Article by Angie Webster
When we look around us at the world today, we may ask “what can I do to help?” It is common to feel overwhelmed and helpless when we see all the destruction, violence, chaos and suffering on the Earth. It has been the call of healers for all time to feel the pain of the world and to wish to ease it in some way. At times when the suffering is very deep, the load can feel immense.
In order to begin to help the world heal its wounds, we must first begin with ourselves. We must remember that we are a part of the whole. There is truly no “me” and “them“. You are one of the others you wish to heal, each one of us part of the whole. When we each work on our own self healing, we are indeed healing the world.
It is the same as when you send healing to a specific area of the body during a healing session. You recognize that the healing energy goes where it is needed and you also recognize that the entire body relies upon the part of the body you are sending healing to. All parts are interconnected to support the function of the whole and they all affect each other. When the lungs are unhealthy, the whole body suffers. When the lungs are strong, the entire body is supported. Each of us is a part of the body of the world.
We all have wounds of our own to heal. It can be easy to look outward and focus on what others are doing that causes us pain and then blame them, believing their behavior is the only problem. However, we can also see every situation that brings up difficult feelings as an opportunity to heal something in ourselves. It can be a chance to deal with something in a new way or to heal the trauma that created an old wound. It can even be a chance to leave a situation that is not good for us. All are opportunities to grow stronger and more loving to ourselves and others.
When we practice daily self care, we become more skilled at caring for others. It is often mistakenly believed that it is selfish to be caring of our own selves, but we don’t truly know how to care for others if we don’t know how we wish to be cared for. And we can’t care for others fully when we aren’t caring for ourselves. Practice daily self Reiki, meditation, healthy eating habits, and movement that feels appropriate for your body. Find ways to nourish your body, mind and spirit.
A practice you can use that will strengthen your ability to send love and healing to the world, even in difficult situations is to learn to light your heart up with love. Imagine a light that floats down from the top of your head, growing brighter and spreading as it goes down your body. It keeps going until it settles in your heart. Feel it glowing warmly there. Now imagine you are gazing fondly at your favorite flower. Smell deeply of its fragrance. Caress its soft petals lovingly. Feel that your heart is full of love that radiates out from your chest. It is a love mingled with gratitude. It expects nothing from the flower and delights only in sending this loving energy to the flower and enjoying its presence. This love sustains you. It nourishes you and brings you peace. Notice that it nourishes the flower as well. You can recall this feeling any time you wish and return it to your heart many times throughout your day.
By doing practices like the one above, we renew our ability to cultivate unconditional love. We remember that this feeling renews us and heals us, as well as the world around us. We are then more easily able to send healing to the wounds of the world.
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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.
Thank you for this, Angie. With the news full of war, hatred and pain, I often feel overwhelmed and helpless. I feel selfish if I concentrate on myself. This article offers a perspective from which some greater good can come from individual daily practices.
Angie
Lovely and thoughtful write in these times of conflict. This is the thought process we need.
Just adding The PEACE MATRAS that are as old as the VEDAS but l relevant today too
Om,Sarve Bavantu Sukhina , Sarve Santu Niramayah
Sarve bhadrani pashyantu, Ma kashchit dukha bhagbhavet
Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ
Meaning—–
May all be prosperous and happy
May all be free from illness
May all see what is spiritually uplifting
May no one suffer
Om peace, peace, peace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8nfLWcCH3U