Why Pay for Reiki?
L. Sabrina DeVaney
First, let’s define the question: is the real question “Why pay for reiki energy?” Or is it “Why pay for reiki treatment?” Or is it “Why pay for reiki training and attunements?”
“Why pay for reiki?” is too general a question, so let’s be specific…
Why Pay for Reiki Energy?
This question is simple. Never pay for the reiki energy itself. If you aren’t sure if your practitioner or teacher is charging for the energy itself, ask! If the practitioner or teacher is including the energy itself in his or her fee schedule, leave and do not look back. Reiki energy is free.
A reputable practitioner/teacher will never charge for the energy.
Why Pay for Reiki Treatment?
This is an entirely different question. Though a reputable reiki practitioner will never charge for the reiki energy, he or she will likely require an exchange for his or her time, skills, and knowledge, which is perfectly fair and just. Just as one would expect to pay for services such as plumbing work, electrical work, car repair, dentistry, a well-check visit to the doctor, and the like, one should expect to pay for holistic healing services as well.
These days, in many locales around the globe, one even expects to pay for air to inflate car and bike tires. This makes a great example: one doesn’t pay for the air, but one does pay for the use of the air pump machine and the electricity required to operate it. The same is so with reiki treatment.
Also, a good, professional practitioner keeps well-organized files on all clients. The time and materials required for such organization requires monetary investment: a PC and the electricity to run it, manila folders, paper, ink, filing cabinet, website fees, e-mail service fees, phone lines, et al. Most practitioners also use a massage table and/or treatment chair, need gas to travel (those of us who do home and Hospital visits), essential oils, incense, candles, stereo and music CDs for audio relaxation. These two lists can be long and varies between practitioners.
Professional practitioners have business expenses that must be covered! We can’t pay our electrical and water bills with a basket full of fruits and a homemade cake any more than the next person would be allowed to. However, many practitioners accept other forms of payment in lieu of monetary payment. I am one such practitioner. If one truly desires a healing treatment and truly cannot afford to make a monetary investment, he or she can always contact the practitioner and ask about making another type of exchange.
Keep in mind most reputable practitioners also have sliding fee scales and offer free services to those in need.
Why Pay for Reiki Training/Attunements?
Many factors need looking at here, so I will cover only the most basic. Just like with a treatment, the practitioner has expenses that need to be covered: student manuals, one-on-one corrective training, books, paper, ink, files, and a slew of other resources the students need. The practitioner is also investing his or her time in and with each student. The practitioner also has knowledge and skills which he or she is imparting to the student. It is a show of respect to compensate the teacher for his or her time and efforts in properly training the student. A reputable teacher is bound to the student for life, and almost always, after training is completed, the teacher becomes a lifetime mentor to the student.
You would expect to pay for any other type of trainings whether through college, vocational training, a special workshop or a seminar, so expect to pay for energy-based healing educations as well.
Anyone looking for a teacher must consider many things when choosing a teacher and deciding whether the training investment is reasonable and valuable:
- How long have you been working with reiki?
- What training have you had?
- How often do you teach?
- Do you teach anyone who is interested or are you selective in accepting students? Explain.
- How do you personally use reiki?
- What is your lineage?
- Will this training initiate me into, or progress me within the Usui lineage?
- If not, then what lineage?
- How did you become involved with reiki and why?
- What qualifications are required to take reiki training?
- Will I receive a certificate and a manual?
- Will I receive textbooks aside from the student manual (if manual included)?
- Will there be practice?
- If so, how much/how many hours?
- Can I take notes and tape record the class?
- How many symbols will I learn?
- Is there a reiki support group in my area or can you help me establish one?
- Will you openly support me in being a successful practitioner or master?
- Do you have a positive respectful attitude toward other practitioners and masters regardless of lineage or affiliation?
Be aware of how you feel about their answers and if they are responding in a loving manner that is supportive and empowering. Listen to your heart and gut intuition and you will be guided to the right teacher. ¥
My personal belief is that if one receives only an attunement with a manual from which you end up essentially training yourself, with no further contact, training, or support from the teacher, it is not worth the investment. If, however, the course includes documented practice, quizzes, exams, et al, the teaching will be more beneficial to both the student and the practitioner.
When engaging in correspondence courses, always consider the following additional questions:
- Will the manuals/textbooks/certificates be sent via email or post service?
- Is the certificate a professional copy and suitable for framing?
- Will I be required to document practice hours?
- If so, how is this done?
- Will I be required to pass any quizzes, tests, or exams?
- If so, how many?
- Will there be reading and/or written assignments?
- Will I have reasonable contact with the teacher?
- If so, through what venue will this be achieved (phone, post mail, e-mail, IM chat windows, chat room, message board, et al.)?
- Is mentoring available through the course?
- If so, is this included or additional?
Resources:
¥ Choosing the Right Reiki Teacher
Brian McCullen © 2002 – 2004
http://www.reiki.ie/A%20choosing.htm
Additional reading:
Reiki Online
Half Gods, Martyrs And Hypocrites – A MUST READ!
http://intuitivesilence.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/half-gods-martyrs-hypocrites/
©April 2004, Reiki & Bio-Balancing Therapies, L. Sabrina DeVaney
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
