During my training I was told to ensure all metal on both the therapist and client must be removed i.e jewellery, glasses, hair pins etc... as metal is a conductor.
While reading a book over the holidays the author suggests leaving the jewellery on because reiki will help cleanse and recharge the jewellery.
What do you guys think?
Having read a lot of books on Reiki and its development, and spoken to my teacher, it seems this is a later addition to the 'rules' of practising. I have received some wonderful Reiki from people wearing all sorts of jewellery, but, although I don't wear any anyway, i do instinctively remove my watch (and my shoes!!) when giving Reiki - or any other therapy, for that matter.
I would love to know from people that believe this why they think metal has to be removed when practicing Reiki.
If metal means Reiki cannot be practiced, the things that occur to me are:
[INDENT]What about metal in the building or objects in the treatment room?
What about people with metal pins/plates in their body?
What about metal fillings?
What about metal in clothes like belt buckles or buttons or underwire bras?[/INDENT]
Just curious, as I have never experienced any difficulty with practicing Reiki wearing metal items such as watches, belt-buckles... etc
I think it's a personal thing and down to the way you are taught. I always wear jewellery. Infact my master charged my clear quartz necklace for me whilst giving me Reiki last week.
Reiki is universal life force energy ..... would a ring or a watch really hinder the flow of something so powerful ..... I don't think so!!!!
The question is not if metal would hinder the flow... its that matal conducts electricity.
The question is not if metal would hinder the flow... its that matal conducts electricity.
Yes, metal does conduct electricity, but how would that adversely affect the Reiki energy?
My understanding is that any object which hampers the healing process should be preferably removed, and this could include tight clothing, excessive jewellery and so on. I do receive clients who wear lots of stuff around their throat and also belts with large metal buckles. I do request them to remove the 'excessive' jewellery and unbuckle the belts, not because of the metal but because it kind of does not give a good feeling when healing those areas by touch.
A strange case that I have come across is a reiki healer whose wrist watch would stop whenever she attempted healing.
Parag Pattani
Reiki & Crystals Grand Master
Author
My understanding is that any object which hampers the healing process should be preferably removed
But, in what way is it hampering the healing process? I've never had any problem or found jewellery or anything else to hamper the healing process.
, and this could include tight clothing, excessive jewellery and so on. I do receive clients who wear lots of stuff around their throat and also belts with large metal buckles. I do request them to remove the 'excessive' jewellery and unbuckle the belts, not because of the metal but because it kind of does not give a good feeling when healing those areas by touch.
As long as the client is comfortable, that is all that should really matter. The practitioner may experience many things when giving Reiki to a client, but it is not for the practitioner to decide what is needed to make the client comfortable.
A strange case that I have come across is a reiki healer whose wrist watch would stop whenever she attempted healing.
I've heard of that one too, but have never actually found anyone who can show it to me first hand.
Parag Pattani
Reiki & Crystals Grand Master
May I be so humble as to ask how you became a "Grand Master" of Reiki? I have read your website, but it doesn't mention anything about this, only about your receiving teachings to become a "Master".
All Love and Reiki Hugs
Last night in a drunken state it dawned on me that I received my reiki training as a module in Uni.
The removal of jewellery is standard health and saftey - tooke me a while, but I got there lol.
Hi Giles
I will answer your last question first. The title of "Grand Master" does not confer any special qualification. I received my training in India where it is the practice to divide the Reiki III training in 3 stages. The IIIA is the usual Master Healer's course, at 3b the student is taught how to attune students upto Level II - here the title of Reiki Master is comnferred and then there is one more session where the student is taught the attunement process for IIIA. In other words, a master who is able to attune another master is known as a Grand Master. The logic behind this is to encourage a Master to gain enough experience and maturity at teaching students at I and II and then graduate to teaching students at III. Trust this clarifies.
On the subject of tight jewellery, etc., yes it does matter to the healer as well. I for one would not like to place my hands on a layer of jewellery while healing the throat chakra or on a large cold metal buckle when healing the sacral. The healing is a two way process and the healer's satisfaction and comfort counts. If for any reason it cannot be removed, I will resort to distance healing on those areas.
The stopped watch - it has happened to one of my students.
Cheers !
Parag
I will answer your last question first. The title of "Grand Master" does not confer any special qualification. I received my training in India where it is the practice to divide the Reiki III training in 3 stages. The IIIA is the usual Master Healer's course, at 3b the student is taught how to attune students upto Level II - here the title of Reiki Master is comnferred and then there is one more session where the student is taught the attunement process for IIIA. In other words, a master who is able to attune another master is known as a Grand Master. The logic behind this is to encourage a Master to gain enough experience and maturity at teaching students at I and II and then graduate to teaching students at III. Trust this clarifies.
Thanks Parag, that makes more sense now. I was just a little confused as, historically, Phyllis Lei Furumoto was labelled by others as the Grand Master of Reiki when her grandmother Mrs Takata died. This is a title she now refuses to accept herself on the basis that nobody is THE Grand Master, as we are all masters. It's interesting how the Master course is split into 3 in India. Typically here in the West it is split into two levels or often taught as just one.
All Love and Reiki Hugs
Glad the original query was sorted out. I suspected it would be an issue of health & safety as much as anything.
I can't remember whether I was taught to remove my watch during reiki or massage training, however I do it for both. Its not pleasant to give hands-on healing and find that the client's hair is tangled in your watch 
even less pleasant for the client I would imagine 
As for therapist's individual preferences for jewellery on or off, I'd say go with your feeling. I have asked clients to remove jewellery in the past, or a scarf etc... its just based on my feeling for how the energy should flow. I don't think that's right or wrong, although its possibly getting more into realms which are not Reiki and more to do with feng shui?
Interesting about the debate on whether metal is charged in some way by reiki. Geopathic stress consultants say that metal amplifies energy, so I wouldn't rule out metal being affected by reiki in some way.
When doing my reiki case studies I repeatedly was drawn to this one lady's right wrist. I was convinced there was a significance with it, although I didn't know if it was a strength or weakness. We eventually twigged after a few sessions that it was her magnetic bracelet I was picking up! 
She removed it before the next session and hey presto, I wasn't drawn to the area. As a result I always make sure i'm not wearing my own magnetic bracelet when healing