What is Reiki?

Reiki is a very simple technique to learn and is not dependent on one having any prior experience with healing, meditation or any other kind of training. It has been successfully learned by over one million people from all walks of life, both young an old. In a Reiki class, the teacher passes on the ability to do Reiki to the student through a process called an attunement. As soon as one receives an attunement, they have the ability to do Reiki!

In the Usui/Holy Fire system of Reiki taught by the International Center for Reiki Training (the lineage that I teach), there are four levels including Level 1, Level 2, Advanced and Master. Reiki Level 1 and Level 2 are taught on separate days, whereas Reiki Advanced and Reiki Master are taught in a comprehensive 3 day course.

Although Reiki energy is spiritual in nature, Reiki is NOT a religion. Practitioners are not asked to change any religious or spiritual beliefs they may have. What this means: It doesn't matter if students are Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu, they are free to continue believing anything they choose and are encouraged to make their own decisions concerning the nature of their religious practices.

A Reiki attunement is the process by which a person receives the ability to give Reiki treatments. The attunement is administered by the Reiki Master during a Reiki class. During this process, the attunement energies are transferred from the Reiki Master to the student, connecting the receiver to the source of Reiki. The attunement experience is different for every student. Some may experience warmth in their hands, see colors or have visions of spiritual beings during the attunement. However, it is not necessary to have an inner experience for the attunement to have worked. Most simply feel more relaxed.

After receiving a Reiki attunement, the effects remain in place for the duration of one's lifetime. However, getting additional attunements can improve and reinforce the energy of one's Reiki. From my experience, the more attunements I receive the more refined my Reiki feels, reaching subtler levels of healing.

Reiki is a technique that is passed on from teacher to student over and over. If one has Reiki, than she/he will be part of a succession of teachers leading back to the founder of the system of Reiki one is practicing. In the case of Usui Reiki, the lineage would lead back to Dr. Usui.

The Usui/Holy Fire style of Reiki which is a combination of the Usui/Takata and Holy Fire Reiki methods. Usui/Takata Reiki - a style of Reiki developed by Ms. Takata. Hawayo Takata was a Japanese-American woman who played a significant role in the history and spread of Reiki in the Western world in the late 1930s. She was trained in Reiki by a Japanese Reiki master named Chujiro Hayashi, one of 13 Reiki masters trained by Mikao Usui (the founder of Reiki). Holy Fire Reiki - a form of Reiki that was developed by William Lee Rand, the developer of Karuna Reiki and founder of the International Center for Reiki Training. Holy Fire Reiki is a spiritual energy that is said to come from a higher level of consciousness and provides a more refined and powerful form of Reiki energy. Holy Fire Reiki is considered to be a natural evolution of the traditional Usui Reiki system. It is said to be more intuitive, gentle, and compassionate in nature, and can help individuals to heal on a deep level by addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual imbalances. Holy Fire Reiki incorporates new techniques and symbols that are designed to enhance the effectiveness of Reiki healing. These techniques are said to provide a deeper and more profound experience for both the practitioner and the recipient of the healing energy. While the word 'Holy' is used in religion, Holy Fire Reiki is not religious. It is simply a healing therapy.

There are many people teaching Reiki classes now, and with over 70 Reiki lineages to choose from (some being extremely popular and some being less well known), it can be difficult to find a teacher that is right for you. Here's a list of questions that you can ask a Reiki Master that you are thinking about taking a class with: How long have you been working with Reiki? What Reiki training have you had? What is/are your Reiki lineage(s)? Will this training progress me within the Usui Reiki lineage? If not, then which lineage is it a part of? 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 Reiki certificate and a Reiki manual? How many Reiki symbols will I learn? Is there a Reiki support group in my area or can you help me establish one? Will you support me in being a successful Reiki Practitioner or Reiki Master? Do you have a respectful and positive feeling toward other Reiki practitioners and Reiki Masters, regardless of lineage or affiliation? Above all else, listen to your heart and you will be guided to the right teacher!