Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Time to Read

The last week in May, my family went on vacation, and stayed in a quiet little beach house in Sandbridge, VA for a week. It was lovely to be by the ocean and have some time away. I had brought my netbook, in the hopes of blogging and getting some other writing done a little bit each day. However, that was not to be. My hard drive crashed and died the first day of the trip.

That left me with the books I had brought. Not a bad trade.


I'd like to present to you with some of what I learned from having time to read some really fascinating books!
This post will highlight the first of three books I read. 


The first book I enjoyed is "Reiki: The True Story: An Exploration of Usui Reiki" by Don Beckett.


In this book, I learned all about the "original" of the "original Reiki method." That is, Reiki the way founder Mikao Usui taught it. I found out something really fascinating!! Mikao Usui did not use symbols. He did not use hand positions. Reiki was meant as a personal enlightenment practice. Healing was a side benefit, and it was done by intention. Usui taught different people individually, and each was taught a little differently from the last, because Usui varied his teaching to fit the experience, frame of reference, and ideal usage of Reiki for each student. There was no formalized system, no defined rituals. 


This is extremely significant to me for a number of reasons. First, because Practical Reiki, the method that I use and teach, does not use hand positions or symbols. Its main emphasis is on intention and attention. Quiet, gently focused observation is the best state of mind for practicing. It sounds to me as if Practical Reiki is very much like Mikao Usui's Reiki. 


Second, Usui Reiki as it's taught in the United States, follows Mrs. Hawayo Takata's teaching method. She brought Reiki to Hawaii and introduced it to the West. She taught structured ritualized Reiki, including the addition of hand positions, symbols, and lots of formalized procedures. Practical Reiki differs so much from this version of Usui Reiki that many have treated me as if I am teaching a rogue or rebellious form of Reiki - as if I'm going against tradition by not using those things. Takata's method of Reiki, which is also William Rand's version, the most commonly taught in the US and many parts of the world, has become accepted as the "original authentic Usui Reiki." But I have just learned that it's not. 


Turns out that Practical Reiki is closer to the original Usui Reiki than the method most accepted as the one that's widely taught here. Not sure whether to laugh or yell, "SEE!!!?" I believe I did both several times as I read.


While in VA, my family visited the Edgar Cayce Institute in Virginia Beach. It's a really fascinating museum and huge metaphysical library dedicated to the work of a man whose channeled information filled hundreds of volumes of texts. I brought a few copies of my book, and soon as I showed it to the woman who runs the gift shop, she immediately placed an order for the store and asked for an autographed copy for herself. Two visitors to the museum who were nearby asked if they could buy a copy from me too, and I gladly shared. It was a great experience, and helped to validate that what I'm teaching is needed and meaningful. 


I'm training Practical Reiki instructors now as well as students, so that more people can share this accessible healing modality. And Usui was right - it's a method to personal enlightenment besides being an excellent way to help oneself and others receive healing. My Practical Reiki for Nurses course is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing to offer CEs to nurses and massage therapists. I'm training instructors for that course too. 


Reading Beckett's book was like a nod from the Universe and a blessing from Mikao Usui himself. 


More book reports will follow in future blog posts! 


6 comments:

Caryl Haxworth said...

I love this, Alice. In fact, I was only discussing the very same thing yesterday, with one of my own Reiki students.

For years before I learned Reiki (or even knew what it was), I practised healing with love and intention and gentle placing of hands (eg: on the person's shoulders). After formally learning Usui Reiki, I struggled for some time with the concept of hand positions etc. It felt like a complete contradiction to natural intuition.

After becoming a Usui Reiki Master in 2004, I went back to practising by instinct/intuition and it was so natural that I felt like I was home again and began incorporating the concept into my own teaching of Usui Reiki.

This is one of the reasons I wanted to learn Kundalini Reiki, as it felt it was more in tune to what I'd been doing for years. I am grateful to you, Alice, for sharing this energy with me when you did.

Thank you for continuing to share your gift with the world, the Universe certainly does know what it's doing! :)

Much love & blessings,
Caryl ♥

db said...

Alice --- thanks for reviewing my book! and congratulations on the Readers' Choice award for yours!! i'll get a copy and read it....

how synchronous that i heard of Practical Reiki for the first time just a few days ago -- and now my friend Tamu directed me to your review of RTTS... : ^ )

a l o h a ! ----

Don Beckett / johreiki.net ("Reiki, Shinki, Macrobiotics")

Alice Langholt said...

Caryl,

So nice to receive your warm comment! Thank you! It's great to have you out there sharing good info about how to practice Reiki with intention and love. I'm also always glad to know that others share my experiences with energy.
Much love!
Alice

Alice Langholt said...

Don,

Thank you for honoring my blog with your comment!

I'd love to hear your thoughts after you read my book too - that would be wonderful.

I think your book is excellent and well researched. I was really glad to read it!

Several of my students have learned from you or are in touch with you via email. They say very nice things about your teaching and guidance. Keep up the great work and know that you've got another fan in me.

Blessings,
Alice

db said...

Alice ---
thanks for all your kind words! i just now ordered a copy of your book....

B well ! ----
db

Cymber Lily Quinn said...

Aloha Alice, Thank you for your great article. I am also a Reiki rebel. Though I have great respect for Mrs. Takata and all that she taught, times have changed, and I felt the rigid system wasn't working for me.

I deliver Reiki through harp music, and almost never touch the person unless they request it. Each session is different.

I teach in the same way...I follow the Reiki energy and give the student the attunements in accordance with what they need and what I am directed to do by the Reiki energy itself.

Thanks for sharing your journey into more intuitive and improvisational Reiki.

Blessings of balance and aloha,
Cymber Lily