The Lost Steps of Reiki: The Channeled Teachings of Wei Chi

Have you ever felt that something was missing in the Reiki system we have today?

There has always been some conjecture that the woman who brought Reiki into this country, Mrs. Takata, was not given all the steps. Some people believe that's because she was a woman. In this case, conjecture is irrelevant. Even the material that Dr. Usui discovered was only part of the information on how to practice what we now call Reiki.

The "lost" information has come back to us through channeling. In 1996, I was contacted by an elderly gentleman - 5,000 years old, give or take a few years - who calls himself Wei Chi. He began channeling through me, using me as a vehicle to communicate his message to Reiki healers all over the world.

One of the first things he told us was, "Reiki, as it has come into this culture, has gone the way of McDonalds." In America, Reiki has become the "quick fix" eastern healing art. Before you cut this article out, put it on a dartboard and begin warm-up throws, please read on.

Did you ever feel as though there was something more to Reiki than what you were taught? You aren't alone.

Wei Chi and I have talked with many people, from Reiki I graduates to Reiki Masters, both Reiki Alliance and non-Reiki Alliance. Among them, we've found a general sense that something was missing from Reiki as it is practiced today. Reiki has lacked the feeling of more holistic and cause-oriented types of healing. In some ways, it's been missing something that's experienced in other Eastern healing arts, as well as some Pagan healing procedures. Too often, Reiki may seem like a "take two aspirins and call me in the morning" approach.

Before you object, think about this. Let's say you are with a group of people who are Reiki practitioners and someone has a headache. How many jump to give a little "all natural cure" with those hot-to-trot Reiki hands?
Experienced Reiki practitioners may laugh, but you know it's true. Reiki rarely addresses why the person needed to manifest the headache or what its non-physical cause might be.

Wei Chi and I are not denigrating the current Reiki system in any way. Traditional Reiki has a powerful energy of its own. It has a profound ability to promote relaxation, stress reduction and passive healing. It promotes a generalized feeling of well being.

Those are key element in healing. In fact, most healing cannot take place without it. However, according to Wei Chi, Reiki was originally a four-step process of healing through self-empowerment. In addition to the steps of traditional Reiki, Wei Chi talks about:

* Helping people to discover what their imbalances are.
* Accepting responsibility for those imbalances.
* Participating in one's own healing.

So, what's missing from the traditional Usui system? Maybe just one or two things are missing. Mostly, in order to promote fundamental changes, the participant must have an active role in his or her own healing. That's simple to say, but it can take some thought and study to implement.

If you are a Reiki practitioner, consider how you can help your client participate in this process. Help him or her accept responsibility for the imbalances that caused the condition. Look for paths to empowerment that can help your client, long term.

Reiki can be a fine "quick fix," but that's not enough for most practitioners... or their clients. Today's Reiki enthusiasts want a more active role in healing themselves and others.

Whether or not you believe in "lost steps," consider how often you've been frustrated when a client didn't heal, or experienced a relapse. That may not be your fault or your client's.

The client probably discovered dramatic relief during the traditional Reiki treatment. He or she may have felt confident that Reiki is the path to healing. There's nothing wrong with that, and it affirms the importance of traditional Reiki.

However, it's time to look beyond Reiki's traditional structure and see if something may be missing. Examine your options. Study what's available within Reiki and related fields.

By empowering your clients to understand and participate in their own healing, Reiki can provide a more complete, lasting and holistic approach to well-being.