“Reiki will guide you. Let the Reiki hands find it. They will know what to do.” – Hawayo Takata (source, Helen Haberly, Reiki: Hawayo Takata’s Story)

“Put your hands, surrender and smile.” – Hyakuten Inamoto

The biggest gift we can give ourselves as a Reiki practitioner is commitment to daily self-treatment.

Sometimes we misunderstand Reiki Ryoho to be something we primarily utilize as an intervention – when we don’t feel well, or to be of service to others when they are in need of healing. In other words, Reiki practice is thought of as something we “do.”

True practice of any form takes us from the position of “doing” something (limited in its function) to manifesting something (unlimited in its possibilities.) That is true for spiritual practices, as well as any other practice – sports, art creation or cooking – in which we fully engage.

The biggest benefit we can receive as a Reiki practitioner is to place our hands on ourselves – in the morning, in the evening, without fail, but with purpose – and allow inner transformation to unfold, day by day, treatment by treatment.

Newer students often express doubt when the initial intensity of their self-treatments levels off. They worry that it is not working, or that their “connection to Reiki” isn’t strong enough. I remind myself and my students to resist the temptation of attachment to physical sensation, because it is conditional and temporal. Reiki is not some force or power outside of us that we access; it is our true, Divine nature within that unfurls and flourishes through consistent practice.

I’m going to share a secret. I often do not experience many sensations during Reiki self-treatment, although it can be relaxing. When I was new to Reiki practice, I was not naturally sensitive to many of the blissful, heady sensations reported by other practitioners. Yet, I had evidence time and time again that Reiki treatment was having an effect on me, physically, emotionally and spiritually. And that effect is cumulative – over a period of days, weeks, months, and now, years. That is why we practice – to build upon our innate potential and live with intention and purpose.

As Reiki practitioners, we are given the “secret method to invite happiness.” Regardless of what style or lineage of Reiki practice we are initiated into, the key to unlocking the secret is the same. We are instructed to place our Reiki hands and surrender with trust and wonderment.

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Thank you to Reiki Master Pamela Miles for inspiring this post.

(Photo credit: visagency)

One of the challenges Reiki practitioners in the West have had when describing to others what happens during a Reiki treatment is explaining a phenomena that is undeniably esoteric with regard to our cultural point of reference. I’ve joked before that we have Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am” to blame for this difficulty.

In Eastern cultures, energetic or spiritual phenomena are part of large and often complex systems of practice. There are both gross and subtle forms of phenomena and a contextual framework for understanding their place in mind, body and spirit functions. These phenomena can be both external and intrinsic – often simultaneously. The language of these cultures reflects this innate understanding and utilization in both daily life and spiritual matters.

In Reiki practice, we run into this issue almost immediately. First, how do we define Reiki – as phenomena, and second, how it plays out in the hands-on and spiritual aspects of the practice? Much of the verbiage I’ve read describes Reiki as a kind of “spiritual energy” that we “channel” for self-healing and healing others. Some practitioners describe themselves as a “vessel” that the “energy flows through” for healing purposes. It’s not uncommon to hear someone say they are clearing blockages and opening up energy fields too.

There are energetically-based healing practices for which these statements ring largely true. Practitioners draw in (“channel”) energy or phenomena by specific means and then they transfer it back out. In some practices, “dirty” or negative energy is removed and replaced with “clean” or good energy. This was initially my understanding of Reiki when I first learned of it, but the more I practiced, the more I realized that these statements did not, at least for me, ring true. Nor did it seem consistent with my understanding of Japanese culture and spiritual practices. However, we in the West lack an adequately precise vocabulary for describing the actions of the ineffable.

It’s taken the average public in the West about 50 years to get the basic concepts of Zen Buddhism, arguably the most popular spiritual practice transplanted from Japan. We’ve been fortunate to have had some very astute Zen Masters and scholars who were able to elucidate what “no-self”, “non-action” or “emptiness” meant in a way that became culturally relevant for us. (Although I still might argue that the popular concept of the “Zen moment” is not really the same as it’s meant in practice. Try sitting on a zafu facing the wall for what seems like an eternity and you’ll realize that it’s still a “Zen moment” – but not the one accompanied by bamboo flute music and an austere rock garden you see in spa commercials.)

In any case, I was able to grasp the basic concepts of Reiki in an instinctive way, because I’d had some training in Zen practice. But I did not begin the process of grasping the fundamental nature of Reiki until I’d been practicing for several years. And I’m still learning and deepening that understanding. Over time, there are more and more subtle aspects that continue to unfold. As more things are revealed, more things get stripped away.

At some point, it occurred to me that I didn’t feel like I was channeling Reiki. Instead, I experienced engagement with Reiki as a phenomena that was being activated simply by being present with it. I didn’t actually have to “do” anything and the less I did, the more “there” it was. As I have heard some others also say, we are not “doing” Reiki; we are “being” Reiki. In essence, Reiki is for me a very passive practice, but it creates very active results.

In Zen practice, when we place our hands in gassho and bow, we are acknowledging the innate Buddha-nature present in ourselves and others. In Reiki practice, when we place our hands in gassho and bow, we are acknowledging the Great Bright Light in ourselves and others. It is somewhat different phrasing, but essentially the same concepts. After all, Mikao Usui was a Buddhist, and this was his primary frame of reference.

During a Reiki treatment, my understanding is that I am there to help facilitate and witness this ever-present potential, this Great Bright Light, begin to spark and actualize within myself and others. I am present with and acknowledge the process, but beyond that, there is little I need to do. I don’t need to bring anything else in, nor do I need to take anything away. It is always already there. Yes, there are tools and techniques that are part of the practice, but they are there to specifically support certain processes.

In my view, there is not something “energetic” outside of us that we are bringing in during Reiki practice or treatment. We are making manifest an ever-present potential within each of us. And while we might perceive that with our ordinary minds to be “energy”, it is vastly and indefinably so much more than that.

(Photo credit: istolethetv on Flickr)

I’ve been practicing meditation for well over a decade, yoga for nearly as long, and Reiki for about 5 years now. It didn’t take long for me to see some very natural interrelationships between these practices. For example, all three practices incorporate the practice of being present, observing the movement of energy and working with the breath.

One of the things I love about Reiki is how easily the basics of the practice can be incorporated into other physical, spiritual and energetically based work. This morning, I attended yoga class at my favorite studio, Jai Shanti Yoga, for a gentle yoga class that emphasises restorative and yin asanas. This was perfect for me, particularly since I wanted to balance the effects of the fitness bootcamp class I attended the night before.

Our teacher, Rutu Chaudhari, led us through a beautiful energetic heart-centering movement, where we placed each hand on the sides of our head near the ears, gathering the energy (thoughts and sensations that arise in the mind) together and bringing them first to our third eye area and then down to the heart. This allows us to bring the energy into our heart and allow us to live from its center, rather than simply from the thinking/conceptualizing/dualistic energy of mind. Holding our hands together at the heart is also a practice shared in Reiki, when we meditate with our hands in gassho. The word gassho means “two hands coming together” and represents the union of our ordinary self with our enlightened self.

Being a Reiki practitioner, it felt very natural for me to work with my hands in this manner and sense the energy flow. It’s like a switch that turns on, and I never quite know what might happen, but trust that it will be beneficial. During this meditative movement, I could feel the energy entering my heart (in yoga, we call it the heart chakra, but in traditional Japanese Reiki, it’s our heart ki) and saw a small flame being lit. I also received a message: send your light out into the world. It was a lovely, transformative moment. I tend to be “in my head” a lot, but know that I need to integrate Heaven and Heart ki more intentionally. This was a perfect bridge between the two practices to allow for that process to happen.

During the class, I quickly saw opportunities for both breath and Reiki hands to do their magic. My upper back/shoulders and hips were very tight, which made holding some of the asanas rather challenging. Just as we can channel Reiki with our hands, we can also send Reiki with the out-breath. In yoga, breath (pranayama) is also a vital component of practice, linking movement, energy and awareness together. The breath also gives ys the space to go deeper into asanas. If we hold our breath, we are not oxygenating our tissues and muscles, and are holding tension in the body. The yogic breath and Reiki breathing allow energy to penetrate and release blocked movement. I found this very helpful in trying to get my trapezius and hamstring muscles to stretch further without potentially injuring myself. (Always, always listen to what your body is telling you!) I also was able at times to place my hand on certain areas of my body, such as my hips, when supporting certain asanas, which allowed me to send Reiki to those areas to balance and stimulate energetic movement.

I love these opportunities for discovery because they demonstrate for me so clearly that Reiki (or yoga, or other spiritually-based practices) are not something we “do” – it’s something we are. We become these practices and live them the more we find ways to explore and integrate them more fully into our everyday life. Reiki is not simply something we do when we place our hands on our body or on another’s to channel energy, just as yoga is not merely a series of moves performed on a mat. They comprise an approach to living for centering and interlinking the mind, body and spirit so they function optimally as one.

In gassho and namaste to you.

(Photo credit: El Nomadiq on Flickr)

I am pleased to offer training in Komyo Reiki, a form of traditional Japanese Reiki, the weekend of January 22-23, 2011 from 10 AM – 5:30 PM both days at Candler Park Chiropractic in Atlanta, GA. This training is limited to Reiki Masters only, but I will also begin training in individual levels of Komyo Reiki this year. (Please contact me if you are interested in learning the First and Second Degree teachings.)

I had the privilege of learning Komyo Reiki from Hyakuten Inamoto, my teacher and founder of the system. (See my story of receiving my Shinpiden training.) Inamoto, an independent Pure Land Buddhist monk, was taught by Chiyoko Yamaguchi, a student of Chujiro Hayashi. Yamaguchi learned Reiki in 1938 at the age of 17 and practiced for over 60 years before her passing in August 2003. The style of traditional Japanese Reiki she practiced and taught is now known as Jikiden Reiki.

Komyo Reiki remains true to the healing aspects of the practice taught by Hayashi and Yamaguchi. However, there is an emphasis on what Inamoto Sensei calls “spiritual enfoldment.” The goal of Komyo Reiki is satori – or enlightenment – through Reiki practice. The more peace and balance we cultivate in our lives through Reiki practice, the more we directly experience what Usui called “the miraculous medicine of all diseases.”

All four levels – Shoden, Chuden, Okuden and Shinpiden – will be taught as a complete system in a two day intensive workshop. Students will learn the history of Komyo Reiki, similaries and differences between Western (Takata style) and Japanese Reiki, traditional Japanese techniques for healing and Ki-building, as well as the reiju (attunement) process. Upon completion of this training, students will be certified as Komyo Reiki Kai Shihans (teachers) and can teach the system to others.

The cost for the Komyo Reiki Shinpiden training is $500. It includes the Komyo Reiki Kai manual, handouts, certificate of completion, ongoing support and opportunities to “internship” with Dragonfly Reiki, including the option to sit in and observe/assist during classes. Students may pay in two installments (due by date of class.) See the Reiki Classes page for more information on registration and payment options. Registration required no later than one week before the date of class to ensure sufficient materials and seating.

(Image credit: www.istockphoto.com)

I was a featured guest today on Universal Energy Radio !  I had the pleasure of participating in a lively, engaging discussion about Reiki, life coaching and the Law of Attraction at work with my host, Anna Banguilan (Law of Attraction coach, artist and Reiki Master.)  One of the things we talked about was my “accidental journey” to wellness, which led to my calling as a Reiki practitioner and teacher.  I had been asking for an answer or direction for a long time, and the Universe answered in a big way, much more than I could have ever expected!

If you didn’t get the chance to hear me live on Blog Talk Radio, here is the ”on-demand” version.  Other related podcasts are available through the Blog Talk Radio multi-player:

 You can also stream the podcast in iTunes  for free and subscribe to Universal Energy Radio’s show.  Anna and I are planning another show for December, and I’ll let you know once we’ve finalized the details.  Would love to hear your thoughts or feedback about the show too!

The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind.  – the founder, Usui Mikao

The Gokai (sometimes referred to as the Reiki Ideals or Reiki Principles) are one of the five pillars of Reiki practice.  At their heart, the Gokai are the foundation of the system of Reiki.  The Precepts are guidelines to aid students in creating a spiritually connected life.  Living in accordance with these ideals is more than just practicing Reiki; it is being Reiki.

The first two lines describe what Reiki is: the source for bringing happiness and harmony into our lives and curing what ails us.  The next five lines focus on specific imperatives or instructions we should focus on each day as practitioners and people concerned with spiritual development.  The last four lines describe how we should observe the ideals as part of our daily practice. The founder of the system of Reiki, Mikao Usui, recommended that we make time to meditate twice daily, chanting and reflecting on the meaning of the Precepts in order to connect with their deeper meaning in our lives.

A student of mine asked recently if I thought Usui Sensei ever got angry.  We have a tendency to think we have “failed” if we can’t always follow through on the Precepts – or any other spiritual practice – perfectly every day. The Precepts simply encourage us to cultivate awareness of our actions and learn how to live fully in the present moment.  By doing so, we will eventually manifest the Precepts’ positive benefits for ourselves and others.  Committing to any spiritual path is a lifelong journey of recognizing, embracing and living out our authentic self.  Expecting instant perfection sets us up for disillusionment and frustration.  Each time we return to our practice with intention and positive effort – letting go of blame, guilt or worry – the more surely we walk the path towards realization of wholeness. 

When Usui Sensei says, “Just for today” (sometimes translated as “For today only”) he was reminding us that we can only influence our lives as we are experiencing it from moment to moment. We can’t change the past and we can’t control or predict the future. However, we can be present now, and make mindful choices with regard to our responses and actions.  This is the intention behind the imperative “just for today.” We learn to trust the process; that it will provide us with the tools and support for walking the path with a sure footing and open heart.

Does that mean we will never experience negative emotions or self-limiting thoughts?  We’re human and these emotions naturally arise as a result of being in relationship to the world.  The Precepts remind us to return to the moment and observe what we’re thinking or feeling without blame or criticism.  Doing so gives us pause, providing us with the opportunity to ask, “What is really happening here?”  Often, we find that we’re subconsciously reacting due to emotional patterns imprinted on us from past experiences or we are unnecessarily taking on someone else’s emotional energy or issues. 

At that point, we have a choice as to how we will proceed.  For Reiki practitioners, this is the perfect moment to reflect on the Precepts and spend a few minutes giving a self-treatment to help with energetic balance and wholeness.  We may find ourselves surprised at how these feelings that felt so powerful and impenetrable suddenly begin shifting to something we can either release or transform into something more positive in nature.

The practice of Reiki is one of endless abundance, a way to give freely without fear of loss.  Reiki promotes compassion for oneself and others, leading to a more positive state of being and interconnectedness on a level deeper than what we can experience with the limited confines of the body.  As Usui Sensei himself said, “The mission of Usui Reiki Ryoho is to enhance mutual well-being for oneself and others, on one hand, by fulfilling a peaceful and joyful life mentally and physically and, on the other, healing the sick.” Living the Reiki Precepts allows us to invite happiness into our lives and as such, experience fully what Usui Sensei declared the “miraculous medicine of all diseases.”

Hear my teacher, Hyakuten Inamoto, reciting the Gokai in Japanese.

I’m featuring a guest blog post by one of my Reiki students, Kim Frazier Shaughnessy.  I appreciate that she agreed to share her Reiki story here with all of you.
 

I don’t recall the first time I heard the word Reiki, or if I wondered what it meant. I do know that it slipped into my consciousness and bounced around for a number of years until one day I found myself searching for someone to show me.
 
One day was a few months ago and that someone was Dana Lisa Young.
 
I did what everyone does. I Googled it. I then allowed my intuition to help me find the doorway to what I was certain I needed to do next. When I saw Dragonfly Reiki, I knew I was knocking on the right door (Dragonfly was my mother’s favorite movie and one of the last movies I watched with her). When I read Dana’s bio and saw her photo, I knew the door was open.
 
Simply put, I heard the call and I answered it. I walked through that door and I haven’t looked back since. Not only have I not looked back, consequently I haven’t looked forward. I am right here in this moment and I am sharing my experience in hopes that it will help you to decide if Reiki is right for you.
 
If you’re reading this, you’ve heard the call. Whether or not you respond is up to you. Like anything else in life, Reiki is a choice.
 
When I chose Reiki and the teacher, I chose so many unexpected things. For instance, I’ve always been more aware of my spiritual nature. I have meditated off and on for years – alone, in groups and with another. And I have seen things in some of those meditations that made everyday life look like a joke to me. As a result, I haven’t been very grounded. In a sense, connected and yet still lost. I can honestly say I no longer feel lost. And even though I’ve had Reiki experiences that would lead some to believe I’m just plain crazy, I am now very much here – more in tune with everyday life than I have ever been. The balance is not perfect, but my feet are more firmly on the ground…even when my head is in the clouds.
 
What has my life been like since my first attunement? Well, I’d be lying if I said it was suddenly a bed of roses. I don’t look ten years younger and I haven‘t won the lottery because my energy is now attracting only good things. But you know what? It’s okay. As a matter of fact, it’s so okay that I woke up one morning and decided to stop coloring my hair. Just like that. I have never enjoyed that process and decided it was no longer a worthwhile use of my time or money. Why bother when I’m just going to have to do it again in a few short weeks? This may sound silly to you, but it has been very liberating for me. In a more general sense, I’ve noticed a significant decline in my stress level. My attitude towards family, friends and co-workers has shifted and I now have a better sense of what to say, when to say it and, more importantly, when to listen. I don’t always get it right, but that’s okay too. I am noticing that those less-than-perfect moments no longer have the same power over me and as a result the negative thoughts and emotions do not linger.
 
If you asked me to describe a Reiki self treatment, I would tell you that the moment I raise my hands and ask for what I refer to as “Reiki Rain,“ I feel an instant surge of energy that I would compare to the feeling you get when a storm is coming. The atmosphere is charged with electricity and anticipation. When I put my hands together, repeat the admonitions and set my intention that same electric energy surrounds me like a warm blanket. My hands become heavy and I slip into an easy groove of acceptance of healing and a feeling of gratitude. It is that simple.
 
I’ve only had one moment of fear during a self treatment, but having made the commitment I chose to let go of that fear and trust the process. Without going into too much personal detail, I felt the strong presence of another. I let them stay and the experience was one I will never forget. I saw colors in a way I had not seen them before, like a camera with the shutter wide open and a dust-free lens. By the end of the session I was crying, but that was okay too. I was not upset.
 
If the “presence of another” confession leads you to believe that I do fall into the “just plain crazy” category, I understand. But if it makes you feel better, it isn’t usually like that. More often than not, it’s just comforting. Like a good massage on a non-physical level. Sometimes I get up from the table and I feel sleepy, so I know I need to rest. Sometimes I get up and feel energized, so I know I need to do something. And sometimes I’m just more content to go about the routine of daily life.  I might add that I’m a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a staff agent for State Farm.  How normal is that?
 
As for sharing it with others, I am learning that the experience is a little different for everyone. I have channeled Reiki for my youngest daughter who experienced relief from anxiety, but continues to struggle with a deep sadness so our sessions are infrequent. It is too much for her right now. On demand, I channeled Reiki for my middle daughter who described it as itchy and hot. She was curious and thanked me afterwards. She’s straightforward like that. My husband also described it as itchy and was certain that I pinched his ears. Not surprisingly, he has trouble with his ears. When he got up, he was yawning and I was glad to see him relaxed since he is typically hyper. He also told me that mornings would be better for him. A friend and her daughter both described heat and that night I learned that Reiki is truly in charge. My friend was feeling a lot of tension in her shoulders that did not respond to my hands when placed in that area. Instead, she felt a warm rush and release in her shoulders when I touched her feet. Go figure.
 
To date, the most touching sessions have been with my granddaughter. She is five years old, sweet, sassy and everything in between. She lets go in an instant and I am honored by her trust. One night she was so agitated and out of control that I informed her we were going to the table. She didn’t argue. She wanted to go. She kept her eyes open that time and we whispered to each other.
 
$150 for Reiki I: a day to remember. Time, energy and commitment to daily self treatment: beginning to see results. $160 for a Reiki Table and another $30 for music: a more comfortable place to do Reiki. $170 for a beautiful, soft sage room divider: privacy, so people walking around in the kitchen don’t stare into the sunroom and make fun of you while you’re lying on a table with your hands up in the air! Seeing a sweet smile on your granddaughter’s face when she places her own hands beneath yours and whispers “I can feel it, Grammy!”: priceless.
 
Okay, so I paid Dana with a check. You get my point. And truthfully, I’ve spent less money than I did on my hair last year.
 
If you choose to share the experience of a Reiki attunement with Dana Lisa Young, you will not choose – as someone so aptly put it in a testimonial – an “airy fairy.” Dana presents the gift of Reiki in a concise and intelligent manner. No frills, no nonsense. And with just the right amount of humor.

My advice to you? If you hear the call, answer it. I assure you, it’s okay.

“Practice being gentle, respectful and loving towards the life force in all things.  In other words, behave as if the God in all life really mattered.” – Dr. Wayne Dyer

Several days ago, my husband left for work in the morning as usual.  About 5 minutes later, he returned, carefully holding a bag that was rustling in his hand.  “We have an event,” he said.  Inside the bag were two tiny, pink, hairless possum babies.  Someone had hit the mama possum at the end of our road, and my husband stopped to respectfully move her body over to the grass.  As he did so, he saw the babies outside their mama’s pouch.

Although my husband was not entirely sure what to do, he knew he couldn’t leave them there.  So, he picked them up and brought them home immediately.  We placed them inside a shoebox lined with an an old t-shirt and placed the box on top of a heating pad set on low.  I called our vet and the Chattahoochee Nature Center to see who might be able to care for these babies.  They referred me to For Pet’s Sake, a veterinarian’s office specializing in avian and exotic species, because they work with a wildlife rehabilitator.  The office is located not far from my home and I was already familiar with their practice.  Years ago, I owned a cockatiel whose wing became infected and Dr. Hutcheson helped me nurse him back to health.

My husband had to leave for work, so I took the possum babies over to the veterinarian’s office.  I drove with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the shoebox.  I gave Reiki treatment to those babies the whole way.  They were mewling softly, but still active.  We have no idea how long it had been since the mother possum died, but the babies were clearly hungry.

It was a very emotional experience, connecting to these babies with this spiritual energy.  It brought back memories of holding my infant daughter in my arms, feeling Reiki flowing from me to her effortlessly.  These little beings no longer had their mama and needed all the help they could get simply to survive.

As I was about to make a left onto the road where the office was, a car suddenly appeared in front of me with the license plate: BLSINGS.  I began crying because I knew I’d been sent a sign that Spirit was present and working on the babies’ behalf.  I also believe it was Spirit that led my husband down the street in the opposite direction he usually takes to go to the office in order to be of loving service to these animals.

I brought the possums into the office and the veterinary assistant immediately whisked them into the back to place them in an incubator.  After examining them, she told me they were a boy and a girl.  They required tube feeding, because their mouths weren’t even fully open yet.  (To get a sense of just how small they were, see this story about a bushtail possum baby that was rescued in Australia.) The assistant added that we could call later that day to check on their status, which I really appreciated.

Sharing Reiki with the babies was a profound moment of bonding.  Dr. Wayne Dyer says:

Being gentle, respectful and loving to one other person or creature has major significance for you and the other.  The energy of love is sent out into the universe and connects with the same loving essence that is in all things.

The possum babies are now with the wildlife rehabilitator.  I’m hopeful they will survive and thrive to where they can be released.  Having the opportunity to assist in their rescue was humbling and touching.  It was a very direct experience of being interconnected to a species we otherwise have little contact with, since possums are nocturnal and naturally shy.

In the space and spirit of Reiki, there is no other.  There is only us held in the midst of the healing, affirmational energy of love.

“No Reiki session is ever the same, since every individual is unique & in constant change” – Frank Arjava Petter (Reiki Fire)

Note: I published this article in my monthly student newsletter. I thought it made sense to share it here with other Reiki practitioners.

It is not unusual for Reiki practitioners to say that after weeks or months of practice, the sensations they experience during Reiki feels different or perhaps even diminished. For those people who had difficulty discerning energy from the beginning, any changes in sensation can make them feel as if they aren’t facilitating Reiki correctly, which is discouraging.

Frank Arjava Petter’s quote gets at the heart of Reiki practice – whether we do self-treatments or have a practice where we do treatments on others. As we evolve, as we become healed, the nature of what we experience must also change. The strong sensations some of you may have experienced in the beginning when doing self-treatment or working on others will shift because Reiki is clearing and balancing the energy in your bodies. We are channels, and the more clear and open we are, the less work Reiki has to do in order to fulfill its purpose.

There are three important aspects to any spiritually-based practice. The first is to practice non-attachment to outcome. If you become attached to what you’re experiencing physically or emotionally, you may miss information and insights that can lead you deeper into your own healing journey, practice and understanding your true nature.

The second aspect is simply to trust the process. You may not always feel like much is happening, but Reiki is always present, always working. There have been many times in my professional practice where I didn’t experience much sensation but the client reported to me that my hands felt hot or that they could feel energetic movement.

The third aspect ties into the first two, and that is to get ourselves out of the way. The less you believe that “you” are doing something and instead begin to conceptualize the energetic interconnectedness of all beings, the more you will “be” Reiki instead of just “practicing” Reiki. At that point, there is no need to try to change anything; change happens inherently and perfectly.

I appreciate that Reiki Master Pamela Miles took the time to put together this thoughtful guide, Recipe for Reiki Credibility,  to assist someone who may be new to Reiki and aid in the process of determining whether or not a particular practitioner is a good fit – either for facilitating sessions or for teaching classes.  Ms. Miles herself is a very credible source, having pioneered the use of Reiki in conventional medicine as well as authored the book, Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide, which is an indispensable guidebook for Reiki practice and application. 

What I liked about the questions Ms. Miles lays out for us is that there is a good balance between the Reiki practitioner’s commitment to practice, their ability explain in layman’s terms what Reiki is (differentiating between the spiritual and practical aspects), what its benefits are, as well as the amount of experience a practitioner has gained by working on others.  These are the questions I asked when I sought out a Reiki teacher for my classes, and is also the criteria by which I hold myself accountable. 

The only things I would add to her list is to ask if the Reiki practitioner/teacher is still committed to learning and supporting others.  Receiving the certification is only the beginning of the journey.  A qualified Reiki practitioner will not only seek to deepen their spiritual understanding and practice, but are also likely to want to learn more about traditional and complementary medicine, biology, psychology and a bit of physics.  A Reiki teacher should not just seek to teach classes with the intent of making money or establishing themselves as an “authority.”  They should be committed to providing guidance and support for both their students and other Reiki practitioners who may have questions, either informally (telephone, email) or by holding Reiki shares.

There is certainly nothing wrong with receiving Reiki from a friend or volunteer who is just starting out.  You will still receive healing and they gain valuable experience.  However, if you are paying good money for a full treatment or are taking a class from a Reiki Master Teacher, you will get more out of it if the practitioner/teacher conducts themselves professionally and commits to Reiki on a daily basis in their personal life.

Ultimately, you will know if you found the right Reiki practitioner/teacher for you, because that person will be able to speak to you in a way that resonates with your core beliefs, as well as help you move forward on your own healing journey.