What is Reiki?

What is Reiki?
Founded by Dr. Mikao Usui, Reiki is a system of hands on healing. This system provides the body with the ability to restore itself to balance and harmony. Reiki seeks to regain order to the body whose vital energy has become unbalanced.

For those who know Japanese will be confused by the Kanji (Characters) reading. “Rei”, according to Mrs. Hawayo Tanaka, means “universe”, and “ki” means energy. Since she introduced Dr. Usui’s system to the West, people have accepted the Kanji reading to be Reiki, “Universal Life Force Energy.”

Why are there so many different types of Reiki? If the healer channels the energy into the person, then is that not the same energy for everyone? In the real world, different bodies require different types of energy or can only handle certain kinds of energy. Energies can be softer or harsher depending on how they are focused. In Ocean Friends Reiki, manatee energy is softer, while seahorse energy is more energetic.

Reiki healing is warm, enlivening, and peaceful. The main goal is to nourish the body on many levels. The different energies heal physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. Manatee energy is used for heavy emotional distress, while sea turtle energy is for spiritual distress.

Therefore, Reiki can be described as a combination of 'spiritual healing' and 'energy healing' techniques. Reiki can be effectively used in combination with other therapies - both allopathic and 'alternative'. In fact, some studies have demonstrated that Reiki stimulates the relaxation response.


Ocean Friends 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 every living thing.
Love and respect all the oceans and marine life.
Give back what has so freely been given to us.

"Behold a Pale Horse"

What does it mean to see horses of a certain color? In Western folklore, there is a wealth of information regarding this. "Behold a Pale Horse" meant death is afoot. Here are some more colors and their meanings.


Color and Meaning

Black: Death, Mourning, Underworld
Brown: Sadness
Golden: Sun
Grey: Death
Pale or Greenish: Death, Pestilence
Red: Sun, War
White: Moon, Sun, Purity, Victory

Teachings of the Sea Turtle

GREEN TURTLE

Perseverance

(U.S. Forest Service)

One of the largest of the Sea Turtles, Green Turtle likes living in warm, shallow waters where sea grass, Her favorite food, grows. She locates the vegetation with Her excellent underwater eyesight. Swimming at great speeds underwater, She travels near the coasts in search of sea grass.If you find Green Turtle far out to sea, She is on Her way to Her nesting beaches. She is meeting the male Turtles there for mating. Both male and female Green Turtles return to the same beaches year after year. Usually, these beaches are the same ones from which the Turtles were hatched.

Although Mother Green Turtle is awkward on land, She still comes up on the beach to build Her nest. Mother Turtle drags herself on to the beach to dig a large hole with Her flippers. Once She lays Her eggs, Mother Turtle pushes sand over the eggs. Then, She hauls Herself back over the beach to the sea.

Green Turtle teaches perseverance. Watch Her as She struggles to lay Her eggs. Graceful in the sea, Mother Turtle comes on land, an alien hostile environment, to provide a nest for Her young.

Green Turtle’s Teachings Include:

“As about, so below, and within. The gentle turtle acknowledges the delicate balance between ocean and earth, and reminds us of the importance of respecting both.” Copyright: “Wisdom of Australian Animals”, Ann Williams-Fitzgerald .

Green Turtle’s Wisdom Includes:

Home

Being Grounded

Healing Knowledge

Respect

Persistence

Mockingbird by Sayahda

The Mockingbird

The Northern mockingbird is approximately 10 inches inlength with a long tail that twitches vigorously when excited. It has strong legs suited to scratching through dead leaves and underbrush for insects. Although their dull gray color doesn’t impress the eye their various calls definitely demand attention. Known for their songs the mockingbird was given its name because of its ability to mimic the calls of other bird species. In Latin the word mockingbird means “many tongued mimic.” The song of mockingbird is a medley of calls of many other birds. They are master imitators and usually repeat an imitation several times before they start another song in rapid succession. They are one of the few birds that sing while in flight.

Mockingbirds hold a variety of teachings. On a subtle level they show us how to mimic ourselves. What we mimic reflects back to us and helps us see what we truly are. Discovering oneself in this way can be a powerful transformational experience. Those with this totem should ask mockingbird to help them connect with their personal sound frequency. Once this connectionis made healing on all levels takes place. It is common for an individual bird to have as many as 30 songs in its repertory. It can also mimic the sounds of barking dogs and cats.

They teach us about the power of the voice through song. Appearances are not important to those with this totem. They are always heard before they are seen, if they are seen at all. Those with this medicine can learn new languages easily and make excellent interpreters and spokesman. Mockingbirds are fearless and will defend their nest and territory. Courageous birds they will dive and attack intruders that come too close. They teach us how to develop confidence within ourselves, sing out our truth and stand up for what is rightfully ours. http://www.sayahda.com/cyc3.html

From Nature to Myth: Owls and People

Owls spark people’s imaginations. These silent predators of the night both inspire and frighten people. For nighttime, when owls are most active, is also when magic is afoot. To many people, seeing these shadowy birds with their glowing yellow eyes is to experience the Other Worlds.
This worldwide Order of Birds ranges from tiny elf owl of North America to huge eagle owl of Eurasia. As predators, owls regard anything that moves as fair game. While elf owl eats insects, eagle owl feasts on deer. Because most owls fly at night, they occupy the same niche in the eco-system as hawks and eagles. Native Americans called the Owl Family “Night Eagles”.

Owls are divided into two families-True Owls (Strigidae) and the older family of Tytonidae, to which only barn owl and bay owl belongs. Barn owls can be thought of as the more ancient version of “Owl”. They do not hoot like true owls, but instead make a hoarse “Khurrew” noise. In addition, they have heart-shaped faces, longer beaks and heads, and forked tails. Barn owls live in Europe and the Western Hemisphere, and bay owls live in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. This makes the Barn Owl Sub-Family, one of the most widespread land birds in the world. The round-headed owls, that most people see, are from the larger Strigidae Family which contains 300 species.

Because so few birds are nocturnal and the majority of owls (Strigiformes) are, most people respected but distrusted them. The Japanese regarded barn owl and horned owls as demonic. In Borneo, Scops owls were thought of as ill omens to be avoided at all costs. The Romans believed that any owl sucked the blood of babies.

However, the ancient Greeks welcomed little owl as their Goddess of Wisdom’s Friend. In Hawai’i, Pueo (Hawaiian Owl) is a protector. As ‘Aumakau, Pueo is the ancestor guardian who watches over the family. Because barn owl saved Genghis Khan from his enemies, Mongolians revered her. Meanwhile, the Celts look upon tawny owl as one of the five oldest animals on earth.

For owl empowerments and other animal consultations:

http://funkman.org/animal/services/serviceslink.html