Customer Reviews

Reiki for Beginners (For Beginners (Llewellyn's))

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Reiki practitioner David F. Vennells wrote Reiki for Beginners: Mastering Natural Healing Techniques out of a wish "to share the good health, sense of personal fulfillment, and deeper appreciation of life that I have gained from Reiki." Vennells starts with the story of how his years of suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome were ended with Reiki treatments.

He then explains that "Reiki is the name given to a simple yet profound system of natural healing for body and mind." The name means "life force energy" in Japanese. Although he is a Buddhist, he emphasizes that "there are no belief systems or dogma attached to Reiki." It's a tool that can be used for physical healing, or spiritual growth, depending upon individual needs.

Vennells describes how Reiki was introduced to the Western world, offering brief biographies of the key Masters. He then explains how people can learn Reiki--it's taught personally by a Master to students--focusing on First Degree Reiki. This is the beginning level, and can be quickly learned. Those with First Degree certificates are able to use Reiki for self-treatment and basic healing of others.

He offers numerous suggestions in which Reiki may be used in healing. The twelve basic positions for the hands are described and illustrated. He also explains how Reiki may be used for healing at a distance. Additionally, Vennells provides guidelines for those who plan to go into professional practice.

As well as the actual physical aspects of Reiki, Vennells discusses the five principles, which include "be grateful today" and "be kind to others today," and how to integrate them into daily practice. He talks about the causes and nature of disease, including karma. One chapter includes stories from other practitioners about how they've used Reiki to heal themselves, friends, and clients. He finishes with meditations and visualizations.

An appendix lists sources for finding a Master and various Reiki groups. While Vennells offers tips for preparing to become attuned to practice Reiki and provides guidelines for using it after attunement, people can only obtain their attunement and certificates from a Reiki master, not from his book.

Vennells says that "whatever your spiritual path, or path of personal growth, Reiki can enrich it and bring you closer to your full potential as a human being." Beginners Guide to Reiki is an excellent reference for anyone interested in hands-on healing.

I'm not sure why this book isn't more popular. It's a thorough and kind introduction to Reiki that is the perfect introduction for beginners. As a Reiki master, I encourage my students to keep this book handy as they learn and practice. David Vennells also offers a nice chapter on Reiki meditations that is a good guide for infusing Reiki into your meditation practices. There's a nice emphasis on self-healing (sadly missing in many Reiki books today)and a caring chapter on the 5 Reiki precepts. A good solid introduction for anyone learning -- or interested in learning -- the healing art of Reiki.

When I was introduced to Reiki last year, I found this book helpful and insightful. I am currently Reiki II and will be taking the Master class this weekend. I have given this book to others as a general introduction to reiki.

Thank you Mr. Vennells. May everything be auspicious!

This book is a re-hash of the Takata lineage of Reiki, along with some added tidbits from the New Kadampa Tradition (a splinter of the Gelug School) of Tibetan Buddhism. I think that a book which could have been wonderful was destroyed by lack of the right information, and the authors own interpretations of Buddhist practices and how they connect with Reiki, without a strong background in the Buddhist Reiki practices. In my personal opinion, you are better off buying a book by Frank Petter, and combining it with your own Buddhist studies, because this book isn't worth it.

Like most metaphysical studies, Reiki, has many different schools of thought. Since I am preparing to take a Reiki I & II class this upcoming month, I wanted to learn as much as possible about Reiki. For that, I thought Mr. Venells book to be a good starting block. No, it doesn't tell you anything, but, then again, it isn't designed to be the "end all" guide to this practice. The very title says "for beginners." This means, people like myself, who are learning more about Reiki will find this book to be helpful. I thought the author did a very good job about explaining the basics of reiki, and his list of resources, while somewhat incomplate, gave a helpful next step.

a valuable addition to my library. good reference. recommend highly to anyone interested in getting into Reiki.

This is an amazing information source for Reiki Beginners.
I have read it short after I started Reiki, but many points in this book, have changed my thoughts and understanding of this energy. Highly recommended.

This book was packed with filler and not much information. Being brand new to Reiki and knowing little about it I did learn a little something which is the only reason I am giving it 2 stars. If I had been more experienced or knew more about Reiki to begin with then the book would have been a real waste of time. Now that I have read this book I may as well donate it somewhere because I don't see needing to refer back to it again. Do yourself a favor and invest your money in another book that will give you a bigger picture.

In the past, certain things like the Reiki symbols are kept secret, so like this one, they're never mentioned. But learning the reiki symbols are highly important so, I'd recommend other books and dvd's which contain them, such as Reiki The Ultimate Guide Learn Sacred Symbols & Attunements plus Reiki Secrets You Should KnowReiki the Ultimate Guide Vol. 5 Learn New Psychic Attunements to Expand Psychic Gifts & HealingReiki The Ultimate Guide Vol. 4 Past Lives & Soul Retrieval Remove Psychic Debris & Heal Your Life (Reiki - The Ultimate Guide)Reiki The Ultimate Guide, Vol. 2 Learn Reiki Healing with Chakras, plus New Reiki Healing Attunements for All Levels (Reiki: The Ultimate Guide)Reiki 1st Level Attunement Become a Reiki Healer and more.

This book needs updating.

The book has a lot of filler. For example, the whole third is dedicated to the history of Reiki and the author's own path.
But my main complaint is that you can't learn Reiki from it. The author states that to be able to use Reiki, you must first be go through the process called "attunement" and you need to attend a Reiki course to do that (or find a Reiki Master to get you through it). Supposedly, this process will open you up to Reiki energy and then (and only then) you will be able to use it for healing. How is it then "for beginners"?