Does reiki really work?

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

Although it might not mean much to science, those anecdotes are very intriguing to me.

I just felt that your earlier post was somewhat misleading. You mentioned one study which showed that something about "theraupetic touch" was false/unproven. Based on this one study, you concluded that there is no scientific basis for reiki.

Surely you need to look a little more deeply than that.

How about all these other studies on reiki?

Link, link, link, link, link, link.

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Based on this one study, you concluded that there is no scientific basis for reiki.

No, I have not based my whole perspective on reiki based on one study. You know me better than that.

I will agree with you that my post can seem somewhat misleading. There are many studies on Reiki and touch and I merely showed one of the most famous. I assumed everyone here realized there are more studies to see. If interested, anyone can go to Pubmed.gov and search for them.

There needs to be more studies, preferably large ones. ALG, most of your links went to Reiki web sites, which are naturally going to be biased and show articles that support their position only. And there's nothing wrong with that since we all do it when making an argument, but out of all your links, it seems this one is the most objective: InteliHealth:

To summarize: Reiki is not accepted as truth yet by the scientific medical community. Needs more study. It's possible it will one day be accepted, and I as talk more about it with you guys personally, I've been changing my mind from it being improbable to it possibly just being a matter of time.

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

Well, yes. But it's also the other way around, sometimes: when you take a bold leap of faith and decide to believe something, then you get the evidence to back it up. You can't have certain experiences when you're not open for them.

That's true. I'm thinking that Reiki doesn't fall under this category though, no?

Years ago my ex-fiancee bought some tarot cards and did readings for a number of people at work. I witnessed many of these readings. What my ex told them in the readings were intentionally generic and could apply to many people, and yet, some of the workers there seemed genuinely impressed. "How did you know I was feeling that way?" This was nothing more than a psychological trick.

I wonder why it is important to you to know what's "real" and what not? Who cares? Would you feel ridiculous if you had believed something that turns out not to be true?

That's a good question. I have a few reasons I can think of.

1. It seems no one likes being lied to. We all naturally want honesty and the truth, so maybe there's a reason.

2. The people I've known who have mental conditions which cause them to lose their grip on reality have not shown this to be a positive thing. It does not increase their growth or happiness. So to me, Truth seems like something worth pursuing, though I'm content to take an Agnostic approach (I don't know / Not sure) on many issues until more information becomes available.

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

That's true. I'm thinking that Reiki doesn't fall under this category though, no?

I think it does. I think people who are totally not open to believing it works can cause it not to work.

I'm not trained in Reiki and I don't know how it works exactly. But based on what I have learned so far about energy healing in general, what happens during an energy healing session is that the practitioner simply holds a high energy. By having contact with (or being close to) the patient, the patient's energy raises too, to adjust with the practitioner's energy.

It's like if I have cold hands, and you have warm hands, and you hold my hands, my hands will get warm too. You're not really "giving" me energy, it's more that my energy adjusts to yours. Seems to be the same phenomenon with energy healing.

And when it has this new high vibration, the patient's body has enough energy to do what is necessary to heal itself. That's why "the healer" actually is the patient, not the practitioner.

Now if I try to do energy healing on someone who totally does not believe it can work, I can imagine how they could have such resistance that their energy cannot adjust to mine. Maybe because they subconsciously refuse to have their beliefs challenged, so it mustn't happen, or because their doubts and negative thought patterns create such a negative low energy that it just cannot raise high enough to have an healing effect.

I'm convinced that the ex-boyfriend's scoliosis thing would NOT have worked if he hadn't been sleeping. Because he totally rejects all kinds of "esoteric stuff" and I'm sure in his conscious state he would not have let me influence his energy.

Does this make sense?

(When I say "high" or "low", I don't know if that's accurate. I have no clue what it is really. Could be that it is not about high and low but about harmonious vs. chaotic, for example. But the principle is the same.)

It seems no one likes being lied to. We all naturally want honesty and the truth, so maybe there's a reason.

You seem to be afraid of being tricked and deceived. Could that be? I bet that's about more than just the Reiki thing. What would it mean about you if you were deceived?

I don't think healers would intentionally be frauds. Some might be delusional (or just not skilled enough! as in any profession), but I think they generally mean well and genuinely believe in what they do. Wanting to help others is a matter of the heart.

The people I've known who have mental conditions which cause them to lose their grip on reality have not shown this to be a positive thing. It does not increase their growth or happiness. So to me, Truth seems like something worth pursuing, though I'm content to take an Agnostic approach (I don't know / Not sure) on many issues until more information becomes available.

Having a mental illness is not the same as believing in Reiki. People with mental conditions don't consciously choose to believe what they believe when they lose their sense of reality. But mentally healthy people who believe in Reiki have made a conscious choice. I know plenty of people who believe in Reiki, angels, spirits and homeopathy and who are very well happy and growing.

Maybe I'm wrong but I feel some fear and pain in what you write. I'm sorry about your mother. Big hug.

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

I'm convinced that the ex-boyfriend's scoliosis thing would NOT have worked if he hadn't been sleeping. Because he totally rejects all kinds of "esoteric stuff" and I'm sure in his conscious state he would not have let me influence his energy.

Does this make sense?

Yep, makes sense to me. Thanks for your explanation.

You seem to be afraid of being tricked and deceived. Could that be?

I don't know if afraid is the most accurate word. I'd rather think that I just prefer to not be tricked or deceived. Don't we all?

What would it mean about you if you were deceived?

About me? It could mean I put too much trust into someone, or didn't investigate all of the information enough, or that even though I did my best to make an informed decision/opinion I just didn't come to the correct conclusion. As long as I do my best, when someone lies to me, it doesn't make me think less of myself, though it may cause me to lose respect for them, depending on why they lied.

Having a mental illness is not the same as believing in Reiki.

I know. I didn't mean to imply that. I was just talking about pursuing Truth in general, whether it be in regards to Reiki or anything.

Maybe I'm wrong but I feel some fear and pain in what you write.

When I examine my thoughts and feelings I don't see any fear or pain. Did something stand out to you in what I wrote?

[Martyn13]

Hi

I started a thread about Reiki at

Reiki Contradiction

I didn't receive any satisfactory answers to my questions

I would say that reiki attunement is basically a placebo.

That's not to say I don't believe in its power, as I do different types of healing.

it's just that hands on healing has been performed long before reiki was invented

[run_fly]

The best way to figure out if reiki is real is to experience it for yourself and find a talented reiki healer.

I have experienced a lot from Reiki. Also you may want to look into S.A.C - Spiritual Alignment Connection - healing but at a higher vibration.

Look for talent and you will feel the shift.

[Lena Carpenter]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

Personally, I try to keep a very open mind, but I also try not to be naive. It seems some people just accept any belief or practice that is thrown at them. I don't think this is best or healthy. I like to look at things at many possible angles. Sometimes I side with skeptics and sometimes not. Ultimately we aren't really sure. You know the cliche -- what if life is just a big dream? I can understand why New Age beliefs are classified by some to be its own religion. Chances are, if you believe in psychics, then you also believe in a number of other things that seem to go along with that idea, such as LoA, ghosts, energy, reiki, acupuncture, chakras, etc. Basically, anything you find in the New Age section at Barnes & Noble bookstores. At this forum, I see it is rare for someone to believe in LoA but not believe in the other things.

I may have gone off topic a bit. Forgive my rambling.

I don't think you should believe anything, just try for yourself and find out. Have you had a Reiki treatment? Sure, you could block off progress, if you are a real skeptic, but most people have enough of an open mind to have some good effects from it Even if you are a skeptic, you might not feel the results, but there certainly will be some.

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by Lena Carpenter

Have you had a Reiki treatment?

Not yet. I feel great so haven't seen any need to seek out any sort of medical treatment, besides some dental work.

I think I should believe some things. For example, I don't see any need to get strung out on cocaine. I'm pretty sure I know what will happen without trying it for myself. But for something like Reiki, sure, I could see the benefit of trying it myself one day.

[Zas]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

There needs to be more studies, preferably large ones. ALG, most of your links went to Reiki web sites, which are naturally going to be biased and show articles that support their position only.

That point used to really resonate with me previously . . . However, I decided to just take the leap and go crazy exploring the other side for a year. (Just being more open for two months has already flipped my world around, heh.)

Anyway, now that I've been out of its influence for awhile . . . It doesn't feel like the mainstream Scientific community is less biased.

I really enjoyed this video with Dean Radin related to that: Science and the Taboo of Psi . . . Like, here you have a guy who seems to be quite a master of logic, statistics, and test designs (I wouldn't know though, honestly. But why put more faith in other scientists simply because they hold to standards views? [particularly if the honesty of the field in general isn't really understood.]) Anyway, this guy seems pretty honest and intelligent. I stumble across more and more people who explore these areas who seem just as sincere in their work but their studies get faced with extra mistrust because it doesn't go along with things currently taken for granted?

I'm still a pretty big fan of the scientific METHOD. But not very sure of the community . . . Like, having come from a skeptical viewpoint, the concept of the "burden of proof" was thrown around quite a bit. Now I feel like, before someone even starts demanding proof for the existence of a god or intelligent force or whatever, the assertation of an objective reality (or simply, our ability to perceive, devise tests for it, report honestly, and make unbiased and logical conclusions . . .) is its own beast.

I've always kinda known that, but figured it was dumb to pursue that line of thought. But it's actually more testable on an individual level. I mean, you can apply the scientific method to test "If this is a belief filtered/shaped universe, then when I open my mind toward psychics/healers/whatever, I'll start seeing results that do not fit into our current understanding." (That's kinda two "ifs" but you can edit it however necessary.)

Of course, that doesn't really involve measurable things (although it seems like the psipog people certainly got into that with probability stuff, heh.) That's why I chose to just do it for x amount of time and see what happens.

I dunno. Daffy, I can tell you're coming from a very logic-oriented perspective. (I think you're way more open than I was for awhile too, lol.) Now that I'm exploring these other views, I can understand why people would say that the logic-focus was a fearful perspective (fear of being wrong, or something).

But I know that from within it, I didn't feel fear (Well, now I'm less suspicious because I have a stronger sense of the ultimate ambiguity and how it further inspires curiosity.) Some of these things just seemed pointless to pursue (like, if you're going to put the effort into proving reiki, then put the effort into proving the tooth fairy exists, you know? Heh. [Well, maybe not so extreme.]) For me, it just came down to seeing that intelligent people believe things I didn't, and also seeing how, if such things were true, it would benefit me to take it on- So I might as well dive in and learn firsthand what I can gain, rather than hold back until the scientific community gives it credit . . .

Anyway, that's all rambly. But I just wanted to say that: 1. Human experience is biased by nature, which is worth keeping in mind if you want to overcome it. And, 2. I can see why someone would see Daffy Duck's argument as coming from a fear-based perspective, but I think that says more of the view of the person labeling it as that than of the actual personal experience of someone who espouses Mr. Duck's view.

[Reeb]

Originally Posted by Martyn13

Hi

I would say that reiki attunement is basically a placebo.

That's not to say I don't believe in its power, as I do different types of healing.

it's just that hands on healing has been performed long before reiki was invented

You're right. Hands on healing has been around for a long time and I believe that Reiki is one name and technique for it. I am a Reiki practitioner and even though I am trained, I am not sure about some aspects, as I have read and heard contraditory information. It makes it difficult.

At this point, I am using my intuition mostly to discern for myself. I think it may be a good idea for people to try Reiki before coming to any conclusions about its worth. Try it more than one time too. Reiki tends to provide different effects not only person to person, but time to time. I believe this may be caused by what needs to be healed and when is time for the healing.

I first noticed that there was "something" about my hands when I was six years old. All my life I placed my hands on myself to aid in healing -- even if I was half joking at times. In the fall of '07, I had a profound healing through Reiki which ending up changing my life. I literally rec'd a tap on my shoulder that was not from the Reiki therapist. I ended up taking classes and getting attuned and later was told that the tap was an invitation to practice Reiki.

It can all seem kinda weird and woo we woo woo, but it is real. My hands don't just get warm, they gush with the energy that flows very hot (but doesn't burn) -- there is a big difference between warm hands and Reiki hands.

There are a lot of people that make Reiki seem like a bad thing. The Catholic church has a problem with it, even though there are nuns who are attuned practioners and I have even given a session to a preist. And as with any other anything, there are good witches and bad witches and I'm kidding with regard to "witches". Some people will try to get your money away from you and some people are really into being special and having powers and I have to admit that I've had to fight the feelings of perhaps feeling a bit too good about the part I played when someone has had a powerful healing.

Well, I guess I've probably gone on long enough on this.

Reeb

[codenamesmiley]

Originally Posted by Martyn13

Hi

I started a thread about Reiki at

Reiki Contradiction

I didn't receive any satisfactory answers to my questions

I would say that reiki attunement is basically a placebo.

That's not to say I don't believe in its power, as I do different types of healing.

it's just that hands on healing has been performed long before reiki was invented

Anyone interested in hand on healing may want to take a look at Quantum Touch Therapy.
Quantum Touch : Touch Therapy : Therapeutic Touch : Quantumtouch.com


Blessings,
Rebecca

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by Zas

Daffy, I can tell you're coming from a very logic-oriented perspective. ... But I know that from within it, I didn't feel fear

Right. I'm glad you posted because you seem to have first hand experience with my perspective. Thanks for your many comments.

[bamboozld]

placebo effect perhaps.
it's not exactly like a magic wand that will make everything ok, but the fact that you are exploring this field of energy work and questioning it makes you more aware of your being and your needs.

[Tanemon]

I want to come at the question (of the first post) in a different way. I've been attuned to Reiki, and the attunement (empowerment, or intitation process) had completely unexpected results for me. The outcome was entirely different from what I could have imagined.

Allow me to me back up just a little... Quite a few years ago, I learned meditation, and I practiced daily meditation for many years. That gave me a quieting of mental chatter (under most circumstances) and a sense of refreshment whenever I practiced it.

But, at the same time I had continued to deal with the aftermath of problems in my childhood and adolescence, what some might interpret as an outgrowth of a tension-filled family and school life, etc. These things in early life induced me to put up emotional walls to defend myself. I wanted to practice meditation, and I also knew I needed to get out of my emotional junk. I went on various long meditation retreats, took some courses in communication, kept a dream journal for a year, and did a lot of things for therapy and growth.

Some years ago I broke my leg while in a steep area of the forest, and (while mending) I decided to take a course and an "attunement" in "Reiki". All I actually knew about it was that is had somthing to do with "healing energy." I thought I was doing this for my leg (i.e., for physical things), but the attunement resulted in several other benefits:

The attunement itself immediately and unexpectedly acted to clear away a huge amount of those emotional traces that had remained since childhood and adolescence - a muddy, faint background of sadness, frustration, fear, and shame that I had never been able to completely remove.

In reaction to emotional pain, I had put up walls. But after my attunement, both the pain/fear and the walls I'd made just dissolved. My overall mood improved and I felt more confident under all circumstances. My sense of intimacy with nature (birds, dogs, horses) markedly increased - and, also, about twice as many people as before acted like they really liked me. Song birds began to perch on my head when I meditated outdoors. At other times, small birds would land on my shoulder when I was standing around outdoors. You might think this is weird, but I've really enjoyed it!

Obviously, I've felt much less absorbed by personal problems and any tendency to obsession with them. And among other odd things, my "sending" telepathy increased.

I could also list quite a few physical benefits (including very much increased resistance to colds & flu)... but I'll cut things short and leave it at what I've already written.

[amixa]

i am a very skeptical person when someone tells me something out of the ordinary that exists and i haven't experienced it yet.

i believe in what i've experienced -- however i leave the door open to all experiences just to make sure i am not blocking the possibility of this 'out of the ordinary experience' to take place.

the placebo affect does not work on me. my goodness if it did i'd be cured by now!
i wasn't quite sure about this reiki thing. to be honest i went because someone told me a very interesting story that this lady could 'read your energy' and basically know your whole life story by placing her hands on you. besides giving you reiki.
sounded like a cool experience so i went for shits and giggles.

i didn't feel anything right away -- but eventually i started feeling something that i knew could not have been just a placebo or her 'own' personal energy. also its true that she's not doing all the work -- she enables you to heal yourself.

and wow if you think its a placebo? i'm not sure if all reiki practitioners can do what she does but when she does a lot of energy work on me i ache like crazy and remain sore for a while. just a natural side effect. but i didn't know it was possible until it happened.

personally reiki alone has not 'cured' me. but i found a combination of using reiki, going to acupuncture and getting bowen therapy did create extraordinary healing spouts in me -- to the point where i had an infused joint in my foot to become loose and mobile once again after been told for the majority of my life that i would need surgery for it.

i also find it humorous when people try and proove these things with science because science for the most part is a study of the physical world. it hasn't been until recently that we started acknowledging invisible energies like dark matter. until science has become sophisticated enough to detect other intangible energies you can continue to sit and twiddle your thumbs while you're waiting for other people to tell you whats real and what isn't.

keep doors open, try it once -- see if you see any difference yourself.

[Tanemon]

Originally Posted by amixa

i didn't know it was possible until it happened.

personally reiki alone has not 'cured' me. but i found a combination of using reiki, going to acupuncture and getting bowen therapy did create extraordinary healing spouts in me -- to the point where i had an infused joint in my foot to become loose and mobile once again after been told for the majority of my life that i would need surgery for it.

What is Bowen therapy, if you don't mind explaining a bit.

[Ezekiel2517]

Reiki definately works and is probably the most valuable tool I have encountered in my life so far.

[amixa]

Originally Posted by Tanemon

What is Bowen therapy, if you don't mind explaining a bit.

Bowen Technique - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Bliss Sage]

I'm sorry for digging this dead thread up again, and this was not even the thread I was looking for, but...

I only wanted to add, for the edification of all of the people who keep insisting there is no "scientific proof" that reiki works; I live in New York City and there is enough proof that reiki expedites and improves patients' conditions for NYC hospitals to have volunteer reiki programs where reiki practitioners are sought to administer reiki treatments on hospital patients on a weekly basis.

[intj123]

YouTube - The Reiki Rice Experiment: watch vital energy in action!

[Steff]

Reiki energy is free, but learning how to utilise it can cost a bit. The teacher needs to feed a family sometimes, too. Once activated, though, the healing energy stays with you forever, unlike aspirin. I wouldn't begrudge the expense of the course.

I believe Reiki works in the same way I believe that the Universe works. Reiki is channeling energies, something we all do unconsciously on a daily basis, not always to any noticable effect.

I have received my Reiki 1 attunements and the cleansing that followed has been dreadful and awakening. I am, almost literally, a different person as a consequence, and that is actually a good thing in my case

However, I know that not all Reiki masters, or even practitioners, have got into the proper spirit of the thing. I suppose in that way it can be like anything else, once the teacher gets used to teaching the same thing, the novelty wears off. Not sure.

I'm pretty sure internet attunements are entirely feasible, but in my opinion, you gain much more from interacting with other people at the outset, and I'm not just talking about teachers here. Everyone in a Reiki class brings something of their experiences into the room and that can only be of personal benefit to the student.

I did Reiki 1 over a weekend, some courses last up to 10 weeks, but the costs are all roughly the same. I wouldn't choose to learn over the internet because I need discipline in my studies, but I daresay it's possible.

Summary: Choose your Reiki master. Meet them first, if possible, and see if you feel comfortable with them. Mine had no religious agenda to push, but I know of others who have had, and some students feel comfortable with that. Join a class with others who are going through the same process. Chat with them and learn things from them, too. Enjoy it. It isn't a test.

[Tanemon]

I basicallyacree with Steff on most points.

Originally Posted by Steff

I have received my Reiki 1 attunements and the cleansing that followed has been dreadful and awakening. I am, almost literally, a different person as a consequence, and that is actually a good thing in my case

In my case, I too became a changed person - and for the better! I did not go through any sort of uncomfortable cleansing period, but instead just felt cleansed, more integrated, more alive, more in touch with people and with nature. (Might have been because of my background of many years of yoga meditation and growth processes.)

Originally Posted by Steff

I'm pretty sure internet attunements are entirely feasible, but in my opinion, you gain much more from interacting with other people at the outset, and I'm not just talking about teachers here. Everyone in a Reiki class brings something of their experiences into the room and that can only be of personal benefit to the student.

A class is good. The background, the theory, and the history of Reiki taught in the classes are good things - and, yes Stef, the personal presence of the teacher and fellow students is good. You can get the attunement from a distance - it doesn't actually come "over the internet" as such - but you'd miss out on much of the good stuff that happens in the groups that actually get together physically.

Originally Posted by Steff

I did Reiki 1 over a weekend, some courses last up to 10 weeks, but the costs are all roughly the same. I wouldn't choose to learn over the internet because I need discipline in my studies, but I daresay it's possible.

Usually with a class, you get plenty of chance to practice giving sessions to fellow students after you're attuned. Some Reiki masters organize a "Reiki share" amongst their students, and this is a group that meets maybe once a week to give each other hands-on sessions and to enjoy each other's company and discuss things.

[Cochonette]

Hmm... I don't believe in the supernatural, that's for sure.
I wouldn't call myself a skeptic of Reiki because I don't know anything about it, really. I hadn't the faintest clue what it was until I opened this thread. I have a new friend who's into Buddhism, but also Reiki. She has told me about how it raised her levels of consciousness. This seems fairly plausible to me; we each have our ways of discovering love, which need not be 100% rational. I'm really completely disinterested in the placebo effect at the moment, however. I don't have to believe in Christianity or "the Lord" to believe that one can grow spiritually on that path. Faith is faith is faith.

[Reverend Keith]

I'm a Reiki master myself, and for various reasons think it's a worthwhile practice. But although I have a lot of friends who love homeopathy, I can't quite bring myself to go along. I wrote a post here explaining why, and I was hoping to get some alternate viewpoints.

[Orca]

Hi Reverend Keith,

I liked your blog post on homeopathy. I've wondered about homeopathy also. My husband tried it in a very dedicated way, for a whole year, and got no results. The homeopath did the best he could, but in the end, it made no difference. I think the homeopath wound up embarrassed and defensive, and didn't want to talk to us anymore...

My experience is that homeopathy works ok for some things and some people, but like anything else, nothing works all the time for everyone. The thing I do notice about the homeopathy crowd is that folks seem very vested in homeopathy as being the one and all answer to everything. They seem more this way than folks in other complementary medicines, such as energy medicine, herbs, etc. I don't know if it is just the people I met. I'm not sold that homeopathy homeopathy lives up to the hype of being able to handle everything. I think it is very good for some things, though. We use it in my office for a few things, but that is it. The MD hasn't found it super useful past a certain point. There are times that homeopathy may be really helpful, but other times energy work is much faster. And to do homeopathy right, it takes A LOT of time. Much more than most people would want to do, I think...intake sessions of questions in India can go on for 5-6 hrs!

The thing I find missing in homeopathy is it's way too much emphasis, IMO, on vibration, and not enough on owning one's own heart's emotion, consciousness and energy patterns. There's a lot of talk among homeopaths about vibration and stuff, sure. It's all energy, right? That is true. But the tone in which it is discussed is very clinical, almost arrogant sometimes. IMO, and no one ever healed anything from such an analytical assessment of consciousness. But in homeopathy, everything is about dosage and dilution, apparently. I was on a homeopath forum awhile ago asking about why it didn't work for some of the people I see, and I literally got yelled at by people who just didn't want to hear it. The answer is always "they didn't use the right remedy" or "do even more homeopathy". Or even "maybe the remedy that was used was contaminated". I understand when people are vested in a modality, they think the whole world should use their modality. But sometimes the simple answer is merely that not everything works for everyone. This is the case, even in allopathic medicine, is it not? I find it odd that homeopaths wouldn't agree. It's an interesting consciousness, when you look at the belief behind it.


Orca

[Reverend Keith]

I recently read a book called "The Possibility of Everything" which followed the story of a family who took their young son to Belize to be healed of a strange illness. One of the things that the shamanic healers there emphasized there was that the proper gathering and preparation of herbs was essential. Unless the herbs were gathered reverently with prayer by the proper person, they would have very little effect. But when prepared properly, their power was astonishing. It's the same thing in alchemy. I wonder if it isn't the same way with homeopathy. Which makes me wonder about people taking homeopathic remedies compounded in some huge soulless factory.

P.S. Beautiful website you have, by the way.

[blossom]

Ýour thinking may lay testament to the effectiveness of the placebo effect Reverend Keith. As long as people believe that such remedies will cure them, and they invest money in it, then it is possible that this is enough to help the mind heal whatever ailment there is present.

As far as your comments about the shamanic methods of gathering and imbuing their energy into the herbs, seeing them as divine and treating them with such respect...this is always a better way of approaching healing I feel.

Even things like making your own Bach remedies from flowers one has picked with the same reverence, it will be more effective because of the time and energy the person has put into this ritual...which it is! But most people are just so used to the convenience of going to a store and buying a product, and think they are too time poor to make time to make their own remedies.

Originally Posted by Reverend Keith

I recently read a book called "The Possibility of Everything" which followed the story of a family who took their young son to Belize to be healed of a strange illness. One of the things that the shamanic healers there emphasized there was that the proper gathering and preparation of herbs was essential. Unless the herbs were gathered reverently with prayer by the proper person, they would have very little effect. But when prepared properly, their power was astonishing. It's the same thing in alchemy. I wonder if it isn't the same way with homeopathy. Which makes me wonder about people taking homeopathic remedies compounded in some huge soulless factory.

P.S. Beautiful website you have, by the way.

[Orca]

Originally Posted by Reverend Keith

I recently read a book called "The Possibility of Everything" which followed the story of a family who took their young son to Belize to be healed of a strange illness. One of the things that the shamanic healers there emphasized there was that the proper gathering and preparation of herbs was essential. Unless the herbs were gathered reverently with prayer by the proper person, they would have very little effect. But when prepared properly, their power was astonishing. It's the same thing in alchemy. I wonder if it isn't the same way with homeopathy. Which makes me wonder about people taking homeopathic remedies compounded in some huge soulless factory.

P.S. Beautiful website you have, by the way.

I have heard of that book, though I haven't read it myself yet...

My thoughts are that there are a couple things going on. It's not a simple answer, but I do think that in whatever culture one is working, there is a certain morphic field that develops in terms of that region's medicine that is built on how things are done. Meaning, the medicine is more than just the plant itself, or just the belief in whatever. Our western allopathic medicine scoffs at this, of course. There is absolutely no credence given to ceremony or the right way to harvest plants or natural medicines. The power of western medicine is seen to be in the chemistry of the substance or whatever drug. But in other ways of working, the collective memory of people all doing a process or ceremony a certain way does have a collective power to it. It is the same with Christian prayer, or anything that has been repeated through the ages the same way with a certain intent. It is why certain buildings capture that vibration. It is why people who are, say, Catholic, feel very comfortable walking into a Catholic church anywhere on the planet. It's the same, it's the familiar energy, the rythym of how things have been done.

So it is more than power of suggestion, I think, when it comes to the medicine of the Belize plants...also, this gets into another area that doesn't get discussed as much, which is the spirit of plants and the guides that help from the other side, but I'll skip that for now...

Anyway, this is why I think Reiki has its own morphic field. All those folks doing things the same way, the same hand placements or symbols, etc, can tap into a collective way of working with energy. It certainly does not mean Reiki is the only way of working with energy, of course. But it is a way that has become accessible and familiar to people because more and more people are doing it. There's a collective thing going on. Collective can be good or it can get in the way of things. But it's access to a collective morphic field that can be helpful. You don't have to reinvent the wheel. Maybe it's like the 100th monkey theory, perhaps.


Orca

P.S.Thanks for the compliment on my site.

[Orca]

Originally Posted by blossom

Ýour thinking may lay testament to the effectiveness of the placebo effect Reverend Keith. As long as people believe that such remedies will cure them, and they invest money in it, then it is possible that this is enough to help the mind heal whatever ailment there is present.

As far as your comments about the shamanic methods of gathering and imbuing their energy into the herbs, seeing them as divine and treating them with such respect...this is always a better way of approaching healing I feel.

Even things like making your own Bach remedies from flowers one has picked with the same reverence, it will be more effective because of the time and energy the person has put into this ritual...which it is! But most people are just so used to the convenience of going to a store and buying a product, and think they are too time poor to make time to make their own remedies.

Hi Blossom,

I agree that something has been lost when people don't create things for themselves with reverence anymore. It's a shame, yes? Because it can be so wonderfully juicy...

I'm not sure everything about energy work in this can be summarized with the placebo effect. Certainly it can be part of the mix. But if it were all placebo, I would expect no response from people who are unconscious, or animals, or people who don't believe in any energy work at all. Since this has not been the case (in my experience, anyway), I don't think it is all power of suggestion. Something is occurring even if the mind does not understand yet.

Oh well, whatever is fine...I'm a pragmatist. Even if it is all in the mind and it helps folks, that's fine with me.

Orca