What are the important things to consider when you are looking for a reiki teacher?

I have put together a bit of a list of some of the things that my wife and I have found helpful to consider, from our own and other reiki friends’ experience..

# Reiki teacher not Spiritual Guru

Perhaps the most important distinction to make when looking for a good reiki teacher is that they are not spiritual gurus. I know that there are a lot of reiki “masters” out there that think you need to behave toward them like they are.. but perhaps that is not the best sort of person to learn reiki from.

# Have they been practising reiki for a while?

To me, the single biggest thing about a reiki person who is running workshops/giving empowerments, is that they need to have been doing reiki for a while. It helps alot. One of my buddhist teachers said, when I asked him about receiving teaching from people, he said that just make sure they do it alot themselves (he was talking about meditation in that context), and I think the same rule holds well with reiki. If the person uses reiki alot and has been practising with it for a while (perhaps a few years..) then that is a good sign.

# Reiki teacher as coach

I personally think that a really healthy way to approach teaching reiki (or teaching anything actually) is to approach it more as a coach than as a teacher, a preacher, or whatever.

To me, a coach is right there with their team. They are also trying to find out what is going to motivate and work best for each of their team members, individually.

That is important. Because everyone is different. Not everyone passes through the same stages with reiki training, in the same order. And your reiki teacher can give you better advice and tips about how to improve your style and your healing, if they view you as an individual.

# Are they teaching reiki or not?

It is interesting to note that alot of people teach alot of other things during workshops. Other than reiki. Reiki has a very simple philosophy that aids the practise. It is centered around the 5 reiki ideals. Daily meditation. And the actual practise. If a person wants to give you pyschic surgery (to heal you), read your palm, purify your DNA, help you ascend, attain a light body, or whatever.. then you might want to consider if they are a little insecure about what they are teaching.

I am certainly not one to complain about talking about other spiritual things. I for one bring Buddhism into discussions (on this blog!) all the time, with reiki people that come around.. but when it comes to workshops/empowerments (where you receive the empowerments for reiki 1, 2 and 3) it really should only be reiki that you are learning about.

There are ofcourse lots of styles of reiki. And I am not talking about these lineages here. I am talking about people giving you a “bonus” training when you do your reiki workshop.

# Does the person practise what they preach?

If the person reflects in their daily life the ethics and inspiration they teach, that is what you are looking for.

# Are they kind?

Your teacher needs to be patient and relate to you with kindness. Simple. Do not settle for someone who is not skillful enough to deal with you in a patient and kind way. There is always room for kindness.

CONCLUSION

The number one biggest thing to remember is that your reiki teacher is not a spiritual guru. They are not equiped to teach you the whole path to enlightenment. If that is what you are looking for, you will not find it with a reiki teacher.

The biggest things to look for with a prospective reiki teacher is: have they got lots of experience using reiki healing. Can they coach. Are they kind.

Does anyone else have some suggestions about qualities they consider important in a reiki teacher?