Any Reiki Practitioners Here?

Since we've been discussing (or trying to) the power of prayer in another thread I wondered whether anyone on here is actively engaged in Reiki.

If so I'd be interested to understand your thought processes and understanding of the practice.

I will say up front that I find the whole thing somewhat dubious and possibly dangerous so if you want to convince me otherwise then now's your chance.

Re: Any Reiki Practitioners Here?

I have met a few 'Reiki practitioners' and like a number other complementary medicines I think any success is down to the placebo effect.
A bit of individual attention and touching can be very comforting and relieves stress and that in turn can reduce pain because we become less tense .
I get a similar effect from hugging a hot water bottle .

I class Reiki being a step up from the power of prayer because the 'patient 'at least takes part willingly. I belong to a health support group and often have people saying 'I will pray for you' which really annoys me because they presume I wish to be prayed for. They might as well say I will get a witch doctor to utter an incantation and consult some sheeps innards for you.

My apologies to any Reiki practitioners who pass by , everyone is free to follow their own beliefs or lack of them.

Re: Any Reiki Practitioners Here?

I think that's a fair view Meg.

What is concerning is that this simple process of giving someone attention is then wrapped up as a business with a pyramid structure where people have to pay to be members, and pay to get up the ladder of "training" to become a practitioner and master.

This for me is another one of those practices that should have taken up the James Randhi $1 million challenge, but clearly didn't because it's largely bunkum with the exception of known placebo effects.

I also think to then charge customers money for the privilege of them healing themselves via the placebo effect is pretty immoral!

Re: Any Reiki Practitioners Here?

Hi realist ive had reiki a number of times as a friend is a reiki healer and paid such a lot of money to be 'trained' she wanted a willing patient and i volunteered . Think she paid a few hundred pounds .

As i lay with my eyes closed snuggled in a blanket i can say i did feel a sort of energy movement a sort of static electricity feeling , she said its the healing energy which im not truly in agreement with , it was a lovely tickly feeling but i just dont believe is any more healing than having a body massage or reflexology treatment , (which i enjoy and do have ) non the less it was pleasant . After being on this planet for many years and having a questioning mind i cant believe that having reiki is healing as such in the way its sold to people .

Any sort of physical or non physical contact with another is nice , a listening ear or a gentle hug is all relevant , and just as healing as any practitioner will offer .

Re: Any Reiki Practitioners Here?

Yeah that's the issue for me. It's a typical pyramid scheme where the organisations charge a lot of money for people to get the (cough) "qualification" to be a practitioner and again for levels of attainment beyond that.

A big issue for me is that if you ask a Reiki practitioner what they are doing they largely don't know. I mean yes, they know the rigmarole they are going to go through with a customer, but in terms of how they are going to achieve any healing they are clueless. They will talk in vague abstract terms about channelling energies or spirits.

What energies? Where are these energies? What is the source of these energies where are they coming from?

What exactly is the nature of these energies? Do you understand scientifically what they are and how to control them?

I've yet to hear any Reiki practitioner answer such questions.

Imagine if I decided to open shop as say a Healing Potion maker and you came along as a customer. If I presented you with a cup of murky looking liquid you would very righty ask:

"what exactly is in this potion? What are the ingredients and what are they supposed to do for me?"

simple justifiable questions not least for safety

If I then turned to you and said:

"well I found some grey powder in my lab equipment and I'm not exactly sure what it is but I mixed it with some other bits and bobs and made this concoction, but don't worry because the point is I genuinely in my heart want you to be healed, I am ultra positive for you"

You would rightly at that point say, "sorry but I'm not drinking that".

No matter how good the practitioner's intentions are it remains absolutely vital that they fully understand the nature of what they are doing otherwise they could be putting someone in immense danger.

If Reiki practitioners are claiming to heal by channelling "energies" or spirits then surely to be responsible and safe they MUST know exactly what those spirits or energies are. Otherwise they could be exposing the customer to anything? Imagine if the energy were like radiation!! Imagine if the spirit were malevolent, posing as a good spirit to fool the practitioner. . . !

I'm making an extreme case there but the point remains that any such practitioner must be able to explain exactly what the energies or spirits are that they are channelling and to be able to demonstrate that they know what they are and have full control of them.

The fact that Reiki practitioners can't do that is for me, why the entire thing is wrong and just one more woo woo bunkum business.

Reiki describes itself as "a safe and soothing treatment"

The Reiki Association claims to be "a not-for-profit organization"

Membership of the RA requires:

1. To have received teaching and initiation into Reiki at each level in the physical presence of a Reiki Master. This Master to be from a clear lineage of Masters back to Mikao Usui, all of whom have been initiated in person.

2. To subscribe to the Memorandum and Articles of Association

3. To have read and accepted the Statement of Identity

4. To have read and agree to abide by the Code of Ethics

Initiations? Passed down from ancient lineage? This is almost Masonic.

"To join us, you can simply apply for your membership on this website and subscribe using a debit or credit card, or a PayPal account for immediate access"

Nice !

Individual Membership is £70 for a year

To attend a Course to become a Reiki Practitioner is around £200 !

and so on

Re: Any Reiki Practitioners Here?

Funny stuff !

Re: Any Reiki Practitioners Here?

According to my friend they channel universal energies through symbols they tune into not spirits.
They are not meant to share these symbols with us as told they are sacred.

Re: Any Reiki Practitioners Here?

Can you ask her what exactly these energies are and where they come from?

And how does she separate one kind of energy from another? After all the planet is fizzing with energies all the time including electromagnetic energy and radiation.

Re: Any Reiki Practitioners Here?

Many years ago what my youngest son was going through a very worrying time . He was ( wrongly thank goodness ) diagnosed with a serious condition and it made him very depressed and unhappy.
I was talking it over on the tel with an old friend ( who is childless) and she said why don't you let me do reiki on him I am a reiki practitioner have a black box etc etc . Now I didn't ( and still don't) belive in it so demurred . No need to see him she persisted I can do it from a distance .eventualy I worn down said ok that's very good of you .
Think nothing of it she said I only charge £30 .
I put down the phone and have not spoken a word to that woman from that day to this .
Have ignored calls /emails / everything
A few days later I was talking to a young woman who I hardly knew but I had shown her some small ordinary kindness .
Speaking of my son she said give me something of his I do reiki I can help him don't worry any more .
Nothing more was said and my son did get better .

(I did insist on a second opinion from the arrogant GPs who casually put a young man through a horrible time and then both turned out to be wrong .
On my continued insistence he saw another doctor a specialist who dismissed the diagnonise in about five minutes flat !)

What has this got to do with reiki ?
Not much but has plenty to say about friends

Re: Any Reiki Practitioners Here?

I have asked her realist that's what she says she has been taught to picture symbols or sacred signs and the energy is from higher frequencies from the universe.

How high I've no idea !