Articles

I have often thought the Reiki history given us through Mrs. Takata was incomplete. In 1999, it became clear that this was indeed true.  I found what I was wondering about – clarity on the history of Dr. Usui, over 20 healing and meditation techniques, and the hand positions as originally taught by Dr. Usui.

It was in 1999 that Frank Petter and Chetna Kobayashi translated Dr. Usui’s memorial monument. We learn from this memorial’s translation that Dr. Usui died in 1926, of a stroke while teaching a Reiki class in Fukuyama, Japan and that Dr. Usui had taught over 2000 students in the four short years after he had received the Reiki energy. We also know that Dr. Usui had a business that left him with a great deal of debt and ultimately a desire to search for something deeper than material gain. It was during that time of searching in his life during a meditation experience, on a 21day retreat, near a waterfall on Kurama Mountain that he reached satori (Japanese word for enlightenment). From this experience he brought us Usui Reiki and shortly after founded the organization - Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.

Another finding was that Reiki was not an oral tradition passed down but that there was written material in the form of a handbook. Dr. Usui’s handbook called the Reiki Ryoho Hikkei has poetry and symbols he used to teach students. Both Usui and Hayashi had teaching manuals and healing techniques. We now have information about Dr. Usui’s techniques and the Gassho meditation, as explained in its entirety in his manual. Dr. Usui taught students to practice the reiki principles and this Gassho meditation each day and to use it to gain insight and intuition before treatments. We know from an entry in Mrs. Takata’s diary that she learned also learned some of these techniques.

Up until 1999, history stated that Dr. Usui attended the University of Chicago and was president of the Doshisha University but to date there is no evidence of these facts. There was not a title of grandmaster and the lineage accountability was not kept until after Mrs. Takata’s death. The original set of 12 hand positions differ from those taught by Dr. Usui whose positions were used only on the head and neck and treated the whole body. History stated that Dr. Usui was a Christian when he was actually a Tendai Buddhist. Mrs. Takata may have felt these would have been unpopular facts in Hawaii at that time in history or she may have been using parables to teach about the origins of Reiki to her western students. We can never know her reasoning in sharing the information as she did but we can be grateful to her for bringing Reiki to the states and look forward to the “new” information.

Today, we know that Reiki did and still does thrive in Japan as an unbroken lineage within the Gakkai society as originally founded by Dr. Usui. Even as some information has come to us 80 years later from a tight and closed knit Japanese Reiki society there is much more to be shared if and when it is revealed.

Susan Brockmeier will being teaching the “New” Reiki Healing Techniques of Dr. Usui at Mystic Valley, April 13th, 2003 and at Living Insights Center, May 3rd, 2003.

Copyright 2003 Susan Brockmeier

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BREATHING OUT STRESS,
BREATHING INTO LIFE

By Susan Brockmeier

We breathe over twenty thousand times a day, usually without any conscious attention to this vital function; breath is our life. It connects us to the past, present, and future. What do you think would happen if we chose to breathe with an awareness of our breath? What would be different? Focus on your breath now. Is it shallow or deep? Are you breathing more into your stomach or your chest? Are you breathing in energy or suppressing your energy?
Rather than taking your breath for granted, you can use it to change your life. While you focus on your breathing, notice any pain or emotions and notice where you feel them in your body. Take a deep breathe into your body and breathe into that spot, what is your body telling you? Breathe in life and breath and breath out hurt, stress, anxiety or fear. Imagine this pain leaving your body with each breath. Keep breathing – breathe in life – breathe out anything unlike the life you choose to feel.
Emotions give expression to our feelings. Any unpleasantness we feel comes not from letting emotions flow through us (without judgment) but from holding onto them.  Our feelings are not our pain, rather it is the suppression of feelings which brings us pain. The example I often share is the one of the garbage can. When we stuff the garbage can so full that we can’t push it down anymore, it overflows even though we try to put the lid on it. And that’s also what happens with our emotions – hence we see the extremes of anger, sadness, or fear overflowing after a lifetime of suppression. As we experienced emotions, we learned to hold our breath and in turn suppressed these feelings in that moment. At that moment in time we shut ourselves down, and buried those feelings deep inside (and in extreme experiences we may even have chosen to leave our bodies). If at that time we had chosen to breathe through the feelings instead of holding on to them we would have found ourselves passing through these feelings much quicker and with much more ease.
The first thing we can do to change these old habits is to notice and pay attention. This may seem like a simple task but all too often we learn to ignore or put aside our feelings in our busy lives. Secondly we can choose to breathe out of them. Again this may seem simple but we often make choices that don’t serve us because the familiar feels safer than change. And finally we can take a deep breath, and another and another. If we simply took twenty connected (continuously flowing one into the other) breaths, we would find that our stress is greatly diminished if not gone. Each time stress arises…remember to “take a breath.” So now, yes, right now…take in your life’s breath’s energy to energize, renew and change your life.

Copyright 1996 Susan Brockmeier

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Wholeness Through

Rebirthing Breathwork                       

By Susan Brockmeier

        What is Rebirthing? Rebirthing is an incredibly healing experiential breathing technique that uses the power of your own breath to circulate energy throughout your body, moving out the old and allowing feelings of bliss to submerge.
       So how do you connect with this bliss? Very simply. You lie down in a comfortable space, coached by your breathwork professional to breath in  a continuous, circular pattern for an hour or so. Your breath would continually move through your body from the top of your head down to the tailbone. Soon an automatic rhythm starts and the body breathes itself. A journey has then begun towards clarity where deep awareness and integration happens.  For advanced breathers the breathing is the same and is done in a bathtub or a hot tub, in heated or cooled water depending upon the intention or issue one is clearing. This advanced technique was discovered by Leonard Orr in a hot tub when he found himself remembering birth memories— hence the term "rebirthing". The breather lies face down in the water, safely supported by the rebirther - while he or she breathes through a snorkel  in the hot tub and then later returns to a dry place to lie and to complete the breathing. Cool water breathing - is great for releasing "stuck" energy in the body or ones resistance to moving forward. Group breathes are another way to experience Rebirthing. It is always best to experience private sessions beforehand to gain a clear understanding of these techniques and to have a few sessions completed so one is feeling completely safe and supported in this mind altering experience, and to fully understand this process. All of these techniques create a place of extreme clarity in life and bring about a wonderful feeling of well-being and aliveness in the world .
       The benefits of rebirthing are immense. I have seen many instances of long standing emotional issues, with years of talk therapy that healed at deep levels after just one rebirthing session. I have seen ailments go after just one session, as well. The degree of anyone's healing depends upon their willingness to let go to a power greater than their individual selves and this healing can show up in many ways. The journey through the breath to bliss with connection to source and wholeness can only be experienced. I invite you to personally experience this for yourself. 

I, Susan am a professional Rebirther, Sekhem-Seichim-Reiki, Karuna® Reiki and Usui/Tibetan Reiki Master-Teacher, and Psychic Consultant since 1992.  I have led groups and supported individuals to healthy, happier lives in record time. Now it is time to advance my journey another step teaching Rebirthing. I will soon be leading "Fundamental To Rebirthing" classes here in St. Louis and certifying students. These upcoming classes are open to anyone who desires personal growth or professional training. CEUS are available for these classes. Please contact me for more information at 314-644-5223 or visit my website at CenterForTransformation.net.

Copyright 2007 Susan Brockmeier

 
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I must have decided wrongly because I am not at peace.
I made the decision myself, but I can also decide otherwise.
I want to decide otherwise, because I want to be at peace.
I do not feel guilty, because the Holy Spirit will undo all the
consequences of my wrong decision if I will let Him.
I choose to let Him, by allowing Him to decide for God for me.

………...A Course In Miracles (page 90)

The Course teaches us to let go and let God over and over again. It corners the ego at every turn. I have been asked many times how to let go and let God. This is a question we all encounter. It is not through the trying but through constant vigilance for the Divine. By this I mean a simple listening and just being without investment in the outcome.
“I have been listening,” You say. “I am not getting any answers.” Then - I would have to ask for what and who are you listening and…have you let go of your investments...and I mean all of them. “What?” You say, almost angry. I hear your frustration and my heart hears your urgency. Do you think I have not been there oh so many times myself. “What now?” You ask. “Let go once again,” I say gently. “This time really let go because when you really let go, your grievances will be gone. You will be in the peace of God.”
In this peace are all questions received and clearly answered. This means surrendering...total surrender.

This does not mean you let go to God and then worry inside your mind. No...remember, you have let it go. This does not mean you discuss this challenge with a friend. No...you have let it go. If you have truly given it to God there is no need to take it back to discuss it or to dwell on it. As you let go of timing, people, judgments, how you think it should look or be, or even what it should look like from a “spiritual perspective” in your opinion, what you think you should do or be, or everything you think you need and have to have - what comes back to you is the truth of what you really had already and never lost. You receive clarity, the peace of God, and a change of perception. It is then you see that everything has changed. When you truly turn it over what can happen is a miracle.
Let us be willing to allow Miracles to happen every day.     

Susan Brockmeier leads ‘A Course In Miracles’ study group and teaches the concepts of ‘A Course In Miracles’ in her work. She utilizes Karuna® Reiki, Usui Reiki, Sehkem-Seichim-Reiki, Rebirthing and Psychic Readings as tools for communication and healing with the Holy Spirit as the guide. For additional information, you can contact Susan at 314-644-5223 or visit her website at CenterForTransformation.net

Copyright 2008 Susan Brockmeier

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