Reiki Xtras Book Reiki Xtras Additional Practices in Using Reiki or "Using Reiki that is not Usui Reiki" An e-Book By Vincent P. Amador Copyright 1999-2001 by Vincent P. Amador. All Rights Reserved http://angelreiki.nu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS Introduction Reiki Energy Field Cleansing Reiki Chakra Energizing Reiki Chakra Energizing with Sounds Reiki Tennis Reiki Protection Sphere Reiki Spirit Energizer and Golden Egg Meditation Reiki Crystal Chakra Healing Reiki Gassho Breathing Reiki Self Attunements Reiki Symbols - Moving Past the Need for Symbols Reiki Emotional Programming -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction Reiki is a wonderful spiritual practice that in its original form was an enlightenment producing system that allowed a person to heal and to heal others. In its journey westward, Usui's Reiki Ryoho was taught to Chujiro Hayashi. He modified the system to have a greater healing emphasis and a greater emphasis on symbols and attunements rather than spiritual practices and empowerments. The system moved from a slow developing steady journey to something that could be learned very quickly. This was passed to Mrs. Takata and many of Mrs. Takata's practices, stories, and lessons became dogmatic. In the west there have been many additions to Reiki System. These vary from the inclusion of Tibetan materials in the Usui/Tibetan Reiki's, to many new age practices of Dolphin Breathing, Chakras, Crystals, Crystal Grids and other practices. It is possible that people felt it necessary to supplement the system with the spiritual practices gone. Others found that some of the practices they were doing personally helped them more fully integrate Reiki into their lives. This book is a compendium of some of the modifications that I have found using the Reiki Energy and symbols. Some of these were a logical transfer from my many years of Internal Martial Arts training and Chi Kung. Others evolved from using the energy and were things that simply "suggested" themselves or were "intuitively obvious". In my Reiki practices I am always emphatic in letting people know what was in the Reiki system and what are add-ons. I do this because I believe people should know what was original and what was added on so that they have a choice. These days so many people have added practices that sometimes it is not at all clear to second and third generation students that what they were taught and assume to be "Usui Reiki" is actually someone's add-on. The common fallacy that "Reiki is from Tibet" and "Rediscovered by Usui" are two such examples. This book is a group of add-on practices that I have found helpful and that I wanted to share with others. I do however clearly point out that they were add-ons and ask that if you like these and share them with your students that you point this out. There have been many attempts to define what Reiki is and how it works. In the "Usui Reiki Hikkei", Usui's manual, even Usui himself states that he as the founder has trouble defining it. Many authors try to define it. They struggle to explain it, they hypothesize all sorts of other theories about it. They speculate in terms of chi kung techniques, governor channels, higher frequency chi and everything else. It is said in Taoism, "the Tao that can be named is not the real Tao". A fitting description of Reiki as well. Reiki is more in the "letting go and letting Reiki", or an "in the moment" experience. Those that seek this answer will not find it in Tibetan mysticism, or in the sutras, or in the endless adding of techniques, such as all the new age practices. The answer to this question is there as Usui knew but could not describe. It cannot be reasoned to, it can not be explained, and it cannot be known in any words. It exists in the one pure moment of experience. The reiki starts, it flows, and in the moment when there is no distinction between you and the loving feeling of the flow, then you know what Reiki is. There is nothing else to know, to explain or to do. Just *be* totally in that moment. Let your ego go, let go of expectations, hopes, dreams, fears and simply be. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I cannot tell you more than that, because honestly there are not words to explain it. It just *is*. Generally when you tell people this, they will look at you oddly and then proceed to try to again grasp it with words, concepts and ideas. Remember what you are asking can only be experienced, it cannot be grasped. In that light, these practices and activities have developed from my work with Reiki. Try them and if you find them useful then use them. Above all else, Reiki is in the "doing" and "being". By doing nothing, everything is done. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reiki Energy Field Cleansing There are times when you feel like the energy around you is "clouded" or negative. There are many techniques to clear this energy. Because I love working with Reiki, I wanted to find a way to clear this negativity in the energy field with Reiki. This is a technique that I developed to help reenergize and clean and clear the energy around the body. The technique involves moving Reiki around you in a counter clockwise pattern and letting the energy remove that which is negative or not in your highest good. 1. Hold the hands at the stomach level, arms at the sides, hands in front with the palms facing upwards. 2. Visualize the Dai Ko Mio (use Cho Ku Rei if Level I or Level II). "See" or visualize the Reiki energy come down over your whole body head to toe. See it as a white light. 3. Now visualize around you the Cho Ku Rei Symbol in three dimensions. The top of the symbol is above the head. The energy begins to spiral around you in a clockwise direction moving downward. As it spins see then Reiki energy removing blockages, strengthening the aura and all the energy around you. Cho Ku Rei as a spiral in three dimensions 4. Do this nine times. 5. Visualize the Dai Ko Mio symbol stating above the crown and going down to below the feet. See the Reiki energy as a white mist and breathe in the Reiki energy. On the exhale, breathe out light to all the universe. 6. Do this for a while and then when you are finished, Gassho and bow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reiki Energizing There are times when you perceive you own personal energy is low. This technique is a way to increase your personal energy and to fill yourself with Reiki. It is a great way to revitalize when you are feeling like you need an energy pick me up. It is also a great way to increase sensitivity with the Reiki energy as well as to develop your Reiki channel. This technique consists of two parts. First, perform the Reiki Energy Field Cleansing as detailed above. This cleanses the energy field and cleanse and transmutes negativity and strengthens the aura and etheric fields. Second, perform the following: 1. Hold your hands at the stomach level, arms at the sides, hands in front with the palms facing upwards. 2. Visualize the Dai Ko Mio (use Cho Ku Rei if Level I or Level II). "See" or visualize the Reiki energy come down over your whole body head to toe. See it as a white light. 3. See the Reiki come into the crown and begin to move downward while filling every molecule of your body. Let it fill the head, the neck, shoulders, down to the hands. Let it move down the spine filling the back, chest, heart, all the organs. Let it move into the hips, sexual organs, thighs, knees, shins, calves, and feet. 4. While it is moving, see it transmute all that is negative and not in your highest good into light. As it presses downward, see all that is not in your highest good moved out through the souls of the feet and then the Reiki changes it into light and disperses it. 5. Visualize the bottom of the feet dealing closed. 6. Let the energy begin to fill you from the bottom up. Fill the toes, up the legs to the hips, up the trunk, into the neck, down the arms to the hands, and finally into the head. 7. Hold this for a while until you feel filled with the Reiki energy. 8. Move hands into the Gassho position and breathe naturally and then let the energy radiate out into all levels of your energy field. When you are done, bow and thank the Reiki source for this loving energy. You can say the Reiki Principles as well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reiki Chakra Energizing Reiki Chakra energizing is a modification of the Reiki Energizing technique above. In this specific practice, the chakras are filled with the Reiki energy and energized. The effect is delightful and helps strengthen our Reiki channel. This technique consists of two parts. First, perform the Reiki Energy Field Cleansing as detailed above. This cleanses the energy field and cleanse and transmutes negativity and strengthens the aura and etheric fields. Second, perform the following: 1. Hold your hands at the stomach level, arms at the sides, hands in front with the palms facing upwards. 2. Visualize the Dai Ko Mio (use Cho Ku Rei if Level I or Level II). "See" or visualize the Reiki energy come down over your whole body head to toe. See it as a white light. 3. See the Reiki come into the crown and begin to move downward toward the root chakra. Focus in on the root chakra and see a rich color red. Let the Reiki energy pour into it and strengthen it. 4. See the Reiki come into the sacral chakra. See or visualize a vivid red-orange. Let the Reiki strengthen it and pour into it. 5. See the Reiki come into the hara (solar plexus) chakra. See or visualize a vivid translucent yellow. Let the Reiki strengthen it and pour into it. 6. See the Reiki move into heart chakra and see a rich green or pink color. Let the Reiki energy pour into it and strengthen it. 7. See the Reiki move into throat chakra and see a vibrant blue color. Let the Reiki energy pour into it and strengthen it. 8. Visualize the Reiki move into the third eye chakra. See the translucent color indigo. Let the Reiki energy pour into it and strengthen it. 9. Finally, visualize the Reiki move into the crown chakra. See the colors of intense white and gold. Let the Reiki energy pour into it and strengthen it. 10. Let the Reiki energy run through the crown into the root and slowly fill again all the chakras. Finally let the energy run from crown to feet and into the earth. This grounds you and fills you with Reiki energy. 11. Place the hands in the Gassho position and breath normally for a few minutes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reiki Chakra Energizing with Sounds Chakra Mantra Musical Note Meditation This activity is designed to be used in conjunction with the Reiki Chakra Energizing Technique described previously. To incorporate the sounds into this practice, simply make the appropriate tone for each chakra as the Reiki energy is filling and clearing them. The chakras each have a musical tone associated with them. Using these tones in meditation has a decided calming and centering effect. The effect can also energize. This activity is a great one to do during a stressful day or any time you feel tired. It is also great to do this prior to doing a lot of treatments as it energizes and helps compose yourself. To do the meditation, you use Do - Re - Mi - Fa - So - La -Ti - Do. This is the regular scale of notes. The sounds of the chakras starting at the root are: Lam, Vam, Ram, Tam, Ham, Om, Soham, Do. Alternatively you can simply tone the note with no word or mantra associated. +------------------+-------+------------------+----------------------+ | Chakra | Tone | Scale Equivalent | Visualization Color | +------------------+-------+------------------+----------------------+ | Root | Lam | Do | Red | +------------------+-------+------------------+----------------------+ | Sacral | Vam | Re | Orange to Orange/Red | +------------------+-------+------------------+----------------------+ | Solar Plexus | Ram | Mi | Yellow | +------------------+-------+------------------+----------------------+ | Heart | Yam | Fa | Hunter Green (pink) | +------------------+-------+------------------+----------------------+ | Throat | Ham | So | Blue | +------------------+-------+------------------+----------------------+ | Brow | Om | La | Indigo Blue | +------------------+-------+------------------+----------------------+ | Crown | Soham | Ti | White/Violet/Gold | +------------------+-------+------------------+----------------------+ | Transpersonal | Do | Do | White/Gold | | | | | | | (above the head) | | | | +------------------+-------+------------------+----------------------+ Chakra and Mantra Musical Notes The sounds and vibrations of the notes are directed into the area of the chakras while they are being sung. Visualize the color while doing this. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reiki Tennis Reiki Tennis is a game that two or more can play to help develop sensitivity to the Reiki Energy. It is a variation of a traditional Reiki Circle, but done using distance. It is an excellent way to increase sensitivity. To play start with your partner as in a Reiki Circle. Place your left hand palm up and your right hand palm down. Have your partner sit or stand across from you and place their palms on yours. 1. Both partners connect to the Reiki energy by visualizing the symbols one at a time, until both strongly feel the energy. Visualize forming roots into the earth and being grounded. (Remember to stay grounded or you will get dizzy!) 2. One person begin the game by sending a pulse of energy from their right hand into the left hand of the other person. The person receiving should focus on passing the energy of the pulse through their arm, up across the shoulders, and down the other arm into the hand. The receiving person should try to use the Reiki energy they are connected with to increase the size and strength of the pulse. This is done by visualization and intention. 3. With each pass through you continue to increase the size and strength of the pulse. You continue this process volleying it back and forth. 4. When the pulse is feeling strong, separate you palms from your partners by several inches. Do NOT stop the pulses. Continue volleying the energy back and forth. 5. Continue to move the hands farther and farther apart. When moving more than a few inches, turn the palms to face your partner' palms. Continue moving apart until you are sending from across the room. 6. For another variation, try this exercise with someone far away using the telephone, or a chat program on the internet. Start the process as usual, except add the Usui Distant Symbol just prior to sending the pulses. 7. When finished you can send the energy to someone who needs healing, send it into the earth to ground it off for healing or use it on yourself for healing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reiki Protection Sphere This is a I developed for a friend who was concerned about protection and to keep negative energies out. It uses the Reiki symbols and makes a sphere of energy around you. The technique is easy to do and tends to work well. Other uses are to set the sphere and meditate inside it, or to do the sphere prior to doing treatments. This is not a Traditional Reiki Technique, but one that I developed and find useful. To set the sphere: Connect to the Reiki Energy. Draw the Cho Ku Rei to the six directions around your body (north, south, east, west, up and down. Next Draw a large Dai Ko Mio the length of your body. Draw the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen above your head to place the sphere in all times and places, and finally draw the Sei Hei Ki on the third eye and the heart to free you from fear. Finish by stating your intent for the sphere (that it protect, and remove fears) and let the reiki flow into the sphere into the three circles connecting the Cho Ku Rei's. One of my favorite uses of the sphere is to use it to send loving energy to those who are ask for distant healing. Construct the sphere and then meditate in the sphere. Use whatever distant healing technique that you feel comfortable with and send loving energy. Using this sphere can also be a wonderful way to release your own negative emotions and stress. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reiki Spirit Energizer and Golden Egg Meditation This is a modification of a Taoist breathing technique I learned about 20 years ago. It involves using focusing on the energy, and then allowing it to form an "egg" around us for protection and energizing the spirit. This practice was very easy to adapt to using with Reiki and it is a wonderful practice that will leave you feeling charged with energy, love and protection. 1. Sit in a comfortable chair with your back straight. Place the hands in the Gassho position. 2. Connect to the Reiki Energy. Do this by focusing on the energy, or drawing the Dai Ko Mio Symbol into your energy field. You may want to perform the Reiki Energy Field Cleansing above as well. 3. Begin by breathing in deep breaths through the nose and out through the mouth. Visualize the Reiki Energy as a White Mist or White Light, and breathe in pure energy and breathing out all the toxins and all things negative. See the breath going out as slightly black and cloudy. (This energy is transmuted in the Reiki light and is changed back to light.) 4. Let your awareness expand. First within you, then outside you and then to the entire universe. Focus on the energy of the universe, all the stars, the planets, and everything. Now as you breathe in the Reiki energy, focus on breathing in the energy in the universe, pulling it into you, energizing you, filling you completely. Let yourself be filled with the peaceful loving energy of the universe. (Take as much time as you need here.) 5. Now as you breathe in the Reiki energy, slowly change the image to breathing in peace. Think of the feeling of peace, and concentrate on breathing in that peaceful feeling. Let this fill you completely. When you breathe out send that out to every part of the universe. 6. Now see the color of the Reiki Energy turn Golden. See or visualize breathing in this pure golden light. See it entering into your lungs, and then spreading out throughout your whole body. Do this for 9 breaths. 7. Begin normally, in and out through the nose. Now, see this golden light pool at the base of the spine and see a golden thread from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. See this golden thread the thickness of a wire. Breathe for 9 breaths. Mentally begin to expand the thickness of the golden wire to about the thickness of a pencil. Feel the golden light from the tip of the spine to the crown of your head. 8. Now again expand the thickness of the golden light to the thickness of a finger running from the crown of your head to the base of the spine. 9. Now, see the light expand to a column of light running from the base of the spine to the top of the head. 10. Let the column of beautiful golden light and slowly expand it in size until it completely surrounds you. Sit peacefully surrounded by the beautiful golden light. 11. Slowly shape the golden light into an oval. Make it into a golden egg that surrounds you completely. The golden egg surrounds you and protects you, but it strengthens you also. The inside of the egg shimmers with energy, and fills you, and strengthens your aura, energizing you. 12. Sit in the egg as long as you like, and when you are finished, begin retracting the golden egg. First back into a golden column, and then slowly shrink the column back to the base of the spine to the crown of the head. Then make the column the thickness of a finger. And then shrink it to the thickness of a pencil, and finally to the thickness of a single strand of golden wire. 13. Now draw the energy of the golden strand of wire up the spine over the crown of the head and focus it at a point where the third eye is (between the eyebrows). Hold it there for 9 breaths and then draw the golden dot through the head, into the mouth and down through the stomach and into the lower abdomen, letting it slowly dissolve. 14. You can draw up the egg whenever you need it for energy or for protection. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reiki Crystal Chakra Healing There are some people that have reported that there may be the possibility that Usui Sensei may have used Reiki charged crystals places on key points on the body to help facilitate healing. Although this material has not been verified, and no specific techniques have been found, I decided to research the possibilities of this on my own. The following represents one technique that I use with crystals during the healing session. This technique has a very pleasing effect on the person receiving it. It is often described as "tingling". It is thought that the crystals being attuned to Reiki help focus the energy. For this activity you will need 10 quartz stones, preferably Rose quartz. The stones I used were approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter which were bought in a "Science" store for children in my local shopping mall. The stones cost me one dollar (US) each. Stones that are flat rather than round work better for this application. Some people find that they like the stone color to correspond to the color of the chakras they are placing the stone on. Cleansing the Stones Take your 9 stones and cleanse them. There are many methods for doing this. My personal favorite is to allow nature to do this for me. In direct sunlight, pour clear cool water over them. (Yes, you can run them under water from a hose or faucet). Take the stones and place them somewhere where they will receive sunlight for at least an hour. Some people like to let them be in the moonlight as well. After the stones have been washed and allowed to recharge in the sun (and/or moon) dry and polish them with a soft cloth and store them somewhere in the light. Attuning Your Crystals Take the stones and place them on a soft cloth. Perform a Reiki Attunement on the stones. Use whatever Attunement that you prefer with the following modifications. 1. Since there is no "crown", no "third eye", etc., simply draw the symbols on the stone. Say the name of the symbol three times as you draw it. 2. At the end of the attunement say "I now seal these stones with the healing power of Reiki from the divine source". 3. After you conclude the attunement, place your hands over the stones and sending Reiki into them for at least 15 minutes. Using the Stones in Treatment The Reiki stones are used during a regular treatment. The nine stones are to be placed in the 7 chakras, and the hand and feet chakras. Place the stones on the chakras, placing one stone on each of the major chakras. If you cannot get the stone to lay on the chakra exactly, place it as close as possible. Be sensitive to private areas on the person and do not place stones in areas that might be uncomfortable to someone. Place one stone in each palm. This covers the palm chakras in the hands. Finally place one stone in between the feet. Perform a Reiki Treatment as usual, starting with the head, working your way down. Treat the hands as well, and the feet. This technique often helps the person who has very low energy, and helps energize the person. Giving Charged Healing Stones as Gifts You can give charged Reiki stones as gifts to friends and loved ones to help them receive Reiki when you are not around. Charge the stone as above. During the Attunement, make sure you say that you Intend that the stone be a pure and perfect channel to pass Reiki healing for the person that will use it. Give the person place the stone directly on areas that hurt or need healing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gassho Breathing "Prayer" Breathing was a technique that I was taught in Hapkido in 1982. It involved holding the hands in a prayer position in front of the heart and breathing in the Heavenly Chi through the crown and into the hara on the inhalation and forcing the energy out through the hands on the exhalation. The technique was to get the Chi into the hands. During this practice the hands become very hot. After taking Reiki it occurred to me that it would be easy to incorporate Reiki into this practice. What is now ironic is that I have found that this practice was part of Usui's original Reiki Ryoho as practiced in Japan. Usui knew Ki Ko (Japanese Chi Kung) and incorporated many of those practices into his Usui Reiki Ryoho. Hapkido contains many Chi Kung techniques so there are some commonalties. This activity is to teach you a breathing method using the Reiki energy and to focus the mind. When doing this activity the hands are held in the gassho or prayer position in front of the heart. This activity also helps you to still the mind. Another purpose of this activity is to raise the level of your personal chi with Universal Reiki. It was common to most Ki Ko (Japanese Chi Kung systems) that the personal chi was stored in the body behind the hara (or dan tien). Some people describe it as a fire or light. When you do this activity you are bringing in the Universal Chi or Reiki and strengthening your personal chi. Many people also visualize the ball of fire that is their personal chi growing or increasing as they do this breathing technique. To do the Gassho breathing you can either sit or stand. Breath naturally, but if you are breathing in a fast shallow manner concentrate on slowing the breath. Hold the hands in the gassho position. Raise you hands above the head, palms up and let the Reiki energy fill the body. Place the hands back in the gassho position in front of the chest. On the inhalation, visualize that the reiki enters the crown and flows down to behind the hara. On the exhalation, visualize and feel the energy move from the hara up to the palms and out. Do this for as long as you wish, but at least five minutes. When you are done, shake the hands nine times. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reiki Self Attunements Self Attunements are a wonderful way to focus on the Source energy. They can be powerful techniques and can be a wonderful spiritual practice. In my own practices, I like to do this weekly. Generally I will alternate what symbols I use. For example, One week I might use the Seichim symbols, another week Karuna Ki symbols and another week Tibetan Reiki. In this way I feel always connected to these symbols. The practice of self attunements is one that also strengthens your reiki channel. I liken this process to that of the Hatsurei ho that was used in the original Reiki Ryoho. It is something that allows you to constantly focus on the source of Reiki and is a spiritual blessing. It is my belief that when you are attuned to the Reiki Master level that you are already totally connected to the source. Additional symbols are not additional energies but rather different ways of focusing in on different aspects of the energy. Because of this you can use the symbols from Seichim or Karuna without having been specifically attuned to them.Remember that no one attuned those that developed or discovered or channeled new symbols. For those that feel they need an attunement to work with these symbols the process of self-attunement might meet your needs. There are three methods you can use when doing a self attunement. These are the Chi Ball Method, the Proxy Method, and the Visualization Method. The Chi Ball Method is one where you construct a "Chi Ball" and then send the attunement to yourself using the HSZSN symbol. All three of these will be addressed. Self Attunement Using the Chi Ball 1. Hold the hands up high, palms up and see the Reiki source come down and surround you. Breathe in the Reiki energy and left it come into the palms and fill you. 2. Bring the hands down in front of your chest, palms facing toward each other and about one inch apart. 3. While continuing to focus on the Reiki Source slowly move the hands apart. Visualize, intend and will that a ball of Reiki form. Continue to move the hands further apart until they are about the size of a basketball. 4. Now perform any Master attunement you wish on the ball. You can use one of the Non-traditional Short Attunements or any attunement set that you feel comfortable with. You may add any new or extra symbols that you wish. 5. Before you "seal" the attunement or simply before you conclude the attunement, draw a Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen on the ball from top to bottom. 6. Now state, will, and intent that the attunement be sent to yourself. 7. Allow yourself to accept the attunement from the Chi Ball. 8. Intend that the attunement be sealed, or use whatever process you normally use to seal and end the attunement. 9. Hold the hands in the gassho position for a few minutes letting the Reiki Source continue to fill you with Reiki energy. Self Attunement using the Proxy Method The proxy method is using one object to represent you. This object can be as simple as using the right knee to represent the back of the head and the right thigh to represent the back, and the left knee to represent the front of the head and the left knee to represent the front of the body. You can also use pictures, pillows, teddy bears or other objects to represent yourself. The essential idea is that the object is a representation of you and you are going to perform the attunement on the object. Here is a sample attunement using the knee and thigh as a proxy. I prefer this method to a teddy bear or other object because I am actually performing it on myself though touch. It is not any more powerful or "better" to do it this way, simply my preference. Preparations; Meditations and call upon your masters, angels to be present and to assist you to ensure a perfect attunement. 1. Place both hands on the right knee and intend that you are having the hands on the back of the head. This helps you connect to the Reiki source. 2) Starting at the knee and drawing down the thigh, draw the Cho Ku Rei symbol saying the name of the symbol. Intend that this is going from the back of the head down to the base of the spine. 3) On the right thigh draw the Dai Ko Mio intending it be drawn on the back. 4) Breathe in the Reiki energy and visualize a Dai Ko Mio (DKM) and blow this over the right knee intending that the symbol enter the crown chakra and enter the brain. Repeat with the Cho Ku Rei (CKR), Sei Hei Ki (SHK) and Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (HSZSN). Add any other symbols you wish. 5) On the right knee, representing the crown. Draw and say the names of the DKM, CKR, SHK, HSZSN and any other symbols you wish to add. 6) Place your hands in front of your heart in the gassho position and breath in the reiki source filling yourself completely with the energy. 7) Move the hands to the left knee and thigh and intend and will that you will be attuning the front of the body. 8) Just below the left knee, draw the four Usui Symbols and any other symbols you wish to add intending them to attune the third eye. You can place both palms on the area and let the energy flow intending that it fill the third eye. 9) About mid left thigh, draw the four Usui symbols intending them to attune the heart. You can place both palms over or on the area and let the energy pour in intending that it fill the heart. 10) Using the left hand, draw all four Usui symbols on the right palm and intend that the palm is attuned. Add any other symbols you wish to use. Repeat with the other hand. 11) Move the hands back to the right knee and place both palms on the knee letting the energy flow intending it fill the crown. 12) Make ant affirmations according that you might want to reinforce or need. Let the energy pour in and draw the SHK to reinforce the affirmations. 13) Seal the attunement by saying "I now seal this process with love and blessings" and draw the DKM. 14) Put you hands in the gassho position in front of your heart and breath in the reiki energy for a few minutes. Self Attunement using the Visualization Method This process is similar to using either of the two methods above. The key here is to be able to visualize yourself and the process as it you are doing it. To do this, visualize yourself. You should be able to see yourself front and back, and be able to hold in your mind the image and place you are attuning. Then perform whatever attunement set you choose and add whatever symbols you need. Visualize yourself performing each step on yourself as you do them. When I use this method, I hold my hands in the Gassho position and breath in the reiki energy. Do not draw the symbols with your hand, but seem them created and placed in the appropriate spot in your mind. I like to start this method by saying the principles before starting. This method can be difficult if you are not very visual or cannot hold the image for very long. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Moving Past the Need for Symbols In Usui Shiki Ryoho in the Takata lineage, the Reiki Symbols are an integral, primary part of the system. It is now clear that the symbols were developed by Usui later in the development of the system. This was done to aid those with little energy work who had trouble connecting to the energy directly. The original empowerment used by Usui was "Reiju" and used no symbols. Chujiro Hayashi increased use and emphasis on the symbols and their importance in the system became greater. They were now a primary part of the system. This was done because the movement was from daily Hatsurei ho and frequent Reiju, to a system that could be learned quickly. The symbols also now became part of the empowerment system and the process was changed from empowerment to attunement. Symbols work in a traditional stimulus-response fashion. The act of drawing, visualizing or saying the name of the symbol (Stimulus) gives us the response of connecting to the energy. The goal for those that learned the symbols in Usui's Reiki Ryoho was to use them to become intimately acquainted with the energy and then to move part reliance on them. One analogy I have seen used, is that they are like training wheels on a bicycle, you use them while needed and then take them off. This is very different in application and philosophy from the western Hayashi-Takata lineage of Usui Shiki Ryoho where symbols are revered and a major part of the system. These days there are many different attitudes and beliefs regarding the symbols. Some masters believe them to be "sacred", while others consider them "secret", some believe them secret and sacred, while still others consider them neither secret nor sacred. There is a group of masters that believe the symbols have their own power, and on and on. For the record here, I will state that I consider the symbols neither secret nor sacred. They are an important part of a system that helps train the mind to work with the energy. Use them to help you focus. Meditate with them in your daily Hatsurei ho or other meditation. There is a symmetry and wisdom to them. But always remember, in a Buddhist sense, the symbols represent an attatchment and as much as they can help you grow with the system and energy, they will also eventually limit you. The question many students ask is "how do I move past the need to use the symbols. This is not as hard as it might first seem. The following are some suggestions and exercises to help you accomplish this. It should be stated that for most people it is not suggested to do this until you have practiced Reiki for at least a year or more past the master level. This ensures that you have been using Reiki consistently over a period of time sufficient to for you to have developed the skills necessary to do this. Some people always will use the symbols, while others quickly move past them. Both are correct and appropriate, and you must make the decision regarding this. Here are some activities that you can try. Exercise #1 - Making a Reiki Chi Ball Hold the hands in front of the chest, palms facing each other and in front of the chest. Focus or intend that you are connected to the Reiki. Your hands will get warm. Think of the Reiki flowing into the hands, and then continue to let them come farther apart until they are about a 12 inches (26cm) apart. Hold this and let it fill with the Reiki energy. When done move the hands to the outside of the ball and pull it into yourself letting it fill you with the energy. Exercise #2 Using the Reiki Chi Ball to send distant healing Perform the Reiki Chi Ball exercise above. When you are done, rather than pull the ball into you, will and intend that it be sent to someone for distant healing. Focus on the person, and let the energy beam out the palms to them. Exercise #3 - Connecting to the Reiki Energy Prior to a healing Session Many people use a ritual of drawing the symbols prior to doing healing on others. Next time you are doing a healing, try the following: (this practice is sometimes called the Reiki Shower) Stand in a comfortable position. Close your eyes or keep them in the Zen practice of being half-open. Breathe through the nose normally. Place the hands in the gassho position and breathe normally. Raise the hands into the air, palms upward and visualize that the Reiki energy is coming down over you and you are being bathed in a shower of Reiki energy from the reiki source. Focus on the sensation. Move your raised hands down over the front of the body from head to toe with palms facing the body. Continue to focus in the Reiki energy flowing over you as well as the Reiki pouring through your hands cleansing the energy field around you, and let the excess energy run into the earth. Do this three or more times. Finally, put your hands in the gassho position in front of the heart and breathe for a few minutes. When you are finished shake your hands nine times. Then proceed to do the healing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reiki Emotional Programming This technique is similar to Nentatsu ho, which was taught at the master level (Shinpiden) in Japan. This technique was to plant a healing affirmation or thought in your mind or the mind or someone you are performing healing on. There are a few guidelines for this process. First always use positive affirmations. For example if the person wishes to quit smoking do not say, "you do not smoke any longer", but rather use the positive "You live a satisfied smoke free life". Second, make sure that you are using ethical considerations in using this technique. Using this to try to have someone "love" you would be grossly unethical. Third, this is a gentle process. Don't force or push or strain. Fourth, the person should be in a relaxed or meditative state. A good time to do this is at the end of a treatment, or to have them meditate or do a relaxation exercise. To perform Reiki Emotional Programming on yourself or others: 1. You can be standing or sitting. Have the person (or yourself) close the eyes, and place the hands in the Gassho position. 2) Connect to the reiki energy. The connection can be done by focusing on the energy or drawing the symbols. 3) Place the left palm on the person's forehead and the right palm on the back of their head. Now say your affirmation in your mind and intend it be planted into the person's subconscious. 4) Move the hand on the person's forehead to the back of their head and place it on top of the hand that is already there. Allow the energy to flow into them for a few minutes. You can visualize the Sei Hei Ki if you wish to help make sure the affirmation is accepted. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afterword These practices are some of the many ways that you can experiment with Reiki and apply it in different applications. Again, for the sake of clarity, I freely acknowledge that these are not Usui Reiki practices and are not offered as such. I hope that these have been of some help in your reiki journey. Be Well; Be Blessed Vinny Amador -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Home | Reiki Plain and Simple | Reiki Ryoho Plain and Simple | Reiki Do | | The ReikiXtras | Karuna Ki | Reiki and Angels | Site Index | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The ReikiXtras On-line Book, this site and all its contents are Copyright 1998-2001 Ó by Vincent Amador. 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