The 3rd National Reiki conference "Reiki - Touching Lives", from 12th to 15th October 2006, hosted by Reiki Australia certainly lived up to its name. To quote just two delegates who provided written feedback:
"Wonderful and professional gathering. It has inspired and confirmed my commitment to the practice of Reiki. I cannot thank you enough for this experience "
"This was a life-changing experience for me. Thank you all so much"
The Margate Conference Centre, Queensland, located within 5 minutes walk from Moreton Bay was a simple yet pleasant setting for this ground breaking conference. With easy access to Brisbane Airport delegates from all over Australia, New Zealand, USA and France were able to quickly reach the centre and enjoy the peaceful surrounds which included a labyrinth for contemplation, prior to attending workshops and seminars over the next four days. All delegates were warmly welcomed by Carol Stadelmann, Debbie Murr and Christine Hopkins of the conference planning team and provided with conference pack that included a program and information on the local area. Ina Clifford and Naida Watkins were `friendship officers' who were available even in the midnight hours to assist delegates staying on site.
Achieving a harmonious conference environment requires that many different elements need to blend. The presence of two lineage bearers Phyllis Lei Furumoto, Usui Shiki Ryoho (USR) and Ranga Premaratna, Reiki Jin Kei Do (RJKD), as keynote speakers was unique to this conference and added a very special and crucial element. Both Phyllis and Ranga shared their stories of their personal path of Reiki practice and both acknowledged each other's lineages with great respect. Their example contributed significantly to the overall success of the conference, and served to demonstrate to delegates that the Reiki community can be united in its acceptance of professional standards for public practice.
For those in attendance, the potential for change within the Australian Reiki community was evident. We remain a rich and diverse community of Reiki practitioners from different lineages, united in our vision to preserve the spiritual and personal practice, while at the same time moving closer to establishing standards for the professional practice of Reiki. Every aspect of the conference proceedings supported this vision. Presentations on various aspects of professional practice were informative and outstanding yet blended seamlessly with presentations of a more personal and spiritual nature.
The first day of the conference saw Uncle Peter Bird warmly welcome the delegates to country, and briefly provide some insight into his supportive role as local Indigenous elder. Lindy Hou, blind Para-Olympian gold medallist spoke next, passionately sharing her story about living your dream. Everyone present was inspired by Lindy's courage and faith (and quite a few of us also fell in love with Lindy's guide dog, Harper.) Equally inspiring stories that evolved from the use of Reiki in a professional setting were shared by Margaret Gargan, founder of Bloomhill Cancer Help, Cath Maddox of Hopewell Hospice Centre and Lizzi Swatland, of Paradise Kids at Hopewell. The atmosphere in the break at the end of this session was electric.
This air of inspiration was sustained by David Oliver, Co-ordinator of SolarisCare Cancer Support Centre, based at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Perth, and Pamela Miles, author of "Reiki: a Comprehensive Guide ", who respectively spoke about the nature of professional practice of Reiki in hospitals and health care facilities in Australia and the USA. David and Pamela then joined Margaret Gargan, Cath Maddox and Lizzi Swatland to host an informative Question & Answer forum to conclude the afternoon session.
Our lively evening meal was followed by a professional yet very personal presentation by Eileen Chapman, founder of the Reiki program at Windana Society Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal and Recovery unit. Eileen's presentation demonstrated the value in supervised clinical experience for Reiki treatment volunteers.
The second day began with Liz Currey from New Zealand who spoke about Reiki and the Arts. Phyllis Furumoto and Ranga Premaratna each spoke candidly of their own spiritual journey with Reiki, and their heartfelt stories gave delegates much to discuss over lunch.
The afternoon session opened with a professional focus that was no less entertaining. It began with Di Lawson of Community Services Health Industry Skills Council (CSHISC), who skilfully condensed years of collaboration and negotiations into an easily understood presentation about the processes involved in developing professional standards for Reiki treatment in Australia. The information and insights Di shared were previously not known by many of the delegates. The value of Reiki or any practice that creates mindfulness as a healing practice was further reinforced by Dr Craig Hassed, GP & Senior Lecturer at Monash University, Melbourne. It was heartening to learn that he is currently teaching about the benefits of mindfulness to medical students at Monash University. This session closed with a presentation by a representative of the Health Quality & Complaints Commissioner. This information was very relevant to those delegates who currently work or intend to work in professional practice.
The final conference session provided the opportunity for delegates to reflect on their own journey with Reiki. Following on from her talk on Friday, Liz Currey provided artwork materials and coached groups of delegates to create art that would demonstrate their vision of Reiki. This was accomplished in the garden adjoining the main conference room. Phyllis Furumoto and Ranga Premaratna joined in this creative process and their personal interaction with delegates was further deepened in their individual presentations that followed, in which they respectively discussed the history and overview of USR and RJKD lineages.
To formally close the conference, delegates were invited to "form a circle prior to continuing their journey". This invitation reflected the wording "and the journey continues" on the back page of the conference program. Each delegate was presented with a `thank you' gift to take on their journey. Delegates were delightfully surprised by yet another special touch to the conference proceedings. Everyone appreciated being thanked in this way and for all those involved in organising the conference it was a wonderfully symbolic conclusion to two long years of planning.
For many the enrichment opportunities continued during the post conference events 16th - 19th October. Both Phyllis Furumoto and Ranga Premaratna conducted a Practitioner Seminar for students of their respective Reiki practices and Phyllis also held a three day Masters Circle. Pamela Miles led participants of a Practitioner Intensive through a workshopping exercise to identify three levels of communication that would be supportive to the Reiki treatment practitioner when seeking to collaborate with representatives of the health care industry. Pamela is well respected for her collaborative work in conventional health care settings, including creating Reiki programs in prominent New York City hospitals.
On reflection, it would appear that the conference theme `Reiki touching lives' was already evident during the planning process. At a community level, sponsors for the conference seemed to come out of thin air as a result of talking to some inspirational project team members. The goodwill of these sponsors, most not directly connected to the practice of Reiki, provided further encouragement to the conference planning team. The planning process has provided the opportunity for personal growth for all involved, particularly in terms of learning how to successfully weave all conference matters around other activities for two years.
Those members of Reiki Australia involved in the conference and post conference planning and implementation, not already mentioned, are board members, Lynette Kirkman Exec Officer, Annabel Muis, Coralea Mackison, Sharron Mackison and Wendy Watson, and South East Queensland Conference Planning Team members, Lorelei Adams, Nikki De Silva and Jenny Austin (now a board member).
In closing, the success of this third national Reiki conference and aligned post conference events are testament to what an effective, harmonious group effort can achieve. The journey continues...
What delegates said about the Reiki - Touching Lives conference
LIZ CURREY, New Zealand
Although nearly a week has passed since I left Australia to return home, I am still buzzing with inspirational ideas, wonderful memories and an even deeper respect and admiration for the strong sense of purpose and clarity that you have achieved with Reiki Australia. It was quite wonderful and a great pleasure to meet so many vibrant and committed Reiki people.
The meticulous planning, enthusiasm and very thoughtful approach to all aspects of the organisation by those involved made for a very well run conference. Particularly noticeable was the enormous patience and unfailing energy they brought to everything they did.
SUSAN O'REILLY, South Australia
CONGRATULATIONS on hosting such a marvellous conference...it was sooo inspirational listening to other people's journeys and accomplishments, and it was fabulous to be able to listen to and later meet with our lineage bearers in the Seminars.
It was WONDERFUL...
Once again congratulations on what I felt was a very informative, inspirational and re-confirming experience.
JUNE CHIPPENDALE, Queensland
I just want to say "Thank you" for all the wonderful work you and the other members put into making the Conference such a success. It was wonderful and I really enjoyed myself. It was great being with so many like minded people.
HELEN WALKER, Western Australia
I just wanted to thank you so much for all the terrific work you and the conference team carried out which resulted in a wonderful conference. I'm so pleased to have been there and to have met you and the other ladies. It was a real joy for me, so please pass on my congratulations and gratitude to all
LINDA HANCY, South Australia
I want to take this opportunity to thank you all so much for staging the 3rd National Reiki Conference. I found it to be richly rewarding & just wonderful to be in the company of so many like-minded people. I enjoyed everything presented & loved the chance to meet & spend time with Phyllis & Pamela. You did a fabulous job of organising everything and worked so hard to make it a success.
WHIRO RATAHI, New Zealand
Time is 0340 21.10.06 and Ann and myself are finally in our own home.
We had a fantastic educational and spiritual journey and Reiki Australia can really take a bow.
We both learnt so much and now have cemented view points we had before going to the conference.
Thanks for the dedicated and friendly way you carried out your role.
CHRISTINE KING, Western Australia
It was a great conference
So much has changed since the conference for me.. all good!
PATRICIA HOLLIGAN, New South Wales
I remember your great hospitality and care for all our needs during the wonder-filled days of the Reiki Conference.
SUE RUDDLING, New Zealand
I was inspired and have returned to NZ with renewed enthusiasm.
ROZ BISHOP, Queensland
The conference planning team produced an outstanding conference. I learned such a great deal from the various speakers and added new dimensions and breadths to my ever growing understanding. Well done.
