When the pandemic hit, it dealt a hard blow to my Reiki practice. At the time, my community— my clients, my students, my Reiki circles—was 100% local and in-person here in New York City. When it was gone, I was at a loss.
Like everyone, most of my practice shifted online. And then I saw the obvious: with Zoom, there were no geographic boundaries, which meant I could reach out to all the Reiki teachers and practitioners I had heard about, no matter the city in the world they were living. And just like that, my podcast was born.
And although I still favor teaching Levels 1 to 3 in person, I was surprised by how much I learned from extending my community from local to global.
Here are some of the gifts I am most grateful for:
Different cultural backgrounds result in diverse and enriching perspectives
Imagine Reiki practice as a diamond—bright, luminous, and multi-faceted. Each of us is a facet with our own cultural biases and filters. For example, when you talk with someone in France, Spain, New Zealand, or Japan, each practitioner will perceive or understand an aspect of the practice slightly (or vastly) differently. Not better or worse, just different. We can deepen our knowledge of the system by hearing different views with an open mind and heart. The more facets of the diamonds we get acquainted with, the more complete our understanding of the Reiki “diamond.”
Letting go of our attachment to being right
When you talk to practitioners from around the world, you may notice they all have different perspectives, styles, and rituals, but they all share one thing in common: luminosity, compassion, and loving-kindness. In short, they’re seeking to embody the Reiki precepts. Communicating with a global community helps us embrace our Reiki style or school without attaching to it or judging others.
Finding the right teacher or practice group
Sometimes, the right teacher for continuing Reiki training beyond your levels may not live in your town. Or you don’t vibe with the style of your local Reiki shares. And that is ok. Although many of the most-renowned teachers around the globe won’t do training online, some offer practice circles or mentoring sessions that complement your training and support your Reiki journey. Why not try a few?
You may ask, how can you find a global community? You can search through social media (top hits for #reiki on Instagram, for example), or google your favorite Reiki book authors and see if they provide online options. Another way, and probably the easiest, is to check out global seminars. Although they often are in English (like the Reiki Rays Global Summit one I am honored to participate in later in November), more and more are available in other languages. You get to watch the stories and teachings of dozens of practitioners in one place. And who knows, some of their wisdom may spark a beautiful aha moment that will make your practice shine even brighter.
Article by Nathalie Jaspar
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Nathalie Jaspar is a Reiki master with over 15 years of practice. Her mission is to deepen the understanding of Reiki practice in the world. She is a graduate teacher from the International House of Reiki, also trained with the Center for True Health, and the International Center for Reiki. To gain an even deeper understanding of Reiki practice, Nathalie went to Japan to practice Zen Buddhism at the Chokai-san International Zendo. Nathalie is the author of Reiki as a Spiritual Practice: an Illustrated Guide, and the Reiki Healing Handbook. She is the host of the Dive Into Reiki podcast and has been invited to demonstrate Reiki practice at venues such as Soho House, the New York Jet’s Athletic Center, and Fashion Week.
You can reach her via www.diveintoreiki.com, or https://www.facebook.com/Dive-Into-Reiki/
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