Reiki

. Spiritual healing vs faith healing

Some Reiki practitioners have expressed a preference for the term "spiritual healing" over "faith healing" because they object to the implication that faith is required for Reiki to work.

Theories and practices

Some schools teach that Reiki energy enters the practitioner through the 7th (crown or Shasrara) chakra, goes through the 4th chakra and then flows through her or his hands (secondary chakras) into the body of the recipient. It is also taught that Reiki energy enters through the 1st (root or Muladhara) chakra at the base of the spine, fills the aura, becomes centered in the 4th (heart or Anahata) chakra, and flows out through the practitioner's hands. Most schools teach that the Reiki energy is an "intelligent" energy, which "knows what to do," or "where it is needed the most." Thus, Reiki adherents say, if the recipient needs it and is ready to heal, the Reiki energy will go where it needs to for healing. They also maintain that if, on the other hand, the intended recipient does not accept the energy on some level, the energy will not be absorbed. Some schools teach that Reiki "spirit guides" keep watch over Reiki energy and assist the practitioner. It is said by them that any intention to do harm will block the flow of Reiki energy.

In a Reiki session, the practitioner asks the recipient to lie down and relax. The practitioner then is said to act as a channel for Reiki energy, theoretically allowing "Reiki energy" to be channelled through the practitioner to wherever the patient is thought to require it. Usually the practitioner moves their hands close to or on various parts of the recipient's body. Some patients report feeling various sensations: heat, tingling, cold, pressure, etc. Practitioners of Reiki attribute these sensations to Reiki energy filling energetic deficiencies in the body and aura of the recipient, repairing and opening their energy channels (meridians or nadis), pulling out "negativity," and dissolving the blockages of "stale" energy.

Some claim that practitioners can also channel Reiki energy through other parts of their bodies (for example, their eyes or their breathing) if they wish. According to practitioners, intention is the primary method for directing the flow of the energy. Reiki healers say that their energy can be used for healing either in physical proximity or from a distance. Furthermore, many Reiki healers claim that the ability to share Reiki comes only after a "Reiki Master" performs an initiation or attunement.

Positive effects of Reiki treatment have been documented in papers published in some peer-reviewed alternative medical journals. The benefits center around biological indications of relaxation and increased immunity, reduced heart rate, improved blood pressure, and reduced pain, anxiety and depression.[5] Other reports have focused on successful treatment of cancerous cells in mice.[6]

Non-traditional Reiki

The independent movement developed partly in response to the belief that Reiki training should be more widely available and practiced in a flexible and complementary way with other practices, and as a political reaction to the mainstream of Hawayo Takata's style. Furthermore, some practitioners believe that Reiki is humanity's birthright. New paths were developed out of the Reiki core that fused it with New Age thinking regarding Wicca, shamanism, channeling and so forth. Also, new symbols and practices are often added. Many of these symbols emerged through practitioners who said they felt guided to expand the system in various ways. A great deal of generic New Age content is now often taught either as an adjunct to Reiki or even as an integral part of the system, and numerous schools of thought now exist, some being freely offered and some proprietary. This new form of Reiki was initially developed in opposition to the stricter Reiki practices that Hawayo Takata claimed were the authentic method. Some of the independent schools of Reiki differ from mainstream Reiki by the inclusion of what they call "skhm" or "Seichim energy" and symbols into their teaching, which is said by its adherents to make the experience and practice of channelling Reiki different.

Celtic Reiki

Celtic Reiki is a modality of Reiki originated and developed by Martyn Pentecost through working with different species of tree and shrubs. It has been further developed by other Masters such as Pamela Jordan and Julie Norman. The system employs symbols derived from ogham (an ancient script used by some Gaelic tribes). Advocates claim that Reiki energy mimics the frequency of various trees and plants so as to combine the alleged healing energy of Reiki with allegedly channeled "ancient wisdom of the Celts."

Reiki Tummo

Reiki Tummo is another form of Reiki based on a combination of Japanese Reiki with the Tibetan techniques of Tummo. It has been taught by Irmansyah Effendi since 1998. The purpose of this method is said by its adherents to be the awakening of the Kundalini in a safe and controlled manner and to use the heart and what they call the "Inner Heart" as a personal guide in attaining Yoga.

Reiki Magick

Reiki magicians follow a practise similar to Celtic Reiki. Wiccan rituals are combined with Reiki beliefs in energy transfer. Reiki magicians are often denigrated by other schools of Reiki for not being "traditional" enough. Reiki Magick practitioners assert that one must attend a ritual of initiation and that one should be cleansed upon an altar of all the evil spirits and energies said to be invading their soul.

Training

Mikao Usui's Reiki method spread widely. Correspondence courses over the Internet even offer distance training. To achieve a complete education in the "Usui method of Reiki Healing," three courses are necessary: the 1st degree course, the 2nd degree course, and the master course. The specific content of each of these courses varies widely from one teacher to another, depending on personal philosophies. A typical set of courses is something like the following:

First Degree Reiki courses teach the basic theories of how to work with Reiki energy. The channel through which Reiki energy passes to the practitioner is said to be widened through an initiation by the teacher, permitting the Reiki energy be strong enough to effect healing. Students learn hand placement positions on the recipient's body that are thought to be most conducive to the healing process.

In the Second Degree Reiki course, a symbol for mental healing is taught, enabling students to purportedly treat even deeply ingrained problems like fears, depression, addictions, and the like. Students are instructed on how to direct Reiki energy to a certain point in time, to a specific person or place, or a specific issue. The issue can be something like an individual's particular health problem, or it can be a more abstract or general issue such as world peace. Practitioners say that this is possible using three symbols taught at the second initiation. The claim is that this skill allows the Reiki channel to be opened even wider.

As part of the master course, usually the Third Degree, students become a Reiki "master" through the third initiation; they learn how to initiate students and have the option of teaching Reiki courses themselves. The student learns a further "master" level symbol in this course as well as the method of attuning others. In some cases the third level is broken into smaller stages of attunements from the teacher; the attunements for the first, second, and third level may also be administered in stages. A teacher has completed practical training when told that he or she has the ability to attune others to all degrees and has been given the final fourth Reiki Master symbol that is used in attunements.

It is up to students how many levels they want to complete. The courses are sequential, and can be expensive, especially the third (master) level. Often a teacher will require time in between one course and another (during which the student is expected to apply new learning before taking the next degree). Before offering Reiki treatments to the public, a student is often advised to take a second-degree course. It usually costs $150 to be "attuned" to reiki level I or level II. To become an official, recognized reiki master, one pays about $500 for the "attunement" process and also learns to teach and give attunements to others.

The considerable variation in the speed and method of teaching has caused some dispute. While courses are now advertised that say they can teach Reiki in just a few short days, traditionalists point out that for much of history, Reiki was kept a closely-guarded secret and was only taught to people who were considered safe and "worthy". The traditional view is that Reiki is so powerful that it can be abused by those who have not spent time developing a feel and intuition for the craft. To this extent, some believe that the "truest" Reiki is still guarded and taught slowly by only a few "genuine" Reiki masters. Students on the traditional path may be made to wait a year or more before being allowed to learn stage two, and thereafter many more years before being taught the Master level. Traditionalists maintain that any method that teaches Reiki "quickly" cannot be teaching the real thing, because there is no substitute for experience and patient mastery of the art. [7] [8]