| Thanks to Reiki healing home study courses, | | | | The stories concerning the origins of charging for |
| becoming a Reiki Master is easier now than it has | | | | Reiki were part of Mrs. Takata's teachings and it is |
| ever been. For many years, in fact almost since its | | | | now known that the history of Reiki taught by Mrs. |
| existence, information about Reiki was kept secret. | | | | Takata was inaccurate, to say the least. Usui owned |
| But, there is no reason for this secrecy. | | | | and operated a simple school or dojo and the fees |
| The secrecy does not make the practice any more | | | | he charged are unknown. |
| or less powerful. Why should an energy source that | | | | Mrs. Takata maintained that Reiki had "died out" in |
| is infinite only be available for use by a select few? | | | | Japan after World War II. We now know that the |
| People who still insist on the idea that Reiki | | | | society established by Usui, the Usui Reiki Ryoho |
| knowledge should be kept secret are probably | | | | Gakkei or Usui Kai, exists in Japan to this day. |
| misguided. But, it is their choice and Reiki has much to | | | | Part of Mrs. Takata's tale was that Hayashi was the |
| do with the power of personal choice. | | | | "Grand Master" of Reiki and that he passed the title |
| Hawayo Takata, the first person to teach Reiki in | | | | onto her before his death. She maintained that |
| the United States, charged $10,000 for the privilege | | | | becoming a Reiki Master required that a person be |
| of becoming a Reiki Master. Chujiro Hayashi, her | | | | instructed by a "grand master" or someone who had |
| teacher, cautioned his students about publicizing their | | | | been instructed by a grand master. We now know |
| knowledge, according to an early Japanese | | | | that the title was something that she invented. |
| newspaper article. The same article indicates that the | | | | The Usui Kai has a president, but that is the extent |
| fees he charged were considered a "great deal of | | | | of the titles used by the society. Hayashi was a |
| money" at that time. | | | | student of Usui and he did train Mrs. Takata, but he |
| Today, Reiki healing home study courses are | | | | was never a "Grand Master". He was never even |
| reasonably priced and much can be learned for free, | | | | president of the Usui Reiki society. |
| thanks to the internet and masters who wish to | | | | But, none of this is really important, except to say |
| share their knowledge with others. | | | | that anyone can learn to use Reiki. Training is |
| Charging a fee for training a master is | | | | sometimes included in massage or healing touch |
| understandable, but the high fees charged by | | | | courses. You can learn by attending seminars or |
| Hawayo Takata were never part of Usui Reiki, that | | | | private classes. Or, you can learn in the privacy of |
| is the healing art practiced and taught by Mikao Usui | | | | your own home at your own pace with Reiki healing |
| in Japan in the early 1920s. | | | | home study courses. Some of which are very good. |