Reiki and the Red Thread

 While studying to become an Intentional Creativity teacher and coach in 2015, one of our assignments was to offer several Red Thread Circles and events. I included a simple circle as part of a 1st Degree Reiki class, and covered journals in 2nd Degree - the students loved it.

My teacher Maestra Shiloh Sophia invited me to consider the connections between Reiki and the IC teachings, "I know there are connections, explore what they are."

A Chinese legend tells that we are connected before birth with those whom we're destined to meet by an invisible Red Thread. Through out our lives, the thread may twist, stretch and tangle, but will never break.

We each hold, and are responsible for a unique piece of this thread.

With Reiki, we often feel the resonance of connection when we meet other  Reiki practitioners, or first connect with our Master. The teachings and practices of Intentional Creativity® and Reiki support each other in a beautiful way. Over the last five years, I've formulated a Red Thread Reiki curriculum designed to support practitioners on their journey.

Some of the Red Thread Reiki teachings are  included in my classes, others may be taken separately. Most are suitable for anyone, whether they've studied Reiki or not. 

These Circles include a check in, Meditation with self Reiki, and a simple creative project - no artistic ability necessary - really! Creativity is an innate gift inherent in being human, and becoming aware of ourselves as creative beings helps us stay present.

These pieces we create are imbued with Reiki energy, and can be used personally or gifted to others. Most circles are open to both Reiki Practitioners and those interested in healing.

• Reiki Principle Prayer flags 
• Soul Compass cards - rewrite old stories
• Blessing Box - for your Reiki Prayer requests
• Medicine Basket - what are your special tools and gifts?
• Personal symbol - use Metacognative drawing to unlock your unique healing symbol
• Reiki Journal - cover, process pages
• Finger labyrinth
• Symbol practice * Reiki 2 and 3 practitioners

Intentional Painting Classes especially suited for Reiki Practitioners:

• Medicine Painting - turn tragedies into remedies 
• Reiki Guide (watercolor paper or canvas) 
• Soul Spark 
  
• Healing Temple

Have questions? You'd like to work with me in person or virtually, you find information about these sessions and my Reiki classes on my website.

You're invited to contact me - I look forward to our journey together on the Reiki path!

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Prayer Flags RT Circle

In the mid 80s, I joined our local calligraphy Guild to attend a couple of workshops at the nearby Mount Angel Abbey, which has a beautiful collection of illuminated manuscripts. One of class was on a Japanese practice of writing poems on paper, creating prayer flags to hang on trees. We cut bookmark size strips from brown paper bags, and wrote simple poems (often haiku) on them, folded over the top, punched a hole, and used string to tie them on branches. "Hanging poems on Cherry Branches" illustrates this tradition.

Ishikawa Toyonobu

As ephemeral as these paper flags seem, they last for months, even in our rainy Western Oregon climate. 
Over the years, I've created tobacco ties to be hung in sweat lodges, using cotton cloth in primary colors and a pinch of tobacco, and hung Tibetan prayer flags, which have been used for over 2000 years in Tibet. That tradition goes back to the indigenous Bon, and "coupled with the natural energy of the wind, quietly harmonize the environment, impartially increasing harmony and good fortune among all living beings. ...They used colours symbolizing the five elements, blue for sky, white for air or clouds, red for fire, green for water and yellow for earth."  Tibet Travel

Brown paper Prayer Flags

One year, our pastor invited a Buddhist monk to speak on the prayer flag tradition. After his talk, we gathered around tables to write a favorite passage from Scripture or a poem on fabric squares prepared by our sewing group, the Sew and Sews. I chose a phrase from a Cherokee blessing, and wrote it in that language. The flags were threaded onto cords, and hung in our long hallway for several months.

Reiki Principle prayer flags and alt

When I attended my Color of Woman Graduation in 2015, one of the 2 hour circles offered by a graduate was on creating prayer flags on watercolor paper. After the introduction, we chose symbols to paint on one side of a 5x6" piece of watercolor paper, punched two holes at the top of each, and strung them on pretty ribbon to hang inside. 

I enjoy inviting my community to create prayer flags of their own, in my Red Thread circles and Red Thread Reiki 1 classes. The Reiki Principles offer inspiration for Reiki Flags. We use watercolor paper from a pad, or brown paper for outside flags. 
The possibilities are endless, one of my Reiki Master friends invited his clients to write prayer requests on strips of cloth, which he then hung on his fence! 

• Choose your materials, paper or cloth, fear or cut into shape and size of your choice
• A variety of markers, watercolor pencils and paint, calligraphy pens 
• Fold the top of cloth squares, and stitch channels for cord or string, and use fabric pens
• Take a moment to center, and focus on your prayer or gratitude
• Choose a symbol to picture your prayer, a drop falling into a pool for calm, a rainbow for hope, a tree for endurance, a butterfly for transformation ...
• Or Write a three line haiku using the formula: 5, 7, 5 syllables 
• Put your image or poem in the paper
• Punch a hole (or two of it's wider) for a string or ribbon (you can also staple it!) And thread through
• Tie to a tree branch, or string several flags and hang on a wall or porch.

This week, we brought making prayer flags to our Red Thread community via a Zoom call. As always, I was intrigued by the variety of flags created during our time together! On cloth, paper, barbers from the local dollar store, and in a smash journal! This was our second circle via zoom, answering the need for virtual connection. 

May these flags indeed, harmonize the environment, and bring peace to all living beings! 

Featured Artist

About a year ago, during our annual Art Harvest Studio Tour, I was introduced to the owners of the Gallery at Ten Oaks, by one of the artists they represent. I asked if they were accepting art from New artists, and they said, "Yes! We'd love to see your work!" 

My friend Sepha and I went together a couple of months later, with 5 pieces each, and they were delighted to show our intuitive, mindful art! They spotlight one artists work each month and already had a full schedule; so asked if we would have a combined show, as their Featured Artists in September! 

5 of My ladies on the left

We were in the path of totality for the eclipse, and a couple of the pieces for the show include the moon and Sun's corona. I revisited my Queen of Your own Heart, "She Sees By Starlight" and had to paint a little Dragon! I think my Red Madonna Dragon will hold the eclipsed sun as well.

It was fun to look back, and see paintings I had for my first Featured Artist show, Musings, back in 2014 at Walnut City Wineworks, shortly before entering the CoW teacher training! 

Eclipse from Central Oregon, © Ken Strode

My painting Sekhmet hung at the Wineworks for the next year, and is in this show as well. 
I have several classes on the schedule for September, Red Thread Reiki 1, and a Musé Day offering, Musé of Equilibrium, exploring themes of harvest, compost, and cycles.

* are you too far away to visit the Gallery? Enjoy this 1/2 hour YouTube clip where I share my harp and art on our local cable channel, with host Howie Harkema!! 

Blessings as you move into fall, and happy Paint Party Friday! (Head over to the blog roll, and add your post to the list!

Self Care

What are some of your favorite self-care go-tos? 
This week on our Cosmic Cowgirls call, we each shared some of our personal practices and aids. Here are some we came up with:

• Movement several times a week (Qigong, walking, yoga, Ballet, etc)
• Art practice, journaling, painting, craft to begin and end the day
• Grounding, perhaps outside with a tree
• Drum or play flute 
• Stay hydrated! Water and herb tea
• Healthy food choices (don't turn to food)
• Time in circle with friends/family (supportive)
• Time with animals pets (new kittens!)
• Art blogs and artist groups on FB
• Meditation/ quiet time
• Receive bodywork or do self-Reiki
• Epson salt bath with a candle, soft music
• Include self, step in, engage! - not waiting to be "invited!" (Check-in if you need, find a group that's harmonious, avoid isolating ourselves)
• Slow down, take time for things you enjoy
• Balance responsibilities and "fun stuff"
• Saying prayers of your tradition
• Guided meditation
• Essential oils, smudge
• Take action, if something is bothering you!
• Come from love "let love be the center of your choices!"
• Become a lifetime learner, study something new

Candles of the Red Thread SiStarhood

Your turn, what are some of the ways you nurture yourself?

Happy PPF!!