An Angel Returns Home

ABDELLAH IN PARIS - MARCH 2006

This is for me the beginning of a personal effort to recapture and understand the rhyme and reason, insight and lesson, and even beauty associated with what would appear to be a single event but which is really the culmination of a long series of synchronicities which lead up to, and even followed the event itself.

So, where to I begin? Well, those of you who have been following my blogs know of my wonderful friend Abdellah and our very special relationship, which included not only the lovely times we spent together in India, but even a 9 day visit I made to Paris to spend time with him in March of 2006. You can read a short account in the blog posts: http://mindfulnessjournal.blogspot.com/#114495322641587364

Abdellah is the only person I ever knew who truly and literally lived each day as it if was his last…truly lived in the moment.

The only meaning money had for him was as a means to bring happiness into the lives of people (not just “others”, himself as well, as he was a person who truly loved and respected himself).

NADDI


He lived each and every day fully, and worrying about “having enough for the future” was a completely alien concept to him. He was my living lesson in non-attachment.


BHAGSU WATERFALL CAFE 2003

Abdellah’s quest during the short few years I knew him, was to get closer to God. This was his reason for pursuing the different philosophies he pursued, such as Kriya Yoga. He was looking for the best way to connect to Him. Well, he is now where he always wanted to be. With God - and I am happy for him as I know he is at peace and content. He was just an angel here on Earth waiting to get back home.

A PUJA AT BHAGSU WATERFALL


And the lessons I learnt from him, I was able to put into action in my own life by using money “I did not have” and “could not afford to use” – to bring joy and happiness in a surprising way, into the life of another person. And this small act snowballed and the effects of my one small action continued to bring further happiness to others as well.

The lessons I learnt from Abdellah, the days filled with joy and laughter we spent together, the deeper meaning of living life to the fullest which I was permeated with every time I spoke to him, the smiles of joy on the faces of all those who knew him every time his name was mentioned, are all things which will remain with me forever.

He will always be with me. Abdellah was a practicing Buddhist, and I just have to maneuver my way over a bunch of ants so as not to step on them, or watch a mosquito fly by without "clapping" it between my hands (I did that once instinctively when Abdellah was with me (!)...I have NEVER done it again!), and I think of him. [Abdellah's Mother is Muslim, and his step-father, who he grew up with, is Jewish (he has relatives in Israel), and one of his favorite foods is kneidlach, which I happily made for him with chicken soup one evening in McLeodganj. I also taught him how to make challah when I was in Paris with him. ] I just have to think of sausissons which he introduced me to at Kailwood in 2004, and I am in food heaven. The wonderful meals we shopped for, cooked and ate together, the movies we watched with his wonderful insights - he studied film in university in the States - the insights into Buddhist philosophy I received from him, but more important, in daily living...all these things keep him alive within me. Showing true loving-kindness, compassion and goodwill to all - not an easy thing to do ALL the time, was something that he could never NOT do. It was simply part of his essence. A living lesson in truly loving and respecting all living creatures, including himself. Like the wonderful plans he had drawn up for his new home in India, originally planned at the farmhouse in Kangra but later moved to an area near Palampur that his friend the Banker in Dharamsala was helping him with. A beautifully planned home, lavishly furnished with the best of everything including giant full wall size plasma TV screen.







AT KOKILA'S FARMHOUSE IN KANGRA WHERE HE WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNING TO BUILD A HOUSE

Well, let’s start with the fact that the last time I saw Abdellah was when he left Dharamsala to go back to Delhi and home to Paris, last year sometime in May 2007 if I am not mistaken. We had spent several really fun days together as usual, but his time in Dharamsala was short and we didn’t have the intense type of visit we usually do in India, where we spend extended periods of time together. So when I decided to go back to India in February 2008, we knew we would be meeting up for 2 weeks the beginning of March before he flew back to Paris after his several months studying Yoga in Mysore. He would come up to Rishikesh, and it would have been his first visit to Rishikesh and I knew he would love it, and was excited about seeing him.

I wrote to him from home to confirm the visit, but when he didn’t reply I didn’t think twice about it, as this was part of who he was and I never was disturbed by his lack of response to my e-mails. I always knew he read them all from the conversations we would have afterwards when we met. He just hated writing. He would prefer to call me by phone, which he did every couple of months, usually calling on a Friday night and saying “Shabbat Shalom” and throwing me off balance for a few seconds before I realized it was him calling.

I then wrote again when I arrived, and again as the beginning of March got closer, but still received no response. Someplace deep down inside I felt a twinge of worry, but ignored it, thinking that he perhaps had changed his plans, and would certainly be in touch with me when he was able to. And then the beginning of March came and went and no word. I even met our mutual friend Nikolai in Rishikesh and asked about Abdellah. He also said he had been strangely silent for a long time…even for him.

ABDELLAH AND NIKOLAI AT KAILWOOD IN MCLEODGANJ - 2004

But he also agreed with me that there was no reason for worry as this was typical behavior for him…Abdellah was my big lesson in true non-attachment, and I tended to agree with Nikolai, but something still didn’t seem right to me. But I brushed it aside. I would be home in Israel soon (it was a short trip to India) and if I hadn’t heard from him by then, would call him, or call a friend of his in Paris, which was the only other way I had of contacting him. And I continued with the short remaining time I had in Rishikesh, disappointed with not having seen Abdellah, but figuring there was a good reason for him not being there with me. I was after all, enjoying the company of Ben tremendously, as well as my healing meetings with Dudi, and was being kept quite busy and happy as well.

When I arrived home, still not having heard from Abdellah, I went to call his friend in Paris several times, but something always “got in the way” of the phone call. It just seemed to be something which would not happen. And then one day, I forwarded an e-mail to a group of friends, and when doing this, Abdellah’s name would always appear in the ”TO” window as he was alphabetically first on my list. The rest would be BCC , but anyone who opened the mail could see I had sent it to Abdellah. One of the recipients was Nikolai, and he sent me an e-mail simply saying “do you know-just in case- that Abdellah passed away about a month ago?”

Well, first of all it is not an easy thing to write and I certainly don’t envy Nikolai for being the one to write it to me, and second of all, what do you do when you read something like that? You go into shock and denial at first, I can tell you, and then you begin to feel guilty about not knowing about it sooner (but how could you?), and then you begin to think “Why didn’t I call sooner” (but what good would that have done), and then you burst out in tears, and then uncontrollable sobs, and you need to sit down, you need to speak to someone, you need to understand, you need to comprehend what you just read, and you cry and cry and cry until everything hurts and there are no more tears…and then you begin to cry again. And finally, you can breath once again and you begin to realize the impact of that simple sentence. You will never see Abdellah again…not in India, not in Paris, not anywhere. He will never call again and surprise you with a “Shabbat Shalom”. He will never come up behind you on the street , say “How YOU doin’ my friend” and when you turn around, see his amazing smile in front of you. You will never cook another meal together with him,


KITCHERI IN MY ROOM AT KAILWOOD - 2003

drink coffee with him, go shopping with him (shop until you drop style) again, never watch another movie with him again, never have him watch you dance folkdancing in the guesthouse room, never listen to music again with him, never just sit and talk with him or travel with him, or laugh with him, never go to Udeechi Huts in Naddi for fried chicken with him, never, never, and more never!

UDEECHI HUTS IN NADDI 2004


And then I began to do my best to put together a story of how this all happened. Being in touch with other mutual friends I was able to put together the sad story of his illness and surprising death. I will not detail it here, as there is no reason to do so, but will simply say that he contracted pneumonia in Mysore, and by the time he was flown home to Paris by his insurance company, quite some time later by the way, the virus had done too much damage and he was unable to recover. He was 47 years old. I further checked with them and his family, found out some precise dates of events etc., read stories many people had written about him, collected pictures etc.

I refuse to dwell on the “what if” questions etc., as there is simply no point in it, and prefer to put together for you a series of small synchronicities surrounding my arrival in India in February, my stay there, some unusual things that I realized through hindsight which show the interconnectiveness of our souls even after his death. I can truly tell you that I “see” Abdellah more now than I did when he was alive…he is with me very often. Watching me at folkdancing, attending a recent silent retreat with me, and during one of the meditations sat next to me, and in his typical fashion of never taking anything in life too seriously, said to me “Well, I see someone has finally got you to shut up!” (He very often commented that I talked too much!). He is actually sitting with me now and has already made a couple of comments about what I am writing. I wear a bracelet he once bought for me (by surprise…sending it to me by mail after I had already left India…after I had admired it in a jewelry store where we were shopping together for presents for his family members)…and I can feel him physically with me. His presence is powerful and loving and gentle and brings me great happiness…whenever I am feeling down, he comes around and brings a big smile to my face. I can truly say that I do not miss him , as I very rarely saw him anyway. When I return to India in a couple of months, I’m sure it will be difficult, but I am also sure that he will be there with me as well, just as he is now.

So now, just a small list of those things discovered in retrospect, bringing things more into focus and understanding.

I arrived in India actually quite ill, having fallen sick at home several days prior to my flight. Upon my arrival in Rishikesh, I actually began running a very high fever, which is very unusual for me, I rarely, if ever, have even a low fever when I am ill. After two days the guesthouse people took me to a doctor as they were quite worried about my condition, and he said there is extremely serious congestion in my lungs and he suspects pneumonia. He was an ayurveda doctor and gave me certain herbal medicines to take, but also recommended 3 days of antibiotics due to the extreme severity of my condition. I was quite surprised as I don’t usually get this ill. This was around the 14th of February. Later on, checking back on my blog, I realized that the first day I felt well enough to leave my room, or the small area near it in the guesthouse, was on February 22nd. This was the first day when, all of a sudden, all of the symptoms I had been feeling, completely disappeared, as if I had never been sick.
A couple of days after that, I met Ben and one of the first things he brought me to read was a booklet called “Do Not Grieve” which he had picked up at a local ashram in town. At the time, I simply read it and found many interesting ideas regarding life in general, and graceful acceptance of all that happens etc., without ever thinking that I would actually need it for true grieving. But there is was…in my room….
another thing which happened to me and is also documented in a blog post is a feeling of sudden and deep sadness for no reason which overcame me, and brought me to tears which could not be stopped. I had to leave the company of friends and run up to my room. It lasted for a few days and only when I did a full energy cleansing of my room did I begin to feel better and start sleeping again at night. I tried finding a reason for the sadness, but simply could not….everything was just beautiful in my life at the moment. It is something that came from a deep deep place within…only afterward I understood what it was and what had caused it to service.
Upon returning home to Israel, I began my Reiki Sharing group and at the first meeting, one of the people working on me said she felt a deep, profound sadness within me, so intense that it was difficult for HER to bear. I again said I could think of no reason for such sadness to be sensed as I was in an extremely tranquil and harmonious time in my life and all seemed to be going really well for me.

Once I found out the dates connected to Abdellah’s illness, his death, his memorial services etc., I went back and checked the above things by date as well. I was SO intensely ill just at the same time that Abdellah was at the most critical part of his own illness with pneumonia. The day he passed away, and no longer felt the suffering from the symptoms, was February 22nd! The same day I first was able leave my room, feeling complete relief from symptoms as well.
The booklet “Do Not Grieve” came in very handy the first day I heard the news at home as it helped me to put things into perspective and come to terms with what had happened.
The day of the Reiki Sharing Group turned out to be the same day that a Memorial Service was held for Abdellah in the States, and again the sadness was felt by me. And the sadness I felt in India, well, my soul KNEW what had happened…it just had no way of communicating it to me on an intellectual level, so even not knowing, I also KNEW, and the sadness already enveloped me.

And of course Abdellah continues to do things for others even though he is no longer here with us physically. The lessons I learnt from him, and continue to absorb, lead me to understand that someone near and dear needed immediate help, and that even though everything common sense told me said I could not help them, Abdellah said I could and should, and so I did, and wonderful things have happened to an entire family through that help but with thanks to him.

I will end this post with my thanks to God and the Universe for bringing Abdellah into my life, and to Abdellah himself for all the wonderful days he spent with me, and for the lovely moments he still spends with me to this day.

Goodbye My Friend!

Retreat, Meeting My Guides and Channeled Messages

A few months ago I made a decision that the time had come for me to attend a silent retreat. But there were all kinds of “conditions” I felt were necessary to make it suitable for me, and knew I just had to wait until the right retreat found its way to me. I checked periodically on the internet, but there was always something “wrong”…the type of retreat, the participants, the location, the weather, etc. And then one day, “ chance”, I found something which seemed just like what I was looking for, the location was perfect, the price right, the participants seemed compatible and of course when I read the story of the person running the retreat, I knew I had to attend. You can read more about the retreat, the idea of “Hatmara-Merkava”, and the woman who is the person “in charge” of it all. Her name is Naomi Feinberg and her story is simply amazing. You can read about her and the development of “Hatmara” on her website, in both Hebrew and English at the links below. The English is not very good, but if you read just her story, you will understand I think what drew me to the retreat in the first place.

http://www.hatmara.org/

http://www.hatmara.org/person.htm About Naomi-English

http://www.akatar.com/HatmaraINDEX.htm Hebrew

http://www.akatar.com/Hatmara_noami.htm About Naomi-Hebrew

I will not go into any details of the amazing days I spent there, but will say that since I began integrating Hatmara into my daily practice, my day in general, and combining it with my work with Reiki on all levels, amazing things have been opening up for me.


I will just say that the power of silence, of being completely in touch only with your OWN voice, not relying on input from the outside, for feedback from others regarding your experiences, increases their depth and power many many times over. It was a true awakening experience for me on all levels.

One of the Meditations we did during the retreat was a meditation to help us meet our Guides and receive messages from them. I’ve been doing this for years and had no specific expectations from the meditation. To my great surprise, it was an very deep spiritual experience which took me to places I’ve never been before, and which ended with a beautiful personal message. We did it twice during the retreat and I received a message each time.




I assimilated the first two meditations and this past week decided to do the meditation again at home (I have a recording of Naomi leading it), and to my great amazement, even more powerful things happened and I received a second message!

I am including all three channeled messages here, and if any of you would like further information, or would like to learn how to use Hatmara (it is really soooooooo simple) in your daily lives, you can contact me. We have all been asked to pass the information on to as many people as possible. No need to take courses, study in workshops (of course it IS possible to move forward and become instructors and advanced practitioners as well, but this is not necessary to use it in our daily lives), and it has worked beautifully with all those I have tried it with so far.

Here are the messages:
FIRST:
Believe what you know!
I come now (my guide speaking) because you are now ready to receive the higher “knowing”. I will be bringing you.


SECOND:
You are in this place now
Continue to move in it
No need to go back
We will guide you forward in the light
You ARE the light and joy
This IS your place
Believe your knowing.

THIRD:
You know all you need to know for now
Relax into your new-found peace
Each moment is precious
Do not allow any of them to be lost
You are doing all you need to do for the moment
You are highly regarded and loved
Each day is complete as it unfolds with all its wonder and mystery
We are always with you – never doubt it.

I will end with the Hatmara “mantra” which can be sung beautifully as well but which simply says:

I AM light, love and joy.

The Power of Positive Thoughts, Manifestation and Faith

While beginning the planning of my next sojourn in India, I realized that regular readers of my blogs must be under the impression that nothing inspirational, thought provoking or exciting happens to me when I am back in Israel!

Well, the opposite is true. Every single day is an amazing adventure, a mystery waiting to unfold in amazing and quite surprising ways, full of synchronicities, messages and blessings. The reason I do so little posting while in Israel, is simply that I have less time to dedicate to my blog and so these articles, which are just waiting to be posted, accumulate in my notebook and in my head to the point where I don’t know where to begin first…right now there are AT LEAST 4 I would like to share with you. I will begin with the current place in my life and work my way back, but the posts will deal with the following which start from the most recent and work their way back:

1. My moving to a new flat
2. The story of my teaching Reiki to someone from Moscow who found me on the internet!
3. The Retreat I went to “by chance”, meeting my Guides and the messages channeled to me.
4. The Passing of my dear friend Abdellah
5. The idea of “Fear and Faith…you can’t have both”

And of course all the subsequent messages and lessons learnt from each of the above.

Soooo….let’s begin with the “simple” fact that I am moving to a new flat in a month’s time! This happened “all of a sudden” after a very long series of events and synchronicities leading up to it.

First of all, for many months now, perhaps a year, I have been manifesting more comfortable living arrangements. I have been living in my current flat











for almost 4 years, when I came back from a trip to India with no home, no job and no money. This flat was “given” to me as a temporary solution and I actually lived here the first 6 months free of charge, until I found proper work and could begin paying rent. This was not something I asked for. At the time I had simply asked for solutions to the no home, no job no money situation and this was part of the solution prepared for me by the Universe.

But the flat, even at that time, was completely dilapidated and in a serious state of deterioration after being neglected for years by the owners, who’s only desire was to rent it out and make money. Now, 4 years later, the condition of the flat is, obviously, even more serious, despite my doing many repairs over the years at my own expense. (The owner refuses on principle to put any money back into the flat).






Some time ago I realized, that despite the inconvenience it would cause me, I must find myself a more comfortable, pleasant form of living arrangement. The current flat is right in the heart of a lovely city in Israel called Raanana, which is generally very expensive, but the area the flat is in is consider an undesirable complex of very old flats built in the 50’s, and so the rents here are much lower than the rest of the city. It is also located smack in the middle of town so that I can easily walk to anything I need or anyone I need to see. I’ve never had such convenience. And although it is a flat, which I am not used to living in, it has lovely open grassy and tree filled spaces right outside and although near the main street, is extremely quiet and always has on the street parking available.

What I began to manifest was an apartment, which would not involve and long-distance move, perhaps even in the same city if possible at my current lower rental fee, with access to all conveniences by foot, with open space and green natural areas outside, but that the flat itself be in good condition, with new kitchen, bathroom and shower facilities, with closets, heating and air conditioning, clean, well painted, light and clean. With the same number of rooms so that my daughter could continue to live with me if she chose to, and with a room large enough as well to act as a clinic and workshop area. With lovely neighbors, easy access (either on a low floor or with an elevator)…etc. The list goes on.

I did this in my daily practice for months and months, always imagining myself living comfortably, but still enjoying my current situation and never feeling miserable that no changes had yet occurred.

And then, the time came closer for a renewal of my lease and I knew the current landlord would want to raise the rent (again), and I already felt I was paying to much considering the condition of the flat. So the first thing I did towards physically getting more energies into my manifestation process , was to begin asking neighbors how much rent they were paying (and all the other flats are redone and pleasant and clean etc.) and also told the person who is in charge of the building here that I am looking perhaps for another flat if the landlord wants to raise my rent again as, to put it mildly, I was already fed up with the place!

I found out how much others were paying and saw some really nice looking flats in the same building, and then I was told that there actually was a flat vacant but that the owners were not happy about renting it out (the parents had both passed over 6 months ago and it’s been empty since then) because they had recently redone the entire flat and were afraid of having tenants who would not care for it. So, the person in charge got in touch with them and recommended me as a possible tenant and put the idea in motion in their heads to think about renting it out.

Turns out, “by chance”, that this same flat is just one flight up from my current flat, directly above me!! And I was invited to come see it last week and if I did not see it with my own eyes, would not believe it was the exact same flat I am now living in after renovations. It was everything I had been asking for in my manifestations daily for months, and would not involve long-distance moving expenses, gives me the same conveniences regarding location and open space etc. that I have now, and , in effect, is everything I’ve been asking for including closets, heating, AC, whatever.

However, the rent they were asking for was much too high and so I began sending Reiki, and having all my Reiki friends so the same, to ask for a fair and just solution for all parties involved. I began mulling over the idea of spending much more in rent than I currently am, but even if I stayed in my current flat, the rent would be raised with no justification. So I decided what amount I would be comfortable with and that was my specific goal for a solution to the rent question. I was still not sure however, about the amount of money (fear was overcoming faith in this instance, and I found it difficult to overcome this…after all, we have to be practical, don’t we?) . My daughter shlomit surprised me completely one day when I came home. She had been telling me all along that there should be no question in my mind about the rightness of moving into the flat upstairs…that I deserved it…that I am worthy of much better living conditions than I have here etc) What she told me was that SHE would take care of the extra rent money. How? She is a student? She decided that she would get a student loan if she continued to study and use it to pay the difference in rent, and if she ended her studies, and began working, she would pay the rent difference from her salary!! So, everything seemed to be in place except for the landlords upstairs agreeing to the lower price. But I was still wavering in my decision of spending the extra money…perhaps convince the current landlord to do some minor repairs to make the place more livable? Do I really want to spend the extra money? Etc. Deep down inside, I already KNEW I deserved to move to the flat upstairs, but again, the fear / faith issue had arisen to shake my confidence in my soul’s knowing!

A couple of days ago, during my morning meditation practice, I was simply told to pick two cards, one for goddess guidance and one for angel assistance, and I sat down immediately and did so. These are the two cards that came up with a short explanation of each:

RHIANNON: Sorceress…”You are a magical person who can manifest your clear intentions into reality”: With these meanings intended:
Have absolute faith that your dream is manifested
Make a clear decision
Put your energy into manifesting your dreams
Know that you deserve to receive good
When you win, others win too
Keep your thoughts focused on your desire and away from fear.

I could not have a received a message more clear than the above!!! So before even checking out the angel assistant card I had picked, I decided conclusively that the flat above was prepared especially for me as part of the overview, many months ago, even before I KNEW I would have to move. I knew that the rent question would be settled to everyone’s satisfaction. That FAITH was the only way to go now and asked for complete freedom from fear in this matter, and then, using a new technique I learnt in the retreat I went to “by chance” a couple of weeks ago, called Hatmara, I did further energy work on the entire situation. And then opened the second card:

OMEGA: “Victory! Your desire is coming to fruition. Keep up the good work!”
Congratulations! You have chosen to follow your Divine guidance, and the Universe is flowing in natural rhythm with your decision. When you listen to the messages that your heart whispers, you swim in natural synchronicity with the tide of your life’s purpose. Stay relaxed and confident, and keep moving forward with happiness and grace. ….Your victory is inevitable in this situation, so you needn’t worry that temporary problems will thwart your desire. …Release your doubts to Heaven, and rest assured that a happy outcome is yours.

NEED I SAY MORE ABOUT THE ABOVE????!!!!

I immediately placed a phone call to my current landlord and explained that I was considering moving, but wondered if there was any possibility of basic repairs being done on the flat. The reply was that not only would no repairs be done, the rent would also be raised, and if I chose to leave, it would be OK as they could charge even higher rental fees to someone new. Hmmmmm….

I then called the NEW landlord, asked if they had considered their final offer in reducing their initial request for rent, and , quite pleasantly, they replied yes…and it was exactly the amount that I had already decided I was willing to pay!!. I asked all the questions I had to ask, she asked hers, and when we were both satisfied, she said she would get a lease prepared by a lawyer and get it to me for my approval and signature.
So I will be moving into my new home before the 1st of September!!!

And that is it for today….I will do my best to catch up with my posts here and ask your forgiveness for not being more attentive to this blog.

Much tranquility and harmony
Light love and joy
Jane

A Skeptics Reiki Story

It has been quite a long time since I have posted anything here and I ask for your understanding. Many things have been happening in my life since my return just two months ago from India, and I will be posting more often now, hopefully giving you all much food for thought. What I am attaching here is a story I received from a participant in one of my Reiki I workshops designed especially for Conventional Health Care Professionals to allow them to facilitate the use of Reiki in their hospitals and clinical settings. This participant was probably the MOST skeptical person I have ever had in any workshop I've ever given, so when I received her letter, it was even more moving for me. She is an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), and BPharm MSc. She has given me permission to translate the letter from the original Hebrew and to share it with the world.
So here it is: (The pictures in this post have no direct connection with the letter below)




Since our meeting last August at the Reiki I workshop taught by Jane, there have been many upheavals in my life and although I tried to doing self-treatments each day, as Jane suggested, I didn’t stick with it for very long. At some point I gave up entirely. Partly due to lack of time and partly due to lack of patience. And, also, due to the fact that, as you well know, I am skeptical…VERY skeptical.

For the path month I have been working with Esther at Lis (aside: Lis Maternity Hospital in Tel Aviv where Esther is head of the on going and very successful lactation consultant program). The work is fascinating, challenging and very difficult. After Esther (who also certified in the Reiki I workshop) continued to encourage me to use Reiki in my clinical work, one day I finally gave in and decided to give it a try. I was not having any luck with this particular Mom anyway using standard clinical techniques anyway. She was 3 days postpartum, had not breastfed at all because she was exhausted after a C-Section, and she now decided she wanted to breastfeed.

I could not get a single drop of colostrum from her breast…zilch…she had terrible edema in the nipple area…So, I asked her if she would agree to my trying Reiki. “Whatever you want, just as long as I succeed in breastfeeding”:.






So, I placed by hands on her breast while continuing to talk to other women in the room about pumping, breastfeeding management etc., and after 5 minutes (actually, I have no true idea how much time actually passed), I removed my hand, pressed as usual (exactly the same thing I had done 10 minutes earlier), and MILK STARTED FLOWING!!.
We managed to get the baby latched on and he breastfed beautifully!!

On the other side, the Mother had terrible edema and there was no chance the baby would be able to latch. Several hours later she herself came around and asked (!!!) that I do Reiki to the second side! I of course agreed but at the same time told her I don’t really believe in it and that I have no idea what I am doing. To my surprise, total and complete surprise, when I removed my hand we saw a drop of milk dripping from the nipple…and I really really put no pressure on the breast. Actually, through most of the “treatment” I wasn’t even touching her!!!

The same day, I did Reiki to a baby who was unable to latch earlier. A baby with locked jaws after a great deal of Pitocin. The Mom was very very disappointed, miserable and scared by the fact that her baby did not want to breastfeed. Again, I have no idea what I did, but it worked! Hours later, (on Thursdays I am there for many many hours), after many different types of experiences, I touched him from a distance and shortly after that the Mom took him, placed him at the breast and latched him herself, AND HE SUCKED!


This week a Mom arrived with her fourth baby. She breastfed all the others but this time but she never experienced the pain she was feeling this time. The baby’s jaws were completely locked and the Mom was having excruciating pain during breastfeeding. I quickly did Reiki to here (the Mom was very happy as she believes in “these things”) , and shortly after, the breastfeeding experience was completely different. As the Mom described it “This is MUCH better!”.




I of course used it over and over again for engorgement and it works. I have no idea what I am doing, and if you will allow me to say this, I still don’t believe in it. But apparently it works!

Jane, I want to thank you for exposing me to all this and promise to continue to use it and update you.

Ziva Gilat
BPharm MSc, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant)

How I Found Reiki or....to be more precise

How Reiki Found ME!
This story goes back some way to around 1998 when I began working in a Hi-Tech Company, and one of the computer engineers was called Nicky. I had actually heard of Reiki before that but never had any interest in finding out exactly what it was or what it did. It had always just sounded to me like one of those “in fashion” New Age things that people were talking about, and held no real interest for me. I had become involved in alternative medicine, and alternative ways of dealing with life in general, but it was all in very down-to-earth practical ways-as I had always been a practical, down-to-earth “I’ve got to see it to believe it” kind of person.
At one point, Nicky and I began talking and he seemed an interesting, albeit slightly strange kind of person. But the more we spoke, the more I began to enjoy speaking with him. Something about his “energies” (would not have described it as such in those days I’m sure) attracted me. I don’t remember the exact sequence of events, but at some point, I was not feeling well at work, and he offered to help me. Had no idea what he was talking about but we went into a quiet room and I sat on a chair and he began “doing” something to me while my eyes were closed and I was relaxing. (I had already been doing meditation and yoga for many years so relaxing was not a problem for me). At some point I felt myself just “collapsing” from being so relaxed and he had to catch me before I literally slid sideways off the chair. Later, I began coughing terribly but when that was over, I felt fine. No more headache and fluey feeling. He explained that he had “done” Reiki on me, and I guess that was the first time I began wondering about what this Reiki business was. There were many times when the computers would have glitches, and Nicky would just walk pass, run his hands over them and they would be fine. Really weird. (It wasn’t until years later, that I found myself rebooting my computer a couple of times and even fixing an electrical problem in a friend’s car which got stuck about 1 hour away from the nearest garage in India by using Reiki all by myself!!)

And then the clincher, for me at least.
The company was doing clinical trials and they would bring these cute little piglets to do the trials on…and one arrived in a sort of pen one day and was quite frantic and running around from side to side etc. It was very sad to see. Nicky came down, together with another fellow worker who didn’t believe at all in all this “healing nonsense”. Nicky held out his hands in the direction of the piglet, and slowly, in front of our eyes, first the hind quarters of the piglet dropped in complete relaxation, and a minute later, his upper body dropped as well and he went straight to sleep! When they came down to use the piglet for testing some kind of instrument, nothing worked right as it seems that there were certain physiological changes in the pigs systems which did not allow the instrumentation to record what it had to correctly.

Nicky was eventually fired!!
But, after that, I began having more serious discussions with him and at some point he suggested I begin reading the Kryon channelings, - claiming they would give me a big jump forward in my spiritual development. I did, and they did!!
Shortly after that, I did Reiki I with Nicky, and following that, was directed towards Bach Flower Therapy which I became certified in, followed by a year of Energy Healing Studies including Color Therapy. While studying healing, I met Daniella, another Reiki Master, and did my Reiki II training with her.
And then my whole life began to change. Long long story short – at the age of 54, I left my job, went off to India and “by chance” met Akhilesh, Yoga and Reiki Master. (I was eating lunch at Nick’s Restaurant in McLeod, Dharamsala, when a lady asked if it would be OK if she joined me. And we began talking, and she started telling me about her learning Reiki I and II with this amazing person….and one thing led to another). I became a Reiki Master under his guidance over a very intense, 4 hours daily for 3 months sojourn with him. I will write about the experience perhaps at a further date.
I began doing full Reiki treatments to myself each day, and over a period of time very subtle, but enormous life changing events began stringing themselves together for me. I have not been the same since then, and each new day brings new marvels of Universal direction, guidance and loving balance into my life.
And now that you know how I became a Reiki Master, in short, I will go on to explain more about what this thing called Reiki is. In the next posting.
Much love and light to all of you

Jane

Challenges to the Reiki Prinicples

This will be a short post, just to give you some idea how our daily reciting of the Reiki principles helps put things into perspective, and how difficult situations challenge these principles…

Just for Today…

I will not worry…

as I have complete faith in God and His Universe and that EVERYTHING that is happening is unfolding exactly as it should for the Higher Good of all…no matter how difficult, and even cruel it may seem through our limited human depth of understanding

I will not get angry….

this is fairly easy when we are talking about our boss, some crazy driver on the road, a clerk in the bank or any other “simple” challenging situation. But in this kind of situation, it is very easy to fall into a pattern of anger…at everything that is happening and that we have no control over. Overcoming our anger in this type of situation is a challenge, and finding myself truly anger free at this time is a great blessing.

Count my blessings….

they are numerous and gratefully received….see

http://mindfulnessjournal.blogspot.com/#116082114114869094

for more details…I AM truly blessed

Love and respect every living creature…..

including myself. I am doing my best at this time to keep my own health intact and to respect my feelings by being in touch with my soul and only those people who can provide me with positive energies and insights…go to the gym everyday, do my practice every morning which includes yoga, pranayama , meditation etc., eat properly, rest when I feel the need ( find myself needing enourmous amounts of sleep) and be alone when I feel it necessary

on myself as well….again, my daily practice sustains me and for the present time, the most important daily work I can do, as everyone benefits from it. It is an anchor in a churning sea-like the eye of the storm- granting me harmony in chaos and tranquility in turmoil.

Just for Today...I Will Not Worry - Part I

This post is long overdue, but everything happens exactly as it is meant to and in the most suitable time frame, so a little background as to the reasons for the delay, and how those reasons themselves add further clarity, strength and understanding to the whole concept of worry as we generally understand it.

Following a very difficult period, not only because of my Father's passing (see my new blog for further details, updated postings etc.) In Memoriam, but also due to the new harsh reality of my Mother's financial situation and the need to find new living arrangements for her, the whole concept of "Just for Today I will not worry" was put to the supreme test.

There were some shaky moments to be sure, very shaky actually, but the constant use of Reiki, meditation and prayer have proven themselves once again. It took some time, more than my problematic impatience could stand at moments, but things are slowly working their way out in ways of course that I could never imagine.

Which is all part of it! Let GO and let GOD! Don't worry about the "how's". Don't set limits as to how the solution will present itself. Just know that ..."when we release our needs and prayers to the universe without strings attached, the heavens take care of coordinating the outcome."..."Look upon everything from the end of (your) prayer onward as having a part to play in the answer to your prayer..." (Caroline Myss, Invisible Acts of Power).

Hopefully the following will give you a deeper understanding of the principle..."just for today I will not worry"...and I am sure my own personal involvement over the past few months precisely with this principle, was not by chance. Nothing Is. It was all meant to give more depth and concrete understanding to me before presenting it here to you.

My Father passed away on Octber 16th, following almost 6 months of a difficult and lingering death, during which time I had also left my job as administrative assistant in a Hi Tech Company to be able to care for him and spend more time with him, as well as my Mother...it was an extremely difficult and stressful period. In addition, I had cancelled a 4 month trip to India just 2 days before I was meant to fly out, as it was obvious that the situation was very serious. (He passed away 10 days later). I had planned to spend the time in India to make better use of my months of unemployment payments, but as things would have it, that didn't work either. My Mother also was in a very precarious financial situation as mentioned above, and it was all getting to be too much.

Even saying "Just for Today I will not worry" became difficult...but I continued to do it! I found myself in a very strained position, financially, emotionally, physically, even spiritually...completely drained. When I simply could no longer ignore the fact that I was worrying about what would happen, I began meditating and praying (pretty much one and the same thing for me) in a more focused direction, asking for renewed strength, continued faith in God and trust in His Universe, for clarity, guidance and direction, as well as the wisdom to "see" the solutions as they were presented to be (as I was sure they would be). On October 27th, after a full prayer/meditation session, I fell asleep as usual...and that night had the following dream.

I don't remember it in its entirety, even though I wrote it down immediately upon awakening, but it was very long and quite lovely, involving much pleasant company, beautiful places, food, pleasure...But the two points which were brought home for me to "see" and understand from the dream, the answers to my prayer, the clarity, guidance and direction I was seeking, are as follows:

• Finding myself all of a sudden completely alone and in someone else's clothing (dreams are like that aren't they?) actually typical Indian men's clothing, and coming outdoors from wherever I was and feeling cold. The clothing was not warm enough for the sudden change in weather. Feeling quite chilled and not knowing what to do, I was all of a sudden given a shawl to keep me warm. Telling me, as I see it, that you will ALWAYS be provided with whatever you need to keep you comfortable in every new and unexpected circumstance.
• I next found myself confused while walking through alleys of what seemed like some old part of town, (not lost, frightened confused), just confused that I didn't understand how to get where I wanted to...as if it was something I already knew and couldn't remember...When I asked the first person I met, he simply said "Follow your instincts". I think that needs no explanation...but was for me at that point so profound that I woke in tears of joy.

To be continued shortly in Part II

WRITING – From the Heart or From the Head

The following is posted on my India Blog as well, but felt it needed to find its way to this blog also. There is a more intense and thought-provoking post in the process dealing with Fear and Faith, but it is not yet ready for posting...perhaps it will be before I leave India...and then again, perhaps not!

I’ve come to an interesting understanding… My blog posts this trip have been fairly dull and uninteresting and whenever I sat down at the computer to write about my day, there was no true desire to write at all. So I simply put down the basic facts of the day’s experience and left it at that. The “heart” of my experience literally never got put down “on paper”. And that was the problem.

I am now sitting in a coffee shop along the Ganga, feeling the energies, absorbing the atmosphere, and, with pen in hand, FEELING the words for the first time this trip. I cannot go back and “fix” what has already been posted, but I would like to believe that the rest of the trip will, as in the past, first find its way through my heart and hand via pen, to paper, and then later simply be transcribed to the computer. The full range of feelings and insights can only be felt in this way it seems.

I truly have had an amazing journey here. So many things have happened in so short a time, that I honestly do not feel the need to be here longer than the originally planned 7 weeks ( which end in 2 weeks!). Everything I could have dreamt of and imagined to make this short time perfect, whole and complete, has happened. Healing on deep levels, great joy and laughter, unexpected surprises on all levels – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual – all coming together in perfect harmony to bring full and profound meaning to this trip.

I have been blessed with all those people (angels) necessary to initiate and facilitate different processes whose end results are complete tranquility, harmony and balance. A feeling of wellbeing on all levels which I haven’t experienced in a long time, and was in desperate need of.

There have been those who have been guided to me to find answers to their own issues through the Divine guidance I am always offered. And there have been those sent to ME to help ME move forward in healing issues which have plagued me for too long. Issues which I have been asking for help with for a long time.

I now sit overlooking the Ganga, with a feeling of deep contentment, knowing that once again I have journeyed inward through Divine Grace and discovered further unexplored territories and landscapes in the depth of my heart and soul.

I look forward to returning to the “real” world and continuing my journey, knowing that I have all the faith necessary to fearlessly continue to travel the new paths opened before me. I am surrounded always with loving protection and guidance from God and His Universe, my Guides, and the angels.

I amy be writing further posts…but I doubt there is any way to truly put into words the full depth and range of feelings and insights I have experienced over the past short month.

INSIGHT: It is interesting that this first “writing” comes in the wake, and seemingly as another result of, the healing in the form of past-life regression and Tikun (fixing) I experienced 2 days ago. It fits into the pattern…my meditations are deeper and more tranquil of mind, my yoga asanas are easier with a newfound flexibility of joint and muscle, my quiet, still poses, are effortless and can be held indefinitely without loosing my balance, my pranayama (breathing exercises) are much deeper and exhilarating, so ti makes sense that as a result of this deep cleansing, unblocking and release of accumulated “toxins” from the past, my words would also begin to flow as well!

HAVE TO! MUST DO! TIME OUT!

To all those who have been wondering where I’ve disappeared to, and to those of you who know I am in India “recharging”…but still perhaps wondering why I haven’t posted anything lately…well, let me clear things up.

For the last couple of months before leaving for India, I had many insights for posts for this blog having to do with the question of “fear vs. faith”, taking our blessings for granted, additional Reiki stories etc…but never seemed to be able to find the energies to sit down at the computer. But I figured I’d have plenty of time in India and so did not feel pressured.
But since I’ve gotten here, I have done NONE of things I imagined I would (but this is generally what happens in India…things just “happen”…generally quite differently than you imagined…and you flow with them…it’s the beauty of being here).

But NOT doing these things I felt I “had to”, was really getting me down, and feeling guilty, and not pleased with myself. Thinking what my subscribers must be thinking of me, thinking how I am letting people down etc. And yet I still could not get to “doing”…so I asked for guidance, as I very often do. Yesterday,I bought a couple of new decks of cards as you might know if you read my other blog, and last night, before going to sleep, after consecrating and preparing the decks, I decided to try my new “Messages from your Angels” deck.

The first card that came up had the following message which has completely released me from guilt and the “must do” feeling…I will cherish each day of the last few weeks I have here and , as always, am blessed in many ways to be so lovingly guided at each step along the way

“Time out! You’ve been so busy taking care of everyone else’s needs, but now it’s time to stop and take care of yourself”

and the continuing message reads:
“Dear one, you’ve been working very hard! You’re very tired now, yet you keep pushing yourself to work more, more, more! I am here to firmly and lovingly take your hand, and tell you to “stop!” Cease working for a moment and take a respite. You have certainly earned it, and you will be more efficient and productive after taking this rest.

You give so much to others that at times like this you become unbalanced. Your inner child yearns for nurturing, and no one is going to give you that loving care but yourself and the angels. So, give yourself permission to take a much-needed time-out. Please don’t delay this guidance. We assure you that your responsibilities will all be met, and you will gather new energy and ideas during your time-out. “

So, the message is absolutely clear, and I WILL listen carefully to it and devote the rest of my time here ENTIRELY to me.

Love and light to all
Jane

MESSAGES FROM THE OTHER SIDE-India, May 26, 2007

Had breakfast this morning with a very nice lady who I had briefly spoken to before and we were each telling each other what we did in "real life" and she was explaining that for the last year or so she has discovered she has the gift of a medium and has entities coming to here with messages for people. We were discussing this and some of the messages I've received lately as well for other people, when all of a sudden she looked at me funny and said someone just came to talk to me!

First she just described her...an old crone, long white hair, walking stick, looks like a wise woman (I suggested medicine woman and she agreed). Says she is here to help me along the journey and that she has been with me for years now. Said that she was walking with me along the way until we came to the edge of a mountain, and for 6 years (!) I refused to go any further because of my fear. Then, the fear dissipated, and even though there was still a black cloud over me, I continued easily with her further along into the bright sunshine and the top of the mountain. (This would fit in just right with my first trip to India in 2001 when I KNEW I had to go in a new direction but fear sent me back to my hi-tech work and kept me away from truly serving...it is only now since I quit my job last August that I know for SURE I will never go back to that place again and only move forward to higher places ). But I can never stay long at the top and must always descend to continue learning new lessons before going further back up. And she will always be there to guide me if I let her. Even when I get to a quiet place, I will never be there long as there will always be new things to learn in order to go even further along the path.

She had a present of two doves for me (which represent lovebirds to me and I imagine deal with the new partner who is coming into my life soon...also had a powerful dream about my first meeting with him last night after my second Aura Transformation balancing)...and she also showed me an old, huge tree which to me represents, as trees always do, the stability of being rooting but still reaching for the heavens and continuing to grow in peace and tranquility.

She then said she would come talk to me personally, without using a medium, and I should just be open to hearing what she has to say to me...And then the lady I was eating with said she'd had enough and asked her to leave....

For me, this was very powerful as it made alot of sense. It's been years now that I've felt a certain affinity for Native Americans and particularly for medicine women...and I think in some past life I must have been connected in some way. And this medicine woman is just a new guide who has come into my life recently to help me along the tricky path...She seemed very real to me when the lady described her, as if I already know her...and I now have the feeling that she is the one who sent the previous 2 messages from the trees I received in Rishikesh.

I will be open to the messages she is bringing me, and give thanks for the continued guidance and direction I receive almost daily these days.

MESSAGE IN A DREAM - INDIA MAY 15T,2007

I am again sending a link to a post in my India Journal, as it brings home once more a profound message of how "things" work...

check out this link about a dream I had, and it's obvious relationship to my beginning Aura Transformation tomorrow....

click here

Love and light
Namaste
Jane

INSIGHTS FROM INDIA-April 15th-McLeod, Dharamsala

You can read this post at the following link on the India Journal, but thought some of you might be particularly interested in it so am linking you to it from Here


Namaste
Jane

Confusion and Comprehension...New Insights from India

Some extremely powerful things have been happening to me this trip, and I'd like, once again, to share them with you. If you are interested in this latest story, please follow this link:

New Insights

Namaste to all
Jane

Cnntinued Answers from the Universe-My Need to Serve and Those Needing my Service

I have posted a couple of things you may find interesting on my India Journal and the links follow. They say God works in Mysterious Ways but there is nothing mysterious about what is happening to me here...receiving channelings for other people, instructions for healings, and now the following two stories about Reiki, are all direct results of my intensive prayers and meditations over the past months that all those in need of my special services be guided to me. And they are!! They just come...and I serve...in the best way I can, for each of their individual, unique, Higher Goods, according to the guidance and direction I am given in each case, without fail. The messages and signs have been coming in many different and unusual ways, but when we listen, they are always there. From the moment we ask with pure intention for something, things begin to happen. We just need be aware of them.

So enjoy the following 2 links with my love.

Setting things in Motion


Reiki Classes

FINAL VALIDATION FROM THE CARDS

I will continue this post in the same vein as the previous 2, the Message from the Trees and the First Lesson from India and Poem, as it is a continuation of these two previous signs sent to me and is a final validation for what I now know to be my new direction...

Friday Afternoon, March 9th, 5 PM

After the profound events of the past couple of days, and my reviewing them while posting earlier in the day...after not sleeping most of the previous night, I am exhausted.

Sitting on my terrace, listening to classical music and the constant chanting fromt he Temples, I decided it was time for a new Tarot reading relection this new move forward in my understanding and the "path" I am now moving along. I opened the cards and found myself moved to tears as each came up. For those familiar with the Osho cards, I'm sure just the titles will move you as well, but I will give a little background further on for those unfamiliar with the cards.

The order they were picked represents their placement and each card has a different meaning within the reading, but that is not as important as the cards themselves right now...so if you don't understand about the placement, it will not make the cards themselves any less amazing as they fell into place...here they are in order:

THE FOOL
RIPENESS
BEYOND ILLUSION
RECEPTIVITY
MATURITY

I tried to photograph them with my camera but had no luck...wish you could look at them while reading this post...

I was simply brought to tears of joy as they appeared one after the other, without even delving further into their meanings...I will give you a little idea of what each card speaks of, but the words which keep repeating themselves in these cards are the exact words in my poem and lesson: Trust, knowledge, knwoing, truth, obstacles...Read below for a little more about the cards.

Just as I was choosing these cards, another sign was sent to me....The sky had been overcast and hazy all day today. Not nasty, just hiding the clear blue of the sky - the clarity of the heavens. Just as I opened these cards, the heavens cleared. The haze cleared and formed into puffy white clouds which drifted apart to reveal the clarity of the sky. The puffs of clouds are almost pink on the pale blue of the sky at sunset. Clearer and bluer than it has been since monring. a further final validation of all that has been "clarified" for me in many differnt ways. The Truth being revelaed through the haze.

To the Cards:
THE FOOL is the very first card in the deck. "...with every steop, the Fool leaves the past behind...he is in harmony with all that surrounds him. His intuition is functioning at its peak. ...the fool has the support of the Univers to make this jump into the unknown. Adventures await him in the river of life. This card indicates that if you trust your intuition right now, your feeling of the "rightness" of things, you cannot go wrong. Your actions may appear foolish to others,...if trying to analyze them with the rational mind. But the "zero"(the number of this card) place occupied by the Fool is the numberless number where trust and innocence are the guides, not skepticism and past experience."

RIPENESS
"...all you need to do is relax right where you are, and be willing for it to happen. ... It is simply the right time."

BEYOND ILLUSION

"...move inside. There, you can relax into your own deepest Truth, where the difference between dreams and reality is already known."

RECEPTIVITY

"The Queen of Water brings a time of unboundedness and gratitidue for whatever life brings, without any expectations or demands. Neither duty or thought of merit or reward are important. Sensitivity, intuition and compassion are the qualities that shine forth now, dissolving all the obstacles that keep us separate from each other and from the whole."

MATURITY

Just interesting to note here that the first card I picked is the FIRST card of the Tarot deck, and the last card I picked is the LAST card of the TAROT deck...giving even further meaning to this reading...perfect beginning and end.

"...has come to a time of centeredness and expansivenss....all of life's experiences have brought him to this time of perfection...this moment carries a gift-for hard work well donw. Your base is solid now and success and good fortune are yours for they are the outcome of what has already been experienced within".

And that's it for now....I am still living in a glow, surrounded completely by the love of God and the Universe, my Guides and the Angels who are always with me.

I am truly blessed.
Namaste
Jane

FIRST LESSON FROM INDIA 2007 / POEM March 8-9 2007

Rishikesh, India

LESSON ONE: TRUST IN THE DIVINE AND PUT YOUR FAITH IN TRUTH

Well, for those of you who have been following my travels over the past 6 years, you know that every trip holds certain lessons for me, and each trip is different in character and unique in the ways these lessons are shown to me.

This trip is no different of course, and, in spite of all the busyness of the past week (or perhaps because of it), I remained awake almost the whole night last night (and that is part of another story which will eventually follow on the India Journal), and while awake, some wonderful things and insights presented themselves to me. I will share them with you, but since they are more concerned with things other than travels, I am posting them on the Mindfulness Journal ...I will try to keep this as chronological, consecutive and straightforward as possible, but please forgive me if things do not come completely together...

Let's go back a little while, even before I left for India. In my prayer/meditation sessions each day I have been asking that all those who are in need of my special services, be guided to me by the Universe, wherever they may be.

So far several people have found their way to me right here in Rishikesh, in very strange ways...I will not go into details of all these stories, but a couple are particularly outstanding, including the one already posted, and one to be posted shortly.

But while all this is going, the God and his Universe are still working to move me along the path further with each new day. Note the previous Post about the message from the tree embracing the rock...and this brings us to yesterday and last night...so here we go:

After several discussions with "the girls" here, I have been considering a change in plans. I will, first of all be staying longer in Rishikesh than I had originally planned, and am now thinking of coming back in October!! And then yesterday, while waiting in my room for "the girls" to come back from a wedding they were attending, I received a message from one of my daughters that she decided to become a Mother. No further details, and this has also become part of a new equation. coming back in October involves many new concepts and ways of looking at my life. How will this all sit with my family? With my work? I have often strayed from what I know is the right path for me, either because of laziness, fear, or critism. Will I be strong and rooted in what I know is my destiney, like the tree embracing the rock?

Is there any way I could work here? AND THEN THE FIRST THING DAWNED ON ME:

The reason I found my way to Vivek, is because THERE I will find the solution to earning some money here in India. I will speak to him about working with him, or having him send people to me. And how is it that I have not thought of this until this minute?

And then again, trying to fall asleep with the idea that I will go down and see him the following morning....I tossed and turned and at 12:30 AM the following poem was lovingly "given to me"

The Sudden Need to Know-

But knowing is not what it seems to be
Is knowing knowledge?
or is it understanding of TRUTH!
To know what your personal truth IS, is the most profound
form of understanding.
And when what you know to be TRUE is what guides you
along your path,
Then you may stumble at times, you may even feel a momentary fear
when faced with some new obstacle,
But you will never stray

Because you KNOW!!

LESSON ONE:
TRUST IN THE DIVINE AND PUT YOUR FAITH IN TRUTH

My TRUTH is service to others! I have know this for a very long time, but it was shot with an arrow which hit the target bull's eye this time!!

And, just as all this came together, I read the following in Paulo Coelho's book which I am now reading:
...Death is possibly THE most important thing. We are all walking towards death, but we never know when death will touch us and it is our duty, therefore, to look around us, to be grateful for each minute. But we should also be grateful to death, because it makes us think about the importance of each decision we take, or fail to take: it makes us stop doing anything that keeps us stuck in the category of the "living dead" and, instead, urges us to risk everything, to bet everything on those things we always dreamed of doing, because, whether we like it or not, the angel of death is waiting for us.

So, this is the poem, and the lesson, and I will now work and making things move along, always following the guidance I am so lovingly given each and every moment of each and every day (and night)!

Namaste

MESSAGES FROM THE TREES- March 3rd, 2007, Rishikesh India

I spotted this tree on one of my walks in Rishikesh in March 2007, as well as the tree later in this post. They were directly across the mountain path from each other.

I knew they were a message for me in response to my recent requests for guidance and direction, clarity and understanding. I've already learnt from past experience that replies from the Universe come in many forms, so am always alert to answers that are sent my way.

Two days after seeing this tree, and contemplating its message, I received the following insight:

Every obstacle that comes our way is sent to us lovingly and with purpose by the Universe. Do not seek an alternative path in order to avoid the obstacle, but stand firm in what you know to be your chosen path, even when the going seems almost impossible. Embrace the obstacle lovingly, learn the lesson and continue to grow and thrive.


This is the second tree on the other side of the road and if you look carefully you will see it is two completely separate individual trees which have grown together as one at the top, but still maintaining their own identity where they are rooted in the ground. I think this says it all quite clearly regarding the success of a loving and intimate relationship.

Namaste
Jane

Saab Kuch Maliga

I have not written in quite some time, actually since I finished the 3 part article on “Just for Today I Will Not Worry”. There are reasons for this, and the past few months have been a well needed, well deserved, and very much appreciated hiatus in my life for reflection and “digestion” of lessons learnt, and blessings received.

I have seen miraculous Divine plans fall into place with solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems for myself and my family members. I have seen the true power of our thoughts and prayers and my faith in God and his Universe have once again been strengthened….fortifying everything I wrote in the articles about “…I will not worry”. It is a powerful statement and no surprise that it is the FIRST Reiki principle. It is truly the basis for all that follows. You might like to reread the articles, especially Part II which deals with the role of Faith and its importance in “not worrying”.

I have learnt lessons in grief, faith and the blessing of being able to give unconditionally and without worry for my own future….knowing that all will always be provided for everyone, whenever it is needed.

It is a time of change for me, of dynamic and yet peaceful moving forward…I am without a job, my unemployment payments are coming to an end, and it is my 60th birthday next week….all signs of moving forward.

And of course, I am finally leaving for India…saab kuch maliga, Hindi for “anything (everything) is possible”.

For all of you who are used to receiving my journal entries by e-mail, they will now be found on my new Journal Blog (http://indiajournal2006.blogspot.com). I hope it will work properly and be easily accesible with the slow internet connections in India. If not, I will be forced back to sending the entries by e-mail. Time will tell. However, the blog idea will allow you the freedom to receive the posts or not. You can either check out the blog when you feel like it, or you have the option to subscribe to it (as you are subscribed to this one) and be sent e-mail notification when I post a new journal entry. Daily, interesting as well as mundane travel information and activities will be found on this travel blog. Insights, inspirational things, channelings and lessons learnt, “aha” moments, etc. will be written on this, the mindfulness journal blog.

Whatever this 4th trip holds in store for me, on all levels, I will gladly share with all and any interested parties. The choice this time is yours.

I will beginning this trip in an Ashram in Rishikesh for the first few weeks, perhaps month for Ayurveda treatments (panchakarma) for complete cleansing of toxins for health in general, and more intensively for treating my arthritis which has gotten very bad this winter. Perhaps see Dehradun and Nainetal while still in the area. Then on to Dharamsala and whatever that holds in store for me. May get to Amristar (Golden Temple) and even do some shopping in Jaipur this trip. Who knows?

But as they say in India: SAAB KUCH MALIGA!

Much love and light
Jane

In Memorium 1916-2006

As I have created a new blog in Memory of my father, this post can now be found at the following link:

http://daveyscheiman.blogspot.com/2007/11/death-is-night-between-two-days-rabbi.html

Insights and Empowering Experiences, God and Nature

And yet one more profound journal entry which I must share with those of you who do not follow my India Journals....

Today is October 5th, 2001 but yesterday the weirdest thing happened to me...I wrote a very long letter which first of all thanked all of you who took the time and energy to either call or write to me during the last few really rough days here...I love you and really appreciate your efforts. But I also wrote many deep "inside" thoughts and wrote and wrote and wrote and when I tried sending it, the whole thing disappeared...this has never happened to be before...I always do copy before I send and so if something happens the letter is still there..but thistime, someone else's letter came up on the screen...really weird.

So I wrote again, not quite so in depth and still refused to be sent...so I came to the conclusion that those thoughts were not meant to be put down on paper, but rather savored within and staying within just for me to experience.

I am first amazed at the resiliency of the human spirit. From feeling guilty about feeling happy – to exhilaration at dispelling a lifetime myth about myself, all within the same day. Life does go on and that is the beautiful part about living it to the fullest!

In spite of crises and difficulties with coping with a situation, life goes on and the beauty of discoveries about ourselves and our inner strengths carry us through.

Perhaps this inner awakening occurred simultaneously in me precisely on the same day as hearing about the terrorist attack on my daughter’s house almost as the Universe’s way of getting me through the last couple of days OR - as a RESULT of my getting through the last couple of days!! Don't know which! Whichever-it has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me and I will never be the same as I was.

No matter what I do when I get back to "normal"-normal will never be the same for me as it was just 2 months ago.

The revelations of my childhood memories during my first long walk made me realize that many things we believe about ourselves and allow life's experiences to reinforce for us over the years with our owninterpretations, we are erroneously basing on false perceptions of ourselves as children and adults. This creates modes of behavior and beliefs which stifle our very physical being for as much as 1/2 a century of our lives!!

To be finally released from these beliefs-to dispel a myth about myself and who I have always believed myself to be-is like being released from the shackles of a certain type of bondage and being freed to discover and develop all the wondrous things just waiting inside!

That a walk in nature can do this to a person is again proof of what I wrote awhile ago...the green of nature is God's way of showing his love for all creatures on earth and it is there, surrounded by his love that we can truly find our selves and achieve a true feeling of LOVE for ourselves.

I don't remember a time in my life when I felt so invigorated and alive. And not just physically...all my senses were totally involved in the experience bringing me into my most inner being as well asfilling an expansiveness of my aura itself with amazing energies, tingling through me and expanding outward to join with the trees and mountains etc.

These days, spending time with others is almost an intrusion... This precious gift of being with ME is a blessing and it will be over in just a few days. I will have a different kind of experience traveling now with someone else which I'm sure will be no less important and revealing to me.

I am just sad that this beautiful period of isolation by choice is coming to an end. I feel as if I could live for months like this and not get tired of it. There are always people here if I want them, but being by myself has thedistinct advantage of allowing me to NOT speak with or see anyone by choice without insulting any one or feeling bad about going off by myself. And no explanation is ever required! It is a true luxury.

Tomorrow I have agreed to try a real trek with Darya up into the mountain...3-4 hours up the mountain but with tea houses all along the way...she understands that if I feel it is too much, we just come back down without getting as far as the waterfalls which are allthe way up there some place. This will be an additional "test" for me and I am really looking forward to it excitedly...alot of the walking is in the forest so I hopefully will not have trouble withthe heat, and we are both taking lots of snacks along so I guess it will be OK.