Reiki - Where is it going - part 1

I have been focused over the past few weeks on "where to go from here." Some time back, some goals had been established for me in Reiki, and having past these points - well - "where from here."

First of all it is important to express that when I was attuned as a Reiki Master for the first time, I felt more of a "beginning" than a sense of being much of a Master of anything.

Being a Master means in a broader sense that one continues to practice and study, and has the knowledge to teach.

Reiki from one origin has followed many paths, and it is important to respect differences of lineage and tradition. What are some of the facets that help one grow?

First - as regards where Reiki may go from here - I want to quote Hiroshi Doi Sensei, in predictions laid out in 1999:

"1) Unity of the eastern and the western Reiki-ho as well as the original systems based on Reiki will progress

2) The number of incomplete seminars will decrease and the number of regular gatherings by masters (teachers) will increase

3) Interchange between spreading groups of Reiki-ho as well as between teachers will be accelerated

4) The number of Reiki healing centers will increase

5) The number of "true users of Reiki energy" who develop Reiki healing ability and spend their daily life following the wave of love will increase"

There seems to be a lot of truth in these statements. The following comments are my own:

a) Reiki will increasingly be engaged by mainstream physicians. There has been a steady increase in Reiki presence in major hospitals and academic institutions, but CAM in general and Reiki in particular will be learned and studied.

b) It will be increasingly important to "leave ego at the door" and to "respect all traditions" - because Reiki within Traditional Medicine will be subject to forces of accountability, credentialing, and "evidence basis." (it may surprise some readers that certain elements of Reiki - specifically Simple Touch and Compassionate Presence and the Calming focus of breathing exercises are largely non-controversial - other spiritual aspects of Reiki are and will be more controversial)

c) It will be increasingly important for new Reiki Masters to have ongoing support from their Teachers, and it will be increasingly important for Reiki Masters to "share."

d) We must recognize with respect many of us will have different approaches within Reiki depending on our spiritual experiences and life experiences prior to learning Reiki.

e) It is important to recognize the importance of how "warm" Reiki hands can become, even when performing Reiki without "touch."

f) It is important as a Master to read as much as one can to truly discern what we are doing. Reiki is not simply as intuitive art (though it has intuitive components) and it not simply a healing art (though it is a healing art) and it is not simply a spiritual endeavor (though - while not a religion, it is a spiritual endeavor)

Here are some sources that I have read, and have found invaluable, in my own understanding of Reiki.

1) Biographies of Mrs Takata

Living Reiki Takata's teachings by Fran Brown
Reiki: Hawayo Takata's Story by Helen J. Haberly

2) Light brought upon the origins of Reiki and the Life of Mikao Usui

Reiki Fire and Reiki The Legacy of Dr Usui - both by Frank Arjava Petter

3) The Reiki Factor by Barbara Ray - some may have differences with the author, but her 1983 book was a significant contribution in bringing understanding and respect to Reiki

4) The collected work of William Lee Rand - I have obtained all the back issues of Reiki News and find his effort on behalf of Reiki incredible to even attempt to calculate. William Lee Rand's efforts to educate about Reiki, and cause Reiki to be an engine toward world peace, are an inspiration. His book with Walter Lubeck and Frank Arjava Petter "The Spirit of Reiki" is a wonderful reference.

5) The web site of Rick Rivard - //threshold.ca/reiki/home - Rick Rivard along with Tom Rigler and Andrew Bowling founded URRI - Usui Reiki Ryoho International that brought international masters together from 1999-2003. It is hard to comprehend being a Master and not having an awareness of the importance of this effort.

6) The Hayashi Manual by Frank Arjava Petter, Tadao Yamaguchi, and Chujiro Hayashi - it is fascinating in attempting to merge Gakkai Reiki and Takata based Reiki to have this perspective reflecting on Takata's teacher.

7) The works of Hiroshi Doi, especially "Iyashi no Gendai Reiki-ho" or "Modern Reiki Method for Healing" - Doi Sensei's efforts to merge aspects of Reiki does not completely overshadow the wisdom that is clearly coming directly from Doi Sensei - a beacon of Reiki light.

8) For my own personal path in Reiki Amy Z. Rowland's three books, "Traditional Reiki for our Time" and "Intuitive Reiki for our times" and "Reiki for the Heart and Soul" have had a profound impact, and had it not been for the encouragement of my first Reiki Teacher, Robin Hannon, and the encouragement of Amy Rowland, I would not have begun or continued this Blog.

9) My email friend Lorinda Weatherall has a wonderful website - www.a-w-etherapies.ca/
Lorinda was a partipant in URRI and her sharing experiences and asking and answering questions has been very much appreciated.

10) Pamela Miles at //reikiinmedicine.org
Pamela has worked for 20 years at bringing credibility for Reiki in Traditional Medical Academic institutions. She has worked with Dr Oz, and brought Reiki increasing credibility by her work with NIH - those of us bringing Reiki into traditional medicine find her efforts and experiences valuable and important.

For those of you who have read this far - I am working on a Blog on Boysen scanning. How do we describe this as we blend Reiki into traditional medicine.

Byosen scanning was all but left out of Takata Reiki - William Lee Rand describes himself as having discovered scanning, and then with humility acknowledges he found out it had been an Usui technique. (but it came to him independly before he was taught it)

It certainly is not diagnostic if what we mean by diagnosis, is "medical diagnosis" in the licensed and legal definition, but if we apply an academic broader definition as "to learn and to discern" - is it really not?

How important was Boysen scanning - Quoting Doi Sensei "In the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, this technique is taught once a person has begun their Reiki training. Usually the average person at this point has an energy rating of 6 (on a scale of 6 to 1, 1 being the highest). Once this technique is taught, your energy rating is at 5.

Usui-sensei rated himself as a 2 in the hopes that one of his students would surpass his abilities. To this day, out of respect for Sensei, no one is ever rated higher than 3.

Once this technique is mastered, you are taught Reiji-ho and your rating increases to a 4. Upon mastering Reiji-ho, you are rated a 3 and are allowed to have Okuden training."

There is so much to learn. There is so much need for respect and humility. Amy Rowland challenged me that - my students students to the 10th degree should still recognize each other as coming from the Usui tradition.

If we can merge this wisdom with traditional medicine, it seems a wonderful future. In the meantime, work hard and do your best - just for today.