The Limitations of Reiki?

Article by Phillip Hawkins

Are there limitations to Reiki?

If Reiki has limitations it’s not through the lack of power but by the lack of imagination on the part of the practitioners who use it.

Imagination or the faculty to create mind maps is the ability to create new images and their associated sensations in the mind that are not induced through our physical senses. Imagination helps us to use acquired knowledge to solve problems and integrate our experiences into the learning process. Imagination is both creative and experimental; a part of the mind that we use used to develop theories and ideas which are vital to our development in the way we accomplish what we already know whilst developing new ways of doing things. These ideas can be safely considered, tried and theoretically tested by the mind before being implemented to become reality.

Imagination is the key to unlocking the developing mind and is a vital component of our freewill that allows us to choose and create our future. Theory without action no matter how worthy and well meaning remains abstract lacking form or substance for we are defined by the choices we make and it’s the actions we take that break new ground old beliefs in equal measure and establishing new truths in the process.

We look at the Reiki story with its hand positions, symbols and the theory and say ‘this is Reiki’ but it’s not and never can be. The word Reiki is a label that we have applied to what is by our own admission a ‘universal or infinite energy source’, and although the name Reiki has meaning and value in its own right it’s a ‘brand name’ for what is a very generic universal product, a label that’s been attached to something much bigger, more dynamic and more powerful. Something that’s infinite in size, duration and meaning that can never be defined by any label we chose to place upon it.

Our freewill is considered to be sacrosanct but our ‘wellbeing’ is the result of both choice and action. Wellbeing is the dynamic process that gives us a sense of value of who we are and the direction our lives are taking, achieved through the interaction between our circumstances, life choices and personal awareness. Freewill in the truest sense of the word donates a freedom and power of choice but more importantly an awareness of the options available to move us forward to that state of wellbeing. Freewill is meaningless without knowledge and understanding that provides meaning, perspective and purpose. All healing comes from a place of knowledge and understanding be it advice and guidance from others or when we make the kind of informed choices that are in line with Reiki precepts, current medical advice and ancient spiritual teachings that ask us to take responsibility first and foremost to heal oneself.

Good health is more than the absence of pain, illness and disease. Good health is a state of mind body and spirit that we come to through the acquisition, acceptance and application of knowledge and understanding that comes from and by a raised awareness.

Reiki as we currently define it comes with a responsibility, the duty of care to educate ourselves and others so that they are empowered heal themselves, in expanding its application through the use of our imagination and a desire to learn more we expand our own level of awareness. We move beyond the limitations we have accepted or set for ourselves and in the process the unknown becomes known, data and information transcends to become knowledge and understanding.

This universal energy source that we describe as Reiki is infinite, but its infinity based on a structure of visible and invisible patterns and processes without which nothing would be created. Healing as we understand it doesn’t just happen as if by magic it’s a pattern or blueprint for change, a process that requires development born of knowledge and understanding that is both empowering and liberating. When we accept what is without question be it good or bad, the status quo remains unchanged and unchallenged. The established belief that ‘this is the way and this is what it is’ forms an ideology or structure to which we are asked or in some cases forced to conform. It’s only when we are inspired, motivated or forced by circumstances to think outside this box is change and development possible.

If we think of Reiki as a discipline made up of stories, techniques hand positions and symbols then yes it is limited by the fact that it’s manmade in its design and application with currently 300 or so derivatives worldwide with all of their brand names, do’s and don’ts, and interpretations on the Reiki theme.

If however we are able to look beyond the labels, look beyond the traditions ideologies and structure that establishments of all denominations require to view ‘Reiki’ as a freeform consciousness, that’s fluid and responsive to us that uses knowledge and understanding as a tool to raise our individual and collective awareness, then it’s limited only by the limitations we impose on ourselves. The change process always begins with a question which sooner or later takes the form of who did it. Why did they do it? Where and when did they do it and most importantly what would happen if I did this? Our imagination is a gift from this infinite consciousness that is the link to raising our collective and individual awareness and ultimately the parent to those questions when asked and answered will take us beyond all barriers real or imagined.

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A Reiki practitioner since 1999, Phillip started teaching Reiki in 2000 and using those skills and abilities he has spent the majority of the last seventeen years working with a wide range of social and educational needs including Autism and ADHD. Working with addicts dependent on alcohol and drugs, people whose lives were extremely violent and abusive, and others who had to deal with severe mental health issues. This has enabled him to work extensively in the private sector, schools, colleges, education and care in the community, the prison service and psychiatric units.

In 2016, Phillip decided to semi-retire from full-time employment to concentrate on developing his career as a published author and the setting up of his Reiki personal development programme at the Chilton Community College.