Lighting the Path Less Taken

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The Reiki Principles

Just for today, do not worry

Just for today, do not anger

Honor your parents, teachers and elders

Earn your living honestly

Show gratitude to everything

Traditional history says that Dr Usui received inspiration about the healing of spirit through a decision to take responsibility for one's own health and well-being in order for Reiki to have a lasting effect.
One of the most important aspects of the principles is the phrase Just for Today. Living in the moment, being aware of what is going on around you causes you to live in the present. Consider the thoughts that have been going through your mind. Are they present and centered? or are you thinking about the past or future? The past is gone and the future has not arrived yet, so for today, try to stay in the moment you are in. The present is such a "gift".... a present...

Here is an exercise for Living in the Moment:
Use your senses to pick up sensations.
Find a comfortable place to sit. Try to relax, concentrate and slow your breathing down.
Close your eyes and focus your attention on what you hear around you. What are the sounds, let your awareness spread out and see if you can hear more.
Then turn your attention to what you can smell. Breathe in the air slowly letting the smell linger. What can you smell? See if you can expand your sense of smell to find even more odors around you.
Next try to pay attention to your sense of touch. Are you aware of different parts of your body, the weight of your body in the chair, different textures of your clothing? Warmth or coolness against your skin, the tenseness of your muscles (letting them relax).
Now open your eyes and notice the light, colors and shapes of things. Look down at your own hands, see the texture and color of your skin
Spend time integrating this experience. This is what your life is like at this moment. For a few minutes you have paid attention to what is going on around you, what you are doing, all your senses. This is living in the present. Let yourself enjoy today, as it will never come again.