Money for healing?

This topic always raises a lot of discussion with Reiki students and practitioners alike. My personal take on it is that when one person is going to another person for 'treatment' there needs to be a way in which the person seeking help is encouraged to participate in their own healing and payment of some form is a way to do this - an exchange (payment need not necessarily mean money, it could be they do something for you e.g. gardening, bake a cake etc.). Value is placed on what they have received when an exchange takes place and the end results of the treatment are likely to be more successful and longer lasting. As I said - my personal opinion 🙂

Yes, my feelings exactly.

But I am reading a little book by William Lee Rand...developing your reiki practice. And the whole goal of a certain number of clients per week using goals and the law of attraction is just not resonating with me.

I feel I am missing something here.

If I understand correctly - I believe this is down to the interpretation of the word 'practice'. I think William Lee Rand is talking about building up a 'practice' (i.e. a business) in terms of Reiki being a therapy just like reflexology, rather than one's personal practice of Reiki. So he would talk about increasing the number of clients. I can understand why it doesn't resonate 🙂

Although you could look at it in terms of drawing to you the number of people you would like to help with Reiki i,e, in terms of spreading it out there, introducing it to more and more people, dispelling the myths about it (i.e. it is not voodoo!) 😀

Hope this helps, but I do understand what you mean. There is often an inner conflict of "this is a gift, why should I charge people for it?"

Hi Stephanie

You are going to get a few different views on this topic, some will be practical considerations and others will simply be personal beliefs, on the practical side of things, I understand that in America there are local state requirements in place in some areas for practising Reiki professionally, some states require practitioners to have undergone a recognised massage course which consists of 1000 training hours!

Now that is not going to be cheap, in the UK things are a little different, the law as it stands now allows people to set up as healers or therapists without any formal training and as such they do not require insurance because they are not deemed competent, but as soon as someone has received formal training, then they are deemed competent and require insurance because they are deemed responsible for what they are doing and accountable.

On the belief side, that is a different kettle of fish but it follows the same format as anything else that we choose to do, if we believe that something is possible, then we are open to work towards achieving the competence and conceptual understanding that will empower us to do it in a competent manner, otherwise we disempower ourselves and create doubts and fears which creates barriers that we need to overcome or find a workaround that we are happy with.

The biggest problems that I have encountered when someone wants to learn to heal, surrounds the understanding of what a healer is, what healing is, who or what performs the healing and the healing skill set that someone may or may not have, as you have said about your other work, you have a skill set and competency that empowers you to function within the remit of your chosen skill set, you have trained to obtain that understanding and you are happy to charge people to both apply the skills and teach the skills that you have.

If you compare your tattooing skill set and the conceptual understanding that allows you to perform it, with your healing skill set and conceptual understanding that you use to perform that, as well as your beliefs of charging people for applying your tattooing skills as opposed to charging for your healing skills, then you should become aware of any discrepancies between how you perceive one against the other. 🙂

In Mississippi most training in Reiki is at massage schools and/or can be continuing education units for yearly licensing. For those of us not in the massage therapy occupation...it is suggested that we get we get ordained as a minister so it is not an issue that we are touching someone. That's easy enough, Universal light Church on line for $75. So some of the Reiki practiciners in Mississippi go by Rev. Sister or Brother so and so.

My insurance company added Reiki to my policy at no extra charge but recommended to add the sexual misconduct clause for protection (in case someone thought that I touched them inappropriately). So I did.

I feel wonderful when I give Reiki. Its a joyous feeling. So much better than before when I had compassion on someone and went home to a hot tub and tylonal. I actually prefer distance healing, so I can meditate and zone out (or in, I don't know). But with distance I never absorb the pain. I like that.

But the issue is charging for it. But I remember when I was new to permanent makeup, I loved it so much I felt guilty charging. Some days I still do. BUT I ALWAYS CHARGE!

I guess I have some funny feeling; that it is a gift and if I charge it will anger the universe and it will take it away. Kind of silly 🙁

You know what. It maybe just as simple as I am imbarrased. Shame on me, but in the response of some people...voodoo or witchcraft? Makes me uncomfortable.

So I guess I just need to get over it? Or just not do it? Wow that cabin in the woods is looking real good right now.

The biggest problem is that I emmurse myself in these kinds of books, cds, dvds, youtube videos and chatrooms. Then I talk to regular people and experience culture shock. Oh to live in southern California where everyone is kind of nuts.

Once I start advertising and charging...I will be exposed. Did anyone else feel like this?

I have a business tattooing makeup on women's faces (eye brows, eyeliner, lip color) and a school teaching others this fine art.

I have been studying Reiki and energy healing for 4 or 5 years. Got a master/teacher in Usui and Seichem. Now studying reconnective healing and wellness coaching.

I am having difficulty transitioning to doing healing for money. I have a lot of dead time when I have no clients. I work by appointment only. I like to read or do educational cds/dvds (in my field and spiritual and healing) during the dead time. I know that it is appropriate to ask for renumeration for my time and office space expenses. And I have no problem paying someone else to do a session on me but I am having difficulty adding reiki and energy healing to my occupation.

I don't mind charging less for my time doing Reiki than permanent makeup because there is no real expense (other than association memberships and advertising). Permanent makeup costs for numbing products, needles, pigments, sanitation and licensing are high. And wow my insurance! I make my own websites so that's nothing and I know how to list on free directories.

I guess it's kind of "Who am I to do this" or "what if there is no healing?" kind of insecurity. It doesn't help that my Father calls it voodoo. If I touched people for a living it might be different (like massage) maybe.

I am open to suggestions on making this transition. All my healing to date has been free. It feels right for it to be free. But then again not?

Woman you are good at finding subjects to post!

Very complex subject for many!
I love when you say who am I to do this healing?. True. It happens all by itself. That applies to everything not just healing. It is like God moves...I move in Him- in its essence. That is the Reality of things. There is only one doer and that is HIM. It is lack of personal doership. The mis-perception of doership is the only root cause of suffering. Mind keeps jumping in the equation as the doer. Doer of good and bad. Swells up when 'good' happens, shrivels up with blame, guilt when 'bad' happens. A surrendered heart is neither taking credit nor blame.

I love when you say the law of attraction mellarcy does not resonate with you. It is like "buy of me, buy of me and come again and buy more"...that is the energy...and it is grabby and as you say it-it sucks!!. It is the grabbiness that does not resonate...and it shouldn't! Missed the point if it does.

It is the simple understanding that money is part of the leela.the play. No more no less. No repelling no attracting. It is not worth attracting, not worth repelling/rejecting. It has no power of its own, no connotation of its own other than what the individual is prepared to assign to it.
I don't think you are grabby...and that is the only gunky thing about dealing with money, not only in healing situations but in all transactions. But that is not of money per se but of the person wanting to grab and grab more. When money is in right place within you. It is what it is. no more no less. Flow happens.

Giving and receiving with open hands and hearts for none of it is owned by I or anyone else... all just there to use as freely as dare and allow yourself to. The more you allow yourself, more others allow themselves to give and receive fully.

The understanding that If I receive- I give, if i am given, the giver finds more to give too...it is ever flowing abundance in that sense. The understanding that the giver is big enouh to give. The giver is also flowing in the same abundant flow.
Most find it hard to receive money even a compliment, because sub-cosciously they are more capable of giving than others... Holding the other and yourself in the grandeur of being, you enhance them and yourself, beyond appearances.

Money becomes a child's play, if you become playful about it. Then it finds you, rather than you looking for it.

Then majority weighs value in terms of money.
Also in certain fields deep commitment is required. With money they can commit easier. It becoems a token.
There comes a point that you know they are hundred percent commited, then money becomes a non-issue.

Open your heart to receive and give with wide open hands. Let every interaction be from the openness of heart. The openness of heart finds flow, then the pieces of paper and enough of them come flying, becuase you don't really care either way.

Hi Stephanie

Yes, some things we learn to do and we are happy to do them as a hobby and do not require payment for doing them, other things that we learn to do, whilst we also enjoy doing them we are also happy to earn our living from doing them.

Healing is a little different from most things that we learn, in that it is more personal and vocational than most things that we learn to do, I suppose it would be a little different if people had to pay today's equivalent of $10,000 for a Reiki master as it was when it first came across as not many people would be happy to pay that amount for an interest. 🙂

As for the thoughts that the universe or whatever will not be happy if you choose to charge for your healing, then please be assured that the universe or whatever will be happy to help you to do anything that you choose to do non-judgmentally. 🙂

It all comes back to the reality that we have to happy to take personal responsibility for our own choices, so if you choose to charge people then that choice should make you happy, if you choose not to charge people then that choice should also make you happy, if neither choice makes you happy, there is an inner conflict that needs addressing and resolving so that you can be happy. 🙂

You know what. It maybe just as simple as I am imbarrased. Shame on me, but in the response of some people...voodoo or witchcraft? Makes me uncomfortable.

Nothing to be embarrassed about.
I've had people say it's voodoo to me too, but I just laugh... there's no need to try and change their perception, as that's up to them, and it's certainly not going to change who I am.

Voodoo itself has simply been misconstrued in the media and especially in the cinema, so most people look at it as though it's some dark art used for attacking people. There are actually a few 'forms' of voodoo depending on the country it's practiced in, though it is generally a religious belief system, and involves some sacrifices of animals at alters to the gods etc. so not necessarily what fits in to 'polite society' in some countries, but certainly not something that is used for any particular evil purposes. It also incporates the practices of healing others.

Likewise with witchcraft. There are always going to be those who don't understand it, or who practice it in the wrong way (that they believe is right from the misinterpretations given to them by history and media etc.), but again it comes from pagan practices and the healing arts surrounding that. There are many people (certainly in the UK) who openly call themselves pagan, or label themselves as witches etc. but they are interested in working with nature for the good of all, certainly not (in most cases) to do "evil spells" against others.

If you're open about what you do, and you recognise there are others who also do these things, for the right reasons, then it doesn't matter that some people have misconceptions about them. That's their own misunderstanding. The best you can do is explain to them what you do do, and why and then it's up to them to choose whether they accept that or not.

Be proud to use your abilities and knowledge to help others. 🙂

As for charging for healing, what I have done with my practice is, provide the 'client' with a consulatation form that they can read and sign, which indicates that any payment made (whether money or otherwise) is to cover my time and material costs, and any treatment (whatever treatment they are getting) is given for free. Many times I've simply given treatments (especially distance Reiki) for no personal gain, and those people typically ask what they can give me, so I just suggest they give something to a charity of their choice... whether they have or not is up to them (some tell me they have, though I'm sure some just choose to 'get it for free').

If you want to do your healing for money, then go for it (or maybe give the healing for free and just charge for your time/costs? the choice is yours)

All Love and Reiki Hugs

Charging for my time and costs (travel, if I come to them). Hmmmm.

I think I can work with that. Let me roll it around in my mind 🙂

I have a good friend who is a healer who went through the same dilemma. She first did a lot of healing work for free until she was confident about her abilities, and then started charging at a small price. What she did was introduce a half-price introductory session - that way her potential clients can try it out for a lower cost first and then decide if they want to continue for the full price.

I absolutely think that if you have invested money and energy in learning Reiki, and you are benefiting people, it's ok to charge. My life coach recently posted an article that you might want to read:

[url]Shouldn't all Spiritual Services be Free of Charge?[/url]

Personally I am only glad to pay for her services since they have benefited me so much - I'd feel guilty if it was all for free, as I don't just want to take, take, take! And the same for other services which have helped me. If someone helps me, I want to help them. She brings up some good points in that, since she charges for her services, she can make a living off them and then has the time to offer other things (like helpful blog posts and other material) for free, and this way she is helping more people than she could if she were doing her coaching work for free while paying her bills with a full-time job.

You could also offer discounts or skill swaps for people that don't have enough money to pay normal rates. You could also offer the first session free. After that, it's up to your clients whether they want to pay. Most people wouldn't mind paying if they receive something that helps them. And the ones that don't want to (there's a difference between this and not being able to afford it), well, maybe they don't really value your services enough?

OK, I'm ready to start charging.

I can easily open my chakras, ground, intend, get out of the way, be un attached to the result and have my client complain about the heat (it's almost burning them) and I feel great afterwards.

I'm not imbarrassed or hesitant. I have mixed different types and things that I have learned. Use them all with the power symbol (mixed Usui and Seichem). I feel confident.

I may feel differently tomorrow (or punished for my pride) but today...I'm ready to advertise and charge. I feel like the universe accepts my offering and blesses my endevers.

I do want to credit a change in diet, for my increased connection to the source and a general all over feeling of wellness. I have removed msg and aspartame from my diet. This has been really difficult and I got really sick eating out on Father's Day with my family.

But it's all good.