Invitations

"If they don’t want help, I can’t send it to them, right?"

This was a question posed to a Reiki Master Teacher from a First Degree student.  Her response was, “Yes, you are right.  You have to be invited to have the healing energy be received. Otherwise, it just doesn’t get through.” (I'm paraphrasing.)

I listened to this exchange and let it soak in.  Ask for permission first.  Okay.

Then a few days later, it hit me.  All my life, I’ve wondered why our prayers, chants, Metta meditations, group singings, drum circles, and energy healings, which are sent out to the world at large through the years and from all sorts of locations, have failed to bring about peace, love, harmony, and environmental awareness.  There are plenty of people who want to embrace love and peace, who actively work toward bettering themselves and their communities.  These invisible peace warriors are everywhere, even in my bright Red State neighborhood.

And there are plenty of those who are lost in the lower circles of Hell, stuck and trembling with rage and indignation.  Their righteousness screams so that they cannot let the sweet song of togetherness into their hardened hearts.  Their ears are clogged with clanging bells of scorn.  They’ve practiced gaslighting and mimicked comebacks so much, they don’t know how to creatively listen for and express compassion. 

Throwing money, love, things, cakes, hugs toward someone... If it is not welcomed, it's not received or received well. I knew this, but it was a vague understanding. Now it had sharpened, as if my eyesight had suddenly cleared. I didn't know it applied on a universal scale. I feel like this small epiphany helped me see why things are not better for our planet and everything on it.  We just can’t fix those who do not want it. Adding love to a toxic waste dump is futile.

This realization also permitted me to continue to focus on where I can be of service.  It’s important to have boundaries; we all know that.  Otherwise, we give and give until we are drained, jaded, or both.  Sometimes our expectations are so unfulfilled that, in moments of despair, we finally recognize our ego’s presence, and so, we can turn toward that and learn.

I learned this week that our power lies in the focus of our healing energy, which is known as our intention.  It is essential that we pay attention to the areas where we can be of benefit and where we can do the most good.

We have to receive the invitation.  This invitation is an acceptance. It is an acknowledgement of a mutual understanding that we are all in this together, working for the greater good and for the good of each other.  Let’s invite each other to that amazing party.

I will see you there!