by Cathleen Bonvento
As a registered nurse working in a variety of health care settings for a few decades now, I have
often encountered patients receiving infusions for many reasons – chemotherapy, antibiotics,
immunotherapy, hydration, nutritional supplementation, to name a few. In each case, there
was a medical order designating a specific treatment for a particular diagnosis. Sometimes there were challenging side effects, but the patient would withstand them in order to achieve a
hoped-for positive goal of improved health or the alleviation of certain symptoms.
As a Reiki practitioner for many years, and student of Frans Stiene for the past few years, I have had the privilege of attending his Shinpiden Reiki classes three times, beginning in October 2022, as well as one Reiki retreat. What came to me at the conclusion of my third Shinpiden class, just one month ago, was that it had been a “Reiki Infusion” experience. Something to support and sustain me in my life’s work and journey. Furthermore, it was an experience of being infused with Celestial Light – the great bright light that Frans often references. However, this kind of infusion required no doctor’s order, had no negative side effects, no “down time” to be endured. Rather, there was a sense of gratitude and joy, a lightness of being, a feeling of serenity.
I have attached a photo here, shared with me recently by a long-time Reiki client of mine (over
20 years now). This was a photo taken by a friend of hers in upstate New York – a friend who
had suffered the exceedingly painful circumstance of losing a teenage son in a tragic accident a
number of years ago. Her friend found comfort and inspiration in what she saw in the sky, as
did my client (recently widowed) when she saw the photo. To me, it is a visual portrayal of the
Celestial light that is ever present.
Frans often speaks of changing our human tendency to focus on the clouds of life and instead
to look beyond to the sunlight that is behind the clouds. What a gift to be able to see this
rainbow light within the beautiful cloud formation. What a lovely reminder that the Reiki light
is always present within and around us. We just have to look with mindful awareness and
notice what is already there.
