Pediatrician and Clinical Geneticist receiving new patients in Lubbock, Tx

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Lawrence G. Leichtman, MD, is a Board Certified Pediatrician and Clinical Geneticist. Dr. Leichtman conducts consultations and seminars across the United States and is currently providing treatment and consultations for international patients. His credentials include:

• Over 30 years experience in Clinical Genetics
• On the VA state & local Board of Directors of March of Dimes
• President of the Board of Directors, Trisomy-21 Research Foundation, Inc.
• Former division director of Genetics of one of the East Coast’s most prominent medical schools
• Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics
• Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics

About Reiki

What is Reiki?

The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words, Rei and Ki. Together mean “Universal Life Force”.

As Universal Life Force, Reiki is accessible to everyone, either through a Reiki Treatment or by getting attuned to become a channel of the “Life Force”.

The “Life force” is also affected by our emotions. When we either consciously or unconsciously accept negative thoughts or feelings about ourselves The negative thoughts and feelings attach themselves to the energy field and disrupt the flow of Ki.

Various organs and tissues of the body can be affected depending on the site of the blockage, diminishing the vital function of those organs and cells of the physical body.

How Reiki works?

When a person receives a Reiki Treatment the “God-conscious” part of the energy flows where the person has blocks and then directs the healing energy to the block that is nearest the hands.

Reiki energy works with negative thoughts and feelings that are blocking one’s natural flow of Ki and heals them.

“Rei” is rei – (lit. Japanese) spiritual or sacred

“ki” is ki – (lit. Japanese) energy

The Solar Plexus Chakra

The third of the seven chakras is the Solar Plexus or Navel Chakra. It is called the Manipura which means city of jewels because it is derived from two Sanskrit words mani or jewel and pura meaning city. It can be found in the Solar Plexus which is considered the seat of our emotions or the seat of fire.

Oftentimes referred to as the fire of material consciousness because of the umbilical cord cut at birth connecting us to the material world, it is deemed to be the center of the lower mind – objective and material but influenced by emotions. Being the chakra of the life force, it is connected to our sense of personal power in the world. It actually provides us the sense of satisfaction and contentment while regulating our center of needs like food, love, relationships and roles. It is related to energy, assimilation and digestion, and plays a valuable role in converting the food we eat into energy for the body. Because it is related to higher vitality, it manifests to inner strength, dynamism, self-confidence, will and achievement which is best exemplified by having a purpose in life, and a career.

Manipura or Yellow Chakra plays a pivotal role in the entire chakra system in as much as it is the middle ground. It is where balance is attained between lower and higher chakras. When the physical need is satisfied, and there is material satisfaction, the Spirit can manifest. We can now focus on inner spiritual pursuits and ascent. Material needs will now become mundane matters.

Manipura Chakra is very much concerned with the notion of Dharma or right conduct whereby we derive satisfaction from leading upright lives. Because the emphasis is more on the spiritual plane after satisfaction of material needs, enlightened by the Kundalini we seek the path of righteousness and morality. We have laws of Dharma to serve as guidelines and show us that an act is either fundamentally right or wrong. The Ten Commandments is a perfect example.

We are made conscious of our acts by the Manipura which gives us a strange sensation or butterflies in the stomach when we feel so strongly about something. Sometimes we refer to it as ‘gut feel’. When we are assured of the rightness of our acts and decisions, we are able to translate this into Self-Realization and a satisfaction with life in general. We can then achieve complete balance at all levels in life.

With a well-developed third chakra, we are empowered to live our best lives, be dynamic and achieve our goals. We will cease to be slaves to our senses; rather, we will have the privilege of going after the eternal freedom of the Spirit.

The second Chakra

The second Chakra is the Sacral or Orange Chakra or the Svadhisthana.  This is the sex chakra. Its orientation is Water, emotional identity, and self-gratification. It can be found in the abdomen, just beneath the navel, lower back, and sexual organs. It is also related to our sexual and reproductive organs.

It corresponds actually to the hormone producing testes or ovaries involved in the cycle of reproduction thereby leading to dramatic mood swings. When there is blockage of this Chakra, emotional problems or sexual guilt will definitely manifest.

The Sacral Chakra has association with the part of our consciousness that is concerned with appetite, food, taste and sex. In this regard, there is the communication between our physical body and our consciousness about what the body desires, needs and finds pleasurable. It can be sex, food or having children.

The early beginnings of Sacral Chakra or Chakra Two can be traced to the astrological age of Cancer, a cardinal water sign, and the agricultural revolution. It was also the start of shipbuilding and water travel 10-8,000 BC. Rather than being nomads and travelling from one place to another, people have settled in one place and built their communities because of the advent of irrigation. It was a giant leap in terms of cultural creativity as evidenced by great temples built, development of art and ritual, and written language at the latter part of the period. The practice of religion was based on the polytheistic variety of nature gods, male and female, oriented toward the agricultural cycles (planting and reaping) and the life/death/rebirth cycle of human lives.

Chakra two requires us to take a deeper look into creativity, emotional connections, honoring relationships, learning to let go, duality, magnetism and controlling patterns. There is a need for maintaining balance and alignment of this chakra or we will see physical symptoms. Low back pain, sciatica, pelvic pain, libido, urinary problems are some examples. There is a need for us to lessen control issues, find a balance and try to aim for a healthy yin-yang relationship. The challenge is for us to learn and check what motivates us to pick our options or make the right choices.

 

Recognizing that acceptance and rejection are not the only options in relationships, we can definitely start making conscious changes in our lives. This will ensure a well-functioning sacral chakra. Then we will be assured of having enriched creativity, enhanced emotional gratification, a lot of physical energy, sexual vitality, positive self esteem and a joy of life.

 

 

Base or Root Chakra

The first of the seven chakras is the Base or Root Chakra. It is called the Muladhara which means root or support. It can be found at the base of the spine. It is connected to survival, our sense of grounding and physical identity. It gives us a sense of oneness between our bodies and the physical plane.  Because it has to do with physical identity, it is oriented to self preservation. According to a popular notion, it is also related to basic human potentiality because it has everything to do with physical processes of reproduction.

Speaking of basis for this belief, we can trace the consciousness level of Chakra one, Muladhara, to the Paleolithic period when people were inhibited by the earth cycles. That period is characterized by nomadic existence, where people travelled across the land and lived in caves made of earth. Our ancestors practiced hunting and gathering being offered the bounty and abundance of resources. Matriarchal worship of the Mother Goddess to pay tribute to the miracle of birth and life and richness of the earth prevailed. We believed and stayed connected through our instincts for survival and self-preservation.

At present, it is considered that Base or Root Chakra to be the metaphysical foundation of a material and earthly existence. This draws down spiritual energy to take on a physical existence but it also provides for the promise of becoming transformed into his highest spiritual potential going back to the great Source, Brahma, through the Crown chakra.

Despite its being on the lowest rung of the Chakra system, the Root Chakra is upheld to be very relevant. Containing the primary 8 cells with the knowledge of creation and being the only cells that have remain unchanged in our lifetime, it has the capacity to transform the kundalini from crude existence to one of a fully transformed human being. The sperm cell where the genetic code lies coiled and the ovum, the legendary kundalini, prepared to express itself as a fully developed human being, are both deemed to be of equal importance. It is only through this Chakra that we can bat for survival, earthly existence and material grounding. The base or Root Chakra is associated with the deities Indra, Brahma and Dakini, the element Earth, the color red and the sign of Capricorn. We will have the gift of health, prosperity, security, and dynamic presence if there is proper balance and alignment of this chakra

A healthier, happier YOU!

Summer is almost over and we have ahead a new beautiful season to welcome. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. I enjoy watching the rainbow of colors on the trees and the fallen leaves on the ground.

This message is intended to help us make a positive, lasting difference in our health. We often fail to accomplish this goal because of our tendency to focus on the biggest changes in front of us.

Today, I want to encourage you to focus on baby steps instead and to praise yourself for every single victory as little as it may seem to you.

Small changes in your daily habits that are followed consistently over long periods of time yield the biggest benefits.

One of the goals that I have set for myself is to stop dieting and start eating healthy food. I’ve decided to focus on eating healthier things rather than counting calories of unhealthy foods. With this baseline, I’ll allow myself to ocasionally indulge myself with my favorite desert and not feel guilty about it.

I’ve gotten to realize as well, that I need to increase my intake of raw food so, I have decided to incorporate one or two servings per week and to look for different recipes to make it more attractive for me and my family.

Since it’s been tough to consistently fit long sessions of work out into my busy schedule, I’ve opted to include instead 30 minutes routines that have been shown to significantly increase longevity. Experts even suggest that you do 10 to 15 minute workouts during the day to add up to the 30 minute workout and you will get the same benefits. You will sleep better, balance your mood, lower the risk of heart attack among other benefits.

The stress in your life can adversely affect both your emotional and physical health. Headaches, asthma, heart disease, digestive problems are more likely to hit those who are stressed out. Besides excercise which is probably the best stress-buster, there are several relaxation techniques that work well. Breathing excercises, meditation, guided imagery and dedicating time to your favorite hobby will do the work.

 Remember you don’t need to be perfect, only consistent and do something you enjoy.

Reiki History

Reiki is a healing therapy originated in ancient times. It was later re-discovered in Japan by Dr. Mikao Usui.  Dr. Usui became a Tendai Buddhist Monk/Priest (what we in the west call a lay priest). He also taught at the Christian School of Priests in Kyoto, Japan.

While teaching about Jesus, some of his pupils asked Dr. Usui, if he believed in the healing miracles of Jesus and if he could show how they were performed. He had to give them a no as an answer to their question. Then he decided to leave the school and start researching about the subject.

He moved to the United States to study Theology in Chicago. The subject of his thesis was about “Healing in the New Testament”. At the same time he studied Chinese, Japanese and English ancient records.

He went back to Japan where he studied ancient Sanskrit and visited many Buddhist monastery to learn new concepts. He finally found some scriptures written in Sanskrit where it talked about the methods and symbols used to perform a healing. Even with this knowledge he could not accomplish the task. After many efforts he was advised to pray and fast for 21 days at a Mount named Kuriyama.

Next day, Dr. Usui begun the journey believing that God would give him the strength to endure through the 21 day-fasting and the understanding he was looking for. He placed 21 little stones in front of him and removed one at the passing of each day as a kind of calendar.

During this time he read the Sutras, sang and meditated. Nothing unusual happened until the last day dawned. He saw a shining light moving towards him with great speed. As he looked at the light he realized that the light had consciousness and that it was communicating with him. He knew the light had the healing power he was looking for and if he was to receive what the light had to offer, he must allow the light to strike him. However, he was told that the light was so powerful that if it did strike him, it might kill him. He was given the opportunity to decide to risk death to obtain the knowledge for which he had searched so long. He decided the ability to heal the sick would be of such great value that it would be worth risking death to receive it.

The beam struck him in the forehead knocking him unconscious. Rising out of his physical body, he was shown beautiful bubbles of light filled with colors. In the bubbles were symbols. As he contemplated each symbol, he received an attunement for that symbol and knowledge on its use. In this way, he was initiated into the use of the Reiki healing power.

When he returned to normal consciousness, the sun was standing high in the sky. He felt full of strength and energy and began to climb down the mountain. In his rush, he stubbed his toe. He held it with his hands for a few minutes and the bleeding stopped and the pain disappeared. Since he was hungry, he stopped at an inn at the wayside and ordered a large Japanese breakfast. The innkeeper warned him not to eat such a large meal after fasting. Dr. Usui was able to eat it all without the least of consequences.

The granddaughter of the innkeeper had a bad toothache, from which she had been suffering for several days. Dr. Usui laid his hands on her swollen face and after a while the swelling started to subside and the pain eased. She ran to her grandfather and told him that their guest was no ordinary monk.

Dr. Usui returned to his monastery but decided after a few days to go to a Beggar City in the slums of Kyoto to treat beggars and help them lead a better life. He spent 7 years in the slums, treating many illnesses. One day, he noticed that the same old faces kept returning. When he asked why they had not begun a new life he was told that there was too much responsibility and that it was better to go on begging.

Dr. Usui left the slums and while returning to the monastery as he walked along he was greeted in Spirit by the teachers who had greeted him on Kori-yama. They bestowed upon him understanding of two very important elements: healing of the Spirit and the responsibility of the healee in the healing process. Dr. Usui had realized that he had done the reverse of the Buddhists by concentrating on healing the body and not the Spirit. He was at this time given the Spiritual Principles of Reiki by the Teachers in Spirit. Dr. Usui practiced and taught Reiki throughout Japan for the remainder of his life.

Before his transition around 1930, he gave the Master attunement to sixteen teachers one of whom was Dr Chujiro Hayashi. Dr. Hayashi went on to develop the Usui system of healing. He opened a Reiki clinic in Tokyo and kept detailed records of the treatments given. He used this information to create the standard hand positions, the system of three degrees and their initiation procedures. 

Dr Hayashi sensed a great war coming, and knew that most of the men would be called. In order to make sure Reiki would be preserved, he decided to pass the complete teachings on to two women: his wife and Hawayo Takata. He chose Mrs Takata because she was Japanese-Hawaiian and she had American citizenship. Dr Hayashi had word from Spirit that the Japanese would have heavy losses in the approaching war.

Hawayo Takata was born in 1900 on the island of Hawaii the child of Japanese parents but was a citizen of the United States. She was a widow with two small children and at the end of her physical and spiritual strength when her path led her to Reiki in 1935. She was suffering from a number of severe illnesses at the time when an inner voice told her to go to Japan and seek healing there. Having arrived in Japan, she was lying on the operating table, about to undergo an operation, when the voice spoke to her again, telling her that the operation was unnecessary. She asked her doctor about the other methods of treatment and he said “Yes but they may take months or years to heal you.” He told her about Dr Hayashi’s Reiki clinic. Once there, she was applied Reiki daily by two practitioners and, after four months, she had won back her health completely.

Hawayo Takata became a pupil of Dr Hayashi’s for a year and was attuned to Reiki I and 2 and then returned to Hawaii with her daughters. She established a Reiki clinic in Hawaii which was very prosperous. In 1938 Dr Hayashi went to Hawaii to help her with the clinic and initiated Takata as a Reiki Master, she was the 13th and last Reiki Master Dr Hayashi initiated. On Dr Hayashi’s death in 1941, she succeeded him as Grand Master. She lived and healed in Hawaii for many years, but she first began to train Reiki Masters when she was in her seventies. She made her transition on 11 December 1980. Between 1970 and 1980 Mrs Takata initiated 22 known Reiki Masters. Takata had not formally named her granddaughter Phyllis Furomoto as Grand Master at the time of her death. Some rivalry occurred among the 22 masters concluding with three masters declaring themselves Grand Master. Phyllis Furomoto was given the title of Grand Master by the Reiki Alliance (a collection of Reiki masters that was formed after Mrs Takata died to ensure the continuation of Reiki).

Gassho Meditation

 The Japanese term gassho refers to a ritual gesture formed by placing the hands – palms together, in the prayer-position.

Gassho implies recognition of the oneness of all beings. This gesture is also used to show reverence to Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Patriarchs & Teachers.

Gassho meditation is generally performed seated. Close your eyes, let your hands rest in your lap, and  focus your awareness on the area deep inside your body mid way between your navel and the top of your pubic bone. For a few moments, simply ‘be’. Focus on the natural rhythms of your breathing. There is no interference with the natural process – no seeking to consciously breathe – merely to be aware that you are breathing effortlessly. When you are ready, keeping your eyes closed, bring your hands together in gassho. Gently move the focus of your awareness from seika tanden to where the pads of the middle fingers touch. Continue silently and restfully ‘watching the breath’. When you a feel you are ready open your eyes and enjoy the peaceful feeling of wholeness and communion with your Source.

The Chakra System

The Chakra System

Chakra, presently gaining popularity and becoming a household word, dates back to the Vedas (1,500 – 500 B.C.) in India. When speaking of Chakra we have to think in terms of energy. This is because it pertains to the seven energy centers in our body where our consciousness and energy system is composed. This is a Sanskrit word which originally means “wheel” referring to the chariot wheels of the rulers or the cakravartin. However, it really signifies the sun which denotes the eternal wheel of time called the kalacakra. Despite its early beginnings, in our generation, the study of chakra has definitely come of age.

What is the significance of studying chakra then? How is it useful to us?

The Chakra system consists of seven chakra points or energy centers which function like valves or pumps that regulate the flow of energy through our energy system. This shows the correlation between functioning of our chakras and our decisions / responses concerning life conditions. It has everything to do with our perceptual experience of the world around us. We either open or close these “valves” based on what we think, feel and how we want to embrace life. All these conscious thoughts and states of mind can be categorized into seven chakras associated with one of the seven endocrine glands and a group of nerves called the plexus. The seven chakras are the following: Crown chakra, Brow chakra, Throat chakra, Heart chakra, Solar Plexus chakra, Sacral chakra and Root chakra.

Each chakra represents a particular part and a function within the body and detected by a particular nerve of the plexus associated with that bodily part. So when we have a conscious thought, tension or stress, this is felt by a particular chakra and transmitted by the nerves of the plexus of that particular body part. What started in the metaphysical realm is translated into the physical – there is now a physical symptom that will manifest.

The symptom reflects our mindset, how we create our reality – it shows us what we are doing to ourselves from the level of consciousness. It sort of gives us a feedback on the way our conscious thought molds and creates the physical existence that we have.

Thus, it is clear that it is highly important that we start understanding the chakras so as to understand the relationship between our consciousness and our body. It is advised that we start seeing our bodies as a map of our consciousness in order to gain a better understanding of our own selves and of the people around us. In believing that anything is possible, we are opening ourselves to a physical reality where anything and everything is possible. All these will require a thorough study and understanding of the chakra system and its relevance to us.

USUI SHIKI RYOHO

‘Usui Shiki Ryoho’ refers to the system of Reiki that has come to us via the lineage: Mikao Usui, Chujiro Hayashi, Hawayo Takata.

While on several occasions Takata-Sensei referred to Reiki as ‘Usui Reiki Ryoho’ she used the name ‘Usui Shiki Ryoho’ on her certificates.

When asked what ‘Reiki’ meant, Takata -Sensei frequently gave a very simplistic answer, along the lines of “…Rei means ‘Universal’, and Ki means ‘Energy’…” However, in attempting to transmit a deeper understanding of the meaning of Reiki to her students, Takata-Sensei spoke of Reiki as: “…a universal force from the Great Divine Spirit”and “…a cosmic energy to heal the ill…” and yet more specifically, as: “God Power”. ” It is not associated with any visible material being.”, she said of it, “It’s an unseen spiritual power that radiates vibration and lifts one into harmony.

This power is incomprehensible to man, yet every single living being is receiving its blessings. Usui Shiki Ryoho is taught in 3 Degrees or Levels  to suit western students.