Hands-On Healing
Hands that heal can belong to almost anyone--especially those who have studied Reiki, Joyce Morris says.
The ancient Tibetan system of energy balancing--pronounced ray-key--will be discussed by Morris, a Reiki master, at an introductory workshop and book signing Tuesday at Borders in Thousand Oaks.
Morris’ book, “Reiki--Hands That Heal” (Samuel Weiser $19.91), delves into the philosophy and origins of Reiki. It also diagrams placement of hands for self-healing as well as treatment by others.
Followers of this alternative form of healing believe that it treats the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual areas of life. From abscesses to whiplash, you will find an alphabetical list of ailments and recommended Reiki treatments.
As director of the Reiki Center of Los Angeles, Morris said she has initiated more than 5,000 people in Reiki, taken 33 to the master therapist level and six more to the master teacher level.
Long before Morris heard about this philosophy, she was living and working in Dayton, Ohio, as an alcohol and drug counselor specializing in stress management. This was during the 1980s, when the standard techniques for stress management included guided visualization, yoga and reflexology.
“We know that when people are trying to get into recovery, stress and relapse are very closely related,” Morris said. “The higher the stress level, the more likely to relapse. So the more we can reduce the stress level, the better the chance for recovery.”
While searching for new treatment methods, Morris experienced her first Reiki treatment. After five minutes, she told the practitioner that she didn’t know what he was doing, but she had never felt that relaxed that fast in her life. From that time, it has transformed her life, along with those of her clients, parents and two sons, she said.
“You don’t learn with your conscious mind, but rather through a series of ancient Tibetan ceremonies that are performed by a Reiki master,” she said.
During the ceremonies, the master aligns the crown, the third eye, the throat and the heart chakra, and works on minor chakras in the palms of the hands and the electromagnetic field of the body. Once they have aligned these energies, all it takes is touch to activate it, she said.
According to Morris, even children can be aligned to this energy. Present at the birth of her granddaughter, Zoey, in February, she initiated the infant when she was just 20 minutes old, she said--the youngest she has ever initiated. However, children are not taken beyond the first level, she said.
“In the second level, you are actually taught some of the ancient sacred knowledge and how to use it for manifestation purposes,” Morris said. “For instance, how to manifest healings at a distance, how to empower goals and objectives and how to work on mental, emotional and addictive problems.”
She has reached the third level, consisting of two parts--master therapist and master teacher.
When she isn’t traveling around the country conducting workshops and seminars, she works out of her centers in Tarzana or western Massachusetts. Not open to the public, classes run every six weeks or so, with healing nights twice a week.
“Quite awesome things happen at the meetings,” she said.
A recent example involved someone who had been asthmatic for years, depending on equipment for help in breathing. After two sessions, the woman said she no longer used the equipment, Morris said.
Morris’ book devotes a chapter to miracles she has witnessed. Meanwhile, she is working on another book about miracles and a third on the holistic treatment of chemical dependency.
Morris can be reached by mail at 16161 Ventura Blvd., No. 802, Encino, CA 91436 or phone at (818) 881-5959. She said she will have a Web site up and running soon.
NOTE: At 10 a.m. Sunday, KCLU-FM (88.3) will air a discussion about marketing on the Internet for writers hosted by “Connections” host Fran Halpern and guest Robin Westmiller, author of “Red Wine for Breakfast.”
HAPPENINGS
* TODAY, 4 p.m. Journaling and other styles of creative writing for ages 7 and up. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.
* TODAY, 7 p.m. Pajamamania welcomes guests from Delta Sigma Theta sorority as they read some of the best in African-American children’s literature. Borders, 497-8159.
* MONDAY, 11 a.m. Special story time with author Lucy Cousins’ best-selling books about Maisy Mouse. Borders, 497-8159.
* MONDAY, 7 p.m. Discussion group based on Michael J. Gelb’s “How to Think Like Da Vinci.” Borders, 497-8159.
* TUESDAY, 7 p.m. Reiki master Joyce Morris will sign and discuss “Reiki--Hands That Heal.” Borders, 497-8159.
* TUESDAY, 7 p.m. The First Tuesday Contemporary Book Group will focus on “Ship Fever and Other Stories” by Andrea Barret. Borders, 497-8159.
* WEDNESDAY, 9:30 a.m. Story time about vacations at sea, the mountains, and the forests. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.
* WEDNESDAY, 7 p.m. Jonathan Collins will sign and read “Insights from the Coffee House,” a collection of real-life stories of miracles, mysteries and epiphanies gathered from coffeehouses and cafes in the Ojai Valley. Borders, 497-8159.
* WEDNESDAY, 7 p.m. Share ideas and discuss publishing. Writers of all forms and genres welcome. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.
* FRIDAY, 1 p.m. Discussion group centering on “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. Borders, 497-8159.
* FRIDAY, 7 p.m. Time out for stories about sports and recreation. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.
TIP OF THE WEEK
The Dudley House Museum’s exhibit will be in the Ag Building at the Ventura County Fair on Aug. 5, featuring “Letters From Grandma: Life in Ventura 1928-1940.” Throughout the day and evening, various readers will share Alice Knox Reiswig’s memoirs on Life on the Farm, Life at Home & School, the 1933 Earthquake, the Great Depression, Summer Vacation, Junior High School & My First Kiss and High & the Coming War.
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Information about book signings, writers groups and publishing events can be e-mailed to anns40@aol.com or faxed to 647-5649.