Healing hands – A Reiki FAQ

Reiki is often misunderstood by the mainstream media and public opinion. Seen as a hoax or even witchcraft and an opening into devil worship! Misinformation and poor understanding of Reiki has led to many myths developing so I thought I would but down a simple FAQ about the main aspects of Reiki to help bring a clearer picture to the art.Q. “What is Reiki?”A. Reiki is originally a Japanese art of energy healing which promotes stress reduction and relaxation that promotes self healing. It is typically administered by laying hands on a person to allow life force energy to flow into the subject. Boosting this energy helps us by being happier and healthier which can counter illness.Q. “What does it feel like?”A. Reiki treatment has been described as sensations of heat or coolness, “pins and needles” tingling, vibrational buzzing, electrical sparks, Throbbing, numbness, itchiness and even drowsiness.Q. “Where does this energy come from?”A. The energy that flows from Reiki does not come from the Reiki practitioner not from the patient. The energy comes from the universe and has an infinite supply.Q. “Is Reiki a religion?”A. No! Reiki is not a religion. While spiritual in nature Reiki does not have any dogma or churches or anything of the sort. It is also not linked to faith healing or witchcraft. It can be seen as a very personal spiritual thing and many have attributed it to feeling closer to god if they are religious but the foundations of Reiki are not religious in nature. Reiki will in fact work whether you believe in it or not!Q. “Can I stop going to the doctor if I use Reiki?”A. Reiki works in conjunction with all other medicine and most Reiki practitioners do not recommend you do not seek out conventional medical advice in favor of Reiki only. Reiki can be used along side all other treatments for tremendous benefit.Q. “Can i treat myself with Reiki?”A. Yes you can! This is a great asset of Reiki that you can use the same treatment of others on yourself to promote your own health.Q. “Can anyone learn Reiki?”A. Again Yes! Reiki can be learned by anyone at all. Adult, child, male, female, skeptic and believer Reiki can be taught to anyone you do not need any prerequisite talent or initiation.Q. “Can Reiki be used at a distance?”A. Yes, at a higher level of Reiki you can send energy to anyone at any distance. You need to have a picture of the person or their name on a piece of paper and use one of the symbols you have learnt to send energy to that person.Q. “What are Reiki Symbols?”A. The Reiki symbols are simply tools to use as focus points.Q. “Is Reiki dangerous?”A. Reiki is not an intrusive treatment but one that promotes the body to heal itself. In this way it is believed to be very safe as there are no external chemicals like medicine and no surgery. Just energy flow that removes blockages from the body and promotes self healing that the body knows how to do!

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There are many more questions I am sure but I hope this has provided an overview to Reiki and its benefits!

REIKI TODAY
Reiki is an ancient healing art that has recently been re-discovered in Japan. With the resurrection of Reiki in this age of mass and almost instantaneous communication, word of its power is quickly gaining the attention of the mainstream world. The mode of transmission of Reiki energy from a Reiki practitioner to a recipient was originally believed, by those interested in this art, to be limited by physical proximity. The Reiki practitioner would place their hands gently on, or a few inches above the Reiki recipient’s body. Upon further exploration of the potential of Reiki, “sending” the energy to the recipient or situation has proven to be just as beneficial as Reiki “hands-on” sessions. In fact, those who are too busy to carve out the time for a Reiki session can now go about their business while receiving the energy. Reiki Masters, such as myself, have directed Reiki energy to boardrooms, pets, surgical procedures, courtrooms, business offices, plants and even sporting events. Reiki distance energy healing has become a viable option for those who would rather not have a “hands-on” session, are home bound, or simply don’t have the time for a session. After experimenting with this mode of transmission, I was utterly amazed at the results. One year of daily remote sessions to a seriously disabled arthritic friend ended up almost eliminating the crippling condition. Today this friend is not only employed, but is doing work that requires physical movement and stamina. As the power of Reiki spreads, individuals seeking sessions now have more options in incorporating it into their schedules and lifestyles.

ORIGIN OF REIKI ENERGY
The origin of this powerful healing energy is believed to be divine. It is the same energy that has been channeled by all the historically famous healing giants. Regardless of its source, or why it works, the results are always positive and directed toward the best outcomes. There is no danger of misuse or abuse. Reiki energy cannot be forced. An individual simply will not take in what it does not want. When Reiki energy is accepted, the highest good of all prevails. The recipient of Reiki need not study, understand or believe in its power and beauty. In fact, the recipient need not be awake while receiving the energy. Reiki energy always delivers the highest good. Considering the source, how could it do anything else? The only prerequisite is that the recipient, on a soul level, really wants to heal. The positive effects of Reiki energy could be quick and dramatic, or, take time to be noticed. The results are unpredictable and pleasantly surprising. One simply needs to trust in the intelligent nature of the source. An acute power of observation would be handy, only to affirm it’s often subtle life changes and effects.

FOREIGN NAME – UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED ENERGY
One need not be mislead or intimidated by Reiki’s foreign name. Reiki is called such because, as it happened, this old system of prayer and healing was again returned to mankind via a Japanese man called Dr. Usui. The name “Reiki” is Japanese because that was Dr. Usui’s native language. This healing art was known and utilized long before it’s resurgence under a Japanese name. The divine is not concerned with nationality. When utilizing Reiki energy, one is merely tapping into the magnanimous love of the divine (God, life force, universe, Christ force, etc). Famous ancient healers such as Jesus used the exact same source of energy as is used by “Reiki.” Jesus once said that all he can do can be done by us and even more. The key ingredient is trust. As a Reiki Master, I have learned to trust in the goodness and intelligence of this energy.

APPLICATIONS & LIMITATIONS
The beauty of this divine love is that it does not discriminate between believers and skeptics. Its power has been utilized to positively impact a multitude of people and situations from NBA basketball games (calming potentially volatile players) to conservative institutions such as Wall Street. The healing power of Reiki can be directed toward individuals, pets, plants, living/working spaces, businesses, situations and even future events. This loving energy now called “Reiki” is incapable of hurting other individuals for personal gain. Extremely specific requests can be very limiting. One needs to reflect on the general desired outcome behind the request. An example would be to ask for the “growth of one’s business.” It would be more productive to ask what you would want from its growth. It may be better to ask for “financial freedom.” This broader approach frees up the hands of the divine to send you your best outcome(s). Reiki always works toward the best outcomes. When my clients present me with a request, I will ask that the energy be utilized for the “highest and best” of the individual or situation. It is good to remember that one is only limited by their imagination and purity of your intent.

REIKI HEALING FACILITATOR – TRAINING AND LEVELS
An individual can receive Reiki from what is known as a “Reiki practitioner.” The practitioner can lightly place their hands on various parts of the recipient’s clothed body or, the practitioner can remotely send the Reiki energy. In both distance and hands-on healing, the recipient’s own body’s innate wisdom actually draws the energy through the practitioner and directs it to it’s highest good. The healing occurs on a soul determined priority basis. Healing can be physical, emotional or spiritual. I always find it interesting and amazing to witness how the healing unfolds. The practitioner is not responsible for making healing decisions for the recipient. The recipient is the actual healer. The Reiki practitioner merely acts as a conduit of the energy thus serving as a “healing facilitator.”

Those who believe in a supreme intelligence can elect to believe the source to be divine, thus creating a cooperative union between one’s inner knowing (the soul), and the source (God). My personal evaluation of its magnificent power places God/Universe/Source as the ultimate source of this energy, however, one’s personal beliefs or lack thereof do not hinder nor enhance the results of a Reiki treatment.

Going through a special intensive training certifies a Reiki practitioner. The training is conducted by a Reiki Master/Teacher and includes a sacred ceremony called an “attunement.” Only after being attuned, can one channel the Reiki energy.

Other healing modalities manipulate “Ki” or life energy. Examples include the martial arts, acupuncture, therapeutic touch, and other forms of “energy work.” Reiki is different in that it is extremely focused and need not be guided by a special effort or entering an altered state. The energy destination is divinely directed.

There are different levels and abilities of a Reiki practitioner. To advance from one level to another, a perspective Reiki practitioner must receive an “attunement”. Generally, a person cannot channel Reiki energy without this ceremony. The first level is Reiki I. A Reiki I practitioner is empowered to channel Reiki energy by physically touching an individual with their hands. There must be physical proximity. A Reiki II practitioner is able to “send” the Reiki energy as well as giving hands-on treatments. Again, a special attunement is required to move to this advanced level. The Reiki II practitioner can direct Reiki energy to an individual, plant or animal or situation. When feasible, permission is required. In cases when granting permission is not possible, the Reiki practitioner can seek soul-approval. The next level is Reiki III. A Reiki III practitioner is known as a Reiki Master. In addition to the abilities of Reiki I and II, Reiki III practitioners are empowered with the ability to give attunements. A great deal of training by the master occurs prior to, and then after, the attunement.

Usui Mikao is quoted saying in the Reiki Ryôhô Hikkei that the mind and body are one. Recent studies in the world of science are beginning to finally comprehend that statement. Brainwaves and body pulses and their role in stimulating healing can all be measured today allowing the concept of Reiki, as spiritual energy, to be more widely understood by the medical community. The growth of the system of Reiki is benefited by this community awareness and acceptance.

The introduction of Therapeutic Touch by Dolores Krieger into nursing in the 1970s has increased interest in other energetic systems such as Reiki. This in turn has boosted the amount of research that has recently been undertaken using Reiki and other forms of energetic work.

The system of Reiki is also being accepted into hospitals across the world. Patients can often either bring their Reiki practitioner with them or Reiki is made available to them.

The article ‘The first Reiki Practitioner in our O.R.’ by Jeanette Sawyer in 1988 in the AORN Journal describes the steps that were taken to allow a Reiki practitioner into the theatre at the request of a patient during a laparoscopy.

Also in 1988, patients were given the opportunity to experience a 15minute pre- and post- surgery Reiki treatment. More than 870 patients took part and as a result there was less use of pain medication, shorter stays in hospital and increased patient satisfaction. This was discussed in the article, ‘Using Reiki to Support Surgical patients’ by Patricia and Kristin Aladydy in the Journal of Nursing Care Quality.

Heart surgeon, Dr Mehmet Oz, has worked with Julie Motz who used Reiki on his patients. These patients had received heart transplants and had experienced open-heart surgery. She treated 11 patients in total and none of them had the usual post-operative depression. The bypass patients had no post-operative pain or leg weakness and the transplant patients experienced no organ rejection. Julie Motz has written about this experience in her book, ‘Hands of Life’.

Listed below are a number of trials tested on Reiki. For more research details there are some Reiki books with relevant research material, or personal observations, that have been written by both doctors and nurses. ‘Spiritual Healing’ by Daniel J. Benor has listed a number of Reiki trials as well as some very interesting trials on distant healing and healing through touch in general.

There are many aspects of Reiki that are being researched today. Some to see if Reiki speeds up healing, others to see if, how and whom it relaxes, to measure biomagnetic fields and to verify the concept of distant healing.

Here is a well-known trial completed using Reiki to examine its effect on human blood levels.

Human Hemoglobin Levels and Reiki
Reiki Healing: a Physiologic Perspective
Wetzel, Wendy (1989).
Published in Journal of Holistic Nursing 7(1), 47-54.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of Reiki on human hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.

Procedure: The hemoglobin and hematocrit levels of 48 adults participating in a Level 1 course were measured. Demographics and motivation were also examined. An untreated control group was used to document the changes in hemoglobin and hematocrit under normal circumstances.

Findings: Using a t-test there was a statistically significant change between the pre- and post-course hemoglobin and hematocrit levels of the participants at the p 0.01 level. 28 % experiencing an increase and the remainder experiencing a decrease. There was no change for the untreated control group within an identical time frame.

Conclusions: That Reiki has a measurable physiologic effect. The data supports the premise that energy can be transferred between individuals for the purposes of healing, balancing, and increasing wellness. Some individuals found that their blood levels went up while others went down which is consistent with the concept that Reiki is balancing for each individual.

This trial tests Reiki on patients with chronic illnesses using electrodermal screening.

The Efficacy of Reiki Hands on Healing: Improvements in Adrenal, Spleen and Nervous Function as Quantified by Electro-Dermal Screening
Betty Hartwell and Barbara Brewitt
Published in Alternative Therapies Magazine, July 1997, Vol. 3, No. 4, p. 89

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Reiki treatments on chronic illnesses using electrodermal screening.
Procedure: This study was carried out on five patients with life-threatening and chronic illnesses: lupus, fibromyalgia, thyroid goiter, and multiple sclerosis. Eleven one-hour Reiki treatments using 4 different Level 2 practitioners and one Reiki Master were performed over a ten-week period. These Reiki practitioners systematically placed their hands over the same body positions including the neurovascular regions on the cranium, neurolymphatic points on the trunk and minor chakra points on the limbs. No new conventional or alternative medical treatments were given during this period. Initially, three consecutive treatments were given and then one treatment per week for eight weeks.

Findings: The patients were tested three times during the study. 1.Before the study commenced. 2.After their third treatment. 3.After their tenth treatment.
Each individual was measured for skin electrical resistance at three acupuncture points on hands and feet. At the cervical/thoracic point the measurements went from 25% below normal to the normal range. The adrenal measurements went from 8.3% below normal to normal – some time between the middle and last measurements. The spleen measurements went from 7.8% below normal to normal after only three sessions. All the patients reported increased relaxation after Reiki treatments, a reduction in pain and an increase in mobility.

These trials are concerned with the effect of Reiki on pain relief and other symptoms.

Pain, Anxiety and Depression in Chronically Ill Patients with Reiki Healing
Linda J. Dressen and Sangeeta Singg
Published in Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine Journal, Vol. 9, No. 1: 1998

Purpose: To measure the results of Reiki and its effect on pain, anxiety, and depression in chronically ill patients.

Procedure: 120 Patients who had been in pain for at least 1 year were trailed. Their complaints included: headaches, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, peptic ulcer, asthma, hypertension and HIV. Four different styles of treatment were performed on 3 groups of 20 people. The 4 styles of treatment were: Reiki, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, no treatment and false-Reiki. Each of the groups received 10 thirty-minute treatments, twice a week over 5 weeks. Patients were examined before and after the series of treatments. Reiki patients were examined 3 months after completion.
Findings: Reiki proved significantly superior (p.0001-.04) to other treatments on 10 out of 12 variables.
At the 3 month check up these changes were consistent and there were highly significant reductions in Total Pain Rating Index (p.0006) and in sensory (p.0003) and Affective (p.02) Qualities of Pain.

Conclusion: Significant effects of Reiki on anxiety, pain and depression are shown here. Some possible variables were not controlled.

Using Reiki to Manage Pain: a Preliminary Report
alta.karino@cancerboard.ab.ca
Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, USA
Published in Cancer Prev Control 1997;1(2):108-13

Purpose: To explore the usefulness of Reiki as an alternative to opioid therapy in the management of pain. This was a pilot study.

Procedure: 20 volunteers experienced pain at 55 sites for a variety of reasons, including cancer. A Level 2 practitioner provided all Reiki treatments. Pain was measured using both a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a Likert scale immediately before and after each Reiki treatment.

Findings: Both the instruments showed a highly significant (p 0.0001) reduction in pain following the Reiki treatments.

This trial is interested in finding out if it is possible to gauge the experience of a Reiki treatment using normal trialing procedures.

Experience of a Reiki Session
Engebretson J, Wardell DW
University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, USA
Published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 8: 48-53, 2002

Purpose:To explore the experiences of Reiki recipients so as to contribute to understanding the popularity of touch therapies and possibly clarify variables for future studies.

Procedure: All Reiki treatments were 30 minutes long and performed in a sound proof windowless room by one Reiki Master. There were audio taped interviews immediately after the treatment in a quiet room adjoining the treatment room. The recipients were generally healthy volunteers who had not experienced Reiki previously.

Findings: The recipients described a conscious state of awareness during the treatment. At the same time, paradoxically, they experienced sensate and symbolic phenomena.

Conclusions: Conscious awareness and paradoxical experiences that occur in ritual healing vary according to the holistic nature and individual variation of the healing experience. These findings suggest that many linear models used in researching touch therapies are not complex enough to capture the experience of the recipients.

This particular trial is not specifically about Reiki but deals with the effectiveness of distant healing which is relevant to Reiki practitioners.

A Randomized Double-Blind Study of the Effect of Distant Healing in a Population with Advanced Aids
Fred Sicher, Elizabeth Targ, Dan Moore II, and Helene.S. Smith
Published in the Western Journal of Medicine, December 1998, Vol. 169, pp. 356-363.

Purpose: To find the effect of distance healing (DH) on AIDS patients during a six-month double-blind study.

Procedure: Forty patients with advanced AIDS were randomly divided into two groups. Half the patients received DH in addition to their usual medical care. They were not told they were being given DH. 40 healers from various locations throughout the U.S. with an average of 17 years of experience were used. The healers practiced a variety of healing methods including Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Native American, shamanism, meditative, and bioenergetics. Each of the treated subjects received DH for one hour a day for six days from each of a total of ten different healers, and this was performed over a period of ten weeks.

Findings: After six months, treated patients had significantly fewer outpatient visits and hospitalizations, less severe illnesses, fewer new illnesses, and improved mood.

Further Research
This page is an excerpt from The Reiki Sourcebook.

There are over 140 different styles of Reiki out there and so appreciably it is difficult for anyone looking for a Reiki practitioner or teacher to know what sort of criteria they need to be looking out for.

A Reiki practitioner or teacher should ultimately take responsibility for giving their clients the best treatment they can offer, whilst under their care, with due regard to the client’s medical condition and implications of any medications the client is taking for their condition. A good Reiki practitioner or teacher should also have honesty, integrity and underpinning knowledge of their subject. Don’t be afraid when you ring up for a treatment or Reiki course to ask plenty of questions about how the practitioner or teacher works with Reiki. If the answers they give you seem ambiguous and forced, then look elsewhere.

The main thing is to trust your intuition, it does not matter how knowledgeable someone may seem, if you feel that something is not quite right then trust your instincts. It is irrelevant if someone says they have practiced Reiki for 20 years if they don’t understand what they are doing!

Below you will find some criteria to look out for when deciding where to go for Reiki.

• Make sure the practitioner or Reiki teacher belongs to an accredited Reiki association and teaches an accredited course. Also be aware that different associations follow different codes of practice and their members teach in different ways.

• Speak to the Reiki practitioner first by telephone to be sure that you feel comfortable with the practitioner. Make sure that they are empathetic, candid and can readily answer any of your questions. If a Reiki healer cannot make you understand what they are talking about they don’t understand it themselves.

• Ask the practitioner lots of questions about how they work with Reiki to make sure it suits you. Many practitioners are not willing to work on specific conditions which is fine if all you want is a treatment purely for relaxation, but if you have anything that needs treating make sure you go to a practitioner who works actively with Reiki and will work directly on your condition(s).

• If you are going for a Reiki treatment and you are female it is probably safer to either go and see a female practitioner or take a friend with you for the first treatment.

• Some Reiki websites offer distant treatments or attunements. This can be extremely misleading. The qualifications will not be recognised and you don’t know what sort of treatment or course you will be getting.

It is much better to see a practitioner directly and if you are learning Reiki it is important to learn from a qualified teacher who will offer you the support you need during and after the course. Distant attunements can be at the very least completely ineffectual and at the worse very dangerous. Remember that you are letting someone you have never met before make changes to your energy field, so make sure you feel safe with them.

• If you are undertaking a Reiki course make sure that the course is certified and that manual and post course support are included. Some Reiki teachers do not provide you with a manual and it will be hard for you to remember everything you have learned and practice Reiki effectively after you have completed your course.

• Be very wary of Reiki teachers that offer ‘bargain’ deals such as learning Reiki I, II and III all in one weekend. You cannot become a good Reiki Master in one weekend. It is a huge responsibility to teach Reiki and to practice Reiki on others. Learning all the Reiki levels in one weekend will leave you deflated, frustrated, lacking in a good foundation of knowledge and most probably completely unable to use Reiki effectively.

• Reiki Level I if it is traditional Usui Reiki should have 4 attunements, Level II should have 1 attunement and Master level should have 1 attunement. These are the number of attunements the founder of Reiki Mikao Usui used.

Some Reiki teachers say it doesn’t matter how many attunements you have, you will still be able to use Reiki but this is nonsense. The attunement process connects you to the source of the energy and raises your frequency as well as placing the Reiki symbols into various parts of your body to enable you to be an effective channel for the energy. They are a vital part of a Reiki course and it is imperative that you are attuned properly if you want to be an effective Reiki practitioner yourself.

• Reiki attunements should not involve singing bowels, Tibetan bells, gongs or any other unnecessary paraphernalia unrelated to Reiki. You are not receiving a traditional Usui attunement if any of the former is involved in the attunement process. It might be best to ask the Reiki teacher before you sign up for a course what is involved when they give you attunements.

• Be very wary of Reiki teachers that offer Reiju or empowerments instead of attunements. Reiju or empowerments are what Mikao Usui used to give to the students he saw daily or weekly and they raise your frequency in tiny steps, enabling you after years of practice to use Reiki for healing purposes. Usui gave attunements to the students he only saw once or twice to dramatically raise their frequency in one go because he wouldn’t be seeing them on a regular basis. This enabled Usui’s students to use Reiki instantly to heal.

If you have Reiju/empowerments you will feel dis-empowered because you will not be able to give effective healings to yourself or others unless you spend hours a day doing specific meditations taught by Mikao Usui such as Hatsu rei ho.

• If a Reiki teacher tells you that there needs to be a gap between Reiki Level I and II you would be better off looking elsewhere. It is in fact much better to learn Reiki I and II together. The reason for this is that Reiki Level I only enables you to heal on a spiritual level and everybody has physical and emotional traumas that need healing. By learning level II straight after you will be able to heal yourself on every level so if during your cleansing period anything physical or emotional surfaces you will be able to heal it effectively. You will also be able to heal others on a physical and emotional level, working on conditions directly. With level I you can only heal spiritually so you may be left feeling frustrated that you cannot heal more effectively.

• Be sure to check that the Reiki teacher or practitioner has a lineage which extends all the way back to the founder of Reiki, Mikao Usui.

• Ask the Reiki practitioner if they have ongoing treatments or would only treat a client for a certain period of time. A good ethical Reiki practitioner should not see a client for more than around 6 – 12 treatments (unless the client has a serious or terminal condition that requires ongoing treatment). Some Reiki healers will treat someone for years but a good healer should help you to empower and take responsibility for yourself and get you back to good health in as few treatments as possible, rather than taking your money for years on end.

• Beware of Reiki practitioners or teachers with big egos! Reiki is a gift from God or the Universe (whichever label you prefer) and a wise healer is humble and accepts that the energy of Reiki is infinite and limitless in its potential. A Reiki practitioner should accept responsibility for their client and treat whatever their client comes to them for.

• A good Reiki practitioner/ teacher should accept that Reiki has contraindications and be willing to discuss these with their client or students. Reiki cannot be given in certain circumstances, for instance someone with a pacemaker should NOT have Reiki because the pacemaker is electromagnetic and so is Reiki, therefore the Reiki may potentially alter the speed of the pacemaker.

If a Reiki practitioner/ teacher claims that Reiki has no contraindications they may be putting your health at risk if you suffer from certain conditions or take certain medications.

These guidelines are by no means exhaustive but they should give you an idea of what to look for in a Reiki practitioner or Reiki teacher.

© Copyright Dawn Mellowship 2005.

Dr. Mikao Usui founded Reiki in the mid-nineteenth century while he was searching for the ancient secret of healing. It was in the Indian sutras, written in Sanskrit, where he discovered a formula for contacting a higher power that could bestow healing. During a 21 day fast and meditation on the mountain of Kort-Yama, he followed the formula and experienced a beam of white light that had the consciousness and healing power he had been seeking. This beam of light struck him in the forehead and rendered him unconscious. During this state he rose out of his physical body and was shown beautiful colorful bubbles of light that contained the Reiki symbols. As he contemplated each symbol he received an attunement for each symbol and the knowledge of its use. This was the beginning of Dr. Usui practicing Reiki energy healing around Japan for the remainder of his life. There is much more about the history of Reiki. I encourage you to check out “The Spirit of Reiki,” by Walter Lubeck, Frank Arjava Petter, and William Lee Rand, “Reiki: Universal Life Energy,” by B. Baginski and S. Sharamon, “The Reiki Handbook,” by L. Arnold and S. Nevius, “Empowerment Through Reiki,” by P. Horan, and “The Reiki Touch,” by J. C. Stewart. Reiki is hands on energy healing. It can also be done a couple of inches off the body as well as absentee long distance healing. Traditional Usui Reiki attunes practitioners to different levels of Reiki with the symbols Dr Usui was shown on Mt. Kort-Yama. This allows the universal life-force energy to flow though our bodies and out our hands into our clients. Our hands may get hot or our clients may feel heat flowing from our hands into their bodies. In the case of long distance healing we are sending the energy through an ether tube to our client. With Reiki, we are really just conduits for the universal energy of Love. This healing energy is channeled into different parts of the body for the highest healing purpose of the client, the Reiki practitioner, and the universe. We are not doing any healing. The client decides whether or not to heal with the help and healing power of the universe. We are just facilitating the energy process and witnessing the results! Reiki has been shown to facilitate many types of miraculous healings. It can and may happen. However, to practice Reiki and claim healing of sickness or disease or any other type of illness is in error and out of integrity. Healing energy is always present with Reiki; it’s just that we as ego based carbon life forms do not know what the real healing is for each individual client. Much healing is associated with the lessons we are to learn in this incarnation. I urge you to not be attached to what you think healing is for each individual. It will not benefit you or your clients. Love is the only thing that is real when it comes to healing. In Reiki I students experience the first level attunement, learn about the history of Reiki and their Reiki Master linage, hand positions, kanji positions, grounding and centering, scanning and beaming, hands on clinical practice, and other more specialized techniques depending on the Reiki Master. In Reiki II students experience the second level attunement, learn some of the Reiki symbols, long distance healing, emotional healing and balancing from the heart, root/sacrum, and the mental level, removing clouds from the emotional layer, hands on clinical practice, and other more specialized techniques depending on the Reiki Master. In the Reiki III Masters Certification students experience the third level attunement, learn the Reiki Master Empowerment Symbol, how to teach Reiki, attune students to all three levels of Reiki, how to Love and heal thyself, hands on clinical practice, and other more specialized techniques depending on the Reiki Master. I must stress that Reiki has become so popular with many different teachers and as a result there are many different techniques and preferences that have been incorporated into Reiki under the traditional Usui Reiki umbrella. One thing I would recommend is that you look for a teacher who will give you plenty of clinical hands on practice. In addition, there are a plethora of other Reiki practices that have arisen over the years. No one type is better than another. It is the intent and humility of the Reiki Master teacher and practitioner that is most important. It is how the different Reiki practices resonate for you. You are the only one who knows what works best for you. I have found over 30 forms of Reiki other than the traditional Usui Reiki founded by Dr. Mikao Usui. I encourage you to read about them and research them to determine you own Reiki path or in finding a Reiki Master or Reiki practitioner that resonates with you. Here are a couple of useful places on the Internet to begin your search: http://www.reiki-4-all.com/index.php?showtopic=17 andhttp://www.medindia.net/alternativemedicine/reiki/Reiki7.htm. Here is a quick list of the different types of Reiki I have come across: Usui Reiki, Tibetan Reiki, Usui/Tibetan Reiki, Karuna Reiki, Gendai Reiki, Rainbow Reiki, Five Element Seichem, Seichim or Seichem or Sekhem, Tera-Mai® and Tera-Mai® Seichem, Shamballa Reiki, Kundalini Reiki, Imara Reiki, Raku Kei Reiki, Shamanic Reiki, The Radiance Technique® (TRTAI), Reiki Plus®, Johrei or Jo Reiki, Men Chho Reiki® or Medicine Dharma Rei Kei©, Traditional Japanese Reiki, Satya Japanese Reiki, Reiki Jin-Kei Do©, EnerSense-Buddho, Golden Age Reiki, New Life Reiki, Blue Star Reiki, Mari el®, Saku Reiki, Sun Li Chung Reiki, Jinlap Reiki or Tibetan Jinlap Maitri Reiki, Chi Sekai Reiki, Vajra Reiki, and Violet Flame Reiki. I’m sure this is not an exhaustive list. Do your own research. This will help get you started. I would once again like to reiterate that there is no one best method. It is what you feel drawn to, the integrity and humility of your Master Reiki teacher, and intent. If a teacher says their method of Reiki is superior to others then I would say that is a red flag of ego. I do not connect with arrogance. Follow your intuition. All healing modalities have their place. In closing, an empowering way to live one interpretation of Reiki and its teachings is to practice The Five Spiritual Principles of Reiki Plus:

As co-founder of Reiki Healing Circles in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I can’t tell you how excited I am to realize that our very first Reiki Healing Circle is going to take place in one short week, Saturday, May 2, 2009. This Reiki Healing Circle is a gathering of Reiki practitioners for the purpose of offering Reiki energy to special needs children, their families and caregivers. This event is completely free of charge; let me be clear there is absolutely no fee to receive Reiki at this event. Reiki practitioners of all levels are welcome to participate either in person or by sending distance Reiki.This event will take place at 2534 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin beginning at 10 a.m. We ask that special needs families register to participate in this free event by calling my co-founder Sally O’Brien at 414-257-1931. Each special needs family will receive Reiki for 15 minutes. I will co-host a one hour teleseminar for all Reiki practitioners who will participate either in person or by distance. If you are a Reiki practitioner and would like to participate, please send an email to Sobrien23@wi.rr.com or SerenityLifeCoach@SandyWalden.com so that you may be given the number to call and the access code for this teleseminar. During this call we will set our intention for all who will be participating. This teleseminar will begin at 6 p.m. PST, 7 p.m. MST, 8p.m. CST and 9 p.m. EST.This will be an on-going event. We will be holding these Reiki Healing Circles every month, the second Saturday of the month. Please feel free to share this information with anyone who you think may be interested in participating.The holistic life coach part of me is very excited about this event. I know that when we offer others Reiki that healing and blessings are not only received by those who we have invited to receive, but also by all involved. When you have shared this information with others, you are part of this circle and we will send you blessings as well. So, once again the simple fact that everything we think, say and do not only goes out to others but comes back to us is confirmed once again. Thank you for sending your love to this project and for sharing this information with others. I know this is going to be a fabulous event and that all will benefit.For testimonials from a reiki circle in Pennsylvania, please see: http://www.the-place-for-reiki.com/children_circle.htmNamaste,Sandy

 

In this short article I want to talk about the best way to approach working on other people, whether giving treatments or carrying out distant healing. I want to talk about our state of mind and our intent when channelling the energy.

The first thing I want to say is that we are just a channel for the energy, not the source of the energy. This seems an obvious thing to say, but we need to remember that we are not healers. We do not heal. We do not have that power. What we do when we treat someone is simply to create a ‘healing space’ that the recipient can use to move more into a state of balance. The recipient is responsible for their own healing, for what they experience or don’t experience; they are responsible for how they react to the treatment. They are healing themselves. We are just necessary bystanders in the process: we do not direct the energy and we do not determine the outcome.

So I am not so happy with the title “Reiki Healer” because it suggests that the Reiki practitioner has the power to heal; they do not. I don’t think that the title “Reiki Necessary Bystander” is going to catch on, so I prefer to use the title “Reiki Practitioner”. It describes what we do: we practise Reiki and it does not imply that we have the power to heal others.

This article is called “Get out of the way” because I believe that this is the best thing we can do when treating someone or when sending distant healing. We are not the source of the healing; we are not the source of the energy, so we do not need to be there, directing and controlling. We can stand aside and if we do so then the energy can flow strongly and clearly, without interference from us.

When we treat someone we are not ‘cheerleading’ for a particular end result: we do not give Reiki to get rid of someone’s head ache, or back ache, or to resolve their Gall Bladder problem, though of course these things may result from channelling Reiki. End results are out of our hands and to focus strongly on a particular purpose for the treatment is not helpful. Reiki will not be controlled by us in terms of end results and attempts to control the energy in this way just puts up barriers that prevent the energy from doing what it needs to do. Rather like the well-meaning amateur who gets in the way and prevents the professional from doing their job properly, our attempts to focus the energy to produce a particular end result will hinder the process for the recipient.

So our intent when treating someone or sending distant healing is that the energy should do whatever is appropriate for the recipient. We are neutral, we are detached, and we do not focus on outcomes. Ideally we should drift into a gentle meditative state when treating or sending distant healing, and this can be best achieved by our ‘disappearing’ into the energy, feeling ourselves merging with or becoming one with the energy. We merge with the energy and we merge with the recipient; we are empty. We do by not doing.

Though some people are taught that it is ok to talk and chat to people, or bystanders, when giving a Reiki treatment, to do such a thing is neither professional nor does it lead to effective treatments. If we are distracted then the energy flows less strongly, so if we want to do the best for our clients then we need to keep quiet, and encourage the client to keep quiet too. You can try an experiment for yourself if you like, to prove to yourself that distraction lessens the strength of your Reiki. You could try this at a Reiki share, for example. Start by resting your hands on someone’s shoulders and allow the energy to flow for a while. Then deliberately start up a conversation with someone sitting near you: take your attention away from the recipient and fully engage in the conversation. Do this for a few minutes. Then bring your attention back to the recipient, be still and quiet, and allow the energy to flow. How has the recipient’s experience of the energy varied?

Now, we do not need to be in a perfect meditative state in order to be an effective channel for Reiki, but it certainly helps to cultivate a still and empty mind. We are all human and it is perfectly normal for unwanted thoughts to appear in our head. But we should pay them no attention. If we pay the unwanted thoughts attention and try to get rid of them we then have two lots of thoughts: the thoughts we did not want and all the new thoughts about the need to get rid of the first lot of thoughts. We have made things worse!

The best approach to unwanted thoughts, then, is to allow them to drift by like clouds: pay them no attention, do not engage with them. They will leave. Some more may come, but pay them no attention either. In time you should find that your busy mind starts to quieten and some of your treatments will become beautiful meditations, with your mind emptying with the energy, and staying empty. Some treatments will not be like this, of course, but we do not need to be perfect. We can cultivate a more meditative state over time, moving in the right direction, and without worrying too much about individual occasions when our untamed brain kept on talking to us. This is a work-in-progress!

So Reiki is simple: you empty your head, you merge with the energy, do you not direct, you do not control, you do not try; you empty yourself and merge with the recipient, standing aside to allow the energy do what it needs to do, without interference from us.

Reiki treatments (hands-on-healings)will remove and dissipate stuck emotions(energy blockages) – usually the real cause of imbalances in all areas of our lives. Higher energy heals and releases lower energy (negative emotions, pain, etc.). Higher energy flows out the hands of a Reiki practitioner. When an application of Reiki is placed on a sore spot, an injury or on a person with a disease, the higher energy (God force energy) is stronger than the lower energy. Which wins? The higher energy wins and therefore heals the injury, etc. It is natural law!
Reiki is simple, easy and natural. It is stupid not to use our God-given abilities or to be afraid of things that might be called “super natural.” If it weren’t natural we couldn’t do it, and it couldn’t exist. We may not understand how it works but that doesn’t make anything supernatural!
What About Fear, Worry, Blame, Doubt, Rage, Anger, Anxiety, And Stress?
Persons who begin to lose hope about the future have negative energy. Compound this with physical injury, trauma, negative thinking and bad feelings, the person begins a downward spiral. They become an attractor (the Law of Attraction) for even more low vibrational feelings such as fear, worry, blame, doubt, rage, anger, anxiety, stress, tension and negative self-talk. They may suffer from lack of nutrition. Because of their low energy they are choosing to eat devitalized, overprocesed foods.
I’ve seen whole-body Reiki dissolve energy blockages over time healing any physical, mental, emotional and spiritual issues. Long-term practice of hands-on-Reiki will restore the general well-being of the body. It will open the energy channels, thereby allowing the body to deal properly and naturally with the stress that seems to come with living in a physical body.
I’ve also seen very fast recovery. There is an advanced form of healing energy called “Laser Reiki” where the practitioner can clear the “root cause” of energy blockages in just one to two sessions giving wonderful results. Laser Reiki is said to be 10 times faster than conventional Reiki because it uses a higher form of the energy as predicted in quantum physics.
Traditional reiki directly aids the physical body by:
1. Improving circulation
2. Reducing blood pressure
3. Harmonizing the endocrine system
4. Aiding in digestion
5. Reducing inflammation of joints
6. Reiki heals Present, Past and future problems
7. Helps with acute injuries i.e., broken bones
8. Eases the symptoms of asthma, MS, fibromylgia, etc.
9. Helps relieve pain in chronic dis-eases (disease)
When Already in Good Health Your Health Just Gets Better With Reiki Treatments
When a person is already in good health, it increases vitality and postpones the aging process. One should choose regular reiki sessions because it will energize the body’s immune system. If the immune system is up (meaning higher frequency) a person cannot come down with SARS, Ebola, or any other dread disease — manufactured or naturaly occurring.
The continued use of Reiki therapy when you are not sick will manifest itself as self-confidence and self-assurance. Other people will want to be in your presence and be attracted to you because they can feel that you have something special. And they want some, too!
Life will keep getting better and better with Reiki because it connects you directly with even more of the Life Force energy many call God. Even though Reiki is made up of the Life Force called God, Reiki is not a religion but a way to be permeated with that Force. You’ll have more peace and harmony in dealing with everyday events. You will gain a more positive outlook on all aspects of life.
Reiki Healing Is A Tool That Combines With Other Modalities It’s an energy healing method that enhances the performances of doctors and nurses in taking care of their clients on all levels.
Reiki is a method that can be used with any other allopathic, alternative or natural therapy, i.e., massage, yoga meditation, gems and crystals, essential oils and aroma therapy, Bach Flower remedies, homeopathy, healing touch, quantum healing, energy medicine, Chinese medicine, holistic therapy, etc. Reiki will enhance their effectiveness in promoting general well-being.

Reiki is a form of energy healing that has become a popular complement to modern medicine as well as an alternative healing therapy used throughout the world. Although its roots can be traced back centuries, it developed in its modern form in Japan in the early twentieth century. And, it is from two Japanese words (rei and ki) that we get the word Reiki. Roughly translated, Reiki means “universal life energy”.
Practitioners of Reiki believe that there is a type of subtle energy that flows in and around everyone and everything in the universe. It is this universal life energy that a Reiki practitioner attempts to channel to the afflicted person during a healing session.
Reiki practitioners believe that all illnesses have non-physical components. The purpose of a Reiki healing session is to channel additional life energy, or ki, to the person who suffers from some type of physical or mental trauma. The additional energy clears blockages and establishes an increased, and more efficient, internal flow of energy within the person. As this occurs, true healing can begin.
The time needed for an individual healing session varies depending on the client and the particular problem addressed. However, Reiki therapists generally schedule their sessions for 45-60 minutes. The client remains fully clothed during a Reiki session. He or she may lie flat or sit upright. It is especially important that both the healer and the person who has sought out healing feel comfortable, peaceful, and serene during the healing session. Soft lighting and relaxing music are often used by Reiki practitioners to increase these feelings.
When the client is comfortable, the therapist places his or her hands lightly on, or slightly above, the person’s body. The hands of the healer are held palms down with fingers and thumbs extended. During the session, the Reiki therapist will move his or her hands to particular locations on the body, following a specific routine. There are 12-15 Reiki hand positions which correspond to energy centers. The healer will stop at each of these locations to transmit energy. The healer will pause at each location until the flow of energy seems to subside or stop. When the energy flow subsides, the therapist will move to another hand position, working from head to feet. It is important to note that a Reiki healer does not direct the energy in an active sense. The Reiki practitioner is merely a conduit. He or she simply adopts the intent to heal. The life energy itself is intelligent. It goes where it is needed.
A sensation of heat is often taken as an indication of Reiki energy flow. However, a wide range of personal perceptual experiences may be reported by both the healer and the recipient. Among other things, a tingling, coolness, warmth, or the sensation of colors may be experienced.
According to Reiki therapists, people typically leave a Reiki session feeling very relaxed and tranquil. However, recipients of Reiki therapy sometimes experience what therapists call a cleansing crisis. They may feel headachy, nauseous, dizzy, or weak. For Reiki practitioners, these symptoms are the result simply of the body getting rid of toxins and realigning itself to the flow of ki. Rest and increased fluid intake are often recommended to help the person cope with these symptoms.

World’s oldest and most well known energy healing method is “Reiki.” It is believed to have started in India over 4000 years ago It uses subtle energy as a method to deliver the Reiki healings. Quantum physics proves that energy movement, thoughts, focus, prayer, and intent can change the physical reality.

Reiki healing is a natural holistic therapy that gently balances life energies promoting health and well-being to the recipient. It supports spiritual growth and emotional clearings. Reiki will do no harm. Reiki practitioners are taught to focus only on the well-being of their clients.

Thoughts are things (thoughts are the building blocks of our reality.) Positive thoughts are uplifting while negative thoughts are downers. We all know that’s the way it works!

Reiki is not New Age. The word “Reiki” is just a word meaning energy healing in Japanese. Its teachings and methods of healing the body predate Buddhism, Christianity and many other known religions. It hasn’t always been called Reiki but its methods have been around a long time.

Reiki healing is thought to be thousands of years old, known by many names (chi, ki, holy spirit, etc.) and its healing complements both Eastern and Western medicine. Everybody can benefit from it and everybody can do it, even small children.

Reiki is a method of application for flowing healing energy. The healing treatment is performed by the focused intent. Laying on-of-hands, touch of the hands, healing touch, quantum touch and/or just holding the hands over the client, are ways the Life Force Energy is transferred. The Reiki practitioner allows the flow of the energy from a limitless source(God Force) through his or her hands to the client. The client’s job is to desire a healing and be open to receive.

There Are Formal Studies To Teach You Reiki Healing

You become Reiki by taking a class from a Reiki Master where the activating symbols are passed into your energy field. (It’s like putting software into a computer.) Everyone naturally flows this healing energy as part of their spiritual make up but to flow it in the large quantities necessary, one must go through formal training and be attuned to this extra energy.

There are Reiki Masters in most every country of the world. Reiki is an extremely powerful, yet gentle energy that can be easily flowed to yourself and others, just by thinking Reiki and thinking that your intention is to flow the healing energy.

Reiki healing is truly a system of attaining and promoting wellness and wholeness of mind, body and spirit. This simple, non-invasive healing system works with the Higher Self of the practitioner to promote health and well-being of the entire physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychic body.

The Reiki Healing Health Benefits:
1. Releases depression, anxiety, stress, and tension
2. Creates deep relaxation and a feeling of inner peace
3. Dissolves energy blockages
4. Accelerates healing ability
5. Aids restful sleep
6. Helps release the cause and habit of addictions
7. Relieves headaches, back pain, leg pain, bursitis, etc.
8. Brings about a higher state of consciousness

The greatest Reiki healing health benefits are said to be the release of anxiety, stress, and tension. The Reiki treatments promote relaxation, peace and harmony, which trigger the body’s natural healing abilities, and improves/maintains health and well-being.