What is a Reiki Attunement?

The word attunement became a popular way toReading an interview Paul Mitchell, a Usui Shiki
refer to opening another's pathway to universalRyoho teacher (a style of Usui Reiki Ryoho), gave
energy around the 1980s. The dictionary meaningin October 2003 I saw an appropriate way of
for attunement is being or bringing into harmony,expressing how a teacher invites another into the
or a feeling of being at one with another being.spiritual practice of Usui Reiki Ryoho. He said.
Being in harmony with anything requires balance"Initiation is the sacred ritual passed on from
within and being in a state able to receive.master to master, which allows Dr. Usui's gift to
Therefore, to be opened to the form of energybe available to us. It is spiritual transmission." I
commonly called Reiki you must be in a receivingdisagree with Dr. placed in front of Mikao Usui's
mode, and no one can force Reiki on anyone.name and with the usage of master, but that
Herbalists, forest rangers, farmers, and othersdoes not take from the appreciation I have for
have an attunement to nature. The earth and allthe wisdom in Paul Mitchell's description of an
of nature on land, in the water, and in the air hasattunement.
its own form of energy. Anyone drawn to aMikao Usui never received a doctorate, instead he
plant, animal, or bird for no logical reason, and istraveled a different path that left his footprints in
aware of that connection knows that form ofthe sand that no tides can wash away. He was a
nature's energy.very intelligent and insightful man, and deserving
As we all know from our science classes, energyof the translation of Sensei, which is honorable
can neither be created nor destroyed, butteacher. Many people like me have spent years
changes form; there are zillions of forms oflearning, continue to learn and grow, and are
energy. Your energy is one form referred to ashonored when we are chosen to be a person's
life force, qui, ki, prana, and many other words inteacher. You also might meet a person having
various languages. The spiritual practice of Usuicompleted various levels in Reiki that simply does
Reiki Ryoho uses one unique form of universalnot mention Reiki. In this century, it is not
energy differ net from life force energy, which issurprising to meet medical doctors and other
why you must be opened to that form ofprofessionals that have completed various levels in
universal energy by a qualified Reiki Shihansome style of Usui Reiki. Once you have been
(teacher). While Mikao Usui's second awakeningopened to universal energy (attunement) and you
connected him directly to a powerful form ofhave learned how to bench the logical mind and
universal energy, throughout history differentego Reiki can flow into and enhance everything
people have connected/used other forms ofpositive in your life.
universal energy.No style of Usui Reiki Ryoho is better then any
Each time you receive an initiation/empowermentother style and it is best if you connect with the
attunement from a Reiki Shihan (teacher) a shiftReiki Shihan (teacher) that feels right to you. I
happen es within your mind, body or spirit as yourwould not suggest however, if you want to learn
pathway to the universe opens a bit wider toa spiritual practice, that you study 5239 Reiki. I
allow more universal energy to flow through you.would also not suggest that your first choice of a
To completely open up to be one with theReiki teacher be Reiki Kushida. Then again, even
universe, which is beyond human comprehension,though Reiki Kushida is a Japanese astronomer
would take years of study, discipline, and practice.who co-discovered the asteroid 4875 Ingallis,
It took Mikao Usui years of gathering knowledgediscovered at least 14 supernovas in other
of all kinds to reach even his first awakening. Hegalaxies, and who the asteroid 5239 Reiki is
did not connect to universal energy until hisnamed after, she still might have studied with
second awakening after 3 years of disciplined Zenmembers of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.
practice, days of deep meditation, and hours ofEven if Reiki Kushida did not study Usui Reiki
unconsciousness.Ryoho, she still may have mentally connected
As popular a phrase as Reiki attunement haswith a part of herself that was a very strong
become, sometimes the knowledge that Usuienergy when she was looking through her
Reiki Ryoho is a spiritual practices becomes lost.telescope. There are various altered states of
The attunement being only the beginning is alsomind, which might be described as the same
sometimes among the missing. I first experiencedfeeling as an attunement by someone not having
Reiki in the 1980s, explored other energybeen connected to universal energy by a qualified
practices, met Reiki Masters and practitioners, andReiki Shihan. With guidance and practice you can
then in the late 1990s I connected with a giftedexperience many energies simply within yourself,
Canadian Usui Reiki Ryoho Shihan (teacher). I waswhich are not universal energy, and therefore not
fortunate in that he taught me the spiritualReiki. The form of energy called Reiki is different
practice of Usui Reiki Ryoho is not complicated,then any other form and a Reiki attunement
but has a depth that requires time and guidancecannot be described in terms of other forms of
to understand how to embrace the energy.energy.
While I often say just the word "Reiki", I knowI have received what is commonly called
"Reiki" alone does not necessarily represent theattunements in different styles of Usui Reiki
spiritual practice that Mikao Usui founded in theRyoho. The vibrations of love and harmony of
early 1920s. Richard Rivard explained that Reikiuniversal energy are always the same, but the
Ryoho was used for all styles of hands-on healinghuman through which it flows can change the way
in Japan up until sometime in the 1980s, which isthe energy feels, looks, and smells. Think of
why knowing a Reiki Shihan's (teacher's) lineageuniversal energy as the pure water coming from
back to Mikao Usui is important. Mikao Usui'sa spring in an untouched natural forest. The water
system is unique, even though various teachersdrunk from a paper cup will taste different then
have blended other practices into the style theythat from a glass or a tin cup, different again
teach.depending upon what other beverage was first in
There are no deep dark secrets to be revealedthe cup or glass, and different depending upon
about Usui Reiki Ryoho, although as one qualifiedhow well the cup or glass was cleaned. It is the
Reiki Shihan compared the society called Gakkaisame with universal energy flowing through body,
to the Free Masons in that no one really knowsmind, and spirit. Universal energy that has not
what goes on because members do not discussbeen altered has a very fine delicate feel that to
things outside their closed doors. Even thoughsome of us also comes with a delicate smell.
anyone outside the Gakkai does not know all thatIt is each person's choice what he or she wishes
Mikao Usui knew and did, the hours of guidanceto study, but not all paths lead to the same
from the right teacher can help you gain thedestination. Words have many meanings and
understanding to grow spiritually and enhance allwhen translated from another language that
areas of life. Healing is a by-product of Usui Reikimultiplies. Do you know the meaning of Japan?
Ryoho; the form of energy called Reiki balancesThe kanji for Japan literally means, "The origin of
and surrounds with harmony so that health andthe sun", or less literally, "Land of the Rising sun".
happiness can happen.