Quick Links to questions about the following topics:

• 1.    Why did you become a REIKI master?  My interest in ancient and natural medicines began when I was a child.  In 1978, I started seriously researching natural medicines like vitamin and herbal therapies, music, colour and light therapies, Acupuncture, Acupressure and Shiatsu, reflexology, macrobiotic eating, Ayurvedic medicine, Martial Arts and so on.  This research combined nicely with some of my formal education which included studies in psychology, physics and world religions.   After being introduced to REIKI, I came to realize that REIKI is a simple, non-invasive treatment that is founded on life principles I already followed.  REIKI can incorporate many of the other therapies, working in harmony with most.

• 2.    What prompted you to create a relaxation REIKI album?  The harp has been used since ancient times [we're told 5000 B.C.] as an instrument of ceremony, celebration and healing.  One of the great stories told about harp music and healing is one found in the Old Testament of the HOLY BIBLE, where David played his harp for King Saul, to ease the King's sufferings.  I have been a professional musician since 1981, and have found that it didn't matter if the audience was a small intimate crowd or a few thousand in number, audience members would share with me how they experienced loving, healing energy through the music.  My goal in combining this musical experience with REIKI is to provide a supportive element to people who are seeking respite from Life's demands.

• 3.    Can your album be used for general relaxation?  Does it have to be used during a REIKI treatment?   This musical collection is designed to be used by anyone of any age seeking relaxation and repose.  Teachers, children, teens and sports enthusiasts have found the guided meditation to be of great help, whether to calm a noisy classroom, prompt artistic creativity or prepare for an athletic competition.

Selections of various lengths are included so that if one wishes to use the album for a REIKI treatment, they can choose to play the CD for however long the treatment may take.  The guided meditation is in two parts, the first being less than 15 minutes for that moment in the day when one wants to relax and time is limited.  Otherwise, the listener can continue to listen through the meditation in its entirety for the full 30 minutes.

• 4.    Is REIKI for those who follow Buddhism?  REIKI is not bound by religion.  REIKI is Divine energy that is shared for the reason of promoting well-being.  Anyone of any religious faith can do or receive REIKI.

• 5.    Is REIKI founded in Buddhism?    Dr. Usui did seek the knowledge of Buddhist priests before giving his REIKI method to the world.   Ancient Chinese, Tibetan, Buddhist and Bôn healing treatments included energy healing, but I believe that Dr. Usui formulated his laying of hands technique in a specific way so as to provide an effective method of treatment without the many complexities associated with other healing techniques.

• 6.    Is there a 'Christian' REIKI?  SACRED TOUCH, developed by ministers in the Christian church, is similar.

• 7.    What is the difference between SACRED TOUCH and REIKI?   REIKI is founded in Japanese culture.  SACRED TOUCH is founded in North America.

• 8.    Do REIKI Masters and practitioners differ in how they give a treatment?  Each REIKI practitioner I've encountered personalized the treatment, based on his/her experience and training.

• 9.    What kind of differences can be found between REIKI practitioners?  I know one REIKI Master who will incorporate SACRED TOUCH symbols as well as crystals, depending on the client's need and openness to other therapies.  Another REIKI practitioner uses light therapy and reflexology.  Yet another incorporates aspects of alchemical healing.  The first REIKI master I received a treatment from did not include any religious or other healing elements in the session.  

• 10.   If REIKI is so effective on its own, why do some REIKI practitioners use other types of healing methods?  Personal preference???  There could be a host of reasons, so don't hesitate to question the practitioner you are dealing with if this situation arises or is of concern.  

• 11.   Do you use other healing treatments during a REIKI session?   I remain true to the REIKI Ryoho method, though sometimes I like to include a gentle foot massage, if the client is open to this.  SACRED TOUCH can also be incorporated if for religious beliefs or any other reason the client wants this to be included.  Sometimes, lending a listening ear becomes an important healing element in the REIKI session.  I believe the needs of the client are the primary basis for the treatment session.    

Since REIKI is a lifestyle choice for me, I also believe that a good diet and exercise program is essential for continued well-being.  I teach that since we are energy that is related to and affected by other energies in our world, then we will have various responses to these energies, whether they are personal or collective world energies [for example, the Tsunami disaster had a rippling affect world-wide].  It is my hope that the people I encounter through REIKI will become better aware of how their body responds to stress and other energies, which includes the colours of one's clothes, the personalities we deal with in our workplace or home, the quality of lighting and air in our surroundings, noise pollution, food preservatives, etc.  By raising this level of awareness, the client takes an active part in her/his healing process.

              

• 12.    If a person is under medical care, should she/he give this up when taking REIKI treatments?    No.  REIKI often supports the energies a person may be receiving through modern medical treatment.

• 13.    Can REIKI be given to pregnant women?    Yes.

• 14.    Is REIKI safe for children?    Yes.

• 15.    How old do you have to be before you can begin training in REIKI?     I prefer to teach adults but Level I technique can be done by a child.

• 16.    Does a person have to know much about other healing treatments to become a REIKI practitioner?    No.  However, sometimes it's helpful to have a general knowledge about other energy and healing systems.

• 17.    Can REIKI be used for evil, like Voodoo?    No.  REIKI is Divine energy which supports life systems.  The REIKI practitioner delivers the treatment with the intention to encourage healing and well-being.  REIKI is creative energy, not destructive.

• 18.    If REIKI is so good, then why isn't REIKI embraced by everyone?     REIKI is relatively new, only developing in North America and other countries over the past 20 years, with a resurgence in Japan during this same time period.  Perhaps because of its 'newness', there is a reluctance towards REIKI because of a lack of information, skepticism, religious beliefs, lifestyle choices that don't embrace this type of energy work, misunderstandings, etc.

• 19.    Why does a person have to learn REIKI from a REIKI master?    Traditional Japanese REIKI teaches that a Master passes REIKI tools to the student.  Traditional REIKI supports the belief of the importance of lineage.  Having said this, I recently noticed that someone was offering the complete REIKI course over the internet, another practitioner gives the training through a book, and still another uses video. 

• 20.    Did you study with a REIKI Master?    Yes.  I greatly appreciate the knowledge and wisdom my Master continues to give me through her experience and Life training.

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• 21.    What is a REIKI guide?    The Japanese support the belief in honouring one's ancestors, as do many other cultures and religions.  This concept is also supported by various factions of the Christian church such as prayers to Saints, etc.  If a practitioner chooses to meet her/his REIKI guide, this request should be made known to the REIKI teacher at the onset of training.

• 23.    Do you have to meet a REIKI guide to become a REIKI practitioner?    No, not according to my research and training.

• 24.    How much ritualism is involved in REIKI training?   It depends on the Master that you train with.  Some Masters embrace rituals, others don't.

• 25.    Is REIKI involved with spiritualism or mysticism?   The definition of 'spiritualism' is constantly under scrutiny, so I will interpret your question first to be, "Does REIKI involve one's spirit?"   I believe REIKI involves a person's spirit because I believe the human being is the totality of body, mind and spirit and it is the harmonious interaction of these aspects that creates wellness.  If by 'spiritualism' you mean religious beliefs, then as mentioned before, some REIKI Masters and Teachers incorporate their personal belief systems into their practice.  This can also apply to mysticism.  BE SURE TO ASK THE PERSON YOU ARE SEEKING TRAINING FROM ABOUT ANY ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS THAT THEY MAY BE INCLUDING IN THE TRAINING OR THERAPY SESSION.

• 26.    How does a REIKI treatment affect a person's spirit?   By opening significant energy points on our bodies, we open ourselves to healing energy.  This healthy flow of energy [same concept as Acupuncture and Acupressure] creates and supports wellness.  When a person feels well the thinking process is stabilized and the spirit flourishes.  When the spirit and the mind are healthy, the body is more likely to also be healthy. Health is dependent upon a continuous cycle of nuturing energy between body, mind and spirit.

• 27.     How much does it cost to take REIKI training?   The cost is set by your REIKI master.  The price for training usually ranges from $150- $450 for Level I training, to as high as $2000, [though some have charged as much as $10,000] for Master training.

• 28.    How much does a REIKI treatment cost?   Treatments usually cost between $40 and $60 per session. 

• 29.    How does a person find a reputable REIKI master?     Taking a few REIKI treatments first will introduce you to the style the Master is using.  Then, you can decide if this style is aligned with your own belief system and lifestyle choice.  Word of mouth has worked well for me.  I've also looked at the resources online.

• 30.    How many people can take a REIKI training session at one time?    Some REIKI masters teach many people at once.  My REIKI master kept the class size between 2 and 6 students.  I set my class size to a maximum of 10 trainees per training session.

• 31.    Is a REIKI training session done only through verbal instruction and demonstration?    Each master will have his/her own teaching style.  Some provide written materials.  Others may not.

• 32.    Should a person interview a potential REIKI teacher?    I recommend it.  One should be fully comfortable with someone who could have a lasting influence in your life.

• 33.    Can REIKI become a business?    Some practitioners have made REIKI their life work.

• 34.    Once a person becomes a REIKI master, does he/she have to take upgrading classes?    Follow-up classes are not mandatory.  However, as questions through your practice arise, you should be able to receive guidance from your REIKI Master.

• 35.    Does a person have to purchase certain items in order to be a REIKI practitioner? Some practitioner's like to work on a 'massage' or REIKI table, which adjusts to the height suitable for the practitioner.  Many of my REIKI sessions have been done using the floor, a couch, bed, chair, etc., because that was where the client was and that was what was practical at the time.

• 36.    If a person takes REIKI Level I, does that mean he/she has to take the remaining levels?    No.  Some people want to learn how to do REIKI in its basic form so they can do REIKI on themselves or for friends and family members.  Others stop after Level II training, being satisfied with having learned the additional techniques of Long Distance REIKI.

• 37.    If a person completes all three levels, does this mean she/he is obliged to teach and practice REIKI?    No.  The level of commitment to REIKI is completely up to the student.  This may be why charging an amount of money for the training has remained a practice for many, if not most, REIKI Masters.  The monetary attachment to the training prods a student to determine her/his level of commitment to this training.  I interview my Level II practitioners before they register for Level III training, as I feel Level III is for those committed to teaching others REIKI.

• 38.    Can a person charge for giving treatments if they only have REIKI Level I and/or REIKI Level II?    Yes.  Some practitioners alter the fee amount based on their level of training.

• 39.    Are there REIKI organizations that stipulate mandates or govern the teaching and practice of REIKI?    Yes, some organizations have come into existence in the past few years that require testing of REIKI knowledge and skill from those applying for membership [a membership fee is usually involved].  A web search will quickly give you information regarding these organizations.

• 40.    Is it necessary to join an international REIKI organization or society, in order to practice REIKI?   Being certified through a REIKI Master is sufficient credentials for practicing REIKI.  

• 41.    Will being a member of an organization be beneficial in some way to the practitioner?     Joining a national or international REIKI organization is important to some practitioners for varied reasons.  With the assortment of training methods REIKI masters use today, a group of REIKI practitioners believe it's important to regulate REIKI training techniques, and a few of these organizations try to do that.  Remember that your REIKI training and treatments are only as good as the REIKI practitioner you take them from, whether she/he is a member of an international organization or not.  Being certified by an international organization does not guarantee that the REIKI practitioner you are working with is aligned with your life values and beliefs.  Benefits of joining a REIKI organization can be to have access to support materials, to be able to draw from the REIKI experiences of others and to share your own REIKI experiences, to make friends, and to enjoy the group experience of sharing REIKI energy.   

• 42.    Is one REIKI organization better than another?   It appears that each organization exists because of a specific mandate that its members agree with.  Personally, I hope that whatever the choice of the REIKI practitioner, whether it is to be affiliated with a REIKI organization or institution, the goal will be to encourage the healing energy of REIKI throughout the world.  Instead of striving for elite groups in REIKI training and practice, it is my desire to see all those who practice REIKI united in an effort to bring well-being to the world at large.