Red Dot

Living in the moment and sticky red dots

Recently, whilst attending what is called a Reiki Share – a group of people gather and do Reiki on each other in turns – Lisa, my Reiki Master talked about living in the present moment in order to give Reiki properly. I have heard lots about living in the now by Eckert Tolle and the Power of Now, but it sort of escaped me being able to apply the principal to the Reiki share exercise.

However, why being in the present moment is so important during a Reiki share is that it enables you to overcome any issues you may have towards anyone who is present for the group. In order to do Reiki you need to be able to overcome, or look past, the limitations you may have had placed on you through your upbringing, education, or lifestyle habits. Reiki doesn’t work with limitations. Someone may be able to perform Reiki better than others, not because they are more skilled or naturally gifted, but because they focus only on the present moment. Reiki is performed, and is most effective, when living in the present moment only.

The Sticky Red Dots

Stop for a moment

So, the crux of it is, I ended up with a whole bunch of sticky red dots after the Reiki share.  The red is important.  Red means stop, and whenever I see a red dot, I am supposed to stop; breath, and appreciate the current moment I am in.  Lisa said it would help me consider only the present moment in time and not focus on the past or future.

So, you begin with a red dot stuck on a wall, drawer, fridge door or your bathroom mirror, even on the wall in front of your toilet as its pretty difficult to miss there. Then in a statement of the obvious to yourself, you say; “What am I doing now?”  This single question will bring you back from whatever thought ride you are currently on; whatever ideas have taken over your attention and lead you up a path to nowhere; and bring you back to thinking and focusing on the current situation. What you are doing right now, in the present moment is all that you need too focus on, and for that matter, you don’t even really need to focus on it.

Focus on the Current Situation

Acknowledge your thoughts

Focusing on the current situation is the most important thing. This does not mean focusing on what you are currently thinking about. The red dot’s purpose is to stop you thinking about what was ‘then’ occupying you mind.  Focusing on the current situation; where you physically are right now; what you are doing right now, is the purpose of stopping thinking. More than likely you are sitting in a chair, with a computer monitor directly in front of you, a keyboard and mouse at you fingertips. It may be you have slightly slouched shoulders and haven’t blinked your eyes for a short while.  Blink now. Feel you eyes blink. Feel the instant relief for you eyes as they are wiped over with the moisture contained behind your eyelids.  Do it again and hold you eyes closed.

How do you feel?

Now, how does that feel?  How do you feel?  That was a few seconds in the present moment, focused on an action that you would usually have don’t subconsciously. Most times you would not even be aware that you blink, but now, focusing on that moment, that action, for a second or two, you thought of nothing but that moment and the action of your eyes lids closing down over your eyes. The power of that moment erased a thought pattern and replaced it with an action. That single action allowed the mind to stop, the body to relax, and for you to take yourself away from any problems you perceive as being important to you. For me, that is the power of a single red dot. This little red dot takes care of my worries, my dilemmas and the little things that stop one focusing on what’s important in life.

So, ask yourself, “what am I doing right now?  I am living in the present moment, because of a sticky red dot”.

Thank you Lisa, for the sticky red dots.

Have fun

Peter