What is Abundance?

Article by Angie Webster

There is a great deal of talk about abundance these days. It often comes up within the world of Reiki and energy healing, as well. It is discussed in many ways, but most often it is talked about in reference to money and material possessions. However, this is not the true underlying meaning of abundance, particularly when we are talking in reference to energy.

As we look deeply at all things, we can see that money and material possessions are not permanent. They change form and pass from one hand to the other. They accumulate in one place, and can just as easily shift and move someplace else. More importantly, the material possessions and the money alone cannot do anything for us. It is the emotional energy that we attach to them that we seek, not the material item itself. If we seek security and support, we may seek the type of home will offer us that. Or we may seek comfort and love, so we purchase certain clothing or cars that we feel will make us desirable and bring us love. We may seek status and ease, so we might desire all the most modern styles of technology. Underlying all of it is the need to be loved, supported, to alleviate fear and care for our basic needs. We feel a need to know we are connected and that we are somehow supported. We feel alone.

The lack of money and material goods doesn’t make a person unhappy. Many people who have nothing live a life of love, gratitude, peace and joy. They are abundant. Material wealth doesn’t make a person happy. Many wealthy people live a life of misery, anger, loneliness, bitterness and selfishness. They live in lack. Rich or poor, we can spend our entire lives focused on the illusion that we must chase after more money or items and never notice that the thing that will make us truly feel peace is to stop chasing and begin to look within ourselves for the true connection to Universal Life Force, Spirit, God or whatever word you prefer.

We can choose to simply be happy, treat each other well and love the life we have, whatever that is. This starts with appreciation. This is one of the most healing things we can do, not only for ourselves, but for the next generation and for the world. There is so much endless striving for more in the world and it never leads to real happiness. It may lead to an illusion of happiness, but that fades and the original wound is even deeper than before. If we learn to truly appreciate each moment, each blessing in our lives and each other, we would feel the connection that is already present. The need to strive would lessen or disappear. We would be happy with far less and simplicity will feel better than complexity.

Many of us were raised with the belief that we should be grateful because it was our duty, or that we would be sorry if we had encountered the opposite of the blessing in front of us. For example, “Be grateful for that meal, because you’d be sorry if you had to go hungry.” This is not true gratitude, but a mistaken form of gratitude. This form of gratitude enforces the idea that we might be punished if we aren’t good or that the Universe is an unsafe place where we have to grovel for what we need.

Those of us who practice Reiki regularly or who have regular Reiki treatments have probably experienced a greater sense of connection with Spirit, the world and others. It is a natural part of the healing process. We may all have a different way of referring to this feeling of connection, but when it is there, you begin to feel better and better. To support this, you can begin to look at any old beliefs you have that challenge your new sense of connection. You may find that many of your old ways of looking at being in the world, feeling safe, secure and supported, are in conflict with your newfound sense of feeling connected. Try journaling about your experiments in trusting the connection to Spirit. See where they lead you.

It takes trust and practice to recognize that we are always supported by the Universe. If we are used to believing that are not supported, we will have to train our minds to let go of that belief. We will have to train our hearts to experiment with fearlessness. The more we test it out, the more we will see that we are supported, always. Connecting to Universal Life Force, paying attention to the responses, and trusting them, we will learn to trust which way we are meant to go. Support will wait for us in amazing ways. Not only material support, but connection, love, peace and joy.

Free eBook download: We’ve created an eBook with our best articles on this topic, and offer it for free to all our newsletter subscribers.

Angie Webster made a significant contribution to the Reiki community, with a particular focus on Animal Reiki, which she had a deep affection for. As a knowledgeable Reiki Master Teacher and Author, she conducted online courses on energy healing, herbalism, flower essences, and personal growth.
She is the author of “Animal Reiki: How it Heals, Teaches & Reconnects Us with Nature” and “Reiki from A to Z”. Currently, Angie has decided to retire from her professional life to devote more time to her health, family, and the little joys of life.