When I started my Reiki path, I didn’t know much about this system. I was 14 years old. My mom took me to my first class of Reiki. That was a very mysterious experience for me. When I saw my Reiki Master for the very first time I was amazed by the way she looked. It seemed like she was glowing from the inside, like an angel.
In the first lesson, she did not initiate me but only introduced me to the basic principles of Reiki and shared inspiring stories about Reiki. This is how I learned that by practicing Reiki, you’re opening the invisible door into a space of limitless possibilities. My first Reiki Master inspired me so much that I realized that Reiki is my path.
Years later, I became a Reiki Master and began to pursue initiation. But I will always remember that it was my first Reiki Master who inspired me to become who I am now.
I decided to write this article because lately, I’ve been increasingly noticing that people stopped taking Reiki seriously. I see a lot of online offers, where Reiki Masters are offering the full Reiki course for 2 days. This is how you can become a Master by simply paying for the course and getting all the initiations in just 2 days. You would think such offers would cause caution and mistrust. But, unfortunately, many people are more concerned about obtaining certificates than real knowledge and skills. That is why you can meet lots of Reiki Masters who don’t really understand what Reiki is and how it works. These kinds of Masters often can’t even feel the energy, and can only imitate the initiation.
So, today I will tell you the path a real Reiki Master must take.
My path becoming a Reiki Master
My path of becoming a Reiki Master Teacher took 15 years. In 1999 I received initiation into the first Reiki degree. I’ve been practicing healing sessions every day, but I wasn’t able to feel the energy at all. For the first time, I could feel the tingling sensation in the palm area only after a few years of regular practice.
8 years after the first-degree initiation and practicing every day, I received the initiation to the second Reiki degree. After that, I began to feel the flow of energy much stronger. Reiki Sessions started to be accompanied by memories from past lives, visions, waking up my intuitive abilities. Reiki helped me not only improve my health but also successfully pass exams at the University and even get my desired job. I used Reiki symbols every day, which led me to start feeling a lot of energy from each of them. I learned to see these symbols in space and use them not only for the sake of my Highest Good but also for the Highest Good of all human beings and planet Earth.
After 6 years, I felt that I was ready to become a Reiki Master. To be exact it was the Master Healer level. Taking this step literally opened up a new world for me. Once I started practicing Reiki with the Master symbol, I learned to go into trance in a matter of seconds. It was incredible! I entered the trance through the Reiki energy flow and after 30 minutes returned to the daily reality absolutely rested, radiant and full of vitality.
A year after my Master Healer initiation, I made the decision to become a Reiki Master Teacher. I made this decision when people started asking me to teach them the sacred practices of Reiki that were so obviously transforming my life. Becoming a Reiki Master Teacher wasn’t my choice, it was a sign from Above. So I realized that you should only become a Master Teacher when you reach the point when people start asking you to become their teacher. This is how I became a Reiki Master Teacher.
Becoming a Reiki Master: The Traditional Path
In traditional Reiki schools (for example, Usui Shiki Ryoho) Masters accept a limited number of students and usually teach them individually. This approach is based on the fact that the one who aspires to become a teacher must have deep Reiki knowledge obtained through extensive Reiki practice.
Reiki Master Teachers should be mature and responsible for the spiritual development and for life in general. After all, the main role of Reiki Master Teacher – to guide students along the path in which they also have to find the same level of maturity and responsibility. Therefore, students must prove to the Master the appropriate abilities.
In addition, the contenders for the title of Reiki Master must also possess certain Reiki skills. The Master Teacher should not give a Master initiation if he is not sure that the student is ready and really needs it.
The process of becoming a Reiki Master usually takes one year. During this time the student helps the Master to teach the first and second Reiki degrees, organizes Reiki groups and does some administrative work. It’s like an apprenticeship, during which he learns to teach.
The new path of the modern Reiki Masters
There are three main differences between traditional and modern Reiki paths:
1) Modern Masters don’t select students as carefully;
2) the training may not take more than 1 day;
3) the cost of the training is much lower.
Usually, the quality of knowledge that you get for modern Masters is very poor. I have met many people who became Masters in 1 day. Many of them know very little about Reiki, the principles, and the rules of performing even basic healing sessions. How do they initiate their students? What is the quality of the Reiki initiations they give? We can only guess. For example, many Masters of the new path, don’t remove their metal jewelry or the client’s jewelry during healing sessions and initiations, which can have a very negative effect on the healing. This makes me question the quality of their entire practice.
What do you need to know before you become a Reiki Master?
First, get ready for the fact that your whole life will change. Reiki will not be just one element of your spiritual life anymore but it will become your entire life. Being a Reiki Master is not just a job, but a calling. Not only will you teach and initiate, but you will also help students on their spiritual path.
Secondly, before becoming a Reiki Master you should make Reiki sessions your daily practice. You should do daily healing sessions for yourself and for others. Also, don’t forget to practice daily meditations. Meditate on Reiki symbols and mantras. This will help you to make a stronger connection with them.
Third, learn to understand the physical aspect of energy. For this purpose, it is recommended to practice yoga or qigong regularly.
Fourthly, start to study various philosophical and religious teachings. This will help you to see the connection between different belief systems.
Fifth, read books about alternative ways of healing. This will allow you to explore different diseases and ways to treat them.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, I want to advise you not to hurry with getting your Reiki Master initiation. Ask yourself, “Why do I want to become a Reiki Master? Does this desire have anything to do with my ego? Do I have the intention to turn the initiation of Reiki into a business?”. Answer these questions honestly. Take your time.
Keep in mind that getting initiated to a Reiki Master is not the final destination, but only the beginning of the journey!