In 1997, I planned to utilize my psychic awareness of the deceased and my hypnotherapy training to assist people with death and dying. My primary goal was to help those surrounding the one dying to maintain conscious connection through death and afterwards.
Sam lives at Cal Anderson House on Broadway on Capitol Hill, and serves as the organizer of our regular Reiki sessions, which we do in the common meeting room. Sam is a fully qualified Reiki Master. Marc lives in West Seattle and lectures frequently on HIV awareness for the Northwest AIDS Foundation to middle and high school groups. He volunteered for four years with Shanti, a nonprofit agency offering emotional support to people affected by AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses. Marc is a Reiki Level II, and will be a Reiki Master soon. See Marc and Sam's articles accompanying this one. All three men seriously explored many allopathic and alternative health modalities for help with their symptoms. I’ve begun to suspect that they stayed with Reiki so consistently because it enhances their life force energy, just as it is intended to do. It provides more than relaxation, pain and stress relief, and compassionate touch. Reiki strengthens their spirits. I lost my interest in deathbed assistance, and found myself focused on just today, just now, just who we are in the moment. Without realizing it, I moved beyond my Reiki training as Reiki taught me, every time, what it is and what to do. The Ethical Principles of Reiki as offered by Dr. Mikao Usui are: "Just for today do not worry. Just for today do not anger. Honor your parents, teachers, and elders. Earn your living honestly. Show gratitude to everything." I found myself deeply impacted by the simplicity and focus of these men’s lives. We shared a great deal before and after each session, yet an unspoken truth filled the space in the room when we met. Try as I might to pull away and focus time on other commitments, the serenity of our gatherings kept me in orbit with a tangible and profound peace. I began to know my heart’s desire for the authenticity and transparency I saw modeled by them. What I was internally and externally yearned to be one. No holds barred, I found myself humbled at the feet of masters. No greater teacher is available at this time in history than AIDS. It absolutely requires perfect attention in the moment, detachment from all expectation, and submission to divine will. As I contemplated the call of these ideals in my daily life over the last three years, I gave up two crippling addictions. I came home to myself, and committed to my heart’s desire. The simple act of showing up weekly at Cal Anderson House gave and taught me more than any other single pursuit of my life. It dovetailed beautifully with personal work with therapist Robin Maynard Dobbs on addictions, life purpose, and creativity. The real world I’ve experienced during our sessions carries a sublime potency I can attest to but inadequately describe today. I keep coming back to our sessions because they work. What we share carries over during the week. My life is full. Thanks, Linda, for opening this door. On October 9, Sam and Marc will lead the inaugural open Reiki circle at Cal Anderson House, 400 Broadway, at 11:00 a.m. This will be an ongoing, weekly circle. Please join us to receive or give Reiki. Contact Collen for further information at <earthlight@w-link.net> or (425) 820-0244. Over the years, I’ve volunteered for several HIV/AIDS organizations such as Chicken Soup Brigade, Shanti, and the Northwest AIDS Foundation. In 1997, I observed a friend speak about his life with AIDS to a hypnotherapy class at Hypnotherapy Institute of Seattle. There, I met Linda Baker and Collen Marquist. I had no idea I would meet these two women again. About three years ago, I attended a Reiki group led by Linda. She stayed for a few months, then moved on to other things. Collen, however, stayed with our group. Over time, Collen taught me how to give Reiki to others. If you asked me at the hypnotherapy class about pursuing Reiki, I probably would have given it no thought. Except for a few times, our group has met regularly since its beginning. Collen, Sam, and I continue to have more than an interest in Reiki. By giving it to others, I have expanded my definition of love and compassion. Reiki has helped me to grow, both in the giving and receiving of it. I’ve been able to relax, reduce my level of stress, and feel connected to everyone and everything in a way I was not able to before. Presently, I use allopathic medicine, because my health insurance covers it. I also use non-covered holistic medicine. I attended the Bastyr Clinic while grant funds were available. I receive massage and acupuncture treatments. I’ve done a lot of soul searching to find ways to deal with my disabilities. It helps to have a positive attitude, to have love in one’s life, to be open to trying out new ways to be and express myself. When I attend our Reiki sessions, I feel rejuvenated. After leaving, I feel energized. For me, it’s a wonderful way to start the week. Awareness of my spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical selves has changed and evolved. When we begin our group, we hold hands and exchange energy between us. Then we connect with Reiki, and prepare to give this to one another. We have become friends, sharing other aspects of our lives as well. Our Reiki group adds to my health care. Reiki has had a profound influence on my life. After receiving Level Two initiations, I find that I am able to absorb more life force energy. My intuition has increased. I really began to "feel" the energy moving through me and into another person. After a Reiki treatment, I feel more centered and at peace. I wish to share this gift with others, and invite anyone interested in receiving a Reiki treatment at no cost, regardless of health, to come to the Cal Anderson House. Reiki is not intended to replace medical care. Cal Anderson Reiki is a nonprofit organization. Donations are accepted. The group meets on Mondays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Community Room. The Web sites for Cal Anderson Reiki are <http://careikiorg.nav.to/> and <http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/guinea/1205/>; if one doesn't work, please try the other. Contact Marc at <careikiorg@nav.to> or (206) 923-0352. In the winter of 1995, I was hospitalized, dying from complications of HIV disease. While I lingered between life and death, I came to two conclusions. One, if I died, I would not face death with fear; and two, if by some quirk of fate or miracle I lived, then I would put much more emphasis toward living fully and helping others living with HIV/AIDS. Fortunately, I survived. I had no idea how to reclaim my life and move forward. I remember feeling resolved that I needed something to live more fully. I began to ask questions inside myself, trying to understand what I needed as foundation to build on. That is when I first saw a flyer about Reiki, an ancient healing energy with its heart and soul in Eastern traditions. I called the number on the flyer, and met a woman (Linda Baker) kind enough to meet with me and two other people who also contacted her. From that first meeting forward, I have never known such compassion, enlightenment, peace, joy, and health as I’ve come to know since those days I was dying in hospital. This angel that helped Marc, JusTis, and me on the road to recovery and health is no longer part of our ongoing group. She introduced our small core group to another woman (also an angel) who is a Reiki Master. Collen has truly been a blessing and an inspiration to all of us. I’m now a Reiki Master, and we’re pleased to announce that our Reiki circle is accepting people living with HIV/AIDS to come and enjoy the benefits of Reiki in their own life paths. Sam Soriano is chair of Positive Voice Seattle, and volunteers on Public Health South King County HIV/AIDS Planning Council and Washington State HIV Prevention Planning Group. Contact him at <samsoriano@yahoo.com> or (206) 852-5245. |
When I agreed in late 1997 to teach Reiki and attune three HIV-positive men to become Reiki masters, I didn’t have a clue I wasn’t living in the real world. Linda Baker, of the Hypnotherapy Institute of Seattle, drove me to Cal Anderson House for our first meeting. Throughout nearly three years, we’ve met weekly. Two of the men, JusTis Lane and Sam Soriano, are shown at right, and Marc Leach and I are pictured below.
I was to learn a marvelous thing, because Sam, JusTis, and Marc weren’t dying of AIDS, they’re living with AIDS. JusTis was hospitalized in late 1998, which scared all of us. He decided in 1999 to return home to Texas. He recently survived a serious bout of pneumonia, and is now on medication, which he refused to take for many years. He’s planning to start a healing circle in San Antonio.