Medical Stigmata

Just for fun, look at the palm of your hand you use to write (the sending hand in palmistry representing the present and the future), and glance at the mound immediately under the pinky (Mercury) finger.  Do you see a series of several little vertical lines especially toward the ring finger?  if you do, you may have an "aptitude for medicine, whether conventional or alternative, and tend to concentrate particularly on healing" (Peter West, 1998) often called the medical stigmata.

LaRoux (1993) asserts that the palm of your writing hand is what you are currently doing in your life, while the on the palm of the other hand (the receiving hand) is where you can see the influences of your past and childhood.  I also think it represents the talents you were born with.  So look at your receiving hand and see if the marks are there.  If they are present on the receiving hand but not the sending hand, you may have some tendencies as a healer but may not be manifesting them in the present to their fullest potential especially to benefit humanity.

Webster (1994) also has an interesting interpretation of these fine lines, "People with a medical stigmata have an empathy for all living things, and have a healing touch.  They often gravitate towards one of the healing professions.  Consequently, you will find this marking on the hands of good doctors, nurses, ..., and anyone else involved in the helping professions.  Bear in mind that if someone has become attracted to one of these fields with the aim of making money rather than helping others, he or she will not have a medical stigmata."  Reiki does not require an innate healing touch as the ability to channel Reiki comes from the transmission of Reiki attunement through your teacher and the Reiki lineage.  You may not have grown up in a Reiki family but are part of one now.

I don't have a source for this (I may have heard it from my grandmother), but I remember hearing that if the lines radiate out from the pinky your talent may be healing children (I wonder if it extends to animals too?) and if the lines are more toward the inner side of the pinky more toward the ring finger, your talent was more with adults.

Please remember, this is not specific to Reiki but the healing arts in general.  Reiki flows effortlessly through us once you have gone through the attunement process.  I have looked at many, many hands and have noticed that both those who work in traditional fields (doctors, therapists, etc.) or alternative therapies (massage therapists, light healers, etc.) do tend to have these marks especially if they are passionate.  I've noticed teachers may have these marks too.  So, it's just something to look at and consider.

Gassho and Reiji-Ho

My pondering continues in regard to certain hand positions spontaneously producing Reiki and I remembered Gassho.

From Usui & Frank Arjava Petter's book, The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui (1999 English ed.), "Gassho literally means 'two hands coming together'" and Petter goes on to explain the Gassho meditation which was used each time at the beginning of meetings with a noticeable increase in energy occurring when practiced in groups.  The meditation is very simple.  You place your hands together in front of your chest (prayer pose) and focus your attention on where the two middle fingers meet.  He cautions you may experience energy phenomena such as your hands or backbone becoming very warm.  This seems to in some ways explain what is going on in yoga class sometimes with Reiki as yoga asana practice is often a precursor to meditation.  My yoga teacher also often has us focus on our middle finger in a variety of asanas.

Petter goes on to explain that Reihi-Ho is a set of 3 short rituals that can be conducted before a Reiki session.  The first step is to assume Gassho posture while closing your eyes and connecting with the Reiki power by asking.  Repeat the wish 3 times.  If you are 2nd degree or higher, you can use the mental-healing symbol sealed by the power symbol.  The second step is to pray for the recovery and health of the patient on all levels.  Step three is to hold your folded hands in front of your 3rd eye (6th chakra) and ask the Reiki power to guide your hands where energy is needed.  There is the connection to the upper chakras I also wondered about.

I hope you have a peaceful and Reiki-filled day...

Chakras

Being semi-snowbound today, I had plenty of time to reflect more on how reiki seems to flow so naturally at times during activities such as yoga.  I found this video and it has also made me consider the role of the third eye (perhaps where our soul resides!).  I really also enjoyed the idea that the first position is like a reset button that helps to clear out le junk.