La Fortuna, Costa Rica/Arenal Volcano

Poas Volcano in Costa Rica has been spewing ash and gases so that wasn't on the agenda to visit. People were being evacuated from the area. Arenal Volcano, however, hasn't erupted since 1992; for a volcano trip this was safer, but it isn't dead, just sleeping. There's a national park around the volcano, or rather the whole volcano appears to be protected by the Costa Rican government. It's approximately 3.5 hours to walk/hike on the designated paths, up to a higher vantage point to see Lago Arenal, and down through the rain forest, through a silence that was loud with rain drops, birds, some howler monkeys, lizards with yellow stripes down their backs, and flora and fauna as some Costa Rican friends have said. I have more pictures in my mind but here are a few. The swimming pool is at our hotel, Hotel Bijagua, a small place in La Fortuna. Did I tell that we rented a car and I drove to La Fortuna from San Jose...yes! I can pass cars and trucks on mountain roads with the best Costa Rican driver.

Panama City, Panama

Mark met me in San Jose, Costa Rica as we had planned. We explored the city a little then decided to go to Panama City since we were so close, a short plane ride away. I've wanted to see the Canal my whole life; Mark also was very interested. We saw the Canal and more; a new section is being built and should have been completed in 2015, but it looks more like it will be 2016. There were huge ships waiting at either end to go through the passage; we saw several from start to finish from the Miraflores lock. All I can say is, "Wow!" My jaw is still hanging down from the sight. The last two pictures are from viewpoints in the Ciudad Vieja/Old Panama City. I like this city, too.

Saturday's Reiki workshop

I'd heard of Reiki as a healing experience; Saturday, a 10-6pm workshop was scheduled which I attended. It was held in a yoga classroom up the mountain at La Colina lodge. There were ten of us in the workshop including the leader, Karen, and another yoga instructor, Etta. It was a meaningful experience for me and well worth the money. Lunch wasn't bad either...pasta with pesto sauce, coffee or sweet tea, and gluten free cookies (yes, the anti gluten fad has infiltrated Costa Rica.)

Here's a brief description of Reiki; enjoy reading it and think about attending a Reiki I training and/or experience a treatment at a local center.

What is Reiki? A Brief Overview 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. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy." A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery. An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life. Its use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it. While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures. During a meditation several years after developing Reiki, Mikao Usui decided to add the Reiki Ideals to the practice of Reiki. The Ideals came in part from the five prinicples of the Meiji emperor of Japan whom Mikao Usui admired. The Ideals were developed to add spiritual balance to Usui Reiki. Their purpose is to help people realize that healing the spirit by consciously deciding to improve oneself is a necessary part of the Reiki healing experience. In order for the Reiki healing energies to have lasting results, the client must accept responsibility for her or his healing and take an active part in it. Therefore, the Usui system of Reiki is more than the use of the Reiki energy. It must also include an active commitment to improve oneself in order for it to be a complete system. The ideals are both guidelines for living a gracious life and virtues worthy of practice for their inherent value. The secret art of inviting happiness The miraculous medicine of all diseases Just for today, do not anger Do not worry and be filled with gratitude Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people. Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer. Pray these words to your heart and chant these words with your mouth Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind The founder , Usui Mikao