The UK Reiki Federation
Reiki Awareness Week - May 2005
- Dundee, Angus
- Cambrideshire, Swavesey
- Cumbria, Carlisle
- East Yorkshire, Beverley
- Hampshire, Andover (Weyhill)
- Kent, Ashford
- West Yorkshire, Beverley
- Wiltshire, Devizes
- Other:
- Reiki Awareness Week, May 2005 - programme of events.
Dundee, Angus
Mary Whyte was involved with the opening of a new Hospice and gave tasters to patients, relatives and staff. There was also an article in the local newspaper. Mary’s report:
A new hospice was planned in Forfar, and funds began to be raised, at least 5 years ago, and at last the building has been completed. It is part of a brand new community hospital, and is a state of the art four bedded hospice. I have been involved with the project from the start, and I was very insistent that there should be Reiki available to patients, carers and staff. Luckily, the organiser also agreed that Reiki would be useful and I was given the task of becoming the volunteer therapist co-ordinator as we are intending having some other therapies on offer, as well as the Reiki. The hospice finally opened this week.
The opening has tied in very well with Reiki Awareness Week, as I managed to put up posters, and am running two days of tasters with the two other Reiki therapists, plus giving a short talk on how I hope that Reiki can be used in the hospice. We intend to offer Reiki to patients, to relatives/carers, and very importantly to staff, as we feel that this could significantly help to reduce stress levels. Currently we have three Reiki practitioners who will offer their services as volunteers, although I am very pleased to report that there will be a certain amount of funding for therapists – the amount has yet to be worked out. I also intend to offer Reiki training within the hospice which would be open to people from other parts of the hospital. I am hoping that we will be able to work alongside the medical team, bringing relief to patients who are terminally ill, and to those who are in for respite, and helping them through the dying process.
This is a new venture, and we are progressing slowly, but I am very excited about the prospect of being involved right from the start of the project. Working with the dying is challenging, but can be extremely rewarding and as time goes on I hope to be able to report that Reiki is flourishing in this new hospice at Forfar
Contact: Mary Whyte 01307 818237.
Cambrideshire, Swavesey
Janine Parkinson offered a Reiki day of Fun and Frolics. The event raised £64 for a local charity.
Contact: Janine Parkinson 01954 202703.
Cumbria, Carlisle
Marion Dunlop in Carlisle gave half hour Reiki tasters.
Contact: Marion Dunlop 01228 409090 to make an appointment.
East Yorkshire, Beverley
Peter Roper of the East Riding Reiki Association organised a Reiki Awareness Day at the Beverley Friary . The sum of £55 was raised for the Friary.
Pictures of some of the practitioners & the reiki room.
Contact: Peter Roper 01482 886378.
Hampshire, Andover (Weyhill)
A Reiki Awareness Day was held at the Weyhill Fairground Hall, Andover on Saturday 15 May 2005. Reiki tasters were given for a nominal sum to old and young alike; the youngest was Charlotte (aged 7) the oldest was Eva (aged 84). Animals were included in the event, particularly Tess a wonderfully happy collie whose owner was amazed at the way she rolled over to enjoy the Reiki. There was a fifteen minute break from tasters at noon when distant healing was sent to the Tsunami disaster area, accompanied by the resonance of a crystal bowl at the beginning, and finishing with the sound of the didgeridoo. A local artist displayed a colourful array of canvasses depicting the chakras and various energies. The sum of £150 was raised towards the DEC Tsunami Appeal and grateful thanks to Susan, Royston, Christine, Jill, Justin, Teresa, Robert, Anthony and Claire for their help.
A further taster session was held at the Age Concern offices in Andover this time raising funds for the British Heart Foundation and Age Concern, Andover. This event was less well attended but a group of teenage boys from the local college ventured in and were very impressed with the experience.
Contact: Doreen Sawyer Tel 01264 771163 or 07831 502764 doreen.therapy@tesco.net.
Kent, Ashford
Valerie Lowe gave free “”taster” treatments at Ottakar’s Bookshop, her report:
I was pleasantly surprised by the level of interest – I even worked longer than planned on both days because of demand. The shop had invited the press along to take photographs on the Saturday and the “patient” kindly agreed to let them take pictures of her being treated for the local paper.
The staff I saw there were keen to learn more themselves and those who managed to get a taster session all seemed very relaxed at the end of their treatment. Just what they needed during a busy day at work.
I was asked about giving Reiki to cats and, although I knew it was a good treatment for animals, I hadn’t had the opportunity until now to practise it on them; but I went and treated one today, (Monday) who is suffering sight problems, (not physical) following a road accident!
Those who stopped by the store seemed genuinely interested in the therapy and keen to learn more about it, which was very rewarding.
One of the shop’s customers with a neck problem said I found the right spot as soon as I worked on her neck. Another felt as though something were ‘digging’ inside of his back, trying to clear his problem as I gently laid my hands on the offending spot. Another lady came for stress-relief before an exam and managed to relax well. Several others were interested in taking courses and being able to treat themselves and others.
The shop and I were both delighted with the success of the week and I look forward to being able to ‘join forces’ with them again in the near future when I have already been asked about returning for a similar event they would now like to hold!
Contact: Valerie Lowe.
West Yorkshire, Beverley
Kathryn May had a successful day offering Reiki tasters and raised £100 for the local Children’s Hospice Charity “Forget Me Not Trust.
Contact: Kathryn May 01422 825995.
Wiltshire, Devizes
Anne Tottingham and Sylvia Clegg offered Reiki Tasters at the Quaker Meeting House. Information about Reiki was given in the local paper.
Contact: Anne Tottingham 01380 831 055.
Other Reiki Awareness Events
Australia
On May 21st 2005 the Australian Reiki Connection (ARC) Inc. launched Australia wide the inaugural Reiki Awareness Day.
The main idea for the day was the promotion of the system of Reiki and was aimed at helping the general public to gain a clearer, more practical, understanding of what it is. Hopefully, once having a better idea of what Reiki is and what it can do for them, they are eager to experience it or learn more about it. This will eventually change the shape of our communities and they will become more loving, compassionate and tolerant of others.
Free events providing Reiki treatments, were held in states throughout the country, bringing Reiki to many people who have never come in contact with it before. The response from the general public and the Reiki community was overwhelming, with queues at most venues throughout the day.
Feedback from ARC members, who provided the experience, is one of having had a truly wonderful day, full of energy and joy. We are all looking forward to next year’s event, which will be bigger and better.
By working together with other Reiki organizations around the globe, it is hoped that we will soon have a World Reiki Awareness day
John Coleman
President of ARC Inc.
www.australianreikiconnection.com.au
Eire
Jeannette Woods sent Distant Reiki to the volunteers at a number of dog rescue shelters in Spain.
See also...
Reiki Awareness Week, May 2005 - programme of events.
Find a Reiki Practitioner or Teacher.