by Melinda DeBoer

We are hearing wonderful stories from around the world about Reiki bringing people together in romantic relationships. These relationships are proving to be quite special, and often offer wonderful opportunities for deep, karmic healing, when both people are willing to follow their hearts.

Our first interview is with Jill Sutherland and Robert Plotzkei of Atlanta, Georgia.

JILL: Robert and I met, by "accident" at the Center’s Reiki Retreat at Camp Ronora in 1997. I was not planning to attend the retreat but was taking the Karuna Reiki® class which followed. Robert was not planning to stay for Karuna Reiki® but was attending the retreat.

I drove out in the RV, lovingly referred to as the Toaster, from Utah. I had made a careful driving plan allowing ample time to arrive for class prepared and relaxed, but for some unknown reason I had the impulse to drive two days worth and consequently arrived early on the last day of the retreat.

Laura Gifford showed me around and I began meeting people and doing Reiki. I began a conversation with John Moore and asked him to teach me a technique he knew. He asked for a volunteer to be on the table and Robert jumped in. After learning what I had asked John to show me, I put my hand on Robert’s heart and looked into his eyes. Well, I’ll let him tell it from here.

ROBERT: As I lay on the table looking up at Jill, I felt my heart open up more than it had ever before. Jill started to cry and John asked what was wrong. Jill said "nothing is wrong, he is giving me energy not taking it."

I realized I was feeling perfect love. The energy of love in all its glory, flowing through me to Jill. I knew that I had known Jill for a long time, maybe as long as I’ve been coming to this planet. We finished the session and the group was forming its circle again. Jill and I did not take chairs, instead we sat leaning against each other on the stage edge; in the circle, but somehow separate entities ourselves. I felt like Jill and I would be by each other’s side from that moment on, and after rearranging our lives we have been!

JILL: After the group meeting was finished, everyone started to head outside to mingle. Robert turned to me and said, "Do you know what I feel like doing?" I answered "No, what?" He took the cup of tea from my hand, set it down on a nearby table and, bending down, swooped me up into his arms. (How could he have known I’d always dreamed of being swept off my feet!)

He offered to give me a Reiki session and we found a table in the shade under a perfect tree. During the session I felt many past life connections with Robert and also received the symbol that would become the logo for our Reiki practice, Illumen in Atlanta.

Today we work together in all of our sessions and teach together too. We came from different Reiki traditions and our attunements are very different so we each give our own attunement to every student. This creates a very open channel for Reiki in our students. Robert and I can see what perfect reflections we are for each other (the bright light of Reiki doesn’t let anything remain hidden) and the accelerated personal growth that results is sometimes overwhelming.

ROBERT: An example of Reiki’s "lighted mirror" is the Karuna Reiki® symbol for healing unconscious patterns. (I ended up staying for the Karuna Reiki® class with Jill) I do Reiki on our relationship and the first time I used this particular symbol in my daily treatment, holy cow - lookout! Later that day Jill and I got into an argument that was like nothing ever before in either of our lives. It was like watching the whole thing on screen. We would get all ready to snarl and instead laugh at the absurdity of it. Actually a pattern of ours was being revealed to us, as we acted out our individual roles. We would get angry and red faced only to laugh as we said the worst level stuff. It was really quite an amazing experience, and did happen a second time to a lesser degree. Jill has made me promise to warn her if I feel the need to use that symbol on us again.

JILL: We use Reiki to ease life’s bumps, soothe the bruises and to share the boundless blessings we receive. The special connection that we have is more profound than I thought I’d ever experience. Sometimes I feel more love than I can contain and it just wooshes out.

Jill and Robert visited our retreat again this year, both still glowing in that special light of Reiki love.

This is just one beautiful Reiki Romance story, stay tuned for many more.