QUILTING AWAY Aging with Reiki

I still have the old quilt.

I have begun to repair my fraying fading quilt’s worn-out edges by replacing some of the fabric faithfully maintaining the pattern of the original quilt. History is hidden in every stitch and every piece so that its character must persist and endure.

I continue to reflect on the symbolism, and I muse about “the character” I so carefully want to maintain and preserve. What does it say about the person and my character?

The quilt in its “oldness” displays its distinguished character but it’s nowhere near dying. Even threadbare from overuse it has acquired character, from utility, and familiarity.

James Hillman writes in The Force of Character: and the Lasting Life:

“Character manifests itself fully through a long life, it lasts through all the events of a long existence, and it stays constant from start to finish. Our mind nor our body stay the same. It could not avoid change. What endures, is our unique psychological components that mark us as being different from all other individuals”.

Personally, I have changed in many ways. I’m a different person, yet despite the changes something continues to assure me of my sameness. As Hillman states: “Character provides a lasting core.”

My practice of Reiki, thirty plus years of practice and mastery, have deeply influenced and brought to awareness the process of my physiological and psychological changes, despite my resistances.

Revisiting the events, I recognize that some of my character’s sharp edges have smoothed out. Thorny aspects of my character have softened, and I’m more flexible and welcoming. I’m less likely to distance myself and be cold with others. In time, I have discovered within me a warm and softer part. I am more prone to smiling and not taking myself too seriously.

Reiki has been fundamental; it has opened doors to new perceptions and levels of understanding of the daily events in my inner and outer life. Life’s no longer unidimensional but I now see its different meanings and wisdom, and “Recognize the beauty that is hidden from usual sight” (Hillman)

Like a quilt, there are many pieces /aspects of a personality, fitting them into psychological integration is a lifetime process. The various pieces are like “a full company on stage”, as at the end of an Opera when everyone takes a bow in front of the clapping audience

As we age, the elaboration of these different aspects of our character is part of our “life review” and takes up more and more of our hours.

Hillman suggests that we want to see our aging body as a source of wisdom. Our most important teacher.

“Biological systems and psychological fields are asking to be read for their intelligence.”

What does it mean that my/your sight is dimming, hearing challenged, or body shrinking?...

Perhaps our eyesight dims because we no longer need nor want to look at the details. We favor imaginative insight, the odd, the uniqueness, the eccentric.

But this could be another conversation, to be continued…