| | | | | evidence that Reiki wakes people up during |
| Depending on whom you trained with, you may | | | | surgery? Where is even one anecdote where it |
| have been given quite a long list of 'situations | | | | was clear that Reiki, rather than any other cause, |
| where you should not use Reiki'. It seems that | | | | led to this happening? Look for the evidence, and |
| the only restriction that Mrs Takata taught was | | | | you find that these scare stories have no |
| that you should not treat a broken bone with | | | | foundation. |
| Reiki, but many other restrictions have been | | | | In fact, the restrictions do not stop there. There |
| added in later on in Reiki's Western history. I | | | | are many more taught in different lineages. For |
| thought I would spend a little time talking about | | | | example, you should not treat people with cancer, |
| these 'Reiki contraindications'. | | | | you should not treat people who are pregnant, |
| Firstly, I would like to talk about the 'broken bone' | | | | you should not treat people who are depressed |
| restriction. This is made on the basis that Reiki | | | | or who have asthma, you should not treat people |
| accelerates the healing process, so you do not | | | | who are stressed, you should not treat young |
| want Reiki to set the bone before it has been put | | | | children, you should not treat animals, you should |
| back in the right position. Now while Reiki is an | | | | not treat people who are taking homoeopathic |
| amazing energy, and has done some wonderful | | | | remedies, you should not treat people who are |
| and breathtaking things, I think most people's | | | | taking medicines, you should not treat people |
| experience is that Reiki gently supports the | | | | wearing green trousers (sorry, I made that one |
| body's natural healing ability, and that while it may | | | | up!). |
| accelerate the healing process, the effects of | | | | Let’s just examine two of these. It is said by |
| Reiki generally build up cumulatively. I do not | | | | some teachers that you should not treat people |
| believe that Reiki will set someone's bone like | | | | who have cancer because Reiki will “feed the |
| fast-acting Polyfilla, so that they will have to have | | | | cancer”; there is a variation on this myth, |
| the bone re-broken and re-set when they get to | | | | actually, where people are taught that they should |
| Casualty a few hours later. Breaking a bone is a | | | | not use one of the Reiki symbols because it will |
| shocking and painful experience (I know this from | | | | “put energy into the cancer”. Let’s |
| first hand experience!) and Reiki could make a real | | | | think rationally about this for just a second: we |
| difference to someone, so I would not hold back | | | | have cancer cells inside us all of the time and as |
| from giving it, and I would not hold back from | | | | you sit reading this, there are cancer cells in you. |
| treating the area where the bone is broken. | | | | Your cells go haywire all the time and your |
| Suggesting that you could Reiki someone, but | | | | immune system detects the errors and kills the |
| keep well away from the broken bone, does not | | | | cells. But if you adhere to this Reiki |
| stop Reiki from rushing to where it is needed (the | | | | contraindication then you should not treat anyone |
| bone), and why would we imagine that what | | | | at all because Reiki feeds cancer cells, and |
| many people see as a spiritually-guided life-force | | | | everyone has cancer cells in them, so we |
| energy would mess things up for a person. Reiki is | | | | can’t treat people, or animals, we can’t |
| supposed to be intelligent. | | | | treat ourselves, and being attuned would be a |
| Another situation where some people are taught | | | | death sentence! |
| that you 'should not treat' is when a client has a | | | | And if we can’t treat pregnant women then |
| pacemaker. This restriction is made on the basis | | | | we really need to refrain from treating any |
| that Reiki energy is electromagnetic in nature, and | | | | women of childbearing age because of course |
| will interfere with the proper functioning of the | | | | women can be in the early stages of pregnancy |
| device. Confusingly, some say that this restriction | | | | and not know about it, or be pregnant and not |
| only applies to analogue pacemakers, not the | | | | know about it. And then of course all women of |
| newer digital ones. There seems to be no | | | | childbearing age should refrain from self-treating, |
| evidence whatsoever to indicate that Reiki would | | | | and should not go on Reiki courses. |
| cause a problem in this area, and I have not | | | | People do not think things through |
| heard on a single anecdote where a Reiki | | | | I believe that Reiki is a beautiful healing energy |
| practitioner treated someone with a pacemaker | | | | that supports the body's natural healing ability, and |
| and the treatment caused problems. I am also not | | | | brings things into balance on all levels. It either has |
| aware of any evidence to show that Reiki is | | | | an innate intelligence, and knows where to go to |
| electromagnetic in nature, either. If it was, you | | | | an extent, or it is the body that is intelligent and |
| could measure Reiki easily: move your hand over | | | | draws the energy to where it is needed. In either |
| a wire and you would induce an electric current, | | | | case, Reiki is not going to mess up a person and |
| which you could pick up with a voltmeter. Some | | | | leave them less well off than they were before |
| have suggested that you can solve this 'problem' | | | | they started, other than a temporary |
| by keeping away from the heart area, but we all | | | | intensification of symptoms. Examples of these |
| know that Reiki rushes from where we put it to | | | | would be an emotional release or strong emotions |
| where it is needed. I would have thought that a | | | | felt for a few days after being treated, or joint |
| person with a pacemaker needed more Reiki in | | | | pains getting worse during a treatment and then |
| the heart area, not less, and if Reiki is drawn to | | | | improving subsequently. |
| the areas of need then it is going to go where it | | | | The last set of restrictions that I have heard |
| wants anyway. The only solution would be not to | | | | about concern distant healing, where it is said in |
| treat someone with a pacemaker, which I think is | | | | some quarters that you should not send Reiki to |
| ridiculous. Some have suggested that you should | | | | people who have not asked for or given their |
| not attune someone with a pacemaker, and again | | | | permission. Some people say that it is totally |
| I do not think that this is sensible. I am not going | | | | unethical to send distant Reiki to someone without |
| to restrict my practice of Reiki on the basis of | | | | obtaining their agreement and that it a gross |
| unfounded supposition. | | | | intrusion. I do not agree with this, for a number of |
| With nearly all the restrictions that are put on | | | | reasons: |
| Reiki, there seems to be no evidence to back up | | | | 1. Firstly, I see sending distant Reiki as rather like |
| any of them. I am not talking about double blind | | | | sending concentrated prayer. When you pray for |
| clinical trials here, but even simple anecdotes | | | | someone you are asking for Divine intervention in |
| where a practitioner has treated someone and | | | | another person's life, in whatever way is right for |
| found that there is a problem that can be | | | | that person according to Divine will. You are |
| reasonably attributed to the treatment that has | | | | asking for things to change for the better. When |
| been given. I have heard that you should not | | | | you send Reiki you are sending it with loving |
| treat insulin-dependent Diabetics, or people taking | | | | intent and for the person's highest good, so it is in |
| steroids for adrenal insufficiency. Those | | | | line with that person's destiny or karma, and |
| restrictions have been made on the basis that if | | | | many people see Reiki energy as having Divine |
| Reiki produces an instant cure then the patient's | | | | origins. You do not ring someone up to ask their |
| next dose of insulin, or steroids, will kill them. | | | | permission to pray for them, so why should if be |
| Again, while Reiki is a wonderful healing force, it is | | | | different with Reiki? |
| not my belief that Reiki is likely to cure diabetes, | | | | 2. If someone were knocked over by a car a |
| for example, at the click of a finger. Most people's | | | | few yards away from you, would you really not |
| experience is that the effects of Reiki build up | | | | send Reiki to them because you couldn't drag |
| cumulatively and that if a condition has taken a | | | | them into the seated position to sign a consent |
| long time to develop, then it is not so likely to | | | | form? No. You would send Reiki to their highest |
| disappear straight away. Yes, a diabetic patient's | | | | good and let the energy do what is appropriate |
| blood glucose levels may vary after a Reiki | | | | for them. You offer the energy: you do not force |
| treatment, but diabetics' blood sugar levels vary a | | | | the recipient to receive it. |
| great deal anyway. That is why they have to | | | | 3. Reiki is a beautiful healing energy that brings |
| keep on sticking themselves with a pin to monitor | | | | things into balance on all levels and does not mess |
| their levels, and you could only attribute this | | | | people up, leaving them worse off than they |
| variation to Reiki if it happened consistently after | | | | were to begin with. With distant healing your |
| treatments and their blood sugar levels were | | | | intent is that the energy works for the highest |
| stable the rest of the time. | | | | good of the recipient, so if it is not appropriate |
| Having said that, there does seem to be some | | | | for that person to get the benefit of the energy |
| anecdotal evidence that Reiki treatments can | | | | then it simply will not work. You are not imposing |
| sometimes cause the client’s blood sugar | | | | your will and you are not imposing your preferred |
| levels to alter after a treatment. This does not | | | | solution on the situation. You are simply sending |
| mean that you should not treat diabetics: it means | | | | love, offering the energy, making the energy |
| that you need to keep this in mind and mention | | | | available, not forcing it to be received. |
| this possibility to the client, so that they can | | | | For these reasons, I have no problem in sending |
| monitor their blood sugar levels accordingly. | | | | Reiki to people who have not specifically |
| I have heard that you should not send distant | | | | requested it. I send the energy with the intention |
| Reiki to someone who is driving a car, because | | | | that it be received by the recipient at whatever |
| they will fall asleep, and you should not send | | | | time is appropriate for them. I do not see that |
| distant Reiki to someone who is under an | | | | there are any other restrictions that need to be |
| anaesthetic, because it will make them wake | | | | applied to the energy, or the practice of Reiki. In |
| up… well, which is it? This doesn't sound like an | | | | the West we think too much, and come up with |
| intelligent energy to me, and there seems to be a | | | | too many complications. Reiki is simple and does |
| lot of fear, and a lack of trust in the energy, | | | | not need to be restricted. It knows what to do. |
| underlying all these restrictions. So where is the | | | | |