Who here has had Reiki attunement?

[Sanity Claws]

I'm going to a Reiki I class on Saturday and would love to hear your experiences with it. I'm not that intuitive and am particularly interested in the experiences of others who were not that intuitive before taking the class.

[Celebration]

1. Let's see

I have done Reiki 1 and 2. Let me tell you this--as long as you have a tiny bit of intuition, and most of us do, intuition is a LEARNED SKILL. What you put into it is what you get out. The odd thing is that everyone finds their own path to learning that skill, and what works for some people doesn't work for others. So this is a lot of trial and error, half misses, and half hits.

So, while Reiki might be a 100% hit for some people, it might be somewhat less for others. I think it is a decent introduction for some people. My daughter has a reiki practitioner that she likes, so she is scheduled for a level 1 class. I have supported her in this. I have done volunteer reiki for a cancer support group in the past, and everyone seemed to like it. I added my own twists to the practice, as most people do.

But in rating workshops, I have to give "Touch for Health" the A+. Reiki would be a B.

"Touch for Health" was more concrete than my reiki class. I tend to want to know "why, why, why" and want a solid, reasonable explanation for things, and I want useable techniques that make sense to me. Touch for Health gave me the foundation for doing muscle testing, and for me, personally, that, and offshoots of that of my own, are by far the most valuable technique for me. Donna Eden started out in Touch for Health. It has been around so long, and is really the granddaddy of many energetic techniques. It just gives you a solid foundation.

But, whatever technique you choose to study, remember-- practice, practice, practice. If one thing doesn't work for you, something else will. I hope you enjoy your reiki class!!

[Sanity Claws]

2. I'll keep my eyes open for "Touch for Health"

I hadn't heard the term before but now that I have heard it, I'll probably see it.
Thanks for the input.

[Celebration]

3. For some reason

Touch for Health classes aren't nearly as prevalent as reiki classes. For one thing, I think the class hour requirements may be many more to teach Touch for Health, and therefore there are many fewer qualified teachers. It seems to be a more formalized structure. Also, it has really been around awhile.

I wish I could take some of the more advanced Touch for Health classes, but none are available in my area. We got someone from out of town to come here to teach levels I and 2

[teenagebambam]

4. My sister does Reiki

for her oncology patients. She says sometimes it's the only thing that will ease a patient's pain once their morphine has been maxed out.

I can't vouch for her inherent intuition, but I have heard her say more than once "I don't believe in Reiki, but it DOES work." Whatever THAT means.

[Sanity Claws]

5. Is she an RN?

I'm wondering what her profession is and why she took Reiki. I understand at some states allow Reiki training to be used toward continuing ed requirements for nurses.

[teenagebambam]

21. Yes, an RN

and I'm not sure if it was for CME, but her Hospital (MD Anderson in Orlando) encourages alternative treatments

[Shallah Kali]

6. I don't believe in Reiki myself. I *know* it.

I have split boiling water right out of my electric kettle on my hand and after Reiki plus running it under the tap I don't even have a pink spot to show for it. In the past running cold tap water or even ice would still leave very tender and bright red spot. I don't even think about it. If I put my hand on someone who is ill or has an ache it automatically turns on. Sometimes it comes out just being in the room with the person before I even know they have a headache coming on. If I bang my elbow and I automatically rub it without thinking the Reiki comes out and eases the pain.

Some people don't care for this aspect of Reiki and work to consciously be able to turn it off and on. I like that it turns on when anyone needs it and never bothered with learning that sort of control.

[Shallah Kali]

7. I am empathic and Reiki helped me get more control of it

and this in spite of making me *more* sensitive. I have done both free internet attunements and in person ones and actually to be honest the first internet ones had more oomph to 'em but that is probably since I already was at the level the in person attunement was for.

One of the best things I got from Reiki was the ability to clear negativity using it. Even tho at level 1 I was told symbols wouldn't work I tried them anyway and found that Chu Ko Rei is absoultly fablulous at clearing my own energy and also at enhancing shielding. It works even better when used with Sei Hei Ki and Raku.

Before I forget I just want to suggest that you learn about grounding and shielding on your own if your Reiki Master does not teach this as part of the class. I was down right shocked to find out that some don't! Grounding and shielding are basics for doing any energy work as few people are naturally grounded and so end up spacy when doing anything with energy and are too open psychically usually due to damage on the eneryg level to keep from picking up other people's stuff. I know some will disagree with me saying Reiki is so pure people won't pick up stuff. Well some people won't and some people will. If I was a teacher I would make sure my students knew in case they are like me - full of holes and 'too sensitive'.

My favorite Reiki book so far of the few i have read is Christopher Penczak's Magick of Reiki. It was an easy read with lots of suggestions for using Reiki in different ways in addition to healing such as clearing and charging one's crystals.

My favorite Reiki message board is the yahoogroup Reiki On here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reiki_on
Even if you don't want to post you can join and just lurk and check out the periodic Reiki Experiments. I have had some interesting things happen when I tried those out!

[Why Syzygy]

9. Thanks for the book rec.

Sounds really good. You gave me another good one, name escapes me, the Dark Tara travelogue.

Karen and Susan attuned me also. I don't read the list like I used to. But, I do keep an eye out for the Reju treatments. Those are so powerful for me.

[Shallah Kali]

11. I believe books.google.com has a preview of the Reiki book

That might help you find out if it is worth checking out for you. Christopher Penczak is wiccan and while the book is focused on how to integrate Reiki with magick I found it very useful even though I am not a practicioner of that myself. I had previously bought his psychic self-defence book and found it very useful. In fact that was one of the resons I got attuned to Reiki was that he said he always reccomends empaths learn Reiki.

I am glad you liked the Longing for Darkness by China Galland :) I found it helped me be more open to my mystical yearnings and experiences including the dark aspects. It was around that time I had started feeling a longing myself to connect with Kali which startled and worried me at first. I found it really helpful to see how she learned to accept that aspect of herself and trust a nontraditional for her culturs spirituality.It was inspiring for me to read of her travels and determination to follow her path no matter where it took her.

[easttexaslefty]

8. I've had a Reiki 1 attunement

I've mostly practiced on my very doubting husband. He claims the Reiki has help his poor aching back

[Why Syzygy]

10. Reiki II

I was distance attuned. Right away it was very beneficial for a friend in pain. He found it completely relaxing, something he was unable to achieve any other way.

It definitely has made me more sensitive to energies. I took a CEU class on energy healing from a Master of Science in Microbiology. She had been scientifically convinced of energy meridians. She tested various ones on my body and I was able to answer accurately each time. It almost seems like you're guessing, but there's something there. When I get energy treatments now, I always feel Reiki turn on within myself (palms). I've seen Reiki do some amazing things.

Shallah's shielding advice is well taken. I probably don't do it enough.

edit: Intended to also mention homeopathy, which 'feels' similar to Reiki in outcome, I think. The treatments can feel quite different. They both seem to have a similar subtle change in Life Path. Before I started homeopathy in 1992, I read as many books as could be found at the time to be thoroughly informed about what I was getting into. I guess I sensed that there was something life changing, and frankly, I didn't want to change. But I did. A lot.

So do others. This may not be mentioned enough, or maybe it requires no mention in practice, a personal ethics question. Within the course of a two year period, I encountered three middle aged men who were depressed and dissatisfied with their jobs. They all agreed to try the same Remedy. I do not Prescribe. Shortly after the Remedy, all three were pursuing new jobs and much more satisfied in their lives. None of them thought the Remedy had anything to do with the change. Doesn't matter to me if they do or not. Their world view has altered for all time, no matter their level of awareness of the shift. I think Reiki does something very much like this on a much more subtle level. Once you have channeled the Ki, nothing is ever the same.

[rosesaylavee]

12. Reiki 1

And I have not practiced it as much as I should. Probably need to get a tune up for my attunement. Used it on my son and my dog who was ill at the time.

Had an interesting experience with my heart chakra during the attunement. The man leading the attunement took out his crystal pendulum while we had our eyes closed at one point and was holding it in front of each of us. When he came to me it went crazy - swinging in circles about a foot or more in a diameter. I had no idea he was doing this because I had my eyes closed - but my heart all of sudden started racing and I was becoming more and more concerned. I knew he was standing in front of me and peeked to see what the heck was going on. When I asked him after that particular session what all that was about, he said he was just doing that out of curiousity. It wasn't part of the attunement. He said he didn't know what to make of it.

So far, haven't found an answer as to why he would do that or what it meant. Someone here suggested it had something to do with my kundalini. I just don't know.

[LaurenG]

13. Hi rosaylavee

I just wanted to give you my take on the pendulum. My experience with pendulums is limited but a pendulum swings wildly over chakras when there is energy. From your description it sounds like your heart chakra was huge. An empath and a genuine lover of all living things generally have the heart chakra larger than usual. And yes I would say it does have something to do with kundalini.

Also, you don't ever need a reiki tune up, just start using it again when you're ready! :)

[Shallah Kali]

14. I agree with OhioBlues

I have only played a bit with pendulums but when I do I find pendulums go wild around powerful energy. If I hold it over one of my cats and instruct it to show their energy I get such huge circles that the pendulum almost comes level with my hand. One time my Angel kitty got facinated by this whirling object and really focused on it and then suddenly the pendulum started spining virtically! It only stopped when Angel tried to bat it and got banged by the crystal before I could move it away.

As for re-attunements they are not necessary at all as you never loose the Attunement. Some people feel they even carried an attunement from previous lifetimes! Just self treat like usual or add in the intention that the Reiki will help improve your capacity to channel Reiki. If you are feeling adventurous you can sign up for a free attunement from one of the free reiki teaching groups on Yahoo like Reiki On or Reiki Path. Even tho I use Reiki just about every day I did sign up and found it did increase my ability to channel a bit more each time. Also Reiki On offers monthly empowerments which are not actual attunements but a Reiki booster that some in Reiki lineages teachers offer as regular infusions to keep things flowing at optimum. BTW you do not even need to give your full name and detailed location to recieve the booster or attunements. I just gave my name and state and it worked just as good as the in person attunement :)

[rosesaylavee]

16. Cool

I will have to check that out. I think that may be what I need to do this week. Cats are such awesome psychically attuned creatures, aren't they? I can see why people look on them as 'familiars' and such. They are so aware and sure of themselves. I sure miss having one around.

[Shallah Kali]

17. links

Reiki On - free teaching and attunements for people and pets for level 1 & 2 http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/reiki_on

Reiki Path - free teaching and attunements for levels 1, 2 & 3 (master) plus occasional offerings of offshoots of tradiational reiki.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/reiki_path/

[rosesaylavee]

19. Thank you for that!

[Shallah Kali]

23. Also a group that offers TONS of Reiki offshoot attunements

No instruction just tons of free attunements with the instruction manuals in the Files section

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ShamballaLove

It is best to take regular Reiki first up to master before taking another system *unless* you can take the new system in levels as well so you have time to adjust.

[rosesaylavee]

15. Thanks OhioBlues

I lost a bit of confidence in the process at that point in the attunement - would have liked him to have had some idea of what he was about. I think that at times I do have great empathy - am hopeful that I will figure out how best to use it before my time is up.

[arikara]

25. He shouldn't have been playing around like that

while he was doing your attunement. The attunement should be given in a reverential manner because it is a sacred thing. He would have known that if he was any kind of Reiki master. I would like to suggest that you have Level 2 attunement with someone else. I do think its nicer to have it in person, but I've also had online attunements that have knocked my socks off. Online is all many have access to, or can afford and that is fine. Its more important that the energy be out there for everyone than it is how you get it.

I did Reiki 1 back in the 80's when nobody had even heard of it and it was very expensive. I did my Usui master 4 years ago, and have experimented with different online attunements such as Karuna Ki too.

[Sanity Claws]

18. Thank you for your responses

I had the attunement yesterday and dreamed about Reiki 2 (or was it Reiki 3) last night.
I intend to follow up with reading and perhaps join a meetup group on Reiki. My hope is to take Reiki 2 in a month or two.
I will you informed if my attunement produces some unusual results, just in case it may spark a further interest in the subject for you.

[undergroundpanther]

20. I have had 3

First one was the most "dramatic", I was told when you get the first attunement your body cleans itself. Well it cleaned alright. I had the runs for a week, sweat alot,was really thirsty and basically my appetite was gone and I fasted.I wasn't planning on this it just happened.During the first attunement I had reiki symbols flashing in my retinas,and a burst of energy came through me and it flew out of my hands so strong I thought my fingertips were burning off my hands got really red too. The second attunement was ALOT less of the bodily stuff but the same flashing symbols thing,and the reiki became more focused.Third attunement was easy.
Unlike what I hear alot of other reiki practitioners do,
I do not 'draw' reiki symbols when I call it, the symbols automatically flash inside my retinas.I am not controlling it, it is reiki itself doing this. Reiki can flow through as hot or cold, but my hands feel hot regardless. If you move your hands while reiki is flowing you'll get this weird stringy gooey sensation if you break contact with what you are helping,you have to ask the reiki to stop flowing to take your hands off if you have to get up for some reason,However Reiki tells you where to put your hands and when to move. At least it does for me.Also you can reiki water, food ,plants, animals and even flow it through a crystal.
Useful stuff .
However once I had food poisoning,I Reikied myself,and it made me get it out of my system faster,I was sick maybe an hour at most, usually if I eat something bad I am sick much longer than that.I hate getting sick, I am emetiphobic, but I can control how it happens I have to prepare myself emotionally for it...after wards I reikied for emotional level stuff and the fear reactions afterwards were much less severe. Reiki is no bullshit, it works.
Good luck on your attunements.You'll love the energy. It fees nice and it kicks ass.

[shadowknows69]

22. I had a friend who said someone did one badly on her

fucked her up for days.

[arikara]

26. My guess is that she didn't understand the Herxheimer reaction

which can happen after an attunement. It causes the body to detoxify and sometimes, although not always, people have varying degrees of flu-like symptoms for a few days. Its actually a normal, healthy reaction which can happen with many types of alternative health treatments not only Reiki. What it indicates is that parasites, bugs and other pathogens are being killed off and the body is reacting to the toxins caused by the die off. It can be very alarming, especially if its a strong reaction and not understood.

Its unfortunate that she didn't understand what was going on. The Reiki Master either didn't explain it or maybe your friend happen to zone out during that part of the training, which certainly can happen.

[FirstLight]

24. I have had a few, but my BFF is totally gifted with it!

Her hands get SO hot when she is doing it, people think she is using hot stones!

She does massage, and uses reiki periodically - more so with clients she is familiar with and knows better their energy and what their issues are. She has also done some "distance" work on me as well. It is so gentle you hardly know it is happening, but the feeling of having been "worked" is definately there. very sweet energy.

edit to add: she also used it on her sick kitty and dying grandma with much success. she doesn't draw the symbols as she "feels" them and then the energy transmits through her.

I hope you enjoy your class! where are you taking it, at a school or w/ a private reiki master ?

good luck and let us know how it goes! :)