As a Reiki Master and teacher, it has been a long-held dream to go to Japan. I wanted to visit the sacred place and experience the energy of Mount Kurama where Mikao Usui first experienced the enlightenment of Reiki. He was looking for enlightenment and took himself off to the spiritual heights of Mount Kurama where meditated and fasted for 21 days of Shugyo which is deep body and mind training.
It is said that Usui saw a shining light moving towards him at great speed. He felt like he had been struck by lightening as a white light flew over his head. His body was filled with a deep sense of peace, vitality and well-being. In this moment of enlightenment, he realised that this spiritual energy could be used to help others too. He accepted this gift as his life’s purpose to heal people and to teach students to channel this life force energy so that they could do the same.
I was introduced to Reiki is 2006 following the sudden death of my first husband. I had opened a tiny shop called Hearts and Angels as a project to help me find a purpose through grief. A friend told me about a Reiki teacher who was willing to come and bless my shop with reiki energy. I had never heard of it before but was curious and happy to try it.
Susan arrived and I watched as she walked around the shop holding her hands above the shelves and tables. She looked so serene and calm and told me that she had a ‘Reiki One’ course coming up. I felt very drawn to learning more. I found it to be such a wonderful experience and most certainly soothing during the periods of sadness and pain of my grief.
In time, I went on to become a practitioner, working with lots of people who reported that this healing energy really helped them. The natural, final step was to become a Reiki Master and teacher.
I tell my clients that they are the ‘magic’ during a session. It is not something that I am giving to them, it is something that they are giving to themselves. They will take what they need from the session to calm and soothe their nervous system. This is turn will help their body to begin to heal emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.
So, earlier this month, I realised my dream and took the journey that many other pilgrims had taken. My husband and I left our hotel in Kyoto and made the journey by train and bus to Kurama, a pretty little mountain town. The weather was sunny but there was still a little chill in the air. We made our way up the long flight of steps, flanked by red wooden and grey stone lanterns to the huge red Torii gate way to the temple grounds.
Once inside, there are many more steps to climb. The grounds of the temple have a Shinto shrine called Yuki-jinja that hosts the Kurama Fire Festival every October.
As we began to climb, higher up the mountain we could see there are many shrines and temples to see. Although there are hundreds of stairs to climb, the beauty and peacefulness of the mountain keeps you wanting to go higher and higher.
We arrived at the main temple. There was a sense of calmness and warmth. The view was stunning. We took some time to rest and to sit quietly to take in the views. In front of the temple there is a pentagram within a circle that is within a square carved into the ground. This is said to be a power spot. When I first stood on it, I didn’t feel anything but after a few moments, I felt a rush of warmth and my hands began to tingle. It only lasted a few seconds but I was grateful to feel something on this sacred, power spot.
I bought a wooden prayer plaque called an Ema. It can be used to write your prayers and wishes out. It is hung up with many other where the Kami (spirits/gods) receive them and answer the prayers.
We continued onwards to where we had been guided above the temple into the forest of trees. I sat down to meditate at a small temple and asked for a ‘sign’ from my angels and guides. Within seconds, a beautiful red camellia fell in my lap. Camellias are a highly respected flower in Japan, they represent empathy, eternal love, affection, admiration and long-lasting devotion. I felt like I had received a spiritual blessing.
I felt that I had made a strong connection to Mount Kurama and enjoyed the peacefulness, gentle loving energies and the overwhelming beauty that surrounded me. I offered my gift of the flower back to Usui with love and gratitude for his teachings and left it at an alter near where I was sitting.
I left feeling grateful, refreshed and renewed. I will carry this amazing experience in my heart forever.
Article by Jean Fisher-Taylor
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