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| The exchange issue |
The exchange issue
Anyone who becomes involved in Reiki is likely to eventually encounter an issue and Cultural /
Ethical conflict. There is a clash between a view that a true "Healer" would never charge or expect
compensation for the work, and A philosophy stated to be A teaching of Dr. Usui, that one must give
some exchange to receive full benefit and must balance any exchange of energy and that free
treatment creates an unacceptable spiritual debt for the healee. The attitude that people only value
what they pay for vs the attitude that spiritual energies are a gift from God and must in honor be free.
These being only a few of the components in this issue . The idea that Usui Sensei required a major
cash outlay has been disproved . The Reiki Organizations in Japan may charge a monthly
membership fee and do not accept many members. The achievement of Reiki one through them may
take a year or more.
The beggar story (That Usui Sensei healed in a slum for many years until discovering that many
beggars preferred to remain beggars) that is often told to illustrate a supposed exchange requirement
was probably meant to illustrate that not everyone wants to be healed . You cannot define what
constitutes healing to another. You cannot force healing . (This same story is taught in some
Buddhist sects with different people and to illustrate different points too and is in my opinion, a
traditional teaching Parable that has been adapted ).
I do not have the skill to resolve the complex issue of exchange for anyone but regret that such
conflicts may restrict the availability of this and other wonderful tools for wholeness. It is common
for people to devalue themselves to the point where they will not pay for something that could help
their own well being.
A good portion of the first Reiki class I took was taken up with various stories, arguments and
indoctrination on the theme of a need to charge for giving Reiki , and the presentation of Reiki as a
career . I mention the issue because whatever the Reiki training or system you work with you will
encounter this issue and need to work out your personal values about this. I do suggest that we all
strive to put aside our preconceptions on this issue and be truly fair .
It is important that no one feel abused or used . I also do not think it is fair to castigate someone as
being greedy if they want a fair payment for the time and energy and work they do even if you wish
that the service was free. I also wonder that so many people feel that their own health , happiness and
spiritual evolution is not worth even a modest cost for a class or treatment . Part of the issue for both
students and teachers / practitioners is how much we love and respect ourselves .
Any fee or exchange should be fair ,equitable and acceptable to all parties involved . It often does
seem that people use and appreciate Reiki more if they have made some kind of contribution of their
energy and resources and have helped to cover the cost to the practitioner of providing the time ,site
training , materials and personal effort for the class or treatment. Many Reiki Masters who began by
offering free attunement find that they cannot continue to do so because the actual cost to them of
manuals other materials , childcare and so on is too great a burden on their families . Oddly It is also
true that some of the very people who are most insistent that Attunement should be free also feel that
"you get what you pay for " .
The tradition of exchange is a valid one , we all Return to the Universe what we receive and receive
what we send out. Exchange can be any use of the energies received for the universal good .
I do accept the concept of exchange for value and I do believe in balance. Exchange is indeed the
universal Law but to me exchange and Karma are not simple one to one events that occur in linear
reality but are universal in scope. we can complete an exchange through service to the universe but
on the other hand criticizing people who need support in order to eat is not good Karma either.
money does work though.
It is said that a butterfly in New York can effect the weather in Beijing, insisting always on
immediate exchange in the name of balance may in my experience create a greater imbalance
because an earlier imbalance may have been being rectified one must use ones own intuition and
understanding regarding this. Not only may what is right for me not be right for you but what is right
Ethical conflict. There is a clash between a view that a true "Healer" would never charge or expect
compensation for the work, and A philosophy stated to be A teaching of Dr. Usui, that one must give
some exchange to receive full benefit and must balance any exchange of energy and that free
treatment creates an unacceptable spiritual debt for the healee. The attitude that people only value
what they pay for vs the attitude that spiritual energies are a gift from God and must in honor be free.
These being only a few of the components in this issue . The idea that Usui Sensei required a major
cash outlay has been disproved . The Reiki Organizations in Japan may charge a monthly
membership fee and do not accept many members. The achievement of Reiki one through them may
take a year or more.
The beggar story (That Usui Sensei healed in a slum for many years until discovering that many
beggars preferred to remain beggars) that is often told to illustrate a supposed exchange requirement
was probably meant to illustrate that not everyone wants to be healed . You cannot define what
constitutes healing to another. You cannot force healing . (This same story is taught in some
Buddhist sects with different people and to illustrate different points too and is in my opinion, a
traditional teaching Parable that has been adapted ).
I do not have the skill to resolve the complex issue of exchange for anyone but regret that such
conflicts may restrict the availability of this and other wonderful tools for wholeness. It is common
for people to devalue themselves to the point where they will not pay for something that could help
their own well being.
A good portion of the first Reiki class I took was taken up with various stories, arguments and
indoctrination on the theme of a need to charge for giving Reiki , and the presentation of Reiki as a
career . I mention the issue because whatever the Reiki training or system you work with you will
encounter this issue and need to work out your personal values about this. I do suggest that we all
strive to put aside our preconceptions on this issue and be truly fair .
It is important that no one feel abused or used . I also do not think it is fair to castigate someone as
being greedy if they want a fair payment for the time and energy and work they do even if you wish
that the service was free. I also wonder that so many people feel that their own health , happiness and
spiritual evolution is not worth even a modest cost for a class or treatment . Part of the issue for both
students and teachers / practitioners is how much we love and respect ourselves .
Any fee or exchange should be fair ,equitable and acceptable to all parties involved . It often does
seem that people use and appreciate Reiki more if they have made some kind of contribution of their
energy and resources and have helped to cover the cost to the practitioner of providing the time ,site
training , materials and personal effort for the class or treatment. Many Reiki Masters who began by
offering free attunement find that they cannot continue to do so because the actual cost to them of
manuals other materials , childcare and so on is too great a burden on their families . Oddly It is also
true that some of the very people who are most insistent that Attunement should be free also feel that
"you get what you pay for " .
The tradition of exchange is a valid one , we all Return to the Universe what we receive and receive
what we send out. Exchange can be any use of the energies received for the universal good .
I do accept the concept of exchange for value and I do believe in balance. Exchange is indeed the
universal Law but to me exchange and Karma are not simple one to one events that occur in linear
reality but are universal in scope. we can complete an exchange through service to the universe but
on the other hand criticizing people who need support in order to eat is not good Karma either.
money does work though.
It is said that a butterfly in New York can effect the weather in Beijing, insisting always on
immediate exchange in the name of balance may in my experience create a greater imbalance
because an earlier imbalance may have been being rectified one must use ones own intuition and
understanding regarding this. Not only may what is right for me not be right for you but what is right
for me now may not be right for me tomorrow. Reality is flexible I appreciate that this issue gives the
opportunity to clarify our understanding of our own values and needs ,and encourage us all to
become clear on how we each feel about it rather than accepting as an absolute anyone else's
unexamined opinions. It is not having the energy that makes one a Reiki "master" it is what you do
with them after you get them. Generally I with regard to compensating light workers I hold to the old
saw that all Absolutes are wrong including this one.) the only thing I am opposed to is being rigid
and uncompromising.
opportunity to clarify our understanding of our own values and needs ,and encourage us all to
become clear on how we each feel about it rather than accepting as an absolute anyone else's
unexamined opinions. It is not having the energy that makes one a Reiki "master" it is what you do
with them after you get them. Generally I with regard to compensating light workers I hold to the old
saw that all Absolutes are wrong including this one.) the only thing I am opposed to is being rigid
and uncompromising.
