Question:
I was to curious to see how many people feel that when giving an attunement they would rather visualise the symbols or draw them?
Hi Reiki Paul
If a system is dependent on symbols to work then you need to become one with the symbols, so you do not need to visualise then or draw them you are them :-)
So how do you get there? By practicing drawing and visualising?
Sharon
May I suggest that this might depend upon the level of experience of the Reiki Master? If wanting to use symbols, and this feels the right thing to the RM for him/her to do, then I would advocate drawing them rather than visualising them.
Holistic
Oops, hi Sharon, we crossed in the post. But not sure I understand yours ... can you elaborate a little?
Laura.
Well, in order to become one with the symbols, as Paul is saying (and I think I know what he means) - does this develop through constant practice of drawing/visualisation?, (I think it must). Sharonx
OK, thanks for the clarification. I think perhaps you're right here, but I feel it depends upon the level of experience of the RM and what they feel comfortable with. If they want to draw or visualise the symbols when attuning, then that's OK, though my choice would be to draw them, until such time when this is no longer necessary, if that time ever arrives. What I feel is important is for people to be guided to do what feels right for them, not how someone else says they "should" be doing it. It is often said here that it is the intention that counts. If drawing or visualising the symbols is part of the process for that person, so be it. :)
Laura.
FWIW I've been taught to draw the symbols in the air.
At the moment I'm still finding that I start with the intent and feel the Reiki coming through : but it's definitely intensified by drawing/visualising the symbols, and as this was part of my own attunement, at the moment it seems right for me to carry on.(I'm still only practising at the moment.)
Perhaps there will be a time in the future where that's not necessary. But then is any of the ritual associated with the attunement necessary if you have intent?
Sharon.
I've wondered this. Not read anything anywhere though.
You can only pass on the connections you possess, so if you are only connected to the symbols then you have to pass on the connections to what you have which is the symbols :-)
ooh Paul, that's a bit intiguing, if not enigmatic. You are arousing my curiosity, as a fairly new Reiki Arriviste. Explain further please.
Sharon.
Ooo, interesting... I've been drawing the symbols as I was taught, but some months back my reiki helpers said I didn't need to draw them at all. Checked this with my teacher and she felt this was ego-based so I said nothing more...but as you say Paul, if you ARE the symbols, then there is no need to draw them because they are there, in your intent and energy...just as you reach a stage where symbols are no longer required in using the energy.
I still like to keep my hand in practice, since if I didn't, I'd be kinda rusty when it came to teaching the symbols, lol!
BB
Moonfeather
I both draw and visualize them and it just depends. Generally when working with someone I will often close my eyes and draw the symbol where I feel it needs to go or where I am moved to draw it, while doing so I am visualizing the symbol appearing in varying colors. Sometimes it's white, sometimes it's gold, one never knows what color it is.
There are also times where I simply visualize the symbol(s), mostly when doing distance, appearing above the crown or again where it may be needed for healing and the like.
I also draw them on both hands, especially for a self heal which I feel works best for me. This was the method I was actually taught for self healing as it can be awkward to draw the symbol backwards on yourself if you think about it because it's almost a mirror image thing. It's hard to explain ;)
to add my six pennethworth...
when i was taught i was given both symbol based and non symbol based attunements (reiju style). since i began teaching i have continued in this path, giving students both symbol based attunements to satisfy that tradition and a more simplified version where I allow the Reiki to do its own thing. It worked in my training. It works when I attune students and it seems to have worked for those students who have started teaching others.
oops, just realised I missed out a train of thought (tsk), so have edited this bit in. I truly beleive that the symbols are very good as a focus for using Reiki but they are not Reiki themselves. If it is true that various versions of the symbols exist and they all work then it demonstrates to me that it is the intention to be a clear channel for the Reiki to pass through which is what makes an attunement or healing session work, not where you put the squiggly bits as you try to draw or visualise SHK.
Afterall it is the other person who is drawing from you rather than you trying to cram Reiki into them;)
Pete
I se th esymbols as a way -but not the only one- of connecting with the energy. I used to draw the symbols, but then I was getting lost too often with which line goes where, so I decided to try visualsing. That worked well for me. But I think that the visualisng/drawing thing has to do with how one's mind works. SOem peopel are very good at remebering all the details, others are good at getting the whole picture, but will loose the details.
Now I either don't use the symbols at all or I visualise them.
Artemis
hi all,
well the way i see it is, when you are doing reiki 1 to masters it is easyer to tell the student to draw it, alot of people draw, visualising the symbols or not using any, if i feel alot of energy with me i dont use any symbols as i know they are within me now, if the energy in lower in the room i will visualise the symbols, if i cant feel any energy in the room i will draw the symbols so i can feel the connection before the treatment. so what i am trying to say is each to your own whats good for one person isn't for another, there is no right or wrong way just your way:D
love dye
Answers:
Hi Reiki Paul
If a system is dependent on symbols to work then you need to become one with the symbols, so you do not need to visualise then or draw them you are them :-)
Answers:
So how do you get there? By practicing drawing and visualising?
Sharon
Answers:
May I suggest that this might depend upon the level of experience of the Reiki Master? If wanting to use symbols, and this feels the right thing to the RM for him/her to do, then I would advocate drawing them rather than visualising them.
Holistic
Answers:
Oops, hi Sharon, we crossed in the post. But not sure I understand yours ... can you elaborate a little?
Laura.
Answers:
Well, in order to become one with the symbols, as Paul is saying (and I think I know what he means) - does this develop through constant practice of drawing/visualisation?, (I think it must). Sharonx
Answers:
OK, thanks for the clarification. I think perhaps you're right here, but I feel it depends upon the level of experience of the RM and what they feel comfortable with. If they want to draw or visualise the symbols when attuning, then that's OK, though my choice would be to draw them, until such time when this is no longer necessary, if that time ever arrives. What I feel is important is for people to be guided to do what feels right for them, not how someone else says they "should" be doing it. It is often said here that it is the intention that counts. If drawing or visualising the symbols is part of the process for that person, so be it. :)
Laura.
Answers:
FWIW I've been taught to draw the symbols in the air.
Answers:
At the moment I'm still finding that I start with the intent and feel the Reiki coming through : but it's definitely intensified by drawing/visualising the symbols, and as this was part of my own attunement, at the moment it seems right for me to carry on.(I'm still only practising at the moment.)
Perhaps there will be a time in the future where that's not necessary. But then is any of the ritual associated with the attunement necessary if you have intent?
Sharon.
Answers:
I've wondered this. Not read anything anywhere though.
Answers:
You can only pass on the connections you possess, so if you are only connected to the symbols then you have to pass on the connections to what you have which is the symbols :-)
Answers:
ooh Paul, that's a bit intiguing, if not enigmatic. You are arousing my curiosity, as a fairly new Reiki Arriviste. Explain further please.
Sharon.
Answers:
Ooo, interesting... I've been drawing the symbols as I was taught, but some months back my reiki helpers said I didn't need to draw them at all. Checked this with my teacher and she felt this was ego-based so I said nothing more...but as you say Paul, if you ARE the symbols, then there is no need to draw them because they are there, in your intent and energy...just as you reach a stage where symbols are no longer required in using the energy.
I still like to keep my hand in practice, since if I didn't, I'd be kinda rusty when it came to teaching the symbols, lol!
BB
Moonfeather
Answers:
I both draw and visualize them and it just depends. Generally when working with someone I will often close my eyes and draw the symbol where I feel it needs to go or where I am moved to draw it, while doing so I am visualizing the symbol appearing in varying colors. Sometimes it's white, sometimes it's gold, one never knows what color it is.
There are also times where I simply visualize the symbol(s), mostly when doing distance, appearing above the crown or again where it may be needed for healing and the like.
I also draw them on both hands, especially for a self heal which I feel works best for me. This was the method I was actually taught for self healing as it can be awkward to draw the symbol backwards on yourself if you think about it because it's almost a mirror image thing. It's hard to explain ;)
Answers:
to add my six pennethworth...
when i was taught i was given both symbol based and non symbol based attunements (reiju style). since i began teaching i have continued in this path, giving students both symbol based attunements to satisfy that tradition and a more simplified version where I allow the Reiki to do its own thing. It worked in my training. It works when I attune students and it seems to have worked for those students who have started teaching others.
oops, just realised I missed out a train of thought (tsk), so have edited this bit in. I truly beleive that the symbols are very good as a focus for using Reiki but they are not Reiki themselves. If it is true that various versions of the symbols exist and they all work then it demonstrates to me that it is the intention to be a clear channel for the Reiki to pass through which is what makes an attunement or healing session work, not where you put the squiggly bits as you try to draw or visualise SHK.
Afterall it is the other person who is drawing from you rather than you trying to cram Reiki into them;)
Pete
Answers:
I se th esymbols as a way -but not the only one- of connecting with the energy. I used to draw the symbols, but then I was getting lost too often with which line goes where, so I decided to try visualsing. That worked well for me. But I think that the visualisng/drawing thing has to do with how one's mind works. SOem peopel are very good at remebering all the details, others are good at getting the whole picture, but will loose the details.
Now I either don't use the symbols at all or I visualise them.
Artemis
Answers:
hi all,
well the way i see it is, when you are doing reiki 1 to masters it is easyer to tell the student to draw it, alot of people draw, visualising the symbols or not using any, if i feel alot of energy with me i dont use any symbols as i know they are within me now, if the energy in lower in the room i will visualise the symbols, if i cant feel any energy in the room i will draw the symbols so i can feel the connection before the treatment. so what i am trying to say is each to your own whats good for one person isn't for another, there is no right or wrong way just your way:D
love dye
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