Yesterday I sat down to do some energy work for my upcoming Reiki Master Teacher course on 21-22 March (yes, I do have to start tending the energy for that class already – it is big work!). There are two places remaining on that course, but those who’ve already committed are studying away – there’s a minimum of 20 hours of prep not including their own personal practice that is always ongoing. I sent them a welcome video to explain ways to make sure they are prepared in the best possible way, and what to expect from the work.

One of the things I said on that video was that, in my opinion, the least important thing to think about at this point, or on the practical training days, is teaching Reiki to other people. Obviously we cover the connection rituals (in my case I teach the Western Attunements and the Japanese Reiju Empowerments), which are essential for teaching. But in terms of teaching the class? That’s a discussion for another time – and I’m here for that discussion for my Reiki Masters whenever they are ready, but have to tell you it is far less interesting discussion than anything that happens on the workshop!

Obviously you have to qualify as a Reiki Master Teacher if you want to teach the class. And teaching the class, from Reiki 1 up, is excellent fun – I do it all the time! But does it follow that once you have these “Master attunements” you are automatically a Master, imbued with special powers to immediately stride into the world conferring bits of your Mastery to others? If you’re a Reiki Master, have you mastered Reiki?

Should we use the term “Master”?

First of all, let’s deal with the word. I actually don’t have an issue with the term Reiki Master – it’s so well known now that it is a simple way to communicate what you do, it’s a handy label. For example, I refer to myself online as the Reiki Shaman; it’s a brand, a shorthand, a way to communicate to someone in seconds the essence of what I do so they can filter me in or out in terms of their own interest. That’s it.

You only need to spend five minutes with me to see that a) I know what the word shaman actually means and how it traditionally would be conferred, and b) I care about skill and understanding, and being in service to healing, not titles and made up ideas of status. You won’t see me donning a “shaman costume” and naming myself something with an animal name and the words “medicine woman” in it. The term Reiki Shaman is a container, and one that I tend carefully, but it is just that.

Likewise, I use the terms Reiki Master and Reiki Master Teacher, not to suggest any status but to easily tell you what I do. I teach Reiki. The words can be helpful but they are not what’s important here. The work is.

So, can we master Reiki?

Learning to teach Reiki is often a big motivation to do the training – it was my own reason for doing it too, back in 2005. But Reiki Master Teacher training, if it’s well-crafted, is about so much more than that. What I’ve found is that even those who come to learn to teach leave feeling that is the least important thing they’ve picked up! And if they didn’t feel that way, I wouldn’t have done my job because RMT begins to unravel some of the most beautiful and powerful aspects of the system. Yes, you read that right – it begins to unravel it. Master Level is a beginning.

I have a deep commitment to promoting excellence in Reiki. In many ways it is such a simple process, but there is so much skill in Reiki if you care to learn it. My sweet spot of fascination in Reiki is the crossover between the mechanics of the work – the actual process of energy healing, beyond going with the flow – and the mysticism that lies beneath that, and holds it in its own, vast container.

That being my approach – and part of my overall mission on this planet – I certainly believe we can achieve that excellence. But it is not something that can truly be certified – while we are still here in world, living, learning, I don’t know if can in the truest sense be “mastered”. It is a meeting point of a few things: understanding, skill, disciplined practice, service and spiritual surrender. It is the work of a lifetime. Perhaps, then, a life lived in that pursuit is Mastery?

Let’s cultivate Mastery

Doing a workshop might not create true Mastery, but it can certainly open new doors for you to walk through in the following years in pursuit of it. My Reiki Master Teacher training concentrates on a few things: connection rituals, master symbols, karmic and soul level healing, and building intuition for greater skill and freedom in the work. The goal is not to memorise these things to tell these to others, that is not mastery – the goal is to begin to truly understand those things. To integrate them and know them in your bones. The healing experiences provided by the process are one of the biggest things that serve that call to Mastery: you can’t be unchanged by facilitating and receiving those energetic experiences. It is a long game, but it is the biggest part of what what will make you a better healer.

It is not necessarily the “level” conferred by the training that makes the biggest difference, I personally know many extraordinary healers who stopped at Reiki 2. RMT isn’t the only show in town, you know. Those people are excellent because they pursued Mastery in their own way. So, whether RMT is for you or not, what can you do to pursue your Mastery?

Consistently showing up for your practice is key. Theoretical knowledge without practice will never be excellence or mastery, because healing is practical. This wisdom has to be embodied and regularly cultivated.

Continual study is essential if you seek mastery, and I refer to your personal work and reading. This study is not nearly confined to attending courses. Through personal practice and geeky book learning, I learned things about the Reiki 2 symbols a year or two ago that revolutionised my understanding of them – 20 years in! And I regularly have experiences with my clients or in ceremony that deepen my understanding. Grab hold of the best books, show up for your meditations, do only the courses that call to your soul, and listen to the most experienced teachers you can find. Gobble up the fruits of other people’s experience – and then show up for your own, which is where you will truly find your understanding.

Learn with me – I’m a Reiki Master, after all 😉

To support your ongoing Reiki learning, I created the Reiki Skills Lodge in 2024. These are free (or by donation, if you’re feeling flush) where we dig into a practical aspect of Reiki every month. I’ve shared all the ones that are for Reiki 1 and above – if you are Reiki 2 or Reiki Master and want access to those playlists, that is also free, just contact me and I will send them to you.

The next Reiki Skills Lodge is Monday 09 February, we focus on issues around maintaining a personal practice. You can sign up and join here (you’ll also get the recording link direct to your inbox once it’s recorded).

And, notwithstanding what I’ve said about the true nature of Mastery, the Reiki Master Teacher training is an absolutely incandescent experience. There is still time to join up and prepare for the training in March – find the information and register here.

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