by
Sylvia Dooling
I just received a brochure in the mail from the Presbyterian Women of the
Synod of the Northeast promoting what they call a ‘Healing Retreat.” The
retreat, to be held in May, is designed around the premise that ‘the healing
of persons body, mind, and spirit was at the heart of the ministry of
Jesus.”
That sentence could have been written more carefully, and I could pick a
couple nits out of it without much trouble, but that’s all it would be nit
picking. After all, healing was important to Jesus, and salvation has at its
root the concept of health and wholeness.
However, you’re not going to believe what comes next.
According to the pamphlet, ‘people of faith are challenged to visualize
Jesus’ healing in new and creative ways.” Oh, oh! I began to take a closer
look. And I wasn’t disappointed. Here are the creative ways Presbyterian
Women is going to introduce the healing of Jesus to its attendees through
Reiki and Reflexology.
What is Reiki? And, what is Reflexology? Well, I’m glad you asked.
According to the Reiki internet site,
‘Reiki (pronounced “ray-key”) is a laying-on of hands healing technique
thought to be thousands of years old. Allegedly, it originated as a
Tibetan Buddhist practice that was rediscovered in the late 1800’s by
Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese Buddhist. It is very simple yet powerful
healing art that can be used on your self as well as others and can
easily be learned by everyone.
The word Reiki is derived from two Japanese words – “rei,” meaning
“Universal Spirit,” and “ki.” Meaning “life force energy.” The word
Reiki, therefore, refers to a balanced cosmic and life force energy.
Because of its qualities of universal energy, it seems to have a basic
consciousness which, when used for healing, is able to provide exactly
what is needed on all levels. Reiki treatments work by dissolving or
eliminating toxic energy and substances from many levels of ones being
whether it be physical, emotional, mental or beyond. It also works to
strengthening the harmonious forces at the same time. Reiki helps to
create a harmonious environment within ones being so true healing can
take place.
Healers that have been attuned to the Reiki healing “current” will find
that their natural healing energies are enhanced. They also describe
their healing energies as being more powerful and directed than before.
It is the unique blend of energy which makes the Reiki current such a
powerful form of life force and which lends it the amazing ability to
heal not just the physical body, but also on mental, emotional and
spiritual levels as well. As one is opened up through the attunement
process, that person becomes an open channel for the Reiki energy to
flow through. The energy is constantly circulating in their body and
energy field from that point on. Additionally, when they place their
hands on an object, whether it be a person, pet, tree or crystal, the
energy flows into that object as well.
Reiki is transferred to students by Reiki Master Teachers through a
series of attunements. During an attunement process, a series of symbols
are sealed into the person’s energy field and they are given an Angelic
guide to assist them in channeling the higher vibrations of energy. The
attunement process opens up an individual permanently to the Reiki
energy so that one can give Reiki treatments to self and others. Reiki
has been traditional taught in three degrees or levels and there is a
specific attunement for each degree of training.
First degree Reiki is primarily an etheric/physical healing energy. It
has a tremendous ability to balance the chakras, remove negative energy
from a person’s auric field, relieve stress and heal the body in
general.
Second degree energy deals primarily with healing the mental and
emotional levels of one’s being. First degree energy is enhanced and
amplified at least four times, and one is taught how to send the healing
Reiki energy over a distance as well as to other points in time. Other
advanced techniques are taught that can facilitate deep emotional
healing, which is often the true cause of dis-ease.
Third degree energy is of very spiritual nature. It integrates all
levels of one’s being and, as a result, initiates High Self contact.
Master/Teacher training provides one with the ability to attune others
and teach Reiki I, II or III classes.
The Usui systems of three separated attunement processes is very well
integrated and balanced. It cleanses, opens up and literally unites all
levels of one’s being. It is arguably the finest spiritual healing
system available today.”
And how about Reflexology? The Internet site I consulted has this to say:
The ancient healing art of reflexology has been known to man for many
thousands of years. It was first practiced by the early Indian, Chinese
and Egyptian peoples.
In 1913 Dr. William Fitzgerald, an American ear, nose and throat
surgeon, introduced this therapy to the West. He noted that pressure on
specific parts of the body could have an anaesthetising effect on a
related area. Developing this theory, he divided the body into ten equal
and vertical zones, ending in the fingers and toes. He concluded that
pressure on one part of a zone could affect everything else within that
zone. Thus, reflex areas on the feet and hands are linked to other areas
and organs of the body within the same zone.
In the 1930’s, Eunice Ingham, a therapist, further developed and refined
the zone therapy into what is now known as foot reflexology. She
observed that congestion or tension in any part of the foot mirrors
congestion or tension in a corresponding part of the body. Thus, when
you treat the big toes there is a related effect in the head, and
treating the whole foot can have a relaxing and healing effect on the
whole body.
How Can Reflexology Help You?
The body has the ability to heal itself. Following illness, stress,
injury or disease, it is in a state of “imbalance”, and vital energy
pathways are blocked, preventing the body from functioning effectively.
Reflexology can be used to restore and maintain the body’s natural
equilibrium and encourage healing.
A reflexologist uses hands only to apply gentle pressure to the feet.
For each person the application and the effect of the therapy is unique.
Sensitive, trained hands can detect tiny deposits and imbalances in the
feet, and by working on these points the reflexologist can release
blockages and restore the free flow of energy to the whole body.
Tensions are eased, and circulation and elimination is improved. This
gentle therapy encourages the body to heal itself at its own pace, often
counteracting a lifetime of misuse. ‘
They began talking about Jesus, and now they’re talking about ‘energy” and
feet. Quite a leap, if you ask me. But, if you want to balance your
_chakras_, remove the negative energy from your _auric field_, or energize
your crystals, then maybe this retreat is the place to be.
According to the brochure, what these Presbyterian Women are attempting to
do is to join ‘Eastern and Western spirituality.” To my mind, however, what
they’re engaging in is plain, old-fashioned, no-so-new-age syncretism, and
it needs to be labeled as such. Some people might even call it heresy.
But, I guess what puzzles me the most is whether the women who have planned
this event are intentionally heterodox, or whether they’re just so ignorant
of the Christian faith that they don’t know any better. Whichever it is,
this is a sad, sad day for the Presbyterian Church.
And make no mistake, this is about the Presbyterian Church, because above
the list of facilitators for this retreat is the seal of the PC(USA). So,
this seems to be another place where an organization lodged within the
organizational structure of the denomination is immune from accountability.
As for myself, I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry! Maybe what I ought
to do is sit in the lotus position and say, ‘Ommmmm” But if I did that, I’d
never get up.