Some of you may wonder why I am addressing "Issues" of reiki. This is because there is much going on in the Reiki world today. Reiki is expanding, growing, and developing. In any endeavor, there are always growing pains. Some of these issues are contentious, but they summarize what is going on in the Reiki Community at large.
 
 

REIKI ALLIANCE - GRANDMASTER/LINEAGE BEARER

The Reiki Alliance was formed in 1982 after Mrs. Takata died. At that time there were 22 Masters Takata had trained in the western world. From what they knew, Reiki was not practiced in Japan after the death of Mr. Hayashi and World War II. They believed themselves the last masters in the world. The group met, and Mrs. Phyllis Furumoto, Mrs. Takata's Granddaughter emerged as the leader of the group. Mrs. Barbara Weber Ray, another of Takata's masters, did not attend. (She stated that Takata had revealed to her the secret techniques and named her successor. She started a style called "Real Reiki" and later changed that to the "Radiance Technique")

When Mrs. Takata died, she named no successor. Phyllis assumed that role, at the urging of the other masters, following in the footsteps of her grandmother. Over the years, Phyllis has moved from leading the Reiki Alliance to claiming to be the "Lineage Bearer", holding the "spiritual lineage", and GrandMaster of Reiki. Takata did not name a successor, nor was she referred to as the lineage bearer or grandmaster (she did not refer to herself in this manner). It is my opinion that Takata did not name a successor because one was not needed. That itself was the message. It is also my opinion that Phyllis is certainly the head of the Alliance, but not more than that. It is hard for her to substantiate the claim of lineage bearer, when we know conclusively that Chujiro Hayashi was not Usui's chosen successor. It now seems that Mr. Hayashi was not ever a member or the Gakkai (Usui's Reiki Ryoho organization in Japan).  The Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho Gakkai has had five presidents of the society since Usui's death, none of whom were Mr. Hayashi. This is not to down play Mr. Hayashi's great contributions to Reiki who almost certainly developed the hand positions in use in the West today as well as the attunements, but Chujiro Hayashi was a well respected disciple of Dr. Usui, not the lineage bearer.

The Reiki Alliance has a number of core beliefs and practices that they follow for pricing, content of courses, and discriminatory guidelines for who can be taught the master level and under what circumstances. Their current pricing is $150.00 US for Level I, $500.00 US for Level II, and $10,000.00 US for Master/Teacher Level.  There are generally no scholarships or lowered rates for Reiki III or any other degree are offered, nor are any payment plans allowed. The Master student is also required to apprentice with the Master for a period of at least one year, and once he or she begins to teach, it must be under the Master's supervision, who receives all class fees. A new master must apprentice with their Teacher for one year. They must not make any new masters for three years.  Additionally, they unquestionably acknowledge Mrs. Takata, and Phyllis Furumoto as the "Grand Master" of Reiki.  They follow the practices of Mrs. Takata dogmatically, and the price for mastership is $10,000.

The $10,000 price was used by Mrs. Takata to ensure that only those most committed to Reiki would achieve the master level.  I have heard it stated that Mrs. Takata believed that the people in the West did not appreciate what they receive free. However, it is important to note here that Takata did not always charge for training or treatments.

In the traditional Usui History, Usui healed beggars in the slums in Tokyo who reportedly came back time and again. They did not appreciate their healing and thus he vowed never to give it away free again. This story is used as part of a justification of having others pay, and pay dearly for learning. What now appears to be the case with this story, is that Usui did in reality work with those in Tokyo, following the earthquake there and he offered healing to many, which spread the knowledge of Reiki throughout Japan and enhanced greatly his reputation as a healer. This would tend to take away the emphesis about money in the traditional story, as well as the emphesis on "exchanges".  The irony is that Mrs. Takata told this story to illustrate that some people hold on to their illness and that some people refuse to change.

Another issue to be addressed is the idea of "exchanges" or "energy exchanges".  This is a new age concept added in post Takata.  This was never a part of Usui Reiki.  The idea behind the "energy exchange",  is that when you receive Reiki, it is a great gift and thus there must be some energy exchange in order to satisfy Universal Law. Along with this reasoning is that to those in the West, money is what is truly valued and thus it must be a great sum of money (i.e., $10,000).   This to me seems a justification to charge a high fee.

It is my opinion that this philosophy of energy exchanges unnecessary    I find the idea of "energy exchanges" and the philosophy behind them somewhat odd.  The universe maintains it's own balance, it is ego that leads us to think that we have such importance in the cosmic scheme of things that we must "balance" things.

In looking at the teachings of Jesus, or Buddha, we do not see the idea that "exchanges" must be done to repay acts of kindness that we do.  Jesus tells us that if someone takes our shirt to give our cloak as well,  not if they take our cloak to make sure we get their shoes......
Any act of kindness effects many many people, far beyond our ability to see or know. Who is to say that something I do today will not effect many others through that person. Are "energy exchanges" met and satisfied then? I offer this caveat, do whatever you do with no strings attached, no expectations on the behavior of the other and you will never go wrong.  Surely if Energy Exchanges were so important to the balance, then at least one of the great spiritual leaders would have mentioned it.......
 
 

TRADITIONAL and NON TRADITIONAL

The problem here is myriad. First, what is a Traditional Reiki Practitioner? Would that be the group calling themselves "Traditional Japanese Reiki"?, or the Reiki Alliance Members Practices, or the Practices of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Japan? It seems that all believe they practice "Traditional Reiki". For the purposes of this discussion what is generally referred to as "Traditional Reiki" is that of the Usui-Hayashi-Takata lineage.

Some traditionalists do not acknowledge training from non-traditional schools. Non-Traditional generally refers to the practices added on and the "other" Reiki's. Styles such as Usui/Tibetan Reiki, Karuna ReikiÒ, Tera Mai ReikiÔ, Lightarian Reiki Ô, Angelic RayKey, are examples of different styles. Techniques such as distant attunements, other symbols, the Hui Yin, Violet breath, reiki guides, seeing auras, psychic powers, dolphin breathing, Antahkarana symbols, angels and others are considered non traditional techniques. Many of these styles and techniques are wonderful additions for a healer to have in their arsenal of effective healing modalities. It is important to know that they were not a part of traditional reiki, that way people can make better and more informed decisions.

Recently in the Western World, we have been lucky that Frank Petter and Hiroshi Doi have been releasing material from Japan.  What is becoming apparent is that in the west we have moved far from the original practice and intent of the system.  That does not negate the wonderful healing and developments in the west, but it does highlight that the original system was an system that developed inner peace, and led to enlightenment.  In the west there is only the healing, with the acknowledgement that it is a "spiritual" art.  The effect of this vacuum is that many have tried to fill in the gaps with every possible new age practice including crystals, ancient civilizations such as Tibetan, Atlantean, Lemurian, hypnosis, space aliens, crop circles, and so many others that I cannot keep up with them all.
 
 

WHAT IS A MASTER

This is an area that brings heated arguments. A Reiki Joke.... What do you call one Reiki Master alone? Answer: A Healer. What do you call two Reiki Masters together? Answer: An Argument!

A Reiki Master is a person that has learned the Usui System of Natural Healing. It is someone that knows all the symbols, attunements, and has been trained specifically in passing the symbols, training and attunements to others. Nothing more or less than that. Period. A Reiki Master is not a guru, a spiritual leader, enlightened master, or anything else. (Although some are!) The arguments regarding the title "Reiki Master" seem to center around this central point. There is a group that is decidedly uncomfortable in the term "Master". Perhaps that term was a poor translation of the Japanese word "Sensei" and teacher would have been a better word. Others see the proliferation of Reiki Masters as something not to be desired and something that cheapens their accomplishments. For those that paid dearly for the training and spent years apprenticing, they feel that those that learn less expensively or do not intern as being less than masters.  (It is interesting to note that this exact problem is going on in the academic world. Those with Ph.D's are seeing their prestige and ability to charge higher sums devalued by the glut of Ph.D.'s out there. There is even talk of instituting a new degree even higher than a Ph.D. I have heard the term "Chancellor" thrown about. If nothing else it is an interesting parallel.)

In Usui's Reiki Ryoho, the level of energy that you could channel was important.  Reiki Ryoho used two different scales.  One was a scale from 6 to 1 (one being highest) indicating the energy level of the person.  The other scale indicated the level of teaching you have received and is the closest to the "levels" in the west.  Usui placed himself at energy level 2.  He did not claim to be level I to motivate his students to work hard.  Practices such as Gassho Breathing and Hatsurei ho were taught by Usui to strengthen the reiki channel, and build up one's internal chi.  These were empowering techniques that slowly over time strengthened you.
 
 
 

FEE STRUCTURES

Current Fees for practice and training vary considerably. Some Masters feel they should charge only for their time, as Reiki (the energy) is free. Alliance members charge set fees for training. These days, the current fees for non-Alliance members vary greatly. The average would be about $150 for level I, $300 for level II, and $800 for level III.

In terms of treatments, a fair guide as to what to charge is whatever a massage would cost. In terms of training, that is entirely up to you. As a libertarian, I believe things are worth whatever people are willing to pay for them. Libertarian leanings aside, you can base your fees on what is usual and customary in the area, or charge what you think is fair. Tied up in all this is can be your sense of self worth and the idea of the value of your time and commitment.
 
 

TRADEMARK / LAWS

In 1997, Phyllis Furumoto and the Reiki Alliance attempted to Trademark the words "Reiki", and "Usui Shiki Ryoho". Their rationale was that others were adding things on to traditional Usui Reiki, as they defined it, and they wanted to make sure the public knew the difference and a trade mark would allow them to be able to determine what was "Usui Shiki Ryoho". Others in the Reiki Community (the vast majority of practitioners and masters are NOT alliance members) felt this was a usurpation of their ability to use the word Reiki, and an attempt to control the practice of Reiki. There was a lot of bad blood in the community following this act. Some expressed the attitude that the Alliance saw their power base and control slipping through others offering reduced rate Masterships. The Alliance, for its part, did not help the situation by having statements on Mrs. Furumoto's website (http://www.furumoto.org) in letters that masters charging less than $10,000 were creating a deficit economy and implying that charging less than the full 10,000 would result in incomplete energy and less than perfect attunements. Although the trademark attempt failed because the word Reiki had been in the public domain for over 50 years in this country, the ill will that the attempt generated continues to this day.

Several groups have attempted to pass laws regulating the practice of Reiki in several states. The most current attempts were in Texas, New York and Florida. In Texas, the legislation was crafted so that only members of the Reiki Alliance and Reiki Touch (and those trained by Alliance masters) could be considered Reiki Masters under law. It also set specific fees for training (10,000 dollars for the Master level) and severe penalties for violating the law. As of this writing it was fiercely opposed and most likely will fail. Although the Alliance denied involvement in the Texas law, their name being named on the legislation did nothing to help the already contentious atmosphere in the Reiki Community. In New York, the board of Massage therapists, tried to legislate Reiki under the auspices of the Massage therapy Board and Laws. After witnessing a demonstration of Reiki, the board decided that Reiki was not massage and dropped the legislative attempt.  The most current attempt pending is in Florida, where the massage board has usurped the right of Reiki Practitioners to legally practice.  The board has placed Reiki under the auspices of massage law, even thought there is no manipulation of tissue as in massage.  The matter will now have to be settled legislatively.
 
 

SPIRITUALITY

Reiki is not a religion. It developed out of some very exciting religious times in Japan and the world. At that time many great spiritual people were seeing the great light.  Mokichi Okada, the founder of Johrei (Meishu-Sama) developed the religion Johrei (also the name of their God). Johrei is both a religion and a practice of channeling the Great Light of God. Johrei is similar in application to Reiki, although philosophically very different. Although Johrei can heal, its purpose is to bring the light into people and clear away the clouds that formed on their spiritual selves that block the light of God. Amazing healing have been recorded as a result of this practice and the Johrei Fellowship Worldwide does extensive medical research on the subject.
 
 
 

GUIDES – ANGELS – PSYCHIC ABILITIES –EXPECTATIONS

In many of the Reiki books available today, there is talk about meeting your Reiki Guides, seeing auras and angels, increases in your psychic abilities and a whole host of others abilities that the author states followed an attunement. Indeed, some people do experience these things. However it needs to be pointed out that none of these things were in the original system by Usui.   Usui was a contemporary of Morihei Tanaka.  Tanaka created a healing art that used spirits in healing called Dai Rei Jitsu.  Since we know that Tanaka had these practices, in Reiki they are conspicuous by there absense.  One can only conclude that since Usui knew Tanaka and his practices that they are absent from Reiki because they are not part of the system.

A story Hawayo Takata tells that once she began to develop psychic abilities after practicing Reiki for a time. She asked Hayashi about it when he visited her in Hawaii. He asked her, "Do you want to be a psychic or do you want to practice Reiki?". She chose the Reiki.

It is my opinion that many authors do Reiki and the public a great disservice in telling them to expect all sorts of fireworks, bells and whistles following an attunement. People experience guides, angels, and psychic abilities, when they are READY to receive them. Just as an attunement will not make me a championship caliber baseball player, it will also not make me psychic. Reiki Attunements and practicing Reiki help to open us up spiritually and are a wonderful connection to the source of all. Do not promise people what you cannot deliver. In the end it will harm your reputation as a healer and damage the credibility of Reiki itself.

The Reiki Plain and Simple On-line Book, this site and all its contents are Copyright 1998-2001 Ó by Vincent Amador. The author of said material allows it to be used For Free Use only.  It is to be shared freely, without cost.  You may print copies of this work for personal use or to be shared with students, provided that it is given in its entirety, and this copyright message remains intact with the work.  This material is not to be republished on other webservers, websites, translated, altered or in any other way used without the express written permission of the author.  This notice supersedes any previous notices.  All rights reserved.