The Psychic Medium Rare site is Moving..

“Psychic Medium Rare” is moving…

the new site is here- http://www.rickywood.net/blog

hope to see you there.

Senator Jim DeMint Envisions Obama’s Waterloo.

And I can breakaway to the better life
Where the shackles never hold me down
I’m gonna make a way for each happy day
As my life turns around…

“Breakaway”- The Beach Boys

Last week, Republican Senator Jim DeMint made it pretty clear why the opponents of health care reform are fighting so hard. As he told a special interest attack group, “If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.” Here’s how the President responded:

Think about that. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about politics. This is about a health care system that is breaking America’s families, breaking America’s businesses and breaking America’s economy. And we can’t afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care. Not this time, not now. There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake.

With Congress only days away from finalizing their plans for reform, it’s time to stand up with the President and fight back against this disastrous brand of old-style politics. So we need as many people as possible to publicly support the President’s principles for health care reform and call on Congress to act.

Before the first full votes in Congress, we’ll publish the signatures in newspaper ads across the nation, to make sure your voice is heard.

Watch President Obama’s full response, then add your name in support of reform. Or if you’ve already signed, please forward this message to every one of your friends and neighbors so they can join you.

Sign the declaration-

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/organizingforhealthcarevid?source=20090721_ms

The President is more dedicated than ever to passing health care reform that satisfies the three requirements he’s been talking about for months: Health care reform must reduce costs, guarantee choice — including the choice of a strong public insurance option — and ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care.

If we do not reform our broken health care system this year, we will only shackle future generations with spiraling costs and deteriorating care. The cost of inaction is simply more than this country can afford.

But the special interests who profit from the status quo won’t go down without a fight. The ads, the smears, and the attacks — targeting both President Obama and members of Congress who support reform — will only get worse. So it’s crucial that we show huge backing before Congress finalizes their plans this month.

Stand with President Obama on health care reform:

http://my.barackobama.com/hcdeclare

Thanks for standing up for change.

Take the Obama Approval Poll on “Facebook”!

Facebook has so many members. There are enough quizzes and polls to give the average joe a mild seizure. “What’s your favorite color?”, “What are your favorite dog breeds” or ” What is your favorite breakfast meat?”. With over 120 million registered members, a Facebook poll on Obama would be quite interesting.

So Facebook members why not take the poll? Doesn’t matter whether you’re Democrat,Republican, or French. The numbers so far today are pretty split. Might not be completely scientific but what the heck, it might be a fun summertime distraction!

Just follow the link and vote. Your country and Facebook thank you!

http://apps.facebook.com/my_polls/vote.php?poll_id=76&src=url_share

There is even a comment section if you want to explain your vote!

Charity “Fitness” Boot Camp !!

Many of you have heard me speak of Corey Dissin. This maniacal, twisted dungeon master incredible fitness motivator along with The Excellence Training Center are bringing you a “Boot Camp with a Purpose” to raise money for the Chester County SPCA.

In addition to a great workout, you can get FREE chair massages from Creative Chiropractic Solutions and samples from Xocai Healthy Chocolate.

Will Congress pass a Robust Heath Care Option?

“I sailed an ocean, unsettled ocean
Through restful waters and deep commotion
Often frightened, unenlightened
Sail on, sail on sailor”

“Sail on Sailor” – The Beach Boys

The health care fight has never been more intense than it is this week.

Key congressional committees are writing the actual legislation right now, and the most important decisions—like whether to include a public health insurance option, or how strong it is—are still up in the air.

The scary thing is, as Congress is cutting deals, the other side is spending $1.4 million a day to undermine reform.1 If we’re going to get real health care reform this year, we have to make sure the voices of regular Americans are constantly being heard by our members of Congress.

Your senator, Robert Casey, has been a strong advocate for the public option—and during this period we need him to keep it up. Can you call Sen. Casey today to say thanks and tell him to keep up the fight for a robust public health insurance option?

Here’s where to call:

Senator Robert Casey

Phone: 202-224-6324

After you call, click here and let us know how it went:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSPA_2&cp_id=995&id=16545-11381997-qrd9LRx&t=3

By “robust,” we mean a public health insurance option that is:

* Part of a broader plan to cover all of us: A strong public health insurance option should be a key piece of a reform plan that will guarantee access to quality health care for everyone in America.

* A national plan with real bargaining clout: In order to truly control costs and compete with private health insurance plans, a strong public health insurance option must be available nationwide with a broad network of providers.

* Ready on day one: Every day we wait on real reform, health care costs continue to rise. A strong public health insurance option right out of the gate is key to building a competitive program that will help control costs.

* A truly public plan: To ensure it’s held to the highest standards of accountability, a public health insurance option must be truly publicly run—accountable and transparent to Congress and to voters.

We have a once-in-a-generation chance to pass real health care reform this year—and it all comes down to the next few weeks. Can you call Sen. Casey today and urge him to continue to stand strong in the fight for a public health insurance option?

Here’s where to call:

Senator Robert Casey

Phone: 202-224-6324

Is Congress Trying to Push Weak “Half-Measures” in Health Care Reform?

I know so many people who think they can do it alone

They isolate their heads and stay in their safety zones

Now what can you tell them

And what can you say that won’t make them defensive?

“I Know There’s an Answer” – The Beach Boys

Health care reform is in trouble in the Senate.

Conservatives in Congress, including some Democrats, are trying to kill Obama’s public health insurance option not by opposing it outright, but by pushing weak half-measures and calling them “public plans.”1 The latest is a proposal for small, regional “co-ops” that would have no chance of competing against insurance companies to bring costs down.2

If we act immediately, we have a good shot at defeating ploys like the “co-op.” The key is to make it clear that we support a strong public health insurance option and lay out exactly what that means.

Click below and we’ll fax a flier in your name (for free!) to Sens. Casey and Specter that sets the bar for a strong public health insurance option. Faxes come directly into the office, so staffers are guaranteed to see them. And if enough of us send faxes, staffers will pass the flier on to their senator.

http://pol.moveon.org/fax?tg=FSPA_2.FSPA_1&cp_id=967&id=16427-11381997-1fRxivx&t=3

It’s up to us to remind our senators that an overwhelming majority of Americans—83%—supports a public health insurance option,3 and that weak half-measures like the “co-op” plan are no substitute for real reform.

The flier says: “A strong public health insurance option must be part of health care reform this year,” and outlines key criteria that a plan must be based upon:

* Available to all of us: A strong public health insurance option should be available to anyone who chooses to participate. If you like your current plan, you can keep it; if you want to participate in the public health insurance plan, you can choose that.

* A national plan with real bargaining clout: In order to truly control costs and compete with private health insurance plans, a strong public health insurance option must be available nationwide.

* Ready on day one: Every day we wait on real reform, health care costs continue to rise. A strong public health insurance option with a broad network of providers right out of the gate is key to building a competitive program that will help control costs.

* A truly public plan: To ensure it’s held to the highest standards of accountability, a public health insurance option must be truly publicly run—accountable and transparent to Congress and to voters.

If thousands of us send faxes to Senate offices this week, we can make sure that message is heard loud and clear. Can you fax Sens. Casey and Specter today? Click below and we’ll send one for you:

http://pol.moveon.org/fax?tg=FSPA_2.FSPA_1&cp_id=967&id=16427-11381997-1fRxivx&t=4

Write to your Editor About Heathcare Reform.

Key leaders in Washington are now saying that any health care reform will—and must—include a public health insurance option.1,2

The big challenge now? Opponents of reform are trotting out weak half-measures and calling them “public plans,”3 with the goal of leaving us with a public health insurance option in name only. The latest is a proposal for “co-ops”—small, regional insurers that would be too weak to bring costs down or compete with existing private insurance.4

We have to push back right away and with a clear message: Americans demand a strong public health insurance option, one that is available to everyone, national in scope with real bargaining clout, ready to go on day one, and truly public.

Can you write a letter to the editor about how important it is to include a strong public health insurance option in reform this year? Our tool makes writing a letter really simple. You can send the letter right from our website—it only takes a few minutes:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51500&id=16403-11381997-MS4Ur_x&t=3

If you’ve never written a letter to the editor before, now is the time to send your first. The letters page is one of the most widely read—and most important—in local newspapers. Members of Congress and their staffs read it to understand how their constituents are feeling. And the media read it as feedback on their coverage.

Here are a few key points for your letter on what a strong public health insurance option should look like:

* Available to all of us: A strong public health insurance option should be available to anyone who chooses to participate. If you like your current plan, you can keep it; if you want to participate in the public health insurance plan, you can choose to do so.

* A national plan with real bargaining clout: In order to truly control costs and compete with private health insurance plans, a strong public health insurance option must be available nationwide.

* Ready on day one: Every day we wait on real reform, health care costs continue to rise. A strong public health insurance option right out of the gate is key to building a competitive program that will help control costs.

* A truly public plan: To ensure it’s held to the highest standards of accountability, a public health insurance option must be truly publicly run—accountable and transparent to Congress and to voters.

A robust public health insurance option is the linchpin of real reform that will help bring costs down and provide coverage for all Americans. If thousands of us write to our local papers, we can make sure our representatives in Washington understand how crucial it is to voters like us. Please click here to get started:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51500&id=16403-11381997-MS4Ur_x&t=4

Sources:

1. “Pelosi: Health Care Reform Can’t Pass Without Public Option,” The Huffington Post, June 11, 2009.

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51502&id=16403-11381997-MS4Ur_x&t=5

2. “CONFIRMED: Kennedy Bill Will Have Public Health Insurance Option,” Health Care for America Now, June 9, 2009.

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51503&id=16403-11381997-MS4Ur_x&t=7

3. “Co-op compromise gives White House a health option,” The Associated Press, June 14, 2009.

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51504&id=16403-11381997-MS4Ur_x&t=8

4.”A Co-Op for the Public Option? Let’s Talk Principles,” The Now! Blog, June 12, 2009.

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51498&id=16403-11381997-MS4Ur_x&t=9

Fitness Motivator Corey Dissin

I guess you all know it’s been a long, long time
Since the days of turnin’ water to wine
Things ain’t easy, but they always improve
When you go and get your poor old body to move

“He Couldn’t Get His Poor Ol’ Body to Move”- Brian Wilson

Many people say they love to network. Many folks would love to exchange ideas. So it was great to really meet someone who is a prime example of both.

I recently did a seminar with Corey and Dr Fetterman of  Creative Chiropractic Solutions. Afterwords, myself , Corey and the rest of the Creative Chiro staff got together for a brainstorming lunch. I wish I could do this every week!

When talking to Corey I was amazed at his dedication and intent. His willingness to share these qualities with others was impressive. His ability to motivate others transcends his fitness practice. He truly believes “if there is a will there is a way”.

Oh, by the way…He is a kick-ass Fitness Motivator. I use the word Motivator because only a motivator can bring you to the abyss of change and show you how to fly.

Corey’s service, TRAIN WITH COREY provides full service personal training for a wide variety of clients. From brides toning up for a wedding, to those who play high school and amateur sports, to older adults trying to stay fit.Whether you want to focus on weightlifting, weight loss, strength training, cardio, core development, or sports-specific training this staff  has the knowledge, resources and commitment to help you reach your goals.

He is a little sneaky. He has a secret weapon.

Corey finds what motivates you. Your success is what motivates him.

Thanks Corey, it was great meeting you and I can’t wait to see where your intention takes you!

http://www.trainwithcorey.blogspot.com

Psychic Medium Rick Wood in Tempe June 4-8th!

Rick Wood, nationally recognized psychic medium and life coach, will be giving sessions out of his Tempe,AZ office June 4th and 5th. The cost  is 125.00 per hour. Sessions are by appointment only.

Wood has been professionally offering his services, which include life coaching, individual and couples counseling, past life regression, spirit release and mediumship, as well as traditional psychic readings, for over 15 years on a full-time basis. Additionally, Wood is the subject of the upcoming book “They’re Not Gone” by Amy Butler, detailing some of his more memorable and paranormal experiences as a professional psychic medium.

“I had my first session with Rick and was so impressed not only with the information, but with Rick’s humor and honesty in delivering it. I initially made this call looking for direction in my work and the relocation of my family. I was given so much more than this. Rick not only gave me insight, he was able to bring through some very special souls that have passed,” stated client Stacey Pare.

In addition to his office appointments, he will be available for in-home meetings and parties as well as appointments via telephone. For more information about services offered or to schedule an appointment, please call 484-459-5489.

For more information, please visit his website at http://www.rickywood.net.

The Catholic Church Says No to Reiki Healing…

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love:

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not

So much seek to be consoled

As to console,

To be understood as to understand,

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born

to eternal life.

Prayer of St.Francis

This is a wonderful prayer of healing and peace. The healing art of Reiki is very similar to the prayer. Bringing love and light to help others heal. Not anymore. At least according to the Catholic Church. I received a letter from Reiki Master Holly Matthews about how the church says to not support the use of Reiki sessions!

It would have been different if the bishops had done their homework….

Read on

A Response to the Bishops’ Statement on Reiki

by William Lee Rand

On March 25, 2009, U.S. Catholic bishops issued a statement advising Catholic hospitals, health care facilities, and Catholic chaplains not to support the use of Reiki sessions. The statement was issued by The Committee on Doctrine, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and titled: “Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as Alternative Therapy.”

The statement was based on research the committee had done over a period of several months involving information found on the Internet and in Reiki books. Based on these sources, they concluded that Reiki came from Buddhist texts and has a religious basis; that Reiki healing energy is directed by human thought and will; that Reiki is not validated by scientific studies and has no scientific explanation, and that Reiki is not accepted by the medical community.

When considering the value of the bishops’ statement, it’s important to note the sources they accessed. Much of their research came from information published on Internet Web sites. Overall, the Internet isn’t a good source of factual information because there is no requirement that information published there be checked or approved for accuracy. Anyone can set up a Web site and publish anything they wish. What often happens is that authors of sites copy from each other, so if inaccurate information is published on one site, it can easily spread to many sites across the Internet. If one makes use of the Internet for research, one must use a developed set of selection criteria that limits one to only the most respected and reputable Web sites. Otherwise, one runs the risk of accepting rumor and misinformation as fact.

This is especially true for Reiki Web sites. Reiki information has been riddled with inaccurate ideas from the beginning of its practice in the West. Many Reiki practitioners, teachers and authors fail to check the accuracy of the information they base their teaching and writing on, and this has had a detrimental effect on the quality of information published both on the Internet and in Reiki books.

The best information on Reiki comes from those who have researched the history and practice of Reiki professionally by conducting research in Japan, reading original documents, and interviewing members of the founding Reiki organization in Japan. If the bishops who wrote the statement on Reiki had interviewed several of these experts, they would have realized that much of the published information on Reiki is inaccurate, and they would have had accurate, verifiable information on which to base their conclusions.

Origin of Reiki

One of the stories told by Mrs. Takata about the origin of Reiki indicates that the founder, Mikao Usui discovered the secret of Reiki n Buddhist texts.1 This story has been repeated over and over in Reiki classes, on Internet Web sites and in many Reiki books. Yet we know this isn’t true. For many years, Mrs. Takata was the only source of information about Reiki for those in the West, and most practitioners accepted her statements without question. Language, cultural, and organizational barriers in Japan made research difficult for those who wanted to learn more about the origins and practice of Reiki. It wasn’t until the end of the 90’s that a few researchers were able to make breakthroughs.

Researchers, including Toshitaka Mochizuki, Hiroshi Doi and Frank Arjava Petter, made contact with the original Reiki organization, discovered Mikao Usui’s grave, translated the story of Reiki inscribed on his memorial stone, and uncovered an original document written by Mikao Usui about the nature of Reiki. These sources indicate that Mikao Usui wasn’t seeking to discover a method of healing, but that the ability to heal came to him spontaneously during a spiritual experience on a sacred mountain. Furthermore, in his Reiki Ryoho Hikkei (Reiki Healing Art Handbook), Mikao Usui states: “My Usui Reiki Ryoho (healing art) is original, never before explored, and incomparable in the world.” These facts indicate that Reiki couldn’t have come from Buddhist texts, nor could it be connected to any religion or belief system. In addition, Japanese Reiki Masters who have knowledge of Buddhism have indicated that they can find nothing from Buddhism in the practice of Reiki and that Reiki is religiously neutral.2

The Nature of Reiki Healing

One of the first things I noticed after I took my first Reiki class and began to practice Reiki is that Reiki healing energy directs itself. I was unable to direct it with my mind or will and realized this wasn’t necessary as Reiki had its own form of guidance that was superior to my own. This experience has been verified by other professional Reiki practitioners and forms the basis of one of the important keys to using Reiki: If you want Reiki to provide the best healing experience, it’s necessary for the practitioner to set their own desire, will and ego aside, and allow the Reiki energy to guide itself.

Scientific Explanation for Reiki

There is a scientific explanation for Reiki that is based on scientific studies and factual information. This explanation has been presented as a testable hypothesis by James Oschman, Ph.D.

Dr. Oschman is a scientist with a conventional background who became interested in the practice of energy medicine. Through research, he discovered a number of important scientific studies that point to a scientific basis for energy medicine based on the laws of physics and biology. These findings are discussed in an interview, “Science and the Human Energy Field,” published in the Winter 2002 issue of Reiki News Magazine.

The electrical currents that run through every part of the human body provide the basis for Dr. Oschman’s hypothesis. These currents are present in the nervous system, organs, and cells of the body. For instance, the electrical signals that trigger the heartbeat travel throughout all the tissues of the body and can be detected anywhere on the body.

Ampere’s law indicates that when an electrical current flows through a conductor, an electromagnetic field is produced that reflects the nature of the current that created it. Tests with scientific instruments indicate that electromagnetic fields exist around the body and around each of the organs of the body, including the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, stomach, etc. The heart has the strongest field, which has been measured at a distance of 15 feet from the body.

The fields around each of the organs pulse at different frequencies and stay within a specific frequency range when they are healthy, but move out of this range when they are unhealthy. The hands of healers produce pulsing electromagnetic fields when they are in the process of healing, whereas the hands of non-healer do not produce these fields. When a healer places his or her hands on or near a person in need of healing, the electromagnetic field of the healer’s hands sweeps through a range of frequencies based on the needs of the part of the body being treated. Faraday’s law indicates that one electromagnetic field can induce currents into a nearby conductor and through this process, induce a similar field around it. In this way, a healer induces a healthy electromagnetic field around an unhealthy organ, thus inducing a healthy state in the organ. A detailed explanation of this hypothesis, including descriptions of the scientific studies, diagrams, and references is presented in the interview mentioned above.

Acceptance by the Medical Community

Although Reiki is not universally accepted within the medical community, many medical professionals, hospitals, and healthcare facilities recognize its benefits and accept it as an adjunct therapy. In Holistic Nursing, A Handbook for Practice, Chapter 2 “Scope and Standards of Practice,” the American Holistic Nursing Association (AHNA) lists Reiki as an accepted form of treatment.3 In addition, according to the American Hospital Association, in 2007 Reiki was offered as a standard part of patient care in 15% or over 800 hospitals across the US.4 Doctors have recommended Reiki to their patients for amelioration of various health-related conditions. Surgeons make use of Reiki practitioners prior to, during, and following surgery. As an example, Dr. Mehmet Oz, one of the most respected cardiovascular surgeons in the US, uses Reiki during open-heart surgeries and heart transplants. According to Dr. Oz, “Reiki has become a sought-after healing art among patients and mainstream medical professionals.”5

Ethical Implications

To refuse Reiki treatment to patients that request it creates an ethical issue. According to the AHNA statement in response to the bishops’ statement, the practice of holistic nursing is not subject to regulation by the Catholic church and it would be an ethical violation for a member of the AHNA to withhold Reiki treatment from a patient who requests it; this includes those working in Catholic hospitals.

Scientific Studies

There are a number of reputable scientific studies that provide evidence that Reiki is therapeutic. These studies can be found by using one of the professional medical databases such as PubMed or Cochrane Collection.6 Studies meeting medical and scientific standards are usually published in peer-reviewed journals. There are over 20 such studies on the therapeutic value of Reiki. A review of some of these studies, “An Integrative Review of Reiki Touch Therapy Research” by Anne Vitale, Ph. D., can be found at http://www.nursingcenter.com/pdf.asp?AID=732068. While the Reiki studies conducted to date are preliminary in nature, they do provide support for additional studies.

One well-designed Reiki study is “Autonomic Nervous-System-Changes During Reiki Treatment: A Preliminary Study.”7 Forty-five subjects were assigned randomly to three groups. One group received no treatment, another received Reiki treatment by experienced Reiki practitioners, and the third group received sham treatment by a person with no Reiki training who used the same hand positions as those receiving real Reiki.

Measurements were made of heart rate, cardiac vagal tone, blood pressure, cardiac sensitivity to baroreflex, and breathing. Heart rate and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly for those receiving Reiki, but not for those receiving sham Reiki, or no treatment. This study indicates that the body does respond to Reiki energy and that this response isn’t purely psychological. It also indicates a potential therapeutic effect for Reiki.

“Reiki Improves Heart Rate Homeostasis in Laboratory Rats”8 is another valuable study. The value of using animals in this type of study is that they are not affected by belief or skepticism regarding Reiki. In addition, highly accurate telemetric implants were used to transmit the biometric data. White noise was used to increase the heart rate of three implanted laboratory rats. The rats were treated by a Reiki practitioner and by a sham Reiki practitioner prior to being exposed to white noise and after exposure. The procedure involved the practitioner directing their hands toward the caged rat at a distance of four feet. The rats that received Reiki experienced a significant reduction in heart rate, both before having their heart rates elevated by white noise and after, whereas those treated with sham Reiki did not. This is one of the most rigorous Reiki studies to date and demonstrates that Reiki reduces the heart rate in both stressed and unstressed animals and promotes homeostasis, both of which promote healthy heart function.

Reiki is practiced by followers of many religious traditions. Although some practitioners integrate Reiki into their existing religious beliefs, Reiki is not a religion, doctrine, or dogma. Reiki is grounded in the principle of compassionate action, which is common to all religious traditions. While each religion has the right to create its own rules, it’s within the nature of human dignity and free will for each person to decide which path to follow and what activities are appropriate for them.

1 Paul David Mitchell, The Blue Book, revised edition for The Reiki Alliance (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: 1985), page 13.

2 Personal communication with Japanese Reiki practitioners Hiroshi Doi and Hyakuten Inamoto.

3 page 56.

4 http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-14-alternative-therapies_N.htm and www.reikiinhospitals.org

5 http://healthcare-research.suite101.com/article.cfm/reiki_in_hospitals

6 http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/ PubMed is the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) free digital archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. http://www.lib.umb.edu/node/1353 The Cochrane Collection provides access to a collection of databases, which focus on the effects of health care and evidence based medical practice.

7 Nicole Makay, M.Sc., Stig Hansen, Ph.D., and Oona McFarlane, M.A., The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Volume 10, Number 6, 2004, pp. 1077–1081. This study is also discussed in “The Science of Reiki” by Nicole Mackay, Reiki News Magazine (Summer 2005).

8 Ann Linda Baldwin, Ph.D, Christina Wagers, and Gary E. Schwartz, Ph.D., The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Volume 14, Number 4, 2008, pp. 417–422.

William Lee Rand is president of the International Center for Reiki Training and executive editor of the Reiki News Magazine. He has studied with five Reiki teachers, including two from Japan, and has made three trips to Japan to research the history and nature of Reiki. Rand has practiced Reiki since 1981 and has taught full time for 20 years.

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