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Do Distant Attunements Work? Reiki Networking Sacred/Secret Symbols A message to the Reiki community. A Deeper Understanding of Attunements in Reiki What is the Future of Reiki? |
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Do Distant Attunements Work? Published in the August 2000 issue of "The Messenger"
There are increasing numbers of Reiki teachers offering online or over-the-phone classes and/or attunements. Some practitioners claim they have felt nothing; others felt a strong sensation. So what is the truth about distant attunements. Can students really be attuned over a distance? And under what circumstances should a student seek online training/attunements as opposed to in-person training?
When asked these questions, we have always said that if distance treatments can be sent to anywhere in the world, then why can't attunements also be sent through the ethers. We have given many online classes via the internet, and attuned many students to the energy flow of Reiki, and to our knowledge, the attunements have always 'taken'. But we have also found some students who did not feel anything during their distant attunements, and certainly most have not received sufficient teaching so they feel comfortable giving treatments to others... either in-person or at a distance. Is there some way to insure that a student receives good training and a strong attunement? Yes, but it does require some research into a Reiki teachers credentials and teachings experience. We feel it is important to seek out a teacher who has been doing Reiki for some time... maybe 5 years or more. And that s/he self-treats daily, and who sees Reiki as being 'a way of life' and not a means to make a living. It is important to ask a potential teacher how many classes they have taught, and how many students they have attuned throughout their tenure. But most of all, ask the teacher to give you a treatment or partial attunement so you can ascertain their level of energy and competence. If you can feel their energy strongly, then you will likely receive a good attunement. You will want to ask how they received their training, if they offer manuals/notes, and if they are available to their students long after the teaching has been completed and the money exchanged.
This brings up a point that I want to stress... it is our experience generally that the method and manner in which a practitioner has received their training, is most often the way they will teach others. In other words, if a person receives little actual training, insufficient notes or manuals, and little or no communication with their teacher, then they will likely continue with similar modes of teaching others. If a teacher on-the-other-hand, received good training, close personal attention by their teacher, and urged to participate in Reiki gatherings, and possibly even an apprentice relationship co-teaching classes, then it can be assumed that this person will become a good teacher. And if they have given lots of hands-on treatments, as well as distance treatments, taught a lot of in-person classes and personally attuned many practitioners, then their experience and the understanding gained will help them to impress the importance of Reiki to their students.
So I now come back to my original premise... distance attunements. If a teacher has worked Reiki a lot, has integrated the energy into their being, and can be sensed strongly by others when in their presence, these attributes point to a potentially good teacher. If a practitioner cannot take in-person training, and distance is the only way to receive the gift of Reiki, then finding an experienced teacher will most often lead to a successful attunement.
Yes, distant attunements do work, and they can be felt/sensed every bit as strongly as an in-person attunement, as long as the teacher has integrated the energy of Reiki along with the understanding of how Reiki works, and what the attunements do for the person receiving them. And we suggest that a student ask their teacher to receive additional re-attunements often... for each one received opens, purifies and increases the flow of energy through their channels. And one more item to consider, please seek out a teacher who gives good distant instruction, with good supporting notes or manuals. It is important not to find a Reiki 'master' who does an attunement, and tells you to read all of the books on Reiki in order to become educated. Lastly, make sure you will have easy access to your attuning master/teacher long after training.
Parting note... we have actually experienced a distant attunement as being stronger when done in real-time via computers and the internet. Perhaps the electronics are amplified when sent over the wires, but it definitely is reported as being more strongly experienced than a 'non-connected' attunement at some time that is convenient to the teacher's schedule.
Finding a qualified and experienced teacher is the responsibility of each student seeking connection to Reiki, so please ask question. Spend as much time seeking a good Reiki teacher as you would purchasing a good car.
Reiki Networking Published in the September 2000 issue of "The Messenger"
What do we mean when we use the term 'Reiki Networking'? Is this some sort of multi-level marketing? No, you can relax, I am not going to try to sell you anything. except share an idea to help to work a little smarter with Reiki. We often have Reiki friends and practitioners from around the world ask us how they can utilize Reiki more efficiently. They add that they don't often have time to effectively work all of the cases of people who ask for distance healing. There are indeed increasing numbers of people who are experiencing stress and struggle in today's intense times of rapid changes.
The weather patterns have changed and there is a lot of destruction of dreams, along with great loss of lives, land, crops, fortunes, and personal property due to the stresses of nature on the Earth. In a matter of a few short minutes, people that we know and many more that we don't know can be stricken by earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanoes, floods, mudslides, tsunamis, droughts, avalanches, and disasters too many to mention, leaving them homeless, physically injured and destitute. So we, as Reiki practitioners can sit down and send Reiki to the surviving victims, but do we have enough time and energy to work all of the catastrophes that seem to be happening daily? How can we work more efficiently and effectively?
I suggest a banding together of Reiki practitioners in one neighborhood, city, state, or country. The popularity of computer and the reach of the Internet globally, have helped all peoples to realize their close relationships, despite political boundaries and/or distances separating them. What I suggest here is utilizing two of the greatest inventions in modern times to help anyone who is in need of care and assistance. I speak of the telephone and the Internet. When communities were smaller, it was rather easy to go for a walk and tell neighbors what was happening, asking for assistance in facing everyday challenges. But today, there are too many people, on all continents, and we just can't go rushing off to help a 'neighbor' in need, especially with our busy schedules. It is all we can do to often keep even with our own chores and duties, without additional challenges asked of us by our family, friends and acquaintances. So, what to do? Gather your family and friends together who are at least 2nd degree Reiki-attuned. Have them write down their names and phone numbers on a piece of paper. Photocopy the list so everyone in attendance will take home a copy. When someone (not necessarily only those on the list) has a challenge or a need arises, one practitioner calls one or two other practitioners on the list (pre-determined at time of gathering), giving details of the request for Reiki (Name, Age, Location, Condition). Each person called would be responsible for calling one or two others on their list, and in this way, it will only take a few minutes before everyone has been notified of the need, each person sending distance Reiki. The additional practitioners working one case will greatly increase the amount of energy that goes to the person in need, freeing up each person from having to do several distance-healing treatments alone. And this would also allow each Reiki caregiver an opportunity to know what is happening in their neighborhood, and if they have time and resources, they can get involved in other ways as they wish.
The same would go for the Internet friends that use such messaging programs as ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Messenger, Odigo, FireTalk, PalTalk, and other popular chat platforms. There is no limit to the good that a group of Reiki practitioners can do when they have a common goal of bettering conditions for everyone of their extended global-family members. I think that it would be a wonderful show to the medical and other professional groups how together Reiki practitioners can be, as well as how compassionate their hearts can be to those in great need. Further, it would be really wonderful if some people on the list might be able to go out to visit hospitals, nursing facilities and hospice homes when a situation arises and do 'hands-on' treatments on those with a need. And of course the list could be used to summon practitioners to gather for Reiki marathons, lending great service to a person with life-threatening conditions. If Reiki practitioners around the world would band together in this or a similar way, this would be a better planet to live on, and no one would ever feel that they were alone when disaster strikes.
Sacred/Secret Symbols Published in the October 2000 issue of "The Messenger"
I see the Reiki Symbols every where... in books and on websites. I was taught that they were sacred. Are they also secret? What is there origin?
We must remember that Reiki comes from a country/people steeped in traditon and ceremony. When Reiki first came to America, via Mrs. Takata, she did indeed try to project the 'sacredness' of the teachings, as well as the symbols, because that is how she learned from Hayashi Sensei. The symbols are not actually secret; they were chosen by Usui Sensei because their vibrations duplicated specific frequencies (everything is composed of energy vibrations) he could feel within the entire Reiki spectrum.
These were teaching aids so Usui's students could learn to detect some of the sensations that he felt as a result of his enlightment/Satori (heightened awareness). These symbols were public domain, and were written in older forms of calligraphy, and contained deeper, more spiritual definitions/meanings than the newer style of writings popular in Japan today. In my opinion, Usui Sensei probably directed his students to not make public the techniques nor the symbols, so there would be an 'air of mystique' about the system of natural healing that he called Reiki. Afterall, Usui Sensei was a very educated, well-traveled man, versed in many subjects/philosophies from countries outside his own. So the information that he drew upon to form his techniques and teachings was available to anyone who wanted to spend the same time and energy to research them that he had in his lifetime. But what he did offer to the masses was his understanding of energy, healing, spirituality, and his enhanced ability to discern subtle frequencies of energy without the necessity of a lifetime of reading and study. He formed an exclusive, closed society for practitioners who wanted to practice together, exploring this new system of natural healing, in discovering its full potential. Of course, like any closed society, there would be secrecy/mystery that caused 'outsiders' to want to learn the system of Reiki so they could be on the 'inside'. This continues today in the form of receiving teachings that have been passed down from teacher to students for years (lineage), an attunement that can only be performed by a 'certified Reiki Master', and the receiving of 'sacred symbols' that were thought to be received by transmission directly from Creator. Added to that is the 'payment' that completes the 'right' to receive these gifts from those who also 'payed the price'. I love Reiki, and Adonea and I teach the techniques that were taught by Usui himself, and that are still taught in the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Japan. But I want to share with all of the readers of this page, that nothing taught in Reiki is secret... it is only packaged in a way that makes it easy to learn, helps students of the system to focus on and feel/sense subtle frequencies of energy, empowers its students to take more responsibility in their individual processes of life (healing/wholing), and gently leads one's awareness toward the 'Divine'... the ultimate source of life and lifeforce. To this end, Reiki is one of the greatest discoveries of modern times, and the world is increasingly a better place because of the dedication to spirituality sought by Mikao Usui, Reiki Sensei. Isn't that enough reason to continue teaching Reiki as a spiritual discipline that can lead one from being a victim to being a divine 'co-creative agent', creating wholeness, balance and wellness in body/mind/spirit?
A message to the Reiki community. I was directed today to write about our various Reiki forums online and our community in general, following is the message:
We humans can take things so personally, that it clouds our vision and closes our hearts. Or view something as a personal affront, not realizing the actual situation because we are so busy defending ourselves. We attack that which we feel is responsible for our suffering; even saying something in jest can be viewed as an attack by those who are sensitive. Is this a loving or compassionate response? Perhaps before we take a defensive posture in any situation we would do well to ask ourselves 'what would Jesus, Buddha or any realized being say or how would they act in a similar situation'. We as Reiki practitioners.... who call ourselves 'Spiritual', 'Healers' or 'Light Workers' IMHO have a responsibility to the rest of the world to walk our 'loving, lightfilled, healing' talk. Which means not putting another person down (even a little) to make ourselves right, which most of us are guilty of from time to time. It also means, living our talk every moment, not just when we teach or it is convenient. So it becomes crucial that we monitor our words, thoughts, emotions and actions, this is a control or discipline which will lead to 'enlightenment/awareness'. If we cannot respond from a place of balance, loving kindness and compassion... best not respond at all, or not respond until we are in a calm, peaceful space once again.
As a community (all Reiki practitioners and teachers) who are looked upon for spiritual guidance and 'healing' we would do well to be friendly, loving and supportive of one another, even if we disagree. Reiki can certainly help with this, but it will also bring up our own issues, patterns, attachments, expectations, etc. so that we may deal with them. When in the middle of dealing with old stuff, which we all will be from time to time, better that we hide in our cave for awhile, and 'chew' on the rocks rather then each other
What is the Future of Reiki? Published in the March 2001 issue of "The Messenger"
To say that a lot is changing within the Reiki community is an understatement! To try and ascertain what result these changes will have on Reiki is anyone's guess. We will give our intuitive/logical impressions of what we see on the horizon for Reiki.
There seems to be two 'camps of thought' on what Reiki is... the first see it as a healing technique, and the second see it as a spiritual discipline. I think that it is important to actually look at both premises, so we can better project the direction that Reiki might take in the coming times.
To the idea that Reiki can be healing for those who receive it, I say that this first needs solid research. Is Reiki permanently healing a condition, or temporarily masking the condition(s) of an imbalance/disease, giving a patient a sense of well-being... a placebo effect of sorts? Time, good record keeping by practitioners, and viable medical research might be able to determine whether Reiki is a demonstrable and effective technique that can be of benefit to people with otherwise incurable diseases. This would indeed be exciting, for there would be an acceptable category of alternative therapy practitioner recognized and utilized by modern medical professionals. Practitioners of Reiki need to keep good records of their clients... analogous to the patient records kept by a doctor. We need to become involved politically with our country and/or state lawmaking processes, teaching political policy-makers about Reiki, and what it can do for the health of the people and hence the positive growth of the political machine. This will also ensure that Reiki practitioners will be reimbursed for their education, experience and treatments given, instead of being on a purely voluntary basis.
To the thought that Reiki is a spiritual discipline for accumulating higher vibrational energies into the body, I do think that this view needs to be taught also. Usui, the founder of the Reiki system, said that Reiki was the highest level of energy, next to God/Creator, that could be accessed by humans. This means that when Reiki is received through self-treatment, or by treatment from a practitioner, the recipient brings more of his/her Soul/Spirit/God-Self into the physical body. This would have the effect of being more in touch with the Truth of Who We Are (Spirit having a physical experience) and that we would be more closely in tune with Creator's Divine Purpose as we experience our daily lives. This would have the effect of reducing our mind-conceived thought of being stressed over not knowing 'who we are and why we are here'. And this would mean that we would release our false ego-sense of power and control over others... so life would be more joyful. This would lead to better quality of health for each human being, and fewer thoughts of worldly attachments - accumulation of riches and material objects, fear of judgement, illness and death, and a myriad of mind projected ideas. We would be more at-one-ment with Creator and every lifeform on Earth as a Divine Expression of the One. We would therefore be in joy during our brief physical experience, looking forward to other dimensional experiences of Who We Are as aspects of the Creator, living on other planes of consciousness. We would be healthy because we would be living in tune with Creator... in the flow of abundance, support, and unconditional love poured on us from above and through other expressions of Creator in all forms of matter. This is the "heaven on Earth"... the 'Garden of Eden' that we seek deep within our cellular memory. We will find it when we bring more of Who We Really Are into our physical vehicles. And Reiki can be the catalyst for this awareness and shift in consciousness.
What of the 'extra branches/lineages' of Reiki that are being created, channeled, and otherwise changed from the original teachings of Usui? It is true that Usui sensei only taught one kind of Reiki to his students. Then, are the more contemporary lineages wrong, or without useful information? Absolutely not! My thought on this is that for the human mind to understand something, the mind seems to have a need to de-construct a concept to its smallest common denominator, examining every minute detail until the mind can grasp the fullness of that concept. So with Reiki... and when practitioners have researched various foundations/religions/philosophies for similar techniques, these often added by a teacher as a refined assist for personal understanding as well as helping their students grasp information more succinctly. So are the contemporary lineages refined to assist students to possibly understand what Usui knew as a result of his 'satori/enlightenment' that he received after years of disciplined, spiritual practice. Are these later teachings true representations of the teachings as Usui gave. Probably not, but then wisdom speaks of information that is received and given through the brain, as being only a perception of Truth... and everyone's perception is different. This can only help each person who thinks they need deeper understanding to jump feet first into the 'pool' of information, to practice the techniques, the theories, and to come to the level of knowing that will make it possible to pass on orally to others. To that end, everything that is called Reiki can be of benefit to those who delve deeper into the study and practice of Reiki.
So, will Reiki continue to exist as Usui taught it? Will any of the Reiki information continue to be around in the future of humanity? I say "yes"... it will continue to remain accessible to those who want or need its teachings. It has been given to humanity in other epochs of time, and it will surely be given by Creator again whenever humanity moves away from it's spiritual connection, and experiences imbalance and chaos.
A Deeper Understanding of Attunements in Reiki Published in the May 2001 issue of "The Messenger"
We have studied many branches of Reiki and every single branch, no let me say it seems every Reiki Master has his/her own style of attunement.
Do they all work? Well, yes, they all connect one with energy to varying degrees and frequencies.
Is it intent alone? No, not in our experience. If it were intent alone we would have been attuned to the fullness and purity of Usui Sensei's original Reiki from the very beginning... there would be no variations in energy frequency, quality or quantity. Our original Reiki teacher's intent was to connect to Usui's original full energy. I (Adonea) have to say now that I have been attuned to Usui Reiki Ryoho via Reiju and attunement, my Reiki is very different... fuller, hotter, more penetrating. So what is the difference? I believe that you get the energy connection through the lineage as well as from the teacher - all filtering through the mind and beliefs of each individual in the lineage itself.
Wouldn't it be interesting to have been attuned by Usui Sensei himself? What fun that would have been!!!
As to the number of attunements done - it varies; in first level we know traditionally that there are 4 attunement done. Are they all the same? Well that depends on what branch/school and who does the attunements. They are all the same in some systems; in some, no symbols are used, in others - symbols are added from the first through fourth attunement. In some, the 2nd and 3rd attunements are the same and others all 4 are slightly different; some schools only use 1 attunement for first level. Why is this? In my opinion, teachers have changed... added different intents and modified the ritual to fit what they feel is real/whole all of which change the quality of energy transmitted. A good example of this is Karuna Reiki and Tera Mai (both use attunements to connect to the energy, both use the same symbols generally, but the energy of each is quite different. Why? Perhaps because the understanding of the teachers of each system is very different; thus this understanding is transmitted with the attunement itself. Even in Japan, the attunements vary from teacher to teacher. However, I have noticed that they all have a very similar underlying form (with the exclusion of Doi-san's Reiju and integration attunements). This is not the case in the West; even the form varies from branch-to-branch. I personally don't feel that the dance (ritual) itself is as important as the Master's ability to tap into, feel, hold, and transmit the fullness of the energy itself. If they cannot do this or have never felt the fullness of Reiho, they have no point of reference and can only pass on the quality and quantity of energy at their personal level of ability. It is important to recognize that the fullness of Reiki can also be transmitted to a student without a physical dance (ritual) of any kind; so the attunement is also a tool which can be dropped in time -when the teacher has attained the ability to recognize, tap into and transmit the fullness of Reiki by will... not an easy feat to do well.
So what does each attunement do in First level? Does each one work on a different level, like physical, mental, emotional and spiritual? Or does one open the student, and another permanently seal in the Reiki energy? In my experience, I (after doing thousands of attunements) cannot say specifically what happens with each attunement; it seems more dependent on the individual receiving it. We were taught that each attunement had a specific function from our first teacher, but I will not say this understanding is correct or complete. In my experience, more attunements are better than less attunements. Perhaps one attunement is all that is needed to connect a person to Reiki, but I have found the more attunements or Reiju given, the more refined the person becomes energetically. Each attunement removes more dross and allows the person to hold/give more Reiki energy. So why would anyone want only one? Just like the Reiki saying, "the more Reiki (hands-on) you do the more that flows through you", the same is true with attunements - they are both tools of transmission with different levels of understanding and goals.
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