Reiki Fire: [Gebundene Ausgabe]

For example:

- On page 15, Petter states: "Technically speaking, Reiki is one of many methods that are part of the Chinese family of Qigong..."

This is COMPLETELY incorrect. Reiki is not Qigong, and Qigong is not Reiki. Both are forms of energy, true, but they are completely distinct from each other.

- On page 71, Petter states: "I have repeatedly stated that Reiki is energy pure and simple. It has nothing to do with religion, astrology, New Age, psychology, personal growth, channeling, bodywork, or even healing for that matter."

This is also wrong. Reiki is ALL about healing! It is also about personal growth. Reiki exists for us to heal ourselves and others, it enables us to grow and help others grow. I don't understand his stance here at all.

This being said, the book contains some interesting information, and some nice exercises. I do appreciate that fact that Petter reiterates that Reiki must be learned from a teacher (one simply cannot learn it from a book, video, or over the internet) and that attunements (initiations) must be done in person.

The bottom line is, if you are interested in learning more about Reiki, find a Master/Teacher near you with which to work. Or, try the following books:

Reiki - Universal Life Energy Bodo Baginski and Shalila Sharamon ISBN 0-940795-02-7

Reiki - Hawayo Takata's Story Helen J. Haberly ISBN: 0-944135-06-4

Living Reiki - Takata's Teachings Fran Brown ISBN: 0-940795-10-8

There are many books out now about Reiki. Mr. Petter even states in his book that writing a book on Reiki "is like a cosmic joke, like chasing your own shadow." He reminds us of the nature of Reiki, that it is Alive. As practitioners, we know this to be true every time we feel the life energy of the universe flow through us. Yet all of us are guilty of trying to "pigeon-hole' or define Reiki as this or that. I was reminded when reading Reiki Fire, that when we have something that is alive, it is constantly changing with each experience and situation.

So back to the point where Mr. Petter was standing up...When going through our first initiation in the healing technique called Reiki, we are told about our lineage. This lineage included the story of how Reiki was rediscovered by Dr. Usui and passed to Hawayo Takata thus making its way to the West. As a student of mythology, my love of a good story may only be outweighed by my love of knowing the origins of the story. I was intrigued by the fact that many of the stories about Dr. Usui were taking on a life of their own. My own teacher gave me several possible stories of the origins of Reiki, and I have since heard and read many more. This never bothered me, since once I felt the Reiki energy I knew of its reality and did not need a story to validate its existence. But still the stories tickled my fancy.

Mr. Petter has presented in his book something our teachers may not have been able to provide, a look at Japanese culture through Western eyes. When you study mythology you have to take in account the culture from which the story has come. When I say mythology or myth, I am using the definition "a story that defines a culture or group". It does not matter if the myth is based in fact or fiction, only that it defines or teaches a specific group. By knowing about a culture you can then understand what lesson a story is trying to teach. Mr. Petter's information on the culture of Japan helps us understand why the traditions are taught to us in a certain way, what Reiki in Japan is about, and why they aren't concerned about our Reiki. This information in itself may upset a few groups of Reiki practitioners that have allowed Ego to take over their practice.

Living in Japan, Mr. Petter had a unique opportunity to research the facts related to the mythology we were building around Reiki. He discovered many wonderful things, the smallest of which was Usui's first name (Mikaomi) and the most outstanding was the memorial stone on Usui-san's grave. Through Mr. Petter and his wife's efforts, they were able to translate Usui-san's memorial stone. This memorial stone has given us a few more facts to the original story. It makes Usui-san an approachable figure of history, a compassionate man who developed the technique of healing we call Reiki.

So add Reiki Fire to your reading list. It is well worth your time as it will give your heart back to Reiki.