The Holiday Seasons

Hello, everyone.
I hope you are well and taking the holiday season in stride.
You do know, it's just stuff, right? :-)

Something occurred to me yesterday and I want to share it with you.
During the holidays, if you know of someone who has just lost someone close to them (or it's the anniversary of a crossing), give them a call or if you're able give them a hug, hug them from your heart and ask them how they're doing.
I remember when my grandmother died in late October 2005, that Thanksgiving was rough. I knew her spirit was there, but I was still adjusting to the feeling of the lack of her physical presence (plus, being around family dealing with the physical disconnection), and thinking back on it now, I would have LOVED more hugs then.
Hugs are some fabulous things. They close the gap between what you don't know what to say and what you don't know what to do.
They are great anytime of the year. They are God's way of saying, "Hey. You know, I know this moment is so important that it is beyond words, so I give you the gift of hugs to give to each other to completely say what you need to say."
So Happy or Merry _________________.
May peace always find you.
Love, Kristie

The Last Shout or Look, kids! A Butterfly! or A Brief Rambling

Hello!
My, it has been a while, hasn't it?
I hope you are all well.
I am doing pretty good.
Let's see.
Where should I begin on what's been happening with me?
I lost my job in January. That was an odd sensation, but everything has worked out for the better. I work from home now and I volunteer. When I was working a desk 9-5, that was not an option.
I was at the birth of my nephew. That's was pretty awesome. He arrived early, but he totally made up for it!
I am writing and editing now and I have to say that it has been an interesting experience of living the past 9 months.
To my joy, I have been watching a lot of the Science Channel.
We are tiny. So very, very tiny.
I've decided to dissolve my business at the end of the year. I had always felt a bit weird about incorporation. Ah, oh well. At least I gave it a good official try. No regrets on this side of the table. I'll still offer Reiki, but not in a business slant. It was never a business, but a way to help people through whatever was coming up for them get through it. That's probably why it felt weird.
Hmmm.
I lead a pretty quiet existence. Sometimes a little too quiet, but it beats begging for quiet and not getting it.
I wonder what next year will bring. It's almost 2012. Holy crap. Where did the time go?
Watching the Science Channel. :-)
I'll post more ramblings later.
Take care.
Love, Kristie 

The Patience of Foam (Or “A Good Teacher is a Good Student”)

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”  --Confucius

Making proper clarified butter requires patience. You’re sitting there (or you are preoccupied with laundry) and you can’t rush the process or you’re defeating the purpose. And of course you’re not going to get it right the first time, because, one, you’ve never made clarified butter before, and, two, it will be likely (as in my case) that you will rush the process.

But in this, I have learned at least one multi-layered lesson. If I am praying (which, by the way, isn’t a one-time deal, but constantly ongoing) that I may be a healthier person, in mind, in soul, in body and with honor I have to let what I do not want in who I am rise to the surface to be skimmed off. I have to have patience in order to not give up on the process of skimming more than once in order for it to be most effective. I have to be aware of what it is so that when it does show itself, I am grateful that I recognize it and then focus on its opposite: Positivity, Appreciation, Silence, Patience, Calmness, Love, Happiness, Outrageous Joy, Compassion…. In the understanding of this, I have found my greatest joy: Consciousness. Being Awake.

I have my teacher to thank for this. Not so much in how she taught Reiki, but in how she taught with her life by example. She is being who she is. Being her word. She laid the foundation, teaching the technique, history, philosophy, sharing stories. She let me sort out the rest of it for myself and discover other things on my own.  She understands the patience of foam because she too is conscious of going through the process of understanding, learning and healing.

Humans always have room to grow.

About a year ago I asked my teacher about being a Level III practitioner. She said that it would be at least 3 years from the time I became a Level II that I could become a Level III. She said no more than this. I was baffled. It is at least 3 months between being a Level I to a Level II. I am a fast learner. I am a disciplined student. Why did I have to wait so long? I had accepted this but not without some sadness. I realize now that that sadness was my bruised Ego. A year later, I have come to understand the wisdom of teaching comes from being wise. I had to figure that out. And I think that I would have had to call my motives into question if I did ask her why it takes so long to become a Level III. From learning from my mistakes, learning from others mistakes, being conscious of what IS, this simply takes time. Rushing the process defeats the purpose.

Everything around you is a learning experience either by you being an active participant or as an observer. Now I understand. It will be three years this July since I became a Level II. It is a tremendous responsibility to be a teacher, one of which I know I will not take lightly. But instead of just jumping into it, I will speak with my Teacher and pray on it. July may as well be a thousand years from now with the way change has constantly been by my side. But that is the beauty of this practice.  Change is a welcomed companion.

Blessings to you all!

Happy New Year to You!

Love, Kristie