The Reiki Cafe 

Hello everyone. I am new here to the Nexus Cafe, and I have not had the time or opportunity to read through all of the posts and threads yet. For my jumping in head-first, I do apologize, but I had a very compelling feeling to ask a burning question of my fellow caregivers.

Before I have any sort of experience with healing, mediumship, or psychic message-relaying, I am in a deep sense of calm and I know all through my being that I am with God. I am so very grateful to have this relationship, that I would do anything at ALL to be of service to the divine. In fact, I feel incredibly - undeniably - humbled and grateful that "he" would allow me to serve "him". I feel as if it's a blessed and priceless gift "he" is giving me -just to be able to help "him", in whatever way possible. I offer my hands, heart, and love to his service, and then the experience happens.

What I'm trying to say is that "he" is gifting me with his presence, and I am reciprocating his love by giving it back (in the form of sharing with others). I feel soooo wonderful just to return the love, that I feel as though I am truly the one (or one of the ones) receiving the gift.

My question is then this: If the gift to us is that he is allowing us to be his tool of goodness, isn't that your "payment"? How can one ethically, then, ask for something as worldly as monetary exchange when simply the gift of his presence is so priceless? I personally don't have any desire for "payment", or "exchange of energy" because of how rich and truly, wonderfully whole I feel just to FEEL God. I know this is not a new question, and it's been mulled over a lot, and I hope I'm getting my point across without being inflammatory or confrontational. That is certainly not my intention. My intent, I guess, is to ask others to see that the true gift of giving is the payment - and to ask for any feedback or thoughts on the matter.

jenniferin,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- do you also 'believe' that doctors, psycholgists, nurses, priests, physical therapists, massage therapists, shamans,etc, etc are gifted by their callings?

- If so, how do you stand on the fact they all charge for their services?

- so, I am not sure why you single out Reiki

- there is some degree (not 100%, of course) of choice in taking up Reiki or any other activity, afterall

>:-}}

- as for healing?? It is the recipient of the energy, of course, who must use that energy to facilitate his\her\its healing ("healing" does not happen automatically)

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Hi Jennifer,

Reiki = Universal life force energy and it is not necessary to have any particular faith or belief in God to be able to access it. There are Reiki practitioners from all walks of life, some religious and some not. Many practitioners have invested their time and money in training to become a Reiki practitioner. There are often room hire fees to pay. Many practitioners also feel that if Reiki is given for free then it is not valued and as such there should be some kind of 'energy exchange'; money or otherwise. I understand your point of view, but I think that it is personal to each Reiki Practitioner to decide whether to charge or not. I guess that it all comes down to the intention behind the charge :)

Gentle Blessings
Helen

I understand your point, but I have rent to pay and food costs money.

Rock On!
Roxy

Dear Helen,
Well a person is investing their time and energy as it does require some effort and planning to do this work. If a person always did it for no money, then it would seem to me that the practitioner may end up a bit resentful in the end to expend energy and get nothing tangible back as we live in a material world and it's good to be practical as if you're too spiritual, it can hard to be of any earthly good.
peace,
Prosperity

oops, I meant to address that to jennifren

Otoharo!

You left out one thing. The consideration of the person who is receiving this energy. That is the person who must receive it or else it does not even leave you. The receiver opens to receiving by giving. Giving and receiving are two sides of the same energy. It is necessary to give in order to receive. That is the person who must give.

finality

Hi Jenniferin,

Welcome to the Cafe.

Your question is an interesting one, and it an issue that has been discussed here before. Those that have answered this question all have valid views - if we spent all our time in service to others, as it were, how do we pay our mortgages and how do we eat?

Also, even Dr. Usui, if you follow the traditional Reiki story, felt that giving Reiki for free, meant that it was not valued by those receiving it, and that there should be an exchange of some kind.

Each practioner, if properly trained, has paid for training and attunements and put months if not years, into learning to use the energy to help others.

Whilst you personally believe in God, it is not necessary to believe in him in order to practise Reiki. Reiki is not religious, it is spiritual. Whatever religion (or not) you believe in, you can practise Reiki. It is not connected with any specific religion.

It acknowledges a Universal Life Energy. This may connect with any, or no religion.

Personally I feel that Reiki is a wonderful gift that I love sharing with others. I usually do make a charge for a Reiki treatment, although I often offer a first treatment free and sometimes waive charges according to circumstances.

But I am fortunate in that being able to eat, does not depend on payment for the Reiki I offer. For some, it does. As has been mentioned, it is normal to pay for treatment of any kind.

I hope the answers you receive have helped in your understanding.

Love and light,
Philanty

No problem,

You made my point very well.

Rock On!
Roxy

This is a question I have struggled with for a number of years. Just recently I was involved in a discussion with friends around the price/cost of reiki. Some interesting thoughts were shared...we cannot place a price on the Reiki energy, but it is important to place a price on our time while we facilitate the treatment. It is important that some form of exchange occur to prevent a negative karmic debt being created by the recipient of the services.

As a result of this discussion I am now more at ease with some form of payment by my clients. I think my reluctance/discomfort with the money thing stemmed from a sense of unworthiness and a reluctance to charge for what I could freely and lovingly give. With the thought of negative karmic debt... I would not want to contribute to this when it is my intent to be of health.

Just some thoughts...perhaps all of you have thought way passed this and I am just catching up.

Regards,
Leslie

Otoharo!

I am learning more about this also. I am having my on-going lives (who are in my aura) treated with reiki and I do not receive this healing until I make payment for it.

finality

Greetings,

This subject seems to always be present no matter who you talk to.
I have found that most who want to do Reiki for free already have a steady income or a spouse who supplies all that it takes to live these days.
Most Reiki practioners have spent 10's of thousands on training. I know I have.
There are those times when we give a free love offering to a student or client.
I suppose it is an indivual decision left to the person who is the channel for this beautiful healing energy.

Blessings
Ashkee