Customer Reviews

Reiki Fire: New Information about the Origins of the Reiki Power: A Complete Manual (Shangri-La)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is one of the best books on Reiki I have read. Some past reviewers have given negative reviews for reasons that are not true. Recent research has dispelled the traditional history Takata spread about Usui being a Christian and other myths. Frank Arjava Petter was one of the forerunners in seeking the true historical background behind Reiki. This book gives an authentic portrayal of Reiki, its history, and its healing capabilities. Useful techniques are given beyond the average Reiki book. While Reiki is not Qigong per say, it resembles it in many ways and indeed could be termed a "lazy man's Qigong" as the author states. This is one of the most real authors I have ever read on Reiki who says it like it is. He shows himself to be as human as the rest of us and ever striving in spiritual aspiration. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Reiki and as a perfect supplement for those starting with this wonderful healing modality. Coming from a skeptic, Reiki does work and this book will add much richness to your Reiki experience. Wish I could give it more than five stars!

`Reiki Fire' is a classic amongst Reiki books. Most people read it early on in their Reiki journey, and I was no exception...Knowing little about the subject, I found it engrossing, inspiring and pleasantly down to earth. Frank Arjava Petter writes with an affable enthusiasm for his subject, drawing on his own life experiences to demonstrate the power that Reiki can have in your life, if you let go and allow it to work.

So, several years down the line, I find myself buying and reading it again (my own copy having disappeared on a very longterm, probably permanent, loan). I'm delighted to say that it still inspires me. The `fire' that Petter predicted has certainly spread throughout the world, and along with it a plethora of genres of Reiki and associated books.

What I really like about `Reiki Fire' is the lack of self absorbed pseudo-spirituality which pervades so many New Age and alternative books. Reiki is actually very straightforward - certainly it can be dressed up in all sorts of ways - but Arjava describes it in its pure form. His research into its history is legendary. Before `Reiki Fire' all sorts of outlandish folklore was rife (and accepted) as to how Reiki was re-discovered. Petter's very thorough research in Japan blew many of these myths out of the water, much to the chagrin of some steadfast upholders of the `old' stories. Well you can't please all the people...

So whether you're just setting out on your own Reiki adventure, or, like me, you've been treading the path for a while, I'd thoroughly recommend `Reiki Fire' as an essential text. Trust me though - put your name in it.

Frank Arjava Petter has, in a rather small book answered a lot of big questions. Many of us in the Reiki community have always doubted much of the 'myth' of this almost etherial Mikao Usui. Petter's passion, not only for Reiki, but also for truth, comes across very well. His grasp on the culture and mind-set of Japan and the Japanese, from his European viewpoint is a perspective we rarely get to understand in the West. There will be those that have trotted out the unsubstantiated and untrue myths for so long that they will undoubtedly feel threatened by the compelling revelations concerning Usui's Buddhist background and practice. The 'Truth will out' they say, and Frank's brave position in producing such a book is commendable. His easy style and experience of Reiki comes across in the form of friendly counsel,instead of dogmatic teaching. Frank Arjava Petter has done a tremendous service for those in Reiki, that seek the truth of their heritage and wish to teach from a position of integrity. He is a valid and credible messenger in times of change. I recommend this book to all serious Reiki practitioners.

Mushi mushi? There was a game that I used to play as a child. It was called 'telephone' (My mother said they called it 'gossip' when she was young). We would all sit in a circle and one person would whisper a message in the next person's ear , they would then whisper in the next person's ear the message they heard, and so on and so forth all around the circle until the last person was told. The last person told would then tell the group what the message was. What fun we had listening to the ending message and comparing it to what the source message was. Frank Arjava Petter has stood up with his book, Reiki Fire, to tell us what the real story of Reiki is.

There are many books out now about Reiki. Mr. Petter even states in his book that writing a book on Reiki "is like a cosmic joke, like chasing your own shadow." He reminds us of the nature of Reiki, that it is Alive. As practitioners, we know this to be true every time we feel the life energy of the universe flow through us. Yet all of us are guilty of trying to "pigeon-hole' or define Reiki as this or that. I was reminded when reading Reiki Fire, that when we have something that is alive, it is constantly changing with each experience and situation.

So back to the point where Mr. Petter was standing up...When going through our first initiation in the healing technique called Reiki, we are told about our lineage. This lineage included the story of how Reiki was rediscovered by Dr. Usui and passed to Hawayo Takata thus making its way to the West. As a student of mythology, my love of a good story may only be outweighed by my love of knowing the origins of the story. I was intrigued by the fact that many of the stories about Dr. Usui were taking on a life of their own. My own teacher gave me several possible stories of the origins of Reiki, and I have since heard and read many more. This never bothered me, since once I felt the Reiki energy I knew of its reality and did not need a story to validate its existence. But still the stories tickled my fancy.

Mr. Petter has presented in his book something our teachers may not have been able to provide, a look at Japanese culture through Western eyes. When you study mythology you have to take in account the culture from which the story has come. When I say mythology or myth, I am using the definition "a story that defines a culture or group". It does not matter if the myth is based in fact or fiction, only that it defines or teaches a specific group. By knowing about a culture you can then understand what lesson a story is trying to teach. Mr. Petter's information on the culture of Japan helps us understand why the traditions are taught to us in a certain way, what Reiki in Japan is about, and why they aren't concerned about our Reiki. This information in itself may upset a few groups of Reiki practitioners that have allowed Ego to take over their practice.

Living in Japan, Mr. Petter had a unique opportunity to research the facts related to the mythology we were building around Reiki. He discovered many wonderful things, the smallest of which was Usui's first name (Mikaomi) and the most outstanding was the memorial stone on Usui-san's grave. Through Mr. Petter and his wife's efforts, they were able to translate Usui-san's memorial stone. This memorial stone has given us a few more facts to the original story. It makes Usui-san an approachable figure of history, a compassionate man who developed the technique of healing we call Reiki.

So add Reiki Fire to your reading list. It is well worth your time as it will give your heart back to Reiki.

Understanding and development of unity in Reiki is available now! After years of research and work, F. Arjava Petter and his wife Chetna (Kobayashi) have completed the translation of the Original Handbook written by Dr. Usui used in training students.

There have been so many myths and legends born from this source that is it a real treasure to find actual documentation, a validity in the word form. What a wonderful Makana Kalikimaka or "Christmas gift".

This for me was very much a confirmation of "Reiki IS for everyone". The Reiki a technique developed by Usui that echoes many sources; confirming that there is one source. We ARE all one in Mind and Spirit. The body individual is the learning and experiencing tool, seeking its own expression and so celebrates the different forms/types of Reiki. An Obvious example of this is a technique I find I use. In Arjava's book is identified as "The Byosen Technique". This technique is identified in Native American Healing as well as Pranic Healing. Many other cultures use a similiar type of sensitivity to determine problem areas in order to better work with situations. I was delighted to see it identified and recognized in Japanese Reiki.

The things I had questioned in my mind and felt a need to know were included. There are techniques that relate to specific problems such as Obesity and Gallstones and many others. Sometimes herbs are mentioned as well as diet and exercize. Reiki feels more complete with this kind of new information.

Quoted from the book "Intuitive Reiki by Dr. Usui is different: It asks that we free ourselves of the rules. Rules are meant to give us support." ..."Many of you have cerainly worked in an intuitive manner for a long time. I am happy for you--and with you--That we now have the "Official" permission from Dr. Usui to do this!"

Teaching Reiki to Nurses and the Medical community, I was delighted to see the statement that Reiki was to assist or complement and not replace medical attention from the traditional sources. Also references to the vertebrae, specific organs and glands make this book more in tune with the teaching needs of the medical community. The Original Reiki Handbook with it's clear photographs and explanations are a perfect complement to my Reiki Classes at San Antonio Community College, Continuing Nursing Education and I will be integrating the new information as well as offering the book to new students.

Reiki Fire offers exciting new perspectives and insights into the history, origins, and practices of Reiki that are long overdue. Petter has done the whole growing Reiki community a tremendous service by going back to original sources and doing original research. This is extremely important in an age when many claims about healing techniques go untested and unchallenged. Petter combines the work of a scholar with the insights of a practitioner.

This book coincides with my begining of Reiki practice. I have been in the Health and Healing field for 20 years or more. I knew about Reiki but it never "clicked" right to my ears or to my heart. The stories or legends were too "new age" and did not convince me that Reiki was properly described neither presented in its full potential. With Frank Arjava Petter's "Reiki Fire" we have finally broken the veils of myth and legend, fairy tales and adaptations of the Reiki tradition. This book is a must for those who are interested in exploring the traditional healing systems of this world and Frank Arjava Petter offers to the reader a wonderful opportunity to expand this knowledge. A new generation of Reiki practitioners is unfolding from this information and I cannot but highly recommend this book as an historical turning point for the Reiki movement and for those involved in the natural healing path.

i know personally of the author who is very sincere in his efforts to help others. he had the right background to present a book on the subject....

this book is a no nonsense basic intro to reiki. qigong while different, has relevance to reiki and discussing it is not inappropriate. the author is not attempting to teach qigong. the author also includes quite a bit of info on his own personal experience with reiki which may or may not seem relevant to the reader. i have found it most helpful of all the reiki books i have read and get a little more each time i pick it up. i am a usui and karuna reiki master.
Thanks!

I am a traditionally trained Reiki Master Teacher. I read Petter's book with an open mind, and while I feel his heart is in the right place, his book has a number of inaccuracies which made it not one I would recommend to anyone seeking to learn more about Reiki.

For example:

- On page 15, Petter states: "Technically speaking, Reiki is one of many methods that are part of the Chinese family of Qigong..."

This is COMPLETELY incorrect. Reiki is not Qigong, and Qigong is not Reiki. Both are forms of energy, true, but they are completely distinct from each other.

- On page 71, Petter states: "I have repeatedly stated that Reiki is energy pure and simple. It has nothing to do with religion, astrology, New Age, psychology, personal growth, channeling, bodywork, or even healing for that matter."

This is also wrong. Reiki is ALL about healing! It is also about personal growth. Reiki exists for us to heal ourselves and others, it enables us to grow and help others grow. I don't understand his stance here at all.

This being said, the book contains some interesting information, and some nice exercises. I do appreciate that fact that Petter reiterates that Reiki must be learned from a teacher (one simply cannot learn it from a book, video, or over the internet) and that attunements (initiations) must be done in person.

The bottom line is, if you are interested in learning more about Reiki, find a Master/Teacher near you with which to work. Or, try the following books:

Reiki - Universal Life Energy Bodo Baginski and Shalila Sharamon ISBN 0-940795-02-7

Reiki - Hawayo Takata's Story Helen J. Haberly ISBN: 0-944135-06-4

Living Reiki - Takata's Teachings Fran Brown ISBN: 0-940795-10-8

This is just a great book. It has helped me understand the origins of Reiki and has enhanced my working knowledge of Reiki. The style is easy to read and is laced with humour.