Reiki/ Advice Options

So i have been studying up on Reiki lately and have been really curious as to how this system works. What is it exactly i understand that it is a form of energy that is not like normal energy (if that makes sense). I really want to start practicing this healing form mostly for personal use. But i thought if i started practicing and eventually was able to really start to channel the energy that i could practice on others or even just my animals and plants.

Another thing is how would i get started every thing that i read it seems to be that you have to have a teacher to attune you to opening up and accepting reiki. But i do not have any money at all and being a unemployed college kid i can't afford to take a class (IMG:style_emoticons/default/06.gif) . Is there anyway that one can open themselves up to reiki on there own maybe some methods or advise.

Another thing i know most here will laugh at asking this question i have never really studied chakras much ( i know i should) I plain to btw. I just need some information maybe some good books to really get a rundown on them i have always been into different occult meditation and a number of other things. But i never really focused upon one thing in particular just studied a whole whole lot over the past few years practiced but not diligently. Mainly because i was in high school graduated moved in with friends stop practicing yada yada don't wanna bore anyone lol. But i have really been feeling the need to practice and focus more upon a certain aspect of energy and beginning Reiki as i would one day like to open up a practice of my own. Although i do not foresee this anytime soon but one day would be nice. I really want to start doing Reiki and learning the history methods practices everything so that i can for now practice on myself plants animals eventually others once i understand it well enough that i feel comfortable in doing so. I know that chakras are very important i have studied a bit on them i know the main ones and there functions. But that is as far as my knowledge really goes with them.

I have done energy work as far as creating psi balls and have had really good success with them. My visualization has improved tremendously over the past few years from where i first began. I can meditate for around 30 minutes at the moment and that is good for me since i got out of the practice for so long. I know some of the more experienced members here can meditate for hours on end. This is all i can think of at the moment that i just need some advice on i hoe i do not bother anyone here asking so many questions all the time. I just find this forum and it's members are the most educated people i have found throughout the years. And always enjoy reading the intelligent responses i get from them.

P.S. Sorry for my spelling/grammar i was never good at this but taking a class this fall so ill be working on it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dumbells.gif) .

Reiki is just one brand name packaged form of energy work and has been dumbed down a lot to fit into the New Age workshop culture. I do have my reiki 3 though so if you want I can do a distant attunement. Just PM me to work out details.

I don't think that chakras are especially important. I see the meridians as far more important. But rather than just focusing on chakras or one or two chakras (which I have seen people do) it would be better to work with the whole system including the chakras, the aura and the meridian. I've been collecting ebooks on energy work, primarily books on CHinese Qigong. You can probably find Mantak Chia's books online or in the bookstores. I also like Bruce Kumar Frantzis and his books. There are a lot more books on the market about energy work than when I began back in the '80s. Many are not very informative or are boring to read but there are some good ones out there. I think I posted a link on free ebook sites that have some of the better book-- as well as some of the less good ones. The B.K. Frantzis books aren't available for free online though so you might try your local library or buy some. You might do best to study with a teacher eventually though.