Kelly Neylan is a Usui and Karuna Ki Reiki Master as well as registered Yoga Instructor. In Pure Spirit is very lucky to have Kelly as a guest expert author for today’s post.
She is the founder of Lasting Light Yoga and Reiki in Columbia, MD. She follows an intuitive approach to her energy healing and lets the energy guide her in the sessions. Her unique background in yoga and reiki complement one another and give her many tools with which to change the energy flow in the body.
In her yoga practice, she teaches all levels of yoga children through adult with specialities in prenatal and children’s yoga.
When/why should someone consider going to a Reiki master for help?
Reiki helps to relieve stress and promote relaxation and wellness. Most people I know suffer from un-managed stress in their lives and could benefit from reiki.
What should they expect from their first Reiki session?
A typical reiki treatment lasts anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes. You relax with your clothes on shoes removed, on a massage table while the reiki practitioner holds their hands on or above you. There is no real pressure on the body making it ideal for dealing with various situations and conditions. The energy flows where it is needed and may be experienced as warmth or other sensations. The Reiki energy encourages one to let go of all tension, anxiety, fear or other negative feelings and a state of peace and well-being is experienced.
How important is Mikao Usui to Reiki? Can other Reiki masters hope to do as well as Mikao?
Dr. Usui is looked at as the founder of reiki though many believe he simply re-discovered this energy that has always been out there. He is important because it is the by the teaching of his students that the information could be passed on and spread. I would most likely never have been introduced to reiki if he hadn’t begun teaching it to others.
I think I would change your second question in saying that it is possible for all Reiki masters to do well for others. Each of us in on our own personal journey with specific lessons to learn in this lifetime, I think it’s important not to compare yourself to others accomplishments but instead see what good you can provide to others in your own life. Reiki has been nothing but a positive experience in my life and that is what counts. I do not think that I’ve even begun to scratch the depths to which this experience will end up taking me.
That said I think there are many opportunities out there for Reiki masters to be as successful as they wish. We live in a much different era than Dr. Usui did and the technology out there now gives one the opportunity to more easily transmit information and messages.
Are there times in your life when Reiki is not a wise idea?
Reiki should not be performed while under any kind of anaesthesia. Beyond that it should only be performed when someone feels that they need and want it.
If someone was interested in learning more about Reiki what would you recommend?
I would recommend reading about it to see if it is something that would interest you in either receiving or giving. If you are interested then I would recommend finding a Reiki master in your area to continue your education. The following books are my favourites on the topic:
- Reiki: Reiki the Healing Touch by William Lee Rand
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- The Power of Reiki: An Ancient Hands-On Healing Technique by Tanmaya Honervogt
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- The Reiki Sourcebook
* by Bronwen Stiene
- Abundance Through Reiki
* by Paula Horan
- All Love: A Guidebook for Teaching Sekhem-Seichim-Reiki and SKHM
* by Diane Ruth Shewmaker
Is Reiki religious? Should people worry about introducing reiki into their life alongside their religion?
There are many viewpoints on this subject and every person must make this very personal decision for himself or herself. That said I believe reiki to be spiritual but not a religious practice. Where some confusion may come in is the person who most recently re-discovered the reiki energy (Dr. Usui from Japan) was Buddhist but that does not make the practice itself Buddhist in nature.
Dr. Usui had many professions and backgrounds to his being and his religious upbringing was just one component of him. It is not necessary to be of any religious background to practice reiki. You as the reiki recipient may if you elect if you wish to interject your own personal beliefs into a reiki session by praying or calling in your own personal deities, angels, spirit guides etc. into a session but the reiki master remains non-secular in the conduction of the practice. Reiki at its essence is simply moving energy in your body helping it function better and flow. It is simply another form of energy healing that uses the hands rather than another modality such as acupuncture, which uses needles to move and release energy.
The Reiki Principles are very simple and do not conflict with any religion that I am familiar with. They are below:
- Just for today, do not worry.
- Just for today, do not anger.
- Honor your parents, teachers and elders.
- Earn your living honestly.
- Show gratitude to every living thing.
William Lee Rand has written a very thoughtful response to the recent announcement by the Catholic Bishops. I do not think I could say it better. Please see the link below for his response. http://www.reiki.org/reikinews/ResponseBishopsStatement.html
What is your top tip for anyone hoping to reach your level of Reiki skill?
Practice and an open heart are a must. Find some friends and practice often on yourself as well as others. There are a lot of good books out there but nothing can substitute real experience. I would also say that a meditation practice can also help you to be able to connect and go deeper with awareness into your own practice.
In Pure Spirit
Kelly is currently working on book coming out next year “Little Bodies Big Souls… stories from yoga and children that will heal your life” and is accepting stories of yoga that have affected relationships with children. She can be reached at [email protected].
Alternatively, if you’ve any questions then feel free to leave a comment below and we’ll invite Kelly back (if she has time!) to answer a few.
Caveat: Links marked with a star(*) are revenue links for In Pure Spirit.
Excellent interview with great content! Your integrity and love for Reiki comes through in every word. Thanks for sharing.
There is no one "correct" or "right " way to perform or teach Reiki. I love that Reiki is so flexible! My long term experience is that although Reiki is initially flexible , we must also find the structure within it. Additionally for the complete full circle effect, we must again find the flexibility within that structure.
I am blessed to be the Director of the CAET Reik Volunteer Program at University Medical Center in Tucson, AZ. This gives me the opportunity to often work with physicians,terminally ill patients and those with injuries. In this case, clinical Reiki is performed.
I utilize both intuitive and clinical Reiki In my private practice. Under the clinical Reiki roof, I "do" work with people under anaesthesia. To date, I have not experienced any setbacks or problems. It has consistently added to the value of their surgery. This clearly falls in the Fexibility-Stucture-Flexibility catagory. I would love to hear about your experiences concening this.
Thanks again for a wonderful, interesting post.
Thanks for the reply! It's good to see someone of your calibre offer up some comments.
You are very welcome. I feel that we all have someting to learn from each other, regardless of how much experience we may have behind us. I have found that learning to be comfortable as a " beginner" gives one the oppportunity to always be in a learning mode. Reiki is my passion and I am always seeking new vehicles to share my knowledge and receive from others.
Just wanted to add that my Reiki Master and teacher taught that Reiki should not be done on a broken bone before it has been set since it can heal the bone in whatever position it is in .She taught us that the Reiki should be done after the bone has been set in the place for it to heal properly.
Yes, I agree that one should not do Reiki directly on the broken bone. My experience as an energy diagnostic, however shows a different reason for why this is true. Watching others, It consistently appears to me that when Reiki is preformed on a broken bone before the cast has been set, it actually slows the healing process as protection to keep the bone from beaking more. I have not , however seen the bone begin to heal in the broken position. I certainly do not see everything so this is not to say that both are not true.
Thus, as a precaution, it is wise to leave the bone alone. Bottom line, giving a general Reiki session without doing Reiki on the broken bone is extremely beneficial. Reiki will support in releasing the trauma from the body that is connected to the injury. Reiki is good anywhere, anytime and in any situation. How wonderful!
Thanks! That's useful insight. I can see the need for caution when broken bones are involved!
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