May 12, 2006

Burning Woman

Spending an afternoon with my friend PoetWoman is always wonderful. We eat lunch together, we go for walks, we share poetry, and we talk about all kinds of stuff. Several years ago, she and I took classes in reiki together so sometimes when we get together, I set up the portable massage table at my house, and we do reiki.

Reiki is both a healing method and a spiritual practice, a centuries-old practice that resurfaced in Japan in the 1800s and came to this country much later. Loosely, translated, reiki means universal life force energy. The energy is channeled through the hands of the reiki practioner, who holds them just above or sometimes rests them on the other person.

A reiki session is usually quite relaxing, much like getting a massage. I always keep a candle burning nearby, and I rub my forearms with essential oils like ylang ylang or lavender. Reiki is done slowly, peacefully, gently. When I do reiki, my palms usually get so warm that they tingle.

I've had a bad cold all week, with a cough that keeps me awake all night, and I've been really overtired and miserable, in need of some healing energy. So yesterday after a walk in the woods and a nice lunch, we set up the massage table. I stretched out with my eyes closed, and PoetWoman did reiki on my sinuses, which felt just great. I could feel all this heat coming through her hands. Soon I was feeling all peaceful and zenlike.

"Wow, I can really feel the warmth," I said to her. It was relaxing to feel that warmth, and smell the candle burning. For some reason, the burning smell was especially strong.

"Yeah, I am getting really hot," she said, "The energy is really --- AAHH!"

I sat up quickly, and saw flames shooting from her long black t-shirt, which had been dangling near the candle. PoetWoman had backed into the candle and caught on fire.

So the reiki session ended with wild screams, hurried attempts to douse the flames, her stripping the shirt off and tossing it into the sink, and then both of us laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

24 comments:

EmmaNadine said...

That is funny. My dad always worried we were going to burn the house down if we lit candles. Now that I'm on my own I love candles, but I'll make sure not to get too close. I'm glad noone was hurt.

Mona Buonanotte said...

A near-disaster that ended in laughter and nakedness...what a terrific post!

Coffee-Drinking Woman said...

Wow- you are really good at setting the mood - I was feeling all peaceful and zenlike reading along, and the shirt catching on fire startled me so much, I actually jumped.

Anonymous said...

Yikes!

landismom said...

Well, at least hilarious laughter does relieve stress...

Rana said...

When you're hot, you're hot.... ;)

Anonymous said...

Hilarious. This could so happen to me.

SuperB

thewayseeker said...

Why don't hot women ever strip for me at my house? ;)

Andromeda Jazmon said...

Stress, relax, YIKES! And laughter - Thanks.

Bridget said...

thanks for making me laugh, I was reading way too many sad posts today.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

LOL! ROTFLOL! :-))

I wanted to write about this, too, jo(e), but you beat me to it!!!!

Amazing that I was not harmed in any way by all of this!

And I had a fabulous time, as always, at your house.

Mary :-)

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

PLUS I feel better after the flaming reiki!

BeachMama said...

I was starting to feel the calm in your reiki session, thinking I need one of those, then I started laughing pretty hard.

Glad no one was hurt and you got the fire out quickly.

listie said...

glad no one was hurt, sorry about laughing at PoetWoman's misfortune

Anonymous said...

I've been a lurker for a while and this is as good a time as any to come out. That was FUN..ny! I love your blog.

halloweenlover said...

I'm dying with laughter at the fact that she said "yeah, I'm getting really hot." HA HA HA!

Poor Poetwoman. Glad she's okay!

Anonymous said...

Great story! Glad no one was burned. Hope you are feeling better!

zelda1 said...

Hot hands from hot woman from hot candle and burning clothes. WOW, that's a poem, horror story, sc fic story, and true romance, all rolled into one.

Sue said...

I'm glad no one was hurt! Reiki is so relaxing and wonderful, isn't it? My Reiki-practicing friend lives far away from me now, but I used to love that relaxing state. She never caught on fire though....

Not Scott said...

I don't recall seeing any flames when I saw reiki done, but I tend not to pay attention during those times. Perhaps that was the warmth everyone was talking about. I'll stick with my shiatsu and meditation.

Jules said...

Gee, my reiki sesions were never this exciting!

I've been looking for a reiki practitioner the past few months. I guess now I have to make sure they wear flame-retardant clothing! That might narrow down my search.

Thanks a lot...

Margaret said...

Hee hee hee-- that is a great story!! (And I'm glad you & Poetwoman are fine.)

Anonymous said...

Well, you have to love any practitioner who will set herself on fire for you.

Bad Alice said...

Oh my, now that ended unexpectedly!