Spirit
of Change
"The Healing of Origins: A Traveling Healer Shares her Story of
a Leper Hospital in Lewoleba, Indonesia
Jan/Feb 1995 Spirit of Change Magazine, Boston, Ma
Norma Jean Young, Reiki Master of nine years, has taken her healing
and counseling work to the four corners of the world. "One of the
most challenging experiences in my life as a healer was going to a remote
island in Indonesia to offer Reiki treatment and training to people
who had leprosy", says Norma Jean. "The level of sincerity
and the enormous doses of feeling these people expressed will be with
me for the rest of my life..."
The one universal beat throughout humanity, what is it? Can you see
it, feel it, in many diverse cultures and places on the earth? I believe
most assuredly so. This is the music of life.
For at least 25 years, I have been following a life purpose: to do whatever
I could to integrate the family of humankind, functionally. As a very
young woman, the largeness of this purpose drove me to want to house
third world countries with yurts and domes ala Bucky Fuller, and dream
of impacting the world positively in very large ways. As life pared
me down to size, I finally came to a despairing rest which gave way
to feeling my extreme smallness -- possibly one grain of sand in the
grand design -- possibly my life was even over. It was only in such
a state of surrender and deflated ego that Reiki came to me. With amazing
simplicity, I felt this unifying force of Reiki and the connections
to various cultures and countries occurred, none solicited or derived
through advertisement (just now at my ten year anniversary as a Reiki
Master, am I beginning to advertise) -- all through people connections.
I would look into the eyes of a Greek or Inuit or Japanese or Native
American and in seconds, the connection would be made between us. Oh
yes, there were cultural differences. The physical strength and endurance
of the Inuit; the flamboyant, generous heartiness of the Greeks; the
radiant sincerity and playful creativity of the Indonesians; the persistent,
serving purity of heart of the Japanese. Speaking more loudly than the
words we didn't know in common was the breath and source of life and
life's challenges that we do have in common.
One of the most challenging of these experiences was going to a remote
island in Indonesia to offer Reiki treatment and training to people
who had leprosy. I had planned on going to Bali after training intensely
in Japan, to have the best vacation ever. I had met Indonesian students
in college and admired their beautiful harmony and joy with each other.
I was intrigued and my heart undeniably drawn. Along the way, in the
Netherlands at the world Reiki Master Conference, I met Ottie Tisscher,
who had recently become a Reiki Master to return to Indonesia where
she was born, to offer Reiki to lepers. How could I do anything but
ask to go with her? I was already scheduled to be there at the same
time.
Ottie met me at the Denpasar airport and we tried to prepare. She had
the language and I had the teaching experience, so it was a fine team.
We really needed one another. I was terrified. Even though doctors reassured
me that leprosy is only contracted with open sores or cuts, I resolved
to "play it safe'' and not touch anybody there if I could help
it. And besides, I did have open cuts and sores; I had been doing a
lot of sword work in over 100 degree heat in Japan and I also had mosquito
bites. We flew from Denpasar to Timor and then to Lombata in the Flores
Group of Islands.
Fortunately, we met Dr. Manik on the small plane. He was a doctor for
the Dept. of Health in that region. When he heard what we were doing,
he was moved to tears and asked if he could come join us. He is a devout
man, having converted to Christianity, motivated by an addiction to
gambling. He was a godsend; we needed him. He planned to handle his
business and then join us in Lewoleba.
At a stop en route, the school children were excitedly watching near
the runway to see who would come in the weekly plane. Three boys in
loincloths and with long sticks or staffs in their hands were focused
on us from across a field. They didn't come close in distance; they
didn't have to. Their eyes and openness were reaching easily across
the 75 feet between us.
I have never felt so "taken in" -- so received -- without
any defense or filter between myself and another. I would wish that
every human being would someday have such an experience. I never recognized
the many filters of judgment, conditioning and distancing I use until
I experienced someone without them. We have so much to learn from Original
Peoples.
We got back on the plane and marveled at the green lush islands beneath
us, complete with an active volcano. When I asked about eruptions, the
locals said, "Yes, there had been one a few years ago -- a whole
village was enveloped." This they said matter of factly, and with
a smile on their faces.
The tiny plane made a very rough landing in a cow pasture. Two smiling
Indonesian women greeted us. One was Mama Isabella, the leader and vision-holder
for the hospital and community, and the other was Sister Juliana, a
nurse and nun who was the singular medical professional running the
hospital.. She took my hand immediately and walked close to me, swinging
our arms like young girls, and leaning into me. The best way to describe
Sister Juliana is velvet. Her voice was like velvet, her manner was
like velvet, her love was like velvet -- obvious and lush.
They loaded us into their "ambulance" which was a dented,
rusty old step van and took us to the police first, explaining they
had to 'clear' anyone coming to the island. There, these broadly-smiling,
friendly men took my passport and insisted on hearing stories about
all the places I had been. Then they graciously waived the usual payment
of money and wished us well.
When we arrived at the hospital, Sister Juliana took us into their stark
meeting and eating room and warned us to be careful working with the
lepers, as they didn't k now how to be with one another because they
werenot subject to normal behavioral consequences. For instance, if
they robbed someone or killed them, they were not welcome in jail. She
wanted us to be models for them of how to converse and be together as
people -- social skills.
We ate with them the food they had prepared, a kind of watery soup with
fish that had been donated that day. My clear resolve to 'not touch
anyone' was met with an appropriate challenge. A leper-man approached
me where I was sitting, coming very close in front of me -- just standing
and pouring sweet energy from his eyes into mine. I asked Ottie what
was going on, and she said, "He is here to offer you his hand, Norma
Jean."
All the Ben Hur memories of lepers started flooding through me. Do you
know what you do when someone does that? It's obvious there is only
one response -- you offer them your hand. From that moment on, I realized
I must just surrender to this experience and trust that I would be protected.
Then we went to Mama (a term of great respect, honor and love) Isabella's
beautiful home where we would live while we were there. It was a white,
sprawling Out of Africa styled home in a lush green jungle setting
with about ten people living there with her.
The custom in Lewoleba is for people who have more resources, whether
they be respect or money, to take in or adopt those who do not, so this
was a rather large compound of people living together. They were all
people whose leprosy was arrested, controlled with medication. Some
of them had missing digits from their toes or hands and their noses
might be caved in. There were two men who were more severely crippled
and distorted in their body; however, it was quite evident there was
nothing distorted in their generosity and giving to us. They served
us tea and cookies, all from a dirt kitchen with an open fire pit outside.
This is when informally I gave Mama Isabella her first experience of
Reiki. Up to this point, she explained that they understood that we
were coming with an ancient herbal remedy for leprosy. Mama was deeply
touched and said she had never in all her years, felt something so deeply
received. Nothing had given to her like this before.
Ottie and I soon insisted on joining "the family" in their kitchen behind
the house in the yard, and started getting very close to these radiant
and happy people. They laugh a lot. One woman was sewing beautiful bags
from the most soft and beautifully handwoven fabric, hoping to sell
them for support. Their artistry is so natural.
We were taken to be Ôchecked out' by Father Eugene, as this island is
predominantly Catholic. He was like the unofficial king of the island.
I felt that if he had not approved of what we were doing, we would not
be allowed to continue. We struck an immediate and convivial relationship
with this most happy, youthful-looking priest from Chicago who had been
there 20 years. He insisted we be honored guests at a blessing that
evening in honor of the return of a family member to one of his parishioners.
Now came the time to present Reiki to the hospital patients themselves
and see if they wanted to be treated or taught how to do Reiki healing.
This was o ne of the most challenging moments of my life. I was on a
Cathollic Island, with a born again Christian, to teach Reiki to lepers.
The pressure built. Ottie kept nervously going out of the meeting room
where the patients were gathering; I would go get her and explain that
she was translating -- she had to stay in the room!
Dr. Manik had arrived just before dinner. He was leading the patients
in singing -- thank God! I was praying very hard for guidance and help.
I began: "We are all children of God; all with our own life purpose
and we deserve to fulfill that purpose. We all have something to give.
Reiki is the most sincere way I have found to do that..."
Then I asked if someone would be willing to come forward and experience
the reiki treatment. This was a most definitive moment. We had come
so far to do this; it relied totally on their receptivity now. I set
a chair in the open and invited anyone to come sit and receive treatment.
After a long pause, during which I felt my neck stuck out possibly farther
than it had ever been, a man on crutches came forward. He smiled as
Ottie and I pust our hands on his upper chest, and they began to line
up for treatment.
We could have been there all night treating. We then arranged a class
forthose who chose to learn how to do this treatment ror themselves
and one antoher. 24 people came including three boys. I have never taught
Reiki so religiously.
Every healing Reiki circle became a prayer circle, singing Christian
songs with Dr. Manik. We used the clinic tables for treatment. It was
so moving to see the lepers treating one another, even if they didn't
have complete hands. Their sharing each day was so heart full and moving
that I would hold my heart to constantly be able to take in the enormous
doses of feelings expressed. They were given their lives back. They
had a purpose for living. They had something to give. They were not
untouchable; in fact, their touch had something to give. They were clearly
radiant and overflowing with life and gratitude. This level of sincerity
will be with me the rest of my life.
Many results occurred with the Reiki. The characteristic cough Hansens'
Disease or leprosy diminished with several; their circulation and feeling
in their limbs increased. A woman laying lifeless in bed when we met
her, with an enormous goiter and many complications of the leprosy recovered
to getting up to shower and resuming her beautiful weaving in five days.
A little girl's long-standing abscess the size of a large grapefruit
on her neck released and healed in days. A young man on crutches would
walk a long way each day to come and have Ottie treat his oozing leg
wound which had been very resistant to healing; the healing occurred
quickly.
There are 15 leper hospitals in Indonesia. Indonesia is a poor country
financially. Any support you offer there would make a difference. The
government had supplied the hospital with a microscope that didn't work.
However, in the midst of this limit, these people are radiantly rich.
I am fed in the well of deep, pure, sincere Being by them. I am forever
honored and supremely grateful for my time with them.
Norma Jean Young, Reiki Maste of nine years, teaches Reiki in the
USA, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Switzerland, Canada Japan and has taken
he healing and counseling work to Denmark, Holland, Germany, the Inuits
of Greenland, a Native American Tribe in Central Washington, as well
as to this leper community in Lewolaba, Indonesia. Contributions for
Lewolebe can be made through Norma Jean.
Other
Stories by Norma Jean Young
Proceedings
The Science of Whole Person Healing
"Reiki Energy Healing: Definition and Relationship to Other Energy
Treatment Forms"
More Hot Chocolate for the Mystical Soul:
101 True Stories of Angels, Miracles, and Healings
an Anthology collected by Arielle Ford
The Healing of Origins (page 200)
Destiny (page 236)
Reiki Treatment Journal
Reiki Position Book -- Instruciton Manual
Norma Jean Young, Principal
80 Brinnon
Lane
Brinnon, WA 98320
360-796-0584
cell: 425-770-4120
normajre@whidbey.com
