The Online Publication of the Reiki University
Reiki vs. Gov't Regulation
by Ellen Louise Kahne, Reiki Master
In Texas, a state legislative bill has been proposed
by Rep. Danburg to regulate Reiki. One of the provisions of the bill concerns
Reiki Touch and the Reiki Alliance, and seeks to advise and control the
training and licensing of Reiki in Texas. In effect, this bill would make
members of these two organizations the exclusive providers of Reiki in Texas.
The Reiki Alliance has a statement of purpose which requires
the payment of $10,000 (US) for teaching each Reiki Master. The Reiki Touch
organization is reputed to charge a similar fee structure for Reiki Master
level training. Reiki Masters who are not members of the Reiki Alliance
or the Reiki Touch organizations and who charge varying tuition and whose
teaching methodologies vary are organizing to fight against the proposed
Texas legislation. It must be noted that although the Reiki Alliance is
mentioned in the Texas legislation, Phyllis Furamoto, a founder of the Reiki
Alliance, has disavowed any connection to or support of the Texas Reiki
bill.
At stake here is who has the right to teach, practice
and advertise Reiki. Reiki is recognized as a spiritual discipline and practice
that is open and available to people of all backgrounds and cultures. This
is a First Amendment constitutional issue, and concerns monopoly in restraint
of trade, regarding pressures to limit or exclude Reiki practitioners and
teachers by segments of the Reiki community and by the national massage
school lobby (Joint Council) through licensing and government regulation.
Reiki is laying on of hands spiritual healing that is
taught and transmitted through a 19th century Japanese lineage and perspective.
Many Reiki-trained clergy and lay charismatic healers of all faiths use
laying on of hands for healing services in their ministries.
The regulation of Reiki made front page news recently
because the New York Massage Board decided by a vote of 6 to 1 that Reiki
is not massage and, therefore, not subject to regulation as such. This came
as a result of the concerted efforts of the Reiki spiritual community, clergy,
and other non-massage therapists who have been for years to detach non-massage
modalities from professional massage licensing requirements in New York
State.
A Nevada Reiki Master who wanted to open a center for
Reiki, Tai Chi, and yoga has related that in her state, Reiki is regulated
by an "energy board" that requires practitioners to be free of
substance abuse. In Nevada, Reiki laying on of hands spiritual touch healing
is illegal unless the Reiki Master or practitioner is also a licensed massage
therapist; otherwise, Reiki must be done as distant healing above the body
of a patient.
Reiki Healer,
Heal Thyself!
With so many factions tearing at the fabric of the Reiki
community, the Reiki Peace Network has issued a call for self-examination
and healing of the wounds in the Reiki healing community, which is also
a call to action in opposition of those who seek to limit or regulate Reiki
empowerment, Reiki laying on of hands spiritual healing, or the dissemination
of information about Reiki.
As the millennium approaches, it is time that the Reiki
healing community become unified in spiritual service to humanity and to
the earth which sustains us all.
Reiki is about accessing Divine energy; it will always
uplift society. If one brings Reiki to a conscious level through prayer
of intent, one touches with Power, no matter how great the distance. And
Reiki is always spiritual in nature.
What we are saying to our brothers and sisters in Texas,
Nevada, and elsewhere is to stand up and be counted to keep the right to
spiritual healing in the hands of everyone.
Reiki is God's healing energy which was sent in an enlightenment
through a humble but determined Buddhist monk. In his era Dr. Usui, who
recovered the lost ancient art of Reiki spiritual healing, was concerned
that Reiki not disappear again. We are properly concerned with the dissemination
of this precious healing gift of Grace for every person who wants to learn
it, for all who need and want laying on of hands spiritual healing in our
era.
Those who are trained in Reiki know that it unifies all
cultures and works without regard to time and distance. It is beyond the
control of any who would seek to limit it. Reiki is guided by Divine intelligence
and connected to us through universal law.
Copyright Ellen Louise Kahne