Compassionate Dragon Healing: Reiki Discussion

This is the page where I get to say what I like about the theory and practice of Reiki. I have only recently taken on the mantle of master after several years of study and practice at the second level. My former Master/Teacher, Denise Crundall, didn't 'do' Masters, preferring to teach about 'self-mastery.' For a very long time I honoured that path and it was only following her death that I have finally taken the next step.

I initially mounted this page a couple of years ago. Things change. While I might still be something of a purist, it is clear that Reiki has taken a giant leap in consciousness in its Western form. It has reached out and embraced a world. I have come to the conclusion that while we are all looking at the same thing, DNA and the nature of the physical plane requires that we each perceive it differently.

Seems to me that Reiki is a force for empowering healing at all levels. I was taught that it was an energy of wholeness.

Recent revelations by Frank Petter in one sense validate the observations I made two years ago and have left intact below, of what is and what is not the Reiki that Usui did.

It came as something of a shock I must admit that what my own teacher presented was pretty far removed from what Usui did, even though it was presented as 'authentic' Reiki. I must confess I experienced a 'crisis of faith' for a while. But then, in these practices such things are actually quite common. In my view, one way to know you are still on track is that you can still ask the questions.

Still if one looks at a seed, it is hard to tell just from looking at it, what sort of plant or tree it will grow into. If we look at the seed that Usui created, that Hayashi germinated and that Mrs. Takata planted in the fertile soil of the west, could we have possibly imagined into what it would grow?

It seems to me that the question is no longer, what is and what is not Reiki. It is no longer a question of whether one is an 'authentic' or 'true' Reiki master. It seems to me that all serve Reiki, and Reiki serves all. Just as a tree has roots, a trunk, branches, leaves, flowers and fruit, so has Reiki realized the potential of the germinated seed. Just as a tree is an integral part of its environment serving as shade, home to other creatures, oxygen re-cycler, soil fertilizer, and stands at the centre, so to speak, of the neverending cycle of life, so Reiki stands. All brands, all practices, all healing activity done in the name of Reiki serves healing and serves Reiki.

In life, that which serves, grows and prospers. That which no longer serves dies and falls away. In my view, it may be that Reiki has become a little top heavy. Frank Petter's work brings to us the realization that it is time to strengthen Reiki's roots, to sink them deeper into the ancient practices that spawned it. This is needed to support the great weight of the lush foliage of Western Reiki.

Reiki is no longer the secret practice of a few old men in Japan shut away from the public view and shunning all 'outsiders.' Usui's association, or Gakka, exists to this day in exactly the same form as it did in Usui's time. There is no evidence at all that Usui, himself, wished for it be anything more. Still, we are in a time when this kind of knowledge is needed and the universe always finds a way. Just as the Tibetans have been forced down off their mountain top, just as the secrets of Kaballah are available in most book stores, just as versions of ancient Chinese and Indian secret practices are making their way into mainstream thought, so is Reiki.

It is the time for ancient and modern, east and west, science and spirit to come together. Heaven and Earth have never been closer, nor the bridge between them shorter.

Sometimes we do things without any sense of why we are doing them at the time. I spent 2 1/2 years studying Acupuncture and Chinese medical theory. My studies included intensive courses in Western anatomy and physiology, I often wondered why I was doing that since I never really gave up my Reiki practice. Now it is beginning to make sense.

My teacher used to say ' you know you have a mission when you have a need to share what you know and do so, whether your audience is one or a thousand.'

In my view, the 21st century dawns an altered consciousness of the world. For the first time in the history of humanity, all the pieces of the puzzle are on the table. For all intents and purposes all the 'masters' have gone home. We are on our own. Truth, it seems to me, is a transitory and malleable concept. While there has always been the search for the 'holy grail' of ultimate truth, and always those who will claim to embody it, to me, truth is strictly a matter of perception.

Buddha once said, this is not the truth because I say it is, it is the truth because it resonates within your own heart as the truth. In Kabbalah teaching no one is truly redeemed until all are redeemed. What this means is that ultimately we all need to see the oneness of the universe before even one is truly redeemed.

This decidedly does not mean that we all see the same thing. Clearly it does not mean that at all. It means that we all see the perfection through the filter of our own heart, honouring the perfection another sees, even when what the other sees is antogonistic to what we see. This is the meaning of 'love thine enemy as thyself.'

Reiki fits into this picture quite nicely in the sense that it is a frequency that embraces all frequencies at some level. Healing, by its very nature is neutral. It does not ask if one deserves to heal, or if the healing is worth the effort. It does ask, though that one step into the 'flow' of Qi. Usui said that there must be an exchange of energy. The meaning here is that being in the 'flow', requires that something leave to create the space for something else to come in. Nature, it is said, abhors a vaccuum. Something will always flow into one. The exchange of energy proposed by Usui, seems less about money or how one pays for one's treatment, and more about what thing of value is one willing to give up in order to gain something of infinitely more value.

In real terms, whatever it is that is given up to create the space for the healing to enter must have some real value to the possessor. Very often, this is the disease itself. The value of the Reiki energy that flows in, will be in direct proportion to the value placed on whatever has left. In practice, in a very real way, the question is are we willing to give up our disease in return for enlightenment?

Miracles happen, but they are, in a sense of our own creation.

I want to say here, that Reiki frequency is not the frequency of creation. It is not source, although it derives its power from Source. It is not God, although it derives its power from God, in the sense that all things are god's. It is a filter through which that energy is guided by Reiki hands.

If we look at the Chakra model. Reiki is green light flowing through the heart. Source is the white light at the top. White light contains within it all the other frequencies... including the frequency of creation. It is this frequency of creation that allows us to manifest 'evil', if there is a belief in that. At the level of healing, Reiki energy by-passes one's thoughts and feelings and is not affected by them. The healing proceeds regardless of one's belief. Reiki can only heal. It can do nothing else. In this sense there is a built in safety mechanism. It is only when one attempts to make Reiki do something other than what it does that there are consequences other than healing. But even this is only a point of view. Healing is what it is. What is healing for one, may be and often is, catastrophe, for another.

While it is in our nature to judge and evaluate, and even necessary to have a well developed procedure for doing that on the physical plane, where Reiki is concerned, it is more elegantly done when judgement of any kind is witheld. Even were one to judge Reiki 'good' assumes the opposite is possible and even probable. Reiki itself, in my view, does not lend itself easily to such judgements. It just serves.

The advice that Mrs. Takata gives that a channel should believe in the power of Reiki, speaks to one's ability to shut down the flow of Qi through one's own body. As a matter of fact, in TCM, activating the Qi has some independence of the practitioners thoughts or point of view. It is actually, not necessary for the practioner to believe in the power of Qi to heal. But it helps.

It is common and recommended practice to add one's own Qi to the flow of universal Qi, thereby enhancing the effect. In other words, the practitioner and the practice are never fully separated and in its highest and most elegant expression the two do indeed become one. Plainly said, Qi moves quite independently of human will, but is also affected by it in many subtle and elegant ways.

In Usui's terms, when the practitioner and the energy approach the same frequency, the need for tools disappears and all that is needed is the bare hands.

The question really is, not how to boost the power of Reiki. Qi already flows at full power all the time. The question really is, how capable the vessel or channel is to contain and emit the energy.

Usui himself, measured and tested his students' ability to emit their own personal Qi. True healing, at the soul level, comes as a result of the practioner, the client and the Qi becoming one, as it were. Usui, understood, that spiritual practice was aimed at the practioner. Qi has only one speed. It is like a drag racer. The flow of Qi depends exclusively on the nature of the vessel. Healing depends on the ability of the practitioner to channel. It is very much like trying to pass energy through a rock. One gets far better results passing energy through a fibre optic cable. As Reiki channels, the lesson of Usui is to become a fibre optic cable, although a rock will still pass the energy at some level and even suffice in many cases.

This site is my mission. The opinions expressed are my own. The following are opinions I expressed two years ago. Things do change, but I have decided to leave the rest of the page in tact as it was mounted then, if only to give perspective.

I have been consciously practicing Reiki for more than 8 years now. For me it is a daily practice. I always have a hand on someone or myself. I have done hundreds of Reiki II distance healing, both as healing for others, for my family and for myself.

In my teaching, a 'Master' is one who remembers. That is he or she is one who remembers the symbols, and the teachings and passes them on. No more, no less. This means a Master is one who is committed full time to the practice and is not distracted by anything else. This is a solemn and sacred undertaking and in the East, one studies a life time to become a Master, and many don't actually make the grade no matter how much they study. This is one reason why Masters are so revered in the East. This is the model my Teacher follows. I will not, in these pages attempt to teach what she teaches.Even when one steps into the teacher's shoes, one remains the student striving for understanding.

On this page, I attempt to illuminate my own path to self-mastery. While we each walk our own path, in our own way and discover our own truths, we do so in the context of everyone else doing the same thing on the same mountain at the same time. In other words these are not isolated journeys, no matter how much time we spend in silent meditation.

The second part of the journey is to understand where we fit in with everyone else and with the Universe. For me Reiki is an essential part of my Life's journey. I have chosen a healing path. I call my self a Healer. I have taken on the name Compassionate Dragon. In many cultures it is a passage from childhood to adulthood to discard one's child name and take on an adult name. Sometimes it is a major Life passing marked with ritual and acknowledgment of the fundamental change implied. When one takes on a new name it is well to choose carefully and wisely. There is a belief that names have their own vibration and power.

The idea that names, sounds, vibrations have power is very common in many traditions and practices. Even in the Judeo/Christian tradition God's real name is secret. It is thought to say the real name of God is to take on that power.

For me to take on the name Compassionate and call myself a healer evokes expectations. My clients have a right to expect compassionate healing. How do I know when I am doing it right? In most cases they will tell me. They also tell me when I am doing it wrong.

But there is more to it than that. In these pages I am putting out to anyone who visits ... if you have a definition of compassion you would like to pass along, please do. If you have any thoughts, questions, inspirations please do not hesitate to leave them here. In a very real way, we are all masters and teachers of each other and I believe we all get up the mountain by helping each other along the way. In the new Millennium, I believe the path of healing is one of community and friendship.

Intention?

Teachers who say that Intention is the only thing that is important are missing a great deal, in my view and are not serving their students well. Intention is certainly important, even crucial in a Reiki practitioner, as it is in most healing practices and indeed one could say in almost all of Life's endeavours if one wants to do a good job. Clear intention is always a good place to start to yield specific results. Takata did say that, while it was not necessary for the client to believe in Reiki, it was necessary for the practitioner to do so. There is a lot more to healing in general and Reiki healing in particular than the ability to form intent.

A story I read on a message board illustrates this point very well. A Reiki master, was in her dentist's office one day. There was another woman who was in obvious pain and suffering. This channel debated in her mind for a long time whether to go over and put her hands on. But, she thought,what if she doesn't want it,what if she turns me down, what if someone else walks in, what if the dentist calls me next, and on and on. Ultimately, she talked herself completely out of going over and helping.

But this is not the end of the story. Being a Reiki II, this channel decided that she would silently form the 'intent' in her mind and send the healing that way. She somehow convinced herself that the Reiki energy was intelligent enough to find its way.

This is a case in which, intention is clearly not enough. Reiki is a hands on modality. You must make contact for the energy to flow. You cannot will the water faucet to turn itself on. Reiki Qi, is energy only. It is intelligence, yes, but an intelligence that does not particularize on its own.

Yes Reiki Qi is all around us and freely available to everyone, But you must tune into it. It is rather like having a radio and expecting it to play your favourite station without your bothering to turn it on and tune it in. The energy must be grounded somehow. As a practitioner you must make the effort to make the contact. Once you have done that, then the energy is free to flow to where it is needed.

Of course, this channel should have gone over to the suffering woman and offered to put hands on. Why not? Isn't that the most natural thing in the world to embrace someone who is suffering? It is unfortunate and all too common an occurrence that our fear of public humiliation or rejection, or our lack of confidence in a gift that is in our hands overrides our compassion and our desire to be of service. Even had she held the woman's hand, or put a hand on a shoulder, or hugged the suffering woman, a small miracle might have occurred.

In this case, the channel has allowed her misunderstanding of 'intent' to justify her own inaction.

The point of this exercise is not to vilify this particular channel. The truth is that I also have missed many opportunities to be at service for exactly the same reasons. I don't know if this was a learning experience. What she did was not right or wrong and not for me to judge. My only point is that 'intent' is only the beginning of a Reiki practice. It is not a substitute for the practice.

Cleansing?

Some Reiki masters teach that one must do a 21 day cleanse after attunement, and/or some form of cleansing after a treatment. I was never taught that cleansing was necessary. While it is probably a good idea at any level, it is not, as far as I can determine a part of Reiki. Washing your hands between clients in a clinic setting is probably a good idea, but this is a simple sanitary procedure and has nothing to do with cleansing bad energy. 'Bad' energy requires a belief in such things. There is actually, no such thing as 'bad' energy, there is only discordant vibrations. All energy, is, by definition, neutral. Reiki has only one frequency, that of healing. Actually, it is more like a 'balancing' frequency.

Some energetic healers teach that one draws in healing energy (Qi) from the outside with one hand, usually the left, and project it out with the other hand, usually the right. In this technique there is always the danger that 'bad' energy can sneak in making a cleansing procedure a necessary part of the healing. It is true, that it can be a real problem with energy healing that the practitioner takes on the illness of the client. But again, such things really require a belief in the practitioner that such things are possible.

There are certainly many practices, both in the East and the West, based on personal energy or some aspect of manifestation that conforms to the laws of the physical universe. Simply put, what you put out comes back. In the dualistic physical universe, Good and Evil are acknowledged to exist and when doing 'good' work, one must take protective measures against 'evil.' Such things as making a ring of salt or flour, hanging herbs like Mistletoe, Garlic or Wolfbane, lighting candles, chanting or drumming are all common protective practices in many cultures and cleansing rituals.

In 'Temple culture', that is in the days when religion was for the priests and not for the people, it was common practice to ritualistically cleanse before going before the 'Holy' or into the Inner Sanctum. So the idea of cleansing is not a new one, or even a bad one. It has a long and honoured history. No doubt, there are many energy workers who believe strongly that cleansing is a necessary part of their work. Certainly, I do as well.

There are many cleansing techniques, at the physical, emotional and mental levels, that work and I use them myself. Reiki, however, in my teaching at least, is an energy of wholeness, Heavenly Qi, if you will, that, theoretically does not conform to the dualistic laws of the physical universe, ar at least does not endow the yin/yang of the energy with concepts of good and evil.

When Reiki energy is turned on, it is like turning on a faucet and it flows out both hands. It is impossible for your client's negative energy to sneak back up the spout.

As spiritual practices, 21 day fasts, meditations, pilgrimages are quite common in all cultures. Usui himself made the 21 day pilgrimage and fast up Mount Kuryama. Fasting is a form of cleansing the body in order to invite in a higher consciousness. Visions are quite common as a result of fasting. Christ fasted, as did Buddha and Mohammed.

One of my practices is to do 21 Reiki II's in a row over 21 days. This is a spiritual practice to help familiarize myself with the energy and perhaps to cleanse some old stuff, as well as 'grow' spiritually. But these practices are not required, only recommended for those who want to pursue their self mastery and mastery of the Reiki practice.

Chakra Theory

While Chakra theory is a wonderful theory and practice, and so many Reiki folk work with Chakras and teach it, it is not strictly speaking a part of Reiki. One can do Reiki perfectly well not knowing about Chakras. Chakra theory, like Acupuncture meridian theory is a way of understanding how energy flows in the body and connects with higher energetic bodies. The 7 main Chakras conveniently correspond to the main glands of the Endocrine System and this forms the basis for a number of theories.

As a healer, it is always a good idea to know as much about these theories as you can, just as it is a good idea to learn about the body's anatomy and physiology. But these are not necessary to the practice of Reiki.

What Else?

I have described the practice of Reiki. It is a very simple hands on technique. The list of things that some teachers have added on to the practice is impressive. Perhaps some teachers don't think Reiki is sexy enough, perhaps they don't have enough confidence in Reiki's power to heal. Perhaps they feel they have to put on a good show, or perhaps they just get bored doing the same thing client after client.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of these practices. Some of them are quite amazing in their own right and I have done many of them myself. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with using Reiki energy in this manner. Reiki, when done properly is pure healing all by itself, without the need for enhancing or modifying in any way.

Crystals are not part of Reiki, nor is Auric cleansing, visualization, no form of massage or form of manipulation of body tissue, no fluffing or cleansing of the energy field is Reiki. Reiki is not 'trance channeling', nor is it a psychic reading. There is no channeled messaging, no spiritual counseling, no intuitive diagnosing. no past life regression or healing. I have seen all these things done in the name of Reiki.

You do not need to burn incense, play music, flood the room with colour, or use essential oils. Although it is probably a good idea to make your treatment room as pleasant as possible. Nothing wrong with this. Remember though, Usui did Reiki in the slums of Kyoto, so it can be done anywhere, under any conditions.

Final Word?

There are two main aspects to a Reiki practice. One is healing. The other is the spiritual journey.

The healing consists of two aspects. One is self-healing and the other is healing others. Both are equally important. Some emphasize one aspect, some the other.

Once one undertakes self healing, the spiritual journey begins. It is said the journey finds you as much as you find the journey.

Once the spiritual journey begins, it takes two forms. One is the journey of discovery inward, to illuminate your own inner divinity. The other is the journey outward to connect with the divinity of others on the planet and with the Universe or God, however you conceive of that divinity.

There are so many different ways to express these concepts in so many different cultures. If you are like me, a 'spiritual tourist', things pretty much start to blend together and many similarities; what I call synchronicities begin to appear. We are all at different points in our journeys. In Reiki, there are those who emphasize the healing and put the spiritual stuff on the back burner. There are those who never place hands on, preferring the spiritual journey.

In my view, at some point, it all comes together. My job, as a healer, and as a spiritual being is to figure out where I fit into the scheme of things.

In the meantime, you are invited to connect with me in any way that works for you. If you disagree with anything here... great. I love a lively discussion. If you agree with anything here... great. My Ego loves stroking. If you would like to add your experiences, comments, criticisms ... great, I just love learning new stuff.

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