| As a health professional and seasoned Reiki therapist, I | | | | higher being. I was overwhelmed, honored, and |
| am well aware that clinical studies show Reiki, an | | | | suspended in time. I felt weightless, drifting in space, |
| ancient energy balancing technique making its way to | | | | and imagined my fingertips reaching out and touching |
| mainstream medicine, is an effective modality to help | | | | the edges of the spiritual plane. Subtle energy |
| reduce pain, lift depression, enhance immunity and | | | | awareness occurred. There was a sudden, |
| promote relaxation. Although it is a body, mind, and | | | | discernable shift. It was at that moment, I believe, that |
| spirit modality, the spiritual aspects of Reiki are often | | | | the Blessed Mother stepped in and took over. |
| overlooked and remain illusive in the outback of | | | | Now keenly observant, I reminded myself: Your |
| research. Truly, it is my favorite energy therapy | | | | responsibility is just to be. You are an instrument for |
| because of its spiritual component. Just the words | | | | her to move through. This presence is responding to |
| Reiki means universal life force energy or as some call | | | | Zita's call and will take care of her in a perfect manner. |
| it "energy from God." Its sacred part, influenced by the | | | | My mind raced. Had my client called in Mary? Was she |
| Holy Spirit, is mysterious and cannot be explained by | | | | especially connected to her? Was this why I was |
| the logical mind. | | | | directed to pick up the medal this morning? |
| I have had a private energy practice for the past nine | | | | I finished the Reiki session in complete silence. At |
| years. During this time, I have been honored to assist | | | | closing I smoothed Zita's field, placed the emotional |
| hundreds of clients into wellness by being a conduit for | | | | healing symbol over her heart and finally cocooned her |
| Reiki's healing energy. People from all walks of life, with | | | | in white light. Zita had fallen asleep and seemed |
| a whole gamut of physical and emotional conditions | | | | comfortable as she lay there on the table. |
| have come and experienced Reiki's benefits. All clients | | | | I woke her up gently and pulled up a chair so I could sit |
| are my teachers but one, Zita, shed light on its | | | | close. Looking deeply into her eyes, I asked her if she |
| powerful spiritual side. I cannot put her out of my mind. | | | | would mind telling me who she called in as a healer. |
| I reel back to a few years ago. Zita arrived at my | | | | She paused briefly, "I called in the Blessed Mother, of |
| office accompanied by her two grown daughters. She | | | | course, I pray to her every day." Zita went on to tell |
| had come for Reiki to reduce the stress of her | | | | me she has had apparitions of Mary all her life. Her |
| looming divorce and also help her sleep better. I was in | | | | most recent apparition was just a few months ago. |
| immediate awe of Zita. There was something beautiful | | | | Apparently Zita's husband had had been trying to |
| about her. I couldn't quite define it; she had a sort of | | | | poison her, hoping to get the benefits of the insurance |
| aura, a certain luminescence enhanced by the sunrays | | | | policy. Just as Zita was experiencing inexplicable |
| filtering in through my unadorned windows. | | | | symptoms-nausea, dizziness and weakness, Mary |
| During the initial client interview Zita informed me she | | | | appeared to her in her bedroom in the middle of the |
| was eighty five. Impossible! I thought to myself. Her | | | | night. Zita said she was more beautiful than past |
| posture and demeanor are so young for her age. As | | | | apparitions. "That night, she was bathed in a massive |
| we continued, I learned she had seen a doctor only a | | | | halo of bright, radiant light. Pure silver streamed all |
| handful of times in her entire life and was on no | | | | around her". The Blessed Virgin told her she was in |
| medication! | | | | grave danger and must leave immediately. The next |
| We began the Reiki session in the typical fashion. She | | | | morning Zita called for help and fled her home for |
| lay back on the massage table in the quiet room with | | | | safety. |
| soft light. As I centered myself, I was aware of a | | | | After pondering Zitas session I concluded that it was |
| medal which shifted in my pants pocket. For some | | | | more beneficial for me than it was for her. "Was there |
| reason I had slipped "the miraculous medal," a nearly | | | | a lesson here for me?" I asked. Enlightment soon |
| forgotten gift from a friend, into my pocket before Zita | | | | came. |
| came. I had never worn this medal before, why today? | | | | All clients are teachers but Zita was my sacred one. |
| Call it intuition or sixth sense, something instructed me | | | | She gave credence to the awe-inspiring powers of |
| to do it. | | | | the spiritual field, and I respect these grounds even |
| My mind drifted to the story of the "Miraculous Medal" | | | | more. She also answered a question I have asked |
| It is one of the most worn and honored in religious | | | | myself, especially when times are tough: When we |
| history. Apparently, on November 27th, 1830, the | | | | pray, does someone really, truly come? I now say with |
| Blessed Mother appeared to Sister Catherine | | | | certainty, yes. |
| Labourne in a chapel in Paris, France. Catherine | | | | I continue to wear my miraculous medal everyday. |
| described Mary as" perfectly beautiful." The nun was | | | | Even though I am not of the same religious |
| told by the Blessed Mother to have her (Mary's) image | | | | denomination as Zita, my brush with Mary told me this |
| cast on a medal. The blessed Mother said, "All who | | | | beautiful energy would lovingly respond to anyone who |
| wear it will receive great graces." For those who did | | | | calls. |
| many miracles were reported. | | | | Endnote: Some time has passed. Zita eventually |
| Before I begin the Reiki treatment, I give the client a | | | | became gravely ill. I saw her when she was in the |
| moment to call in a healer (if they wish) to assist. It | | | | midst of devastating disease and had lost her memory |
| could be a religious figure, an angel, guide or an | | | | to dementia. She could no longer recall the names of |
| ancestor. I offered this option to Zita but she remained | | | | her children and grandchildren or any details of her life. |
| silent. I wasn't sure she called one in. | | | | However as I mentioned her beloved Mary and she |
| After placing my hands in a pattern around Zita's face, | | | | immediately recalled every detail of her apparition |
| I moved on to the throat, then over the heart chakra. | | | | story-every single particular just as she had years |
| As I did the name "Mary" flashed into my mind. Not | | | | before! It seemed impossible even in the eyes of |
| once but several times, each with increasing clarity. | | | | general medicine, to pull out just one vivid memory |
| Suddenly all my senses quickened and went on alert. | | | | from a sea of confusion. It showed me again, her |
| Within moments I felt a presence in the room. First, a | | | | story was real and once more rekindled my trust; |
| firm pressure was applied on my back, particularly on | | | | when we pray, yes, someone answers. |
| my right side, as if someone was leaning against me. It | | | | Zita made her transition last month; only after she |
| began to move like a warm wave down my arms and | | | | successfully carried out her mission-to instill faith in all |
| through my hands, gentle, soft and reassuring. I was | | | | those around her. People were inexplicably drawn to |
| not imagining it, it was really happening. I felt like I was | | | | her, just wanted to sit by her, and be near her. She |
| standing in the midst of a high vibration or the sun was | | | | had unusual warmth and radiance even after |
| diffusing its warmth over me on a perfect day-the | | | | death....perhaps mysteriously bestowed by her beloved |
| depth of this peacefulness seemed almost surreal. It | | | | Blessed Mother. |
| was then that I knew I had become a conduit for a | | | | |