Reiki – my philosophy on teaching and truely becoming a Master ( 5 min read)

Here Rachael talks about her personal philosophy for teaching and becoming a Master. If you are a teacher or learning to heal, maybe you will find something here that resonates with you?

I always say each to their own and that is no less true here. I want to say this is my take on teaching and, although I technically possess the title, my daily trials with trying to attain my Mastership status. I suppose I never will truly feel worthy of that title, but then, maybe that’s the only way to be.

I feel the information on healing should be ‘out there’. How else do we heal ourselves, and the planet at large, on an emotional, physical and spiritual level if people don’t know how?

(You may or may not be aware that Reiki channels from source, so there is no danger of us either using our own energy and depleting our own resources or passing on any of our own negativity in the energy we give).

It’s a no brainer to have the energy out there.

As such there are many things that seem to be instinctual and logical in terms of taking on the term Master, when you chose to take on a student.

Cost: I have seen many varying costs, from many masters. I do not want to cost individuals out of learning, and I also I want to have a suitable energy exchange for my time. I am not of the school that you do not charge for your time at all; not that I am criticising anyone that does not charge. I always say ‘each to their own’. Until the world blows up, or whatever it’s going to do, we use money as a barter. Personally I love the feeling of swapping goods and services for my spiritual work, it feels more appropriate. So I try to draw a balance between being recompensed for my time, energy and knowledge, alongside ensuring that it accessible from a cost perspective.

One way I do this is by taking a ‘no filler’ approach. I could very easily stretch my course out to two days with the addition of a few aspects that are not strictly Reiki, but work well with the Reiki approach and philosophy. Any Master that chooses to do this, still offers good value for money from what I have seen on the courses out there, but it’s not what I do. I try my best to keep costs down and having the course over a day is one of the ways.

Yes, it is a full on day. But hey, you’re all tough cookies 😉

Additionally, many people can spare a day out of their busy work v life schedule, but a full weekend or 2 days off work? This way more people can find a way to come time wise.

Support: I suppose in part this carries on from before. I enforcec the 21 day clear our; that I believe is essential. Also, if you are going to do the course over a shorter period, this is important. I am available on phone, text, email, messenger and in person – I hold Reiki share monthly. Questions and practice; both being vitally important on the journey.

I have heard stories of Masters not being heard from after the course; not being available and not offering Reiki share and support. I find this even harder to understand when people are at the start of the journey; after Reiki 1 particularly I have found people feel lost and unsure of themselves. With more practice you become more confident and can go out and find support or someone to attune you to the next level as you go on. As I find this harder to understand; I find this harder to forgive of other teachers. I don’t want to be in your pocket unless you need me, but I chose to extend the hand every so often if you don’t check in for a while 😉 . Surely, if you call yourself Master, and chose to take on a student, this is a major part of the definition?

Progression: This leads on from above. You should be actively helping your students be the best healers they can at which ever level they chose to be. So this means gently guiding them along the way; not pushing any part of the journey on them. You may well have an opportunity to open someone to the art, not to teach them yourself. By actually pushing them into a first or second workshop, you may push them away. If your conversation or emails lead them to be taught by someone else even in 10 years time; then GOOD! We are all meant to be taught by the certain people in my belief and if you have spiritually had a part of that then wonderful. Particuarly when it comes to all things spiritual in this very Western society, it is easy for people to get freaked out and run away. You don’t want to add to that momentum but instead be someone that is there to stop people running too far (through cradling them back in, so dragging them!) and also be someone that has left the door open for a return.

On the reverse, you cannot stunt progression. There is a great truth to ensuring that students do not run before they can walk; if you are not practiced enough you will struggle with being attuned to the next level. I have had some people actually have adverse effects. If you have given the support to your students you will see where they are in terms of progression; some are natural healers, some are practiced healers but there are some who will do both and fly! Equally it will give you the opportunity to guide them as to where they are. It is understandable and lovely when students become passionate and wish to learn everything! If you see or talk to students regularly you can let them know if they need to practice more, if they need to self heal more etc.

This is made easier if you explain the process well at, and even, before Reiki 1. I almost served an apprenticeship with my Master, doing our spiritual work every Wednesday. Usui took the training and apprenticeship side very seriously. I have heard criticism of Reiki; you can’t ‘charge’ clients until you have done Reiki 2. Well, should anyone be able to walk in off the street and after one weekend call themselves a healer? Would you want to pay someone £30 in the knowledge they had only been practising over a weekend?

Having said that, this is no criticism of other healing systems that do this. However, any good Master in these systems I have heard strain the fact that you must not just be on your journey, but progressing along it. You need to be vibrating at a high enough energy frequency to take on the attunements and teaching effectively. In the majority of the cases, these people have either done Spiritual or Reiki healing before. The beauty of both of these systems is that there is an entry level, where anyone can walk in and progress through the levels.

The point I am ultimately leading to is not to use ego along your Mastership status in this regard. Keeping students back, who keenly want to progress, is ultimately wrong. They will go elsewhere and someone will attune them. If you have done a good enough job of being a Master, you will both happily be on the same page. I have seen Master who like the fact that they have power and control (even though they are not aware of it) and seen those who do not want their students to take away their own business, especially if you live in close local.

If you are a good enough Master, people will come to you no matter what the competition and those that do are the ones whose philosophy and personality match with yours; they are meant for you. Plus, the more Masters, the more people will be attuned, the more healing is out there and it is an every expanding cycle of purity and beautiful growth. It is all good!!!!

If a student really believes that they are further progressed then you think they are; then maybe you need to listen to them. If spirit is pushing them, then are you reading spirit correctly?

Walking the Walk, not just talking the talk: As Master you must live the philosophy, no matter what you are teaching. That doesn’t mean you are perfect, it means you live every day for the day and try to be the best you can on that day. You won’t always achieve it, and it’s vital not to beat yourself up for it, but the important thing is your intent.

You don’t have to be holier than thou. You need to be yourself; have you seen the very funny, highly inspiring Dalai Lama be interviewed on TV? What would you actually imagine the passionate, educated, social Jesus be like to meet?

So I try to live the Reiki philosophy and heal myself physically, emotionally and spiritually not just through Reiki, but through everything I can.

Ultimately if you and your students can leave ego at the door, you should all progress together nicely. Also, if you are not the person to take them on the next step of their journey; then so be it. Accept it with grace and understanding.

Like I say, this is my take. This is not to say that any other healing system or any other way of teaching and Mastering is not right, as it is. After all, as they say, difference is what makes the world go round!

Reiki Masters and Reiki Principles

Love as always

Rachael x