The Reiki Cafe 

Hi folks, I posted this same question on the Beliefnet boards. I'm trying to get more responses.

Anyway, I am new to Reiki, having had only one treatment. It was very relaxing and I would like to learn more about it. I also read a book (one of those "dummies" guides) which was helpful. Upon looking at some of the Reiki websites, it seems that there are certain elements about Reiki that seem, well, "flaky". I'm talking about "fairies", "enlightened masters from Atlantis", even talk about angels. I really like the idea of a universal healing energy and maybe I can even go in for the idea of a "spirit guide". I'm wondering if a person can be too logical for Reiki. I am not into organized religion at all because of the things most faiths ask you to believe. So how can I believe in fairies and Atlanteans? Or is this something that is not typical of most practitioners? The woman I went to does "fairy readings" and I think that's just a little too much for me to swallow.

Thanks to all who respond -- I appreciate all comments.

Jodi

jodi,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- yes, univeral life energy (ULE)is not flaky; people may be flaky

>:-}}

- if you find a traditional Usui Reiki practitioner\teacher you can learn the techniques and get attunements without ever hearing anything about angels, faeries, crystals, etc

- but be sure to do any Reiki training in-person (it is of course difficult to do training remotely)

bagl

- to see about traditinal Reiki and perhaps prepare for Reiki One training go for a no-nonsense discussion of Reiki:

"The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui: The Traditional Usui Reiki Ryoho Treatment Positions and Numerous Reiki Techniques for Health and Well-Being by Mikao Usui and Frank Arjava Petter (Paperback - Jun 1, 1999)

- good luck

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Otoharo!

I have not read the messages and may be repeating. Basic, simple reiki has none of that you mention. It is a connection to the Universal Life Force Energy, available without belief, faith, etc. It only requires your intent, a quiet consistency to keep only reiki and no interference.

finality

Dear Jodi,

There are some people who seem to need, for whatever reason, those fantasy aspects of energy work. Certainly, not all of us feel that way. I certainly don't consider any of those aspects to have anything to do with Reiki. I personally feel that a lot of that stuff is put in because they're good money makers for the practioners and teachers.

I had the experience of teaching no nonsense Reiki II to a student, and then having her feeling gipped that I hadn't given her that c**p.

Rock On!
Roxy

Roxy,

Namaste...

Wow. Your teaching experience story says a lot.

I was at a reiki share where a man newly attuned Reiki 1 was so nervous about participating. His two teachers had left the room (they were promoting a "type" of reiki I had never heard of) so I asked him if I could be of help. He had some really off the wall questions for me and I wondered what in the world they were teaching him.

I tried to reassure him that reiki was beautifully simple (or my wee brain wouldn't handle it. LOL) and just to focus on the energy and intend it to flow...just to start there.

The funny part was the expression on his face when (after introducing myself as a "master") that I said I had absolutely no clue how to answer his questions as I had never heard some of the terminology, etc. he (and his teachers) had used.

Needless to say, we both had a little chuckle, he relaxed and did a fine job.

Take care, Roxy...
May your work be abundantly blessed,
and you, too of course.
:-)
Mammabear

Reiki is a for the logical minded. Reiki is simple......lay your hands on a person and ask it to flow. We have all had experiences where we have felt energy. Walk into a home after a domestic dispute........everyone is smiling, but you can feel the negative energy from the dispute. After days of clouds, we feel less energy within us. Reiki expands our simple experiences but does not ask us to believe in any thing or person. Even works when you don't believe.

Many of us here use other forms of energy healing. These methods are not Reiki. They are their own methods. Some of us see spirits (good and bad), guides and angels. This is not Reiki. Although , I do feel that Reiki may make a person more open to seeing such things.

Blessings to you
blackearth

I don't know...what may be "flaky" to you can be someone else's absolute reality. Energy healing itself was considered "flaky" until recently (and still is in some circles). Don't be too quick to judge (except as it relates to you) what others may find healing in. Someone else may be judging you to be 'flaky'.

In spirit,
Deborah

...give birth to spirit

I love the fairies and divinities and trees and animals who do the healing in my space. At the same time, I recognize them as constructs of my consciousness, while I could just as easily be a construct of their consciousness.

Have noticed something interesting, though. Reiki happens when I lay my hands on, whether or not I explicity think of or speak of all the imaginary beings.

It's all really just play. You can do Reiki no matter what your belief structure, because it's a capacity that all living beings have.

In fact, it's great to be logical and skeptical. Don't believe it until you feel it happen. Get and give feedback. I try to teach simply, and be responsive to students' belief systems in any way that gets them to understand the basics. There is enough to learn in a Reiki Level One class, without adding in explanations of metaphysical worlds. And the metaphysics are not necessary, to practice and grow with Reiki. Just do Reiki.

It's always good for those of us who have practiced for a while, to be reminded of Reiki's simplicity.

Blessings,
Aronaya

Hello Jodi,
As we become more attuned to the Universal energy some of us may become aware of another level of existence.
If you don't feel it or see it or vibrate to that type of experience its no big deal.
The energy of Reiki is straight up, Universal Energy. The rest is up to us if we feel called to these other leanings. Your learning is complete.. If one could ever say they are done learning. But I'm sure you get me here. There isn't some other class on faeries or guides, or angels you need to take to become more "like" anyone else.
Your connection with spirit and your own path are your choosing always. No one can do what it is you have come here to do. You are beautiful and perfect Right Now as you are..
Enjoy the reiki and let that energy take you where it will.

For my own self I too was NOT into religion in any way. I was quite relieved to find that there was a Universal Energy I could tap into without God getting into the mix and I'd still be able to help others, including myself.. Mostly others though honestly in my naivate..

Well, I may have pushed God/Great Spirit/Tao/All That Is away but it never put me down.. As I connected with the Universal Spirit, that energy healed many aspects of fear based teachings I'd been given as a child about who and what All That Is, was..
I constantly found that It's Presence was with me.. That which I'd call God.. I kept asking, why are you here??
I also had lots of layers of grief hidden within me because I"d felt unworthy because I wasn't perfect.. It was THAT aspect of my being that the Source wanted to help me heal. That very important part because It found me perfect already and It wanted me to know that..

Its been almost seven years for me and the wonders of the Universe keep unfolding most beautifully. I find that I can take people a bit easier where they are now than I was able to before because now I can handle myself more easily where I am..

So, its all good my dear and don't try and figure it out.. All this other "stuff" it will just give you a headache!!

lol

Bright blessings on your most beautiful and unique path!

Jahnavi

Hi, I've had some trouble with all the divinities god/goddess, angels and all that stuff. I've gotten it straight in my head now though that all that stuff is there, if you need it for a focus or simply as a comfort blanket, and when your done with it, you can leave it aside. Unfortunately sometimes this stuff that you don't need gets to be habit forming.
It's only relevant if it's relevant.
Personally knowing this has given me the ability to let go of stuff I didn't need, and allowed me to experiment and have fun with stuff.
Have fun with it, if your uncomfortable with something, don't let it get you down, just observe the process and move on.
reiki on, dude!

Personally speaking, the faeries, and diety aspects didn't come into real play for me until I reached Teacher Master. Speaking as a psychic (which Reiki III opened up for me) faeries, angels and gods/goddesses aren't flaky. They are living viable entities that frequently assist me in healing. I see and speak to them and they speak to me. I used Atlantean entities to mega charge the protective field around me when I'm under attack. Flaky is a matter of perception. You don't percieve that which is perfectly normal and even mundane for me, and others, but you are warned. if you advance through Reiki levels your perceptions may change and you too will one day be a badge carrying flake like myself.

psi

psi,

Hi,

I would not say that angels and oher entities are living (certainly not in the sense that we are alive). Are they able to affect the universe? Sure, in their own realms and to the extent they may interact with us: the Samsaric Densities. lol

And, flaky is as flaky is.

:)

Cheers,

RC