Everything began in 1998 when the local Tai Chi Club held a mass Tai Chi exhibition and taught on the lawn of the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, bringing together nearly two hundred people. In 1999, Bill Douglas founded World Tai Chi and Qigong Day to increase awareness of the profound health benefits of practicing Tai Chi Chuan and Qi Gong.

This worldwide event, like a sunrise, waves around the world on the last Saturday of April. It begins every year in the earliest time zones of New Zealand at 10 am, then participants across Oceania, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America take part, and ends a day later with the events in the last time zones of Hawaii. Sixty-five nations, hundreds of cities and tens of thousands of people join together on this day in the spirit of global and personal healing.

The mission of this multinational effort is to expose people to the growing body of medical research related to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and direct them to teachers in their home towns.

This annual event is open to the general public, everybody is welcome and no experience is needed. Demonstrations and free mini-lessons in various styles and forms of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong are offered. It is fun, easy, interesting and everybody is a part of a truly unique, international wave of health and breath.

This year, for the first time, Leamington became part of this international event. Reiki-Do, with the help of Dr. Derrick J. Beleutz Chiropractic and the Half Century Club is organizing a WTCQD celebration. Reiki-Do is a registered member of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day.

The event was held on Saturday, April 24^th, 2010, at 10:00. The planned location was the Seacliff Park waterfront, in an attempt to benefit from the amazing energy of the Erie Lake. The back-up plan, in case of bad weather, was to have the event at the Half Century Club, on 160 Talbot St. East, Leamington, who had generously offered a big enough room to accommodate the expected participants.

We used a number of free advertizing methods: radio, local TV channel, our combined e-mail lists and flyers in order to maximize the attendance. We invited everybody to join us in this celebration! We insisted on the fact that this event was for all age groups and that no previous knowledge was required.

Saturday morning came and as the forecast had predicted it started raining, so we headed towards the Half Century Club. We were there half an hour before 10:00, just in case people decided to come earlier. Ten minutes before 10:00 people started to show up and kept coming in until a few minutes after 10:00. Actually, we had to go get more chairs, as we had a much bigger attendance than expected for this first edition of the WTCQD event. We were so happy that the rain hadn’t discouraged them from joining us!

Dori Patriche, who conducted the event, is a Qigong practitioner, a black belt in multiple karate styles and an experienced energy practitioner and teacher. Other teachers and practitioners were also invited. Unfortunately, none of them could make it, either because they were involved in the same event in a different location, or because they were not in the area at that moment.

Dori opened the event with a short presentation of the WTCQD event, the origins of Tai Chi and Qigong, the type of exercises they involve, and of course the benefits of practicing them consistently He insisted on the fact that they are not only powerful tools for personal development and spiritual growth but also efficient techniques for self-healing used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine. More than that, he mentioned that Qigong is the origin of all Chinese martial arts and that at its origin Tai Chi Chuan is a hard-soft martial art.

After that, he demonstrated how only a few minutes of Qigong practice could increase people’s vitality. He asked for two volunteers, one for the experiment, and the other as a witness. The witness used the muscle testing method, before and after the other one performed Qigong exercises under Dori‘s supervision for only a couple of minutes, in order to evaluate his vitality level. Everybody was surprised by the result of the test.

Later Dori invited everybody to join him in a few basic Qigong exercises. He mentioned that people who had problems standing for longer periods of time could perform those exercises sitting on a chair. During the breaks between series of exercises, he explained what the health benefits of those exercises were. He also demonstrated how some simple movements used in Qigong could be used for self-defense.

Towards the end, Dori answered some questions about Qigong, like where it can be practiced in the area, or if there was any diet associated with practicing it, and so on.

The event took longer than anticipated, a little over an hour and a half. People seemed to be filled with that energy that infuses all life. Everybody left with the feeling that they had become a part of something greater than themselves, something that felt like sending a wave of peace to themselves, their families, their community and the entire world! Many of them decided to join Tai Chi and Qigong schools in the area.

The event was an undisputable success: it had a great turnout and it lasted longer than planned. Our efforts had served a noble purpose!

The Channel below broadcast 24 hours of live-streamed World Tai Chi and Qigong Day events on April 24th, 2010. You can continue to watch some Tai Chi and Qigong demonstrations, even though the event is over.

For more information please visit WTCQD‘s website.

Many thanks to the Leamington and District Half Century Club for hosting the event, to Dr. Derrick Beleutz Chiropractic Clinic for their kind help advertizing the event, to Chris Labbate from Forge Infinity Studios for the picture taken during the event and to all those who took the time to join in this great celebration!

See you all again next year! In the meantime, tell us how YOU celebrated the WTCQD 2010.

Related article:
World Tai Chi and Qigong Day

On Wednesday, January 6^th, 2010, Dr. Oz had a special segment on his show about alternative medicine treatments and mentioned that some of them have been known for centuries or even millennia. He brought on stage aromatherapy, acupuncture, and Reiki practitioners who gave demo-sessions and he interviewed the recipients. All of them admitted that their problems were going away or were partially relieved.

Mehmet saved Reiki for last, saying “The next one I’m going to talk about is one of my favorites. We’ve been using it in the Oz family for years.” Then he mentioned that his wife is a Reiki Masters and that he and Pamela Miles, the Reiki Practitioner on the show, have worked together in surgery.

She demonstrated chair Reiki on a person having a headache, and she explained that Reiki energy is contributing to re-establish one’s balance at energetic level, which results in an improved overall state of health. The subject told Pamela that her headache was going away.

In the meantime, Dr. Oz explained that at cellular level, one of the cell membrane’s functions is to preserve the energy of the cell. And if a cell has its own energy, so does an organ, hence the whole body. That explains how it is possible to heal the body using energy.

Even though the segment is short, this is huge mainstream exposure for Reiki. Even more importantly, Dr. Oz’s conclusion is that the modern medicine and complementary and alternative treatments (CAM) can work together in what is now called integrative medicine.

On the same note, Dr Oz mentioned the importance of breathing exercises and body movement arts like yoga, Qi Gong and Tai Chi for strengthening the immune system and maintaining health. He even asked the audience to stand up, lift their arms and breathe deeply. This kind of exercises are very efficient when it comes to maintaining health or recovering after an illness.

If you did not have the chance to watch the show, here is the link to Dr. Oz’s webpage Alternative Medicine Treatments.

Please let us know what your opinions and feelings are.

Martha, Dori,

and Reiki-Do

 
Buddha’s wishes are our wishes for the world:
 

    This is my wish for you:
    Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.

    Buddha

 
Nothing says Happy New Year more heartwarmingly than this song…
 

The natural methods to prevent and treat the swine flu infections are not H1N1 specific. They are well known natural ways to keep our body in good health or to recover from a disease. These methods are divided into thee categories: immune system strengthening methods, flu prevention methods and natural remedies for flu and flu-like diseases.

Immune system strengthening methods:

There is no method to protect us from coming in contact with the swine flu virus, or with any other virus for that matter. The most efficient method to protect ourselves from swine flu is to keep our defense line – the immune system – in good shape. Here are the most effective ways to keep ourselves healthy:

• Exercise:
• Internal martial arts (Qigong, Tai Chi Chuan) or Yoga have known health improving benefits
• Any type of exercise is beneficial and has a contribution to the strengthening of the immune system
• Passive exercise or body manipulation (chiropractic and massage therapies) is an effective way to improve health
• Improve diet:
• Reduce or eliminate refined sugar and replace it with natural sugars (honey, maple syrup)
• Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in vitamin C
• Optimize the vitamin D level, especially during the cold season
• Take high quality animal-based omega-3 fats (krill oil, fish oil)
• Eat garlic and onion as thay contain many antiviral chemicals
• Use herbal remedies and supplements:
• Ginseng is widely believed to improve overall immunity to illness
• Ginger contains nearly a dozen antiviral compounds
• Goldenseal increases the blood supply to the spleen, an organ that’s the staging area for the fighting cells of your immune system. It is antiseptic and immune stimulating
• Get good quality sleep:
• Recommended duration for the age group (minimum 7 hours for adults)
• Uninterrupted, if possible
• Two hours of sleep before midnight, preferably
• Reduce stress levels through:
• Meditation
• Relaxation methods (Qigong, Yoga breathing exercises)
• Massage
• Practice or get regular energy healing sessions like Reiki, Qigong, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, Quantum Touch, Johrei Mahicary, Crystal healing.

Flu prevention methods:

The prevention methods for H1N1 virus infections are common to all viral and bacterial infections. They are very well-known components of the corporal hygiene. Here are the most effective ways to prevent infection and proliferation of the virus:

• Wash hands frequently with a natural, chemical-free soap (avoid antibacterial soap, as they are inefficient against viruses and debilitate the immune system) to reduce the prolonged exposure to viruses potentially contracted through touching infested objects (door knobs, computer keys, etc)
• Practice “hands-off-the-face” approach, since the only portals of entry of the viruses are the nostrils and mouth/throat
• Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use a natural mouth wash if you don’t trust or like salt) to prevent the proliferation of H1N1 that needs 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat / nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
• Similar to the method above, clean your nostrils at least twice a day with warm salt water, to bring down the viral population:
• Practice the Yoga asana Jala Neti if possible (gently inhale the water through a nostril and eliminate it through the mouth or the other nostril); see how at Yoga Age
• Blow the nose softly and swab both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water
• For small kids, put a drop of salt water in each nostril using a dropper
• Drink as much of warm fluids (preferably herbal or green tea) as you can. Drinking warm fluids has the same effect as gargling, but in reverse. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, multiply, or do any harm.

Flu natural remedies

If, despite the fact that you made a conscious effort to prevent the infection with a virus, you still get flu or a flu-like disease, use the following remedies to strengthen your immune system and reduce the symptoms:

• Continue to practice the appropriate immune system strengthening methods
• Continue to practice all the hygiene prevention methods
• Add to your diet:
• Warm soups
• Plenty of herbal tea (chamomile, linden)
• Use herbal remedies for healing and symptom reduction:
• Echinacea, a traditional favorite for colds and flu, works by stimulating the immune system and helps clear flu-like symptoms more rapidly
• Licorice contains antiviral compounds that induce the release of interferons, the body’s own antiviral constituents
• Anis is as an expectorant and, in large doses, it also has some antiviral benefits
• Marshmallow has been used for thousands of years as a soothing herb for cold-related cough and sore throat and other respiratory conditions
• Seneca snakeroot is used as an expectorant for reducing upper respiratory phlegm also recommended for treatment of bronchitis and emphysema
• Slippery elm bark contains large quantities of a mucilage that acts as an effective throat soother and cough suppressant
• Other herbs: elderberry, watercress, ashwagandha, astragalus, suma, reishi, and maitake
• If you choose to use allopathic treatments that only address the symptoms, it is better to associate them with energy healing sessions that enhance the effect while reducing the side effects
• Use energy healing methods like Reiki and Qigong to reduce or eliminate the symptoms and help your immune system to efficiently fight the virus.

We hope that this article is both informative and helpful. Please, leave comments at the end of this article with any questions or suggestions you might have.

Related article:
Swine Flu (H1N1) and Vaccine Awareness
]]> http://reiki-do.ca/reiki-do.ca/wp/en/?feed=rss2&p=148 2 http://reiki-do.ca/reiki-do.ca/wp/en/?p=147 http://reiki-do.ca/reiki-do.ca/wp/en/?p=147#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:52:08 +0000 webmaster http://reiki-do.ca/reiki-do.ca/wp/en/?p=147 The subject of H1N1 flu epidemic and the vaccination against this type of flu is vast and so many information sources, including websites, are advocating pros and cons. There are two main groups trying to captivate the attention of the general public, one promoting the vaccination and the other one opposing it.

Analysis of the general trends

The first of these two opposed groups that includes government officials, researchers from pharmaceutical companies, and a big majority of medical doctors, are vehemently promoting the following concepts:
 

• H1N1 poses a major risk, including death, to the general population’s health
• Vaccination is the only efficient way to avoid the flu
• Vaccination is secure even for small children and pregnant women
• In some areas the spread of this virus is, or could be, so fast and out of control that it justifies general vaccination; voluntarily in the beginning, due to insufficient supply of vaccines
• The cost of not supplying the vaccines to the general population is too high to be ignored and justifies the imposition of the vaccination.

The other group led by medical professionals open to holistic health methods and independent researchers, including also alternative health therapists and health-conscious individuals, are advocating the opposite ideas:
 

• H1N1 does not pose a health risk much greater than other type of flu
• Vaccination is not the only way to prevent the flu
• The side effects and the long-term implications of the vaccination are far too serious to be ignored
• There is evidence of contaminated lots of vaccines supplied by some pharmaceutical companies
• There is evidence that the total number of cases of H1N1 is much lower than reported by various commissions and media
• The long-term implications of the vaccination and its associated costs are much higher than the cost of not performing a generalized vaccination.

Most of the time the opposition to the H1N1 vaccine is part of a bigger campaign, like:

• The opposition to any type of vaccination, seen as an unnatural way to introduce viruses in the body and being the cause of the apparition of a series of new diseases in children
• The lack of efficiency and the severe side effects of allopathic medicine in the treatment of viral and chronic diseases
• The presence of medical errors as a top cause of death in advanced societies
• The exposure of the outrageous profits made by pharmaceutical companies
• The promotion of holistic or integrative medicine

Needless to say, Reiki-Do, as a partisan of all natural healing methods and especially energy healing, is firmly against the H1N1 vaccination.

Decisions

Since the mainstream media (most of the TV and radio channels and most newspapers) is in the hands of the people in power, either politically or financially, who form the first group, the second group has no choice but to voice their opinion through secondary media channels, like websites, social media (FaceBook, Twitter), video-clips (YouTube) or chain e-mail. Even though the second one is only able to reach a limited number of recipients, in time it can spread in a more personal and meaningful way through the word of mouth.

Unfortunately, when exposed to both streams of information, many choose to believe the more influential one. The reasons behind this decision are based on myths like:

• The government officials’ first priority is the well-being of the population
• Doctors are modern health gods that always know what is best for their patients
• The researchers in pharmacology are always right and they are always honest and ethical
• The pharmaceutical companies’ studies are completely transparent and not-biased
• The mainstream media is always truthful and accurate

Other decision factors of emotional nature for this category of population are:

• Ignorance (luck of information on the flu and the vaccine)
• Fear (social consequences of no taking the vaccine)
• Greed (its free!)
• Competition (selected categories of people can have it before other).

Other people chose to believe the second source of information, either intuitively or consciously for reasons like:

• Knowledge of vaccine’s composition and side effects
• Faith in body’s innate ability to heal itself
• Belief in natural healing methods
• Trust in the people who promote those ideas

Sources of information

Since Reiki-Do does not have the necessary resources to make its own studies or to make a complete analysis of other studies, we will present a list with a few reliable sources of information on the subject:
 

• The H1N1 was created in a lab:
  Swine flu is a man-made virus
• The H1N1 flu vaccine is a bio-weapon:
  Proof of Military origins of H1N1 Swine Flu, Vaccine Bioweapon
  The Nazi Flu = interview with Dr. Leonard Horowitz
• Contaminated lots of vaccines and deaths related to the vaccine:
  Ukraine outbreak actually Baxter Pharma Bioweapon?
  Interview with Jane Burgermeister
• Adverse effects of vaccines by Dr Mercola:
  Adverse Effects of Adjuvants in Vaccines
  Mercury in Vaccines was Replaced with Something even MORE Toxic
  Study Suggests Link Between Vaccines and Gulf War Illnesses
  Squalene: The Swine Flu Vaccine’s Dirty Little Secret Exposed
• Change of definition of the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and mode of reporting of H1N1 cases as of August 30, 2009, to include all influenza-like hospitalizations and deaths:
  Monitoring Influenza Activity, Including 2009 H1N1
• Numbers of H1N1-related deaths reported by the European Center of Disease Control and Prevention, half of them in England, are much smaller than the ones reported in North America: Pandemic (H1N1) 2009:
  Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
• Gary Null speech at the New York State Senate Hearing on H1N1:
  Part 1
  Part 2
  Part 3
• Surviving the Matrix interview with Maxwell Igan
  Take action on the Swine Flu NOW Part 1/5
  Take action on the Swine Flu NOW Part 2/5
• Unprecedented media manipulation starts with kids programs:
  Sid the Science Kid Gets a Flu Shot

And, on a lighter note, we recommend watching Dr. Mercola’s Hilarious Flu Video about the components of the H1N1 vaccine Eye on the Flu Shot.

We hope that this article is both informative and helpful. Feel free to address any questions or concerns you might have or leave comments at the end of this article.

To find out the natural solutions to the swine flu problem read:
Natural Solutions to Prevent and Treat Swine Flu
]]> http://reiki-do.ca/reiki-do.ca/wp/en/?feed=rss2&p=147 4 http://reiki-do.ca/reiki-do.ca/wp/en/?p=145 http://reiki-do.ca/reiki-do.ca/wp/en/?p=145#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:55:10 +0000 webmaster http://reiki-do.ca/reiki-do.ca/wp/en/?p=145 Believe it or not, for every single thing in this world there is an opposite. Every new invention can be used for good, but also for bad. The nuclear energy is maybe the most famous example.

The e-mail, this powerful tool used to connect people from all over the world, has become infested with spam-mail that has as purpose to deliver un-requested advertizing, or even to take advantage of an unsuspecting reader.

Blog Spam

One of the latest internet tools, the blog (short for web log), that makes possible publishing and managing articles on a website, became a victim of the above-mentioned spammers. Un-ethical programmers developed programs, called spam-bots that can browse the net searching for blogs, guest-books, or any other public discussion boards accessible online, displaying hyperlinks submitted by visitors; they can also detect posts that allow comments and automatically post random comments or comments that contain links to commercial services, with the purpose to increase the site’s search engine ranking. An increased ranking often results in the spammer’s commercial site being listed ahead of other sites for certain searches, increasing the number of potential visitors and paying customers. Sadly enough, simple blogs can’t fight this spam-bots efficiently.

Reiki-Do uses one of the most powerful blog tools called WordPress (WP) that gives the webmaster the possibility to manually choose which comments to publish and which one to block. This had been an efficient anti-spam method, till recently, when the number of daily spam comments exceeded 50. At this point, an automated anti-spam method became necessary.

Fortunately, other programmers have created tools to fight the blog spammers efficiently. Each of these tools attempts, by using different methods, to distinguish between a human and a spam-bot trying to insert a comment in an article. Each of them has strong and weak points. In all cases, the annoying consequence for a person who tries to make a comment is that the person has to prove that they are ‘human’.

In this fight against spammers, Reiki-Do decided to install a WP plugin (program) called WP-ReCaptcha.

CAPTCHA

A CAPTCHA or Captcha is a type of challenge-response test used in computing to ensure that the response is not generated by a computer. It is a contrived acronym for "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart." The process usually involves one computer (a server) asking a user to complete a simple test which the computer is able to generate and grade. Because other computers are unable to solve the CAPTCHA, any user entering a correct solution is presumed to be human. A common type of CAPTCHA requires that the user type letters or digits from a distorted image that appears on the screen.

ReCAPTCHA

ReCAPTCHA is an anti-spam method originating from Carnegie Mellon University which uses CAPTCHAs in a genius way. Instead of randomly generating useless characters which users grow tired of continuously typing in, risking the possibility that spammers will eventually write sophisticated spam bots which use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) libraries to read the characters, reCAPTCHA uses a different approach. They effectively kill two birds with one stone.

If you didn’t know, the world is in the process of digitizing books (Even the Library of Congress is too) so that they can last forever as well as become searchable. To digitize the books, Scanners scan the pages of the books resulting in image files. OCR technology is then used to attempt to convert the images to text. Sometimes, however, certain words are illegible to the OCR technology but the good thing is that they know when the technology knows when this happens and can mark the words and put them into a repository. To construct a CAPTCHA, reCAPTCHA takes one of the words from these repositories and couples it with a word they do know, then distorts them some more. When a certain percentage of people type in the same spelling for the unknown word, it is assumed to be correct and sent back to help with the digitization process.

This effectively means that users who fill in reCAPTCHA forms can feel good knowing they are contributing to the digitizing of books all over the world, so it gives it a purpose. Also, if Industry Standard OCR Scanners can’t read certain words, add to that the fact that they are further distorted before being added to a CAPTCHA, one can be almost certain that Spam Bots won’t be able to read the CAPTCHAs either, this makes it secure.

ReCAPTCHA has many security measures including IP Address Detection to review and potentially block IPs which have solved too many CAPTCHAs in a limited amount of time and adaptive security meaning they can fix bugs if they’re found, as they are found because the CAPTCHAs are generated on their servers.

Many popular websites such as Twitter, Facebook, and even certain Government websites like the TV Converter Box Coupon site are using ReCAPTCHA. It is definitely becoming more and more widespread, and the neat thing is that it is accessible to everyone.

Reiki-Do regrets to be forced to use this method to distinguish between real comments and spam, but it is glad to contribute in this way to the process of digitizing books.

We hope that you will forgive us for this new addition to our Reiki website, and you will continue to let us know what your thoughts and suggestions are.

Falun Gong is one of the most important phenomena to emerge in China in the 1990s. A well-known sinologist, Benjamin Penny, says that while Falun Gong is a "Qigong cultivation [spiritual self-development] system," the heavy emphasis on morality makes it appear to be a religion.

Qi Gong in Modern China

After being an intrinsic part of the Chinese social life for millennia, the modern history of Qigong is full of ups and downs. Immediately after the Communist revolution it was ignored or barely tolerated. And then, it had fallen into official disfavor when Mao came to power, and was denounced as a lingering manifestation of the "ancient superstitious beliefs of Taoism and Buddhism".

But it never went away and gradually resurfaced as the Cultural Revolution ware on and the government changed its attitude. Whether the Qigong exercises were religious or not, they were indisputable Chinese, and they came to be viewed as politically correct, worthy of polite attention if not outright devotion. Also, Qigong was sanctioned by the authorities because of its practical benefits as a fitness regime. When people exercise regularly, they tend to be healthier, which takes pressure off the public health care system. So, Qigong moved slowly from being left alone, to being actively encouraged by the Communist Party.

Beginning

In this political climate, Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, emerged as a spiritual movement, based on ancient Taoist, Confucianist and Buddhist teachings, that uses Qigong for cultivation. While initially Falun Gong laid emphasis on health benefits, over time the philosophical teachings of Truth, Goodness and Forbearance began to take on more importance.

The debut of Falun Gong took place in 1991, when the Chinese Government showed signs of relaxing its control over traditional religious activities, and Qigong was officially recognized in China.

Li Hongzhi introduced the Falun Gong to the public on May 13, 1992 at a lecture organized by the China Qigong Science Research Society (CQSRS) to a "small" audience of approximately 500 people. Invited by Qigong organizations from each area, Li traveled to almost all major cities in China from 1992 to 1994 to teach the practice.

After Li’s withdraw in 1994 from the CQSRS began the opposition to Falun Gong from within the Party, and increased over the following years.

From 1992-1998 Falun Gong practice spread quickly and extensively in China. During this period, it was highly praised and awarded by officials and Chinese government bodies – such as the Public Security Bureau, National Bureau of Public Recreation, and Sports Commission – for the benefits Falun Gong brought to people’s health and the economy.

As Falun Gong practitioners have no membership system or rosters, numbers are unknown. In 1998, the Chinese government published a number of 70 million practitioners in China.

Defamation

On June 17, 1996, the "Guangming Daily", one of the government’s official newspapers, published an editorial entitled, "A Loud and Long Alarm Must Be Sounded Against Pseudo-Science", which criticized Qigong in general and claimed Falun Gong promoted "superstition". Falun Gong related sources say that this was the beginning of a concerted, state controlled media campaign that attempted to curtail Falun Gong‘s popularity.

Official investigations, with the purpose of finding fault with Falun Gong, were launched in 1997 and 1998. An official report stated that Falun Gong "only benefits, and does no harm to … the nation".

Shortly after, a circular was distributed to police offices throughout the country labelnig Falun Gong as a "sect". Falun Gong materials could no longer be published through official channels and faced confiscation. Falun Gong related sources document that many of the agents involved in the investigations later became practitioners themselves.

At the beginning of the Chinese New Year 1999, after only seven years from its debut, Falun Gong had already millions of followers, including prominent figures of the Communist Party and Chinese government, and thousands of training centers in China’s mainland. Nevertheless, the movement not only was not officially recognized by the government, but even more, was targeted by Chinese government which was feeling threatened by its popularity.

In April 11, 1999, physicist He Zuoxiu, atheist-marxist, and "crusader" against "supernatural and unscientific thinking", published an article in the Tianjin College of Education’s "Youth Reader" magazine, entitled "I Do Not Agree with Youth Practicing Qigong". and criticized Falun Gong. Practitioners found his treatment of Falun Gong unfair, and believed it to be part of a wider campaign to discredit the practice; they subsequently gathered to protest the article. Police were allegedly called, who then beat and arrested a number of protesters

On April 25, 1999, around ten thousand Falun Gong practitioners gathered in a silent protest outside Beijing’s Zhongnanhai Communist Party headquarters (Chinese version of the better known Kremlin). They were requesting two things, the release of the practitioners arrested during previous demonstrations and the recognition of Falun Gong by the Chinese Government as an independent, state-sanctioned organization.

The Ban

By May 7 [1999], reports were circulating that President Jiang Zemin had called the group a major threat, that a high-level task force had been formed with Party leaders in charge, and that the decision to designate Falun Gong an illegal organization had already been made. (Human Rights Watch, Dangerous Meditation)

A month later, on July 20, 1999, thousands of practitioners were arrested in the middle of the night, the massive propaganda campaign to vilify the practice began, and the persecution was officially underway.

On July 22, 1999 the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs issued an official statement banning Falun Gong. The organization was depicted as a highly organized political group "opposed to the Communist Party of China and the central government, [that] preaches idealism, theism and feudal superstition." Charges imposed ranged from "organizing illegal gatherings" to "threatening political stability". The government led by Jiang Zemin wanted to "eliminate the influence [of Falun Gong] and encourage healthy trends and scientific thoughts, and maintain social stability". All public activities of this organization, including dissemination of materials in any form were punished with imprisonment. The worst thing was the fact that the order was retroactive.

Li Hongzhi immediately responded with a "Brief Statement of Mine", stating that Falun Gong is simply a popular Qigong activity" without "any political objectives" which "have never been involved in any anti-government activities" and calling "for all governments, international organizations, and people of goodwill worldwide to extend their support and assistance to us in order to resolve the present crisis that is taking place in China".

On the same day, Human Rights Watch in New York issued a statement that "strongly condemned the Chinese government’s nationwide ban on the practice of Falun Gong" and urged the release of practitioners "arbitrarily detained in a nationwide sweep aimed at suppressing the group". Human Rights Watch called on the international community to protest the ban, and urged Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to intervene with Chinese officials at the highest levels.

The letter sent by of Hong Kong practitioners to Chinese government sent in an attempt to "explain to government officials who we are and what we are doing" was stating:

"Falun teaching instruct us on how to develop truth, compassion and tolerance … and to learn how to be a good person"

Persecution

Since 1999, the practitioners were continuously persecuted and rendered as no-status citizens in China. Reports of torture, illegal imprisonment, beatings, forced labor, and psychiatric abuses have been widespread. 66% of all reported torture cases in China concern Falun Gong practitioners, who are also estimated to comprise at least half of China’s labor camp population, according to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Manfred Nowak, and the US Department of State respectively.

In its "United Nations Reports on China’s Persecution of Falun Gong" (2004), Falun Gong sources report numerous cases of extreme psychological and physical torture, accompanied by testimonies and details of identities of the victims, resulting in impaired mental, sensory, physiological and speech faculties, mental trauma, paralysis, or death. Over 100 forms of torture are purported to be used, including electric shocks, stress positions, branding, force-feeding, and sexual abuse, with many variations on each type. The main purpose of the torture is ostensibly to have Falun Gong practitioners renounce or denounce the practice and their teacher, Li Hongzhi. The Special Rapporteur refers to the torture scenarios as "harrowing" and writes that "The cruelty and brutality of these alleged acts … defy description."

In 2006, human rights lawyer David Matas and ex-Canadian secretary of state David Kilgour published an investigative report concluding that a large number of Falun Gong practitioners have become victims of systematic organ harvesting in China and that the practice is still ongoing.

In November 2008, The United Nations Committee on Torture called the Chinese State party to commission an independent investigation of the reports, and "ensure that those responsible for such abuses are prosecuted and punished."

International Support

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty and Human Rights Watch, have raised acute concerns over reports of torture and ill-treatment of practitioners in China and have also urged the UN and international governments to intervene to bring an end to the persecution. David Ownby notes that human rights organizations "have unanimously condemned China’s brutal campaign against the Falun Gong, and many governments around the world, including Canada’s, have expressed their concern".

Governments around the world, including United States and Canada have called upon the Chinese government to bring a complete end to the persecution. The United States Congress has passed five resolutions – House Concurrent Resolution 304, House Resolution 530, House Concurrent Resolution 188, House Concurrent Resolution 218 and House Concurrent Resolution 217 – where Congress expresses that oppression of Falun Gong by the Government of the People’s Republic of China in the United States and in China should be ceased. The first, Concurrent Resolution 217, was passed in November, 1999.

Concurrent Resolution 188, passed unanimously (420-0) by the US Congress, states:

"Falun Gong is a peaceful and nonviolent form of personal belief and practice with millions of adherents. The People’s Republic of China has forbidden Falun Gong practitioners to practice their beliefs, and has systematically attempted to eradicate the practice and those who follow it; …this policy violates the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; … propaganda from state-controlled media in the People’s Republic of China has inundated the public in an attempt to breed hatred and discrimination; … official measures have been taken to conceal all atrocities, such as the immediate cremation of victims, the blocking of autopsies, and the false labeling of deaths as from suicide or natural causes;… several United States citizens and permanent resident aliens have been subjected to arbitrary detention, imprisoned, and tortured."

Falun Gong practitioners in the United States have filed several civil complaints in US federal courts against PRC leaders for violations of the Torture Victim Protection Act, the Alien Tort Claims Act, and other crimes against humanity. Law suits have also been filed for violation of the Freedom from Religious Persecution Act of 1999. Chinese officials alleged to have taken part in human rights abuses against practitioners have become targets of legal action, particularly when they step upon foreign soil. Since 2001, there have been more than 70 legal cases launched by Falun Gong practitioners and sympathizers against those considered responsible for the persecution campaign in the Chinese government. According to International Advocates for Justice, Falun Gong has filed the largest number of human rights lawsuits in the 21_^st century and the charges are among the most severe international crimes defined by international criminal laws.

Yuezhi Zhao, professor of Communications at the University of California, contends that Falun Gong‘s massive spread, and sustained activism against its persecution, have unwittingly become the greatest challenge to the Chinese state power in recent history, and "the most dramatic episode in the contestation over media power in the Chinese language symbolic universe".

Despite the large international support, the situation of the Falun Gong practitioners did not change in mainland China.

Regardless your similitude or differences in opinion with Falun Gong teachings, if you disagree with the way its practitioners are treated in China, on July 22^nd you can dedicate an hour, or as much time as you can, to pray or to send your love and thoughts to those who suffered and/or are still suffering from the persecution of the Chinese Government and Party. If you are a Reiki practitioner or a Qigong practitioner, you can also send energy to heal their wounds.

My Reiki journey began in late August 2006. My best friend had discovered the Reiki-Do Natural Healing Center, a place where Reiki treatments were offered by two Reiki Practitioners and Teachers. She raved about her first experience getting Reiki and encouraged me to give it a try.

My first experience as a client was a back treatment, as I had been having pain in my lower back. At the time, I was also seeing a chiropractor and taking anti-inflammatory medication. They informed me that Reiki works with all other forms of health care and enhances their effects as well. I was a bit sceptical, but kept an open mind. After the treatment, my back pain was gone, and after a few more back treatments it stayed that way.

I began receiving regular Reiki treatments and discovered an immense interest in energy healing. I took my Level I Reiki course at the Reiki-Do Natural Healing Center. Eight months later, I took the Level II Reiki course, and the next year I became a Reiki Master Practitioners. Reiki and nursing are my two passions in life. I have been studying Reiki almost as long as I have been studying nursing and they fit extremely well together. I use Reiki every day, especially in nursing, and in any number of situations. Reiki has helped me to be more creative, more balanced, more relaxed and more aware of the world around me.

Reiki is inexpensive and is easy to learn and the whole notion of holistic healing is interesting (Bossi et al.). The purpose of this article is to explore what Reiki is and explain the benefits of using Reiki on patients in hospitals.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is subtle, vibrational energy therapy free of medical contraindications or side effects that "helps the body achieve or restore balance and harmony" (Horrigan & Miles, 2003, p 490). Rei is defined as ‘universal’ meaning ‘present everywhere’ and Ki is defined as ‘life force or vital energy’ (Bossi et al., 2008). Reiki promotes balance in the client by working on mental, emotional, physical and spiritual levels (Horrigan & Miles).

The Reiki Practitioner places their hands on or slightly above the recipient to begin the Reiki treatment (Bossi et al.). The patient can be in any position, can be fully alert, sleeping or even unconscious. At this time, the [Reiki] practitioner becomes a channel for energy to travel to the recipient (Bossi et al.). A treatment can last from fifteen minutes to an hour depending on the patient’s needs (Bossi et al.). The [Reiki] practitioner places their hands over specific body points of the recipient, known as energy centers or chakras (Bossi et al.). The chakras draw in the subtle energy through the practitioner’s hands (Bossi et al.).

According to Rand (2005) there are seven major chakras in the body which include the following:

• the root chakra is located near the tip of the coccyx,
• the sacral chakra is found just above the pubic bone,
• the solar plexus is located just below the sternum,
• the heart chakra is located in the middle of the chest,
• the throat chakra is found around the throat,
• the third eye chakra is located between the brows, and
• the crown chakra is found at the top of the head.

On a physical level, the chakras supply energy to the corresponding organs near them (Rand).

A hospitalized patient can benefit from Reiki to all their chakras, more specifically depending on their diagnosis and which part of the body is affected (Horrigan & Miles, 2003). It is also beneficial to give a full body Reiki treatment to balance all chakras (Horrigan & Miles). The goal of giving someone Reiki is to draw out the negative energy and promote positive energy to flow into the chakras (Rand, 2005). Therefore, the chakras are functioning at their full potential (Rand). The Reiki treatment is patient-focused so that the patient’s energy field and chakras draw the energy through the practitioner’s hands, so there is no risk of treating too much or incorrectly (Horrigan & Miles). This energy is universal and Reiki is simply helping one to direct it (Horrigan & Miles).

Benor (2006) discusses the importance of the different aspects of the physical body, including energetic and emotional in Western medicine and holistic medicine. Western medicine is prevalent and accepted around the world, yet it focuses mostly on the body’s physical problems which is called body-focused medicine (Benor). This form of medicine works well with acute problems but deals poorly with chronic illness, death and spiritual issues (Benor). In holistic medicine the body is part of a larger picture including physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the patient (Benor). When the connection between mind, body, spirit and emotions are dealt with together, numerous interventions are unlocked to solve physical problems (Benor). Reiki helps nurses to work with the energies of the body to strive for a balance and reach harmony in patient care (Bossi et al., 2008).

A hospital setting is an ideal environment for Reiki to promote comfort, harmony and balance (Horrigan & Miles, 2003). Patients may be stressed and this creates negative changes in the body (Horrigan & Miles). They may be under pressure to make important decisions about their plan of care based on serious diagnoses (Horrigan & Miles). This may be when patients are at their most vulnerable and decision making is extremely hard (Horrigan & Miles). Reiki can help patients clear their minds, feel calm and empowered (Horrigan & Miles). When nurses use Reiki on patients, it reduces their stress level and provides them with the mental boost needed to help manage their medical condition (Horrigan & Miles). Empowering the patient’s state of mind can positively influence the practice of medicine (Horrigan & Miles).

Governing bodies

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) has important views on the use of complementary therapies including Reiki. The CNA (1999) states that, as the demographic characteristics of Canada’s population continue to change, it is important that nurses consider the cultural context of complementary therapy as an important part of client care. However, it is important that nurses who practice Reiki must be knowledgeable about the therapy being provided as well as aware of any possible outcomes and results. Information about the therapy being provided to patients must be evidence-based and accurate to help the patient make an informed decision (CNA). The CNO recognizes that complimentary therapies are becoming more popular and nurses are expressing an interest in providing holistic therapies to patients (CNO, 2008). The CNO believes it is the clients’ choice to participate in complementary therapies.

The nurse must consider client well-being, scope of nursing practice and professional accountability when providing the requested therapy (CNO). RNAO’s Best Practice Guidelines (2008) provide information for non-pharmacological pain management including superficial heat and cold, massage, relaxation, imagery, pressure/vibration and music. Reiki is also listed as a complementary therapy and an intervention for pain management that should be given by Reiki Practitioner who are properly trained (RNAO).

Benefits of Reiki

Hanson and Olson (1997) conducted a pilot study to determine if Reiki could be used to manage pain. Results indicated that Reiki significantly relieved pain from individuals with cancer, arthritis and chronic back issues (Hanson & Olson). Hanson, Michaud and Olson (2003) furthered their study with Reiki by comparing pain, quality of life, and analgesic use in patients experiencing cancer pain. The results showed that the individuals receiving a Reiki treatment reported improved pain control and improved quality of life, compared to the individuals receiving analgesic and rest only (Hanson et al.). Not only did the results show that individuals who received Reiki had a significant decrease in pain, they also experienced a noticeable drop in diastolic blood pressure and a major improvement in the mental and emotional quality of life (Hanson et al.). DeCristofaro and Ott (2008) recount how a young boy with nagging cancer pain described a Reiki treatment as erasing the pain from his body. Bossi et al., (2008) reported how a seven year old girl asked her nurse to provide her with more Reiki treatments after brain surgery because it stopped the pain in her head.

Although there have been studies exploring Reiki and pain management, more rigorous qualitative and quantitative research needs to be conducted (Bossi et al., 2008). Currently, there are trials being conducted regarding Reiki and its effects on stress, prostate cancer, AIDS, fibromyalgia, and painful neuropathy. The final results will strengthen the literature and empower nurses to provide quality care for their patients (Bossi et al.).

Nurses and patients are first in line to explore and use new therapies and interventions (Bossi, DeCristofaro, & Ott, 2008). Reiki enhances coping and healing, and therefore is increasingly sought out by patients and nurses in the hospital setting (Bossi et al.).

My personal experiences with Reiki in the hospital have been very fulfilling. I have received positive feedback from patients receiving Reiki as well. I have used Reiki on patients who have undergone surgery to decrease pain at the surgical site. A patient I was caring for had been involved in a motor vehicle accident which resulted in a fractured right ankle. She was in pain upon returning from surgery so I explained how Reiki can help; I gave her Reiki at the surgical site. After the Reiki treatment was complete, the patient felt more relaxed with less pain around her ankle. She rated her pain lower on the pain scale. A patient with severe burns to both lower legs, accepted a treatment after I explained how Reiki can help to decrease pain. She, too, reported a decrease in pain during and after the Reiki treatment.

My vision for the future is to educate and encourage nurses and healthcare professionals to incorporate Reiki into their lives and professional practice. It may be challenging to completely grasp something as immaterial and intuitive as Reiki, but the true, underlying value is for all to use Reiki to embark on a path towards a better, happier and healthier life (Rand, 2005).

References

Benor, D.J. (2006)
The Body: Physical, bodymind, energetic, and potential doorway to spiritual awareness
www.wholistichealingresearch.com/The_Body.html

Bossi, L.M., DeCristofaro, S., & Ott, M.J. (2008)
Reiki as a clinical intervention in oncology nursing practice
Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12(3), 489-494

Canadian Nurses Association. (1999)
Complimentary therapies-finding the right balance
www.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/documents/pdf/publications/
ComplimentaryTherapies_July1999_e.pdf

College of Nurses of Ontario. (2008)
Complimentary Therapies
http://www.cno.org/docs/prac/41021_CompTherapies.pdf

Hanson, J., & Olson, K. (1997)
Using reiki to manage pain: A preliminary report
Cancer Prevention and Control, 1(2), 109–113.

Hanson, J., Michaud, M., & Olson, K. (2003)
A phase II trial of reiki for the management of pain in advanced cancer patients
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 26 (5), 990-997

Horrigan, B., & Miles, P. (2003)
Pamela Miles reiki vibrational healing
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 9(4), 74.

Rand, W. L. (2005)
The reiki touch: Develop your skills to heal yourself and others
Boulder, Colorado: Sounds True Incorporated

Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. (2007)
Assessment and management of pain
www.rnao.org/Storage/29/2351_BPG_Pain_and_Supp.pdf

Holistic Health Expo 2009
@
The Caboto Club Windsor

on

Sunday, May 24^th, 2009, from 9am to 5pm

Our Holistic Health Show is only two weeks away and looking back we can definitely say that it’s been, once again, a beautiful and fulfilling experience.

The theme of this gathering is:
Maintaining and Re-creating Health in
Mind, Body & Spirit

The only show of its kind in Windsor bringing together
Acupuncturists, Aromatherapists, Chiropractors, Energy Healers, Herbologists, Massage Therapists, Naturopaths, Nutritionists, Reflexologists, Psychic Readers, and other alternative therapists,

instructors of
Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Yoga,

as well as vendors of
Books, Crystals, CDs, Incenses, Organic Products,
Skin Care Products, and Nutritional Supplements

and much more…

The main show is taking place in the Canada Hall on the Main Floor and is hosting
over 50 booths and 150 holistic practitioners and vendors.

Show visitors will have the unique opportunity to enjoy mini-taster sessions, attend lectures, and spend one-on-one time asking questions and learning from an incredible group of leading natural healthcare professionals from the Essex County and beyond,

all under one roof…all in one day!

The Holistic Health Expo includes all of the above
for a low admission fee of $5
Children under 12 Free

Call your friends and family and hurry down to experience a unique event!

If you need directions to The Caboto Club, view map here

To find Canada Hall, view floorplan here

We would like to thank all those who, through their commitment and dedication, have contributed to the making of this event!

Reiki-Do students are welcome to help and assist.

The main goal of Earth Hour is to create awareness around climate change issues and "to express that individual action on a mass scale can help change our planet for the better" and not to marginally reduce energy consumption during that specific hour.

Earth Hour 2007

Earth Hour was held for the first time in Sydney, Australia on March 31, 2007 at 7:30 pm, local time. The event was conceived by WWF Greenwich CT and the Sydney Morning Herald. Approximately 2.2 million residents and 2100 companies of Sydney participated by turning off all non-essential lights.

According to figures from EnergyAustralia, a local utility, mains electricity consumption for the 2007 event in Sydney was 2% lower during the Hour than would be expected given the time, weather conditions and past four years’ consumption patterns. The Herald Sun equated this with "taking 48,613 cars off the road for 1 hour".

Earth Hour 2008

Following Sydney’s lead, many other cities around the world adopted the event in 2008. Earth Hour 2008 was held internationally on 29 March 2008 from 8 pm to 9 pm, local time, marking the first anniversary of the event. With 35 countries around the world participating as official flagship cities and over 400 cities also supporting, Earth Hour 2008 was celebrated on all seven continents.

Iconic landmarks all around the world turned off their non-essential lighting for Earth Hour which included the Empire State Building (New York City), Sears Tower (Chicago), Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco), Bank of America Plaza (Atlanta), Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia), Table Mountain (Cape Town, South Africa), Wat Arun Buddhist Temple (Bangkok, Thailand), the Colosseum (Rome, Italy), Royal Castle (Stockholm, Sweden), London’s City Hall (United Kingdom), Space Needle (Seattle, USA), the CN Tower (Toronto, Canada), SM Mall of Asia, SM Science Discovery Center (Manila, Philippines), Suva (Fiji), Nidaros Cathedral (Trondheim, Norway) and The Royal Liver Building (Liverpool, England).

Before 2008, San Francisco had been running a Lights Out program of their own, that occurred in October. In 2008, Earth Hour became an international event and San Francisco was asked to be a partner city in this event. Rather than have a competing event, San Francisco has supported the international Earth Hour event and all Lights Out efforts have moved to March 29, to align with Australia’s Earth Hour.

In Canada, the best result was from Toronto, where 900 megawatt-hours of electricity, or 8.7% was saved if measured against a typical March Saturday night. The worst result was from Calgary. The city’s power consumption actually went up 3.6% at the hour’s peak electricity demand. In Calgary, however, where weather plays a large role in power consumption, the city experienced weather 12°C colder than the previous Saturday’s recorded temperature.

According to a Zogby International online survey 36 million people participated in Earth Hour 2008. The survey also showed there was a 4 percentage point increase in awareness of environmental issues such as climate change, directly after the event.

Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour is taking place on Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, local time.

The Earth Hour 2009 is taking place in the context of the pivotal 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The event aims to have 1 billion "votes" in over 80 countries and 4000 supporting cities.

If you care, be one of them. Vote Earth!

If you are a Reiki Practitioners, you can do more than just turn off the lights and light a candle. You can use that hour to give Reiki to Mother Earth. You can help to make it a better place for all of us.

The official website for the event, earthhour.org, received last year over 6.7 million unique visitors in the week leading up to Earth Hour. Other websites, like Google, YouTube and Flickr, took part in the event.

Reiki-Do participates in this event, at Montreal/Toronto (GMT -05 EST – Eastern Time US & Canada) and Calgary (GMT -07 MT – Mountain Time US & Canada) local times. We invite all our readers to join us in this spiritual event. Many thanks to all of you who will choose to do it.

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Please, share with us your “bright ideas” for the “dark hour”.