REIKI BASICS
People have been practising the art of hands-on healing for thousands of years. Throughout the ages; Monks, Nuns, Sages, Shamans, Wiccans, and other people under different names, from different places, traditions and lineages have all practised forms of energetic healing. Whether you believe in Jesus or not, the hands on healing that he is said to have practised is a form of energy healing.
It is important to know that Reiki is not a religion and is available to all people no matter what race, age, gender, religion or beliefs. Reiki has its roots in Japan. In the early 1900's, Japanese Buddhist monk Mikao Usui rediscovered and restructured a form of energetic healing, and named it Reiki.
Pronounced:
'Ray-key'
 Reiki translates to:
"universally guided/spiritually guided life force energy"
Rei:
“universal, transcendental spirit or boundless essence”
Ki:
“life force energy”
(Japanese for Reiki)
Reiki is a sacred, therapeutic and holistic healing medicine that works energetically on multiple levels to heal and balance a person's life force energy.
This is the same energy that we hear of in other ancient practices and philosophies as 'Prana', 'Chi' ,'Qi' or 'ki'. This energy is in every living thing and can be strong or weak, balanced or unbalanced.
As Reiki is ”'life force energy” it is available to everyone if they so choose. A person channelling Reiki is not giving their own energy, they have simply learnt to connect to and channel this life force energy for the good of themselves and others.
There are three (sometimes four in different traditions) levels/attunement’s in Reiki. Reiki can be given/transmitted through hands on healing or hovering the hands over the body.  It can also be sent over distances (in Reiki II and beyond), meaning the receiver of Reiki does not necessarily need to be with anyone to receive it and its benefits.   
Reiki can help  to align and heal a person physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically. It is universal and meant for everyone.  Reiki is a completely loving, supportive and healing energy that can only help you, it can never harm you. Reiki is a beautiful and magical ancient practice and should be used wisely for the benefit of yourself and others.
Naturally, there are many different forms of healing and medicine.  Some are better at some things and some are better at others.  
We have a lot to thank science and western medicine for; If you need your leg amputated, don't go to a Reiki therapist, although maybe they can help the process of losing your leg slightly easier on a mental and emotional level, and help the body heal more efficiently and quickly on a physical level, but ultimately you need a surgeon.
But for other ailments or dis-ease not everything can be fixed with a pill. 
Our physical, mental, emotional and energetic bodies are all linked, and therefore all affect each other. If one is out of alignment it will affect the others. To be a healthy and balanced individual we need to nurture and look after all layers of our being. Reiki helps with this. There are countless benefits to Reiki depending on a person's needs and symptoms. Reiki has aided virtually every known illness and injury, it is always beneficial and works well with other holistic therapies.
Here are just some of the
benefits of Reiki:
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Assists the body's natural healing processes to heal more quickly and effectively 
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Helps to relieve stress and tension 
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Improves physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being
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Reduces anxiety
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Induces a state of deep relaxation helping you to rest and recover
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Helps to reduce depression
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Aids good sleep 
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Helps to relieve pain
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Helps us to release anything that is no longer serving us
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Promotes harmony and balance on all levels
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Helps to clear the mind and improve focus
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Gives us a deeper sense of connection with ourselves and the universe
Reiki degrees (levels) and attunements
Anyone can learn Reiki. All that is needed is an open mind and heart, a desire to learn Reiki for healing, the time to attend a course and attunement in person and then a level of commitment to practice.
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Reiki is now taught throughout the world. Naturally, each training will vary slightly and there may be different lengths of trainings, variations between levels, and suggested time between each training. But the majority of the information will be the same. What's most important is that you do what you are called to with loving intentions.
Reiki Level I (First Degree) (Shoden)
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In this Reiki Level I training and attunement you will learn how to connect with and channel the Reiki energy primarily for self-healing, empowerment and transformation. After the training and attunement you will also be able to offer one on one healing to family, friends, pets, plants and even to supercharge your food and water if you choose. Reiki level I is the first stage of your Reiki journey. This course is usually 1 or 2 days depending on the number of participants, if any pre training material is provided or not, the progress on the day, and how long the day is.
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Reiki Level II (Second Degree) (Okuden)
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Reiki II allows for healing to be given to others in a professional setting. The attunement also helps to raise your personal vibration increasing your ability to channel Ki (life force energy) with more potency. In this training you’ll learn three sacred symbols to use during healing, and you will also learn how to send Reiki through time and space for distance healing. This course is usually two days.
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Reiki Level III (Third Degree) and Master Teacher Level (Shinpiden)
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Reiki Level III and Master Teacher level can be combined as one course as is traditional, or split into two. By this training Reiki is not just a part of your life but a way of being! The ability to channel Reiki intensifies greatly with this attunement. Master level is not to be taken lightly and is for those who wish to commit themselves to teaching. On this course you will learn the sacred techniques for conducting the attunements in Reiki, along with two more powerful symbols. Personal growth is highly accelerated and there will be no hiding from your highest path and life’s calling and mission.
The length of this course can vary depending on if it is in one or split into two. Anywhere from 2-3 days.
The attunement process
Each training comes with an Attunement. The Attunement is something a little different from learning and the acquiring of information. It goes beyond our thinking minds. The Attunement is a kind of sacred ritual to open you up to the Reiki energy. You could read all the Reiki books in the world but without a Reiki Master to attune you to Reiki you would be missing a vital piece. The attunement is the way that Reiki gets activated in the body. During the attunement your body's energy channels will be opened and a clearing of any obstacles will begin. This is nothing new to your body, rather the attunement aligns what is already part of you. It is a sacred download of energy and ancient wisdom. You do not need to do much during the attunement, just relax and be open. It is usually an enjoyable experience, some feel or experience a lot with this, others don't, we are all different, trust that whatever you experience is right for you. (We will go over what happens in the attunement in a little more detail on the day.)
