Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art

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the traditionally trained Reiki Masters who believe that the symbols published in the book are secret and should not be published.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.

Good primer.

I was attuned to all three levels of Usui Reiki (Master level in Usui), and given some materials then, but the Master (Mistress?) who attuned me also encouraged learning from every source possible. I bought this and I'm glad I did. Stein researches and gives history and her unique viewpoint and experiences. She is also all about practical instruction and suggestions, showing and telling about the Reiki symbols, et cetera. I find myself referring back here often. When a Reiki 1 I attuned asked for guidance on giving her first treatment session, I ended up discussing the positions and procedure based largely on Stein's illustrations and description (the Reiki 1 has a copy of this book as well). Some Reiki folks who follow a more traditional (American-traditional that is) approach dislike sharing the information this way. They think it should be limited and controlled. I agree with Stein's assessment that the need for healing in the world is greater than ever before and we need all the healers in action we can get. The book itself states it is not a substitute for attunement, so any criticism on that basis is misplaced. It is a beautifully done introduction and reference work that every Reiki (and those interested in becoming one) would do well to read and keep handy.

I read this book shortly after taking a Level One Reiki class and found it to be an amazing source of information and ideas. I have since then obtained Master/Teacher certification and highly recommend this book to my students. I do disagree with some of the things in this book but I feel it is important to read all points of view and make one's own decisions. There are many add-ins within this book that are mixed in with the Reiki information and for a newcommer, that might become confusing or misleading but that is easily remedied with further study with a Reiki Master/Teacher and through continued readings of other authors. From it's debut, this book has been controversial. Reiki elitists continue to speak out against this book in defense of their own methods as training fees are getting more affordable to the public. This book has done a great service to the public by giving detailed information about this wonderful energy and system! It can't make you a reiki practioner but it will help you learn about reiki. As far as distance attunements go, I have received them and given them as well as received and given in-person attunements and I can attest that distance attunement is quite valid and potent. Reiki has no limits, only people's minds have limits.

This is an update from a past review in 1999. Because of Diane Stein's book which was the foundation for my Reiki teachings, I have continued my path and practice as a Reiki Master Teacher. I am now an author blending the knowledge which I have received from other methods and teachers of Reiki, along with my Feng Shui practice which moves energy in a positvie direction. Some how my name was removed from the review and I no longer have the email that is listed in that review. I read Diane Stein's book before I received my attunements. It was highly suggested by my Master Teacher. I found it to be a very comprehensive study and well illustrated. I was delighted to find the symbols for all 3 levels of Reiki and a complete explanation of her workshop sessions. I have 6 books on Reiki with their own style of writing, some more comprehensive than others on healing animals and varied information on the history, and healing techniques. Though I like them all (traditional), Essential Reiki is the most complete reference book that I have found. I am not wiccan, and I'm not a feminist. My background is Christian. The meta-physical side of me embraces the Truth in all religions. I am a Reiki Master in the non-traditional sense. Personally, I would exclude the power exercises in the back of her book, and refrain from the feminist slant that her book promotes. For this reason my rating is a 4 instead of a 5. At the same time I'm grateful that she had the courage and knowledge to write this book! The main difference I find between Diane's book and traditional Reiki is...non-traditional isn't secretive, and isn't exclusive because of cost. I teach in a workshop setting and give Reiki treatments. I am open to travel, and teach other self help workshops. You are welcome to contact me for further information.

This book is not a comprehensive book on healing touch... it does describe more about practical reiki than most advanced books on this topic. Half of all the Reiki books on the market do not discuss the symbols, this book actually discusses the symbols and uses an alternative use of the main symbol Chokurei, it describes this use fairly well, but still left me with uncertainty. So I would say it adds a huge perspective to the topic of symbols but it doesn't cover them fully. Overall this book is only the essential bits, there are two more in the series! In the last 10 years, there have been more offshoots of Reiki that are not discussed in this book. Overall I would say this should be a read for any serious practitioner.

The author began Reiki at a time when classes weren't as widely available as now, so improvised in a unique and very effective way. Still applicable now, since many Reiki Practitioners add their own personal touch to their practice of this ancient healing technique, adding other healing modalities they might know. Also included are the Reiki symbols, which were once kept secret from the uninitiated. At the time of the author's writing, being able to Google them wasn't possible. Still, it's explained that they cannot be used without the proper "attunements". While you can learn much about the history and use of Reiki from a book, you would still need to take a course and receive the attunements in order to practice it. This is sometimes not realized and reader reviews express feeling "gypped," having felt that they could utilize Reiki after reading the book. It can inform enough to determine whether you'd like to take a course, though.

Perfect condition.

If you are a practitioner or student, this book is essential. The best book I've seen on Reiki definitely recommended reading

Um livro excelente da Diane a fundadora do reiki essencial. Uma abordagem clara, precisa para todos os niveis

una buona guida per capire e studiare un po' di storia e applicazioni del reiki, con racconto di esperienze personali e idee per la pratica.

I had already owned this book a while ago but lost it, it perfectly explains all teachings of reiki in detail and was what I used to study years ago, I didn’t bother looking at other titles, it was easy to find on Amazon, price was great and arrived super quick.

I am very interested in the subject and am very pleased to have come to see this for it shows and explains in detail how to go about this.