First, connect to Reiki energy
Following a recent Shoden Gendai Reiki Ho class in Durham, one of the participants sent in a really good question and, as Dori was willing, the following is an amended version of the answer. Dori is an anthropologist with Durham University, and is in the process of writing up her thesis for her PhD: Reiki – an Anthropological Analysis.
‘If Reiki is flowing through us at all times after the initiation/attunement/Reiju then why is it we need intent? Is there some result from the intent that is other than the resonance or maybe more deeper seated than connecting? If we are already connecting at all times as the Reiki flows through us then why reconnect?’
Maintaining the flow
Once we have been attuned to the frequency of Reiki, that beautiful energy is available to us at any time, any place, and in any situation. This is at the very core of our practice. However, this does not mean that Reiki energy is flowing through us all the time.
Read that sentence again, because this is an important point, and really pivotal to our understanding.
Think of an electrical wall socket; electricity is always available, but it is not until you connect your appliance and flick the ‘on’ switch that the energy begins to flow through the socket into your appliance.
Reiki energy will not intrude in your life. It is there when you flick the switch, when you choose to use it, but never imposes itself upon you. Many people receive their initiation and then never use the energy, and so there is absolutely no flow of Reiki energy in their lives … ever again. This is just as it should be, of course, otherwise we would not have free will.
So, you always have a choice when you sit with a client – or are in any situation to which you wish to bring Reiki energy – do you use your own energy, your own compassionate nature and desire to heal, or do you call upon Reiki energy?
Many people do not realise the importance of this step, and I have encountered many questions along the lines of ‘why am I so tired after a treatment’, or ‘why have I picked up my client’s symptoms’. The answer often lies in whether you are using your own energy, your own desire to heal, or whether you are drawing on that limitless reservoir of energy we know as Reiki. It is natural to want to make a difference as you sit with your friend or client, feeling compassion for their dis-ease and having a strong desire to alleviate it – in fact feeling a responsibility to do something about it as this person is seeking your help! You can find yourself sitting there, thinking about their symptoms, working out in your head which areas would most benefit and thus where to place your hands; perhaps visualising a successful outcome. This is particularly true when there is an emotional tie with the person as you then have a deep desire to help, to alleviate suffering, to make a difference.
Mikao Usui taught a simple step to be followed during those pivotal first 21 days after our first Reiki class when correct habits are established – ie to raise our arms and consciously connect with the Reiki energy – and then to lower our arms and begin treatment, whether it be self treatment or of others. This conscious act of connection trains us to simply call upon Reiki to do the healing.
The act of connecting ensures that the energy of Reiki flows through our own body and fills us with energy so that when we place our hands on another, we are giving from that abundance of Reiki energy and not from our own energy. We are receiving Reiki energy too, and giving to the other person from the overflow of that energy, rather than from our essence. This simple step also serves to train us to become more sensitive to how that energy feels within us.
After that crucial first step, we are required to stay conscious of what we are doing, to stay present with the person, or ourselves if it is a self treatment. We allow our hands to move through the hand positions, or place them where we felt the most byosen, and completely let go of our desire to make a difference, our desire to do good. We are content to have pressed the switch and allow Reiki energy to do the job.
To recap then, our intention or our goal, is to consciously connect with Reiki energy, not to heal the client/situation, to be content to be the electrical cable, the carrier or transmitter of the energy. To connect through the physical raising of our arms until it becomes absolute second nature to approach the healing space with a sense of connection, respect, and honour. The role of just being that electrical cable is a humbling experience, and can feel too simple because we appear to be not actually ‘doing’ anything, we connect with the Reiki energy and then allow it to do its best … which is, of course, always much better than our best anyway.
If we are not performing the healing, then what is the goal or purpose of training?
It is to do our internal work, to make ourselves that clean and clear pipe or tube, or bamboo, to ensure that our electrical cable is not snagged or damaged … and to ensure that it is attached to the electrical socket, to ensure that we are connected with Reiki energy. We ensure that out pipe is clear by performing our self purification and self growth techniques to continually improve ourselves … an ongoing endeavour!
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