October 25, 2009 Comments Off
Reiki Advancement, Level 2 for more tools and empowerment with 
Reiki.
Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th May 9.30am-1pm
Friday 15th June 7-10pm, Saturday 16th 9.30am-5pm
Fee: $480
Email Contact Us to reserve.
Reiki Level 2 is taken at least 2 months after Level 1. This period of time is an important opportunity to practice Reiki and ensure your energy is high. Unlike Usui Level 1, the progressive workshops require the use of mental energy and as a result can be draining for those who have not been using their Reiki for self-healing.
During the Level 2 Workshop, a second degree attunement is given and 3 symbols are taught. The practitioner is able to use the tools to enhance their Reiki flow, and to develop alternative uses of the Reiki energy.
- The Empowerment symbol – increases Reiki flow as though ‘funnelling’ the energy to maximise flow rate and power. Also empowers other energy fields.
- The Harmony symbol – allows Reiki to be ‘wrapped’ around other energy fields and environments to increase harmony eg. harmonising homes, other people, incidents, for improved energy vibrations. The symbol is also used to increase communicative powers, and intuition.
- The Sending symbol – like an IDD number, this symbol allows Reiki to be sent to different energy fields whether they be other locations (both geographical or time), other energy incidents, internal blocks or emotional energy systems etc. This is a very powerful source of personal growth as the practitioner can directly tune into issues and fix them on the casual plane.
Please wear comfortable cotton clothing.
Reiki 2 Manual & Materials provided.
Email Contact Us to reserve.
From The Kundalini Experience, Lee Sannella MD
Since beginning to teach Kundalini Reiki I have had several questions regarding the awakening of the Kundalini, especially from those of you who enjoy surfing the net – there is a lot of ‘danger – beware’ information on the internet and some people are concerned that Kundalini Reiki will inadvertently awaken the kundalini with unpleasant results. To demystify the experience, I have excerpts from Lee Sannella’s comprehensive book to help to identify some of the main factors in kundalini awakening, please read this book for a greater understanding on the energy and how it manifests.
Key to note however, is that Kundalini Reiki is NOT designed to awaken the kundalini which normally only happens after rigorous and prolonged meditation or other spiritual practice. Kundalini Reiki does help us to harness the power of this energy but it does not facilitate its release up the spine and into enlightenment, unfortunately for us! To awaken our ‘greatest potential’ we would need to do at least 1-2 hours of meditation a day for several years, and even then it is a curiously rare phenomenon.
The following symptoms are not designed to scare the living daylights out of you (though they might!) but more to assure those of you who get the normal detox headaches, tingling or aches and pains that you are far removed from the real symptoms of Kundalini awakening and are simply experiencing a regular detox. If however you are experiencing many of the symptoms below – don’t worry, you are not going mad but you are on your journey towards bliss – yay!
Benefits of Kundalini Awakening:
The awakening of the kundalini is seen by many as the gateway to enlightenment and unification with the universe. The reports of those who have experienced this phenomenon include being bathed in ‘bliss’, peace, ‘oneness with the universe’, ‘ecstasy’.
Swami Narayanananda, in his book The Primal Power in Man, describes the classical account of Kundalini arousal which is also mentioned in traditional scriptures of Hinduism (especially Yoga and Tantrism) but also reflect similarities in Taoism, Zen traditions, and Buddhism.
The opening of the senses:
Common symptoms in cases of Kundalini awakening –
1. Sounds such as tones, music, hissing, roaring, thunder, drumming, cymbals.
2. Visualizations including colours, light inside your head or body, hallucinations, outside luminescence of objects.
3. Temperature, extremes of heat or cold that can be measured by thermometer.
4. Sensations of tickling, vibrating, itching, crawling moving about in a patterned manner or pulsating and flowing. Especially movement from the legs, pain in big toe, up the legs towards the back, neck, head and face in that order.
5. Movement, spontaneous involuntary positioning (often in yogic poses) of limbs, fingers, whole body. Crying out or grunting, yelling, screaming involuntarily. Odd breathing patterns.
These symptoms are often experienced during meditation, quiet times, in bed or sitting quietly.
Often reports of pain, fear of madness or psychosis, fear of illness or death creates such resistance to the energy flow that the opening is impeded creating much more pain or lengthening the time to completion. Completion can be as long as months or years. If the fear is stopping you from moving forwards, simply stop your meditative practices and the flow will abate by itself. The flow is completed when the feeling of bliss resides almost solely in your crown. Reports of instant healing of ailments, clarity and insight is common with such awakening.
Kundalini awakening as yet is a very rare phenomenon but we believe it is growing as more people open the path and more people recognize what it is and how to handle the flow. Although it sounds extreme, kundalini awakening is the fast track to inner bliss and enlightenment, though it is not the only route.
Reiki has been likened as another route to enlightenment, albeit without all the nashing of teeth and drama queen excesses. Kundalini Reiki is a fast track of sorts, as the healing is done more quickly and intensely, so definitely there is opportunity to work on your kundalini energy and heighten this experience when done in conjunction with other practices such as Kundalini Yoga, Osho meditation, or other spiritual traditions.
However, it bears remembering that Kundalini Reiki done with the intention of healing and wellness and for only the prescribed 5-15 minutes a day will NOT create the experiences described above!
May 20th Sunday
1-5.30pm
Fee: $180
Giving your children the gift of Reiki is really a life long gift of healing and self-responsibility. I was strangely blessed when my eldest daughter, Ella, was born with Reiki – I guess all those attunements I did when I was pregnant, she obviously decided she’d have some of it too! Ella has always had a very strong immune system (I can’t remember the last day off she had sick), and she is immediate in her requests for Reiki. She can be seen reikiing friends at school, and she knows that if something hurts, there is a quick way to remedy it. She is very good at self-calming and even realised, at the tender age of 6, that when she gets angry her body responds physically (she gets a very itchy nose and eyes), she says she is ‘allergic to anger’ which I think is truer of many of us then we’d like to admit! I am amazed at her self-awareness at such a young age and I am sure much of it is due to the Reiki she has been using on herself and others since birth.
A Children’s Reiki course is a one day workshop with more focus on play then lecturing. The time is given to allow each of the four attunements time to settle and the rest of the day is given to ‘reiki’ play, games, interactive reiki sessions, arts and craft and outside time to go reiki trees and run off steam. It is a very informal and a very pleasant day for all.
Children can be any age under 12 (12 and above can attend the adult class) but I ask a caretaker to attend if the child is under 5. The prerequisite is that the child wants it themselves, and that one of the parents/ caregivers already has Reiki so that there is home support available.
The investment is $180 and includes snacks & materials, the teaching hours is from 1pm-5.30pm.
Kundalini Reiki is quite different from the traditional Usui Reiki that originates from Japan. It originates from a Danish healer and meditator, Ole Gabrielsen. ‘Reiki’ is a Japanese term for Universal Life Force and like many eastern terms (eg Kundalini meaning ‘coiled’ or Chakra meaning ‘wheel’) has become part of our healing language but this does not confine it only to its original source. The meaning of Reiki can be applied to any healing modality which utilizes Universal energy.
Kundalini Reiki seems to be the ‘next generation’ of energy healing as we continue to grow and evolve our abilities around our mental energies.
Over the past few decades many ‘mental’ disciplines are becoming more popular and more accessible. The Law of Attraction movement made popular by “The Secret” coincides with the development of a wide range of healing modalities which can heal through intention and thought. In decades gone by, this type of healing was the domain of ‘gifted’ people and shamans or their equivalent. Nowadays, these disciplines are taught to laypeople and our own personal power in terms of self-healing and self-responsibility are greater now than at any previous time. As we continue to develop this entire field, anyone can develop their power of intention and Kundalini Reiki is a powerful stepping stone to this end.
Kundalini Reiki requires mental thought to activate the healing. Practitioners are taught to think ‘Reiki’ to get the flow going. The process is quickened because of this higher mental energy involvement so treatments can be as short as 5 minutes. In my experience, the energy continues to work well after the treatment, sometimes lasting several days. Through intention, the practitioner can also manipulate the energy and move it around the body, as well as harmonize situations and events, emotions and conduct distance healing.
In Kundalini Reiki 1 the Chakras are opened and prepared for the advanced attunements. This opening allows practitioners to use the Reiki energy as well as several other attunements designed to open and activate individual chakras for specific healing. We also learn self healing, healing others, distance healing and how to harmonise and heal situations, relationships, karmic and other events. How to heal emotional traumas, blocks and clear space. This is all packed into one day with time to practise and experiment.
In Kundalini Reiki 2 (taught 3 weeks after Kundalini Reiki 1), the evening consists of a further attunement to open and enhance the bottom chakras and allow the Kundalini energy a gentle opening to begin is flow up the spine. This is done as a very gentle process and their is no danger of over-activating the Kundalini or causing any damage whatsoever. This process, as with Kundalini Reiki 3, is an ongoing process as the body continues to open. Within the evening we also learn advanced healing, strengthening techniques, and meditations.
In the final Kundalini Reiki 3 (taught 2 weeks after Kundalini Reiki 2) we complete the opening with the top chakras which allows the Kundalini reiki to flow unimpeded throughout the spine. We also learn more specific healings including DNA reiki, past-life trauma reiki, locational balancing and Crystalline (toxin removal) reiki. This is the final level which will then allow participants to pass on the attunements and activate Kundalini Reiki in others (Reiki Master equivalent).
All three courses can also be taken via distance attunements directly from Ole Gabrielsen. Reiki Centre classes and attunements are face to face as we believe the teaching wisdom and ongoing support is as important in a person’s growth as the actual attunements.
Hope to see you in a class soon!
Click here for Kundalini class schedule
Level 1, for beginners. A fantastic foundational course for those interested in self-healing and personal empowerment.
Saturday 12th – Sunday 13th May, 10am-5pm
Tuesday 5th -Thursday 7th June, 9.30am-1pm
Saturday 7th – Sunday 8th July, 10am-5pm
Fee: $420
(includes Reiki music CD, manual and Elaine’s Reiki book)
REGISTER for 12-13th May Workshop click here
REGISTER for 5-7th June Workshop click here
Reiki 1 is the foundation course for activating the Reiki flow in your hands. This course is ideal for anyone wanting to increase their vitality and energy and reduce stress. Reiki is so easy to use that it is ideal for lay people who are not familiar with natural health and methods of healing as it provides an excellent foundation for exploring other types of modalities. The weekend is very experiential with exercises, practice and sharing of techniques and ideas.
At the Reiki Centre we teach the traditional Usui method which requires no belief, religious bias or spiritual background. Our approach is grounded and thorough and there is plenty of time to ask questions and explore Reiki for yourself.
During the Workshops we will explore the Reiki phenomenon and energy, healing, disease, and our internal energy systems. The Workshop also has plenty of interactive sessions to practice giving Reiki treatments to get you comfortable with your new found skill.
Anyone can activate Reiki in their hands and after the course your Reiki is accessible to you for life. This is a very interactive and relaxing course. The Workshop itself is a great healing experience and a wonderful way to take your health to the next level!
Please wear comfortable cotton clothing, you may bring a towel to lie on if you wish.
Reiki 1 Manual, Elaine’s Reiki book & Reiki Music CD provided.
Please email Contact Us for any other enquiries.
Click below for more information on:
What to expect in a Reiki Class
Usui Reiki
October 2, 2008 Comments Off
We run a monthly Reiki Share evening open to all Reiki practitioners. We have a strong community of Reiki practitioners primarily from my classes but also from many other different traditions. We share Reiki with everyone taking turns to both give and receive group treatments, we also have time for sharing experiences and asking questions about Reiki and our practice.
If you are from another teaching tradition you are very welcome to join us, we all enjoy sharing our knowledge and practices. Please come with respect for all techniques and with a willingness to respect the wishes of the person on the bed. Remember with Reiki there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, just what feels right for you! Look forward to seeing you.
$5 donation.
Please wear comfortable non-synthetic clothing.
Please contact us for more information and reservations.
October 2, 2008 Comments Off
Wednesday 23rd May, 7.30pm-9pm REGISTER for this talk
Wednesday 2oth June, 7.30pm-9pm REGISTER for this talk
Elaine gives regular free talks detailing her own 15 year experience of Reiki, the benefits she has noticed and what you can expect in an Usui Reiki workshop. She spends time clarifying any questions you have.
The talk culminates in an ‘attunement’ to Reiki where you will be able to experience the Reiki flow through your own hands and have several weeks to play with the energy and see for yourself how healing it is.
The talks are held at The Reiki Centre, 42A Joo Chiat Place
For Location map click here.
Reiki is a Japanese energy modality and means ‘Universal Life Force’ – REI and ‘Physical energy field’ – KI (as in the Chinese ‘Chi’). In essence Reiki is the bridge between the physical energy in our body and the etheric energy surrounding us in the air.
Reiki energy works on the energy blueprint of an organism, meaning the DNA memory and ‘design’ of an organism. When a new life is formed, all cells in the new embryo contain ALL the information as to how the organism is to develop – whether a cell later develops into a liver cell, an eye cell, a muscle is already designed and forethought – the map is already contained in every cell and the general height, length, dimensions as well as structure is already predetermined right from the beginning. There have been several books written about etheric energy, the most comprehensive I know is Richard Gerber’s “Vibrational Medicine for the 20th Century” where several experiments are outlined and the layers of energy are explained in much more depth. But suffice to say, in the beginning we have a map of essentially ‘who we are’, and after that it is our choice what to add in terms of beliefs, traits, experiences (and aches and pains!).
As we develop as humans we frequently think that ‘other’ additions are part of ‘us’. For example we may develop a fear of flying and say ‘well, that’s just ME’, or you may blow your top easily and be negative or pessimistic and think ‘well I’m just a melancholy personality’. Science and psychology seems to agree up to a point, that people are born with certain character traits and also certain personality profiles – but we also tend to take the limitations too far. For many of us, the migraine, painful neck, depression, or suppressed anger is NOT ‘us’ but simply baggage and leftovers of past experiences we have yet to let go.
So what does this have to do with Reiki? In my experience, Reiki works at the etheric or blueprint level of healing. The energy when it enters the body will harmonize areas of stress, tension, baggage left over from the past and not part of the original DNA Map. This helps to explain why Reiki can be so quick and effective in some illnesses, and rather slow or even ineffectual on others. Some of us are, unfortunately, born with DNA Maps containing genetic weaknesses and illnesses – and in general Reiki may not be so effective in these cases. However, in cases where the illness has been developed over time, Reiki can have a major impact on healing.
Concurrently, Reiki is also a very powerful healing for any kind of emotional ‘baggage’ whether it be grief, anger, sadness, or fear by providing a gentle release of such emotions, normally without major crisis or healing curves. Reiki works by releasing trapped emotions in a very gentle way simply by harmonizing the negative impact and allowing the energy to be either released or reused by the body. In this way, many people report feeling more peaceful, less stressed, and more content after a Reiki session or weekend workshop. Reiki is a universal energy and as such is open to all – no matter the age, belief system, religious philosophy or background. Reiki can be given to children, animals, plants and often with very dramatic results. Reiki has been documented to treat a wide variety of different ailments from pain management, depression, broken bones, arthritis, cancer, and of course general wellbeing and improvement of the immune system.
To get Reiki for yourself you need to be ‘attuned’ by a Reiki Master. This means you cannot learn Reiki out of a book or by listening to an audio or downloading information from the internet. The reason being is that the Reiki flow is not something learnt but is something ‘activated’. If you imagine you are a Radio and you are currently playing at a certain frequency – perhaps you are tuned in to a pop station (hopefully you are not in-between stations listening to static!). A Reiki Master has been taught a method of ‘tuning’ that allows her to activate a new frequency in you, which effectively turns your Radio dial onto a new station so now instead of playing pop, you are playing Reiki classical. This is not something you can do for yourself. However, once you have been ‘activated’ or attuned the Reiki starts to flow automatically through your hands and you can use this flow to heal both yourself and others. Again if I use an analogy, I would liken your hands to a 24/7 pump of energy that is available to you at any time for healing, relaxation, and stress relief. Pretty cool right!
About Elaine’s teaching:
Reiki 1 is the foundation course for activating the Reiki flow in your hands. This course is ideal for anyone wanting to increase their vitality and energy and reduce stress. Reiki is so easy to use that it is ideal for lay people who are not familiar with natural health and methods of healing as it provides an excellent foundation for exploring other types of modalities. The weekend is very experiential with exercises, practice and sharing of techniques and ideas. Elaine teaches the traditional Usui method which requires no belief, religious bias or spiritual background. Her approach is grounded and thorough and there is plenty of time to ask questions and explore Reiki for yourself. Anyone can activate Reiki in their hands and after the course your Reiki is accessible to you for life. This is a very interactive and relaxing course. The weekend itself is a great healing experience and a wonderful way to take your health to the next level!
Last month I had a woman with a slightly scared look on her face, “do I have to become a vegetarian and meditate two hours a day before I join your class?” “No” I answered, a bit confused. “How about prayer, do I need to pray before Reiki and do I need to wrap myself in white light to protect my energy?” she whispered. “Uhh, no. Who told you all this?”
“My last Reiki Master”….
“Ahhh…” And so it is! Let me start by saying all the above is perfectly fine, I have nothing against vegetarian, meditating, praying white lighters, so please don’t send me hate mail. But let’s make it clear, this is only packaging. It has absolutely nothing to do with Reiki. Reiki is Japanese for Universal Life Force or Life Energy. It is a practice of energy healing that requires no prerequisites, no diets, no beliefs, no prayer. Of course the Reiki Master you choose will come with his or her own baggage, beliefs and packaging, so simply choose the one you like and have fun!
At its most basic level, a Reiki class should equip you with the ability to leave the class feeling confident that you can a) talk about Reiki sensibly and b) give a decent Reiki Treatment. Of course it should also activate the Reiki in your hands through a series of attunements (also called initiations or activations) which can vary quite substantially.
So how do you ensure your Class choice is the best for you? Well, its similar to choosing a Reiki Master, the chances are, if you like them, you’ll like their class. However, one problem may arise if the Reiki Master you choose has been taught in a way that conflicts with your beliefs, or your comfort zone. The nicest Reiki Master in the world may still teach Reiki ineffectively if they themselves have been taught ineffectively. And please let me make it clear that Reiki in itself is not ‘taught’ it is ‘activated’ so in that respect the Reiki will come out your hands no matter who you choose (assuming you choose a Reiki Master not a charleton!)
However, what is taught is all the other stuff – how to use reiki, how to treat yourself, how to treat others, the background and history of reiki, some tips and pointers as to how to extend your reiki practice, and other techniques that may be useful to your overall experience of Reiki. For some Masters, this means adding crystals, chakra cleansing, bells, prayer, coaching modules, additional rituals etc etc. This is totally fine and no doubt will enhance the teaching in some way, however for the layman, it is sometimes useful to know what is Reiki and what is ‘packaging’.
Here are a few home truths about Reiki to bear in mind when interviewing prospective Masters:
1. Reiki Acts as a harmonic. This means that when Reiki enters the body the ‘disharmony’ within the body becomes neutralized. There is nothing to release from the body and as a result there is no ‘bad’ energy to get rid of – it is simply neutral, no need for protection or other forms of cleansing rituals.
2. Reiki switches on automatically. No need to consciously alert Reiki to start or to request it to start – Reiki just flows when it is needed and doesn’t when its not. Frankly, it aint up to you!
3. Reiki does not run out. No need to re-attune yourself or meditate or strengthen chi or any other rejuvenation techniques. There is no need to do anything to keep your Reiki levels ‘up’. It will not ‘deactivate’ if you do anything ‘bad’ like drink, smoke, eat cake, have bad thoughts etc.
4. Anyone can be initiated to Reiki. Even carnivores! Old, young, handicapped, children, animals, plants, people in coma. Reiki is not dependant on you at all and once activated will flow through any living thing.
5. Reiki is not a belief system. You do not need to believe Reiki works or have a certain faith. Reiki is energy, not religion.
6. There are no harmful side affects from Reiki. You cannot do any harm with Reiki, you cannot trigger anything that the body is not ready for. Of course there is a code of conduct as it can trigger a healing curve or detoxification which may be uncomfortable for a time. So from that viewpoint it is important to use Reiki with respect and to follow certain guidelines when treating others.
For myself, I ‘package’ my classes with discussion around energy and the science of health, as this is my personal interest. A typical class for me would look like this:
1. An introduction to Energy. I love talking about energy and how it works in the body. I introduce concepts around the bioenergetics of the human body, ie what is seen (physical body) and what is not (the different subtle energy bodies) and how that influences Reiki to work at all the different levels.
2. Conventional versus holistic medicine. There has long been a divide between these two streams of medicine and they stem primarily from the shift in the scientific world towards Newtonian versus Einsteinian philosophy. The body as a machine versus an interplay of three different dimensions (mind, body and spirit). We discuss the differences as well as the consequences of following either stream too narrowly.
3. Introduction to Reiki. I extend on the theory of how Reiki works and its dynamics. Primarily I am focusing on giving a plausible model of how Reiki flows through the body and how it managed to achieve such incredible results so simply.
4. Chakra’s and Reiki Attunements. We do touch on the Chakra system because my attunement process utilizes the Chakra system as the avenue of flow through the body. This segment looks at Chakras from the Reiki perspective and how the different level of Chakra energy effectiveness can affect the overall body/mind.
5. Self Treatment. This is pretty simply really and involves more a discussion of why you should be treating yourself and the kinds of impact you can expect. It also teaches the simple 12 body positions and variations of it.
6. Treatment of Others. Treating others is very easy with Reiki, there is no need to diagnose and no need to actually understand what is wrong with your ‘client’. My teaching is more around the code of conduct whilst treating someone else and some simple guidelines to equip my students to deal effectively with healing curves and the frequently asked questions around Reiki.
7. General uses – animals & plants etc. Here we discuss any other uses of Reiki, of which there are many! Plants and Animals respond excellently to Reiki and I have trained several Vets who will attest to this!
8. History. The History of Reiki is interesting, and research on the internet will show several variations. I go through the traditional story and the more contemporary version and allow you to make up your own mind, I also point you in the direction of good research sources should you be interested to find out more.
9. Usui Principles. Dr Usui, the founder of Reiki, left us with 5 key principles. They are really principles for life as well as Reiki and bear mentioning and discussing.
10. Levels of Reiki. In different systems there are different levels. In my system, there are 3 different levels which we discuss in some detail. The key, however, is that Level One is the full activation of Reiki and there is no need for any student to then do the other levels. Once Level One is complete, you have all the tools you require to be extremely effective with Reiki and your ability to heal others. The other Levels offer more ‘bells and whistles’ to add to your Reiki Toolbox as well as begin to unlock some of the secrets of Reiki which can be very appealing to many dedicated Reiki practitioners. I teach all levels, including the Master Teacher final level.
Once my students have participated in the entire weekend they tend to go away with 2 things:
a) a feeling of the Reiki energy in their hands
b) a grounded and thorough understanding of what Reiki is.
To be fair, not all my students feel the Reiki energy at the end of the course, but what tends to happen is they get their proof sometime in the following weeks, they will either begin to feel sensations, or they will treat someone who feels sensations, or they simply start to feel results.
We also run an aftercare program which involves a monthly Reiki share group where past students can come and reconnect and share Reiki. We also produce a monthly newsletter which keeps us all connected and up to date.
So in summary, the Reiki Master needs to be someone you connect with, and their course structure and philosophy needs to be something you connect with. It is not crucial of course as Reiki will come out of your hands irregardless of the teaching around it, but it sure makes for a more enjoyable and enlightening weekend!
On a final note…what about the Charletans? Well, in my experience, these types of people do not last long in the industry as most Reiki Masters thrive through word of mouth. So as long as the Master has been in practice for some time, can introduce you to happy students, and seems to have a ‘good vibe’ about them, I think you can rest assured they are the real deal.
Luckily with a healing energy like Reiki, the Reiki Master best suited to your needs usually appears at the right time, in the right place, kooky as that may sound. I have had so many students say to me: “Well it is such a coincidence! I’ve been thinking about Reiki for years but never enrolled in a class, and then I saw your brochure and just HAD to come to this talk”. Why the attraction? Who knows (and who cares!)?
So Rule Number One in finding the ‘Right’ Reiki Master:
Trust Your Intuition, or more simply, go with the one you Like the Best!
And yes, definitely shop around. There are many Reiki Masters to choose from so there is no need to settle for the one who lives closest or is priced the cheapest. Meet them, talk to them, feel the vibe. Do you like this person? Do you feel a connection?
All of us come to Reiki from a different perspective, a different life journey and a different stage in our own personal development. Every Reiki Master has a unique energy and a unique way of activating Reiki in you. There is NO good, better, best about it. Every Reiki Master contributes to the entire Reiki pool by providing a unique specialism. For example, I teach in a grounded, ‘down to earth’ way with manuals and discussion around the physics of energy. I attract business-like people or people who are entering the holistic world for the first time – I seem to provide comfort in the fact I am not too ‘weird’! Other Reiki Masters I know and deeply respect provide a more etheric quality to the Reiki they teach – they don’t necessarily provide manuals, they prefer to ‘feel’ the energy rather than discuss it, and they may attract people already well versed with Holistic methodology and looking for something totally experiential.
You know where you are on your own personal journey, which is why it is important for you to make a choice based primarily on whether the Reiki Master feels good as opposed to looks good.
What about the credentials? Yes, of course they play a part, but only if it actually matters to you. I am going to touch on some of the different qualities below but please remember, they are for information only (when in doubt, remember Rule No. 1!)
Rule Number Two: Not all Classes are created Equal.
The Reiki Masters length and quality of training will dictate their own length and quality of teaching. Again, this may not matter if the Master can give you what you need in other areas. It may be their own level of personal development is at exactly the right level, or it may be that they can teach you other things not specifically related to Reiki. However, it is worth being aware that there is a large difference in the way the applications of Reiki are taught (especially at Level 2 and above), and so it is worth investigating if your preferred Reiki Master has the level of knowledge you would like. Some Reiki Masters teach Reiki 1,2 and Masters over one weekend, others teach Reiki 1 over a weekend, Reiki 2 over another weekend, and Masters over a Year. What is the difference in the knowledge you will receive at the end? That is a question that may be worth asking. But more importantly, what level of classroom training is important to you?
Rule Number Three: Forget the Pricing
As you are probably aware, there is a huge disparity in the pricing of Reiki Classes; from Free to Exorbitant! Pricing has more to do with the Reiki Master’s preference then the actual quality of the Reiki teaching. Reiki in itself is free, as universal energy we have no right to ‘sell’ it. However each Reiki Master has had to invest time and/or money in order to train to become a Master, and for many it is a source of living income. Reiki Masters charge for their time, and as such it varies greatly!
Some Reiki Masters also have marketing costs, venue costs, co-ordinator costs etc to cover. It would seem fair that a Reiki Master teaching out of a Health Centre or classroom charges more than a Reiki Master teaching from home. Some Reiki Masters feel strongly that their time and energy should be free, whilst others feel that their time and energy is a valuable commodity, and as such there should be an exchange.
Again, it is a matter of personal preference when it comes to aligning yourself with either of these philosophies.
Rule Number Four: Does Your Spiritual Philosophy Jive?
As Reiki is Universal Energy you are hitting the age old question when you ask ‘well where does Reiki originate from?’ The answer you receive will be as varied as the different spiritual philosophies which abound. Does Reiki come from the Universe, from God, or from Aliens? Good question! What does your Reiki Master think? It will be a lot easier for you to connect if you have the same philosophy in life. Sci Fi fanatics rest assured, there is someone out their teaching Reiki just for you! Jive with the Reiki Master’s philosophy and passion and you will be in for a fun seminar. Go to a devoutly Christian Reiki Master as a stoic Atheist and you are in for a hard weekend. Some Reiki Masters teach with no philosophical bias, others have a strong one, choose the one which best meets your needs.
Rule Number Five: Don’t try this at Home Folks
Pleeeese don’t try to learn Reiki by your self out of a book or through the internet! It is just not possible to give yourself Reiki without a Reiki Master present to attune you to the Reiki energy.
And Finally:
To sum it all up, trust your intuition and go with the Reiki Master you like, the one who feels most ‘right’ to you, and the one that you think you will enjoy spending a weekend with. The rest, quite honestly, will take care of itself!
