Becoming a Reiki Practitioner – The First Degree

You may have now experienced Reiki several times and found that this gentle, non-invasive complementary technique has supported you in making better decisions, helped you achieve a more balanced emotional response to past events, and added a degree of increased physical energy. You are now ready to take on additional challenges and interests by beginning your own Reiki training.

Your Reiki Practitioner has been helpful in explaining how Universal Energy is brought to you through your Energy Centers, also known as Chakras, as well as the many benefits resulting from the use of Reiki Healing.  Reiki initiations are divided into three levels or degrees, and a serious commitment to the process is necessary.  While anyone can become a Reiki Practitioner through the completion of each level, you should be proud of your decision that this is a road you wish to travel.

Prior to committing to your final decision to become a Reiki Practitioner, you should learn more about the three different degrees or levels of Reiki, what is presented in each Level, and what you will be able to do following the initiation and completion of each degree of achievement.

Reiki Principles:

Regardless of which degree or initiation of Reiki is achieved, your work as a Reiki Practitioner is based on the following five spiritual principles:

• Just for today do not worry
• Just for today do not be angry
• Honor your parents, teachers and elders
• Earn your living honesty
• Show gratitude to everything

The First Level or Degree of Reiki:

This first level may be held for 2 ½ days or 2 full days often occurring on a weekend to accommodate those who have other responsibilities during the week. Each self contained class presentation will reflect the individual Reiki Master’s method of teaching but the basic core information specific to Reiki will be introduced to the learners.

The 1st Class Day

In addition to introducing yourself to your fellow classmates, you will probably be asked what brought you to Reiki.  This will be done for each participant. Usually, the Master/Teacher also shares his/her journey with Reiki.  The class presentation will consist of being introduced to the history of Reiki, the process by which the Reiki symbols were discovered, the purpose of Reiki healing, and its uses and benefits.

The First Attunement:

Following this information, each participant will individually receive the first attunement. An Attunement is considered to be the passage of the Universal Life Energy by the Master Teacher to the participant.  This Attunement prepares the participant to be more open to the power of Reiki. Often, the participant may experience a sense of energy flowing through them or may see vivid colors. After each person receives the first attunement, everyone shares what they have just experienced.

Hand Positions:

Following a short break, the second attunement is given and hand positions used for self-treatment and for others is demonstrated and practiced by everyone. At the conclusion of this presentation, it is recommended that everyone rest for the evening.

The 2nd Class Day:

The 3rd and 4th attunements are given during the course of the second day.  Prior to receiving the 3rd attunement, participants share with each other any unusual sensations, thoughts or feelings that may have occurred between the two class days.

In general, the four attunements received by the participants increase the vibration of the four upper Chakra or energy centers.  These attunements not only affect the Heart Chakra, the Throat Chakra, the Third Eye and the Crown Chakra, but also open the participant’s physical body to receive additional Universal Life Energy.

A Master’s Guidance

Students will continue to practice the correct hand positions following the transfer of the Attunements.  Each participant will most likely give and receive a Reiki treatment during which time the Reiki Master helps participants identify and interpret the sensations that may occur during the treatments, both as a recipient and as a practitioner.  This practice session also allows the Master Teacher to evaluate your progress with all aspects of the treatment protocol.

Achievement of the 1st degree or level of Reiki with the 4 Attunements allows the new Reiki practitioner the ability to perform self treatment as well as performing Reiki on others.  It is not unusual for recipients of a Reiki treatment to comment on how warm the practitioner’s hands are.  The Reiki practitioner may interpret a blockage within a Chakra by experiencing a tingling or pulsating sensation.  Also, if a Chakra is blocked, a practitioner may experience a ‘vision of color’ which may or may not represent the color of the specific Chakra being addressed.

Energy Transfer:

It is important to always remember that the recipient of Reiki does not take any energy from the Reiki practitioner: the energy flows through the practitioner.  This process of energy transfer reinforces the concept that the Reiki practitioner is a channel for Universal Life Energy.  Interestingly, it is not unusual for the Reiki practitioner to also feel energized after giving a treatment.

Timeframe Between Formal Reiki Classes:

The recommended time period between the 1st and 2nd Reiki levels is a minimum of twenty one (21) days.  This is based on the time Dr. Usui, the creator of Reiki, spent on the mountain during the re-discovery of the Reiki Symbols.  This 21 day period also supports the cleansing process that the new Reiki practitioner is experiencing.  Do not be alarmed if any unresolved or unpleasant past experiences surface without prior warning or a trigger thought.  This is part of the cleansing action of Reiki Healing on the new practitioner.  If this occurs, it is wise to acknowledge and confront those issues in an attempt to arrive at resolution of the situation.  Once you let go of any suppressed thoughts connected with these issues, then truly they will no longer have any type of negative affect on you.

Practice, Practice, Practice:

Practice makes perfect, so practice, practice, practice.  This is especially important to practice on yourself as this will continue to enhance your level of improved health and wellness.  It also helps to firmly seat your knowledge of the hand positions, as well as how you perceive any disturbances within the Chakras.

In Conclusion:

By becoming a Reiki practitioner you have been given a great gift that is to be shared with others.  This method of energy healing supports any type of medical or wellness method used by those individuals who seek your knowledge.