Reiki For Dummies

Nina L. Paul, PhD, is a Reiki Master in private Reiki practice in New York. She studied Immunology and epidemiology at Yale University and is also the author of Living with Hepatitis C For Dummies.

• Introduction 1About This Book 1Foolish Assumptions 2Icons Used in This Book 3Beyond the Book 4Where to Go from Here 4Part 1: Getting Started with Reiki 5Chapter 1: Reiki: Connecting with Life-Force Energy 7Discovering What Reiki Is and Isn’t 8What Reiki is 8What Reiki isn’t 9Describing the System of Reiki 10Examining the Energy of Reiki 11Defining universal energy 11Detecting subtle energy 11Understanding how Reiki works 12Distinguishing Reiki from other forms of energy healing 12Exploring the History of Reiki 14Getting Connected with Reiki 14Trying a Reiki session 14Taking Reiki classes 15Choosing a Reiki Practitioner or Master 16Experiencing the Benefits of Reiki 17Healing a physical illness 17Healing emotions 17Getting insights or inspiration 18Going further in spiritual development 18Looking at the Reiki Symbols 18Chapter 2: Navigating Your Body’s Energy Systems 21Describing Subtle Energy 21Discovering Your Body’s Energy Anatomy 23Knowing the body’s physical and energetic anatomy 24Sensing your body’s electromagnetic field: The aura 26Pinpointing the acupuncture system: The meridians 28Locating your energy centers: The chakras 29Detecting Your Subtle Energy System with Reiki 31Chapter 3: Exploring Reiki’s Roots and Branches 33Mikao Usui: The Founder of Reiki 34Finding Reiki on the mountaintop 34Teaching Reiki to others 35Mikao Usui’s legacy 36Considering Reiki before Mikao Usui 37Exploring the Medical Approach: Chujiro Hayashi 38Bringing Reiki from East to West: Hawayo Takata 39Learning Reiki for herself 39Takata’s versions of Reiki history 41Seeing Reiki in Japan and the West 42Reiki in Japan 42Japanese and Western Reiki today 42Looking at Reiki Branch Lineage 44Japanese Usui Reiki branches 45Western Usui Reiki branches 45Choosing a Reiki Branch for Yourself 46Letting Reiki Branches Differ 46Forecasting the Future of Reiki 47Chapter 4: Looking at the Reiki Principles 49Describing the Reiki Principles 49Staying in the present: Just for today 50Going through the five Reiki Principles 51Incorporating the Reiki Principles into Your Daily Life 55Sharing Additional Versions of Reiki Principles 56Just for today, be humble 57Honor your parents, teachers, elders 57Part 2: Experiencing Reiki for Yourself 59Chapter 5: Getting the Reiki Treatment 61Finding the Right Reiki Practitioner for You 62Locating a professional practitioner 63Interviewing your potential practitioner 63Preparing Yourself for Your First Reiki Session 65Exploring a Reiki Session from Beginning to End 65What to expect before the session 66Undergoing the Reiki session 67Session accomplished: After the Reiki session 69Repeating Your Reiki Experience 70Using Reiki in Tandem with Other Therapies 71Committing Yourself to Healing with Reiki 72Chapter 6: Letting Your Entire Family Experience Reiki 73Helping Yourself with Reiki 74Cycling through Life with Reiki 75Starting with pregnancy 76Cherishing childhood with Reiki 77Traipsing through the teenage years with Reiki 78Gracing the senior years with Reiki 79Concluding life with Reiki 81Using Reiki for the Family Pet 82Knowing when to use Reiki 82Finding the right pet practitioner 83Listening to animals 83Using different techniques 85Part 3: Becoming Well Versed in Reiki 87Chapter 7: Seeking Reiki Training and Classes 89Examining Reasons to Study Reiki 90Asking the Right Questions about Reiki Classes and Teachers 91Knowing the Reiki Classes and Certification 94Distinguishing types of Reiki courses 95Preparing before your Reiki class 96Looking at individual Reiki levels 97Defining a Reiki Master 99Answering Questions about Attunements 100Do I need to receive an attunement to access this high-level energy? 100What about repeating attunements? 101What will happen to me during the attunement? 101What happens after the attunement? 101Chapter 8: Discovering the Reiki Symbols 103Understanding Reiki Symbols 104Making it easy to connect 104Looking at the background of the symbols 105Using symbols without an attunement 105Removing the secrecy, keeping the sacred 106Taking a Close Look at the Four Reiki Symbols 107Cho Ku Rei 107Sei Hei Ki 109Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen 110Dai Ko Myo 111Drawing the Reiki Symbols 113Activating the Reiki Symbols 114Visualizing the symbols 114Saying the names of the symbols 115Looking at More Symbols, Reiki and Otherwise 115Chapter 9: Connecting with Reiki Energy Techniques 117Connecting with the Reiki Energy 118Combining Prayer and Intention with Reiki 119Meditating to Connect with Reiki Energy 120Prayerful hands: Gassho 121Breathing meditation: Joshin Kokyu Ho 123Focusing technique: Seishin Toitsu 124Chakra meditation 125Contracting the Hui Yin 127Receiving Guidance through Intuition 128Chapter 10: Applying Reiki to Yourself 131Putting Yourself First 132Discovering the benefits of self-Reiki 132Creating ways to incorporate self-Reiki 133Preparing to Give Yourself Reiki 134Treating Yourself with Reiki 134Listing the self-Reiki hand positions 135Branching out to other positions 144Personalizing Your Self-Reiki Practice 146Being creative 146Using Reiki for first aid self-care 146Giving yourself a Reiki Shower 147Chapter 11: Healing Others with Reiki Positions and Techniques 149Examining Full-Body Hand Positions 150Starting at the head 151Moving down the front of the body 155Switching to the back of the body 161Don’t forget the legs and feet! 164Considering additional Reiki positions 166Knowing Where to Go and When to Leave 167Deciding on hand placement 167Moving on 169Using Reiki without Touching the Body 169Beaming Reiki energy from across the room 170Using your breath and your eyes 170Balancing Chakras with Reiki 171Chapter 12: Reiki Rocks! Using Crystals with Reiki 173Exploring the Healing Power of Crystals 174Sensing the energy of crystals 174Knowing the lore of crystals 175Distinguishing among Crystals, Rocks, and Gems 177Finding the Right Crystals for You 178Considering the crystal’s shape 178Choosing which crystal to use 179Staying Crystal Clear: Cleaning a Crystal’s Energy 179Knowing how to cleanse your crystal 180Jakikiri Joka Ho: Using Reiki to clean inanimate objects 180Giving Your Crystal a Reiki Charge 181Bringing Crystals to the Reiki Table 182Knowing which crystals to use 182Placing the crystals during a Reiki session 183Part 4: Sharing Reiki with Others 185Chapter 13: Putting Together a Reiki Healing Session 187Developing Your Reiki Style 188Preparing Yourself to Give Reiki 188Getting Your Surroundings Ready 189Merging Different Healing Practices 190Considering Ethics and Boundaries 190Recognizing that each person or situation is unique 191Sharing information with others 192Respecting boundaries 192Going through the Session 193Starting the session 193Taking notes mid-session 194Ending the session 194Cleaning and Protecting 195Exploring the technique of aura cleansing 196Using the Kenyoku Ho technique 196Protecting yourself with the Power symbol 197Cleansing the Reiki room 198Chapter 14: Experiencing Reiki in a Group Setting 199Participating in Reiki Events 200Finding Reiki events 201Knowing what to expect 201Reaping the benefits 202Harnessing the Power of Group Reiki 202Giving group Reiki sessions 203Meditating in a Reiki group 205Passing energy around in a circle 205Sending distant Reiki as a group 206Receiving a group Reiki session 206Going on a Reiki Retreat 207Taking Reiki to the Community 208Chapter 15: Sending Reiki Where Needed 209Like a Prayer: Understanding How Reiki Can Be Sent 210Sending Reiki to people who are far away 211Sending Reiki to the future 211Sending Reiki to the past 211Sending Reiki to different places and situations 212Getting Permission to Send Distant Reiki 214Receiving consent from the recipient 214Sharing what you learn with the recipient 215Getting Prepared for Distant Reiki 216Performing the Distant Reiki Session 216Using visuals for the distant session 216Performing the distant Reiki technique 217Creating the session structure 218Using Distant Reiki to Heal Yourself 219Sending Reiki to Many at Once 219Chapter 16: Combining Reiki Healing with Other Health Practices 221Discovering the Healing Power of Reiki 221Healing what hurts and achieving balance 222Considering the spectrum of illness and wellness 223Understanding how Reiki heals at many levels 223Seeing Reiki as energy medicine 224Supporting the healing process with Reiki 225Getting as much (or as little) Reiki as you need 226Integrating Reiki with Medical Care and Settings 227Knowing that Reiki can’t do it all 227Adding Reiki to the balancing act of health 228Recognizing Reiki and health care professionals 229Connecting Reiki to different health care conditions 230Offering Reiki in hospitals 232Using Reiki to help medicines 233Using Different Reiki Techniques for Illness or Pain 233Using Reiki in Special Situations 234Reiki in first-aid situations 234Reiki and surgery 234Reiki during labor and birth 235Reiki and chemotherapy or radiation 236Reiki around the time of death 236Reiki and hospice 237Matching Reiki with Bodywork 237Using Reiki with Counseling 238Using Reiki to Change Habits and Heal Addictions 239Overcoming addictions 240Trying a technique for addictions and habits 240Chapter 17: Becoming a Professional Reiki Healer 243Surveying Some Requirements for Becoming a Reiki Professional 243Minimum requirements for practice and teaching 244Types of certification and standards 244Knowing the Benefits of Becoming a Reiki Professional 246Finding Ways to Turn Your Passion for Reiki into a Vocation 246Maintaining Integrity in Your Work with Reiki 247Following the Reiki Principles 248Preparing yourself to work as a Reiki professional 248Knowing your place as a Reiki professional 250Setting Up Your Reiki Business 250Making a plan 250Knowing the legal issues of practicing Reiki 252Pricing your services fairly 252Finding a healing space 252Getting the right equipment 253Being Part of the Reiki Community 254Collaborating with other Reiki healers 255Staying up-to-date in the world of Reiki 255Finding Reiki Opportunities 256Chapter 18: Connecting with Reiki Online 259Comparing Reiki Online to Reiki in Person 260Maintaining Reiki Presence While You’re Online 261Going online with the Reiki Principles 261Staying present and connected 262Finding Reiki Information Online 263Getting started 263Knowing what to look for in a Reiki website or social media page 264Receiving a Reiki Session Remotely 265The basics of distant Reiki 265Types of online sessions 265Communication after a session 266Requests for free Reiki healing 266Studying Reiki Online 267Recognizing that online Reiki training is a controversial topic 267Choosing among online Reiki training options 268Seeing the Benefits of an Online Presence for Reiki Providers and Teachers 269Part 5: The Part of Tens 271Chapter 19: Ten Uses for Reiki in Everyday Situations 273Helping Plants Reach Their Potential 273Boosting Your Food’s Fortitude 274Shoring Up Your Water 275Making the Most of Your Medicine 275Calming Computer Problems 276Managing Money with Reiki 276Bolstering Your Transportation 277Cleaning and Clearing Out Clutter 278Protecting Loved Ones 279Shielding Your Home 279Chapter 20: Ten Uses for Reiki as a Tool for Personal Growth 281Receiving Healing with Reiki 282Going Inward with Meditation 283Honoring the Reiki Principles 283Getting Attuned to Reiki 284Keeping a Journal 285Empowering Your Affirmations with Reiki 285Giving Reiki as Service 287Empowering Your Intentions 287Letting Your Intuition Blossom 288Using Reiki Symbols 289Chapter 21: Ten Misconceptions about Reiki 291Reiki Is a New Age Practice 291There’s No Proof for Reiki 292You Must Believe in Reiki to Benefit from It 293You Must Pay for Reiki for It to Benefit You 293There’s Only One Right Form or School of Reiki 294Reiki Is a Religion 295You Know How Reiki Will Heal You 295Your Reiki Practitioner’s Energy Heals You 296Reiki Can Cure Anything 296Reiki Can Be Used Instead of Medicine 297Chapter 22: Ten Nontraditional Reiki Symbols 299Double Cho Ku Rei 300Tibetan Dai Ko Myo 300Tibetan Fire Serpent 301Raku 302Zonar 303Harth 304Halu 305Antakharana 306Om 307Shoshana 307Part 6: Appendixes 309Appendix A: Great Reiki Resources 311Appendix B: Glossary 319Index 325