Thougts on ReiKi., i went to the course, more will follow.. Options

I was thikning of going to a ReiKi class this weekend, apparently it takes all weekend is the 1st stage of 3.

But... is it worth it? I've heard alot about ReiKi and it's all good, but is it biased?
Also it costs a hell of a lot, very expensive indeed!

Any thoughts, is it worth the money?
Is it something i can do with just a simple ritual (Middle Pillar anyone?) or is it really helpfull indeed even for those that do rituals on a weekly basis (or whatever)

Thankfull for all replies.

Now while you write, here's popy: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mf_popeanim.gif)

(edited to make it more of an appropriate thread about thougts about reiki for others that might want to read it or whatever (IMG:style_emoticons/default/offtopic.gif) )

This post has been edited by animus: Oct 9 2005, 02:16 PM

Allow me to give my .02....

I'll just make a "quick" spin... Little background: I have my second reiki attunement, and I study GD.

Keysol said:
Course, I may view the purpose of the MPR differently then you, but to me, the MPR is ALL about personal energy and the ability to charge the energy centers with my OWN power, not depending on any other source to do so.

Reiki is about using Universal energy and allowing that to cleanse/heal energy centers at to allow Ki to flow througgh those cneters as it is suposed to. It is the acknowledgement of the need of a Higher Power (whatever that may be) to cleanse/heal.

One is about personal power...the other using a Higher Power. One is about energizing and charging...the other is about getting Ki back to its natural flow, at least IMO anyway

Animus (allow me to capitalize) said:
I would consider the middle pillar ritual as a use of universal energy as such, not my own, after all, its based upon the MIDDLE pillar of the tree of life, whereas kether is on the top and, as far as i know, that represents the universal energy (or whatever you want to call it) and drawing energy from there would mean i'm not using my own as such

now I say:
In my opinion, the middle pillar and reiki are different and not interchangable.

Point a)
I believe it is innacurate to refer to Kether as the universal energy (ALL sephiroth are manifestation of it, the tree o life as a whole would be the universal energy) but more so in the context of the MP. The tree of life is a 'map" of the universe and of the self. In the middle pillar is it applied at the micro level (kether therefore making reference to the higher self). Personal balance, between personal powers.

Point b)
The Kabalah is a framework which defines the universal energy by separating it. necessary step towards understanding since our comprehension of things is based on duality. In the MP, the practitioner calls upon certain aspects of this energy but not all of them (God names associated to certain paths only).
In reiki, no such division is made. It goes from energy there to energy "not" there. There is no special focus on certain aspects of "the force" (sick of writing "energy"). There is no framework to "taint" it, no subdivision, it is the whole. The self, the individual's perception of the symbolism plays no part. In the MP, it is a key point, that the ritual means nothing without the understanding of the symbolism. Reiki doesn't work like that. It is briallant by it's simplicity.

Are the two practices the same?
Well it aligns stuff up for ya. They do it in such different forms though... reiki demands no belifs in a certain reality framework. kabalistic practices rely on the initiate's belief and internalization of the meaning of each spheres.
The middle pillar is linked to personal power because the individual acts as the filter to the energy, calling upon certain aspects of it. The individual determines what s/he wants. In reiki, the individual does not affect the energy, it just lets it flow.

Anyway...

S.