Reiki for people
It is always advisable to do a little research before employing a Reiki Practitioner / Master. You may wish to contact established Reiki organisations or search online databases for registered Reiki Practitioners / Masters. Although just because someone is registered with a particular organisation does not mean that they are any better (or lesser) than any other (occasionally the ego may be affected).
Personal recommendations should also be taken into account, ask friends if they know of anyone (it is suprising how many people have experienced Reiki but not told anyone!).
The Reiki Practitioner
Reiki Practitioners should have been attuned to Reiki Second Degree (Practitioner) or above. This is to say that they must have practiced Reiki upon themselves sufficiently enough to become more aware of the energy (Ki) and openened themselves up to the flow of energy, within and without. At Second Degree level the perception and senses to the energy have been developed to a point where they are capable of efficiently allowing the transference of the energy through them to the recipient.
The Reiki practitioner may be a Level Three Traditional Master or a Level Four Western Master but there will be very little difference, if any, in the application or result of the Reiki performed. This is due to the fact that it is not the Reiki practitioner that is doing the transfer of energy, they are merely allowing the energy to transfer through them, they are merely acting as a conduit.
The Reiki Recipient
Anyone recieving energy (Ki) from a Reiki practitioner may feel a little 'strange' the first time. It is natural to be a little apprehensive as we are territorial creatures and it is un-natural for us to allow strangers into our personal territory ('space'). Reiki healing and attunements may be done by distance, ie by Distant Reiki. As the energy is a universal energy it is not concerned with time or distance just direction destination. It is generally considered best though for the Reiki practitioner and recipient to meet and for Reiki to be applied directly to the recipient.
Anyone recieving Reiki should not try to relax, but just relax; as long as you are trying you are not relaxing! Just let your mind wonder and think whatever it wants to think. You may have 'visions' or see 'signs' or even 'guiding spirits', 'angels', or 'power animals'. All the time your eyes should be closed. You may feel like you are in a trance, or you may be aware of nothing other than a wonderfully relaxing experience, and a feeling of unconditional love and being cared for.
Some parts of your body may burn hot or cold, tingle, or go numb while the Reiki practitioner applies Reiki to different areas of the body, particularly in the areas around any ailments you may have, this is natural so do not worry, it is the result of energy transference.
After the Reiki treatment you may feel very thirsty, your head may feel 'empty' or 'fuzzy', you may feel a little 'out of it' for a short time, your Reiki practitioner should encourage you to drink water and help you to become 'grounded'.Or you may feel none of these or see no 'visions'. You may or may not feel the immediate effects of the Reiki, but your own energy will have been replenished and the result will take effect soon.
Learning Reiki
Once you have found a genuine Reiki Master contact them to enquire whether they actually teach Reiki as many choose not to. It is for this reason that the Western Reiki forms have introduced the Fourth Degree (Master Teacher). In Traditional Reiki there are three 'levels' or 'Degrees' and the Reiki Third Degree Master may teach at their own discretion, Western Reiki Third and Fourth Degrees are a little misleading in that Traditional Third Degree Reiki, Western Third Degree Reiki, and Western Fourth Degree Reiki are all the same level (Degree), Western Reiki merely distinguishes those who choose to teach as Level Four or Fourth Degree Reiki.
Attunements may only be performed by Reiki Masters (Third and Fourth Degree Reiki Practitioners). The first Reiki Attunement is the Reiki First Degree. This attunement is the rebalancing of energy centres (Chakras) to enable the cleaner flow of energy around and within you. You cannot practice Reiki at all without being attuned.
You will learn Reiki pretty much by yourself and merely guided by the Reiki Master, that is to say that Reiki is cheifly learned through practice. The Reiki Master will teach you the form and use of the Reiki Symbols, the nature of energy and empowerment methods, how to open and close chakras, and help to interpret energy and emotion.
At first you will only be applying your new found Reiki skills to yourself, helping your own body to fight off stress, aches, pains, and minor ailments. This will build up your confidence with the energy. You may think you are getting nowhere, that it isn't working, or that you cannot do it. You are, it is, and you can.
After a while of practicing Reiki on yourself, others, or animals at Reiki First Degree level you may wish to be attuned to Second Degree Reiki.The Reiki Second Degree (Practitioner) attunement balances the Chakras to open them up to accepting and letting go of energy, to allow a smooth transfer of energy through you. This attunement enables you to aid in the transfer of energy from the 'source' to a recipient and effectively perform Reiki treatment more effectively on others. You will also be able to gain Reiki Practitioner Insurance enabling you to set up a Reiki Practice.
The Third (Third and Fouth in Wester Reiki) (Master / Master Teacher) Degree attunement fine tunes the Chakras to allow you to fully open them and allow energy to flow unhindered and without personal resistance. It often takes a great deal of Reiki practice by the Reiki student to be sufficiently open to the energy source for the Reiki Master to perform a Third Degree (Master Level) attunement.
After any Reiki attunement you should receive a signed certificate to verify that you have been attuned to that particular degree.
You can contact A Touch of Reiki with any enquiries regarding Reiki, Reiki training, or Reiki Attunments by Emailing:
Please see our Contact A Touch of Reiki page for alternative contact details.
