© 2017 Kathleen Johnson
Article by Kathleen Johnson
Those of us who are parents may be familiar with the saying – “There are two things we give our children – one is Roots and the other is Wings.” When our children are small, we are responsible for providing a secure foundation so that when it comes time for them to fly, we know that their wings are strong enough to take them wherever their paths may lead. We are their guardians in this lifetime, entrusted with their care, development, and ultimately their decision to fly.
This analogy can be used with the Reiki path. When Reiki first calls us and we respond as students, we have a teacher, who also acts as a guardian and a guide. As we proceed along the Reiki path, some of us are then called to teach and initiate others. This is not a decision to be undertaken lightly – and indeed, those of us who are guided to pass along the gift and blessing of Reiki to others must be sure we have searched ourselves, gone within, and worked through much of our own personal healing. This is not to say that healing is ever truly finished – it is a lifelong process that requires ongoing authentic monitoring. This is especially true if one decides to teach Reiki; the energetically intimate connection between teacher and student allows nothing less, and the Reiki student deserves an aware and ever-evolving teacher.
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When I first embarked on the Reiki path, I had no desire to ever teach it – I simply enjoyed working with its loving, healing energy, and reaping the numerous benefits it provided to me, my loved ones, and our beautiful Mother Earth. However, Reiki soon guided me into creating a professional practice, in which I could expand the healing benefits to clients eager to experience its powerful, yet gentle, energy. It was, and is, a fulfilling and humbling experience to have this opportunity to offer healing in such a loving natural way. Although I enjoyed working with clients and rejoicing with them in their healing journeys, I soon learned that Reiki was not yet done with me. Gradually, I began to receive guidance and clear direction that I was to teach Reiki – a call I initially resisted. Self-doubt and fear reared their menacing heads, and I was certain I could never be worthy to teach Reiki. Fear raised questions-
- Do I know enough? (Doubtful!)
- Will I be a complete failure? (Likely!)
- Am I delusional? (Probably!)
- Why do I want to do this? (Why indeed, since you don’t know enough and will probably be a complete failure!)
Fortunately, Reiki stepped in to soothe, reassure, and quell my fears, as it helped me to see that these feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy were in truth a blessing, because they clearly illuminated areas in need of healing within myself. One of the most amazing qualities of Reiki is its uncompromising ability to show us what we need to heal. We need only to heed and trust. It was upon that realization that I surrendered myself to the wisdom and love of Reiki – secure in the knowledge that it will always guide me and be a constant unerring companion on my life path.
That was almost four years and many classes ago. Teaching Reiki has been one of the most fulfilling, exhilarating, and occasionally terrifying, adventures I have experienced in this lifetime. It has taken me further out of my comfort zone than I ever thought possible, yet Reiki was always there to comfort and inspire me every step of the way, with the assurance that this is part of my soul purpose and dharma, which I now know to be true.
In Part 2 of this series, the Roots and Wings concept is explored further, along with some thought-provoking suggestions and recommendations for those considering the teaching path.
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Kathleen Johnson is a Usui/Holy Fire III Reiki Master, a Kundalini Reiki Master, and a Certified Crystal Healer. As a Spiritual Teacher & Mentor, she assists others in discovering their unique path to wellness, wholeness, and authenticity. Kathleen is also a Certified Past-Life Soul Regression Therapist, and infuses Reiki into her work with clients’ past lives.
She is the Founder of UniverSoul Heart, LLC, a holistic healing and wellness practice based in Pennsylvania, USA. Kathleen enjoys teaching all levels of Reiki classes, from Level I through Master/Teacher, and is honored to assist others on the Reiki path. She also offers “Crystal Basics” and “Finding Your Life Mission” workshops for those wishing to deepen and enrich their self-knowledge at the soul level.
Kathleen was a co-host and presenter at the Reiki Rays Spring 2018 Summit, and also presented at the Winter 2018 and Spring 2019 Summits. She is passionate about raising awareness of the benefits of Reiki and holistic wellness and enjoys speaking to public and private groups.
As part of her commitment to raising awareness, Kathleen has been a featured guest in many radio interviews and is the host of "UniverSoul Heart Radio with Kathleen Johnson- Sensible Spirituality for Everyday Living", broadcast on Transformation Talk Radio.
Kathleen was selected as Top Reiki Master of the Year for 2019 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for her outstanding leadership, commitment, and dedication.
Writing is a passion for Kathleen, and her many articles about Reiki and Spirituality are published on Reiki Rays and in Reiki News Magazine. She is currently gathering information for a book and knows that Reiki will be with her every step of the way.
Kathleen’s website is www.universoulheart.net, and her email is [email protected]
You can find her on Facebook at UniverSoulHeartReiki, on Instagram @kathleen_johnsonrmt and on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/universoulheart/
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