| All Reiki classes are not created equally | | | | understanding and ability in order to adequately teach |
| Reiki Level One classes and Reiki Master classes are | | | | it, and while the teacher need not have mastered |
| as different as night and day, and there are quite | | | | the energies, he or she must be well on the way to |
| different requirements involved in teaching them. In | | | | their mastery. Okuden brings the emphasis of the |
| this article I would like to look at my understanding | | | | training from the healing of physical ailments to the |
| of what is required at the different levels, as well as | | | | removal of mental and emotional blocks. It is not |
| what might be done to make the teaching more | | | | uncommon for students to spend many years at this |
| effective. I will be using the traditional four Japanese | | | | level before moving to the higher levels, as it is not |
| Levels of Shoden, Okuden, Shinpiden and Gokuikaiden | | | | an easy level to master. |
| as the basis for the different levels discussed. | | | | Teaching Reiki Level Three Classes - Shinpiden |
| Teaching Reiki Level One Classes - Shoden | | | | Shinpiden in Japanese means "Mystery Level" and |
| Shoden in Japanese means "Beginning Level" and this | | | | while Shoden and Okuden are geared more towards |
| generally revolves around an introduction to the Reiki | | | | physical, mental and emotional healing, Shinpiden |
| energy, along with a discussion of Reiki history and | | | | introduces the student to healing at the spiritual level. |
| an orientation to the student's new ability to channel | | | | Teaching Shinpiden classes really does border on the |
| Reiki energy for self-healing and for the healing of | | | | occult, which is no doubt why so many Reiki |
| others. | | | | practitioners never get any where near it. This is |
| This level does not really require you to be a master | | | | unfortunate, as I find it to be the most fascinating of |
| of the Reiki energy. Although its mastery is helpful, it | | | | all the Reiki levels. |
| is not mandatory. I generally find that the ability to | | | | The main emphasis at this level is on Living Reiki, that |
| clear up common misconceptions is greatly needed at | | | | is, learning to include Reiki in every aspect of your life |
| this level, as well as the ability to answer a lot of | | | | and in everything you do. In order to teach this level |
| "common" questions. A favorite practice of mine is to | | | | the teacher has to have really integrated the Reiki |
| have my higher level students actually teach these | | | | energies and must be able to help the student find |
| classes... and I only jump in when (and if) needed. It is | | | | their own individual portal to the enlightened realms. |
| very good practice for them on their own paths to | | | | Deep meditation is essential as well as the ability to |
| Reiki mastery. | | | | fully explain enlightenment... what it is, and how to |
| Teaching Reiki Level Two Classes - Okuden | | | | achieve it (a discussion of which can be found here). |
| Okuden in Japanese means "Inner Level" and the | | | | Teaching Reiki Level Four Classes - Gokuikaiden |
| main emphasis of this training lies in the complete | | | | Gokuikaiden in Japanese means "Secret Level" and |
| understanding of the Reiki symbols and how to use | | | | this is where students are taught how to correctly |
| them to increase or supplement the Reiki energy | | | | perform Reiki attunements and how to teach Reiki |
| that the student was introduced to in Level One. | | | | to others. There is really no new information taught |
| Okuden also introduces the student to distance | | | | in this level, which is why a lot of styles combine it |
| healing techniques, as well as the mental and | | | | with Level Three (which explains why some Reiki |
| emotional healing aspects of Reiki. | | | | systems have only three levels). |
| This level really does require a much higher level of | | | | |