The Reiki Cafe 

Good afternoon to you all,

I wanted to undertake my Reiki frst and second degree next month. My main reason for taking this path is for self-healing and for the benefit of my friends and family. Most of them live abroad, and I cannot physically look after any of them, as such I would like to be able to send them Reiki.

The point - there is an institution here in London that ofers both Usui Reiki and Tera Mai Reiki, and I wanted to know if there was one preffered over the other. I have done some research myself, but wanted to hear of any practical issues, personal experience etc.

Many thanks,

panage,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- the basis of all other Reiki practices (regardless of what name someone attaches) is the traditional Usui Reiki -no crystals, no grids, no angels, no reiki bubbles, etc

- if one does not learn the hand positions and practices then one has really not learned Reiki

- Tera Mai is someone's (name escapes me at the moment) spin on Reiki with, as I recall, some other symbols added that are claimed to have been channeled by her (I believe -though to be sure of all this you can check your own research)

- to become really skilled in Reiki one must practice, practice, practice - and USui Reiki is all one needs

- more attunements and other 'add-ons' will never be a substitute for hands-on practices (from which distance practices may then develop more fully as well)

- so, I recommend getting the Reiki 1, practicing for a while, say 6 months, then doing Reiki 2

- hope this helps

- good luck

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Hi.

As you said Tera Mai uses other symbols, which are referred to as the elements Air, Fir, Water and Earth.

Thank you for your time and insight. It is genuinly appreciated.

I look forward learning and practicing!

Hi, I got my reiki 1+2 traning with the tera mai symbols thrown in, I can't really say if they've made any difference. sometimes I lament that I didn't just get basic usui reiki done, and forget the other symbols ter mai seichim golden dragon and violet flame, which I've also been attuned to.
Having said all that they all probably have helped me in some way/s that I can't conciously attest to.
Research. take your time, and don't rush into anything, at the same time don't dawdle. But things will work out. These things do and sometimes we worry 'bout nothing.
Happy trails.

panage,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- these four cardinal elements appear in any number of traditions world-wide including various earth-based and shamanic traditions (five elements are recognized in Buddhist medicine and shamanic healing - especially the Bon-Po tradition) - though the psycho-spiritual and magical attributes assigned do vary a good bit from culture to culture

- however, Usui Sensei did not include overt use of the elements (explicitly) in formulating Reiki practices

- however, one might guess that he was also at least passingly familiar with traditional Shinto practices which do recognize and utilize the elements and the cardinal directions

- for myself, I have felt an implicit connection in the traditional Usui Reiki hand positions to the five elements recognized in the Bon-Po tradition

>:-}}

- so, did Usui Sensei intend to 'honor' the five elements by 'hiding a reference' to each of them within the design of the Reiki practices?????

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Interesting. for myself I'm a bit confused about the whole thing. some say that having usui reiki is enough, some others say that the energy being channeled is bigger and better with all these add-ons. I don't know what to believe, since I'd be pendantic in thinking I do know, and I want to avoid that at all costs, I'm only activly asking for reiki to flow.

Panage,

Usui Reiki Ryoho without a doubt in my humble opinion! Usui Reiki Ryoho is Reiki pure and simple Tera Mai is as Firestarter says, someones spin on Reiki.

There are tonnes of Reiki groups that have added this, that and the other and claim to be bigger, better, a higher vibration etc.

Usui Mikao didnt use add ons and Reiki worked, Reiki still works without the add ons. In my humble opinion (once again!) anyone needing to make claims that they are bigger and better are missing the spiritual journey altogether!

Jaguar,

If you have been attuned to Reiki you dont need anything else, your intent (that you already seem to be using) is enough. If you dont feel so much right now then dont worry keep practicing, use energy exercise such as traditional Hatsurei Ho and eventually you will realise that you start to feel it flow. It is only your sensitivity to the feel of the flow that you need to work on not the flow as your intent will start that everytime you ask.

with reiki blessings, Ki x

I do feel a certain kind of 'presence' to Reiki, golden dragon, violet flame.
Their not so much add ons as well as, but tools in their own right, so I respect them as such.
Reiki doesn't need to be done with these as well, but it seems that each energy system you call on, does a specific job, and thats that. Reiki is all encompassing and those others can be included but aren't nesessary.
So I don't. It all seems like to much baggage in any case, nevertheless I will respect them, even if I don't use them.
Or something to that effect.
Thank you for clarifing things.
I think the name of the lady who founded tera-mai, was named kathleen millner.
As for the symbols, I now use only the proscribed reiki symbols. Although I've been iniated and trained in Master, I have yet to iniate someone into it and find myself at a loss to as to how to do so. It's a worry for another day methinks.

Ki,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- Firekeeper, if you don't mind.

>:-}}

- although I have, in the past, only once or twice mind you, been accused of being 'inflammatory'

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper