Dear Friend,

We have both been very busy with a variety of activities.

Jim is increasingly involved with activities connected with Peninsula Hospice Service, with which organisation he has worked as a patient care volunteer for nine years. For him, this includes regular sessions at the 15-bed Palliative Care In-patient Unit at Golf Links Road, Frankston.

Talking with patients who are often confronting the end-stages of a life-threatening illness is sometimes a challenging experience, such as recently when he found one of his own Reiki students fighting a losing battle with cancer. Sivi finally passed away very peacefully a few days ago. Complementary therapies are not yet standard policy here, but we recognise that even sitting with a patient enables them to be present with – and to access - the energy and hopefully to thereby benefit.

Jim finds it a privilege to have the opportunity to work in this scenario, and to see the wonderful nursing care that patients receive so that their eventual passing may take place with the minimum of discomfort or pain. We all need to be aware of our eventual mortality, and it is comforting to know that such facilities are now becoming more commonplace.

As discussed in detail in the RAPMA NEWS, Jim is optimistic that Reiki will gain acceptance as a support for Hospice staff, and maybe one day it will be accepted in the IPU.

Meantime Eileen is reporting in the RAPMA NEWS on plans to open a second Reiki clinic at the Windana Community Centre, St. Kilda, to be held this time on a Saturday morning. This will not only provide additional support for Windana clients on the Society’s pioneering drug withdrawal program, where Reiki treatments are a significant part of that program, but will also provide an opportunity for would-be Reiki practitioners to gain invaluable supervised clinical experience. Eileen is also anxious to reintroduce Reiki at Windana’s Therapeutic Community, and is seeking help from interested participants.

Both these opportunities provide unique opportunities for important clinical experience. See the Association news for more detailed information.

CLASS DATES
Note: all our training is conducted in the Jin Kei Do lineage. If you have previously trained in the Usui Shiki Ryoho form [Western tradition] of Reiki and you feel the call to explore Reiki Jin Kei Do, please ask us for an explanatory brochure to find out what is involved.

JIM'S CLASS DATES at the Reiki Centre, Bittern:
STAGE 1 Classes
Choice of dates in 2004:

• Saturday 31st January & Sunday 1st February
• Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th February
• Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th April

These are generally held on Saturday & Sunday unless privately arranged, and involve two full days. Overnight stay is available in our bunkroom if required and at no extra cost other than bringing food to share for an evening meal. For those who cannot attend a weekend class, weekday training – if necessary in split sessions – is also welcomed and can be arranged at mutually convenient times.

Note: a class application form is included on Jim’s web-site and can be printed off from there. Classes in other areas of Victoria and southern New South Wales are offered on request. Pleased apply to Jim for information, should this be of interest.

STAGE 2 Classes
– These are offered when the student, after a period of practice in what is learned at Stage 1, feels the call to move deeper into their practice of Reiki. This is the right time for Stage 2 to be considered, and not before. Stage 2 training will be accomplished in 3 or 4 sessions over some 12 to 15 hours at mutually convenient times and generally with space between the sessions to allow for practice. This training is often conducted one-to-one.

Following several enquiries, a Stage 2 training with Jim is planned for February 2004. The intention is for this to be conducted over split sessions, the first of which will be a review of 1st Stage practices to confirm that students have a command of the components of the practice at this level. This will be offered on Sunday 8th February from 10am to approx 4pm. The first session of Stage 2 training will be offered the following Sunday 15th February, and subsequent sessions will continue at mutually convenient times to be arranged with the students attending.

EILEEN’S CLASS DATES – Each class is comprised of an evening and two full days
STAGE 1 classes

• November 2003 - 14th (evening only),16th and 23rd
• February 2004 - 20th (evening only), 22nd and 29th

• December 2003 - 5th (evening only), 7th and 14th
• March 2004 - 12th (evening only), 14th and 21st

Eileen’s Mirboo North classes – Stages 1 and 2:
Eileen visited Mirboo North in March this year to teach Stage 1 to a very enthusiastic group. Others who were interested were not able to attend at this time. Further dates are underconsideration in 2004 for both Stages 1 and 2. To register your interest, please contact Margaret Yarnton on 5668 1561.

Note: both Jim and Eileen have a prerequisite for Reiki Stage 2 of at least 3 months experience following training in Jin Kei Do Stage 1 - better to have 6 to 12 months experience for this step.

People with special needs, i.e. those with particular disabilities or suffering life-threatening conditions may avail themselves of the option of special one to one tuition. This offer applies to both of us.

If you have received training in the form of Usui Shiki Ryoho (Western tradition of Reiki) and wish to continue training in that tradition, we will endeavour to recommend you to an experienced and caring Master who teaches with integrity and with respect for the traditions of that form.

REIKI PRACTICE MEETINGS
Jim’s monthly Southern City Support Meeting – These are held on rotation at different private homes between Hampton and Carrum on the 3rd Wednesday evening each month, commencing 7.30pm and followed by light supper. Note: no meetings held December and January. A periodic mailing is sent out to the regular attendees. If you are not sure whether you are on the mailing list, but would like to attend, please phone Jim for address details. Open to students of all lineages and other Masters.

PONDER GROUP, ROSEBUD
– Monthly Healing Evening, usually 3rd Monday each month at 7.30pm (unless a public holiday interferes). Both Jim and a number of Reiki students attend this meeting. This provides an opportunity for support for Peninsula residents. For more information see Ponder Group item elsewhere in this newsletter.

STUDENT SUPPORT

Eileen’s monthly Student Support Meetings at IVANHOE are held on: First Friday each month (except January) - 7.00pm for 7.30pm start.
A small donation for each support evening to cover costs of heating, etc. is appreciated.

Students of all lineages and other Masters are welcome to attend.
(NOTE: After May 2004 these evenings will take place on another week night, to be advised).
Please contact Eileen on 9482 5336 to indicate your intention to attend.

FRANKSTON
– Orwil Street Community House
Every Tuesday 11am to 1pm.
For details contact Joy Tilley on All the above meetings are open to students of all lineages of Reiki.

MASTER CLASS
Dr Ranga Premaratna, Ph.D, head of the Reiki Jin Kei Do lineage (Eastern tradition) has agreed to a Melbourne visit next year to conduct a Master Class for students of all levels - stages 1, 2 and Master - who have trained in this lineage.

It is anticipated that there will be an introductory session, which will be open to students trained in Usui Shiki Ryoho (Takata/Furumoto system).

Dr. Premaratna has an extraordinary wealth of knowledge and enjoys answering questions. So both the introductory session and the Master Class will provide a wonderful opportunity to explore the richness of this system of Reiki.

Cost, venue and dates are yet to be decided but it is anticipated that this Class will be held after the end of April.

As numbers for the Master Class will be limited you will need to register your interest QUICKLY . To do this, contact Christine Edwards on 9885 7757

THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIPS
Eileen Chapman
Grounding natural Therapies in clinical, social, ecological and spiritual contexts. A course of ten evening workshops, one evening per week 3rd March – 5th May 2004, jointly offered by Australian Complementary Health Association (ACHA), Borderlands Co-operative and the Augustine Centre.

This course arises out of a full day exploratory workshop on this topic held earlier this year which I attended in the company of complementary health practitioners from diverse modalities. The course has relevance for both lay and professional practitioners in complementary health care. It is designed to assist in maintaining the wider holistic approach to healing and has application for self-development of the practitioner.

Experts with specific expertise will begin proceedings with a background analysis although the core of the course will be open-ended imaginative discussion. Having found the exploratory workshop very worthwhile, I have already booked for the full course. If you are interested contact Australian Complementary Health Association Ph (03) 9650 5327 Fax (03) 9650 8404 or by EMAIL at diversity@diversity.org.au

THERAPEUTIC TOUCH
If you are unfamiliar with Therapeutic Touch, a discipline developed in the nursing profession and whose effects have been extensively researched and documented, then, like a number of our Reiki students, you may be interested to train in this practice. Colloquially known as “TT”, the practice has some similarities to Reiki, though there are also some important differences. Therapeutic Touch is administered primarily in the client’s energy field, though ‘hands-on’ is also used.

Geraldine Milton is an accredited teacher of the Krieger-Kunz method of TT. She conducts periodic trainings for small groups at her home in Seaford. Training involves attending a weekend workshop, and Geraldine offers a review afternoon most months for former students at her home. She is also trained to 2nd Stage in Reiki, so is familiar with both practices.

If you would like to find out more about Therapeutic Touch, or maybe train, then please call Geraldine on 9773 6320 and she will advise you of her training dates. Practice days are usually held on the 2nd Saturday of each month starting at 1pm.

ROSEBUD PONDER GROUP
Except for December and January, this group meets twice each month at 7.30pm in the meeting room at rear of Rosebud Public Library as follows:

• 1st Monday – Guest Speaker Night
  For information regarding the program on offer, phone convener Ian McNamara on 5986 1607.
• 3rd Monday – Healing Night, where you can try Reiki, shoulder massage, chakra balancing, reflexology, and other practices.

SECOND-HAND BOOKS:
Sandy Coghlan, our wonderful web-page designer, operates, together with her partner Barry Watts, a mail order business dealing in second hand books. This is known as the Pegasus Book Orphanage.

They have an extensive listing of second hand books in good condition and they specialise in books on health related subjects. An extensive list of titles on all manner of subjects are listed on their site and can be purchased by credit card, cheque, or money order, and mailed to you - or even hand-delivered if you live on the Mornington Peninsula!

If you are looking for a specific book that may be too expensive to buy new, or is out of print, contact Sandy. For example, she may be able to tell you that there is a second-hand copy in good condition for sale in Ireland for such and such a price, and also advise you as to what your postage cost would be, etc, such is the information easily obtained via the internet! The Pegasus Book Orphanage site is www.bookorphanage.com and they provides a secure site for credit card orders.

DO YOU NEED A WEB-SITE?
Thinking of developing your own web-page but are shocked at the cost? Then talk to Sandy Coghlan, our wonderful web-site designer! Sandy may be able to assist you with this and at a very reasonable cost. You are encouraged to call her on (03) 5986 2812 to discuss what is involved.

Love and Blessings from Eileen and Jim

It is the intention to expand the RAPMA newsletter to include the bulk of news and information, and this newsletter - ‘The Reiki Connection’ (the one you are currently reading) - will confine itself to news concerning our own students, potential students, and other personal contacts or friends.

Therefore, it is suggested that you consider whether you become a Member or Friend of RAPMA and thereby have access to all the information to be found in “RAPMA NEWS”.

In future, the RAPMA newsletter will be mailed ONLY to members as a hard copy or forwarded by e-mail. It will not appear on a public web-site so as to enable it to be exclusive to RAPMA members.

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