Conflilcted - Reiki & the Catholic Church

[Sunny]

I just got back from a week long family reunion & met a friend of my husband's cousin who joined the party this year. She is in the process of becoming a Reiki Master & gave me a healing this week. My experience talking with her was amazing, as was the healing, but now my Catholic guilt is creeping in. I converted to the Catholic religion because it was very important for my husband to be married in a Catholic church. We now have our daughter in a Catholic school. There are many things I LOVE about being Catholic... I love our little "community" of children/parents at school. I appreciate the tradition of the Mass. I feel more connected to God when at Mass than at any other Sunday service I've attended. However, I have a lot of questions/issues - about God, and creation, and specifically about the Catholic religion. I have asked forgiveness for my curiosity and have always thought that God understood, but is that how it's supposed to work? Should I have to ask forgiveness or feel guilty about something that made me feel closer to God?

I have always said, "If it doesn't feel right, then you shouldn't be doing it". However, in this case, I'm not sure which one feels right... The warmth, peace, and love I felt during the Reiki healing, or the support of my Catholic community? Why do I feel like I have to choose one or the other? Can I choose both without feeling like I'm "cheating"?

[fmas1719]

Hi, Sunny. I honestly don't think that they are in conflict. I was born and baptized Catholic, but now follow the Bahá'í Faith, and am now working towards the Reiki Mastery as well. The aspect of healing by laying on hands isn't out of the Catholic (or Christian in general) context. Reiki Masters usually highlight that the way Jesus healed was using an energy similar to Reiki, or at the very least a pretty similar mechanism. Reiki energy feels warm and cozy, like the warmth that love evokes in one's being.

The Bible itself says that 'by its fruits ye shall know' (paraphrasing). Reiki hasn't really brought forth 'bad' fruits that I'm aware of, hence I think that, because the 'tree of Reiki' provides good fruits, it means that it goes in line with Catholic teachings.

Warm regards.



Francis.

[Sandy]

Dear Sunny,
I can understand your feelings as I had similar ones when I first began reaching out to the Father in new ways. I was a Lutheran and had been one all my life and thier beliefs are rather similar to the Catholic Religion. My guilt, I believe, stemmed from my reaching out as I explored those things I somehow felt missing in my church faith, areas personally important for my own growth and in areas I felt my church would not understand or pehaps even approve. But the bottom line is, I am getting closer to God in my search and that in reality is tue religion. I prayed to God about the way I was feeling asking for His guidance and help in the direction he wished me to go and Wow! I got answers. And I realize that each of us reach Paradise in our own personal way with God lighting the way. I still chersish much from my upbringing, worshiping together with my spiritual family the feeling of togetherness..these things are often felt here as well in my 11:11 family. Where God and Love reside there is always a sense of oneness and family.
In a strange kind of way, I am wondering if it was Gods own hand that brought you together with this lovely Reiki practitioner...new doors and wonderful windows may very well open enriching and furthering your Catholic experience, not making it obsolete but perhaps making it ever so much better for you.
With God in the "driver seat" there are fabulous journeys ahead for all of us.
Good to see you again Sunny.
Love,
Sandy

[AJ]

Maybe some of these bible verses will help your current struggle. I too am Catholic but do not feel conflicted. My Catholic upbringing was my way to God but only the beginning to the understanding. Dogma is only part of the story to me.

Mark 16:17-18 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Surely this includes healing!)

Acts 5:16 "Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed." (NOTE - Even after Jesus had been crucified, raised back to life again and ascended into heaven, we see the very same work that Jesus performed, while on the earth, still taking place through the hands of His disciples, and with the very same intensity - all being healed. And why not? Hebrews 13:8 tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! If his disciples could heal does not logic suggest that present day disciples could, would and should heal now?)

James 5:14-15 "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give unto you power (authority) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." NOTE - This is an exciting verse as Jesus said He has given us authoritative power over ALL, not some of the enemy! I have always viewed this along the lines of not just Jesus could perform miracles and healing, all of us have the same power to do so in His name.

1 John 5:4 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." NOTE - In John 17:14 Jesus states that we as believer's are not of the world. Sickness, disease and failure belong to the world. As a believer, we are given the right to overcome that which comes against us by holding fast to the Word of God. While we do not deny that the problem or circumstance exists, we do however deny it the right to stay through our faith in God and His Word!!! Know this: Faith in God is victory all of the time!!!

Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

[Sunny]

Thanks all for your responses! Wow, AJ... once again, you hit the nail on the head! Amazing... I really should spend a little more time reading the bible and less time watching Bachelor Pad!

I'm going to try it once more @ her Reiki Master's studio... and hopefully keep the feeling of peace a bit longer than I did last time.

[AJ]

I hear you there Sunny! I too find myself not able to pull away from watching that train wreck called the Bachelor Pad ha ha. How have you been?

[Sunny]

All is well. My preemie is starting 3rd grade & is so curious about the world... I'm sure she could break the world record for questions asked in a single day. My baby-cake is going to be 2 next month & is a spit fire and way too smart for her own good. Time is flying by & they're growing up so fast... but I don't feel one second older! How about you?

[AJ]

Same. My 5 yr old is staring school today (actually in 30 minutes) and I just can't believe it. Wow! 3rd grade. If I am not mistaken you and I had kids the same time. I can't believe my Leah would have been starting the 3rd grade today. Where has that time gone? My 2 and a half year old son is way too smart for his own good. The stuff he says just blows our mind. This was kind of funny and I hope it is appropriate for the board, but we are in the middle of potty training him...so last night he walks into the bathroom while I am using it (kids have not understanding of privacy ha ha). Anyway he asks what I am doing and so I tell him that I am going p p in the potty like he is learning. He looks at me, gives me the thumbs up and says, "Good Job Daddy" then walks away. They are little sponges and we are mirrors ha ha.

[Sandy]

You gave us a good laugh this morning,AJ!
You and Sunny with this school starting thing have brought back good memories of my own now grown boys. How I loved that time with them. Where does the time go? I'd do it all again in a millisecond if it were allowed.
Love,
Sandy

[fmspirit39]

Hey Sunny,

I don't have the kind of experiences that you have with religion or that AJ has with the bible. I just wanted to share my thoughts on it. I love all religion; I love all people, and if one loves God without a relgion, I love them even more.

Long live Bachelor Pad!

[Sandy]

Okay, you guys have me dying of curiosity...what is this Bathelor Pad?
XX Sandy

[AJ]

The Bachelor Pad is like the National Enquirer for TV Sandy. It is pure filth but you can't stop watching the drama!

I don't have that strong ability for the Bible, but I do for Google! I just googled bible versus for healing and that is what I found. Some of the commentary was already under the verse and some of it is my own thoughts!

[Sandy]

Thanks AJ. It seems George and I are behind the television times here.
What would we do without Google? Long live Google as well!
Love,
Sandy

[xINFINITELIGHTx]

All is well. My preemie is starting 3rd grade & is so curious about the world... I'm sure she could break the world record for questions asked in a single day. My baby-cake is going to be 2 next month & is a spit fire and way too smart for her own good. Time is flying by & they're growing up so fast... but I don't feel one second older! How about you?

Hello Sunny I'm a Christian Pastor and although I am non Catholic I have a deep respect for all religions and all ways. I am attuned to many reiki systems and I believe that we must always remember that our LORD JESUS CHRIST is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. But this is not an exclusive declaration it's an ALL INCLUSIVE DECLARATION.

Many people walk different WAYS to get spirtual connections to our LORD JESUS who is GOD.
I may sing, you may praise dance, others write, some may do yoga, some may do even reiki but ALL WAYS of connecting to GOD is what JESUS is.

Many people may hold different TRUTHS that reflect the RIGHTEOUSNESS of our LORD JESUS CHRIST but in the end they reflect LOVE and they get you to HEAVEN for the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON EARTH can is achieved through JESUS' great message

37 JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THEY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND.
38 THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT.
39 AND THIS IS THE IS LIKE UNTO IT, THOUGH SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF.
Matthew 22:37-41

All TRUTH is connected to that TRUTH and all religions are based on their LOVE FOR GOD. REI KI MEANS "GOD" "ENERGY" and JESUS is GOD.

JESUS IS THAT TRUTH AND THAT LOVE. JESUS is the very shifting nature of THE TRUTH FOR EACH INDICIDUAL yet it staying the same as THR nature of LOVE.

And finally JESUS is the LIFE that all of us LIVE. And that is as all exclusive as we can get. In this is FREEDOM FOR THE VERY LIFE THAT IS RETURNED TO YOU IN HEALING IS WHAT JESUS IS. I believe this very ascension process is JESUS' RETURN FOR JESUS is GOD and to ascend to the highest LEVEL is to sit next to the RISEN KING on his throne. I believe 11:11 is JESUS for JESUS is THE WAY to a higher LIFE PATH ATTRACTIR FIELD for living and that is what 11:11 is.

So walk your path well and know that JESUS is still your LORD and SAVIOR as well as the very WAY you walk in connection to GOD as the REI KI. There is nothing wrong with it it is completely aligned with Christianity and it is a beautiful process that heals mental, physical, and spirtual problems through clearing energy that will one day manifest as physical so that the manifestations apcan be clear for healthy living.

In JESUS name we pray AMEN.

[jack6251]

Good luck!

Jack