Is There Reiki In Your Life?

I mention healing touch as many people have heard of that and not many have heard of Reiki. I was told that a nurse that had learned Reiki trained other nurses to do what she then called Healing Touch.

I taught a Reiki class last night to three women. It was offered through a school district's community education brochure. It didn't pay much because of the size of the class. However, I usually do not charge for teaching others Reiki.

I told the women, that I taught last night, that in a previous class I taught, the woman paid me and my daughter each $1,000. for teaching 20 women and I believe that is still covering my time and theirs.

The person whom I learned from back in 1994, told me that he requested 4 small gifts for payment. The gifts could be a small book, candle, sage, sweet grass, or other small items. He felt like the payment should be a stretch for the individual as the gift of Reiki would be valued more.

Four of us that received level one Reiki in 1994, were my brother, sister, a friend, and I. We paid for his transportation, lodging, and meals. He traveled a few hours to provide the training for us.

He asked that we practice level I Reiki for one year before requesting level II Reiki. He told us that level III Reiki was the level to teach.

After one year, my sister and I took the class for level II. Then two years later a co-worker asked me to take the training for level III so that we could practice together. She had just learned that week and wanted someone to practice on and with.

Over the years since 1998, we have provided reiki to counselors and taught several Reiki classes together at an annual counselor training program in Minnesota.

Reiki has been called energy work. It comes from a Japanese practice that originally was a practice that only wealthier males were taught. The original teacher taught 13 men and one woman to be Reiki Teachers/Masters.

The one woman, who came to the United States, taught 22 people to be Reiki Teachers/Masters.

I have witnessed hands-on healing that appears similar to Reiki. I have also witnessed similar healing with hands up and dance for a sick child in a Midewiwin lodge (American Indian ceremony).

I put my hands up in the hands-on healing in the church and as a witness to the Midewiwin ceremony for the boy. I could feel the energy both times. Reiki has been a practice I have shared with many over the years. And I have received many gifts because of it.

In giving Reiki to others, my primary goal is relaxation and stress management. I will give a 20-minute session to the individual where the focus is primarily on the eyes, ears, throat, and feet.

There are a couple of stress hand positions that I use as well. One hand on the forehead and one on the hip area, and the second position is with one hand above the belly button and one below.

I have watched Reiki go where it needs to during even that 20-minute session.

A full session of Reiki with all recommended hand positions is an hour. And if charged for, it is similar to what a massage would cost.

The person who taught me learned during a time when there were many reports of sexual harassment by therapists/counselors. He was a therapist and so was taught to keep his hands 1 to 2 inches above the person in each of the 12 hand positions.

He taught me and others the same way. It has been okay for all these 28 years of providing Reiki for others. I have been told that is not the way. I have been told other things as well about what I do wrong.

It is okay as I learned from a Native American male therapist that I trusted to not hurt anyone and I have no plan to hurt anyone either. When that is in your heart, only good can come from Reiki!