Alasdair Bothwell Gordon

EdD, DMin, PhD, DD, FWMSC, RM (WMA), MPWR

Pool of Siloam Reiki
For gentle healing and relief of minor eye
problems or infections and to promote healing
and recovery from eye injury or following
professional treatment for conditions such as
cataract or glaucoma.
Please read the disclaimers in this manual before treating self or others.
Alasdair Bothwell Gordon
Second Edition 2010
Alasdair Bothwell Gordon
EdD, DMin, PhD, DD, FWMSC, RM (WMA), MPWR
The Pool of Siloam is a rock-cut pool on the southern slope of the
City of David, the original site of Jerusalem, located outside the
walls of the Old City to the south east. The pool was fed by the
waters of the Gihon Spring, carried there by two aqueducts.
The Pool of Siloam is mentioned several times in the Bible. The Old
Testament Book of the Prophet Isaiah mentions the Pool's waters,
and also contains a reference to the construction of Hezekiah's
tunnel, which was built to feed additional water into the Pool.
For Christians and others who respect the person and work of
Jesus, the Pool has additional significance. It is mentioned in the
Gospel of John as the location to which Jesus sent a man who had
been blind from birth, as part of the act of healing him.
This event is discussed in John, chapter 9, verses 1 12 and is
placed during the Festival of Tabernacles, about six months before
Jesus Passion. Jesus stated categorically that the man's blindness
was not because either the man or his parents sinned.
Jesus mixed spittle with dirt to make a mud mixture, which he
placed in the man's eyes. Jesus then invited the man to wash his
eyes in the Pool of Siloam. This done, the man was able to see. This
is certainly not the only instance of Jesus restoring sight to the
blind but it is one of the best known.
A substantial remodeling of a nearby pool, mistakenly thought to be
the Siloam Pool, took place in the fifth century AD, under the
direction of the Byzantine Empress Aelia Eudocia. This pool, having
been somewhat abandoned and left to ruin, partly survives to the
present day. It is surrounded by a high wall of stones on all sides,
apart for the arched entrance to Hezekiah's tunnel, which was only
rediscovered in the nineteenth century.
Ancient records report that during the Second Temple period
(roughly 516 BC to 70 AD) there was also a Lower Pool. In 2004,
Alasdair Bothwell Gordon
EdD, DMin, PhD, DD, FWMSC, RM (WMA), MPWR
workers making excavations for a sewer uncovered stone steps.
Archaeologists believed that these steps were likely to have been
part of the pool dating from the time of the Second Temple.
Excavation subsequently confirmed the initial assessment. This
rediscovered pool is less than seventy yards from the edge of the
Byzantine reconstruction of the pool that was previously thought to
be the Siloam Pool.
The latter pool collected some of the water as it emptied at the
southern end of Hezekiah's tunnel. The water continued on through
a channel into the rediscovered Pool of Siloam. The source of the
water is from the Gihon Spring located at the northern end of
Hezekiah's tunnel on the eastern side of the City of David. An
ancient pool (Upper Pool) existed in ancient times near the Gihon
Spring but was no longer used after King Hezekiah redirected the
waters to the western side of the city.
The Lower Pool is not perfectly rectangular, but a soft trapezoid.
There are three sets of five steps, two leading to a platform,
before the bottom is reached. It has been suggested that the steps
were designed to accommodate various water levels. The Pool is
stone lined, but underneath there is evidence of an earlier version
which was merely plastered, to help to retain water.
The Pool of Siloam has been regarded as sacred by a variety of
faiths since ancient times. Jews used water from the pool for
purification rituals in the Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles.
It was probably the site of the pagan Shrine of the Four Nymphs
built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD.
Christians were naturally attracted to the pool because of Jesus'
miraculous cure and its healing properties are mentioned in the
journals of the earliest pilgrims.
Healing water is a recurrent theme not only in Jewish and Christian
Scriptures but in many other holy books. Water is seen as a great
Alasdair Bothwell Gordon
EdD, DMin, PhD, DD, FWMSC, RM (WMA), MPWR
healer of negative emotions and a washing-away of past wrongs,
sometimes represented in dreams. We often speak of waves of
emotions and feelings. In many faith traditions, water represents
cleaning out of the old self as in baptism and a moving forward.
Jesus spoke of the new life he was offering as living water.
Problems with vision can be much wider than actual physical
problems. People may be able to see and have very health eyes yet
not be able to perceive. There is a proverb that there none as blind
as those that will not see. Blindness can be taken in a much wider
context than the organic or physical.
One of the most remarkable cases on vision recorded was that of
Maria Theresa von Paradis a young woman living in Vienna in the 18
th
century. She came from a wealthy and influential family and grew up
to be an accomplished pianist. As a child, she witnessed her father
raping a female servant in their home. Having seen such a terrible
and frightening spectacle, she immediately became
psychosomatically blind. To put this another way, there was nothing
wrong with her eyesight. Her subconscious had completely blocked
her vision.
Her case came to the attention of the famous Anton Mesmer, the
father of modern hypnotherapy. It is often forgotten that Mesmer
was a remarkable healer. He was actually able to persuade the young
lady to see. However, she decided to go back to being blind again. At
the time when she lived, there were many young women in Vienna who
were accomplished pianists. What set her apart was her blindness,
which had also given her the patronage of Maria Theresa, the Holy
Roman Empress, after whom she was named. To stay blind was
Marias choice. She could have seen. She chose not to.
It may be a clich, but everything has a pay-off. In any kind of
healing work, the healer needs to keep an eye open (if youll forgive
the metaphor!) for the secondary gain that the client wants to hang
Alasdair Bothwell Gordon
EdD, DMin, PhD, DD, FWMSC, RM (WMA), MPWR
on to. Illness or handicap can bring sympathy and care. People will
make allowances that they would not make otherwise. The client may
be unaware that his/her subconscious actually wants to hang on to
these secondary gains. Naturally, this needs to be dealt with
sensitively by the therapist.
Pool of Siloam Reiki is offered as a complementary healing modality.
Eyesight is very precious. The eyes are, indeed, the window of the
soul. Eye conditions are not something that amateurs should meddle
with, no matter how well intentioned.
Nothing in this manual should lead anyone to medically self-treat eye
conditions, even if they appear relatively minor. Equally, nothing in
this manual should lead anyone to neglect seeking professional advice
or help for themselves, dependents or children. It should not lead
anyone to suggest no action as an appropriate response to a clients
condition under any circumstances. (This also applies to animals.)
Any change in vision should be checked out immediately with a
specialist as a matter of urgency.
Similarly, regular sight checks are recommended for people of all
age-groups. Look after your eyes. If you are prescribed glasses, use
them as directed. The same goes for any medication prescribed.
Regular eye checks are highly recommended. Many people today live
and work in centrally heated premises which can cause the eyes to
become unduly dry. Avoid over-bright lights and never look directly
at the sun. Similarly, ensure that you have adequate light for
working and reading.
Pool of Siloam Reiki does not claim in any way to be a cure and
should never be used in place of any treatment prescribed by a
qualified specialist. It does not constitute medical, optical or
psychological treatment. It is particularly offered for the relief of
tired, inflamed or strained eyes and to promote healing after
Alasdair Bothwell Gordon
EdD, DMin, PhD, DD, FWMSC, RM (WMA), MPWR
infections and on recovering from injury or after professional
treatment for conditions such as cataract or glaucoma.
All complementary and alternative therapies should be used with
common sense. None of the procedures described above is meant to
be a substitute for proper medical diagnosis, treatment or care
from your medical practitioner or oculist.
If you are currently taking medication or undergoing any other
treatment prescribed by a medical doctor or oculist, please do not
stop taking or using it without your doctors specific advice and
direction. If you have any concerns regarding your medical condition
or the suitability of any alternative or complementary therapy for
your condition, please speak with your professional adviser first.
No responsibility is accepted for any loss or damages caused as a
direct or indirect result of the use or misuse of any information
contained in the manual. It is assumed that anyone requesting
attunement is at least 18 years of age and, by making such a request
is deemed to have warranted accordingly.
Passing the Attunements
As with many forms of Reiki, this system is offered at three levels:
Level 1 this is for use on self, family and domestic animals.
Level 2 this is the Practitioner Level whereby you may offer Pool
of Siloam Reiki to members of the public. It is very strongly
recommended that you should already be attuned to Usui Reiki at
least at Level 2 and preferably at Master / Teacher Level.
Level 3 this the Master / Teacher Level that allows you to attune
others into this system at Levels 1, 2 and 3 as appropriate.
Alasdair Bothwell Gordon
EdD, DMin, PhD, DD, FWMSC, RM (WMA), MPWR
All three levels may be passed in person or over a distance. They can
be passed separately or at the same time. There are no special
words required for taking or passing on any of the attunements. Just
go with your intuition, whether giving or receiving.
Giving Treatments
If self-treating, you may find it helpful to cover one or both eyes
with your hands. Take as long as you like.
If giving a treatment to another person, suggest s/he covers
his/her eyes. You may also wish to lay your own hands gently on the
clients shoulders or head if (and only if) this is appropriate. There
are clearly some professional situations where physical contact of
any kind is not appropriate. The use of a partly darkened room may
be helpful, accompanied by suitable gentle music.
It is perfectly possible to send Pool of Siloam Reiki for distant
healing and you would do this in exactly the same way as with any
other system. Some people like to use a photograph or some item
belonging to the client to assist. This is not necessary but some
people do find this to be both helpful and effective.
Eye problems can often prove slow and even resistant to healing. Be
patient and encourage your clients to be patient as well. Feedback
from experienced practitioners suggests that many of them have
found this energy to be both slow and gentle. Please be aware of
that and avoid impatience or haste.
This energy can be freely shared with anyone. It is also in order to
charge for providing a personalized attunement if you offer
attunements as part of your Reiki or healing practice. Please keep
any such charges to a reasonable and affordable level. Obviously if
you are a healing practitioner, you are entitled to charge a fee.
Alasdair Bothwell Gordon
EdD, DMin, PhD, DD, FWMSC, RM (WMA), MPWR
Experienced Masters / Teachers are encouraged to work with and
develop Pool of Siloam Reiki in their own individual way.
I wish to express my deepest thanks and appreciation to all the kind
friends who voluntarily gave this system its initial test drive and
provided valuable feedback and comments in the light of their own
experience. It is my earnest hope that Pool of Siloam Reiki will prove
a useful system and a valuable addition to the professional toolbox.
At the risk of sounding repetitive I do want to ask everyone to use
this Reiki responsibly and please, please, not to take risks with your
own eyesight or that of anyone else. Above all, ensure that you and
any clients, friends or family members are familiar with all of the
disclaimers. One kind friend sent me the under-noted comments that
I have decided to reproduce in full:
Eye infections/minor problems etc. all need following by a professional. Nothing could be worse
than losing your eyesight due to refusing an antibiotic or medical treatment. Each person will
have a specific response due to individual varied factors. Reiki in general speeds recovery, but
Spiritual/energy healing is not consistent and often positive results are not outwardly manifest
in the physical body.
It is true that our body has miraculous healing ability and given time and good lifestyle support,
we heal many physical afflictions naturally without help.
What troubles my peace of mind is the "lets wait and see if this gets better" attitude that can
worsen conditions. Especially with children parents need to be alert to changes in conditions
requiring quick medical help.
I think these are wise words and I am full agreement with all of
them.
Alasdair Bothwell Gordon
Multiple Healer and Teacher
Scotland (UK)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Alasdair
Alasdair Bothwell Gordon
EdD, DMin, PhD, DD, FWMSC, RM (WMA), MPWR