Touch Issues
Learn To Respect Others

The touch issues of Reiki I, is a major concern. When we talk about Reiki it is usually of the History of Reiki, Information about Reiki, the Hand Positions, and Receiving and atonement's.

But one of the major issues, often not discussed, is Touch and the meaning of Touch. This is an important part of Reiki and of life.

Touch is an essential part of wholeness and love. From studies done on monkeys we know that without touch babies cannot thrive. We know from other studies that a mother's touch can relieve pain in children. Touch can be a sign of affection and a non-verbal communication to another.

In Sports games, athletes often touch each other as a sign of support and respect. Football players from opposing teams often pat each other on the back after a play as a sign of respect and support for one another.

Reiki is a "Hands On" healing art.

1. Self-touch is a particularly important issue. Many people are decidedly uncomfortable touching themselves. There are issues of self worth, body image, and sexuality involved.

   Some people feel touching themselves lovingly (not sexually) is narcissistic. It is important when doing Reiki on yourself to allow yourself to touch your body lovingly.

   The issues you might have about self-touch will be apparent when you do reiki on others, and so it is important to deal with any discomfort you might have.

2. Touch issues really are important in touching others because as a Reiki Healer touching is a loving act. It is reaching out to someone, to share a gift of healing. Many people are uncomfortable in touching others. Most of the practice of the hand positions in Reiki I classes are to allow people to not only learn Reiki and the Hand positions, but to deal with touch issues.

   Some practitioners may occasionally find that the recipient may experience sexual arousal. This will happen from time to time particularly with a female practitioner and a male recipient. (Some have speculated that this is a result of the Kundalini rising. something rising in any case!)

   Understand that many people touch very little in daily life. Many people only really touch others in the context of intimate relations. Because of this, they may experience arousal with the physical act of being touched. As previously stated, this is not all that common, but to know in advance it might occur is important.

   Pay attention to the pressure you use as you place on yourself as it is the best guide to how much hand pressure to place on others. Be sensitive to others bodies. People who have abuse experiences may be very sensitive to being touched.

   Treating people who may have a difficult problem being touched is not a problem. Just as Reiki will pass though clothes, it will pass through the space above them. Simply raise your hands above the areas that might be difficult or that people do not want touched, and do Reiki.

   It will work just as well. You can alternatively place your hands to the side of the area and intend that it heal that area.

Nudity and Reiki

The reason I bring up touch issues is that I have heard that one school teaches that atonements have to be performed nude. This practice is never necessary and places the student in an awkward position that is grossly inappropriate.

So to keep honor in healing and never having any trouble with touch issues learn to perform Reiki One correctly and keep the healing held at the highest level!

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