Knowledge and Understanding Is the True Miracle of Healing

Article by Phillip Hawkins

Miracles of any description including the miracle of healing are according to mainstream scientific thinking impossible, yet the scientific premise ‘that nothing can exist that can’t be explained by science’ is neither factual nor scientific. Everything that lies beyond of our current limit of knowledge and understanding including what Reiki is and the way it works could be defined as a miracle waiting to happen, and all of the medical, technological and scientific advances that we take so easily for granted today would in a different time and place be considered impossible, miraculous or the work of some supernatural force. Part of the problem we have is that the bench mark, the stereotypical miracle is of biblical proportions, eye witnesses are no longer available and all we are left with is documented evidence that has to be taken at face value and in good faith. It’s against this literary yard stick that contemporary miracles are viewed and any modern day miracle may appear lacking in substance by comparison.

Miracle is often an overused term when describing an event such as surviving a natural disaster or simply a wonderful occurrence such as birth and the miracle of life. Others could be the survival of an illness diagnosed as terminal or escaping a life-threatening situation. When faced with a series of coincidences they are unable to explain some may describe the situation as miraculous which often happens when Reiki is being discussed. So when we casually talk of the miracle of Reiki healing maybe we need to redefine our definition of what a true miracle is.

For most it would be impossible to discuss the miraculous without putting it into a religious context as religion recognises miracles as being works of their God, either directly, or someone claiming to be acting on its behalf. In this context miracles are rarely a random act and there is usually a specific purpose connected to the miracle, the conversion of a person or persons to that particular belief system or as a demonstration of power to reinforce authority. Some faiths believe they own the monopoly on the miraculous and that a miracle isn’t actually a miracle unless it happens under their jurisdiction and has their stamp on it or their seal of approval, some go so far as to state that theirs are the only true miracles and all others are merely apparitions created by fakes, charlatans or those sent to lead the faithful into darkness and away from what they define as the one true faith.

But religion doesn’t own the rights to the miraculous nor science the monopoly on knowledge and understanding, if science has the ability to provide us with the knowledge of how a thing works, then it’s the responsibility of all spiritual teachings including Reiki, to provide us with the understanding as to why that knowledge should be used for the good of mankind. Yet history provides chilling proof of the dangers when either is allowed to go unchecked. Religion has in the past assumed the role of dark inquisitor and self proclaimed custodians of mans soul, and science has unleashed powers so great it has the potential to become the destroyer of worlds.

Every age brings with it its own level of understanding that defines the lessons to be learnt and the sometimes ‘miraculous’ event that may emerge to first and foremost educate and re-direct our thought processes and in doing so raise our level of knowledge and understanding. As the student must eventually take personal responsibility for their own learning so mankind must ultimately take responsibility for its own development through the exercise of its free will which is sacrosanct. If the aim of a miracle is to educate people to the power of attention and intention then it makes sense that the age and the environment provide the backdrop necessary against which the miracle will appear both relevant and meaningful to those who witness the event.

Feeding the multitude with loaves and fishes was both relevant and appropriate, as well as being spiritually symbolic to those present. The staple food of the day was used to feed the physical body, coupled with the lesson that mans soul can only be fed and sustained by spiritual energy. When expressed through the acquisition and application of knowledge and understanding their thoughts and beliefs (attention and intention) can become manifest in the physical world. The teacher Jesus pulling loaves and fishes from a basket was in context to the time, place and needs of those present yet the infinite and timeless higher power that created this particular miracle could just as easily have produced the equivalent number of pre-packed frozen ready meals that we in this day and age know so well. Whilst the miracle in its self would have been just as impressive the content would have been meaningless and served no purpose other than to confuse those present and detract from the underlying message and the reason for the lesson in the first place.

We are told that miracles in the accepted sense contradict the accepted laws of physics. Quantum physics also tells us that our thoughts and beliefs define our reality and that the observer affects the way in which the observed behaves and reacts, so is it possible that the laws of physics as we understand them are simply responding to our limited level of awareness, knowledge and understanding, the way we express those laws through our attention and intention and the perceived ‘reality’ this creates. If we can suspend our disbelief for a moment in the stereotypical miracle and think outside the box and in doing so consider the possibility that miracles whatever their presentation, are nothing more than another interpretation and demonstration of the laws of physics, a lesson to be taught in order to correct our misplaced thought processes. An event designed to re-direct our attention and intention, an expression in real time of a reality that stems from a higher level of awareness, a much higher level of knowledge and understanding, that if and when understood can become a technology to aid the further development of mankind.

Change is inevitable but development is always optional and as such requires a shift in our awareness, knowledge and understanding. Healing was once the sole jurisdiction of the church until the emergence of the medical professions which then began to replace religion, myths and superstition as to the causes and cures of illnesses and disease. The medical breakthroughs of the last hundred years are no less miraculous when put into context and we consider what has been achieved with our limited knowledge and understanding, and the quantum leap that has brought us this point in our development as a species.

Yet in many ways medical science has turned full circle; where once the medical profession were the sole guardians of healing we are now told that as individuals it’s we who must take responsibility for our health and wellbeing, that our duty of care must take precedent over prescriptive care, and to paraphrase the old saying we are now advised ‘individual heal thy self’. This as we know is one of the major precepts of Reiki. The only person we can ever heal is ourselves and this happens when we raise our level of awareness and achieve a greater knowledge and understanding to what action is required on our part in order that the ‘new reality’ of health and wellbeing can manifest itself in our lives. This is the miracle of truth demonstrated.

Contrary to popular belief miracles are non-denominational; they do not require religion or a religious belief to exist or manifest, their purpose is to educate and enlighten and not to convert to any ideology other than that of knowledge and understanding which stands outside of all faiths and belief systems. They are simply an expression of a higher consciousness, a higher level of knowledge and understanding, a new truth demonstrated free from the religious dogma that is always man made, weighted towards control and at odds with spiritual freedom. Miracles are time and age specific; the loaves and fishes relevant to their time have given way to the development of vaccines and the creation of stem cell technology that are no less miraculous and much more relevant to present day living. Those who say this is man trying to play God are usually those who claim authority to speak on God’s behalf, and it could be said trying to claw back and reclaim control and authority over man’s progress and development. Evidence if ever it was needed that the conflict between religion and science continues unabated, albeit now as a war of attrition.

Reiki holds the ground between religion and science; religion has neither time nor place for it or the spiritual free thinking that it promotes, and science sees no evidence that it exists beyond a misplaced belief and a placebo effect that it creates. Reiki practitioners know it exists and works; what started out as a desire to learn was transformed from a belief to experienced based knowledge. The hard part, the understanding of the Reiki process is a work in progress for us all, for even the most gifted Reiki teacher or practitioner can’t in all honesty provide the definitive explanation as to how Reiki works or the source of the infinite consciousness that we have labelled Reiki and others have called their Gods. What is certain is that knowledge and understanding, the stuff of miracles is intrinsic to all healing and what greater miracle than the expansion of our awareness through truth demonstrated.

A ‘miracle’ that does not educate or provided us with the key to the knowledge and understanding that will raise our awareness and aid personal spiritual development is nothing more than a demonstration of power that does not acknowledge the sanctity of our freewill. Any power that would remove an illness without first educating us to its underlying cause and action required on our part to ensure our health and well being was maintained does us the greatest disservice and simply perpetuates the myth that we are powerless with no personal responsibility for our health and wellbeing and our fate lies in the lap of the Gods be they religious or of our own making, or worse still in the hands of those who would have us believe speak on their behalf.

Knowledge and understanding brings with it the realisation that we don’t need anyone to speak on our behalf, as part of creation we can never be separated from the life force that created us. We are because it is; It can’t be earned through prayers, supplication, tithing or good deeds, it is our birthright and we simply have to accept it into our lives or at least be willing to be guided towards the light that is knowledge and understanding. Intelligence that knows no barriers or boundaries, it is formless and free flowing and as such can’t be owned or controlled, nor does it conform to any race creed, colour faith or belief system. It is universal in both name and nature and in many ways the labels we place upon it be it religious or Reiki are our limited response to its power and supremacy.

The greatest power combines both knowledge and understanding; it’s measured and considerate in all that it does, it’s educational yet exerts the greatest self control over its own use. As Reiki practitioners we are educators first and foremost; in helping to heal ourselves through the acquisition and application of knowledge and understanding we are provided with the opportunity to learn the lessons necessary to help others heal themselves and with the realisation that our role is one of facilitator another tiny miracle is created.

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A Reiki practitioner since 1999, Phillip started teaching Reiki in 2000 and using those skills and abilities he has spent the majority of the last seventeen years working with a wide range of social and educational needs including Autism and ADHD. Working with addicts dependent on alcohol and drugs, people whose lives were extremely violent and abusive, and others who had to deal with severe mental health issues. This has enabled him to work extensively in the private sector, schools, colleges, education and care in the community, the prison service and psychiatric units.

In 2016, Phillip decided to semi-retire from full-time employment to concentrate on developing his career as a published author and the setting up of his Reiki personal development programme at the Chilton Community College.