| The ability to channel healing energy through your | | | | what you are seeing... or not, what an open vs. |
| palms is something everyone possesses. The | | | | closed chakra feels like, etc. The great thing about |
| difference between Reiki and other systems of | | | | having your teacher present is that he or she will |
| palm healing is that the practitioner becomes | | | | be able to address those issues right away. He or |
| attuned to the energy which comes through the | | | | she can feel the aura and chakras with you. And |
| crown chakra, down to the heart chakra and out | | | | if you are more of a visual or kinesthetic learner, |
| of the palms. This system of healing is inherently | | | | the demonstrations and practice will benefit you |
| protective to the practitioner. It is not the | | | | enormously. Receiving a Reiki session from your |
| practitioner's energy that is going to the client (or | | | | classmates and teacher is beneficial energetically |
| themselves), it is universal life energy, or spiritually | | | | as well as educationally and helps to settle the |
| directed life energy. This does not deplete the | | | | attunement into your body. |
| practitioner's own energy and it helps to protect | | | | 2. Sharing thoughts and stories. It is not just that |
| them from absorbing their client's energy. | | | | you can ask questions and have them answered |
| Being attuned to Reiki is analogous to learning a | | | | immediately; you can do that over the phone. But |
| new motor skill. Once you learn it the nerve | | | | when you are in a class with more than one |
| pathways are set in your nervous system and it | | | | student, you can often benefit from your fellow |
| comes without thought. It is also similar to being | | | | students' questions as well. There is also |
| tuned into a certain radio station. The Reiki waves | | | | something inspiring about sitting in a circle with |
| are out there, but in an infinite universe, once you | | | | other people, including the Reiki master, and |
| know the station, it's easier to find it. Once you | | | | listening to their healing stories. There is a certain |
| are attuned to Reiki you just have to think about | | | | energy in hearing stories first hand that you do |
| it to channel it. And often, you don't even have to | | | | not get from reading a book. |
| think about it at all, it will just flow when it is | | | | 3. The Attunement or blessing. The Reiki |
| needed. | | | | attunement can be done over the phone or just |
| Reiki attunement styles are almost as varied as | | | | by intention, but there truly is something special |
| there are Reiki masters. Some Reiki masters | | | | and powerful about the ceremony most Reiki |
| require the commitment of a 32-hour class for a | | | | masters put into their attunements. For example, |
| level 1 attunement. Some Reiki Masters require a | | | | there is usually a meditation before the |
| six- or eight-hour class. Other Reiki masters give | | | | attunements begin. Then there is the attunement. |
| them over the phone, over the internet, or even | | | | The attunement process varies tremendously |
| just by having the student read their book. While I | | | | depending on the teacher and the size of the |
| agree that these attunements can work -- it is | | | | class. All of my attunements have been one on |
| possible to read up on a particular system of Reiki | | | | one in an area slightly separated from the rest of |
| and have someone attune you over the internet | | | | the class. This area is cleansed and blessed before |
| or phone, it is best to learn from an actual | | | | the attunements, creating a sacred space. The |
| teacher, as this is how the founder Dr. Mikao Usui | | | | meditation and the sacredness of the space help |
| taught. I strongly encourage someone learning at | | | | to open the student's conscious and unconscious |
| least the first level of Reiki to do so in a live Reiki | | | | mind to the blessing that is about to be bestowed. |
| class. | | | | These are just some of the reasons to learn |
| There are 3 great things about learning Reiki in a | | | | from a teacher in a class with other students. If |
| class with others. | | | | these do not convince you to learn Reiki in a |
| 1. Getting to share and practice Reiki with your | | | | class, just think: you get a free Reiki session with |
| classmates and your Reiki master. When you are | | | | the price of admission. In multi-day courses you |
| first attuned and do your first practice sessions | | | | will probably receive more than one session from |
| there are always questions that arise concerning | | | | your classmates. |
| what you are feeling, what you are not feeling, | | | | |