Product Description

2005 Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) Winner for Best Alternative Health Book!

What is Reiki? How has this Japanese healing tradition evolved over the years? How are modern magick practitioners using Reiki energy in their spells and rituals?

Christopher Penczak answers these questions and more in his groundbreaking examination of Reiki from a magickal perspective. The history, mythos, variations, and three degrees of Reiki are discussed in depth. Penczak also suggests way to integrate Reiki and magickal practice, such as using Reiki energy for psychic development and with candle magick, crystals, herbs, charms, and talismans.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #182812 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780738705736
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:
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About the Author
Christopher Penczak is an eclectic witch, writer, and healing practitioner. His practice draws upon the foundation of modern Witchcraft blended with the wisdom of mystical traditions from across the globe.

Formerly based in the music industry, Christopher was empowered by his spiritual experiences to live a magickal life, and began a full-time practice of teaching, writing, and seeing clients. His books include the The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation, and Psychic Development, The Inner Temple of Witchcraft CD Companion set, City Magick (Red Wheel/Weiser), Spirit Allies (Red Wheel/Weiser), Gay Witchcraft (Red Wheel/Weiser), the award-winning The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells, and Rituals, The Outer Temple of Witchcraft CD Companion Set, The Witch's Shield, Magick of Reiki, Sons of the Goddess, and the new Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Magick and Reiki

This is not a traditional Reiki book. Although you'll find much of the basic information about what Reiki is as a healing art, including history, hand positions, and the like, you won't find a conservative view of the art of Reiki. Magick of Reiki is an exploration of the many systems of healing now called Reiki, viewed as a magickal tradition. Most people in the traditional Reiki community would not consider Reiki a form of magick. Most practitioners of true magick would not consider Reiki a relation to their craft. I have used both in my practice, and find them incredibly healing, valuable, and spiritual. To me, they are facets of the same force, simply using a different mechanism, and the mechanisms themselves are not that different when closely examined. As I explore both communities, there is far more crossover between the two than most believe, but no one is talking about the similarities between Reiki and magick. So now we begin a dialogue that many may find controversial. Now we bring together two worlds that have always overlapped.

Through this work, we'll explore many aspects of Reiki, and give applications of its use for the traditional Reiki practitioner as well as those involved in the magickal arts. If both topics are new to you, this book will give you a simple, firm understanding of both arts and how they relate to each other. Magick of Reiki is not a Reiki teaching manual for the average Reiki class, but it could be used as a manual by those teachers discussing these complementary topics along with the traditional Reiki material, or by those with a strong interest or background in metaphysics and magick. Ultimately, this book is a starting point for further discussion and experimentation.

What Is Reiki?

When I first learned Reiki, it was described to me as universal life force or universal energy. That seemed pretty vague at the time, but the concept behind those lofty words is the fundamental energy that creates and sustains the universe. The ki in Rei-ki refers to the energy component. Different cultures recognize life energy and call it by different names. Ki is used in Japan. Chi is another name for basic life energy, also used in the East. The discipline of tai chi is learning how to work with this force. Hindu traditions call it prana. Hawaiian shamans call it mana. Rauch is the Hebrew term for this force. Numen, odic force, and orgone are all variant names. The different cultures have different definitions, interpretations, and cultural associations for it, but basically they are all talking about the same life energy.

This life force is found everywhere and in all things, including people, animals, and plants. It sustains us. The energy is universal, denoted by the rei in Rei-ki, not personal. The universal part of the Reiki definition signifies not only that this basic energy is found in everything, universally, but also that as a system of healing, we are drawing upon this energy from the universe, which is limitless and ever abundant, rather than drawing upon our own personal ki or that of another person, animal, plant, or object.

Reiki the System versus Reiki the Energy

But I already do Reiki. I didn't take any classes. I don't need to learn it from anyone. I hear this statement or something similar from many people, and it causes great debate among many in the Reiki community. The essence of the controversy comes down to a misunderstanding of terms and words. In my magickal training, I learned how important it is to say what you mean, because of the inherent power of words. Unfortunately, for most of us, English can be an imprecise language and is particularly limited when explaining mystical and Eastern concepts. Because our language often lacks the subtlety needed, we must explain things clearly.

When people say the word Reiki, some are referring to the energy of the universal life force, which is ever abundant and available to everyone. We already have some of it flowing through us every day. If we didn't, we wouldn't be alive. We take it in with the air we breathe and the food we eat, and subtly exchange it with the environment around us, including the Earth, Sun, Moon, stars, plants, and animals. There are many mystical ways to access this energy, which some people do intuitively, with little training. Many healing and magickal arts call upon this energy of the universe. Prayer, meditation, ritual, visualization, affirmations, and intent are all methods to connect to it, and they all come with their own techniques, strengths, and drawbacks. I'm sure that many people are already using this universal life force in their own way, even if they have never even heard the word Reiki. Other people use the word Reiki to refer to a formal system of healing, originally called the Usui System of Natural Healing by its modern founder, Dr. Mikao Usui. This system has a fairly modern history, and practitioners of it have a lineage where they can trace their teachers back to Usui. The system uses specific symbols, hand positions, philosophies, and techniques, and is said to have a great many personal benefits and safeguards built into it. Although there are many variations and additions to it, Reiki as a system is a tradition. Without learning the tradition from a qualified teacher, you do not receive the same benefits and safeguards. People will talk about Reiki as ancient, and the energy itself is ancient. Many people throughout history, known and unknown, have tapped into it. It is a part of life. But as a specific tradition as we know it now, Reiki is fairly modern. Perhaps its modern form is...(Continues)

Customer Reviews

Informative, Well Researched and Useful
Mr. Penczak explores Reiki in this book with a skilled hand, excellent research, and adds new dimensions to the practice of Reiki.

Mr. Penczak has put much of his own research in one handy book, including a basic history, hand positions, new symbols, different Reiki methods and traditions, Reiki in Ritual and spellwork and much, much more.

His use of Reiki, and his experiences in incorporating techniques such as crystals into Reiki, using a Reiki Protection Shield, working distance healing, or his personal experiences with other Traditions serves as a open door for the reader to explore Reiki on a whole new level. Mr. Penczak includes all the caveats, and all the potential for using Reiki. He discusses the traditional stories and explanations that have been handed down and includes his own research and his own theories and findings. The book is not just for those on a magical path, but for those who are curious about Reiki and travel any spiritual path.

I particularly enjoyed reading someone else's experiences in working with some of the new symbols that have come to light over the past few years. Some of his experiences validate my own working with these symbols. I was especially pleased that he also noted his experiences with Shamballa Reiki as I have had some very similar experiences. It was interesting to find commonalities in personal experiences. It is almost a validation of personal experience and allows the practitioner to feel they are advancing and growing in the field.

I like his inclusion of 'New Age Add-ons', such as 'Reiki Spirits'. His book serves as an update on what else is going on in the Reiki field, what new facets are being included, what other teachers and students are learning, and covers ground that otherwise you would need to research yourself.

Yet Mr. Penczak maintains the traditional beliefs of Reiki: the universal energy, the higher good, obtaining permissions before applying Reiki. These are not traditions, these are truths. The basics of Reiki can not be changed, it is a universal energy, and when used for the higher good, and with permissions, is a very useful companion therapy.

Must reading in this book, I feel, is his section on 'The Future of Reiki'. Discussion on ethics, fallacies, Reiki and the law, and personal growth should discussed and explored.

Mr. Penczak offers us a wonderful book filled with useful information, good research, and personal insights and experiences into Reiki. It is in easy to understand language, is not path specific, and the book is easy to reference. An excellent beginners handbook, a good overview for the curious and will also attract the attention of masters in the inclusion of symbols and Traditions as well as current updates to the field. boudica

An excellent addition to magickal libraries
Reiki is an ancient practice of acknowledging and working with the universal life force to promote physical healing and spiritual exploration. Experienced Wiccan author and teacher Christopher Penczak pre-sents Magick Of Reiki, an in-depth exploration of the history, mythos, variations, and degrees of Reiki, as well as tips, tricks, and techniques for seamlessly integrating Reiki into magickal practice, psychic development, talisman empowerment, and more. Though many traditional Reiki practitioners would not consider it a magickal art, those who follow the path of magick can only imbue greater strength in their work by drawing upon the nigh-limitless energy of all surrounding life. Clear symbols and diagrams, with explicit instructions in how to draw them exactly as they have been used for countless centuries, enhance the straightforward text that walks the reader through basic, intermediate, and some advanced techniques that channel Reiki to one's advantage. An excellent addition to magickal libraries and Metaphysical Studies supplemental reading lists.

A MUST for anyone interested in alternative healing
The Magick of Reiki by Christopher Penczak is a wonderful book for people interested in alternative healing. The author is skilled in the Magick, which he describes as "partnering with the universe to create change" and details ways it is used, called by other terms, in all the great world religions. Penczak is also a deeply spiritual person whose skills as a Master of Reiki are well-known. In this book he shows the novice who is serious about learning the art and faith of laying on of hands for healing purposes, how to learn the skills and disciplines required. Christopher is both a practitioner and teacher of reiki and draws from his many years of experiences of healing in both this field and magick. His methods go back to the beginning of reiki healing as taught in Japan, and he details not only the disciplines but also the secret symbols that must be learned. With many examples of healing and demonstrating great faith and humility, he teaches in the simplest terms so that anyone dedicated to the practice can learn how to become the empty vessel through which God works for healing beyond anything understood by science. The book is excellent!