Reiki for Life by Penelope Quest

Author:Penelope Quest
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2010-03-11T05:00:00+00:00

SACREDNESS AND THE REIKI SYMBOLS

I have refrained from including the symbols in this book for the same reasons as above. Although since the mid-1990s they have been printed in a few books, and they are now available on some sites on the Internet, I still adhere to and honor the Reiki tradition that they be kept “secret”: they are only revealed to those who have taken Reiki Second Degree (or Master level in the case of the fourth symbol, explained in Chapter 19) and received the attunement that empowers them.

The “secretness” of the Reiki symbols has been misunderstood in the West, where the word “secret” is seen as shameful. In contrast, in the East the words “sacred” and “secret” are interconnected both culturally and experientially, so it would seem unnatural to people there to discuss things openly that are part of a spiritual tradition. In fact, the symbols are plainly displayed in the temple on Mount Kurama near Kyoto in Japan, and probably elsewhere in similarly sacred places—but their location clearly demonstrates that they are “special” and should be treated as such.

During a Reiki 2 course you will be shown the Reiki symbols, usually drawn on pieces of paper that you can then copy a number of times, to practice drawing them and to help you memorize them. Some Masters prefer not to have them written down, and draw them in the air instead, instructing their students to copy their actions.

Traditionally the practice papers and the original copies of the symbols are taken back by the Master at the end of the course. Often these are ceremonially burned, either before the students depart, or when the Master returns home. A few Reiki Masters nowadays give their students copies of the symbols and their mantras to keep, but ask the students not to show them to other people.

One of the reasons for taking back the copies, however, is to ensure that students are motivated to memorize the symbols properly, because unless they are memorized they cannot be used effectively. It may make some students feel safer having a “crib” sheet, but if you have to get out your copies of the symbols every time you want to use them, it will inhibit you too much. In the end, there is no substitute for learning.

This is where a two-day Reiki 2 course has great advantages, because there is then plenty of time to spend practicing drawing the symbols until the students feel really proficient at using them. Some Masters set a simple test on the second morning, just asking the students to take a single sheet of paper with their name on it and draw each of the three symbols together with their appropriate names and mantras, which they then hand to the Master for checking.

If after the course you do forget how to draw any of the symbols, or are just a little unsure about whether you are doing them correctly, do get in touch with your Reiki Master—it is nothing

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