Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art

by Diane Stein (Author)

Book Description

Reiki is the ancient system of laying on of hands derived from Tibetan Buddhism. Transmitted by attunements from healer to healer, Reiki techniques have been demystified by Diane Stein, a Reiki master in practice since 1988. The author discusses the three degrees of Reiki and her experiences as a master teacher.

Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art Reviews

Great reference book

By Avalon Daughter (I wish I was in Glastonbury)

Being a Reiki practitioner I prefer Diane’s guide over the rest. Of course, it is not the be-end of all books dedicated to the craft of Reiki, but it is a great guide.

For those who don’t know about Reiki, it is the art of holistic hands-on healing with the use of sacred symbols drawn on the palms of the hands of the practitioner and on the “patient” in order to start the flow of healing energy from his or her God. (I know that is a rough definition, but please understand that there are whole books dedicated to what Reiki is.)

The reason why this book is so controversial is because, as far as I know, Diane decided to publish the actual drawings of the symbols which is considered taboo. The symbols are supposed to be secret — only revealed to the people who actually get an attunement (and people who have not received a Reiki attunement cannot perform Reiki on another person. Although that has been questioned as well.) Because of this, Diane has been looked upon as a type of “black sheep” of the Reiki community.

However, I personally am not one for secrecy and find her book extremely informative. Most Reiki guides keep out so much information on Reiki, because it is considered “secret” that their manuals for first-time practitioners can be confusing. Obscure references do not make a master of the student. Personally, I’ve had practitioners of my own become confused and ask questions constantly. After having them buy her book instead, they understand more. In other words, despite the fact that Diane’s book “crosses the line” in some areas, she explains in great detail what each symbol means, when they are given to practitioners as well as step-by-step instructions on how to use them. She also says that one cannot perform Reiki without the attunements and that each level a person goes through they are able to receive more symbols to work with. She also includes others she has personally discovered for experimentation as well.

Diane’s book is not perfect, but thorough and informative. Through the history of Reiki, it has been documented that Hawayo Katata (the last Grand Reiki Master) gave different but similar symbols to her 12 students she attuned to Reiki Master status. Why, no one really knows. In other words, the symbols are slighly different to many Reiki practitioners and hers are not considered the absolute correct ones. But then again, everyone in the Reiki community claims that their symbols are the correct symbols. When it comes down to it, there is a “power” symbol, an “emotional healing” symbol, “distance” symbol, “master” symbol and an “attunement” symbol that most everyone uses. How they are drawn is the actual debate.

Do I recommend this book to beginner Reiki students? It really should be up to their teachers. Some teachers are very informative and give out pamphlets on their methods and the individual symbols. Unfortunately, I’ve met students whose teachers don’t give any direction at all and are very confused or eager to learn more. This book is a great start to those practitioners who want more information, but other texts should be considered as well in order to make a well-rounded practitioner. Reiki Masters have nothing to lose with looking at this book. As for people who have not received Reiki attunements and want to learn more, I suppose that this book is a good choice, but personally I have to say that I bought this book before I received my first attunement and honestly it didn’t make a lick of sense until I actually became a practitioner. Then again, this is my own experience.

A thorough manual in addition to other Reiki books, a good reference for Reiki Masters as well as giving new ideas and not necessarily a good book for non-Reiki practitioners, but give it a try as well. Otherwise, I recommend personally looking up teachers in your personal areas as well as surfing the internet for information.

read with an open hart and critical mind

By StalkingGhostBear “collecting dust” (Michigan, USA)

Ms. Stein broke with tradition by publishing the five healing symbols of Reiki. Prior to the publication of this book the symbols were passed only from teacher to student. This breaking of silence caused no small amount of controversy in the Reiki community. I understand and agree with Ms. Stein’s reasoning for publishing the symbols, the modern world is in such need of healing that positive energy, no matter what it’s source, is a welcome relief

Please understand that the process Ms. Stein discusses has very little to do with the traditional teachings of Reiki. This does not make it bad in and of itself however. The process of Reiki is one of healing and growth, and growth implies changes. Would Mikao Usui have approved of the publishing of the Reiki symbols? Of course not. Remember however Usui was equally opposed to teaching Reiki to non-Japanise and insisted that money exchange hands to provide the gift of healing. We are fortunate that these aspect of his teaching fell by the wayside and I believe there will come a day when we will all be happy that the secrecy element of Reiki has ended as well.

The book provides a strange but complete history of Reiki as well as instructions for passing attunements, a system of laying on of hands for healing and extensive philosophical discussion as to the origin of Reiki energy
Of particular interest in the inclusion of the attunement process itself. The process is fully explained from the view of the receiver as well as the one providing the attunement.

Despite it’s good points the book has serious problems. These problems relate to Ms. Stein’s worldview and political outlook. Throughout this book Ms. Stein’s dislike (hatred? Fear? Loathing?) of men is palatable on nearly every page. It is made clear that she does not believe most men are capable of healing in any form. Her intolerance made the book almost unreadable

Part of the healing process is the healing of the self. As a therapist I understand that to help others you must have some sort of handle on your own issues and problems. To walk in balance you must resolve your personal issues. If you are unable to resolve these issues yourself than you need to seek professional help. Ms. Stein points out that love and hate cannot co-exist in the same body and not have negative consequences yet has apparently never followed her own advice.

Read the book, recognize hatred when you see it and pass it over, take the lessons of universal love and healing to hart.

An encyclopedia of Reiki!

By A Customer

“This is the most comprehensive book on Reiki that I have ever come across. I was so fascinated that I stayed up and read the whole book in one night–and I have read it, or even single chapters, again and again. Diane Stein’s experiences in trying to find a way to learn Reiki (since her financial means were limited) were especially intriguing to me. I was convinced by her view that all people are meant to know Reiki, and as a Reiki Master, I have attuned everyone free. I do not have the time to teach extensively, so I explain the basics and see that the student has William Rand’s Reiki, The Healing Touch for a basic introductory text. (I use a book in Japanese for those who don’t read English.) For people who want more information, I always recommend Essential Reiki. I think taking classes with good teachers and classmates on whom to practice is probably the optimum way to learn Reiki, but as Ms. Stein says, that’s not always an option.”

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