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Locked Horns
One Busy Woman
Back in the late 70s, I remember my Saturday morning treks to the South Bend
YWCA for ballet class. I was too old for the beginner class (besides which I'd
been studying ballet for nearly ten years already). Yet, waiting for my class to
begin, I learned "you're never too old". The mothers of the children in the class
were invited by the teacher, Mary Stewart, to participate. She termed the age
group "The Wise Ones".
Mary introduced me to many classical pieces which I still have in my collection. We also had fun in the class, dancing to "Hava Nagila" or "Feelin' Groovy" to celebrate a successful hour. Though most of her students would never dance on pointe or be professional ballerinas, she made us feel like pros, encouraging us to dance with her Sacred Dance Choir on Christmas Eve at the local Episcopal church, or in the Bicentennial Pageant.
Mary still inspires people, teaching 21 classes each week of various kinds at various locations. She teaches Tai Chi for the students at the University of Notre Dame, and for residents of South Bend's Center for the Homeless. Many of her classes take place at senior citizen centers, though her students come from all age groups. On Thursday nights alone, she teaches three classes of Yoga. She gives demonstrations of her skills at local sites. And, on Sunday evenings, she holds a Reiki healing circle in her home.
Home is the center of Mary's activities, and it shows. Numerous candles fill the spacious living room - all of which are lit during the healing circles. Two large altars are adorned with icons from most every religion. The walls have pictures, posters, and a collection of Oriental fans. Plants are everywhere. So are animals. Mary admits to "rescuing animals". Currently, she has three rather large dogs and two cats.
Mary studied Baroque Music at Butler University, being active in their Dance Department for nearly eight years. She has always seen herself as a feminist, and her knowledge is vast on many subjects. While she hosted a Druid ceremony on Yule, she tends more toward the Buddhist religion. She notes that Reiki has no "dogma", instead being a philosophy "of spiritual intent". The Oriental symbols for Reiki are prominently displayed in Mary's home (as well as being tattooed on her chest).
Mary studied Reiki during her 17 years in California. She had many friend who were Wiccan, and worked with AIDS patients, her own Reiki Master succumbing to that disease. She ministered to the patients as a Eucharistic Minister within the Episcopal Church (also holding a Degree in Theology), and eventually rose to the status of Reiki Master Teacher.
When she returned to South Bend, Mary began teaching others how to heal through the "gentle energy of Reiki". She admits the process is difficult to explain, and must be experienced to be understood. She compared it to the "laying on of hands", though citing the Universal Life Energy as the force which passes from the Master to those seeking healing of body, mind or heart.
The method of Reiki healing was developed by Dr. Mikao Usui, who was a Buddhist monk in the late 1800s. To become a Reiki
Master, one must pass through three degrees. 
The first involves learning the hand
positions used during Reiki healing itself. There are also two attunements, when the
Reiki Master Teacher lays hands on the student.
The second degree opens the students to the thousands of sacred symbols used in Reiki, and the student learns how to work with these symbols. As part of the third degree, Mary gives the student a 21 day retreat, with meditations for each day, and conferences with her. Mary stresses the importance of those seeking to become Reiki Masters knowing themselves and achieving personal balance, because it is impossible to help others achieve balance if the Master has not experienced it first hand.
Testament to this can be seen in Mary's life. She answers her many phone calls with a cheerful voice. She scolds the dogs when their merrily wagging tails knock over fixtures on her altars, but accepts their nuzzled apologies moments later. She keeps what could become a hectic schedule organized, still having time for herself.
She has been a belly dancer. She has been a "gypsy", travelling throughout the country as a performer. Her first professional performance was at age 12, when she danced the role of Laurie in the dream sequence in a Grand Rapids, Michigan production of Oklahoma! Her final professional performance, years later, was in the same role in Galveston, Texas. She entertains hopes of participating in local theatre as an actor, though she keeps her hand in as choreographer - which is just about all her busy schedule presently permits.
Some might ask, "When does Mary have time to sit and watch TV?" She doesn't, but then, she doesn't own a TV. She is an avid reader, as her bookshelves evince. She is one busy woman, proof that "you're never too old" to take interest in life and people.
- Quill