Teaching reiki symbols for yourself?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

catlin	11 Jun 2002
There was a book recently released which claimed to give you access to Reiki symbols without being initiated by a Reiki master. When I talked to the lady who wants to convince me to get a Reiki training from her, she told me that it's not possible to learn the symbols by yourself. Any comments, suggestions, etc about that?

Martin	11 Jun 2002
"she told me that it's not possible to learn the symbols by yourself. " Or more correctly it's not in the interests of her bank balance for yout to learn them yourselves. I'm afraid I despise the commericialism of Reiki, the idea of paying extortionate amounts of money for someone to attune you. It's no suprise it's taken off so well in the western world, wher one can get healing powers for cash, without the hard work. Compare it with other healing methods and there's no comparison. To train in esoteric healing you are looking at years of work & study, for reiki it comes in a few weekend sixed doses. I'm not saying I don't feel it works, only that I personally think it's just become another way of ripping off gullible and lazy people. Martin

Jenny-Li	11 Jun 2002
I can't answer your question, am not initiated myself, not yet anyway. I have had similar thoughts though, so this is basically just to add to your question... The woman I'm thinking of as my future Reiki Master (she doesn't know yet, but she will...! :D), her point of view (and this is one of the things I like about her, but it might also be where I'm wrong, I guess...) is that Reiki is a natural gift of the Universe to all mankind, and that it is our "birth right". So she gives the symbols for free, but says in order to gain the experience and guidance she has classes, where you learn to grow with it - and get your initiation, of course. This feels right to me. Reiki is the Power of Life (maybe there is a better word or expression for it?), of course it belongs to all of us. But in order to handle it right, and in a good way, perhaps we could do with the guidance of someone experienced. I know people who do initiations 100% at a distance, in fact I have a friend who has offered to give me all three levels just like that *fingers snapping* and that feels/seems strange to me... (But I feel awful turning down such a loving and generous offer... *sigh*) But maybe that's just me, being insecure... Anyway, this woman has courses, but they aren't very expensive (relatively speaking...) and they seem to be focused on how to work on the experience you need to *live reiki*. That's how I see reiki by the way, as a way of life, rather than just something you do. With that perspective it's also natural that you can't "learn" a way of life in a weekend or two - but meeting others who share this interest/passion/drive with you can make you develop and grow a great deal. So, what do the rest of you say, is this another lost soul speaking, the words of gullible and lazy Jenny...? ;) (Martin, I agree with you, just loved that expression!) Light and love, Jenny :)

Kaz	11 Jun 2002
anybody can learn the symbols by him/herself, i am pretty sure you can find them on the net somewhere, it's like learning alphabeta etc. but, that doesn't mean you can read or write a book. i consider paying for reiki just the same as i pay for other services. i think the reiki is there for anyone, but like this has been said in other threads, peoples time and effort are valuable, and that is what i pay for, and that's only fair i think. kaz

MysticRose	11 Jun 2002
Hi :-) You can learn the symbols by yourself but that doesn't mean you have learned Reiki. A teacher is always best. Don't pay someone too much but DO expect to pay something just for the time involved in teaching you. To become a Reiki Master doesn't mean you automatically know it all about Reiki... it is actually only the beginning of the path of teaching and enlightenment. Reiki 1&2 are about self healing and helping others heal. An awesome website to learn the basics and thinking behind Reiki is: http://angelreiki.nu You will still need the attunements. An in-person teacher can be immensely helpful too. Just be sure to do your research and pick a good one as there are a few rotten apples out there that give the rest of us a bad name. All the best, SkyDancer1111, RMT http://www.mystictemple.com

fairyhedgehog	11 Jun 2002
Why do people need to be 'attuned' for Reiki? Surely the first person to use Reiki must have attuned him/herself?

MysticRose	11 Jun 2002
If you feel that way.... then by all means just attune yourself... Love & Light

Jenny-Li	11 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog Why do people need to be 'attuned' for Reiki? Surely the first person to use Reiki must have attuned him/herself? The woman I wrote about says there's nothing that says you need an attunement, nothing that you can't *give yourself*. BUT! Attunement and symbols alone won't make you a healer, it's not "the whole story". The connection and community between the master and the apprentices at her courses, they all develop together, in finding the way to "live Reiki" - that's what (one of the things at least!) I like so much about her approach! Light and love, Jenny :)

jade	12 Jun 2002
well, i must say that i disagree with much of what i have read on this thread. as a reiki master/teacher i have lived reiki for many years. the attunements open your 7th chakra to the vibration of reiki (universal life energy) and then to channel the energy you simply need to have the intention and it flows. (sometimes even without conscious intention) you don't need to focus on sending the healing to the recipient.....it just flows. the symbols can be used by anyone, of course, but they are much more powerful when you are attuned to the vibration of reiki. just as with magical practises, if you just say the words or draw symbols without really being 'one' with them.........they aren't as powerful as when you truly understand them and have worked with them. i charge for attunements and many of my students are distant attuned. once you have experienced an attunement you understand how magical and amazing this process is. you don't just sit there feeling nothing. many people have visions, feel the presence of higher beings and can feel the change in their body and hands immediately. i remember my first degree attunement 14 years ago and my hands have never felt the same since. my healing process, from childhood sexual abuse, was increased and i healed very quickly. my body went thru a cleansing process and still does whenever i receive an attunement. my enlightenment was greatly increased and is with every attunement. my psychic abilities also increase with every attunement. as a master/teacher i still get re-attuned to assist the reiki energy to 'boost' my life in a postive direction :D as a teacher, i spend ALOT of time with my students, either in person or on the internet. sometimes on the phone, loong distant, also. the fee that i charge for the attunements is an exchange for the time and energy that i send to my students. without an exchange, one person is always giving and others receiving and then dis-ease takes hold from the 'empty cup' that is never getting re-filled! the first person to practise reiki was jesus christ and then dr. usui re-discovered reiki in the early 1800's. he meditated on a mountain top for 21 days on sanskrit symbols and was attuned by god/goddess. his story is on many reiki sites but this is the one that i recommend to my students since it is closest to my teachings. http://reiki.7gen.com/ there are many veins of reiki, just as there are many veins of christianity. no one is right.......they are all right and perfect for whoever follows them. :D so as for reiki m/t's being only concerned with their bank accounts............personally i haven't met any..........but if you have then try to remember that just because someone is a reiki m/t doesn't mean that they are enlightened. you need to choose your teachers carefully when learning anything spiritual (even reflexology or the tarot!) thanks for taking the time to read my post. i hope that i have enlightened some of you. in light, jade

catlin	12 Jun 2002
Thanks for your input. This lead to another question: What criterias do you apply to a "good" teacher? Personally I'd rely on my "gut feeling" but are there any more information you have to get before deciding for an attunement?

Martin	12 Jun 2002
I work in a variety of healing modalities, and personally would much rather see one open their own chakras than have someone else do it for them. I don't doubt for one minute that the Sahasrara chakra may be opened by attunement, but there are various considerations one should make. My main bugbear is that it is unwise to open the crown chakra without first ensuring the others are balanced, and the majority of reiki practitioners I have come across do not demonstrate balance, in fact most of them have severely disconnected base chakras. And to be honest when one pops along to a weekend course in reiki, is anyone really judge enough that the person is ready for that amount of growth in consciousness? The crown chakra should only be opened by an individual through long term spiritual practice & dedication, not through mechanistic means for cash. This is the reason why through antiquity instructions in this have been withheld by teachers, and often been kept in an oral tradition to prevent it becoming abused. The fact also remains that reiki is one form of healing, utilising the same healing energy as a vast number of other healing practices, which do not charge vast sums of money for atunement into their system. The question then remains that if one can pay a reasonable amount of money for help in opening themselves to channeling energy in other forms, why should reiki practioners charge so much for the same thing? I have no problem with charging appropriate amounts, but can one really claim that amounts reaching three (and sometimes even four) figures are appropriate? I don't think so. I particularly like the excuse given by Kit Ford Young (of Usui tradition) for the sum of $10,000 for the masters level, that "the number 10,000 represents all of everything in Japanese culture"!! Well, the number 100,000 represents a lot for me, so maybe I should start charging that in pounds for training?! These are not problems that can be brushed unde the carpet. If one looks at the cudden growth of reiki masters. About 20 years ago there were only 22 reiki masters passing down attunements, all with a direct lieneage from the founder Dr Mikao Usui, whereas now there at least 4,000 Usui masters and who knows how many other "new age" masters there are. There is now the undeniable situation where many masters have less than a years experience of reiki (compared with the Usui tradition of 3 years minimum experience). I've seen reiki parts one & two combined, and even more startling the masters course as a weekend! It used to be the case that the masters was to be undertaken after a minimum of two years, with training sometimes lasting a year. And yet worse is happening, adverts for courses where masters are attuning up to 60 people at a time, now how much must that be raking in? On top of that it has become commonplace for certain adaptations to have been made to make it more appealing to the lazy western mindset, such as the dropping of the detoxifying instructions and the 21 day clearing cycle. In fact the 21 day clearing cycle that was once considered crucial to early training has nearly all but disappeared, I suppose the idea of having to actually do something other than part with cash wouldn't draw in the crowds?! I think the appeal of reiki, and the reason for its recent popularity, can be summed up in three words, "instant spiritual gratification". And I'm afraid it comes down to the industry & practitioners to do something about it, like clamping down a bit on the anything goes reign. Aromatherapy, reflexology, kinesiology, spiritual healing, metamorphic technique etc all have governing bodies that have done a grand job in trying to ensure training is standardised and sufficient, isn't it about time the same was done with reiki? Martin

jade	12 Jun 2002
martin, you are assuming that all reiki masters do what you are accusing us all of! i studied for many years before i became a teacher and i charge $100 for first degree, $200 for second, $300 for third (master) and $400 for teacher level. in all my years of attuning i have only attuned one person to the 3rd and 4th degree! i am very careful who i attune to 3rd and 4th degrees. yes, some veins of reiki charge $10,000 for their teacher level of attunement.......but i'm not with that vein of reiki. i believe that everyone should be able to afford to have reiki if they desire it. (and exchange is very important) also, the largest group of students i have ever attuned at once was 3. i don't do large groups and i spend alot of time teaching my students (if they are willing to take the time learning which 90% of them are). some get their attunement and then choose to not continue with lessons. i don't force anything on anyone, but i do offer it. i insist on the 21 day cleansing with all my students whether they are being attuned to a new level or re-attuned to the level they have already completed. personally, i have re-attuned myself many times (thru my m/t) because i find that thru my experience it assists me greatly to heal and grow. there is bad in every batch of apples so to state that all m/t's are in it for the money............you are being prejudiced and unfair. ~~~ also, reiki is a gentle and wonderful experience. the attunements are magical and amazing. i have never heard of anyone having a negative experience after an attunement (or during one). i disagree with you about people "should not get attunements, rather do it themselves". there is nothing wrong with having a teacher to guide you and assist you on your path. reiki doesn't shock open your chakras.........it opens them a little bit in the first attunement (and yes, we balance the chakras during the attunement process)...then......the more you use your reiki the more YOU open them. if you use it everyday, as i suggest to my students, then your ability grows and you take the energy into yourself deeper. that's also why i offer re-attunements, because many of my students, (myself included) love to sit in the attunement energy and bask in the light of reiki. if you choose not to use your reiki after your attunement.....then it doesn't get any bigger. you said, "is anyone really judge enough that the person is ready for that amount of growth in consciousness?" - i don't judge my students, ever. i'm not there to judge them, only to assist them on their path. they come when they are ready, their guides bring them to me and when they feel the time is right, we perform the attunement process. but there's never any judging going on. - also, as i stated in my above paragraph, the growth in consciousness is totally up to the student, if they desire it, then they continue to channel the energy, (which by the way gets them into the place where they are ready). ~~~ catlin, i suggest that when looking for a teacher (to learn anything spiritual) you need to get to know them and see if they 'walk their talk' and what they are going to teach you and how long they will work with you. ask them about why they do what they do and even ask to speak to other students to get a good idea of what kind of a teacher you are getting. in light and love, jade

jade	12 Jun 2002
jenny, distant attunements are a great experience. all of my students have 'felt' when they begin and have 'felt' when they end. they are no less perfect and right than a hands on attunement. it depends on what you prefer as the student. some people prefer to see the teacher and others prefer to take the attunement at a convenient time for them in a place of comfort, like in the woods or in their home rather than in a conference room etc. neither is wrong, both are perfect........as there is no time and space, the attunement goes when and where it is sent. :D in light, jade

aeonx	13 Jun 2002
Greetings all. This is the most interesting thread I've read in a while! I really want to try out reiki now. I've been thinking about it, but it haven't 'kicked in', if you know what I mean. Now I'm considering getting a book on reiki I can study in Thailand. :) ~aeonx~ PS: jade, maybe you have to adopt me and train me? :D I'm good at washing dishes. *lol* :P

jade	13 Jun 2002
oh you are adopted!!!! :D:D:D:D:D my kids are constantly fighting at the sink LOL i'm so glad that catlin and martin's questions were able to assist you. in light and love, jade :D

Kaz	13 Jun 2002
some reiki thing i can share with you all: i smoked cigarettes, for lots of years can't remember even, maybe 15 years in total with the 1 year stops included in here. i tried to quit numerous times, but everytime after about a year or so i started again. now, i quit again, and reikied the addiction i have. not smoking is no problem at all, the "instead of smoking" things were the problem always, these make me go back to smoking, but not now since i am healing the addiction, i only have this urge once in a while and it's lots easier to just let it go by. so, i know this time it was the last time i quit..... kaz

jade	13 Jun 2002
(and in the proper way of an affirmation kaz concludes her statement with.........) because i will NEVER smoke again. :) jade

Kaz	14 Jun 2002
lol @ jade, yea, you could add that, i thought i made myself clear enough :P kaz

aeonx	14 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kaz now, i quit again, and reikied the addiction i have. not smoking is no problem at all, the "instead of smoking" things were the problem always, these make me go back to smoking, but not now since i am healing the addiction, i only have this urge once in a while and it's lots easier to just let it go by. so, i know this time it was the last time i quit..... kaz jade: I might take you up on that! :D Wow. Was it easy, just like that?? I will have to consider doing the very same thing when I get that far then. :) ~aeonx~

Kaz	14 Jun 2002
aeonx, yes actually it's that easy. :) kaz

magicmadrigal	14 Jun 2002
I assume you are speaking of Diane Stein's book :) It's a really good one too. My reiki master recommended it to me after my first attunement. I'm am a reiki master, I do not charge for sessions and I will freely attune someone to the first level of reiki. I believe that the 'his-story' of reiki most people preach and all the other extraneous trappings are utter nonsense. Ushi probably never left Japan during that period of history just prior to WWII. Japan was to much into it's imperialism period and most people of that culture would not have wandered to far at the time. However, I do believe in the power of the kanji symbols, and I do believe you can learn them and use them yourself, however unless your aura is imprinted (attuned) to them the power is less than if you are attuned. And that is basically all the attunement is. It places these and other symbols into your aura at various chakra points. I will also say that the symbols in the book are almost all the same but some of the advanced ones are slightly different from what I was taught. To be honest I don't think that the exact symbol is necessary, like with magick, Reiki is mostly intent. It took me awhile to find a reiki master to teach me without charging an arm and a leg. I find the ones that do charge a lot are more into their reiki lineage than into the true meaning of reiki which is healing through unconditional love energy. It then took me three years to get to the masters level. My master felt it was important to practice each level for at least a year, so that it really became part of you. I could actually feel the physical changes in me after each attunement. The best analogy I can think of is think of an electrical current - level one reiki is 120v AC, level 2 is 240v AC, and masters or level three is like going direct or DC :) The other thing the training does is to teach you how to ground and center before/during and after reiki which is as important as the reiki itself. But whether you find a master to attune you or not, I would definitely recommend that book! And remember when you are ready your teacher will come.

raeanne	14 Jun 2002
Hi all, How about Krishna? He lived many, many years before Jesus but I believe he also was a Reiki practitioner. I could be wrong but Krishna healed a lot of people with a method that at least was very similar to Reiki.

jade	14 Jun 2002
kaz, i just wouldn't want the goddess to hear that statement and rather than assuming you meant not to ever smoke again......just made it so that you would never quit again. i love you waaaaay too much for that! love and light, jade

aeonx	15 Jun 2002
magicmadrigal: which Stein-book? Is it the 'Essential Reiki'? I'm going to get a book on reiki, but I'm not sure witch, so help me out here if you can. :) ~aeonx~

Kaz	15 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jade kaz, i just wouldn't want the goddess to hear that statement and rather than assuming you meant not to ever smoke again......just made it so that you would never quit again. i love you waaaaay too much for that! love and light, jade that's ok jade :-) thanks for drawing the line even straighter :-) i know you love me :) kaz

wavebreaker	15 Jun 2002
Very interesting thread, thanks everyone for your contributions! I'm finally going to do my second level course in a few weeks time. I've been wanting to do it for years, but most reikimasters here in the Netherlands charge a fixed price, which I found way too high. I have now found a reikimaster who charges a reasonable price. I'll keep you posted! ;)

magicmadrigal	17 Jun 2002
aeonx, Yes, that's the book, Essential Reiki. Excellent book!

catlin	18 Jun 2002
Thanks again for all your input. Maybe I'll get that book about reiki symbols and will re-read some Usui. I plan to get reiki attunement in fall.

aeonx	18 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by magicmadrigal aeonx, Yes, that's the book, Essential Reiki. Excellent book! Thanks! *running off to check if we got this in stock* :D ~aeonx~

The Teaching reiki symbols for yourself? thread was originally posted on 11 Jun 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.