Reiki & Past Trauma

For your information, I am proud to announce that I am the guest speaker for the following:

Reiki & Past Trauma

as presented by

Reiki Master Maria L. Pomponio

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

6:30 - 8:30 pm

31 Gladding Road

Caldwell, NJ 07006

If you are interested in attending kindly contact me or Susan Skalsky for Esmilda Abreu at 973-226-5311. We are requesting a $5.00 Donation for this event.

Thank you for your interest and support.

The Dentist, Qi and Reiki

Yesterday I went to the dentist for what I thought was going to be a pretty routine visit. He was working on finishing some prep work for a porcelain crown but the tooth had become pretty problematic with the nerve being quite hypersensitive.

While taking my last trip recently I realized that the pressure of high elevation aggravated this problem and the tooth calcified somewhat to avoid the pain. Did you know that our teeth can do that? We have a tremendous ability to heal ourselves, but I digress.

Yesterday turned into one of the longest days in the dentist's chair that I can ever recall. The first two hours consisted of getting approximately 7 shots of Novocaine that didn't take.

That's right.

Seven shots that didn't take in two hours.

The nerve pressure was overriding all of his efforts to numb the tooth.

Add to that the fact that I am asthmatic and the drugs he can use on me become limited.

I became quite nervous and upset. Hot tears ran down my face when I realized that I needed even more shots. Also, a root canal takes at least two visits and since I am taking a flight later on in the week, he needed to finish it in one day or getting on the plane would be excruciating.

I had to calm myself down.

We've discussed this in past. I seem to "eat up" the anesthesia right there in the chair from nerves. I mean, who really enjoys going to the dentist? I can not stand it and I tell him that plainly.

We get a chuckle or two out of my dismay - but seriously - it freaks me out.

At one point he suggested I take some deep breaths while tilting my head to one side - the side of the nerve pain - to let the anesthetic work better.

He suggested I meditate. I told him that I do meditate although I hadn't since sitting in his chair.

I started to calm myself down and also began some Reiki on myself. I began drawing the power symbol on the roof of my mouth with my tongue and then taking my tongue and drawing it on the tooth itself. I sent all the healing energy that I have inside myself to my tooth.

It had an amazing affect.

The next time he checked me by blowing cold air on my tooth - FINALLY, I felt only some slight pressure.

I continued sending myself Reiki for the next hour and a half while he finished prepping my tooth for the root canal. He got the root out and then the bleeding would not stop.

Green tea and Vitamin E are blood thinners. Two things I take on a regular basis. I couldn't believe he said the bleeding wouldn't stop - it was my own fault. I should not have taken them prior to my visit. I should have stopped taking them a week ago but it had completely slipped my mind. I don't really associate bleeding with the dentist - again, my fault.

That being said, it had been over four hours sitting in his chair. Now the bleeding. So, he sent me home for an hour - he did have other patients to see.

I went home for an hour AND HAD TO GO BACK! The bleeding prevented him from finishing what he started.

After an hour of sitting in my office chair staring out the window, I reluctantly went back to his office for Round Two...when it really felt like Round Twenty Two.

I was exhausted.

This time, no anesthetic....I mean the nerves were out so I shouldn't feel any pain right? Wrong!

With Reiki on my mind and tears in my eyes he finished his procedure while I endured some more pain. It wasn't that bad at that point, I think my spirit was more hurt than my tooth.

Suffice to say, I am on antibiotics and Advil's around the clock now hoping the swelling in my face goes down. I woke up at 5:30 am to excruciating pain.

Off to the medicine cabinet for more Advil, more Reiki symbol signing on my tooth with my tongue and back off to sleep I went.

I have A MILLION things to do today...since yesterday's chores went unattended so I really have to sign off but not before a reality check....

...how lucky am I to be able to go to the dentist?

So many people on this planet are suffering without the funds to eat let alone take care of their many illnesses. I am not complaining. Today's blog is about my humanity and my sometime suffering - but this too shall pass.

But not before I tell you how very grateful I am.

In a few days, I will not be able to tell you how awful it was. Sure I'll have this blog to remind me...but what I really want to remember is my gratitude. I say that my dentist is a really pain in my tooth - but what he really is, is a healer. He was a gentle as he could be. He was as patient as he could be especially with a teary, scared child-like woman in his chair for umpteen hours. He did all that he could do for me and yes, he gets paid quite handsomely, but I'm the luckiest girl in the world to be able to go and get my teeth fixed so that I can chew my food and sustain my body.

I am also so very grateful for my spiritual walk that has brought Reiki into my life for times like these. Qi - or energy - is alive and well in every single living thing and when you focus on it and call it to service, it never lets you down.

Thanks to my dentist Dr. D., Namaste to Dr. Usui - the founder of Reiki and I can't forget my teacher Jane Berrigan who taught Reiki to me www.balanceandflow.com. I am eternally grateful to you all, to be alive, and well, channeling some serious energy.

Qigong: The Ancient Art of Self Healing

You Too Can Be Buddha

This video was shared with me from my cousin Frank Gattuso. Thanks Frankie.

God vs. Science

"Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues.

"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er..yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God."

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world? "

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it" And God did make everything correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer.

"Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?"

There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

"Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him.'

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelled your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.

The room suddenly becomes very quiet.

The student begins to explain, "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is t o be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean." The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?"

The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

The student was Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein did write a book titled God vs. Science in 1921.

Jesus, Son of David, Have mercy on us. . .

Live, Pain Lies On The Riverside

I have never taken life

Yet I have often paid the price

And you, you are a victim of this age

And the guilt that hangs around your neck

Has got me locked up in a cage

You've got to learn to live until no end

But first you must learn to swim

All over again

Because...pain lies on the riverside

And pain will never say goodbye

Pain lies on the riverside

So put you feet in the water

Put your head in the water

Put your soul in the water

And join me for a swim tonight

I have forever, always tried

To stay clean and constantly baptized

I am aware that the river's banks are dry

And to wait for a flood

Is to wait for life

I've got to learn to live until no end

But first I must learn to swim all

Over again,

Because...

Pain lies on the riverside.

The Folded Napkin

Are you like me and had never even given a thought to this passage of scripture?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?

The Gospel of John (20:1-8) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

The Gospel of St. John 20: 1 - 8 - KJV

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

Is that important? Absolutely!

Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the Servant set the dinner table for the Master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the Master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the Servant would wait, just out of sight, until the Master had finished eating, and the Servant would not dare touch that table, until the Master was finished.

Now if the Master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.

But if the Master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........

The folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

He is Coming Back!

I Am A Reiki Master

Friday I became a Reiki Master and while that title states that I am a 'Master' now, I still have a lot to learn. I consider myself a student of life and if that's true, you're never done learning.

My experience with my teacher was one of peace and instruction and very positive energy. She told me that I may experience a detoxing as with any of the attunements. After the first two attunements, Reiki I and II, I did experience a lot of emotional issues that surfaced, or resurfaced. Things that I thought I had dealt with came back to the forefront of my mind in a big way. I also had some physical manifestations that led to some major surgery.

It forced my hand somewhat in that I don't believe I truly dealt with some major issues in my life. We have a tendency to push things down and to try and forget them or 'get over it' like I've been told to do many times, but that doesn't work.

Pushing emotional issues or trauma 'down' only brings it back in another way. Stress will manifest itself in your body. Perhaps in a way that is most uncomfortable. Stress can manifest in anger, in mistrust of others, in illness, in self medicating, in overall malaise and a 'putting up a front' sort of personality. Alot of people are like that. They have two sides to them. They put on a smile when they really want to wring someones neck. So they act out in many different ways - but they never face their problems head on.

I was like that for a long time and it did not make me happy or healthy.

I'm not exactly sure what to expect after this Reiki Master attunement but I can tell you this much. I am not who I used to be. What I Am To Be I am still becoming.

I embrace change and I embrace the cleansing process. In an effort to help others, I must first help myself. So, that being said, it's my time to shine. Regardless of the aftermath. No one's life is more important than mine. I have a right to be my authentic self, to live my authentic life and to speak MY truth.

And, I have a funny feeling that MY TRUTH is going to help a lot of people.

Regardless of your spiritual beliefs and background, Reiki can help you overcome trauma, past hurts and offenses, drug abuse, you name it. It can help you to heal and to live a better life.

So far, I have three lectures scheduled for the next couple of months;

• The National Guild of Hypnotists - Northern New Jersey Chapter - March 11, 2009;
• Montclair State University Peace Conference - March 30, 2009; and
• Bergen Community College - Women in Religion - April 29, 2009.

How's that for manifesting some major change? I couldn't be more humble or proud at the same time.

My topics will cover overcoming trauma, past offenses and hurts, healing, and of course how Reiki helps with all of that.

If you have a speaking opportunity that you would like me to consider, please reach out and let me know.

Reiki Master! Who knew?

Enjoy the Coffee

Calling All Angels

The Time Will Come

the time will come

when with elation

you will greet yourself

arriving

at your own door

in your own mirror

and each will smile

at the others welcome

and say "sit here"

"eat"

you will love again the stranger who was yourself

give wine

give bread

give back your heart to itself

to the stranger who has loved you all your life

whom you ignored for another

who knows you by heart

take down the love letters from the bookshelf

the photographs

the desperate notes

peel your own image from the mirror

sit

feast on your life



anonymous

The Joy To Be

Evolve or die trying

Find your inner eye

Say yes to now so as not

to become your inner suffering

Your thoughts have no power over you

If you only knew

Its always been inside, the ability

To get through the density

And bring yourself back

Through transcendence

Suffer through

Consciously

Now

Allow and accept

The joy to be

Break free

You are not what you possess

You are not your physical body

You are not your thoughts

Awaken

You are your resistance

To change

To life

To self

To divinity, inner peace and grace

Written by: me

Help Is Within Reach

I'm realizing more and more that the path that I am on is the right one. I've been on the wrong one in the past more often than not - so the clarity that I have now cannot be denied.

Illness manifesting in our bodies due to past trauma is something that I'm coming to terms with in a big way in my life. It seems that as soon as I accepted this reality, opportunity began to present itself to me.

"So, you want to help people huh"? says my mind.

"Yes, I really do". says my heart and spirit.

Well, be careful what you ask for.

There are so many people in pain all around us if we would only take the time to speak with them. You need only to look into the eyes of a person to see it.

I met someone over the weekend that fits that description to a T. His name is Joe and he is in some serious pain. We went to his restaurant in Elizabeth and while we were sharing a meal with some friends he came out from the back where the food is prepared. He had a beautiful smile - but the smile didn't come very easily. He was cordial and pleasant - but just don't scratch the surface.

Now, keep in mind, I've never met this man in my life.

Underneath his forced smile is a man in a tremendous amount of pain. My heart instantly went into an empathic overdrive mode as I could see it - no, I could feel it.

He came over to our table and made some small talk. He said something about his mind always racing. He said something about crying. My husband agreed with him and said "yeah, I cry too - but not in front of my wife". We laughed because I knew what my husband was talking about but not what Joe was talking about. I knew there was something so much deeper going on. I reached into my spiritual bag of medicine and I asked him if he ever meditated and he said no. How about prayer? Meh, not so much. We made some more small talk and he left the table to go tend to his restaurant.

After some time, I went over to where Joe was standing and starting to speak with him some more. Now, this is where it gets personal - but how can we help each other unless we are willing to go out on a limb? I said before I could feel his pain. I mean, I wanted to cry to release some of the pressure but that would only help me - not him. I was praying in my spirit the whole time I was speaking with him asking God to show me...

I asked Joe plainly....."are you suicidal"?

I asked him this because I know what that looks like and feels like. I've been there. I knew he was - but I didn't know if he was willing to release any of the pressure that was building up inside of him.

Well, he just about jumped out of his skin. He looked at me in amazement. He grabbed his head with both hands "How do you know that"? he asked me.

I just know Joe. I've been there. Thank God I'm no longer there - but that neighborhood looks awfully familiar and scary.

He went on to say that he purchased a hand gun three months ago and that he was planning on killing himself.

He said it wouldn't be long now.

I pleaded with him and offered him my friendship and prayers. I gave him my telephone number and told him to call me anytime. I told him he didn't have to do that and that maybe, just maybe, things could get better.

I began to tell him a little bit more about myself and about how I used to feel the way he feels. I told him it can get better.

I'm not sure if he believed me.

It was time to leave the restaurant so, I took his number and we left. I spoke to my husband about what I had just learned. He said he could also see that Joe was in pain.

It was so obvious to us.

Suffice to say, I've already prayed for and sent Reiki to Joe. I've called him this morning and thank God he answered the phone. I have to call him back in a short while. I'm going to try and reach him on a more spiritual level but until he deals with whatever is bothering him - healthwise, he's in critical condition.

He is just one of many of us right now that are trying to cope with the reality that is our lives. We sometimes have to look at the unpleasant in order to find peace.

That's the way it's worked for me anyway - or should I say - is still working for me. I've been down that road and lived on that street in that neighborhood for a long time. It wasn't until I opened my mouth and spoke some really hard truths that the moving van showed up and took me to a much better place.

So, you want to help people huh?

Yes, yes, I really do.

DEBORAH KING, J.D., author of Truth Heals: What You Hide Can Hurt You (Hay House 2009), is a health & wellness expert, attorney, national keynote speaker, frequent TV and radio commentator, a regular blogger for The Huffington Post and Psychology Today, and a “healer to the stars.” She also hosts her own radio show, "Truth Heals with Deborah King." As a young attorney and hotel developer, Deborah suffered from a host of emotional and medical problems, culminating with cancer in her twenties. Her amazing recovery led her to leave the corporate arena for the alternative medical field, where she mastered ancient and modern healing systems and ultimately developed a powerful energy healing technique of her own. She is trained to address both the mind and the body’s health and disease processes. Deborah makes frequent appearances on national news and entertainment programs, and is known for her insightful and entertaining commentary on the news of the day.

Deborah says, "I learned about the mind body connection when I was working on healing the cancer that woke me up in my twenties. It was only when I faced the truth of the childhood sexual abuse that I experienced that I understood why the emotional pain we’ve buried in our bodies must be released."

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