Branches or Schools of Reiki Page 1
Following is information we are permited to post about each system.
LINEAGE: Usui - Hayashi - Takata....
Here are the Master Level students taught by Mrs. Takata: Paul Mitchell, Beth Gray, Ursula Baylow, Barbara McCullough, George Araki, Iris Ishikuro, Fran Brown, Barbara Weber-Ray, Ethel Lombardi, Wanja Twan, Virginia Samdahl, Phyllis Lei Furumoto, Dorothy Baba, Mary McFadyen, John Gray, Barbara Brown, Shinobu Saito, Harry Kuboi, Patricia Bowling Ewing, Bethel Phaigh, Rick Brockner, and Kay Yamashita.
ORIGIN: It is said that Usui Shiki Ryoho holds true to what was taught by Takata. Most Reiki Alliance Masters teach Traditional Reiki and some independants follow this tradition.
DEGREES or Levels: 3 degrees are taught. Traditional Reiki is usually taught orally with little or no notes given. First Degree: 4 attunements; teaches the history, percepts, a series of hand positions and disease cause/effect and treatment. Second Degree: one or two attunements; teaches 3 symbols (names, meanings and how to use them), a distance/absentee healing technique and a mental/emotional balancing technique. Mastership Degree: 1 attunement; teaches 1 additional symbol (name, meaning and how to use), how to do first, second and master initiations, a breath empowerment technique and other things.
See The Reiki Alliance or to contact teachers of this branch of Reiki or visit their website The Reiki Alliance. There are numerous Independent Reiki Masters who teach this tradition.
LINEAGE: Usui - Hayashi - Takata - Ishikuro - Robertson....
ORIGIN: It is believed that Iris Ishikuro added much of what is taught in Raku Kei. It is known that Iris was a Johrei Fellowship Practitioner, as well as a Takata-trained Usui Reiki Master. Raku Kei is also sometimes referred to as "The way of the Fire Dragon". Raku is the vertical flow of energy and Kei is the horizontal flow of energy in the body.
DEGREES or Levels: 4 degrees. First and Second Degree: taught as one class; 2 attunements; teaches a different history about a man named Rolf Jensen who took reiki from Dr. Usui, percepts, hand positions, disease and treatment with reiki, uses Master Frequency plates (with Antahkarana symbol inside) to switch the polarity of the body to left giving/right receiving (Robertson claims Takata and Ishikuro had and used these plates), 3 traditional symbols are taught, plus 1 additional symbol, a distance healing technique and 3 Kanji hand positions (Mudras). Third Degree is called Reiki Sensei: 1 attunement; requires that the student buy 1 Master Frequency plate; teaches deer exercises, attunements to all 3 levels of Reiki, plus a white light initiation, a breathing technique called "Breath of the Fire Dragon", 2 additional symbols, the water ceremony, use of herbs and minerals, Reiki Master Spinal Therapy. Master/Teacher Degree is a called a Certified Reiki Sensei: It is required that the student have 3 large Master Frequency Plates before taking class. This Degree is for those students who want to be Center Certified it is basically a review of the Third Degree. Every student must show proficiency in the Reiki attunement procedures, know all the symbols and must be dedicated to healing the planet. The Class requires a contractual agreement with the American Reiki Master Association. If you have received the symbol for white light (also called the Johrei symbol) its' origin is in the Religion Johrei. This is the symbol for their GOD, followers of the religion enlarge it an put it on the wall over their alter. Look at it closely and you will notice that the upper half is the same as the Usui Master symbol. The original version of this symbol is hand written in Japanese Kanji in a stylized script, the other version (called the Johre symbol) is printed in Diane Stein's "Essential Reiki" is a stylized version and is not taught in Raku Kei Reiki; neither are Reiki symbols.
See American Reiki Master Association to contact teachers of this branch of Reiki. Or visit their website: http://www.atlantic.net/~arma/. There are also numerous Independent Reiki Masters who teach this tradition.
LINEAGE: Usui - Hayashi - Takata - Ishikuro - Robertson - Rick & Emma Ferguson - Margarette L. Shelton - Kathleen Ann Milner...
ORIGIN: Kathleen took the original Raku Kei Reiki system that she learned, changed the attunement process, left out some information, and added several symbols. Originally she taught this system as just plain Reiki which caused much confusion between Reiki practitioners. Now she teaches Tera-Mai® Seichem Reiki and Tera-Mai® which includes energy activations of Sakara, Angeliclight and Sophi-el. Kathleen says that reiki is very Earthy. Tera-Mai® Seichem is a combination of some Raku Kei, some Seichim, some from no other reiki system and a lot of her own understandings. Her attunements are very different from Traditional Usui. She claims that a great being gave her the information to change the attunements and 3 new/old symbols. What we have found is that the energy of Tera-Mai® is indeed very earthy, mainly because of the symbols/attunement method she added. However, with the combination of Sakura, Angeliclight, and Sophi-el the energy is much higher and takes on a golden quality. We feel that Traditional Usui is a much more subtle vibration (a higher frequency) than Tera Mai®.
DEGREES or Levels: 3 degrees. First Degree: 1 initiation; teaches the history, percepts, hand positions. Second Degree: 1 initiation; teaches the 3 traditional symbols, 2 symbols from the great being and other symbols (names, meaning and usage), distance/absentee healing. Mastership: 1 initiation, a water ceremony, and a YOD initiation; teaches 1 traditional, 1 YOD and 1 symbol from the great being which are initiatory symbols, 2 sealing symbols, and other symbols, her attunement method to First, Second and Master Degrees, a gold, blue and rainbow "Breath of the Fire Dragon" technique, the water ceremony and another initiation called the YOD initiation which is said to connect one with the energies of the Arc of the Covenant. Other symbols are given to Masters that have been channeled by her students.
There are numerous Independent Reiki Masters who teach this tradition. Here is Kathleen's webpage: Kathleen Ann Milner.
LINEAGE: Usui - Hayashi - Takata - Furumoto - Carrell Ann Farmer - Leah Smith - William Rand. William has also taken Reiki from Diane McCumber (Raku Kei lineage), Marlene Schilke, Beth Gray, Harry Kuboi, Bethel Phaigh and Phyllis Furumoto.
ORIGIN: Rand teaches what he calls Usui/Tibetan Reiki which is a combination of Traditional, Raku Kei and his own understandings.
DEGREES and Levels: 4 degrees: First and Second Degree: taught together in one class: 2 attunements; teaches the history, percepts, hand positions, 3 traditional symbols (names, meanings and use), and a distance healing technique. Advanced Reiki Training (ART): 1 attunement: teaches 1 additional traditional symbol (meaning and usage), a different possible history of Reiki, Reiki Meditation, The Reiki Grid, Attunement exercise,and Psychic Surgery. Master/Teacher Degree: 1 attunement: teaches about the healing crisis, Reiki III Meditation (using microcosmic orbit), 2 Tibetan initiatory symbols, attunement exercise, attunement methods (Raku Kei like) to First, Second, ART and Master/Teacher plus a Healing Attunement, Distance and self attunement; Violet Breath Technique, gives 4 variations of the Antahkarana symbol with description and usage. CEU's are available for nurses through the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) and for massage therapists, body workers and athletic trainers through The National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).
See The International Center for Reiki Training to contact teachers of this branch of Reiki. Or visit their website: http://www.reiki.org. There are also numerous Independent Reiki Masters who teach this tradition.
LINEAGE: Rand...
ORIGIN: Here is a description of Karuna Reiki® by the founder, William Lee Rand: "I did not originally intend to create a new system of Reiki, but starting about 1989, I began being given non-Usui Reiki symbols which were claimed to have benefit. I filed these symbols away along with the attunement processes that were included with some of them and also begin experimenting with some of them. After a number of years, I had quite a collection and many of my students began asking me about these "additional symbols" and wanting to know if they should use them. In the winter of 1993, I gathered together a number of my best students many of whom were spiritually sensitive, to experiment with the additional symbols, try them out and decide which were the most useful. We asked for guidance and through this process came up with a set of symbols that seemed to have the best energy. We also experimented with an attunement process to go with them. Later I was guided in the further development of the attunement process and this eventually evolved into a new system of Reiki. Throughout the process, I prayed for help from the Higher Power and asked that I be connected to a healing energy that would be of greater benefit. I did not channel any of these symbols myself. They came from other Reiki masters. One of these masters was Marcy Miller. In 1995, I was guided to more clearly define the system and to name it Karuna Reiki® which can be defined as the Reiki of Compassion... While some of the symbols in Karuna Reiki® are the same as those used by other schools and systems, because the attunements are different and the intention is different, the energies that are connected to Karuna Reiki® are unique to the system."
DEGREES or Levels: 2 levels: Both levels are taught only to Reiki Masters in one, 3 day class by the Center. 2 attunements, one for each level, 9 symbols (non-Usui), plus 1 traditional and 2 Tibetan symbols (names, meanings, usage) are given, Violet Breath, chanting, and meditation are included. It can also be taught as a practitioner training for those who do not want to teach.
See The International Center for Reiki Training to contact teachers of this branch of Reiki. Or visit their website: http://www.reiki.org. There are also numerous Independent Reiki Masters who teach this tradition.
LINEAGE: Usui - Hayashi - Takata - Dr. Barbara Ray - Patrick Ziegler....
ORIGIN: Originally Patrick Ziegler was guided to add additional symbols and to change the name from Reiki to Seichim. Some people say that Seichim has its'origins in Egypt and perhaps after adding to the original system it could be said that some of the information contained within Seichim came from Egypt. However the original roots of this system were in Japan with Dr. Usui. We have found 4 distinct versions of Seichim Reiki. The first one is very close to the Traditional Usui Reiki (it is the original version with lineage back to Patrick)with the addition of facets (or levels or degrees) 4 and 5. First Facet (Degree) is taught like traditional Usui Reiki: 4 attunements. Second Facet (Degree) has 2 attunements; teaches 3 traditional symbols and several variations on the power symbol, distance healing and mental/emotional balancing. Master Facet (Degree): 1 attunement; 1 symbol, teaches how to attune to 3 levels. Fourth Facet (Degree) 1 attunement; additional symbols, attunements for animals and inanimate objects. Fifth Facet (Degree) 1 attunement; additional symbols, personal empowerment attunement. The second one has a strong Egyptian feel (the lineage on this one is Patrick - Phoenix Summerfield - Marsha Burack...) it has 2 facets with 11 steps to each facet, and 4 levels. Each facet has initiations and contains references to Sekhmet. You start as a Reiki II, the First Level is called Seichem Adept; 2 initiations; Second Level is called Seichem Master/Teacher; 1 initiation, teaches 9 symbols, how to do the initiations and other information. The third one is Tibetan in feel (the lineage is Curtis Hakeem...) and has 7 levels with new symbols and understandings at each level. The first level, 1 initiation, hand positions; Second Level, 1 initiation, 3 symbols (names, meanings and use, and a distance or absentee healing technique; Third Level, 1 initiation, 13 symbols 7 hot, and 6 cold. The symbols are letters and names of the Tibetan alphabet. A treatment is also taught utilizing all 13 symbols it is not hands-on, rather for about 45 minutes the person stands while the Seichim Practitioner dances the symbols into the aura. During the process one feels very much like they are merging with the earth. The fourth one is Seichim as taught by Patrick today. It attunes one to Living Light energy which moves in a figure eight rather than a spiral as in Reiki. The attunement process is done during meditation where the high heart chakra is opened and connected with Earth and Universal energies. The feeling of energy during the attunement is very etherial, with a flavor similar to Reiki/Radiance. It is said that with Seichim one can direct and control the intensity of the energy. We have not noticed a great difference between the energy of Seichim and Reiki, both are gentle loving energies, which help the body to regain balance and reconnects the initiate with Source/Creator/God.
There are numerous Independent Reiki Masters who teach the variations of Seichim.
LINEAGE: One lineage claims: Tschen Li, Ralph White, Craig Ellis...
ORIGIN: This lineage claims that Tschen Li taught Dr. Usui and Ralph White brought Reiki to the US.
DEGREES or Levels: There are at least 3 distinct ways that Tibetan Reiki is taught. The first one is usually taught First, through Mastership in one course: 1 attunement; teaches 4 traditional symbols and 15 non-traditional symbols. The symbols in this course are not Tibetan in nature or form and they do not have Tibetan names. Some of them are Egyptian in form and name, some just archetypal symbols. Teaches how to attune to the system, breathing techniques which are essentially yogic breathing, and cabalistic information. The second one teaches 5 levels. Training is said to include: the Tibetan concept of the five elements in relation to initiation, purification and healing; 25 symbols, Meridian Therapy, information on the energetic body including 8 wondrous channels, micro/ macrocosmic orbit, psychic pathways and etheric template expansion; distant healing, psychic surgery, trauma release, self-empowerment, and clearing the emotional body; 1 attunement at each level. The third one is the same teachings given in Usui/Tibetan but called Tibetan Reiki.
There are numerous Independent Reiki Masters who teach the variations of Tibetan Reiki.
LINEAGE: Usui - Hayashi - Takata - Dr. Barbara Ray...
ORIGIN: Originally Dr. Ray taught reiki in 3 degrees; she also claimed that Takata gave her more of the keys to Mastership than any other of her students. In 1980 Dr. Ray and Takata founded The American Reiki Association, Inc. today it is called The Radiance Technique International Association, Inc. (TRTIA). In her 1983 first edition of "The Reiki Factor" there is no mention of the Radiance Technique® or Real Reiki®. Shortly after publication of this book Ray began to claim that Reiki was polluted and changed the name of what she taught to The Radiance Technique®, Authentic Reiki®, Real Reiki®.
DEGREES or Levels: Ray teaches 7 levels. The Radiance Technique® is similar in form to Usui, and Raku Kei. First Degree: 4 attunements; teaches history, percepts/principles, hand positions. Second Degree: 1 attunement: teaches, distance healing technique, and 3 traditional symbols. Ray does not give the sacred names for the symbols in second degree instead she calls them; Cosmic Pattern 1 (power symbol), Cosmic Pattern 4 (mental/emotional symbol) and Cosmic Pattern 22 (distance symbol). Later in higher degrees she gives the sacred Japanese names (mantras) for the symbols. Her symbols are identical to the ones that Rand teaches (as far as we know, all the way up to 7th degree), but she gives several extra symbols that Rand does not. The attunement process is slightly different from others in form, it is similar to attunements taught in one branch of Seichim. A technique to empower the breath is taught which is nothing like the techniques above. From all we know about The Radiance Technique®, Dr. Ray does have/give more symbols then Phyllis (Takata's granddaughter), maybe she got them from research or maybe from Takata. In Radiance, Third Degree can teach: first and second degrees; Fourth Degree can teach: first, second and third; Fifth Degree can teach the addition of fourth; Sixth Degree teaches fifth and Seventh Degree can teach every level. Dr. Ray only teaches the higher degrees now.
See The Radiance Technique Association International, Inc. to contact teachers of this branch of Reiki. Or visit their website: http://www.trtia.org.
LINEAGE: Usui - Hayashi - Takata - Phyllis Furumoto (and Barbara McCullough) - David Jarrell... David trained with Virginia Samdahl and Barbara McCullough.
ORIGIN: Reiki Plus® is a system developed by David Jarrell and he is the founder of the Reiki Plus® Institute. He has taken the Traditional Reiki information and combined it with other information and classes. Those who attend RPI are offered the opportunity to become ministers in his church.
DEGREES or Levels: 4 Reiki Practitioner Degrees, plus Master Level in the 2 Reiki Programs. The institute offers 5 programs including: Reiki Plus® Practitioner's Program, Reiki Plus® Mastership Program for Teachers, PSEBsm Practitioner's Program, PSEBsm Mastership Program, Reiki Plus® Home Study Program, plus electives. The RPI offers 310 hours of formal education. The Practitioner's Certification requires 155 hours of class room training and successful completion of an examination. All current Reiki Plus® Masters have completed the required training and have spent 3 - 9 years practicing, studying and traveling in tutorial study with David. The RPI is paralleled by the Pyramids of Light Church, which is a church of Natural Healing and is Federally recognized as a church of healing through Reiki Plus(s)® and Etheric Body Healing. The training offered by RPI and their Reiki Plus® Masters spans from the core principles of Reiki to counseling approaches, Etheric Body Chakra Healing, Soul Level healing techniques and training about the Ascended Masters and Spiritual Discernment.
See Reiki Plus® Institute to contact teachers of this branch of Reiki. Or visit their website: http://www.reikiplus.com
LINEAGE: This school of Reiki originally came from Raku Kei, it is believed that a man named Jim Davis began using the name Johrei to distinguish it from other branches and more closely associate it with its perceived roots.
ORIGIN: Johrei Reiki is a combination of Raku Kei Reiki and the Religion Johrei. The Johrei Fellowship does not recognize it as part of what they do and they have trademarked the name Johrei so that any unauthorized usage is forbidden. It is believed that several Reiki Masters who were trained in Raku Kei broke off and began teaching the system as Johrei Reiki. This system of Reiki is no longer being taught under the name Johrei Reiki.
DEGREES or Levels: 1 Mastership. The class takes you from first degree through Mastership in a weekend. 3 initiations. A specific sequence of hand positions covering the entire body are covered, as well as the Raku Breath (Breath of the Fire Dragon), 4 symbols (3 are variations on the traditional symbols, 1 said to be the master symbol is very different causing an energy shift from Traditional Usui Reiki) and an attunement method. We have met several Johrei Reiki Masters. They have master level energy with very little knowledge, all they really know how to do is the initiation. They want to teach but don't know what to teach. They don't appear to know the fundamentals of hands-on, the symbols or their meaning very well. We can't say this is true for every Jorei Reiki Master only for the ones that we have met.
Following is a letter from the Johrei Fellowship regarding Johrei and Reiki
Dear Reiki Master/Sensei:
For years we, the Johrei Fellowship, have had Reiki Masters and others with Reiki backgrounds express interest in Johrei. Many of the interested people actually become Johrei channels. However, generally speaking, very few people with Reiki backgrounds remain Johrei members for very long. We now believe that this happens because the goals of Johrei and the goals of Reiki are different.
The following is a general background of Johrei, Johrei Fellowship and a description of the relationship between Johrei and Reiki. Some points will be strongly stated to prevent any misunderstanding.
The International Johrei movement began in Japan by Mokichi Okada (aka Meishu-sama 1882-1955). God revealed to Okada that the creation of a Paradise on Earth, a world of truth, virtue and beauty would soon happen. Through revelations he learned that the cause of the three misfortunes of sickness, poverty and conflict was spiritual, and that the spiritual causes could gradually be eliminated by the channeling of JOHREI®.
So the goal of the International organization he created is the creation of a Paradise on Earth. Johrei is merely a tool to help in its creation. Although we have many miraculous "healings" through Johrei, our goal is not to heal. Becoming a member of the Johrei Fellowship means that person wants to serve (with no remuneration) in the creation a Paradise on Earth by selflessly helping other people. Our goal is not the creation of healers.
Some people may believe that a strong relationship between Johrei and Reiki exists. In spite of parallels, we believe Johrei and Reiki are fundamentally different. The Johrei Community has a set of clearly written Teachings and practices generally follow the written Teachings. Through the years it appears that the Reiki community is constantly changing with different terminology and beliefs, depending on the teacher...
Years back, the Johrei Fellowship legally trademarked the word Johrei." In recent years, several Reiki Masters used the word "Johrei" as part of their Reiki presentation (e.g. "Johrei Reiki") without permission. One can understand our concern, especially when you think about the differences between Johrei and Reiki. It took much energy and money to stop the illegal usage. Although in each case letters are sent on a cordial and friendly basis, the majority of these people have reacted angrily and negatively. It is on the basis of our negative experiences that we ask Reiki Masters to seriously consider the reasons for your interest in Johrei Fellowship. We welcome and offer Johrei to everyone. If your interests are more than receiving Johrei, we encourage you to carefully consider the above. If you have further questions, we welcome you to contact us at the below address, phone number or e-mail address.
Ray Toba,
Johrei® Fellowship
1971 W. 190th, Suite 280
Torrance, CA 90504
Ph. (310) 523-3840
Fax (310) 523-3843
Webpage: http://www.johreifellowship.com/
For more information about Reiki Ryoho or comments on this web page send
Email to: adonea@msn.com
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12-19-07