Here's my ideas about Reiki at the present. Reiki appears to be a practice of some Catholic Chaplains and seems to offer healing or relief to many patients that it is offered to according to these chaplains. It appears to me that the practitioners of Reiki are not really good at explaining the theory behind Reiki or what is actually happening when they do Reiki. Some say they are channels for or are tapping a universal life force or energy; some think this life force is really the Holy Spirit, so they therefore are doing Christian prayer. Others speak as though this energy is an undiscovered or unknown natural force that they control or direct or allow to be directed. Some speak of the Reiki as an energy flowing from themselves but seemingly coming down through their heads. Much confusion exists about what is actually happening.

The practitioners of Reiki also have much misinformation about the origins of Reiki and how it developed and also how it relates to Christian and specifically Catholic teachings and theology. Some think it is thousands of years old, some think it was developed or rediscovered by Usui , a Japanese professor who was also a Christian and maybe even a Catholic priest in the 1920's who studied Buddhism and Hindu thought. (He wasn't a priest or a Christian and wasn't teaching at a university).



My personal view is that many Catholic/Christian Reiki practitioners have a gift of healing, both a grace of the Holy Spirit and also a natural healing personality and approach which accounts for the healing they do. In this sense, Reiki is besides the fact although it offers a stepping stone to offering healing prayer, especially to those with negative views towards organized Catholic/ Christian religions. Reiki also seems to have been an impetus or staging point for their healing ministries.



I think Reiki has been more or less promoted by someone in the NACC by their having been published two positive and non- critical articles about Reiki in the Vision. This promotion has not been balanced by a critical view of Reiki. Also, the mandate that Catholic chaplains ought to be familiar with alternative and complimentary medicines has somehow been turned into a valid reason to actually practice these medicines by some chaplains. I think that Certified Catholic Chaplains who practice Reiki owe it to the rest of the Certified chaplains and also they owe it to themselves too to learn more about what they are doing and what it is all about and what it's origins are and how it relates to Catholic theology and teachings.



Whether professional chaplains ought to offer any complimentary medicines is another question that needs to be looked at especially in the case of Reiki. Who certifies, verifies, and attests to the validity of what is practiced? Who is liable and who insures when something doesn't work out? How does offering Reiki reflect upon other professional chaplains and how chaplains are viewed by other professionals? The Reiki practitioners tell of much positive feedback and even encouragement they receive from other professionals. Are they aware of other points of view, of criticisms, of negative views?



How can all these questions and concerns about Reiki being practiced by certified chaplains be sorted out? What approach would be both fair and understanding and also truthful? As Edith Stein (St. Teresia Benedicta of the Cross- her feast day is today - 08/09/07) said,

"Those who are seeking truth are seeking God whether they know it or not."

So, the question is: Are we willing to seek Truth and so seek God?