Claire O'Leary
Opening My Heart – best thing I’ve ever done for myself!
I frequently focus on opening my heart
Opening my heart is probably the best thing I’ve ever done for myself! So when my Reiki and mentoring clients come to me with grief, loss and anger, I work with them to open their hearts. Many of us have closed down our heart to keep from being hurt. Unfortunately, the result of a closed heart is not receiving and in fact feeling more hurt. One of the best ways I have found to open my heart is to concentrate on gratitude and appreciation for life.
So many things in our past have closed our hearts that we have created a world filled with chaos and strife.
Is it any wonder that we close our hearts so as not feel? Anger, worry, lack of appreciation for the wonders of our world, conditional love (not only for others but especially for ourselves), and lack of general kindness toward ourselves and others. These are all things that close our hearts daily.
What if we could open our hearts back up, allow ourselves to feel – yes, absolutely everything, joy, pain, excitement, depression – acknowledge them, feel them, from the bottom of our toes to the top of our head and especially in our heart. Just that will begin to open our hearts just a little more. Opening my heart is probably the best thing I have ever done for myself.
Can you imagine a world filled with open hearts?
A world filled with joy? With Love (true unconditional love)? Each of us living life doing the things we are passionate about? Listening to Divine inspiration and following our path? Each of us speaking our truth passionately and compassionately? How much healthier and happier would we be if we chose to live our life this way instead of being worried and anxious?
I frequently focus on opening my heart as well as that of my Reiki and mentoring clients as I find many of us have closed down our heart to keep from being hurt.
There was a time in my life that my heart was so closed, I couldn’t find much to be grateful for. In fact, I can remember waking and trying to write in my gratitude journal. The only thing I could find worthy of gratitude is that the sun was shining.
Never mind that I had a beautiful daughter, supportive family and friends. I couldn’t see it. But, the sun was shining, so I wrote that down. Don’t get me wrong here, I was dealing with a lot of big stuff. A husband who drank too much, incest, money worries. Most days, I awakened lethargic and wondering why I didn’t commit suicide. Sometimes, I contemplated how I might do it. Luckily, I had a daughter whose life felt more important than mine and I chose daily not to leave her alone. I began to see a transpersonal psychologist, I began to focus more on those little things I was grateful for. Time went by and I continued to write one or two things every day in my gratitude journal.
Then one day, I awakened full of energy and I began to notice all the beauty surrounding me. The smokey mountains on one side, how the falling leaves danced in the wind, the blazing colors of the sunset. And then soon an appreciation for those people in my life began to show up. Ever so slowly at first. In fact some things took me years to appreciate.
What I didn’t realize at the time is that gratitude was opening my heart a little at a time. Gratitude is one of the principles of Reiki, though I didn’t know it at the time. The thing I really love about the Reiki principles is that they are completely without judgement or obligation. Each one starts with “Just for today…” See the blog on the 5 Reiki Principles.
Watch for stories of self-empowerment as I share my 30+ year healing journey.
If you’ll share yours with me as well, either in private or in the comments below, I’d be excited to acknowledge you, or share below with others if you wish so we can all learn from each other’s lessons. However you wish to share, I hope you will accept my invitation to this private forum of self-empowerment toward a more joyful, passionate and inspired life.
The 5 Reiki Principles
I love the 5 Reiki Principles. They embody the essence of living in the best possible way.
The 5 Reiki Principles remind me daily to be grateful, to live in the moment and not worry about tomorrow, to let go of all that anger I used to hold onto, to use all my talents daily and to be kind in thought word and deed.
Gratitude is one of my favorite principles. There was a time when I didn’t feel there was much to be grateful for. In fact at one point in my life, the only time I felt grateful was if the sun was shining. I began to keep a gratitude journal and wrote that down. For months that was it, then I started to notice little things, the color of the leaves changing, someone saying something nice to me. The more I wrote down, the more I became grateful. If this is a principle you are missing in your life, try it. Get a small notebook and start writing things down.
I’ve never been a big worrier myself. I leave that for my husband :-). But I know many are and I recognize the toll worrying about money, the future, the kids etc., can take. I recently read a book titled “Savor” by Thich Nhat Hanh & Lilian Cheung that reminded me to savor every moment of life, especially the little things. Being mindful and living in the moment will release so much of our worry and make life smoother.
I used to be short tempered. The interesting thing is I didn’t realize how much stress played a part in that. Anger had become a way of life for me. Flying off the handle was a daily occurrence for me but only at home. I had to put my happy face on everywhere else. After all, I didn’t want them to think badly of me. I couldn’t speak my truth if someone did something to me I felt was unkind. After all, if I crossed someone or did something wrong “would they still love me?” An old pattern to discuss another time 🙂 So nobody knew except my family, the recipients. It’s so much easier now that I practice forgiveness meditations and let go of all that old crap within days or even minutes.
Honesty means different things to different people and we all have our degrees on honesty. The most profound for me though is when I read about not using our talents being dishonest to ourselves. That had such an effect on me. Especially since my coach had told me previously to quit being stingy and share my talents. So each day I share at least one talent with the world. Today I’m writing.
My mother used to say “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all“. I know many of you can relate to that. Though it also kept me from speaking my truth for a long time, it does embody the principle of kindness. I prefer however, paying it forward. Giving a compliment when it’s deserved, and practicing empathy. Remembering that we each have our cross to bear and that sometimes it’s not visible. Sometimes just a smile can change someone’s day.
Download a pdf copy of the 5 Principles of Reiki.
Please comment and let me know if you can relate to any of these or if you find them helpful.
Claire
Self-Care with Reiki
Woman practicing self-care with Reiki transferring energy through palms, a kind of energy medicine.
I over-exert my body by taking two dance classes in one day. My hips are “killing” me. There’s a spot in my lower back with a sharp pain that just won’t go away and every step I take is tentative. This has been going on for hours.
I stretched, I used my Deep Blue cream, rubbed it in nice and deep from waistline to knees (everything hurt)! It’s a little better but that spot in my back just won’t go away. I don’t like to take pharmaceuticals (I haven’t even taken an aspirin in almost a year), but I’m really tempted.
As I sit down after dinner in my favorite chair “ouch” to relax and watch a movie, I think ” Maybe I should try a little Reiki.” I cup my hands, place one on the right hip and one on the pain spot in my lower back. I invite my Reiki guides, all Masters past, present and future, if appropriate, to help. I ask to be shown what is causing this chronic pain so that I can take action to correct it. I leave my hands there for a few moments then move the left hand down to the left hip as having it on my back is uncomfortable and not sustainable. “Ah, much better and natural.” I leave my hands there as I get involved in the movie. I don’t think much more about it.
As I get up to go to bed, I notice I am walking normally. The pain in my back has released. WOW! Thank you!
The next day…
I feel pretty good as I get up. A little hitch for the first couple steps then yes! No pain. A few hours later after spending (probably too much) time reading I notice I’m stiff when I go to take my shower. “Ugh!” I think, “it’s back”. “Now I’m going to need to do more Reiki!” Quickly (thankfully) comes the second thought…
“Wow, all I need to do is a little more Reiki! It’s free, it only takes a short time! What am I waiting for!” A few more minutes of Reiki and I feel so much better.
I forget sometimes what a blessing it is to know Reiki and how simple and effective it is to use. Daily self-care with Reiki can prevent and certainly resolve many of my little aches and pains.
To learn more about Reiki and how to practice for yourself, visit http://www.clearhearthealingarts.com/reiki-classes/
Reiki Level 1 and II and III Classes
Reiki Level II Class
Saturday, December 12, 2015
As a Level Two practitioner, you are attuned a second time, which exponentially increases the energy that flows through the heart and hands, making you an even more powerful healer. You will learn to draw some of the Reiki sacred symbols, how to do a manifestation grid using the symbols and how to do long distance healing. You will learn which symbols to use for emotional, physical, and even those that transcend time and space. We’ll also create a Reiki Box so you can add names of those others who want your help.
A Reiki II practitioner is considered a professional and can provide services to the public. Reiki II focuses on emotional, mental and karmic healing for the person who receives it. Learn more about Reiki II.
Haven’t yet completed Reiki I training? Learn more about Reiki I.
Reiki I Classes
Call or e-mail for information Reiki I, II and III classes
The first degree of Reiki is the beginning of a wonderful journey filled with learning and growth on so many different levels. Many people find that the first degree is all they need to study and incorporate, to lead a more fulfilling life. While others, will continue their studies and progress onto the second degree and some to master/teacher degree.
The first degree connects the student to the Universal Life Force and gives them the tools to heal themselves, their family and others. Learn more.
Through the Heart
I’m home from a week-long spiritual retreat in Grand Lake, Colorado and I feel amazing.
It’s been a long time since my heart has felt this expansive.
Between it was called and I wondered what that really meant. Meditate on “Between” before coming to retreat, the instructions read. Write down any dreams you might have…
…Nothing! No dreams, no big Ahas, Nada, Zip, Zero thoughts other than that’s how I feel right now. Between. My life feels between this and that. My business feels between what and I don’t know. Even my Reiki practice feels between.
“Why did you want me to come here”? The first big question posed to my Inner Teacher at the retreat by my leader Mary Gay. We’ve been working together for over 20 years so the question shouldn’t surprise me, but it does in a way. See, I just got a bee in my bonnet and decided it was time to do a retreat since we hadn’t spoken in several years and I felt like I was missing “something”. Not so fast missy! The Inner Teacher, Spirit Guides, Intuition is always guiding me. I should know that by now.
“Trust!” was the big answer that came to me. Apparently that’s what I was doing. Every morning and evening and sometimes in the afternoon we were led through a guided meditation. Even though I was as close as I could be to Mary Gay, because of my hearing loss, I missed most of the instructions or completely got them wrong. At times it was actually funny like in my first meditation where I heard “Your head is too small”. “Really? That can’t be what she said” I’m thinking still in my conscious mind. But the music starts and off I go, my head growing so big that it looks like a hot air balloon and my body is the size of a basket. I float away… More on this later.
So I had no choice but to trust and go with whatever I got every step of the way. There’s more, way more. From letting go of old wounds to relating to the throat Chakra in a whole new way and opening the heart Chakra. (Ha, I thought it was open.) Expanding the heart Chakra to a whole new level made me realize how closed most of us really are.
The bottom line is I have a new directive for the year beyond trust and that is that I’m a leader and it’s time to take the lead. Time to step into my role as High Priestess (whatever that means). But be cautious and lead from an open heart. Even beyond that – everything I teach is to be about opening the heart.
So here I am – opening my heart to you.
The Reiki classes I have scheduled now (Reiki I on Saturday, June 20th & Monday June 22nd and Reiki II TBD in July) have been expanded to include a Heart Opening Meditation (similar to the one I did in retreat). Because after all that is what Reiki is all about. The Attunement brings the Divine Energy down through the Crown Chakra, through the Heart and out through the hands. The more open the heart, the easier the flow and the more powerful the energy flowing through. The result: more open heart – more flow – more energy – more healing for everyone. What better result could we ask for.
Stay tuned for more “stuff” to come. If you want to learn more about what I do, check out www.ClearHeartHealingArts.com.
Declaration of Independence
My Declaration of Independence
Today I am reminded why I chose to become an American citizen. At 19 years old I was pretty unconscious, my husband was in the military and I needed to become an american citizen so he could get his security clearance. It was all pretty clear what needed to be done but honestly not much thought went into it. It was a natural progression of things.
I’d been living in the US now since I was 13. I went through Junior High and High School here, studied Civics and there was no reason to think I’d move back to Canada. Not that there was anything wrong with Canada, but my home was here.
So I answered all their questions, my neighbors and friends answered all their questions including whether or not I’d ever been a prostitute, or done drugs or committed any other crimes. I passed with flying colors and we all laughed about what seemed to be the “silliness” of such questions.
The test was pretty easy for someone who’d been raised here, but I know that many people study hard and learn english so they can write their one sentence and understand the way our government works so they can live here and vote and have all the civil liberties that our country has to offer. They make a conscious choice to be here and have a better life.
Most of us go through life not really considering or appreciating how lucky we are to live in a country that affords us such freedoms. We’re unconscious of why we are here and live out our days not really considering that we have such freedom of choice. We think it is a right not a privilege.
Today I too make a conscious choice to be free. Not only to be a citizen of the United States, and to appreciate all that means, but to be free of my own unconscious fears my own old patterns, habits and stories that have held me back and kept me stuck.
Today, I declare independence from my own unconsciousness, in order to live the conscious life I was born to live. A life filled with joy, following my path and helping others to do the same. A life filled with choice day after day and the awareness to make the right choices every day.
I encourage you to do the same. Declare independence from your old fears and move forward in your life whatever that means to you. Go ahead write it down. Share it if you dare.