Energy Work/Healing

[newlillith]

I've gotten really interested in energy work/healing the last few weeks. However, I'm very unsettled by how much it costs to be "initiated" into many of these systems. Reiki classes cost anywhere from $100 to $500 or more...just for the first two levels. Then the 3rd level is something crazy expensive--$500 to $700! A friend sent me a link for matrix energetics, which is interesting, but as far as I can tell one has to attend a seminar to learn how to do it. Seminars that cost $350! Now I understand people needing to make a living, but this is a ridiculous amount of money to teach others to heal. It basically guarantees that only people in the middle class or higher will be able to learn these systems--or people who save up for a very long time. I'll be honest, it's really pissing me off! I have a sincere desire to help my clients, but I don't have this kind of money.

I really like tarot because it enables me to give others good, insightful advice. I learned it by myself with a couple of books that I could have gotten for free at the library (but chose not to). I could have even made my own deck if I'd really wanted to, but again, I chose not to. All the money I've spent on tarot has been my decision, but it hasn't been necessary for me to learn this system. Even this forum, which I've used to practice readings, is free (yes, that is a star next to my name, I chose once again to pay for membership. It wasn't necessary to learn the things I needed to though).

Thoughts? Am I missing something? Or are there other systems out there that don't require a bazillion dollars to learn them?

 

[Milfoil]

No, I don't think you are missing anything, in fact you are probably ahead of the pack if you recognise that these money making schemes are not necessary unless you believe they are.

My mother has been spontaneously 'healing' by laying on hands all her life and nobody taught her anything. She just tells me that she feels the impulse to put her hands on, lets say, a person's elbow and just leave them there till she feels it is done.

If you take the courses and get the certificates, you will have immediate access to people's trust, regardless of whether you can actually effect any healing.

If you choose to research your own skills and perhaps offer some free, test, sessions for clients that may be a way to establish a reputation which is vastly superior.

What I would suggest, however, is to do some indepth research into the following, both for your safety and your client's.

First aid - basic first aid so that you know what to do in an emergency
Risk assessment - If you client is not mobile, can they get onto a treatment table and off again safely, what would you do if someone became angry and tried to attack you? Do you have a panic button or an emergency call button programmed onto your mobile phone - who will you call? Position furniture so that you have access to the door. Always let someone else know that you will be seeing clients if you work alone and from what times. That sort of thing.
Basic Anatomy - Know what parts of the body your client has problems with, what connects them, what affects what etc.
Basic pharmacology - It can really help to have a basic understanding of the effects certain drugs have and why they have been prescribed. It can help a healer to sense and feel the difference between the drug effects and the illness itself.

You could waste $$$$$$ finding which system works well for you, likewise the first one you try could be the one. Or you could find that you just have a natural ability which just needs practice.

There is a thread on AT about the matrix energetics somewhere and masses of information about Reiki on the net but from our own personal experience, here on AT, we lost one good member because she didn't go to a Doctor soon enough. She trusted that she 'should' be able to heal herself with matrix energetics and positive thinking. These are complimentary therapies, not magic cures (which I am sure you are already aware but it never hurts to remember).

Good luck in your search.

 

[zannamarie]

Most people consider their time to be valuable so to charge for knowledge and time isn't unreasonable to me. Especially since many of the venues in which these healings are taught are not free for use and must be rented (and advertised, etc.).

Given what business workshops charge for a one day or one week class, I don't see where the costs you mention are out of line (since many of them are multi-day classes) and many business principles can be learned without the aid of a teacher. It would probably take longer and a lot more self-discipline to learn it the material on your own, but it could be done.

With regards to "healing classes", you have to decide if you feel you have the skill and ability to learn the material and how fast you think you can learn it to decide if those costs are a "fair trade" to you. To be "initated" into more traditional healing methods (nurse, physician, etc.) costs a heck of a lot more. Getting a business license to practice any of those healing techniques you mention isn't going to be free.


BTW - Matrix Energetics has been learned by some people by just reading the books on it and following the techniques described therein. You can probably visit your local library to borrow and read the books. That would only cost you your time and transportation money to investigate the method so see if that's something you would like.

 

[newlillith]

Most people consider their time to be valuable so to charge for knowledge and time isn't unreasonable to me. Especially since many of the venues in which these healings are taught are not free for use and must be rented (and advertised, etc.).

Given what business workshops charge for a one day or one week class, I don't see where the costs you mention are out of line (since many of them are multi-day classes) and many business principles can be learned without the aid of a teacher. It would probably take longer and a lot more self-discipline to learn it the material on your own, but it could be done.

I totally understand that there are costs behind these classes. My problem is that the cost of the classes is so high that there is an income level one must have before they can take the classes. So why don't the teachers find a facility with low rent? I don't know, to me these skills should be widely available, not just to those who can afford them. Even the cost of a reiki treatment is high--$60 or more. It's fine for someone who can afford it, but for those who can't it's either a once in a long-time treat or something that can never happen. I've had reiki treatments several times, but only when I have a coupon or after I've gotten money for Christmas. I completely agree that these things are worth money, that practitioners should be paid. It's just that it costs so much that it's out of reach for some people who may really want to learn/receive these things. I guess part of the problem may be that reiki isn't recognized as a healing form by govt authorities (at least in the US). When I become a Licensed Social Worker, I'll be able to charge Medicaid or Medicare for talk therapy so that my clients pay very little to nothing. However, I also am choosing this profession knowing that I probably won't make much money. People who don't have insurance will receive therapy on a sliding scale, and classes I offer will be cheap to free.

With regards to "healing classes", you have to decide if you feel you have the skill and ability to learn the material and how fast you think you can learn it to decide if those costs are a "fair trade" to you. To be "initated" into more traditional healing methods (nurse, physician, etc.) costs a heck of a lot more. Getting a business license to practice any of those healing techniques you mention isn't going to be free.


BTW - Matrix Energetics has been learned by some people by just reading the books on it and following the techniques described therein. You can probably visit your local library to borrow and read the books. That would only cost you your time and transportation money to investigate the method so see if that's something you would like.

I want to take classes...the problem is that I'm a student and $350 for a three day class is a lot. Even as a social worker I won't be making enough to cover that cost. I'll have to look more into Matrix Energetics..I couldn't find anything descriptive in the book summary about techniques. The books just seemed to be about proving that it works.

@Milfoil, you have some good ideas about starting places. I would never trust these therapies to heal anyone completely. But I do think they would help homebound, elderly clients with pain levels (mental, spiritual and physical pain). The story about your mother is interesting...when did she start doing this?

Thanks for the feedback so far guys. It's nice to have others to bounce these ideas off of.

 

[wildchilde]

Hi NewLilith,

I consider any kind of healing work (including social work) to be first and foremost a calling and that whatever path you are meant to take to get where you are supposed to go will be made clear to you and the way will be opened for you. You may even, like Milfoil suggests, be a person whom the universe chooses to open to the way of healing without any formal training or need for "something more". None of this means, however, that your path will not be rocky at times and that you may not have to re-evaluate your needs and wants from time to time.

As to Reiki specifically, many years ago I was initiated to the first level on a fluke...then Reiki chose me and I have been on a wonderful journey ever since. Over the course of many years I improved in my understanding of Reiki and have now been a Reiki Master/Teacher for several years. I would have never believed going into that first class at the request of a friend that I would now be doing what I do at this level of initiation.

I was lucky enough to find a Reiki Master who shares my (and your) belief that learning how to access Reiki (universal life force energy) should be financially accessible to as many people as possible. The whole thing about making Reiki classes uber expensive comes from Mrs Takata who brought Reiki training to the West via Hawaii and in the times she was here and training others it was her belief that if she didn't make it unbelievably expensive then Westerners would place no value on this invaluable healing tool. She may or may not have had a point, regardless it doesn't mean that that belief has to continue.

I have never been "rich" or upper class, as you suggest people have to be to attend these classes or seminars...yes, I have had to pick and choose which ones I can actually attend and why and have often had to scrimp, save, and even barter to obtain the training I may feel I need, and have had to let go of or put on the back burner others that I would love to participate in but just don't have the budget for right now. The price tag will never make anything unobtainable for you if it is meant to be...only your own beliefs of lack and limitations will do that. Will you be able to take them all? No, of course not, but do you eat prime rib every night? Not at all. (sorry for that reference if you are a vegetarian)

I can tell you also, that being initiated into Reiki or any alternative/energy healing modality is not ever going to make you rich. More than likely, you won't even be able to make a solid living with it. So you have to decide what you want and why you want it. For me, it is about the sheer love and joy of being able to share this with others. Like my predecessor I charge very little for initiation classes, as for sessions some people pay me, the majority do not, either way I win because every time I access Reiki for others, I receive it for myself as well. This is one of the most important principles of Reiki.

I personally would suggest that you try to find a local Reiki Master who also shares these principles and talk with them about your financial issues and what you might be able to do or not do in order to complete the first level. First Level is all you need to be able to utilize Reiki for yourself and others. The rest is completely up to you. I personally have not taken a Matrix Energetics course (and yes they are extremely expensive)...I am one of the ones who could do it after just watching a video of the founder and reading the book, but it is not something I practice as it has draw backs for me that I did not like and unlike Reiki people tend to have to believe or participate in belief for it to work effectively (at least this is what I found).

BTW, the Reiki Master who initiated me lives in Missouri near Springfield. If you are any where near there and want her contact information, just PM and I will let you know how to get in touch with her. Or PM me if you have other questions or concerns you would like to discuss about Reiki.

 

[Milfoil]

There are good points on both sides here. In a perfect world we could find a place where people could meet for free, money would be less important and everyone would learn. Alas $125 a day for the cheapest of all the training courses in Matrix Energetics is way more than is needed for the hire of a large venue and covering the living/travelling costs of the speaker especially when most of these events attract 200 to 500+ attendees. Not only that but now, instead of just the healing system itself, Matrix Energetics is being taught at levels 1 to 4 plus practitioner certification, necessitating 5 x these fees (which increase to $600) to level 4 and no price listed for the practitioner qualification other than a $150 certification fee, even then it is only as a practitioner. You are not allowed to teach it, to do that you must take the Group Leader course (no prices for this on their site) AND even then - in order to remain a practitioner listed on their site, you have to attend at least one course each year, every year. The Matrix Energetics book is not terribly easy to follow or put into practice which pushes most towards attending a seminar and often vulnerable people are drawn into the belief that they must 'collect the whole set' in order to do this.

I wonder why Dr Bartlett doesn't offer any healing any more? Nowhere on his site is there a way to contact him to pay for healing, strange that, from a healer, all there is is a photo of him with Rhonda Byrne ('Executive Producer' of The Secret) with a link to buy her book, again, what does this tell us? Good suggestion to get the book first from your local library instead, watch a few of the vids on Youtube etc, then see what you think. I'm sorry but to me, all these are BIG warning signs ($2000 of big warning signs before you even get to practitioner stage), however, you make up your own mind.

My Mum, I don't really know when she started, just that she does. She doesn't remember but told me once that it is just what you do when someone is hurting. I guess it is her compassionate streak which opens this healing channel within her.

 

[newlillith]

Hi NewLilith,

I consider any kind of healing work (including social work) to be first and foremost a calling and that whatever path you are meant to take to get where you are supposed to go will be made clear to you and the way will be opened for you. You may even, like Milfoil suggests, be a person whom the universe chooses to open to the way of healing without any formal training or need for "something more". None of this means, however, that your path will not be rocky at times and that you may not have to re-evaluate your needs and wants from time to time.

I definitely feel I am being called to reiki, just as I was called to social work. Many events have happened which point to reiki being the next step on my path. I have been told directly by two readers that this is a step I need to take. I also found out one of the major guys on the reiki scene has an organization in Southfield, MI--45 minutes from the place I just moved to! Whaaaaat? Things like that have been happening in this area. It's exciting for sure. I guess my frustration is that I'm impatient and poor! I do agree that if this is really the way the universe will open a way for me to do it, so I'm trying not to worry about it.

As to Reiki specifically, many years ago I was initiated to the first level on a fluke...then Reiki chose me and I have been on a wonderful journey ever since. Over the course of many years I improved in my understanding of Reiki and have now been a Reiki Master/Teacher for several years. I would have never believed going into that first class at the request of a friend that I would now be doing what I do at this level of initiation.

I was lucky enough to find a Reiki Master who shares my (and your) belief that learning how to access Reiki (universal life force energy) should be financially accessible to as many people as possible. The whole thing about making Reiki classes uber expensive comes from Mrs Takata who brought Reiki training to the West via Hawaii and in the times she was here and training others it was her belief that if she didn't make it unbelievably expensive then Westerners would place no value on this invaluable healing tool. She may or may not have had a point, regardless it doesn't mean that that belief has to continue.

This a great story! I guess you have a point that unless people have to pay for it they usually don't value it.

I have never been "rich" or upper class, as you suggest people have to be to attend these classes or seminars...yes, I have had to pick and choose which ones I can actually attend and why and have often had to scrimp, save, and even barter to obtain the training I may feel I need, and have had to let go of or put on the back burner others that I would love to participate in but just don't have the budget for right now. The price tag will never make anything unobtainable for you if it is meant to be...only your own beliefs of lack and limitations will do that. Will you be able to take them all? No, of course not, but do you eat prime rib every night? Not at all. (sorry for that reference if you are a vegetarian)

I didn't mean to say rich, but definitely middle class. I'm sorry, it's my social worker training coming out! If this healing is supposed to help everyone why make it cost so much that a portion of the population can't access it. What I mean is, I know you worked hard to take those classes. But I'm also betting you have basic necessities like housing and food taken care of (for the most part, all of us, unless we are Paris Hilton, have to worry about a bill or two from time to time). I'm also betting that people who have to worry about these things would really benefit from learning a healing system like reiki to take back to their friends and family. I'm not trying to attack you at all, and I hope I don't come off like that. My point is just that, at the price point a lot of these classes are, one has to already have a certain standard of living in order to even think about going to them, saving up for them. But people below that standard of living should be able to learn too. Ok, enough of my philisophical ranting.

I can tell you also, that being initiated into Reiki or any alternative/energy healing modality is not ever going to make you rich. More than likely, you won't even be able to make a solid living with it. So you have to decide what you want and why you want it. For me, it is about the sheer love and joy of being able to share this with others. Like my predecessor I charge very little for initiation classes, as for sessions some people pay me, the majority do not, either way I win because every time I access Reiki for others, I receive it for myself as well. This is one of the most important principles of Reiki.

Oh no, and I'm not planning on being rich! I don't think anyone chooses one of these two fields to be rich. Like I said, I want to use it as an auxilliary tool to talk therapy. I think it could really help some of my shut-in clients with pain levels, and help them heal overall.

I personally would suggest that you try to find a local Reiki Master who also shares these principles and talk with them about your financial issues and what you might be able to do or not do in order to complete the first level. First Level is all you need to be able to utilize Reiki for yourself and others. The rest is completely up to you. I personally have not taken a Matrix Energetics course (and yes they are extremely expensive)...I am one of the ones who could do it after just watching a video of the founder and reading the book, but it is not something I practice as it has draw backs for me that I did not like and unlike Reiki people tend to have to believe or participate in belief for it to work effectively (at least this is what I found).

BTW, the Reiki Master who initiated me lives in Missouri near Springfield. If you are any where near there and want her contact information, just PM and I will let you know how to get in touch with her. Or PM me if you have other questions or concerns you would like to discuss about Reiki.

Of course that person lives in Springfield! I just moved from Kansas City : ). Oh well, I've gotten very clear messages that I'm supposed to work on reiki HERE in Ann Arbor, so I specifically didn't start anything in KC. I will do my best to find someone though I'm not sure how! I really thank you for your input wildchilde, you made me think about this issue a little more deeply, and your love for healing shines through in your post. Thank you!

 

[newlillith]

There are good points on both sides here. In a perfect world we could find a place where people could meet for free, money would be less important and everyone would learn. Alas $125 a day for the cheapest of all the training courses in Matrix Energetics is way more than is needed for the hire of a large venue and covering the living/travelling costs of the speaker especially when most of these events attract 200 to 500+ attendees. Not only that but now, instead of just the healing system itself, Matrix Energetics is being taught at levels 1 to 4 plus practitioner certification, necessitating 5 x these fees (which increase to $600) to level 4 and no price listed for the practitioner qualification other than a $150 certification fee, even then it is only as a practitioner. You are not allowed to teach it, to do that you must take the Group Leader course (no prices for this on their site) AND even then - in order to remain a practitioner listed on their site, you have to attend at least one course each year, every year. The Matrix Energetics book is not terribly easy to follow or put into practice which pushes most towards attending a seminar and often vulnerable people are drawn into the belief that they must 'collect the whole set' in order to do this.

Yes, this was my major problem with Matrix Energetics. I didn't like that it seemed like you have to go through all 4 levels in order to be an expert. Something just came to me...I do have to take continuing ed classes as part of my social work licesure--so many hours every two years in order to remain licensed. Most of these classes I can take for pretty cheap..$30 to $40. Many are even free, or a lot of professional organizations bring in speakers and you get credit for going to those meetings. Is it different? The same? I'm not sure.

I wonder why Dr Bartlett doesn't offer any healing any more? Nowhere on his site is there a way to contact him to pay for healing, strange that, from a healer, all there is is a photo of him with Rhonda Byrne ('Executive Producer' of The Secret) with a link to buy her book, again, what does this tell us? Good suggestion to get the book first from your local library instead, watch a few of the vids on Youtube etc, then see what you think. I'm sorry but to me, all these are BIG warning signs ($2000 of big warning signs before you even get to practitioner stage), however, you make up your own mind.

My Mum, I don't really know when she started, just that she does. She doesn't remember but told me once that it is just what you do when someone is hurting. I guess it is her compassionate streak which opens this healing channel within her.

That's a good point, I didn't even notice that while browsing the site. A lot of people who have gotten "big" have stopped offering private services in order to focus on teaching. But doesn't that disconnect a person from what they're teaching? Maybe they have other ways of practicing. Very interesting about your mom! That's really fascinating that she just has innate healing energy that others have to work for. Thanks very much for your comments! Everyone's insight has been great so far : )

 

[Milfoil]

A lot more respectable, scientific research needs to be done with complimentary therapies such a Reiki. Some, small scale clinical trials have been done but were too small or had issues with methodology to be taken seriously. The 2008 trial by Exeter University didn't show any notable improvement.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18410352

and the results and conclusions of the latest stage 2 clinical trial on prostate cancer has not yet been published.

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00065208

I do await it though with eager anticipation.

 

[MsRubyRain]

I haven't been active on the list in a while, but there was a group on yahoo that would attune you to reiki 1 & 2 free. I think it was called Reiki_On.