Our cherry-viewing party is tomorrow morning!

(Photo by Michael Dagley)

If you're in the New York City area, we invite you to join us Saturday morning, April 25, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden for a cherry-viewing gathering.

We'll meet at 10:30 a.m. at the small ampitheater-like area between the Japanese pond and the Celebrity Walk, where there are some convenient stone benches. It's nearly in the center of this map of the garden. From there, we'll take a stroll around the pond and then visit the Kuramayama cherry tree, which just began blooming. That's as close as we can get to Mt. Kurama this year, but one of these springs we hope to visit the birthplace of Reiki and see the cherry blossoms there.

Admission to the garden is free until noon, and here are the directions for visitors arriving by public transit or by car.

Although cherry blossom viewing in Japan usually involves a picnic under the trees, picnicking is prohibited at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, but there is a very nice outdoor cafe there.

If you need more information, or if you get to the garden and can't find us, call 917-512-1330. This is not an official Brooklyn Botanic Garden event, just a gathering there.

Jikiden Reiki training in NYC September 2009

Registration is now open for Jikiden Reiki training with Shihan Amanda Jayne at The Reiki Dojo in New York City, September 12-14, 2009.

Amanda Jayne spent four years in Kyoto, Japan, and studied with Chiyoko Yamaguchi (student of Chujiro Hayashi) and her son Tadao Yamaguchi. We are very excited to have her as a guest teacher at The Reiki Dojo.

Level 1 - Shoden
September 12-13, 2009
$350

Level 2 - Okuden

September 14, 2009

$400

Spaces are limited.

Click here to download the registration form for Jikiden Reiki in New York City.

For more information, visit Amanda Jayne's web site, email info@reikidojo.net or call us at 917-512-1330 or toll-free (in the US) at 888-316-5853.

Our Cherry Blossom Festival has begun!

We're celebrating the arrival of spring, the second anniversary of The Reiki Dojo and the third anniversary of The Reiki Digest with our first annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

Event Calendar:

April 9, 2009: Waka Fest begins

April 15: Reiki Dojo founding members' private meditation group

April 22: Special Guest: Jikiden Shihan Amanda Jayne speaks at The Reiki Dojo 7:30 p.m./$20

April 25: Cherry Blossom Viewing at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden 11 a.m. (Free, open to all including non-Reiki practitioners)

April 29: Pink Slip Special: No job? No problem: get a Reiki mini-session for just $1

(pink slip or other proof of unemployment required) 5-7 p.m. Reservations required. Call 917-512-1330.

April 29: Revive Your Personal Reiki Practice 8 p.m./$15

May 6: Reiju offering: You give us $10 and 10 minutes, and we'll give you reiju, the "energetic blessing" of the system of Reiki. 5-7 p.m.

May 9: Reiki Training Update Course 2009 (open to Level 2 and above) 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. /$165

May 12: Special Online event (stay tuned for details)

May 13: Community Reiki Clinic: Mini-sessions (by appointment only) 5-7 p.m./$10

Advance reservations required for all events except Cherry Blossom Viewing. Email info@reikidojo.net or call 917-512-1330.

The Reiki Dojo is based at the Classical Wellness Center, 214 W. 29th St., Suite 901, New York City (between 7th and 8th avenues). Both The Reiki Dojo and The Reiki Digest are part of Healing Movement LLC.

Blossoming!

The cherry trees are in bloom in Japan and Washington, D.C., and this week the buds began bursting open here in New York. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has a handy CherryWatch map to follow the action.

That means it's time for us to reveal another upcoming event in our first ever Cherry Blossom Festival, celebrating not only the return of spring here but the upcoming second anniversary of The Reiki Dojo and third anniversary of The Reiki Digest.

Last week, we told you about one event: Amanda Jayne's April 22 talk at The Reiki Dojo in New York on the legacy of Chiyoko Yamaguchi, student of Chujiro Hayashi and founder of Jikiden Reiki.

And now, another event, the first-ever Reiki Digest/Reiki Dojo field trip: It's a visit to Kuramayama -- specifically, the Kuramayama cherry tree and its neighboring cherry trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Japanese garden. (Perhaps next spring, we'll be able to take you to Kuramayama, the mountain.) On Saturday, April 25, we'll meet at the garden at 10:30 a.m. to observe the blossoming cherries and enjoy a Reiki meditation. Admission to the Garden is free on Saturday mornings, so be sure to get there before noon. This is a free event. For more information, email info@reikidojo.net or call 917-512-1330.

Stay tuned for announcements of more exciting events in our Cherry Blossom Festival as the blossoms continue to open. For more about the importance of cherry blossoms in Japanese culture, check out this post from last spring.