I believe I’ve written about fundamentals on this platform before, but it bears repeating. Here’s the thing: Fundamentals always bear repeating, it’s just that ego and complacency seduce us into believing we’re beyond certain things. Saccharine that Kool-Aid is. So good until your dentist informs you of a mouth full of cavities.
A meditational view of life tells us where we need to circle back to reevaluate our values. “Meditational view” in this context sounds so clinical—so easy. Usually, this viewpoint comes from being stuck in the muck until you don’t give a… well, you know the rest. We end up spending too much time being the statue and not the bird, because we think we deserve to be pooped on. Fly free, little birdy.
You know, usually I pose a bunch of questions in my articles to inspire pondering, in hopes of being a catalyst for change. I’ve come to realize that being a catalyst is part of life as an embodied Reiki Master, for better or worse. Since I intentionally went so far in the weeds with my last column, this one attempts the other end of the spectrum. I haven’t included double and triple meanings, just depth. Sometimes we want to be told what to do—instructed, so to speak. It’s up to you to take it to heart and dismiss what doesn’t work or insults you.
Let’s talk about the Reiki principles or precepts. Don’t worry, this isn’t one of Sutty’s woo-woo harangues. (Although, I’d like to think those are, at least mildly, entertaining for the reader.) There are five original precepts, although you can certainly come up with more on your own. I did…
Each of the five precepts begins with the phrase, “Just for today…” The reason for this is to take pressure off of always looking to the future. It’s human nature, after all, so we just try to focus on today—the now. My version of the original precepts are as follows:
Just for today, I work honestly.
Just for today, I am free of anger.
Just for today, I am kind.
Just for today, I am free of worry.
Just for today, I am grateful.
Most versions you see outside of Japanese, will read something like, “Just for today, I will not anger.” I felt it was important for my humanity to remove any sort of negativity I could from a mantra. I also removed future tense, opting for am rather than will be.
These mantras are something I use to hammer on (in a good way) daily. They were beneficial to my growth, then in my misplaced wisdom for growth, I inexplicably got away from them. It wasn’t a conscious thing, it just happened. Apparently, it had to happen so I could write these words…
So, I’m tellin’ you now, review what you’ve abandoned. Perhaps there was a reason you left it on the side of the road, perhaps not. If there was no good reason, other than it was a warm spring Tuesday, revisit.
Try not to beat yourself up over past missteps and mistakes. Just for today, be patient.Goodness, at the times I wish I had kept my patience, even when it wasn’t really deserved.
We know what’s hard. Life teaches us that in spades until we listen. Perhaps we can teach one another where life can be easy. Pay attention to where you find joy and laughter. A day’s rise and fall of the sun can be comforting. Just for today, embrace.
Life is short, until we lengthen it in unpleasant and unproductive ways. We can be our own worst enemy, but you don’t know until you know. As my late, great MIL and my esteemed colleague said in her last column, “This, too, shall pass.”
A few axioms come to mind to remind myself and the dear, gentle readers out there:
Corruption of the best is the worst. Even the best of us can make a wrong turn here or there. How bout we add, just for today, forgive.
Karma is balance, not punishment. We have to look at the big picture here. If karma was how we would like for it be, or think it should be, then all the saints would be lottery winners. Doesn’t work like that when you really think about it. Many a$$holes wield a lot of money and power. Conversely, being poor and powerless does not make one virtuous.Just for today, I am worthy.
Reiki is one of those practices in life that’s simply intricate. Read that again. It’s an experiential thing to add to any walk of life. I’ve attuned the conservative and liberal alike. After all, you can’t have one without the other. Another way of thinking of it is that Reiki is intricately simple. Exciting, just thinking about the possibilities of something both new and old.
As far as praise, there’s never enough of it. Let’s call it a bottomless pit. Perhaps, let’s write another precept. Just for today, I release the ephemeral. By ephemeral’s very nature, it was never yours to begin with.
Strive to be in environments that bring out your innate gentleness, not the survivor.Gentleness is the superpower that is often overlooked when we’re overbooked. Just for today, be gentle.
Notice what thoughts demand to be thought. If they are worthwhile, fine. If not, they likely while away your worth. Just for today, I am thoughtful.
Notice the traditional precepts, as well as the ones I’ve crafted can be turned inward or outward. In a larger sense, there’s not really a difference between the two. As above, so below.
In closing, I submit to you that relief is the best feeling in life. You don’t ever forget that last exhale of stress in a visceral way. Happiness attained by accumulation of whatever is nebulous at best. Just for today, I rest.
