| Until recently, Reiki attunements were only | | | | a Grandmaster could train or initiate another Reiki |
| available in classes held by existing Reiki masters. | | | | master. |
| Some Reiki masters believe that this was | | | | Some say that when she died, the title died with |
| unfortunate, because it meant that many people | | | | her. Others claim that she passed the title along |
| were unable to get a Reiki attunement. | | | | to them. Controversy surrounding Reiki abounds. |
| In some areas, no classes are available. Some | | | | Suffice to say that Master Usui never used the |
| people are unable to travel to sometimes distant | | | | title of Grandmaster (or a similar title) in Japan, |
| locations to receive a Reiki attunement. And, | | | | although there was (and still is) a president of the |
| some people simply cannot afford the fairly high | | | | Usui Reiki society which he founded. |
| fees that are charged for the classes. | | | | In the 1970's, Takata's fee for training a Reiki |
| It is our belief (and the belief of a few other Reiki | | | | master was $10,000, although she offered a |
| masters) that everyone can benefit from Reiki | | | | standard Reiki attunement for less and taught |
| attunements and that the more people who are | | | | others to practice the healing art, she only |
| attuned to Reiki energy, the better off the world | | | | offered "third level" or "master training" to those |
| will be. For this reason, some Masters are using | | | | who could pay the high fee and travel to Hawaii, |
| the internet and offering inexpensive e-books that | | | | where her practice was located. It is not surprising |
| nearly everyone can afford. | | | | that only about 20 people were able to train with |
| Being "attuned" to Reiki energy, simply means | | | | Takata. |
| becoming aware that the energy exists. | | | | Today there are still Masters who offer classes |
| Eventually, those who are attuned can use Reiki | | | | and charge high fees for Reiki attunements. On |
| to heal themselves and others. No specific talents | | | | the other end of the spectrum are people who |
| are required, except the ability to read, write and | | | | offer Reiki healing for free. I can tell you from |
| draw some symbols. All of this can be learned in | | | | first hand experience that Reiki healing works to |
| the privacy of one's own home, without | | | | make pain go away and reduce inflammation. |
| expensive classes or travel to far off locations. | | | | After a Reiki attunement, I was able to sleep |
| Those who follow the teachings of Hawayo | | | | better, was more relaxed during the day, was |
| Takata are likely to scoff at the idea of learning | | | | better able to focus and was immediately able to |
| Reiki attunements from a book. As the first | | | | use the energy to relieve a family member's |
| person to offer Reiki attunements in the United | | | | headache and knee pain. I do not believe that |
| States, she referred to herself as a | | | | Reiki healing is merely a placebo effect. The |
| "Grandmaster". She claimed that the title was | | | | energy exists; we simply have to learn how to |
| handed down to her by Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a | | | | use it. |
| student of Master Usui. She also stated that only | | | | |