Reiki - History, Disciplines, and Attunements

Reiki is made up of two parts -- the Rei and the ki. The first part means "spirit" and the ki is the same as chi or "energy". Reiki is also known as universal life energy. Reiki is a method of healing and a way of life. The spiritual growth aspect of Reiki is at least as important as the laying-on of hands aspect. Reiki as in the laying-on of hands energy can be felt where the healer's hands are or somewhere else. For example, the healer's hands could be at the head and the healee may feel it at their feet. Reiki can be felt in many different manifestations. It can be felt as hot or cold, wave-like, tingling or vibration-like, electrical, or not felt at all.

Reiki as we know it has been founded by Mikao Usui, respectfully called Usui Sensei or Dr Usui. He lived in Japan, from 1865 to 1926. Stories abound about Usui. It is said that he was the dean of a theosophical university in Japan, a Buddhist, a Christian, a Monk, and many other descriptions. What everyone does seem to agree on is that Usui learned from ancient texts and then meditated on top of a mountain for 21 days, where he somehow received the gift of healing. Some say this was due to getting struck by lightening on the 21st day.

Usui founded a Reiki clinic in Japan and passed on the Reiki to others, by means of empowerments (a way of passing the gift), and teaching. One of those whom Usui taught was Chujiro Hayashi. In the early 1930's, Hawayo Takata, from Hawaii, traveled to Japan and was cured of a tumor and other ailments at the Reiki clinic. Naturally, upon discovering such a method, one would want to go out and heal the world! Chujiro Hayashi trained her, and she is the source of much of the Reiki practised in the West today. There are about 142 different disciplines of Reiki. And more than 142 different egos! However, all Reiki is Reiki. Only one discipline of Reiki is needed for a healer to flourish with it. After the attunement process, the healer grows and develops their gift by practising Reiki both as a healing and as a way of life.

Attunements can only be performed by a Reiki Master or Reiki Master-Teacher. The attunement process is a way of passing on the empowerments in a quick burst of energy. An attunement is also called an initiation. The Reiki attunements are what differentiates Reiki from other forms of energy or hands-on healing. An attunement tunes the student to the Reiki channel, kind of like a radio being tuned to a particular channel. They will then be able to channel Reiki for life. Even if a person attuned to Reiki leaves the actual practice of Reiki, they never lose the ability to get back in touch with Reiki, and they can re-connect with it again when they wish. Each level of Reiki study has its relevant attunements. There are usually three levels, although this differs from one discipline to another.

If you are thinking of taking a Reiki course or workshop, it is advisable that you do so in-person and that you choose a Reiki Master that you feel comfortable with. Find out if they give after-care support and Reiki shares, where you can practise, grow, and develop. You may wish to have a treatment first too, to make sure that the Reiki Master is right for you, as well as to experience how Reiki feels. Enjoy your learning and healing journey!

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How Many Attunements Should a Level 1 Reiki Course Have?

There is a lot of debate over what is the correct number of attunements for a level 1 Reiki course.

The traditional number is four; but many courses only have one, and some two.

Is this a problem?

Will your Reiki fade or not work if you receive less than four attunements?

The question is a good one and many books will answer in the affirmative - even giving you seemingly compelling reasons why this is so.

A little firsthand experience, however, will enlighten you to the truth: one attunement is all that is needed - and the rest simply help boost and clear a student's connection to energy.

Unfortunately, a lot of what teachers teach - and a lot of what appears in books! - is simply handed-down knowledge that has not been personally validated. Not surprisingly, much of it is unreliable.

As a result, you need to question everything you read and then determine whether it works for you logically, intuitively and - hopefully - in practice.

The last criterion is of course the most important; but if all three 'boxes' are ticked then you should be confident your conclusions are correct.

From a personal perspective, I followed traditional theory for a couple of years (giving four attunements). Having studied three traditions to Master Level, however (one of which only had one attunement), I was nevertheless open to other possibilities and eventually experimented with two longer attunements.

This worked better for me, because it allowed me to really take my time. (Unfortunately, teachers often rush through attunements - something that weakens their overall effectiveness.)

Remember that more is not necessarily better, since we are generally only capable of absorbing so much energy during a course. That is why attunements work best when spaced out on separate days. This gives the body time to 'expand' its energy circuits (meridians). As a result, it is able to absorb more energy next time around.

If, on the other hand, you attempt something like four attunements in one day (I did that once with a friend!) then you find that by the third or fourth one the student's energy system is saturated and struggles to receive the Reiki fully.

Conclusion

So long as the attunement is done properly, you only need to have one of them. More than one is often worthwhile; but how many you attempt will depend on factors such as the length of the course, the size of the class and which elements you prefer to focus on.

So let's not be dogmatic about numbers. The only thing that matters is the result.

And who knows? One day we might find that we can even do without the attunements altogether!

Didn't that work for a guy named Usui?

Jeremy O'Carroll is the founder of the Om Reiki Centre in Victoria, Australia and the author of many Reiki articles. He is a Reiki Master in both Western and traditional Japanese lineages, a Karuna and Shamballa Reiki Master, and a registered Master Teacher at the ARC (Australia's largest Reiki Association). For further information, visit: http://www.om-reiki.com.au/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_O'Carroll

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