Reiki and the Future

Because of the change that consciousness is undergoing on the planet, Reiki has a wonderful future. Reiki is becoming more popular because of this change at the same time that it is one of the reasons the change is taking place. In fact, you could say that the spirit of Reiki is the spirit of our planet's future.

In the past people have attempted to preserve their well being by establishing and defending their differences and creating separateness; separateness from other individuals, other ethnic groups, other religions, other countries, etc. Maintaining our separateness has been of paramount importance and we have devoted the majority of our resources to doing this. The underlying idea was that peace will come only when we first protect ourselves from others and then dominate them. The result has been the development of weapons of greater and greater destructiveness and a world that became less and less safe.

The assumption that separateness was the solution to our security came from fear. This fear came mostly from not knowing or understanding members of other groups, religions, and countries etc. Fear creates distortions in ones thinking and this is what caused people to accept this false assumption.

The truth is that we are not separate. We are all interconnected. This has been an important part of the teachings of many spiritual groups and native peoples since ancient times. It is also a basic truth of Reiki consciousness. Fortunately, as the world becomes a smaller place and activities in the world have speeded up, this truth has become easier to see. Many of the world’s leaders are realizing this and have begun to work more closely together. We can see this in the end of the Cold War, the destruction of the Berlin wall; and the fact that the major powers of the world are now working together to solve problems and create peace rather than to engage in or instigate war.

Most of the countries of the world have gotten the message too and are beginning to operate under the assumption that if we all work together, everyone will be better off. And while there are still major problems in the world, there are tremendous resourses being focused on them. It appears that we are over the hump. We are quickly moving from a world where separateness, power and control are the main methods of organization to a world where love, cooperation and acceptance is becoming the primary basis of our activities. These are the basic qualities that Reiki creates in any person or situation it is directed toward. It is certain that the increased use of Reiki in the world is contributing to this process.

Reiki will help bring world peace

One of the difficulties the world has experienced is the struggles that have taken place between different religious and ethnic groups. In fact when we look at the history of the world, we can see that many of the wars that have been fought have been over religious differences where one religious group try’s to dominate the other. This has caused great suffering in the world and created religious hatreds that go directly against religious principles. Much of the suffering in the world comes from religious intolerance.

Because Reiki is spiritual, yet not a religion, it has attracted students from all religious and spiritual backgrounds. There are catholic priests and nuns that practice Reiki. Jews, Protestants, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists practice Reiki. Jains, Zoroastrinists, Taoists, and Shintoists practice Reiki. Wiccans, shamans, native peoples and those on independent spiritual paths practice Reiki. Virtually all religious groups are attracted to the practice of Reiki. An important reason for this is that Reiki gives each person a more immediate experience of the divine. Reiki places everyone more directly in contact with the higher power; regardless of the name one may call it and provides direct experience of the higher powers grace and compassion. Because of this, Reiki is helping to unite all people of the world regardless of religious or ethnic background.
One of the things I notice from teaching all over the world is that Reiki people seem to be the same wherever I go. There seems to be a sparkle in the eye and a special positive energy that all Reiki people share. This special energy seems to break through all barriers between those who have Reiki. As more and more people open up to the practice of Reiki, the common thread it provides between all religious groups will help them to see each other as friends rather than enemies.

In addition, the fact that Reiki can and is being sent at a distance by many people to heal world crisis situations adds another dimension to the healing Reiki provides for the world. The number of people in the world who practice Reiki will continue to grow. This in turn will increase the help Reiki is providing to create world peace.

Many have experienced the fact that as more people gather together in one group to do Reiki, the strength of each person’s Reiki goes up. This means that the total amount of Reiki energy being channeled increases exponentially. As an example, if you double the number of people doing Reiki in a group, rather than having twice as much Reiki flowing, you actually have four times as much. This also applies to the number of people in the world who are doing Reiki. Therefore, as the number of people in the world who do Reiki goes up, it is causing a tremendous increase in the amount of Reiki flowing in the world. At some point in the near future, a critical point will be reached where there will be so much Reiki flowing on the planet that world peace will come very quickly. In the near future, Reiki, working with all other forms of religious and spiritual practice will make the difference that brings peace to the world.

As this happens, we will see the members of all religions acknowledging, honoring and respecting each other. The world’s religious leaders will be seen together, working to promote higher spiritual consciousness. In the past, only saints and rare individuals could work miracles and have powerful spiritual experiences. As consciousness shifts into a higher dimension, new possibilities will develop for the “common” person allowing everyone to have a direct experience of the higher power that produces results in ones everyday life. Current religions will go through major transformations and new religions will be come into being. Reiki will play an important role in these spiritual developments.

The paradigm shift is happening now and the popularity of Reiki is one of the key indicators.
In the past, if one did Reiki, one often found it difficult to explain to others. Often Reiki practitioners would keep this fact to themselves out of fear that others would ridicule them. If Reiki or other healing practices were described on news programs or in the newspaper, it was often done in a derogatory way. Reiki people and other healers were portrayed as being weird and misguided or even worse, as charlatans.

This attitude began to change in the mid-90’s. Reiki became more popular and accepted by the general public. News programs began to air short segments on Reiki and portray it in a positive way, often saying “this is what people are doing now” as a way of informing the public of something that is becoming more popular. Scientific research began to be conducted on Reiki with positive results. Alternative medicine in general became more popular. A report by David Eisenburg indicated that in the US, over 100 million people were receiving some form of alternative health care and spending over 14 Billion dollars of their own money for their sessions.

I noticed about this time that not only were more nurses enrolling in my Reiki classes, but so were some doctors! These doctors and nurses began reporting to me about their experiences doing Reiki in hospitals and clinics. At first, this was difficult and many of their stories were filled with experiences of resistance and difficulty from other members of the hospital staff and the administration. Then as time went by, and Reiki continued to be promoted in hospitals and clinics, the stories began to include more and more successes and greater acceptance of Reiki.

Now at the beginning of the Millennium, Reiki is really gaining a foothold. There are at least 100 hospitals in the US where Reiki is being offered. In many, Reiki has become a regular part of the service the hospital officially offers its patients! In these hospitals, organizations have been started to administer Reiki and other alternative practices. Some have developed protocols, guidelines and ethics that work in harmony with the hospital; at the same time they support the Reiki practitioners and the patients. This is turning into a major success story for Reiki. One indication of this is that those hospitals without a Reiki program are wanting to get started because they are noticing that they are losing patients to those hospitals with Reiki programs.

The current attitude is so positive for Reiki and other alternative practices in the US that this trend will certainly grow. I predict that in a short time, Reiki will be offered at most hospitals across the US. In addition, health insurance programs are now looking at Reiki as a possible insurance benefit. As soon as a few add it, the competitive nature of the health insurance industry will cause all of them to include Reiki. Then health insurance will pay for Reiki treatments. The need for Reiki practitioners will grow quickly and Reiki will have become established as a normal part of health care in the US. This will happen easily within the next 10 years!

Looking further into the future, I see advances made in the effectiveness of Reiki treatments. As science gets involved in studying what makes Reiki work, the increased understanding will be used to improve its effectiveness. Also, as more and more people practice Reiki and continue to heal the deeper aspects of themselves, improvements will be made and they will become better healers. With all this attention from both the spiritual and the scientific communities, breakthroughs are bound to happen creating even greater benefits. I see no end to this process of improvement. In the future, when a person gets sick, many hospitals will use Reiki first to heal the patient and in most cases, because of the improved effectiveness of Reiki, this is all the patient will need. Only if Reiki does not heal the patient, would the doctor consider using allopathic methods.

The spiritual nature of Reiki will continue to develop also. We have seen that new forms of Reiki are continually being channeled. Some of these are more powerful. People are having more meaningful spiritual experiences from their attunements and treatments. The validation of Reiki by science and its complete acceptance by the public will move Reiki into a position of great importance. The increased use of Reiki by more and more people and its examination from different perspectives will quicken the process of development. Attunements and treatments will become more and more effective.

The higher power is infinite in nature. There is no limit to what can come from it. As we surrender more completely to the power of Reiki, the superconscious mind from which Reiki comes will be able to heal us more and more deeply. As this happens, we will become better able to hold and ground higher consciousness within our physical bodies. Our awareness will expand. We will channel ever-higher qualities of Reiki energy, which will produce even more meaningful healing. So strong will this energy become, that eventually the vales of illusion that prevent us from knowing our true nature will be broken, dissolved and released. This will lead at first to a few, but then quickly, to more and more people entering satori and becoming self-realized. This higher state of mind which only a very few people on earth have experienced will become the normal state for everyone. Our mission as a race of people will have been completed. The peace, love and freedom of the higher power will be established as the predominate power on the planet and Reiki will have fulfilled its divine purpose on earth. This is our future, yet it dwells within us now. Let us rejoice in our true nature as we experience it unfolding in our lives now.

Walking the Labyrinth with Reiki

This July I celebrated my 50th year of life. What a glorious celebration it was. It was the perfect weekend. It began with two very dear friends taking me to a wonderful lunch, which not only included great food, but also real heart connections. The warm feelings from lunch led into an evening of sharing with friends at a surprise party given for me by two of my best friends here in Cookeville. The next morning two friends and I left for the ‘mountain’ or University of the South at Sewanee, TN to attend a Labyrinth Workshop.

Labyrinths have fascinated me since I first visited Chartres Cathedral in France where one of the few remaining original classical eleven circuit labyrinths is laid out in stone on the main floor. A labyrinth is not a maze. There are no tricks or challenges to the walk, you simply enter and exit at the same spot. After you enter, you walk the circles which meander throughout the whole circle going through 34 turns, getting close to the center, and then going to the outer edge only to wind your way back to the center again. In the center is a rosette with 6 petals symbolizing mineral, vegetable, animal, human, angelic and the unknown.

The walk into the labyrinth is known as purgation, where you ‘purge’, release, empty and quiet your mind, body, soul and spirit. It is there that we let go of things that block communication with our Spirit source and let go of control. The second stage is in the center and is called illumination. The illogical winding path that takes us there culminates in us realizing we are there, fully present in the moment. It is a time of prayer and meditation and clarity of life and our problems. Union is the stage where we leave the center following the same path out, feeling grounded, empowered and integrating the information we have learned to help us on our journey of life. During the entire walk we spend time with Spirit in silence, listening for answers to the questions we brought into the labyrinth.

The labyrinth is located under trees with the paths outlined with bricks. I would like to share with you some of what I wrote down after my two experiences in the labyrinth. The first time was during the afternoon, Here is my experience: entering the unknown, what does the labyrinth hold for me? I begin feeling the wind, the earth under my bare feet. I find that I can get so close to the center, only not to be there. There is a message in this for my life. Then I hear “blessed are you” you are on the right pathway. Peace that passes all understanding – all things in their own time. Learn to let go of that you cannot control. Be aware when your ego is driving you; move out of a place of ego. Don’t do things for man reasons; do them for Spirit reasons. I pass through the light and shadow’s of the afternoon reflecting onto the path. Am I in Spirit’s light or in the shadows? It is my personal choice. The path also mirrors the light and shadow self. I need to examine my shadow self and let it go. When I enter the center I feel angels surrounding me. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.

I exit the center feeling air under my feet. My steps are light and easy, then deliberate steps, slowly taking the walk out, contemplative, I am enhanced by the energy of the path I have walked. I am aware that I have been connecting with Reiki energy with each step I have taken as I walked barefoot along the path.

My second time through the labyrinth was at twilight. There were torches of fire surrounding the circle. I was at peace. I entered the circle reverently, hands in prayer position, again deliberate slow steps. I notice as I walk the circles that my hands begin to feel very warm, I realize that Reiki is flowing throughout my entire being. It was very sacred, spiritual, an awareness of people long ago walking, turning, stopping, praying, and thinking. As I get to the center I immediately fall to my knees and offer myself to Spirit. I felt as if I received Spirit’s blessing for the healer I have been, the healer I am, and the healer I am to become. I felt like a humble servant, I give thanks. I begin my walk out feeling like a child, full of wonder, awe, I begin to look upward to the skies, I see fireflies, one zooms by my nose, and I giggle. There are night sounds now. The path darkens such that I have to feel my way out. As I leave I am elated, feeling that I have experienced a deep spiritual ceremony.

Our workshop presenter told us that every time someone walks the labyrinth, the earth receives a healing. We know that Reiki works to heal Mother Earth. Adding Reiki to a labyrinth walk is a powerful way to send healing and peace to all people on the planet…I hope that each one of you has the opportunity to experience the wonderful healing experience of a labyrinth. What a gift of healing for yourself and for Earth.

Why Reiki and not Leiki?

When Japanese people pronounce “Reiki”, they say “Leiki.” If Reiki is from Japan, why do they pronounce it with an "L"? It is not just the word Reiki. If you look at a map of Japan, many of the place names have ‘R’s in them also, but the pronounce these names with an "L". So, why do the Japanese pronounce the "R" like an "L"?

The answer appears to go back to the Portuguese Jesuits of the 1540’s. The Portuguese were the first Westerners to try to trade with the Japanese and convert them to Christianity. To do this they had to learn the language. They were the first to create a dictionary of how to pronounce words in Japanese using a Western alphabet.

The Portuguese use more of a rolling R than we do. To the Portuguese, what sounds like an “L”to us, sounded like a Portuguese “R”. I once had a student who could make both sounds and they really are quite similar. Try the word earl; with a rolling r. Notice how similar the sounds are to make. Even though this dictionary was not widely circulated, it started the tradition. So when Japanese place names were translated into a western alphabet, the ‘r’ was used, and we have Reiki rather than Leiki.

Reiki and a Sense of “Safety”

Mari Hall is the keynote speaker for our June 2001 Reiki Personal and Professional Development Conference . . . Live Your Dreams NOW! Mari will speak on "What Blocks the Way to Creating Your Dreams?"

The longer I am in the practice of Reiki the more I realize how interconnected our lives are. What was a big world in one moment becomes small enough to hold in my hand and take into my heart. What have been times of loneliness and isolation have now become the desire to embrace all my family of mankind. But how did I get from one reality to the next, Reiki of course!

We all have our stories of the miraculous way Reiki has touched our lives. Any miracle no matter how big or small is just that, a miracle!

I had been “doing” Reiki for years in the United States and had moved into what I thought of as a space of peaceful surrender. Normal work and my work with Reiki were separated in my life. I had a fine line that divided the two. I did not speak much about my “other” life to people because I knew they would not understand, or worse would think I was one of those newagers and had my head in the clouds. On the other side of the coin I did not talk about my “normal “ life with people I treated. So I was in all senses of the word a dual personality. As long as I held the status quo I could juggle these two lives of mine although it was hard at times.
Since taking Reiki into my life I had been healed of a congenital back problem, my life had been changed on so may levels yet I was still not able to integrate the two sides of my life with any feeling of safety. I realize now that for most of my life I had been searching for that safe space to be me, and had not found it. Controlling my life, keeping things in nice compartments was my way to feel safe.

One day I was given a choice that would change my life so completely and profoundly. I could leave all that was safe and study in a holistic center, but to do this required that I quit my normal job and move to England for a three-month period of time. I understand now that to not feel safe for three months was better than “forever.” I chose to not straddle the line anymore. I ended up jumping over the line to Reiki full time. It took more than a day to accomplish and that in itself is another story. Away from my safety net and in England with no means of support, I decided to stay and teach Reiki in the UK. I was so engrossed with the work I never thought about the need to feel safe. I was living from a different part of my being. A deeper healing had taken place in me.

What also was happening in my life was living synchronistically. I feel it is because my focus was so much in the present moment that I was more aware of how things came to play in my life. What I needed was provided for. The people places and certainly circumstances all gave me opportunity to begin to BE Reiki, rather than to do it.

Many years have passed since those early days in England when I stood on the top of the Tor in Glastonbury and proclaimed my intention to live and work in Europe. I have gone from having two suitcases and traveling on trains to having a home and a car even in another country. I have been so supported to BE in my practice of Reiki. In the being is also the realization of the continual surrender into this divine and loving energy.

Early in my journey in Europe I was introduced to a wonderful woman in the Netherlands who is a healer. She asked me what I did. I told her proudly that I was a Reiki Master. She looked at me with all seriousness and said. “You may have a paper that says you are a master of Reiki, but you are not. You must learn to be a master of Reiki and that takes time.” I was taken aback with what she said. I did not understand it then and felt that she did not truly see me.
Over these years of being in the practice of Reiki and being Reiki, not just doing it, I have taken on more wisdom. Her words have often rung true in my ears as I work with my own master candidates. I am still learning, I am still being, and I am a Reiki Master still being mastered by Reiki

Living and working in other countries has afforded me the opportunity to come up against prejudice and intolerance in others and myself. This experience has continued to evoke me to “Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk of the potential for peace in the world by using Reiki. I have held a Russian woman in my arms as she was dying. I have celebrated life in a camp of gypsies by dancing and singing. I have been present at the birth of a deformed child. I have heard the cries of the homeless and I am seeing potential for change in countries ravaged by war. All this and so much more have evoked me to see all humanity as my brothers and sisters.
My deepest impression is that in order to be one with people we must first do our inner work to be one with ourselves. Reiki has helped me to bridge the internal compartments in myself that have separated me from fully loving and accepting myself. In loving who I am, I am better able to love others.

My heart has been broken open wide with compassion for all beings on this earth, including myself. Being in the practice of Reiki has given me the opportunity to find my place in this world beside all others. In this place is the deepest sense of safety and of homecoming

Reiki and the Healing Drum

Drumming, sound, music, harmony, experiencing feelings, stepping into the flow. . . this describes my life today, yet it didn’t before I regained the awareness of the healing sounds and rhythms of drumming.

Many of us were silenced in childhood, “children should be seen and not heard”. However, today we are remembering that sound is our participation in life’s symphony, music plays all around and within us.

Several years ago on a sunny spring day the seeds of freedom to be one with healing sound were planted within me. I quietly followed and watched as two 14 month old children explored their world. They laughed, gurgled, touched everything and even cried. I saw two people living in enthusiasm, experiencing their feelings, two people affecting and being affected by everything in their world. Most of all I heard, all their many sounds unsilenced, freely expressing their joy. I was the silenced and quiet observer, separated from the awareness of living by the restrictions of my long gone caregivers; restrictions that I still maintained. Standing there watching the joy and life of those two children, I saw my choices, remembered my enthusiasm and the joy of being in this world.

Years later I bought a drum for a friend’s birthday, which was several weeks away. For many days I walked past it and even picked it up a few times, yet never played it. Then one night while I was home by myself, I picked up that instrument and very slowly began to explore the sounds it and I could make. I released the expectations of what the sound should be, and abandoned fear of disapproval. I, like those children, just explored. I imagined that I was a child; a child feeling sound flowing from my interactions with the drum. Enthusiasm, joy and even sadness flowed from me through that beautiful drum. We sang, we danced and I cried tears of reunion with what I had silenced years before, and what I had stilled to be good in the eyes of others. That night I remembered . . .the joy of healing sound.

Since that time I have been inspired to incorporate Reiki and other energies with drumming. This combination has produced powerful vibrational frequencies and deep healings. At the end of this article I share a basic Reiki Drumming(TM) healing technique that is designed to work with a basic shaman’s drum.

Many things in your world can become a drum, a healing tool that emits a sound with each stroke of your hands. Imagine yourself as a young child discovering the world. Remember your enthusiasm as you touch and hear each responding sound. Remember your joy as you interact with the world around you. Hear the song, conducted by your heart, and feel the Reiki energy rise from the silence. Remember the child laughing and know this is you. Celebrate your presence with sound. Feel your heart beat with each stroke of the drum. Know you have rhythm . . . your very existence is a rhythm. Awaken to your presence and hear the song of everything around you.

The Basic Reiki Drumming(TM) Technique

Focusing Intention:

Dialogue with your client to determine the issue they intend to heal. Ask them to focus on the issue and on their willingness to heal and release it. Ask them to confirm that they are willing to make any changes in their habits, behavior, or thought processes that may be necessary to complete this healing.

State their healing request in the prayer of sacred intention . . . give thanks that this healing is for the highest good, and that your personality and ego stand aside. This will help Reiki flow clearly and freely through you and your drum. Call on your guides, angels and the healing spirit of your drum.

Preparation of Self and Setting Sacred Space:

Draw all the Reiki symbols that you know over your drum, and with each symbol, channel the energy into the drum. Hold the intention that the essence of the symbols will flow out with the sound.

Draw or visualize a large Usui power symbol over your entire body, and also on each chakra starting at the base and moving toward the crown. Intend that your chakras are aligned, clear and open to the full power of the Reiki healing energy. Hold the intention that your light is being strengthened, and that any denser energies which are released during this session will be healed and not absorbed by your energy system.

Draw an Usui power symbol in all 7 directions, NSEW as well as the Sky, the Earth and the Center.

Preparation of Client:

With your drum mallet, or your hand draw a large Usui power symbol, (or Master chakra balancing symbol), over the client starting above the crown to the base. This is to align the client’s chakras, open them to the healing, and to invoke the recipient’s higher self’s assistance.

The Session

Draw any Reiki symbol(s) you are guided to use over your drum. Slowly scan the client’s body with the drum, and begin drumming over the area your drum is drawn to. Let Reiki and your drum guide you. Drum for 2-5 minutes 12-24 inches above the physical body, letting the drum glide over the client’s energy field. Note: Drum higher above the person and softer from the heart chakra to the crown. This is to protect the client’s hearing and the subtle energies of the upper chakras.

Closing the Session

When you feel guided to stop, give a prayer of thanks for the healing, and draw an Usui power symbol over the client to seal the healing with love and light.

Why is a Reiki Attunement Necessary?

Over the years that I have been teaching Reiki, I have often been asked the question: “Why do I need an attunement or initiation to healing energy?” or “If this is universal life energy that is available to all why do I need to come to a Reiki class and receive a special initiation?” I would like to address these questions. I am going to focus on the word initiation as I feel that when you receive an attunement to the Reiki energy you are being initiated into the energy.

In the “Oxford English Dictionary” initiation is described as “the action of beginning, entering upon, or starting something.” It is also defined as “formal introduction by preliminary instruction or initial ceremony into some position, office, or society, or knowledge of or participation in some principles or observances- hence - admission to the knowledge of instruction in the elements of any subject or practice.” This definition accurately describes my perception of an initiation.

I am sure that there are those who worked with energy work much longer than I had when they took their first Reiki class. They may question why it is necessary to be initiated into something that they believed already existed within them. I would have two responses to them. Would the neophyte believe in this natural gift from Spirit of healing self and others without the ritual? Secondly, as the “Oxford Dictionary” indicates, initiation is also “admission to the knowledge or instruction in the elements of any subject or practice.” Is this not the process that Dr. Usui went through when he received the Reiki keys to healing from Spirit?

As a teacher I have seen my students many reactions to the process of receiving an initiation. In varying degrees each student has been touched in some special way by Spirit. Initiations are a part of the process of reconnection to Spirit and a beginning of a new or renewed walk down the path of life. Many doors are opened in this sacred ritual. If you have received an attunement to Reiki, remember back to the feelings you had during your special ceremony and connection to Reiki. If you are thinking about taking a Reiki class, then know that the healing energies that you were born with will only expand as Reiki begins to flow through your body, soul, and spirit. Blessings on your journey.

Questions to ask a Reiki Master about Reiki Training

There are many people teaching Reiki classes now. Some are highly qualified and may be just the right teacher for you and others may not have the right energy for your needs. So, the question is often asked about how to choose a Reiki teacher that is right for you. Here is a list of questions to ask any Reiki master who you are thinking about taking a class from.

• How long have you been working with Reiki? What training have you had? How often do you teach? How do you personally use Reiki? What is your lineage?

• Will this training initiate me into, or progress me within the Usui lineage? If not, then which lineage is it a part of?

• What qualifications are required to take Reiki Training?

• What do you cover in your classes? How many hours of class time is included? How much time is instructional, and how much is hands on practice?

• What are the specific things I will be able to do after taking the training?

• What are your fees, and will I receive a certificate and a manual?

• Can I take notes and tape record the class?

• How many symbols will I learn?

• Is there a Reiki support group in my area or can you help me establish one?

• Will you openly support me in being a successful Reiki practitioner or master?

• Do you have a positive respectful attitude toward other Reiki practitioners and masters, regardless of lineage or affiliation?

Be aware of how you feel about their answers and if they are responding in a loving manner that is supportive and empowering. Listen to your heart and you will be guided to the right teacher.

What I Believe About Reiki

As Autumn and the time of many beginnings approaches, it seems a good time to reflect on how my beliefs about Reiki have expanded and changed over the years. I have been working with Reiki now for ten years. It started out as learning a simple healing technique but has blossomed into so much more. Here are some of my thoughts.

I believe that Reiki is different things to different people. It is “user friendly” so to speak and it meets you where you are at in your life. It seems to find you when you are most in need or ready for the next step on your path. Perhaps your soul calls out for a better way. Or your higher power knows you need a change.

I believe that Reiki can be a simple healing technique, a spiritual path, or a personal empowerment journey (or all three combined.) That is why there are so many different schools of Reiki, so many different ways to do it, and so many varying philosophies. It is also why Reiki blends in so well with massage, cranio-sacral work, counseling, nursing, and any other helping or health related profession.

There is no perfect school or right way to do Reiki. Nobody’s Reiki is better than anyone else’s. The journey is to find who and what feels right to you. What philosophy (beliefs) or way of doing Reiki feels right for you? Are you a self-starting type that just needs the information to get you going or do you need a mentor and internship to help you along? Those questions are important in choosing a teacher and way of studying Reiki. Neither is THE way. What is important is YOUR way. How and what do you need to learn? That will help in your choice of a teacher and a school for learning Reiki.

The journey of Reiki is an exciting one. Finding the right teacher is the first step. And finding out which school of thought is another. And sometimes there are detours on the path. Taking a class with a teacher that wasn’t right for you often leads you to another. Or, the timing of the first attunement or empowerment is in divine timing…just when you needed it. Sometimes what is important are the other people in the class. All groups come together for a reason. Shared experiences, common lessons to be learned, or similar backgrounds make for a great class experience. And when you feel comfortable with others, you feel more open and safe to share your story and experience in class. That makes for powerful and healing experiences.

There is no wrong way to do Reiki. It is simply connecting with universal life force energy and bringing it to another. You can use the standard hand positions or intuitively go to the areas of most need. You can also scan. There are no Reiki police watching over you to correct what you are doing. The energy itself teaches you. Hand positions are only a guide to help you experience the flow of Reiki and give you structure when you are first starting out. Once you have experience and trust what you feel, the hand positions are only guides.

Reiki doesn’t do any harm and will not work if harm is intended or negative thoughts prevail. It cannot be used to control people or situations. It works to bring the best result or highest outcome for all. When using Reiki, we only ask for the best outcome possible. We do not know what that is. Reiki teaches you how to let go. Some people say, “this or something better” or “thy will be done.” This helps you detach from the outcome and let higher consciousness or the divine will prevail.

Reiki is for many, a simple healing technique. It is a gentle hands on (or in the aura) technique that brings deep relaxation, strengthening of the body’s ability to heal itself, and a speeding up of the healing process. Used with massage, polarity, acupressure, counseling, or any other healing work, it can be brought in before a session to prepare the room and fill it with Reiki energy. It can also be sent to the client on the way to the session. It can then be used to begin a session by placing your hands on the top of the head and bringing the symbols in. Then the general bodywork or counseling can be done. Reiki can be used anytime during the session. You might feel stuck or unsure of what to say or do next. Using one of the symbols can help you move along and get over the “bump.” I know many counselors, who, during their session, send Reiki with their eyes or from their heart, to the person. Some bring in the mental emotional symbol to help the person connect with the emotion and the issue. Reiki can facilitate the healing. Some massage therapists Reiki a tight muscle or trigger point while they are working.
Once you have Reiki, it actually flows while you are doing your work. It might be that little voice that says, “go here” or “say that.” So, in a sense, it is always on.

Reiki as a spiritual path is a gift for many. What may start out as learning a simple healing technique can lead you to a stronger faith, more connection to your higher power, or a belief system that focuses on compassion and connection with higher intelligence. The Reiki ideals are really guides for living. They can be viewed as a way of life or personal philosophy. Taking one ideal at a time and reflecting on it daily helps you to heal issues in your life. The way of Reiki is about learning to detach from outcome and being fully present in the moment. It is about unconditional love, caring, peace, compassion for all, and trust. One can sense that during a Reiki session. The person giving Reiki also receives. The way of Reiki is also about honoring people’s path. Seeing them as the divine person that they really are and honoring the best in them is evident in the translation of the distant healing symbol. “The buddha (or Christ) in me reaches out to the buddha (Christ) in you, to promote enlightenment and peace.”

Reiki can also be practiced by anyone, regardless of their religious affiliation. One does not have to believe in Buddhism (or practice it) for Reiki to work. It originated with Dr. Usui, who was a Buddhist, so he brought that influence in. But, Reiki is really about unconditional love, healing, and acceptance. It is also about the teachings of Christ and Christianity as well. The Reiki ideals are similar to the golden rule and the concept of loving thy neighbor as thyself. The difference is only who brought it in (or developed it.) The intent is the same. To bring the love of the creator (God, Great Spirit, universal intelligence) to all for healing. And letting go of outcome and trusting in a higher power and intelligence. One can practice Reiki and still keep their religious affiliation or belief system. One does not exclude the other. I know many nuns and priests practicing Reiki and they have found it to be a direct expression of God’s love for all his creations. The simple act of loving and compassionate touch is God’s love in action.

For those who have no religious affiliation, the practice of Reiki can help you see the divine in all.
Reiki as a personal empowerment tool, helps you to be all that you can be. In “The Celestine Prophecy,” by James Redfield, he talks about all our natural human abilities. The ability to know, to sense energy, to bring healing to others, are all normal human abilities. It is simply a choice to develop them or not. Reiki is like that. The more you practice Reiki, the more you get in the flow of life. You learn to sense energy and to sense the flow of life around you. We live in a world of energy and Reiki helps you to tap into that and learn to read it and work with it. That includes learning to sense the energy of a meeting, a person, a situation, and acting accordingly. Going with the flow is not just a cliché.

Reiki also enhances natural abilities. If you are an artist, it helps develop your artistic expression. If you have an intuitive sense, Reiki heightens that. If you have a business head, Reiki can enhance that as well. In the practice of Reiki, working with energy helps you to connect with your path, your skills, and develop your senses. But it takes practice and trusting what you feel.

Reiki and Light Bulbs?

When I attended my first Reiki weekend, I arrived with no expectations. I had read a few books about Reiki, but until I had the opportunity to experience it for myself I was keeping an open mind and wanted to experience all that Reiki had to offer. After receiving my Reiki I attunement my Reiki Master began passing out a sheet of paper titled, “The Twenty-One Day Clearing Process”. Up until that point I had never heard of a clearing process. The explanation made perfect sense. As your physical body adjusts to the Reiki energy’s higher vibration, blockages would clear and situations would surface so you could heal and move on to create a clearer instrument for the Reiki Energy to flow through.

For three weeks I experienced an entire range of emotions. I worked through the headaches, stiff neck, and discomfort. At the end of the three weeks I noticed one strange thing, I had changed 8 light bulbs in 3 weeks. Once the clearing process was over, the light bulbs stopped going out. One or two could be dismissed as coincidence, but 8 were a bit much.

Six months later my Reiki Master returned to teach and attune ART and Master level Reiki. It was a wonderful experience and really opened my eyes to the path I was on and the direction I was heading. As the weekend came to a close a question of the clearing process came up. In the back of my mind I saw many trips to the home improvement store, buying bulbs in bulk!
This of course would prove the perfect test. No bulbs had blown out since the last clearing. This time it was so much more. Not only were the bulbs blowing out in my house, they were going out everywhere. I saw bulbs go out at work, in stores, even at a restaurant. My aura was now super charged and only the strongest light bulbs would survive. It usually occurred when I stretched, yawned, or experienced a good laugh. Any bulb I was under would just pop.

Fortunately, this only lasted for the first month, and life returned to normal.
As I reflect and try to shed light on this situation I keep hearing that it’s all energy. Our physical world we live in is nothing but energy. As we receive a Reiki attunement, our vibrations increase bringing us closer to the light. Of course this is a big change for our physical bodies and the clearing process is the adjustment period. As we adjust the energy rises and falls, until it finally seats at the perfect level for us. It’s my belief that when I experienced a rise in the energy, it was just a little too much for the light bulbs to bear. Of course it could have been my guides telling me it’s time to go to sleep. You be the judge.

Reiki and the Shadow Self

We create our own reality. This phrase is frequently repeated in the healing community, and many accept it as true. And it is easy for us to accept that when we make plans and carry them out, that we are creating our own reality. Or when positive things happen, it can be a boost to our self-esteem to accept credit for causing them, even when they seem like nothing more than good fortune.

But when calamity strikes, how many of us take credit for our misfortune. Frequently, when something negative happens to us, resentment, anger and fear begin to take over making it difficult to avoid blaming others or to blame circumstances that are seemingly beyond our control. By following this path, we sometimes gain sympathy from others, and validate our feelings of self-pity, which is a reward of sorts. And when confronted with the possibility that we have created our problems, our response is to state that we would never choose to create something so negative for ourselves. In this way, people often try to rationalize the idea that there must be some exceptions to the concept that we create our own reality, but as many have found, this is simply a way of giving up our power and remaining stuck in the illusion of helplessness.

It is possible to take personal responsibility for our unwanted experiences in such a way that we take back the power to create our lives in a healthier and more fulfilling way. The mystery of personal responsibility for all our experience begins to clear up when we begin to understand that who we are is much more than what happens in our conscious mind. We have a deeper side to our identity that most know very little about and for the most part are completely unaware.

This deeper side is often called the unconscious mind. Many psychological processes take place within the unconscious that have a powerful effect on our lives. By gaining a better understanding of it, we will be better able to deal with our experiences of powerlessness and transform them into a life of greater freedom and accomplishment and in so doing, become the person we are meant to be.

As stated above, it is not just the conscious mind that is creating our reality, but our unconscious mind as well. The unconscious mind has a powerful influence on our decisions, our communication with others and especially on our body language. It also expresses directly through our energy field and by working in combination with the previously mentioned influences has a major effect on our total life experience. The unconscious mind can have both healthy and unhealthy aspects and it is the unhealthy aspects that are often called the Shadow Self. By working through the power of the unconscious mind, the Shadow Self is responsible for creating our unwanted experiences. Therefore, the only meaningful way to prevent unwanted experiences from taking place is by getting to know the Shadow Self and then to help it heal.
One important insight is that the Shadow Self is actually created by the way we deal with our unwanted feelings and thoughts.

In our society and especially when we are growing up, if we express feelings such as anger or jealousy, or other socially unacceptable behavior, we are often told by our parents to “stop it” or “don’t do that” which is a message to take our feelings and shove them inside. At first we may not do this well, but with repeated commands from our parents each time we experience these feelings, soon we develop skill at shoving our unwanted feelings inside. Eventually, we learn to do this automatically and the process becomes unconscious. We don’t even know we are doing it.
These unwanted feelings don’t simply go away, but accumulate in the unconscious mind, still very much alive and often even more angry and resentful for having been rejected in such an uncaring way. These Shadow Self feelings take on an identity of their own, retain a great deal of energy and are intent on expressing themselves. Because the Shadow Self is in the unconscious mind, we are unaware of it and the influence it is having on our lives. It is through this process that the Shadow Self is empowered and motivated to create difficulties in our lives.
So, if we want to get to know our Shadow Self, all we need to do is look at the condition of our life. Unwanted experiences are actually a reflection of our own Shadow Self. This means that if there is someone in your personal life that you have strong negative feelings about and wish would go away, it is your Shadow Self that has attracted them to you and caused you to feel the way you do toward them. And in fact, it is likely that the characteristics of this unwanted person that you dislike the most are characteristics of your Shadow Self. In other words, you have these same or similar traits within you. This is sometimes a difficult thing to accept at first, but if you can, it becomes possible to stop yourself from directing your negative feelings toward the outer person, and turn your attention inwardly to consider your inner state and search for any aspects within that may have the same feelings or characteristics you dislike so much in the other person. This about face in your behavior requires humility, but the effort is worth it. It is a step in the direction of healing and of changing not just your inner world, but your outer world as well.

Once you begin to do this, a process of inner discovery and healing becomes possible. The Shadow Self exists because, rather than heal the feelings that have created it, for one reason or another, you chose to ignore and deny them. If you are to heal, it is necessary to reverse the process by paying attention to the Shadow Self and accept it as part of yourself. When you begin to do this, only then is it possible to heal. Once the Shadow Self begins to be accepted and the healing process begins, you will find it much easier to accept the outer person as well, making it easier to find solutions and resolve issues. Or it may result in the person going away with little direct contact needed, or in you simply not being affected by them as you have in the past.

Reiki can be used to help this process. As an example, if there is someone in your life that is causing you grief, and you would like to use this experience to get to know your Shadow Self better and to heal, meditate on the feelings you have toward the person. Then ask yourself, “Is there a part within myself that is similar to this person?” As you do this, locate where in your body or energy field these feelings and/or the part resides. Direct Reiki energy there with your hands. Use the mental/emotional symbol along with the power symbol or the master or other Reiki symbols you feel would be helpful if you have them. As you do this, speak to the Reiki energy with your mind and ask it to show you the part of yourself that has attracted this experience into your life. This can bring up hidden aspects of yourself that you have been unaware of, but need attention. When you begin to feel the part, let it know that you are sorry for ignoring it for such a long time. Tell it you would like to get to know it better and to help it heal. This process may feel uncomfortable at first, but continue sending Reiki and it will help you work with your emerging Shadow Self. Allow yourself to have compassion toward the part(s) that come into your awareness. Continue to send Reiki and also, if you are open to it, say a prayer and ask for help from the Higher Power using whatever name feels comfortable to you. Continue sending Reiki, feeling compassion and looking into this part of yourself with the intent of understanding it and helping it to let go and heal. As you do this continue to thank the Reiki energy and/or the Higher Power for its help. You may also include an affirmation such as, “I release all negative feelings into the Reiki energy to heal now” or similar words or other affirmations you feel are right. Continue to do this until the session feels complete for now and end the session with the intension that the healing will continue as long as is needed. Repeated sessions may be necessary until you have let go of all the negative feelings and you feel at peace.
As you use this technique or variations of it, hidden parts of your personality that had been intent on creating problems for you will become allies that you can consciously direct to achieve goals and create a healthier more satisfying life. This is because the Shadow Self has what can be called a Radiant Self counterpart that becomes available when the Shadow Self begins to heal. The Radiant Self has the same abilities as the Shadow Self, but uses them to create benefits for you and to attract positive situations and experiences.

Reiki and the Family

Reiki is a gift that we give ourselves and it increases for us when we can share it as a family. Not just the typical mother and father and children, but also significant others, and the many people we often consider family.

My first "students" that I attuned as a new Reiki Master in 1995 were my husband Bob and son Johnnie (7). Although they didn't fully understand what Reiki was all about and what I was about to do, they were willing to support me in my journey as a teacher. I cannot begin to tell you the joy that I felt as I prepared them to receive this gift. Tears flowed from my eyes as I attuned them. I felt the joy and the coming together as a spiritual family. The remembering of who we are at our soul level and why we come together in a family was the gift of their attunements.

Later that year, when I attended a Karuna Reiki® workshop, I was told during a meditation that my son Matthew, at 4 years of age, was ready to receive his attunement as well. He has brought much insight ever since (and many laughs) about how to use Reiki.

How we use Reiki as a family is that we pick a time and share Reiki with each other. The boys are much quicker in their giving and receiving since they are pure channels. They feel the energy come in and out. So a typical sharing can last just an hour. We usually scan each other to find the areas in need and then allow the Reiki to flow there.

Whenever I am teaching, someone always gives me Reiki before class. It helps me to be a more clear channel and for things to flow smoothly.

If there is an illness or injury, whoever is available at the time will give Reiki. If we are all available, we give the person as much Reiki as they want. This has worked well with the kids and sports injuries and fevers and colds. We have found that the illness works through the process quicker and injuries heal faster.

A friend of John's recently broke her wrist. He went to her house and gave her Reiki. He is usually shy about sharing it (he's a teenager now) so I was quite happy when he told me what he did! He said she felt the heat and the energy and enjoyed the "treatment."

When one of the boys has an exam in school, we make time to send Reiki to them. We send the mental/emotional symbol for relaxation and clear thinking. A few weeks ago, when John was taking his Math Regents exam, Bob and I stopped what we were doing and sent Reiki 5 minutes before the exam began. John told us later that he felt this energy come over him and he felt really good taking the test. I also send the boys Reiki when they are into sibling rivalry and fighting. Again, I use the mental/emotional symbol to help heal the relationship and ask for the best outcome.

We also send Reiki as a family to other family members in difficult times. When my cousin died this year at 46 years of age, it was a difficult time for the entire family. The boys and I prepared them emotionally and asked that we give ourselves Reiki for a few minutes before we went in. I also asked them to bring Reiki in, fill themselves up with it, and then let it flow from them to our relatives and friends who needed it.

We also send Reiki to anyone in the family who is sick or in distress. We just stop what we are doing, invoke the distant healing symbol, and think of the person or situation and let the Reiki flow. We always ask for the best outcome and let Reiki do what needs to be done.

When Bob has important business meetings, or travels, the boys and I send Reiki for a successful outcome or safety. When I travel to teach, they send me Reiki as well.

What I have found is that the use of Reiki in the family helps us all to be more understanding and accepting and compassionate with each other. It helps us really focus on the love we feel for each other.

An interesting family experience was when I gave my niece a Reiki session (she is 30) and she loved it! I explained what Reiki is and that we all do it. She then said, "I always knew there was something special and different about your family!" That was one of the best compliments I ever had! We have since had many interesting conversations and it brought our relationship to a different and more enjoyable level.

One very special family use of Reiki was by two of my students from New England. They took the Master class in December 1997, and their gift to their family for Christmas was the gift of Reiki. On Christmas Eve, they gathered their family together (mom and dad and sisters), talked about Reiki, and then gave them their first degree attunement. Even the cat joined in! That was their sharing of their love for their family. They have shared it ever since.

Some other ways families can use Reiki is if someone is terminally ill or going through radiation or chemotherapy. The family members learn Reiki and are able to give their loved ones Reiki to support their process. They also have Reiki for themselves to replenish their energy and help them keep on keeping on. It is also useful for someone who has surgery. Giving Reiki before and after helps the healing process and strengthens the connection between family members.

Some women also study Reiki so that they can give themselves and their baby Reiki during their pregnancy. What a gift that baby has receiving Reiki even before it's born!

Reiki is good for all aspects of loving and living together. It helps us to be the people we are truly meant to be. It helps us to remember to be compassionate and understanding and tolerant of those we love and live with.

How do you share Reiki with your family and friends?

Reiki and Meditation

Creating Time and Developing Focus

When teaching Reiki classes I often speak of “my Reiki meditations”. This stirs questions and comments from many of the students. Frequently students exclaim “I just can’t meditate”, “My mind is always wandering”, “I don’t have time to meditate”, “How do I use Reiki to help me learn to meditate”, “I’ve meditated for years, why do I need to use Reiki?”

It wasn’t until I began incorporating Reiki into my meditations that I began to feel like I was really accomplishing something. I happen to be a Gemini with an Aquarius moon, talk about mental chatter! So if I can learn to meditate with the help of Reiki, I believe anyone can!

The purpose of meditation

First let’s consider the purpose of meditation and the forms it can take. Meditation is the art of creating a quiet mind and listening to the sound of silence. Where prayer is the act of talking with the Divine, meditation is the act of listening and truly hearing what God has to share with us. This can take place during special sacred moments that you set aside specifically for the purpose of meditation, or spontaneously. Activities when spontaneous meditations often occur are while brushing your teeth, in the shower, hiking, running, washing the dishes, mowing the lawn and yes, we have all had those auto-pilot moments while driving the car.

Creating time

Now, what about that challenge of making time to meditate? This is a challenge for nearly every person on the planet. Multi-tasking is a way of life for so many people, and time seems to be moving faster every day. So how does one make time? Simple… just DO it! Our communion with the Divine through prayer and meditation is THE single most important thing we can do each day. NOTHING holds more urgency for the development of our day, the events in our life and the growth of our soul. The most important relationship we have is our relationship with God. The quality of all our other relationships is influenced by our ability to commune with God as we would with a friend.

The best way I have found to create time to meditate is by starting my day earlier, and the first thing I do is my prayer, meditation and distant Reiki practice. Whatever the schedule of my household is at the time, I arise at least an hour before everyone else. This is MY precious time. These are sacred moments and they are just for me. You deserve precious, sacred moments to commune with and develop a relationship, a friendship with God and with the healing love of the Reiki energy.

Creating Focus

Usui Sensei taught his students the first pillar of Reiki, the Gassho meditation. Gassho means “two hands coming together”. Dr. Usui taught his students to place their hands in the Gassho position every morning and evening. Gassho teaches the art of quieting the mind and creating single pointed focus in meditation. One basically places their hands in prayer position, closes their eyes, and brings all their awareness to the tip of the fire (middle) finger. When the mind wanders, gently press the fire fingers together and refocus. This technique is detailed in “Reiki the Healing Touch”.

I begin my daily sessions with Gassho, and then I offer prayers for myself, for others and the planet. Next I send distant Reiki to all who have requested it.

A 21-Day Reiki Meditation Program

have used the following 21-day program to learn more about Reiki, develop the ability to focus, to empower my prayers, goals and visions; and to receive answers.

Days 1-7 – Begin by creating an intention or a question. Draw the Usui power symbol in front of your body and with your hands, move the energy into your solar plexus. Breathe deeply, imagining that you are breathing in the essence of the symbol. As you exhale allow the energy to permeate every cell of your body, and expand out into your emotional body, your mental body, all the way into your spiritual body. State your intention or ask your question. Sit quietly with this energy for 5-15 minutes. If your mind wanders, simply invoke the name of the power symbol three times and visualize it. When you finish, acknowledge that you are holding the full light of the Reiki energy and it will be with you through your day. Write notes about your experience in a journal. Include any thoughts, words, images or feelings that came to you. Do this even if there seems to be no logic to it. Often Reiki and the Divine speak to us in symbols, or with pieces of a puzzle that will come together later by reflecting back on your journal.

Days 8-14 – Begin by creating an intention or a question. Draw the Usui mental and emotional symbol in front of your body and with your hands, move the energy into your heart. Breathe deeply, imagining that you are breathing in the essence of the symbol. As you exhale allow the energy to permeate every cell of your body, and expand out into your emotional body, your mental body, all the way into your spiritual body. Imagine any unhealthy mental or emotional patterns being rewoven into healthy thought, feeling and response patterns. State your intention or ask your question. Sit quietly with this energy for 5-15 minutes. If your mind wanders, simply invoke the name of the mental emotional symbol three times and visualize it. When you finish, acknowledge that you are holding the full love of the Reiki energy and it will be with you through your day. Write notes about your experience in a journal.

Days 15-21 - Begin by creating an intention or a question.Draw the Usui distant healing symbol in front of your body and with your hands, move the energy into your entire body beginning by moving the energy from the crown and down through your feet. Breathe deeply, imagining that you are breathing in the essence of the symbol. As you exhale allow the energy to permeate every cell of your body, and expand out into your energy field.State your intention or ask your question.

Take a moment to imagine or visualize the symbol taking the form of a bridge of light. This bridge reaches through time and through space. Allow the bridge of light to carry Reiki energy back in time as it permeates all levels of your consciousness and the multiple dimensions of your being.

Next allow the energy to flow forward in time creating harmonious energy in your future. Now bring the energy into the present moment. Sit quietly with this energy for 5-15 minutes. If your mind wanders, simply invoke the name of the distant symbol three times and visualize it. When you finish, acknowledge that you are holding the timeless healing power of the Reiki energy and it will be with you through your day. Write notes about your experience in a journal.

This 21 day program is designed for those who are attuned to level two Reiki. Level I practitioners could modify it using level I energy instead of the symbols. It is possible to also extend the program for another 21 days by replacing the symbols with the three Reiki Master symbols, or with the Karuna symbols of your choice.

I hope you find these suggestions helpful, and that you are willing to explore the importance of creating special time to deepen your relationship with the Divine and the love of the Reiki energy.

MEDITATION

Meditation is used to both relax the physical body and to enhance and accelerate spiritual growth and enlightenment. People who practice meditation on a regular basis look and feel younger, more alert, more creative, and better able to handle the stresses of the day. Meditation that relieves stress will show up on your face as it helps give that peaceful look that can take 5 to 15 years off your actual age. Meditation is also invaluable as a tool for self-healing. Giving your body as little as 5-10 minutes of quiet or shall we say "down time" a day can help boost the immune system and keep your body healthy. An improved immune system can help keep you from getting the common cold. Ever connect the fact that when you are feeling overwhelmed that seems to be the time that you get a cold or flu bug? Then you are forced to regroup and rest. Meditation may actually help keep you from continually "coming down with something".
There are many techniques for Meditation. Some of the more popular ones are listed here:

CHAKRA BALANCING MEDITATION

Place a crystal at or under the feet when doing this meditation. This is a modified form of the Taoist Microcosmic Orbit meditation. Its purpose is to open and clear the chakras and create a clear pathway for higher frequency energies as they are brought into your system. It will allow these higher energies to be fully assimilated and prevent problems caused by too much energy in the head or other parts of the body. It will also purify and/or release from your system any negative energy you may have released from storage within yourself or that you may have attracted. By circulating your energy, the negative energy is transmuted in the chakras as it passed through them and may also be released from the chakras. This happens automatically as you circulate it.
Hold your tongue to the roof of your mouth and gently contract the Hui Yin points. Then,, picture the Power symbol at the navel point and hold your attention there for 30 sec. or up to several minutes. Then move to the next point down and do the same, proceeding around and up the spine to the head and back to the navel using the points on the Reiki 3 Mediation chart. This will open and clear each chakra. Then, run white light around this circuit for several minutes or up to a half hour. Picture it moving through each point. The flow is always down the front and up the spine. You may choose to do this as a separate meditation from the complete Reiki 3 meditation. It is very soothing and creates a calm balanced state.
Earth Grounding Meditation.
Used for when you get that "Spaced Out" feeling. Helps to focus one's attention on the here and now.Begin by taking a deep, slow breath in ....release slowly out. Do several times paying attention to your body responding by allowing stress and tensions to flow out of the body and away. Close your eyes and picture yourself as your favorite tree. Feel roots sprouting from the soles of your feet and searching deeper ....deeper ...into mother earth. Feel strong ....feel rooted.....feel grounded. When you can feel the strength that comes from being fully grounded in the earth, move your thoughts up your legs, torso, shoulders, neck, face, up to the top of your head. Feel branches sprouting from the top of your head, reaching ...stretching ...opening ....towards the sky. Higher.....higher ..towards the sky. Feel the great expansion from your branches. Bring your thoughts back to your roots and slowly inhale the energy that is freely given to you from Mother Earth. Inhale slowly up the trunk of your body and exhale through the branches over your head. Feel the cycle of breath energy coming up from your roots and showering over your head through the branches. Continue for a few more breaths. When you are ready, open your eyes. Feel stronger. Feel grounded.Other things that may help you feel grounded is to take off your shoes and allow your bare feet to play in the dirt. You may also try wiggling your toes in the sand at the beach. When I had trouble working on being grounded, I would go to the beach, dig two holes, stick my feet in them, and cover them in with sand. I would then begin my grounding meditations. Somehow, having the feeling of sand (or dirt) covering me halfway up to the knew, helped in visualizing the grounding. You may also wish to hold a handful of fresh dirt in your hands, feel the energy that is in the soil. Contemplate it, exchange with it. You may even wish to bring it into the house and place in a bowl (maybe added to your altar) to bring your focus to the earth, thus to grounding.You can also wear articles of clothing that are black, brown, or other earth tones to help you with the feeling of groundedness.Wearing jewelry or meditating with some of the following crystals/gemstones may also help. Look especially for stones that are in the black/brown family, such as: Hematite, Onyx, Black tourmaline, or Tiger's Eye.

White Light Meditation


Focus on each part of the body. Staring from the feet. Progressively relax each part consciously till you reach the crown of the head.

Repeat the last step by breathing love and gratitude in every part to your body. Give special attention to stiff or painful areas.

Thank your higher self.

Close your eyes and go into your mind and imagine a ball of white light hovering six inches above your head (your crown chakra). See this white light as very bright, very clear, and filled with a most wonderful energy that you have ever experienced. Feel the energy from this ball as it floats above your head.

Focus on your crown chakra area and allow it to open to receive the energy from this ball of white light. As you open your crown chakra to receive this energy you feel completely at ease, completely safe.

Draw down this white light energy into your forehead, your eyes, nose, cheeks, chin.

Draw down this white light energy into your throat, shoulders elbows, wrists, to each and every finger. Feel the energy in your fingertips right now, feel it tingle with energy and excitement.

Draw down the white light energy down your chest, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles, into each and every toe. Feel the toes tingle as the energy fills them.

Picture this white light energy filling up your entire body.
Now, expand this white light energy to include your house and breathe love into it.

Expand your love to all the people who are a part of your life.

Spread your love to the city you live in.

Reach with love towards your country and then the whole world. Include mountains, cities, rivers and humanity in general.

Feel the floor of love energy from your heart engulfing the world and the whole universe.
Maintain the feeling of love for a few minutes.

Withdraw your aura back towards your body. Thank Your self and God for this beautiful experience.

I share this process with you in the hope that your adventures into this aspect of our consciousness will be as exciting as mine have been.

To begin with, accept the subtle energies of the world around you as reality. These energies play as vital a role as human begings do in planetary evolution. Recognise the life force in every thing you see, smell, touch, taste and hear, as also in what you cannot sense or imagine. Accepting their reality and capacity to interact with you intelligently is a necessary part of this work.

Listen and honour the directions of your inner voice system or intuition. Follow the directions of intuition by closely listening to your true feeling. Do not write them off as imagination. With experience, you will learn to didtinguish the fact that imagination and logic come from the left brain and intuition, with its base in feelings, flows from the right brain. Intuition simply informs without analysis or judgement. Remember, it is the voice of your true self, so learn to trust it.

Develop your third eye vision by strengthening the third eye chakra, the area which lies in the centre of your forehead, directly above the beginining of your eyebrows. There are a number of yogic and non-yogic and non-yogic exercise that can help you do this.

Sharpen time alone amidst nature. Use all five senses to establish a close rapport with the wonders of creation. Kinesthetically feel the places and persons you meet routinely. Get familiar with your personal energy, and develop the habit of felling the vibrations around you. Using your kinesthetic sense is an important part of all energy work.

Spend time alone amidst nature. Use all five senses to establish a close rapport with the wonders of creation. kinesthetically feel the places and persons you meet routinely. Get familiar with your personal energy, and develop the habit of feeling the vibrsations around you. Using your kinesthetic sense is an important part of all energy work.
Spend ten minutes daily on the love light meditation (see box) to dramatically alter the quality of your day.

Before allempting to tune into another's energy field, complete the Love Light Meditation. With eyes closed, feel your love spread through the whole universe, establish in your mind that you are divine being and then use your third eye to visualise your subject with complete love and respect. Request permission from his higher self to make this connection. Listen carefully as the answer will be translated to you through your intuition.

To scan your subject (this step is a continuation of fine-tuning). Continue to focus on your third eye centre. Empty your mind of all biases and judgements. Becoming thought-free. If possoble, using your inner vision. Scan your subject's physical body slowly from head to toe. Repeat this exercise three times. Again , Remember what you "See" Scan the first three layers of the aura one by one. Do this three times. Again, remember what you see. Ask your subject's higher self if there is any information it has for you. Wait for a response. End this meditation by thanking yourself. Your subject and its higher self. And all the divine energies that made this connection possible. Note down all the details of the fine turning and scanning is privileged and should not be conveyed to anyone except the person concerned or his representative.

What can Reiki treat?

Reiki is a particularly gentle technique because it is non-invasive and non-manipulative. Treatments can be used to facilitate physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Treatments can be done on oneself, others, animals, plants, etc. Reiki treatments can be used for nearly all conditions, with little or no side effects (some clients may experience light-headedness, sinus drainage, increased gastrointestinal activity, etc.)
Reiki treatments usually take an hour to an hour and one-half, but short treatments can also be effective. Sometimes they are given on a table (such as a massage table), or mini-treatments can be given with the client seated in a chair. Generally, full Reiki treatments involve the practitioner moving his/her hands through a series of positions on the face, head, the front of the body from the throat region to the hips, and the back from the neck down to the tailbone. Reiki is also effective in treating injuries: bruises, cuts, etc. It can help to alleviate pain and speed healing.
Reiki treatments can also be done at a distance from the client. With the client's permission, energy can be transmitted to a client from far away. Distance and emotional healing are learned in the second level of training

What is the history of Reiki?

Reiki's tradition and history is oral and generally passed from Reiki Master to student during training. Some of the writings tell the story of how Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese Christian educator, discovered the ancient healing art in Japan in the late 1800's. His revelations paved the way for its emergence in the United States and the rest of the world. There are stories about the life and work of Dr. Usui or "sensei"(teacher) as he is affectionately called. Recommended readings for the history of Reiki include: "Reiki Fire" by Frank Arjava Petter and "Reiki, The Healing Touch" by William Rand.
Based on ancient Buddhist and Hindu teachings, Dr. Usui evolved a system of healing through study, research, and meditation. He practiced and taught this method of natural healing using the laying on of hands. In the traditional Reiki lineage, he trained Chujiro Hayashi to continue his work after his death. Dr. Hayashi then opened a clinic and school in Tokyo where he trained his successor, Mrs. Hawayo Takata, who brought Reiki to the mainland of the U.S. Between 1945 and 1970, she was the only living Reiki Master in the world. Between 1970 and 1980, she trained twenty-one Reiki Masters. Mrs. Takata's granddaughter, Phyllis Lei Furumoto, is the currently the Grand Master of the Usui System of Natural Healing (Usui Shiki Ryoho).

Reiki is based on five spiritual principles:

Just for today do not worry.
Just for today do not anger.
Honor your parents, teachers and elders.
Earn your living honestly.
Show gratitude to everything.

What is Reiki?

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a Japanese word meaning "universal life energy." This life force energy can be defined as energy in all created matter. "Ki" is similar in thought to "chi" or "qi" in Chinese medicine, Hindu "prana" and Christian "light." Reiki is hands-on energy healing where the practitioner serves as an open channel for transmitting the "ki" to others. The energy is channeled through the hands to the client, which activates the body's own natural ability to heal itself. Reiki goes to wherever it is needed most, releasing blocked energies, cleansing the body of toxins, working to create a state of balance and harmony, and promoting relaxation and healing.
Reiki practitioners, with a centered intent to help the client achieve relaxation, reduce pain and/or anxiety, use their hands to direct healing energy. The practitioner's intent is to support the healing process from a conscious and compassionate state. The client, to benefit, must have the willingness to (change) that which is to be helped. Light touch is used on, or above the client's fully-clothed body. Shoes can be removed for added comfort.
Reiki practices are just beginning to be formally studied. Case studies are published in books, magazines and on the web for more information about others' experiences.