Can You Tell If Your Reiki Attunement is a Real Attunement?

Before we define what an attunement is not, maybe it is easier to define what an attunement is. A Reiki attunement is a special form of initiation into Reiki at a certain level. During the attunement, the Reiki Master traps the energy into their body and pass it onto the student. This usually involves a form of ceremony or initiation, for example by leading into a meditation or having soft music. The attunement is said to tune the student into the Reiki channel, pretty much like we would tune a radio to a particular frequency.

Then there are Reiki Masters that give attunements over a distance. These range from get-rich-quick schemes over the internet to genuine caring Reiki Masters who believe in what they are doing. So is a distant attunement real? Well, one usually does not get a certificate with distant attunements, the time to practice self-healing and healing others in a supportive environment, in-person after-care in case there is a rare abreaction to an attunement, or guidance on how to incorporate Reiki effectively into the student's life. And whilst there are many genuine Reiki Masters out there who give excellent distant attunements, with most, you may well wonder if the attunement was actually done. After all, the Master may have been reading a book or cutting their nails or cooking instead of doing your attunement! A distant attunement often works and is real, but Reiki training consists of more than just the attunement. A good course or workshop will guide you in using your new-found skill and support your development and growth, whether on a personal or professional level. There may also be legal or association requirements in your country about whether your attunement can be a distant one.

People who have had both usually find the in-person attunement more fulfilling. However, sometimes a student is disappointed by an in-person attunement. Maybe the student and Master do not gel, or perhaps the Master is having an off-day. Some would say that attunements always work. What may happen is that the student is not aware of any change or may be unconsciously blocking the process through their own fear. Reiki is known to only work with you if you let it, so it makes sense that this extends to the attunement process too. Some students feel nothing, others see lights and hear angels, others are transported to a magical place, and some just feel relaxed. Just because a student does not feel the attunement does not mean that it did not happen. Each person will have their own experiences.

Having said that, it is not about what sensations the student feels during or after the attunement itself, but whether they can effectively channel the Reiki afterward that shows whether they have been attuned properly. A complication arises with natural healers, who can channel the energy anyway, so it is not always easy to tell. However, a good and experienced Reiki Master can often tell if the student has been attuned or not. It is the responsibility of the Reiki Master to attune the student correctly. Some systems even allow for mistakes made in the process, with the Reiki Master having to repeat the process to make sure that the attunement takes hold.

As well as the above considerations, how can you tell what is real Reiki that you are supposedly being attuned to and what is not? For example, there are 142 recognized and valid Reiki disciplines in the UK alone. There are new variations on Reiki all the time, so your attunement could well be so far removed from Reiki that is is no longer a Reiki one. It helps to talk to your Reiki Master first and ask them about the attunement process. For example, you may wish to ask them how strict the process is, what variations they use, or if they can give you your lineage tracing back to Mikao Usui.

Like anything else, recommendation is the best way to make sure you get the Reiki attunement you seek. Otherwise, do your homework first. You can go and speak to your Reiki Master, have a treatment from them, and many have a newsletter or regular Reiki shares in-person or over the internet, so you can get to know them better and make an informed decision about your attunement.

© Suzanne Zacharia 2010. My name is Suzanne Zacharia and I am committed to spreading the word about health options. A virus caught at university at the end of 1986, plus medical negligence, meant that I got smokers lung at a relatively young age. In desperation for help with my symptoms and quality of life, I turned to complementary therapy and am now a complementary therapist, author and trainer, helping others achieve health and happiness. Want to use this article? You can, as long as you credit me with it and invite your readers to get my FREE book "7 Real Truths of Energy Psychology" at http://www.newagetherapies.com or my free course "5 Days To Change Your Life" at http://www.NewAgeInternationalTraining.com.

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Reiki - History, Disciplines, and Attunements

Reiki is made up of two parts -- the Rei and the ki. The first part means "spirit" and the ki is the same as chi or "energy". Reiki is also known as universal life energy. Reiki is a method of healing and a way of life. The spiritual growth aspect of Reiki is at least as important as the laying-on of hands aspect. Reiki as in the laying-on of hands energy can be felt where the healer's hands are or somewhere else. For example, the healer's hands could be at the head and the healee may feel it at their feet. Reiki can be felt in many different manifestations. It can be felt as hot or cold, wave-like, tingling or vibration-like, electrical, or not felt at all.

Reiki as we know it has been founded by Mikao Usui, respectfully called Usui Sensei or Dr Usui. He lived in Japan, from 1865 to 1926. Stories abound about Usui. It is said that he was the dean of a theosophical university in Japan, a Buddhist, a Christian, a Monk, and many other descriptions. What everyone does seem to agree on is that Usui learned from ancient texts and then meditated on top of a mountain for 21 days, where he somehow received the gift of healing. Some say this was due to getting struck by lightening on the 21st day.

Usui founded a Reiki clinic in Japan and passed on the Reiki to others, by means of empowerments (a way of passing the gift), and teaching. One of those whom Usui taught was Chujiro Hayashi. In the early 1930's, Hawayo Takata, from Hawaii, traveled to Japan and was cured of a tumor and other ailments at the Reiki clinic. Naturally, upon discovering such a method, one would want to go out and heal the world! Chujiro Hayashi trained her, and she is the source of much of the Reiki practised in the West today. There are about 142 different disciplines of Reiki. And more than 142 different egos! However, all Reiki is Reiki. Only one discipline of Reiki is needed for a healer to flourish with it. After the attunement process, the healer grows and develops their gift by practising Reiki both as a healing and as a way of life.

Attunements can only be performed by a Reiki Master or Reiki Master-Teacher. The attunement process is a way of passing on the empowerments in a quick burst of energy. An attunement is also called an initiation. The Reiki attunements are what differentiates Reiki from other forms of energy or hands-on healing. An attunement tunes the student to the Reiki channel, kind of like a radio being tuned to a particular channel. They will then be able to channel Reiki for life. Even if a person attuned to Reiki leaves the actual practice of Reiki, they never lose the ability to get back in touch with Reiki, and they can re-connect with it again when they wish. Each level of Reiki study has its relevant attunements. There are usually three levels, although this differs from one discipline to another.

If you are thinking of taking a Reiki course or workshop, it is advisable that you do so in-person and that you choose a Reiki Master that you feel comfortable with. Find out if they give after-care support and Reiki shares, where you can practise, grow, and develop. You may wish to have a treatment first too, to make sure that the Reiki Master is right for you, as well as to experience how Reiki feels. Enjoy your learning and healing journey!

© Suzanne Zacharia 2011. My name is Suzanne Zacharia and I am committed to spreading the word about ways to improve your health, happiness, success, and lifestyle. Want to use this article? You can, as long as you credit me with it and invite your readers to get my FREE book "7 Real Truths of Energy Psychology" at http://www.newagetherapies.com or my free course "5 Days To Change Your Life" at http://www.NewAgeInternationalTraining.com

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Reiki - Warm Hands or Warm Body - Which Comes First?

(Another Chicken and the Egg Predicament)

I'm thinking of the line we've all heard at some point in our lives - "It's not you, really - it's me". These words are typically used during a challenging situation when one person is attempting to alleviate the burden of emotional responsibility for another person. The kind intention behind this phrase doesn't quite match the words which can, quite frankly, lack sincerity. One is left wondering whether in fact the speaker is being honest with themselves and thus the other person involved. Regardless of your personal experience with the above phrase, I offer it now with the utmost sincerity and honesty if I've had either the privilege of sharing the experience of Reiki with you or will be sharing it with you in the near future. Only I'm going to switch the words around on you a bit:

It IS you, really - it's NOT me.

I've received reports from numerous Reiki recipients of my warm hands feeling so good on their cooler body parts. Sometimes it's feet or hands, other times it's the small of the back or between the shoulder blades. This warmth can be both remarkably powerful and remarkably humbling because it becomes apparent that in mere seconds the human body has the capacity to generate considerable heat. There have also been the comments of a sore or painful area of the body being initially warm to my touch and becoming much warmer only to cool down just as quickly. Let's also throw into this mix reports that although my hands got warmer fast during a Reiki session they certainly were on the cool side to begin with. And there are also reports that my hands stayed merely lukewarm during the entire session. Finally, most everyone has said that each experience with Reiki was different and better than the last session indicating the body's ability to sustain self-healing energy - it just needs access to the source. Here are some things to consider when pondering this issue:

My own body temperature does run on the cool side - 96.8 is my typical body temperature - and I also tend to have cool hands and definitely cold feet. So from where does all of this heat in my hands come? And how is it possible that my warm hands could touch a human body and have such a profound effect so quickly? The very simple answer to this question is that I have been attuned to Reiki energy by another Reiki Master - yes, that's my final answer. The true gift of a Reiki attunement no matter what level is that one's own body and hands have exactly the same response when Reiki is given to oneself. For me, that's on a daily basis. More on this life path transformation later.

Think of Reiki as the outlet on the wall into which you plug your favorite machine - your body. My hands and I are the electrical cord that runs between your body and the Reiki outlet facilitating the current of energy from the outlet - in this case, universal life energy that flows in abundance from the Universe. In effect, I am not generating any warmth from my own body; rather I am letting the energy of Reiki flow through me and my hands into your body. Fine, you say - but that doesn't explain how my own body gets so warm sometimes in a very short period of time. AHA!, I exclaim - you're absolutely right! Remember the saying: "It IS you, really - it's NOT me."

Your physical body is responding - sometimes in very profound ways - to the Reiki energy that my hands conduct. Your physical body is the originator of the self-healing energy it needs in order to be healthy and vital. When your body finds the energy source from which it needs to replenish itself in the form of Reiki there is going to be response of some kind with heat being the most typical. Other responses include a tingling over your entire body, waves of warmth and energy washing over your entire body and an ever-so-slight out-of-body feeling. Your body's physical response to this energy is what causes my hands to become warm as the conductor of this energy. Heat represents healing as oxygenated blood is brought to the area that is temporarily imbalanced and then all kinds of physiological responses take place, many of which have been measured through research about the effects of Reiki on the human body. The immune system is revitalized, blood pressure is lowered, and brain functioning becomes clearer. When my hands as the cord to the Reiki outlet energy come into contact with a request for self-healing from your body - well, like any machine plugged into the appropriate form of energy overall functioning is going to start to run more smoothly. Certain physical "machine parts" be they muscles, joints, or organs are going to become more balanced. In addition, if your particular issue is of an emotional nature you will find that the solution to your issue is discovered or made apparent to you as if it was there all along. You will reach new depths of understanding about yourself and the situation that is troubling you because Reiki always goes to where it's needed most based on the individual's spiritual development at that point in time. This all happens because your body, in its miraculous wisdom, recognizes the universal life energy that it's been seeking - sometimes for a long time. It's no wonder that the response is significant because the human body was made to perform well and to be in harmony with itself and its surrounding environment.

The remaining issue of lukewarm hands and body I invite you to view with love and compassion for yourself and your particular situation. It could be that you are not ready to let go of whatever issue it is that is troubling you - that is your choice and I support your choices completely because they are yours to make. Life lessons come in many forms and whenever you determine you are ready to release and move forward Reiki will find its way into your life. Most certainly, the mind's intention about letting go of an issue is at the core here as the mind ultimately controls and can override the body's responses to Reiki. You and I can plug ourselves into Reiki and unless your intention is set for self-healing on a deep and committed level your body and my hands will remain lukewarm. I cannot force Reiki on anyone as that runs counter to the principles of Reiki and my own self-healing intention every time I act as a facilitator for Reiki energy. Plus, we're not seeking self-healing for my body - we are seeking it for yours.

If, however, you are ready to take your self-healing to a new and deeper level I invite you to consider Reiki Level 1 attunement. Those individuals who have received multiple Reiki sessions have already experienced the deepening of sustainable energy of which the body is capable with each session being different and better than the previous one. This is exactly what being attuned to Reiki is like - the body learns how to efficiently and effectively use the self-healing energy it receives and to become a conductor of this energy for others. This is the life path transformation part I mentioned earlier.

The initiations into Reiki levels work from the outside in - thus on the first level the focus is on self-healing in the physical form - the body. What other self-healing modality allows the practitioner to heal themselves in exactly the same way that they are facilitating self-healing for others? I believe Reiki is unique in this area and it has allowed me to transform my self-healing to a level that has made a significant difference in my life. It's not necessary for you to make Reiki part of your career path as the riches of attunement can be applied in all areas of your personal life. Think of it as your own energy lotion that you can apply for not only your highest good but for the highest good of all involved who are receiving Reiki from you. The list of possible recipients of this self-healing energy is endless: your animal companions (my most favorite Reiki recipients), plants, food, machines, situations at work or home, relationships...We are all made of energy so the opportunity for Reiki is literally everywhere. Here are some questions and answers to consider when evaluating whether attunement to Reiki is for you:

Does it hurt to be attuned to Reiki?

No J- sometimes there is a physical response to the attunement such as your hands becoming warm or feeling energy pass through you and sometimes the effect is very subtle. It's most like receiving Reiki from a Reiki practitioner and I respectfully request that if you are considering Reiki attunement and you and I haven't shared Reiki that you sign up for a free initial session with me.

Can I hurt anyone by giving them Reiki?

No J- remember, as universal life force energy Reiki is about balance. Whatever that individual needs in order to be in balance based on their spiritual development at that point in time is the amount of Reiki they will receive - never more, never less.

What affects will I notice by receiving a Reiki attunement?

For each level of Reiki attunement there is a self-healing process that happens. Up to 21 days after the attunement on the physical level, for instance, you may notice your body purging itself of imbalances that you no longer need. Again, as you are an individual this will vary from subtle to profound. Then you are on your way to deep self-healing at the very least.

Why is there a cost for Reiki attunement?

Because Reiki is about balance as energy is put forth in doing the attunement and education for becoming attuned the universe requires an equitable exchange of return energy. In our culture that energy takes the form of money the same way that it does for yoga classes.

How long before I can be attuned to Reiki Level 2?

I recommend a minimum of 30 days - or every month - before attempting the next level of Reiki. The physical body needs that amount of time to readjust to the new flow of energy that it's receiving.

Does this mean I can't have additional Reiki sessions?

Absolutely not! J Becoming attuned is one of your life's choices that I completely support and doesn't exempt you from having all the Reiki you'd like. In fact, some of the most wonderful sessions I've had myself are from other Reiki practitioners. Because we're both attuned to Reiki the energy flow has been that much more dynamic and the effects that much more far-reaching.

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