There are 3 levels of Reiki.
Reiki 1:
Is an attunement to the Reiki energy, allowing the person to channel the energy for healing of themselves or others.

Reiki 2:
This is further attunement, allowing the channel to channel a stronger energy by use of symbols. It also allows the channel to send distant healing.

Reiki 3 (Master /Teacher):
The channel is attuned to the full energy, then, they can begin to teach and attune others.

Here we are going to be going through Reiki 1 (1st Degree).

Reiki, pronounced (Ray-Key), Rei – meaning "universal" and Ki – meaning "vital life force", has been around for a very long time. It is a pure energy form. We do not see the oxygen that we breathe, yet it is still there, the same with Reiki, we do not see it, yet if we are open we can sense it, we have to just trust that it is there, universal energy, just waiting for us to tap into, and use to the best of our ability. Reiki is always present, you do not have to "summon" it up, it is not a "conjuring" up of a spirit, or spell, but a natural connection to Universal energy, God energy, Goddess energy, what ever your perspective is, it is all the same energy. It is a very powerful energy, which is used for only good. It does not replace medical treatments but it can enhance them.

I trained in the Usui method of Reiki. The teaching here will be a combination of what I was taught and what I feel is important to include.

Reiki is not a religion, it is not full of doctrines, nor is it a contradiction to the Universal laws of consciousness and love. Once an individual is attuned to Reiki through attunements, they are permanently linked, without the need of conscious alteration of the mind, either through meditation prayer or imaging. These attunements open certain inner centers of the body so the energy can be channeled easily and effectively. Simply by placing the hands on oneself or another, allows the energy to flow through the individual. It fills the channel first, then, flows out through their hands into the individual who is receiving the healing. In my experience, I have noted that sometimes my hands become quite hot, they generate a lot of healing energy, other-times, they do not seem to be as hot. The person receiving the healing can, but not always, feel the heat in some areas or all areas of their body, others, feel tingling sensations and others, feel nothing.

It does not mean that it hasn’t worked just because they felt nothing (more on that later). Sometimes, it is just that they need a very small amount of healing energy. Everybody gets the amount that they need, at that specific time. We channel it we don’t work out the dosage.

Reiki should be a spiritual path that is taken very seriously. A spiritual path is about change. That word so many people dislike. It is about working on the biggest “hindrance” in your life - YOU!!!!!! You have to understand that the healing energy you channel can only be as pure as the vessel it is flowing through. So let healing begin with your own heart. You must always be working on yourself, to develop yourself, always working towards becoming a better person, more love conscious, with a deep desire towards the service of others.

I am a second generation healer. I have used “hands on healing” for many years. My grandmother was a healer and she touched many lives in her time of healing at much loss to herself, her choice to follow her healing path came with great sacrifice. Do not take healing lightly. It is not just a case of going through some training, getting a certificate and there you have it with a chest so puffed up with pride and ego you could burst at any moment.

No, it is a path of love, purity of heart, of constant change as you work on yourself to be a better more enlightened person. A path of service to others, for the good of others, it can touch a person on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. It can also be used on animals, it can be sent to the other side of the world and it can be used for planetary healing. We only need to look around to see that our mother needs healing!

It is a path of sacrifice, I say sacrifice because sometimes, we just don’t want to work on ourselves, we don’t want to deal with something because it causes us too much pain, but I encourage you as a future healer, whether on yourself or others, work on it, it is all worth it in the end. I personally have been through many personal challenges, sacrificed a great deal of which caused me great pain and just as great a healing. Reiki is a holistic technique for directing the energy, the life force. It does not cause harm. It can be used-by all people, no matter what age, color or race.