reiki boost, Pippi!
This one is definitely stress related. Relentless deadlines and no slow time to take a breather in between. I'd really have to give up everything I love to have some rest time - and the things I do outside of work are the only things between me and a 24-hour work day!
It has gotten ridiculous in my department at work. But it is what it is. Resistance in futile, or something like that!
=P
I'll live!
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Re: If I practice Reiki, then why do I have this cold?
Sun, February 22, 2009 - 10:31 AMBefore I got attuned, I got three or four colds or flu in a year, on average. In the last eight years since my first attunment, I've had maybe five or six - total! That's a huge improvement. Besides many other positive effects on the emotional & mental levels, Reiki has improved my general resistance to disease, I feel. I do self-healing daily and try to live a gnerally healthy lifestyle. If I get sick, I get annoyed rather than feeling guilty... I don't seem to get mad at myself.
I got a throat/bronchial cold this winter, and it seemed to come from skiing - cross-country-style, where there's lots of exercise involved - and breathing lots of fresh air at around 0 degrees farenheit. -
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Re: If I practice Reiki, then why do I have this cold?
Sun, February 22, 2009 - 6:14 PMme no likey 0 °F!
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Re: If I practice Reiki, then why do I have this cold?
Sat, March 7, 2009 - 9:44 AMWe are human. We all get sick sometimes and eventually, we all die. It is ok. Healing does not always come in the form of physical wellness. Sometimes it comes in the form of having the grace to cope with what shows up in your life.
Sometimes the illness in istef brings healing. Sometimes a cold can help you slow down and listen to your body.
My father's cancer and subsequent open heart surgery, while, illness and pain for him, brought incredible and seep healing to our entire family. Thankfully, he is still here to reap the benefits of the healing his illnesses facilitated.
Trust that all is in divine order. Perhaps this cold has given you an opportunity to cultivate more compassion for yourself.
