Monday, March 12, 2012

ethics of practice

A co-worker asked me about Reiki today.

She said, "I had a Reiki session this weekend. The lady told me I had two chakras going the wrong way. She said that was bad. What do you think of that?"

"What do I think? I think she wanted you to go back for another session. She's reckless and irresponsible," I blurted. "Let me explain. First of all, the practitioner should remain positive. She shouldn't tell you something's wrong with you. Second; the session should be about you. Your journey, your experience, your insights. When she told you what she perceived then the session became about her. Her ego, her vision, her experience. What else? Well, chakras are from yoga, not Reiki. Did she tell you that you need another session?"

"Yes, she did. I'm going back next week," my coworker told me.

"Umm hmmm. Well. Sorry to say so much, I"m just telling you what I tell my team of practitioners. We practice medical Reiki, anyway, not shamanic Reiki," I explained. "Because we practice in a medical institution, we work in a way that would be acceptable to nurses and physicians. We don't diagnose medical problems, we don't give bad news, and really, we don't say much. It's not about us."

Anyway, that's what I told her. How about you Reiki practitioners out there. What do you think? Is your practice similar?