Steve Murray Reiki Attunements
Hi All,
I am new reiki and quite curious, I just wanted to ask if anyone within the forum had successfully been attuned by Steve Murrays reiki dvds?
I have just purchased his dvd 1st Level Attunement and his book Reiki Secrets, they are both very interesting and informative. I have read other material on the subject and of course read other peoples posts on this forum.
I understand there will be some controversy regarding his method of teaching, so I would be grateful if people just posted their comments about the success rate from reading/watching his material.
I look forward to hearing your replies.
Answers:
Hiya
I have not seen any of his work but have seen lots of posts on other forums.. certainly gets people talking!
Just go with what it right for you - that's what counts.
My personal feeling is that Reiki is not something you just attune too and off you go. The real learning comes from practice. If you have a good Reiki Master Teacher that offers you back up and support then it's worth every penny.
If you look in the Reiki threads everyone gets different feelings/issues coming up, this goes for the practionner and client alike, and whilst I personally got most of my knowledge from books and forums, I really wished I had a RMT that was willing to share their time.
Many people I think stop giving/doing Reiki because of lack of ongoing support.
Luckily, I managed to find a great Reiki Share near to meso I could share andwatch others work.
I havent personally lacked much confidence as I had already been involved in Spiritual Healing at Church.. but everyone is different.
Enjoy your Reiki journey.
Answers:
Hello SJ
I don't have any personal experience of these DVDs, I'm afraid, but they were discussed here in two earlier threads:
and
General concensus on those was pretty much in line with Dedwydd's post in terms of the value of a good and supportive RMT, andI'd go along with that too. Though no doubt someone will come along and say ah, but it HAS to be this way or that way because everyone else does it wrongly ;)
Holistic
Answers:
Hi SJ,
Well he does have an interesting web site.
I think most people would agree having a Master that can offer backup, support and guidance would be best. However, I guess if you are looking at the DVD option then the personal Master option is not open to you for what ever reason. Also there are Master that will offer NO or little support after the attunments, so in that respect the DVD option is not much worse that attending a personal Teacher.
As for Steve Murray, I have no personal knowledge of him, but looking at his site, his version of Reiki is reasonably sound. His symbols are only slightly incorrect, and his history of Reiki, still has an aspect of the Western version.
So I would say if it feel right for you go for it.
Of course Reiki is not just about getting the attunment and then that’s it. You need to continue working on your self and practice on others.
Answers:
Is this the site to which you were referring? (Links to sites mentioned are always good ;))
On the History page, he seems to be referring to what’s now commonly called the Reiki Fairy Story … the parable attributed to Mrs Takata … which though it might have its uses in terms of teaching Reiki to the West, is now widely regarded as fiction.
Reiki Symbols links to a page where they are described, with a further link to see them. This is to a page selling flat stones with the symbols engraved on them.
To be fair, he does say that the engraver can accommodate variations in the symbols if sent an accurate drawing of what is required.
However, you say they are slightlyincorrect. Could you tell us where to find the “correct” symbols, please? :)
Holistic
Answers:
Well he does show the stones with symbols on them on his site as "Traditional Usui Reiki Symbols".
As far as I can tell from the pictures, CKR and SHK look correct and as taught by most teachers. HSZSN is a tricky one as the Japanese kanji that make up the actual symbol are overlapped and split in several ways to actually construct the symbol (Maureen Kelly shows a non-calligriphied example of this in her book Reiki and the Healing Buddha). The five kanji that actually make up HSZSN have common strokes within them that are the reason for the symbol having this overlap. Therefore there are several variations of this symbol taught and nobody can really say (unless it's blatently wrong) that any of them are not quite right. Finally the DKM symbol that he shows IS using lines that are not representative of the true DKM japanese kanji. The D is correct, but the K is meant to be a kanki that is of a person carrying a torch (for those who want to see, it is correctly drawn here: ). As for the M, that is totally wrong and has resulted from a case of chinese whispers in the calligraphy sense. (The correct kanji for M is shown here: ).
Of course we always have to bear in mind that there are other factors that effect the kanji. a) In history there were literally 10's of thousands of different kanji in use, but in more recent times (I can dig around in my notes and find the year if people really want to know) it was decided to create a standardized list of kanji for use in everyday media and work. In modern japan it is only necessary to learn about 3,000 kanji to be able to read the newspapers and work in business. b) Calligraphic styles have changed over time. In history the kanji was more like a picture that described the meaning, whereas modern kanji have been simplified to make them easier to draw, yet this means that the pictoral descriptions are lost somewhat. A classic example is in the old style and new style kanji for the name Rei Ki. The old style shows things like the three shamen in Rei and the steam rising from the boiling pot of rice in Ki, whereas the new style does not show these things any more due to their simplification.And finally c) When calligraphers write the kanjiby hand, there is always some variation of the strokes as they are putting their own feeling behind what they are drawing. If you want a consistent and agreed style of kanji to work from then the ones that are computerised and shown on the site () are as good as any.
Love and Reiki Hugs
Answers:
SJ,
Just wanted to say that I have the same dvd and book. I was given it as a present, but had already done my first level attunement by then and was about to do the second. So I can't say whether his dvd attunement would work or not. All you can do is try it out and see if it works for you. If you feel the reiki is not strong enough for you maybe you could go for a personal attunement. In ways I believe the energy is accessible to everyone who is open to receiving it. The attunements are nice because you get to have a day to experience and share that experience with others. I'm glad I did my attunement with a master in person but it's nice to have the dvd as a meditation type reiki top up if I feel like it any time!!
Star_dust
Answers:
Hi Holistic,
I guess this question was to me!
Sorry about the slow response, I can see that Giles (Energylz) has answered the question much better than I could, however, I will still give you my response.
The Distance and Master symbols are in fact Japanese kanji (characters), and as the distance symbol is a complex amalgamation of kanji, I’ll stick with the DKM example.
The translation for DKM could be big light bright or big bright light, and apparently the DKM symbol can be seen in Japan, with reference to the advertising of a torch (flash light). So much for the secret, sacred symbols!
The first part of the kanji D looks OK, however the second part K looks like the kanji has exploded, a typical example of reproducing, some-thing you do not understand, i.e. a kanji. The last part M – Myo – bright, is in it-self made up of two kanji. The left hand kani represents Sun and the right hand kanji represents Moon or getsu, put together mean bright.
In addition to the like supplied by Giles, I quite like this site for information.
Answers:
hi all
Yes i too found the symbols slightly incorrect as to what i was taught, and the second part of theDKM is the area of difference amongst other sections of the symbols.
But i do also feel that the "intent" again is most important, and prior to attuning, this is known in the sacred ceremony.
I have watched his dvd's and read his book, purely to see how this differed from hands on.
And i must say the whole experience of hands on attunements are much more stronger and energies felt, more of a sacred feeling.
The support afterwards, expressing experiences etc.is also important.
My personal view is that Reiki is not something that should be bought of a high street shop off a shelf, its sacred and deeply spirtual, and something that must be remembered and cherished as a moment of importance in ones lifes path.,
Reiki should be treated with respect for which it needs to be honoured.
In a way i see what he trys to say about wanting "everyone to have access to reiki"with his book and to open up everything in reiki, but something inside me says" there is a deep loss here as to the original meaning of the reiki energy".
Typical !!, where reiki once treasured so much and its sacred form,from the origins of usui, now becomes a productivity line of a money making tool ,since brought into the western world !!.
Im not talking about energy exchange here, reiki for donations or payment etc.
Its a shame as taking or seeking attunements in this way can leave the person recieving the attunement missing out on experiences so blissful and important teachings in an actual hands on course.
It makes me wonder how reiki will be percieved in years to come[sm=scratchchin.gif]. and i hope it wont lose its sacred reputation.:eek:
But hey!... Im sure if things are to change, Reiki will keep a keen eye on things.
this is my opinion of course!.......
ooohh!...you got me going now.
blessings[sm=nature-smiley-008.gif]
sacrel
Answers:
I couldn't agree more - I still remember and cherish my R1,2 & M/T attunements - milestones along my path. Having been taught in group settings, the discussions and feedback of experiences amongst students all gave validity to the initially tenuous gift of healing that was being passed on from teacher to student. We were also able to practice on each other and feel the energy being channelled and received - at Reiki 1 this was a very magical experience.
Receiving an attunement from a DVD just doesn't have the same kind of feedback mechanism. How will it know when to comfort a student in times of emotional clearance (one woman in my R1 class was in floods of tears directly after an attunement). Does the DVD have a box of tissues to hand in case they are needed? How will it know if the attunement has worked? How will the student know it has worked satisfactorily.
For me, the outcome of every attunement is different. Some students connect and open up to the Reiki very easily where as for others it's not until a 4th attunement that I feel they have a strong connection. Sometimes I see their Reiki guide, other times a beam of white light connecting to their crown or feel a great sense of peace and clam - each time it is different. The point being, that I have feedback from 'spirit' and student. A Reiki teacher has a responsibility towards their students to ensure they have been attuned and have the 'ability' to channel Reiki for themselves. I'm not sure if my DVD player would take on the same responsibility.
If people are drawn to learning from a DVD and they are happy doing so then that's fine but I'd much prefer direct human interaction.
Kind Regards
Papillon
I am new reiki and quite curious, I just wanted to ask if anyone within the forum had successfully been attuned by Steve Murrays reiki dvds?
I have just purchased his dvd 1st Level Attunement and his book Reiki Secrets, they are both very interesting and informative. I have read other material on the subject and of course read other peoples posts on this forum.
I understand there will be some controversy regarding his method of teaching, so I would be grateful if people just posted their comments about the success rate from reading/watching his material.
I look forward to hearing your replies.
Answers:
Hiya
I have not seen any of his work but have seen lots of posts on other forums.. certainly gets people talking!
Just go with what it right for you - that's what counts.
My personal feeling is that Reiki is not something you just attune too and off you go. The real learning comes from practice. If you have a good Reiki Master Teacher that offers you back up and support then it's worth every penny.
If you look in the Reiki threads everyone gets different feelings/issues coming up, this goes for the practionner and client alike, and whilst I personally got most of my knowledge from books and forums, I really wished I had a RMT that was willing to share their time.
Many people I think stop giving/doing Reiki because of lack of ongoing support.
Luckily, I managed to find a great Reiki Share near to meso I could share andwatch others work.
I havent personally lacked much confidence as I had already been involved in Spiritual Healing at Church.. but everyone is different.
Enjoy your Reiki journey.
Answers:
Hello SJ
I don't have any personal experience of these DVDs, I'm afraid, but they were discussed here in two earlier threads:
and
General concensus on those was pretty much in line with Dedwydd's post in terms of the value of a good and supportive RMT, andI'd go along with that too. Though no doubt someone will come along and say ah, but it HAS to be this way or that way because everyone else does it wrongly ;)
Holistic
Answers:
Hi SJ,
Well he does have an interesting web site.
I think most people would agree having a Master that can offer backup, support and guidance would be best. However, I guess if you are looking at the DVD option then the personal Master option is not open to you for what ever reason. Also there are Master that will offer NO or little support after the attunments, so in that respect the DVD option is not much worse that attending a personal Teacher.
As for Steve Murray, I have no personal knowledge of him, but looking at his site, his version of Reiki is reasonably sound. His symbols are only slightly incorrect, and his history of Reiki, still has an aspect of the Western version.
So I would say if it feel right for you go for it.
Of course Reiki is not just about getting the attunment and then that’s it. You need to continue working on your self and practice on others.
Answers:
Is this the site to which you were referring? (Links to sites mentioned are always good ;))
On the History page, he seems to be referring to what’s now commonly called the Reiki Fairy Story … the parable attributed to Mrs Takata … which though it might have its uses in terms of teaching Reiki to the West, is now widely regarded as fiction.
Reiki Symbols links to a page where they are described, with a further link to see them. This is to a page selling flat stones with the symbols engraved on them.
To be fair, he does say that the engraver can accommodate variations in the symbols if sent an accurate drawing of what is required.
However, you say they are slightlyincorrect. Could you tell us where to find the “correct” symbols, please? :)
Holistic
Answers:
Well he does show the stones with symbols on them on his site as "Traditional Usui Reiki Symbols".
As far as I can tell from the pictures, CKR and SHK look correct and as taught by most teachers. HSZSN is a tricky one as the Japanese kanji that make up the actual symbol are overlapped and split in several ways to actually construct the symbol (Maureen Kelly shows a non-calligriphied example of this in her book Reiki and the Healing Buddha). The five kanji that actually make up HSZSN have common strokes within them that are the reason for the symbol having this overlap. Therefore there are several variations of this symbol taught and nobody can really say (unless it's blatently wrong) that any of them are not quite right. Finally the DKM symbol that he shows IS using lines that are not representative of the true DKM japanese kanji. The D is correct, but the K is meant to be a kanki that is of a person carrying a torch (for those who want to see, it is correctly drawn here: ). As for the M, that is totally wrong and has resulted from a case of chinese whispers in the calligraphy sense. (The correct kanji for M is shown here: ).
Of course we always have to bear in mind that there are other factors that effect the kanji. a) In history there were literally 10's of thousands of different kanji in use, but in more recent times (I can dig around in my notes and find the year if people really want to know) it was decided to create a standardized list of kanji for use in everyday media and work. In modern japan it is only necessary to learn about 3,000 kanji to be able to read the newspapers and work in business. b) Calligraphic styles have changed over time. In history the kanji was more like a picture that described the meaning, whereas modern kanji have been simplified to make them easier to draw, yet this means that the pictoral descriptions are lost somewhat. A classic example is in the old style and new style kanji for the name Rei Ki. The old style shows things like the three shamen in Rei and the steam rising from the boiling pot of rice in Ki, whereas the new style does not show these things any more due to their simplification.And finally c) When calligraphers write the kanjiby hand, there is always some variation of the strokes as they are putting their own feeling behind what they are drawing. If you want a consistent and agreed style of kanji to work from then the ones that are computerised and shown on the site () are as good as any.
Love and Reiki Hugs
Answers:
SJ,
Just wanted to say that I have the same dvd and book. I was given it as a present, but had already done my first level attunement by then and was about to do the second. So I can't say whether his dvd attunement would work or not. All you can do is try it out and see if it works for you. If you feel the reiki is not strong enough for you maybe you could go for a personal attunement. In ways I believe the energy is accessible to everyone who is open to receiving it. The attunements are nice because you get to have a day to experience and share that experience with others. I'm glad I did my attunement with a master in person but it's nice to have the dvd as a meditation type reiki top up if I feel like it any time!!
Star_dust
Answers:
Hi Holistic,
I guess this question was to me!
Sorry about the slow response, I can see that Giles (Energylz) has answered the question much better than I could, however, I will still give you my response.
The Distance and Master symbols are in fact Japanese kanji (characters), and as the distance symbol is a complex amalgamation of kanji, I’ll stick with the DKM example.
The translation for DKM could be big light bright or big bright light, and apparently the DKM symbol can be seen in Japan, with reference to the advertising of a torch (flash light). So much for the secret, sacred symbols!
The first part of the kanji D looks OK, however the second part K looks like the kanji has exploded, a typical example of reproducing, some-thing you do not understand, i.e. a kanji. The last part M – Myo – bright, is in it-self made up of two kanji. The left hand kani represents Sun and the right hand kanji represents Moon or getsu, put together mean bright.
In addition to the like supplied by Giles, I quite like this site for information.
Answers:
hi all
Yes i too found the symbols slightly incorrect as to what i was taught, and the second part of theDKM is the area of difference amongst other sections of the symbols.
But i do also feel that the "intent" again is most important, and prior to attuning, this is known in the sacred ceremony.
I have watched his dvd's and read his book, purely to see how this differed from hands on.
And i must say the whole experience of hands on attunements are much more stronger and energies felt, more of a sacred feeling.
The support afterwards, expressing experiences etc.is also important.
My personal view is that Reiki is not something that should be bought of a high street shop off a shelf, its sacred and deeply spirtual, and something that must be remembered and cherished as a moment of importance in ones lifes path.,
Reiki should be treated with respect for which it needs to be honoured.
In a way i see what he trys to say about wanting "everyone to have access to reiki"with his book and to open up everything in reiki, but something inside me says" there is a deep loss here as to the original meaning of the reiki energy".
Typical !!, where reiki once treasured so much and its sacred form,from the origins of usui, now becomes a productivity line of a money making tool ,since brought into the western world !!.
Im not talking about energy exchange here, reiki for donations or payment etc.
Its a shame as taking or seeking attunements in this way can leave the person recieving the attunement missing out on experiences so blissful and important teachings in an actual hands on course.
It makes me wonder how reiki will be percieved in years to come[sm=scratchchin.gif]. and i hope it wont lose its sacred reputation.:eek:
But hey!... Im sure if things are to change, Reiki will keep a keen eye on things.
this is my opinion of course!.......
ooohh!...you got me going now.
blessings[sm=nature-smiley-008.gif]
sacrel
Answers:
I couldn't agree more - I still remember and cherish my R1,2 & M/T attunements - milestones along my path. Having been taught in group settings, the discussions and feedback of experiences amongst students all gave validity to the initially tenuous gift of healing that was being passed on from teacher to student. We were also able to practice on each other and feel the energy being channelled and received - at Reiki 1 this was a very magical experience.
Receiving an attunement from a DVD just doesn't have the same kind of feedback mechanism. How will it know when to comfort a student in times of emotional clearance (one woman in my R1 class was in floods of tears directly after an attunement). Does the DVD have a box of tissues to hand in case they are needed? How will it know if the attunement has worked? How will the student know it has worked satisfactorily.
For me, the outcome of every attunement is different. Some students connect and open up to the Reiki very easily where as for others it's not until a 4th attunement that I feel they have a strong connection. Sometimes I see their Reiki guide, other times a beam of white light connecting to their crown or feel a great sense of peace and clam - each time it is different. The point being, that I have feedback from 'spirit' and student. A Reiki teacher has a responsibility towards their students to ensure they have been attuned and have the 'ability' to channel Reiki for themselves. I'm not sure if my DVD player would take on the same responsibility.
If people are drawn to learning from a DVD and they are happy doing so then that's fine but I'd much prefer direct human interaction.
Kind Regards
Papillon