The Reiki Cafe 

Wow, it's been a LONG time since I've been here. I hadn't realized! So, hello again!

So. Since I've last been here, I have become Christian. I haven't really actively practiced Reiki since I left California about two years ago.

I was wondering what other Christians' views on Reiki are? As it is a form of energy work, I'm wondering how the Bible would view it.

Does anyone have comments/experience with this?

Tidesong,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- welcome back to The Cafe. :-}}

- this topic comes up from time to time.

- for myself? Reiki Practice has nothing to do with religion and therefore is not inconsistent with any religious practice

>:-}}

- I also know that over the years I have heard from some people from all the major religions who feel energy work such as Reiki is inconsistent with the teachings of their "church"

- and there are some who do not feel any troubles about this

- it is probably most important how you feel about it

>:-}}

Reiki all around,

all blessings,

Firekeeper

*smiles* Namaste, Firekeeper, good to see you're still around here!

I agree, the most important thing is probably how I feel about it... and I have a hard time thinking that it could possibly be something God would condemn, not only because of the good it accomplishes, but because the very energy we use comes from Spirit!

tidesong,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- most kind.

>:-}}

- yes, I worry a lot about "anyone" who condems Compassionate Action.

>:-}}

Reiki all around,

all blessings,

Firekeeper

I agree with your last statement exactly, Tidesong. I tell people that I believe Reiki comes from the Creator and it is part of the Universe.

While not a practicing Christian myself, I personally believe that if Jesus did the healings mentioned in the bible, then he was most likely using this Universal energy in a very excellent way, and that he taught his disciples to do the same. As a Reiki Master, I do NOT teach this as fact, just a possibility to consider.

Glad you brought this up. I was giving free Reiki at a health fair on Saturday, and a couple of young women had tried it. They were with an organization based at a local university, and they wanted to invite us to do the same thing at their health fair this year. We talked happily for a few minutes, and then one of them asked, quite bluntly, "Are you Christian?." My friend who was there giving Reiki with me (also a RM) answered, "Yes, but you know Reiki is NOT a religion." She said she knew that, but she just wanted to know. I was uncomfortable, because I knew she inferred from my friend's answer that she was answering for BOTH of us, but I let it slide. (Incidentally, my friend knows that I'm not Christian, so we'll have to talk about this issue at another time.) Now I feel that I was not true to myself, nor was I doing the right thing in allowing the woman to assume I was a Christian, when I am not. This was my only really down moment out of the whole day.

I really wish people wouldn't ask my religious beliefs concerning Reiki, but I can see that some people, out of fear perhaps, want to be sure they aren't being given something connected with evil or "demons." How else would they know unless they ask, but unfortunately, their yardstick for checking this out is to ask if a practitioner is Christian, as if that is the only "good" in the world, and certainly the only "right religion."

I'm sorry---I seem to have hijacked your post with my own questions/concern. To get back to your question: I believe that Reiki energy IS pure Love and what could be more "God-like?" How could God not want us to share this love? I think you and I see this the same, in spite of you being Christian, and me not being so.

Many blessings Tidesong,
Lionheart

reiki isn't a religious teaching, if it is anything close to lifestyle, then it's tao. tao isn't a religion.

reiki is simple, don't look too much into it, if you do, you will find only reiki.

love
purple-light

While on some level it is condemning compassionate action, I think the general idea with christians who disapprove is that it is an occult practice and while it may seem wonderful on the surface, and be under the "guise" of being from "God", the idea is that it is Satan misleading someone. That whole silver tongue of the devil thing. It seems that these people are usually of the thought that it isn't from God at all. Satan just wants us all to think that.
For instance in Revelations it mentions a period of peace under the rule of Satan. No problem with the idea of peace. But it is given to us by the one who wishes to take our souls from the Lord. It's one of those ends do not justify the means kind of things is how i usually see it. It's not genuine "good" just under the disguise of it. Therefore it is really "bad".

Conflagration,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- I live in the bible belt so I have some familiarity with christian thinking

- but not everyone, even around here, is christian. Thus Revelations holds little sway for some.

- and, some non-christians look askance upon reiki also

- Occult?? simply means "hidden". That some add on all the "evil" stuff can be interpretted as projection

- perhaps read "Shadow and Evil In Fairly Tales"

>:-}}

- as for Satan?? Just another Human projection of our own "dark Side"

- "The Devil made me do it"?? One of the sillier things I have ever heard.

>:-}}

Reiki all around,

all blessings,

Firekeeper

Yes, thank you, I realize that modern Reiki teaches that it has no religion. (I should mention I have been practicing and teaching for many years, even if I am on a bit of a hiatus at the moment).

But merely because it teaches it has no religion doesn't mean that some religions/denominations will see it that way.

I'm looking more for what people have experienced as far as a Christian reaction. My reason for this is because I would like to start introducing practice and teaching to Christian friends as well as those with no religion, and I wanted to know what kind of opposition I might face.

As with you , it holds little sway for me as well. My point was that was why many Christians seem to be against it. And while I understand that occult means secret, if I am not mistkaen I believe that "occult" is the term used in the Bible as something to stay away from. Regardless of whether the Bible is correct in terms of dictionary definitions, that is what it says.
I also agree with what you say about Satan. Then again from a christian perspective that is exactly what Satan wants us to believe.
Do I think they are correct in their manner of thinking? Not at all. But that doesn't change their mindsets or reasons for standing against such things.
The Revelations comment was just another example of what I was saying.
And of course that doesn't apply to every Christian. But seems to be a common way of understanding amongst those that dislike Reiki and similar forms of energy work.
Yet if they are Christian clergy it seems to almost immediately be taken by these same people as the power of God.

I think my response to firekeeper above is a good example of opposition from Christinaity and why (though it was less of a response to him and more of a response to the thread).
As linonheart mentioned, many christians seem to think christinaity is the only good in the world. IF it is Christian then it's on God's side if not , it's evil and trying to pull you away from guide. As one catholic priest of the fanatical close minded variety told me " the Bible does not preach tolerance".
Many christians practice Reiki. But for many more no matter how you explain it it will simply be "evil".
But really noone that matters in the context of you teaching is going to hold this view. I think the ones you should worry about are the more open minded that will happily learn from you and not fear they are going to Hell for it.

Wotcha

Tao is a religion. And reiki isnt Tao. Apart from that I agree with you.

Sal
xxx

Hi

Would it depend on which branch of Christianity you follow perhaps? I treat two quite committed Anglicans, and they are fine with it.

Sadly i live in a small village and my exposure to people of other religions is limited. I wonder if Jewish /Muslim /Sikh /Hindu approve?

Buddhists are on the ok list of course and Taoists love it, anyone else come across followers of other faiths with views?

And I dont necessarily agree with "anti" reiki beliefs, but I think we should respect sincerely held convictions.

Sal

xxx

i respect your input, but i don't feel i can react to it.
can't explain why, either.
joy and peace
purple-light

i understand better now. i taught reiki to religious people and and not only christians. some people were fine with it, they made it yet another tool for practicing their religion.
some were ambivalent, but kept working with reiki,some were ambivalent and stopped working with reiki and some decided not to get attuned after the introduction to reiki.

this is only my experience.
good luck

purple-light

er...ok!

Greetings tidesong,
There are passages in the bible where Christ is performing healings and miracles. He also speaks of finding the way to God through following his example. If He healed, it wouldn't be sacrilegious to do the same, me thinks.
Love and Light to you,
Namaste
starfire

Witches heal, too, but you won't often find that condoned.

If someone chooses believes that Christ used Reiki to heal, that's their business, regardless of the fact that there's nothing factual to back it up. However I would suggest that anyone who has the Need to fit everything into a single box has neither the intellectual breadth nor spiritual depth to be engaging with energy work. Let 'em stay someplace warm and safe until they're more fully developed.

Bright blessings; hail Eris!

goldenisis

Goldenisis, I realize that you were referring to another post, but the way I see it (and I hoped I stated it clearly in my previous post) was that Jesus--IF he did what the bible SAYS he did--and that is a big IF, of course--may have been using Universal energy at a very competent and masterful level. That is not the same as saying "Jesus did 'Reiki'." We really don't know how Christ or the Apostles healed people, but using ULE is as good a theory as any. It obviously was some form of energetic healing. Nothing was ever mentioned about medicines or herbs, so it doesn't seem that he was a "medicine man" or physician of the time.

There are really no facts to back up anything that is stated in the New Testament regarding Jesus' life. That doesn't necessarily mean none of it happened. It just means there's no proof. However, there's no proof that Moses existed either, or that he did as the Old Testament states. Doesn't mean he didn't.

I have no "facts" to prove that Reiki exists either; believe me, I've been asked for them by the skeptics in my family.

To state that anyone who believes Jesus did Reiki should not be doing energy work (I think that was your condensed statement) is a little, hmmm....intolerant. Possibly doing Reiki may help open up their minds to other possibilites and think "outside the box." They may very well stretch their spiritual development, as well as their intellect. I know it has done so for me, though I was no longer a Christian when I began Reiki.

I would never teach a student that Jesus did Reiki, but I would certainly accept the possibility, especially when talking with a Christian, that Jesus somehow utilized ULE in healing. I have no problem with such a "conjecture." One needs to be open minded in EITHER direction, don't you think?

Namaste,
Lionheart

Otoharo!

Tidesong, I grew up a very christian. Not because of family but on my own. I understand all that means (except I do not understand catholism). When I had groups I decorated my reiki space with the calendars I Had collected when I worked with Lazaris. These were spetacular, artistic, metaphysically suggestive. I noticed that christians coming were a little wary of all this. So I asked around to find a picture of Jesus that was acceptable to me. I found one that is 1000 years old probably and a current one. That is all I needed to do. I could tell this communicated that they were welcome here. I never did say anything about these things.

finality

Lionheart,

Is all energy healing which doesn't use personal energy ULE? Is it perhaps confusing to say, in the same sentence, that Reiki is ULE and one believes Christ used ULE? I do, however, thank you for pointing out that poorly constructed portion of my reply.

My point about narrowness and shallowness is that the inability to accept intellectually or spiritually something which is, perhaps, not part of one's current world without trying to Make it fit is, well, narrow and shallow. To the man whose only tool is a hammer, everything must perforce look like a nail.

As far as Christians? I actually used to belong to a Christain church. Heck, some of my best friends, etc., etc. But I get awfully tired of the concern of people who are afraid they're going to go to hell for doing or participating in the devil's work (however it may be interpreted from the Bible). I've had enough of living in the Bible belt to be truly sick of it. I'm tired of trying to explain it and/or put it in terms that make it "okay." I don't need to apologize for, make culturally acceptable (unlike Takata), or do public relations work for Reiki. As far as I'm concerned (and I believe we're all doing nothing more than expressing opinions on this subject), Reiki is a form of energy work developed or accessed in some wise by Mikao Usui. Mikao Usui was a Buddhist. Buddhists don't believe in god. If that poses a problem for you, leave me alone.

As far as Moses et al: Funny you should mention him, as many cultures/religions have a story about a great flood. Joseph Campbell makes an interesting point, however, in that while everyone has creation myths, Christianity is virtually the only religion in which what is accepted as, essentially, poetry elsewhere is presumed to be absolute historical fact.

Bright blessings; hail Eris!

goldenisis

Dear Friends,

As the subject at hand is, in fact, what Christians would think about Reiki as a healing method, I think it is totally appropriate to look within Christian views for the answer to that question. The Bible teaches that Jesus healed by the laying on of hands. Jesus said that all that He did, we could do and more. To me, it therefore follows that healing by the laying on of hands is a perfectly "Christ-like" thing to do.

Those who live in fear-based thinking and believe a church's doctrine that doing anything not sanctioned results in a one-way ticket to hell will not readily believe in something they are predisposed to fearing. Such is their lesson in this lifetime.

A few weeks ago I saw, in the newspaper's weekly religious calendar, a Methodist church service focusing on alternative relaxation techniques...Reiki was included. A catholic friend of mine tells me her church would condemn me for practicing Reiki. In between those two examples are surely many other diverse opinions...all from people who are Christians. Putting all Christian perspectives into one category would require a very big box indeed!

Namaste...
Lesley

Very well said, indeed, Lesley. This is how I see it, exactly.

Goldenisis, I understand your frustration and lack of patience with fundamentalist thinking, but I don't feel like I can just ignore them as if they are so much smoke, when they are people striving to be close to the divine in their own way. I get fed up, frustrated, etc, too, but I don't think that my thinking on this is "trying to make it fit" for the Christians. It is truly and honestly how I see it. I would like them all to see Reiki for the blessing that it is.

That being said, I hope you won't take offense at my correction, but Moses had nothing to do with the Flood. (grin) According to the bible, Moses led the Isrealites out of slavery. There is no mention of him in the history of the land where the Isrealites were inslaved for supposedly 400 years.

And yes, I suppose my mention of ULE supposes that all non-personal healing energy IS ULE--maybe for lack of a more genergic term. I thought ULE was a fairly generic term, but I am apparently missing something. If it isn't MY personal energy, I assume it is ULE. If it's coming from another entity? Or another dimension? I don't have a name for that and I suppose those are the other possibilities for Christ's healing. Is that what you were getting at?

Namaste,
Lionheart

Lionheart,

Sheesh, must have missed some of my meds; can't believe I had a brain bubble of that magnitude! *roflmao at myself* No offense taken at All. You might well grin, if not actually laugh out loud.

Yes, I do think it's too bad people can't accept Reiki at face value. And as Lesley pointed out, there are many, many different responses by Christians. My first Reiki instructor not only taught classes at the convent of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis in Springfield, (I hope I remember that correctly), but had attuned all the sisters there to at least level I. And our local UCC church allowed a Reiki share to be held there. And it's not just Christians. I know one R.M. who was instructed by his Sufi din (I think that's the right word) not to practice anymore, as well as a man whose guru told him it was inadvisable to continue Reiki past level I. [My acquaintance also said, rather smugly, that you're doomed to pointless wandering if you don't have a guru. I held my tongue about That, it being rude to say what was on my mind, and we get along famously in other respects.] I'm equally short about the local pagan, so-out-of-the-broom-closet-it's-ridiculous, who takes considerable glee in rubbing her religion in the face of fundamentalist Christians at every opportunity; meanwhile, her organization grabs every chance for media coverage possible and publicizes their works for local charities in a transparent bid to say, "See? We really Are okay people, and paganism is a truly wonderful, okay religion."

If nothing else, I'm an equal opportunity crank. Honestly, I find any number of other paths make me go, 'Ewwww.' But I don't have to follow them. That's a strictly personal opinion, and I needn't express it to the parties practicing them, any more than they need to tell me I'm going to hell or that I'm wasting my time without a guru. When I asked my former church (technically a Roman Catholic schism) about taking orders and found out they were "liberal" enough to allow their priests to marry but categorically forbade women to become priests I didn't make a fuss about it but I did leave immediately. Corollary to 'Why can't we all just get along?' : 'Why can't we all just leave each other alone in peace?'

Bright blessings; hail Eris!

goldenisis

My, that's a bit pretentious of you to say.

The whole point of Reiki is supposedly that it doesn't MATTER what someone believes; the ability to practice it exists in us all, regardless. If someone DOES feel the need to try to explain the healing Jesus did in terms of Reiki, why should anyone else care? It's not an indication of their spiritual depth or intellectual breadth in the least.

Sorry... the way you answered this just rubbed me the wrong way. I'm sure you didn't mean anything insulting by it.