The Reiki Cafe 

Hello Everyone,

Namaste...

I am currently reading a book called, "The Hayashi Reiki Manual" written by Frank Arjava Petter, Tadao Yamaguchi, and Chujiro Hayashi.

This is a quote from Chapter 4 "Byosen and Ketsueki Kokan" (Blood Circulation Technique) of that book which touches on the subject of 'does Reiki go where it is needed'.

Since the subject came up again in my post on the Reiki board, I thought it might be of interest to some.

Frank Petter has done extensive research on the origins of Reiki and with this book, able to learn a great deal of Dr. Hayashi's life and work as well.

The book is an easy read, very interesting and I would definately recommend it.

"The Japanese and Western Reiki schools differ in one central way. In Western Reiki we are taught that Reiki is "intelligent" and that it will find its way to the areas in the body that need it the most. Of course this seems true but it is only half the truth. The other half is that the body wants Reiki and will let the practitioner know where and how it wants to be touched. This happens through what Japanese Reiki practitioners call "Byosen"."

Byosen scanning is of great interest to me. I have a lot of questions about this skill as it was taught in Japanese tradition, so if there are any practitioners out there who have consistently used this method and wouldn't mind my picking your brain, I would be very interested in emailing.

Thanks!

Abundant blessings,
Mammabear

MammaBear,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- scanning is a fine art, is used in various non-reiki traditions as well and can be useful (the Distance K-K has a scanning component to it)

>:-}}

- sensing an area of the body that seems as if it could use some energy does not mean that the energy one brings to the body via Reiki knows that the portion of the body that the practitioner feels there is need of energy is where ULE will go (again, results, or lack thereof, can be rather telling evidence)

>:-}}

- for myself? If Petter believes that ULE has intelligence that is his business - and I have to disagree with him

>:-}}

- one may be an historian of Reiki without being an energy worker - though I have no doubt that Petter is an effective Reiki practitioner - I simply feel he is mistaken on this issue - I have read some of his writing and apart from statements intimating that ULE has intelligence (I assume that 'knows where to go' = some sort of intelligence), as far as I can tell he offers no other significant support for this position

>:-}}

- and, unless he has expanded his position, nowhere have I seen him pay any attention to the role of Recipinet intention

- to be frank, focusing on recipients' role in 'healing' takes away from peoples' ammunition for referring to themselves as 'healers' which often sounds a bit of an Ego-trip

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Peace, Mammabear,

I think, in my limited experience, that an interesting point is that if Reiki knew where to go on its own it wouldn't need the intuitition and intention of the one channeling the Reiki to direct it to any particular area.

Of course, that said, there is the business of directing Reiki to the person "in general, for their greatest good," which seems to imply that the Reiki will find its own way where the recipient needs it.

And then there is the issue of the recipient's conscious or unconscious desire to receive Reiki in a deficient area.

I suppose any or all of the above can be true to some degree when working with Reiki, but I don't think it's any one answer alone.

Just food for thinking.
Peace.
Alice

Alice,

/*\ Namaste :-}]

- yes, it is up to the recipient to determine where the energy needs to go

- thus mindfulness and awareness of onself and one's Intentions are pretty vital

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Otoharo!

If reiki went where it is needed then why were hand positions given? Reiki has no brain therefore can not think in the manner we use that word. Reiki IS energy. Energy has a function and fulfills its function. That is all. Reiki heals. That is its function. It is the body of the receiver which knows where healing is needed, not reiki. The receiver takes reiki. Otherwise it does not leave the practitioner. That is why the practitioner's intent is providing the energy. The receiver is the factor which rules what reiki does.

finaltiy

Firekeeper,

Namaste...

Life's been rather hectic so sorry on the delay in response.

While I also feel that Reiki has no conscious (or unconscious/subconscious) "mind" with which to think and decide, could the phrase "knows where to go" be more like...heat knows to rise? It is in heat's nature to rise? It is what heat does (amongst other things of course)?

Also the word "intelligence" could be relative. I might not want to assume that everyone has the same definition or usage of the word.

For instance, someone might say a two hundred year old tree has great intelligence, but it may not be the same "kind" that humans possess.

I'm not trying to defend anyone here, I'm just saying that words can be tricky things. As I proved not so long ago.

:-)))))

I also note your point about Petter's not referencing the recipient's role in the effectiveness of the Reiki session.

In this book, he talks how the clients come to the clinics, and practitioners for Reiki. Could it be assumed that this is the recipients willingness to receive the energy, and that this is more implied????

Perhaps he's only addressing the role of practitioner and their focus/work. How much can I do about the degree of recipient's ability or willingness to accept the energy? So this is not discussed?

I'm just conjecturing, of course...

I understand what you’re saying about the whole ‘healer’s ego’ thing…boy, do I know.

;-)

But thankfully in this book, the “glory” is not being given the practitioner but more so to Reiki itself. (But it would be also appropriate to mention the recipient!)

What I'm not sure of...is he saying the Japanese don't believe that it goes where it is needed, or is he saying he feels this is only half of it? I'd like to get that clarification.

:-)

But all in all, I am learning much from the book. I like the different techniques he goes into, some of which I have not really been exposed to so it gives me more to think about and to help me with my own role in the session which is a good thing.

:-)

So like all books, I take what I need at the moment, and leave the rest for another day…

Hope you have had some decent rain from the system that came through. We had a smidge of snow and a good bit of ice, then it rained hard, causing minor flooding in some areas. But the Sun shined his face on us today, and it was nice to see and feel.

Abundant blessings,
Mammabear

Alice,

Namaste...

The idea of REiki going where it is needed, then all the training to be aware of where energy is pulling does certainly cause a conflict in my brain.

As does learning to set intentions in Reiki 2 using symbols, but remaining unattached to outcome and expectations. Why set an intention (other than for Reiki to flow) if you are to have no expectations???

:-)

Of course, I may be just a bit slow, too.

LOL

Since I'm still learning (and will be until I pass this life), I will keep asking questions and keep exploring the mysteries of this wonderful gift while sharing it with those who wish it to be a part of their healing journey, and embracing it myself for my own.

Thanks for the munchies for my brain,

bagl

Peace in return,
Mammabear

Peace, Mammabear.

I sent distance Reiki today, and while I did, I asked the Reiki about intention, and the seemingly contradictory idea of stepping back and removing oneself from the results. The answer I believe I received was: 1)Express intent, in order for the energy to be told where to go. 2)Step back, in order to let the energy, thus directed, go and do its thing.
Keep the energy flowing as long as it needs to.

For me, at this stage in my brief Reiki life, the answer sufficed to clear things up a bit.

Happy to share. Hope it is helpful.
Peace.
Alice

alice,

Hi.

You asked the Reiki? Can you tell me how that works or how you feel it works? Also, can you describe how you got what you perceived to be an answer? I am not new to Reiki but the notion that one can talk to ULE and that it will respond in the manner you suggest is somewhat foreign to me.

Cheers,

RC

Peace, Reikicurmudgeon,

Please forgive my lack of sophisticated or specific terminology here. Perhaps I was asking a guide of some sort, although I have no official experience with knowing the difference between a reiki guide, a spirit guide, an angel, my inner intuition, or the origin of the quiet, confident voice in my head that answered my question. So I just say that I "asked the Reiki" because I posed the question specifically in my head while channeling Reiki, and the answer came to me then. I'm new to the process, wasn't particularly gifted or spiritually aware on any level before learning Reiki, and now that I'm Reiki II (since end of Nov. 2007), every experience with the Reiki energy is new and enriching. I have found lately that I can ask a question in my head while I'm sending Reiki, and an answer may seem to be spoken in response.

Hope that clears things up, at least about what I meant.
Love & light,
Alice

MammaBear,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- I trust you and the clan are well

- using the 'its nature' idea, I would offer that ULE's 'nature' is to respond to Intention - it is simply energy and can have no agenda of its own

- people have agendas

>:-}}

- people who come to clinics may not understand that once the ULE is passed on to them, they must use their Intention to make it work for them

- this is not at all the same as coming to a clinic to get some Reiki and be healed by the practitioner

- one view is that a prinmary function of intelligence (perhaps roughly defined as the ability of an organism to learn and adapt to the environment in which it finds itself), is to help the organism deal with what it encounters - this would include communicating with other organisms, like and unlike itself

- words are one way humans do this (sometimes better than others) - but we also know that words may be used in different tone and inflection which then alter the message in some way - both the intention of the inflection and the interprettation of the inflection by the listener will affect the 'communication'

- words thus can be imprecise for any number of reasons

- also, there may be instances when our words, as precise and 'truthful' as we feel they are, simply make no impression on those who are steadfastly entrencehed behind the walls of their own ideas and words

- as for tree intelligence? I would first ask are trees 'conscious'. But, perhaps some will say that consciousness is also relative - I would have trouble, for example, if someone claimed a tree had committed suicide (of course one could argue, I suppose, that trees are too intelligent to commit suicide - bagl, bagl)

- well, at that level all of us are 'relative' as we are simply perceptions which are in the end illusory

- I would also offer that to we need to concern ourselves with what we do (act)- not with what, if anything trees 'do'

- for it is to our actions, feelings, thoughts, etc that Karma accrues (for myself I do not feel that trees accure their own Karma though they may suffer the effects of the way in which we accrue Karma)

>:-}}

- and, to the extent that any animal may be able to act beyond its hard-wired instincts, tha animal may also accrue Karrma

- but, we must be careful not to project human notions and capacities upon other organisms - something many humans do almost reflexively

- yes, we managed some rain yesterday as a long line of fairly severe storms swept the southeast - most of the severe weather went south and east of us - we did garner some of the rain in the trailing edge of the system - but, we are still in severe drought

- take care

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

alice,

Hi,

From my perspective, then, what you describe sounds very much as if you are tapping into your own intuition; that with the Reiki work you are connecting to the ULE, perceiving more and more of the experience, and translating that into knowledge from which you may draw insights; all good stuff.

:)

Cheers,

RC

Could very well be, Reikicurmudgeon.

I'm not sure that I would know the difference at this point, unless the voice said specifically, "Alice, this is your Reiki Guide speaking."

:)

Alice

Firekeeper,

Namaste...

Glad to hear you've received some much needed rain. I hope that trend continues, but not the destructive sort.

Of course I agree the Reiki responds to intention, but to say that is all that is in it's nature to do...well, I'll leave my mind open to further exploration on that one.

;-)))))))))))

I wonder how most practitioners relay the importance of intention to the recipient. (Let's hope it's more of a matter of 'how' and not 'if'.)

;-)

I think your definition of intelligence works well with trees, actually.

And thinking of the Tall Standing Ones, or Grandfathers, or Tree People...I wouldn't dismiss 'intelligence' there one bit.

bagl

But then I'm extremely partial to trees which you know already.

:-)))))

Blessings to your clan,
And have a happy and productive week...tax time for me!

Mammabear

MammaBear,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- yes, tax time!!

- an open mind that begins to grasp the nature of Mind will slowly and surely shed its delusions

>:-}}

- ULE, as energy, is simply that (or not simply that or??)

bagl

- When I do the work of the shaman I know the intelligence of animals, trees, etc

- yet, an integral part of this 'connection' is how I am able to intuit what I need to know from my projections onto trees, animals, etc

- now that is an interesting process (to me at least)

- it is part an parcel of reclaiming our projecitons - an essential aspect of Individuation

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

I found a very interesting post and wanted to bring it to light on this message board, from the message board in which I found it originally.

I'm quoting:
Intent i do not think is the same as ego, although ego uses intent to achieve its/our means.
and i believe it is important to have a specific intent toward what you are doing.
an example to illustrate what i am trying to say:
I was involved in a project to see the effect of reiki on cancer cells. The intention has shown to be a major effect on the results. The project is trying to find the most effective methods to deal with specific illnesses, in this case cancer.
The project has not yet been published, but the research is done mainly in a lab in england.
Results so far in this project has show that different intent while healing has dramatic effect. Sending healing energy with unconditional love or to the highest good etc to the cancer cells has no effect, and at times has shown increase in growth.
The intent of killing the cancer has had good results, as has canceling it out ... but the by far best was also the most specific, namely the intent to increase the level of "p-42" (or p-something like that - i am not a doctor or medical scientist, but i can try and find the right name from my notes which are not handy at the moment---it is part of the cancer cell that if increased leads to the death of the cancer cell, and also makes so it doesn´t reproduce) so by increasing and giving energy to this part of the cell, it died - yielding very very impressive results.
i am sure when the research is complete it will all be made available.

Another study done in Arizona Uni by Dr. Melinda Connor has been working with very sensitive equipment, in one research project she used Biophoton Imaging device. It measures biophotons radiating from living cells. They tested it on leafs, as there is alot of historical research done on biophoton imaging leafs. When the leaf dies, it emits more biophotons making the leaf appear to glow. Now they asked the healers (reiki) to heal the leaf - this showed up by the leaf emiting less biophotons, or glowing less.
Then they asked the healers to make the leaf "glow" (they didn't want to ask them to go and kill the leaf, so asked them to make it glow instead, Dr. Connor said to me in the interview that only one person picked up on what was happening and commented that he thought he was damaging the leaf by making it glow.) Anyway the results were clear the leaf glowed more intense - by emitting larger amounts of biophotons.

fshortt
[end of quote]

Although I can't post a link here, if one would go to the forum, one might find it if one typed the afore mentioned, forward slash, and then typed index dot php? followed by the word showtopic, an equals sign, and then 1399&st=20 all of this lovely address without spaces or my in-between explanations.

By the way, I also emailed the poster asking for the documents, which he offered to email to those who are interested. It really seems to speak directly to the idea of the importance of having a specific intent, and the best one for the results needed.

I welcome thoughts. It was fascinating to me.
Peace.
Alice

Hi Alice,

Namaste :)

This is indeed fascinating and potentially very encouraging. How was the experiment conducted? Were live cancer patients involved in the trial and then biopsies/scans studied or did these experiments purely involve testing Reiki on cancer cells in a test tube and seeing how they changed? I would be concerned if the results didn't come from 'live patients' as opposed to the test tube because test tubes don't take personal energy into account or the intent of the patient.

Gentle Blessings
Helen

Peace and blessings, Helen,

All good questions, I agree with you. I have emailed the author and asked for the relevant documents, which I will be very happy to share when I get them.

Meanwhile, it is possible to google the scientist Dr. Melinda Connor to read more about her studies.

In Gratitude,
Alice

Hi Alice,

Namaste :)

Many thanks I look forward to hearing more in due course :) Meanwhile I'll google Dr Connor.

Gentle Blessings
Helen

alicel,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- so, how would you propose that we separate intent from ego?

- by saying 'our ends' do we not cross into the realms of adding personal energy to Reiki work when we work with other individuals??

- I am not sure any of us can fully keep ego out of Reiki work (or anything else for that matter) - we are human, afterall and ego is an inextricable aspect of our makeup

- but, by honoring the individuality of others we can do pretty decently at keeping our egos out of other peoples' business

- if we keep our intentions narrow and focused and mindful then we can at least keep ego from butting in where it has no business

- I too await some reputable scientific publication of the research you mention

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper