One of the greatest accomplishments of modern technology is the way in which it has made online education accessible to students, no matter where they live. This accessibility has expanded into holistic practices like Reiki both before the pandemic, but certainly, there was an explosion of online offers for Reiki courses during lockdowns. As a result, it has many people asking, 'are online Reiki courses legitimate?'
Whilst there is no denying that online Reiki courses may be convenient for some, not all educational modalities are suitable for online, and Reiki is definitely one of them. Unfortunately, there are some fundamental, vital elements of training which cannot be effectively transferred through remote learning and which can only be done in person, between Teacher and student. Such fundamental elements of Reiki training include the most important technique of all which is a technique between Techer to Student that allows the student to start Channeling Reiki, and it doesn't get more important than that.
Let's explore this topic further and why online Reiki courses are not advised.
The Appeal of Online Reiki Courses
It's hard to deny the allure of online Reiki courses. Students can learn in their own time and at their own pace, which is incredibly convenient for those with full time jobs and busy lives. They don't have to fit into the scheduling of the course, the course can fix into their schedule. Moreover, online courses are often more affordable, with less overheads to run the course, some involve pre-recorded modalities which means there is less time needed to pay a Teacher for their time and online course are accessible to those who wouldn't be able to attend in-person workshops due to geographical constraints.
However, the allure of online Teaching is only alluring if what is being taught can be effectively taught in that way. In Reiki for example, as a spiritual and healing practice, it is incredibly personal, so being able to ask questions as you go, share stories and experiences and discuss concepts with the Teacher and other students is imperative. It is so much part of the learning process. But even more than that, there is one vital element that absolutely cannot be taught online, it is the most important aspect of Reiki training.
The Missing Element: Reiju Transmission
One of the fundamental components of Reiki training is the transmission of Reiki energy from teacher to student, known as an Attunement (or Reiju in Japanese Reiki traditions). This energetic initiation is a sacred and essential aspect of the Reiki attunement process, facilitating the student's connection to the Reiki energy.
In my article, "What is Reiki Attunement", I explain that "A Reiki attunement is like a sacred ritual between the Reiki Shihan (Teacher/Master) and their student in which a Reiki Master help open up the student's innate capacity to connect to and channel Reiki and in a way, transfers the ability to connect to the Reiki. Some say that on another level, the ritual between Teacher and student, reminds the student of their innate capacity to connect to and utilise the Reiiki for healing their mind, body and inner being as well as increasing their spiritual connection".
Without Reiju, students can't channel Reiki and Reiju must be done in person, not remotely.
Many online courses actually acknowledge this in their fine-print. They don't even claim to perform Reiju but new students aren't aware of this. The fine-print usually has a disclaimer that the online course does not empower the student to channel Reiki. In essence then, it is theory and information about Reiki and Reiki practice. Unfortunately, many students aren't aware of that fine-print or disclaimer, and after the course, go on to practice Reiki Professionally being entirely unaware they they are not channeling Reiki with their clients. It makes me wonder how many are out there as it is not at all uncommon in my practice, with new clients who have had Reiki before seeing me, almost shocked by how much they could feel the energy, telling me that they felt nothing in the Reiki sessions they had before with another Practitioner. It certainly has me wondering...
Are Online Reiki Courses Legitimate?: Distance Reiju
Since covid lockdown, there is now an emergence of new Reiki courses online with Teachers (who used to teach in person), now teaching online and who say they believe that they are able to perform Reiju remotely, similar to how distance Reiki works. It needs to be understood that this is a very new adaption of Reiju (as most previous online courses had fine-print and disclaimers making it clear Reiju was not performed in the online course). This new adaptation of 'distance Reiju' is a substantial divergence from the original Teachings and I have to question changing something as incredibly fundamental to the original system because it happens to suits modern convenience.
The founder of Reiki, Mikao Usui was an enlightened Master. He taught distance healing as part of his system of practices. He did not teach that Reiju, like distance healing, could be done remotely. It was emphasised as a ritual energy transmission from Teacher to student in person. I trust in his enlightened wisdom, not, respectfully, in these current Reiki Teachers who have made the move to alter one of the most important aspects of Reiki training so they can teach online. For me personally, for something so important as Reiju, which empowers the student with the ability to channel Reiki, I wouldn't take my chances with an online course.
This is certainly the view expressed by the founder of Komyo ReikiDo (the system of Reiki that is the basis of my practice and teaching) as well as the official position of most of the Australian Reiki Associations where membership is denied to students/practitioners/teachers trained from online courses alone.
When in comes to Reiju and the question of 'are online Reiki courses legitimate', for this reason alone, with respect to Reiju, my answer would have to be no. On that basis, I urge students to stay well away from online Reiki courses. There is no point learning online and learning all the theory and practices, if you walk away and don't have the ability to Channel Reiki.
Beyond the Question of Legitimacy: Limitations of Online Learning
While online Reiki courses may provide theoretical knowledge and an explanation of the basic techniques, they necessarily lack the hands-on experience integral to Reiki practice. As a teacher, I am constantly helping students adjust their hands and helping them with their physical practice as we move through the various practices and these subtle changes and training (specific to each student) simply can't be done online. As part of training, from Level I, students learn how to do Reiki on others, where one student will sit in a chair or lie on a massage table and the other student/s will learn placing their hands on different parts of the body, learning methods and ways, for example to lift and move the head, how to position their bodies and arms to be comfortable and also how to hold their hands (in terms of shape, fingers, softness, pressure etc). We also go through a variety of practices experiencing group energy (which must be in person) and a variety of other practical exercises to help students sense the energy in their hands on a person's body.
These are the basic but fundamental practices and exercises that are important to their training and there is no possible way for these exercises to be translated online. It requires in person presence and the presence and observation of the Teacher.
Without the in-person transmission of Reiki energy, students may struggle to fully grasp the subtleties of energy work and may not develop the sensitivity required to become effective Reiki practitioners. In-person Reiki training offers students the opportunity for direct guidance and feedback from experienced teachers. Teachers can observe students' techniques, provide personalized instruction, and address any questions or concerns that arise during the training process.
Cautions Against Online Reiki Courses
Given the limitations of online Reiki courses, practitioners and prospective students are advised to exercise caution when considering this mode of learning. While online courses may offer convenience, they may ultimately hinder the depth of understanding and practical experience gained through in-person training. When it comes to an energy and spiritual practice like Reiki, quite simply, it doesn't translate to online learning.
Conclusion: Prioritizing Authentic Reiki Training
While online Reiki courses may seem appealing at first glance, they necessarily fall short of providing the comprehensive training and direct energetic connection that are essential for effective Reiki practice. Without students receiving in-person Reiju, the idea of online learning is a non-starter. For this aspect alone, I would have to conclude that online Reiki courses are not legitimate, certainly in terms of empowering students with the ability to channel Reiki. As most if nor all students want to learn Reiki to channel Reiki, there is little point doing an online course, learning the theory and methods only to walk away with no more capacity for channeling Reiki than without the course.
The in-person transmission of Reiki energy from teacher to student is a sacred and irreplaceable aspect of Reiki training, fostering a deep understanding of the healing power of Reiki. Additionally, students are unable to learn vital aspects of the energy practice that require in person guidance of the Teacher, making online learning even less attractive..
I would encourage aspiring Reiki practitioners to seek out reputable teachers and in-person workshops to ensure an authentic and transformative learning experience. You deserve that for yourself.
If you have any questions, or want to chat to more about Reiki please contact me and we can arrange a time to chat. If you would like to book a Reiki session in Melbourne (or distance Reiki worldwide), you can book an appointment here or if you would like to learn Reiki yourself, sign up for Melbourne Reiki courses here. I look forward to connecting with you for Reiki!
Warmest,
Fiona x
Fiona Phillips
Certified Reiki Shihan (Teacher) and Practitioner
Komyo ReikiDo in Melbourne
Within The Space