The process of attunement is what makes Reiki different to all other forms of healing and accelerated spiritual unfoldment. It is not something that you have to learn how to do as with other healing and spiritual techniques. It is the process of attunement or initiation, which reawakens your dormant ability to access and use your Reiki energy.

Avoid taking alcohol or any other form of drug for at least 24 hours before diving into energy healing and attunement ceremonies. It's important to be a clear channel when using Reiki. These substances slow and hinder the flow of Reiki throughout the body.

During the Usui attunement ceremony, through the focused intention of the Reiki Master, the subconscious, higher conscious and conscious parts of you are re-minded of your desire to reawaken to the knowledge of Who-You-Really-Are.

The first attunement, attunes both the heart and the thymus while also attuning the heart chakra on the etheric level.

The second attunement affects the thyroid gland, and on an etheric level, helps to open up the throat chakra which is our communication centre.

The third attunement affects both the third eye, which corresponds to the pituitary gland (our centre of higher consciousness and intuition) and the hypothalamus, which affects the body’s mood and temperature.

The fourth attunement further opens the crown chakra, our connecting link with spiritual consciousness, and its corresponding physical partner, the pineal gland. The final attunement completes the process by sealing the channel open, so that you can retain the ability to channel Reiki energy for life.

One of the wonderful things about Reiki is, once you have received the attunement, Reiki remains with you even if you do not use it for long periods of time. Once you are ‘opened up’ to it, you stay that way – and the more you tap in and use it, the more you will continue to ‘open up’. In a nutshell, the first 3 attunements balance the upper chakras and the fourth seals the energy.

Dr. Hayashi described Reiki to Madam Takata so beautifully when he said, “the universal life force is so big we cannot measure it, so deep we cannot fathom it; therefore in Japanese we call it Reiki.” He continued “it is comparable to a radio station, broadcasting radio waves everywhere. There are no wires connecting the radio station with your home, yet when you turn on the receiver and tune into the radio waves from the station, you receive what they are sending. Likewise, the principles of Reiki are the same. The energy is everywhere; it travels through space without wires. Once you have been connected to the energy it flows automatically, forever. It is a universal and immeasurable energy and its power is unlimited.”

The attunement process brings about a cleansing of your physical body and a gentle clearing of the emotional and mental ‘baggage’ we all seem to carry with us.

It is not unusual for people to begin a clearing process after the attunements, which can last from a few days to a few weeks. This clearing can be physical, mental or emotional and every person will experience this in their own unique ways. Some will not experience anything ‘out of the ordinary’ and some will be shaken to the core on many levels.

What is happening is that the Reiki energy is beginning to heal and balance you on all levels. Toxins that have built up in your body are gently removed, hence the tiredness or flu like symptoms that some may experience. Emotional energy, which has become ‘trapped’ or stagnant is released, which is why you may feel unexplainably angry or weepy etc This may not happen for everyone but if it does, it’s important to realise what is taking place so you can support its completion.

There are also many positive things which may occur as well…Increased clarity of thought, improved powers of concentration, better memory, psychic senses develop and sharpen etc So whatever happens, just go with it. The final results will be spectacular however you experience the journey.

Some people experience a variety of things when attunement takes place. Some perceive colours, some perceive aromas and some perceive energy beings.

The initiation ceremony, although coordinated by the Reiki Master, is also attended by Reiki guides and other spirit helpers which may explain the source of the colours, lights, odours and visions that some people may report experiencing. Some feel they are filled with Light or become serene, full of wonder or love and some become emotional. Some people feel nothing at all and that is very okay too.

Each person is affected differently depending on your vibratory level when you receive the attunements. In other words, if you have been doing work to expand your conscious awareness, and have reached a high vibratory level, the attunements will provide a ‘quantum leap’ to an even higher level. To someone just starting out on their path, the expansion of energy is just as great but relative to the level you started from. You will continue to increase your vibratory level the more you treat yourself and others with Reiki.

Once attuned to Reiki 1, you will only have to place your hands on yourself, another person, animal, plant or planet with the intent to heal, and the healing energy will flow.

IMPORTANT: It pays to remember that Reiki energy flows THROUGH you – not FROM you! In other words, whether a healing is to take place or not, is not up to you. You are not the healer! (Get out of the way!) You are simply the CHANNEL that healing energy can flow through.

If we were in a live workshop together, it is at this point that I would get you make a note for yourself to refer back to. Please do this now.

Get a notepad and pen and write down :

REIKI ENERGY FLOWS THROUGH ME - NOT FROM ME

When you become attuned to the 1st degree Reiki energies, remember this.

If you have any comments or questions about this lecture, please ask them in the comments section below. I'm here to help you. There is no question too strange and if there is something that you want to ask, trust me, somebody else has got exactly the same question :) Ask it.