Basic Information on Reiki

Do you have a nagging injury? Have you thought about seeking alternative healing techniques rather than traditional, medical methods? Have you heard about such practices as Reiki, reflexology, acupuncture, and other alternative medicines, but don't know much else about them?

Touch therapy and other non-medical practices have been met with both acceptance and condemnation; some believe alternative medicines have the veritable powers to affect emotions, thoughts, and even physicality, while disbelievers think solutions experienced through alternative medicine are facilitated by powerful suggestion.

The following article delivers basic information about, Reiki, a popular form of alternative healing. The Japan-originated practice derives its name from two Japanese words: Rei, which means 'higher power,' and Ki, meaning 'life force energy.'

What is the general purpose of Reiki?

Reiki is a practice considered to be an alternative healing technique. Reiki seeks to benefit a person's entire entity including their body, emotions, mind, and spirit. Sessions seek to facilitate body wellness and feelings of peace and relaxation.

What ailments can Reiki help cure?

Practitioners of Reiki often report it to be a safe method of alternative healing, which can affect anyone. It can be effective as a source of healing regarding any known illness or malady. Practitioners often suggest Reiki to be implemented in conjunction with other, traditional forms of medicinal solutions, especially when ill side effects from traditional medicines may occur.

Who can learn Reiki?

Those experienced with this alternative healing technique suggest Reiki can be exercised by any person. It is reported to be highly simple to learn and is modeled by a teacher during a session and then the abilities are passed to students during an 'attunement.' Once realized, a student can tap into an unlimited supply of 'energy.'

Practitioners report that the technique has been taught to thousands of people ranging in ages, sex, backgrounds, and intellectual capacities.

Is Reiki tied to a religion or other form of worship?

The teachings of Reiki and other forms of alternative healing is closely associated with ethics and positivity, but does not have close relations to any religion. Teachers promote relationships of peace and harmony in order to facilitate Reiki's healing powers.

Practitioners report that there are no specific 'beliefs' a person has to entertain in order to learn and use Reiki.

Experienced users believe Reiki can be exercised and affect the most resolute disbelievers; yet, part of the teachings is to make a commitment to improve oneself and be active in the process of acceptance and healing.

Visit Web sites focused on Reiki, alternative healing, touch therapy, and other varieties of alternative medicine to learn more about the topic.

Find videos, information, instructors, and classes related to alternative healing at Quantum-Touch (http://www.quantumtouch.com). We celebrate varied forms of alternative medicine and would like to share information with the public. Visit our Web site to pursue an interest in alternative healing or to gain a better understanding of the processes involved.

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Trees: Their Symbolism and Healing Energy

Trees have long represented a multi-dimensional reality in shamanism.

Native Americans call trees "The Standing People. Though immobile, trees are alive and aware, rooted in their existence. They are seen as a link between Heaven and Earth and act as guardians of the environment.

Celtic shamanism uses the concept of the Tree of Life, the "Axis Mundi", as a connecting link between all the worlds. The roots symbolize the Lower World, our subconscious mind or "The Place of Empowerment". The roots are grounded in the earth with access to the deepest levels of the unconscious mind where hidden potential lies. The branches and leaves symbolize the Upper World, the super-conscious mind or "Place of Creativity". The trunk of the tree represents the Middle World, "Ordinary Time", the conscious mind and the "Place of Manifestation". This is where potential meets creativity and our dreams become reality in the everyday, mundane world.

Trees and energy

The value of trees to our ecological health is apparent in today's world. Many people consider trees to be guardians of the ecology. Their roots anchor the soil and help prevent landslides. Leaves and branches form a canopy over rivers, cooling the water to a habitable level for fish. Through photosynthesis, trees capture carbon dioxide from the air, nutrients from the earth and energy from the sun to produce oxygen. All of this makes the earth's atmosphere better able to support healthy life.

In Oregon State, ongoing studies in phytoremediation ('phyto'=plant and 'remediation=to correct a fault, pronounced fi-to-re-mee-dee-a-shun), have shown that poplar trees are capable of removing dangerous chemicals from the soil. In this process, harmful chemicals are absorbed by the root system and altered then released in a less harmful form through the leaves. When the poplars have reached their peak growth, they are harvested to make paper. Thus, tree energy is contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment and providing a renewable resource to support industry.

Tree energy and Celtic Reiki

The concept of tree energy is used in Celtic Reiki to promote healing and gently facilitate change in our everyday life.

Reiki, "universal life energy", is a form of energy healing recognized for its ability to work effectively on all levels and promote holistic well being. It energizes and heals, reduces stress, and is compatible with other healthcare treatments.

A variation of Usui Reiki, Celtic Reiki, uses the vibrations of the Earth and specific trees and shrubs to create an environment for healing and positive change. Thus, Celtic Reiki is an Earth-energy Reiki, channeled through the Base chakra.

In Celtic Reiki energy is passed via three attunements. These attunements are working with change in the body's energy flow, healing, and Celtic wisdom. The results of the attunement process are a lifelong gift. They provide a connectedness to earth and plant energy that can never be taken away. It will always be accessible to facilitate positive change.

Let's take a brief step back in time for a historic perspective of the development of Celtic Reiki. On a cold winter day late in the 20th century, Martyn Pentecost, a Reiki Master/Teacher based in Croydon, U.K. began an ongoing process of discovery. In his words, "...having studied various forms of Reiki for many years, I was guided to work with nature. When channeling Reiki to help animals, plants, trees, rivers, lakes, the oceans, and the earth itself, I found that everything has a distinct vibration - each variety of rock, each stream, and each type of flower has its own unique energy. I would sometimes lose myself deep in this vibration, sometimes so much so that I could mimic the energy during Reiki in self-treatments."

While visiting in Wales"...I discovered a huge Silver Fir tree that had been split in two by a recent lightning strike. One half was still firmly rooted upright and was producing a healthy flow of sap to heal itself. The other half was lying on the ground, dying. As I walked up to the tree, I could sense the immense loss felt by the upright section and an urgency of the fallen half, which was completely separated from the standing section." He began sending Reiki to the standing section of the tree, but felt a resistance, so he directed the energy to the fallen half. As he did, "I felt a transfer of energy. As the Reiki flowed through my hands, I felt a vibration enter my body. It was unlike anything I have ever felt before - the essence of the tree - its knowledge, its energy, its wisdom and its love. I was then guided to give this energy to the standing section of the tree, which I then proceeded to do."

Over a two-year period, Pentecost explored various species of trees and plants native to the United Kingdom. In an effort to remember and recognize the unique energies transmitted by different species, he turned to the ancient Ogham Celtic alphabet. He then assigned each plant a symbol, as is common in Reiki and many kinds of energy work.

In Conclusion

Trees have been powerful natural symbols of longevity and enduring stability in various cultures throughout the ages. They, along with other plants, minerals, and the earth itself emit unique energy vibrations. These vibrations can be channeled and focused through Celtic Reiki into a positive force that enhances the body's openness and ability to embrace physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Trees nurture the earth and enrich our lives with their energy and presence.

Deanna may be reached at: Inner Rhythms Healing Arts, Vancouver, WA

Deanna Ramage

Certified Reflexologist

Celtic Reiki Master

Certified Aromatherapist

Member, Celtic ReikiFederation, International Council of Reflexologists

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Show Your Healing Mastery by Earning a Reiki Certificate

A reiki certificate does so much more than simply proving to your friends and clients that you are a skilled healer in the ancient art of reiki. It also lets people know the lineage of your attunments, letting clients know which path of healing you have taken and who your master was. Having a reiki certificate can also be helpful in trying to find employment as a healer.

These certificates, signed by your teacher, look very similar to diplomas and other certificates of achievement. Framed, a reiki certificate can look attractive when hung on your wall or displayed on a shelf. The look of your diploma will depend on your teacher and the school of healing you have chosen to follow, as each have their own designs.

In order to gain a reiki certificate you must first find a master who can teach you this ancient healing art. If you cannot find an instructor in your city, try looking online for a course. While much of your education in reiki will depend on your teacher and the school they follow, there are three levels of training for each discipline.

The lowest level of reiki certificate can be earned by mastering the first degree, the Shoden. In this course a student is taught the ancient practice of reiki. They learn how to place their hands and treat the body in an effort to attune their energy and the energy of their patient with the universal life force. When the sessions are completed you will be able to heal yourself and others by using the ancient healing art of reiki.

To gain the second level of reiki certificate a student must master the Okuden, the second degree of healing. Building upon your the first degree of healing the student will earn the use of symbols that will help strengthen the bond between patient and healer, allowing a reiki practitioner to heal across vast distances. Some healers are so skilled they do not even need to be in the same room, or even the same building to be able to heal. It can take ten, sometimes twenty years to master this skill, and some students never progress beyond the second degree of reiki.

To grain a master reiki certificate one must master not only the first and second degree of healing, they must also undergo the master training, also called Shinpiden. The third degree is the hardest to master, and the symbols and teachings you learn are greatly dependent upon the school of reiki you are studying. Upon completion a reiki healer may choose to be either a master teacher, who is able to pass on his mastery of reiki, or a master practitioner. A master practitioner is someone who has chosen to concentrate on their healing powers, tending the ill and the sick and using their powers to ease the pain and suffering of others.

No matter what degree of reiki you have studied, having a certificate is something to be proud of. Not only does it prove that you have studied this ancient healing art, but it also allows you to practice your skills upon yourself, your family and even other people who wish for a more spiritual healing.

Having a master reiki certificate allows you to do more than just offer healing. With it you are also able to open your own school and teach the healing philosophy of reiki to others. This certificate will show not only your own time of study to master this art, it will also show which school you have studied. Some master reiki teachers can trace their attunments back to Japan. These teachers, and their students, are greatly respected. To have those names on your reiki certificate is a mark of prestige.

Today, more people are reaching back into the ancient healing arts. Not simply for their novelty or their historical values, but for the spiritual aspect, as well. Reiki is a philosophy and an art growing in popularity, which makes it easier to find teachers. It also means that, should you choose to become a teacher, you will have many opportunities to help people.

When comparing the financial cost of learning reiki and obtaining a reiki certificate to other educational programs, there is a clear benefit to this healing art. Each degree is separate and you are able to advance at your own pace as your skill increases. There are no formal institutions to teach, only teachers who must be attuned and able to attune you, in turn. This means you can learn from the teacher who best suits your needs and your own personal philosophies.

If you are interested in learning more about reiki healing, and gaining a certificate, there are many resources available to you. Check with your local alternative health center or a new age book store for information on classes. If you can't find a reiki class in your city, look for classes online. Not only is it more convenient, as you don't have to leave your own home, it can also be arranged around your own schedule.

Take the time to find the right teacher for you, one whose philosophies best match your own. If you take an online course you will receive your reiki certificate either in the mail, or it can be downloaded and printed out when you finish you training. Reiki is an ancient healing art that can bring great spiritual peace to you and to others. It doesn't require years of study, only true dedication.

Click Reiki Certificate to go to Meg's Reiki Meditation website.

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The Free Reiki Healing

The founder of the Reiki System was Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese Christian minister who was working in Japanese Christian Boys' School in 1922. He had spent much of his time in Reiki healing the sick specially the poor ones. Dr. Usui believed that Reiki is a gift of God so he taught free Reiki healing for those who were willing and who wished to adopt it.

Similar to yoga, Reiki also practice meditation and controlling the human energy. Energy is universal; therefore, we and everything around us are energy whether seen or unseen. A Reiki practitioner can channel energy by laying hands on the person from the energy around himself. The transmission or channeling of energy from the Reiki healer to the person can bring deep relaxation and destroy any blockages of energy, and it is believed that toxins are detoxified, thus after the healing it increases the vitality of the body. If energy is low, the body becomes weak and sick but if the energy is maintained high, the body is active and healthy.

Reiki is mostly used by people who want to achieve relaxation, to reduce or eliminate stress, and to improve overall well-being. The Reiki is also used for other health conditions like cancer, anxiety, depression, fatigue, diabetes, and other more. This system is also helpful for dying people since it can help pass on sense of peace. For people who have weight problems, Reiki can help weight loss and also can do good to change bad habits and addictions.

Free Reiki training and resources are for everyone. Reiki is believed to be a loving gift of God the creator. This is a gift of changing a life and the lives of love ones. Many know that Reike is a powerful healing art. To practice Reiki, the person doesn't need special paranormal powers or forces to be able to heal people or do self-healing. What a person should do is to understand that energy is all in the environment and is just ready to be tapped with the mind.

Free Reiki self-healing can be learned too. Just a simple meditation exercise can restore order of the body whose vital energy has become unbalanced. In this case, the person is responsible for his/her healing. The person just identifies how much energy needs that will be drawn from around him.

Get the most updated information about reiki healing from free reiki resources. You can find best the latest information about reiki when you enroll online.

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Alternative Healing Methods - Let Deep Healing Be Yours

Is Alternative Healing For You?

Alternative healing methods thrive within the field of holistic healing. Depending on your needs, some holistic health approaches can be used as alternatives to mainstream medicine. A therapy that is used to replace traditional medicine is called "alternative healing."

Six Sensational Benefits of Alternative Healing

• Some alternative health methods can be very gentle. Because of this, they can help manage extreme pain and be beneficial for patients in pre and post surgery.
• Alternative therapies may transcend some of the limits of modern medicine.
• Alternative treatments can bring new hope for healing stubborn ailments.
• There are no side effects with many alternative natural healing methods.
• With some healing approaches like energy healing, you may be able to feel some immediate benefits.
• Some healing therapy can be done on the self. (And self healing can be learned.)

Four Popular Alternative Healing Methods:

Energy Healing: Reiki, Healing Touch, and Pranic Healing are all energy healing methods. The field of energy medicine is growing - healthfully! This alternative healing method works using the idea that we are we are ultimately made up of quantum energy. Your energy can be influenced by universal energy and other energetic biofields (or auras). The goal is to restore balance to your energy centers and strengthen them.

Body Work: massage therapy,the Rosen Method, and Craniosacral therapy fall into this category. Massage by itself can be deeply soothing, which can help the body heal. Also, one of the theories behind body work is that memory is stored in our muscle tissue and that it can be released and healed with body work. This can lead to emotional, mental and physical healing.

Chinese Medicine: can help with pain management, depression, stress and insomnia. Some of the main methods of treatment include: acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, diet therapy, and qigong (a form of meditative exercise). Acupuncture works by having a doctor insert fine disposable needles at key meridians or energy points along your body. This may help dissolve energy blocks and help your body heal itself.

Ayurvedic Medicine: treats the whole person through a holistic assessment. In Ayurveda, your treatment is based on which "dosha" or body type you are. Once you have been assessed, purification and rebalancing of your specific dosha is recommended. Changes in diet, fitness and sleeping habits tailored to your particular body type may be recommended with this ancient East Indian medical practice.

The healing methods featured here may also be used as complementary therapies that work alongside mainstream medicine. (In this way they can also be called: "complementary" healing methods.)

Alternative and complementary healing methods may offer you hope where there wasn't hope before. Explore your options and listen to your divine body. Alternative healing methods can help you radiate your ultimate health.

Explore the magic of alternative healing methods, including an in-depth look at the definition of holistic health and alternative medicine at: http://www.lumia-holistic-healing.com/definition-of-holistic-health.html

Michelle Sigurdson has a background in Communications and is an energy healer. She loves all things holistic and is the creator of http://www.Lumia-Holistic-Healing.com At Lumia she shares wellness resources, information and inspiration. Discover! Explore! Be Nurtured!

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