| Last month I had a woman with a slightly scared look | | | | subtle energy bodies) and how that influences Reiki to |
| on her face, "do I have to become a vegetarian and | | | | work at all the different levels. |
| mediate two hours a day before I join your class?" | | | | 2. Conventional versus holistic medicine. There has long |
| "No" I answered, a bit confused. "How about prayer, do | | | | been a divide between these two streams of |
| I need to pray before Reiki and do I need to wrap | | | | medicine and they stem primarily from the shift in the |
| myself in white light to protect my energy?" she | | | | scientific world towards Newtonian versus Einsteinian |
| whispered. "Uhh, no. Who told you all this?" | | | | philosophy. The body as a machine versus an interplay |
| "My last Reiki Master".... | | | | of three different dimensions (mind, body and spirit). |
| "Ahhh..." | | | | We discuss the differences as well as the |
| And so it is! Let me start by saying all the above is | | | | consequences of following either stream too narrowly. |
| perfectly fine, I have nothing against vegetarian, | | | | 3. Introduction to Reiki. I extend on the theory of how |
| meditating, praying white lighters, so please don't send | | | | Reiki works and its dynamics. Primarily I am focusing |
| me hate mail. But let's make it clear, this is only | | | | on giving a plausible model of how Reiki flows through |
| packaging. It has absolutely nothing to do with Reiki. | | | | the body and how it managed to achieve such |
| Reiki is Japanese for Universal Life Force or Life | | | | incredible results so simply. |
| Energy. It is a practice of energy healing that requires | | | | 4. Chakra's and Reiki Attunements. We do touch on |
| no prerequisites, no diets, no beliefs, no prayer. Of | | | | the Chakra system because my attunement process |
| course the Reiki Master you choose will come with his | | | | utilizes the Chakra system as the avenue of flow |
| or her own baggage, beliefs and packaging, so simply | | | | through the body. This segment looks at Chakras from |
| choose the one you like and have fun! | | | | the Reiki perspective and how the different level of |
| At its most basic level, a Reiki class should equip you | | | | Chakra energy effectiveness can affect the overall |
| with the ability to leave the class feeling confident that | | | | body/mind. |
| you can a) talk about Reiki sensibly and b) give a | | | | 5. Self Treatment. This is pretty simply really and |
| decent Reiki Treatment. Of course it should also | | | | involves more a discussion of why you should be |
| activate the Reiki in your hands through a series of | | | | treating yourself and the kinds of impact you can |
| attunements (also called initiations or activations) which | | | | expect. It also teaches the simple 12 body positions |
| can vary quite substantially. | | | | and variations of it. |
| So how do you ensure your Class choice is the best | | | | 6. Treatment of Others. Treating others is very easy |
| for you? Well, its similar to choosing a Reiki Master, the | | | | with Reiki, there is no need to diagnose and no need to |
| chances are, if you like them, you'll like their class. | | | | actually understand what is wrong with your 'client'. My |
| However, one problem may arise if the Reiki Master | | | | teaching is more around the code of conduct whilst |
| you choose has been taught in a way that conflicts | | | | treating someone else and some simple guidelines to |
| with your beliefs, or your comfort zone. The nicest | | | | equip my students to deal effectively with healing |
| Reiki Master in the world may still teach Reiki | | | | curves and the frequently asked questions around |
| ineffectively if they themselves have been taught | | | | Reiki. |
| ineffectively. And please let me make it clear that Reiki | | | | 7. General uses - animals & plants etc. Here we |
| in itself is not 'taught' it is 'activated' so in that respect | | | | discuss any other uses of Reiki, of which there are |
| the Reiki will come out your hands no matter who you | | | | many! Plants and Animals respond excellently to Reiki |
| choose (assuming you choose a Reiki Master not a | | | | and I have trained several Vets who will attest to this! |
| charleton!) | | | | 8. History. The History of Reiki is interesting, and |
| However, what is taught is all the other stuff - how to | | | | research on the internet will show several variations. I |
| use reiki, how to treat yourself, how to treat others, the | | | | go through the traditional story and the more |
| background and history of reiki, some tips and pointers | | | | contemporary version and allow you to make up your |
| as to how to extend your reiki practice, and other | | | | own mind, I also point you in the direction of good |
| techniques that may be useful to your overall | | | | research sources should you be interested to find out |
| experience of Reiki. For some Masters, this means | | | | more. |
| adding crystals, chakra cleansing, bells, prayer, coaching | | | | 9. Usui Principles. Dr Usui, the founder of Reiki, left us |
| modules, additional rituals etc etc. This is totally fine and | | | | with 5 key principles. They are really principles for life |
| no doubt will enhance the teaching in some way, | | | | as well as Reiki and bear mentioning and discussing. |
| however for the layman, it is sometimes useful to | | | | 10. Levels of Reiki. In different systems there are |
| know what is Reiki and what is 'packaging'. | | | | different levels. In the Reiki Network, of which I am a |
| Here are a few home truths about Reiki to bear in | | | | member, there are 4 different levels which we discuss |
| mind when interviewing prospective Masters: | | | | in some detail. The key, however, is that Level One is |
| 1. Reiki Acts as a harmonic. This means that when | | | | the full activation of Reiki and there is no need for any |
| Reiki enters the body the 'disharmony' within the body | | | | student to then do the other levels. Once Level One is |
| becomes neutralized. There is nothing to release from | | | | complete, you have all the tools you require to be |
| the body and as a result there is no 'bad' energy to | | | | extremely effective with Reiki and your ability to heal |
| get rid of - it is simply neutral, no need for protection or | | | | others. The other Levels offer more 'bells and whistles' |
| other forms of cleansing rituals. | | | | to add to your Reiki Toolbox as well as begin to |
| 2. Reiki switches on automatically. No need to | | | | unlock some of the secrets of Reiki which can be |
| consciously alert Reiki to start or to request it to start - | | | | very appealing to many dedicated Reiki practitioners. I |
| Reiki just flows when it is needed and doesn't when its | | | | teach all levels, including the Master Teacher final level. |
| not. Frankly, it aint up to you! | | | | Once my students have participated in the entire |
| 3. Reiki does not run out. No need to re-attune yourself | | | | weekend they tend to go away with 2 things:a) a |
| or meditate or strengthen chi or any other rejuvenation | | | | feeling of the Reiki energy in their handsb) a grounded |
| techniques. There is no need to do anything to keep | | | | and thorough understanding of what Reiki is. |
| your Reiki levels 'up'. It will not 'deactivate' if you do | | | | To be fair, not all my students feel the Reiki energy at |
| anything 'bad' like drink, smoke, eat cake, have bad | | | | the end of the course, but what tends to happen is |
| thoughts etc. | | | | they get their proof sometime in the following weeks, |
| 4. Anyone can be initiated to Reiki. Even carnivores! | | | | they will either begin to feel sensations, or they will |
| Old, young, handicapped, children, animals, plants, people | | | | treat someone who feels sensations, or they simply |
| in coma. Reiki is not dependant on you at all and once | | | | start to feel results. |
| activated will flow through any living thing. | | | | We also run an aftercare program at Basic Essence |
| 5. Reiki is not a belief system. You do not need to | | | | which involves a monthly Reiki share group after my |
| believe Reiki works or have a certain faith. Reiki is | | | | free talk were past students can come and reconnect |
| energy, not religion. | | | | and share Reiki. Of course I also produce a monthly |
| 6. There are no harmful side affects from Reiki. You | | | | newsletter which keeps us all connected and up to |
| cannot do any harm with Reiki, you cannot trigger | | | | date. |
| anything that the body is not ready for. Of course | | | | So in summary, the Reiki Master needs to be |
| there is a code of conduct as it can trigger a healing | | | | someone you connect with, and their course structure |
| curve or detoxification which may be uncomfortable | | | | and philosophy needs to be something you connect |
| for a time. So from that viewpoint it is important to use | | | | with. It is not crucial of course as Reiki is Reiki and will |
| Reiki with respect and to follow certain guidelines | | | | come out of your hands irregardless of the teaching |
| when treating others. | | | | around it, but it sure makes for a more enjoyable and |
| For myself, I 'package' my classes with discussion | | | | enlightening weekend! |
| around energy and the science of health, as this is my | | | | On a final note...what about the Charletans? Well, in my |
| personal interest. A typical class for me would look like | | | | experience, these types of people do not last long in |
| this: | | | | the industry as most Reiki Masters survive through |
| 1. An introduction to Energy. I love talking about energy | | | | word of mouth. So as long as the Master has been in |
| and how it works in the body. I introduce concepts | | | | practice for some time, can introduce you to happy |
| around the bioenergetics of the human body, ie what is | | | | students, and seems to have a 'good vibe' about them, |
| seen (physical body) and what is not (the different | | | | I think you can rest assured they are the real deal. |