HappyLittleFox |
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Tarot |
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Reiki |
Reiki: Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: How does Reiki work? A: To be honest, you will not hear any one
simple answer to this question! The scientific theory around how any energy-based
healing works has yet to be proven – though we are getting closer to an
explanation all the time. However, the
majority of practitioners believe that energy is all around us – in the food
we eat, the air we breathe – we are made of energy. In order for us to exist in optimum health,
the energy within us must be able to flow freely, unhindered. Many meditation
techniques, oriental sports and therapies focus on exercises or actions that
serve to release blockages to our energy, encouraging it flow
efficiently. It is believed that energy
blockages can be caused by emotional and physical injuries or ailments,
amongst other things. Like acupuncture or reflexology, a Reiki treatment helps
to free those blockages allowing energy to move through the body freely and
cleanly. The body can then heal and recover itself. This process occurs when the Reiki
practitioner allows him/herself to introduce a new clean,
and clear energy to the body - Reiki. The Practitioner directs Reiki to the
client via their hands, eyes or breath – or purely with the power of their
intention (as occurs during distance healing). This new energy seeks to clear through the
blockages, repairing any damage that has occurred, and brings the body back
into harmony. Q: What conditions is it
useful for? A: It is primarily useful to relieve stress or
stress-related conditions including fatigue and emotional conditions. However,
it is also a useful treatment for pain management – both for new and old
injuries. And has also been reported
to reduce recovery time after accident or illness. Reiki is also great when
used for a general pick-me-up/relaxation treatment – as an alternative to (or
to complement) a regular massage. Because it is gentle and non-invasive,
Reiki is also suitable for treating children and animals. Please note
however, that Reiki is not a medical procedure. I am not a trained medical
Doctor, Therapist or Counsellor. Reiki
should be viewed as a complementary procedure only and should be carried out
in conjunction with any conventional treatments/medications you are
taking. If in doubt, please consult
with your Doctor first. Q: Is Reiki affiliated to a particular religion or belief system? A: No. Although the roots of Reiki are found in
Japanese Buddhism and you may come across Practitioners/Teachers who continue
to teach it in that style, Reiki is not now affiliated to any particular
belief system. You do not have to believe in any particular religion to send
or receive Reiki – it doesn’t discriminate.
It is worth noting here however, that Dr Usui (the “founder” of the
system) initially thought of Reiki as an enlightened Spiritual Path. The emphasis was on personal healing and
spiritual development rather than on providing healing for others. However, the way Reiki has developed in
both the West and in some forms in Q: What happens during a treatment? A: During a Reiki session the practitioner
will first have a chat with you to understand why you have come for
treatment. They will make notes during
this time in order to remember your details, note down the history of the
condition and also to help them review progress over the coming weeks. They
will then ask you to get on the treatment couch or sit in a chair depending
on your/their preference. Personally, I only use a chair if the client is in
pain and cannot lie down for long periods. You will be asked to remove your
shoes (if you haven’t already) but you
will remain fully clothed throughout the session. Some Practitioners will ask you to remain
on your back throughout the treatment whilst others will ask you to turn over
midway. The Practitioner will then
start to channel the energy and may spend some time just sitting or standing
with their hands on your shoulders.
Methods of working differ from person to person – but some things are
consistent – you should remain clothed and the touch of the practitioner
should be light and non-invasive – some may not even touch you at all but
hover their hands over your body – though to do this for a whole treatment is
uncommon. I also play soothing music during a treatment to help create a
relaxing atmosphere and will light a scented candle or incense depending on
your preference. Q: What will I feel during and after a treatment? A: Everyone has a different response to Reiki
during the treatment. A few feel
nothing at all – but see improvement in their condition over time. Some fall
asleep! Most have a feeling of heat,
cold or tingling where the practitioner is laying their hands. Some have a feeling of weight in the
vicinity of the hands – even if the hands are just laying lightly or not even
touching. Still others may feel
sensations likened to additional hands on them besides the Practitioner. This sensation can be attributed either to
the energy spreading around you and finding its own places to treat; or, by
some Practitioners, to the touch of the Reiki Guides in Spirit supporting the
healing. Finally, a few clients have
reported “seeing” colours or images in their minds. Remember, every
experience is a valid one. After the
treatment, and depending on the nature of the condition, it is usual to feel
tired as the energy settles into place and blockages continue to be healed
and maybe a little ungrounded. A hot
drink and cookie helps recovery. Occasionally, clients will jump up from the
couch completely reinvigorated! Q: How many treatments should I have? A: Again, the answer to this one is that every
client (and condition) is different. Some take Reiki easily, it quickly finds
its target, clears the blockage and balances the energies out. If this is the case, improvement in the
condition will occur quickly – after one or two treatments improvement should
be noted. For more long-term
conditions and, quite often, for conditions such as emotional and
stress-related conditions, improvement is more gradual. The most common
response here is for a gradual increase of energy and a better ability to
cope. If improvement is apparent but it is slow-going, I will suggest either
proceeding with some distance healings (to keep costs down) or else to take
the Reiki 1 course which primarily seeks to promote self-healing – you can
then continue treating yourself at home. Occasionally, no improvement will be
observed. It is very disappointing for the Client when this occurs and also
the Practitioner – however, it may indicate that you, subconsciously, are not
yet ready to let go of the blockage for whatever reason. It may be appropriate in this case to seek
out a more direct therapy ie a physical therapy or else for emotional issues,
a counselling therapy. I will also
always be happy to teach the Reiki 1 course to enable self-treatment and if
at least 5 treatments have occurred, I will offer this course to you at
half-price. Q: Is Reiki a miracle cure? A: Unfortunately not. As
for other forms of treatment – conventional and holistic - miracles may have
occurred – but I have not heard of them. There are reports of
immediate relief in some conditions and also reports of Reiki being used
effectively for alternative purposes ie charging flat car batteries! But
nobody, in my opinion, can proclaim this or any other treatment a miracle
cure – I’ll leave the definition of miracles to the Churches I think! Q: Why are there more than one Reiki system? Is one better than another? A: There is much discussion about the nature
of the “true” Usui Reiki. Reiki was
brought to the West by and Hawaiin/Japanese lady
called Mrs Takata, and up until recently it was thought that she practiced
and taught pure Usui Reiki. However,
information has recently emerged suggesting this was not the case. Even more
recently it has become evident that the manner in which Dr Usui (the “founder”
of Reiki) himself worked was different from the accepted view. For example he
did not teach the Reiki symbols to the majority of students. Once Reiki came
to the West, teachers began to develop their own ways of working with the
energy. Some combined Usui basics with
other belief systems – Angel Reiki, Celtic Reiki for example. Others worked
with Spirit to channel new symbols or ways of working – Karuna Reiki, Sekhem for example. Reiki has certainly become a flexible
and rainbow coloured healing system!
For me, this is a joy! It all
comes from the same Universal Source and means that there is a Reiki style to
suit everyone. As long as it is
offered in love, respect and professionalism, I say the more the merrier! Q: What is an attunement? A: This process occurs when you are learning
Reiki – not when you are receiving a Reiki treatment (though some Reiki
lineages do teach a process called a “healing attunement”
specifically created for treating Clients during a treatment). It is the name given to the procedure by
which the ability to channel Reiki is “switched-on” in an individual. It can generally only be carried out by a
Master/Teacher. During the process,
the Teacher effectively clears and opens the channels within the student to
enable the Reiki to flow. This is a
fairly short activity but during the course of the Reiki 1 or 2 training, the
Teacher will carry out several attunements per student. This process is also known as an
“empowerment” in some traditions or even as an “initiation” less commonly. Q: What will I feel during and after an attunement? A: We’re back to individual
experience again here! Some people
have physical sensations – heat, cold etc or physical discomforts eg
headache, nausea etc. You may feel
your third eye (brow chakra) opening for the first
time for example or some will “see” colours or pictures in their minds during
and after the process. Still others
will feel nothing at all! During my Reiki 1 attunement I felt quite ill –
sickness and dizziness mainly – I then continued to have stomach discomfort
for a day or so afterwards. This was
the Reiki shifting some fairly big energy blockages in my body that needed to
be let go in order for my body to be brought into balance and allow me to
channel the Reiki myself. My Reiki II
passed by fairly uneventfully but my Masters delivered some fairly
spectacular visual images and sensations!
It’s nice to have experiences during an attunement but you should not
expect them, as some pass by without incident. If you don’t experience anything however,
you shouldn’t doubt whether the attunement has worked – it has! For the 21 days or so after the attunement
you may continue to feel the effects – especially for Reiki 1 where the after
effects can quite often be more physical.
This is because the energy needs to continue to balance your own
internal energy channels. Go easy on
yourself during this time! I will
provide further advice regarding the after effects of an
attunements to course attendees. |
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23/01/2007 1:20 PM |
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