Today the original art of Reiki has reached the far corners of the world and is rapidly catching on and constantly attracting droves of people not only wanting to try the wonderful therapy but also to learn this art of healing.
With the demand, comes the supply and there are so many different schools and institutions to choose from.
Here one must be made aware of the fact that Reiki though being a traditional Japanese system has been incorporated into various other esoteric and metaphysical forms of healing and meditation over time.
Today Reiki which was primarily just about channeling the Universal Light Energy has been reshaped by various practitioners in the West to also incorporate aromatherapy, crystal therapy and various other mechanisms which have been smoothly integrated to heighten the curative powers of both the systems working in tandem.
What are the things you should look out for when signing up for a Reiki course? Here is a list, which by no means is complete but is a checklist to get you started these are questions to ask yourself first and then inquires about the path and Master: Ask yourself: Do I really wish to do this? Am I receiving a call from my soul to take this path in my life at this point? What will I gain and will I be able to fulfill the responsibility I will undertake? How much time and energy will I really be able to give to constant practice? Do I know the Master I wish to work with? What is our relationship? What are the energies/feelings am I getting from my Master? Do I trust this person completely? Ask the Master: What is the lineage of the Master? How long has he/she been practicing? How much of the course is practical and how much is theory? The fees and whether you will receive notes and a certificate on completion? Is the course an individual, one-on-one tutoring or is it in a classroom? If it is a classroom what is the density of the class? Is there a support group that you can join to network with others? Of course these are just some of the questions that are absolutely necessary for you to know at the onset.
However it is strongly advisable to only take up a Reiki course if you receive a calling for it, Reiki is not a fun thing you can do as a pass-time activity, and it requires a lot of time, patient, practice and concentration and also confers a great responsibility on the practitioner - one of healing.
Choose a Master carefully and it is advisable to again listen to your heart instead of joining a class where your friend might join because Reiki is an extremely personal path and each Master and their teachings may differ even if they share the same lineage.
In a similar fashion the needs of each individual is different and a Master must be able to understand and work with the personal energies of each individual.