Choosing a Reiki Master Teacher

CHOOSING A REIKI MASTER TEACHER

I am receiving requests for information about the differences between in Reiki courses. I have attempted to set out below some general points, which you might wish to consider .I realize it must be confusing for potential students when they read about the wide range of Reiki courses available on the internet and in particular the duration and pricing of courses offered. Obviously you will need to look closely at each individual course before deciding the right one for you. I think the first thing you need to know is that there is no government or standard regulation of Reiki.

There are many ways a Reiki Master may teach Reiki. You will find when you do reading that there are Traditional Reiki Master Teachers and Non-Traditional Reiki Master Teachers. Finding teachers who still teach Traditional Reiki can be difficult. There are alot of Non-Traditional teachers.

Here are a few things that are not part of the Traditional system of Reiki, therefore falling into the category of Non-traditional Reiki.

Teachings about Chakras
Teachings about Crystals
Teachings about Meridians
Teachings about Colors
Teachings about Reiki Guides
Teachings about Ascended Masters
Channelled information
Psychic Surgery
Healing Attunements

The Traditional system of Reiki teachings:

3 levels in the Reiki system (as taught by Hawayo Takata) or 4 levels (as taught in the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai as well as some other Reiki societies.)
4 Symbols taught
(In a 3 level system, 3 symbols are taught in level 2, and 1 symbol is taught in level 3)
Traditional Reiki initiations are divided into: 4 initiations for level 1, 1-3 initiations for level 2, and 1 initiation at the Master/Teacher level. Non-Traditional Reiki doesn't split up the initiations and does them all together in one, 1 initiation per level.
Note: Hawayo Takata taught 1 initiation for level 2. This initiation is done one to three times during the Reiki 2 class, but it is the same initiation. Takata was notorious for her teaching style which changed from student to student. She taught some of her master students to do the 2nd degree initiation once, some twice, and some three times.
Or as an alternative to all the above, an initiation is given each time the student and Master/Teacher meet (several times a month) and the teachings are given over a period of many years. This method is used in the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.

For an in depth discussion on Traditional and Non-traditional Reiki, please read The Reiki Sourcebook.

Note: It is the initiations that connects the student to Reiki. Today there are websites with pictures on them, videos, and books that claim that all you need to do is to look at, watch, or do the exercises in the book to become connected to Reiki and to become a Reiki Master/Teacher. This is not the way the Traditional Reiki is taught. A Reiki Master Teacher always gives the student the initiation.

It may help you in your decision if you look closely at the Reiki Master's background /experience and see if you can establish a rapport with him/her. You may also wish to check that you will receive a certificate to be able to practice Reiki professionally and a comprehensive manual.

There are many ways to find a Reiki practitioner. It is important to be discerning and to choose the Reiki Master who you feel will best nurture your personal spiritual healing, growth and life purpose. You can look on the web, there are many directories of Reiki practitioners to choose from. The best thing to do is ask questions and within the responses you should be able to get a gut feeling with the person who resonates the best with you. "When you are choosing an energy therapy, the best approach is the one that treats the client as the "whole" individual, that encourages the body's natural healing processes to do their job, and in which the client takes a positive and active part in his or her own recovery and health maintenance." It is good to feel comfortable and open to receiving an attunement from the Reiki Master Teacher. The teacher should have patience and be available for questions. You must be allowed to go at your own pace when you feel comfortable doing something. Do what you would do when you are looking for other services, follow your inner voice and gut instinct, use common sense. When in doubt, walk away.

Are you Ready to begin your Reiki Path:

Questions to Ask yourself:

Should I study Reiki at this time?
Do I have the time for daily regular practice and self treatments?

Is my life in balance or chaos?

Am I doing this for myself, why do I want to practice Reiki?

You could ask some questions of the prospective Reiki Master Teacher before signing up:

Do you do Reiki on yourself? and how often? (the more Reiki we do the more energy flows)
Do you work on others with Reiki, or just teach?
How long have you been a Reiki practitioner, and when did you receive your Reiki Master certification?
Ideally, the individual will have both practiced and taught Reiki for awhile but we all must start somewhere.
Do you teach traditional or non-traditional Reiki?
The Reiki Master should have a clear understanding of Reiki systems. If teaching non-traditional methods, the Reiki Master should specify during class which techniques are the modified forms.
What is covered in the course? Course components should include an explanation of how Reiki works and how it can be used, the history of Reiki, the attunements (4 for traditional Reiki I; 1 for non-traditional Reiki; 1 for Reiki II; 1 for Reiki III), a demonstration of hand positions for self-treatment and treating others, hands-on practice, discussion, and certification. Some teachers also offer student manuals.
How many students will be in the class? Large classes limit one-on-one instruction.

Can I call you with questions after I receive my certification?

What do you charge? Prices vary greatly depending on the Reiki Master, the number of hours of instruction, and whether the class is offered independently or through an organization or hospital. It's more important to find a Reiki Master you respect than one who charges a few dollars less.

Some of the world's best teachers are the lowest priced because they know how truly beneficial the energy is and want everyone to have access to it. The current cost for training generally falls in the range below. The Reiki Master should be genuinely concerned about the growth of their students, not just after a larger pay check. These prices are for In-person training and not Remote (or distant) training which can be a lower price.

The current cost for In-Person Training generally falls in the range below:

First Degree (Reiki I):	$75.00-200.00
Second Degree (Reiki II):	$100.00-500.00

Third Degree (Reiki III) Master-Teacher:	$500.00-10,000.00

When can I advance to the next level of instruction, if I choose to do so? Some people never choose to progress past Level I, while others want to explore Reiki II's techniques or teach. There are different views concerning the length of time that different masters feel should be the correct time to move on to a different level of Reiki. I personally feel that it is a matter of personal preference. The student should listen to their inner voice, when they have experience with their current level and have learned the techniques, symbols, their heart will always tell them when they are ready to move on. Some who have been working with energy may feel ready to progress faster than someone who has no experience with energy. We are in a time of greatly accelerated energy and today we live in extremely powerful energies of all kinds. In the past these powerful energies we live in today would have a great impact on people. Today we are used to higher energies and their influence, so what once seemed to be a great adjustment is not that profound to most people receiving attunements. Our bodies and energy vibration have been raised as time as gone on.

If you want to learn more about Reiki before taking a class, there are two books you might look at:. One Degree Beyond: A Reiki Journey Into Energy Medicine: Your 21-Day Step-By-Step Guide to Relax, Open and Celebrate by Janeanne Narrin. It is a informative book that discusses the author's own journey discovering Reiki, and offers questions and exercises to help you decide whether you want to pursue Reiki and how to select a teacher. It is from a fairly traditional perspective.

The other is Essential Reiki by Diane Stein. This is the most non-traditional and controversial book on Reiki in print, and also the most complete. The controversy -- the symbols that are taught at levels 2 and Master are traditionally kept secret from all who have not received the attunements for those levels. (Stein published them.) You should be able to find it in most library systems.