The Reiki Cafe 

Hi
Although I am only just over half way thru this book, it is one, that now I am into the meat of the book, I can only say wow.
The author is one of Mrs Takatas original masters. He gives her teaching story of Dr Usui. It gave more detail han I have seen before, and makes the story more understandable.
It also gives many insights, that were new to me, about Mrs Takata.Like she was a reiki practioner for 40 years or so before she started to teach. What knowledge she must have amassed in that time, which is sadly lost to us now.

The real meat of the book is his reiki techniques, some of which were approved by Mre Takata before her passing.
For these, the book is worth, it's price alone

Hand to Hand
John Harvey Gray, Lourdes Gray
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation; ISBN: 1401049605

Namaste

Rob

I am glad to hear about this book. He is in my lineage, and I have read a bit about him on the web, but not heard of his book.

Since you think so highly of it I will keep my eyes open for it.

As far as your other thread about it, I sometimes like to start at the solar plexus. It has been an intuitive thing for me, but I do think starting at the head is not always wise, for several reasons, and seldom do, so it's interesting to hear that backed up by someone with so much experience.

I believe he practiced and taught for many years before he made his transition, didn't he?

What is the copyright date?

I notice the purblisher looks like it might be English, and if I remember right you might be in England. I wonder if it is available in the States? Anyone know?

Leslie,

Did a search at Amazon and couldn't find anything, however it did show up there through a link from this site

Good luck,
Walk in beauty,
Rebecca

Hi Leslie

The copyright date is 2002. He does have a web site, but I have not seen any mention of his passing. If I can find the url I will post it on resources

Yes I may have given the english publisher, but I have seen the book on the USA Amazon site, but it was difficult to find there.
He has/was practicing for some 20 years, so the claim of being the longest practicising reiki master, might only be relavent to the western style.

The book, once you get past the history, is where the book excells. I don't very often get this enthusiastic about reiki books. But feel this could be one of the more important ones

Namaste

Rob

I visited his website and it didn't mention his passing in the quick once over I gave it. Maybe I was wrong. I sure hate to start that kind of a rumor! I thought for sure I saw that somewhere a couple of years ago, but I could be wrong............

Anyway, I made my way to the Takata Speaks page where evidently there are some tapes of her for sale. That would be very interesting to hear! Has anyone heard them? I wouldn't trust the sound of something that would be that old unless I heard of someone who heard them and could really hear them.

Must admit my curiosity was twanged by the tapes. I would have hoped that they had been digitally remastered, but it dosn't say so.

He did suffer a stroke a couple of years back, so I'm told, so this is perhaps what you had heard about?.

Rob

Hi Rob,
Namaste ....

thanks for recommending this book, I have received it this week from Amazon, and am well into it already.

I am finding it fascinating reading, it raises loads of questions in my own head though. Lots of it I had heard before, some interesting new bits, and some controvertial bits too.

When I have finished, I will do a posting with full thoughts, and probably you will have finished it by then too, it will be interesting to compare notes.

Meanwhile,
love and light
philanty

Hi Philanty

I finished it ages ago LOL
Yes will be good to compare notes.
I found it a totally fascinating read.

Namaste

Rob

Hi Rob
Namaste ....
Book finished! It was a good read. I found the explanations re. the differing systems of Usui, Hayashi and Takata interesting. Although I have the supposedly original Usui and Hayashi note books, I had not realised how much Takata had changed things. And then, having made his own system, the Usui-Grey Integrated Reiki System, with again, considerable changes, John Harvey Grey comments that he hopes basically that people don`t use creative variation -as there are more and more Masters! Amusing.
Dr. Hayashi said always start with the head, the whole head, Takata started with upper left abdominal area ... yet when I first started Reiki I was taught to start with the head, and that was by a Reiki Alliance, supposedly traditional Master, so where, I wonder, did it change along the line again?
There were some lovely bits that will be useful when teaching ... I always emphasise that the practitioner needs to be comfortable, but John Grey spoke of the hosepipe - if it is kinked, bent or twisted, the water will not flow through, I thought that was a very good analogy.
The opening and closing of chakra spirals was interesting too, havn`t tried that method before.
Overall, I thought it an interesting read, how about you?
Love and light,
philanty

Hi Philanty

Yes I thought it was a very interesting book. Probally the best reiki book I have ever read. At least this one is not away with the fairies, like so many do seem to be.

The differances in the way everything is done was very illuminating. and also what Mrs Takata took out, but then she did refine her techniques over 40 odd years.

The openening/closing spiral does look very interesting. I have tried it, but as yet not in a one on one treatment.
I will have to get down to this in the next week or 2.

I particulary do like the associations he makes with certain positions and certain complaints. Like here is the treatment of high blood pressure position. With this, I would feel happier about treating high blood pressure and getting better results.

I hope a few more people have read it and can give us feedback.

Namaste

Rob

Otoharo!

philanty, about Takata, last summer, I had the priveledge of hearing Wanja share the positions taught by Mrs. Takata. She started with the head, the same head positions you were taught.

finality

Hi finality, namaste...

Maybe she taught differently later then, John Grey was her third master attuned, and she went on to do 22, so maybe changed, as Rob suggested, over time.

Thanks for the input.

Love and light
philanty

You are very right Rob!!!

I ordered this book through the library to take a look at it. It took about 2 minutes to decide to buy it for my library. It is a wonderful book.

Birdie

Amazon.com has it. It's hard to find under the title. Just type in John Harvey Gray and it pops up at the top of the list. I just ordered it. At a used price for a brand new book. I always buy from the used list. They usually come in the original wrappers. Even the cd's.

Birdie

I'm saving up for the Teacher Manual. It's so new, there aren't any used available yet.

Hi Birdie
gald you liked it

Namaste

Rob

I am one of John Harvey Gray's masters, and am pleased to report that he is quite alive and well at 87, and teaching most most weekends. His schedule is on his website:

Someone in this message thread mentioned a stroke. John Harvey Gray has not had a stroke. His former wife, Beth Gray, did. She is also alive, although limited in her speech.

The Takata Speaks tapes are quite good, but not perfect. They were digially remastered, but they were originally recorded on a handheld mono cassette recorder in John's living room where Takata was holding classes. It's quite a treat to hear Takata's practical yet humorous approach.

Disclaimer: I have no financial relationship with JHG.

peace,
brian