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Berwick Area Heart Support Group
May 2004 Newslette
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NEXT MEETING MAY 5th At the DAY HOSPITAL BERWICK INFIRMARY From 6.00pm – 9.00pm ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Guest Speaker Dr Higham
Dr Higham is Honorary President of our group and on his previous visits both as a speaker and as a guest he has proved to be very popular within the group. This months meeting starts with our AGM at 6pm, followed by the normal meeting, Dr Higham has indicated he will be attending the AGM. So if possible come along and get involved.
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At our last meeting on 7th. April our speaker was Michael Redican, ably assisted by Emma. Michael gave us a talk and demonstration on various methods of relaxation, which included aromatherapy,reflexology, reiki and crystals. Michael has been studying these disciplines at Berwick Community Centre for a couple of years now, and whilst he makes no pretence of being an expert in aromatherapy or reflexology as he has no diplomas yet, he is allowed to practice, and offer counselling in Reiki.
Michael started his demonstration with aromatherapy, and using a mixture of oils, which included Frankincense, Eucalyptus, Lavender and ginger, which in very small amounts were amalgamated into a base oil, and used to massage the shoulders of Emma prior to a short Reiki session.
Michael did prepare a short history of Reiki, which I now reproduce. Rei- is defined as Universal life, and like the rays of the sun, it gives life to living things such as, people, animals, and plants. The Ki part is defined as energy. This energy or life force flows through all living things. Ki is also known as light, prana, chi or cosmic energy.
Reiki can be safely used in all conditions and situations. Its history depends on which book you read, as there are a few variations in the stories of the development of Reiki. Dr. Mikao Usui lived in Kyoto, a city in Japan, during the second half of the 19th. Century. He was probably a follower of Shintoism or Buddhism originally, but fully embraced Christianity from visiting missionaries, later becoming a minister, and teacher at a Christian Boys School. Questioned by his students about Jesus’ healing powers, and that we should follow his footsteps as healers, Usui felt he could not answer them and so resigned, and having understood from the missionaries that Christianity was a Western religion, he set off west to try to discover Jesus’ healing methods. After 7 years study at a college in Chicago he was no wiser, and returned to Japan. He tried to find answers to healing methods in Buddhism, and travelled around Japan, working in monasteries, seeking help, sometimes even finding text on the subject, but not the information he required.
With all else failing he decided to go to a retreat for 21 days, fasting and meditating on Mount Kuri Yama, a sacred mountain, only taking 21 stones as his throw away calendar. As he held his last stone he prayed earnestly for an answer. At that time he saw a bright light coming towards him, and he decided to accept whatever the light should bring. It struck him on the forehead, and millions of coloured lights appeared before him.Whilst running down the hillside, he stubbed his toe which started to bleed. He held his toe for a couple of minutes, and it stopped bleeding. He later, after all that fasting ate a large meal without any indigestion, cured the serving girl of her tooth ache, by holding her cheek, and removed the pain of arthritis from a local monk, just by holding his hands in the area. He was a healer.
Dr. Usui decided to help the poor in the beggar quarter of Kyoto. He lived and worked there for 7 years healing the people, hoping that they would have a better life. When they returned to their old ways he was discouraged and left.
He travelled Japan teaching Reiki and training them to become Masters. One of them, Chujiro Hayashi, became his successor. He was a retired naval officer, who opened a clinic in Tokyo, training many in the use of Reiki, including his successor, Mrs. Hawayo Takata. She returned to her native Hawaii, and eventually took Reiki to America, initiating 22 Reiki masters who spread Reiki throughout the States and Europe. She named her Granddaughter as her successor, Phyllis Lei Furumoto, who is currently recognised as the Reiki Grand Master
That brings us to where we are today…… Reikie in Britian…. Berwick no less.
Just a few words about Reiki, again these are Michael’s words.
Reiki is the use of a natural energy, present all around us, but which we can become attuned to, and thus become a channel for that energy. Maybe Reiki is the answer to the stress problem, we should all be attuned to first degree Reiki and be able to treat ourselves daily. Healing and relaxing ourselves, what could be better!
As Reiki practitioners we do not claim to be Healers. The expression we use in our treatment is “to their highest good”. The energy will go to the area of the body where it is required. In treatment we do direct the energy towards the area of the clients’ complaint, but the energy will find other areas of need as well
We have a standard routine in our treatment, which we practice, but with experience we can scan the body to determine where the energy is needed, and then treat those areas specifically.
Further information on Reiki is available from Suzanne Manning Tel. No. 018907 81360 (Ayton area) or Michael.
Michael also used crystals as part of his presentation. Again he has prepared some notes, which again I reproduce. After all the help withthis month’s article, I’ll have to think of a story, otherwise I’ve had little to do. Anyway back to crystals.
Crystals have their own power of healing, and can be used as follows.
Relieving stress Tiger’s Eye Calms down overproduction of adrenaline, giving you objectivity and confidence. Helps you recognise your inner resources.
Aragonite (Excellent partner for Tiger’s Eye) Helps you to be grounded and centred, gives insight to your problem and helps you delegate. Amethyst (Also a good partner)
Relaxation
Pink and green crystals induce a deep state of physical relaxation. Yellow stones calm the mind. Purple ones raise your consciousness and bring peace. One of the fastest ways to induce deep relaxation is to lay crystals on our body. Clear quartz above the head – draws in peace, heals and re-energizes. Amethyst on the forehead, relieves mental tension and promotes relaxation. Rose quartz on the heart, opens the heart to receive peaceful energy. Citrine on the navel, draws off negative emotions and creates a feeling of safety Smoky Quartz placed between the feet, also removes negative emotions and grounds the body.
That’s it I’m on my own now.
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Wally’s Yarns
The only story I can think of, was as I was typing the mixture of oils Michael used as his massage oil, I remembered the smell of the Eucalyptus especially did eventually drift around the room, as it is quite a strong smell. Honest Michael, there is no connection, but my story revolves around another strong smell, and that is creosote.
All those years ago, when I left school, I got a job on a local large Estate, down in the south of England. I was to be helping the Forrester, but when I started he was on his annual holidays, so I go put with the gardener for a couple of weeks. (Who said gardening created peace and tranquillity?, he was the grumpiest person I had ever met).Anyway Monday morning, bright eyed and bushy tailed, I turned up for work. The head gardener said, “What you like with a paint brush lad?” Guessing by then that I was not going to be mowing the grass, or weeding the flower beds I said “Not bad”.“Good” he said, “Get the creosote and a brush from the shed, go up to the big house and creosote the porch at the back door. Don’t get the stuff all over the glass”.So off I went, full of myself. Spent all morning on the job and went back to the gardens for my dinner. Gardener said, “Have you finished?”, I said, “ Yes, two coats inside and out”. He said, “ Did you clean up your mess?, Did you clean the glass?, You didn’t upset cook did you?”I said,” Look there’s nothing to worry about, they wont know I’ve been, apart from the smell. By the way it wasn’t a porch, it was a Ferrari”.He couldn’t believe it either.
I do realise that not everyone shares my sense of humour. If my little stories do upset some folk, I’m sorry. I do try not to make them controversial, or offensive.
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Wally Selby.
Recipe of the month
Lemon and Garlic Chicken
4 chicken fillets cut into strips 1tbsp plain flour freshly ground pepper 2tbs oil 1 onion, sliced 1 clove garlic, sliced 200g brown rice 1 leek, thinly sliced 1 tbsp chopped coriander/parsley 1 lemon (if using dried herbs add half the amount stated for fresh )
Coat the chicken in flour seasoned in pepper Heat the oil and sauté the onion and garlic in pan for two minutes over medium heat. Add chicken and brown. Meanwhile cook the rice Add the leeks and herbs to the chicken. Cut 4 slices of lemon and add them to pan. Squeeze the juice from the rest of the lemon into the pan. Continue cooking over a medium heat for 15 minutes. Add a little water if required. Serve the chicken on a bed of rice, topped with a slice of lemon
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ‘LOW IMPACT’ EXERCISE’
Weight, arteries, suppleness, strength, co-ordination, staying power? Continuing the good work of cardiacrehabilitation?
Do you like music and dance? If so, open to everybody, not just the Heart Group, try the Berwick Middle School Gym (7.0pm) on a Thursday evening during the school terms. This is a friendly and relaxing hour of rhythmic aerobic exercise to music with stretches and strengthening.
The experienced leader, Shirley Burns, has received rigorous training from a countrywide health promotion scheme. The ‘low impact’ exercise avoids any possible injuries and is ideal for anybody who wants to regain fitness and strength and is suitable for some mobility problems.! The only equipment required is loose comfortable clothing, and soft-shoes or trainers.
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