Reiki Mastery Journey - deepening

When I took First Degree thirty years ago, my teacher Analyze explained the levels, and I immediately knew I wished to learn to "open the Reiki door" for others! The next year, I began trading sessions with a nearby practitioner. I traveled to Janelle's studio, and she would come to mine. This was an excellent way to ground the teachings, as Analyse had moved out of state, and I didn't know any other practioners. 

Healing flame - Breitenbush 1993

That fall I took Reiki 2, and the following summer ('91), let Analyse know I'd like to take Reiki 3 when she most visited Oregon. She told me she was coming in early summer, so we set the date! (Yikes!!)  I was offering massage on the Healing Arts team, and they'd decided the previous fall to have the team members initiated in Reiki 1 and 2, so I was asked to offer initiation to the team after my own training. 

There were four students in our Mastery class, the others were thrilled for the opportunity to come to the sacred springs for their training. Analyse scheduled a second degree class, and assisting in that was part of our class. Like first and second Degree, the experience was magical and profound. We met in Portland a week later for Q and A and some fine tuning, and were on our way, baby Reiki Masters! 

Over the next several years, I offered classes to my team-mates on Healing Arts and to other staff members. One violinist (working on the Kitchen Team) wanted to include Reiki in her music, a man on maintenance felt it would be useful for his family, another from the Kitchen crew, remembered his dad getting off his deathbed to offer "healing hands!" ... I later began offering class for guests, and am always touched by who comes to my workshops, and what they bring. 

Stones from my Reiki Master Students

When I moved to the Oregon coast in the fall of 1994, I continued offering Reiki classes and Initiations to the community there. Linda, a fellow student in our Mastery class, visited me both at Breitenbush and the coast. I still have a dream catcher she crafted for me. After being in the mountains, and the hot-seat of process, it was soothing to be a few blocks from tee sea!

At the coast I met Anita, who had taken Reiki 1 & 2 before moving to Oregon. Anita knew she wanted "Personal Mastery," and thought Reiki might be the vessel she sought. Was I willing to take her as a student? ... Yes!  She'd experienced Reiki circles in her old home, and began facilitating them for our community. We offered several classes together, and she taught me a lot about holding space, from her experiences at the Findhorn community in Scotland.

Anita's inquiry is the beginning of the Reiki Mastery quest - 
What is your a burning desire for Mastery? Can you articulate it? 
Other questions are:

• What has each level of Reiki brought you/taught you about yourself?
• How does Reiki live in you?
• What does holding energy mean to you? 
• Can you identify places/ times you hold energy for a group or situation?
• How do you use the energy of the symbols?
• What core issues are you working on? 
• How have you used Reiki help in this process? 
• How do you see stepping into mastery benefiting the people?

Take these, and other inquiries that arise to your journal. Write, draw, pull out some magazines and do a collage ... Practice daily self Reiki, including several M/E sessions for clarity on your quest.

Engage in conversation with your Master about your sense of readiness for and the timing of the next step. Phyllis Furomoto once said, "the student then decides his or her timing for successive steps along the path."  

Phyllis also felt First Degree was sufficient in itself, and one degree isn't "better" than another - but some practitioners will feel called to deepen with Reiki. 

When possible, I encourage you to continue with the Master who initiated you in Second Degree. Complete any assignments before moving on, and your financial agreements. If you're drawn to working with someone else, I invite you to have conversations with both your previous and new Masters. If you or the master have moved, it may be more practical to study with someone else, trust Reregion to lead the way!

I've had several students who came to me for Mastery for both practical reasons and because they felt more aligned with my energy. One had taken a combo Reiki 1 and 2 class - twice!! Others had moved, and when we met, felt drawn to study with me. When in doubt, listen to your minds nice and heart as you "Sit wth it!"

Topics covered in Third Degree or Mastery include:

• Opening circle with Red Thread
• Sharing - Burning Desire for Mastery
• Review of Reiki principles, history and symbols
• Sharing experiences with symbols
• Grounding and centering
• Holding Energy
• Meditation - connecting with Reiki guide
• Reiki Master symbol - learn and practice
• Initiation
• Metacognition - drawing for information (no *talent* necessary!) *Red Tread
• Align with Values - tuning in with Reiki
• Focus - cleanse and Empower a crystal or healing tool
• Boysen /intuition 
• Closing circle

Reiki Mastery is a process of continuing to deepen with Reiki, and becoming clearer within oneself. As you prepare for your Reiki Mastery initiation, practice daily self-Reiki, and trade Reiki sessions with another student or your Master. 

Work with the inquires (above) and any others that arise. Is there a core issue you've been working with? Do a couple of mental/emotional sessions on the issue. Read one or two books be Reiki Masters about their journies. 

Choose a Reiki principle to focus on each day, and write Gratitudes in your journal. Treat yourself kindly, with nourishing food, good water, chi movement and plenty of rest. Avoid alcohol and other alterants as your class approaches. Choose a crystal or healing tool to bring to class and empower.

"As you become clear with your process, your form, the water around you will clear! Your teachings will come into focus/clarify, and your students will be attracted." Reiki Guides, August 1995.