My Reiki Lineage

One of the questions that is frequently asked by prospective students is "What is your Reiki Lineage?"

This section includes my Reiki Lineage (the genealogy of how my Reiki training is descended from Mikao Usui), I have also included a few lines about each of my direct teachers and what they have added to my teaching.

I am a strong believer in learning from multiple teachers and in talking to many Reiki people trained by different people. This has given me a far better concept of what is common and what isn't in Reiki practice and teaching. Just about every year I attend the Reiki retreat in New York state which is attended by hundreds of Reiki practices from all over the world, and try to talk to as many as I can.

 

Teachers for Reiki 1&2 to Reiki Master

I have trained in all levels of Reiki with 3 teachers.

William Rand

William Rand is the founder and head of the International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT website:www.Reiki.org). Even though he was not my first Reiki teacher (see Liz Tarr), it is from him I have learned the most.

From William I learned that Reiki teachers can innovate new techniques. I learned the willingness to admit past information was wrong(such as the story of Mikao Usui being a Christian monk) do the research to figure out what was true, and begin teaching it. I learned that if you have a dream about something that should be done, you should just go do it. William had a dream about supporting world peace with crystal healing grids set around the world, and he actually had them made and went to the north pole, south pole, and Jerusalem to place them. My dreams involves spending time meditating where Mikao Usui did on Mt Kurama.

I see William every year at the Reiki retreat in New York State, and correspond with him periodically as I am a teacher licensed by the center.

Laurelle Gaia

Laurelle has run a number of different aspects of the International Center for Reiki Training. She also has an amazing practice in Sedona, Arizona. From Laurelle I have learned a lot about how to run a conference, and the amount of work behind the scenes it takes to make a living as a Reiki teacher. I have learned alot about how to say things graciously, and how to lead a guided meditation.

Laurelle and her husband Michael are publishing my book about Mt Kurama.

Liz Tarr

Liz Tarr used to teach Reiki as a one to two hour session at metaphysical conferences on the east coast. It was here I first encountered Reiki. Her friendly, informal approach towards Reiki inspired me to explore it for myself and take it further.

Teachers for Japanese Reiki

Frank Arjava Petter

In 1999, Arjava Petter came to the United States and started teaching the Japanese Reiki Techniques he had learned based on his research in Japan. He was one of the first to connect with the people still practicing the Japanese traditions of Reiki in Japan.

It opened a whole new world of possibility with Reiki. I learned different ways to think about Reiki and what could be done with it. It also encouraged me to learn more about Japan, and the time period when Mikao Usui lived, which later led to my traveling to Japan.

I also developed a class based on this material, which I have refined and added to based on learning from other teachers.

Mochizuki

In 2000, I sent an email to everyone on the center's database living in Japan, and got connected to Barbara Maatsura. I told her I planned to go to Japan, and asked if she knew anyone who did Japanese Reiki. She said of course not. She later wrote me again, saying the person who trained her taught a hybrid of traditional Japanese and western (non Japanese Reiki.). She wrote me again on the eve of my arrival, saying he would be doing an evening introduction on the night I got there (after a 12 hour flight), in case I wanted to attend. Of course I did. And then arranged for a private (because I needed it in English) Reiki 1&2 class

From this school I learned a lot about the variations even in Japan about Reiki. I learned about the Message of Water.

Tadao Yamaguchi

Tadao Yamaguchi's mother learned Reiki directly from Chujiro Hayashi. Many of the members of his extended family learned from Dr. Hayashi, and /or his wife, who continued to teach after Dr Hayashi passed away. I first took class from Tadao in a class he taught with his mother, who has since passed away.

Every year when I return to Kyoto and visit Tadao Yamaguchi, he seems to have some new picture or object, information or story about Reiki. This has really broadened my understanding on Reiki. Some of this information appears in Dr. Hayashi's Handbook.

Hyakuten Inamaoto

Hyakuten is a Buddhist priest, translator and Reiki master. We have made several trips to Kurama together, where he was most helpful in explaining various things. He also runs a weekly Reiki share in Kyoto and Osaka.

 

Jessica's Increasingly Complex Reiki Lineage

Because I am periodically asked this question, here is my Reiki Lineage. Click on the chart to see the full size version. Most Reiki teachers only ever speak to the people that trained them and their fellow students. Training with multiple teachers and speaking to many, many, more, is a great way to learn what is and is not common practice in Reiki. Some of these I have studied up to Reiki Mastery with, some Just Reiki 1&2 or Japanese Reiki Techniques.

William Rand has studied with several additional teachers (as mentioned in Reiki: The Healing Touch.) Also, the other teachers within the Center for Reiki training that I have studied with have also studied with other teachers.

Some (though not all) of those from Japanese lineages have also studied Reiki with western (Takata) lineages.

I and the other teachers I have studied with, have also spent time with a great number of other Reiki people (and/or their web sites), and their teaching has also influenced my teaching of Reiki.

 

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My Reiki Qualifications