Reiki I
My senses were alive, and I noticed everything. Or so it felt. The beauty of the Baker St tube station, which dates from 1863, and then the sunshine in Maida Vale. The vehicles, the buildings, the trees, the occasional pedestrian on this residential road. When R invites me in, she invites me to sit down, and I am not ready to do so. I explain how internally focused I am normally, and how in my senses I am now, and how disconcerting I find this. I am comfortable enough, but I find her crystal absolutely fascinating, and I stare at it. She found my failing to sit down disconcerting, and my explanation reassured her a little.
We start with the legend of Dr Mikao Usui. He learned Sanskrit in order to study the sutras, and then meditated on a mountain for twenty one days. At the end of that time, a bolt of light hit him in the forehead, he rose from his physical body and received Attunement, and the Reiki symbols and their meaning were revealed to him. He came down the mountain with the ability to heal. He stubbed his big toe, making it bleed, and healed himself; then healed the innkeeper’s daughter of her toothache. He ate a large meal without ill-effects, despite his long fast.
The problem with this legend is that there was an earlier legend, put about when Reiki was spreading in the US: that Dr Usui was a Christian, and sought to learn the healing powers Christ promised to his followers. Mark 16:18: ”they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
I do not know the symbols yet, that is level 2. As for this Attunement thing, I have already performed spiritual healing, and felt the heat; and felt heat from others. All very well to say Reiki is a different level of vibration from the life-force other healers use. And I understand there are disagreements within Reiki between those who say the hand-positions and symbol use must be precise, in the way always
taught, and those who say there were always differences and the healer should use her intuition. R and I are firmly in the latter camp.
Experiencing her healing however is lovely and relaxing. I like the five precepts.
I go to stay overnight with my friend, who moved from doing body work in an alternative therapy centre to working in an office. I have the idea that I could do this and charge for it. I could set up a WordPress site called —shire Reiki, start getting hits, and get some clients. Now that is not a business plan, but it is better than my previous indecision.
The attunement itself is beautiful. It lasts five minutes, and feels like an ordination. Then I give R a treatment, which I love, and she values, though her treatment couch is too low for me and leaning over her hurts my back. Performing kneeling is possible.
Before, leaving heart-opening experiences, I have found the city dislocating and difficult. Not today. And I have been treating myself lying in bed, morning and evening, and found that beautiful. Here are the five precepts:
The secret art of inviting happiness, The miraculous medicine for all diseases. At least for today: Do not be angry, Do not worry, Be grateful, Work with diligence, Be kind to people. Every morning and evening, join your hands in meditation and pray with your heart. State in your mind and chant with your mouth. For improvement of mind and body. Usui Reiki Ryōhō. The founder, Mikao Usui.
I like Dr. Usui’s art of inviting happiness. Great words to live by.
Miraculous.