Is Lineage Important?

Is lineage important when it comes to Reiki? By lineage, I mean can you trace your training back to the creator of modern Reiki, Dr. Mikao Usui. Some say no, that this should not be a consideration, while others say definitely yes.

Me, I say lineage is important to a point. For one thing, it is very cool to be able to trace your ancestry to something considered important. Think of those who say they came over on the Mayflower or who are related to a Noble Prize winner. It’s just cool.

Another reason lineage is important is to insure that you are learning Reiki as Dr. Usui intended: simple, powerful, pure and intentful. Reiki is all of these. We all have the power to heal ourselves as well as others. Do we really want to muck this up with things that interfere with the simplicity of the Universe? A magician distracts us with chatter, props, and beautiful assistants. We are full of wonder at the tricks, but we go home knowing what we saw was not real; they were just that, tricks.

Reiki is not a trick. It is powerful and okay, I’ll say it, magical. Reiki changes you in a way that is profound and wondrous. Every time I practice Reiki, I am in awe. I am actually connected to the Universe and I can feel its power and purity coursing through me. What a wonderful way to be reminded that my feet need to be planted firmly on the ground but my higher self has the greater aspiration of making a difference.

Reiki is based on the power of intent. If your intention in giving or receiving Reiki is unselfish, you will be successful. When you come to me for a Reiki session, my intent for you is that you will become Balanced, that you will Heal, and that you will be Renewed. That’s it. I only want the best for you and if you truly want this for yourself, wonderful things are in store for you. What could be simpler?

Another issue that arises from those that stray from the original teachings is that Reiki changes a bit every time it is taught and transferred to another person. Think of the telephone game. I tell you something, you tell someone else, and so it goes. The end result may be something very different from what was originally intended. Is this bad? Maybe not, but what was lost in the telling? Does the change enhance or detract from our lineage of training and ideas?

And that bring us back to: is lineage important? Yes, it is to a point. It’s important that the original spirit of Reiki be kept alive. Remember the telephone game. We don’t want to get lost in the translation of someone else’s agenda or intent.

Be well…

Rayne

Here is my Reiki lineage as it was provided to me by my Reiki Master,

Sharon Kanter:

In 2002, I, Rayne Mandel, was attuned into Reiki Master by Sharon Kanter, who was attuned by Laurie Grant, who was attuned by Mr. James Davis, who was attuned by Dr. Arthur Roberston.

Dr. Robertson was initiated in the 1970’s into the Reiki system by Master Teacher Virginia Samdahl, who was the first Occidental Reiki Master initiated by Mrs. Hawayo Takata.

In the last 1970’s and early 1980’s, Dr. Robertson studied and shared with Reiki Master Teacher Iris ishikuro, who was also initiated into the system by Mrs. Takata.

In 1938, Mrs. Takata received her Master attunement from Mr. Chujio Hayashi. Mr. Hayashi received his Reiki Mastership from Dr. Mikao Usui in 1925.

I would love to add your name to this line of Reiki Masters. Please contact us for information on classes.