Love is a Verb

Reiki means life force energy. Many of us refer to Reiki as Love, but love can be a tricky word. Love is multi-complex. To some, love means romantic love or adoration or a form of affection. I prefer using the term Reiki because it simplifies these complex ideas into simply offering positive energy to one another.

In Reiki, intentions are extremely powerful. Sending loving wishes to others is not unlike a prayer. In practicing loving-kindness meditations, it trains us to send love and kindness to ourselves, our friends, our family, our neighbors, and even our rivals. That is an act of love, opening the heart. To truly wish people well, even though you may not understand a word they speak or a belief they hold. That is love in action. Can you love the child that calls your son names? Can you love the child that teases your daughter? Can you love the parents that think you are a subpar parent? Love is accepting them regardless of those judgments. Someday it may be your kids doing those things or you being the subpar parent. No one said love was effortless.

Love or life force energy is what fulfills us and sustains us and guides us. But the question is, when do I give love and show love and create the action of love? If love is a verb, then when do I share love and open to love in my daily interactions?

As it turns out, all of us can express love to others; by offering someone flowers, by complimenting a friend’s singing voice, by telling a neighbor you like their beautiful green grass, by sending an email to a classmate that says, “nice job on the group project last week”, by sincerely offering help to someone who seems stressed. There are many ways within your reach to pay love forward, to create positive feelings.

Reiki encourages us to value the act of sending love to ourselves, too. At the start of the day, I intend for many loving experiences. Before an interview, I sit in silence and imagine myself having an outstanding exchange of questions and answers. Before I give a public talk, I visualize myself connecting deeply and helping people feel inspired. Before I confront my teenager on her behavior, I see myself listening and speaking with understanding. Those are all actions of love.

Saint Therese of Lisieux said:  “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”

Photo credit: the.di

If you’re looking for guidance and support in raising your little ones, Alison would like to help! Send your questions to: a.vale5000@gmail.com

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alison Vale

Alison was born and raised deep in the woods of Pennsylvania, where her childhood imagination ran wild and free. As a scabby-kneed tomboy she seemed fearless, yet as she grew older, her fears and anxieties clearly got worse. She attained her Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology. As a clinical researcher and biostatistician at a university medical center for 18 years, Alison co-authored many medical articles and observed first-hand the short-comings of conventional medicine. She left clinical academia to become a Reiki Master Teacher and author. Her goal is to forge energy medicine into conventional medicine and share more intriguing stories and workshops. She has an 8-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter, and is still learning every hour of every day how to parent.