Learn About Reiki

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a hands-on healing art. A reiki session usually takes an hour and is performed by a Reiki Practitioner using specific hand positions. During the Reiki session, the client is fully clothed while comfortably laying on a massage table or seated in a chair. It is stress reducing and a very relaxing experience that promotes balance within the body and all of its systems, allowing the body to heal itself.

Reiki is:

• A subtle and effective form of energy healing that increases the body’s energy level.
• A healing practice being used in many settings including hospitals, hospice, private practice and self-care.
• A dynamic addition to personal wellness or healing programs.
  

Qualities of Reiki:

• A practice of transmitting healing energy through the hands.
• A practice that can be learned and applied for self care and for use with others.
• An energy that is not guided by the practitioner, Reiki has an innate wisdom to guide itself.
• Reiki treatment works regardless of belief, faith or suggestion.
  

A Reiki session can ease tension and stress, and can help support the body to facilitate healing on all levels; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. A session is pleasant and relaxing and is often used for personal wellness, not just illness.

Choosing a Reiki Practitioner
The Vermont Reiki Association requires all members to agree to our Code of Ethics before joining. By clicking on your County, you will find a list of practitioners in your area. You may also email us at info@vermontreikiassociation.org as some of our members chose not to be listed on our website.

A Reiki practitioner should have clarity, integrity, compassion, and a good knowledge of their subject. It is important that you locate the practitioner that is the best fit for you. Make sure to ask plenty of questions about how the practitioner works with Reiki. The main thing is to trust your intuition. Below you will find some criteria to follow when deciding how to choose a practitioner.

• If the practitioner belongs to a Reiki association, such as the VRA, they are usually required to follow a minimum code of ethics. Different associations follow different codes of practice.
  
• Speak to the Reiki practitioner first by telephone to be sure that you feel comfortable with the them. Make sure that they are empathetic, candid and can readily answer any of your questions, or are willing to investigate with you if they do not know the answer. One of the main qualities of a good practitioner is someone who is present and able to remain detached from the outcome of your sessions. Ask for references and call them. If they are not the best fit for you, a good practitioner will direct you to a trusted colleague without hesitation.
  
• Ask the practitioner lots of questions about how they work with Reiki. Ask how long the practitioner has been working with Reiki energy and in what types of situations, i.e., private practice, community volunteer work, or teaching. Typically a Reiki practitioner will have completed training up to the level of Reiki II prior to offering Reiki professionally. The longer one has been working with the Reiki energy the clearer they become as a conduit for the energy.
  
• Ask what your role is. A good practitioner will tell you that you are the healer, that you will be an active participant in your healing journey. You will be asked to take responsibility for your progress and make the necessary changes in your life to support a healthy lifestyle that incorporates Reiki. Your Reiki practitioner is simply the facilitator for the energy connection. They hold the healing space open and clear for the energy to flow to you
  
• Be sure to check that the Reiki teacher or practitioner has a lineage, which extends all the way back to the founder of Reiki, Dr. Mikao Usui.
  
• Check out a local Reiki clinic in your community. This is a great way to meet the practitioner and try Reiki. Check our website for a clinic in your area, see Reiki Community Outreach.
  
• Some area hospitals have complementary programs that include Reiki. They often have a list of practitioners they can call.

These guidelines are by no means exhaustive but they should give you an idea of what to look for in a Reiki practitioner. If you have any questions about choosing a practitioner feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help you! info@vermontreikiassociation.org.
 

Choosing a Reiki Teacher

• If you are thinking of taking a Reiki course there will be many questions you will want to ask the potential teacher. First you will want to know a little bit about Reiki Classes and how Reiki is taught, before you contact the teacher. Talk with the teacher first to see if you are compatible with one another. The most important thing is to feel confident and comfortable with your decision.
• Know what it is that motivates you to search out a Reiki Teacher. Express those intentions to the potential teacher so they will know what it is you are looking for from this experience. Each teacher is a little different from the other. You will find that by talking to several different teachers, one will stand out to you, follow your intuition and you will have chosen correctly.
• Be wary of teachers that offer to take you to the Master level over a weekend or classes that are taught over the internet. The practice of Reiki is just that, a practice that deserves commitment on the students part and the part of the teacher.
  The traditional time between Level I and Level II is a minimum of 3 months, although you may find teachers who offer this training over shorter periods of time. Some teachers spend 6 months to a year with you for the Master Teacher program, while others may put you through much faster. It is up to you to find the path that is best for you.
• Make sure that you will receive appropriate level materials and post course support. You don't want to be left hanging after your class is over and you've gone home. Continued support from your teacher is very important. Some Reiki teachers do not provide you with materials and it may be hard for you to remember everything you have learned to practice Reiki effectively after you have completed your course.
• With traditional Usui Reiki, you should receive attunements at each level. The attunement process connects you to the source of the energy and raises your frequency as well as placing the Reiki symbols into your body. The symbols enable you to be an effective channel for the energy. They are a vital part of Reiki training and it is imperative that you are attuned properly if you want to be an effective Reiki practitioner yourself.
• Ask good questions. See the list below for some ideas.
• You are looking for a direct connection to the founder of Reiki, Dr. Mikao Usui. There are many lineages of Reiki in the world, each with its own connection to Dr. Usui. Seek out the one that is best for you.

Questions You May Wish to Ask a Potential Reiki Practitioner or Teacher

When you are looking for a Reiki Practitioner or Teacher, it is a good idea to have a list of questions to ask them. This comprehensive list may help guide you in your search for the right Reiki practitioner and teacher for you.

• How long have you been working with Reiki?
• What training have you had?
•  How do you incorporate Reiki into your own life?
•  How long did you train for?
•  Who did you train with?
•  What is your lineage?
•  Were you attuned in person by your Reiki teacher? ~~The answer to this should be yes
•  How often do you teach?
•  Will you provide books and course materials?
•  How many hours in-person study does the course entail?
•  Will there be hands on experience throughout the course?
•  Is there post course support?
•  How much does the course cost?
•  What qualifications are required to take Reiki Training? ~~The answer to this is, there are none.
•  Will I get a certificate upon completion of the course?
•  Can I take notes and tape record the class?
•  Is there a Reiki support group in my area or can you help me establish one?
•  Will you openly support me in being a successful Reiki practitioner or teacher?
•  What is your attitude towards other Reiki pracitioners and teachers?

The most important thing is to be aware of how you feel about their answers. Are they responding in a loving manner that is supportive and empowering? Listen to your heart and you will be guided to the right teacher for you. To find a Reiki practitioner or teacher click here Locate a Reiki Practitioner.