1. A presentation by S V Swamy Reiki Master
Homeopathy 4 Everyone – January, 2007

2. Reiki – Its Meaning
Reiki is commonly spoken as a single word but is actually a compound of two Japanese words, Rei and Ki (pronounced approximately as Ray and Key).
Rei means Universal and Ki means Energy.
Ki is also called as Chi, Qi and Prana etc. in other languages
Thus Reiki means Universal Energy, the Vital Force that permeates through the whole universe

3. Reiki – A little background
Reiki is quite ancient (as ancient as the Universe probably) but has been rediscovered by Dr. Mikao Usui in Japan and came to the west (USA) through Mrs. Hawayo Takata of Hawai, who initiated several Masters in her life time (22 as per an account that I read recently).

4. How to give and receive Reiki?
Any one can receive Reiki but to give Reiki, you need to be attuned (some people may have the healing touch, which is similar to Reiki and they might not have gone through any formal attunements). Any one with an open mind can learn Reiki and receive the attunements. So, if you want to heal yourself or others, learn Reiki.

5. Reiki – The learning stages
There are different levels or degrees of attunement – First, Second, Third and Master. In some systems the Third and Master degrees / levels are merged into a single level.
Grandmaster is not a separate level or degree of attunement. A master who has attuned several masters may be referred to as a Grandmaster. Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, one of the eleven disciples of Dr. Usui, was the first “Reiki Grand Master” (title bestowed by Dr. Usui himself)

6. Reiki – How does it feel?
Reiki is usually felt as warmth, heat, tingling in spinal column and other sensations.
The sensations are pleasant and comforting, not threatening.
When Reiki is flowing, one feels relaxed and may even go to sleep!

7. About First Degree
The beginner level is also called First Degree and introduces the learner to Health and healing, Reiki history, hand positions for self-healing and healing others. One can heal oneself, one's family and friends, pets, plants and trees, even stuck machinery!
There are different types of attunement – Distant Attunement, Self Attunement and of course, Attunement given by a Master through some fairly elaborate ceremony in person.

8. More about attunement
The Reiki Master normally requests for a feed-back after the attunement. Many people report seeing colours, smelling pleasant fragrances, hearing some sounds, experiencing calm etc. While this is good, it is also OK not to feel anything! The only problem with that is this: the candidate feels that the attunement has not taken place!

9. More about attunement
A little reassurance from the Reiki Master will restore the faith of the candidate and it is that faith which opens the channels for Reiki flow!
I can assure you from my own personal experience that the attunements always take and the results follow at different speeds for different people. Reiki is an intelligent energy and ripens the ego carefully. So, be calm, patient and have faith!

10. Cleansing and Self-healing
After each attunement (whether to first, second or third degree), you are asked to undertake a self-cleansing and self-healing for a period of 3 weeks before trying to take the next attunement. This is a very important step for your own benefit and I strongly advise you to do this and not to rush through attunements.
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11. Cleansing and Self-healing
This is done for your own protection as going too fast may unsettle your system by increasing the flow of Reiki through your body and thus inducing a strong detoxification, which, while beneficial in the long run, may cause some temporary health problems.

12. The 2nd Degree
The second degree course in Reiki is really a powerful course and your life may not, nay, will not be the same after that! I am making this statement from personal experience and also from seeing and reading experiences of other Reiki Masters.
You will be able to dramatically increase the Reiki flowing through you, do distant healing and give group healing!

13. 2nd degree and the symbols
In 2nd degree attunement, you are given 3 symbols. HSZSN, SHK and CKR are the abbreviations in english for the Japanese Kanji symbols.
Hon-Sha-Ze-Sho-Nen is the symbol for distance healing.
Sei-He-Ki is the Mental/Emotional Symbol
Cho-Ku-Rei is the power symbol

14. Secrecy of the symbols
Depending upon the Master and the tradition followed by that master, you may be asked to keep the symbols secret. I would suggest that you respect your Master's wish.
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15. More about Reiki Symbols
However, all the symbols are now available in published literature. You may find that the symbols vary slightly from what you have been taught. The symbol is just that - a symbol. Its purpose is to help you focus your intention. The shape of the switch is not so important as the switch!

16. The Third / Master Degree
When you have progressed well and have decided to make Reiki a regular part of your life and want to become a healer and a teacher, you may take up the Master Attunement.
An advanced Manual and the Master symbol (DKM) are revealed to you and you are also taught how to attune other Reiki aspirants.

17. The Third / Master Degree
If your Master follows the 3A and 3B tradition, 3A degree will be as a healer and 3B is the Master degree. The Master symbol is in such a case given during the 3B attunement.
You may assist your Master in carrying out attunements for some time, before branching out independently.

18. Free or priced?
This is a very sensitive issue. I took my 1st and 2nd degree attunements from a Traditional Usui Master and she was taught that FREE attunement and healing doesn't work. So she charged a fee for the course and also healing. She also told us to charge for our healing services. I can attest to the high quality of her teaching and the efficiency of her attunements.
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19. Free or priced?
In fact, when I felt dis-satisfied about the second degree, she graciously allowed me to attend her next 2nd degree course freely. And then while she was attuning some one else inside the room, Reiki started flowing through me shaking my hands so much that I got convinced that the attunements actually work! All my doubts got cleared!

20. Free or priced?
However, I felt that Reiki should be shared freely and later found the other school which shared my beliefs (they existed for many years without my being aware about them and I came to know at the appropriate time!). So I took my Master attunement by distant attunement technique and that too free, without any payment.
I offer my healing services freely since my own needs are taken care by God through a full time job.
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21. Free or priced?
However, let me hasten to add that both systems are equally effective in teaching and healing.
If you have no other source of income and need to live by Reiki healing and teaching, go ahead and charge.
If you are taken care of by some other income and want to offer your healing and teaching free, go ahead!

22. Is Reiki a panacea?
When you are learning Reiki (or any oher healing system in general), you come across so many success stories, some of them really incredible. It is quite probable that all of them are true (the people who share them are absolutely sincere).
You will also learn that Reiki can cure health problems, past, present, future, relationships, monetary problems, career problems...
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23. About Reiki and destiny
You may be excused if you think that at last you found the perfect panacea for all your problems!
In a way, you are right if you think you found Reiki, but in another way, it is Reiki which finds you! Of course, you and Reiki were always there but you have now become conscious!
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24. About Reiki and destiny
There is a never ending debate about Free will and destiny. What ever you believe holds true for you. You may believe in free will and be finally forced by circumstances to accept the power of destiny.
Since we said that Reiki is intelligent Universal Energy, whether Reiki will solve all your problems or not depends upon your destiny. When you are ready, Reiki will find you. If you feel that you must make an effort, go ahead and embrace Reiki consciously. Use Reiki regularly in your life and see the results! Best wishes.

25. Reiki – A FREE online course
If you would like to learn more about Reiki, there are several options:
Books – There are a number of books on Reiki – pl. explore in your library, local book store and online
Reiki_Path – an excellent Yahoo Group where you can learn about Reiki through a lot of online manuals, receive Reiki and receive Free Attunements. Pl. click here.

26. More about Reiki
If you prefer a virtual class room, please enroll for a FREE online course on Reiki, by clicking here.