Customer Reviews

Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art

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I am a traditionally trained Reiki Master/Teacher who has been working with Reiki since 1995. There are many good books on Reiki out there, but this is not one of them.

Among the problems I have with this book, the first is the printing of the symbols (which most traditionally trained RMTs feel is very wrong). It's not even so much that the symbols are printed (although I was taught that they are sacred and as such are not to be published), but the fact that the symbols shown are drawn incorrectly. As well, without being attuned to Reiki, the symbols are useless!

I also strongly question Stein's committment when I read descriptions of her attuning many people, one after another, assembly-line style. Reiki is a practice which is best passed along from teacher to student, by a teacher who makes a committment to the student. It can't be possible to make a proper committment to train someone and follow through with them if you're attuning 50 some-odd people at once. A proper teacher realizes that her students are her responsibility for life, and that she should be there for them after their attunement, not just during. As a RMT once said to me, "We are Master Teachers, not Master Attuners."

Stein also makes Reiki much more complicated than it needs to be. She adds things in where they are not needed, muddles things up, prints misinformation and presents it as truth. All this does is make people confused about what Reiki really is.

And just for the record, please note that anyone who says they can make you a Reiki practitioner through the use of a "distant attunement" is either confused or outright lying. Yes, we can send distant healing, but in order to channel the healing energy of Reiki yourself, you must be attuned *in person* by a Reiki Master/Teacher.

There are other good books on Reiki available out there, and I would urge anyone who wants to learn more about Reiki to seek them out, or to find a reputable RMT in their town and ask to speak to them, or even go for a sample treatment. But this book is not going to help anyone find the simple yet powerful energy that is true Reiki.

Please feel free to email me if you have further questions about this book or Reiki in general.

Diane Stein's book is worth having in your Reiki collection but be sure to read it in critical thinking mode. The giving away of the "secret" symbols of 2nd and 3rd degree Reiki certainly increased her audience for the book but the symbols alone aren't enough to make you a Master. The stories of her giving attunements to mass numbers of people without also giving them the background of Reiki doesn't make for the best Reiki practioners. Take the useful information from this book but also try to leave her anger behind.

If you want truth, this book is not for you. If you want misguided misinformation then by all means this book is for you. Laura is absolutely correct in her review of the book by Ms. Stein. Just a few points about the book. 1. One must question the integrity of a person who publishes sacred information. Does the Dalai Lama allow the sacred teachings to be published? 2. When you have symbols that are drawn in a precise manner to bring about a certain result and you alter or add to or "modernize" a symbol who knows what the result is. By her own admission she had strange unclear things happening and needed clearing. Ask yourself "Do I want that risk?" 3. When you are properly trained in the traditional method of teaching there absolutely is NO WAY you can attune 50 people at a time, let alone 150. You are doing an injustice to those people. A traditional teaching is at minimum 8 hours. You decide what You want. 4. Regardless of promises there is absolutely No Way to attune a person to channel Reiki from a distance. It CANNOT be done. Sure, you will feel energy, but after 24 - 48 hours it goes away. There is a review dated 12-13-00 by a gentleman who has total disregard for sacred knowledge and integrety of those who do hold these teachings as they were intended. I note the DR. in front of the reviewers name of 12-13-00, does this reviewer not charge for his services? It is no different. It is true Ms. Stein says it is the intent that shapes the outcome and the drawing of the symbols does not matter if correct or not. However, you can sit and intend and draw all you want, unless properly attuned IT DOES NOT WORK. In this Ms. Stein is totally misleading. Yes, Ms. Stein has a thing about charging. Does one forget the Universal Law of Exchange? When one gives Reiki "free" it leaves that person either beholden (perhaps that's what is intended) or with a total disregard for what was received. An exchange can be anything of value to both parties. Ms. Stein does have a way with words and it is an easy read, that is if you can get past the feminest slant so read it with an open mind. Then please read some of the other boods by Fran Brown or Helen Haberly and you will know which is of a higher intent. As in all things we have our lessons to learn and you will be led to the teacher who has the needed lesson for you. The choice is yours. Chose wisely. BY: A traditional Master Teacher of 10 years service to Traditional Reiki.

Diane Stein felt a desire tho help others to heal. She felt that touch had the power to heal, became aware of the practice of Reiki and wanted to learn the practice.Unable to afford the very expensive training by a Reiki Master from the traditional school she expended great effort to gain an understanding of the practice of Reiki, the ability to use the healing energy, and the ability to attune others so that they could use the healing energy. She wrote this book to share the information she learned and in the process irritated the traditionally trained Reiki Masters who believe that the symbols published in the book are secret and should not be published.

There is a great difference between sacred and secret. The symbols used in Reiki allow the sharing of healing energy. That makes them special and sacred. To keep them secret limits those who wish to share this healing energy. I don't believe that the creator of all things prefers one group of people over another but loves all equally. The sharing of these sacred symbols is an act of great love.

This book explains very throughly the methods and symbols used in the practice of Reiki and is an excellent reference book for the Reiki practitioner. Whether the traditionally trained agree with her methods or not, they do work and those who are not able to afford traditional training are able to offer healing energy to others.

Every author writes through the filter of his or her own experience. Ms. Stein is openly feminist and Wiccan. I do not embrace either of these ways of life but can still value the information about the practice of Reiki that she has shared with us. I recieved Reiki I from a traditionally trained Reiki Master. When I wished to recieve Reiki II she seemed reluctant to give me that training. I was able to recieve Reiki II and Reiki III from a Reiki Master who was trained by Diane Stein. I am able to share healing energy with others and have successfully attuned others so that they can share the healing energy as well. This is a great gift.

In all things we must decide for ourselves that which is our truth. There is truth in this book. You do not have to agree with all of Ms. Stein's beliefs to find it.

This is the most comprehensive book on Reiki that I have ever come across. I was so fascinated that I stayed up and read the whole book in one night--and I have read it, or even single chapters, again and again. Diane Stein's experiences in trying to find a way to learn Reiki (since her financial means were limited) were especially intriguing to me. I was convinced by her view that all people are meant to know Reiki, and as a Reiki Master, I have attuned everyone free. I do not have the time to teach extensively, so I explain the basics and see that the student has William Rand's Reiki, The Healing Touch for a basic introductory text. (I use a book in Japanese for those who don't read English.) For people who want more information, I always recommend Essential Reiki. I think taking classes with good teachers and classmates on whom to practice is probably the optimum way to learn Reiki, but as Ms. Stein says, that's not always an option.

Like the writer of another Amazon.com review, I do distant attunements, and the idea for doing so, and the instructions, I got from this book, although it seems that Ms. Stein does not herself do distant attunements intended to replace in-person ones.

Another piece of information I first encountered in Essential Reiki is the fact that doing too many attunements at once can exhaust a person. Her account of her own experiences was most helpful to me. It explained some odd experiences I had seen or heard of from others.

I don't always see eye to eye with Ms. Stein, as when she says one needs to put both hands on the body to do Reiki. I give myself Reiki on the train going to and from work, with only one hand on my body and the other hand holding the book I'm reading. She also says, or suggests, that one needs to actually touch to do Reiki, whereas I have felt Reiki from both myself and others when the hands are not touching the body. I also think she has an overly idealistic view of Buddhism. Living in Japan presents the religion and its effects a trifle differently than they are described by people who are acquainted with them mainly in theory.

These differences aside, I find Ms. Stein's book extremely valuable, and I have the utmost respect for her. I also admire her for her values and for all the good she is doing in the world. I know that her publishing the Reiki symbols is deplored by some, but I considered her reasons completely valid. In contrast to what is said in another review, I consider Ms. Stein's method of attunement excellent. I have only managed one in her style because I can't yet hold my breath long enough, but another (more experienced) American Reiki Master here says he has switched to her method of attunement because he finds it definitely stronger. For anyone who wants to know about Reiki in depth, this book is truly ESSENTIAL.

I have been teaching Reiki workshops for almost 20 years. I have my own handouts for the first 2 levels but use Diane Stein's book whenever I attune 3rd Level/ Masters. It is almost an information overload for someone just entering energy healing which is the reason that it is perfect for those who have been practicing for a while and want to pass on the teachings.

This book is considered as both controversial and confusing in the fact that Diane has published both Reiki and non Reiki symbols. Diane Stein has written an extensive book from both her personal experience and research into related esoteric practices. Taking a circuitous route to becoming a Reiki Master she has compiled an interesting book on the information she has learned and practiced.
Diane Stein is a great healer and her book will be of benefit to all seekers of further information on Reiki.

This book should be read by everyone, and especially those interested in the integrative hands-on healing modality and how it can fit into the conventional world. This is the best of all the books that Diane has written. When reading this book, those knowledgeable about these subjects will find a common thread by other authors/books and a better understanding and substantiation will result. Other authors/books for those on the spiritual healing path are:- "Power Healing" by John Wimber, " "The Power of Divine: A Healer's Guide -Tapping into the Miracle" - by Tiffany Snow and "Quantum Touch" by Richard Gordon.

Ms. Stein is to be commended for bringing a vital healing modality out of its shrouds of secrecy and making it available to everyone - not just men, not just persons who have thousands of dollars to pay a Reiki Master. It took a tremendous amount of courage to perform such a feat. Fanatics (usually those making lots of money by keeping Reiki "secret")threatened and terrorized Ms. Stein for wanting to help others. Clearly, her motivation for writing this book was commendable. She personally either charges nothing or very little in comparison to the majority of Reiki Masters, to pass this knowledge on to others. I find prior reviewers note that she is "selfish" to be laughable and absurd. It is interesting that some reviewers are so put off by her references to "her" instead of "he" in the book. Why should it always be "he?" No doubt male readers, used to their superior position in a patriarichal society don't like feeling that their position is being challenged. Perhaps we need some introspection to determine exactly why that reversal of word usage is so upsetting to us. The attunement process, the symbols, and the sage advise in this book are valid and they WORK. As far as her views on the origin of Reiki, the planet, etc. - who knows if she is right or wrong? How can you call a theory ridiculous when all we have are theories? You don't know the real answer - neither do I. Perhaps others would think your theory absurd. Bravo, Ms. Stein. Get this book. It has changed thousands of lives. It can change yours as well.

Finally a place to voice my opinion about this controversial work!

I think this is a great book! Not because I think it is a complete guide to reiki, or that it has the most accurate information (even for its time), or that I think it is up to date... no I think it's a great book because the author had a vision, and she wrote the teachings of reiki down when no one else would! Not to mention how entertaining some of her wacky ideas are! And if for those alone, it is worth the read! I have enjoyed a few of Steins books, and for the most part I think she is a great teacher. I think she is a freakin' nut job, but that's ok.

Having been a reiki master for going on four years now, I know that a lot of what this crazed-feminist-woo woo-spiritualist has to say is not exactly reliable information! Much of it is channeled information (that means she talked to dead people, space aliens, and/or spirit guides to get it) and her radical worldview comes shining through! As many have stated, she comes off at first as a man hater. I know she is not. But yes, she is pro-fem. And that is quite all right.

The most inaccurate information in her book is the bit about reiki's history in Atlantis. Not that I have been to Atlantis, I just find it a bit silly to think that in grade school people learned level one, in middle school they learned level two, and in high school they became reiki masters. That's just kind of simplified. Sure there may have been some kind of level system to a system of healing that may have came down from space aliens to Atlantians, etc. But I just doubt it would have matched so perfectly to the three level system of Usui Reiki.

I don't think her book could harm you, as long as you know you don't have to be a wiccan to practice reiki! Oh, and its ok to be a straight male to practice as well! Ha!

Essential Reiki is a book that revolutionized the way reiki is practiced! It brought reiki out of the dark ages where it was almost impossible for the working class to obtain such wonderful knowledge! It helped make anyone a potential healer! It kept reiki masters honest during a time of copy write, trademark, and restriction battles! And, this book had the audacity to present the sacred symbols many elitists would have liked to keep secret!

All in all it's a wonderful book, and at one time this was the boldest contribution to reiki ever seen on the planet!

Be Well,

Stephen Mace