Speaking of New Age… Reiki No Good

Since I used to be very into New Age teachings, and learned first hand how destructive it is, I’m always interested in helping spread the word on true enlightenment.

The US Catholic Bishops Conference just issued a report on Reiki: Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy. It’s quite timely. The Vatican released it’s report in August, 2003: Jesus Christ: the Bearer of the Water of Life. (For an earlier source on New Age healings, see The Bible.)

The report references these websites: Reiki: Gentle Healing in an Ungentle World and Reiki for Christians. (One wonders where the Turabian Styling is in the footnotes!)

The conclusion:

Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy.

Read more

New Age Healing : The Goddess | Catholic Christian Psychology

I’ve been enjoying the site Chastity ~~ in San Francisco? — well written  psychology, plus solid healing in the Catholic mystic tradition.  I’m especially interested in reading about trauma and natural events, so I can continue to understand future ‘Katrina effects’ in a more wholistic fashion.

Dr. Richmond, the author, has some great insights into New Age trends such as New Age Healing : The Goddess | Catholic Christian Psychology.  And he juxtaposes them against an authentic Christian spirituality.

It’s definitely worth a look see:   interesting Site – with solid spirituality to boot.

In the Rain

There’s been a lot of rain hereabouts.

I love the rain.

In the Rain

Don’t get me wrong, I love beautiful weather too.

But when you have the time to sit on the banks of a river with a good book, a roof over your head and some free time, well — who am I to complain?

Mid-Lent

Here it is mid-Lent and I am recollecting my Lenten obligations and goals. It’s safe to say there have been a lot of distractions, but that’s life isn’t it? If one never gets beyond those things which detract from prayer, then one will probably never pray.

One thing that’s been helping is remembering the difference between meditation and contemplation. While I wish that every time the moment came for prayer I was ‘in the mood’ for prayer, and that I immediately entered into some sort of contemplative reverie and felt God’s peace flowing through me, that has simply not been happening of late. Meditation involves fixing our thoughts and concentration, filling our mind; contemplation is a gift from God which flows from meditation.

So I meditate on the holy mysteries, and consciously fill my mind with thoughts of Christ’s passion, of Mary’s sorrows, the mysteries of Scripture, the mysteries of the Faith. I’m occasionally led into a true sense of contemplation, but more often than not I’m undertaking a conscious act of the will to dwell upon, to fill my mind with, thoughts of Jesus Christ.

I’ll be following up with some of the fruits of those exercises.

A Beautiful Day

It’s a beautiful day outside.

There are moments of holiness in every day, and I’ve been given to ponder upon how life in general goes on despite the ups and downs of our individual lives. For all the woes in the world, it’s a beautiful day outside, and all one has to do is walk outside to simply be in it and to enjoy it. The woes of the world will always be outdone by God’s blessings.

“Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord; praise and exalt Him above all forever!”

The Rev. Kenneth Allen