What It Really Means to Be a Reiki Master

Formally speaking, being a Reiki Master implies that you hold a “Master Certificate” and have completed Reiki Shinpiden, i.e. the Master Level of Reiki. This involves both the teachings, techniques and attunements at a Reiki Master level.

But holding the “Master Certificate” is only the beginning of what is and should be an amazing journey of self-discovery, self-mastery, and commitment to continuous learning and service, extending beyond the Self and becoming a guide and mentor to others.

Your “Master Certificate” is not a magic wand that instantaneously bestows Mastership upon you the moment you receive it. It is rather a key that unlocks a new and advanced way of weaving Reiki into your way of being. Reiki Mastership is further supported by your experience, knowledge, and wisdom when it comes, not only to Reiki, but to living a spiritual life and practicing spiritual healing in its wider context.

I would like to highlight some of the characteristics of what can be considered being a true Reiki Master:

• You will succeed in experiencing pure Reiki energy and preserve it purely. This is attained through your Reiki training and covers aspects such as holding space, relinquishing attachment to outcome, and becoming a pure channel of Reiki healing.

• You will have a deep understanding of the fundamentals of Reiki and the techniques, and be capable of teaching these fundamentals and techniques to students. As a qualified Reiki Master, it would be necessary for you to be able to tell your students exactly about your Reiki lineage and the characteristics of Reiki techniques that you will teach. These are your freely accepted responsibilities as a Reiki Master and a clear explanation of all aspects of your teachings, both from your own viewpoint and that of Usui Sensei, would be required. You would need to teach the philosophy of Usui Sensei, the understanding of Reiki and the optimal utilisation thereof as exactly as possible. True mastership takes you beyond a mere understanding of the techniques. It involves a deep understanding of the underlying principles and the embodiment thereof in a holistic approach to the health and wellbeing of body, mind, and spirit of yourself and others.

• You will be capable of passing pure Reiki energy on, through healing and attunements. The passing on of Reiki energy is done by means of attunement and you will need to be in the know of attunement procedure to be able to effectively pass on the Reiki energy. What matters most in this matter is the energy and not necessarily the procedure – different procedures are taught depending on your Reiki lineage. However, the wisdom of all our Reiki predecessors is accumulated in the Reiki attunement procedures and to begin with, you should follow the attunement procedure you are taught as a guiding formula and fixed formality. Once you have mastered this and can comfortably pass the energy on to your students, it becomes less important to follow any set procedure and more important to by guided by your intuition. This is true Mastership.

• You will be able to explain and teach the various symbols and how to use them. In some Reiki lineages, you can only really consider yourself a Reiki Master if you have taught and attuned at least one student.

• You will have an innate aspiration to become a teacher and a guide to prospective and fellow Reiki practitioners. This is driven by your desire to inspire others and share your knowledge, experience, and wisdom to help others grow and develop.

• You will naturally step into the role of a leader, which is not driven by ego or the desire for recognition, but by a genuine desire to help others achieve their potential through a journey founded in Reiki.

• You will never be stagnant and embrace the concept of being an “eternal student,” always seeking new knowledge and refining your skills. Not just in Reiki, but in whichever aspects of healing, living a spiritual life and life in general resonate with you. As a Master/Teacher, you will be humble and open to learning from others, particularly your students, recognising the master-student relationship as interactive and collaborative.

• You will be authentic and genuine in your interactions with others, seeking to inspire others through your authentic actions and teachings, not wearing your “Mastership” as a spiritual/ego badge, but would rather avoid arrogance or self-promotion.

Make continuous efforts, being close to Reiki energy in daily life, to grow by utilising Reiki energy in all aspects of your life. Reiki becomes less something you DO and more something you ARE!

In spiritual contexts, a true master is seen as someone who has achieved enlightenment or a high level of spiritual development. They are able to guide others on the path to spiritual realization.

• Sharing Knowledge: Masters are often driven by a desire to share their knowledge and help others grow.
• Mentorship and Guidance: They provide guidance and support to their students, fostering their development and growth.
• Humility and Patience: True masters are often humble and patient with their students, recognizing that learning is a continuous journey.

• Never Stop Learning: True masters are lifelong learners, constantly seeking to improve their skills and deepen their understanding.
• Self-Mastery: In some contexts, particularly in spiritual or philosophical traditions, mastery is also about achieving self-mastery and developing a strong sense of self.

• Generosity: Masters are often generous with their time, knowledge, and resources, particularly in spiritual contexts.
• Humility: True masters are humble and recognize that they are still learning and growing.
• Compassion: They often demonstrate compassion and empathy towards others, particularly those they are guiding.
• Patience: Masters are patient with their students, recognizing that learning takes time and effort.

• Ascended Masters: In some spiritual traditions, “masters” are seen as beings who have achieved a high level of spiritual enlightenment and are capable of guiding others on their spiritual journey.
• Buddhas and Spiritual Teachers: In Buddhism and other traditions, “masters” are often spiritual teachers who have attained enlightenment and are capable of guiding others towards liberation.

In essence, being a “true master” is about achieving a high level of expertise, sharing that expertise with others, and embodying the qualities of a wise and compassionate guide. It’s a journey of continuous learning, self-improvement, and the pursuit of excellence.

Article by Thea van der Merwe, Ph.D.

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Thea van der Merwe, Ph. D. is a nationally and internationally trained holistic energy, certified and experienced Master Reiki Practitioner, qualified in Usui Reiki, Reijukido, Karuna® Reiki, Karuna Ki Reiki, Crystal Reiki, and Gendai Reiki. She obtained the title of Shihan (full master/teacher), the highest level in Gendai Reiki Ho. Besides her greatest passion which is Reiki, Thea is also a spiritual shaman, healer, and teacher, offering readings as a way of accessing spiritual guidance. Her journey of personal discovery, growth, and healing started back in 2005 when she was personally in need of healing and searching for something more than what conventional medicine and therapy could provide. Thea is currently nationally and internationally registered with the South African Reiki Masters Association and The Reiki Healing Association respectively – both professional associations for the local and global Reiki communities, working to promote the wide-reaching practice and healing effects of Reiki throughout the world and where the primary philosophy is that together, we can do so much more. You can get into contact with Thea van der Merwe at viterra.co.za, which is her website, and at facebook.com/viterrahealing on Facebook.