RWP Episode #165: Change Perspective, Change Your Life with Reiki Women Podcast

Join Bronwen, Michaela, and Carrie as they explore the profound role of shifting perspectives in achieving joy and well-being through the system of Reiki. 
This episode delves into the origins of these perspectives, the importance of focusing the mind, and the meaningful distinctions between Western and Japanese styles of Reiki practice. 
Learn how applying Reiki precepts and breathing exercises can support emotional and mental transformations, even during life's most challenging moments. 
Perfect for Reiki practitioners and anyone interested in personal growth, healing, and Eastern spiritual practices. 
Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join the conversation!

00:00 Introduction to Perspectives and Beliefs
00:24 Welcome to the Reiki Women Podcast
01:34 Exploring the System of Reiki
01:51 Shifting Perspectives and Experiencing Joy
03:28 Personal Stories and Practical Applications
13:27 Western vs. Japanese Reiki Perspectives
26:10 Promotions and Upcoming Events
33:04 Final Thoughts on Perspective Shifts
44:06 Conclusion and Call to Action

Hosts
Bronwen Logan: https://ReikiwithBronwen.com
Carrie Varela: https://www.reikihealingsociety.com
Michaela Daystar: http://HeartscapesInsight.com

We now have our own email! reikiwomenpodcasts@gmail.com

Our own RWP Group discussion: Embodying Reiki
  / 1564135767437136

Bronwen's Online Reiki Coaching Group: https://reikiwithbronwen.com/courses/online-reiki-coaching-group-bi-monthly

Michaelas Self-Study Classes: https://www.heartscapesinsight.com/selfpaced-courses-catalog

Carries's Decolonize Your Reiki Practice: https://www.reikihealingsociety.com/reiki-inspired-products/p/decolonize-your-reiki-practice

Transcript

0:06

Beliefs, our thoughts, our perspectives on situations can make us feel trapped inside of them. How do we gain these perspectives in the first place? It's a very painful process actually to confront those perspectives and see them for not being true. Welcome friends to the Reiki Women Podcast, an exploration into the profound depths of the system of Reiki. From a Japanese spiritual perspective and how that relates to our modern lives, we are keeping it real to Reikis origins, challenging the new age stereotype that things like. Crystals, chakras and angels are authentic aspects of the system. I'm Bronwyn Logan, and when I'm not writing best selling books about the Japanese system of Reiki, 75,000 readers and counting, I'm here debunking, outmoded reiki myths and coaching individuals and groups. Through my website, Reiki with Bronwyn. And I'm Mikayla de star, lead teacher and Weaver of Hardscapes Reiki connecting the dots between reiki and environmental and social justice because our individual healing cannot be extracted from healing relationship with the collective and with the land. And I'm Carrie Rela from the Reiki Healing Society here to help you transform your reiki practice into a thriving, prosperous business. 'cause while passion fuels your purpose, it's time to make it sustainable, authentic, and beautifully used. We're three women diving into the heart of Japanese Reiki. We're building a community that centers women's voices and inspires wellbeing. We're not just for women, we're for everybody. Come join the conversation. Hello friends. Welcome back to the Reiki Women in podcast. We are gathering Dave again for conversation about the system of Reiki and the ways in which it interfaces with our daily life. And I have had some things on my mind recently because I am in the midst of teaching my class, um, embodied Joy, which is walking through the book of Joy. And while the book of Joy is not about the system of reiki, there are so many. Juicy places of overlap because of course, half of the perspective in that book is coming through the Dalai Lama, who is the leader of Tibetan Buddhism. So there is, um, some solid threads there to our origins in the system of reiki. And uh, a topic really rose to the surface for me this week that, uh, I brought to the ladies and they were, uh, interested in exploring it a little further. And that is the role of our ability to focus the mind. And specifically our ability to shift our perspective on a situation, on an experience. We're having feelings, we're having, uh, questions that we're pondering, decisions we need to make, challenges we're being faced, our ability to shift our perspective in various ways, and the connection between that capacity. And our ability to experience joy. I know that was a mouthful, what I just said there. Uh, but that opened up some really juicy connections to the system of Reiki. So today we're gonna discuss the connections between our ability to shift perspective, our ability to experience joy and wellbeing, even when things are difficult. And of course, the way that the system of Reiki supports us in all of that. So with that introduction, I'd love to pass it over to Carrie and see what comes up for you when you think about shifting perspective. I feel like every day Reiki supports me to shift my perspective. So I just really am grateful for this conversation in this topic because, um, I'm sure I'll get some pointers on how I can do that more seamlessly and better. But, um. Yeah, I mean, I guess it is really framing it first, perhaps with the reiki precepts, right? So the reiki precepts is a whole way method to, to shifting one's perspective and working with the reiki precepts, um, you know, on having a broader conversation. Always. Something we've talked about in this, in this podcast, certainly, and something I always share in my side of my rainy courses is that, you know. Mm, not taking it always the surface level too, right? Just for today, do not be angry or do not worry. It's not to mean that we just shove those emotions down somewhere and be like, Nope, I can't, uh, I'm gonna shift my perspective and not feel that anger and not feel that worry because, oh, girlfriend, we'll come back onto you if, if you're not paying attention to it, right? And so, um. Yeah, working with the precepts, but also working with them in, in a, a, the right relationship with, with anger and with worry. Um, and how the reiki precepts, you know, as you work through the anger and the worry piece, or just sitting with it and asking what it needs today and, and, and breathing into it and, and recognizing that there's an underlying wound underneath the anger and the worry that might, might need our support. Right. And, you know, all these different ways we can. Can work through that and that, you know, we get, uh, as we move down through the precepts, we get even more, um, depth and support of how it is that we can shift our perspective around something that might be hurting us or, um, you know, taking away our joy or our, our ability to focus or, um, a quality of wellness in our mind, um, and heart and, and life. Um. So, and then re coming back to those shifts in perspective and really allowing them to guide you. And, um, I know for me, I am going through a lot of, of transformation and challenge in my life and, um, yeah, I'm always having to think about how I can shift my perspective or how I can sit with my emotions and, you know, challenge of, of going through something. Traumatic and life changing and all of that. Um, but I had, um, a shift in perspective that kind of comes to mind even just this morning. So I was up in the morning and I just, I was so tired. Just so tired, and I, I wish I had time to be tired, but I had a lot of pressing things. Going on. And I needed to get up and I needed to write an email and I needed to write a post and I needed to do it all before I taught this yoga class. And so it was like this whole process, right? And I, I took 10 minutes for myself to just really breathe into that tiredness and, and work through it. And then I just. Really had to focus on the thing that I needed to get done, even though there was other things that were kind of invading my time and space. But as I just allow myself to be in that process, like it, it just kind of opened up and the, I was able to shift from that perspective. And then I took that practice into my yoga class as well. So I had this yoga class and I just only spoke about. Listening to our body and, and that brain body connection and how important it is. And I was kind of in the moment where I just felt like my brain was like halfway in these other realms dealing with 5 billion things that I also got going on and trying to focus on my yoga class and, you know, doing, you know, five things at once basically, which is my struggle sometimes, but. I'm just reminded of like the power of a movement practice and reiki also inside of this, but certainly within yoga, is to just bring that connection brain to body and, and to honor the body as that foundation of our health and that the, these layers of our health, body, emotion, mind, spirit, um, you know, within yoga therapy we, we have, um. Actually lots of different layers of wellness. So there's physical wellness, there's emotional wellness, there's mental wellness, there's spiritual wellness, there's social wellness, um, and maybe there's other layers to that. Environmental wellness might be one that's important for you or, but really seeing the body as that foundation piece of all of those things, you know, it's through the body. We can experience all of those things. So, um. I, I, and I'm really speaking to myself teaching this class, but it's like, as I tend to the body, I can tend to all of those layers. And as, as if I, it actually literally shift my perspective. And despite all of the pressing things I feel on my shoulders, taking that time for my body so that I can be more focused and integrated and more present in my life. Um, that was a gift, you know, it was a gift to. To have what seemed like an obstacle in my day, like I could transform it into like, actually this is serving me, so this is how it's serving me. And, um, and sharing my practice that that practice with other people was always really meaningful. So. I'll stop there. Hand it over to you, Bronwyn. I'm curious what your thoughts are on shifting perspective. Yeah, that brought up some ideas for me around that as well. I did actually think when McKayla brought it up, I thought, well, how do we gain these perspectives in the first place? Right? And I guess that's. From the moment we are born, maybe before we're born, I don't know. And just the experiences that we experience and then how we deal with that. And the thing is, when we are kids, it's harder for us to know how to deal with some of the experiences that we have in our lives. So then we may understand them in a way that gives us a certain perspective and that perspective may not actually support us. Of course it can go the other way as well. Right. But I'm just thinking of the different perspectives that we have and the ones that may not have been supportive. And I had quite a tumultuous youth and I was just thinking about myself and how I gained. Perspectives, and I'm sure I had some perspectives that didn't really work for me at all. My thoughts about how the world worked, how I sat within the world, and about other people. And I guess it's when you're around a teenager. When, when we shift, when we become teenagers and we start having those amazing aha moments, I remember those, and those were those shifting perspectives. It's where you might read something or you have a teacher who says something or you're talking with your peers and you all come across this idea together and you just think, oh my. Goodness. And life is possibly different to how you might've imagined that life is. I can remember having those, and I remember having those when I started the system of reiki, doing a reiki one class and, and going, yeah, right. I get it. I get it. And then the further, personal awareness, uh, that comes through that, but also through research, just being curious, about life and finding what works. Yeah. So always looking for what works. Perspective. Right. I could really trace that through in my life, but I could see the shifts and changes and I'm sure there'll be lots more, I hope, shifts and changes and understandings. And certainly the system of reiki helps. and you mentioned focus as being like a parallel to this idea of shifting perspective. I always thought that I had. Hmm. This relates to what Carrie was talking about, had this magical gift say that someone's gonna arrive at the house and I have to, wash the dishes, feed the animals, cook a meal. I had to do all these things, and I have to have it done by the time that that person comes. A bit like what you were saying, Carrie, just have all these things that you know have to happen. If I know what has to happen. I also have this. Amazing belief in myself that I will manage that and it will happen. And I don't rush. I don't get crazy. I don't worry, I don't panic. And this is a perspective that I've discovered in myself, and it's such a nice one. I love that one. I just walk it through and, just as I put the last teaspoon in the drawer, the person pulls up. You know what I mean? And it's like. Perfectly ready just on time. And it's this really natural thing that it's, it is listening to your body. It's allowing everything to work in sync together and to have a really clear focus. And that focus, comes from a confidence, I guess, or a self-belief. And that is my perspective, that I can do it right. I love that. And, I just wanna take it slightly in a different direction for a moment. How about the shifting perspectives between studying in a Western style of the system of Reiki and a Japanese style? Because they seem to be very different, and at in many ways they are. And I think it's this perspective, right? I just have had a student here, and we we're talking about this because she'd studied in the Western style, was now studying in, in a Japanese, perspective, and just how. Having a different perspective, I feel can really support you in your practice. And it might be slightly controversial. I don't know, is that controversial what I'm saying? But for me it makes a lot of sense at any rate. When I think of the Japanese style, it's so much about yourself and it all comes back to you, and it's not about doing things to other people or making other things happen, or putting things in other people, or trying to show that you can do things. It's nothing like that. It is this sense of working on myself and then when I go to do a treatment. Or teach a course then I have this, this balance because of what I've actually been practicing. And so, yeah, we went to do a treatment and she's like, oh, right, so I don't need to do the symbols or something before I do a treatment, you know? And I'm like, no. And we just spent all this time working on the symbols, and she did a treatment on me, the, the second she put her hands on me. The heat, the movement of energy. Because she's been working on herself, not about her putting something out there to make something happen to, to do something to me all about. Herself, herself. And that shifting of perspective helps us just to grow as individuals, as people. And I think for me, I just find it incredibly valuable. So, yeah. Uh, I love all of that. There's. Several things that both of you said that I wanna respond to. So I'm like trying to organize the thoughts here, shift my perspective to an organized mind. Um, but I guess I wanna, you know, kind of ground myself back in this kind of original thing that caught my attention. This, you know, idea that, um, focus and perspective taking is a direct route. It's, it's, it's an essential part of the formula for being able to access a sense of wellbeing, a sense of happiness, joy. Even when things are really challenging, the, the scientific like backup for that, that the, uh, author of the book of Joy Douglas Abrams, um, provided was really what captured my attention. It was that there are four neural pathways in our brain that together govern our ability to sense our own wellbeing, so our sense of wellbeing. You know, our ability to feel neutral. Good. I feel supported. I feel, you know, like I have what I need. You know, just that sense of wellbeing is governed by four neural neural pathways that all do different things. But they work together in this way. And one of them, 25% of our ability to, uh, sense our own wellbeing is the ability to focus the mind. So the neural pathway that is devoted to. Helping our mind to focus in ways that we choose, um, as opposed to having our, our focus pulled in whatever direction we're either distracted by or we're startled by, or where we think a threat might be coming from or some, some desire that we're having that's distracting us. And then of course when we look at the system of Reiki, if we look at it from the perspective of its Japanese origins, I really wanna circle back to the point you just made Bronwyn about those, the perspectives of the two different systems. But if we take that Japanese perspective, of course focusing the mind is an essential element of. Uh, working with the system of reiki, all of the practices. I love that you mentioned the precepts, Carrie, you know, the way that they use, you know, mental concentration and contemplation. Um, our imagination to, you know, apply these precepts to our life and to kind of filter situations that we're experiencing. Questions that we have through the lens of, you know, just for today and our five precepts. Um. Is a, is a way of training our mind to focus in particular ways. Of course, the foundation of the system of reiki is the breathing practice, Josh, and a method to focus the mind. So right there at the, the beginning of our, you know, work with ourselves, with the system of Reiki, we have this capacity building around focusing our attention. And being able to focus our attention with choice and with consciousness, curiosity, um, and expansiveness is really what we're talking about here. I loved Carrie, that you started with distinguishing perspective, shifting from spiritual, bypassing, you know, you were describing, you know, like one version of shifting our perspective could include, oh, just don't look at the bad things. You know, just look on the bright side. Everything happens for a reason. Um, you know, we don't have to, you know, look at those dark things. Um, it's not that, you know, a shift in perspective will take into account, if anything more of the situation or a particular part of the situation in a way that is, is clarified for us. Um, it doesn't turn away from, from the truth of what is present in the situation, including the difficulties. But it allows us to bring in data from different places and consciously put those data together in a way that brings us back to that sense of wellbeing. Um, I loved the example that you gave Bronwyn of this. Um. You know, way of taking a perspective on time, right? Of like looking at the time that you have to get certain things done before the guests come and this belief that I can get it done and then it gets done consistently over time. You can imagine someone having the opposite perspective, right? There's never enough time. I'm always so slow, I'll never get it done. You know, I'll, I'll, um, you know, there's too much to do, right? Like there's, that would be an opposite perspective of that situation. And you know, my guess would be if we hold that. Perspective, we're probably not gonna get it done in the way that you described. And so that would be a, a conscious shift in perspective that we could undertake if we're having a frustrating experience like that over and over again. That would be a great example of a place to do a little bit of Josh and apply the precepts just for today. I'm not gonna worry about. The dish is not being done when the guests get here. Just for today, I'm not gonna be angry with myself because I didn't get it done. Just for today. I'm gonna be grateful that I have guests coming over. You know, who cares if there's dishes in the sink, right? Et cetera. Um, so we have these, these practices that help us in this way and, you know, these are kind of lighthearted examples that we're looking at in this particular moment. But, you know, we think about all of the ways that are. Beliefs, our thoughts, our perspectives on situations can make us feel trapped inside of them. You know, I don't have an option. I don't have a choice inside of this. I'm so frustrated. I'm so afraid, I'm so angry. You know? And can we work with the thing, the, the one thing we truly have control over, which is what's happening in our mind? Um, that control can be hard. One, it can be very challenging, which is why we need whole systems of practice to help us get there. But the, the power in being able to count on, you know, and believe in our ability to take on different perspectives, and that can include perspectives of time. You know, how is this gonna feel five years from now, right? If we, if I get a little bit of space from this situation that I feel so upset about, how might I see it different if it was. Far in the past, you know, perspective changing in terms of scope. What if I looked at this situation in terms of, you know, the wider web of life that's happening, but you know, larger, you know, world of things occurring. Um, look at this in a way that's interconnected to other things and see if that change, how I think about it change in perspective of who is viewing the situation. Can we take on somebody else's perspective? You know, think about how might this situation feel. To this other person who's in the midst of it, or to a neutral third party, how would they see this situation? So all of these different capacities that we can develop, one of the many things that the system of Reiki gives us specifically when we're working with it from those Japanese origins. And you know, lastly, just I love that you brought that example of. Different perspectives on, you know, something that we might see as the same thing, but as you say, Bronwyn, the system of reiki from its origins and the system of reiki as its practice largely and the West are very different systems of practice. They, you know, have their benefits. They have their, um, you know, they each have their uniquenesses. But I think it really is important to say, and I know we say it a lot on this podcast, that it is important to distinguish these as different systems of practice. And one of the way the reasons that we do that, including integrity and, you know, deeper understanding of the system and all of that, but it's also because. It can get very confusing if people are exposed to these different perspectives without explanation. Why would this be looked at, you know, in a certain way, by one practitioner in a completely different way, by another, the perspective in practicing reiki from its Japanese origins. You know, one of the several that are so starkly different from the Western version is that sense of where is Reiki located, where is it generated from, and in what way do I access it? And of course, you know, from the way that, that we all practice, reiki is inherent in all things, which includes us. And so we're, we're cultivating, we're reconnecting with that reiki that's already existing in ourselves. We're clearing out a way, the obstacles that are in the way of us being in that space, and therefore that space radiates out from us and we can share it with others and it influences how we are in the world. Versus Reiki is an energy that is outside of ourselves. It's universal energy that's out there. And as a Reiki practitioner, we're channeling it through ourselves and into another person or place or animal. Um, and when I have worked with I, the, I know I'm rambling a little bit, I'm excited about this topic, but the last place that I wanna land is, um, you know, as you were talking about this from when I was reflecting. On a very specific pattern that I've seen over and over again. When I am working with students who were trained in Western reiki and are now studying with me, they almost universally the same response when we. Really dig into that distinction that I just described of where is Reiki located and how do we access it, right? Do we access it by doing a symbol and therefore we turn on our Reiki switch and it pours through us like a channel? Or do we access it by focusing our mind on its existence inside of ourselves already? Right? Very different mechanisms. When I explain that and they really dig into that and they kind of deal with the cognitive dissonance of those two very different explanations for where Reiki is and what it is. This sense of greater freedom of greater empowerment. Of greater possibility. Yeah. Invariably comes to every student that I've worked with who have originally been trained in Western Reiki, and for me that is a really clear. Example, like inside the niche of teaching reiki in this way of a perspective shift, bringing a greater sense of joy and wellbeing, right? That one shift in how Reiki itself is viewed. Bringing this sense of lightness, of freedom, of possibility, of openness. And I would call all of that joy. So I love that you brought up that example. Uh, 'cause that was really helpful for me to kind of. Look at that particular example in the context of the workbook that we do. Or before you go, I, I think we should talk about, the fact that we do not make any money on this podcast. What a perspective shift. So we don't make any money on this podcast, but if we had like a hundred thousand subscribers, then I guess we might make some money out of this podcast. Who knows? I don't really know how that works, but share it with your friends, y'all. Let's get there. Yes. If everyone shared it with 10 people, I guess we'd get there sooner or later and just make sure you subscribe because it does help us and, we love to do this and we would love to also mix money out of it. Yeah. Well, why don't you tell us about something that you have coming up that does make you some money, Broman that our dear listeners. That's such a great idea. Yeah. I'm gonna shift my perspective once again and, now I'm gonna focus on, something that I do. Okay. every second week, I have an hour class with, students and by the term students, I mean people who, have studies. The system of reiki is somewhere along the line, and it may have been Western Reiki or may still be Western Reiki, may be a personal student of mine, might not. Anyway, everyone is welcome. And what we do we practice Tde Ho, so the Japanese practice of Tde Ho. I do the two different versions. So I do a version which is, with Josh and Coho, which is just breathing down into the hara. And, remembering our interconnection with absolutely everything. And, uh, s so Augusta meditation, and then some hands on healing on the self. And then moving into a teaching aspect of the class where we. Focus on something this year. I'm focusing on the memorial stone so far. Yeah. And, doing some ins and outs around that. And we are looking at what it means, so the history of the system of reiki, but bringing practices into that as well. So it's a practical examination of the, history of masui. This is something I'd love to see you at, and you can just come to my website, reiki with bronwyn.com and join me there. I'd love to see you. Who's next? Carrie? Oh, yes. I don't know what, I don't know what I'm promoting right now. I'm, I'm calling, um, I'm disorganized and unfocused mess. No, I'm just joking. I'm not. Um, I actually really do have, I've been learning how to focus on one thing professionally, so. It's currently been decolonized, your Reiki practice. So if you haven't checked that out, um, the. Just so you know, this week I'm saying today is the deadline to get, uh, this ca uh, uh, course at a discounted rate. But really, uh, I'll share a secret with you just inside Podcast Secret is that I'll keep the price open through Friday, um, of this week. Um, but you know, always, if you're interested in this course, after listening to this episode, you are always welcome to reach out and, um. Ask me about a discount, um, because I do wanna make the work affordable and accessible to people. Well also not working for free, um, because I think it is so important as women, it is really a fin, a, a, a part of our financial empowerment is to, to, to value the work that we do and put a value on it. And, um, not, not just a, a, a small value, a big value, because. We do a lot. And this podcast is so meaningful and I'm, I am, you know, I I, we do it for free and I do it to make money and I do it for both things. But you know, we're on 165 episodes, I think. And so it is a lot of labor of love to do these, this work, and we're very grateful for it. And I, I know I wanna make it be as big of an impact as it possibly can, and I think it's growing, which is really exciting. So. So I'll mention the Decolonize your Reiki practice. Uh, one more time and just give you a hint that the next thing coming, um, from my, my Reiki kitchen is, uh, moving from a, uh, moving from Babylon to Avalon, creating seven income streams for healing arts professionals. And so that course is a self-study course that's gonna give you all so many tremendous. Tools on how you can organize your finances, charge what you deserve to charge girlfriend, and, um, make money doing, making a difference, and living your passion. So, um, uh, that course is, it's, it's coming soon. Mikayla, what do you got going on? Some joy. You got some joy. Yes, absolutely. I've got some joy. I've got some joy for you on sale, dear listener. Um, so I, I, I have mentioned before that I, this year started a, uh, collection of, uh, self-study online courses through Thinkific. Um. A range of things from kind of bite-sized, uh, special topics classes, diving into the system of reiki from his Japanese origins, and what in the world that has to do with our own wellbeing in our daily lives. Um, a, uh, really lovely class on intuition, developing our intuition through the system of reiki, and of course, by cultivating a trauma-informed reiki class for practitioners. And, um, everything in the, in the library will be on sale. Through May 15th, so on sale now, uh, through May 15th. Um, and that will be, um, at my website and with the coupon code take no. Spring sale, that's what I decided to call it. Um, so I'll get put that information down below if you wanna check out any of those courses and get them on sale through the 15th of next month. And, um, I will also preview that, um, next month's special topic class will be on working with Ra uh, Reiki during pregnancy and childbirth. So it'll be focused on people who are, um, pregnant, are considering to become pregnant, or a person who supports others who are pregnant, um, or birthing. So that can include birth workers, um, and a variety of other support professionals and, uh, lay people. And, um, I'll share about that more as we get closer, but a little bit of a preview for what's coming up next month. So that is us, our amazing, um, generative fabulous. Uh, offerings to the world. And now back to our regularly scheduled program, a shift in perspective back to care. Oh, I'm glad I wrote notes so I can shift back to perspective. Um. I really appreciate both of what you were saying and um, Ron, when I think it is so profound when you said, where does this perspective come from? And, and, and reworking some of my childhood perspectives or things that I learned about the world or life that I expected to be true. And oh boy, I have a handful of those like, you know, worldviews things, perspectives, um, choices. Um. Ideas about the world that I've really had to work through inside of my healing for sure, that come from my childhood. That, you know, things were represented to me as a certain way and, um, they, they were real set up, real set up for some other challenging life lessons down the road, right? And, um, it's a very painful process actually to confront those perspectives and see them for. Not, you know, being true. And I think it, it does take, it does tell, take this inner capacity to shift our perspective. And I think that that's something that can be learned and it is very beneficial in our healing and in our wellness and in our life. Um, because if we get fixated on, well, you know, I'm not making any money from this podcast, and I just come in with a shitty attitude or whatever, you know, like, then. Uh, you know, I can't show up and be, you know, and, and I can't receive the joy of this service and, and to do this work and to share it. Um, and that's not my perspective, just so you know. I don't think, I don't grumble about it. It's very like, it a very joyful burden, uh, to be here. And we love doing this and, and it lights all of us up and we love being a part of the community of people who've gathered around this podcast. So, um. But you know, I, I hope, you know what, what I'm saying is that there's these perspectives, like we can be like, like, okay, oh, if I didn't meet my, the one by 30, then, you know, whatever, I'm going to be a child, this cat lady, or something like that. And, and even those perspectives I'm learning like what, wow. Maybe if I could shift that perspective and may maybe like being in partnership isn't the goal. Like what if that wasn't. What it takes to be happy. You know, what could, what could it look like? Um, you know, to be single and fabulous and not, not have that perspective, right? Or there, there might be very many other handful of perspectives that we can shift and be like, wow, okay. If I, if I stop making that be the ideal of what it takes for me to be happy or joyful, then. Like I, I can be so much more joyful for what's around me and what I have in my life right now. And I think that that's the shift that the, the precepts ultimately guide us into. Right. Um, and I love that you mentioned the shift from the Western to eastern perspective and, um, I think it, it is really a similar perspective as a really similar process, right. Is where we can't just. Um, there's a tendency, I think, especially within sight of a spiritual practice, is we wanna, we wanna hold onto things as being true. Be like, oh, this was true for me in the moment, and therefore it's true and it's just true, true, true. And it's always gonna be true. Whereas is actually our spiritual journey is a journey of evolution and process. And so. Like the things I learned in Western Reiki, they really did support me at the time, but they also supported me to move away from them because some of them actually didn't support me, even though I kind of thought that they did or or whatever. And through deeper inquiry, I've kind of come around the other side to a different perspective and, and, and in some ways coming co. Full circle too to the Western perspective and really being able to embrace it and see that point of view as being really valid and beautiful too. Um. And, uh, just leads me to one other thought from my yoga and, uh, one of my yoga teachers on the chakras who studied the chakras from more scholarly perspective. You know, he talked about the distinction between seven chakra system, um, as it's understood in like the western world, um, as opposed to how it's understood from this tantric worldview. Before the chakras were westernized and. And, you know, he kinda came full circle and says, you know, this, this chakra system might be a very valid system of practice and it might be a really beautiful system of practice and it might lead you to many different transformations. And, but from this s more historical, um, body perspective. Is that why it, it lacks, it lacks the generations of practice and evolution that this more historical perspective has. Um, and so therefore it's just, it's just more new and uh, you know, potentially problematic and there might be certain wine spots in it, right? Um, so it's just something to think about. But, um, I really. I guess one more, sorry, one more point is this, I really enjoyed that you brought in channeling Energy, Mikayla, and I think that was one perspective shift that has really helped me is just is kind of moving away from, oh, like Reiki is something I channel or that moves through me, as opposed to Reiki is something that I am. And, um, I think a lot of people in Western Reiki might view it that way too, but you know, it, it doesn't feel good to be channeling re energy all the time. It can feel a little bypassing, like, oh, I just, if that feeling is uncomfortable, let's just keep moving energy through it until what? Like it goes away or, um, we might be pushing things. Away, un, un unknowingly, uh, rather than bringing them in into our circle and into our perspective and, and getting curious with what those sensations and feelings are as opposed to trying to push them away. So I think, um. She always be, be willing to question things. And it's not to say the traditional approach doesn't deserve some questioning. I think there's some other aspects within traditional reiki we should question too, you know, and, and that way we can be a part of the evolution of the practice. There's a lot in that, and maybe it's a different conversation, if I look at when, McKayla, you mentioned the word, universal reiki, and I think about that and I think, it just doesn't make sense to me that universal reiki wouldn't include me. Do you see what I'm saying? It's those sorts of things that sometimes I feel like it's just common sense. I don't know. I think maybe sometimes we have mystery held over us, and I think that's my issue with a lot of this stuff. So it's almost like, well, that's a mysterious thing that my teacher told me that I don't understand, and I just have to accept that. And I guess my curious nature is something that says, I want to understand that, and I want to know how that is for me, how if I do something, if I do a practice, for example, I wanna know what that practice is. I wanna know why I do it. I wanna know if it makes sense, if it doesn't make sense. Then I'm not motivated to do it, put it that way. Right. So for me. I find, the ideas within, the Japanese aspect of the system of reiki, that there is a cultural sense to a lot of it. So I can investigate that and find information in that, that, that then helps me to. Understand why I'm doing what I'm doing, um, purposes behind it. Rather than I guess relying on someone to tell me, no, you just do it that way. And then I have to accept that I, so I, I I think everyone's different. Like I said, if someone says universal reiki, I think I'm a part of the universe, aren't I? Right. But yeah, problem. So I'm not something separate to it. I don't have really much more to say about that. I love the idea of focus and it helping us to shift our perspective using focus as the tool and that really taking us deeply into something. And, that is a great pleasure to be able to do that in all different aspects in my life, but especially in the system of breaking. Absolutely. Well, I think where I wanna land with this conversation is to kind of pull my perspective back a little bit further and, you know, acknowledge that we're in a fairly volatile time period of time. Yeah. Um, certainly as a US citizen, there's a lot of volatility happening in our nation right now. A lot of things shifting and changing, uh, quite rapidly. And that brings up a lot of, uh, fear brings up a lot of, you know, freezing a lot of anxiety. Yeah. And what I'm finding is that these practices and this capacity to shift perspective and to, to. Be in control of where I'm focusing my attention and the, and in what way has been incredibly. Important and powerful for maintaining my own sense of wellbeing in this time. And to not only kind of ride the tides of what's happening moment by moment, but to be able to widen that perspective enough to start thinking about what comes next and where do we want to go from here? Can we be more conscious and and focused and. Intentional about what gets shaped out of the things that are changing or deteriorating or falling apart. Um, and that's, I think, a really important thing for us to. Keep in mind that these capacities that the system of Reiki gives us, of course they're about our own life and our own, um, you know, wellbeing and how we, we feel moment by moment. And they're about the ways in which we then impact the world around us. Um, the story Casters Loom that I've talked about in other episodes, um, the monthly gathering. That I'm having folks imagine, uh, the world that comes next is all about building this capacity to change our perspective around these times. So I just wanted to kind of land us there. Um, that this is really an important life skill, uh, in a lot of ways, and I think it's actually gonna help us get through rough times, um, with quite a bit more resilience. So that's where we're gonna land our conversation. Friends, thank you so much for being along with us. We would love to know your perspective on the co topic of perspective taking. Uh, maybe share a story with us about a time that a shift in perspective really helped you in moving through something difficult. Uh. Tip that you have for others on helping to do that and your relationship with Reiki, um, and all of that, please do share that down below. Share this, uh, episode with friends of yours who you think would benefit from us. Give it a like, give us a subscribe. That way we can continue the conversation with you moving forward. Thank you all so much. Until next time, we love you. Goodbye,