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I Which Master Should I Learn Reiki From?

5/1/2019

1 Comment

 
"When the student is ready, the master appears," this quote attributed to Lao Tsu is carries great wisdom to us all the way from ancient Asia.

So the answer to this question is simple. When you are ready to learn Reiki, the right teacher will find you. 

You will come across the master who is right for you and just at the right time.

If you struggling with not finding a Reiki style that resonates with you or if you can't seem to find a class that fits your schedule, or if you can't afford the training - whatever it may be that's preventing you from learning Reiki right now, don't let it worry it. It may simply be that it is not the right time.

Once you let go, and flow with what is relaxed and natural, you will be shown the way, you will be given the path, and the Reiki master will come before you without any effort.

You may find yourself overwhelmed by the multitudes of Reiki courses. How should you pick the one that's right for You? 

Go with the Reiki teacher whose ways are resonating with you most. Don't force something that doesn't feel natural. If you are not connecting with a teacher or if something doesn't feel right, then you have your answer.

Approach this decision from a state of peace and love.

Also you've taken a Reiki class and feel that something is missing or that you are not certain of your Reiki ability after the training, then what is stopping you from learning more? If you feel that Reiki is (or can become) an important part of your life, then don't stop after just one class, keep learning, keep exploring.

In a practical sense,
ideally you want to find a teacher who
  • has been teaching for a while and who is actively practicing Reiki
  • has a very short and clear lineage to Mikao Usui sensei, the founder of Reiki
  • it is very important to do the training in person (you can learn a lot through reading and in an online course, but you will not be able to fully gain Reiki ability or reach your maximum potential as a Reiki practitioner). 
  • ideally your teacher should offer ongoing practice meetings so that you can continue learning from him or her beyond the basics taught during a Reiki seminar
  • learn from someone who is dedicated and passionate about Reiki
  • learn from someone who is continuously learning and not staying stagnant under the burden of the "Reiki Master" ego
  • learn from someone who wants you to succeed

If you can't find a Reiki Master near you, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. I can do my best to find or recommend a Reiki teacher close to where you live.

With love and gratitude,

Dr. Maria Danilychev, MD

1 Comment

Should I try Reiki?

4/1/2019

0 Comments

 
Reiki is amazing! As a medical doctor who originally learned Jikiden Reiki (the traditional Japanese Reiki style) simply out of curiosity, I am astounded every day by how helpful Reiki can be! 

Whether you are young or old, healthy or sick, give Reiki a try. It can help you feel your best on a mind-body level and it may even be life-changing for you! You don’t have to take my word for it, just ask my clients. 

No, Reiki is not a substitute for medical care (I would never advocate for that) but it can complement Western Medicine and even offer so much more. 

Yes, not every Reiki style is the same, and I can’t speak for all Reiki schools (there are numerous) and for all Reiki practitioners. 

True, current clinical research on Reiki is extremely limited and largely flawed, and at this point, medical science views Reiki as “neither harmful nor helpful” because of the limited research we have on Reiki. 

All I know is that I’ve seen incredible results with Jikiden Reiki for a wide range of symptoms and conditions. Some of these results are literally medically impossible (as a doctor I would not have believed the extent of these positive effects if I didn’t observe them with my own eyes). 

Sounds unbelievable? Well, come in for a Reiki session, and judge for yourself. Take a little time for self-care. Feel your best naturally. I am here for you! 

Dr. Maria Danilychev

PS: if you don’t get some benefit - your first session is free. So you have nothing to lose. 
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How can I start practicing Reiki?

3/1/2019

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The first step is to learn Reiki.

Although you can learn about Reiki online and by reading books about it, there is no way to actually truly learn how to do it unless someone teaches you directly.
​

There is a wide range of Reiki styles available today, and a wide range of Reiki classes of varying durations and prices, some closely connected and others less connected to the original form of this healing art.

It is important to pick the style of Reiki that resonates with you.

Keep in mind, that Reiki is a hands-on healing practice from Japan, so it is a very much a Japanese healing art. It was developed by Mikao Usui in the 1920s. He created a very specific Reiki treatment method for body and mind, as well as a very specific way of teaching Reiki which included Reiju (often mistranslated as “attunement”) and hands-on training.

So if you’d like to learn Reiki similar to the way Reiki was originally taught and practiced by its founder your class should have the following elements:
  • It should be clearly connected to Japan
  • It should be simple and everything should make sense
  • It should include Reiju
  • It should be in-person (there is no way to have a distance Reiju)
  • It should include hands-on practice
  • It should have at least one other student for group practice
  • It should be taught by a person who has at least some experience as a Reiki practitioner (not someone who just learned Reiki)
  • It should be taught by a person who has a clear Reiki lineage connecting them to Mikao Usui (they should know who was the teacher of their teacher, and all the teachers before them, all the way to Mikao Usui)
  • It should be followed by regular practice meetings offered by your teacher to enhance your Reiki ability and to improve your Reiki technique
  • It should not be outrageously expensive (should not cost thousands of dollars)

This type of Reiki training may be difficult to find, but it is worth it if this is what you are drawn to. Jikiden Reiki is one of such styles, and you are always welcome to learn with me at the Jikiden Reiki Training Center at San Diego Reiki.

Of course, you may also be drawn to other styles of Reiki. There are literally hundreds of Reiki styles that have been either modified from the original or have been created from scratch in recent years. Some of those styles may include additional elements, such as Chakra clearing, crystals, guides, attunements, but may be missing some of the original teachings, or may be taught online.

You may also choose to learn more than one style of Reiki. You are the only person who knows what is right for you.

Once you complete your Reiki training, you should be able to start your own practice immediately. I would also recommend continuing utilizing your teacher for ongoing guidance and support even if you start practicing independently.​

At San Diego Reiki I offer classes and workshops that help my students with information on how to start their own Reiki practice. You are always welcome to take advantage of those seminars as well.
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In loving memory...

2/1/2019

1 Comment

 

This post is dedicated to a very special person - Patricia Lee.


​Patricia has been coming to me for Reiki for several months.

At 92, Patricia's health has been gradually weakening due to various medical conditions and Alzheimer's disease. Whether Patricia's Reiki appointment was pain, perseveration on numbers due to dementia, or something else, it was amazing how well she responded to Reiki! After nearly every session, Patricia would smile and tell me, "I feel wonderful!"

While having trouble remembering many things, remarkably Patricia seemed to always know when her Reiki sessions were coming up and would just beam with joy, as her daughter would later relay to me. 
Patricia was always looking forward to Reiki!

Just as Patricia was excited about her Reiki sessions with my Reiki students and me, we were looking forward to our Reiki sessions with Patricia. Her heart-warming smile could melt anyone! She had such a wonderful presence about her. We just loved her! There was something remarkable about this quiet woman. Something that is hard to put into words. It just felt so good to be around her! I think in some way, she was helping us as much as we were helping her...

Patricia enjoyed her Friday Reiki sessions at the Japanese Friendship Garden nearly every week for several months, but on January 25th, 2019 she could not come... Patricia was entering her final journey...
Picture
Several days later, I was thinking about Patricia. I knew that that her loving family was with her and I was hoping that she continues to be as comfortable as she was the last time I saw her.

​Good thoughts and memories filled my heart. I was remembering how much Patricia loved Reiki. It made me smile. As I was thinking about it, it literally felt as if she was asking me to share about Reiki with the world. It felt as if she wanted more people to discover Reiki and just how wonderful it can be. It felt as if she was asking me to write about how I feel about Jikiden Reiki. It felt as if it was important for me to do it right then, without waiting. That feeling was so strong and so urgent, that although it was in the middle of the night and I was already in bed, I felt like I had to get up and write.  I had to do it for Patricia!

So I set down and wrote about Reiki. I did it on my phone - could not even wait to open my computer. 

What I did not know at the time, is that Patricia was very close to going home.

Soon after 'asking me' to share about Reiki with the world, Patricia passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones...

​I wanted to write more about Patricia herself. I've come to learn quite a few special stories about her over the last several months. Patricia was an incredible woman, an amazing mother, and an impressive quilter. She was also a woman of few words, very humble and quiet, and I know she would not want to be in the spotlight. ​There is so much to share and yet, all of it would be too much and not what she would have wanted. Being respectful of that, I will share only her last message to me.

Below is what I wrote with with Patricia's guidance the day before she passed:

​
"Reiki is amazing! As a medical doctor who originally learned Jikiden Reiki (the traditional Japanese Reiki style) simply out of curiosity, I am astounded every day by how helpful Reiki can be! 

Whether you are young or old, healthy or sick, give Reiki a try. It can help you feel your best on a mind-body level and it may even be life-changing for you! You don’t have to take my word for it, just ask my clients. 

No, Reiki is not a substitute for medical care (I would never advocate for that) but it can complement Western Medicine and even offer so much more. 

Yes, not every Reiki style is the same, and I can’t speak for all Reiki schools (there are numerous) and for all Reiki practitioners. 

True, current clinical research on Reiki is extremely limited and largely flawed, and at this point, medical science views Reiki as “neither harmful nor helpful” because of the limited research we have on Reiki. 

All I know is that I’ve seen incredible results with Jikiden Reiki for a wide range of symptoms and conditions. Some of these results are literally medically impossible (as a doctor I would not have believed the extent of these positive effects if I didn’t observe them with my own eyes). 

Sounds unbelievable? Well, come in for a Reiki session, and judge for yourself. Take a little time for self-care. Feel your best naturally. I am here for you! 

Dr. Maria Danilychev

PS: if you don’t get some benefit - your first session is free. So you have nothing to lose."

​This was Patricia's final message to me - to share about Reiki, and I am grateful for being her 'messenger'. Patricia has touched my heart!

I know that Patricia will be greatly missed by all those who've known her and by all whose lives she has touched.

I also know that she is at peace, and that her message about Reiki will continue to spread and touch lives of many people all around the world.

In loving memory...
1 Comment

Is it ethical for nurses to perform Reiki on their patients?

1/1/2019

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While there is nothing unethical about using Reiki, it is important for nurses and other healthcare practitioners to follow a few basic rules to make sure that their conduct is ethical and appropriate.

Helping others is at the core of the nursing profession, and I am sure that every nurse who has ever done Reiki for a patient has only done it with the patient’s best interests at heart.

As someone who has seen first-hand the incredible positive effects that Reiki may have on people with various health conditions (scientific research to back this up is still lagging), I can tell you that for many nurses who know Reiki, it may feel unethical not to offer it. How could you not offer a patient something that has no side effects and that the nurse knows could potentially help the patient tremendously?

Because of this, many caring nurses who practice Reiki and other holistic modalities may accidentally cross some ethical and professional lines while trying to help their patients.

Here are a few basic rules that may help avoid some of these ethical dilemmas:

  • BE FAMILIAR WITH REIKI LAW Reiki is a beautiful, gentle healing art, but we don’t want to get into trouble or find ourselves in an ethical conundrum doing it. Each Reiki practitioner, whether or not he or she works in a healthcare setting, should be familiar with federal, state, and local laws that regulate the practice of Reiki. Unfortunately, Reiki laws in many places are very restrictive and/or contradictory. Until this changes, not only offering it to patients may be illegal in some areas, but it may also be unethical to perform Reiki without following specific rules outlined by the law. Giving Reiki ‘illegally’ would certainly go against professional nursing conduct. Learning what you can and cannot do with Reiki according to the law is each nurse's professional responsibility.

  • KNOW THE COMPANY POLICY REGARDING REIKI The nurse should confirm with management at her workplace ahead of time that doing Reiki for patients does not violate any company policies. Since Reiki (regardless of how amazing it is) is not a standard part of nursing care, it may be against the company policy to perform a ‘non-nursing’ activity including Reiki during working hours (especially while patients nursing needs have not been met). Giving Reiki while neglecting nursing obligations is unprofessional and can be considered unethical as well. If the nurse’s workplace does not allow Reiki, the nurse can advocate for a change in the company policy, as opposed to doing Reiki secretly. That would be the appropriate course of action. Also, on a side note, performing non-nursing tasks (including Reiki) for patients may cause boundary excursions and violations in some cases, and so it is important for nurses to be mindful of that possibility as well.

  • AVOID SELF REFERRAL Potential boundary violations may also arise when Reiki is offered to patients outside of the working hours, on nurses’ own time. In general, it may be unethical for a nurse to offer her patients to come for paid Reiki (or other) services. There are circumstances, where it may be unavoidable (like in really tiny communities), but for the most part, I would advise against self-referral because of the potential conflict of interest. Offering free Reiki to patients during nurse’s time off is not necessarily unethical, but it pushes professional boundaries, so extra mindfulness regarding this would be a good idea.

  • GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT REIKI FROM A MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE It is important that the patient is given information about Reiki, and that it is stated that Reiki is not a scientific/medical concept and that while many patients who receive Reiki have had amazing results, Reiki does not diagnose or treat any medical condition or ailment. As healthcare practitioners, we do not want to mislead our patients into believing that Reiki will “heal” or “cure” them or that it has been proven by science (a lot more research is still needed to prove it, and we should not jump ahead of ourselves, regardless of our personal experiences with Reiki). Being in a medical setting, we have a professional obligation to share information from a medical perspective. We can always share our experiences with Reiki, but they should be qualified as our experiences as opposed to medical or scientific facts. The patients themselves can find plenty of information online about the benefits of Reiki as described by non-medical professionals. They can also choose to experience those benefits for themselves.

  • GET CONSENT The nurse should always get consent from each patient (or patient representative, when appropriate) before doing Reiki. It would be unethical to perform Reiki (or do anything else for that matter) against the patient’s will. Depending on the organization where you work, that consent may be a part of other consent forms signed by the patient ahead of time, but it would be the nurse’s responsibility to know this, as well as to confirm with the patient that they open to Reiki (patients should have the right to refuse it). On a side note, many organizations may not take all the details of Reiki law into consideration when creating their standard forms and may not follow proper consent procedures for Reiki. That brings us back to point #1 - it would be the nurse's responsibility to know what the laws are and whether there are any specific Reiki consents that are mandated by those laws.

  • ASK FOR PERMISSION TO TOUCH (IF DONE) Since many Reiki styles involve touch, it’s important to check with each patient if there are any areas of the body that they do not want to be touched and to follow the patient’s wishes in that regard.

  • MAKE SURE THAT ALL YOUR REIKI TECHNIQUES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR EACH PATIENT There are many Reiki styles and numerous Reiki techniques. Some involve touch, others may involve massage-like motion, some may have the patient lying in a specific position, etc., etc., etc. It would be unethical to follow your Reiki style’s procedure exactly if the patient is unable to tolerate it. For example, if the patient is unable to lie face down, he or she should not be ‘forced’ to do it even if it is a part of the ‘regular’ Reiki ’routine’ that the nurse is used to. It would be unethical to use a Reiki technique that’s not appropriate for a specific patient.

  • BENEFITS SHOULD OUTWEIGH THE RISKS As the previous example indicates, nurses should be mindful of the appropriateness of the Reiki techniques they use for each patient. Although there are no circumstances that I can think of where Reiki itself would not be of benefit (at least in my experience), it is always important to approach Reiki from the perspective of potential benefits vs. potential harm. The main ethical question/challenge I foresee in this category would be not doing Reiki when it could be of benefit. For example, if a patient is open to Reiki, Reiki is allowed by law, the nurse knows that Reiki could relieve this patient’s suffering (benefit), the nurse knows that not doing Reiki would result in ongoing suffering (harm) - should the nurse do it even if it is against the company policy? I would recommend working on changing the policy and working with your organization’s ethics committee.

  • PATIENT VS. FAMILY If a clear-minded patient wants Reiki and you are allowed to do it by law and by your company, but the family refuses it, the ethical thing to do would be to follow the patient’s wishes. The opposite is also true - if a clear-minded patient does not want Reiki, but the family requests it, you should follow the patient’s wishes. In the same scenarios except for the patient being confused/unable to make decisions, follow the advance directives and/or family wishes (one may supersede the other depending on where you are practicing nursing).
​
  • REIKI ABILITY CANNOT BE ‘TURNED OFF’ The final and perhaps the most peculiar ethical aspect of Reiki in nursing relates to the fact that it is impossible to ‘turn off’ one’s Reiki ability. So anyone who comes in contact with a nurse who has had proper Reiki training will naturally receive Reiki during the nurse-patient interaction - any touch from the ‘Reiki nurse’ (and even proximity) will result in the patient getting some Reiki without the patient or the nurse even thinking about it. I’ve mentioned earlier that it is important for a nurse to get consent from each patient before giving Reiki, by that I mean that if a nurse offers a complete full-on Reiki session to a patient she must obtain proper consent. However, there is no way to get consent for Reiki every moment of a normal nurse-patient contact. Reiki will be given naturally in those moments - there is no way to prevent it - and I do not see any way to consent or not consent to it during normal patient care. Of course, there is absolutely no harm in getting Reiki. So patients should not be worried about inadvertently being harmed by Reiki if their nurses happen to know it. That’s not how it works.

There could be many other types of ethical scenarios of Reiki in nursing, but it is impossible to predict all of them. Some ethical questions and dilemmas are easy to answer and resolve, while others may be more challenging. Each situation is unique and must be addressed in a unique way while staying true to the fundamentals of professional and ethical behavior.

The bullet points above are a few basic ethical suggestions regarding using Reiki in nursing practice and they closely relate to the general principles of nursing ethics, which are justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence, accountability, fidelity, autonomy, and veracity. You can read more about these pillars of nursing ethics HERE.

Hope this helps bring clarity to the ethics of using Reiki in a nursing profession.
0 Comments

Reiki is nonsense!

12/1/2018

0 Comments

 
This is not an uncommon statement to come across. I've heard it many times in person and seen it online many times. Here is my response to that notion:

"What makes you so sure? Y
our view may be based on something that you've read from a reputable source. However, just because something has been published, it does not mean it has been adequately studied. As a medical doctor and clinical researcher, I’ve been observing and studying Reiki for years, and I can tell you that when Reiki is done properly, the results can be quite dramatic (and it is not just a placebo effect).

I swear by science, and the only reason I even learned Reiki originally was for educational and research purposes. If at any point I would have found evidence that Reiki does not work, or if there was even a shred of suspicion in my mind that it only works as a result of a placebo effect, I would not have been able to do it in good conscience. So trust me, Reiki is not nonsense.

To clarify, there are numerous forms of Reiki in existence, and I can’t speak for all of them. I can only speak for the traditional Reiki style (Jikiden Reiki) which has been preserved in Japan, its country of origin. Many spin-off forms of Reiki have been created since the last century and not all of them utilize the most essential and the most important Reiki techniques that were used by the founder of Reiki Mikao Usui.

So I cannot guarantee that the newer Reiki styles work (some of them may only be "Reiki" in the name, but could be something else entirely). All I can say, that in my observational research as a medical scientist, the original Reiki method 心身改善臼井靈氣療法 (Shin Shin Kaizen Usui Reiki Ryoho) as passed on directly through the Jikiden Reiki lineage is most definitely a remarkable healing art.


Current clinical research in Reiki is very limited and of low quality for the most part - there are numerous design flaws and biases in most of the studies that I’ve read. So the scientific perspective (which is based on CURRENTLY AVAILABLE data) is that Reiki is neither harmful nor helpful. The issue here is that we have very little that is currently available on Reiki that’s not flawed in one way or another.

Just because current clinical research in Reiki is very limited (and of low quality for the most part) and just because at this point science does not have a clear understanding or a clear definition of what Reiki even is, it does not mean that Reiki is “nonsense”.

When you think of Reiki, don’t think ‘snake oil’, think of Reiki (the traditional form) as ‘acupuncture minus the needles’. That’s the best parallel I can draw for you. Not that long ago, scientists did not think much of acupuncture either, but now with better and more extensive research, acupuncture has been demonstrated to be effective for a number of indications.

I have no doubt in my mind, that properly designed and conducted clinical trials would be able to easily demonstrate the effectiveness of Reiki vs. placebo. I have not published any of my own observations yet, but repeatedly seeing and hearing "Reiki is nonsense" makes me want to get into high gear and just get it all out on paper, as well as get funding and staff for proper large scale clinical trials in Reiki. It is so long overdue. I think it’s time to put the scientific doubts about Reiki that are based on inadequate research to rest!"


Who is with me? Time to assemble a research team!

Do you have clinical research experience? Are you open- and scientifically-minded? Grant writer?

Post your comments below. Let's make this happen!
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What are some good, free Reiki resources for someone who can't afford the training?

11/1/2018

1 Comment

 
There are a lot of free resources out there, and some are better and more accurate than others.
​

I would recommend reading the following two books about Reiki (you might be able to find them at a library) and in the following order:
  • “This is Reiki” by Frank Arjava Petter
  • “Light on the Origins of Reiki” by Tadao Yamaguchi
  • “The Hayashi Reiki Manual” by Frank Arjava Petter

Feel free to explore this site San Diego Reiki - Jikiden Reiki with Dr. Maria Danilychev, MD and read this Blog - as you might be able to find some helpful insights there as well.

To save you some time in your Reiki research here is some information about Reiki to get you started:

Mikao Usui sensei was the founder of Reiki, and he developed his Reiki method in the 1920s in Japan and called it 心身改善臼井靈氣療法 - “Shin Shin Kaizen Usui Reiki Ryoho” (“Usui Reiki method for improvement of body and mind”).

Usui sensei taught almost two dozen teachers who were allowed to teach other teachers, and among them was Chujiro Hayashi.

Hayashi sensei’s lineage is the start of all known Reiki lineages. No other known lineages that you can follow exist today. There is an original association of Reiki in Japan called Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, but it is a closed organization and you can’t learn Reiki from them (it’s a long story).

Chujiro Hayashi taught many Reiki practitioners and a number of Reiki teachers, and among them were:
  • Hawayo Takata in Hawaii (founder of Usui Shiki Ryoho, which gave a start of all forms of Reiki in the West)
and
  • Chiyoko Yamaguchi in Japan (founder of Jikiden Reiki - “directly taught Reiki “ as it was passed on by Hayashi sensei - it’s the only remaining truly Japanese lineage.

Reiki became popularized in the 1980s by the students of Hawayo Takata many of whom later systematized her teachings, and also created their own forms of Reiki.

Numerous Reiki styles have been developed in the West since then.

Many of them have at least partially lost their connection to the Japanese nature of this healing art, with some of the teachings being literally lost in translation. Also, a large number of new styles of Reiki have incorporated other holistic healing modalities and concepts into Reiki teaching and practice. With that said, it is important to note that no Reiki style ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than another - all of them are just different from each other.

Here are a few links to some of the Reiki style options:
  • Jikiden Reiki (traditional Japanese lineage - Reiki as Chiyoko Yamaguchi learned directly from Chujiro Hayashi)
  • Usui Shiki Ryoho (originally came from Mrs. Takata, who also learned from Hayashi sensei; this style may have been modified over the years to some degree)
  • Usui/Tibetan Reiki (developed by William Lee Rand from a combination of Usui Reiki from Takata’s lineage and Raku Kei Tibetan teachings of one of Mrs. Takata’s students)
  • Karuna Reiki and Holly Fire Reiki (developed by William Lee Rand)
  • Gendai Reiki (originally developed by Hiroshi Doi based on Usui Reiki and on some of the information that Hiroshi Doi obtained from the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai )
  • Komyo Reiki (originally developed by Hyakuten Inamoto based on blending different Reiki styles - what he’s learned from Hiroshi Doi and mostly based on the Radiance Technique developed by one of Mrs. Takata’s students)
  • Usui Reiki (probably the most common Reiki style you can find; it was developed by Mrs. Takata’s students; the term Usui Reiki is also often used when a Reiki teacher does not have a defined Reiki style or lineage)​

There are many other Reiki branches and teachings that you will come across.

A few words about Reiki Principles.
They were developed by Mikao Usui and were meant to be used by the Reiki clients, as well as by the Reiki practitioners to maximize all-around wellness on a mind-body level and to bring happiness into their lives.

Usui sensei believed that if your physical health improves with Reiki, but your mind/heart is not in the right place, then your physical condition can easily get worse again. That’s how he came up with the five precepts of Reiki - the Gokai (五戒):

Just for today,
   Do not be angry
   Do not worry
   Be grateful
   Do your duties fully
   Be kind to others.

Usui sensei suggested saying the Gokai twice a day out loud and from the heart to help one live according to the principles. I’d like to point out that there isn’t anything neither religious nor contrary to any belief system in the Gokai. They simply use the mind-body connection to help improve one’s happiness and wellness.

The Japanese believe that words have power, and that saying something out loud creates a certain energy. That’s why it is often suggested to say the Gokai in Japanese, as it creates the best vibration, so to speak - as it was meant to be said. If you try it, you may notice a positive shift inside you.

Here is a link to Rika Tanaka’s website (she is a Japanese Reiki practitioner and teacher) as she pronounces the Gokai, in case you are curious about the Japanese version.

Note, other translations exist, but this appears to be the best/most accurate one, as has been verified to me by many native Japanese speakers who also know Reiki.

In terms of Reiki levels and Reiki techniques, they vary greatly from style to style. For the most part, most schools include a few basic practitioner level courses and one or more Master or teacher level courses as part of their training.
Any books or free resources that you may find that explain the techniques can be helpful, but it is not the same as learning from someone who’s been practicing and teaching Reiki.

I would also recommend against learning Reiki online (no offense to anyone who is teaching it that way). Other the historical background, you can’t really learn Reiki that way. If you want to learn how to do Reiki properly, you have to take an in-person class which includes hands-on practice and Reiju (attunement).

After you are done with your research and when you are ready to learn Reiki, choose the style that resonates with you the most. Explore some of the options above and connect with Reiki practitioners and teachers. You will know when it feels right.

As far as being able to pay for a course, trust that when the time is right you’ll be able to do it.

Not sure if you will find someone who can to teach you for free, but as you learn more about Reiki, you may start seeing each training for its value and not just pick something because it’s free or cheap (it shouldn’t be terribly expensive either).

For additional free Reiki resources, you can also consider looking at James Deacon’s site. There is lots of information there. Although not all of it is entirely accurate, it is understandable considering the quantity of information provided.

Feel free to reach out to me directly if you’d like any additional help or guidance.
1 Comment

Reiki. Lost in translation.

6/1/2018

4 Comments

 
Reiki was developed in Japan, and originally was passed on from teacher to student in oral tradition. It is no surprise that once it was introduced to the Western world via Hawaii, that many aspects of Reiki practice have continued to develop based on mis-translation and misunderstanding of various aspects the Japanese language and culture.

With much already 'lost in translation', another layer of miscommunication is added when Reiki practitioners try to explain Reiki to anyone with a scientific background. I hope this post will help clarify and prevent some of the common  misunderstandings and miscommunications.


WHAT IS REIKI?
​ 

First things first, the word "Reiki" ( 靈氣 ) is an ancient Japanese word that has a combination of meanings that can roughly be explained as the "spiritual power of the universe" or the "universal life force energy" or "mystical energy of the cosmos" to name a few. There is a lot more meaning imbedded in the word "Reiki" than the literal translation, which is "spirit energy". As you can see, the literal translation certainly does not convey the full meaning of the word. This is not uncommon with Kanji (the Japanese hieroglyphs that have been adopted from the Chinese language).

In the Western world, we can be quite literal, and we can easily misunderstand the meanings behind the Japanese words. We have to make an effort not only to know the translation of the word 靈氣("Reiki"), but also to take the time to comprehend the meaning. For most Reiki practitioners, it would be something that one knows and feels, but something that might be hard to explain. It is that force of nature that connects everything, something that is a part of all of us and of the universe, flowing and shifting, unseen to the naked eye. 

THE REIKI METHOD

In the 1920s Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki, has developed a treatment method utilizing the Reiki energy (靈氣). He called it Shin-Shin Kaizen Usui Reiki Ryoho or  心身改善臼井靈氣療法  - "Usui treatment method for improvement of body and mind".

Over the years, the name of this treatment method has been simplified to just "Reiki" or "Usui Reiki". With that alteration we've lost the deeper meaning of the technique that Mikao Usui has developed.

The method was focusing on improvement of the body and mind using the existing energy of the universe, and by skipping half of the method title, we might be missing something important. We all have Reiki, it is a part of us and of the universe, and it naturally flows and permeates everything in the world. We are not 'giving' our energy to our Reiki clients, or removing 'bad energy' - we simply learn to facilitate the natural flow that helps bring the client to a more natural state of being on a physical and mental/emotional levels. When we know that what we are practicing is not simply "Reiki", but "Shin-Shin Kaizen Usui Reiki Ryoho" it reminds us of that.


IS IT REALLY 1, 2, 3?

In addition to dropping the official name of the Reiki method, we have also made another significant shift away from the original Reiki teaching by relabeling the Reiki levels. In the West, we approach things in a mathematical manner. That's why most people are familiar with Reiki 1, Reiki 2, Reiki 3, which is a very Western way of looking at the stages of learning. 

When Mikao Usui taught Reiki, he called the levels "Shoden", "Okuden", and "Shinpiden", which reflected the nature and meaning of each training level, connecting the students to Reiki in a deeper, more intuitive way. 
In the Japanese culture, it is the meaning that counts, not the number in the teaching sequence.

So what do Shoden, Okuden and Shinpiden stand for?

The "den" part (傳) in Shoden, Okuden and Shinpiden means "propagate" or "transmit" as in "teaching". "Sho" (初) in "shoden" means "first time" or "beginner". "Oku" (
奥
) in "Okuden" means "inner", "inside". "Shinpi" in "Shinpiden" is comprised of two Kanji "神" which means "divinity", "spirit", "gods", and "秘" which means "hidden", "secret", "mystery".

So putting it all together, we uncover the true meanings of the Reiki levels that go beyond the literal translation:
  • Shoden  初傳 - first time learning (conveying beginner teachings)
  • Okuden 奥傳 - inner teaching (deeper studies)
  • Shinpiden 神秘傳 -  can be interpreted vaguely as something like "sharing of hidden spiritual meanings, connecting to source"​

Beautiful, isn't it?

LOOK AT ME! I AM MASTER!

Another very common misunderstanding that arose from the literal translation from Japanese is the concept of "Reiki Master".  In Mikao Usui's time, when someone completed the Shinpiden level, that person became a "Shihan" (師範).

The meaning of the word "
Shihan" literally means a "teacher" or "expert master instructor". "師" is "teacher/instructor/master" and "範" is "example/model", so overall, the idea is that a Shihan is an expert teacher, who also sets an example for his or her students, not only an expert in his field. Shihan is someone who shares a traditional teaching and who is a role model for others.

The "Shihan" title carries a lot of responsibility without an ego attached to it. This goes significantly beyond the common perception of the Reiki Master being a "Reiki expert" who may or may not be teaching Reiki.

​
FILLING IN THE GAPS

There have been many other aspects of Reiki practice and teaching that were too hard to translate, or to replicate (without being able to write them down in class). Many were difficult to understand because of the vast differences between the Western mindset and the Japanese culture.

Often times, in order to fill some of those gaps in understanding, Reiki teachers in the West had to come up with their own Reiki concepts and Reiki symbols that were more 'palatable' to their students. It is not surprising, considering that Reiki is deeply rooted in the language and culture that is foreign to us. It is also possible that the simplicity of Reiki may have lead to changes created by those Reiki teachers who felt that it was too simple in its original form and that by adding complexity they were adding value.

These mistranslations, additions,  and misunderstandings range from minor to significant, and I am not going to cover all of them here. You may learn about some of them during your Reiki training. Regardless of any of the changes that may have taken place over the years, Reiki remains a beautiful mind-body healing art, and regardless where you learn it, I am certain that you will feel that.


Language and cultural barriers can certainly lead to misunderstanding of the Reiki teaching, but there is also another element that adds to the confusion surrounding Reiki. There is strong dividing force between the world of Reiki and the world of science, and it often leads to many miscommunications between the Reiki practitioners, their clients and the medical professionals.

SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE?

In Reiki, we use many terms that are often the same words that are used by scientists and medical doctors; however, it is critical to understand that although the words are the same, the meaning behind them is often different. By having this understanding as Reiki practitioners, not only we can avoid provoking the 'eye rolling' that we encounter once in a while from the medical professionals or people who are not familiar with Reiki, but we can also heal the communication gap that feeds the Reiki skeptics. 

Here are some examples of the words, that we should use in a mindful way: 

"ENERGY"
  • "Energy"  - whenever we say "energy healing", "channeling energy", "I can feel the energy", it makes no sense from a scientific point of view, subsequently discrediting us, as well as anything we say and everything we do, to most people with a scientific background. The reason for this is the fact that the word "Energy" is a scientific term and it is something concrete and measurable, just like distance is concrete and can be measured in miles or meters, temperature is concrete and can be measured in Fahrenheit and Celsius, "energy" is a very concrete concept that can be measured.
  • When we talk about "Energy" from the Reiki perspective, we are talking an abstract concept of the life-force energy, commonly known as "Chi" in Chinese and "Ki" (as in Rei-Ki) in Japanese. It is the kind of "Energy" that may represent multiple concepts and has not yet been scientifically found or measured.
  • Naturally, we have to be mindful when using the word "Energy" when talking with someone who can easily misunderstand us. Being aware that Reiki practitioners and scientists are simply using the same word to describe a two completely different concepts can help us be more mindful about it.
​
"BLOCK" ,"TOXINS"
  • Whenever we mention to a client that there may be a "block" somewhere or whenever we talk in class about "toxins", we have to be mindful of the fact, that this too, is a completely different concept from the scientific concept of blocks and toxins. Again, we are using the same words, but our meaning is different from the meaning of the medical science.
  • Medically-speaking the concept of "blockage" is very concrete and it means we can find it with diagnostic tests. When we talk about "blocks" in Reiki, we are talking about something abstract, and not about a "block" that can be medically found or understood.
  • Similarly, when we talk about "toxins" in medicine, we are referring to very specific chemicals, as opposed to in Reiki, where it is a vague and abstract concept.
  • We have to be very mindful when we use these terms, if we wish to avoid misleading our clients, who have no way of discerning the differences between Reiki "blocks" and "toxins" from what they may hear from their medical professionals. When talking to clients or students, starting any conversation about "blocks" and "toxins" with a simple statement like "from the Reiki perspective," can help us avoid confusion, prevent misleading our clients and students, as well as help avoid the 'eye-rolling' reaction from the medical professionals.​

"TREATMENT" ,"HEALING"
  • When Mikao Usui developed Reiki he called it 療法, which literally means "healing/treatment" "method". We live in a different world now.
  • Today, when we say "treatment" it might imply that we are a licensed medical professional, which in turn might equate to us practicing medicine without a license. In many states in the US and in other countries there are laws that protect the public from self-proclaimed "doctors". Obviously when we do Reiki, we do it to help others, and not to pose as doctors. Our communication has to reflect that. Through being mindful of which words we use, we can continue helping others without putting ourselves in the position of potentially breaking the law.
  • We can choose to use other words like "Reiki method", "Reiki technique", "Reiki services" that are a less charged and still convey what we do. Of course laws are different everywhere, and I am not a legal expert, so I can't advise anyone what's OK and not OK to say or do, but I hope this can blog help increase our awareness and mindfulness of how we express ourselves for the benefit of all.
​
SO WHAT'S NEXT?

Reiki teaching is spreading rapidly, and with so many schools and styles of Reiki around many people go for the quickest and the easiest option to learn it. Some of us only use Reiki on ourselves, others on friends and family, many have found the path in Reiki and do it full time.

I strongly believe that as practitioners and teachers we have the responsibility to continue learning more, uncovering what we may have missed in our original training, developing ourselves on a mind-body and soul levels, and whenever possible connecting to the origins of Usui Reiki Ryoho, uncovering the treasures that may have been lost in translation over the years.  When we grow, we have a positive impact on others around us, and on the world. We can develop as individuals and as a Reiki community with joy and gratitude.


THANK YOU!

In conclusion, I'd like to thank everyone I've learned from, my teachers, my clients, and my students. I feel grateful for the challenges I've faced as a doctor who practices Reiki - the challenge of learning to understand the non-scientific language of Reiki and the challenge of facing the negative perceptions of my physician-colleagues who view the path I am taking (practicing Medicine and practicing and teaching Reiki) as a 'strange' one at best. These challenges have helped me grow and have helped me develop a deeper understanding of Reiki, of myself, and of allopathic medicine.

I am grateful for my unique position of being able to be a "translator" between the two worlds of western medical science and of Reiki, the special Japanese holistic method for improvement of body and mind.

Thank you for being a part of my journey and allowing me to be a part of yours!


4 Comments

What are some best Reiki books to begin with?

5/1/2018

1 Comment

 
I am sure that there are as many opinions about this subject as there are Reiki practitioners, but I hope that among the recommendations you will find the books that resonate with you the most.

1. Consider starting your Reiki journey with Frank Arjava Petter’s “This is Reiki”. This book will not only give you the historical background of Reiki (which is essential for true understanding of this healing art), but it will also give you practical information about how to use Reiki as a holistic mind-body healing art:
Picture
2. After that, I would suggest taking a Reiki seminar, so that you can learn Reiki firsthand and not just through reading. Trust me, Reiki is amazing, and in-person Reiki training is an unforgettable experience.
3. If you wish to read a little more before signing up for your Reiki training, then consider reading the “Light on the Origins of Reiki” by Tadao Yamaguchi. It will parallel some of what you’ve learned in the first book, and will also offer additional insights into how Reiki was (and still is) maintained in Japan in its original tradition:
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4. After learning Reiki, you may find “The Hayashi Reiki Manual” very helpful. I would not suggest reading this book before your Reiki training, since it is important to first understand why we are doing what we are doing as Reiki practitioners, and only then to learn some extra details of the “how”. This book is a great practical guide:
Picture
5. Finally, look into reading “Reiki and Japan” by Masaki Nishina. This book was just recently published, and it offers an authentic perspective on the development of Reiki in Japan. It will also help your understanding of whether the Reiki style you’ve learned is more westernized or more traditional Japanese. The only reason I am suggesting to wait until after your training to read it, is because there are many references to concepts that might not makes sense to you until you complete your Reiki training. This is a great book that offers insights that will help you make sense of many cultural aspects that have influenced the practice of Reiki:
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1 Comment

What about Reiki for animals? Could it be a Placebo?

4/1/2018

3 Comments

 
In general, placebo effect is a human phenomenon. It is observed when a person perceives an improvement due to his or her expectation of positive effect of a specific treatment. 

Every healing modality for humans has some degree of placebo effect. Placebo effect can range widely, from a few % up to about 30%, and the degree of placebo effect depends on multiple factors. 

When it relates to humans, the real question is whether or not the specific treatment is more effective than a placebo. The only way to answer that question, is to conduct a placebo-controlled clinical trial, comparing a specific treatment for a specific problem to a placebo. A large number of people participating in the study is usually needed in order to determine whether or not the difference between the improvement in the placebo and the treatment group is statistically significant. If there is a statistically significant difference in a series of well-designed studies, then we can conclude that the effect of a specific treatment for a specific problem is real, and that it is not just due to a placebo effect. Until this extensive research is completed, we cannot make that determination.

Note, in my case, it was through decade-long observation of Reiki, Healing Touch and Acupuncture being effective for hundreds and hundreds of patients, that I could see that those modalities was effective significantly above 30%. It was only through that extensive observational evidence (and my neutrality towards the final answer) that I was able to come to a scientific conclusion that Alternative Medicine modalities such as Reiki, Healing Touch and Acupuncture can be effective beyond the placebo effect. With that said, it was my conclusion and my conclusion only, which has not been adequately tested by well-designed placebo-controlled clinical trials (at least in case of Reiki and Healing Touch). This means that although I am convinced that Reiki can be very helpful, and helpful beyond the placebo effect, it is by no means a scientific fact, since it has not yet been proven by scientific studies.

When it comes to animals, the placebo effect has not been adequately studied. I would expect, that those animals who can sense a caring human approach would be a subject to a placebo effect. It is not uncommon to see what's called a "caring nurse" phenomenon in human studies. This phenomenon is observed when the clinical research center staff is behaving in a caring way towards research participants, which significantly increases the placebo effect, often to the point, that it is impossible to demonstrate a statistically significant difference even between the treatment that is already known to be effective and placebo. I can imagine that with animals such as cats, dogs, horses, certain birds, etc., we can observe a similar phenomenon, where the effect of a caring healer would increase the degree of a placebo effect of an energy treatment. So just like with humans, the only way to scientifically demonstrate that a healing modality is more effective than a placebo for animals, is to conduct a series of well-designed studies, and specifically studies that take the "caring healer" phenomenon into account. There is no other way to answer that question.

On a different note, people don't utilize energy medicine for themselves or for their pets because it has been scientifically proven to work (it hasn't been), but because they have either heard good things about it or have already experienced it with positive results themselves. So whether or not it is a placebo effect, if what you do it works, it works. :)
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    Dr. Maria Danilychev, MD is a hospice doctor, clinical research physician, and a Jikiden Reiki Shihan (master/teacher).

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