What is Jikiden Reiki®?

This article is primarily written for and to help those who are looking to learn Reiki and are considering which is the right course for them, who have come across my website, and maybe the term Jikiden Reiki for the first time and wish to understand a bit more about it. My aim is to provide an insight into Jikiden Reiki, as well as highlight some of its characteristics.

Although it can be considered to be desirable to focus on our similarities, rather than our differences in the Reiki world, in the context of understanding what Jikiden reiki is, a comparison to other approaches to at least be able to see where Jikiden Reiki sits in an environment of multiple variations and approaches out there all under the banner of 'Reiki' can be helpful. Better understanding the characteristics and methods of Jikiden Reiki, can help you make a more informed choice as to the best direction for you in your study of Reiki.  Just today I had a conversation with another person looking to learn Reiki who was trying to make sense of all the choices out there for Reiki training.

In a nutshell, Jikiden Reiki is authentic Japanese Usui Reiki, as practiced and taught in the late 1920s and 30s in Japan, with no Western influence or adaption to the original teachings of the time. Most people assume, and why wouldn't they, that everything under the banner of Reiki is the same thing. It is a correct statement that Reiki energy is Reiki energy, regardless of approach or what is commonly termed ‘style’ of Reiki. To a degree, they have strong similarities: they all channel energy through the practitioner's hands to the recipient; Most have their roots in or originate from the Usui Reiki system of healing and they all help people. Yet there are marked differences in understandings, teachings, techniques, and applications between differing Reiki ‘styles’. Many in the professional Reiki community are completely unaware of this fact (Reiki masters included) so do not worry if this is new information for you.

Having personally had the pleasure of learning Reiki at the teacher level in various ‘styles’ of Reiki, I am grateful to all those who I have learned from. I am writing this article with an understanding of what is taught in differing Reiki styles and that this understanding has come from teachings and professional practice rather than a place of academic research, or reading books. I have witnessed great healing in all Reiki styles I have learned, and with the knowledge and understanding of Reiki I have now, I have made a personal choice to practice and teach Jikiden Reiki exclusively. Jikiden means 'directly taught'. The significance of the word 'directly' being the teachings is not modified in any way as they are passed down by teachers to students. They are taught the same way as in Japan in Reiki's early days.

The Jikiden Reiki Institute was founded in 1999 by the late Chiyoko Yamaguchi and her son Tadao Yamaguchi (My own Reiki teacher). At first glance, it may appear as though it would be a new style of Reiki having only been formed in 1999 but this is not the case. When forming the organization it was important to choose a name to protect the integrity of the teachings and authenticity of the training. Hence the choice of Jikiden Reiki, which is now a trademark, with the Jikiden Reiki Institute in Kyoto, Japan. Today, following Chiyoko sensei's death in 2003, Tadao sensei is the Representative, or head of the organization, or president, with Frank Arjava Petter (the prominent Reiki author and authority on Japanese Reiki history) as its vice Representative. It has teachers all over the world now in various countries including the UK, of which I am one based in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, UK.

In order to understand some of the characteristics of Jikiden Reiki, we need to overview some historical events. The roots of Jikiden Reiki came from the discovery in the mid-1990s that a direct student of Hayashi Sensei, Chiyoko Yamaguchi Sensei, was alive in Japan and had been practicing Reiki every day since the mid-1930s, however receiving it for quite a few years prior as well. Up until this discovery, it was thought that no one was still alive who was directly taught Reiki by Hayashi Sensei who was a prominent student of Usui Sensei, the founder of Reiki. Hayashi sensei is widely acknowledged as having facilitated the spread of Reiki to the rest of the world as he taught Mrs. Takata from Hawaii, in the mid-1930s as well. It was through Mrs. Takata that Reiki spread from Hawaii to the USA and then globally, including importing the Western version of Reiki to Japan (the original Usui Reiki teachings were not taught publically after the second world war). These imported styles all came from the teachings and lineages of Mrs. Takata who died in 1980. Both Chiyoko sensei and Mrs. Takata were trained to Shihan (full teacher level) directly by Hayashi sensei around 1939 and 1937 respectively.

As Reiki spread in the USA, into Europe, and then Asia the original Usui Reiki system was modified: key components were omitted, new approaches added, and key focuses were diluted. The traditional controls on who became a teacher were removed around the time of 1981. It was, therefore, an amended version of Reiki which was re-introduced to Japan in the mid-1980s.

It is only fair now to make the point that these adjustments supported Reiki's spread and indeed Reiki may not have survived globally without such amendment. However, the point is that by this stage the Reiki being taught had many differences from the Reiki taught by both Usui sensei in the 1920s and continued by Hayashi sensei in the late 1920s up until his death in 1940.

The term 'Western Reiki' is a term sometimes used to identify these amended teachings and is by no means meant in a disrespectful way, it is just a way of classifying what kind of Reiki, or what teachings are being described. The term was first coined by one of the presidents of the Usui Reiki Gakki (the original Usui Reiki society) in Japan in the early 1990s in reference to the imported Reiki being taught in Japan at the time and its thinking and approaches being somewhat away from the original Usui practice of Reiki. This term tends to only be used by Japanese-trained Reiki people anyway. In the context of this article, I use the term to help in identifying differing Reiki teachings.

I have seen some Reiki teachers presenting their Reiki classes as traditional Japanese teachings when they are clearly not, bolting on some granted very useful Japanese Reiki techniques onto a Western Reiki syllabus. It is again important to note that any Reiki style has value in helping people and all approaches to Reiki have the potential to work. So rather than saying that some of what is being taught is incorrect in the Western styles, it is a better way to view such teachings as say being further away from the original teachings of Usui sensei to varying degrees. From a consumer point of view if you wish to learn authentic Japanese Usui Reiki, then understanding the differences is important in order for you to be able to make an informed decision as to what Reiki training course you would like to take.

So as I have already mentioned the way Reiki is taught within Jikiden Reiki comes from the teachings of Hayashi Sensei, as taught to Chiyoko sensei in the mid-late 1930s. She then passed on these teachings to her son Tadao Sensei. The key point is that the culture and integrity of the Reiki teachings, or system are intact. With regards to the teachings themselves, they have a simplicity, yet depth within them. There is much emphasis on the Gokai (the guiding principles we live by as students of Reiki) to support us in life and our growth. You learn techniques that have disappeared in Western Reiki styles. There are key components of how Reiki was used in Japan in Usui sensei and Hayashi sensei's day that are not found in other Reiki courses.

In practical terms, the Reiju (termed attunement in western Reiki) you receive is again technically different from other Reiki styles. You can be confident that you are learning correct information regarding Reiki history and applications. You are trained in the traditional understanding of Byosen, which Usui sensei observed in treatments and can be classed as the cornerstone of Japanese Reiki and is the primary treatment method used in all Jikiden Reiki treatments. You learn other components that work in partnership with this understanding to enhance treatment effectiveness. You also learn how Japanese Reiki treatments are conducted, with long periods of time at locations, without the preset hand position sequences as commonly seen in many other Reiki styles.

Who becomes a Jikiden Reiki teacher also follows traditional ways. To become a teacher requires repetition in learning followed by permission to become an accredited Jikiden Reiki Shihan Kaku (Assistant Teacher) and Shihan (Teacher) is granted by the head of the organization/representative of the Institute Tadao Yamaguchi (or the vice representative alone). Following various assessments and repetition of training, the grade of Shihan Kaku is granted which permits the teaching of the first (beginner) level of Jikiden Reiki Shoden. After commonly a year or so of gaining experience teaching, further assessments are carried out, and all training levels are repeated with the addition of a further teacher course before the grade of Shihan is granted. This permits the teaching of the second level, Okuden (deeper learning).

For those of you with knowledge of other Reiki styles, you will again notice distinct differences in Jikiden Reiki with regard to teacher levels. Rather than being a 'become a teacher and off you go' setup, it takes time and investment in both experience and repetition of training in order to gradually be permitted to teach the two levels that are the Jikiden Reiki system. For example in my case, at this time, in attaining Shihan (full teacher) I have taken Shoden and Okuden levels (comparable to levels 1 and 2 in the west) both six times (three times with Tadao sensei himself), Shihan Kaku tree times plus my Shihan training twice (having completed all levels with the vice representative- Arjava Sensei as well). Furthermore, as set by Usui sensei and observed by Hayashi sensei, Reiki teachers are not permitted to create other teachers they simply train people to Shoden or Okuden, dependent on their own teacher grade. It is primarily the President of the organization, so with Jikiden Reiki Tadao Yamaguchi, plus a handful of Dai-Shihans (Senior Teachers) globally, who are permitted to teach Shihan Kaku level, with an even smaller number who are permitted to teach the full Shihan level. These senior levels are granted many years of service and contribution to the Jikiden organization rather than a course to ask to do. 

So from a student perspective, the complete Jikiden Reiki system is taught at the Shoden and Okuden levels. Teacher levels are purely for those who wish to teach and learn the Japanese Reiju method to be able to teach Reiki to others. This original Japanese way helps to preserve standards in teachings, and from a consumer view, it is a good way of having confidence in the teacher's ability, knowing they are accredited by the central organization. In Western Reiki styles, and therefore with most Reiki in the UK, a teacher can create another teacher with no pre-screening or ongoing observation or control, who then, in turn, can create more teachers and can modify the teachings at their discretion. There are some great Western Reiki teachers, what I am pointing out is the open approach to becoming and creating other teachers seen in other Reiki styles leads to great variability in teaching quality as well as variations in teaching content. 

As was the case in the 1920s and 30s Japan, with Jikiden Reiki there continues to be a great emphasis on the value of receiving Reiju (the process of clearing the channel to use Reiki energy) and there are events set up for the ongoing receiving of Reiju and to practice Jikdien Reiki, to build experience and confidence alongside other students of Jikiden Reiki. So Jikiden Reiki offers a high level of structured, ongoing support to students, which again contrasts with many other styles of Reiki. This repetition in teachings also adds depth to someone's understanding of Reiki. 

My view is that when repeating a course you are at a different place in terms of self-awareness and growth, your view or perspective is at a different place, you have been using the techniques so your questions are coming from a place of some experience using the material and concepts previously taught, so the experience is reinforcing and supportive, deepening your study of Reiki. I personally found I wrote just as many notes the third time of repeating Shoden and Okuden as I did on the first occasion, and of course, with a different group come differing Q and A topics as well. Jikiden Reiki is set up to support this by offering opportunities to repeat Shoden and Okuden training at markedly reduced costs. What is more, all UK pricing is fixed for all authorized Jikiden Reiki teachers in both the initial and repeating course fees by the Institute in Kyoto, Japan. 

Jikiden Reiki will tend to suit people who value authentic Japanese teachings, and who value learning accurate information and teachings. My view is that there is value in everyone with an interest in Reiki taking Jikiden Reiki Shoden and Okuden level training, even if they do migrate towards more amended approaches to Reiki, at least you have correct core teachings as a foundation. Jikiden Reiki is practical, solid, and authentic. I hope this has been an interesting article for you. Should you have any further questions look at the information on Jikiden Reiki courses with the link below, or if you are looking to take Reiki training and are interested in taking Jikiden Reiki training with me in the Midlands area of the UK, you can get in touch. If you are further afield in the UK contact a Jikiden Reiki teacher in your area/country. For more discussion on the differences between Jikiden Reiki and Western Reiki see my Article: Jikiden Reiki and Western Reiki, Whats the Differences? You can find out more about Reiki training here: Jikiden Reiki Courses

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I am mainly known nowadays for my work with Reiki, as a specialist in authentic Japanese Reiki. I am an experienced, Reiki teacher and practitioner with a proven track record of results. I offer Jikiden Reiki training courses, promoting authentic Japanese Reiki teachings. I am based in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, in the UK. I have a background in coaching and training in the areas of exercise coaching, holistic lifestyle, fitness, and performance coaching. I also have a BSc.(Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Science, for more information visit: www.shaunmckeown.com

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The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this article are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article. Shaun Mckeown, disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article.

Finding The Right Reiki Course & Teacher For You

With many people, who they select to learn Reiki from can be a bit pot luck, dependent on who happens to be in their local area. The aim of this article is to help give you some considerations to think about as you look to select a Reiki training course and which teacher to learn from.

What you might expect, or be looking for in a Reiki course will likely be influenced by your previous exposure to receiving Reiki treatments, reports of others’ experiences of Reiki, friends who are trained in Reiki, or the books and articles you have read on the topic. So what you believe Reiki is, or what might be a good course of action regarding learning Reiki is likely to have many influences. The accuracy of the information that you have been exposed to obviously I am not aware of, however, you do not have to research very far into the topic of Reiki to find conflicting information and indeed the articles I write here might be adding to that sea of differing information.

To begin with, it is a common belief or assumption that all Reiki courses teach pretty much the same thing; that all courses listed as Reiki, Usui Reiki, traditional Japanese Reiki, etc are all the same. This is far from the case. So the first thing I would suggest in relation to selecting a Reiki teacher is actually to select the Reiki course. When first looking at different course options, you will see many different names linked with the word Reiki, which can appear to look like different styles of Reiki first. Learning any Reiki is a gift and can be helpful to people, so I would say any Reiki training is better than none. However, we need to bear in mind that as great as any Reiki teacher might be, if what you are being taught has misunderstandings about Reiki within its teachings, or is not what you are looking for, you are unlikely to be satisfied with the training you receive. This may leave you feeling disheartened by the experience and drop out of practicing Reiki in the future, or you may later come to the realization you need to take additional Reiki training to get what you were looking for in the first place.

I see this often in the fact that many people who seek to learn Reiki with me have already learned Reiki from others. They commonly tell me they are looking to retrain due to the teachings they received in their initial training in Reiki, be that to fill in the gaps, or to build upon it, rather than the teacher quality in most cases. This is why I place prime importance on the right course selection first. You can find details of my Beginner Reiki Courses here. The question many have is what are the best reiki courses to take?

Although I am qualified as a Reiki teacher in various Reiki styles, I have chosen to teach only Jikiden Reiki because of its authentic teachings, how it was taught in Japan in the late 1920s and 1930s. The Jikiden Reiki Institute (which authorizes who can teach this style of Reiki) is based in Kyoto, Japan. To find out more about Jikiden Reiki see my article 'What is Jikiden Reiki' 

To determine which Reiki course is right for you, first determine if you are drawn to traditional, authentic teachings, or are looking for modified teachings that often have influences from other healing methods infused into the teachings which tend to be further away from the original Reiki teachings and perspectives. If authentic Japanese Reiki is what you are looking for my recommendation is to seek out a Jikiden Reiki teacher. If a more modified style is for you, then it is more about matching your preferences with the course content/teachings you would receive. To further this point on the importance of finding the right Reiki teachings, I would suggest you look beyond any governing body's acceptance of a course. Such approved courses would be suggestive of a good course structure, and best practice, suggest a level of professional practice, yet ironically do not guarantee the accuracy of the teachings, therefore, allowing various Reiki styles or teachings to be accepted as they meet a generic professional best practice award criteria, not a what are you teaching criteria.

So initially I would suggest that you get a list of courses/teachers that look like a fit for you in what you are going to get with any training. The easiest way is usually an online search. My view is that you are better to travel a bit of distance for the right training than going with what may be on offer on your doorstep. As Jikiden Reiki Shoden (beginner level) training is conducted over a one-weekend distance is rarely a factor; indeed I have many people who travel to train with me even when they have multiple Reiki teachers closer to home. With regard to course dates, be patient! Again it’s better to wait a month longer for the right training than get training that doesn't match what you are looking for just because it's next week and you're keen to learn. So I would suggest committing to the right training and then making arrangements to be able to attend, if not the next course, then the one after that. Look also beyond the price of Reiki courses. Reiki courses completely (Shoden and Okuden- levels 1 and 2) tend to be no more than £500 - there is no need to pay much more than that. Equally, I would also question the wisdom of selecting a course based on cost, i.e the cheaper the course the better. Just because it is cheaper doesn’t mean it’s better value. Select your teacher for all the right reasons rather than just shopping for the cheapest deal. Again just emailing a teacher for their prices and then selecting a course based solely on their response is no way to select Reiki training, or in any area of life for that matter.

From the above filtering activities, you will probably have created a shortlist of courses/teachers that you feel closely match what you are looking for. What I would then suggest is that you have a deeper look at the teachers’ training experience and previous student participant feedback, you can see some of my reviews. So that you gain a flavor of their approach.

Bear in mind that learning Reiki s a face-to-face experience, especially receiving Reiju (after which you can channel Reiki energy) any distance training or remote approaches are not advisable and are far removed from Japanese Reiki thinking. In fact, many Reiki associations won’t even accept such online training courses as qualifying as adequate training to join their organization. In addition, Reiki is something to be taught by a teacher, they can teach you the subtleties of authentic Reiki practice and techniques that you would completely miss otherwise.

Now having done all the rational research and mind-focused selection, sit back and turn your focus internally and let’s switch the focus to the heart as well as your internal wisdom and see if you are drawn to any teacher or course in particular. In my experience, there can commonly be an element of synchronicity with such things as learning Reiki, I see this all the time. Many times people have just been drawn to learning Reiki with me, nothing more, nothing less. The fact you are reading this may not categorically mean you are meant to take training with me (although you are most welcome to), you are fact-finding and so this article may provoke your thinking and thereby help you find the right course/Reiki teacher for you. 

By now you will most likely have come down to just a couple of courses/teachers. Now ring them! (You will be limited in what you will gain solely by an email exchange). If you never speak to a teacher to find out about the course and ask any questions you may have you will not be able to build a picture of that teacher’s approach knowledge, style of teaching, experience, etc which will give you confidence in that the decision you ultimately make is the right one for you. For example: if you have come across some conflicting issues in your research, ask them about it and listen to their answers. You might still get conflicting views but you will gain a sense of which teacher’s approach feels a better fit for you. This exercise is invaluable in helping you select who you might like to learn with. After that simply commit to the course date and take the training. Watch your fears and doubts don’t trip you up into deviating from the right path for you. Whoever you decide to train with I wish you well. For those of you who would like to learn authentic Japanese Jikiden Reiki and are in the Midlands area of the UK, well may come from further afield to learn with me so let’s say the UK, have a look at my Jikiden Reiki Courses page with further details of course content and training dates, and prices. If you are looking to take Reiki training and would like the opportunity to speak with me directly get in touch

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I am mainly known nowadays for my work with Reiki, as a specialist in authentic Japanese Reiki. I am an experienced, Reiki teacher and practitioner with a proven track record of results. I offer Jikiden Reiki training courses, promoting authentic Japanese Reiki teachings. I am based in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, in the UK. I have a background in coaching and training in the areas of exercise coaching, holistic lifestyle, fitness, and performance coaching. I also have a BSc.(Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Science, for more information visit: www.shaunmckeown.com

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The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this article are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article. Shaun Mckeown, disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article.

Using Reiki to Help You in Times of Grief

This article topic is one I have listed as a future article topic for a while, purely due to the fact that it is something many people I have helped have said it is something Reiki has helped them with, and in many cases, it has been the main reason they came to Reiki in the first place. I thought it would be timely to write this article now on a personal note, as a few months ago now my Dad passed away after a long illness, so this has been written not just from my observations, but also from my experience. I have helped many people experiencing grief over the years, be the loss of pets, parents, siblings, and children. In fact just today, the day I planned to write this article someone I have been helping over recent months informed me of such a loss in their life.

So how can Reiki help people experiencing grief? The most common route to Reiki is with people who are struggling emotionally, have recently experienced a loss who look to try Reiki treatments with the aim of it helping them feel a bit better and cope/ function with all their life responsibilities that continue, such as supporting other family members or children who are struggling, in addition to other commitments such as work, etc.

Reiki is well known now for its positive effect and its use in supporting emotional well-being. Our view of grief as Reiki practitioners is more that of something to work through, to process, to come to a point of peace with, rather than an emotional experience to suppress, deny, avoid, or remove. It is viewed as a natural process, a part of life. I find grief tends to be more problematic if it is just suppressed or buried for years and not processed effectively. Reiki tends to have a soothing, supporting effect on people at such times. Helping us move towards an internal state of greater peace, whilst soothing emotions, helping us let go, with love, and releasing feelings of sadness, loss, regret, guilt, anger, fear, or any other emotions we might be feeling. Below are a couple of experiences of people I have helped with Reiki treatments experiencing grief, these kinds of results with Reiki are usual to experience:

"I started seeing Shaun for Reiki treatments when my husband was terminally ill. I believe it made me feel calmer and reduced my stress levels whilst looking after him. I have continued to receive Reiki treatments from Shaun since his death and this has helped me to sleep better and deal with the symptoms of bereavement" 

"I have had regular Jikiden Reiki treatments from Shaun for a number of years. They have helped me release grief and emotional issues and enabled me to relax in periods of high anxiety. I credit his treatments by enabling me to continue working when I felt I could no longer do so.”

In addition to receiving Reiki treatments, which we could class as a more passive experience as we are simply receiving Reiki treatments, as helpful as that can be an additional level of support is available for us as we journey through grief. This is available for those who have been trained in Reiki and really ‘live Reiki’ if you like. To start with Reiki training we receive what is called Reiju (in the West sometimes termed attunements) that in conjunction with receiving Reiki treatments and performing regular Reiki self-treatments (as most Reiki-trained people do), all go to further help clear congestion in our thinking and keep our connection to our core nature clear, all allowing us to be closer to our true natural state along with greater clarity in thinking as well as greater peace in our hearts, which can be helpful at such times.

In addition, if a lot of self-growth and healing work has been done prior to such events, as we come into such life events we tend (generalization) to be quite clear in thought, calm, and reasonably at peace to begin with, which can have a huge effect on our reactions and feelings during such times, and in preparation for future loss.

By living Reiki we also have the Gokai, the guiding life principles we live by. In living in such a way, when such events come along Reiki trained people tend to be more practiced in letting go of fear, anger, or worry as they are more habitually trained to observe the blessings in life and are living with active gratitude throughout every day. So by default tend to move through such events in a smoother way. I think of all these points as pumping air into our own ‘life’ raft. The waves of life are not any smaller, but you are able to go with the waves and stay afloat easier. There are guiding principles of life in other cultures and spiritual practices, many have similarities, what I observe is living by such principles can be very helpful at such times. 

What I believe is one of the biggest factors that I have observed in relation to Reiki helping people with grief, is that as Reiki-trained people we learn about Japanese culture, for example, the Japanese view of life. Reiki itself means ‘soul energy’ with the healing taking place at a soul level. Soul, or tamashi in Japanese, is the idea of an eternal part of us that endures beyond a single lifetime, that we live on, rather than the idea that this life is more than a ‘one-off’ gig. This concept in itself is not unique to Reiki, variations on this idea are also seen in other cultures, and many other spiritual practices and regions. Any way you look at it - a personal view or belief that death is not the end, or not so final in itself can be very powerful in finding peace as we journey through these life experiences.

I have heard of many in professions such as nursing where they deal with people going through the death of a loved one or dealing with their own mortality on a regular basis report seeing a more peaceful view than many in such situations with those they might term as ‘spiritual’ in their life view. Specifically, with Reiki, I have observed people who experience grief that comes to me for help with Reiki treatments, who I later trained in Reiki, who then experience grief again at a later date, yet move through such times differently after Reiki training. There are various ways Reiki might support you through grief, both in receiving Reiki treatments as well as learning Reiki. If you have not tried Reiki, it might be something to consider to support you. Find out more about Jikiden Reiki treatments or take a look at my Reiki Courses page.

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I am mainly known nowadays for my work with Reiki, as a specialist in authentic Japanese Reiki. I am an experienced, Reiki teacher and practitioner with a proven track record of results. I offer Jikiden Reiki training courses, promoting authentic Japanese Reiki teachings. I am based in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, in the UK. I have a background in coaching and training in the areas of exercise coaching, holistic lifestyle, fitness, and performance coaching. I also have a BSc.(Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Science, for more information visit: www.shaunmckeown.com

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The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this article are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article. Shaun Mckeown, disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article.

Why Repeating Reiki Training Could Be A Good Idea

In this article, I wish to bring your attention to some benefits of repeating your formal Reiki training courses, after having attended the formal Jikiden Reiki training courses- Shoden and Okuden. The option to repeat formal Reiki training courses is available to all students of Jikiden Reiki and is something all Jikiden Reiki teachers agree to do. The cost to a student to do so is a fraction of the original training fees, the fee is set by the Institute in Japan for each country. In the UK to repeat Shoden and Okuden is £150, not each, that’s for both, so just under a third of the original cost of training, so at a huge reduced fee.

The idea of repeating training is in keeping with the idea that formal Reiki training is the starting point of your study. Let that point sink in. I encourage you to think of your training as well as your individual study of Reiki as an ongoing practice. A bit like martial arts, your learning is not complete with one lesson, or attending a training course. I see a common view in our culture with things that are presented as a course, I see a view of ‘I have taken the training’, like the topic has been done, or completed. Rather than dig into reasons why this might be the case, here I wish to simply look at a few reasons why I believe repeating the formal Jikiden Reiki courses might be helpful for you to consider.

I have personally found repeating a helpful thing to do myself in my own study of Reiki. In addition to all the Reiki training courses, I had attended differing approaches to Reiki before I found Jikiden Reiki. I have taken Jikiden Reiki Shoden and Okuden about five or so times now, with three different teachers. Shihan Kaku three times and Shihan twice. (note: as a Shihan, it is part of the teacher training process to have done some repeating). You will see the same picture of repeating with any dedicated Reiki teacher.

So what can we gain from repeating courses we have already taken? Firstly, as with any course, with the best intentions in the world, we do not retain all the information presented to us in our first exposure to the information. I personally wrote a lot of notes the first time I took formal Jikiden Reiki training, yet found I wrote just as many notes the second time around. I was at a different place with my practice compared to when I first took the Jikiden Reiki training. Be aware some questions will only appear after practice, so you would not yet be at that place when the content is new.

Repeating training can also be helpful in layering your technical ability and understanding of an approach or the idea being taught. An obvious example is the Kekko technique taught in the Shoden course. The way I tend to approach it in teaching it is, the first time learning is about getting the sequence and process down and trying it. The next time I observe the student performing Kekko technique. I can further coach and help them refine the finer points of the technique. The same is true with concepts such as Byosen as well.

What you also tend to find with attending different courses is there are different people there, as will be their experiences, so the questions asked in the training tend to be different in each class. The mix of beginners, repeaters, those previously trained in more Western approaches to Reiki, and those who are professional practitioners are commonly different. It might even be a useful thing to do for a newly qualified teacher to observe how an experienced teacher delivers the content and manages the flow of the courses, to help them as they prepare to start teaching themselves.

Repeating Reiki training courses is also a great way to receive more/regular Reiju. Reiju was delivered on five occasions over the two courses. Increasing the occasions you are ‘brought back to your original self’ during say your initial year or so of early training would also be supportive of your study, or development with Reiki.

My advice is if you would like to repeat training that the most value of repeating training is gained when repeating is done around 6 to 12 months after first learning Reiki after you have had a period of practice of what you learned. Many find it helpful to first repeat with the teacher they learned from. Beyond that, I would encourage you to consider taking some training with other teachers. For example, the Jikiden Reiki teachers in the UK have differing experiences and styles of teaching, some are a more practical focus, some have a lot of experience delivering treatments, some have lived in Japan and have more depth in understanding Japanese culture, some have a lot of experience with western approaches to Reiki so understand the misunderstandings that have come through with Reiki in the west. All this can aid your study of Reiki. My view is that once you have repeated training 1 or 2 times, you might only then wish to do so as a recap every year or a couple of years. You can also look out for an opportunity to learn with key figures in Jikiden Reiki who are international teachers such as Tadao Yamaguchi, or Frank Arjava Petter when they visit the UK.

With Jikiden Reiki we have the benefit of having a pool of Jikiden Reiki teachers in the UK all teaching the same content, so get to know who the teachers are both in your area and further afield. Have a look at the teacher’s map on the Jikiden Reiki UK Association (JRUKA) website to see where they all are Jikiden Reiki Courses UK. In the JRUKA teacher members also post upcoming UK course dates on our website, which we keep up to date, usually with courses for the next 3 months ahead in the Uk, so you can view them here: Jikiden Reiki training courses UK If you are international and looking to repeat your Jikdien Reiki training see the International Jikiden Reiki Association (IJRA) website for teacher members in countries other than the UK see the international Jikdiden Reiki teacher directory. For information about upcoming Jikiden Reiki training courses in the Birmingham area of the UK see my Jikiden Reiki courses. As a reminder of all the support available to you see my Jikiden Reiki Practitioner support webpage where I list support available to you.

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I am mainly known nowadays for my work with Reiki, as a specialist in authentic Japanese Reiki. I am an experienced, Reiki teacher and practitioner with a proven track record of results. I offer Jikiden Reiki training courses, promoting authentic Japanese Reiki teachings. I am based in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, in the UK. I have a background in coaching and training in the areas of exercise coaching, holistic lifestyle, fitness, and performance coaching. I also have a BSc.(Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Science, for more information visit: www.shaunmckeown.com

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The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this article are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article. Shaun Mckeown, disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article.