The Reiki Cafe 

Otoharo!

There is a Reiki Gathering every year at Brietenbush Or in August. I plan to attend this year. Brietenbush is located in forests where hot springs dot the landscape. It is utterly beautiful, the waters themselves are healing, food is vegatarian and mostly home grown, The staff are warm hearted young people, and Reiki goes on all day along with gatherings and more gatherings. It is all laid back. There is ample time for meditating in nature or together in different huts or Yurts.

I will locate the information and post again.

finality

This is only a page long so I will type it:

NW Reiki Gathering and Master's Gathering
Breitenbush Oregon, USA

Dear Fellow Reiki Masters

We would like to extend invitation for you to join us for the Masters' Gathering...For those of you who have not been able to join us for many years, we genuinely miss your presence. For those of you whom we have seen recently, what a wonderful opportunity we will have to reconnect.

As we recall past Breitenbush Gatherings we remember inspirational moments in the meadow pool as the shooting stars lit up the night sky. We remember hilarious skits and moving entertainment as we have shared our talents and passions with each. We sang songs, danced Dances of Universal Peace, share hugs, and greatly enjoyed blessing the cabins with flowers, incense and Reiki. We hold dear the time spent sharing Reiki and the opportunity to set in circle with our elders and very dear friends.

We have so many ideas of how we could spend our time together this year to create and deepen our sense of community among Master, countries, organizations, and systems. We have the opportunity to help to create and support the weekend gathering as well. Other ideas are to share our experiences of our personal practice our professional practice, and our relationship with the Usui System, (aspects, elements, precepts, etc.) We will share Reiki AND we want to have some FUN!

So if your schedule hasn't already made you havbe a commitment elsewhere, please consider joining us on Wednesday, August 6, 2003 at 5:00 pm. Our Masters' portion of the gathering will end at dinner time on Friday the 8th. YES, we have TWO FULL DAYS together!

Sincerely,

Phil Morgan and Penny Devine
Breitenbush Gathering Facilitators

PS The cost for the Masters Gathering is $200. The price for both the Masters Gethering and the weekend Northwest Reiki Gathering is $485. Please contact registrar Catherine Iverson at 206-933-0459 or at kai@prodigy.net to register. And don't forget th check out our website at www.nwreikigathering.com.

The weekend is open to all who have reiki, any lineage, any tradition. All are welcome and are a part of this gathering.

finality

Dear finality,

I am very glad to hear that there is a reiki gathering each year. It sounds great fun. Despite the internet, Britain remains cut off from what is happening in the States. Information seeps through drop by drop. Also, the summer camp culture is not really part of our way of life. Besides, many people here are poor by American standards. To attend a gathering of this sort is unrealistic for myself, or for most of the reiki masters I know here. For these reasons, the American gathering does not meet the needs of others around the world. In itself, it sounds a good thing, and I am glad that many feel it helps them spiritually. But, because of its geographical isolation from the mainstream of world events, the gathering necessarily puts an American stamp on reiki, which does not reflect the broader reiki culture internationally. With respect, I appreciate that it may be hard for an American to see the need for a non-American approach to reiki in order to meet the needs of some of us. I submit that American reiki is different, although no less valid. I hope this does not offend anyone.

I take it that the reiki gathering has already been taking place for many years now. Apart from dancing in circles, etc., what has it done to resolve the urgent legal problems facing the reiki community in the States and elsewhere? And if not, why not? I submit, that the 'sixties culture of America has now taken a nostalgic turn rather than remembering the 'sixties activism on the legal and politica front.

I realise that this may sound a little critical of America. That is not my intention. You are very proud of your country, and that is as it should be. The USA has much that is good and praiseworthy.

I am concerned with the need to address the leal problems in an efficient and urgent manner. I don't think the annual gathering in the States will have the sense of purpose and urgency necessary to achieve this. I may be wrong, and I hope so.

We need to discuss possible solutions to the legal problems. I am seeking for a general discussion. It surprises me that no-one other than yourself has been prompted to reply to my post on the reiki discussion message board. This is worrying. It says something about us as a community, don't you think? It indicates our lack of a sure footing in this world, our unwillingness as a community to tackle difficult legal issues surrounding reiki. I dare say this laid back attitude is the root cause of many of these perhaps unnecessary legal difficulties. Should not we rouse ourselves to action on our own behalf, since certainly no-one else will do it for us. To just let the ball roll and have a good time is not really an answer.

I hope that others will read this, and contribute their two cents worth. The need for a discussion is urgent. The need for a large forum in which to address this issue specifically, without distractions even for other reiki activities, is necessary if anything is to get done. But the response thus far seems to indicate that nothing will be done, because there is no collective will to do anything.

However, I do not give up hope.

Again, I am grateful for the information. Others will certainly benefit from it more directly than myself. And I just want to say that I have enjoyed your posts, and learn much from your insights.

Namaste,

firebird
When I raised the I was not really announcing an event.

firebird, I see your point about the needs of different countries being different. I still urge you to look into the Reiki Alliance. They do address all these issues and report back on everything. The Magazine issue of October/November 2001 will atell you a lot. Also, in our Master's gathering we spend more time discussing issues than we do having fun. That is why the letter to spark more interest. Our fun is after a day long group of sessions. I am more concerned about Reiki practicioners who are masters, who do not know how to do anything and whose hands do not channel Reiki. I have known many who came to our group in Portland Oregon when I was apprenticing. One man had received all three levels over the weekend and did not even know the hand positions. This problem is rampant in this area. People offer Reiki classes as a part of the community college. No one who has Reiki in this manner here offers Reiki in the community. There are more Reiki masters in Longview than you can shake a stick at. How can you regulate that? The process of licensing socail workers took many years. The best plan was through the professional national organization They set up a standard that after receiving the masters degree, the individual had to have two full years of supervised practice before being allowed to practice without supervision. And the supvisor had to be a qualified person. That allowed a person to then be admitted into a group of Accredited Social Workers. Different states regulations were not at all that competent.

You have njot responded to the idea of an ordination. In the states at least, healing is prevalent in churches, and is held sacred. This seems more appropo to me than going the medical route.

finality

Hi there, finality.

I note your advice about the Reiki Alliance, and will look into this further. Many thanks.

I did not mean to put down your activities at the annual gathering. Perhaps I chose the wrong words. Of course you are serious about reiki. My concern is only to observe that nothing concrete seems to have been done about the legal side of reiki practise.

Ordination -- this does avoid the problem of hands-on treatment in some States, if my information is correct. However, it does suggest a religious identity for reiki healers, which, judging by response from many in the community, will not be an acceptable solution for them. Even though we may not be using ordination as anything more than a legal loophole, that is not how it will be understood by society in general. Problems of misunderstanding may result, and healers wishing to offer purely medical help will come into conflict with competitive religions.

As it happens, I received ordination myself, because I personally do feel that reiki expresses my religious identity. But I find it causes problems here in Britain, through the kind of arguments over doctrine which unfortunately tend to intrude into healing by a minister of religion.

Also, I have been thinking recently that there is a great deal of need for reiki in the so-called "Third World". It seems to me that reiki is more viable there than other medical systems, in terms of cost. If whole communities could be attuned to level one reiki, that would enhance the immune defenses of the general population at almost no cost. For such a program to be undertaken, reiki would need to have a recogised legal status internationally. To mix this up with ordination would cloud the issues, and probably lead to accusations of a religious mission rather than a medical program. I can forsee many difficulties with opposition by fundamentalist church and Islamic leaders, with influence over their governments, to a medical program led by ordained reiki ministers. The attunement would then be perceived as a cult initiation, don't you think? For example, India comes to mind, which, as you know, refuses visas to religious missionaries. The problems in America, which may be dealt with locally by local solutions such as ordination, do not always reflect the global picture. Ordination is a complicated matter in many countries. Especially some Muslim countries would have difficulty recognising reiki ordination, but they might accept a non-religious reiki medical program, especially if under the auspices of the World Health Organisation.

For reiki to operate under the auspices of the WHO at the United Nations (which does sound very ambitious, but necessary if one wishes to use reiki widely and freely) it is necessary for research to be done on a scale which will convince the orthodox medical community. To fund and to organise research projects of a kind that will be recognised by medical ground rules is needed also, in order to gain legal status.

It is a complex problem, and I can only offer such ideas as may happen to occur to me at this time. What I was hoping is that others will bring forward other ideas, and that we as a community will see the need for finding some kind of viable solution. It will take time.

I don't know how you feel about this, but I'd be interested to hear your views.

With best wishes.

firebird

Otoharo!

firebird, we are addressing this issue locally by having established a church separate from Reiki altogether. We have no doctrine, no creed, no sermons, no buildings, no property, no paid staff. Since I am a singer and write music, I wanted someone to sing with me. I have shared my experience with PCC, standing in the meadows holding hands, singing with angels joining in. There is nothing on earth to equal that to me. I had the vision first. I was already ordained, so I had the authority to establish this. I went through the details to become incorporated. In Texas, one person can establish a church, get it incorporated and then get members, Here in Washington state there has to be a body first. I had many clients who were interested and a few who came.

I began in 1993. One person came weekly for several months, baut the moment I opened up the opportunity for feedback from her about how a church can meet her needs, she quit. That was the last of her. Another one hung around on the perifery. Another young woman came for several months, but she took her spiritual journey in the direaction of the pendulum and moved to the city. Another one loved to dance and added this expression. By 1995, I offered a class which I called locksmith, as it was geared to learning the skills to help an individual unlock their own essence and help others do that. Four people came from that group of clients. Each of them came in their own timing. We met for a year and a half (until I left for my year on an island.) I ordained two out of those four and a third one made all the choices but never actually met me for the final simple ceremony. She has left the body also. So three of us still form a core. We are Reiki practitioners, and display our certificates. But I did not want to simply be a diploma mill, I wanted this to mean something. A new name has come from spirit. We are likely to change the name legally this fall. (One each year, I receive a form from the State office to fill out and return. There has to be at least a president and a secretary.) Music is the heart of this church, even though I am the only real singer. The human voice has much magic in it. It would be so beneficial if we could eliminate the stigma some people grow up with that they can not carry a tune!

Music and dance are modes of expression far beyond words. Especially celebration and gratitude!

It is my memeory that as a people grow toward fourth dememsion they naturally relate to the Holy in ways complimentary to each other, and the whole planet becomes one spiritual celebration rather than a religion or church. When it hit me one day, I thought, when we have one religion, I am bound not to like it, so why don't I start one that I do like? So I did. Reiki just happens to be our method of healing. It is not a Reiki church.

finality

firebird, Once I got started on this, I keep having more to say. If we go the medical route, which social work had to go when the national association of mental health was formed and federal moneys were available. The certification process was thickened. First of all, one had to get a master's degree (two years including the summer in between), that had two field placements, a psychiatrist had to teach some of the classes, all the professors had to meet certain standards. Most of this end of the certification was the problem of the University who offered the masters' program. I happened to go to ane of the best. The professors constantly screened students and couneled out those students who were exceptionally bright, who glided through on their intellegence, and those whose upbringing had been so smooth, they really had no idea what it felt like to need and ask for help. Also some who were so young they needed to live a while before pursuing this career. After the master's one had to be supervised by a qualified, ceritifed social worker. I happened to get the best. I dicovered that few social workers indeed knew what I knew and could do what I could do. HOwever, they were a qualified on paper as I was. So, as careful as a government can be in establishing standards and maintaining those standards it really is not the realm where excellence can be guarded.

In spiritual fields, however, a pilgrim (as Enja calls us) who wants spiritual training seeks out a teacher following spiritual guidance. The spiritual teacher follows spirit in offering the training, etc. This route is highly individual, and leaves more room for the influence of spirit.

The route we have taken is the closest way I could find to offer my input to the planet. Individually, I screen those who want Reiki I, either as the students of Liz or as my own students, I know the standards of excellence of these teachings. Anyone receiving Reiki from anyone of else, will experience Reiki. (I have had much more difficulty that either of the others in removing the interference of the ego system.) By this simple method, we are prepared to be of service however, Reiki leads, however, spirit leads.

We do not charge exorbetant fees, if someone simply has no money we accept barter and offer free service. We do not have to meet insurance company standards.

finality

firebird, there are other reasons why we went this route. In the states, a business which asks for non-tax status must be able to prove their finansial dealings. Churches are included in this category. Also, due to our intent to keep churches separate from state, the state does not tamper with what churches do. They only look at the finances. If we tried to establish as a spiritual movement, or a healing movement, it would be much more tricky. So we went the way of church. We offer services. Our services are songing primarily. We don't have to spell out no preaching. Our private healing businesses are taxed as private business and come under a separate business license. I hope I am using enough words to clearly describe this situation. I've no idea how it is in the UK. We heal as a part of our service in the community, teach healing, provide bill-fold cards showing that the church vouches for our healing ability by licensing and/or ordaining.

I have been Reiki with individual patients in the hospital with no questions asked, as long as I am not in the way. One of our members has a role as providing her body as a channel for Reiki in larger situations, hospital, churches, civic community meetings, court, jail, etc. She simply walks in, sits, quietly, IS reiki, then leaves. She is friendly if questioned, but does not volunteer information. She is told by spirit what to do when. She simply does it. Then she may have a thousand questions to ask spirit about what transpired, what she observed in the energy, how she felt, how her body reacted or responded, etc. She gets all her answers, too. We also, carry Reiki to Farmer's Market, to stores which carry gems, to nurseries filled with plants, horse farms, etc. There is no limit actually to our service in the community. We simply do not announce it publically. That way, the ego system can not interfere. We have discovered that as long as we do not verbalize our thoughts and plans, ego has no idea what we are doing. It only hears about it afterwards. Tricky, hunh?

Gent.
I do not know how to post a new subject. pls help. Also, I would like to take reiki courses 1 & 2 either in Nepal or Sri lanka next month. If you have any information about training centers pls help

Otoharo!

abu-tareg, welcome here. Go to the top of the message list. On the left there is a block that says, post a new message. Click on that. It will offer you the choices.

finality