Thank you so much! I'm so glad you think so. I'm having a problem keeping up with commenting myself lately, so I know how that is! (PS: I'll do my best to stay up more.)

Hey, Kali! Always feel free to toot your own horn here. :) I do like your profile. I should really maybe streamline mine. I think I want to play with making banners or something, because I really need color in mine to break it up. And maybe my marque thingie, too. Yours is really clear and easy to read though (although I don't think I would have pegged you as a Slytherin, but then what do I know about HP...LOL)

As for Reiki, I'd love to make some suggestions. I really like Diane Stein's 'Essential Reiki', although I feel you really need to read it with a discerning eye. She does a lot of great work in that book, and I really commend her for printing the symbols and not subscribing to the 'elitism' that a lot of Reiki schools seem to share (symbols are secret! Protect them from the un/wrong-initiated!). I also think she did a great job of researching some of the myths of the Reiki lineage. When Mrs. Takata brought reiki to the west, she really...stretched the truth in places to make it more acceptable to the Judeo-Christian world, claiming that Usui Sensei was a minister, studied in America, etc...and DS really looked deeper, not taking the stories on face value, and truly clarified some of the reiki urban legends.

However, I think she brings a lot of her own personal religious dogma into reiki, where it has no belonging. Obviously reiki can enhance any religious beliefs and experiences, but I feel DS has just a bit too much 'this is True' when she's speaking more of her personal Wiccan beliefs as opposed to reiki. For instance, she speaks a lot about needing 'personal protection' so that you don't draw 'negative' energies or take on symptoms from your clients. This is completely unnecessary with reiki energy. Unlike Wicca, reiki is non-dualistic and can't be used for harm. The thing that really differentiates reiki from other energetic healing practices is that the practitioner's own personal energy is *not* used - so you don't feel drained or 'take on symptoms'. The meta-message for 'protection' is really doing a bit more fear-spreading than necessary when it comes to reiki. She also mentioned someone who used so-called reiki to place a 'psychic attack' on her, and that sort of thing really only muddles the true teachings of reiki and is rooted, I believe, in her wiccan upbringing. She's also pretty adamant that the symbols *must* be done a certain way, in a certain order, or they won't work...which is also untrue (I draw my symbols differently than she does, with a great deal of success) and I think stems more from the ritualistic aspects of Wicca.

So, I ramble - sorry, I think Essential Reiki is a great resource as long as you take the author's religious biases into account. She does have a great chapter on reiki and buddhism that is worth a look. In fact, though I seem to be nit-picking, I really do feel it's one of the best reiki books out there. I haven't read a *whole* lot, and a lot of what I've found is more basics and they all sound decidedly similar.

Another author I really like is William Rand. I've read several of his articles in various reiki/new age magazines, and he has a great website, The International Center for Reiki Training. And of course, I'm partial to the websites and references of my Reiki Master: Medicine Reiki and The Reiki Spirit. I also have a great worksheet on Reiki & Childbirth, if she's interested in that. ;)

The thing that's important to remember with reiki is that at this point, every different school of thought has their own certain beliefs that aren't necessarily shared by all. I've met and read a lot of folks with the One True Wayism, and if you aren't doing *Our* reiki, you're not doing *real* reiki. (Hmm...sound familiar?) That's just bunk. Take what resonates with you and discard the rest.

But for the love of God, stay away from Wikipedia's reiki entry. That b.s. just flies all over me.... rotflmao

Woo hoo! I miss the occassional revelry in memes, too. Now that I'm trying to catch up on the ol f-list, perhaps I will find some more to share soon. I am working on a 100 Things meme, but that may take years to complete *snicker*. Thank you for the hugs! Always love hugs!

Nice toast.

Hello, kathness! Great to meet you! Thank you so much for coming by my blog. And the hugs, of which I can never get enough. I'm so glad to know that we share a lot of interests (and friends), and doubly-glad that you've learned about some new things that call to you. I like to try and introduce people to new things, and if you ever want to buddy up on FLYing, Mission 101, Health Buddies, etc., just let me know. I thrive with partners in crime.

I'm also glad you like my healing list. That is one of my favorite things on my blog, I believe. I have met a lot of new friends that way, actually, and offered service to a lot of old friends. Any time you want on the list, feel free to sign up. And any time you want to contribute, feel free to sign me up. ;) I've contemplated making a community out of it, and I may in the future when I have more time to devote to it.

I'm going to go ahead and friend you back, but I'll warn you that I'm struggling to keep up with my f-list (it practically doubled in size in the last month or two). I'm here, though, and I'll do my best to keep up! I look forward to getting to know you better!

*smootch*

I'm trying like hell! LOL

Thanks, doll, you're pretty slamdacious yourself. :)

Thank you so much, dorei! I'm glad you let me know, too, cause I haven't checked the results in a while. lol I have to say that that was some really rewarding evaluation there. I'm definitely glad to find out people's interests, favorites, and thoughts on my purpose here. Thank you so much for your input!

And I enjoy you as well, and I'm glad to see you're back! Sadly, I don't get to comment - or even keep up all the way - as often as I'd like lately. So don't feel bad about that!