How expensive is Reiki?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Jul 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

tigerlily	08 Jul 2002
Since so many people are so excited about Reiki, I got interested in it, too. Today I read the German "Reiki Magazin" to find out where I could learn it (get initiated?) and also to learn more about Reiki itself. Unfortunately, the first page was about prices ... the 1st degree costs 100 - 200 EUR, the 2nd degree 250 - 650 EUR, the 3rd degree 1700 - 10 000 EUR. I guess I'll stick to my herbs, thank you. I just don't have that money left at the end of the month. But I'm curious: are the prices the same everywhere? What did you have to pay?

wavebreaker	08 Jul 2002
Here in the Netherlands, we have an organization called the Reiki Alliance. I think it's an international organization, but I'm not sure. Anyway, they have fixed prices: € 150 for first degree, € 500 for second degree and a lot of money (I think something like € 5000) for third degree. However, not all reikimasters are a member of this organization, and those that aren't a member have their own prices. My reikimaster for my second degree is not a member and she charges € 140 for this course (€ 135 for first degree). Please note though: you don't have to do all three degrees. If you just want to use reiki for yourself and for people around you, first degree is enough. Second degree will teach you to send reiki over a distance. Third degree is to become a reikimaster, if you want to teach reiki courses and give attunements to others. A lot of people only have first degree and find that that is enough for them. I chose to do the second degree, because I wanted to get deeper into it and because I wanted to be able to send reiki over a distance.

tigerlily	08 Jul 2002
I'm so confused about all those different organizations, too! They all say they're teaching the "original" Reiki, but some have only three degrees, some have four, some have seven (!), some have initiations that "open hand- and footchakras", some teach a form of Reiki that they have channeled from Atlantis - or so they say... I really believe those of you who say that Reiki is such a wonderful thing, but when I read those ads, it seems like a big rip-off to me - the more degrees, the more "special" intiations, the more money... and how do I know if the Reiki master I choose is one of the ethical-minded ones? I really don't know ...

wavebreaker	08 Jul 2002
I agree, it's difficult. There are several different "methods". The one that I've done is the Usui method of natural healing, as taught by Hawayo Takata. That one has got three degrees. I don't know about the other methods. And about finding a reikimaster: I think the most important thing is that there's a "click", that you get along. I found my first reikimaster through an add in a reiki magazine, and I liked her a lot. The second reikimaster I found on the internet, I found her website because she does tarot courses as well. And I like her a lot as well. What you could do is go to a reikimaster for a treatment, to see what s/he is like. And then you could ask her/him what's in the course. Each course has to have certain elements, so you can check whether those are included.

Mermaid	08 Jul 2002
I felt the same a little while ago, Tigerlily, I had a friend that got his 1st degree and absolutely raved about it. So I really wanted to try this Reiki thing out too! :) I was put off by the price, and also by the idea that it seemed a bit like a pyrimid scheme - no offense to any legitimate Reiki masters out there, but the idea that you pay $10 000 to be a master, and then get to collect $10 000 off other people who you attune seemed a little bit suspect to me... I'd still love to try it out, but I think I'll carry on waiting till I find someone near here who charges a price that I can afford to pay. Reiki 1 in NZ normally costs around $100 - $200 NZ. :)

napaea	08 Jul 2002
I don't know how to do money conversions in this international group!! lol I have gone through Reiki I, and along with tarotlady, i studied the usui method. I see what you guys are saying about it looking maybe like a pyramid thing, but it totally depends on who you have as a teacher. I have seen Reiki I classes offered in a weekend for $500.00, and Reiki I classes that take 3 months for $250.00. It depends on the teacher. As far as levels, i think of it in the same sense as yoga, or maybe karate is a better example. in karate you have certain belt colors, yellow, green, blue,etc, and you advance through the levels. after that you can learn to become a teacher yourself, or master. even on top of the masters there are masters. Reiki is the same. there are the 3 basic levels (at least in the Usui method) and beyond that, you can become Reiki master, then master-teacher, etc.etc. The advancement is just if you want to further your practice and knowledge and teach others. Check out prices everywhere you can. I know there are masters who are reasonable with prices, and some who are even willing to barter if you have something you can help them with. Some people are totally trying to rip you off, so go with your intuition and be informed. Reiki is a universal healing method, and everyone has access to it. I don't know how the attunements work, but they somehow open you up to receive this energy. It is definately worth the investment, but even spending a lot of money doesn't guarantee you'll be happy with your instructor. Two people in my Reiki I class had already gone through all 3 levels of Reiki before, they just didn't have the knowledge they should have. anyway, hope this helps and sorry it's so long!

wavebreaker	09 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Mermaid I was put off by the price, and also by the idea that it seemed a bit like a pyrimid scheme - no offense to any legitimate Reiki masters out there, but the idea that you pay $10 000 to be a master, and then get to collect $10 000 off other people who you attune seemed a little bit suspect to me... These high prices are only charged by members of the Reiki Alliance over here and they are only for third degree courses. I know that my reikimaster charges € 550 (which is about $ 550 at the moment) for the third degree. Which I think is a reasonable price, because the third degree takes a lot of time. First and second degree are usually done in just one weekend, but third degree takes a lot longer. But again: you don't have to take all the degrees to be able to use reiki effectively, first degree is enough for most people. If your reikimaster wants to charge you $ 10 000 for a first or second degree course, you know for sure that you've got the wrong one... ;)

Rhiannon	09 Jul 2002
One teacher here charges $15 for an introduction to Reiki and then $125 per class from 1-3. I believe each class consists of 3 meetings/sessions. Does that sound reasonable? Rhiannon :)

wavebreaker	09 Jul 2002
Sounds reasonable to me compared to the prices over here, and so does the number of sessions. But does that include third degree as well? Because three sessions sounds like very little for third degree. Third degree is becoming a reikimaster, which means you can teach and attune others, and you can't really learn that in just three sessions.

jade	09 Jul 2002
i know that money is an issue here, but truly, in my opinion it should be the teacher. when you are learning something so sacred you want to find someone that you really click with. as a m/t i charge $100 for first degree (canadian funds) $200 for second, $300 for third and $400 for fourth. (third is the master level and fourth is the teacher level) it takes years to get to the third and fourth levels because spiritual enlightenment is a big part of it. when i work with a student, i work with them for life if they choose. so i put in alot of time and energy for my students, hence the exchange of money. i also do exchanges for those that don't have the funds and wish to 'trade' instead, but as with any true exchange, it has to be something that i want heehee. or it's not really an exchange. i attune more for the exchange of money though, since that's what most people are comfy with. third and fourth degree are really just the teacher level split into two because so many students wanted to go higher without being a teacher. (that is my understanding of it anyway) in light, jade :D

wavebreaker	09 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jade i know that money is an issue here, but truly, in my opinion it should be the teacher. when you are learning something so sacred you want to find someone that you really click with. I totally agree with you, but even though I really liked the reikimaster I did my first degree course with, I just couldn't afford her second degree course... :( Luckily, I've now found a reikimaster that I click with AND that I can afford... :) Quote: third and fourth degree are really just the teacher level split into two because so many students wanted to go higher without being a teacher. (that is my understanding of it anyway) My reikimaster does this too. I think it's a very good system. Personally, I have no desire to become a reikimaster to teach, but I can imagine doing the third degree without the teaching part at some time in the future.

tigerlily	09 Jul 2002
Jade, I find your prices very reasonable. I didn't intend to give the impression that I wanted the Reiki attunement for free :) But there's a huge difference between your 300$ for third degree and the 10 000 Euro (which today are the same as 10 000 $) for third degree that the Reiki-Magazin offered as *regular* prizes. I can afford 200$, but not 650$ for 2nd degree (and anyway, I would only want/need 1st and 2nd). I was just horrified at those prices I read, because from the lecture of that magazine, it seemed to me that the beneficial effects of Reiki were only meant for wealthy people and that would be so unjust.

Jenny-Li	10 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jade as a m/t i charge $100 for first degree (canadian funds) $200 for second, $300 for third and $400 for fourth. (third is the master level and fourth is the teacher level) it takes years to get to the third and fourth levels because spiritual enlightenment is a big part of it. when i work with a student, i work with them for life if they choose. so i put in alot of time and energy for my students, hence the exchange of money. i also do exchanges for those that don't have the funds and wish to 'trade' instead, but as with any true exchange, it has to be something that i want heehee. or it's not really an exchange. Hi! Being in the process of looking for a master for myself right now, I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth. I think your prices are very reasonable too - but most of all I like your approach when you say "i work with them for life if they choose". How I wish more reiki masters had that perspective! The ones I've come across (and left behind) seem to think a course is if not a one-night-stand, then basically a one-weekend-stand, and then they send you off on your own until you pay them some more money for the next level. This is when I find the money issue gets to be bigger than the issue of "quality". I guess what I'm saying is that I would (and will!) value the Reiki Master who is there for me, for life if that is what I feel/find is right for me. That's isn't the case with all masters unfortunately, but I shan't rest till I find one! ;) I'll bet that's what makes the cost of the course worthwhile! Jenny :)

magicmadrigal	17 Jul 2002
I will attune anyone for their first level reiki for free. I don't buy into the 'energy exchange' nonsence most people use when teaching the history of reiki. Most of that is hogwash as well. I do ask the you practice that level for at least one year before going to the next level. I don't think these weekend seminar that attune you to all levels is a good way to go. I haven't done many 2nd level attunements and most of those have been for barter. But if I were to charge it would be somewhere between $100 and $200 depending on the time involved and the number of people. But some of the prices are outrageous and those people always seem more concerned about the lineage of their teaching rather than the practice itself. I was taught in the Ushi method, I know there are others that have sprung from his method, but it the bottom line is still energy healing based on intent, the symbols, the hand placements, the other hocus pocus is just a way to focus that intent and the energy will do what it needs to do no matter where you put your hands or what symbols you use, or how much you paid for it in the first place. MagicMadrigal

jade	18 Jul 2002
i have found, thru my experiences, that when someone gets something for free they don't value it the same as when they perform some sort of exchange for it. example: the teenager whos parents buy their car for them......so they respect it? not often. but the teenager that works and saves for that car,.....they care what happens to it. when i've sent healings to someone......i always find that when they perform an exchange, regardless of the cost, that it makes a difference. when i was first attuned i was asked to work a psychic fair. the healings were offered on a 'donation' basis. as the three days progressed we could tell, during the healing how much money the person was going to donate,....by the amount of energy they were taking! (of course, we could tell the people who $10 was alot of cash and $10 was nothing to them) then.............i owned a coffee shop and offered healing nights. a bunch of healers got together to donate their time to give back to the community. i had the clients bring a donation for the food bank, and in exchange they received a 20-30 minute healing with one or more healers of different talents. (not all were doing reiki). the people who came and brought something of value or multiple items all shared stories of change and healing. the ones that brought a $0.23 cent of noodles wanted more more more. they wanted more than one session for their donation and none of them ever shared stories of healing or change. it is not with blind following that i believe in an equal exchange for healings. it is thru my own experiences, watching people cherish or not the energy being offered. as my mother says, "the magic (or healing energy) is free, it's the witch's (or reiki master/teachers) time which is precious." in light, jade ps tarotlady, balance is a beautiful dance :D pss jenni-li, when you are ready, the right teacher will appear. psss tigerlily, i sooo agree with you. i don't believe that only the rich should benefit, hence my prices :D

Liliana	18 Jul 2002
I just found out I do have a teacher in my town, I didnt even know until I went out last night and walked by a place called a Center for Well being, I know little about the place other than sometimes it seemed to offer interesting course in stuff like yoga and meditation, but I looked at the door and one of the people is listed as a reiki master/teacher. Maybe sometime I can figure out when they are open and ask about it. Dont know if Ill have the money for it tho. :THP

jade	18 Jul 2002
many teachers take payments in small amounts to assist the student in taking the course.............suggest that to her. in light, jade :D

raeanne	18 Jul 2002
When people say that free things aren’t given any value, I very adamantly disagree. I may be a bit weird, but if my house caught fire, the things that I would try to save wouldn’t be the expensive things or even the things I had to work hard for. The things I would try to save would be those little things that were given to me for free. Those are the things I value the most and they can't be replaced!

jade	19 Jul 2002
i didn't mean that free things have no value..........i was referring to things that have no exchange. if i give and give and give and give and never receive......my cup becomes empty and i have nothing to give and nothing for myself. hence, many people get ill when they are working on a client because there is no exchange. just my opinon, doesn't make it right, just makes it mine. :D in light, jade

The How expensive is Reiki? thread was originally posted on 08 Jul 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.