Settled in a remote area of Chatham Bars beach over the 4th of July weekend, I watched a cluster of seals swimming about a half mile off shore. Although the water was chilly, I decided to see how close to them I could get.  I really wanted to see them up close, because except at the zoo, I had never had that experience. I swam out, focused on sending the seals a message that I merely wanted to look at them because I found them so beautiful. I got about 10 yards away from them without them moving. They were facing north and I was facing east. Intent on keeping the seals close to me, I decided to send them Reiki in addition to my positive thoughts. All of a sudden, the seals faced me and started swimming towards me. Then, with the seals looking completely peaceful, we all just bounced up and down with the waves together.

It occurred to me for a split second that I ought to be concerned. After all, I knew nothing about seals and what their intentions might be. But in the end, I was so trusting of and mesmerized by the situation that I just stayed there, treading water. The seals came closer to me and broke into two clusters. One cluster swam in front and the other swam in back. I stayed there until the coldness of the water and the nasty sunburn I was getting forced me to leave. As I swam to shore, the seals continued to watch the body surfers, and to dive for an occasional snack.

As I reflected on the situation, I realized that Reiki is a blueprint of the energy we receive from nature all of the time. Plants and animals don’t go to classes to learn about it, or get paid to work with it, and they send it to us regardless of the energy we’re putting out. Maybe the reason the seals came so close that day is that they realized  I was only trying to be more like them!

By Alexis Houston, Fall 2004