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Reiki is a form of laying-of-the-hands energy healing developed by Dr. Mikao Usui in Japan, early 1900s. Today 300,000-plus Reiki practitioners live in the U.S. alone. The numbers are increasing in vast amounts.

The following is an interview with Atlanta Reiki Master, Brad Dixon.

>Q: Brad, how many years have you been involved with Reiki? What are your “credentials?”

>I first learned Reiki in 1996 for the improvement of my personal health. I continued my training after moving to Atlanta in 1999 through the Usui Master and Karuna Master levels. I opened my practice, Wellspring Reiki, in 2002, offering both sessions and classes. I recently became certified as a facilitator of La-Ho-Chi, another powerful form of energy work.

>Q: What sort of problems do people come to you with? And how does Reiki affect these clients?

>Reiki works on all levels – mind, body, and spirit – depending upon what the clients’ needs are. Some people come to me for specific health problems while many simply want to explore new means of stress management. A lot of people come for the Reiki experience simply to broaden their horizons.

During a session, they learn about the importance of healthy energy flow through the body’s principal energy centers – called chakras – which are located at the top of the crown, third eye (just above the brow area between the eyes), throat, heart (center of chest), solar plexus (just above the naval), sacrum (just below naval) and root (at the tailbone). A typical Reiki session involves hand placements focusing very high vibrational energy on the chakras to restore them to optimal functioning.

Stress, negative thinking, and unhealthy lifestyle choices can cause our chakras to become imbalanced or even closed. Keeping these important energy gateways properly functioning is vitally important to our health, because disruptions in energy flow frequently lead to illness. So Reiki is great preventative care. It’s also helpful for health problems that have already manifested. Any problem involving mind, body or spirit can benefit from this healing technique. All I can promise, though, is that it’s good for stress reduction and relaxation.

What people experience during a Reiki session varies. Most people sense the energy as soothing heat or pleasant tingling, and some feel completely enveloped in radiant warmth. As the energy breaks away negative feelings like tension and fear, people sometimes drift in and out of sleep or feel like they’re floating. Many of my clients have reported profound experiences.

>Q: Is Reiki difficult to learn? What makes for a good Reiki healer?

>The beauty of Reiki is that virtually anyone can easily learn it. It requires no prior experience with meditation or other healing arts. It’s widely accepted in the Reiki community that this healing art is a gift from a Higher Power (however you choose to define that) that wanted humankind to raise its consciousness. But Reiki isn’t a religion, so even if you reject that idea, you can still learn this healing art, and it will work for you.

In Western Reiki classes based on the traditional system of Reiki developed by Mikao Usui in Japan, there are four attunement levels (I, II, Advanced, III), each of which confer increasingly heightened ability to use this energy. I divide the training into two one-day classes (I/II, Advanced/III), so the basics can be learned very quickly. A lot of important learning, of course, involves regular practice. Many people just want to learn it for use on themselves and friends/family.

For those that feel guided to work with others professionally, I think it’s important to approach the work with good intentions and get your ego out of the way. Don’t let the title “Reiki Master” go to your head. The Level III/Master training can easily be obtained by anyone (in fact, I encourage it).

Reiki energy, by nature, is spiritually guided to do what it needs to do on whatever level (mind, body, spirit) it’s most needed at that moment. So if practitioners just focus their intent on being a clear, open channel for the energy to pass through, remarkable things can happen. With time, practice and dedication, Reiki practitioners can develop heightened intuitive ability to read or perceive energy fields, but seeing auras and getting psychic impressions isn’t necessary to be a perfectly effective Reiki healer.

>Q: Reiki seems to be growing within the mass consciousness. Why do you think that is?

>I believe the explosive growth of yoga, with terminology including chakras, has done much to deepen curiosity and understanding of our energy. On many of my students’ personal paths, Reiki is the next stop after yoga. Many people in the Western world have also embraced the concept of feng shui in recent years, recognizing that the proper flow of energy — or “chi” — through the environment is vital for maintaining a happy home. They are also beginning to realize that this energy flows through their physical bodies as well. Awareness of the importance of maintaining strong levels of life-force energy is rising even in medical circles (I’ve had several doctors come to me for both sessions and classes).

Also driving interest in Reiki is the growth of spirituality. People all over seem to be having spiritual awakenings, pursuing enlightenment in many different fashions. The great thing about Reiki is that people of all religions can practice it. I’ve even had a Southern Baptist minister take my class, and he loved it.

Knowledge of Reiki sped up much faster in the 1980s after the death of Hawayo Takaka. She is much respected for bringing Reiki to the West from Japan in the 1930s, but she introduced some restrictions that weren’t part of the traditional system. For instance, she required that Reiki only be taught orally; nothing could be written down. She also charged an extremely high price for the Master training, $10,000, so there weren’t nearly as many teachers to share the gift. In the years after her death, teachers began charging much more reasonable rates as well as writing books to spread the word.

I believe that the information treasure-trove of the Internet is doing more than anything these days to build awareness of Reiki. Many people are exploring online for alternative means of improving their health. Like me in the 1990s, they’re getting fed up with a medical system focusing on treating symptoms rather than finding root causes. I’m hopeful that the trend toward planting some Eastern practices into Western medicine will continue. The growing acceptance of acupuncture by the medical establishment in this country shows that this merger has already begun.

>Q: What has been your most profound experience(s) with Reiki?

>For me, the most miraculous thing about Reiki is the attunement process, and I feel blessed to get to regularly facilitate it. No one’s quite certain of why this fairly simple ritual works. It requires a student to simply sit peacefully in a chair while I touch their hands and shoulders in a few specific ways while focusing my intent visually and energetically. In 10 minutes or less, they are plugged into this universal life force that is of much higher vibration than energy they could previously access. Even students who already practiced other types of energy work are amazed by the difference.

Attunements are always successful, only requiring the intent of the student to receive it and the teacher to pass it on. Many people believe that angels and spirit guides are involved in adjusting the energy field. Others speculate it’s a latent ability in all of us that simply needs to be turned on. All I know is that I feel profoundly wonderful from the intense energy passing through me during attunements, whatever their source. To my knowledge, no one has ever been able to debunk their success.

Reiki is a Complementary therapy treatment based around natural healing. The healer channels energy and passes it to the client. Reiki energy is regarded as life energy and can be very beneficial physically, emotionally and mentally for the client.

There are several effects that Reiki energy can have on a person:
• It creates a feeling of deep relaxation
• Toxins are removed from the body
• Energy blockages are removed
Reiki can be used to aid in the in the treatment of several ailments, such as:
Stress, depression, pain, colds, flu, and conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome amongst many other conditions.
It heals by cleansing the meridians of the body and balancing all charkas. Done regularly Reiki will maintain good health and well-being. It is also known to make people feel generally happier, calmer and less stressed in their everyday life.
The treatment consists of the client lying on a massage couch to receive the energy. A normal session can be anywhere between half an hour to an hour and a half. During this time the body goes into a deeply relaxed state, which, unfortunately is not often reached anymore, due to our busy lives. The energy is absorbed in to the body, and this can continue to work for the next few days, depending on how depleted the body is. Some people find that they fall off to sleep during their sessions, and some just enjoy the feeling of complete relaxation, peace and warmth.
During the treatment you may feel a tingling session, along with hot or cold areas. Some people feel nothing. Do not worry, it does not mean that the energy is not having an effect, it is just the way different people react to their individual sessions. After the treatment some people go though what is called a ‘healing crisis’. This is the body’s natural way of healing the problem areas after the energy has been received. During this time some people feel generally low, unwell or weepy but this will pass after a couple of days, and usually leaves them feeling better than ever.

I don’t know about you but when I go for a massage I expect the massage therapist to use their hands, fingers and maybe even their elbows to loosen my stress-laden muscles. There is nothing more delightful than an experienced pair of hands that helps to expunge all of the bad stuff from my body that causes me to become tense, anxious and, perhaps, a bit unpleasant to be around sometimes.

I still vividly remember a visit with a physical therapist for a problem that I was having with a disk in my neck. The disk was pinching a nerve which was causing pain in my neck, back and arm. A particularly annoying area was near my shoulder above my shoulder blade. As I sat in a massage chair, the therapist used her elbow to dig right into the affected area with a force that caused some serious discomfort. But when I left that morning, the pain was almost gone. Now that was massage!

Recently, I was introduced to the concept of Reiki. I was reading up on the various forms of massage therapy and, quite frequently, Reiki was listed as a therapeutic option or as part of the curriculum at a massage school. Further reading about Reiki has caused me to question references to Reiki in the same context as massage. In fact, I began to wonder why Reiki was included in references to massage at all. And I’m not the only one.

Massage is generally defined as “the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for therapeutic purposes, healing or relaxation.” I would think that “manipulation” is the operative word here. The practice of Reiki takes a quite different approach. Like Shiatsu massage, Reiki seeks to balance “ki” or “life force energy” within the body. The theory, according to ancient Oriental philosophy, is that if this energy is out of balance in the body, or is depleted, then an individual becomes susceptible to physical and emotional ailments. Practitioners of Reiki seek to channel energy into their clients in a manner that corrects imbalances and promotes healing.

However, based on the prescribed methods of practicing Reiki, there is no “manipulation” involved. In fact, in some cases, there is not even actual touch involved in Reiki treatments. That would certainly present a conflict between the generally accepted definition of massage and the practice of Reiki.

Reiki, as practiced today, was developed by Dr. Mikao Usui, a minister and head of a Christian school in Japan. His students had asked him how Jesus healed. Usui did not have the answer but became fixated on discovering how Jesus had cured the ill and infirmed. ( I guess “because he was the Son of God” does not qualify as an acceptable answer.)

Dr. Usui spent years studying in Christian schools, Buddhist monasteries and temples. He found no answer to the healing question until he embarked on a 21 day fast. At the end of the fast he apparently had a revelatory experience that showed him the methods he had sought to understand. He then set about on a healing ministry. Eventually, he shared his knowledge with Dr. Chujiro Hyashi who, in turn shared the knowledge with Mrs. Hawayo Takata who trained 22 Reiki Masters who then shared the knowledge with thousands of others.

Essentially, Reiki transfers energy from the Reiki practitioner to the patient. Actually, Reiki teaches that the patient draws this energy from the practitioner thus giving the patient an active role and ultimate responsibility for their own healing. The energy is then realigned and balanced and harmony is restored in the body.

Though it is not a religion there is a great deal of spirituality at work in Reiki. God or a Universal Life Force is acknowledged and recognized as the source of all life energy. Though there are specific principles involved in Reiki, the actual methods are quite similar to the “laying on of hands” practiced by faith healers of many religious denominations. But “laying on of hands” is not quite the same as “the manipulation of soft tissue” required to be defined as massage.

There are a couple of issues here. First, massage as a stand alone practice, has struggled to be recognized by the medical establishment as a legitimate form of therapy and healing. Under the auspices of physical therapy, massage is readily accepted and practiced to restore muscular function and to assist in the rehabilitative process. However, there is the view by many that massage therapy is somewhat of a “mongrel” healing application with touches of mainstream medicine, alternative medicine, holistic, health, New Age cultism, sexual indulgence and mystical fakery. The simple fact is the “the manipulation of soft tissue” has been proven and is accepted as a healing modality. It is the desire to include any healing avocation that involves touch, or even the close proximity of hand to body, under the heading of massage that creates confusion and causes suspicion.

Scientists and doctors have dismissed Reiki as a placebo that encourages patients to feel better because they are supposed to feel better. Other questions about the motivation of practitioners is the fact that Dr. Usui, the founder of Reiki, determined that there must be an “energy exchange” between Reiki healer and Reiki patient to invest the patient in the healing process. This investment is monetary in most cases and is a core principle of Reiki.

Another problem with Reiki being considered a form of massage is that some states require that practitioners of Reiki be licensed as massage therapists. Many Reiki practitioners dispute this categorization specifically because of the distinction between Reiki and massage as stated in the definitions presented earlier in this article.

So, Reiki has a bit of a schizophrenic personality. On the one hand, courses teaching Reiki are offered in many massage schools. On the other hand, many practitioners themselves don’t consider themselves massage therapists. So, far be it from me to try and settle this dispute in one article. Reiki may or may not be a truly effective form of healing. All I know is that I still have difficulty categorizing Reiki as massage. I think there may be some “manipulation” of the definition of massage required to justify the inclusion of Reiki.

Reiki is “energy” from a higher source that has a wisdom of its own. It is described as something that already knows where to go and what to do once allowed into the human’s energy field.

Humans have known since time began that there is a Great Spirit, Guiding Intelligence, God, Goddess, or some form of Greater Good that humans have been trying to define, reach, remember, go home to, discover, prove and secure for themselves.

Those closest to this essence, from Jesus to successful Native American Healers, have known that every human has a latent, direct access to this Higher Energy, and these people’s gift to humanity was/is to help them access and remember that connection. Those who would abuse this knowing may say that they, and only they, have access to this Higher Energy, and anyone wanting to win favor with it must adhere to their rules.

It is said that Jesus channeled a Higher Power through his palms. He was not creating something new that before had not existed, but rather he was demonstrating something we can all access. He is further attributed to saying that all shall eventually do all that he has done, and even greater things.

We can all activate our “palms of Christ,” and we can all, during times of stress or for on-going well-being, have sessions with those who do energy healing to help us remember our inner connection and become reconnected from within again.

Authentic Reiki attunements, Quantum Touch training, Therapeutic Touch training, and other successful, established energy methods have very good track records for restoring this ability, and are even entering hospitals and being taught to children. While there are certainly frauds and delusional people, and shameful false “faith healers,” just as there are those who misuse any career or human interest, there are also the occasional people born remembering this intuitively. But it is available to all, not just the “chosen” or “gifted.”

Nowadays, the interest in alternative medicine is growing rapidly. Among the vast number of healing modalities available, we find that Reiki has become increasingly popular around the world, especially since science has verified the existence of the universal life energy that Reiki is based on. Reiki is a powerful holistic healing system; it heals on all levels, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

So what is Reiki? The term Reiki is the Japanese word for Universal Life Force Energy. It is a very simple and easily acquired healing method that uses universal life energy, the energy which permeates our entire universe and all living things. This universal life energy is called qi or chi in China, prana in India, and ki in Japan and this is where the Reiki name derives. It circulates throughout the body and in an energy field surrounding the body. This energy field, long been known to healers and mystics, is now verified by scientists. Recent scientific experiments have verified the existence of this life force energy. Scientists have proven that everything in the universe, at a sub-atomic level, is made up of energy. Health is the harmonious flow of life energy, while imbalances in this flow, due to unhealthy habits or negative emotions lead to illness. So this subtle energy is responsible for the processes in our body on all levels: physical, emotional and mental. Reiki channels universal life energy through the hands of the practitioner into the body of the receiver and balances the energy flow in the body.

Reiki is a holistic healing system, meaning that it addresses the whole person: the physical, mental, emotional and the spiritual levels. The body is not made up of isolated parts to be fixed, like a machine; there are no separate parts, but an amazing web of energy, and in order to truly return to health, all the levels of our being must be addressed.

Reiki works on four different levels:

The physical level: Reiki strengthens the immune system. It helps in relieving pain. It balances and harmonizes the function of glands and organs. It heals by opening the blocked energy channels, the meridians, and balances the chakras. When performed regularly, toxins are removed from the body and good health and well-being is maintained.

The emotional level: One of the greatest healing benefits of Reiki is stress reduction and relaxation, which strengthens the immune system and maintains health. People who are depressed or do not feel emotionally balanced begin to feel more stable and relaxed because Reiki clears energy blockages and suppressed emotions.

The mental level: Through giving yourself Reiki, you obtain more clarity and find it easier to overcome obstacles and achieve goals. You become more positive and reach a different outlook on life. You feel more empowered.

The spiritual level: Reiki enables you to go deeper within and feel more connected to your higher self. It aids meditation, increases intuition and provides limitless benefits of spiritual growth.

Reiki is so simple yet so powerful, and this is what makes it a unique healing system that anyone can learn, because it does not require any previous experience or special ability. The Benefits of Reiki are infinite. It allows you to take an active part in your own wellness, and accelerates your growth on all levels.

Let’s go camping.

(If you have never been camping before then we recommend you suspend your disbelief and we’ll attempt to conjure up a likely image for you.)

It’s a gorgeous day, you’ve been wandering through the bush for a couple of hours looking for the perfect camping spot (yes, let’s make it an Australian camping story). You startle a wallaby as you turn a corner and she hops away as fast as her powerful legs can carry her. The white cockatoos screech at each other from towering gum trees and the exotic scent of sweet wattle hangs in the warm air.

Ahhh this is the life.

You’re searching for the perfect camping spot; one that will keep you safe and warm throughout the night.

On the other side of a great red boulder you finally see it… a clearing at the edge of a deep, vast valley with an uninterrupted panorama as far as the eye can see of the wild Australian bush and its turquoise sky.

At the centre of the clearing you notice a small clump of ashes with a log lying nearby that will be perfect for a fireside seat; you realise that someone has camped here before. This is always a good sign. You are not the first to have chosen this path, it must hold some merit.

You walk to the edge of the precipice. Breathe in deeply. You’re ready. All the equipment you need is in your backpack, you just have to make sure you use it correctly.

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Camping out could easily become an analogy for the wonderful world of Reiki. Or have we been too obvious already? Probably.

Choose your Reiki path with care. Will the course offer you the tools you need, will it build your independence and yet highlight a path that has shown itself to be successful for others?

Back to the story….

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You are at your chosen camping spot. While it is still light you begin to unpack your backpack. You have everything you thought you would need as well as all those things that your friends and the camping store had recommended. Most importantly you have the basic elements of nourishment, water, shelter, your torch and … for an emergency your charged up mobile.

But there is something special that you require when you go camping out overnight that you can’t buy. It’s something only you can make.

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Back in the world of Reiki you’ve paid for your course and you are being taught the basic elements of the system; hand positions, techniques and meditations, symbols and mantras, and precepts. You receive *reiju and you begin to feel ready to start your practice.

But there’s something more to this as well …

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Fire.

Building a good Reiki practice is like building a great campfire.

First of all your practice needs to be ignited. Without ignition the fire doesn’t burn and there is no promise of future warmth or wisdom.

Obviously, you need good solid material to begin your fire with - kindling, dry matches and the perfect position. If all you hold in your hand is a pretty piece of paper, it will go up in flames in seconds leaving you with a smattering of uninspiring black ash and sore fingers.

Ignition is therefore a direct result of your experience during a quality Reiki course. Something catches alight when you bring together the basic elements of the system along with an accomplished teacher and your fellow students. This magical combination creates an environment predisposed to fire.

It might be during the practice of *hatsurei ho or when you receive reiju that combustion point is reached; you glimpse a sense of inner peace or perhaps feel momentarily connected to everyone and everything in the room or, more intensely, the universe.

You have been gifted with a promise. This promise is a transaction between you and something deep inside you that is normally covered with a thick veneer of society. You have just been offered a view of something that is beyond imagining; beyond your daily routine of work, recreation and sleep. But it is up to you to fulfil the promise.

Do you want that sense of inner peace to return again and more regularly?

Imagine continuing the experience of connectedness with everyone and everything? Do you want to try to be always moving with the flow of the universe and simply Being?

Now you can. Your fire has been ignited.

You must, however, feed it. Go gather more sticks, keep your fire burning.

At your course your teacher hands you something to take away. A practice and full support. Know that if you practice too little - your fire will go out. At times of doubt grab for that lifeline of support - or else you will forget the promise and your Reiki course will become nothing more than a pleasant memory.

Extend your given practice from 5 minutes a day to 10 and so on. Be aware of balance in your practice; some days you need a bit more and other a little less. It all depends upon your inner barometer and you are paying attention now, tending your fire.

So find yourself a comfortable spot near your great campfire that will warm you, feed you and light your way through the dark night. Build the fire gradually with the appropriate size logs until its constant white heat warms your inner soul. This spot will be like no other – it is individual to you.

Sitting at ease on your log, you notice the firelight flickering against the mottled trunk of a nearby tall tree. You are reminded that the grand gum trees of the Australian bush purposefully litter the ground with their leaves to encourage fire. Fire offers this unique flora regeneration. It is when the perfect combination of eucalyptus oil and dry heat unite, combustion occurs and the bush is caught in the renewing force of fire.

Enjoy the night sky, watch the stars sparkle in the heavens and sip your *billy tea.

It is humanity’s innate ability to find peace within. Foster the right conditions, keep the fire of practice burning like a wonderfully controlled campfire, and enjoy the fruits of life in action.

Seeking an alternative education? Reiki schools offer quality Reiki training and education in classes, through home study programs, online learning and distance instruction. Typically, Reiki is a natural healing technique that facilitates Chi, or life energy.

Based on the teachings of Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki’s natural healing methods, Reiki schools offer training and education curriculum comprised of a variety of in-depth energy healing lessons. While course length depends on individual schools or training sessions, students interested in becoming a Reiki practitioner may expect the following set of classes with relation to Japanese Reiki: Level I Beginners; Level II Intermediate; Level III Master Practitioner; Level IV Master Teacher.

Another form of Reiki school training includes Universal Reiki Dharma, which also involves multiple levels of instruction including Level I First Degree; Level II Second Degree; Level III Third Degree and Level IV Fourth Degree.

As Reiki school students progress through advanced levels, they learn how to use a variety of healing and self-healing methods through attunement (a process of empowerment through Reiki energy), symbolism, chakra balancing; and other relevant energy healing modalities. Upon successful completion of individual classes, students are often issued a certificate of completion.

Among the alternate therapies, Reiki has gained popularity among Doctors and other practitioners as a non invasive and natural healing method that is efficacious in seemingly mysterious ways.

The Universal Life Energy is an energy that is omnipresent, omnipotent and all pervasive. It has a soothing vibration and a divine quality that vitalizes the body being healed and the healer simultaneously. The practitioner receives the energy through the crown chakra or the knowledge chakra and becomes a medium of energy transfer. Reiki, with an innate intelligence flows to the areas that require healing.

The energy flow of the body matches the structure of the body and the skeletal framework defines the structure of the body. In fact, it is believed that energy meridians are formed first in the fetus before the physical structure is formed and the former acts as a guide map for the latter. Any break in the skeletal framework will result in the disruption of the smooth flow of energy. This will traumatize the entire body and the resulting disease will impact on the physical and psychological well being of the person.

The root chakra is the energy center that is associated with the skeletal framework of the body. All diseases relating to the bones arise due to imbalance in this chakra. Sometimes, the energy flow in this chakra gets blocked due to bone injuries. Bone related diseases that can be treated by Reiki are osteoporosis, fractures, arthritis, rheumatism and genetic illnesses that arise due to deficiency in the bone marrow.

While Reiki can treat all injuries to the skeletal structure without recourse to any invasive techniques, it is necessary that fractures are set before Reiki is applied to the break. This is because Reiki will begin to knit the bone immediately and if it is not properly set, it could result in further painful surgery.

If you are serious about learning Reiki, check out www.discover-reiki.com

Case study

Mr.S’s job involved sitting for long hours at his desk. Over the years he had developed severe pain in the lower back and was experiencing numbness down his left leg. His leg felt cold and clammy and his foot appeared pale and bloodless. When he came to the Reiki clinic, he was limping and his face was lined with pain and desperation. He sat down with great difficulty and squirmed in his seat to find a position that was least painful. Finally, he pulled up his legs to his chest and hugged them with his hands while he pushed his head forward to his knees and heaved a sigh of relief. His voice was low and strained and he was constantly rubbing his left leg as if to restore circulation in it.

A quick scan of his aura indicated that he had energy blocks in his root chakra (a deep grey black), and almost all the minor chakras at the arch of the foot and knee joint. Since the chakra at the arch of the foot is connected to the root chakra and the solar plexus Chakra, blocks were visible in both these (deep grey). As the chakra at the knee joint is connected to the fifth and sixth chakras grayish clouds were visible on these chakras at the aura level.

Mr. S revealed that he was in his early sixties and had got a surgery done for fusing his vertebrae in his spine five years ago. The osteopathic treatment for the back pain that followed had not helped much and his Doctors had given up hope of giving him relief. Body scans and x rays showed that his bones were in their correct places and his pain had nothing to do with prolapsed discs or broken vertebrae. They recommended some more osteopathic treatment. He was not enthused by the suggestion. The pain was constant and of late he was experiencing numbness in his leg. As his condition worsened, he became desperate and even began to think that he would soon die. His world seemed to shrink into his back pain. He could not focus on his job and he was fast becoming convinced that he could not continue in his job. He felt economically threatened and very insecure. He felt that life was not worth living if the pain could not be arrested. He was fed up with painkillers and did not want to continue with them.

Reiki had been recommended to him by one of his friends, who swore by it. So he had come to the Reiki clinic in the hope that he would find some help here. He then asked pathetically, “Can you guarantee a cure for me? Do you think I can live a pain free life?”

I assured him that Reiki is a wonderful intelligent energy and that he would feel the impact of the energy even with the first sitting. I told him that we would have him dancing at the end of a few months. He was a little skeptical but consented to try it anyway.

Since he was already in the clinic I suggested that we should begin the sessions immediately. He agreed and we began. He lay down on his right side and pulled up his legs into a fetal position to ease the pain. While working the different hand positions, I noted that his leg was cold and clammy. He could not move it with ease. There was hardly any energy flowing into his leg. When I questioned him about it, he said that he often felt that circulation was very poor in his left leg and that the whole leg was very heavy and he had a constant dull ache radiating from his thigh to his foot.

The first impact of Reiki is a feeling of bone deep relaxation. Patients tend to fall asleep during Reiki. Mr.S too fell asleep and only woke up when we called him at the end of the session. He was extremely surprised and said that he had not been aware of falling asleep and he had slept dreamlessly and painlessly after a long time. He said the pain also appeared to have subsided slightly after treatment….

At the end of the month (after many ups and downs) Mr.S was finally able to say that the pain had subsided sufficiently for him to give him hope. He was able to turn over in bed without groaning and moaning and he was able to stand for fifteen twenty minutes without looking around for a straight-backed chair to ease his aching back.

Thereafter, it took almost seven twenty one day, one hour sessions to heal his back and bring back a modicum of circulation to his left leg. From the seventh to the tenth month he received weekly sessions of one hour each to completely erase the blocks in his foot and knee chakras.

Mr. S is now able to lead a normal life. He is able to focus on his work and is expecting a promotion soon. He still comes to the clinic to spend the time of day with us and help out with the other patients. He is a great asset to us as he tells all the patients who come in the wonderful work Reiki has done for him. He boosts their confidence and helps us through the sessions with his enthusiasm and optimism—which is very infectious! We are persuading him to learn Reiki. He has promised to enroll for the next convenient session.

Reiki does not interfere or discourage other forms of medical treatment. It complements and enhances the effects of the treatment being received. Today a vast amount of clinical knowledge exists to prove that disruption of energy flow in the body can result in aches and pains in different parts of the body even when they do not manifest as physical problems in x rays, MRI or different kinds of body scans available in hospitals. However, they cannot be dismissed as a figment of their imagination. Aura scans can give a fairly accurate indication of where the discomfort lies and correcting the energy level at the related chakra would clear up the problem immediately.

Every living and non living thing on this earth is permeated with the Universal life force energy. Mental or physical disease is caused by blockages in the free and uninterrupted flow of energy through an entity. The entity, then, experiences spiritual and physical divorce from the harmony of the Universe.

When energy healing is used, the connection is reestablished and the block removed. Healing, then, is as much a spiritual process as a physical one.

Group healing in Reiki is used when a powerful high voltage zap of energy is required to be sent to an entity or situation. The Native American sweat lodge or fire walking or the dance of the African witch Doctor with his disciples was nothing but efforts at group healing.

Group healing in Reiki is a unique experience. Each member of the group becomes a channel for the flow of energy. The energy flows through the body and out of his hands of the individual practitioner and is synchronized with that of the members of the group. It is given a specific direction of flow by the power of thought and symbol.

Before a group session can begin some amount of coordination at a physical level is required. The members call each other and decide on the date, time, and the type of healing and duration of the sessions. They also identify the patient or the situation who/which is to be given group Reiki. Often group practitioners spend some time sharing the experiences of the previous session and the purpose of the current session before beginning a group Reiki session. Ideally, one member of the group elects to lead the group and take the responsibility for the group. He leads the group through a visualization process. He also determines the allotment of time for each practitioner in the group and ensures that everyone adheres to the time allotted. He sits at the head of the patient while the others sit around the patient and place their hands on the person on the part nearest to them and move their hands to the next position together until each person has completed his treatment and cleared the aura of the patient.

Group healings are very effective in cases of patients with terminal problems, chronic diseases or extreme cases of emotional imbalance. The Reiki practitioners must understand that the symptoms of the disease are methods by which the higher mind alerts the body to stop and have a re-look at our lives. It is important that the patient is made to understand this concept and develop an attitude of gratitude towards the body. He or she will then be able to appreciate and critically examine the symptoms that have their root in causes that are deep seated. He/She will be able to assist the energy in the process of healing proactively.

If you are serious about learning Reiki, check out www.discover-reiki.com

Case Study

Mr and Ms.K had adopted a baby from an orphanage fifteen years ago. The child’s parentage was unknown. As the child grew into adolescence he began to display an uncontrollable temper. He could not bear to be baulked in anything that he desired. He would beat up the persons who denied him. He would become stubborn and unreasonable about little things and was often violent with his parents, his teachers and classmates. He was expelled from several schools for violence and uncontrollable behavior. He was given psychiatric treatment and a number of drugs were prescribed to keep him calm. However, the situation worsened and the parents began to fear that the child was not mentally balanced and would soon have to be admitted to a mental home. While they were desperately trying to come to terms with the reality, a friend mentioned that Reiki may help the child come out of his problem. They approached the nearest Reiki clinic for help.

After talking to the patient and discussing with the parents it was decided that the child would benefit from group Reiki. Accordingly, arrangements were made for a group of three practitioners to be available for a month in the afternoons. The sessions began in earnest the next day.

Ms.S a Reiki practitioner with almost twenty years of experience took the lead role while the two of us stood on either side of the patient and placed our hands in the specified positions. We asked the child to close his eyes and focus on receiving the energy. We also told him that it was alright to go to sleep if he so desired. As the session progressed the child’s body began to twitch involuntarily and the twitching worsened as we continued giving Reiki. Soon his body was almost convulsing. He had his feet planted firmly on the table and his head was stable on the table, but the rest of his body seemed to try to get away from the energy. He twisted this way and that and began screaming and weeping with his eyes tightly closed. It was very alarming. However the leader calmly continued giving Reiki and so we followed suit. It was a horrifying experience. At the end of the hour we were very upset and sat down to share our experiences and map the future course of treatment.

On the next day the child was reluctant to take the treatment and his parents were also a little apprehensive about the violent reaction of the child. After some pep talk from Ms.S the treatment began. The pattern of response to Reiki continued to be the same for the next one week, but the intensity of reaction was lesser with each passing day. At the end of the week we were able to see the visible impact as the patient was more responsive and went to sleep on the coach. After the hour had passed and he had been gently woken up, the boy informed us that he felt very nice. He said thank you very sweetly and promised to come back the next day.

Master K has completed his one month of group Reiki treatment peacefully. He has vastly improved in health and is not very violent today. However, he does lose his temper once in a way and is not very emotionally stable yet. His parents have decided to learn Reiki themselves and also initiate Master K into Reiki. Meanwhile he continues to have Reiki with Ms.S on a one to one basis. He is also having Bach flower remedies as a supplement to the Reiki that he is receiving.

Violent reactions to Reiki are very common when blocks are severe and the energy literally blasts the blocks as it happened the case of Master K. In chronic cases, the number of sessions required would be large. Decisions on whether to resort to group or one to one Reiki will be dependent on the severity of each case. In every case, Reiki knows just what to do. The practitioner actually has very little to do apart from being a good channel through which the energy can flow and move his hand positions when he is given the indication by the Hibiki (the up-down in the tingling sensation in the palm).

Children are extremely sensitive to atmosphere and can frequently amaze you by their accurate reading of the energies that eddy around them. One would often find a child becoming restless and fearful when someone in the room is agitated or angry.

Children do not hesitate to call some one “bad” when they sense the negative energy in them. They react positively to those who love them and turn away from those who do not like children or are uneasy with them.

When they enter a Reiki clinic, they immediately sense the positive loving energy that is prevalent there and react favorably to it. They relax and are willing to explore with you this feeling of peacefulness that is generated.

However, children are the most difficult patients in a Reiki clinic. Their attention span is limited and they do not like the process of Reiki as it is passive. They feel that nothing exciting is happening and they are not being ‘zapped’ magically into becoming well. After a few minutes children become restless and refuse to lie passively while Reiki treatment is being given. If they insist on sitting up, the practitioner should allow them to do so and permit them to talk while you continue giving them treatment.

Giving Reiki treatment to a child has a very different feel from giving Reiki to an adult. The energy body of a healthy child is more attuned to the physical body and one can feel the energy going through the entire body in one sweep. Children who are ill or mentally retarded feel more comfortable if Reiki is given by their own parents. So often Reiki practitioners encourage parents to learn Reiki and administer it to their children themselves.

If you are serious about learning Reiki, check out www.discover-reiki.com

Case Study

R was a ten month old baby diagnosed with Kidney failure. Her left kidney was completely impaired while her right kidney was partially functional. There was a block in the Urethra and it was to be removed. The distressed parents were induced to approach a Reiki clinic for help during the pre and post operative periods by the Doctor treating the child. The date for the surgery was fixed for third week of the month and the child was being monitored for various parameters at the children’s hospital on a daily basis.

Meanwhile the Reiki master called together a group of Reiki practitioners and requested them to give group Reiki to the ailing child. It was agreed that some of them would visit the hospital to give Reiki treatment directly. One on One and Distance group Reiki sessions were started and arrangements were made for all the members of the group to call each other before the session was started.

Over a period of a week the child’s condition stabilized and the urine out put increased slightly. The baby was more cheerful and did not cry as much. The parents too were asked to be present at these sessions and they would sit with some of the members of the group (who visited the hospital) and pray to God. The Reiki practitioners who visited the hospital gave direct Reiki on the area to be operated on.

Closer to the date of operation, all the clinical tests were repeated and it was found that the right kidney had begun to function normally, while the left kidney had become partially functional. The Doctor now felt that if he could remove the block in the Urethra, the child would be normal again. The operation was duly done and the blocked portion of the Urethra was bypassed. Medication was prescribed for a few years with repeated checkups at regular intervals.

The group continued with the Reiki for almost two weeks after that. However, the wound of the surgery healed almost immediately without a scar and the child was on her feet in that time.

Meanwhile the parents received Reiki attunement and began to treat the child themselves. At the end of two months when they went for a checkup, the Doctor found that the function of both the kidneys had become normal and the child was healthy.

Today R is a little girl of twelve years. She is very bright and energetic and a champion swimmer. Though her parents worry about her when she falls ill, they are very sensible and do not let their worry show. They continue with Reiki for her and once in a while ask for group sessions. The Doctors have discontinued all medicines and have certified that she is a fit and healthy child.

R has been initiated into Reiki and is convinced that she is the one who ‘zaps’ into health her parents whenever they fall ill. It is easier to treat very young children and the older ones with hands on Reiki. For the middle group who resist the need to be still, it is better to give them Reiki when they are sleeping. Hand positions cannot be adhered to but Reiki will pass through blankets and clothes and reach the chakras on its own.

Reiki energy when given in a group is enhanced manifold. It is very helpful in preparing people for surgery and for recovering from it. However, Reiki should not be given during the duration of the operation as it could interfere with the anesthesia and cause complications.