Positive Health Online

Power Assisted Micro-Manipulation

I just had to write and thank you for printing the spread on the P.A.M. in your magazine in June 1998. I have suffered from a whiplash injury for the last five years and eight months. I have had so many different types of treatment: years of physio; acupuncture; manipulation under anaesthetic; Tens machine; pain killers every single day; muscle relaxing tablets every night so I was able to get some sleep; headaches most of the time; and migraines with vomiting at least twice a week. I tried as hard as I could to get on with my life the best I could, even though I have not been able to work since my accident. Then all that changed. I was really scared about trying this new treatment and thought: ‘Well, magazines always make it look better than it really is don’t they?’

So, off I went. The first treatment wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be, I had taken painkillers before I went, otherwise I could not have driven there. The thing I was most afraid of was that it would make me worse. I could not stand the P.A.M. too high on my neck, so Irene Phillips took things really slowly. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I was certainly no worse; I had more movement in my head and neck than I’ve had for years.

The next week I felt a bit better each day, and I noticed that I hadn’t had any migraines. Wow, that was good in itself! During the second treatment I was able to stand it a lot higher up on my neck, so Irene went to work on me and, by the time she had finished I felt great.

I must admit, over the next few days I kept waiting for it to go wrong. Everyone who saw me kept telling me that I looked much less strained, no frowning all the time. So, now I have had four treatments and, as they say, ‘I FEEL GOOD!’ I have not taken any pain killers or muscle relaxant in a few weeks now. Can you believe it? I can’t. It’s really brilliant, I have my life back and it’s wonderful!

Please, if you suffer with your back, please believe me – don’t just sit there, go and get some treatment. The P.A.M. and Irene Phillips has changed my life.

Thank you so much.

Mrs Maggie Spencer

About Reiki Standards

After hearing many frightening stories of what people are, or, in fact, are not learning on their Reiki courses by speaking to people at various Natural Health Exhibitions, and after having conversations with people who have had less than beneficial experiences on the courses that they have attended, I have decided to set some standards for my own teaching in the hope that other Masters who are truly dedicated to teaching Reiki to the highest standards can follow.

Some Masters are talking about the need to break away from the guidelines taught within courses, which they say, other teachers are 'bound by' but in doing so they are also breaking away from setting guidelines, boundaries and standards for students to work within. This is making Reiki a free for all where anything goes and because of this the quality of teaching is dramatically dropping.

Many Masters are training students from First Degree up to Master level in only a few short months and allowing these new Masters to teach almost instantaneously. I feel that it is essential that the students take what they have learned and integrate it properly using the guidelines set out by their Master to maximise the benefits of the course. Then if they still wish to further their knowledge they can enrol on a further course. I believe that when teaching, one has to speak one's own truth and not just learn to repeat what their Master tells them as everybody's truth and perception is slightly different.

I personally do not give out the second degree certificates until I have received a summary of the student's reflective journal of their 28-day integration period which follows the course. Within this I also ask the student to answer some questions about their knowledge and experiences of using second degree Reiki. Only when I have received this and am happy that the student has properly integrated the course by following the exercises which I set to maximise the benefits of the course will I give out the certificate. This ensures that the student is competent to be a practitioner.

One of the other things that I find most disturbing about the way Reiki is being spread is the duration of the Masters Courses. I fail to understand how people can expect to teach after doing a Masters course of just two or three days, let alone one day 'quickies'. It seems that people are in a hurry to do the Masters Course – if you learned to drive you would not be competent to teach this after just a few months. Reiki is no different. The students need to be carefully guided through the process of becoming a Master and need ongoing support and guidance.

I ask people to ask themselves honestly why they want to become a Master – do they really want to teach Reiki to the highest quality or are they doing it for financial reasons or even to boost their ego? Some Masters are telling people that they are ready for their Masters course and are not even making sure that they are confident or even competent with second degree.

In my role as Reiki Master for the NAA I have to vet people to see if the people who practice Reiki for the agency are competent and qualified. On one of these 'vettings' was someone who was currently doing a short Masters course and after a few minutes we started running through their second degree training. It turned out that they could not draw the second degree symbols and so obviously could not use them – and yet their master was still training them for the masters course. I spoke to the master in question and to my horror he was aware of this fact and said that he would make sure that they learned them – although he continued with the Masters course. If people are only interested in becoming an instant Master without doing an ongoing Masters course then I would question their intent – do they have respect for what they are doing or for the people who they want to do it to? If it is for the Highest Good then it needs to be done properly with full guidance and not just a quick fix with a certificate – qualifications should not be bought.

The shorter courses may and I repeat only MAY be cheaper but what you save in pounds (£) you lose in knowledge and understanding and if you work out the value for money then you will find that you pay much more per day for the quickies than for the longer courses. Reiki is about Universal Love and not money or ego so may those who truly wish to spread the light shine for all to see.

One of the students on my Masters course told me that she was approached by another Master and told that if she attended his Masters course which he could teach in one intensive day's tuition (and would still cost her £400) then she could make her money back by the end of the month by teaching others. I believe that in order to attend the Masters Course then the student needs to have properly integrated both Reiki first and Reiki second degree and should have been working on both themselves daily and others for at least eight months after completing Second degree.

The Reiki Master Teacher course that I have put together is a five-day course which spans five months and is for those who are truly dedicated to integrating Reiki into their lives and who feel passionate about keeping the standards of Reiki teaching as high as possible.

The course starts with a three-day intensive workshop where students learn the traditional Usui Reiki Mastership. This is followed up by a series of specific exercises to practise for the next two months to maximise the benefits of the integration period.

After these two months there is a day learning the Tibetan Reiki Mastership – again followed by two months of practice and integration.

Finally there is one last day where everything that has been learned is reinforced, ironing out any problems or queries, honing techniques, and covering teaching methods. There is then one final month of integration after which the student receives their certificate.

Now the new Master will be ready to teach with both confidence and competence, having come to truly understand the roles and responsibilities that being a Reiki Master Teacher involves. They can also attend a Reiki 1 and 2 course for observational reasons to help them put their own courses together. The dates will be arranged subject to demand and the course costs £400 – which can be payable in instalments if necessary.

If this is the path that you wish to travel, then I look forward to teaching you. If not, then I would be interested to hear your comments.

I can be contacted at: 4 Bramford Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 4DA Tel: 01473 405958 Fax: 01473 400337

With love, joy, peace and, of course, Reiki,

Peter Warnock

Breast Cancer: Feedback (issue 33)

Another wonderful issue! I am so glad you are again focussing on the awful reality of the breast cancer situation in our country.

One tragic aspect of this problem is that too many ladies appear reluctant to face up to the possibilities of any deterioration in their breast health. This ostrich-like approach can have tragic consequences, whereas regular checking, and the making of just one or two slight lifestyle changes could be life-saving.

You were kind enough to review my book, YOUR BREASTS: What every woman needs to know NOW! about three years ago. It is still available from the address below at £10 including p & p.

Since your review, a fully randomised two-year study has been conducted at Guy's Hospital under the auspices of Mr. Ian Fentiman, the chief breast cancer surgeon. The positive results obtained from using the principles in the book on many aspects of breast pain and breast health were very encouraging.

The book contains many simple practical suggestions about bras, diet, anti-perspirants, etc., which if implemented, can be a great help in attaining and maintaining optimum breast health. Positive health measures are always the best prevention against any possible problems.

Again thank you for being such a 'positive' force in the world of natural, complementary health care.

Brian H Butler
Kinesiology Health & Wellbeing Clinic, 39 Browns Road, Surbiton, Surrey KT5 8ST

Julie’s Legacy

Thank you very much for sending me a copy of the October issue of Positive Health this week. Your introduction and the rest of the Breast Cancer Special Feature makes a very interesting and informative read. Your magazine certainly incites a lot of worrying and sobering thoughts. I thought your editorial was really good as well. Julie had a “shining spirit” and she also fought her battle with incredible determination and self-belief. Unfortunately, too many of us just glide through life not taking a blind bit of notice of what we are doing to our health and our environment. Julie had for a long time known this to be true but tragically it was too late in her life to make a real impact and she died well before her time.

During her childhood Julie’s parents took her to the seaside to bake unprotected in the sun but then people didn’t know any better I suppose in those days; my parents were the same. Later on at the beginning of the 80s Julie went off trekking around New Zealand and Australia. With her fair skin and ginger/blonde hair I doubt whether she had enough protection even then. Having been badly exposed I think it was just a matter of time before the cancerous cells appeared and eventually took total control of her body.

I also enjoyed reading the “Creative Writing for Health” article. I have been for counselling which has helped in some respects but funnily enough, although I really struggle putting my words and thoughts down on paper I still nevertheless find it challenging and therapeutic, especially when I produce something to be proud of.

It is my intention to donate my writer’s fee to the Linda McCartney Memorial Appeal, a Cancer BACUP appeal to pay for a permanent nurse post in memory of Linda McCartney.

Did I tell you about what we did with all the donations that were made to “Julie’s Fund”? Whilst Julie laid in hospital she discussed at great length with the Ward Manager what could be done to make The Rowan Breast Unit a more homely and comfortable place for future patients. Jenny suggested a table and set of chairs for the Unit Day Room, a communal room set aside solely for patient use. The table would then provide a more dignified place for patients who were able to get out of bed to have their meals and play games on etc. It also meant that the nursing staff and auxillaries could feed a few patients all at the same time thus relieving other members of staff to undertake other essential tasks etc.

Naturally after Julie passed away it seemed the most appropriate thing to organise and then have delivered in her memory. I also bought a glass protective safety top (toughened glass) for the table, heat resistant plastic sheeting and cut it to the length and shape of the table, place mats to match, 22 very colourful flower vases, a smashing radio/music centre and 25 CDs (which it holds all at the same time) and if left on random play will just play and play and play.

Once again thank you for the magazine and publishing my article.

Julie's Husband