Reiki is a Japanese word, it has two syllables:-

Rei – "God-guided and Universal" Ki – "Life Force Energy"

Reiki is a way of channelling this energy to address mental and emotional problems as well as physical disorders. It is a holistic system for balancing, healing and harmonising all aspects of a person and it can be used to encourage personal and spiritual awareness and growth.

It is a safe, gentle non-intrusive hands-on healing technique which uses spiritual energy to treat physical, mental and emotional aliments without using pressure manipulation and massage.

Reiki only does good. It goes where it is needed. The client will only take the amount of energy that they need at that time. Reiki is not pushed by the therapist. It is pulled by the client. The client does not take the therapist's energy, only the pure clean Reiki energy. Therefore therapist and client do not take on each other’s karma.

When looking for a Reiki master, you will be drawn to the Reiki Master who is right for you at that time. It will be a person who makes you feel comfortable and who's teaching and guidance resonate with how you feel and what you need. Ring them up, have a chat, ask what is included in their course. Ask them to send you a course profile. If possible go and have a Reiki treatment with them.

That said, a First Degree Reiki course should include the following:-

1 An explanation of What is Reiki and what it can be used for. 2 A brief History of Reiki 3 An explanation of the Three levels of Reiki 4 The tutor's Reiki Lineage 5 A description of a person's energy body and how Chakras work 6 An explanation of the Attunement process 7 The first degree Attunement 8 An explanation of the 21 day cleansing 9 An explanation of Reiki Intent 10 The Hand positions used a for Self Treatment 11 A guided self treatment 12 Reiki Ideals and how they can be used to bring calmness and harmony to your life 13 How to use Reiki for Protection of yourself, others, property etc 14 How to perform self cleansing 13 How Treating Other people, consulation forms, contra indications, hand positions 14 A guided treatment of an other person 15 How to do a grounding meditation

It is a very practical subject and thus should content plenty of guided demonstrations.