First Degree
This information is given to all students prior to first degree.
Reiki for Yourself: What to Expect
Sometimes, there is no substitute for speaking plainly. All too often, Reiki is regarded as a 'fluffy' New Age cure-all, but we feel that this misrepresents it. We offer the following advice and observations in the student's best interests. Please remove any rose-coloured spectacles now!
To us, Reiki works in different ways, the main ones being that of healing and self-evolution, whereby you gain a deeper understanding of yourself, others and the world around you. You should not take Reiki training in order to stay the same. It can change you. But you should be prepared to take responsibility for your own self-healing and development on all levels. Reiki is not magic, but a very functional system. It is the life energy of the universe. Once you are attuned, you can channel it and use it to reduce stress and effect healing. But again, we can't stress too much, you shouldn't look on it as a substitute for orthodox medical care. It complements conventional medicine and augments the healing process.
Before taking Reiki training, you should have a real desire to be healed on all levels and to evolve as an individual. This might sound ridiculous, because no one wants to be ill, miserable, insecure or frightened, but sometimes we can identify with long-standing conditions too much and they become part of our identity. We are afraid of losing them, because then we might lose our identity. People are often not consciously aware of this.
Another responsibility with Reiki is that you should be completely honest with yourself and have the desire to understand yourself psychologically, even if that means dealing with painful issues from the past that might have been buried. Reiki is not a crutch but a tool for self-empowerment. Your Reiki teacher or any other practitioner can only support you and offer advice and, if you want it, hands-on treatment. This will help your journey to self-empowerment, but the rest is up to you. All the healing in the world won't do any good, if the person concerned does not want to be healed.
Attunement affects people very differently. Some report having very spiritual experiences during the process, while others experience physical effects, such as tingling, or a sensation of energy flowing through the body. Yet more experience both! In other cases, people might experience emotional effects, while some will not be affected emotionally at all. It is very difficult to predict how an individual will react.
If emotional fallout is experienced during the first degree, it's generally because old issues rise to the surface to be resolved and healed. Some people sail through attunements without feeling much at all, while others, at the other end of the scale, might feel a need to cry. Emotional expression is a good thing - it's like having an energy boil lanced. If this should happen, you shouldn't feel embarrassed about it. The important thing to remember is that Reiki will affect you in the way that's best for you. Your teacher will give full support, and healing if necessary, even after the initiation is over. The teachers of the School are utterly supportive and non-judgmental, and are happy for people to express themselves freely.
In our opinion, no Reiki teacher should insist on dogmatic rules, or place requirements on how you practice. A responsible teacher will encourage experimentation in their students, because a teacher can learn just as much from their students as they can teach them.
Even if you just have the attunements and never use Reiki, it will be of benefit, but to experience really positive changes you're advised to work on yourself every day, at least for the initial period of twenty-one days following attunement. You can't just sit back and say, 'OK, heal and evolve me, then!' without participating.
Reiki for Others
You can Reiki people, plants and animals with first degree. You can also 'beam', which is a technique used to Reiki a room or an atmosphere.
After attunement, we advise that you practice using the traditional hand placements, as given in the handout. The ones we use derive from William Rand's book 'Reiki: The Healing Touch'. We recommend this book to any first degree practitioners, as it has a sensible, no nonsense approach. (A list of other recommended reading will be given at first degree.) Once you are used to working with Reiki, you might find that your own instincts tend to take over about where to place your hands on a recipient. Again, there are no hard and fast rules, and you should work towards listening to your intuition. We can pick up a lot of 'signals' from people, without even realising it, from such things as body language, eye movements, tone of voice and even smell. Our inner senses recognise these signals and knows how best to administer Reiki.
The longer someone has had an illness, the more time it takes for Reiki to have an effect on it. This is why we advocate people with serious conditions getting Reiki for themselves, so they can give self-treatments every day for as long as they need. Reiki can be given very effectively when someone is receiving chemotherapy and can help alleviate the side effects.
We suggest that you acquire knowledge of the body's energy system. The more you know about the way people tick and function, psychologically and physically, the better. The chakra system is not strictly part of Reiki, as Usui taught it, and we do not insist you learn it, but it can be very useful.
We give all this advice in order to protect you as much as your recipients. People often ask for Reiki healing when many other avenues have been tried. All practitioners should be aware of the responsibility they are taking on and that sometimes they might have to deal with difficult or delicate situations.
Prior to First Degree
Prior to First Degree attunement, you are given the opportunity to come to the school and meet your Reiki teacher for discussion and a sample of healing. However, if travelling a long distance for a relatively short session is a problem, you can talk to the teacher over the phone.
You will be asked what (if anything) you know about Reiki and why you want to take First Degree.
Your teacher will explain exactly what Reiki is and give its history.
Reiki is not human energy. It does not deplete you as other systems of healing can. It comes directly from the Source.
Reiki works in conjunction with the human energy system. If you have not already learned about this, your teacher will explain a little to you about how life energy functions in the body, as well as in the environment.
What Happens During First Degree Training?
At first degree, you will be given four attunements, over two sessions, which take place on consecutive days (afternoons or evenings). Your teacher will ask if you object to other previously attuned students being present to assist with the healing, but bearing in mind that you might experience some emotional fallout, we quite understand if you wish to be alone with your teacher(s). This will be discussed prior to your training.
The first session involves you receiving a Reiki treatment from your teacher(s) and other students, if present.
You then receive the first attunement. This is a short gentle procedure of a few minutes, and all you have to do is sit on a chair with your eyes closed, while your teacher conducts the attunement. She will perform a series of actions that enables your own energy system to channel Reiki. Traditionally, these are secret until you reach third degree, which is why you are asked to close your eyes. But also, with closed eyes, you are able to focus fully on any energy flow within your body or visualised images that you experience during the attunement.
There is then a short break for refreshments and time to talk about your experience.
On returning to the attunement room, you will learn some of the meditation techniques that help strengthen your ability to use Reiki. These techniques, which derive from Usui's original teachings, are really useful to the new Reiki student and help inspire confidence to use their new ability.
The meditation is followed by another attunement,which concludes the session.
We suggest that you make note of any relevant dreams you may have that night and/or any other effects. Sometimes, these can be very interesting!
The second session begins with refreshments and a short time to discuss your feelings and/or experiences following the previous session.
In the attunement room, you'll receive another short session of healing, during which you will be asked to place your hands on your own stomach. A few people already feel Reiki begin to flow through them at this stage.
You will then receive the third attunement.
After this, you'll be told about the hand placements for healing and how to 'turn Reiki on', and be asked to give a short treatment to your teacher. This is followed by a break for refreshment and discussion. You will be given the five principles of Reiki, as written by Mikao Usui Sensei.
Finally, you will receive the last attunement and some kind of closing meditation is shared, such as a Reiki link, when all present join hands and 'turn on' their Reiki.
Before the session closes, there is further time for refreshment and discussion.
You will receive your first degree certificate and first degree manual.
After attunement, you should give yourself a Reiki treatment for at least ten minutes a day, preferably longer. For at least an initial period, try to be kind to yourself in regard to getting proper rest and food. Try not to overindulge in drinking alcohol. If you have a long-standing illness or condition, the more you Reiki yourself the more it will affect you beneficially.
Also, the more you use Reiki, the stronger it will flow through you, making you a more effective practitioner. If Reiki is not used regularly during the early stages, it can become 'dormant' in the body. The meditation techniques you'll learn will help the Reiki to flow more strongly.
It is not essential that you immediately experience dramatic physical effects, such as hot hands or tingling, although many people do. Reiki initiation is not an exam that you either pass or fail, and acquiring physical sensations is not the aim of attunement. Once you have been attuned, Reiki is in you for life, and the more you practice, so the more you will be inclined to feel physical sensations in the hands and body.
Tips for Self-Evolution and Reiki Training
Practice living in the moment.
Stress and anxiety can give rise to or exacerbate physical and mental ailments. If we constantly live in the past - which we cannot change - or fear for the future, we are under stress. Let go of fear.
Practice Passive Observation
Learn to observe yourself - your actions, reactions, feelings and behaviour - without judgement. We are all conglomerations of conditioned behaviour and responses, and 'armouring' resulting from old fears, habits and traumas. Passive self-observation helps release these blockages. More information on this technique will be given during your training, if you so wish it.
Study Your Subject
We offer classes and workshops in various Reiki techniques, but we do think it's important to read as much about Reiki as you can. You might not agree with the viewpoint of every author, but most books have something useful to offer the new practitioner.
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Second Degree
When to Take Second Degree
Obviously, all students must have taken first degree Usui Reiki before embarking upon subsequent degrees. As to when you should advance to the next degree depends entirely upon the individual.
Some people, who have previously worked regularly with natural energy, either through meditation, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga, Paganism, or some other tradition, are usually ready to advance to second degree quite quickly. Extremely experienced individuals might well want to take first and second degree together, over the course of a weekend. But there are advantages to spending time working thoroughly with Reiki at first degree, before rushing into second degree.
A lot of students report that once they have knowledge of the symbols, they tend to use them all the time to 'turn on' Reiki. As humans, we like to work with pictures rather than formless ideas, so we can appreciate why this may be so, but the fact is that intention alone is enough to 'turn Reiki on', and it is beneficial to practice with this for a while. We also think it's rather a shame to 'miss out' on the experience of using Reiki without the symbols. It is all part of the natural course of Reiki training. However, if you have to travel quite a distance to get to the School, (which might make repeat visits more difficult), and you are experienced enough to take both degrees together, we will happily oblige.
Some schools have advocated that 'Second Degree Reiki' is stronger than that of first degree, and that there is a difference in the quality of the energy when the symbols are used. We have found no evidence of this. In our experience, Reiki is Reiki, regardless of the level of study of the practitioner. Obviously, the more you use it, and especially when you practice the Reiki meditations, you are able to channel the energy more efficiently. The second degree attunements and symbols further enhance this ability, but the Reiki itself is the same.
Generally, we suggest that at least three weeks (for experienced practitioners) elapse between first and second degree, and at least three months for those who have never worked with natural energy before.
What to Expect From Second Degree
Students report that once they have received the attunements and the symbols, they find it much easier to channel Reiki in all situations. It has been suggested that the symbols are like training wheels, and that once you have learned to use them you should work towards discarding them and returning to the simplicity of First Degree practice. However, that might be something to consider years in the future, once you have practiced Reiki for a long time. It is interesting to work with the symbols. They help you 'lock on' to various aspects of the Reiki ray.
The Power Symbol enables you to 'turn on' Reiki quickly and to direct it specifically. You learn how to treat emotional/mental conditions with another symbol, and also how to 'send' Reiki over distances, using a third symbol. These practices greatly expand the experience of Reiki.
As with First Degree, some students might experience what is termed 'fall out' following attunement, when old or buried issues rise to the surface to be healed. But on the whole, we have found that the effects of Second Degree tend to be less dramatic than those of the First. In fact, some students express concern that they haven't experienced the enormous 'rush' that they encountered at First Degree and worry that they haven't 'got' second degree properly. If you should feel this way, don't worry. You have been attuned before, so the whole experience is less of a surprise than it was when you acquired First Degree. It might also be that, because of this, you are less tense, anxious or nervous, which in turn will affect how you feel during the training.
Remember: What Second Degree does is enhance your ability to channel Reiki, but the Reiki itself remains the same.
Why Are the Symbols Secret?
Many books on Reiki now print all the symbols, even though traditionally three are kept secret until second degree, and a fourth till Master/Teacher degree. We recommend that students resist the urge to discover what the symbols look like prior to training. This is not because we firmly believe they are part of a secret tradition, or that it might affect the symbols' effectiveness if they're already known. It's because prior knowledge spoils the moment during the training when the symbols are revealed to you for the first time. This is a special moment, and the experience does not carry the same impact if you're already familiar with the symbols. So - please - curb your curiosity! We guarantee it will be worth it.
Reiki for Others
After Second Degree, you carry on using Reiki to help yourself and others in exactly the same way as you did before, but with two differences.
You are able to use the symbols to direct the Reiki energy in specific ways.
You can 'send' Reiki over distance and time, to other people and situations.
What Happens During Second Degree Training?
At Second Degree, you receive two attunements, which take place generally over one session. We might ask if you object to other students being present to assist with the healing, but bearing in mind that you might experience some emotional fallout, we quite understand if you wish to be alone with your teacher(s). This will be discussed prior to training.
At the beginning of the session, you will receive a Reiki treatment from your teacher(s) and other students, if present.
You then receive the first attunement, which will seem (to you) to be almost exactly the same as the ones you received for First Degree. It takes only a minute or so longer.
Immediately following your first attunement, your teacher will lead you in a guided visualisation, during which the symbols will be revealed to you.
There is then a break for refreshments and time to talk about your experience. Away from the attunement room, your teacher will tell you the meanings of the symbols and how and when to use them. They will also help you learn how to draw them. It used to be tradition that no Reiki student was allowed to take drawings of the symbols home with them, but we do not follow this rule. We believe that making sure students have handouts including full instructions on how to draw the symbols ensures the symbols stay the same. You need only to look at the books of Reiki Masters who were not allowed this to see how so many variations of the symbols arose. Sometimes, human memory is not perfect. This does not mean that variations of the symbols will not work, because they do, but we feel we want to pass on the knowledge as it was given to us.
On returning to the attunement room, you will receive the second attunement.
Afterwards, you'll practice 'sending' Reiki with your teacher. Finally, you will receive your second degree certificate and manual.
After attunement, it's a good idea to practice with the symbols as much as you can, to make sure you memorise them. But, if you do forget them, simply revise your handout notes.
As with first degree, at least for an initial period, try to be kind to yourself in regard to getting proper rest and food. Try not to overindulge in drinking alcohol.
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Third Degree
Should you take the Master/Teacher Degree with the Kether School of Reiki, we will work out a programme of training sessions to suit your individual needs.
The three attunements to Third Degree level take place over two sessions, and the Master symbol is given to you during this time.
However, in order to learn how to attune and teach people properly, you will require subsequent training sessions over a period of time. This is why the Master Degree is more expensive than the other two. You can return to the school for tuition and guidance until you feel ready to practice attunements on your own. There is no time limit set on this, as each student has different needs and requirements. You'll be invited to observe attunement sessions given by the teachers of the school, practice doing attunements on people and eventually bring a
student for attunement. Most people choose a family member or friend for this - they often making willing 'guinea-pigs'!
You will be given your Third Degree certificate once you have attuned your first student in the presence of your own teacher. We do not give out the certificate until we are certain that you can train others competently. We trust you understand that this is in order to maintain our school's standard and reputation.
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