Mother and Child Reiki Symphony (English)

Mother and Child Reiki Symphony

 

I am so amazed how life can show us small signs or amazing coincidences (that aren't really so...!). My mother and I discovered Reiki in different moments in our lifes. In a moment that we were away from each other (she lives in Switzerland and I live in Italy), studying and learning Reiki made us feel even closer.

The path of Reiki is so wonderful. Mine and my mother's has been filled with beautiful blessings from the very beginning. From time to time on our journey, we experience synchronicities. These moments are "strange", but almost inexplicably evident.

These events make us feel a deep and familiar connection or tie with these elements, places or people. In Japanese, we call this connection "en".

My mom and I have felt a lot of "en" on our path with each other, but also on the events of our lives and on our journey in Reiki.

I'd like to share this story of how we felt that special "en" with the Reiki history.

1957, Tokyo (9 years old)

To understand this story, let me tell you something about the life of my mother: Sachiko Nakamura.

For a large part of her life, my mother has been a violinist in the Suisse Romande Orchestra, in Geneva. She is now retired, but still plays the violin and gives concerts in Switzerland and Japan. 

She was born in Matsue, Japan, in 1948. She began studying and playing the violin at the age of four. She was lucky enough to study with the internationally renowned violinist Sumi Saburo from the age of 12 until 18. 

She had the privilege of studying with him at the Toho Conservatory of Music in Tokyo.

1964, Tokyo (16 years old)

At the same time, there was a boy of three years older than her who caught her attention. He was visually impaired, a prodigy and very gifted. 

This boy had a great talent and was also Sumi Saburo's pupil. As he was older than her, they were never in the same class, but occasionally crossed paths between classes. 

Wanami Takayoshi

She particularly remembers her mother accompanying him to lessons. This boy went on to become an internationally renowned violinist. His name is Wanami Takayoshi. 

At the age of 18, my mother was determined to study violin in Europe, at the source of classical music. She was supposed to study first in Genova, Italy, but last-minute circumstances made her change her destination to Prague to study with Alexandr Plocek. 

And so, in 1967, at the age of 19 with a small bag and her violin, my mother set off alone on a boat from Yokohama to Russia and then by plane to Prague. After a seven-day journey by boat and plane, she finally arrived in Prague to study violin with her teacher. 

I could tell you so many adventures from her years in Prague, especially as she arrived at a politically complicated time, but I'll save that for another time.

1972, Prague (24 years old)

In 1970 or 1971, Wanami Takayoshi gave a concert in Prague. As one of the only Japanese students, Sachiko went to the concert and exchanged a few words with him after the show. She remembers him as a boy of great sensitivity and kindness.

A few years later, Sachiko went to Berlin to study violin with Michel Schwalbé. 

1979, OSR Geneva

She then took the competitive examination at the Suisse Romande Orchestra, in Geneva and was awarded the title of concertmaster, a title she held from 1974 to 2012.

With condoctor Pinchas Steinberg, Geneva 

In 2010, after a few health issues, Sachiko got closer to alternative medicine and the energy healing world. In 2017 she studied Western-style Reiki in Tokyo, Japan. That was the time we started to share more about energy healing together.

In 2019 we went together to meet Frank Arjava Peter to attend his Jikiden Reiki Shoden and Okuden Seminar at his dojo in Lesbos. An absolutely wonderful moment in our lifes.

Jikiden Reiki seminar Shoden-Okuden with Frank Arjava Petter, september 2019, Lesbos

During the seminar, Arjava Sensei talks about the fascinating history of Reiki over the years and its evolution. That's when my mother heard a familiar name. An unusual Japanese surname: Wanami. 

In the 1920s, Usui Mikao Sensei (the founder of Reiki) had created the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, and after his death, the Gakkai's activities continued. The association's fifth president was Hoichi (Toyokazu) Wanami.

To our great surprise, we then learned that this violin prodigy was the grandson of the 5th president of the Gakkai...! I remember that "goosebumps" moment. The astonished look between Arjava Sensei and my mother.

"Haha to Ko no Shinfoni" - Mother and child symphony

We then learned that the violinist's mother (Hoichi Wanami's daughter in law)  had written a book called "Haha to ko no shimfoni" (Symphony of mother and child). In it, she mentions Reiki, but doesn't go into too much detail. What an interesting fact! We were so happily surprised!

With Frank Arjava Petter in july 2020 in Geneva (in front of my parents house)

I'm so grateful that my mother and I can share our passion and love for Reiki together, something could have never imagined 10 years ago...! 

With Tadao Yamaguchi, April 2023

In April 2023, I was honored to meet Tadao Yamaguchi Sensei for the first time in Kyoto and I became a Jikiden Reiki Shihankaku. I started to teach Jikiden Reiki which brings so much joy to  my heart and soul!

Last October, Sachiko went to meet Tadao Yamaguchi Sensei in Kyoto and told him this story. 

Tadao Yamaguchi / Sachiko Nakamura / Yohei Yamaguchi (Tadao Yamguchi's son)

There, too, they talked about "En", that famous link, that inexplicable and wonderful connection.

Life can be strangely full of small links and connections that bring you somewhere, these strange threads that are somehow connecting the dots together... That beautiful "en". 

And I wanted to share this Reiki Symphony with you today.

With love,

Innina