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This piece originally appeared in the British 'Psychic News' for November 21st 1998 and was reprinted in the ASH (Association of Spiritualists & Healers) Magazine for March 1999. Since its first publication knowledge of the history or Reiki has moved on, making some of the content redundant. It appears here then in a much-edited form followed by another article that was written as a follow up piece again for Psychic News. Reiki HealingReiki (pronounced 'Ray-Key') - which is a Japanese word meaning 'universal life force energy' - is a form of spiritual healing that involves the channelling of this energy via the hands of a qualified healer to the patient. This process enables the recipient of the healing to accelerate his or her own ability to resolve physical and emotional problems. How does one learn this form of healing? Traditionally there are three degrees or levels to the training - each exponentially more powerful than the last. The 1st and 2nd degrees are usually taught over a weekend each. It is however at 1st degree through a cleansing and revitalizing process that Reiki has its most profound effects, being described by many people as the most powerful experience of their lives, bringing transformation, increased intuition and personal growth. Many people who already practice other forms of spiritual healing are staggered at the difference in the level of energy that they are able to channel after this initial class. There is good reason for this to be the case. The purpose of the 1st degree class is, through a process of four 'attunements' to open the student to their own natural healing channels. It is often described as being a little like tuning in a radio so that it can pick up the signals that are already around it. Without these attunements other spiritual healers often do not tap into this energy in a pure way and many often give of their own energies as well, leaving them feeling depleted at the end of a healing session. Once these channels are open however, even if they never use it again, the ability to transmit Reiki will be retained for the rest of the person's life. Students learn the twelve standard hand positions and how to use Reiki for self-healing and to give treatments to others. It is also at this level that the five Reiki principles are taught: 'Just for today do not worry.' These principles that are the touchstone for and guide Reiki practitioners, were passed on by Mikao Usui (the developer of the Reiki system) to add spiritual balance to the healing work.
The final level is to train as a Reiki Master. This involves a life-long commitment to grow and learn with Reiki. The process is very individual and very deep. As a Reiki Master it becomes possible to initiate and open up the healing channels in others. The period of training if done properly can be extensive. There are many different systems of Reiki but all fall into one of two categories - the Western tradition and the Eastern tradition. Whatever the tradition a particular Master works within however they should be able to present their own training lineage back to Mikao Usui. Anyone involved with Reiki should be able to do this, as it is a point of honour embodied within the Reiki Principles. It is important therefore to find a Master whose level of integrity and truth you are personally satisfied with. Wherever possible talk to the Master(s) you have chosen. Find out how long they trained for. It is traditional that one should leave at least three months between taking the 1st Degree and the 2nd Degree. This is to allow time to integrate the energies fully into the life of the student. There should be a period of one to two years elapsed after the 1st Degree class before a student is ready for Masters training. There are some Reiki Master currently practicing and teaching who took less than two weeks to do all of their training! Most Masters will be happy to answer your questions, and many offer free introductory talks. Beware, however, that you are not simply guided by the convenience of the date, location and price of a class. Follow your intuition, and also check exactly what it is you are being offered. For instance, does the Master that you have chosen offer ongoing support? Many do but the less conscientious often do not and this could be crucial to your own progress through Reiki. In recent years, some Masters have introduced channelled information into their teachings, claiming to have extra information, or further mystic symbols given to them by the Ascended Masters or Angels or even Mikao Usui. These teachings should be approached with some degree of caution, as it is extremely difficult to verify such channelled information and frankly there is no need for extra teachings or symbols. Reiki is already capable of doing everything that is needed of it. This is just 'one-up-man-ship' whereby one teacher claims to have a more powerful system than another. If you do decide to take the plunge with Reiki, be prepared to undergo a whole new, exhilarating and life-enhancing experience that will change you forever! |
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At 2nd degree the student receives three symbols, each having a different purpose, a mantra and one more attunement. This is a process of going much deeper into the experience of Reiki with the sharing of ancient, mystic symbols for invoking more energy for deep mental healing and for absent healing. This too can bring about profound shifts in a persons life. It is at this level that it is generally regarded that the student is now ready to practice Reiki as a healing modality.