Let me see if I have this straight: You are shown a secret symbol of some sort and this enables you to heal people near and far but if you don't pay for the secret symbol it won't work? Is that the deal?
Yup thats the scam. Traditionally level 1 was around 50-150 bucks, I forget how much level 2 was but level 3 was on the order of 10k... If you weren't paying that much, then you weren't "officially" attuned. As for the symbols. Those were supposed to be the basic symbols. Someone apparently "channeled" more of em. Now you see why I don't particularly agree with everything taught in Reiki
If that has been your experince with Reiki practioners, I can see why you feel the way you do. The statements are not correct as far as Reiki is concerned but I don't doubt they were said by someone looking to make money.
In Usui Reiki, one is 'attuned' by a Master Teacher (level 4), who uses the original symbols to activate each level in the person. You can find the symbols on the web, they are no longer secret. The original four symbols are the only ones used in Usui Reiki, not the additions by new agers. Personally, I have seen the new ones and what they are supposed to do and I think they are cr*p, BS made up by Woos who didn't understand the original concept to begin with and need something extra to justify the money they are charging. If I believed in Hell, I would wish for a special corner just for them.
Here is my best explaination of the levels. Necessity will require I use words that some will take issue with as being WOO loaded. It can't be helped.
The first level symbol is basic healing energy. Level one can practice on themselves and others they can physically touch. The Second level adds the symbol for the ability to heal at a distance (this is one of the claims I am trying to confirm but have not yet had success) and a third symbol used for emotional healing. Level three learns one symbol, the Master Symbol which enhances the power of the others and is used as a meditation focus to increase ones ability to use the Reiki energy.
Each level needs to be activated by a Master's attunement, but there is no requirement for the payment of anything. As I understand it, originally Dr.Usui's widow is the one who founded the first families and the high Master fee was to keep out those not serious about the study required to attain the level. I personally think that attitude is BS and elitist, as does my teacher. Once you are a level four Master Teacher, you can do what you like. There is no dogma to follow and no bylaws to consider, hence my being at level three without paying money.
Unfortunately, I have found most of the Reiki practioners I have met to be charlitans who do not understand what it is supposed to be or how it is supposed to be used. I have found few, if any, who have put in the time required to study each level and practice it to a modicum of proficiency. They pay their money, take a short course, think they have it down and proudly proclaim they have added Reiki to their Crystal therapy and aura manipulation services. If I had run into these types when I was first exposed to Reiki, I would have left laughing instead of finding something that is interesting enough to devote my time to experimentation and evaluation.
I am not sorry I have put the time into studying this. I regularly use it to sucessfuly control chronic pain issues I have. If I get no further confirmation than that, it's been worth my time. It would be a wonderful bonus if it turns out I can reliably heal at a distance, but my track record so far is one out of three, so I can't claim any success there yet.
(edited because I kan't spelll
