Mickie Mueller follows an earth-based spiritual path, and an ordained minister with ULC. She is a Reiki Master/Teacher in the Usui Shiki Royoho Tradition. She has just completed artwork for The Well Worn Path divination kit created by authors Raven Grimassi and Stephanie Taylor.
The first time I ever heard of Reiki, I was at a local pagan festival. I was
helping out a friend with his shop's booth for the weekend. Before we packed
up to go home, I did some quick shopping for thank you gifts I wanted to give
the family members who had cared for my kids for the weekend. I found some
lovely, inexpensive citrine crystal pendants at one of the booths and decided
to purchase one for my mother-in-law. The woman who sold it to me asked if
she could Reiki it for me, I had seen the sign and books on the subject
around her booth all weekend. I didn't really know what Reiki was, but it
seemed right, so I said, "Sure, why not." She held the crystal in both hands
silently and after a moment she exclaimed softly, "Oh, this crystal is
drawing a lot of energy." The she pointed out that the hair on her arms was
standing on end. I was very interested. After handing the stone back to me
and I made my purchase, she asked me if I did any energy work. I told her,
"Yes, I do. I practice Wicca." She replied, "No, dear, I mean energy work.
Wicca is not the same thing." I left feeling a bit confused. I worked with
energy all the time, as most Wiccans do. My curiosity was peaked about this
Reiki.
Later that evening, the gift of the crystal cinched it. As my mother-in-law
put the crystal on, the hair on her arms stood up. Hmm, what exactly is
Reiki? She wore it to a job interview that day, and secured a new job. Ok,
now I needed to learn about Reiki. I picked up a book on the subject, Reiki
for Beginners by David Vennells. I discovered that in addition to learning
techniques from books, a Reiki attunement must be passed through by
initiation from teacher to student and next thing you know, I was taking
classes at my local new age store. As I was quite broke at the time, my
mother covered the fee with the promise that someday I would teach her, which
I eventually did! I have learned a lot about Reiki since then, becoming a
Reiki master/teacher myself, and one thing I have learned is that while, yes,
Reiki is not exactly the same as the energy we normally use in magickal
ritual, the energies are very compatible and work very well with an Earth
Based Faith such as Wicca.
Reiki and Magick Compliment Each Other
Reiki is a healing modality, and it is deceptively simple, and simply
powerful. The first thing you learn to do with Reiki is healing. The hands
are placed in positions that correspond with the chakra positions around the
body and energy is transfered from the Universal source through the hands of
the practitioner to the recipient. The wonderful thing about using Reiki for
healing versus other methods that we as Wiccans and Pagans might otherwise
use, is that we do not "take on" anything from the person we are
doing work for. It allows us to do more healing and deal with severe
illnesses that we couldn't do otherwise because Reiki flows from the hands
into the body, and never the other way around. I have talked with many
Wiccans who do healing work but report that it knocks them down for awhile
afterwords. This doesn't happen with Reiki. In fact, giving a Reiki treatment
can be good for the practitioner as well as the client. Distance healings can
also be done with a Reiki II degree, and can be incorporated into a Wiccan
healing ritual with great success! I charge my teas, healing candles, even
herbal remedies and medications my family takes with Reiki.
I have learned on my own to use Reiki in most of my magic, I have found that
Reiki turbo-charges my magick! I use it to help me cleanse my circle, as the
energy has a purifying quality. It is also very beneficial when consecrating
ritual tools. It can cleanse an item of any nasty vibes that might have built
up and fills it with life force energy. Reiki can fill herbs with life force
energy as well, allowing the herbs to reach their full potential. In addition
to charging my candles with my magickal purpose, I also charge them with
Reiki to add extra oomph to my spell work. I even carve them with both
magickal and Reiki symbols. When I am at work or somewhere where I can't just
do magick easily and a situation pops up that I know requires some kind of
spiritual intervention, I use Reiki. Quite simply, I write the situation or
problem on a slip of paper and excuse myself for a few minutes to the
restroom or other quiet place and using the distance symbol, I send Reiki to
the situation. You see, Reiki can only be used for the higher good, so it
easily fits right in with The Rede, in harming none. I continue to send Reiki
until I get a chance to do some magick. Sometimes Reiki has already ironed
everything out by then! Reiki and magick are used together to cleanse and
charge my stones, protect and bless my home, I have used them together for so
long now, they seamlessly integrate with each other for me.
Following the Path
I have wished in the beginning of my Reiki studies that someone had been able
to tell me how to use Reiki with magick. My Reiki master wasn't Wiccan and
neither was anyone from my class. I had read in many books that Reiki was
complimentary to any form of spirituality but no specific ideas about my
chosen path. After many dead ends, I just started to experiment and found
success. I felt that the woman at the festival didn't give the use of energy
in Wicca enough credit. The fact is, I don't think that she knew, being of a
more New-Age background. Her comment did, however send me on a journey to
learn Reiki and to discover the similarities and differences between the
energies I use. For that, I thank her. Along the way, I have discovered that
there are a lot of magick users that incorporate Reiki. And I even recently
discovered a book on the subject, Magick of Reiki by Christopher Penczak!
Through his book, I have learned even more theories about Reiki. His book
included so me new ideas for integrating Reiki with magick and some new Reiki
symbols I have been experimenting with. I'm sure I will always be learning
with both Reiki and magick. After all, if we are wise, we never stop learning
and trying new things.
RECOMMENDED TITLES:
Well Worn Path Kit By Raven Grimassi And Stephanie Taylor:
The cards can be used in divination, meditation, or for substitutes for ritual tools such as the Athame.
10 Spiritual Steps To A Magical Life By Adrian Calabrese:
Meditations and affirmations for personal growth and happiness.
True Magick: A Beginner's Guide by Amber K:
Delightful how-to-book in an easygoing style covering all the necessary aspects
Complete Idiot's Guide To Spells And Spellcraft By Aurora & Cathy Jewell:
How to create and work your own magical rituals, with background on the Wiccan religion.
Complete Reiki Handbook By Walter Lubeck:
It is an introductory as well as precise and detailed book for the initiated Reiki practitioner.
Exploring Reiki by Paula Horan:
108 FAQs about the Japanese energy healing method.
These title and others can be found at Isis Books & Gifts! With over
500 Wicca and Witchcraft book titles in stock, your sure to find one right
for you!
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receive a free 90-page catalog.
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