That concept doesn’t sit well with others.
Rewind to 1999 when I first started conducting online therapy and talking about it with colleagues
…and again circa 2008 when discussing the concept of online coaching.
This feels like a very similar discussion to me
I recently started a Facebook group for folks interested in “Online Reiki” – or what I refer to now as Kybernetes Reiki.
I announced the group on a Linkedin group for Reiki Practitioners.
Quite a dialogue ensued (and quite a few joined our FB group)!
I thought it might do well to repeat my comments here
I was asked how tech inflences Reiki practice and I responded,
Some people use technology in their practice to communicate with clients between Reiki sessions that may occur via distance or in-person. Some may utilize video. Some may teach Reiki courses online. Others actually conduct Reiki in virtual worlds such as Seoond Life utilizing avatars. There are many different ways to incorporate the use of technology into a Reiki practice.
It was suggested that to utlize the internet in any way in conjunction with Reiki healing would be considered false teachings and I responded,
I am not sure we can speak to how the original teachings may have been influenced by cyberculture because it didn’t exist. it is akin to saying we shouldn’t send spiritual/religious messages or prayers over email or the internet because the internet didn’t exist “then”-
Intent, authenticiity and proper training is key.
Additional comments from a few concerned Reiki practitioners continued to state that delivering Reiki online is just wrong. And I replied,
The idea of “online Reiki” is always hotly debated and again, I liken this to the hot debate 15 years ago when I and a few others first began discussing online therapy. There was every argument that conducting counseling/psychotherapy online would cause the art of psychotherapy to be diminished; even do harm- that Freud and other forefathers/mothers of psychotherapy did not intend anything like online therapy.
The energy- the meaning- the feeling- the vibration- none of that is lost online. I have practiced psychotherapy for 15 years and as a life-long intuitive/empath I can tell you that our 3rd ear/6tth sense becomes heightened and beneficial to the process in online environments. I am not alone in that thinking.
There is much debate about the history or Reiki – to charge or not to charge- distant attunement or not, teaching online or not- and I understand the concerns. That is why I have offered those of us truly interested in this work to join up in a separate group so that we can discuss the celebrations and concerns in a supportive environment.
Here’s the thing. Cyberspace is culture. And cyberspace is here to stay. We may not like or appreciate it, it may not be the way we communicate or create relationships but it is how others- generations X, Y and Z do communicatie. I learned one guiding principle as a therapist- meet people where they are at.
I see many Reiki practitioners who offer services online and rather than rail against it, I am suggesting that proper guidelines and ethical frameworks be set up.. It is not a matter of whether we should do it or not (because people are) – in my humble opinion, it is a matter of delivering Reiki services online in an ethical and respectful manner.
So, if you are curious or if you already conduct online Reiki- if you are not trained as a Reiki practtioner but it is something that intrigues you- or if you simply want to learn Reiki for your own self-care, do join us!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/kybernetesreiki/
Namaste,
DeeAnna
