My Reiki I and II Certification Process
Reiki, much like coaching, does not have a standard baseline of study for certification. Not all certifications are the same and every practitioner practices differently. Skip to the bottom for the nutshell version of my reiki journey or read on for the in-depth version.
How Some Reiki Pracitioners Are Certified
When I researched reiki trainings, I was SHOCKED to discover that there were MANY offerings where you could earn your Reiki I AND Reiki II certification within a couple of hours of study over one weekend and start practicing on others on Monday! Many reiki practitioners have been certified in this way.
No months of study or experience required. Some offerings did not even have a live human teaching this sacred healing modality in real time - it was all pre-recorded.
None of that felt in alignment for me.
My Reiki Certification Process
Memorial Day weekend 2018 was when I met my reiki mentor in Nashville and I started receiving reiki from her at least once a month. During my dark night of the soul for two years... sometimes it was more often. Reiki was beyond transformative for me and I felt called to offer it to others. My reiki mentor does not offer trainings, so I went in search of someone who did.
I had received reiki once from Kelsey J Patel at The Den meditation studio in LA years ago, and began following her teachings and offerings for years. Her first book (Burning Bright released in 2020) really resonated with me so I knew I wanted be certified by her. Even though it was WAY more expensive than the other trainings I researched. I didn't know HOW or WHEN since I would need to travel to LA and be there for an extended period of time... but then the pandemic happened and Kelsey offered training over zoom for the first time ever. It was my answer (and a pandemic gift)!
Kelsey's Reiki I certification process is a couple of live hours of study and attunement one afternoon followed by a protocol that includes self-reiki and working with the reiki precepts that must be completed daily for 30 consecutive days (the count restarts at 1 if you miss a day). Additionally, I was required to practice reiki with 3 different volunteers for four sessions. We shared about our experiences as they unfolded with other trainees, and all gathered with Kelsey a month later for further discussion and study before being certified in Reiki I.
Reiki II involved 2 half days of study, learning the reiki symbols and receiving the attunement for distance reiki. Followed by 30 non-consecutive days of a protocol of self-reiki connected to healing 30 moments or years in my past. You already know I have quite a trauma-filled past... so this was intensive and took me four months to complete. In addition to the self healing, I was required to continue practicing sharing reiki with volunteers: in-person and through time and space over zoom or not connected to technology at all. I had to complete several essays about my experience and share it with Kelsey during some 1x1 time to complete Reiki II.
A Note on Virtual vs. In-Person Reiki
I was a bit of a skeptic that distance reiki would "work". Would I feel anything or really learn what I needed to learn without being in the same physical space as my teacher? I was blown away by the training experience. And actually started receiving distance reiki, myself, from another teacher 3-4 times a year. (She was the one guiding the distance reiki session when I got the message to go find and adopt Luna!)
I continue to be in awe of the virtual experience of reiki with my own clients and am such a believer of this healing modality whether you share physical space or not. There are unique benefits to type of experience. It's why I offer it both ways.
In a Nutshell
So... all in all, I've been receiving reiki on my own personal healing journey consistently for four years in person with one mentor, and virtually for two years with another. I was trained by a third mentor during a process that unfolded over nine months and included live training and hands-on reiki experience with myself and volunteers. Self-reiki is a part of a my daily life and I have been sharing reiki with others both virtually and in-person for a year.