The Last Gift

Written by RJ on October 24, 2013. Posted in Healing

Coleen had been going to Rebecca for reiki therapy and she loved it. I was not familiar with reiki and Coleen was never able to fully explain it to me. That wasn’t her fault, I’m sure she tried. I probably wasn’t listening closely enough because I was distracted by some football game or newspaper. I thought it was one of Coleen’s holistic things that was good for her and that’s all that mattered. I liked it that she liked it. I liked it that it made her feel better. I only wish I had paid better attention.

At this point I should probably not assume that everyone knows what reiki is especially since I didn’t know myself. According to The International Center for Reiki Training, “Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.”

During her last week or so, Coleen was very sick and pretty much in bed all the time. Her voice had been reduced to a raspy whisper and she was not able to talk on the phone. When her phone rang she would hand it to me or whoever else was around to answer it. One of those calls was from Rebecca who I did not know. She wanted to visit Coleen and give her reiki at home. A house call. I thought that was great so we made an appointment that was never kept.

Coleen passed away two days before her reiki appointment with Rebecca. I managed to remember about the appointment and sent Rebecca a text telling her about Coleen. She texted me back with many words of encouragement and she mentioned that Coleen had reiki sessions waiting for me. At that time I was consumed in emotion and planning Coleen’s memorial and I once again did not pay as close attention as I should have.

Several days later, Rebecca sent me another text reminding me of the sessions and asking me to call her. When I did I asked what she meant by “reikis waiting for me.” She explained, “Rob, Coleen told me that you would take her dying very hard and you would need a lot of help. She thought that I could help you with that so she bought several reiki sessions for you before she passed.”

Coleen was aware that her end was nearing and she had the love and caring and foresight to be concerned with what I was going to be dealing with after her. In addition to all of her own issues. Around that same time one of her hospice doctors asked her if she was afraid. “I’m not afraid of dying,” Coleen said, “but I am afraid of leaving my family.” Her protection of family became very important to her at the end. It was something she had always done and one of the last things she still had any control over.

Coleen knew that I would be receptive to Rebecca and the guidance she could give me. She always knew what was best for me and it was always well before I knew it. Typically I would put up some stupid objection when she had a great idea about something I should do, something that was good for me. I rarely agreed to much of anything when it was first presented. It had to have an incubation period. In this case though, I didn’t have time to delay. I knew what Coleen knew: I was going to need help coping with her loss and I was going to need it quickly.

Now back to that phone call with Rebecca. Once I realized the significance of what Coleen had done for me, the wonderful gift, I tried to continue my conversation with Rebecca but I was just simply overcome. Coleen never said a word to me or anyone else about me and Rebecca and reiki.

Rebecca and I did manage to finish that telephone call and we set up a consultation where she described what she does, how reiki works and how she also uses sound therapy. It was all very interesting to me and I was all in on everything. My logic was simply that if Coleen thought it was a good idea, I was going to do it.

But the true magic of that consultation was the way Rebecca talked to me and soothed me. She told me about how Coleen thought of me, that I was so special to her and that she loved me so much and felt so terrible about leaving. Coleen told her I would be going through some very big changes. And Rebecca told me that everything was going to be ok, that I had the ability to get better and to heal. She has such a calming presence, you can not help but be persuaded by her energies and enthusiasm. She is also well stocked with tissues which I have needed a few times.

Since that first meeting, I have had several reiki and sound therapies with Rebecca. I had little idea what to expect but I am now a believer. Rebecca has the ability to comfort me, put me into a meditative state where I think of nothing, but am somehow aware of everything at the same time. She plays music, listens to my thoughts, helps me breathe, pulls out my fears and feelings and teaches me about my truths and my chakras.

In a quote on her website, Rebecca said “I am a gardener of souls,” and she truly is. My reply to that would be “And I am the soil. You plant things in me and help them grow.” I don’t know where I would be today without Coleen’s last gift to me. Rebecca’s guidance and knowledge are gifts that keep giving. Gifts that are healing and gifts that make me safe.

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