We are creatures of love that have thrust ourselves into what appears to be a world of hate. We once knew there was only one form of love, but now the influence of fear and separation has provided us with the perception that love can exist on several levels. The current levels of love are:
EROS LOVE - known as 'erotic love', is based on strong romantic feelings towards another.
PHILOS LOVE - a love based on friendship between two people who share a mutual, 'give-and take' relationship.
AGAPE LOVE - unconditional love that is always giving and impossible to take or be a taker. It devotes total commitment to seek your highest best no matter how anyone may respond. This form of love is totally selfless and does not change whether the love given is returned or not. This is the original and only true form of love.
The description of 'Agape Love' that is accepted by most beliefs as the love that God provides, is identical to how his love is described throughout "A Course in Miracles", which is founded upon the primary principle that God's love for us has never allowed him to even begin to see us differently, regardless of what we may have done or believe we have done. The Course is repeatedly clear how God never takes and only gives, which is how creation works since God creates by extending himself...as he also extended himself into what has come to be known as us, the Son of God.
God never takes...and since we are created in his likeness...with his same method of thinking and being, our true selves (not these ego shrouded human shells) also know this is true. We inherently know that it is never better to take or require that somebody give. Giving is natural and never includes loss of any kind. True giving is like creation in that you do not lose what you give, but you extend that thing and it grows larger as you give it, or share it...like sharing a story or experience.
True giving is rarely experienced on a physical level since we perceive the thing as missing once it is given. On a physical level, you believe you have less after you give or that you have more when you receive. As you can see, this physical world has nothing to do with agape love since this world is based upon taking and having more or upon losing and having less. Agape love is based upon giving through sharing and knowing you already have everything and have nothing to lose. Agape love acknowledges that we are all connected and can only move that thing amongst ourselves, but never outside, so we never lose it. Everything is simply shared.
In a spiritual reality, only thoughts of agape love exist. Nothing else can exist there since everything is in harmony. There is no thought of less or loss or sacrifice since all needs are met before they even exist. This is where the mind of our God exists and it is from here where he teaches us and speaks to us. Every thought or idea that has truly originated from the mind of God, originated from his center of Agape Love.
Since we are no longer centered in agape love, the issue we have while forming relationships is that we tend to severely limit the capacity of the relationship to what we can get from the other or what we think the other wants to take from us. This form of relationship stems from "philos" love which indicates you share a like mindedness (eg. if you agree with me, I will love you). A philos love relationship is a mutual, "give-and take" relationship which ends the moment one side either does not get what they want or is asked for something they do not wish to give.
Our confusion on the purpose of love relationships is often then applied to how we think God relates to us, where we imagine that God only loves us when we please him, or that God will only walk with us if we acknowledge him, or that God will only extend his hand and carry us back to him in heaven if we agree with what we think he demands from us. In doing this, we have created a philos love relationship with God which is totally at odds with his agape love since agape love only gives and never takes and is void of any necessary condition. Agape love asks for nothing and gives everything....simply because we are the children of agape love.
Having built walls between ourselves and our creator, we have distanced ourselves from sensing God's love and the world we see around us is a reflection of living without real love. This environment breeds calamity and destruction since that is the result of life based upon fear instead of love. If accepting perfect love can cast out fear, then likewise, accepting fear removes our ability to sense perfect love.
Fortunately, our creator views any problem or tragic moment as an opportunity to reach into our hearts and provide reason for change. No matter what loss appears to have occurred, he is not angry or upset at who we think is at fault because he knows nothing has been lost. Since material things have no eternal value, they do not matter at all to him. In addition, any person you believe has died, is still safe in spirit form, and since God exists spiritually, he does not sense the loss of this being and therefore has no reason to be upset at anyone. His only thought is to help us see that life can be happier... life can be fuller... it is better to be kind... it is better to be loving, and then our time down here will become a focus on preparing ourselves to return to our creator. Regardless of what happens here, He has not and never will lose one of us because we are created eternal spirits, just like him. Jesus proved when he rose again that you can kill the body, but the spirit remains, untouched and unaffected by anything that happens while here in this physical world.
- Agape love is seeing the answer and sharing that with whoever is seeing or experiencing the problem.
- Agape love is never judgmental and is eternally patient with any thing that must be learned.
- Agape love is totally without demands or requirements.
- Agape love is total truth in that it does not change, no matter what appears to change around it.
- Agape love knows not of time since time does not exist in heaven.
- Agape love is unconditional forgiveness for any event because agape love transcends the concept of needing forgiveness in that it knows we are simply misguided and therefore our actions are not held against us in the first place.
Like frightened children running through a dark forest, we act irrationally and do things out of fear and panic. Agape love knows this and seeks only to help us resolve our fears so that we can see clearly once again and return to full communication with our creator.
Nothing physical matters. Nothing can be lost. Nothing can be taken. Nothing needs to be given. In our true form, we know this, but right now we can only recite the words...but we don't really believe them...and that's why we are here. We are in a place where we believe we have been removed from agape love and have written books about a god who does not behave as though he is agape love, but this is not so. The closest our reality can be described here is to think of this as a collective dream on a universal scale. We, the Son of God, attempted to perform something separate from our creator and this is not possible, so instead, this action created a place... a dream, where Gods agape love does not seem to exist...and this is a horrific thought and thus our lives have been horrific.
God has sent the Holy Spirit to help awaken us and to help us see that this world is upside down and totally backwards in thinking. This world teaches taking. God teaches giving. This world teaches sacrifice and guilt. God teaches you have nothing to lose so there is nothing to sacrifice and therefore nothing to make others feel guilty about. This world teaches that fear is necessary to survive, but God teaches that love casts out fear and that we will only truly live when we cast out our fear and embrace agape love once again.
Every lesson, teaching or guideline that ever truly came from God, can only originate from the unchangeable spirit of his unconditional love and endless patience, and his truths, or love, can speak of nothing else. We do know the truth when we hear it because God created us in his image, therefore, we too are agape love. Once we learn to really embrace this, we will remember who we really are and then we'll wake up to see our creator right where he always has been....everywhere...above us, beside us, below us, within us. Everywhere.
For, we all have to start somewhere.
We were all beginners at one time, but nobody wants to spend their hard earned cash on a beginner, do they?
They may be no good :-)
Or, they may be brilliant - but who would take the gamble?
So, how do we gain some much needed experience?
Simple - start with yourself.
YOU are always your best first client.
Always positive and always on time...
Who better to pass judgement and give you honest feedback?
Who better to experiment on?
With yourself, you can practice long and hard, or quick and easy. You can sit or lie down. You can listen to soft music or something more upbeat. You can use that incense, and start coughing because the rooms too small, or use scented candles instead!
Really BE your first client.
Come in, sit down. Talk things through with yourself. Get comfy and relax - note what you like and don't like.
Choose your music and smells carefully.
Choose your colors and clothes carefully too.
If you get agitated about all this, then stop and ask why?
Because, if you can't do this for Number One, your most influential client, then how will you be with poor joe-public?
Remember - you are going to be there too, for a whole hour or more!
Just think about that...
It's okay doing one session, but three a day is three hours in silence (with your client, perhaps, snoring to the music), backache because the chair looked nice but you didn't try it out first, and you come to realize that tinkly water music makes you want to go... :-)
So, just take time out to simply give yourself a session once per day.
This also sets you up for the day. Giving and sharing with others can, and will, drain you at times. It is good to know how to top up your batteries quickly.
The first month of using Reiki is important because it sets a pattern of behaviour.
It also allows any adjustments and changes within you to settle down.
As you feel and note the changes you will know what to expect in your clients.
You may feel more tired - so sleep more.
You may feel more thirsty - so have plenty of water to hand.
You may feel emotionally wobbly - so be gentle with yourself, don't watch the news or horror films etc.
Go for walks in nature instead, it'll help ground you.
Take a closer look at yourself...
Peel your onion and shed your tears as you become whole and at one with yourself.
For these are all things that may happen with your clients.
And if you've been there too, then there is empathy.
In fact, you'll probably find yourself drawing to you - clients who are very like YOU...
They'll have an uncanny list of complaints that you just happen to have experienced yourself, so you'll know exactly where they'recoming from and how to deal with it comfortably.
For when you know yourself, you will recognize yourself, in every other person.
You see, your whole life experience, so far, has brought you to this moment. You now feel ready to help others move forward in their lives too.
Their hopes and fears are yours.
Their joys and sorrows are yours too.
We cry and laugh together.
We mean nothing without each other.
This stage in Reiki, to us, is Level One - Reiki 1.
Never mind the symbols, just feel and get to know the energy.
How it feels for you, tingly, hot, cold, bubbly or even nothing at all.
When it seems to work best or worst - (time of day) etc.
Using the Reiki for ourselves connects us to 'the one energy'.
It expands our awareness.
By taking time out to do the Reiki, we slow down.
We become conscious of all its subtle nuances.
We take time to witness ourselves and how we feel and react.
We become aware of where balance is needed both in outer situations and with inner emotions.
Both David Nelmes & Judith Conroy are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
David Nelmes has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement How to, Reiki Therapy and Home Management. David Nelmes - David considers it a wonderful blessing that his insight and writings can provide opportunities for those around him to see things from perspectives they had not considered before. He pursues Gods truths and invites you to join him.. David Nelmes's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.
Judith Conroy has sinced written about articles on various topics from Reiki Therapy. Judith Conroy is the founder of Chikara-Reiki-Do and author of Radical Reiki - Radical Life, a groundbreaking e-book which reveals a powerful and unique self-attunement process that'll take you right through to the level of Reiki Master. Learn more here:. Judith Conroy's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.