From this Beautiful Things will Blossom

Hello my Dear Friends, Students and Family,

Here we are at the end of April already and right on schedule we have been told to expect to have spring showers, that is ok because we need the rain for the blossoms and also to clean the air.


I remember as a little girl going outside when it was raining to dance in the rain and jump in the rain puddles. I adored everything about it especially the spontaneity of it all. And then there were a few times when it rained on one side of the street and not the other…I would run to where the rain began being amazed at what I was experiencing.

On a deeper leel we also need the rain of our emotions to clear the space inside us so that newness will come forth. Enjoy the rain on all fronts knowing that from it beautiful things will blossom from the sunshine of our souls.

I have received some heart touching articles that I have chosen to share with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.



The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire.
-- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

What does it mean to be a human being in the highest sense? What is the deepest nature of our being? I began to be possessed by a gripping curiosity and longing to understand what happens when an individual heeds the urgings of the soul rather than having the soul subject to the ego. It seems to me that tangible information regarding these things would profoundly impact all areas of our lives --- the workplace, our health, our families, and our communities.
I have discovered that we are not left without access to this knowledge----fulfillment of the promise of our soul's nature is possible. Indeed, it is what we are here for: to enter the realm of our great potentiality. The answers are found in the individual and collective journey into our being and in the Great Stillness that leads us there.
-- Sri Paramhamsa Yagananda



The languages that God speaks
Paulo Coelho


A Spanish missionary was visiting an island when he came across three Aztec priests. “How do you pray?” asked the priest. “We have only one prayer;” answered one of the Aztecs. “We say: “God, You are three, we are three. Have mercy on us.”“Beautiful prayer,” said the missionary. “But it is not exactly the prayer that God hears. I shall teach you a much better one.”The priest taught them a Catholic prayer and went on his way to spread the Gospel among others.

Years later, on the ship taking him back to Spain, he stopped at that island once more. From the deck he saw the three holy men on the beach – and waved farewell to them. At that moment the three began to walk on the water towards him. “Father! Father!” shouted one of them, approaching the ship. “Teach us again the prayer that God hears, because we can’t remember it!”“It doesn’t matter,” said the missionary, seeing the miracle. And he asked God to forgive him for not understanding before that He spoke all languages.

Below are some of those prayers:

Dhammapada (attributed to Buddha)
Instead of a thousand words,
Better just one,
One that brings peace.
Instead of a thousand verses,
Better just one,
One that shows beauty.
Instead of a thousand songs,
Better just one,
One that spreads joy.

Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, 13th century
Out there, besides what is right and what is wrong, there is an enormous field.
That is where we will meet.

Prophet Mohammed, 7th century
Oh Allah! I come to you because you know all, even what is hidden.
If what I am doing is good for me and my religion, for my life now and later, then let the task be easy and blessed.
If what I am doing now is bad for me and my religion, for my life now and later, then keep me far from this task.

Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew 7- 7-8
Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek and you shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asks receives;
and he that seeks finds:
And to him that knocks,
it shall be opened.

Jewish prayer for peace
We shall go the mountain of the Lord, where we shall walk with Him. We shall change our swords into plows and our spears into baskets for harvesting fruit.
Let no nation raise its sword against another, and let us never learn the art of war.
And no-one should fear his neighbor, because thus spoke the Lord.

Lao Tsu, China – 6th century B.C.
For there to be peace in the world, the nations must live in peace.
For there to be peace among nations, cities must not rise up against one another.
For there to be peace in the cities, neighbors must get on well with one another.
For there to be peace among neighbors, harmony must reign in the home.
For there to be harmony at home, it must be found in your own heart.


The Upside of Irritation
Things That Annoy Us

There are many stories of spiritual masters embracing the presence of an annoying student in their community. There is even one story that documents a teacher paying an irritating person to live among his students. From an everyday perspective, this is difficult to comprehend. We generally work hard to avoid people and things that we find annoying so they don't bother us. From a deeper spiritual perspective, however, irritation can be an important teacher and indicator that we are making progress on our path. Being able to remain centered and awake even when we feel uncomfortable is much more impressive than doing so in an environment where everything is to our liking. No matter how good we are at controlling our circumstances, there will always be factors and people that we cannot control. How we respond to these experiences to a great degree determines the quality of our lives. The goal of spiritual development is not to learn to control our environment-which is more of an ego-driven desire. And while having some measure of control over our external reality is important, it is when we are confronted with a person or situation that irritates us and we can choose not to react that we know have made progress spiritually. It is when we have mastered our internal reality that we will have become the masters of our lives. The more we try to eliminate annoyances, instead of learning to handle them gracefully, the further we get from developing the qualities that come with spiritual growth, such as patience, tolerance, and acceptance. It is often in the presence of people and experiences we find annoying that we have an opportunity to develop these qualities. Fortunately for most of us, our lives offer an abundance of opportunities to practice and cultivate these traits.


Feeding Your Spirit
Taking Time for Yourself

Modern life compels us to rush. Because we feel pressured to make the most of our time each day, the activities that sustain us, rejuvenate us, and help us evolve are often the first to be sacrificed when we are in a hurry or faced with a new obligation. It is important we remember that there is more to life than achieving success, making money, and even caring for others. Your spiritual needs should occupy an important spot on your list of priorities. Each task you undertake and each relationship you nurture draws from the wellspring of your spiritual vitality. Taking the time to engage in spiritually fulfilling activities replenishes that well and readies you to face another day. Making time for the activities that contribute to your spiritual growth has little to do with being selfish and everything to do with your well-being. Regularly taking the time to focus on your soul's needs ensures that you are able to nurture yourself, spend time with your thoughts, experience tranquility, and expand your spiritual boundaries. It is easy to avoid using our free moments for spiritual enrichment. There is always something seemingly more pressing that needs to be done. Many people feel guilty when they use their free time to engage in pursuits where they are focusing on themselves because they feel as if they are neglecting their family or their work. To make time for yourself, it may be necessary to say no to people's requests or refuse to take on extra responsibilities. Scheduling fifteen or thirty minutes of time each day for your spiritual needs can make you feel tranquil, give you more energy and allows you to feel more in touch with the universe. Writing in a journal, meditating, studying the words of wise women and men, and engaging in other spiritual practices can help you make the most of this time. Making time to nurture your spirit may require that you sacrifice other, less vital activities. The more time you commit to soul-nurturing activities, the happier and more relaxed you will become. The time you devote to enriching your spirit will rejuvenate you and help you create a more restful life.


And Finally I am sharing a beautiful inspiring message with you that has been sent to me.

Follow this link: http://www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com/

I hold you forever in my heart...
Love, Light and Laughter,

Mari

Coming to Terms with Being Cared for and Being a Caregiver

My Dear Friends, Family and Students,

I have been overwhelmed lately with coming to terms with taking care of my Dad and his aging process that I am a witness to. Everything came to a head when Dad was hospitalized and as a result had to be placed in a full care nursing home. It is the ONE PLACE he said he never wanted to be. I was quietly sitting at my desk yesterday morning listening to my breath slowly coming in and out and the birds singing outside when I was struck with a realization about being cared for and being a caregiver that I have choosen to share with you. The picture at the left is of my Dad and I when he was certainly taking care of me.

Coming to Terms with Being Cared for
and Being a Caregiver

When an individual has been hurt or is sick and requires care from others, the realization that they are no longer the same person can trigger feelings of depression, pressure, pain and emotional judgment in both the person who this has happened to and the caregiver. Another factor to consider: when one is under pressure, in pain or on medication - how much remains to connect to their Higher Self? In these moments where reaction plays a predominate role there is very little space to touch the infinite.

For me, when I had my heart attack my world became very small. Also leaving my business and home in Czech to move in with my daughter and her family thus coming from my perception of weakness where everyone else was stronger and healthier than was an opportunity to experience being needy and cared for. When I allowed my self to be still I could feel a sense of order and perfection. I had to understand only “this moment”. Now in retrospect, I clearly see that people who are dependent have a different world - a different view of reality. There are many variables and considerations to being a receiver of care. I have always taught that receiving for most people is very difficult, for in receiving we must give up control. When we are the giver, we can control how much and when we give. To be on the receiving end of care is also quite difficult and often confusing.

Surely I was different: unsure of myself, physically weak, foggy memory, angry and frustrated for not understanding and also for being weak and needing help. It seemed that people looked at me differently and I felt a great deal of pressure. All I saw was my own world and I could not understand any other. I was only doing my best to find myself, working at doing everything I could, not really knowing how I used to do something, only knowing that I was doing it differently and feeling like it was not as good as it was before - whatever that was. And foremost that I had to prove I was worthy of living.

The role of caregiver can often push people beyond their own boundaries. Before one becomes a caregiver, they usually have more than a full life to deal with and manage. Care giving can occupy many different energetic levels, based on the needs of the dependent person and the desires of the caregiver. For some, this might mean limited hours, for others it can become a task that occupies all their waking moments.

One example from perhaps millions of situations was a couple I heard about after my own health issues. The man had been a bed-ridden stroke victim for more than 5 years. He had become his own limitations and no longer could relate to the person he was before his stroke. As a result, his wife of more than 25 years felt anger and resentment at him 'giving up'. What began as her husband's stroke with hope of recovery had faded and disappeared after weeks, months and years. In her mind, this meant that the man she had loved was dead for she was caregiver to a stranger, living with only the illusion of what was before.

Now that I am a care giver to my Father I am faced with the same feelings that the woman had; resentment at him for giving up. This attitude has been a death to my soul…after all who elected me God. This self righteous idea that I know how he is supposed to be and it is not this. I imagine that my family thought the same things about me only a few years before when I was recovering. No I am not the same as before…I am certainly more honest about myself and it has been humbling to admit I am no longer the person I once was. My Dad is no longer the same person either. In some regards that is a blessings as he is more mellow, his bite is not as bad as it was in my growing up years. But still I found myself less able to cope. It has been only while writing this that I remembered my own journey of recovery, the confusion and pain of giving up control.

Here is a man who was in charge of his life, knew where he was going and how to get there. He is now completely reliant on people to move him, bath him and handle his basic needs. He has lost his old self and can not identify with what is in his place. No wonder life is holds no promise for him. It is my task to love him as he is and be with him in these changes for how ever long it is. It is hard to let go of our old selves and accept much less relate to the new version with all its imperfections and limitations. That in it self is perfect; today I can truthfully say I am grateful for the experience of being cared for and for caring for another person and the lessons both continue to bring.

I wish you and yours a Blessed Easter and Passover season. May you be filled with light, joy and song.

Mari

Personal Hamony and The Simple Way

Dear Friends and Family,

The month of March is almost a memory for us. How did it pass so fast? I have noticed that the trees are holding a promise of spring and in a few weeks our Texas wildflowers will be gracing the hills and valleys. There is nothing to compare to the fields of Blue bonnets and Indian Paint Brush, a virtual sea of bright blue and orange. I am planning a trip to the hill country to feast on the beauty of nature and taking my camera.

My father Dean is 89. Yesterday he had to go into a full care nursing facility; I have been in a mix of emotion watching how he is declining and also enjoying his lucid moments when we can talk and laugh together. No one told me when I was younger I would have to become my parents…parent. The experience has served to remind me how fragile yet very special life is and in the end we leave with nothing. I am extremely grateful for all my life experiences; the highs, lows, the in between times and to all of you who continue to bless my life.

I am including two evoking articles that hopefully will give you something to think about. They are certainly timely in my life at this point. You will understand why I have a floor plan when you read the piece on Personal Harmony.

Love and Blessings,
Mari


Personal Harmony
Balance

Like pieces of a puzzle, the many different aspects of your being come together to form the person that you are. You work and play, rest and expend energy, commune with your body and soul, exalt in joy, and feel sorrow. Balance is the state that you achieve when all of the aspects of your life and self are in harmony. Your life force flows in a state of equilibrium because nothing feels out of sync. While balance is necessary to have a satisfying, energetic, and joyful life, only you can determine what balance means to you.

Achieving balance requires that you assess what is important to you. The many demands of modern life can push us to make choices that can put us off balance and have a detrimental effect on our habits, relationships, health, and career. In creating a balanced lifestyle, you must ascertain how much time and energy you are willing to devote to the different areas of your life. To do so, imagine that your life is a house made up of many rooms. Draw this house, give each part of your life its own room, and size each room according to the amount of importance you assign to that aspect of your life. You can include family, solitude, activities that benefit others, healthy eating, indulgences, exercise and working on self. You may discover that certain elements of your life take up an inordinate amount of time, energy, or effort and leave you with few resources to nurture the other aspects of your life. You may want to spend less time on these activities and more on the ones that fulfill you!

A balanced lifestyle is simply a state of being in which one has time and energy for obligations and pleasures, as well as time to live well and in a gratifying way. With its many nuances, balance can be a difficult concept to integrate into your life. Living a balanced existence, however, can help you attain a greater sense of happiness, health, and fulfillment.

The Simple Way

"It seems today that many people crave the spectacular. People are drawn to lights and celebrities, to arenas and mega churches. In the desert, Jesus was tempted by the spectacular, too - to throw himself from the temple so that people might believe - to shock and awe people, if you will. Today the church is tempted by the spectacular, to do big, miraculous things so people might believe, but Jesus has called us to littleness and compares our revolution to the little mustard seed, to yeast making its way through dough, slowly infecting this dark world with love. Many of us who find ourselves living a little differently from the dominant culture end up needing to 'despectacularize' things a little so that the simple way is made as accessible as possible to other 'ordinary radicals' awakening all around us.

Sometimes people call folks here at "The Simple Way Saints". Usually they either want to applaud our lives and live vicariously through us, or they want to write us off as superhuman and create a safe distance of impossibility. One of my favorite quotes, written on my wall here in bold black marker, is from Dorothy Day: 'Don't call us saints; we don't want to be dismissed that easily.'

The truth is that when people look at us as sacrificial servants, I have to laugh. We've just fallen in love with God and our neighbors, and that is transforming our lives. Besides, I think if most other folks knew Adrienne and the kids, a beautiful family that has been living with us after coming out of the shelter system, they'd do the same things we are doing. It just makes sense not to have families on the street or in abandoned houses, especially when we have a spare bedroom. Honestly, the way of life we have chosen often seems more natural than the alternative. The alternative - moving out and living in the suburbs - seems terribly sacrificial (or painfully empty). What must it be like not to have regular block parties and to really know and love the people living around us? There are times when I have been very frustrated with wealthy folks for accumulating and hoarding their stuff. But now I know enough rich folks to know the loneliness that is all too familiar to many of them. I read a study comparing the health of a society with its economics, and one of the things it revealed is that wealthy countries like ours have the highest rates of depression, suicide, and loneliness. We are the richest and most miserable people in the world. I feel sorry that so many of us have settled for a lonely world of independence and riches when we could all experience the fullness of life in community and interdependence. Why would I want a fancy car when I could ride a bike or a TV when I could play outside with sidewalk chalk? Okay sometimes I still want the hot tub on the roof, but the rest I can live without. And I mean really live without. Patting Mother Teresa on the back, someone once said to her, 'I wouldn't do what you do for a million dollars.' She said with a grin, 'Me neither.'"

Shane Claiborne, in The Irresistible Revolution

All That I am and do is Through Joy

I just returned from my trip to Thessalonica, Greece last night. Can you imagine Greece covered with a thick blanket of snow? Normally we don’t think of Greece that way, quite the contrary we think of sun drenched streets, bright colors, cats wondering the streets and the smell of wild herbs and wonderful cooking. However it is a beautiful sight to see the snow covering the old city so white and quiet in the early morning.

I enjoyed being with my Greek family/friends Tassos, Maria, Dimos, Elissavet, Demetri and the Reiki community there. The Greek culture has late nights and siesta in the afternoon. By the time they are on their way out to dinner, 10pm we in the USA are usually watching the late night news and going to bed. It takes a few days to adjust to the heartbeat of a new country. Thank goodness for alarm clocks! Dinner goes on for hours with plenty of talk and passionate debates. What is enjoyable is that we all can talk about different subjects; the joy is in being fully expressive and listening/watching each other. The food is served family style with everyone helping themselves. And it is perfectly fine to dip your crust of bread in the sauce, in fact it is encouraged.

The debut of “Gateway to the Heart” was on the 2nd weekend I was there, from that new courses will spring and in many countries. The manual has been translated into Greek thanks to many long days and nights by Maria. It is a smaller course taken out of the Path of Insight that normally lasts over two years. The students found it went very deep given the time I had to work with them. Plans are in the works for me to return every six months to teach and do private sessions.

When I was there I was given a message, “Mari you must work through joy. Everything you do must bring you the greatest pleasure and happiness. All must keep you IN JOY, and your living, working being is through joy.” The message has the clear ring of truth. Can this be another doorway/gateway to explore in my life’s journey? I bet it is.

I took time to take some beautiful pictures of old doors…doors being a theme in my life. We cross through thresholds as we explore avenues on the other side of the door. We close doors to our past and open doors to the future. At this junction of my life I choose to be like a river flowing so that all I am and do is through joy.

Following my letter are three articles I thought you may be interested in especially since they follow a similar theme.

May all your days be joyful.

Love and Blessings,
Mari



To be like a River Flowing
Paulo Coelho

“A river never passes the same place twice,” says a philosopher. “Life is like a river,” says another philosopher, and we draw the conclusion that this is the metaphor that comes closest to the meaning of life. Consequently, it is always good to remember during all the year to come:

(A] We are always doing things for the first time. While we move between our sources (birth) to our destination (death), the landscape will always be new. We should face these novelties with joy, not with fear – because it is useless to fear what cannot be avoided. A river never stops running.

(B] In a valley we walk slower. When everything around us becomes easier, the waters grow calm; we become more open, fuller and more generous.

(C] Our banks are always fertile. Vegetation only grows where there is water. Whoever comes into contact with us needs to understand that we are there to give the thirsty something to drink.

(D] Stones should be avoided. It is obvious that water is stronger than granite, but it takes time for this to happen. It is no good letting yourself be overcome by stronger obstacles, or trying to fight against them - that is a useless waste of energy. It is best to understand where the way out is, and then move forward.

(E] Hollows call for patience. All of a sudden the river enters a sort of hole and stops running as joyfully as before. At such moments the only way out is to count on the help of time. When the right moment comes the hollow fills up and the water can flow ahead. In the place of the ugly, lifeless hole there now stands a lake that others can contemplate with joy.

(F] We are one. We were born in a place that was meant for us, which will always keep us supplied with enough water so that when confronted with obstacles or depression we have the necessary patience or strength to move forward. We begin our course in a soft and fragile manner, where even a simple leaf can stop us. Nevertheless, as we respect the mystery of the source that gave us life, and trust in His eternal wisdom, little by little we gain all that we need to pursue our path.

(G] Although we are one, soon we shall be many. As we travel on, the waters of other springs come closer, because that is the best path to follow. Then we are no longer just one, but many – and there comes a moment when we feel lost. However, as the Bible says, “all rivers flow to the sea.” It is impossible to remain in our solitude, no matter how romantic that may seem. When we accept the inevitable encounter with other springs, we eventually understand that this makes us much stronger; we get around obstacles or fill in the hollows in far less time and with greater ease.

(H] We are a means of transportation. Of leaves, boats, ideas. May our waters always be generous, may be always be able to carry ahead everything or everyone that needs our help.

(I] We are a source of inspiration. And so, let us leave the final words to the Brazilian poet, Manuel Bandeira:

“To be like a river that flows silent through the night, not fearing the darkness and reflecting any stars high in the sky. And if the sky is filled with clouds, the clouds are water like the river, so without remorse reflect them too in the calm deep.”



Going Deep
Self-Examination at Depth

There are times when life urges us to seek more. Small changes to our comfort zone may fail to alleviate any sense of stagnancy or frustration, and we may need to examine our lives and ourselves more deeply to find the right place to start. Everything we need for success and joy lies within. But so often, life's debris accumulates, building layers around our core that makes it difficult to access the truth that resides within. To reach the depth we wish to access, we must dive below these layers to the deepest parts of ourselves. The first layer can be found in our minds. Our to-do lists and busy work are usually less important than we think, so we must look past them to examine the thoughts that matter most to us. The next layer can be found in our hearts, where past hurts and disappointments can sometimes cover up our vulnerabilities, as well as the truth of who and what really stirs the love within us. We can choose to go even deeper - to our center. If we can go beyond anything has affected us to the point that it blocks us at the gut level, we can reconnect with our power, our raw instincts, our organic yeses. Here, at the core, lies our truth. Our core is our foundation that supports us and what we'd like to build our authentic life upon. When we examine ourselves to these depths, we are able to find what we wish to bring to the surface and what we wish to let go. When we remember what lies beneath our layers, we can look at what was floating on the surface, causing blocks and pains, and understand the purpose that they served. Oftentimes, it is the built up debris that causes us to go deeper, so we can search for the truth. Go deep, live life from your truth within, and watch your innate beauty manifest outward.

The Healing Power of Gratitude
V.N. Mittal,RM/T

Acknowledging divine presence and expressing gratefulness for all the small and big things in life which are the main ingredients of Gratitude, lead you to a spiritual awakening and healing by way of establishing connectivity with all life, mutual love and trust. Attitude of gratitude, however, comes by practice and not by chance as the move is faster for those which have learnt to “dance.”
Before my accidental fall which had left my femur bone broken, over a decade back, I used to be a self righteous and a thankless person. The crippling physical injury after the fall had left me completely shattered. I had lost all hopes and thought that I would never ever walk on my own legs when the grace of Almighty descended on me in terms of a successful operation and implantation of prosthesis in place of the broken bone. My fast recovery from hip surgery came as a blessing in disguise. It not only helped me come out of the trauma but also amazingly changed my attitude towards all beings. With the positive change in my attitude of gratitude, I found myself stepping on to my spiritual healing journey, easily.

Gradually, I made a conscious effort to create a habit to offer thanks to all creatures whenever and as often, it was warranted. Of course, I would also not forget my daily Gassho in order to offer my gratitude to God for all the abundance in my life. A regular chanting of a few of my favorite Vedic mantras just on rising and while retiring to my bed, day after day, put the control of my life back into my own hands. I felt perpetually connected to every living being and the fear of being isolated no more haunted me. The divine spark in my heart had already set the ball of love, compassion and mutual trust, rolling for me.

With the practice of attitude of gratitude in my life, new doors started opening up for me. I felt blessed with the special grace bestowed upon me. It provided me enough inspiration to search for deeper meanings of the word ‘GRATITUDE’ as if that would dictate the much needed change in my behavior pattern, further. A closer look at each letter of the word, intuitively, guided me to the following mystic meanings.

G-ratefulness for all the abundance in life
R-eleasing all anger and worry
A-ttaining mutual trust
T-aming the mind to ever acknowledge the Divine presence
I-nviting happiness through thanks giving
T-ranscending all barriers of hate, jealousy and ego.
U-nconditionally loving all
D-eriving pleasure in forgiving others
E-xperiencing and establishing connectivity to all life.

Interestingly, the above meanings in the acronym, pointed to well treaded ideals on the path of spiritual healing. Gradually, I found myself practicing most of these as a way of living.

Years later after the incident, when I had become a Reiki channel, I realized the reason why Dr Mikao Usui the founder of Reiki, insisted that his students practice Kensha Shite - attitude of gratitude inter-alias other Reiki ideals, regularly. He exhorted people to follow and practice what he called, ``the secret method of inviting happiness through many blessings; the spiritual medicine for all illness”.

To me, this ideal appeared to be the most significant of all the Usui’s precepts. The attitude of gratitude is interwoven with the other four Reiki precepts in such a way that one leads to the other. You cannot have an attitude of gratitude unless you shed anger; anger unless you control your ego and unconditional love without shedding hate and jealousy. Practicing forgiveness and expression of gratitude lead us to connectivity to all life. The Constant feeling of the Divine presence puts an end to our feeling of isolation and consequent worry. It works as a catalytic agent to establish love, and mutual trust and accelerates inter-connectivity, which ingredients are so important from the point of view of spiritual healing.

Everyday We Have An Opportunity To Make History

Dear Friends, Students and Family of Mari Hall and Wisechoices,

I am off to Greece in a few days to teach for three weeks and to introduce a new course “Gateway to the Heart” as many of you know the heart is the bridge between the physical and spiritual aspects of our energy system and the energy center or “chakra” we seem to close the most when we do not love out of fear or judgment/reaction. It is an experiencial course using many different techniques and will be taught in English and translated into Greek. Many of my advanced students will be there to support the work in all the classes. It will be a real homecoming.

The focus of this newsletter is about making our personal history. Each and everyday we all touch others and leave lasting impressions. At times when we may have forgotten how interwoven our histories are we can be blessed with a reminder. This is what happened to me last Sunday when I received an e mail from Jitka, a dear friend and student in the Czech Republic. Along with the letter I received photographs of Jana and Ota; two of the children I had attuned into Reiki many years ago in Czech.













Of course they are almost grown up now. It was so lovely hearing from Jitka their mother. She wanted me to know how much I mean to their family, that I am missed, appreciated and loved. Receiving the letter put me in touch with how our lives have been touched and enhanced by each other...we have a history. Afterwards I sat and looked at some of the pictures I had taken in the Czech Republic; the pictures of Kolin where I first lived and remembered the English classes in the hospital and Gymnasium. All of these children from the school are now grown up and are parents and making their way. I thought of the very first Reiki class for 28 doctors… the people that touched my life in such profound ways, the days at the Red Cross with Josef translating for me while I worked with so many people giving Reiki and love, how we converted a sewing room into a Reiki Room on Friday after seeing clients all day, making sure to pick up the pins on the carpet before teaching Reiki on the weekends. I remembered all the miracles that I had witnessed, the changes in the people as they touched their own souls. I remembered the conversations started and continued with a dictionary, trying to speak Czech, and practicing to ask, ”how much is this,” only to be frustrated because I forgot to learn the numbers. I still had to hold out the change in my hand for them to take what they needed me to pay. I was impressed with the Czech spirit, how the people sang from their heart then and still do now. It was a time to acknowledge the start of coming away from everything that had been familiar, and having to discover my inner will and resolve to trust and embrace the unknown and to find the gift that each new day brings.

Foremost is the impression of how I came into a deep realization how we are the same, no matter what religion, philosophy, color and language we speak. We can choose to find a common language. We can come to understand each other. And this is born from the compassionate heart.

I have changed and learned so much about myself during this time. Looking at the photographs of me taken over the last seventeen years in the many countries I have been blessed to teach in. I see my hair going from dark brown to more silver and then turning to dark blonde, “a woman’s prerogative. In those pictures it is evident how softness had come over me as I moved into my own peaceful place inside. I acknowledged all the inner battles of my spirit. I came to terms with my past, let go of demands, and forgave, let go of people that came into my life and left again. I realized that people came into my life in the “right moment” and that I could choose to let these arrivals awaken me. I also learned not to take their departures personally. That was the biggest lesson. Losing your adopted family is always hard, as the mothering part of me also requires the letting go of those who are precious and yet not to take it personally. I had to realize that it was about choices in living, my process to learn and fine tune while living and working in Europe. And of course during the transition back to the USA and to living with my biological family.

I still haven’t finished learning; life by its very nature will always bring lessons to deepen awareness and turn this new understanding back out to the world. I am more exposed, vulnerable, and I shine from the inside out. I am more dedicated than ever to helping people find this inner same kind of beauty. I am here to light a path to brotherhood and peace from a new perspective. I realize that, like eagles, we all have our own patterns of flight. But I hope we meet in the vast sky of love and compassion. I invite you to join me in this grand adventure called Life. I invite you to remember to fly free and high but you do not have to fly alone.


Love and Blessings,
Mari


Making History Every Day
Your Personal Legacy

When we focus on people who make a huge historical impact-presidents, visionary artists, great spiritual leaders-we sometimes forget that we, too, are making history and influencing the future with the way we live our lives. This is obvious if we just look at our own parents and how the way they lived affected us. In the best case, we received lessons from them or other mentors that have empowered us. On the other hand, we may have decided to depart dramatically from the way they conducted their lives. If so, then their mistakes and shortcomings were catalysts for us to change old familial patterns. Either way, their way of being determined the course of our future. By the same token, our actions determine the course of the future for others, and those who follow us will remember us as part of their history. In light of this, it is good to ask ourselves what our legacy will be. We have all heard stories about family members we may or may not have known; sometimes it is their humor that shines through in others' memories, or their contagious positive energy, or their skill in managing the family assets. People outside our immediate family may have changed the course of our lives as well-a teacher who encouraged and inspired us; a neighbor who helped us in a time of need; or even a stranger who came to our aid in a difficult situation. When we remember these people, we realize that however small our daily lives seem, they are actually very important. How we treat people in each moment, with each interaction, can have a major impact. It helps to begin our days with an acknowledgement of this fact, taking a moment to consider how we want to be in the world and how powerful we really are. We must remember that our lives are not meaningless--quite the opposite. Every day we have an opportunity to "make history" and influence the future for the better.

The Daily OM

Closing for the Usui Retreat

Spring is just around the corner...

To all of you that participated, thank you for joining with us in the December 2005 virtual retreat. The next one will begin on June 21st. We now have celebrated the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006.

In a few days I will be celebrating my 61st birthday. I am off to Thessalonica, Greece for three weeks on February 1st to teach Reiki and a self development course “Opening your Heart.” When I am there I plan to meditate and make more mantra beads- which are a sense of joy for me. You will be able to see the results when I return on my web pages www.mantrabeads.com

I am in the process of setting my teaching schedule for the year, Australia is set for November. I am happy to talk with you about organizing courses in your area, contact me at MariHall@hotmail.com

My book Reiki for the Soul will be published in the USA the first part of the year and I will be offering online mentoring to facilitate you through the book. Stay turned for an announcement soon.

I encourage you to take time to connect to nature and breathe…being centered and connected also helps to you to think and feel clearly. In that peaceful place we are also able to see all that we are gifted with each and everyday.

One thing for sure the months of 2006 will pass marked by one special event after another that is why the following articles are so timely. I hope you enjoy reading them.

Love and Blessings,

Mari


The Joy of Being

Celebrating The In-Between Times

While celebrations are intended to honor life's more momentous occasions, much of real life tends to happen during the in-between times. While moving from one moment in time to the next is seldom considered a significant occurrence, it is during those in-between times that we are most in tune with life's most profound, albeit simple joys. Between birth and death, triumph and sorrow, beginnings and endings, we enjoy innumerable experiences that often happen unnoticed. These times are just as worthy of celebration. The in-between times are seldom about landmark moments. How you choose to celebrate them or which moments you choose to celebrate is up to you. You may want to celebrate the simple facts that you are alive and that every day is a chance to spend time with the people you care about or do the work that you love. Then again, when you look at the good that exists in your life, many reasons for celebrating the in-between times may become clear: a cup of your favorite tea, a beautiful sunrise, a good book, and the smell of fresh air can be reasons for celebration. Celebrating the in-between times can be as easy as paying special attention to them when they do happen, rather than taking them for granted. It's your focus of attention that can turn an in-between time into a celebration. You can also pay homage to the in-between times by slowing down and allowing yourself time to look around and allow your heart and mind to take in all of your life's wonders. Far too often, we can let those simple moments of awe pass us by. The in-between times are when life happens to us between the pauses that we take to honor our milestones occasions. Without the in-between times, there would be no big moments to celebrate.


Growing Pains

Initiations for Growth

Life is about growth, which is wonderful, though not always easy. Indeed, many of life's lessons can be painful or difficult. Yet, such challenges are often the ones that present the most opportunity for spiritual growth. Initiations for growth come in many forms. In fact, we can view every challenge in life as an opportunity to learn and grow. While these disruptions in life are not easy, they are necessary. The challenges the universe sends us can seem unbearable at times: a job we don't want to spend another day at, a broken heart that feels as if it will never heal, or a long and painful illness. And then, there are the challenges that can be just as scary because we are being called to step up to the plate in ways that we may think we are not yet ready for: overcoming our fears in order to realize a lifelong dream, leaving behind a situation or people in our life that we may have outgrown, or moving across the world for our dream job or life partner. At such times, it can feel as if the world is testing us and that life is asking more of us than we think we can give. We may feel uncomfortable, frightened, and unsure of what to do. However, life isn't so much going against us as it is encouraging us to grow. During these periods, we can grow stronger by putting one foot in front of the other, as we work through our challenges. We may be asked to let go of old safety measures, shift old patterns of behavior, or step into the abyss of the unknown. When we do rise to the occasion, we end up better off for having made that journey. Not only do we end up learning and growing, but we inevitably become more compassionate to the challenges of others and wiser in the ways of the world. Our faith in the universe also grows because, ultimately, we can't help but realize how much we are supported and taken care of at all times. When we are in the midst of a growing period, it is not easy to see our reward, but it is there, waiting for us to grow big enough to reach it.

Usui Retreat 3rd week announcement

Greetings Friends, Family and Students of Mari Hall and Wisechoices,

I am starting the 3rd week of our virtual Usui Retreat with a few articles and part of Frank Arjava Petter’s Reiki newsletter that you may find interesting; followed by the link to the third meditation written by Adonea in Sedona, Arizona. I certainly welcome all of you to join with us to be part of this retreat honoring Usui as well as sending energy to our Mother Earth. You can do as much or as little as you would like, there is no one to check on you. Even a minute a day of conscious intention brings great benefit to our Earth and to all of us.May Peace be part of our reality each and every day of this coming New Year.

Brightest Blessings,Love, Mari


Inner Guides
Seeking Advice From Yourself

Since we probably know ourselves better than anyone else does, then we may very well be the best person to ask for advice when we are in a quandary. One interesting exercise is to try asking for advice from your past and future selves. There is the younger self that you used to be and the older, more mature self that you will become. You can gain a different perspective when you view present situations through your younger self's eyes or your mature self's more experienced point of view. Perhaps, your younger self would view a current dilemma in a more innocent, less cynical way. Likewise, your older, hopefully wiser, self may offer advice from a more compassionate, experienced perspective. Think back to how you viewed the world when you were younger. What were your thoughts on happiness, love, and injustice? Think about how you would have reacted to a dilemma you are currently facing. The perspective may shed a different light on relationships, money matters, or life decisions. Likewise, think about the person you will become. A more mature version of you might mull a problem or conflict over carefully before taking action right away... or perhaps not. Maybe your older self would be more willing to take risks, care less about what other people think, and want to enjoy life more. You can even set up an advisory panel of your past, present, and future selves. You might even want to try to have a written dialogue with your selves to record the thoughts, feelings, and advice that your younger and older selves might have for your present self regarding a current situation. Your different selves can give you some invaluable answers. After all, no one can know you better than your selves. You are your wisest guide.

Creative Cuts
Editing Your Life

Our lives can be compared to an ongoing movie script over which we have complete creative control. Within us lies the power to examine what works or isn't working in our lives and make "edits" to our life's script, accordingly. Choosing to actively edit your life can be incredibly empowering. As you evolve, you have the choice to accept the script you've written thus far or edit it so you can create a life that fulfills you. You can cut out from your life's script what is no longer working for you. Acknowledging that you are responsible for the experience you create gives you the ability to create the life you've always longed for. Granted, editing your real life isn't always as easy as erasing a line of text. If you've carried emotional baggage or held on to an unhealthy relationship for a long time, these may be difficult to edit out. But when you do cut out what isn't working from your life, you'll feel lighter and more alive. Editing out activities that you find stressful, disassociating yourself from people that drain your energy, and letting go of your emotional baggage are all beneficial cuts you can make. In the empty spaces that are left behind, you can add in anything you like. Just as you have the power to edit out negative situations or beliefs that you no longer wish to have as part of your life, you can now include the kinds of positive experiences, people, and beliefs that you would like to fill your life with. The manifestation of these thoughts and images as realities in your life will inevitably follow. As you make changes to your life, you can also add in the bits where you choose mo! re intimate, healthier relationships, seek out adventure over tedium, and are no longer negatively impacted by old experiences.
To begin editing your life, simply think about your positive and negative experiences. When you determine what parts of your life are no longer serving you, make the commitment to remove them - though, it is important to remember that there is no proper timing or way to do this, and patience and compassion for yourself are always important during this process. Then, ask yourself what has brought you profound bliss and consider how you can make those experiences and beliefs part of your life now. With a little editing, you'll be able to clear out what is no longer serving you and make room in your life for more happiness, love, and wisdom.

From Arjava’s January 2006 Newsletter

Reiki Lineage

I would like to talk about an important and much discussed issue: Reiki Lineage- your Reiki family tree.

Reiki- Lineage has many aspects. One may think that it is not very important, because all that it is has happened in the past, and you are here and now, in this eternal present moment. But the fact is that time is an invention of man, and in terms of our Reiki Lineage it does not exist. Your teacher is always here with you. Through him you are connected to the source- so- hold him dear.

Remember your teachers for a moment. Are they not here with you right now right now? Do you feel them? Do you bow down to them, or is there some unfinished business in between you two? If there is, finish it before the year grows too old...

Modern Megalomania

Modern technology has many advantages and disadvantages. One advantage/disadvantage is that we can communicate at unbelievable speed and in a way that transcends space completely. In Reiki this has created a problem. Many of us have begun to teach distant attunements. A distant attunement is one executed between two people who potentially don’t know each other, and who have no serious relationship with one another. What can I learn from my teacher if I am not even ready to meet him? Of course in an emergency situation this would be a good option for a start. Then after the emergency you can continue the training in person.

The relationship between student and Teacher

In the oriental way this relationship is more of a commitment than marriage, because there is no possibility of divorce. Once you have chosen your teacher, you have chosen him for life; what is being taught becomes in a sense, less important. You learn in your teacher’s presence. You learn from the way he touches you, he looks at you and the way he speaks to you. You learn from the way he solves his daily challenges and from the way he acts with his family...

The importance of the Lineage

The Lineage connects you and your teacher and, most importantly, it connects you and Usui Sensei- through the medium of your teacher. And for Reiki to be a spiritual path, your connection to Usui Sensei must be as solid as anything can be. Especially when the going gets rough, your connection to Usui Sensei can save your sanity- and your life.

What is important?

Your root teacher is the one with whom you studied the teacher’s class. He is the one who gave you the permission to teach in his lineage. So, this is the teacher whose name will appear in your Reiki lineage. When I teach in my Western Reiki lineage, my lineage goes: Usui- Hayashi-Takata-Furumoto- Helbling- Gilgen- Popat- Petter. When I teach in my Japanese Reiki lineage it goes Usui – Hayashi- Sugano-Yamaguchi- Petter. It is important not mix your different lineages, to keep things straight. Having received an attunement from someone does not make him part of your teaching lineage.

Over the years I have received countless attunements from others- but they don’t appear in my lineage. I have received spiritual attunements from Osho and from others, but they have nothing to do with Reiki and my Reiki teaching lineage.
Please make sure that we keep these things clear.

The emailed Attunement process

Imagine you see the Dalai Lama perform an attunement on TV. Would you go ahead and perform this ritual with your students the next day? The same goes for an attunement process that you have not been taught and given permission to practice or teach by your teacher.

The permission of your teacher

In this sense the most valuable gift your teacher may give you is the permission to teach. If he has not given that to you, you are not able to teach in his lineage, however capable you may think you are. It may even point to a personal problem of the teacher, but nevertheless...You must then go to another teacher who is ready to certify you.

My Japanese teacher, Chiyoko Yamaguchi had a good way of letting her students know whether they were ready to teach or not. Of course her students received a certificate with the title “Shihan Kaku (assistant teacher) or Shihan (teacher) on it. Those who completed the Shihan Kaku course were permitted to teach Reiki One. Those who completed the Shihan level (teacher’s level) with her were granted the great honor to buy a scroll from her, as a sign of their Shihan status. This was not a business...This scroll has the Reiki principles written on it in Hayashi Sensei’s hand- writing. Please check the Hayashi Reiki Manual to take a look at it- it is truly beautiful and has tremendous energy. The Shihan who trained with her (or her son) has to have the scroll to be able to teach the first two levels- and he must hang it in the place that he teaches in.... This way you will always recognize who has and has not received her teaching permission. Additionally, in her lineage only! She herself was allowed to train another teacher. After her death this honor has been given to her son, Tadao Yamaguchi exclusively. If you would like to come to the source, I suggest you study with him. He is as far as I know the only person in the Reiki world who has the permission to teach teachers and he does it, too!

In the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai only the president, Mr. Kondo, is allowed to teach another teacher. If you hear of anyone else teaching Teachers the "original Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai” style – or in their lineage, you know that it is not true...

Checking your Reiki Lineage

It may be important to make sure that your teacher has really trained with someone. An example from my own experience: My first Reiki Teacher was my brother. After a while I found out that his Reiki Lineage always stopped with him. There seemed to be no way of finding out that he had learned from. Feeling uncomfortable with this, I went ahead and trained again with a dear friend, Agehanand Popat, in Hamburg. For this reason it is helpful to pass on the names of your teacher, your teacher’s teacher and so on, back to Mrs. Takata., to your master/teacher students. I have heard of so many people who allegedly studied with me, but the fact is that not many people have. In one book on Reiki it is said that I taught 30.000 people in Japan. But the real number is about 300(in 9 years).

Publishing the names of your certified students

Tadao Yamaguchi solved this problem by posting the names of the people who hold the Shihan (Teacher) level in his lineage, on his website. If anyone says that he learned form him or his mother, you can easily check whether this is so or not by looking at his website. Currently there is someone Japanese teaching in Mrs. Yamaguchi’s name, who does not have her permission to teach. If in doubt, please check it at the (Japanese) Jikiden Reiki.com website.

To avoid problems

I suggest that you always issue a certificate, and that you publish your student’s names on your website. This way we can avoid all sorts of complications.

Wishing you all the best, from heart to heart, your friend

Frank Arjava Petter
Reprinted by Arjava’s Written Permission. Copyright © 2006 by Frank Arjava Petter


Here’s the link to the 3rd weeks Usui Retrea meditation. http://www.wisechoices.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=7