Reiki for Children

Initiating Children in Reiki

March 28, 2016

Many of the Reiki students often ask me this question: Is it okay to give Reiki attunements to children?

The answer is YES! but with certain conditions:

  • We can give Reiki initiation for Reiki Level 1 to children age 7 and up.
  • Reiki Level 2 can be given to children age 12 – 14.
  • Higher Reiki levels should be given to high school students.

Note:
 The children should use Reiki energy only for themselves and not to treat other people. This is because of two reasons:

  1. The subtle energy layers of a child (the aura) are still developing, and it is not advisable to expose their aura to negative energies and diseases from other people.
  2. During a Reiki treatment, there is a small risk that the therapist may collect negative energies from the client. This is why therapist perform certain self-purification techniques at the end of each Reiki treatment session. Children may not be as cautious, increasing the risk of negative side effects.
Reiki Courses

How to Prepare For a Reiki Attunement

March 28, 2016

Over the years, I’ve been asked many times about how a Reiki student should prepare for the first Reiki class. The questions usually revolve around avoiding alcohol, cigarettes or eating vegetarian food before the Reiki attunement.

First, let’s talk about the Reiki attunement for a moment. The Reiki attunement is a process or technique performed by the Reiki Teacher to imprint and activate the Reiki symbols introduced in the energy field of the student at the level of the head and in the middle of the palms.

It is a complex process that involves good breathing control on the part of the teacher, visualization, drawing different Reiki symbols, and inserting these symbols into the student’s energy field.

The state of student’s energy field can either allow for an easy attunement or impede the attunement process to a certain degree.

For example, if a Reiki student has negative energies in their aura (energy field) that have created energy blockages and tensions, these blockages may impede the activation of Reiki symbols and certain energy meridians during the attunement.

As the Reiki attunement is the most important part of the Reiki course, here are some suggestions to help the student better prepare:

  • Avoid alcohol for at least a week. Instead drink more natural juice full of vitamins and minerals.
  • If possible, avoid smoking for at least 1 week to allow the energy meridians of your lungs to improve.
  • Regarding the foods you eat, try not to consume anything heavy the evening before the class. The quality of the foods we eat reflect in the state of health of our energy field. It is said that once a person will become vegetarian, then in approximately 7 years the quality of their energy will improve so much that naturally they will start to manifest healing abilities. While you don’t have to become a vegetarian to learn and practice Reiki, having a healthy diet will keep you healthy and contribute positively when trying to help others.
  • Ensure you have a good night’s sleep (at least 8 hours) before the Reiki class.

After the Reiki attunement, it will take 2 to 3 weeks for the changes in the energy field to stabilize. During this time, the student is encouraged to practice self-Reiki treatment to improve the state of their energy field. Then, you can start to work with Reiki on other people too.

Reiki Questions

How to choose a Reiki Teacher

March 28, 2016

Long ago (in 2003), I wanted to learn more about energy healing, and at that time, the Usui Reiki system felt like the right place to start. I had already received some training in Bio-energy healing and had been practicing meditation and other spiritual techniques for more than 7 years. As I looked to learn Reiki, I went through the process of choosing a Reiki teacher. How did I do that? Well, here is my list of 5 steps that I’ve used when I was looking for a qualified teacher.

  1. The name of the course – The name of the Reiki course (style) advertised as being Usui Reiki, should be as close as possible to the original name “Usui Reiki” if Usui Reiki system is what you’re looking to learn). This will indicate that you are close to finding a teacher who will teach you the original Usui Reiki. If the Reiki style has a different name, the teacher should provide an explanation for why the name has been changed.
  2. Teacher’s experience – Usually, the more students a particular teacher has taught, the more likely the teacher can perform the Reiki attunements (initiations) correctly. An experienced teacher will be able to answer most of your questions and provide many examples from his/her practical experience during the curse.
  3. The type of training offered – I’ve always preferred to attend a smaller class rather than going into a crowded one where there will be limited time available for direct interaction with the teacher. Getting one-on-one Reiki training is challenging to find these days and should be considered a bonus. Another important aspect is the Reiki attunement, which is the process during which the Reiki teacher will transmit to the student the ability to work with the Reiki energy. It takes a minimum of 15 minutes per student to do it correctly. The bigger the class, the longer it will take to attune all the students. This is where the length of the Reiki course will differ.
  4. The length of the course – The minimum amount of time for Reiki Level 1 and 2 classes should be 6 to 8 hours. Some teachers may offer two days of training for each Reiki level. This usually happens when the classes are larger than 5 students or when they teach just a few hours each day. While this may allow for more practice time, it is not always the case. Many Reiki schools will teach each Reiki level during a one-day of training, then offer a separate class each month for practicing Reiki. The Reiki Teacher/Master level course should allow for more practice time because the student needs to learn how to perform Reiki attunements.
  5. Use your intuition – After reading the course ad, the fine prints, talking to the teacher on the phone or through email, looking at the teacher’s picture (if any) – USE your gut feeling, your intuition, to decide. If you feel that something might not be right, keep searching. There are many Reiki teachers out there. Choose one that resonates with you!