the ways that Reiki can help your entire family. To find out exactly what you can expect from a Reiki session, turn to Chapter 5.
WHERE REIKI CAN TAKE YOU
If you’re really ready to grow, really ready to change, and really ready to heal, Reiki can aid your progress toward wholeness. Reiki opens you up to receive the blessings of the universal life-force energy.
You may find yourself growing in ways you never imagined after a Reiki session. Or rather, you may find yourself returning to a place of peace, feeling of love, sense of calm, and purpose of being that you forgot you ever had.
You may make some changes in your life. They may be small, subtle changes, like being nice to a coworker or letting a car pass you on the highway. You may change how you eat or what you wear.
You may notice coincidences popping up. People may show up to help you, or situations may change just when you need them. You may be more in the flow of the universe (from receiving the universal life-force energy) or at least more aware of the flow. You may trust that life will be okay, that you will be okay, and that Reiki can help you. As you continue your life’s journey, you may realize that you can use Reiki on a daily basis, especially as life takes its twists and turns.
Reiki takes you to a safe place. It takes you to your truth, and it takes you home.
Taking Reiki classes
Utilizing Reiki is as simple to learn as 1-2-3 — the three different levels of Reiki training:
1st-degree Reiki: This 1st-level class starts your Reiki flow. You find out about Reiki history and how to use Reiki to heal yourself. Chapter 10 covers self-healing with Reiki. You also learn the hand positions to administer Reiki to others.
2nd-degree Reiki: One step up from the 1st degree, in 2nd-degree Reiki you find out how to use three Reiki symbols and send Reiki long distance. After this degree, you can become a Reiki practitioner. Chapter 13 describes how to give a Reiki session, and Chapter 15 covers long-distance Reiki.
3rd-degree Reiki: This level is frequently divided into two parts, with the first focusing on the fourth Reiki symbol and learning Master’s level techniques. The last level covers how to teach Reiki to others.
Chapter 7 gives you the lowdown on Reiki training: which classes you should take, what you’ll learn, and how to prepare for your attunements.
When you study Reiki, you discover the following:
The history of Reiki
The basics of energy healing
How to use Reiki to heal yourself and others
How to use a set of symbols that connect to the Reiki energy (see Chapter 8)
How to teach Reiki to others
You also receive one or more attunements during each level of training. An attunement is an initiation process with your teacher so your connection with Reiki energy is activated for life.
Choosing a Reiki Practitioner or Master
You may be looking for someone to give you a treatment or someone to teach you Reiki. Here are two ways Reiki professionals identify themselves:
A Reiki practitioner (RP) is someone who practices Reiki. This means the person has studied at least the 1st or 2nd level of Reiki and has learned to give Reiki treatments to others.
A Reiki Master (RM) is a person who has completed the Master level of Reiki. The Reiki Master may also be a Reiki Master Teacher (RMT), in which case the person can teach Reiki.
Note that a Reiki Master is also a Reiki practitioner.
Experiencing the Benefits of Reiki
Everyone has different reasons for wanting to learn about Reiki. What you might need from Reiki today may change next week or next year. But whatever your reasons for needing Reiki, know that Reiki always offers help in a safe and natural way.
Healing a physical illness
If you or a family member is suffering with a physical illness, Reiki can help you by providing deep relaxation. Reiki assists in the following ways when you’re in pain or dealing with illness:
Gives you a break from the pain
Enhances the healing effects (and reduces the side effects) of any medications (conventional or alternative) you’re taking
Reduces the time you need to heal after surgery
Promotes your body’s own internal healing system
More and more doctors, nurses, and hospitals are providing Reiki services for their patients. Read more about how Reiki combines with different healing therapies in Chapter 16.
Healing emotions
Reiki has a special symbol just to heal the emotions and promote harmony. (Chapter 8 covers the symbols.) The gentle healing that Reiki offers works well with psychotherapy, massage, medication, and any other treatments you use for emotional problems. Reiki specifically helps on the emotional level in the following
