How To Choose A Reiki Teacher or Practitioner

There are so many brands of Reiki and so many teachers and practitioners to choose from, how does one choose?  It's easier to make a good decision when you know the questions to ask! 

Finding a qualified Practitioner

1.  Where and with whom were they trained in Reiki?  Reiki is a Japanese tradition passed in person from teacher to student.  There are sources that claim you can be attuned in other ways, such as by looking at a crystal! We have natural ability to bring through healing energy.  I teach people how to do that every day of the week.  It's easy, you can learn in about five minutes flat. Reiki is a broad spectrum of learning, Reiki is a specialty.  After a Reiki class and attunement by a certified teacher people feel the difference between their natural healing energy and their Reiki healing hands. 

    Look for a teacher with a short lineage (closer to the source of Reiki.) Going back one or two names, do you recognize them as leaders in the Reiki world? Anyone can get a certificate to teach. Do a little research then trust that you are drawn to who's right for you.

2. Do they work with Reiki full time?  Do they use Reiki exclusively or do they include other modalities and tools?  A person who works full time with Reiki has earned a lot of experience to share with you.  Their knowledge will give you a head start on being successful helping yourself and others to heal with Reiki.  You don't have to reinvent every wheel!

    Be advised that when other types of energy healing are added, or when tools such as crystals, toning and aromatherapy are included, they are changing the nature of what a client receives and it's no longer pure Reiki energy. One practitioner told me that Reiki drained her and that she would take on her client's problems so she gave it up. I asked her what she was doing along with Reiki and she named another modality.  I explained that with Reiki, there is no exchange and in fact when a practitioner brings Reiki through to the client, s/he benefits as much as the client does. If she was taking things on to her detriment, it was due to what she was adding to the Reiki. In 15 years of giving over 6,000 Reiki sessions I have always achieved positive results for all concerned. 

5.  Do they promise a particular result from your session? An experienced practitioner provides an abundance of Reiki to help your body, mind and spirit heal.  They facilitate what they sense/feel/see is happening during your session. Ultimately your free will and Inner Healer determine the end result of your session. 

3.  Are they affiliated with organizations that encourage high ethical standards?  The International Association of Reiki Professionals is one organization dedicated to ensuring that you receive high quality, professional Reiki sessions.   

4. Do they provide a comfortable, professional space for your session?  Reiki can be performed informally anywhere but if you plan to set aside the time and funds for a professional session, it's fine to expect a professional environment. Is their Reiki space clean and quiet, separate from other areas of their home or office? If they work alone in the space, how do they manage the phone and people who may drop in?   

6. Do they adhere to Hippa rules?  A Reiki session is personal. Also, an intuitive practitioner is likely to discern things about you and your situation that must be kept private. It's not necessary for a practitioner to keep notes on your sessions, but if notes are taken, ask if you can read them and how they're stored and used.

DovenStar's Reiki Session Protocol 
Reiki Practitioner Resources

Finding a Reiki Master Teacher

1.  There's a saying that 'You can't teach what you haven't done." Look for a teacher who work with Reiki full time.  All the questions relating to how to find a practitioner apply to how to find a teacher!  The longer a Master Teacher has been giving sessions, the more s/he can help you achieve success in your own healing practice. Schedule a session before committing to class to give you a sense of who they are and what they can teach you.

    Also, someone who works with Reiki full time has made a commitment to Reiki and his/her students.  She/he is more likely to be there for you for the long haul, supporting you and your practice. 

2.  Look for a teacher who's in love with Reiki!  The more passionate and dedicated they are to their profession, the more likely you'll have a productive and rewarding experience.

3.  What is the teacher's overall perspective? Reiki is anything but a rote procedure. Look for a teacher who offers a rich, rounded view of Reiki that includes the spiritual roots from which it came. Reiki isn't religious by any means, but it doesn't take long to perceive there's something loving and mysterious about Reiki.  Look for a teacher who's in touch with the heart and mind of the Reiki tradition. 

4.  How much class time do you receive?  There is so much to learn that in Usui Reiki levels I and II, a student needs at least eight hours per class for certification, plus follow ups that include Reiki shares and perhaps a Reiki Clinic. Eight hours is the bare minimum for class and anything less, plus follow-up groups, could leave you wanting.  If your teacher has traveled to your area and cannot provide follow-up groups, s/he will likely give you two or three 8-hour days of class with lots of practice giving sessions. Ask if there's a special rate to repeat a level. There's so much to learn that even if you paid attention and took careful notes, you'll be surprised how much more you learn the second time around!

5. Class Materials: Does the teacher give handouts or a manual that covers all the major components of class? Reiki teachers offer free handouts. You may be charged a small fee for a manual or folder.

6.  What kind of support do you receive after class?  Ask if they provide regularly scheduled Reiki Shares, which help you develop skill and confidence using Reiki and help you develop friendships in the Reiki community. You can expect to pay a small fee for Shares to cover overhead and your teacher's supervision, support and expertise, similar to receiving CE's.  

Usui Reiki Classes
Jikiden Reiki Seminars

Fees for Reiki Sessions & Classes:

There is never a charge for Reiki itself. Reiki is Love and as you know, Love cannot be bought or sold. In this world however, we're all required to support ourselves. A person who makes Reiki their livelihood certainly earns their fees. A practitioner/teacher who offers a sliding fee in certain circumstances signals their commitment to making Reiki available to as many people as possible.

Classes:  Fees for classes are across the board!  The minimum for an eight hour Reiki One class from a responsible and qualified teacher averages $150 - $175. For an eight-hour Reiki Two class, you can expect to pay a responsible, qualified teacher an average of $350 - $400. Reiki Three and Master Teacher rates vary widely. Keep in mind that as a certified Reiki Three or Master Teacher, you can supplement your current earnings or even make Reiki your livelihood. Therefore, rates for becoming certified at higher levels by a qualified teacher who will guide and support your growth are reflected accordingly. 

Something must be exchanged for Reiki. Reiki offered for free creates karmic debt for the receiver! Bartering skills is one way to exchange, or 'paying it forward' with good deeds.  In general however, you can expect that a professional Reiki practitioner has a reasonable fee schedule with a sliding fee for those who ask.

In Closing:  The outlines I provided for you here are just outlines.  Feel free to email your questions or comments, I'll be happy to help you all I can!

Starr B.