by William Lee Rand
Q. How long should I stay in each hand position?
A. Some teach a method of staying exactly the same period of time in each hand position. As an example, this time is often said to be 3 minutes and there are Reiki session CDs that contain music with a gong or tone that sounds every 3 minutes to let the practitioner know when to move the hands. However, this method doesn’t take into consideration that the client may need more Reiki in some areas than in others. In fact, this is almost always the case. And when a person comes with a specific condition, then it is appropriate to treat the areas relating to the condition longer. One way to know how long to stay in one position is to pay attention to the flow of Reiki. If an area needs more Reiki, then usually more Reiki will begin flowing in that area and this is something you can usually feel. If you feel more Reiki flowing in a hand position, then leave your hands in that position longer. As you feel the flow subsiding, then you’ll know it’s time to move your hands. Another rule of thumb is to stay in each position a minimum of 3 minutes as it sometimes takes this long for the energy to reach the flow rate needed. If after 3 minutes, the flow is not strong, then move to the next position. However, if a lot of Reiki is flowing, then stay longer, up to 10 minutes or more. But be careful not to stay too long as this could prevent you from completing the treatment in the time you have available. If Reiki is still flowing strongly when you change positions, you can come back to this position at the end of the treatment if you have extra time.
Q. Do distant attunements work?
A. This question is not to be confused with distant treatments. Reiki can be sent at a distance using the distant symbol to give a treatment and this is a standard part of the Usui system of Reiki and was practiced by Dr. Usui. Distant attunements are another issue. As far as we know, Dr. Usui didn’t send attunements at a distance and trained all his students in person. He did this for a reason and my experience and that of many others indicates that it is much better to get your attunements from a teacher in person. Some of the frequencies of the attunement don’t travel well over a distance and are best sent in person through the physical touch of the teacher. So, while there is some energy transmitted, and some people have felt something from a distant attunement, it’s important to know that the full strength of the attunement can only be transmitted in person. It’s also important to know who your initiation teacher is and to have a good feel for their energy, their intention and if they will really be a good teacher for you. This is a very important aspect of your training can best be determined by meeting your teacher in person. Finally, proper instruction in which the teacher demonstrates how to do each of the Reiki techniques and then guides the student in the practice of the techniques can only be done well in person. If you’re serious about Reiki, you’ll seek out a good teacher and receive your Reiki training in person. I’ve written an article about this which you can read here.
Q. Can Reiki be taught to children?
A. Yes, children have a natural understanding of Reiki and are often eager to learn. In deciding if a child is old enough and is ready to take a Reiki class, it’s important to teach only to those children who understand what Reiki is and have expressed an interest in learning Reiki on their own. A beginning class works better if it is attended by one of the child’s parents. The class information needs to be kept simple and each lesson should not be too long as children have a short attention span. Children are often very sensitive to Reiki energy and many can see the aura and even see and feel Reiki energy. These abilities need to be nurtured and treated in very positive ways. One thing that can be done in this respect is to have the child draw and color what they think Reiki looks like or to draw the colors of energy they see or think they see or feel round other people in the class or that represent the kind of feelings and energies those people have. Another fun technique is to have the child give Reiki to a flower or a tree or to a pet. We’ve had articles on this subject in previous issues of the Reiki News Magazine. For more information, go to "Teaching Reiki to Children".
