Finding Your Reiki Teacher

Article by Angie Webster

Once you have found Reiki and felt the calling in your heart to do this healing work, the next big step is finding a teacher who is the right fit for you. This is a decision that should be considered with care, and yet there is no need to get terribly stressed about it. If you follow your heart and your intuition, the correct teacher will come at the right time.

While there are many teaching styles, I feel it is important to find someone who teaches face to face, with at least several hours per level of in person training. I also feel it is important to offer handouts or manuals to each student so that they have something to refer to after the class is over, for future study and guidance. I also feel that it is very important for a teacher to be available for his or her students after the class session or sessions are over, should questions or concerns arise. It is a good idea to find a teacher who is interested in offering a mentorship to her students, rather than just an attunement or a brief class.

For some, the options are somewhat restricted, due to a variety of circumstances. Many live in isolated regions where there is little or no access to Reiki teachers. One option in this case is to research Reiki Master Teachers in a radius around your region. Make phone calls if possible, or at least email those that appeal to you. Skype may also be a way to get to know those you are considering as potential teachers. Try to find a way to get to know their energy or their “vibe”.

If any of those feel appropriate to you and you are able to travel physically and financially, then consider making travel arrangements to go to them during their next training. Often Reiki teachers have requirements about the length of time between Reiki levels, so inquire about this if you have expectations about taking more than one level in one trip. Some teachers will waive the requirement for special circumstances such as these.

If distance is an issue, you may also consider the option of asking a teacher to travel to your location. If you do this, it is customary to pay any travel expenses, lodging and meals of the teacher in addition to his or her class fees. This may work out best if you have a few friends that would also like to receive Reiki training. Then you can share the travel and lodging costs for the teacher and you will also be able to practice on each other during and after the class. What a nice memory to have with each other, as well!

Sometimes a teacher will feel appropriate for who you are when you take one level of Reiki, but by the time you are ready to take the next level, you may not feel like a match for that teacher at all. That’s perfectly OK! And it doesn’t mean the first teacher was wrong for you, just that you have changed and someone else may be a better match now. Please feel free to choose the teacher that feels right for you at each level, even if your intuition or circumstances guide you to a different one at each level. Always trust your intuition! There are no Reiki “rules” that you have to have the same teacher for each level.

Whatever your situation or need with regard to a Reiki teacher, please consider that this is an important decision and you want to be with someone you feel you trust. If you do not feel you trust the Reiki teacher then that is a signal from your heart that this is not the teacher for you. Please listen to that signal and take your time choosing another one.

If you choose a teacher and take a class, yet find that you are not comfortable with your teacher, either on a personal level or with her training methods, don’t feel overly distressed about it. Remember that Reiki teachers are human and sometimes have off days. Try speaking to him or her again on another day, after the class. See if things go more smoothly between you. Ask for what you need that you aren’t getting in a constructive and loving manner. The attunements are done through Reiki and intention, so there is little likelihood that the attunement wasn’t effective. However, if you feel very uncomfortable about it, there is no harm in taking another class and being attuned again. Please do what makes you feel at peace.

Though it can often feel as if there is a huge driving force to become trained in Reiki once you have felt the calling, take your time and listen to your inner guidance, research your options and make the choice that feels best for you given all the available choices.

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Angie Webster made a significant contribution to the Reiki community, with a particular focus on Animal Reiki, which she had a deep affection for. As a knowledgeable Reiki Master Teacher and Author, she conducted online courses on energy healing, herbalism, flower essences, and personal growth.
She is the author of “Animal Reiki: How it Heals, Teaches & Reconnects Us with Nature” and “Reiki from A to Z”. Currently, Angie has decided to retire from her professional life to devote more time to her health, family, and the little joys of life.