The discussion of what it means to be a “master” is how I like to begin this training.
In Japan where the teaching of Reiki originated, a Reiki Master-Teacher earns this title very differently than in the U.S.
While many trainings in the U.S offer both Reiki I & Reiki II level attunements & certifications in a single weekend, in Japan there are many years of study, practice & community service in between attunement levels.
When it come to becoming a “Master or Master- Teacher” in Japan, it is often your own teacher that decides if & when you are ready to receive & honorably hold that level of attunement.
In my 16+ year experience with practicing & studying as a Reiki “Master-Teacher” I feel that while I do my best to honor the original traditions of the practice of Reiki as I was taught them & as Dr. Mikaomi Usui taught them (the original Reiki teacher), I find that using the term “Master” seems to over simplify and even disrespect what the practice of Reiki is- the passing of Universal energy with the intent to help another on their healing journey. Can anyone truly “Master” Universal Energy? Can anyone “Master” another’s healing path? No.
On a different but equally important note, The word “Master” can have many negative connotations and meanings throughout history and so it’s all together a word that I am choosing to let fall to the wayside in my Reiki practice (as inspired by a Reiki student of mine, thank you Jenni.) I currently refer to my level of Reiki training as Reiki IV Practitioner-Teacher.
Why use the word practitioner? Because through my 16 years of offering Reiki to the community there isn’t one session that I give someone without learning something myself. Sometimes it’s the client that offers me the lesson, maybe something within the Reiki treatment, or perhaps a message I receive from Reiki or my Reiki guides that shows me something I hadn’t seen or understood before. I will forever be a student of my work because knowledge & wisdom of the healing arts is infinite.
For that reason I feel the word Master is wrongfully used in the world or sometimes simply used as a fancy title to hang on the wall.
In the world of Reiki the highest level of attunement that is traditionally called Reiki-Master-Teacher means that you have received the highest level of attunement as a practitioner and are also attuned to be able to teach the art of Reiki & pass Reiki practitioner attunements to others.
This final training explores even deeper ways to work on our own healing (which is always the most important part of being a Reiki practitioner), as well as others. We’ll learn different ways of offering Reiki energy, revisit out knowledge of the Chakras, learn Reiki symbols traditional & new as well as tools and techniques that may benefit your practice and continue to find our own unique ways to offer the power of Reiki in to ourselves & our community.
