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What is Reiki? o Reiki is an energy healing method that originated in Japan in the late 1800s with a man named Dr. Mikao Usui. Think of it like acupuncture without the needles, or even acupressure without the pressure. A Reiki practitioner channels chi, or universal life energy, into another person to help with physical, emotional, or spiritual problems or development.

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What is the difference between a treatment and an attunement? o Anyone can receive a treatment. These can be as long as several hours or as short as a few minutes. Most treatments take 30m – 1hr and involve recharging the body’s seven major energy centers which are called chakras. The recipient can be seated or lying down, and the practitioner does not have to physically ―lay on hands‖ in order to heal. o Not everyone can give a treatment, however. In order to channel Reiki you must have been given an attunement by a Level III Reiki Master-Teacher. An attunement opens up your body’s energy channels and chakras in an intense yet painless process. It can be very short and informal or a longer process incorporated into a spiritual ritual or other setting of the recipient’s choice. Immediately after an attunement the new Reiki practitioner will typically feel heat and/or tingling in the palms of their hands. This sensation will occur intermittently for about 21 days as his or her body becomes accustomed to the new vibration of energy.

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Can’t I do Reiki without an attunement? o Plenty of people do energy healing without ever having had a Reiki attunement. The difference is that they are slowly building up their natural human ability to manipulate energies, and while doing healings they may be drawing energy from themselves or sources other than universal chi. This can be very draining to the healer and can be potentially dangerous as sometimes the healer may ―manifest‖ the symptoms or illness of the patient. In fact, many energy healers spend as much time figuring out how to cleanse themselves of the negativity picked up during healings as they do figuring out how to best heal the patient. o Reiki can be thought of as ―energy healing for idiots‖ because anyone can do it once they have had an attunement, and it is impossible to harm someone accidentally or maliciously by using Reiki. This is because the energy is itself

very pure. People often speak of their attunements as feeling ―plugged into the outlet of the universe.‖ It is that direct connection with pure life-force energy that insures the healing is clean and that both the practitioner and patient are protected. 

What is a Reiki Master, and what are the different levels? o Your level determines the amount of energy you can channel and the extent to which you can influence that energy through symbols or other methods. Most importantly, each new level challenges you as a human being to face your problems while providing you with the energy and support you need to heal yourself. o There are four levels within non-traditional Reiki: 1. After your first attunement you are a Level I and may be challenged by physical issues that you have neglected or suppressed. Use Reiki on your problem areas to help the healing process. Light exercise, physical therapy, yoga and Tai Chi are recommended to help this transition. At least two months of adjustment time is considered necessary for those who want the next attunement. 2. After your next attunement you will be a Level II and may face emotional issues that you have ignored or repressed. Use Reiki on your heart daily to help this transition. Therapy, meditation, journaling, and honest discussions of emotional issues with loved ones will help you in this transition. You will also be introduced to the Reiki symbols and can learn to perform ―distance healings‖ where you can send energy to anyone you want across the world. 3. A person who has been given their third attunement is a Level III and is considered a Reiki Master even though no formal training is needed. In fact, the only time when training is truly necessary to progress in Reiki abilities is the final step. During this phase, you will deal with spiritual or existential issues which you may or may not have faced before. You may find help in this transition by giving Reiki to your forehead and the top of your head. Try meditating and exploring different spiritual or religious resources, either in your chosen path or by discovering something new. 4. A Reiki Master-Teacher is a Level III who has come full circle. He or she is disciplined enough to give attunements to other people. o Keep in mind that just because someone has been given attunements, it does not mean that they are a certified practitioner. In fact, there are many certification courses available online that aren’t exactly reputable. Just because someone says they are a Reiki Master does not mean they are a person you should trust immediately. Use your own judgment and proceed with caution.

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How do I channel Reiki? Is there a wrong way to do it? o The best way to channel Reiki is to put both of your hands side-by-side over the area where it hurts, then think of wanting to channel Reiki. You should feel tingling, heat, and other sensations to let you know the energy is moving.

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o Keep your fingers together. The energy is coming out of your palms, and to focus the energy you should use a cupping gesture (similar to the way that the Queen of England might wave at a crowd). o There is no wrong way to do Reiki. While some ways are more efficient than others, as long as you’ve had an attunement and your intention is clear, then you are doing Reiki. Amputees or quadreplegics with limited physical capabilities can nonetheless channel Reiki very creatively. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. 

Is the energy real? How do you know it’s not a placebo effect? o There is no way to measure the flow of energy from one human to another. Kirlian photographs prove the existence of an electromagnetic field around the body, which is commonly referred to as the aura. However, there is no scientific evidence for the human ability to manipulate or even channel this energy. In fact, it should be noted that there is very little scientific data on the effects of Reiki and very few studies have been published. Because of this, you should never promise someone that Reiki will cure them or fix their problems. Often, it is difficult even for the practitioner to see a concrete effect of Reiki on the patient, because the energy might be helping something that is not immediately visible. It’s easy to tell when a bruise or cut is healing quickly—but how about heartbreak or depression? o Personally, I would argue that if it is a placebo effect, then it invokes surprisingly similar sensations and reactions from thousands of people across the world. Most Reiki practitioners have a long list of anecdotal evidence that they swear proves that Reiki works. I acknowledge that there is no way to prove it has had an effect. However, I have felt these effects many times over and ―believe‖ in their existence much the same way that I ―believe‖ in the effects of a therapist or psychoanalyst. Can you prove they have had a profound or positive influence on their patients? It’s hard to quantify, so in the end everyone must decide for themselves.

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Are there any side effects? o Sort of, though it depends on your definition of a side effect. Many people who receive Reiki energy will experience what is known as a detoxification, or detox. A detox is your body’s effort to cleanse itself of a particular toxin. It may be very quick or it may take several days, and it can take many different forms depending on the illness of the patient, the way that person typically manifests symptoms, or any other number of factors. For example, the patient may find themselves sweating a great deal or feeling the need to urinate often. These symptoms can often be differentiated from actual illness in one unusual way. If you ―feel fine‖ while the symptoms are occurring, for example you might be sobbing intensely but have no obvious emotional reason to be doing so, then you might be experiencing a detox. These symptoms should be supported with lots of water and rest, instead of suppressed by medications. After the detox has occurred the patient will likely feel better than they have in a very long time. o It should be noted that new Reiki practitioners typically feel the most intense detoxifications. This is because receiving an attunement is the equivalent of receiving one long Reiki treatment 24/7 for about 21 days. The constant influx 3

of pure energy can have a profoundly positive effect on physical and emotional wellbeing. 

Will Reiki interfere with my current treatment / medicine? o Of course the hope is that you won’t need your medicine anymore because your body is healing itself. But that does not mean that doing Reiki means you should stop taking your medicine. o There are no contraindications for Reiki with modern pharmaceuticals. However, you should keep a close eye on your dosages. Some people find that frequent Reiki reduces their need for as much medicine, such as insulin or antidepressants. This does NOT mean you should stop taking your medicines simply because you are doing Reiki. Often times Reiki becomes a way to help the body process those chemicals a bit more efficiently, which means that Reiki and medicine can work synergistically for your overall wellbeing. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your dosages.

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Do I have to believe in God / be Christian / be Buddhist to give someone Reiki? o Some will tell you Reiki has absolutely nothing to do with God. Others will swear up and down that Reiki energy is the Divine Itself coming out through your hands. So who is right? Both are. For the atheist Reiki practitioner, no God is needed to justify the life-force energy pouring out through their palms, and they will perform healings that are just as powerful as the person who is praying fervently while they share Reiki. In my opinion, they are both bringing love and healing into the world—isn’t that the point? o Many people feel that Reiki enhances their spiritual awareness; I fall into this category. However, because of the universal nature of Reiki, it can tend to blur the lines between different faiths and denominations. Just because Dr. Usui was from Japan doesn’t mean that you have to be a Buddhist to practice Reiki; some argue that he was actually a Christian. Personally I do not see how it matters one way or another. Getting closer to the energy can bring you to the realization that we are all walking different paths toward identical goals. As the Chinese adage goes: ―there are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is the same for all.‖

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Is there any situation when I shouldn’t use Reiki? o I know of only three situations where Reiki might do ―harm‖ to a patient. The first two are obvious: a fractured bone that has not been set back into place, or an amputated digit or limb that you are hoping to reattach. In both cases, Reiki speeds up circulation and healing to an area that needs to remain in stasis for medical professionals to give proper treatment. Once the bone is set or the finger/foot/etc is reattached, then by all means, zap away! o The third time you should not use Reiki is if someone has specifically asked you not to. Try to get their permission before doing a healing, either by explaining what you intend to do or at the very least asking if they would like you to pray for 4

them. If this is not possible, then make your intention very clear to the Universe that if the recipient would not want Reiki healing, then it should go to the Earth or to the sick and suffering everywhere. o You definitely SHOULD use Reiki during detoxes! The detox process can be scary at times. The human body wants to heal itself and may not do so in a predictable way. However, in these cases more Reiki won’t be harmful. 

After I learn to do Reiki from you, will I be a certified Reiki practitioner? o After my classes I offer certificates for those who are interested, but please be aware that I am not certified by any official organization. I have included in this packet a list of Reiki lineages, and that is about as close as I can come to having any authority on the matter other than my own hard work and experience. If you have received an attunement from me, you can claim thirteen degrees of separation from Dr. Usui.

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Why don’t you charge for treatments or attunements? Can I charge people money for mine? o Sometimes I ask for compensation for my time, but not the Reiki itself. I was given my attunements by three different people, none of whom charge money for treatments or attunements. I respect that legacy and I consider it part of my philosophy that healing should be available to those who need it, regardless of financial circumstances. Some practitioners (and indeed, Dr. Usui himself came to feel this way) argue that without a monetary exchange, the recipient will not value the healing. I feel differently, but I do understand that some people need that psychological balance. If they desire an exchange I usually recommend barter of similar skills or that they cook dinner for me. I have found that this can be a very satisfying emotional exchange. o Obviously I have no control over what you decide to do with your skills, including Reiki. If you chose to begin your own practice and charge people for your time, then you are free to do so and I respect your need to make a living and pay your bills. I would humbly request that you keep such charges as reasonable as possible, using a sliding scale or asking for donations instead of charging high fees the way most traditional Reiki practitioners are encouraged to do. I consider it a matter of ethics; I know one of my teachers considers it a matter of karma. It is up to you to decide how you want to share this universal life energy.

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I have had an attunement but I have not tried doing any Reiki since then. Can I still do Reiki? o Once you have had an attunement, you can do Reiki for the rest of your life. Nobody can ever take it away from you. That’s one reason that I think it is smart to have at least a Level I in your ―emergency med kit‖ so to speak, just as it is smart to know CPR. You can’t misplace a skill the way you might misplace medical supplies. Also, in an emergency you are far more likely to have one or two hands free to provide healing and comfort than you are to have a hospital or medic right nearby.

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I have had an attunement but I don’t feel anything in my hands. What’s wrong? o Nothing is wrong. You are probably doing Reiki but cannot feel it because you may have very low sensitivity. This is rare and it can be helped and even overcome with practice. One friend of mine has had three attunements but feels nothing when she is giving treatments to people, although the recipients say they feel plenty of tingling and heat. So, when in doubt, observe your patients or ask them what they are feeling. That is the best litmus test for whether or not the energy is actually flowing.

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Why can I only do Reiki on myself / on women / on my dog / etc? o If you have noticed that you only feel Reiki in certain situations, there is one likely reason: it’s all in your head. Put another way, somewhere you got discouraged and began believing you couldn’t do Reiki in a certain situation. This can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I assure you that you can do Reiki just fine anywhere at any time no matter who you are working on. If you can realize this, you can remove the mental road block and find that everything works just as it should. If for some reason you cannot realize this, you can always just get another attunement to blow your channels wide open again. Be forewarned, though. Getting another attunement to fix a mental block won’t prevent the same mental pattern from appearing again and blocking you up again. You are the only one who can think positively and take control of your own thoughts.

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What if the recipient is blocking me? o I myself have only felt this sort of thing two or three times in the years I’ve been doing Reiki. On occasion a person has built up so many mental and emotional shields that if they decide they don’t want Reiki, then by golly they will not receive it. Sometimes a person will ask for Reiki (or be pressured into it by wellmeaning friends) but still won’t want the energy. There is nothing you can do in this situation except explain what you are feeling in a gentle and nonconfrontational way. o For those people who ask for healing and who genuinely want to bring down their shielding walls but are having trouble doing so, I recommend multiple long treatments over the course of several weeks or months, since gradual is often best. For the ―quick and dirty method‖ you can try a group healing, preferably with as many Reiki IIIs as possible. Keep in mind that people like this may have those shields up for a reason, and bringing them all crashing down at once can be a traumatic experience not just in the short term, but also in the scope of their lives, career choices and relationships. Although the ultimate changes will be positive when supported by Reiki and an optimistic outlook, you should be absolutely sure that this is what they want to do before you proceed with such a strategy.

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Should I be worried if the Reiki turns itself “on” at unusual times? o Nope. It’s awesome and wonderful. Go with it. (Sometimes you may feel that this is ―a sign‖ that someone nearby you needs Reiki. If the situation is right, offer it to them. You may be surprised by the results.) 6

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What are some other ways I can use Reiki? o I use Reiki throughout my life. There are very few loved ones who haven’t received at least one treatment from me. Try it out on your friends and family. o If you feel shy at first, a good place to start is with your pets! My cat is what I affectionately think of as a ―Reiki hog‖ because he loves to hog all the energy and will purr endlessly whenever I start giving him Reiki. Pets and children, it should be noted, generally need far less Reiki than most adult humans. Just go by their reactions, and if they get fidgety that is a sign they are done. o Children. As I just mentioned, kids and babies can receive Reiki and tend to do so in short 5-minute sessions. Try it on pregnant women or premature babies in incubators. You can develop really amazing bonds of love through this kind of connection. Always be sure to ask their parents’ permission first. o Cooking. Give Reiki to your food. Some people look on this as the ultimate blessing before dinner and claim that it makes the nutrients more absorbable. Of course there is no scientific evidence supporting it, but it couldn’t hurt, could it? I love giving Reiki to yeast breads at every step during the rising and baking process. o Gardening. Plants love Reiki! Give it to seeds before planting. While repotting plants, hold at the roots and channel energy to help them recover from the stress of moving. Give Reiki to sick plants and healthy plants to encourage a lush, beautiful garden. o Crystals and jewelry. Some people find that gemstones reflect back Reiki energy. Personally, I feel like they vibrate in my hands! Experiment with different kinds and see which ones appeal to you. o Electronics. Don’t forget that computer chips contain crystals, too! I am always giving my laptop and cell phone Reiki. I can’t verify that it actually makes a difference, but I definitely feel that sometimes it helps unlock the ―blue screen of death‖ or boosts my signal just enough to make that important phone call. Some people tell stories about giving Reiki to car batteries to help jump-start an engine in cold weather. o Fun! Channel Reiki for no reason at all, just because it feels good!

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It is my hope that you will continue to use Reiki to enrich the lives of the people you meet, through love, compassion and a willingness to share healing energy for physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual growth. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions, stories to share, or would like your next attunement. Sometimes I like to organize group healings. Please let me know if you’d like to be involved in a Reiki Share in the Austin area! Thank you and good luck! Reiki blessings, Lindsey (512) 773-5164 [email protected]

MORE READING… For more reading, the best book on the market is still Diane Stein’s Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art. She published this book in 1995 to the consternation of the Traditional Reiki community, who felt that much of the information and symbology presented in its pages was simply too sacred to be shared with the masses. In taking this leap of faith, Ms. Stein founded a whole new branch of Reiki, which is typically referred to as ―non-traditional‖ and which has spread across the world like wildfire. My own first Reiki Master-Teacher gave me my attunements on one condition: that I read this book first. Much of my advice in this packet comes from what I learned by reading it. Now I recommend it to you as the best all-around beginner’s instruction manual for this ancient healing art.

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 When you practice your daily healings on yourself, these are the seven major energy centers to which you should give the most Reiki. Simply place your hands together over the chakra energy center and think about Reiki. Your hands will probably get hot and tingly, although it sometimes takes practice before you begin to feel this. Leave your hands at each spot for about five minutes, or until it begins to feel ―full.‖ You can begin at the head and move down, or vice versa. Some find it more energizing or more calming to move one way or another. This is the most rudimentary information you will need as a beginner. However, I encourage you to seek out more information on the different aspects of each chakra, which can add more depth and intricacy to your healings.

 Spirituality Psychic Vision Communication Self-love & Relationships Confidence Sensuality Survival

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