Last summer I gave healing to a family friend who had just been diagnosed with cancer. We both felt the energy strongly. My hands burned like never before. I was particularly drawn to the Solar Plexus Chakra where we hold the energy of fear, and to the Heart Chakra which, in one way or another, opens the door for us to heal every aspect of our lives. As the healing drew to a close I realised that he would need a lot of sessions. I also got the impression that he needed to heal himself. So right then, I improvised and attuned him to Reiki (sort of) by modifying the standard Healing Attunement and extending it to the palms of his hands. Let me explain ...
Reiki Masters learn to do two kinds of attunements. The most common, the Reiki Attunement, connects you to Reiki in the most powerful way. It kicks off a cleansing process that can last up to a month. It's also for life. Reiki is a way of life, as much as a healing modality, so people have to choose this path (or maybe it chooses them). There are also three levels to the Reiki Attunement, adding more healing tools to the existing connection. A Healing Attunement, on the other hand, brings a gentle stream of Reiki into a person's energy field, especially their Solar Plexus and Heart Chakras. This connection lasts for 2-3 months and we're taught to give it to people with chronic conditions who will need an extra boost between sessions. The standard Healing Attunement doesn't include the person's hands, so they can't use it for hands-on-healing. The cleansing aspect of the Healing Attunement is much softer too. It is better suited to cancer patients, who are already going through a hard time.
That day I improvised by carrying out a Healing Attunement, and extending it to the hands so that he could give himself healing. In this case, I also intended for it to last as long as it was needed. It has been a year and he is doing well. I haven't given him another healing and honestly, I don't think he needs it (see note below) That's the value of self-healing. I hadn't mentioned this before because I wasn't sure if this was the "right way" to share Reiki with others. For all it's simplicity, Reiki has a lot of rules. And on some level, I was worried about what other Reiki Masters might say. Straying from the original teachings is sometimes seen as a bad thing. Though by now almost everyone has. The branch that I studied, Usui Tibetan Reiki, blends Usui's original approach with Buddhist influences. Its lovely. Personally, I think creativity is a godsend.
It has also dawned on me that the healing is meant to suit the client's needs, not our thoughts about what it should look like. From now on, I'm going to offer this boosted Healing Attunement to clients with chronic conditions. And maybe to others as well. It's time to put my creative stamp on the Reiki lineage! Though I wouldn't be surprised if someone else has been inspired to do the same thing before. =)
* Reiki and Energy Healing are complementary to medical care, not alternative. This client is also undergoing conventional cancer treatments.