Reiki vs channeling divine energy

[Aion]

I am also in the Furomoto lineage although I have not had the pleasure of meeting him and there are a few degrees of separation, such as through William Rand. I agree with what you are saying here, also having experience with the same martial arts and Qi gong. The purpose of the initiation is essentially to increase the flow from the crown and to elevate the flow from the root. I was taught that the symbols aren't even really necessary if you have a strong enough intention, however I differ slightly in that I do not think they are different from any other magical symbols and that the symbols are significant in the transmission as I consider them to be a physical concentrating mechanism for Reiki as well. I view them as their own individual entities rather than merely being purely a functional aspects of the practitioner and are 'alive' in their own right. You could probably do an initiation without the symbols though and still get the same effect I imagine.

However, it is absolutely simple and very easy to access and understand. I think Reiki is very fundamentally a very universal 'white' magical practice when it is used honestly with genuine intent that is designed for its simplicity to be able to be used by many.

There are of course many different healing techniques which use the universal energy as their modus operandi so I definitely agree that it may not even be what you need to pursue a path of healing, it is simply 'available' in the world, but you might have an even more effective path before you that you have not seen yet. I am sure you will discover much on whichever path you choose to take. Speaking to Glow I mean.

ooops... I wasn't saying I'm in her (Furumoto) lineage...

mine is:

Mikao Usui -> Chujiro Hayashi -> Hawayo Takata -> (Rev) Beth Gray -> Beverly Bultitude -> Me

also wasn't saying the symbols aren't important - from my learning they are very important - but not in the same energetic way of talismans and sigils - (in my experience)

I don't know how to describe the difference in the "feel" of the energy of Reiki symbols to other systems that use symbols...

I agree that in a sense they serve the function of a 'focussing of intent' to achieve a given thing (you describe it as a "a physical concentrating mechanism" ) - and for example I've never needed to use (the symbol) to 'contact a persons higher self/subconscious mind' because (after asking permission) I get that connection/information already - without having to use that symbol.... but the other 2 basic ones  - 'power symbol' and 'calling in' symbol - I use regularly

Yes so 'easy' to access and understand - (children can be initiated)...

as to: " a very universal 'white' magical practice when it is used honestly with genuine intent"
my comment is:

it can't be used dishonestly - it has a built in fail safe - being 'Light/Love' the very nature of it can't be used for nefarious or negative intent. (I'm sure you know this of course - I just want to confirm that - as your wording seems unclear (?) )

(That's the wonderful thing about the original form and the concern about the modified forms/distortions.)

Also, I see it as beyond "white" even - (and yet 'neutral' doesn't describe it either).. it's balance/restorative.. 'illuminative', resolutive

Disease is the absence of light (darkness) and 'Reiki' is 'Light' shining onto/into and transmuting/transforming/lighting 'up'.

(This is why sometimes a person can feel a bit worse before feeling better, because the 'darkness' is being 'uncovered' ('shone light on') for examining and then transforming.
(For example) a feeling of sadness can occur if that is the most healing result at that point.
I've had people start to cry and then even weep - but it's helped them so much to release that pain through feeling it - acknowledging it - moving through it, and 'out the other side'. Or the ailment worsens a bit then stops - the pain increases and then lessens... etc etc...

I don't relate to the word magickal, mostly because Reiki's eastern cultural origin doesn't use that European word/concept. Though it is 'amazing' mysterious - wondrous - otherworldly.

I see it connected to an ideologically and energetically neutral actuality - ie: more scientific (Physics)/martial arts, related - and this is why *anyone* - atheist, nun, doctor, new age practitioner, vet, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Jew, Mormon, Catholic priest, politician, agnostic, Coco the Clown, etc can be initiated, channel it and have their own individual understanding of 'it'....

(I once wrote: "science and magick are the same thing just viewed from different hilltops.")

To help explain Reiki to people I sometimes liken it to the 'Force' in StarWars :
("It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.")

But imo it's even more than this... It (sort of) is the 'Everything' that we will merge with 'behind the veil'.

There are dozens of quotes from Ra that I could collect to help me express the ineffable state that I'm trying to explain - describe...

but... they're there for the finding another day....

thanks for the discussion Aion and Glow (and All)

btw: if anyone would like Usui Reiki 'sent' to them - pm me with a pic of you or your name

I'm happy to share - if the request is respectful and I have some spare time 

nb: fyi - Reiki can't be imposed on anyone/thing - as it requires permission energetically. If the higher self of an entity refuses the 'Reiki' it won't/can't flow.

Yes the key element of Reiki is it's literal inability to be used for harm, and why I call it 'white', but that is just a personal conception. I was familiar with alchemy and western magical concepts and martial arts before encountering Reiki so many concepts have overlapped in terms of description, but I stick to the principles which are the construction of the system.

By genuine intent I mean the actual good will towards another person. I don't think you can 'fake' good intentions and still have Reiki flow, it can't be 'duped', for the exact reason that it does not and cannot harm. I have definitely met practitioners who were of selfish intent and they will still give off 'positive' energy but that would feel forceful or uninvited. To many people they wouldn't know the difference, they'd just feel the energy and assume it's Reiki, but I think that having too strong of a desire to help and heal can actually be a hindrance if the person gets more caught up in their role as a helper or viewing themselves as a mystical healer rather than a facilitator for an individual healing themselves.

My point here to iterate that just because someone calls it Reiki doesn't mean that's what they're actually putting out. I had an initiation done by someone in 'celtic reiki', the system was fine in itself but well, the individual later ended up in prison on underaged exploitation charges(nothing to do with me, I had cut contact long before then), so just goes to show, be careful, trust your gut and if someone doesn't feel right, don't let them touch you.