When is the best time to start your Reiki journey? When are you ready to move forward?

Here Rachael answers some of her most asked questions by potential and current students, giving advice, spiritual guidance and history of the Art of Healing.

I get asked a lot “I would love to heal, but I don’t ‘know’ much. How do I get to learn Reiki? When will I know I’m ready? “

The short answer is, you are born knowing enough and your enquiry is the start, the ignition, you have been looking for. So, go for it!!!

Reiki is now, formally, split into three levels; 1st Degree -beginners. 2nd Degree – Advanced/Professional. 3rd Degree – Master/Teacher. When Usui first unlocked Reiki from the Sutras, well over a century ago, there was no formal system of attunements. These came in later.

Reiki, like all things, has evolved and changed over the decades. Don’t let anyone tell you it hasn’t evolved or moved with the times. Or that it shouldn’t change and should stay as it is. As it has always ebbed and flowed; like all great things, this is the reason why it is still with us and more popular than ever. If things don’t change an evolve, it dies. This blog about changing teaching, where I channel both John the Baptist and Usui himself, speaks volumes about how the river of knowledge moves over time. Trying to stop it doing so, is like trying to stop the tide.

So this is Usui Reiki as it stands now; this may change over time and some people will have different opinions. I always say that everyone’s opinion is valid as we form them from our own understanding, knowledge and, vitally, perspective. Without different opinions we would not need to question or our beliefs, and we would never, acknowledge or expand ourselves. So I not just expect, but welcome and love differing opinions. This is not only how I was taught, but also what I feel should be included, as a spiritual teacher myself.

Reiki Level 1; First Degree Reiki – this is where we all start. Whether you think you are a healer or not does not matter; we all have the ability to heal. Ask any child who is cradled by a parent, or patient with a caring nurse at their bedside. If you want to know more about the science behind healing, and how it works; please have a look at this series of blogs about healing.

You need nothing to do Reiki 1, bar a want, a need, a calling. You energy is opened, and you are shown how to give treatments. I would recommend EVERYONE to do Reiki 1. To feel your own magic, to be active in your own healing journey, is a gift we should all be given.

Reiki 1 shifts in the individual Physical and emotional healing needs, and your healing tends to work on that level. However this is entirely dependent on where you are in your conscious connection into the Universe before you get to this point. I am finding, beautifully, that more and more students are coming forward who are already on their pathway and so their learning and understanding is progressing, faster and faster. The main reason for this level is to heal the self; if you are not at the centre of your healing journey, then make yourself just that!

Reiki Level 2; Second Degree Reiki – this is what I would call advanced or Professional level. there is generally a break between Reiki 1 and 2. I give my reasons in this blog. Reiki 2 opening your energy up further. Here you have passed your apprenticeship period and your healing is of a standard where you can start charging for treatments; if that is your pathway. Many do this for their own progression and that is a wonderful and beautiful enough reason alone.

You will learn symbols which you can use to focus the energy where you are guided to. Your heart is also activated so you can channel effectively through the heart; a good teacher will ensure that the higher heart is activated so that you can love from the Universal Perspective, and not feed into the destructive Empath vibration that many of us already carry.

Here you are healing in yourself (the self healing journey being just as vital at this stage) and others, the emotional and mental layers; the mindsets which allow our thinking to manifest emotional reactions, which just don’t serve our learning or understanding at all.

Reiki 3 – Master/Teacher – This attunement is taken for many different people at different times. I have had students already living and functioning as Masters. but who wait years until they take the workshop. I have some who wish to gain Mastery, and their attunement workshop is the first step in that. Either way, a piece of paper or day workshop does not make you a Master. That comes through Mastering your life; your life being your Spiritual Pathway itself. I have heard many people announce themselves as Master when introducing yourself. You do not need to announce it. You just are; it can be seen and felt in you. Something I continually strive for further and further myself.

The attunement again opens your energy up further, you are given one or two Master symbol, (depending on what your own master has had given to them). Essentially you are given closer access to the Universal Consciousness. You are viewing all of life, including your own from the love and perspective of the Universe.

This really is Spiritual healing and beyond. Working on people’s life way path, as well as feeling major shifts in your own (if you’re doing it properly lol!). Students often feel a great shift in the way that they work at this time; heat turning to coolness as you work in the Higher Spiritual fields. Sight turning inwards to personal knowing; feeling like you are cut off when in fact you are sat at the top of the mountain, with the clouds covering your feet.

Here you begin to learn that as you work higher and higher, your healing is working on our etheric blue prints, on our DNA itself and on changing life missions while walking you pathway.

Many at this level choose to teach also. I am not one who believes you must; understanding their are many who have every right to Master their art, without their pathway dictating they must teach others.

Please have a look at my indepth guide here to choosing the Right Spiritual Teacher for you here. Please have a look at my Upcoming Events page here on my site for my next workshop, if you are drawn to work with me.

Any questions about your Reiki journey, please let me know!

Love as always

Rachael x