I appreciate Bronwen’s offering here, particularly her discussion of Reiki as a full spiritual system. I could feel her enthusiasm, and the blessing was lovely. So, thank you Bronwen.

Regarding the attunement (initiation process of Reiki) my experience differs from the experience expressed by Bronwen. Although I certainly agree that we are all bathed in this energy of love all our lives, I have personally found that in both receiving and offering Reiki attunements there has been an inexplicable deepening of access TO that energy. Before receiving my first attunement, I had been practicing hands on healing and yoga for many years. A wise friend (who had noticed that I was “using” my own energy and therefore becoming depleted after some sessions) recommended that I be attuned. I reluctantly agreed, thinking to myself, “I and all beings have access to divine light energy already! Why should I pay someone to ‘attune’ me!?” Very soon after the attunement, however, I was glad and grateful that I had received it. In some mysterious (yes, mysterious) way, I found within a few days that I had been “connected” to a much greater source of divine energy which I could now simply yield to and offer without depleting – or even using – my “own” energy. It was as if I’d been rewired. I do not have a rational explanation of this phenomenon because there is no rational explanation. I can say, though, that the attunement process itself is a mystical passage, perhaps something akin to an ordination. What follows, the discipline of practicing – the compassion, the humbleness, etc., certainly deepens and embodies that process, and naturally there is an intention required here – as there is with any spiritual pursuit – but if the Reiki student opens his or her heart to the energy of Reiki, it will be present to him or her for the rest of his or her life in an expanded way. When I attune students, I certainly do feel something beautiful and mystical taking place. And I never know ahead of time what that will be.

Thank you. (P.S. I do occasionally offer Reiki to my good old car!! It’s all about awareness and gratitude for everything! in Life.)

Comment by Sheila — December 7, 2011 @ 7:09 am

Thank you Tami and Sounds True for the opportunity to talk abut the system of Reiki. I found Tami’s questions refreshingly different and genuinely curious, which I hope has made for an interesting listen for everyone.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to say a little more about the attunement process, thanks Sheila for the nudge.

I see the attunement process as one of the 5 main elements of the system. It would not exist without it.

However, the system of Reiki is a complete system, not just an attunement. Yes, the attunement is mysterious, as is a hands-on healing treatment, as is the universe. I see the attunement as a teacher offering you the energetic possibility to tap into aspects of yourself that you’ve forgotten. We are all the Great Bright Light, we just don’t recognize ourselves as such anymore. Attunements are the teacher’s energetic offering (originating from the reiju in Japan, meaning “spiritual blessing”) that help you to begin to peel away the layers that cover your beautiful brightness.

I do feel that it is one’s intent that determines whether your own energy is used or not during energy work. We are not separate from the energy of the universe – we are that energy and how we work with it is dependent upon our understanding of what we do and our, consequent, intent. Fortunately, the system of Reiki focuses our intent by teaching us that we do not need to use “our” energy. It is not the attunement that lies behind this change in perspective and energetic direction.

I see the attunement as a purification, a clearing, or even a recharging of the self. Perhaps you could say that the attunement is like kick-starting a car, but to keep the car going you have to keep driving it – and that entails working with all five elements of the system of Reiki.

For one moment compare your experience with attunements to that of working with the Reiki precepts. These are both main elements of the system. After experiencing an attunement from a Reiki teacher you may feel wonderfully different (each experience is unique to the people involved), but has all of your anger and worry completely dissolved? Are you now a humble being who always deals with life honestly and who only acts from compassion? The short answer is no. We all still have issues after being “attuned”. And the truth is, we continue to get more issues, take on more layers, as our lives continue, unless we utilise the other elements of the system.

The reason behind the attunement not removing those issues is because that is not its role within the system. The attunement doesn’t bring us immediately into the fullness of Reiki, rather it helps us by giving us an initial experience of what that fullness might feel like.

Within the fullness of Reiki we are the Great Bright Light and, interestingly, when we are the fullness of Reiki we live the precepts; we have no anger or worry, we are humble, know the purity of honesty, and we give and receive love freely.

So, as Reiki Teachers, I feel that we do not attune people to the system, but we remind them of what they can achieve through the attunement process and provide them with a complete system to do so.

Comment by Bronwen Stiene — December 9, 2011 @ 6:21 pm

Thanks a lot for this one. I enjoy every time I get newsletter from soundstrue.com, really inspiring.
I’m doing massage on my lower back with breathing exercise as Dennis Lewis suggested and I feel much more calm. Here is similar practice suggested, expanding the strength of the hara as one of the main practices. As I look at it from perspective of both teachers, I realize that it’s really important practice. I recommend it, too;)
I wish all a nice being.

Comment by miro — December 10, 2011 @ 4:42 am

Ha! I thought I was the only one that did my car! Thanks for the validation.

Comment by Carol Kirby — December 10, 2011 @ 8:53 am

Good one…

Comment by Sujith — December 11, 2011 @ 8:03 am

To those who are “older” in the system of Reiki I ask your foerebarence, but as one familiar with anger and the attunement, i feel I must speak. The precept is “Do not anger” or as I was taught “Do not be angry”. Anger is a natural emotion, it is when we “become” or push that anger on to another we are acting wrongly.Not that we respond to another with anger. It is a matter of control or becoming that matters. With the attunement. I received my Reiki I attunement years ago and had forgotten about it. But after that moment I could always sense things when I would massage a person or sometimes when I would touch someone. And trust me I was not that sensitive to others pain before that.I never put the two together until years later. So, something happened the day I received that attunement. I like to look at it as walking down the block with a friend, and they stop, go up to a house pull out a key and open the door and walk in. Now we have the house by us every day, it exists and is there, I just can’t get in. If they give me the key and tell me to use what is within, then I can partake of the resources more fully (other than in property value, etc.). The attunement provides the key to open the house that is right next to me. We experience life’s energy all around us, (ok, sometimes we only observe). Attunement in the Reiki system is the key to utilize the resource, to help our lives and the lives of others. A short expression of the system of Reiki and me. Be Blessed

Comment by Fred Jones — December 14, 2011 @ 12:49 pm

What an enjoyable, uplifting discussion. As a Reiki Master/Teacher, I was thrilled to “re-remember” some of the practices of the Reiki system and to breathe into the ‘aha moments” along the way. Bronwen’s responses to Tami’s interesting questions were helpful on a practical level and, of course, the element of magical Light and Love rekindled parts of me that were open to receive what they needed in this moment in time! Just as an FYI … I, too, have shared my Reiki intention and practice with car batteries in the dead of winter, my beloved pets, Azzie and Zippie, cats who both lived to the ripe old age of 19 and who lived healthy, majestic lives until their crossings (both aided by Reiki sharing) and cut roses (the doubting Thomas in me had to have “proof” that this Reiki stuff really worked way back when I was led to it!) that lasted for 8, yes EIGHT weeks, as I shared Reiki energy with them every day, five minutes per day, until I grew weary of carrying around the doubt that had, truly, already been dispelled! Thanks again to you both for your insights, sharings and Light!

Comment by Kat Regan — December 18, 2011 @ 9:43 am

Another great learning opportunity. What a gift Sounds True is! I present attunement as a RITUAL allowing the individual to deepen their own sense of self awareness, self healing, self gratitude and self love. What we make of various life rituals is up to the individual.

Comment by Mary — December 19, 2011 @ 9:34 am

Has anyone ever had a feeling of levitation? Please comment.

Comment by Katherine — January 4, 2012 @ 1:08 pm