- Simply Blessed Academy - Reiki Training Program
Reiki came to Usui Sensei in the form of an inner revelation (an epiphany) after a period of spiritual searching and deep meditation. Mikao Usui desired to experience spiritual and bodily healing. He gave us a clear example of how to achieve this healing: go out into the wilderness of self and listen closely to the whisper of the Divine. The still small voice of spirit can speak to us when we are ready and willing to listen; and when we are prepared to make the necessary changes in our lives that will turn us into clear channels of healing energy. It is our belief that a more powerful form of Reiki is passed on when the student learns to walk the same spiritual path of Usui Sensei and experiences the transformation “on the mountain” that changed him forever.
Whereas Reiki is not a religion, traditional Usui Reiki is a way of life. When Usui Sensei treated the ill with Reiki, he noticed that those who changed their way of life would keep their illnesses away but those who reverted back to their old way of living experienced a return of their sickness. Our program sensitizes the student to the importance of first learning to live the Reiki way of life to experience inner transformation before attempting to bring healing to others.
The program requires the Shoden student to complete ten hours of classroom training over four weeks. Shoden students are required to keep a Reiki self-discovery journal and demonstrate proficiency in the reiki self-healing hand positions before certification is awarded.
We begin by introducing the Shoden student to the Reiki way of life which asks the Shoden student to live Reiki Gokai (or five principles). These five principles help conform the Shoden student to the energy of Reiki through intellectual formation and behavior modification. The principles change the “frequency” of the Shoden student’s energy making it more open to healing and more receptive to spiritual guidance.
We then help the Shoden student to take an honest, in-depth look into their own belief system helping the Shoden student to discover any spiritual “blocks” that may be preventing true self healing from taking place. We believe that without this necessary step, it will be difficult for the Shoden student to help future clients uncover their own “blocks.” Can a reiki practitioner direct a client to the place of healing, when the practitioner himself has not yet discovered that place? We trust the teaching of Usui Sensei and require our Shoden students to walk the path of self-discovery and introspection which we believe leads to a deeper understanding of the nature of reiki and therefore makes the Shoden student a better practitioner with more powerful reiki energy.
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| Mikao Usui, Founder of Reiki |
The Reiki I program takes the Shoden students through the traditional 21-day purification following in the footsteps of Usui Sensei. During the 21 days, Shoden students commit to living and reciting the Gokai (five principles) and engaging the Gassho Meiso (clearing prayer) daily. They also commit to learning three forms of reiki self treatment helping them become proficient in the hand placements recommended by the International Center for Reiki Training. Breathing techniques and mediation become important through out the purification process. Shoden students discover the deeper meaning of the Chakras and learn to use the Chakras as a guide to self understanding and a map to self healing.
Shoden students in Reiki I also learn to decipher the Japanese Kanji (written Japanese language characters) that symbolize reiki. We expect our Shoden students to become familiar with the terms used in reiki practice which include several esoteric terms whose meanings will be revealed to the Shoden students through out their formation as a reiki practitioner.
Our Reiki I - Shoden students learn about the traditional system of Reiki Attunements (the blessing ceremony that passes Reiki energy from Master to Shoden student) which includes four initiations (minor blessings) that gradually conform the Shoden student to reiki. This traditional practice helps the Shoden student to experience the real transformation that takes place when one truly lives the Reiki way of life. We also believe that staying true to the traditional use four initiations lets the Shoden student “feel” the energy of Reiki as it develops and creates change in the Shoden student’s energy body and spiritual body.
The Shoden students receive the four initiations through out the course of the 21-day purification. Each week the Shoden students come together with the Reiki Master-Teacher to learn about each individual initiation before receiving the minor attunement.
Upon completion of all four initiations, the Shoden student becomes a Reiki Level I practitioner and receives certification.
Okuden students are required to complete twenty hours of classroom training over three months, forty hours of practical work, and to demonstrate proficiency in twenty-four reiki techniques and use of the three reiki level II symbols before certification is awarded.
Our Reiki II program strives to give the student a solid foundation in reiki practice by providing ample classroom time and practical experience. Okuden students receive a complete reiki multi-media library as part of the course including two DVDs that demonstrate a complete reiki session and twenty-three other Japanese reiki techniques, a guided mediation CD that helps the Okuden students clear negativity and give more power to their reiki, a reiki music CD to use in their practice, a set of reiki hand position flash cards, the Reiki Touch manual, and a set of reiki symbol disks. Our reiki II - Okuden students leave our program with the confidence needed to become powerful reiki providers.
Simply Blessed Reiki Academy also offers the Okuden students the option of participating in a public Solemn Attunement Ceremony which makes them Certified Reiki level II - Okuden practitioners. This ritual ceremony adds an element of sacredness to the traditional attunement ceremony which is normally a private ritual.
Simply Blessed Academy follows the tradition of teaching Reiki level III in two programs. The first program traditionally called Shinpiden, refers to “mystery teachings.” In this program the student learns the meaning of the Reiki Master symbol and receives attunement to its power.
Our goal is to give Shinpiden students an in-depth look into the various approaches to reiki practice that have developed since Mikao Usui disseminated the knowledge of Reiki to his students and the world. We believe that if a person is going to be given the title of “master” the person should be able to demonstrate “mastery” of the subject. In reiki level II, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in form and practice whereas in Shinpiden, students are expected to understand why we use certain forms and practice. Students are expected to be able to engage an in-depth reiji-ho (evaluation of the needs of client) and design the appropriate chiryo (treatment) for the client.
Shinpiden students learn the traditional Usui approach to reiki, the Western/Takata approach to reiki, and the Hayashi approach. In addition, Shinpiden students are exposed to the requirements of three recognized professional reiki associations: The International Center for Reiki Training, The International Association of Reiki Professionals, and the Shibumi International Reiki Association. By exposing Shinpiden students to the major forms of reiki and the major associations, we give our students the knowledge and confidence to practice as true masters of the art of reiki.
Shinpiden training also includes training in Kundalini Reiki techniques, Angel Reiki techniques, and Crystal Reiki techniques.
Shinpiden training requires fifteen hours of classroom training over three months. We require all Shinpiden students to maintain three reiki clients over the three-month practical experience period. Students must design a reiki intake form and reiki client record. Students must present a case study of each of the three clients as the capstone of the training period.
Once all Shinpiden requirements have been met, students will be given attunement and certification as a Level III Master-Practitioner.
Shihan-kaku students who successfully complete the one-year apprenticeship program may apply to become Shihan. Shihan Master-Teacher training takes place over a six-month research period and six-month practical experience period.
