How to become a Reiki Practitioner (levels 1 & 2)

Reiki is an amazing, gentle self-healing practice. After the last few years we are all more aware than ever, that we need to look after ourselves. Reiki can offer you an option to do this in a way you can use anywhere, at any time with no equipment, no special talent or belief. Life can be stressful these days, with such uncertainty, Reiki can help to keep you calm, so you can look at the emotions that arise and understand what you need to do.

There are three levels to being a Reiki practitioner: Shoden (Reiki 1) self healing, Okuden (Reiki 2) where you can choose to continue your development and or become a practitioner. Finally Shinpiden (Reiki Master) where again you can continue your own spiritual awakening, deepen your healing practices and also choose to become a teacher.

At each level your teacher will give you Reiki empowerments to connect you to Reiki or universal energy. As with any new skill each level takes time and practice to create a stronger link with Reiki. Yes, you can do online courses over a weekend but that really does not allow you the time to work with the reiki, understand how it feels and heal yourself so you can then heal others. As with the old aeroplane analogy, if the oxygen masks drop, whose do you put on first? Answer: yours because you cannot help anyone if you have passed out. Mikao Usui’s (Father of Reiki) students may have taken many months or even years before they were allowed to progress to the next level.

First degree, Level 1 Reiki (Shoden)

Shoden (Reiki 1) Mikao Usui’s first degree training literally means “first teachings” and was very simple. He taught thousands of people at this level. This level is about opening to the energy through receiving empowerments from your teacher. Students learn different forms of self-healing, how to connect to Reiki, practise mindfulness, treat others and distant healing. This level is the exciting start of focusing on your spiritual, physical, mental and emotional levels.

The very essence of your own spiritual journey towards peace and mindfulness is by practising reiki meditation and living by the 5 Reiki precepts on a daily basis. The precepts were created like a code of practice for Reiki students to use as a baseline on their route to spirituality.

Just for today;

• do not anger

• do not worry

• be humble

• be honest in your dealings with people

• be compassionate to yourself and others

I have found the precepts to be very valuable and also versatile. What do I mean by this? For example, if I am working with a client or myself to make changes to old habits, I find it useful to take small steps. I firstly create my precept for the day just for today, I make good food choices and then incorporate that into my morning or evening if you prefer, 15 minute meditation. It is really valuable to set an intention for each day as this helps to focus your mind. After all, your mind only does what you tell it to do.

What to expect to learn on the day:

• The history of our lineage, Mikao Usui

• The Reiki ‘precepts’ simple rules to live and mindfulness

• Daily energy exercises

• How to develop working with Reiki energy

• How to carry out self-treatment

• The purpose of empowerments

• How to carry out a full body treatment

• How to use Reiki with animals and plants

• How to send distant healing

• How to use Reiki to heal emotions and your heart

Second degree, Level 2 Reiki (Okuden)

When you have established a regular routine of self-healing you are ready for the continuation of your spiritual development. Okuden (Reiki 2) focuses on the more specifically directed use of Reiki energy through the use of 3 symbols. These symbols will help further empower your and strengthen your healing with others. We are still working on Usui's original system which is very much based on working simply and intuitively. Learn with Heather how to work intuitively and use your intent to enhance your treatments.

You will be introduced to the Reiki symbols Sei He Ki (say-hay-key) and Cho Ku Rei (cho-koo-ray) which represent heaven and earth, the pure energies of our existence plus the distance healing symbol Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (hon-sha-zee-show-nen). The symbols are used to enhance oneness in our personal practice, creating an open connection with our intuition and thus raising our vibration with the use of meditation. This increased connection with the universal energy boosts your healing ability for others, you will be able to work more intuitively with their energy needs.

What to expect to learn and practice on the day

• The three symbols, how to draw them and use them

• How to carry out powerful self-healing meditations using the symbols

• The benefits of using the symbol energies to deepen your self-healing

• How to free yourself from using standard hand positions and work intuitively

• How to use intent to enhance your treatments

• How to send powerful distance healing

• How to cleanse your crystals using the symbols

• Consider documentation required for establishing yourself as a practitioner to charge clients

Conclusion

Since I started on my own spiritual journey I have found many different methods to aid my awakening. Reiki and it’s precepts have reshaped the way that I treat myself but also how I treat and respond to others. I am a lot calmer and am able to take that moment to review what is actually happening to me or around me rather than get sucked into emotional situations that are other people's thoughts and or feelings projected onto me.

My ability to use my intuition has increased which allows me clarity of mind and helps me to sift through the bombardment of information in the modern day world to know what path I want to take. Whether you want to become a Reiki practitioner or not, Reiki is the perfect tool to aid in mental wellness and spiritual awakening.

All our workshops are in person and held on Hayling Island with our highly enlightened Reiki Master, Heather. Places on the workshops are limited to ensure a personal experience of the day with lots of opportunities for practice and discussion. They are good fun, relaxing and clients often experience healing experiences on the day. It’s an adventure! Book a discovery call with Heather to find out if these are the right courses for you

Sign up to our network and be the first to know about upcoming courses with Heather or book in for a Reiki healing session with either Heather or Sharon and find out for yourself what it's all about!