انرژی ریکی

As was previously mentioned, many people feel that Reiki is one energy and was not originally meant to be divided into separate levels. It is likely people are of this opinion because of what occurs at the third degree level. With the first and second degree attunements come a tremendously powerful ability to heal on the physical, etheric, mental, and emotional levels. Third degree energy not only adds very high spiritual levels to that list, but also integrates all levels of one's being.

Attunement to the third degree is a very powerful and profoundly moving experience. With this attunement comes a great deal of contact with your own higher self, and other levels of your being.

In addition you will most likely also find yourself in communication with many new levels of those you work on, including their higher self. The attunement greatly opens up one's third eye and crown chakras. I and many others feel that once a person attains this level and becomes comfortable using it, there is little that they will not have access to or be able to accomplish. It is, simply put, that powerful.

The master symbol is very similar in use to the power symbol. It is traced out before the other three symbols and greatly increases their effectiveness. The master level of the energy also causes healing to more powerfully manifest on all levels. Depending on the consciousness of the person being attuned, adjustment to this level can far exceed the 21 day cleansing process common to other levels. Energy can be thought of as manifesting on the physical level, commonly, in the following manner:

from the Etheric: 3 days

Mental/Emotional: 9-21 days, depending on the level being healed

Spiritual: 21+ days, while some parts of the process only take a short while, others can take months

Until now, when we have spoken about protection, we have discussed it in terms of the healer, client and current. Absent from that was how the healing itself was protected. This is usually seen as part of the job of third degree energy. It has definite protective properties, though of a much higher vibration than those offered by the power and mental/emotional symbols. Because the nature of the energy is holographic, third degree energy is used at all levels, most commonly to seal in and protect the healing which has been done in a session. It is able to do so because, as has already been mentioned, it works on all levels of one's being. The ability to protect the healing itself is one of the most unique things about the Usui System of Natural Healing. Very few other energies are able to accomplish this kind of protection. Such protection is a very powerful way of holding the space for someone and giving them the opportunity to change the patterns which have manifested their present situation. This is one of the many reasons that Reiki has proven so effective in the healing of unwanted habits such as smoking.

Some have divided the master level into two parts, master/practitioner and master/teacher. The attunement process for these two levels varies by teacher but in most cases the master/practitioner level contains the full Usui master attunement, as well as knowledge of the master symbol and how it is used. The master/teacher level is where the students are taught the attunement process, and with it how to initiate others.

The master symbol can also be used in distant healing work. To use it in this manner, I typically trace it before I begin, and again after all the power symbols have been traced. This is simply what I have found works best for me. With experimentation you may find that something else works better for you. It is a powerful symbol who's energy brings many benefits when used in one's life.

Many people who undergo Reiki training do so with the sole intention of using it on family and friends. Others start their own healing practice. This chapter is written to provide you with the basic framework for doing the latter. There are a number of important things to take into consideration when beginning your practice, not the least of which is the legal situation and how it pertains to the "energy exchange" or payment for your services.

It is a good idea for there to be an exchange of energy when you provide healing for someone. To not do so can make the client feel as if they are receiving charity and often leaves them with the feeling that they owe you something.

Those feelings can easily turn into resentment if not attended to. An exchange of energy can also play a critical role in convincing the subconscious mind to open up and become receptive to the healing, by attributing specific value to it. This receptiveness can make a great deal of difference when it comes to effectiveness. The exchange of energy can be comprised of anything, be it a book, artwork or a good meal. Those things are fine when you are planning to work only on friends and family, however, when you choose to begin your own practice you will more likely than not be asking for some sort of financial compensation.

The law on this is very clear. Anyone who claims medical services in exchange for payment, and is not a licensed medical practitioner, can be charged with practicing medicine without a license. For this reason, I recommend performing your services as an ordained minister. You do not have to advertise yourself as Rev. Smith, and obtaining ministerial status allows you to offer your services (spiritual healing) for a suggested donation. Reiki practitioners typically ask that donation to be in the twenty-five to one hundred and fifty dollar per hour range. An excellent church to obtain ordination from is the Universal Life Church in Modesto, California. If you would like a title other than reverend, they have many to choose from including "Healing Minister".

Be certain that you maintain clear records for tax purposes. Ministers are not exempt from taxes. Another group to watch out for is the psychological community. Many states have very strict rules concerning emotional healing. Be certain to research the laws of your state before placing any advertisements, or making any statements which might get you into trouble.

Business cards are an excellent and inexpensive tool to use in promoting your practice. Many people like to use a soft color for the paper stock, such as one of the pastels recommended in the chapter on setting up your healing space, or one of the many beautiful borders available. Visit all your local holistic businesses and ask them to display your cards. Don't forget massage practitioners and chiropractors. Leave several at each location so that people can take them. Also, make sure that your friends, family and clients have an ample supply so that they can hand them out to interested people if the opportunity presents itself.

If your area has a local holistic discussion group or two, ask to speak there about Reiki. It is also a good idea to host a "Reiki night". This can be done in your own or someone else's home or, if you would prefer, a local center can be rented. Prepare and set out flyers at all the places your cards are displayed. Also, have your friends, family, and clients promote it as much as possible by word of mouth.

Structure the evening itself with an informal talk followed by a question and answer period. Tell anyone interested that they are welcome to stay around after the discussion and experience the energy first hand. Give those who stay a five to ten minute partial treatment. Make sure to hand your cards out to everyone who attends. Additionally, it is a good idea to prepare a flyer filled with basic information and a sample price guide. Many people leave these around town instead of a business card. Some leave both.

Other ideas for increasing your business include hosting a regular Reiki "open house" and establishing a local group of Reiki practitioners. Advertising a regular weekly or biweekly meeting when people without an appointment can come to experience Reiki is an excellent method to use in establishing your practice. Have a special introductory price, and don't forget to pass out your cards.

Contacting other local practitioners and bringing them together once a month or biweekly can also be of benefit. Some of the practitioners you contact may even have a surplus of clients and be looking for someone to recommend them to. Others may be trying to locate other practitioners to assist them in group work. A networking group can also be of great assistance when you have a question or need help of any kind.

Be aware, however, that with this group may come a few problems which you should keep an eye out for. The first is that there are many factions within the Reiki community, many of which claim to have the "only real Reiki". Because of this, politics and infighting can easily develop within your group. Be on the lookout for this and if it occurs, deal with it in a way which is fair for all. If someone in your group insists that their Reiki is superior to yours, you may have to send them on their way if the conflict can't be resolved. In time, hopefully, notions such as those will fade away in the light of experience and knowledge. Until then, it may be best simply to disassociate yourself from their energy. As a local group, you may wish to have certificates for members and establish a common code of ethics. Tools such as these can go a long way in the public's eye when establishing a practice.

Advertising in a local or regional holistic newspaper is also an economical way to build up your practice. There are many different methods of advertising available to suit your financial situation. Display advertising is the most costly, classifieds are usually the least expensive. It is a good idea to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of both. Some papers have calendar sections in their local holistic papers which are very inexpensive or even free. This can be another benefit to having a Reiki "open house" or an introductory evening. Some papers will even have special sections listing local groups and service providers for a very small fee. In such sections, Reiki practitioners usually choose to advertise under headings such as "holistic healing". Choose the label you feel best describes your service from their list of available headings. Though it's a bit costly to advertise, more often than not it pays off in the end.

Striking up a working arrangement with a local center or massage group can also bring you a lot of business. Many areas have groups of holistic practitioners which have banded together to help defray the cost of business overhead. These practitioners can be of great help in locating clients as much of the holistic community in the area is often serviced by them. Such practitioners typically include body workers, herbalists, acupuncturists, etc. Take the time to make a personal connection with them. They will most likely be very open to your service and you may find one or two which will frequently send you clients. Many are more than familiar with Reiki and use it whenever possible in conjunction with their practice. Channelers are also very good sources of business.

The final method that we will discuss is one of common sense. When you see someone in pain, or have a friend complaining about an ache, give a brief explanation of what you do and offer to help them on the spot (for free). After you have relieved their suffering, you can then give them your card and tell them to feel free to call if they would like to make an appointment. You will find that proven benefit is the easiest way to sell your services.

In summary, there are as many ways to build your practice as there are stars in the sky. Take these suggestions, but by all means expand upon them. If you have success with any additional methods, please drop me a letter so that practitioners in other areas can benefit from your discovery. Finally, and most importantly, remember to check with a lawyer before beginning your practice. He or she will be able to provide any additional advice you may need when it comes to the laws as they pertain to your area.

Many people ask how old someone must be to become attuned to Reiki or receive a treatment. The simple answer is, you can't be too young for Reiki. Reiki has amazing applications for our youth.

If a mother is attuned while pregnant, the fetus she is carrying is also attuned and, subsequently, the child born will have that level of Reiki. It is absolutely 100% OK to attune someone who is pregnant.

Likewise, many stories abound regarding Reiki and both pregnancy and birth. Many mothers have reported much easier pregnancies (compared to earlier ones in which they were without Reiki) in which they treated themselves and their fetus with the energy.

Fewer aches and pains, sickness, hormonal and emotional fluctuations, and a much more painless and relaxed birthing process have all been reported. Indeed, many midwives are noticing the difference Reiki can make, and becoming attuned. Many feel that having the loving touch of Reiki be one of a child's first imprints can be of astounding benefit.

Behavior is often radically changed when a baby, child, or young person becomes attuned to Reiki. The change in children occurs in different ways at different levels and stages of development. Research has only just begun in this area. The effects vary according the individual's consciousness, but generally babies and children that are attuned become much calmer and better behaved than before the attunement. Likewise, when brought up to second degree level, they encounter a great opening of the heart center with all the usual effects of this, including increased unconditional love, acceptance and compassion.

DEATH, DYING AND REIKI

Reiki is also extremely beneficial for those about to make their transition. Though most Westerners fear death, anyone who has been in the presence of someone peacefully making their transition will attest to it being a natural and beautiful process. The benefits of Reiki in this process can be many fold. For starters, Reiki does a marvelous job when it comes to eliminating pain. Once the dying person's suffering is relieved, the energy can assist them in expanding their awareness of the process and what is happening.

It also promotes a peaceful and more tranquil state within them. All of these things, as well as others happening on many different levels, work together to assist in making the process as peaceful, joyous, and natural as possible. This will most likely contribute greatly to the person's further growth and evolution, or at the very least help them along their path. Reiki can also be used with great effect in assisting the transitions of pets and other animals. Though a certain amount of argument can be made for treatment of specific areas during the dying process, a combination of intuition, projecting, and sending Reiki at a distance (especially with a crystal so that the energy is continual) is recommended. As always, do what feels right to you, in the moment, as you're there.

This chapter provides additional information concerning the healing session and hands on healing with Reiki. A chart showing a form of the traditional Reiki hand positions is located in the appendix section.

Much more detailed information on the traditional Reiki hand possitions can be found in Chapter Eleven of The Complete Guide to Reiki, Vol. II: A Detailed Examination of The Reiki Hand Positions.

The positions are not necessarily the current ones used by me as my research has lead to several revisions (some of which are covered below) which I feel increase the effectiveness of my healing sessions.

A more current form of the hand positions used by me, with extensive and detailed descriptions of what is covered in each position, may be found in The Complete Guide to Reiki, Volume II. In the appendix of this book I choose to focus on those positions which are traditionally taught in beginning Reiki Instruction.

This chapter provides additional information concerning the healing session and hands on healing with Reiki. A chart showing a form of the traditional hand positions is located in the appendix section. Those positions are not necessarily the current ones used by me as my research has lead to several revisions (some of which are covered below) which I feel increase the effectiveness of my healing sessions. A more current form of the hand positions used by me, with extensive and detailed descriptions of what is covered in each position, may be found in The Complete Guide to Reiki, Volume II. In the appendix of this book I choose to focus on those positions which are traditionally taught in beginning Reiki Instruction.

As these are the most common form of the hand positions, I felt that they should be included in this introductory text. They do represent a highly effective series of hand placements which covers every major organ and glandular system in the body as well as all of the chakras and nerve plexuses. Much of the information relating to the specific mental and emotional levels of the energy is highly conflicting. The same is true regarding information about the chakras. I have taken great pains to research each position and chakra as thoroughly as possible and have listed all major correspondences that I found relevant in The Complete Guide to Reiki, Volume II.

When performing hands on healing, always remember to place your hands gently on the person’s body. Pressing down hard can be distracting and even painful to the client. Likewise, it is best for you and the client to remove all of your jewelry. At the very least it is advisable to remove your rings because they can effect the flow of the energy. Additionally, the person you are working on may find them uncomfortable, as you will have your hands on sensitive and tender areas of the person’s body. It is very important that the client be as relaxed as possible. As time goes on, you may find yourself transcending some of these recommendations, however for now it is best if you follow them.

The client should also remove their jewelry for much the same reason. Their jewelry can also cause restriction in energy flow. Please keep in mind that you will have them shifting to a number of different positions. Earrings and necklaces which seemed all right to wear in the beginning of the session can easily become uncomfortable and even painful when you ask them to roll over and they have to lay on them. Jewelry, especially necklaces, also has a habit of getting in the way of hand placement during a session. All things considered, it is best to have your clients remove these items as it eliminates distractions which can get in the way of the session.

Some people will prefer to have a tissue placed over their face instead of having direct contact with your hands. Never touch an open wound or overly sensitive injury. Reiki will work just as well if your hands are suspended 1-6 inches above the person's body. You should not touch a client on a private or sexual part of their body, unless they specifically ask you to because of a serious condition related specifically to that area.

Many masters teach that neither you nor the person you are working on should have their arms or legs crossed during the session. This is because it will often cause energy breaks where the cross is located. Generally speaking, practitioners should treat with their feet flat on the floor and their arms uncrossed. The client will usually be most comfortable with their arms at their sides. It is generally held, however, that it is acceptable for the client to cross their ankles if there is no practitioner available to bridge them during the session.

A hypnotherapist that took my one of my classes once told me that, despite the fact that she had always been told to have the clients sit with nothing crossed, occasionally someone would be persistent in crossing their ankles. Over the years, she has noticed that her clients which do so have much deeper and more lucid trance states. This is common in reiki as well because the client is effectively creating an energy loop in their body. If you combine this with placing your hands in the prayer position, you'll most likely find that you experience much deeper levels of meditation and that your visualizations will get much more vivid. Trust your client's body wisdom. If a client comes to you and plops themselves down on your table with their ankles crossed, begin to treat them as is. They will most likely shift and uncross them at some time during the session, when it is no longer beneficial for them to be crossed.

During a session, many people prefer to stand to the client's left side. This is because the left side of the body draws in energy and the right side projects it. By standing to the client's left during a session, the person draws much more Reiki into their energy field and body than they would through normal use of the positions alone. Most practitioners, however, find it necessary to stand on all sides of a person's body to adequately reach the places needing work. This is perfectly acceptable.

Many Reiki masters teach that one should always heal with their fingers pressed together. They often sight the old adage, "scattered fingers means scattered energy". In actuality, there are times when keeping the fingers together is beneficial, and times when it isn't. It is true that when the fingers are together, there is a greater concentration of Reiki energy made available to that location. It is also true, however, that as your intuition becomes more developed it is very likely that you will routinely be told to place your hands side by side on the person with your fingers spread apart. This is not improper and it is not bad. It is, in fact, a highly effective way to cover and link much larger areas of the client's body for specific types of healing. In general, it is best to keep your fingers together, but never think twice about listening to your intuition. In Reiki there are no rules to break once you are attuned.

Many healers use specific hand empowerment exercises before they begin to work with energy. One of the most effective of these is also the simplest. Rubbing the palms (and fingers) of your hands together, much as you would do to warm your hands up if they were cold. This is an excellent method to use in opening up the palm energy centers. I always do it before sessions and attunements.

In accident and other first aid situations, especially where there is a risk of shock, place one of your hands over the person's solar plexus and the other one over the adrenals on their back. Remember not to move some who has been involved in an accident, unless you are a trained medical professional. If you are a second degree practitioner, you can always send the person energy by using the distant healing technique. I also like to use this method when I see a stalled car in the middle of the road. You'd be surprised at how well it works.

There are many ways to use crystals with Reiki. It has already been mentioned that many people use them in distant healing. What has not been mentioned are the benefits of doing so.

 CRYSTAL BASICS AND CLEANSING

First, the basics of crystal use. Crystals can be temperamental stones, so be certain to use your intuition carefully when selecting crystals to use with Reiki. Many people use a pendulum when making their selections. It is a good idea to cleanse any crystal before using it for Reiki or any other purpose. The most common ways to do this are by placing them in a copper pyramid for one week, or in sea salt saturated water for 48 hours.

Run each crystal under cold water for several minutes both before and after the cleaning to further purify them. As you do so, visualize the water as being pure white light energy cleansing every part of the stone.

When you are finished, dry it off with a clean natural fiber cloth. Also, always be certain to shake them off. This is done by firmly grasping the crystal in one of your hands and proceeding to shake it, in much the same manner that you would use if it were wet and you were shaking water off of it.

BASIC REIKI CRYSTAL CHARGING

One of the benefits of first degree Reiki is that it gives you the ability to charge crystals which you can then set out in your home, give to others, or carry with you. In each case, the crystal will project a constant field of Reiki energy for about 24 hours. To charge a crystal, simply hold it between your cupped hands for ten minutes or more.

USING CRYSTALS FOR REIKI DISTANT HEALING

For those with second and third degree, the options broaden considerably. The reason so many people choose to use crystals when sending energy is that even after you remove your hands, they will continue to send Reiki energy for another 48 hours if the person that charged the stone was a second or third degree practitioner. To use this method, simply place the crystal over either a recent picture of the person to be healed, or their name written on a piece of paper. Many people also use a personal object which belongs to the person and is attuned to their vibration. Some people even prefer to use one of the person's hairs. If you use a picture or piece of paper with their name written on it, write out, either on the front or the back, each symbol and its name. Also, write out an affirmation or two such as "you are perfectly protected and healed on every level of your being now by divine love and light". You may also empower a goal with this method by writing it out in the same way that you would a person's name, and including some appropriate affirmations. Be certain to always follow the same guidelines as when making a subconscious affirmation. Always be positive and try to avoid using negative words of any kind.

Now, with the picture, piece of paper, or object located under the crystal, proceed to trace out the symbols over them (above the stone) in the same order you would normally use to send energy at a distance. When you are finished, place your hands over them and send energy for at least fifteen minutes. Do this in a place where the crystal and object will not be disturbed. After you have removed your hands and left the space, it is a good idea to check on them periodically to make sure they haven't been moved or altered.

HOW TO SET UP AND USE A REIKI CRYSTAL HEALING GRID

Crystal grids are another excellent tool to use. I strongly suggest that you research further into this topic if you are intending to use this method. Crystal Connection and Windows of Light, by Randal Baer are excellent for further research. There are two crystal grid structures that I have found that work excellent with Reiki: The Star of David, and Double Star of David. Both are used in the same way.

The first is a layout of six perimeter crystals, the second has twelve. I typically use single terminated clear quartz for the perimeter stones. Both layouts also have a crystal, or a series of crystals located, in the middle of the layout. The terminated ends from the perimeter crystals are pointed in towards the center stone. Crystal spheres work the best in the center of the grid, though I have also used a double terminated or quartz cluster for the center crystal. These are very tricky however, and I would not recommend using them unless you work with someone who can see their energy and set it up for you. A charging crystal is also used, though I have found that when I am away for extended periods, I can use the distant healing technique to charge and empower the whole grid.

Inside the grid, your goals or pictures (with affirmations) are placed. I keep a picture of myself, with several affirmations on the back, under the center crystal and place the others around it, within the field that is produced by the perimeter stones. Before you lay out your grid, cleanse each stone as mentioned above. Then, if you have second degree, trace out each symbol over the crystals one by one, just as you would if you were about to work on someone. If you are a third degree master, you can also do an attunement on each stone. This is a very powerful way to adapt the crystal to use with Reiki energy.

When you have finished tracing the symbols, hold each crystal in your hands for at least twenty minutes. When all the stones have been charged, follow the same procedure with each picture and goal. Then, begin to lay the stones out. Don't be afraid to adjust them when you are first laying them out. Continue to shift them around until you feel that they are in their most powerful configuration, but be careful to precisely calculate the angles required. Much of the power of this grid is derived from precise sacred geometric measurements. Now, place the pictures and goals within the circle of stones.

Next, pick up your master crystal and charge it for a minimum ten additional minutes. This is something that you will do every day or two. I find that my grid is most effective if charged once per day. I also trace out the symbols over my master charging crystal each day before I charge it. As always, experiment and find out what works best for you.

CHARGING THE REIKI CRYSTAL HEALING GRID

1. After charging the master crystal, I hold it in my dominant hand directly above the center crystal of the grid. From this point forward, I visualize a ray of energy shooting like a laser from the tip of the crystal into the grid, in this case the center stone. I also use an affirmation while charging the grid. At this point, I say it three times (aloud or silently) while charging the center crystal with it. The affirmation I typically use is along the lines of: "I charge this crystal energy grid with divine love and light to heal, protect, and manifest." I place very special emphasis on each of the words and try to tune into the true vibration of the energy they represent as I say them.

2. When I have made the affirmation three times at the center crystal, I begin to charge the grid in earnest. To do this, there are two methods that can be used. Some prefer to take the master charging crystal and begin to make a circle by tracing with it over the outer perimeter stones, typically moving in a clockwise manner. This direction charges the gird by strongly focusing the energy inward toward both the center stone and all the goals contained within the grid. The clairvoyants that the Institute worked with saw the energy of the grid grow much stronger when the tracing was done in a clockwise direction, and considerably weaker if it was done in a counterclockwise one. As the circle is traced over the perimeter stones with the master charging crystal, the affirmation is continually used.

The second method I spoke of is the one that I choose to use. When you have made the three affirmations over the center stone, you then move out to one of the perimeter stones (visualizing a traced line of energy connecting them as you do so), then over to the next stone in the perimeter (moving in a clockwise direction) and then back into the center stone. Now, trace from the center stone, back to the perimeter stone that you just came from, over to the next one, and back into the center. Continue on in this pattern until you feel that the grid is charged sufficiently, and then stop.

In doing so, you create a star pattern with all of the outer stones connected to both each other and the center crystal. This is a very powerful template. As with the previous method, I continue to use the affirmation throughout the process. Sometimes, I use combinations of the two methods. For example, when I'm finished charging my grid with the star method, I'll continue to trace just a circle over the perimeter stones. Intuitively, I feel that the links to the center crystal are firmly in place and that the increased activity around the perimeter creates an even more powerful vortex of energy flowing in through it to charge the grid. As with everything, do what feels right for you.

3. When you are finished charging your grid, say a silent thanks to all beings of love and light who assisted you in charging it, and ask them to keep it continually empowered with energy. Then, set your master charging crystal in a special place nearby. I have a special pedestal for it right next to my grid.

After a couple of weeks of regular charging with your master charging crystal, the lines connecting the stones will be very solid. If you choose, at this point, you may begin to change the way in which you charge your grid. The two methods I use most often are projecting and distance charging. Each should still be done daily for best results.

When I am at home, I often charge my crystal grid by placing my hands over the top of it (about 6-12 inches from the layout) with my palms facing down into the grid. I then project energy to the entire grid and empower it with energy. I also often use the master charging crystal as a radionic link to the grid. I carry it while on the road, and will take it out each evening and charge it with energy, intending that it charge my crystal grid. It has a very strong connection to the grid, and it is not necessary to trace out the symbols for sending energy at a distance when using it to charge the grid, though I often do. The grid can also be charged by use of the distant healing technique. A separate distant healing can be used, or it can be added as a layer in a stack of items and people you are sending energy to.

OTHER USES FOR CRYSTALS IN REIKI HEALING

Crystals are wonderful tools. I urge you to extensively experiment with them in your healing practice. Many healers, including myself, choose to have the client hold a large rose quartz in their left hand, and a large clear quartz in their right. I trace the symbols out over these crystals and charge them before giving them to the client.

The rose quartz is akin to the energy of the heart chakra, and love. The left hand is typically the hand that draws energy into the body. Thus by using that stone in this position, they are drawing a very beneficial energy into their body during the session. We typically project energy from the right hand. Thus, a clear quartz crystal is placed there to collect vibrations which are being cleaned out of the body during the healing. The client is actually charging the crystal with those vibrations. The crystal is, in effect, acting like a vibrational sponge. I find that this provides a great deal of help in keeping only positive vibrations in the healing space. When the healing is over, I wash both crystals under cold water for several minutes, and then do the same with my hands. This cleanses us both. It can also be beneficial to place clear quartz crystals down by the soles of the feet to collect the energetic vibrations which are expelled by the chakras there during the healing session.

As a final note, charged crystals can also be placed over various areas of the person's body to continually send energy there during the session. This is especially handy when you are working on someone who is having an emotional release, and your intuition tells you to move your hands to another position. By placing charged quartz crystals in the location that produced the release, you are in effect adding another practitioner to the healing. This allows you to move on to the new position while still making sure that the former position is supported energetically.

Some healers use crystal strands which are interconnected by wire, chain, or leather to spiral above their client during a session. This can create a very effective cleansing vortex which sucks away negative energy in a powerful fashion. Additional information on using quartz crystals with Reiki can be found in The Complete Guide To Reiki, Volume II. It contains a large amount of the information from the Institute's former class on crystal grids.

Naturally, it is possible to do Reiki anywhere and over the course of time, you will no doubt work on people in all kinds of environments, however, if you intend to start your own practice you will probably want to have a room set aside just for doing Reiki.

It is important that your space be one that is not likely to be disturbed. If possible, it should be a dedicated space used for no other purpose. If there is a phone in it, it's best to turn the ringer off during a session. Likewise, clocks with chimes are not recommended. Even the constant tick of a clock (including quartz movement hands) can be a distractive and even quite annoying presence. Peace and quiet reign supreme in your choice of a healing space.

Once you've established where your space will be, it is important to give it a good cleansing both physically and energetically. For the latter, I suggest using sage and salt water. Go to your local health food store and purchase a pound or more of sea salt. Next, get out your mop bucket and fill it with water. When it is full, place your hands on the bucket and Reiki the water for at least five minutes. Then, add half of the salt to it. Use this solution to clean any surfaces that will not be harmed by it, and don't forget the ceiling. Also, pay special attention to the corners.

Now take your sage stick (available at most holistic stores) and light it. Get it good and smoky. Take it in your hand and beginning at one end of the room, proceed systematically to the other. I usually go from east to west (the path of the sun) but you may choose whatever path you'd like. Use the sage like a giant eraser to clean the room energetically. Go over it several times asking that all lower vibrations be removed from the space as you do so.

Again, pay special attention to the corners of the room. Ninety degree angle corners are notorious for accumulating negative energy. These corners can be "softened" by placing crystals in them. Charge the crystals with Reiki in the morning and place them standing upright in the corners of the room, so that their termination (or tip) points towards the ceiling. Crystal clusters can also be used to dissipate the energy accumulative tendencies of corners. Clear quartz spheres are excellent for this purpose as well. If you intend for the crystals to remain in position for awhile, I recommend that you periodically charge them using the distant technique. Even if you do not charge them regularly, placing crystals in the corners of your space is still one of the best things you can do to empower it. It will do a very good job of preventing the buildup of negative energy. Be sure to cleanse the crystals first!

After this you may wish to burn sticks of myrrh and frankincense. Myrrh draws the etheric world very close, and frankincense is an excellent incense to use when healing (as is amber). Never burn myrrh alone during a session unless you get a very strong intuition to do so. Many practitioners inform their clients that they may bring their favorite incense with them to the session. This serves a dual purpose. First, the person will most likely intuitively select the incense which will best promote their healing. Second, it will make them feel more at home and relaxed. Because clients will bring a variety of different types of incense, it's a good idea for you to have different styles of burners and charcoal on hand in your space to accommodate them. An aromatherapy diffuser is also standard in today's healing environments. Some clients may be allergic to incense or sage smudge and will prefer aromatherapy scents. Be sure to ask first!

Many practitioners use special combinations of salt and water to keep their healing space clean. Some will set out a bowl or glass of sea salt saturated water each morning before beginning their sessions. The bowl can be placed near or under the healing table. Others prefer a longer lasting version, and will use a large jar filled with sea salt saturated water and even a crystal. A bowl requires cleansing each evening, however larger containers can go for months without needing any special attention. Both designs are extremely effective at attracting negative energy and absorbing it so that it does not contaminate the space. Placement of a copper pipe half in and half out of the salt water solution is well known to further assist in "vacuuming" up negative energy from spaces. There are many practitioners that keep a bowl of sea or rock salt on hand as well. This will also do a fairly good job of absorbing the negative energy in the room. Sea salt can be nice to use when cleansing your hands before and after a healing. It is used in much the same way that you would use soap.

Another good item to have is a music system of some kind, even a small portable one. Have several selections of softer new age music available. Next time you visit your local holistic store, tell them what you are looking for and have them provide title suggestions. Most will give you the opportunity to listen to them before buying. Your clients may also wish to bring their own music so it is important to have the ability to play compact disks as well as tapes. The tape deck that you use should have the auto-reverse feature. There will be many times when the side of the tape will run out, but you will be unable to change it because the position you are working on is still drawing a lot of energy. Likewise, make sure that your CD player has a repeat function. Overall, it provides one less distraction from your healing work. During a session, music can make it much more deeply relaxing and emotional. Again be certain to ask your client for their preferences. Some people prefer no music, others will have very specific requests. Never fail to honor your client in their process.

Room lighting is another thing to pay attention to. Some healers prefer to use candle light during a healing session. I usually have a white and a pastel (blue, green, or purple) candle burning during a session to honor the energies being called in and attune the room to them. In general, a lower light level will help you to see the energy of your client more accurately during the session.

It is also best if your room has a window or two through which you can expose it to direct sunlight. This will help to keep it energetically clean and charged. If your space has enough natural light to support plants, by all means have them on hand in your space. Their energy will definitely add to the room's comfort. A window is also nice because it can usually be opened to air the space out and help to keep it fresh.

Never use a space with florescent lights. They are not at all conducive to healing and will only accumulate negative energy which will need to be constantly cleaned up (for further information regarding this see the work of Dr. John Ott). Wherever possible it is best to heal in natural or full spectrum lighting environments. Full spectrum bulbs are available from many sources in today's holistic environment.

The colors you choose for your space are also very important. Most healers choose softer colors that will be more conducive to relaxation and healing. Light purples, pinks, blues and greens are excellent. Neutrality is also popular. Many spaces are laid out in white with beige accents. This tends to promote a higher vibrational effect and also represents cleanliness. Varying shades of purple are also becoming quite popular for their higher vibrational effects.

Keep furniture in the room down to the bare essentials. You'll need a small table to hold your sound system, and it is a good idea to have a chest of drawers or something similar on hand. In it you can keep additional sheets, towels, books, and other materials (including handouts). The top provides an ideal place for you and the client to place jewelry and other metal and leather clothing items on before the session. It can be a good idea to remove objects made of these two materials before any healing is performed, as they both tend to cause breaks in the human energy field.

I recommend using a healing table rather than working with the person lying on the floor. There are a number of options for what can be used. The best is obviously a massage table, if you can afford the cost. Numerous advertisements for them can be found in the massage industry magazines that are typically available at your local holistic bookstores. A much less expensive table to use is a folding table like the ones used at seminars and craft fairs. Buy a small foam pad to place on top of it and cover it with a sheet. Using this as a table is only a disadvantage if you get called to do a healing in someone's home and they have no place comfortable for you to work. Small fold up cots, especially ones designed for camping, can remedy this situation quite nicely. Also, most practitioners use an office type chair of some kind in association with their table. This saves their back and allows them to comfortably roll around to cover all the positions. I highly recommend it.

I am constantly on the road, and everywhere I go people ask for healing sessions. I have never used a portable table when healing in some else's home, unless it was one which belonged to them. If you've ever worked on anyone in an environment where pets live, you know that when you are done with a session, they love to curl up where you were just working and stay there for hours. This is because of the residual energy in that space. It is also the reason that I do not carry my own table. I rarely have difficulty finding a place to work while in someone's home. Their couch or bed with a kitchen chair often does quite nicely. In addition, it charges the space where they will rest later, as well as their home in general. I think of it as a little gift that I leave for them to open and enjoy after I leave.

Getting back to your personal healing space, it is also a good idea to keep a blanket on hand for your client's feet. Few will actually get cold during a session, but it can happen from time to time. Also, have some additional pillows lying around. Many clients will want an extra one at their head or a few under their knees to support their back. The most important thing is that the client be comfortable and relaxed. A little preparation goes a long way toward assisting that. Try to make sure that the fibers used in your space are all natural. These will absorb the energy better and assist in attuning the space to Reiki. It is also a good idea for you to wear all natural fibers such as cotton or silk. These fabrics are very conducive to healing with energy and cause minimal restrictions in your energy field.

Personal hygiene on your part is also very important. In addition to the usual care that you give yourself, periodically take the time to give yourself an energy cleansing bath. This is simply a warm bath with a pound of sea salt added. Only stay in it for twenty minutes or so and be prepared to rest when you get out. You'll need it! It is also a good idea to cleanse yourself and your client with sage before starting your session together. Again, use it just like a big eraser on their front and back. Don't forget the bottom of their feet. If you have second degree Reiki, just before you finish each side, you may wish to trace a large power symbol over them. This enhances the effect.

There are many additional technological goodies on the market which are designed to reduce and eliminate electromagnetic fields within a given area. These are excellent for a healing space. They provide an additional level of cleanliness which seems to promote a greater access to energies. Etheric technology can also play a significant role in cleansing, attuning, and empowering a space. A small crystal grid (located outside of the space) which has been empowered for this purpose is a truly special gift. I have yet to meet someone who actually constructed one and was not amazed by the results it yielded.

If you are a master, perform an attunement on your healing space. This can provide an initial energetic resonance that might otherwise take a year or more to achieve. If you are not a master, ask one to do this for you. Most will be glad to help. Don't forget to include Devas in your work with the space. They play a big part in the energy of the space. Have a little chat with them and send them some love with your requests. This step alone can save you a great deal of hassle.

If you know a radionic practitioner, ask him or her to evaluate your space and do what they can to help you achieve your aims. This is one of the most effective etheric sciences available. Likewise, it is often wise to consult an eastern style energy expert who specializes in spaces. Specialists in the eastern arts relating to the energy of spaces have mastered the balancing of energy within a space. A more recent scientific advancement of this and other sciences is the geobiology field. Though somewhat rare in the US (and highly respected overseas), if you can find a practitioner they will be able to do a great deal more to clear and balance your space in ways and areas that the other fields of expertise have no knowledge of yet. This is because they are a synthesis of many different fields of study.

Remember that every little thing you do counts. Your goal is to clear and empower the space as much as possible and thus allow it to facilitate the healers it supports in bringing through as broad and clear a spectrum of energy as possible. Keep in mind that the more you perform Reiki in your healing space, the more charged with energy it will become. This can also have a large impact on your healing sessions. Finally, have some warm caffeine free tea on hand for after the session is over. Your clients will definitely appreciate it!

Reiki is a form of universal energy and as such is ideal for healing all forms of life. When healing animals and plants, you will notice that the energy flows into them in much the same way it does people. It also tends to relax animals just as it does humans.

REIKI AND ANIMALS

Every now and then, you may find an animal who does not like or want the energy. Always respect the animal's wishes. Never try to force Reiki onto anyone or anything. For the best results, systematically treat the animal's entire body, especially the trunk and head. Remember that Reiki is given even while petting your favorite cat or dog. If you are a second degree practitioner, you can also send energy to your pets at a distance, and you can send Mental/Emotional healing energy to them as well!

Treatment times are often very short when working on pets. You will definitely know when they have had enough energy. Usually, they will simply get up and leave. Some people actually ask their pets where they want the Reiki. They say that when they do so, the animal will present a certain part of himself or herself to be worked on. Fish can also be treated by simply placing your hands on the aquarium's glass for 10 to 20 minutes.

USING REIKI WITH PLANTS

There are many ways to use Reiki with plants. Seeds can be treated by placing them in between your hands for ten minutes or until they finish drawing energy. It can be fun to use two separate groups, one that has been treated with Reiki and one that hasn't. Likewise, you can perform the same experiment on the plants as they begin to grow. To treat a plant you can either touch it lightly, place your hands around the pot and treat the soil it grows in, or hold your hands an inch or two away and project energy to it. Typically, you will find that plants which are treated with Reiki tend to grow much larger and healthier than plants grown without it.

Several years ago, science discovered that plants have vibrational responses very similar to emotions. This means that if you are a second degree practitioner, the plants you work on will benefit by your use of the Mental/Emotional symbol and its energy. On a similar note, you may also use the Distant healing symbol to send energy to whole areas of plant life. I know many people who use Reiki to treat their yards. Still others send energy to entire forests which are in desperate need of assistance due to over harvesting and acid rain.

TREATING FOOD AND DRINKS WITH REIKI

Treating your food and drinks with Reiki is also an excellent idea. In today's world of over processed everything, it often seems like most of the life giving energy which should be in our food is missing. Treating food before you eat it is an excellent method to use in reclaiming that energy. Simply hold your hands above it for a few minutes.

Fresh raw fruits and vegetables seem to be the best at holding the energy. Many practitioners prepare a salad or cold slaw and charge it with Reiki. Tomato based products, especially sauces such as those used in Italian cooking, have been found to give the body a greater ability to channel the energy, though no reason for this has yet been found.

It is also a good idea to treat a glass of water each morning and drink it before you begin your day. This is done by simply placing your hands around the glass for a minute or so. Water charged in this way can yield a surprising boost of energy. This is also a good thing to use when someone is slightly depressed or down. Many people also treat the water that they give to their plants and animals. Medicine is also an excellent thing to treat with Reiki before consumption.

MISCELLANEOUS THINGS TO TREAT

Everything is made of energy, so everything can benefit from Reiki. I use it quite frequently on my car. I can't begin to tell you how often I've saved on repairs by just treating it with a little Reiki when something on it started to give out. I've also used it to charge dead batteries in the middle of winter. A few minutes of Reiki and more often than not, you're on your way.

Some time ago I was helping a friend move to Colorado. She borrowed a very small truck and attached a fairly large trailer to it. The drive from Illinois to Denver is a gradual up hill haul and the closer we got, the slower this truck went. When it was down to 35 MPH, I began to send energy to it. Five minutes later we were once again driving an effortless 70 MPH. Plus, for the remaining two hundred miles, the truck did not seem to use a drop of gas. Before that we had been averaging 150 miles per tank. Many people use Reiki to improve their fuel economy and swear by it. One of the most efficient methods is to place your hands around the gas hose as it is flowing into your tank.

Jewelry, especially crystal and metal jewelry, is also good to treat because it will take a charge and hold it for a good portion of the day, in effect, giving you a treatment all day long. Treat the jewelry for five to ten minutes in the morning or simply hold it on your way to work.

THE HEALING PICTURE

Earlier, I talked about how pictures are actually vibrational representations of the image they display. Pictures are also like modern day symbols in that they radiate energy. The energy which they radiate is the energy being produced at the time they were taken. Because of this, it is possible to project energy while a photograph is being taken, and use the picture later as a source of the energy that was being projected at the time it was taken. Simply put, this allows you to continually send Reiki to anyone, anywhere, all of the time. To create a healing picture, simply point your hands towards the camera (either your palms or finger tips may be used) and intend to send energy into the film as the picture is being taken. Also, intend that everyone who comes into range of the developed picture will receive the energy which you projected into it. Duplicates of the picture can then be sent out to anyone for display, or be framed and placed in your home or healing space. The image could also be placed next to a computer or television in an attempt to negate the effects of the radiation they produce.

As a special note, the quality of the duplication does make a big difference. For best results, have true photographic duplicates made by a professional. The cost is very minimal and it makes a big difference. This is another idea that can be played with. If you'd like, you can add several variations such as using distant healing methods while being photographed. You can also trace out or visualize the symbols first, though it is not necessary.

REIKI ON THE GO

Reiki can also be used on items that will soon be leaving your hands and traveling elsewhere. Examples of this include presents, packages, and mail. Many people like to Reiki gifts and presents before they give them, intending that all who come into contact with the present will receive Reiki. A true gift indeed.

Packages and mail are another major source of Reiki inspiration. I have a friend who is a holistic attorney with an international clientele. He uses Reiki to protect his packages and guide them to their destinations safely. You should hear the testimonials he gives for using the energy in this manner. There are many ways to use Reiki in applications such as this. The two favorites seem to be tracing the symbols out (intending that they protect the package) over the mail or parcel before it is sent, and sending energy to them using the distant method if problems develop while it is on route. If you are a first degree practitioner, you can simply hold the package or piece of mail between your hand and Reiki it for a moment or two before it is sent, placing whatever intent you would like on the energy.

SUMMARY

As always, use your imagination. Reiki can be used on anything. Experiment and see what effects you can have. If you find any neat new uses for the energy, please write to me. I'd love to tell others of your discovery!

The power symbol and the mental/emotional symbol have important protective abilities. In many versions of the first degree attunement process, the power symbol is the only Reiki symbol planted in the hands. It's placed there in part because of the extensive protection it provides. It protects the healer from the client's personal energy, the client from the healer's personal energy, and the energy current from both the healer and client's personal energy.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FEEL PAIN

Unless you specifically developed the ability and use it in other forms of healing, as a Reiki practitioner you should never feel pain during a session. If you do, tell your angels that you would prefer to feel another sensation, such as energetic tingling. If the pain persists, move your hands to a different location on the client's body. If the pain persists, remove your hands and wash them in cold water immediately. Then clean the area by visualizing divine love and white light around both you and your client. After a short while, try again. If the pain reoccurs, immediately wash your hands again, and end the session.

If you are determined to grin and bear it for some reason when pain arises, try removing your hands from the person and using the "hands-off" treatment method which is detailed in the chapter on treating without touching. More often than not, use of this method will relieve the pain you are feeling. My first recommendation, however, remains end the session immediately.

Though rare, sometimes pain is used as a way to tell us to remove our hands from the client. It is difficult to say if such sensations are produced by another part of the client's consciousness, an energy or entity which has attached itself to the client, or one of our angels trying to make their message clear. I tend to doubt the latter. It has been my experience that angels typically communicate in positive and loving ways. I doubt if they would ever intentionally cause us pain to make a point clear. Wherever the pain is coming from, take the message and remove your hands if you experience it during a session.

In my practice, I have run across several people who have felt pain in their hands, while working on clients, since the day that they were first attuned. In each case, I asked them to communicate with their angels and inform them that they would prefer a different sensation. If that was not effective, I re-implanted the power symbol, and in some cases the mental/emotional symbol, in their hands. In every case that I have encountered thus far, that, along with my request for assistance from my angels in planting the protective symbol(s), was sufficient in stopping the pain.

THE MENTAL/EMOTIONAL SYMBOL'S PROTECTIVE QUALITIES

The mental/emotional symbol also has special protective abilities. It is said to offer "Christ like" protection. I believe it to offer protection on the subconscious level as well. This can be very powerful when called upon. Many second degree practitioners trace the power symbol and mental/emotional symbol out over themselves each morning for both protection, and the energy it manifests. One master I know of had a very bad accident a while back. He hadn't had so much as a speeding ticket in years (he continually sends out power symbols ahead of his vehicle while traveling), and confided to the class I was auditing that it happened on one of the few days that he had not traced the protective symbols. Reason enough to protect yourself each morning.

CLEANSING SPACES WITH REIKI

Have you ever walked into a space that felt negative or uncomfortable? The Reiki symbols can offer protection with this, as well. The power and mental/emotional symbols can be traced out and empowered with a special intention that they cleanse and protect the space. The symbols can also be traced on walls to set up a secure environment which no negative energy can pass into. Likewise, doors and other openings can be protected by this method. You can also protect your property from being damaged or stolen by using the symbols combined with the proper intent.

The following procedure is extremely effective in cleansing spaces at times when it would not be socially acceptable to go around and physically trace the symbols. Take a couple of deep breaths and on an inhale trace the power symbol on the roof of your mouth. Then, simply exhale while visualizing the symbol leaving your mouth and filling the space with healing and protective energy. It may be necessary to repeat this a few times depending on the space. If possible, direct your outward breaths to the corners of the room first and then to the space in general. You may also use the mental/emotional symbol in combination with the power symbol for this protection ritual. This is a handy trick to use in unfriendly environments. You'll be surprised at how quickly the place will warm up to you.

REIKI ON THE ROAD

Cleansing spaces can be especially important while traveling. Hotel rooms and rental cars are used by many, many different people each of which leave their own psychic energy behind. It is very important to cleanse this energy when you arrive in the space. Hotel beds are especially bad culprits. If possible, cleanse the entire room with both Reiki and an incense or sage stick of some kind. Small aromatherapy devises are also very nice to have while traveling and have a much smaller risk of setting off the smoke alarms! Be sure to protect yourself personally while traveling and also to cleanse the cabins of airplanes, trains and buses. These are also areas where a great deal of psychic energy tends to build up and often much of it is quite negative.

PROTECTION OF PROPERTY WITH REIKI

The Power Symbol and Mental/Emotional symbols may also be used to protect property and personal items. Nearly anything can be protected with Reiki including your home, cars, even your tax returns from an audit. While driving, I often visualize the symbols surrounding the car and extending out behind and in front of me far into the distance. I intend that they protect me from not only accident and injury, but also from the ever present radar gun. To protect something, simply trace the symbols out over it with the intent that they protect the item. Nothing more is necessary, and it works very well.

Play and Experiment with the symbols and their energy. Their Potential is endless!

At the second degree level, three different primary subcurrents of energy are available to the Reiki practitioner which can greatly assist with empowerment and manifestation if they are understood within that context.

First, there is the current represented by the power symbol. It might be more appropriate to call this the empowerment symbol because of the special properties of the energy it represents. This symbol may be used to empower any goal or desired manifestation. It is a key to a very powerful form of energy and may be used for nearly anything. This is the energy in the Usui System of Natural Healing which provides the push to make things manifest.

Manifestation, however, will not occur if other levels of your consciousness are blocking it. The major culprit which places limits on what you will allow to manifest in your life is your subconscious mind. It is the place which is believed to house all of the imprints and beliefs which govern what you attract to you (manifest). Many people use the power symbol in attempting to manifest what they desire, but few consider the fact that if their subconscious mind had no beliefs which contradicted that desire, then the thought of the desire alone would have produced the manifestation.

In Reiki, we are very fortunate to have an energy which gives us direct contact with the subconscious mind. The Mental/Emotional symbol provides the access to this energy. Do not forget to add the energy which this symbol represents anytime you create a program to assist you in manifestation. By doing so, you will be sending the healing energy to your subconscious mind for use in dissolving the blocks which you have placed there and which are limiting your ability to manifest what you desire.

It is important not to forget the capabilities of the distant healing symbol when creating a program of manifestation. By incorporating the energy which this symbol represents, you are able to send healing energy to all points in time. This has two major ramifications. First, it gives you the ability to send healing energy back into the past, to critical events in your life as they are actually happening. The effects of this are obvious and very powerful.

Second, it allows you to send energy into the future. Our prior and current thoughts and actions crystallize etheric templates in future time and space. This means simply that your future is largely determined by what you are creating it to be right now. By using the distant healing symbol, it is possible to send energy into the future and change the template as it currently exists, replacing it with something more desirable. It is also possible to send energy generically into the future with the intent that it assist you at critical points in time, when you need it the most. The curious thing about this is that we seem to be involved in a strange loop between the past, present, and future.

When you send energy back into the past, you will most likely notice perceivable changes in the present. This is logical based on our perceptions of linear time. According to current theory, the past should effect the present, and consequently the future. Following the course of this logic, the future should have no tangible effect on the past or present moment. That, however, does not seem to be the case. When energy is sent into the future, very often perceivable changes can be felt in the present. It certainly seems as if they are all connected in ways which were previously felt to be impossible. Thus, when healing either yourself or others, it is extremely beneficial to send energy simultaneously to the person's past, present, and future selves. Likewise, do not forget the importance of working on all levels of yourself when attempting to empower a goal or manifestation.

HOW TO USE REIKI TO EMPOWER GOALS

Most of us have goals we are seeking to manifest. Some relate to abundance, some to dissolution of unwanted habits such as smoking. Reiki can be used not only for these goals, but can even be used for weight control, or to assist in difficulties with a relationship. The procedure for manifesting each is basically the same.

The simplest method involves prayer in conjunction with the energy. Any time that a recurrent pattern comes up, simply visualize the power symbol and ask that the desire be dissolved. Then, clear your mind and visualize the Mental/Emotional symbol. While visualizing it, ask that your subconscious be cleansed of any thought-form or impression which is creating the current pattern or preventing the manifestation of what you desire. Now, clear your mind again and visualize the Distant healing symbol. During your visualization of this symbol, ask that the energy be made available to all points in space and time where it is needed to assist you in manifesting what you desire.

Finally clear your mind again and visualize the power symbol. This time, just hold it in your mind and allow yourself to relax. If you'd like, you can restate your intent at this time, but it is not necessary. As you allow yourself to become relaxed and receptive, often a key thought or memory will arise in your consciousness that will indicate the reason your manifestation has been blocked. Once aware of such an issue, the block becomes much easier to deal with and eliminate. Don't stop there, however, continue to send healing energy to the manifestation as there are many other levels that it is working on.

Another popular method, which has been taught for years, involves a picture of yourself, or piece of paper. On the front or back of the picture (or on the piece of paper) write out what you would like to have manifested in positive language, along with several other affirmations. Then, write out each Reiki symbol with it's name and send energy to the picture or paper for fifteen minutes each day, or more if that's possible. To do this, simply hold it between your hands, or hold your hands over it. You can even do this anytime you feel an urge come up that is contrary to the habit you are trying to heal.

If you are planning on using a picture, take a new one of yourself just for this purpose, and update it every few months or so. This will keep the energy in the picture as accurate as possible and make the healing or manifesting much more powerful. Unless you are working on specific relationship issues, it is best if you are the only one in the picture. If you are working on a relationship issue, be very careful of the picture that you select. The energy of the moment embodied within the photograph will greatly effect the situation.

The use of pictures and writing on pieces of paper is adapted from the radionics community. For years, the West has scoffed at primitive societies that would not allow their picture to be taken because they believed that it stole their soul. Modern etheric science has finally caught up with them. A picture is an excellent vibrational representative. A vibrational representation of a person, place, or thing is known as a witness. It can be used on both organic and inorganic objects. It gives one a direct link and allows access on a subtle energy level to the person or object in the photograph. Further, there seems to be no limit to the amount or kind of access one has when using these methods. The link can be used for positive or negative reasons.

In Reiki, this link provides a very powerful technique which we can use to send energy to anything very easily. Furthermore, when this is combined with the crystal techniques outlined elsewhere in this book, we are able to send the energy continuously for periods up to 48 hours. The technique of writing affirmations and representative symbols has been used and written about in radionic circles for years. Their effect is quite powerful when combined with a quality witness, and empowered by a subtle energy of some kind. Reiki is excellent for this purpose.

Because Reiki is a relatively holographic current, access to broader ranges of the energy is available at the first degree level for self healing. The above technique can be adapted and used quite effectively by a first degree practitioner, though a longer treatment time may be necessary. To empower goals with first degree energy, use the witness method with affirmations, omitting the symbols, and then Reiki the witness as outlined above.

HEALING HABITS WITH FIRST DEGREE ENERGY

Because Reiki is a relatively holographic current, access to broader ranges of the energy is available at the first degree level for self healing. The above technique can be adapted and used quite effectively by a first degree practitioner, though a longer treatment time may be necessary. To empower goals with first degree energy, use the witness method with affirmations, omitting the symbols, and then Reiki the witness as outlined above.

SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR HEALING HABITS

If your goal is to heal a habit such as smoking or to regulate your weight more effectively, a number of excellent suggestions can be found in books dealing with hypnosis. For quite some time now, the hypnotherapy community has been working with disorders such as these. They have developed many step by step programs which can be implemented quite effectively into the Reiki system. One of the nicest things about these programs are the affirmations which are proven to be effective. Many even have steps with different affirmations for use at different times. All of these can be incorporated and used with Reiki, and it is much easier than trying to develop your own program.

Though information about self healing is scattered throughout this text, I thought that at least a few additional words should be dedicated to it. Quite a bit about this has been said in the sections on second degree Reiki, especially in relation to the expanded tools it has to offer. This chapter, however, is meant to address something far less commonly discussed within the Reiki community.

Anytime that you work with Reiki, the energy pours through you and heals you on many levels. It does not matter if you are in meditation, working on yourself, another person, or giving or receiving an attunement. One of the nicest things about Reiki is that it isn't necessary for you to do anything special as you channel the energy. And, deep relaxation is very common when giving treatments, which is excellent for those needing stress relief.

During this time it is quite normal for practitioners to experience all the things which clients report, including recall of past lives and significant emotional imprints from the past. It is important to realize that these things arise because they are being healed. There is no need to worry about the client you are working on during these moments. Concern yourself with the self healing you are experiencing and allow it to fully manifest. This is one of the greatest things about practicing this system. You are healed every bit as much as those who come to you for treatment.

Keep in mind that you cannot heal anyone, you can only allow and assist people in healing themselves. In many ways, you are simply the part of themselves that they need to access in order to heal themselves. The universe is a giant interconnected web. Because of this, you will receive as much healing from the sessions as your clients do. It is simply the flow of energy in the universe.

There is an interesting theory which states that the most effective healer for an individual disease is someone who has beaten that very disease themselves. This theory also holds that it is very unlikely that someone can fully heal someone else that has a similar disease to their own. This theory suggests that people do not have a certain disease state because they have access to the correct energies which keep it at bay. Therefore, someone without the disease can be a stronger channel for the energy a person needs, as they have no (or fewer) blocks to the needed energy in their system. Likewise, someone who has beaten that specific disease state may have an even stronger ability to draw the energy in and be more powerfully attuned to it because they have already powerfully manifested it in their own life. This may be one reason why some of Reiki's most traditional teachers stressed the importance of healing yourself before working on others.

Most healers take time each day to work on themselves, as well. When you do this, again, be very receptive to what arises. Also, pay careful attention to any sensations you feel in your body. By this, I mean both where your hands are and other places in your body where you feel the energy working.

You will learn far more about healing by working on yourself, and carefully observing the flow of energy and how it manifests, than by working on others. When strong emotions arise while working on yourself, you have the opportunity to notice what parts of your body are effected by them. This can be of great benefit in self-healing, because it gives you the opportunity to notice where, and how you store energy. It also allows you to see which emotions you have problems dealing with, where they go after you've suppressed them, and how they effect your body, mind, and spirit.

Some Reiki practitioners and masters give complete treatment sessions without ever touching their clients. The effects of this kind of treatment are very powerful as Reiki effects the person's energy field first, circulates through them removing negative blocks, and then enters the physical body to heal on its level. Because of the effectiveness of this method, I've listed the primary techniques below, in order of use, so that you can integrate them into your own sessions.

THE AURA SWEEP

This is a very common technique to use in balancing someone's energy field as well as in cleansing the surface of their aura of negative energy. Have the person stand a few feet away from you (this is best done outdoors, on the bare earth). Now, sweep your hands from above the top of their head, to the ground beneath them, and back several times. Do this by stretching your arms out in front of you with your fingers together and pointing at the person you are working on. As you sweep them from head to toe, visualize beams of energy coming from the tips of your fingers and passing through the person, removing all negative energy as they do so. When you are done, shake your hands, as if you are shaking water from them, and ground the energy by cleansing yourself in one of the ways mentioned in the chapter on conducting a session. The easiest ways to ground yourself are washing your hands off in cold water, pressing them together in a prayer type fashion for a minute or so, or placing them directly on the earth for a thirty seconds to a minute.

PROJECTING

This procedure goes by many different names and there are, likewise, many different styles and techniques of practicing it. It is primarily an Eastern technique which is very common in both individual and group use in Chinese methods of healing with energy. The Reiki energy makes it very simple to use. Essentially, it involves sending your client energy by channeling or projecting it through your hands, while standing several feet away from them.

In the Eastern systems which use methods like this, the energy has traditionally been sent through the tips of the fingers, but in Reiki the palms of the hands may also be used. Intuitive research has indicated that a slightly larger beam of energy is emitted from the tips of the fingers, rather than the palms, during this technique, but a difference in effectiveness has not been ascertained. Personally, I prefer to use the palms.

If you are a first degree practitioner, simply hold your hands out in front of you with either the finger tips or palms facing toward the client and intend to send energy to them. Although you will be outside of many levels of their energy field, their aura is a vast system and you will still be well within its outer layers. Because of this, the energy you are sending will be circulated throughout many of its levels and will concentrate where needed, often in several areas at once. When used in this fashion, Reiki energy often fills nearly all of the person's energy field.

If you are a second or third degree practitioner, you may use the above method as it is written, or add the symbols and their energy to it. This can be done by actually tracing them out before you send the energy, or by simply visualizing them as you do so. As always, I recommend using the symbols so that as wide a spectrum of energy as possible is available during the session. It is often true that the more energy you can make available, the more successful the healing will be.

You may also wish to experiment with visualizing the distant symbol while you are projecting energy to the client. This is not necessary, but may add some additional power by helping you to focus your intent more clearly. I do recommend using a mantra such as, "I am a channel of pure Reiki (or healing) energy for _____." This will also do wonders for assisting you in focusing on the healing being performed.

Finally, you may also wish to consider actually doing a distant healing on your client before beginning the sessions. This can even be given to them as they are on their way to you. It will greatly assist in preparing them energetically and psychologically for the healing session. In this application it will have a similar effect as projecting.

SCANNING

The physical portion of this procedure is more commonly called "sensing" or "cool-cleansing". This is because through a combination of intent, intuition and sensitivity to energy, "cool" spots are located in a person's body and energy field, and are removed. These spots are often places of blocked energy or manifested illness and are usually among the first areas treated in a "hands-off" healing. Removal of these blocks will often increase the client's ability to draw energy and integrate it during the session so that later the energy can be focused in other places where it is needed. Needless to say, as with most techniques in this book, you can use this procedure on yourself as well.

The actual procedure is quite simple. First, state your intent clearly. Tell your angels, as well as all levels of yourself that you are looking for the places in the person's body and energy field which need healing the most. Tell them that you are also looking for areas which would be beneficial to work on before the rest of the healing takes place. Next, while standing on the person's right side, place your left hand 1-6 inches above the person's body. I recommend using your left hand, simply because in most people it is the one which is the most receptive. The left side of the body is noted for drawing external energy into the human energy field.

You may begin this procedure from either the top of the person's head, or from the bottoms of their feet. In either case, slowly and systematically move your hand to the other end. As you do so, pay very close attention to the sensations in your hand. In different areas, you may feel the aforementioned coolness, but I also commonly feel tingling, heat, drawing sensations, etc. Like projecting, scanning is a very common procedure (also closely tied in origin to Eastern energetic healing, though now used extensively in the Therapeutic Touch type methods of healing) and there are a number of sources on it which list the above sensations, along with many others. Any irregularity in the person's energy field is a sign that you want to stop scanning for a moment and work on that area.

The treatment can be done by either placing both hands together (side by side) and holding them 1-6 inches above the suspect area, or by placing your hands directly on the person's body in that area. Use your intuition to determine which you feel is right to do. When the area is finished drawing energy, remove your hands and continue to scan from where you left off.

Again, treat with this method systematically from head to toe. If you choose to simply bring your hand down (or up) the center of the client's body instead of zigzagging all over it, two additional things become necessary. First, you must be much more sensitive to the energy in your hand, and second, when you feel the slightest distortion, you must move your hand off its central track and attempt to "hone-in" on the block you are sensing. Unless related to a specific chakra, the blocks will rarely be located in the center section of the body. Be certain to pay careful attention to all sections of the intestines and colon.

Though many of the people attracted to a healing system such as Reiki have hands which are very sensitive to energy, there are quite a few who are not. There are many other ways of scanning the body other than with the hands. Another very common method used the pendulum. If you plan on using this method and have not used a pendulum in the past, I recommend that you go down to your local holistic book store and browse through the titles that they have on the subject. Pick a favorite book, or two, and dig in. To use the pendulum in scanning, simply replace the sensing hand with it. Hold the pendulum so that its tip is 1-6 inches above the surface of the body and systematically test the entire body. This is not the recommended method because it takes much longer than hand scanning. Time is needed to calm the pendulum in each location and it can take quite some time to hone in on all of the areas you are searching for. Still, it is a very effective alternative to hand scanning.

Another effective alternative is visualization. This takes a great deal of trust, however it is an excellent tool to use in developing inner vision. Simply allow yourself to become relaxed, hold your palms out towards the person you are working on, and allow the visualization of their energy field to come into your mind. Now, ask to be shown the areas which should be treated first. Allow your intuition to guide your visualization, and pay careful attention to any spots in the body and energy field visualization which change. In time, it may be possible to develop clairvoyant vision using this method. Often times, the problems will be revealed to you in colors and shapes which depict great meaning, so be sure to watch every detail carefully.

The final scanning method is by far the easiest, but is limited to second and third degree Reiki practitioners. It is done by casually tracing the power symbol out over the client. I love to use this method and its accuracy is astounding! Stand a few feet back from the client, or at their feet if they are laying down. Now, close your eyes and in a fairly rapid manner, trace out a power symbol over the client. Allow it to have as many spirals as it likes, and then when it is done being traced, open your eyes and look down your arm to see where it is pointing. This is where the center of the vortex ended up, and it is also an area which is in need of attention. I commonly do this three times before a healing, asking where I should begin, then where to work as the second position, and finally where to work at for the third. From there, I either follow the hand positions in order, or go by intuition.

"HANDS-OFF" TREATMENT

The roots of this method, as well as the projecting method of treatment, are found in the healing traditions of many cultures world-wide. Huna, Chinese energy medicine, traditional magick, and the increasingly common Therapeutic Touch type techniques all contain a wealth of information about this method. Hands-off treatment involves giving a full session without ever actually touching the client. To use this method, simply hold your hands 1-6 inches above the client exactly as you would if you were giving a traditional "hands-on" treatment, and proceed to allow the energy to flow through you. In doing so, you are treating with your hands in the client's energy field. As previously mentioned, this allows the Reiki energy to flow more freely and easily to the areas where it is needed and may give it a greater ability to work on many different levels and places at once.

Allow your intuition to guide how high above the body you place your hands in each position. Traditional theory has said no more than three inches. This is because within the 1-3 inch range, you are still working primarily on the etheric body, which is the mould of the physical. By working on this level, you can easily prevent illness before it manifests, and more readily heal the physical body.

Energy healing has come a long way in recent years and although major emphasis is still placed on healing the physical body, an expanded understanding of what lies behind the manifestation of disease has also began to come about. Because of this, other (such as the mental and emotional) levels of the energy field are now given attention with the understanding that healing on these levels will produce great change on the etheric and physical levels as well. Needless to say, because of the harmonic principles involved in energetic healing, higher levels such as the spiritual bodies will be effected as well.

By extending treatment to projecting, much more of the energy field is worked on. Likewise, recent research has found that the area of 1-6 inches above the body produces tremendous mental and emotional healing as well as powerful physical and etheric level healing. As always, listen to your intuition. If it tells you to place your hands two feet above the person, DO IT! You are still well within various levels of their energy field.

Note: Traditional hands-on Reiki healing works on all levels of a person as well, though many feel that "hands-off" treatment is a faster and more direct means to the same end. Additional studies, research, and discussion is currently being conducted into these questions.

Group healing sessions are an especially powerful experience not only for the person being worked on, but also for the practitioners involved. There are many ways to conduct such sessions, depending on how many practitioners are present, and what their level of training is. This chapter outlines several different methods to use with group healing. I cannot state frequently enough that this is a work which is constantly in progress. The Complete Guide to Reiki is exactly that, a guide for you to use and a source of ideas. Experiment, see what works for you, develop your own methods, and you will be well on your way to becoming an exceptionally powerful healer.

 THE TRADITIONAL METHOD

If the group consists solely of first degree practitioners, there are several ways of conducting the session. The first is to have each person place their hands in one of the suggested healing positions. If there are not enough practitioners to fill every position, simply rotate after an appropriate amount of time. Many prefer to rotate even when there are more than enough healers present. This gives everyone the chance to experience the energy in different parts of the client's body, and thus gain additional experience.

When there is an excess of practitioners, allow the additional ones to take up positions at other areas of the body such as the ankles, shoulders, and knees in that order. These areas serve as bridges linking the energy in the two sides of the client's body together into a sort of grand circuit. The ankles usually do the best job of completing that link. Many say the knees are places where resistance to change is held in the body. Keep in mind that when placing your hands on them, if there is no one at the ankles, it will form a bridge of energy at the knees largely ignoring the rest of the legs. If there is only one additional practitioner, it is usually best if they begin at the ankles and spend some time there before moving up to the knees. The shoulders are also an excellent place to use in balancing out the energy polarity in the body. After placing one hand on each shoulder, you should be able to feel the energy more strongly in one at first and later feel them balance out. This is an especially nice thing to experience when you are first beginning to use Reiki.

MIRRORING

A second way to conduct a group healing is to use a technique called mirroring. In this practice, instead of each healer having one hand position that they are responsible for, they share two positions with another practitioner. For instance, instead of just placing your hands over the solar plexus, you would place one hand over the solar plexus and the other hand on another area of the person's body, such as the second chakra. The person directly across from you would then do the same, matching their hands up to yours. In this way, your hands are "mirroring" each other. This can be a very powerful technique as it ties together not only two peoples' energy, but also two areas of the client's body between them. As with everything else, experiment with both practices and choose the one which you feel most comfortable with.

GROUP HEALING WITH FIRST AND

SECOND DEGREE PRACTITIONERS

If one or more second degree practitioners comprise the group, have one of them trace the symbols over the client before the healing begins. If there is only one second degree practitioner, that person usually takes up position at the head. The crown chakra position is the one which calls in most of the energy during a session, and fills the client's field with energy. By having a second degree or higher practitioner at this position, a much broader spectrum of energy enters the client's field for the other practitioners to utilize. If the person being worked on has a specific area of the body which is giving them trouble, it may be more beneficial for the second degree practitioner to take a position in that area. As always, use your intuition. It is perfectly acceptable for practitioners of different degrees to mirror one another, or for some of the group to mirror, while others concentrate on a single position each. The only positions that are not conducive to mirroring are the head, legs (including the knees), feet and ankles. It is also best if the shoulders are not mirrored unless the goal is physical healing of that area, rather than balancing of the two sides of the client's body.

THE CIRCLE METHOD

The circle method is another fun technique to experiment with. It has a number of different applications and variations. The first one which we will cover is the closed circle method. This is a quick and easy way for a group of Reiki practitioners to work on each other. Basically, it involves forming a circle with each practitioner facing the back of the person in front of them. Once you are in this position, there are several different ways to proceed. My favorites include, placing your hands on the shoulder blades of the person in front of you, placing your hands on the back of the heart center of the person in front of you, or holding your hands one to six inches off the back of the person in front of you and beaming energy to them. Any of these work well, and there are many other versions of this listed in various books as well as in newsletters and handouts from various masters which also work nicely.

There is not a set time attributed to this exercise, so simply continue to send the energy for as long as everyone wants to. One of the nice things about this technique is that not everyone in the circle has to be a Reiki practitioner. This is an ideal introductory tool to use, as non-Reiki people can take part in this powerful healing technique and still strongly feel the energy pass through them. If possible, stagger the non-Reiki people between practitioners attuned to second degree or higher.

This technique can also be utilized to send healing at a distance. There are, in fact, many different ways to do this. The simplest is for all second degree practitioners present to use a witness of some kind to represent the person (see the chapters on mental/emotional healing and distant healing for a further definition of this), trace the symbols over it in the manner you use for healing at a distance, and then hold it between their hands and the back of the person in front of them. The benefits of this method are two fold. First, the circle is not broken, and everyone participating in the healing session still receives full benefit from it. Second, the people or things being sent energy receive not only the energy you would normally be able to send, but the energy of everyone in the group as well. This makes it much more powerful than a normal distant healing.

If you prefer, you con use a broken circle to send group healing in this manner. To do this, simply decide who will be sending the energy, give this person the witnesses to send energy to, and have him or her create a distant healing stack out of them. Then, create a healing circle leading up to the person who has been elected to send the energy. This person, instead of holding his or her hands to the back of the next person, sends the energy only into the distant healing stack. Though this method is perfectly fine to use, I suggest using closed circle because of the added advantage of everyone in the group receiving additional healing as well.

GROUP PROJECTING

This is an excellent way to begin a group healing session as it is done from outside most levels of the client's energy field, and subsequently many levels are treated at once. To utilize this method, simply form a circle around the person to be healed. Ten feet away is ideal, but any shorter distance will do. Hold your hands out in front of you, facing the client, and send energy in one of the ways listed in the chapter on treating without touching, under projecting energy.

The distance method can be used here as well. In many of my second degree classes, the final thing we do is send energy to a picture of the place the class is being held by use of the group projecting method. This serves as an excellent demonstration because it does not take long for the place to begin to heat up! Another nice exercise is sending energy to the earth. There are many different techniques and variations of this method, some of which are listed below. As mentioned in the chapter about treating without touching, either the tips of the fingers or the palms of the hands may be used for any of these techniques.

SACRED SHAPES AND THEIR USES

One of the most fun experiments to perform relates to sacred geometric and religious shapes. This will be treated much more extensively in later publications, simply because the space to adequately cover it here does not exist. I do, however, recommend that you play and experiment with the classic shapes. These include the circle, square, triangle (or pyramid), cross (preferably the equilateral version, though the Latin version is interesting as well), spiral (both inward and outward moving), pentagram, and Star of David or hexagram. Use your imagination when experimenting with these. They can be used in ways similar to the circle method, they can be used with hands-off or hands-on styles, and they can be used in different orientations both geographically and energetically. I have been deeply involved in the study of symbols and sacred geometric figures for quite some time and can more than attest to the effectiveness they add in healing situations.

PASSING THE HAT

Many Reiki groups also like to have a hat (or box) into which the members can place healing requests and goals, written on pieces of paper. Each member of the group then agrees to send energy to the hat on a regular basis such as every day or every other day. As they do so, the energy sent by the group combines to powerfully heal and manifest what is written on the slips of paper in the hat. This method is ideal to use because of the level of energy that it is able to concentrate for use.

BE CONSIDERATE

Be sure to keep the client in mind and be considerate of their needs when offering a group session. If you know that your client is coming to you in order to heal deep past emotional experiences or something similar, it is usually best to conduct the session in private. Many personal and private things may come out during the course of the session and it is important that the client feel totally comfortable in releasing them with you. They may not feel as comfortable expressing themselves in a group situation and thus the healing will not be as complete as it otherwise could have been. Always try your best to keep the client's needs in mind when offering a session of any sort.

As an end note, group healing sessions can be extremely beneficial in introducing people to Reiki for the first time. They are ideal for use after an introductory talk because not only are they incredibly powerful, but also extremely fast to perform. Because of the concentration of energy, one person can be done every ten minutes (five minutes per side) if enough practitioners are present to cover all of the positions. This allows many people to experience the energy in a very short amount of time.-

With this symbol comes another very special part of second degree Reiki, the ability to send energy to others at a distance. This symbol can be used alone, however, it is typically used with at least the power symbol and often with the mental/emotional symbol as well. In addition to being able to send Reiki at a distance, this symbol also allows one to send Reiki to other points in time, both past and future.

When it comes to sending energy at a distance, follow the same guidelines as outlined earlier, and always make certain that the person asks you for it. If it is not possible to actually speak to them, simply offer the energy to their higher self with the request that it be used for their "highest and best good".

Frequently, when people obtain second degree, they find themselves using this symbol to send energy to friends and family they cannot reach physically. In time you will most likely build up an extensive list of people to send energy to. Keep in mind that not only does your schedule vary, but so does the schedule of everyone you send energy to. Because of this, each time I sit down to send energy I intend and state that I want the energy to reach each person when they will be most receptive to it. It is usually most convenient for me to send the energy around noon, however many people on my list say that they feel it strongly just as they lie down to go to sleep. I feel that it is very beneficial to make the above intention as they may be very busy at noon, or whenever I choose to send Reiki to them, and not be as receptive to the energy.

SENDING REIKI TO HEAL PAST EMOTIONAL TRAUMAS

As previously stated, this symbol can also be of tremendous benefit in the healing of past emotional traumas. In fact, in combination with the mental/emotional symbol, its effects can be truly profound. The two primary ways to accomplish this are during a standard session and at a distance. I recommend that you study these techniques carefully, and utilize both as much as possible.

I always trace this symbol out during a session. It adds the ability to send the energy both into the person's past, and into their future. This can be of tremendous benefit because as difficult and/or formerly unprocessed emotions arise in your clients it gives you the ability to send energy back to the actual event, as it was happening in the person's past. It also allows you to send energy to future events to reinforce the current healing you are performing.

The second way to use this symbol is to heal past emotional traumas at a distance. One very competent master from the Midwest, was exploring uses for the symbols when he hit upon this application, and created the following test for it. He traced all of the symbols and intended to send healing energy back to a difficult time in his childhood. In his mind, he visualized one of the many walks he took in the forest at that time in his life to deal with difficult issues and emotions. He knew that because he was using the mental/emotional symbol that he also had access to the subconscious mind of his younger self walking in the woods, so he seized the opportunity to implant the following words with great love: "It's all right, everything will be ok....". Shortly there after, he not only felt a noticeable difference in himself, but he vividly remembered the day in which he was walking in the woods, depressed, and felt the loving energy and message (which he had always assumed was from a god source) pour through him. That was a powerful moment of change in his young life, and is an amazing testimonial to the power of Reiki to heal at all points in space and time.

HEALING FEARS AND PHOBIAS AT A DISTANCE

Fears and phobias can easily be healed using this method. It is not necessary to know the source of the fear to heal it. For many years, I did not like to return phone calls from people I did not know, or call places where I did not know the person with whom I would be speaking. When I learned of this method, I sat down and attempted to send Reiki back to whatever in my past was producing that reaction. When I did so, I vividly recalled several incidents which strongly reinforced the original imprint. Each was called up and healed. When those were out of the way, the situation behind the phobia was brought to my conscious attention. It related back to grade school and to the first time I called a girl to ask her out. I was turned down, and from that moment on my fears of calling people, except in situations which were very cut and dry, began to grow exponentially. By using the distant healing method, I was able to go back into my past, recall the original imprint and send healing energy to both the memory and the exact moment in time during which it was occurring. This produced profound change and, needless to say, greatly effected the phobia.

Don't be alarmed if the reinforced or original memories don't come up to conscious awareness. Sometimes they will later, other times they never will. In either case it is not necessary for you to vividly recall them in order for the healing to take place. The session will be just as effective, even if you never learn what the original imprint was. Likewise, do not be surprised if the healing brings up a strong past life recall. This is also very common. Regardless of your own personal metaphor or belief system regarding this, past life therapy is highly effective for many people. Remember your role here is as a healer, not a philosopher.

SENDING REIKI ENERGY AT A DISTANCE

What you trace the symbols over and place your hands on is up to you. Many masters teach people to use their legs, but often other things are used, including crystals. For one on one distant healing, I was originally taught to use my right leg to represent the front of the person's body and the left leg for their back. The knee was considered the head and where the leg joined the trunk was their feet. Today, I usually send to more than one person at a time. I am out on the road teaching quite a bit, and I often prefer to drive to my classes. While on the road, I frequently trace the symbols out on my right leg with my right hand and send to many people and objects, including my healing grid and the car that I'm driving in! While my left hand is driving, my right hand is sending energy.

To use the Distant Healing Symbol simply follow the steps below.

1. Decide what you want to send energy to.

2. Decide what you are going to place your hands on to do so.

3. Trace the Power Symbol out over #2.

This will raise your vibration to the level of second degree energy, and increase the effectiveness of any symbols you draw from this point on.

4. Trace out the Distant Healing Symbol on top of #3.

Visualize what you want to send the energy to lying on top of the Distant Symbol. Now, offer healing energy to it both in intention and by saying, aloud or silently, "I offer this Reiki (or pure healing) energy to __________ ", three times.

5. Trace out another Power Symbol on top of #4.

This will strongly activate the other symbols and begin the process of sending the energy.

Use #6-8 if you are intending to send the energy to more than one person or object. If you are only sending to one thing, proceed to #9.

NOTE: When sending Reiki at a distance to more than one person, it is usually a good idea to add only inanimate objects such as homes and automobiles at the highest levels of your Reiki stack. For some reason, the higher up something is on the stack the more energy it seems to receive. If you place a person at the top of a very large stack, chances are you will hear about it!

6. Strongly visualize the next person (place or thing) which you want to send energy to.

7. Offer the energy to them, again by intention as well as an affirmation repeated three times such as: "I offer this Reiki (or pure healing) energy to _______, to use in effecting their highest good".

8. Trace out another Power Symbol, seeing your new request sandwiched in between this Power Symbol and the last one.

Repeat steps 6 through 8 as needed.

9. Trace out the Mental/Emotional Symbol (optional) on top of the others symbols. I do this each time I send energy, however if you do not intend to send mental/emotional energy it is not necessary. I like to make the energy available for use if it is needed.

10. Trace out another Power Symbol on top of #9.

11. Place your hand(s) over where the symbols were traced and begin to send energy.

I often use an affirmation and repeat it in sets of three to assist in keeping my intention focused on the healing taking place. Typically I use one such as: "I am a powerful and free flowing channel of pure Reiki energy for this (person, place or thing)." I always try to visualize each thing strongly as I offer it Reiki. If I am sending to many things, I frequently name and visualize them all in the order in which they were traced. Sometimes, however, I simply say: "I am a channel of pure Reiki (or healing) energy for all these things". When I visualize something receiving energy, I typically see it imbued and empowered with divine energy and unconditional love. I see such energy as brilliant white with silver sparkles, however use any visualization which seems appropriate for you. The visualization is only a crutch which enables you to better focus your intent on the healing taking place.

12. When finished, CUT THE CORD!!

Don't ever forget to "cut the cord" after a session, this includes distant healing sessions. Use one of the methods already outlined to dissolve your link to what you were working on immediately after the session is over.

Experiment with sending energy to a variety of different people, places, things and events. Notice how different each one feels. One fun experiment is to send healing energy to the earth. I have what I call a "Reiki globe" which is nothing more than an inflated plastic ball with the earth's geography printed on it. I trace the symbols over the ball in the same way outlined above, then place my hands on it and direct Reiki to the earth. I highly recommend doing this and teach it in all of my second and third degree classes.

If you are a master, or have training in styles other than the traditional Usui method, you may utilize any additional symbols you have learned in your distant healing by adding them at appropriate times. The Master Symbol can be traced out both at the very beginning of the procedure and after step 10. Any other symbols can be placed in between step 9 and 10.

This is a very special and powerful symbol within the Usui System of Natural Healing. When using this symbol it has traditionally been taught that it is especially important to keep your thoughts and emotions as pure as possible. This is because it is thought to create a bridge between your consciousness and your client's subconscious mind. The subconscious is the level of one's being that hypnotherapists use to effect change in people, usually by enabling them to release old and deep seated emotional and thought patterns. For this reason, I strongly recommend that, upon obtaining second degree, you go down to your local library and check out a good book or two about hypnosis. The insight you gain will be very valuable in your healing work.

There are many different ways to use this symbol, most of which are covered in various parts of this book. One way that this symbol can be used is to gain access to the subconscious mind of the person being worked on. This gives you the ability to be a great deal more effective in your capacity as a healer because it allows you to implant suggestions in much the same way that hypnotherapists do. You, however, do not have to say them out loud. They can be simply held in your mind. This may seem like a tremendous advantage, but it is good at this point to remember the law of karma. What you put out will return to you many fold. Never abuse the abilities that your Reiki attunements give you. Ethics aside, the price is far to high.

A good rule of thumb to use when giving suggestions is to always make them positive. Statements such as: "you will not be sick" or "your problems will not effect you from now on", should be changed to something more along the lines of "each moment you grow stronger and more healthy" or "any problems you have melt away effortlessly leaving many opportunities in their place". It is important to make your affirmations as positive as possible because many believe that the subconscious mind will not recognize negative words such as "not" and "can't". You don't want to plant a suggestion that the subconscious hears as "your problem will effect you from now on"!

THE REIKI DOOR TECHNIQUE

This technique was developed when I began to discover people who's first Reiki Master had given them instructions for this symbol that were so difficult that, since the students couldn't follow them, they were afraid to use this symbol and its energy. To plant suggestions, I visualize a channel of light extending between myself and the client. In that channel, I picture a door comprised of the mental/emotional symbol. In my visualizations I see this door as being comprised of a kind of neon frame (similar to an open or beer sign) of the symbol. Most of the time, I leave the door closed during a session. I open it only when I wish to meditate on what a client is experiencing or to plant a suggestion in them. Keeping it closed for the majority of the session will allow you to more freely use your intuition and mental capacities without it effecting the subconscious mind of the client. Simply open the door to establish the link, and then close it to break the connection.

Using the door method will allow you to continue to channel untainted mental/emotional energy into your client throughout the entire session. Anytime this symbol and its energy are used, it floods the person's subconscious mind and mental/emotional energy levels with Reiki. A natural result of this is the release of emotion, often in the form of memories and their accompanying emotions that were buried a long time ago. All of us have undergone times when we could not consciously process and understand what was happening to us. When this occurs, more often than not, the memories and accompanying emotions are stored in the body and the subconscious mind. It is natural for these to be released during a healing session and this can lead to the different kind of healing crisis which I alluded to earlier.

Before beginning a session during which you plan on using the emotional symbol, talk to the client about what may happen. Let them know that it is OK and in fact desirable for them to bring up, process, and release the emotion and energy from past events. It is possible that some of their physical problems stem from manifested emotional issues. During a powerful session, memory patterns can be released from every level. Even cellular level events from evolution to animal instincts may be called up to be released, dealt with, and integrated. Always do your best to be in tune with what your client is experiencing. Don't be afraid to ask if they are doing all right and, if they say no, to ask them what they are experiencing.

EMOTIONAL CORD CUTTING WITH REIKI

It can be important to have them "cut the cord" in a situation like this one. Purifying the screen is an excellent method. Another is to have them blow up a balloon, which is attached to their wrist, with the problem and it's emotion. When the balloon is fully inflated, have them cut the string and watch it drift away. If it is just an emotion, with no concrete visualization, the balloon method is excellent to use, or you can have them create an imaginary figure with a collar around its neck and an attached leash which they hold in their hands. Have them strongly imagine the shape, color, size, smell, texture and even the sound the imagined figure makes. Then, tell them to begin surrounding themselves with divine love, white light. When they do so, have the notice how their creation begins to struggle to break free of the leash and flee from the light. Continue to build this visualization up in their mind and at the peak moment of the white light's power, have the person let go of the leash and literally feel the figure rip it from their hand and speed away afraid and never to return. Allow the white light to fully permeate and seal up the person's aura, before letting it fade. Then, simply continue the session where you left off.

HOW TO HANDLE UPSETTING EMOTIONAL RELEASES

When a person begins to get upset during a session, be certain that you call attention to their breathing and help them to regulate it. No matter what they are experiencing, deep relaxed breaths will help to calm them, even if only a little. Any level of relaxation will allow them to draw the energy better, thus assisting the healing taking place. If necessary, you can always remind them that what they are experiencing is not occurring now, it is in the past. Take them to a position of neutral observance if necessary.

During emotional releases, you may also wish to surround (through visualization) your client with divine white light for protection as well as divine love, or with a soft pink light for a more integrative and unconditional personal love. This can work wonders in calming your client down, and helping them to heal and integrate the arising emotions. It is also a good idea to have some soothing music which can be played either during the situation or after it, as well as to have a calming (caffeine free) tea standing by. An aromatherapy diffuser with any number of the scents designed to provide relaxation may also be used.

WHAT YOU CAN TELL BY HOW THE SYMBOL IS TRACED

As with the power symbol, it is also a good idea to pay attention to how you intuitively trace this symbol. Specifically, watch where the two bumps are placed on its right side. Though it is perfectly fine if they are drawn where they are located in the illustration you received when taking the second degree class, before long you will probably notice that you are tracing them in different positions, which you will want to take note of. Typically, their positions will correspond to an unbalanced energy center, though it may also show a troubled area in general. The size of the bumps can also tell you a great deal about the areas in question. Larger bumps often indicate over energized or "blown" center. Smaller bumps typically show that the center is closed up or more restricted than it should be.

Also pay attention to how the line which the bumps rest on, on the right side of the symbol, is traced. This can also be very telling if you are receptive to it. The angle of bend often shows the extent to which someone has difficulty with their back, and where. Many practitioners can easily pick out those in a second degree class that are massage therapists simply by looking at the way in which they draw the mental/emotional symbol. Many will draw it in a way which makes it look as if it is bending over a table. The ability to spot little details like this can be of great benefit when you are working on the person later.

MEMORY ASSISTANCE WITH REIKI

This symbol can also be used to assist you in remembering a name, or idea which you can't quite come up with. Simply ask for the name, or idea, then strongly visualize the Mental/Emotional symbol. Allow yourself to be relaxed and receptive, and you will be amazed at how well this works. The energy which this symbol represents can be of great help in accessing anything stored in the subconscious mind. All you have to do is ask.

The first of the three symbols for Reiki second degree is the power symbol. It is generally held that once you are attuned, you always channel First Degree energy, unless you consciously communicate that you wish to channel Second or Third Degree energy. This is the symbol which assists with that communication, and increases the vibrational level of the Reiki from first to second degree. It can be used alone or to enhance the other symbols. It is the only symbol that can be traced again and again on top of itself without having to clear the space first. In fact, you may trace it as many times as you wish. It is a good idea not to do so with the other symbols. Each time you trace out the Power Symbol, it can increase the amount of energy going to that area.

When using other symbols, except at the master level, it is usually a good idea to trace this one first. This is simply because it lets your angels know that you want to access second degree energy. When you use it, the Power Symbol provides access to a much wider bandwidth of energy. It even gives a great deal more access to the higher spiritual energies of the master level. Many people use it both before and after they have traced the other symbols. As is always the case, feel free to use whatever feels right to you.

Notice that the symbol is comprised of two halves split down the middle. When you are tracing this out, both in front of you and in front of others, do your best to pay attention to how symmetrical the halves are. Many believe that if the left side is larger than the right side, it means that there is an imbalance in the person and the right hemisphere of the brain is more dominant than the left half. Of course, the opposite is true if the right side is larger. The left side typically controls rational, logical thought. The right side contains our more artistic and intuitive side. It is always nice to know a bit more about the person you are working on, especially when it comes to imbalances. Needless to say, the larger the swell to one side, the larger the imbalance. Many practitioners use this method towards the end of a session to check the client’s state of balance.

Another thing to keep in mind and experiment with is the number of circles or levels in the spiral. The spiral as it is traditionally drawn has the minimum number of levels in it and can be used as it appears very effectively. However, many people prefer to continue adding circles beyond that point. This can also be indicative of various degrees and qualities of energy within the second degree level. The meaning of more or fewer circles is much more subjective than the meaning of balance between the two halves of the symbol. To some, more circles means a greater need for the emotional qualities of the second degree energy. To others it means more mental or physical level healing. You will need to experiment to find out what it means to you. It is easiest to experiment with yourself at first, then expand to others. As with the colors, just let the symbol trace itself. If you are not comfortable with experimenting, simply trace the symbol exactly as you were shown by the master who attuned you. Many do and that is perfectly fine.

A third thing you may want to pay attention to while tracing the symbol over someone is exactly where the center of the vortex in the symbol falls. Many practitioners have found that it often zeros in like a bull's-eye on areas containing problems. Quite a few practitioners choose to determine this by tracing one or several additional power symbols over their client while allowing their intuition to guide them. They usually do this at the end of their symbol empowerment (also called "charging up") procedure. More can be found about this in the section on Treating without Touching, under the subheading of scanning.

Second degree (or Level II) Reiki is considerably more complex than its first degree counterpart. The second degree attunement increases the intensity of the energy by a substantial amount. Many say it is at least raised to the power of two, and often much more. Additionally, with it you are given a series of three symbols and instructed on the meaning and use of each.

As has already been mentioned, first degree is primarily an etheric and physical level healing energy. Second degree energy includes that, but is also mental and emotional in makeup. This means, simply, that the energy does an excellent job of healing on the mental and emotional levels of one's being as well as increasing its etheric and physical healing strength.

Indeed, there is a great simile between the two as we often "think" with and store emotions in our bodies. Any number of direct physical therapies (including Reichian, rolfing, deep tissue massage, etc.) have been developed in recent years as the link has become more well known.

To realize how you think with your body, simply lie down and begin to debate something over in your mind or just let your thoughts drift. Now bring your awareness to your throat, or you may wish to lightly place your hand there (over your adam's apple) as you continue your thoughts. Note the physical movement there as you think! In time by doing this exercise while you relax, you will be able to notice how your thoughts effect various other areas of your body as well. Think of how long this has been going on, and how long you've been unaware of it!

To experience how emotions interact directly with the body, consider the following. Remember when you were happy, sad, nervous, etc. Notice where you felt those reactions in your body. The most common are the heart when someone special enters your space, and the stomach at times of nervousness. Now take the time to assume different positions and notice how each feels. Sit with your legs or arms crossed and uncrossed. Now cross them in different ways. Adjust your posture. Sit or stand in different ways. Play with it and have fun, but also remain aware of how each effects what you are feeling, thinking, and even the way in which you think. Many books have been written telling people how to size up someone and their mood simply by observing the various positions of their physical body. It is all made possible because of the link between the two.

In addition to mental and emotional healing, second degree Reiki also makes it possible to send Reiki energy to someone at a distance, as well as to different moments in time. This is possible because Reiki, as an energy, exists outside of what we understand as space and time. Thus, it has access to all points contained there in. This is another way in which the Reiki angels help us. Because we live in the physical world and they do not, they can be of great help when it comes to healing with intent and energy at a distance. They are much more familiar with working in that way than we are. Because of this, asking for their assistance will enhance any healing. They bless us by being willing to assist us, but we need to be very clear in our intent so that they can understand and help us with what we're asking for.

THE SECOND DEGREE SYMBOLS

The symbols themselves are primarily tools of communication between us and our Reiki angels. The symbols and their sacred names provide us with an exceptional focus of intent as well as an established symbolic language suitable for work on all levels. Each one allows us to communicate what level of energy we are intending to work with and what we are trying to do. For this reason it is important to trace the symbols and say the name of each symbol, aloud or silently, as accurately as you can. Our friends are being very generous to assist us in our healing work so it goes without saying that we should always do our best to help them understand what our intentions are.

Each time a symbol is traced, its name is said three times. This can be done before, during, or after the symbol is traced. Again, this can be done aloud, however most practitioners prefer to do it silently. When tracing the symbols, there are several methods which can be used. You may choose to use either the tips of your fingers or the palms of your hands. The palm energy centers, once attuned, are said to shoot out a very focused beam of energy. The tips of the fingers are like wands which also emit streams of focused energy, and are very powerful. This is the reason magicians are often depicted as charging objects with their fingertips. Use the method you are most attracted to. Our research has shown that both are highly effective.

It is usually a good idea to draw all of the symbols with one hand. Hold the other one towards the person so as to "hold the space" around them. Keep in mind that you are tracing the symbols in a rippling sea of energy and moving it about with your hands. "Holding the space" with your other hand will help keep the symbols in place as you draw them. Most Reiki masters initiate both hands for tracing the symbols, however, some will still do only one. If your master only attuned one of your hands for tracing the symbols, be certain to always use that hand. If both are initiated, use the one that feels most comfortable. It is OK to use your left hand one time and your right hand the next. Always go with what your intuition tells you.

Regardless of which method you use to trace the symbols, always visualize the symbol as strongly and clearly as possible when you do so. Do not be overly concerned if you do not trace one or more of the symbols perfectly. If you feel that it is close enough and that your intent has been communicated effectively, that is sufficient. If not, pass your hand over the area in which you traced it and see the symbol being swept away, leaving a field of brilliant white light behind. Now trace the symbol again seeing it imbedded into the field of white as you do so.

When tracing the symbols, it is a good idea visualize a stream of energy shooting out from your hand like a laser and tracing the symbol onto the space a half an inch above the person you will be working on. Many people ask what color each symbol or the laser of energy should be. The answer is simple, let it be whatever it chooses. Just let it be. Take the part of an innocent bystander and just notice what the colors are. Most people find that they will change from session to session, and even during a session. It is a good idea to pick up a book or two about healing with color. I do not recommend a specific text, because the basic information is essentially the same in most of them. I believe strongly in allowing you to intuitively select the book which is the most appropriate for what you see and sense with your inner knowing.

The book(s) will describe each color in detail as well as what it means. Try to get a basic understanding of each. In this way, you will have a better idea of what is in need of healing, before you even begin your session. Each symbol has a different meaning as does each color. For example, if the power symbol is red, you will know that the basic level of healing energy corresponds to the properties of that color. Likewise the color of the emotional or distant healing symbols will relate the characteristics of that "color" of energy to what the symbol embodies. Allowing the symbols to be the color they wish and having a basic understanding of the colors they become can be of tremendous benefit during a session in understanding both what the client's needs are, as well as what they are going through. Again, the symbols are a symbolic language. Language is a two way street. Use them to communicate your intent for the healing, but also allow your intuition to speak to you through them. More about this is listed in the individual chapters on each symbol.

Many second degree practitioners use the symbols in the following way before a session. You may choose to adopt part or all of the following procedure. The most important thing is to always trace the symbols out over the client. Some practitioners trace them out using visualization. I like to use that method, however, I also trace them out with my hands. I feel that this not only makes a substantial impression on other levels of my being, but it also has the practical aspect of assisting with the visualization. The procedure for tracing out the symbols is as follows. Insert this where indicated in the chapter on conducting a session. Though not indicated below, always say the name of a symbol before, during, or after you trace it.

1. Begin by tracing all of the symbols out on each of the palms of your hands in the following order: Power Symbol, Mental/Emotional Symbol, and finally the Distant Healing Symbol. It does not matter which hand you begin with, but after they are in your palms you should trace the rest of the symbols with one hand and "hold the space" with the other.

2. Trace a large Power Symbol in the space in front of you.

3. Visualize little power symbols on each of your primary chakras, beginning at the root and proceeding in order to the crown. The one visualized over the crown chakra is laid flatly on top of the head. I often visualize more than one in this area as I find it opens me up as a clearer channel for the energy. Likewise I will visualize additional Power Symbols on my root chakra for a grounding effect.

NOTE: The steps prior to number four are designed to elevate your own vibration, open you up to become the clearest channel possible for the energy, and give your angels the opportunity to prepare both themselves and you for the healing. They are not a necessary part of the system and may be used at your discretion.

4. Now trace out the three symbols in the space directly in front of you. Do this in the order of: Power Symbol, Mental/Emotional Symbol, and Distant Healing Symbol. As you do so intend for them to cleanse and purify the space that you are healing in. If you'd like, you may trace an additional Power Symbol after the Distant healing symbol to further empower the protection.

An added technique I use for this is as follows. When I have traced one of the symbols out before me, the first time I say its name I visualize it beginning to "power up" and allow it to take on the color vibration it will need. I then say its name a second time watching it grow even more intense. As I say the name the third time, I see it explode out, typically fragmenting into dozens of little versions of the same symbol. Part of my intent is that I be shown the areas in the room which contain energy which could adversely effect the healing session. Further, I intend that the small symbols which go to those areas do so to cleanse them, or restrain the energy in them and protect the session. I pay very close attention to where each one goes and am careful to further purify that area either before or after the session. I do this for all of the symbols in step 4 as each symbol lends a clue as to the type of energy it seeks out.

5. Finally, draw out the symbols over the client. There are many different ways to do this, the most common being to stand at the person’s feet and begin each symbol at the top of a person's head, tracing all the way down to their feet. Use the same order that we have been working with: Power, Emotional and Distant. This not only allows your angels to understand what you are intending to do, but it also begins to elevate the person's vibration and prepares them for the healing.

When you have completed this step, begin your healing session. Additional tips will be provided for each symbol as we come to them.

This chapter will provide an excellent framework for you to follow in your healing sessions. We will systematically look at a sample session and cover exactly what is happening in each step of the process.

 1. WASH YOUR HANDS IN COLD WATER.

Always wash your hands in cold water before you begin a session. Your hands are the only part of you that will be touching the client. Aside from good hygiene, washing them in cold water also helps to eliminate any negative energy that may be sticking to them. Cold water has an excellent cleansing effect when it comes to energy. For applications like this, always use cold water. The Taoists have known for centuries that warm water will drive the negative energy deeply into you. Cold water, however, removes it. Your client will notice the energetic cleanliness of your hands, and it will help them to be more at ease and relaxed.

2. TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY A PRAYER OF INTENTION.

Another thing many Reiki practitioners like to do before beginning a session is say a meditative prayer. This serves several purposes. First, it relaxes you which will allow you to better communicate with your angels and intuition. Second, it raises your vibration. These two, combined with relaxation, will help the energy to flow much more freely and powerfully through you. Third, it lets all of your angels, all levels of your being including your low and high selves, and the consciousness of the energy itself know what you are intending to do so that they can assist. It also allows time for your client and their angels to prepare and become more receptive to the healing.

Your prayer can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it.

During an attunement or an especially active healing session, many ask for the assistance of all angels, archangels, angelic choirs, ascended masters, Reiki angels, personal angels, angels from the Great White Brotherhood, and all beings of positive integration, and love and light vibration.

They further ask their low (or subconscious) self to open up and assist them and to join with them in asking their higher (or superconscious) self to assist in every way. They also ask for the assistance of the angels, low, and high selves of the other's present. As you might expect, this makes for an incredible amount of manifest healing. Don't forget to thank everyone when you're finished.

There are many intents which you may incorporate within your prayer. It is usually a good idea to offer the energy to the person's higher self for use in effecting their highest and best good, or positive integration. This is just another way to make the intent that the energy express itself in the way most beneficial for the person being healed.

(If you are a second or third degree practitioner, trace the symbols out in your desired method before proceeding to step three.)

3. BEGIN TO TREAT WITH THE RECOMMENDED HAND POSITIONS AS OUTLINED BY YOUR INSTRUCTOR.

4. ALLOW YOUR INTUITION TO GUIDE YOU.

Intuitively allow yourself to move your hands to any other areas you feel need Reiki. Please remember that this can and often does occur throughout the healing session. If you are working on a recommended position and feel that you should place your hands elsewhere, do it! It is best, however, to return to the standard positions after you have done so.

CLEANSING THE LOWER LEGS WITH REIKI

Another thing some healers like to do is cleanse the person's lower body of energy after a session. Energy seems to have a way of building up from the knees down during a session, and it is often best to get rid of it before ending the session. This is done by lightly placing your hands around one of the person's legs, and pulling the energy down and out of them. Actually touch them for this exercise. Pull the energy down from just above their knee and continue pulling until your hands have gone off the bottom of their feet. Then, rapidly shake your hands, much as if they were wet and you were shaking water off of them. Next, do the other leg. Some healers do both legs at the same time, and many have an intuitive sense of when this energy is building up and perform this cleansing throughout the healing session. In some cases, people I have worked on have felt their angels performing this procedure and asked me about it. I strongly recommend using this method, especially after long and intense sessions.

The energy builds up in the lower areas of the body because of the energy centers at the back of the knees and the soles of the feet. The centers at the knees are often said to relate to resistance to change. In order to keep the healing environment and the client's energy field as clean as possible during the healing, many practitioners choose to place a clear quartz crystal at each foot’s energy center to collect the energy expelled there. If you choose to adopt this method, remember to cleanse the crystals after every client you use them on.

BALANCING THE ENERGY CENTERS WITH REIKI

The following is an easy method to use in balancing the energy centers. Place one hand over one center and your other hand over a different one. Don't cross your hands or arms over the top of each other during this exercise. Shortly after your hands are in place, you will most likely begin to notice that there is a stronger "pull" in one hand than in the other one. You will also notice that this will balance out if you leave your hands in place. It is not uncommon for the pull to reverse and become greater in the other, formerly "quiet" energy center, before the two are balanced. Energy centers form an interdependent system. This means that you can't effect one without effecting the others as well. Use this method to treat each center until there is an equal pull regardless of where your hands are placed.

When treating two centers at a time you will occasionally find that emotional issues arise in the person you are working on. This is especially true when working on what is commonly referred to as the second chakra (the sexual chakra) in combination with the heart, solar plexus, or root chakra. To better understand what is happening and what to do, refer to the chapter on emotional healing.

5. ENDING THE HEALING SESSION.

Keep in mind that when you are working on someone their energy field is being extensively manipulated. After a session be sure to smooth it out. There are several methods to use in doing so. I find that it works best to simply smooth it out like the sheets on a bed. This is done by moving your hands all around their body from the top of their head down to their feet with your hands about five inches off of their skin. Make sure you are thorough. Some people like to use swirls to smooth out an aura after a session. This process is often called "sealing", and is most commonly done in small counterclockwise motions. I do not recommend this procedure because often it brings the energy centers back out of alignment. This occurs because during the process, the practitioner's hands move directly over each center and can change the rotational pattern of centers which are vortices.

6. "CUTTING THE CORD"

USE RAKU

Anytime that you work on someone, you create a "cord" or "fiber" of energy which connects you to them. If you leave it in place after a session, the person will continue to draw energy from you. By this I don't necessarily mean Reiki. More often than not, the energy they draw will be your personal energy. When you were working on them, you had established a harmonic resonance between them and the Reiki energy. That resonance, however, slowly dissipates as they return to their normal chores, though it can last for hours after the session depending upon their specific energetic makeup. Because that resonance is gone, however, they are no longer in tune with the Reiki energy. The cord that connects you is a harmonic of your personal energy and theirs. Because of this, they are more likely to draw your personal energy "through" it if you don't take the time to "cut the cord". Massage therapists, and others who deal regularly with touching the public, often report drains of personal energy which I and many others feel are attributable to this effect.

It is always best to break this cord at the conclusion of a healing. The simplest way is to wash your hands in cold water. Not only will it cleanse your hands of any personal energy you may have picked up from them, but it will effectively break the link that has been created between you.

It is also a good idea to visualize the cord between you and your client strongly in your mind and cut it either by visualizing a knife cutting through it or by doing so with your hand. See your end of the cord dissolve back into you, and the client's end go back into them. Make sure no trace of the cord remains. If it does, simply do the visualization again until the cord is completely gone. Other ways to ground the energy and break the cord include: placing your hands on wood (especially live trees), placing your hands on the earth, and pressing your hands together in a prayer type fashion for thirty seconds to one minute.

BEFORE THE CLIENT LEAVES

Make sure that you do your best to respect the client after the session. Some clients will want to talk, others will want to be left alone for a few minutes. Give them the time and/or space that they need. It's often nice to have a warm cup of caffeine free tea waiting for them. Remember that they have just been through a powerful healing experience.

Be certain to tell your client what to expect before you send them on their way. Inform them that healing will take place long after they leave your office. Also be sure to tell them that their feces may smell quite a bit more than usual so that they will not be alarmed if this is the case. If you followed the recommended hand positions, you spent quite a while in the area of their intestines and colon. This will tend to clean those areas out and in the process will eliminate things which have been there for some time. Those things tend to smell. Also make certain that you tell them to drink plenty of water. Their body will want all the water it can get as it purifies and heals itself.

AFTER THE CLIENT LEAVES

When the client is gone, take a few moments for yourself. Allow time for your consciousness to process the experience and become centered. Also, make sure that you drink plenty of water as your body will want it, too. As a healer, it is important that you take time for yourself. I know that it can be difficult to turn down sessions when people really need them, but if you don't remain centered, rested, and charged, you won't be able to help anyone. Always take care of yourself, the healer, before you take care of your clients.

The most important thing in Reiki is: LET YOUR HANDS GO WHERE THEY WANT AND STAY THERE FOR AS LONG AS THEY WANT TO!!!

It really is that simple. Soon, you will learn the standard hand positions as taught in the first degree class, but always remember to use your intuition. If a thought creeps into your head telling you to place your hand in a way not instructed in this book, DO IT! It can't hurt, as Reiki is universal life force energy and is always beneficial.

 ENERGY SENSITIVITY

When some people are first attuned, they may feel nothing at all in their hands. Others are very sensitive to the energy and notice it immediately. If you are one of the prior, remember to leave your hands in each position for five to ten minutes when performing healing. Again, listen to your intuition. Many people who cannot feel the draw of energy in their hands are told in other ways where to place their hands and how long to leave them there. If at first you're not as sensitive to the energy as you would like, ask your angels for assistance in increasing your sensitivity to the energy. In time, nearly everyone becomes sensitive to it in one way or another.

As you begin to notice how the energy draws, you will most likely notice that it does so in a kind of a bell curve fashion.

As you place your hands in position, there goes from being no draw, to a slight draw which typically builds up to a substantial draw, and then slowly back down to a trickle again. If you keep your hands in place it is likely that the cycle will repeat itself many times in succession. Some healers prefer to ride it out, while others remove their hands after the first draw is over.

To me this experience suggests that when you first place your hands on a position, a harmonic resonance is created between the energy of the person you are working on and the Reiki energy. The draw begins in earnest as they become more attuned to its vibration. When the area has taken in most of the energy it needs, a decline begins. This is the time when balancing occurs in the person's energy field. It is interesting to note that sensitive people often say that the flow continues and even in many cases grows stronger after the healer's hands are removed. This happens, most likely, because a harmonic resonance has been created between the person and the Reiki energy. Reiki is everywhere and it is likely that they continue to draw it for a period of time directly from the space around them. You are in one sense making the space your hand occupied on their body a magnet for the energy. When your hands are removed they continue to attract it. The space you are healing in becomes very charged with Reiki energy so there is a great deal of it for them to draw from. Reiki also does wonders for developing your intuition. Before long you will be relying far more on your inner knowing than on the information contained here or anywhere else.

INITIAL CLIENT TREATMENT

When beginning to work with a new client, it is a good idea to initially treat them once a day, for three days in a row. You may need to offer a special introductory rate, but the benefits will be well worth it. I recommend this practice because there seems to be a three day filtering down time between the etheric and physical bodies. By continually channeling energy into both of these bodies during that time, you can create a very important and powerful healing which will both impress your client and pay big dividends later. You will be creating a very strong harmonic resonance in the physical body so that not only will it be much more receptive to the healing energy, but also much more receptive to the energy and blocks filtering out of the etheric body. Because of this, the increased energy which you are also channeling through the etheric body has a very potent and cleansing effect. Remember to tell the client to expect the healing to continue for at least three days after the last treatment.

An important rule to follow in the healing arts is to treat only those who directly ask for it. By first asking for it, the person is not only informing you that they wish to be healed, they are also informing the other levels of their own being. Their spoken request can do wonders in communicating their desire to be healed to their subconscious mind, which can make the healing much more effective by being open to it. Never assume that you know what is right for another person and enforce your will on them because of it.

Sometimes it will not be possible for someone to ask directly for a healing. In these cases (typically ones in which the client is unconscious), I usually offer the healing energy to their higher self with the intent that it be used for their "highest and best good". There is always the possibility that the energy may be rejected, therefore I also place a statement of intent which will either send it somewhere receptive, such as the earth, or back to myself in a healing or loving way. I feel that this is most appropriate way to continue under the circumstances. I'll also speak to them first so that they will know what my intent is. There is substantial research which shows that comatose patients can hear what is occurring in the room around them.

WHAT IF IT DOESN'T WORK

Never assume that someone wants to be healed just because they ask you for a session. We manifest disease for a variety of reasons, sometimes simply for the attention it brings. If your treatments don't seem to be having an effect, keep in mind that the person you are working on may have manifested their condition to learn a specific lesson. It is entirely possible that the condition will not clear up until the lesson is learned. Ask your client to try to identify any patterns that they would associate with this illness. Explain the five principles of Reiki to them. If they are still having difficulty getting to the root of their problem, it may be a good idea to refer them to another practitioner. The additional levels of energy and healing are a great benefit of Reiki second and third degree. There are few things which can't be healed at the master level. If your first degree treatments aren't having much effect, try to find the person a second or third degree practitioner. Be certain to go with your client to their first session with their new healer so that they will feel more at ease.

Don't think that, because you are only attuned to first degree energy, your healing services are limited solely to the physical and etheric levels. Reiki is a fairly holographic current. Though your attunement is primarily to the physical and etheric levels of the energy, its other aspects are available and you will most likely find them called upon when needed. For instance, the energy required to seal in the healing comes from the third degree portion of the current.

TYPES OF DISEASE AND THE HEALING CRISIS

There are two types of disease that you will be called to work on, chronic and acute. Acute is usually a short term condition and improvement is typically seen fairly rapidly. Chronic illness, however, often requires a much longer treatment time. These are conditions that have either been around for a long time (such as arthritis) or have been manifesting slowly (such as cancer and heart disease). Keep this in mind when treating them. The body will always take the energy at its own pace. Don't get discouraged if improvement isn't happening as quickly as you would like. Typically the body has a great deal of accumulated toxins stored up which it will need to release before significant healing can occur. This brings us to our next topic, the healing crisis.

There may come a time when the symptoms of the person you are working with will appear to get worse for a period of one to three days. Typically, this occurs because their body is purging itself of accumulated toxins, so don't be too alarmed. In acute cases, it will most likely occur just after one of the early sessions. In chronic cases, it may happen after several weeks or even months. When the "crisis" comes, it is a good idea to add extra sessions to the client's scheduled visits. I recommend one session per day for three consecutive days. Do as many as are needed. If the client can't afford the extra sessions, work out another exchange of energy, such as fresh fruit or a trade of services, for the additional healing.

It should be noted that most people never have a healing crisis. In these cases, the toxins are often released slowly over time. Because not everyone experiences a "crisis", I recommend not informing your clients about them until the condition is actually occurring. In this way you avoid psychologically conditioning them to expect, and thus create, it. In short, if it comes up deal with it, otherwise forget it.

It is important to realize that my use of the word "toxins" refers to both energetic and physical toxins. In a healing crisis you may experience one or both being released. Continue treatment without judgment in either case. Also, remember to always make sure that the people you work with are in strong communication with their doctor. Reiki is not meant as a substitute for allopathic medical care, and you could get in a world of trouble by stating or acting as if it is.

Another type of healing crisis can occur when performing emotional healing. It is outlined in the chapters on second degree Reiki. Because at times first degree energy can "cross the line" into emotional healing you may wish to familiarize yourself with that form of crisis as well.

An attunement adjusts the vibrations of one's energy field's (subtle bodies) and attunes them to be able to receive types of energy they couldn't formerly. One cannot practice Reiki without being attuned to at least the first level of it. Some schools of Reiki divide the energy into many different levels, others use simply one level. Today most teachers divide the energy into the same three levels taught by Mrs. Takata: First, Second and Third degree.

In Japan, the masters of the profession around the time of Dr. Usui were most likely carefully selected by hand. Indeed, the Japanese Reiki masters recently uncovered after years of research seem to have no interest in involving themselves with students from the West. The attunements are very powerful.

When the decision was made to release Reiki on a larger public scale, it was no doubt realized that most people's consciousness could not handle the complete energy of the master attunement. In support of this argument, one must remember how restrictive those times were compared to our present.

Many believe that the additional levels were created in order to more gently raise a person vibrationally through several steps rather than hit them full tilt with a single attunement of incredible power. This would also explain why some of Mrs. Takata's students seem to have been initiated through several levels in a single day while others were made to wait. As has already been mentioned, Mrs. Takata was extremely intuitive, had numerous sets of symbols, and issued waiting times to her students based on how she perceived their energy. Some evidence has also emerged in Japan which suggests that the system of three degrees goes back to the time when Dr. Usui was alive, though as yet I have not yet seen anything which attributes it directly to him.

During the attunement process, a series of energies represented by symbols are sealed into the person's energy field, subtle energy channels are opened up for the Reiki energy to flow through, and they are given a guide or communication route to assist them in maximizing the flow and beneficial effects of the energy. It is often said that the ability to heal with Reiki increases with use. In other words, the more you use it, the more energy you can support flowing through you. The reasons for this are many fold, however, most agree that this is because of a process called, "Growing into Attunements".

Simply put, the more you use the energy, the more you become attuned to it. One of the most important things to ask a master you are considering taking training from is if they have a healing practice, or simply teach. Their energetic make-up and experience level with the energy will be quite different if they do not practice regularly in healing sessions. It is, however, perfectly acceptable if they practice primarily on themselves.

Most agree that the first degree level of Reiki is primarily a physical/etheric healing modality. The energy flows into whatever is touched, though it does seem to flow stronger when the healer relaxes and focuses on becoming an open vessel for the energy. Reiki has a tremendous ability to balance the body’s energy centers, remove negative energy from a person's auric field, relieve stress, and heal the body in general. It's a very balancing energy which removes what needs to be taken away and inserts when something needs to be added.

Many people believe that after one is attuned to a level of Reiki, a 21 day cleansing and balancing process takes place. In the case of first degree Reiki, the physical and etheric levels of the person are the primary ones undergoing the change. As that change takes place, it is not uncommon for many things to happen on the physical level of one's being. Sometimes, the physical and etheric bodies get quite a purging. It may manifest in several ways (including aches and pains, a cold, etc.) or if your system is fairly clean, you may notice nothing at all. In each case it is an individual experience.

In addition to raising first degree energy to the power or two (or greater), second degree energy deals primarily with healing the mental and emotional levels of one's being. At this level, one is taught how to use a series of three symbols which include: the Power symbol, the Mental/Emotional symbol, and the Distant healing symbol.

The Power symbol steps up the Reiki energy to the second degree level. The Mental/Emotional symbol is used to access and remove deep seated subconscious emotional blocks. And, the Distant Healing symbol is used to send Reiki to someone not physically present, as well as to send the energy to different points in time. The benefit here is obvious when used in conjunction with the Mental/Emotional symbol. As the block is accessed, healing energy can literally be sent to the actual event in the past. This can become a very important tool when it is realized and used.

As one would expect, based on the energy, the 21 day cleansing process at this level deals with mental and emotional level blocks. The attunement process channels a great deal of energy into dissolving these blocks and as a result restlessness and moodiness can occur while they are being removed. You may also begin to notice great shifts in your mental power and in the way information comes to you, as well as in how you process it.

It is usually a good idea to keep a journal during the periods in which you are going through your cleansing processes. It is very likely that you will find the information you store in a cleansing process journal to be very helpful in showing you where personal healing needs to be focused on many different levels of your being. A cleansing process can be utilized to produce strong healing if a specific need is focused upon at the time of the attunements. To accomplish this, simply make your request via prayer or meditation in the quiet period immediately preceding an attunement. Do not repeat the request or focus on it during the attunement process, simply allow yourself to be open to what needs to be done to fulfill your request.

Third degree energy is of a very spiritual nature. It integrates all levels of one's being and, as a result, often initiates a great deal of higher self contact. There are few words to describe the feeling it gives one. It's cleansing process deals with all levels of one's being as it attempts to clean out whatever is necessary to accomplish integration and healing. The process, however, is surprisingly gentle when compared to the other cleansing processes. Few physical manifestations result from it. With the greater attunement on all levels of one's self comes not only a greater ability to channel energy for healing but also, as could be expected, a greater ability to channel energy for any purpose. This alone makes this attunement a very special gift.

The Usui system itself is very well integrated and balanced. It cleanses, opens up and unites literally all levels of one's being. There seems to be few reasons for dividing it up into three degrees except for those given at the beginning of this chapter. It would appear, and I believe, that everyone who becomes involved with it should follow through and complete their attunements by receiving their third degree training, regardless or whether or not they intend to teach. Many masters have, in fact, realized this and added an additional level in between the traditional second and third degrees which is often called "Advanced" or "Master/Practitioner". This provides the complete master attunement without teaching the student how to initiate others. Much has changed since many more masters have become available.

Though I believe there to be substantial merit in waiting between attunements, it has also become apparent that it is possible to receive a single attunement. Most first and second degree attunement processes are similar and can often be recognized as parts of the master attunement. Many masters have proven that a single master attunement can be as effective as combinations of attunements from different degrees. We are in a time of greatly accelerated energy and I believe that although concerns over the power of the third degree attunement were once well founded, they no longer are. Today we live in a sea of extremely powerful energies of all kinds. Sacred places have often been found to have magnetic, gravitational, or electromagnetic anomalies. It seems that in the past such anomalies could produce a tremendous effect on seekers. Today these anomalies are all around us and are man made. As a result we have become much more accustomed to, and immune to, their influence.

There is a difficulty that comes with a single attunement. It is quite a challenge to present comprehensive first, second, and third degree information over the course of a weekend workshop. Because of this, a new form of workshop has emerged which can work well if done right. Advance learning takes place in the form of a class manual, and occasionally audio and/or video cassettes. The class time then focuses on the major points, questions, attunement and practice. Supervised practice is very important for beginning practitioners. I would encourage you to seek out instructional programs (regardless of the number of degrees they use) which take advantage of advance learning techniques. An interesting side note is that cleansing processes are often very subtle when a person undergoes a single attunement.

Attunement processes, including questions of distant attunements will addressed in extensive detail in subsequent volumes The Complete Guide to Reiki. Such detailed debate is both out of place here, and lacking space in these pages. If given the choice, however, I would still prefer that someone near to my heart take the classes separately. In my opinion it allows one to feel the different kinds of energy embodied within the system in a way not possible when simply attuned to it as a whole. There does seem to be evidence emerging that the three degree system existed at the time of Dr. Usui. But, again, many masters have shown that a single attunement works just fine.

As was mentioned in a previous chapter, shortly after Dr. Usui left the beggars quarter in a state of disillusionment, he is said to have composed what are today known as the five principles of Reiki. It is said that if you give yourself a treatment and follow these principles each day, health, abundance and happiness will come to you effortlessly. We will cover them one by one not only because of the importance Mrs. Takata placed on them, but also because they do comprise a relatively effective system of living in love and with respect.

 1. Just for today, I will count my many blessings.

Few of us ever stop thinking about what we want, but don't yet have, long enough to focus on what we do have. This is the concept of the first principle. Take time each day to focus on and give thanks for what you do have. Realize your abundance rather than focusing on what you do not have. By taking the time to acknowledge your blessings each day, you become a magnet for further abundance because you are placing the energy of your thoughts into further manifestations in your life, rather than into what you do not have. All of us are truly abundant. The universe has an endless supply of energy with which to manifest blessings and abundance in our lives if we allow it. The key really is letting it. An excellent first step of that process is to recognize what you already have and be grateful for it. Do not overlook such things as friends, family and health by focusing only on material possessions.

Try hard each day to see the abundance of the universe in each and every part of your life. Once you do, you'll automatically begin to attract more into your life. This works simply because, like everything else, thoughts are energy. The level of the vibration of your thought energy determines what you experience in life, what is drawn to you and what isn't. If you are constantly focusing on lack and attuning to its vibration, that is what you will attract more of in your life. Conversely, if you recognize and are thankful for the abundance and blessings in your life, many more will follow. Your vibration will literally become a magnet for it.

 2. Just for today, I will not worry.

When we worry, we separate ourselves from the whole that is the universe. We are in effect saying, I don't believe that you can support me, nor do I believe in the abundance of the universe. Worry is a vibrational state that we need to be very careful to learn as much as possible from in our lives. Trust and faith are the key words here, but not in the way you might think. There is never a time in your life when you do not have 100% trust and 100% faith. NEVER! The question is what are you trusting and placing your faith in?

We all have belief systems that we begin building in earnest at birth and some say even before that. To a great extent, these beliefs determine where we place our faith and trust. When worry arises, it is because of those beliefs that are buried deep within us. We are not static beings, in reality everything about us is constantly changing. This includes even our deepest beliefs. Worry is not a lack of trust and faith. It is a demonstration of exactly where our trust and faith lie, on other levels, as generated by the beliefs we hold on the many levels of our being both conscious and not. As such it can be a truly remarkable tool in our lives.

When worry arises, try your best not to become absorbed by it. Instead take the position of neutral observer and recognize the tremendous opportunity at hand to eliminate a belief from your system which you no longer desire. Just watch the worry swell up, and do your best to examine why it is there. Trace it back as far as you can in your mind and heart. Attempt to get to the root moment in your life when the belief that is wanting to cause worry in you was first implanted. If you have difficulty, hypnosis can be a very effective tool to use in uncovering the moments you search for. Very often, you will find that the incidents go far back into childhood. Do not be surprised if you can not go all the way back to the root of the problem on the first attempt. Very often that belief has been reinforced many times over the years, in major ways. Sometimes it is necessary to go back and clear out all of these incidents before the root one can be accessed and dealt with. Just search back and do your best to bring them into the light of conscious awareness. Once you begin this process, which is no less than you beginning to completely change your belief system and subsequently your consciousness to what you desire it to be, you will be surprised at how often "AHA! so that's where that comes from" pops into your mind.

Fear is a similar vibration and can be dealt with in much the same manner, so the second principle could easily be: Just for today, I will not worry or fear. It is a powerful principle to incorporate into how you live your life. Trust in the universe, create the beliefs you desire and you will live a life of happiness few others will be able to understand or realize.

3. Just for today, I will not be angry.

Anger is another byproduct of one's belief system, though it is of a much higher vibration than you may think. Simply put, it is you reacting to your environment. Something that is important to realize is that everything that you see is a reflection of yourself. How's that for a thought?

Consider the following for a moment. How can you ever really know someone else in every way and on every level of their being? You cannot. All that you can know of them is what you project onto them from your own belief system, your own reality. Read those last three sentences again. This means that on at least one level you literally create the world around you from your own thoughts and beliefs. Nothing can exist in your immediate environment that you do not know about because you would not recognize it or see it. The story often shared in relation to this concerns the fact that when people from the old world reached the new, often the only village member who could see the ships in the harbor was the shaman. He or she then had the difficult task of convincing the others of what was clearly within everyone's view.

Each of us think we know what is possible based on the experiences that we have accrued in the process of living our lives. If something falls outside of the parameters of what we consider possible, typically one of two things happen. Either we do not see or recognize it (if the object of discussion is an idea, this would include thinking it's "crazy"), or we attempt to learn about it and assimilate it into our prior experience and knowledge.

One good example of this on the physical level is the countless number of perceptual studies that have been conducted over the past twenty years. For instance, if ten people walk through an office space to get to a conference room, and upon entering are asked to write down everything they remember about the office space they just passed through, none of them will write down the exact same response. Most will notice many of the same things, such as desks and chairs, however everyone will notice at least a few different details than anyone else. A picture on this desk, a pen holder on that one, etc. It was the exact same room from a physical standpoint, but each of their psychological makeups forced them to recognize different objects more resonate, for some reason, to their individual reality.

Ten people, ten different realities. Each person projected their own personal reality onto the collective reality of the actual space. All of us do this each day. We all live in our own reality, "our own little world". Whether you meet someone on the street or a good friend in a restaurant for lunch, for the most part you are encountering a projection of yourself. You are creating who they are from your own belief system, thus if something or someone causes you to become angry, it is not truly them that is producing that reaction in you. It is what you are choosing to perceive about them that is. Most likely it is an area of your life that you are uncomfortable or not satisfied with.

They are like the room. It is the same for everyone at a core level, but we all project our own reality, our own room, our own person onto them at all times. The next time something upsets you, thank the universe for the gift it has given you in pointing out something in your reality or belief system which you may wish to change. Then change it! Try to determine what that person, place or thing was reflecting back to you about yourself that you do not like and work on it. This is one of the precepts behind unconditional love and is also why it is said that it is impossible to truly love another unless you completely love yourself. In reality, there isn't much of a line between yourself and another. Everything is perception and what you project upon it.

4. Just for today, I will do my work honestly.

I believe that, in combination with the others outlined here, you will be truly amazed at the tremendous effects this principle will have in your life. It matters little whether you work for yourself or another, the universe truly seems to reward honesty in every respect. The most important thing is to be honest to yourself in each moment of every day. Always strive to see the world in ways as honest as possible, and to be as honest as you can in the ways you interact with it.

The rewards of honest work can be understood only when experienced first hand. As an example, I will discuss a gentleman who, at a very young age, has risen to become the youngest person to ever manage a major television network affiliate, as well as the youngest person to ever act as a high member for a region of the American Broadcaster's Association, a very powerful position indeed. I know many people who remember when he first arrived at his station as an intern in college. They will be the first to tell you that there was nothing special about him. When asked for the secret of his success, he gladly gives it as follows. "Always do your work honestly." It's as simple as that, he says. Further examination reveals more of what that statement means to him. He typically arrives at work a bit early and leaves a few minutes late. On the days he could not make it in, he always gave the honest reason why. While at work he spent no time in any of the social cliques which exist in every office environment. No one ever heard him say a negative thing about the station, another person, or his job. He showed up, put in an honest day of work, and went home to his family. In the process of doing so, he shot up the ranks faster than anyone thought possible, being installed in the positions he holds today at an age when some were only graduating from college.

How did he do it? It is a formula anyone can follow. He simply did his work honestly.

5. Just for today, I will be kind to every living creature.

It has been said that without love there is nothing, and love means kindness. Our society's belief in separatism has done a great deal of damage to our world. Only when we begin to see the world and everything in it from a holistic viewpoint, will true change begin to occur within consciousness and consequently on earth. The physicists of our day can all stand on soap boxes, scream about how they've traced matter down to it's core component, and tell us of how we're all made of the same energy of varying vibration, but until this statement truly sinks in, it means very little. Indeed, until we all understand in our hearts as well as our minds the interconnectedness of all things, true change will allude us. The only truly effectual and lasting change comes from within not without.

One of the best ways to truly understand this concept and get a real sense of it is by living in accord with the fifth principle. Take it further than even Dr. Usui did by being kind to not only every living creature, but everything in general! Everything you see is made up of the same energy as you. Science has already proved that at a subatomic level, the energy of thought influences matter. Everything on some level seems to have a primal consciousness that can be influenced by our thoughts and their energy. Influence things with thoughts of kindness and love. I’m confident that the changes you will find in your life will amaze you. I can't count how many times good will towards my car has kept it out of the shop once something began to break down. Be kind to everything. Try it, you may just find that you like it!

In the last chapter, we explored a version of the traditional story of Reiki's history as given by Mrs. Takata. This chapter focuses on the current findings of some of the Reiki community's most diligent researchers. These pages owe much to William Rand, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Arjava Petter, Shizuko Akimoto, Dave King, Melissa Riggall, and many others. For years many people, including myself, have been tirelessly researching Reiki's origins with very little success, until recently.

There was once a time when it was believed that the oldest Reiki literature in existence was from Mrs. Takata.

Then a document was discovered by William Rand on file with the state of Hawaii from Dr. Hayashi which was determined to be Mrs. Takata's master certificate. As you saw in the previous chapter, that document was very valuable as it provided independent verification of the existence of the "Usui System of Drugless Healing", the number of practicing masters, etc.

Recently, however, much more information has come to light about the history and practice of Reiki. Dave King has uncovered a lineage back to Dr. Hayashi that is independent of Mrs. Takata. The symbols from this lineage are the same as symbols that are known to have been passed down through the Takata lineage, thus providing some independent validation of them. There are still discrepancies between the histories presented by various researchers. Mr. King is working to restore the original teachings of Dr. Usui through the above mentioned lineage and it's notes, some of which appear to date back to Dr. Usui and Dr. Hayashi.

William Rand, in a trip to Kyoto uncovered something interesting which correlates with part of Mr. King's Reiki teaching. At a temple on Mt. Kurama Mr. Rand writes of a shrine which represents the trinity. It was called Sonten which he translates as Supreme Deity, the source of all creation, or the essence of all that is. He goes on to state that Sonten manifests on Earth as Love, Light, and Power. Each of these aspects has an associated symbol and the one for Love strongly resembles the mental/emotional symbol.

Interestingly, Mr. King states that his research has determined that symbols passed on by Dr. Usui were originally part of a Buddhist practice. He states that there were symbols representing Power, Love, and Light, as well as a fourth symbol which he refers to as "master of the triune". Again, we see some independent confirmation although the other two symbols uncovered by Mr. Rand at Mt. Kurama do not resemble the traditional power or distant healing symbols. His research does, however, indicate that kanji similar to the Usui master symbol is used by the Kurama temple to represent Sonten!

Mr. Petter has published two excellent Reiki books entitled Reiki Fire (ISBN# 0-914955-50-0) and Reiki: The Legacy of Dr. Usui (ISBN# 0-914955-56-X) which I cannot recommend highly enough because of the historical material they contain about Reiki. From them we now know that the 3 levels of Reiki were utilized by Dr. Usui and that each level consisted of additional levels. We also know that the hand positions were created in the west and did not exist in the original form of the system. Reiki: The Legacy of Dr. Usui contains a significant amount of material which was translated from an actual Reiki manual which was used by Dr. Usui. Interesting, both Mr. Petter and Mr. King seem to view traditional Reiki as a form of Qigong. Mr. Petter has been successful in locating others in Japan who have ties to traditional Reiki. For me, one of the most surprising aspects to come to light from his research is a lineage of "Presidents" for the Usui System which extends to the current president that heads the organization today.

Over the years, several people have located practitioners and masters able to trace their roots back to Japan. These healers have always been very private and guarded, often refusing to speak to outsiders. Mr. Petter encountered these same obstacles. None the less he was able to uncover a surprising amount of details concerning the history of Reiki from sources which have traditionally been closed to the West. I recommend that you obtain his books for the full details.

It does seem clear that Dr. Usui started at least one Reiki organization. Mr. Petter uses:

Usui Shiki Ryoho (Usui Healing System)

Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkei (Usui Healing Method Society)

Usui Kai (the modern name of Usui Shiki Ryoho)

Dr. Hayashi uses "the Usui Reiki System of Drugless Healing" on Mrs. Takata's master certificate.

Mr. Rand uses:

Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho

Some of these names refer to the same organization. Mr. Petter states in his research that Usui Shiki Ryoho is now called Reiki Kai. Mr. Rand and Mr. Petter agreed to use Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho when discussing this organization in order to avoid confusion. Usui Shiki Ryoho is the organization Mr. Petter's research turned up as the one Dr. Usui presided over and the presidency of which he conferred. Mr. Petter states that the titles of "Grand Master" and "Lineage Bearer" are not in use, but that there is no question concerning the leadership role asserted by the president of the organization. The six presidents since Dr. Usui are: Mr. Ushida, Mr. Iichi Taketomi, Mr. Yoshiharu Watanabe, Mr. Wanami, and Ms. Kimiko Koyama, and Mr. Kondo.

In the eastern tradition, it is common for students who have attained a level of mastery to found their own school or tradition. The Usui Reiki System of Drugless Healing is such a different organizational name from the others commonly seen, that I believe it may be Dr. Hayashi's own form of Reiki practice. If the above list of presidents is correct, than Dr. Hayashi was not Dr. Usui's appointed successor as the traditional story of Reiki holds. This, however, in no way invalidates his teachings.

Dr. Usui's final resting place is at the Saihoji temple in the Suginami district of Tokyo. It contains a memorial stone that is approximately 10 feet high. On it is inscribed a tribute to Dr. Usui from Mr. Okata and Mr. Ushida (the second president of Usui Shiki Ryoho). The top of the inscription is provided courtesy of William Rand. I recommend contacting his center if you are interested in obtaining more details about Reiki's history. Over the years, Mr. Rand has devoted a considerable amount of his time and resources to researching the roots of Reiki. His organization is called the International Center for Reiki Training and you will find his contact information listed in the resource section of the appendix. The body of the inscription is reprinted here from Reiki Fire. The inscription gives a much more powerful insight into Reiki than anything that others or I could write.

Large kanji at the top of the memorial reads: "Memorial of Usui Sensei's virtue."

The body of the inscription reads as follows:

Someone who studies hard (i.e. practices meditation) and works assiduously to improve body and mind for the sake of becoming a better person is called ‘a man of great spirit.’ People who use that great spirit for a social purpose, that is, to teach the right way to many people and do collective good, are called ‘teachers.’ Dr. Usui was one such teacher. He taught the Reiki of the universe (universal energy). Countless people asked him to teach them the great way of Reiki and to heal them.

Dr. Usui was born in the first year of the Keio period, called Keio Gunnen, on August 15th (1865). His first name was Mikao and his other name is pronounced Gyoho (or Kyoho). He was born in the village of Yago in the Yamagata district of Gifu prefecture. His ancestor's name is Tsunetane Chiba. His father's name was Uzaemon. His mother's family name was Kaweai. From what is known, he was a talented and hard working student. As an adult he traveled to several Western countries and China to study, worked arduously, but did at point run into some bad luck. However he didn't give up and trained himself arduously.

One day he went to Mount Kurama on a 21 day retreat to fast and meditate. At the end of this period he suddenly felt the great Reiki energy at the top of his head, which led to the Reiki healing system. He first used Reiki on himself, then tried it on his family. Since it worked well for various ailments, he decided to share this knowledge with the public at large. He opened a clinic in Harajuku, Aoyama, Tokyo in April of the 11th year of the Taisho period (1922). He not only gave treatment to countless patients, some of whom had come from far and wide, but he also hosted workshops to spread his knowledge. In September of the twelfth year of the Taisho period (1923), the devastating Kanto earthquake shook Tokyo. Thousands were killed, injured, or became sick in its aftermath. Dr. Usui grieved for his people, but he also took Reiki to the devastated city and used its healing powers on the surviving victims. His clinic soon became too small to handle the throng of patients, so in February of the 14th year of the Taisho period (1925), he built a new one outside Tokyo in Nakano.

His fame spread quickly all over Japan, and invitations to distant many ailments. Once he went to Kure, another time to Hiroshima prefecture, then to Saga prefecture and Fukuyama.

It was during his stay in Fukuyama that he was hit by a fatal stroke on March 9th, of the fifteenth year of the Taisho period (1926). He was 62 years of age.

Dr. Usui had a wife named Sadako; her maiden name was Suzuki. They had a son and a daughter. The son, Fuji Usui took over the family business after Dr. Usui's passing.

Dr. Usui was a very warm, simple and humble person. He was physically healthy and well-proportioned. He never showed off and always had a smile on his face; he was also very courageous in the face of adversity. He was, at the same time, a very cautious person. His talents were many. He liked to read, and his knowledge of medicine, psychology, fortune telling and theology of religions around the world was vast. This life long habit of studying and gathering information certainly helped pave the way to perceiving and understanding Reiki. Reiki not only heals diseases, but also amplifies innate abilities, balances the spirit, makes the body healthy, and thus helps achieve happiness. To teach this to others you should follow the five principles of the Meiji Emperor and contemplate them in your heart.

They should be spoken daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Don't get angry today.

Don't worry today.

Be grateful today.

Work hard today (meditative practice).

Be kind to others today.

The ultimate goal is to understand the ancient secret method for gaining happiness (Reiki) and thereby discover an all purpose cure for many ailments. If these principles are followed you will achieve the great tranquil mind of the ancient sages. To begin spreading the Reiki system, it is important to start from a place close to you (yourself), don't start from something distant such as philosophy or logic.

Sit still and in silence every morning and every evening with your hands folded in the "Ghasso" or "Namaste". Follow the great principles, and be clean and quiet. Work on your heart and do things from the quiet space inside of you. Anyone can access Reiki, because it begins within yourself!

Philosophical paradigms are changing the world. If Reiki can be spread throughout the world it will touch the human heart and the morals of society. It will be helpful for many people, not only healing disease, but the Earth as a whole. Over 2000 people learned Reiki from Dr. Usui. Even more learned from his senior disciples who carried Reiki further. Now after Dr. Usui's passing, Reiki will continue to spread far and wide. It is a universal blessing to have received Reiki from Dr. Usui and to be able to pass it on to others. Many of Dr. Usui's students converged to build this memorial here at Saihoji Temple in the Toyotoma district.

I was asked to write these words to help keep his great work alive. I deeply appreciate his work and I would like to say to all of his disciples that I am honored to have been chosen for this task. May many understand what a great service Dr. Usui did to the world.

This chapter focuses on the history of Reiki which originated from Mrs. Takata and is still the one most commonly taught. It was the original history chapter in The Complete Guide to Reiki, with only a few updates in this revision. I weighed eliminating it and including only a chapter that included a much broader cross section of what is now known about the origins of Reiki. The more I considered that, however, the more I realized the importance of this story and the comments I made about it when originally completing the book.

I have, therefore, chosen to leave it in. I have included a separate chapter, following this one, which includes a broad sampling of the more recent finds regarding Reiki's history.

As you will come to understand, Mrs. Takata is without a doubt the person who brought Reiki to the west. Below is the history of the system as she presented it most often. I feel it is important to honor her memory and the gift she gave to all of us by continuing to make it available.

THE TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF REIKI

In late 1936, Reiki came to America from Japan through the return of a women who would become the first western master, Hawayo Takata. Shortly there after, most likely due to World War II, Reiki's Japanese roots were lost forever. It is presumed that they perished because of the war. No one knows what became of the eleven masters working in Japan at that time. Dr. Hayashi is said to have chosen to end his life rather than go to war, an act which was diametrically opposed to the healing he had devoted the latter part of his life to. Because of this, all that we know about Reiki comes from Mrs. Takata. In her classes, she is said to have often presented the history of the profession as follows. Most Reiki schools and authors have presented it defacto and without further research.

THE REIKI MYTH

Reiki is an ancient healing art which was rediscovered in the late 19th century by a Japanese Christian educator and minister named Dr. Mikao Usui. Dr. Usui was the head master of, or a teacher at, the Christian school in Kyoto, Japan. One day, one or several of his senior students came to him and asked if he believed the Bible to be literally true. When he replied that he did, they became very excited and asked him to perform a miracle similar to the ones that Jesus had done. "These things and greater you shall also do," was the verse they called upon in challenging him. When he was unable to comply with their request, Dr. Usui decided that his was blind faith and he went on a quest for the spiritual connection written about in the bible.

After resigning from the Christian school in Kyoto, he decided to go to the United States, the "home" of Christianity, in search of the answers he sought. In America, he chose to study at the University of Chicago, which contains one of the top religious schools in the world. He spent between three and seven years engaged in his studies, before realizing that the answers were not there to be found.

Disillusioned, he began to study other religious scriptures and eventually concentrated on the Buddhist sutras, having heard that the Buddha had performed miracles long before Jesus. He decided to return to Japan, and began to search through the many Buddhist temples in hopes of finding the knowledge about how to heal like Buddha and Jesus did. In each monastery, the monks told him the same thing, "We concentrate on healing the spirit now and although we realize that we once knew how to heal the body, we no longer do." Finally, Dr. Usui met an abbot (the leader of a monastery) who was fascinated by his quest and invited him to stay and pursue his studies. Dr. Usui did so, first studying the sutras in Japanese, then in Chinese and finally in their original Sanskrit where he found the "keys" he was looking for, the symbols.

By this time the learned scholar was wise enough to know that the symbols were not enough. He needed a way to tap into the energy which they represented, so he returned to the abbot for advice. After reflecting on it, it was decided that Dr. Usui would go to a sacred mountain a few miles outside of Kyoto, to fast and meditate for twenty-one days with the expectation that he would receive empowerment and instruction on using the symbols.

When he arrived at the top of the mountain, he collected a pile of twenty-one small stones to keep track of the days. Each morning when he arose, he would throw one off the mountainside and begin meditating. On the last day of his retreat, Dr. Usui rose early and sat in darkness wondering if it had all been for nothing. He then took his final stone and cast it off the mountain. Just as he did so, a light appeared off in the distance moving rapidly towards him. He realized that it would strike him if he did not run, but decided to stand his ground as he remembered the years he had spent on his search leading up to this moment of climax.

The light stuck him in the third eye, right in the middle of his forehead. As it did so he saw and experienced the energy and the colors of the universal rays. Soon these were washed away by intense white light and he began to see huge bubbles floating before his eyes, each containing one of the Reiki symbols. As a bubble would come into his view, he would be instructed in the energy represented by the symbol, and how it could be used. When the information was committed to memory, the next bubble would come. There were four bubbles in all, each containing a separate symbol. In this way, Dr. Usui received full instruction on healing with Reiki energy.

When he awoke immersed in the bright light of day, he completely remembered all that had transpired when the light struck his forehead and immediately took off down the mountain, excited and energized by his experience. As he ran, he accidentally stubbed his toe on some rocks. Instinctually he reached down and placed his hands around it. As he did so he felt a considerable amount of warmth, and shortly thereafter the pain and swelling were gone. This was his first miracle.

As he continued down the mountainside, he came to a restaurant and seated himself at a table. An old man came to take his order and, seeing Dr. Usui's condition, could tell that he was a monk who had been meditating up on the mountain. Anyone familiar with fasting knows that it takes a day or longer to reacclimate the body to normal levels and types of food. Eating a large meal after fasting can do severe damage and even result in death. For this reason, the restaurant owner was reluctant to bring Dr. Usui the big meal he requested.

Dr. Usui, however, was insistent that he be served what he had ordered, and so the elderly gentleman prepared it and had his granddaughter bring it out to him. As this young lady presented him with his food, Dr. Usui noticed that she was in a great deal of pain from an infected tooth. He then asked if she would like to be healed and placed his hands over her cheeks. The level of pain and swelling immediately went down, and before long the area was completely healed. In gratitude Dr. Usui was not charged for the meal, which he ate in earnest with no ill effects. These were his second and third miracles.

When Dr. Usui returned to the monastery to speak with the abbot about how to use his new gift, he learned that the abbot was suffering from great arthritic pain. Immediately he told him of what had occurred in the days since they had last spoken. He then asked the abbot if he would like him to heal his arthritis, and promptly did so. The abbot was greatly impressed, and the two men decided to meditate on what should be done with Dr. Usui's new found ability and knowledge.

From this period of reflection, Dr. Usui felt strongly that he should go serve the most needy, those in the local slums. The slums were a very unsafe place, even for a holy man, and the beggars were banded together into a social hierarchy for their mutual protection and support. When he arrived in the slums, Dr. Usui sought out the leader and presented his offer of healing. In exchange for three bowls of rice a day, he agreed to heal the beggars so that they could return to the temple, get new names, and proceed to lead a normal life of health and abundance.

His request was granted and he immediately went to work. After a couple of years, he began to recognize what he felt were familiar faces. One day he walked up to one of the familiar looking beggars and asked if they had met before. "Of course," the young man replied, "you healed me over a year ago." When Dr. Usui asked why the man had returned to the slums after being healed, the man responded that he had done exactly as he was told to do. He had gone to the temple, received a new name and began living a responsible life. He went on to explain how difficult it was to earn a living and live responsibly, and how it was simply easier and preferable to be a beggar.

Dr. Usui found the young man's words very disheartening and discouraging, and soon found many others who had also returned to the slums for much the same reason. In a state of disillusionment, he left the slums, returned to the monastery, and retreated into a time of reflection and meditation.

He soon realized that, although he had been successful in healing the beggars, he had only done so on the physical level. He had continued to allow them to be beggars by placing no value on his service of healing. At this time he added what would later come to be called the Five Principles of Reiki to the Usui Reiki System of Natural Healing. These are covered in detail in another chapter.

Next he began to travel throughout Japan, teaching his healing system and empowering others to use it. When he arrived in a town where he didn't know anyone, he would walk through its busiest streets carrying a lighted torch to gather attention. Anyone who asked why he was carrying a torch in the middle of the day would get invited to a meeting that evening where, he said, they would truly learn about light. At the meeting, he would give the history of Reiki, and describe his experiences with the energy. He would then attune whoever wanted to learn how to heal with it.

It wasn't long before he developed a large following of students. At some point in the 1920's, he met the man who would become his principle benefactor and assist him by financing a series of clinics in Japan where people could go to be healed with Reiki, and where documented records could be kept on the client's progress. This benefactor was Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a retired navel officer. Upon the transition of Dr. Usui, Dr. Hayashi continued on with the work of spreading Reiki and documenting its effectiveness.

The clinic that Dr. Hayashi worked in personally was located in Tokyo. Because of its location and the fact that Dr. Hayashi came from a very prominent family, it attracted clients from the highest ranks of Japanese society, including the royal family. It was into this clinic that a young woman, who would someday be the sole bearer of the Reiki torch, entered in the Fall of 1935.

Hawayo Takata was born into a poor, partially Japanese family in Hawaii. Her life included many struggles up to the Fall of 1935 including her husband's death at the young age of thirty-five and severe stress and physical problems which came after it. It was nearing the end of Summer in 1935 when her doctor informed her that she would need surgery for an abdominal condition. Family circumstances warranted a trip to Japan, and while there she sought the surgery she needed at a local hospital in Tokyo.

While the preparations were being made, and she rested on the operating table, a curious thing happened. A voice came to her saying, "Operation not necessary." She looked around and saw no one, and the voice repeated itself. Then the voice said, "Ask the head surgeon." When she did so, he informed her of the other treatment methods available, including Reiki.

The rest, as they say, is history. During her stay at Dr. Hayashi's clinic, she was amazed at how effective the Reiki treatments were and repeatedly asked to be allowed to become a practitioner. Such a position was hardly a woman's place in the Japan of that era, so she was always flatly turned down. The fact that she was not Japanese certainly didn't help her case.

Details from this period in the history are sketchy and few, however Fran Brown states in Living Reiki (Mrs. Takata's official biography) that she was accepted into a one year internship in 1935 and initiated into second degree at the end of it in 1936. She also goes on to state that both Mrs. Takata and Dr. Hayashi's wife were both initiated into the master level prior to Mrs. Takata returning to Hawaii in October of 1936.

The public records from this period show that on February 21, 1938, as her certificate reads, Mrs. Takata was made a "Master of the Usui Reiki System of Drugless Healing" by Dr. Hayashi. In all, Mrs. Takata is said to have initiated somewhere between twenty and thirty masters, with twenty-two being considered officially recognized teachers of the profession. She taught all of her classes in a very intuitive way which, while beneficial for the students involved, has caused a great deal of divisiveness in the Reiki community since her death.

THE REIKI MYTH EXPLORED

There are several parts of the story of Reiki which are quite contrary to both common sense, and the history of the period in Japan. To begin with, it is doubtful that any Japanese national would have been allowed to become the director of a Christian school during the period she spoke about in relation to Dr. Usui. Additionally, neither the school that she is alleged to have spoken of, nor the University of Chicago have any record of Dr. Usui. Both have made extensive assurances that their records are very accurate.

It is much more likely that Dr. Usui (a very common name similar to Smith in the United States) was a Buddhist monk. Records of him seem to be lost in the sands of time, however the system as named on Mrs. Takata's mastership certificate (which is notarized and on file in Hawaii) does bear his name, so it is likely that he did exist. Otherwise it would probably be called the Hayashi Reiki System of Drugless Healing. So, why the story of Christianity? The answer may be quite simple.

To unravel the mystery, we must take into account the fact that Mrs. Takata was a partially Japanese American living in the United States during World War II, a time when our country was rounding up citizens like her and putting them into camps in the desert as potential spies. It is likely that she escaped that fate by the skin of her teeth in the first place. Promoting a Buddhist healing system would most likely have been the final nail in her coffin. Once the word got out about how well Reiki worked, few cared about its origins. Fortunately for her, no one ever checked with the University of Chicago.

HOW THE REIKI SYSTEM BECAME DIVIDED

Upon Takata's death in December of 1980, a woman named Dr. Barbara Ray stood up and claimed that she was hand picked to succeed her as "Grand Master". Shortly after, Mrs. Takata's granddaughter, Phyllis Lei Furumoto stood up and proclaimed that she was the rightful heir, though clearly blood lineage has not played a role in Reiki's past. The thing that has never been resolved seems to be, the heir to what? It doesn't appear that the words "Grand Master" existed until Dr. Ray coined them. There is no record of Dr. Usui or Dr. Hayashi ever referring to themselves as "Grand Masters". Certainly the latter would have done so in the certificate he presented to Mrs. Takata upon making her a master. According to that certificate, she simply became, "one of the thirteen fully qualified as a Master of the profession". This certainly seems to suggest that in Reiki all masters are equal.

In recent years, some have also claimed to have "the only complete" system of Reiki. Our research has indicated that there are many forms of Reiki currently in use. I have taken great pains to research these different schools of Reiki and to obtain lineages back to as many as possible. The energy is essentially the same in every form, however differences do exist. Each master has a different consciousness, and consequently a different ability to carry the energy. My most complete attunement to date occurred with initiation into the direct Tibetan lineage of the energy by a student of a very accomplished Lama. This lineage is quite different in energetic make-up than the traditional "Tibetan" attunement that has spread throughout the United States in recent years. My research into the energy, however, continues.

This brings us to a very important point, money. Don't get tricked into paying extra for additional levels and symbols. Many masters use extra symbols and techniques which they have "found to enhance" the energy. That is perfectly fine and, in fact, desirable because it shows that the master is conscious of and continually trying to improve the service that he or she provides, but don't pay a great deal more for it. Reiki is one case in which you do not get what you pay for. Some of the world's best teachers are the lowest priced because they know how truly beneficial the energy is and want everyone to have access to it. The current cost for training generally falls in the range below.

First Degree (Reiki I): $75.00-200.00

Second Degree (Reiki II): $100.00-500.00

Third Degree/

Master Practitioner: $150.00-1,000.00

hird Degree (Reiki III)/

Master-Teacher: $500.00-10,000.00

Another thing to be aware of is the argument that high prices are necessary in order to impress the value of what you are receiving upon your consciousness. There is a great deal of truth to be found in that statement, but only believe it from the mouth of a master who offers a sliding scale or a small "token" fee. Three hundred dollars for a level may be a great deal for you to pay and make quite an impression upon you. Someone else, however, may spend that amount casually for dinner and drinks. Value is subjective. Try to keep that in mind when selecting a master. It will help you to determine if the person is genuinely concerned about the growth of their students, or just after a larger paycheck and using this principle to justify it.

Also, keep in mind that just as your time is valuable, so is the time of the master you are contacting for classes. Many masters set their class prices with that in mind. How honest a master is in telling you this is an excellent thing to use in evaluating their character.

FACTIONAL CONFUSION

Aside from the primary factions, many others exist on smaller levels within the Reiki community because, as we have already mentioned, Mrs. Takata was extremely intuitive and seems to have frequently adjusted the "rules" to the consciousness of the class or person she was teaching at the time. It is also known that she would occasionally change symbols for much the same reason.

For a long time, there were only a handful of masters and practitioners, and they were scattered primarily throughout the United States. Though their symbols were very similar, they were not exact and many of the masters felt strongly that the power of Reiki came from the knowledge of, and ability to precisely trace, the symbols. Since some masters had slightly different symbols and were, subsequently, passing them on to their students, one can imagine the confusion that was created as Reiki grew and people began to compare their symbols!

Actually, this time of confusion was quite fortunate in that it created a lot of discussion about how Reiki actually works. If the symbols were the key, why did so many variations of them have the same effect?

In reality, there are two main kinds of symbols. Symbols which serve primarily as tools of communication, and symbols whose inherent geometric and energetic structure effect energy, objects, and space exposed to them. Today, the predominant belief is that the Reiki symbols are the former. They serve several purposes. First, they provide an excellent focus of intent. This intent allows a Reiki practitioner to more effectively communicate what energy she or he wants to use during the healing. This communication occurs with many different levels of consciousness. Reiki encompasses all belief systems, so it matters very little if you believe that your communication is taking place with angels, guides, god, other levels of your self, or the consciousness expressed through the current. All are valid, and are simply expressions of energy. I believe many of these words reflect the same (or different aspects of the same) thing, looked at from different perspectives. Therefore to me, the communication can be occurring on all these levels and many more.

Although the Reiki symbols are not the kind which radiate energy because of their design, the symbols themselves still have a powerful pool of intent built up behind them. Added to their innate power, this pool is comprised of the Reiki energy from the intent of everyone who has ever used the symbols. It is why for many years they have been viewed as sacred. Many thought that people uninitiated to the energy could effect this pool of intent in negative ways. Only since their public release in a number of books has this been found to be in error. An attuned practitioner does, however, have the ability to tap into this pool of energy when they use the symbols, and they add Reiki energy to it each time they use them. Not long ago, I made a very concerted effort to determine the most used symbols so that I could integrate them into my classes. It was very important to me that I make available the most effective ones I could find.

Though the symbols vary from practitioner to practitioner, they are all very similar. Those familiar with one set can easily determine which symbol is which in the set of a practitioner from a different master or school. The consciousness which we communicate our intent to, which I will generally refer to as angels or Reiki angels from now on, has the same ease of recognition. Different symbols, attunements, or whatever can be used because the angels do all the work, as the masters and practitioners are simply pathways for the energy. As long as you are clear in your intent, in other words as long as your angels can tell what you are trying to do, the process gets carried out regardless of how poorly the symbols are traced, the words botched, or the "exact" procedure followed. Of course, it goes without saying that we should always do our best in tracing the symbols. Not only is this common courtesy, but it will also assist you in expressing your intent more clearly. This will make it much easier for your angels to work with, and though you.

Many of the masters which Mrs. Takata taught started other concepts which went on to have a life of their own, such as the idea of a required waiting time between attunements. Research suggests that when teaching, Mrs. Takata would often use her intuition to determine the level of her student's consciousness and its clarity. She made many of the people she taught wait before receiving their next attunement, but was also known to have initiated students through several levels all in one day. According to the official biography quoted earlier, it appears that she received her master attunement a very short time after being attuned to second degree.

As often happens, those who were made to wait, typically had their students wait, believing it was proper procedure. Those who were not, didn't for the same reason. Treatment procedure was another thing she extensively changed over time. Some people who took her classes were told to start at the head, others the feet. Some were even told to begin at the belly. The hand positions also appear to have gone through extensive modifications through the years.

SUMMARY

There is no question that Dr. Usui, Dr. Hayashi, and Hawayo Takata have introduced and popularized a system which has made a huge change in our world. Likewise, because of Reiki's continual growth, that change will only expand geometrically with time. They have given our planet one of the greatest gifts that we have known and we owe them a great debt of thanks for it. Second Degree students are often encouraged to send energy to each of them regularly, in thanks. Since Mrs. Takata's death, a great deal has been written about Usui Shiki Ryoho, or Reiki. Reiki is not about the words written in this book, nor any other. The only document known to exist within the system from Dr. Hayashi's time is Mrs. Takata's master certificate. Just as it now appears that the gospels were written years after the death of Jesus, so it appears that a similar condition is beginning to occur within the Reiki community. Keep in mind that nearly everything you read in this and many other books about Reiki was written years after her transition.

Try to avoid the literal and take the stories of Reiki as what they are, inspirational messages. They are important. As important as any myth, but they are not the absolute truth and shouldn't be taken as such. We have been left with one of the world's most effective healing energies and a lineage of very loving and devoted individuals who lived their lives spreading it throughout the world. The important thing is that we recognize the spirit present in these stories, and attempt to do them justice in our own lives. Learn from them. Give them, and the energy, the respect which they deserve.

If you've wondered, "What is Reiki?" you're not alone! There has been a great deal of debate about exactly what Reiki is. Most practitioners agree that it is a form of life/healing energy, but beyond that the various schools differ, with some being much more esoteric than others. The word itself can be broken down into the component parts of "Rei" (pronounced 'ray') and "Ki" (pronounced 'key'). The Japanese language has many different levels of meaning within it. Some levels are very basic while others are highly esoteric. "Rei" literally means spirit, ghost, soul, in the heavens or of spirits; but also denotes universal energy. "Ki" also means spirit and, some argue, is essentially the Japanese equivalent of the Chinese description of "Chi", which means life force energy. The word Reiki, therefore, can be taken to refer to a balanced universal life force energy.

Because of its qualities it seems to have a basic consciousness which, when used for healing, is able to provide exactly what is needed on all levels.

Between the various teachers of Reiki, a great deal of discussion has taken place on the subject of whether the Reiki energy is a direct universal ray, or a current. To answer this, we must first examine the definitions of each of these and the difference between the two. It is helpful to think of the words current and ray as simply two terms that are used to define energy, such as prayer, which can be put to practical uses. Essentially and conceptionally, the primal energy of the universe is said to be split into a series of rays, the number of which is dependent upon the school of metaphysical or religious philosophy to which you subscribe. A current is a tap into one or a blending from the energy of several rays accessed through a key, or trigger, of some kind. The key can be nearly anything. Its prime effectiveness lies in the fact that it is vibrationally attuned to the current and therefore makes its energy available to the user. The key can be on any level of one's being from subconscious to superconscious and beyond. It usually exists, however, on the conscious level in the form of a symbol to visualize, a mantra to repeat or some similar form capable of producing a resonance vibration between the user and the current of energy desired. Prayer is an excellent example of a key, with the answer coming in the form of a blending of energies that produce a net effect (a current).

Through the above definition one can clearly see that Reiki, in its use of symbols and sacred names, falls under the definition of a current. In spite of this, it is still somewhat common to see it expressed as the "Reiki Ray". In reality, the true and completely pure energy of a ray is extremely difficult to tap into as no outside energetic resistance can be offered to it. In other words, you would have to become the energy to a very great extent (if not totally) in order to tap into it. Since we live in physical bodies that is not possible.

Another thing which should be addressed when speaking of a current is the extent to which it is group energetic. This means simply the extent to which the energy is effected, contaminated, or blended with the energy of everyone involved (known in Reiki as attuned) with it. Many currents, whether it's traditional magickal currents like the Golden Dawn, or simply the one in your local church are highly effected by the energetic makeup of those involved with it. In essence, this means that in some way, everyone shares each other's energy and energy patterns. As there are so many different levels to reality, I hesitate to say that Reiki is a totally non-group energetic current but if it is not, it is by far the closest I have ever found. It truly does not seem to tap you into anything except the pure energy of the current. Additionally, because of the unique way in which the attunement process of the Usui System of Natural Healing opens up a person to act as a pure and clean channel for healing energy, the person being healed is rarely effected by the personal energy of the healer.

Few people realize that there are many ways in which a current is much more beneficial than a ray. A current is most often a blending of many energies rather than just one pure kind. In Reiki, for example, a number of different energies are involved which give it its unique properties. In the attunements, the energy effects every energy center (sometimes called chakras) with special emphasis on the crown, heart, third eye, lower abdomen, and palms. Each of these have a different vibration or level of energy, and each is typically associated with a different ray. If not for the blending of the Reiki current, attunement and access to these individual energy frequencies would be a much more difficult and lengthy process. Because of the blending, a balanced energy exists and all of the individual vibrations are made available as they are needed.

It is the unique blend of energy which makes this energy current such a powerful form of healing energy. Many feel that this combination also lends it the amazing ability to heal not just on the level of the physical body, but also on mental, emotional and spiritual levels. As one is opened up through the attunement process, the person becomes an open pathway for the energy to flow through. From that point on, the energy is constantly circulating in their body and energy field. Additionally, when an attuned person places his or her hands on something, the energy flows into whatever is being touched. It does not matter if that object is a stone, tree, pet or another person. The especially nice thing is that while it flows through them, they receive healing from the energy as well. Essentially this means that a person, once attuned, becomes a constantly flowing channel of Reiki for not only everything they touch, but for themselves as well.

Some attention has been paid to the "color" of the Reiki energy. I typically hear it described as a green, yellow or blue "ray" energy. The clairvoyants that I regularly work with tell me that they can easily identify a person who has been attuned by their hands. Nearly all say that the hands of someone attuned to Reiki are much more purple or violet than those of others. Most go on to say that they can also tell if something has been touched by a Reiki practitioner because of its energetic makeup. The energy, they say, shifts its color according to the effect it is having on the object being touched.

In my experience, purple or violet, gold, and silver are the colors most often seen in association with Reiki energy. They are by far the dominant colors during the attunement process, though some blue and white light is also seen at various points in the initiation. Purple or violet are also the colors seen most often on an area which has recently been worked upon by a Reiki practitioner. When used for protection, the Reiki energy casts an area of white light so thick that most clairvoyants cannot see beyond it.

Whatever its color, Reiki is a powerful form of energetic healing. It does not always take the hands-on form, however. Other sections in this text deal extensively with sending healing at a distance and to other points in time, and discuss various other hands-off treatment methods. For one to understand how energy, especially a channeled energy such as Reiki, can heal, it is important to delve a bit more deeply into the current front line research which is being done into vibrational medicine and the nature of the body.

Modern physics has taught us that matter, stripped down to the subatomic level, is in reality fluctuations between matter and energy. In essence, science now postulates that everything, everywhere is energy of different vibrations. The human body is no different. For the last twenty to thirty years, science has been involved in measuring the energy of the body. Many of what were once considered esoteric metaphors of consciousness, such as the energy centers (or chakra system), have now been found and mapped out by modern scientific researchers. Various schools of esoteric thought have long held that the body consists of somewhere between three and twelve primary energy layers and some systems believe there to be even more. The most common one postulates seven, which corresponds to the number of traditional major energy centers. However many there are, the important thing is that now even science has discovered that man does indeed have additional levels of, usually invisible, bodies or fields of energy surrounding and interpenetrating the physical body.

With this great shock to the world of science came a considerable amount of research into vibrational medicine. Suddenly, universities began to study healing with sound, color and energy. The energy research included everything from magnetic fields to holistic healers. This research produced a belief in many healers that energetic healing works because of the principle of harmonics. In music, when a single note is played on a piano, it resonates the notes of the harmonic octaves below and above it. In other words, a change in vibration on one level creates change on other levels as well.

Esoteric science has long held that by effecting the various energy levels of a person, change occurs on the physical level and vice versa. Many feel that science is just now catching up to them. As we've seen, treatments like Reiki, which work on energetic levels, produce change on many of the levels both below and above the one being healed. This is the reason for Reiki’s ability to heal well beyond the level of the physical body. Much more will be said about those levels as we work our way through the three degrees of Reiki. To explore the questions, "What is Reiki" further, read on. The answers are all on this website for free.