Practicing Reiki if you happen to have a mental illness

Completely. It's the reiki that does the healing, not you. And remember, the reiki is flowing through you too! Reiki can do no harm. It could even do you some good in the process of giving healing to someone else.

In terms of you picking up negative energies, you need to ground thoroughly during any session, and especially when you get to the feet, as people will often "wait" to dump all their negativity until their feet can ground, which they do through you! So remember the 3 Gs (grounding, grounding, grounding) and you should be fine.

And yes, children can learn. My 12 year old and 9 year old boys have grown up with reiki and are both attuned to Reiki I. However, I attuned them myself as it can be an awe inspiring (and potentially scary) experience, so I wouldn't recommend people attune children unless they're their own and they know whether it would be appropriate for them or not.

Great reply Lynne

I have nothing to add

Hiya

As Reiki is completely separate to us, being an energy which is channelled, then nothing of us is transferred to our clients. As Reiki passes through us first, then we also get healing!

Reiki just needs to flow, and when I first learned Reiki, I was given a Native American prayer which went something like "I pray to be a hollow bone through which Reiki can flow". The Reiki principles are there so that we can be this hollow bone, and Usui sensei recommended that we recited these principles twice daily.

You are right that at Level 1 self-healing is the first and only principle, although we do get taught the hand positions for treating others at that stage. Level 2 is the stage at which treating others is encouraged. Did you do much self-healing when you were attuned? I do some form of self-healing every night, 4 years after I was first attuned. I miss it if I don't.

When I was attuned to the 1st degree I had just got over having a mental breakdown and think that Reiki was a life saver for me. At times I still have the odd off day but either myself or a friend give me Reiki and it's just the boost I need.

At times I was banging my head against a wall but slowly I am managing to cut down my (happy) pills and all being well will be off them soon. In all this time I've treated clients for Reiki, taken a facial and Indian head courses also began to read tarot cards.

So don't worry you are receiving Reiki at the same time as giving it and like Ismorgan said .......... ground ground ground..... wrap yourself in cloak or white light, I do this when I go into hospitals, doctors or even shops.

Cis

Reiki and medical problems

The protection aspect of Reiki is very important to those who use Reiki on others. I have a few different ideas for protection. Feel free to PM me if you want details of my Reiki Level 1 guidance on protection. I was originally attuned to Reiki after a period of personal difficulty and Reiki certainly helped to balance me out! I'm now a Reiki Master Teacher who always checks with my students if they have anything I need to know about before they have their attunement.

Please don't worry, you cannot do any harm with Reiki - it's fantastic!

Lesley
:nature-smiley-008:

I feel much better! Great, actually. . .
Pheonix, I am interested in your ideas for guidance and protection. Can you share them with us?

Thanks,
Silkstream

The protection aspect of Reiki is very important to those who use Reiki on others. I have a few different ideas for protection. Feel free to PM me if you want details of my Reiki Level 1 guidance on protection. I was originally attuned to Reiki after a period of personal difficulty and Reiki certainly helped to balance me out! I'm now a Reiki Master Teacher who always checks with my students if they have anything I need to know about before they have their attunement.

Please don't worry, you cannot do any harm with Reiki - it's fantastic!

Lesley
:nature-smiley-008:

I would like to practice on my relatives, but I'm afraid my illness could interfere with the flow of chi and light. Also I absorb negative frequencies if someone is in pain psychologically. Sometimes I am inclined to absorb them (pain) by merely being in the room with them.
I realize if I was to practice on others I would have to have several more attunements, as I am now only inclined to practice on myself.
Silkstream

Your illness will only interfere if you allow it to. If you are properly grounded and connected, then the reiki energy will flow and nothing of you will be given in the process.

It is your empathic ability which is absorbing negative frequencies and a simple way to stop this is to say to yourself - is this pain/negativity mine? If the intuitive answer is 'no', then you say - then please take it away and transmute it into postive light. The pain etc will flow away and you will be clear of it. Pain can be useful as an indicator and echo of similar wounds to yourself, but once the message is received, you don't have to hold on to it.

Moonfeather

Hi Silkstream,

I think you should prpbably just concentrate on your self-healing for awhile and see how things develop; you may get to a point eventually where you feel more comfortable treating other people, given a bit more practice and time.

I used to be quite overly empathic myself, I was forever picking up all sorts of emotional disturbances from people wherever I went. Coupled with a history of clinical depression, I found this really difficult. My Reiki practice really helped me with this, and it's no longer much of a problem.

I don't use any Western grounding / protection techniques, but I do practice hatsurei ho which works with strengthening the hara. When I've been practicing regularly, I feel quite grounded and naturally impervious to any sort of outside disturbance. These days, the only times I feel vulnerable to that sort of stuff is when I've been ill, run down, or a little lazy in my Reiki practice!

I've certainly never picked up any negativity from anyone else during a treatment. In fact, I've only noticed really positive effects when giving / receiving Reiki...for both the giver and the receiver.

Wishing you all the best with your practice!

Allison xx

This thread caught my attention because i have clinical depression and am soon to be embarking on my Reiki 1 and getting attuned. This never actually occurred to me before so thankyou silkstream for your thread! Also to everyone who answered who have set my mind at rest as well as silkstream's

Protection

Hi there, these are a few ideas that I share with people during their Level One course, there are planty to choose from and one may work for you. I hope you find them helpful. Feel free to PM me for more information if you like.

Many Reiki Blessings
Lesley

Protection.

Many of us find protection very useful. Different people adopt different methods. Here are some that you may wish to try.

Again concentrate on your breathing and when relaxed try these simple exercises to keep you safe.

· Imagine that you have a mirror attached to the front of you and one attached to the back of you. These reflect any negative energy from others or from any stressful situations.
· Intend that you are surrounded by a big golden egg and that nothing can get in.
· Intend a golden circle on the floor and step into it.
· Use a quartz crystal wand and draw a circle around yourself. (This also empowers your intention).
· Use a smudge stick (white sage) and draw an archway from one side of the floor beside you, over your head and to the ground at your other side. Repeat this from behind you to in front (it is easier for somebody else to do this for you), then step over the smudge stick.
· Envisage yourself surrounded by a waterfall with its waters protecting you from negative energy.
· Visualise yourself being wrapped in a protective cloak - some people choose purple.

very interesting, thanks from me too Lesley!

protection

My absolute pleasure

Take care all

Lesley

Thanks; Tara Meditation

Thanks so much, Aurora and Pheonix.
I also read a meditation that I have not attempted yet. It based on a book of Tara Meditations.

Focus on your breathing. Meditate.
Focus on a white light the size and shape of a shield, only extending three feet above, around and beneath you. This light should take the shape of an egg and crystalize to become very, very hard. Nothing negative can enter this shield - only positive manifestations and the protection of Tara and your higher self are present. Perceive a radiant glow ascending and descending down your body, protecting you. Know that she is fully present.
Replace this figure with whatever religious icon you feel comfortable praying or meditating to.

Blessings,
Silkstream