NEW WEBSITE: www.ephesians-511.

net AUGUST 2004, AUGUST 2009, MAY/OCT/DEC 2012/JULY 2013

R e i k i , a n d H o l i s t i c H e a l i n g

WHAT IS REIKI?
Pronounced as ray-key, REIKI is a Japanese word that means Universal Life Force Energy.
It is a kind of healing energy that was supposedly rediscovered by a medical doctor named Mikao Usui in the 19
th

century. However, different schools of this New Age technique have evolved, and, with them, several versions of its
origin and development, differing in some details.
Sterling Publishers of Delhi, in their New Age New Dawn All You Wanted to Know about series of pocket-sized books
on Alternative therapies, says this on Reiki which is dedicated to the Lotus Feet of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba by
Sumeet Sharma:
REIKI is a Japanese word comprising two parts Rei and Ki, and these are Japanese Kangi characters.
REI means universal spiritual wisdom or consciousness. The wisdom that comes directly from GOD or the HIGHER
SELF. It is not only God-conscious but is also all-knowing. It understands each person completely, with the root cause of
the persons problems and difficulties, and knows how to heal them.
KI means the LIFE FORCE, and this is referred to by the Chinese as the CHI, [and] by the Indians as PRANA
Anything that is alive has a life force circulating and surrounding it, but the life force departs when it dies.
When the life force is high and free-flowing, one is less likely to get sick, and vice-versa. It animates the body and is also
the primary energy of our emotions, thoughts and spiritual life. KI is present all around us and can be accumulated and
guided by the mind. There is no doubt that Reiki energy is present everywhere. But one cannot learn Reiki healing by
merely reading books, because one has to be initiated as a Reiki channel or healer by a Reiki Master.
The attunement process is a sacred and secret one. It opens the psychic Chakras in the body, and establishes a spiritual
link between the student/channel and the Reiki source.

ORIGIN AND HISTORY
According to the International Center for Reiki Training [ICRT] web site at http://www.reiki.org/, the Usui System
of Reiki is attributed to Mikao Usui or Usui Sensei [Sensei= Master].
Usui was born August 15, 1865 in the village of Yago in the Yanagata district of Gifu prefecture, Japan.
It is said that he entered a Tendai Buddhist school on or near Mt. Kurama ("Horse Saddle Mountain") at age four.
He also studied kiko, the Japanese version of qigong**, which is a health and healing discipline based on the
development and use of life energy. [**see earlier write-ups such as CONYBIO, Acupuncture, etc.]
The young Usui found that these healing methods required the practitioner to build up and then deplete his own life
energy when giving treatments. He wondered if it were possible to do healing without depleting one's own energy.
He went on to study in Japan, China and Europe, and his curriculum included fortune telling.
Usui was also a member of the Rei Jyutu Ka, a metaphysical group dedicated to developing psychic abilities.
As a sensitive spiritualist, Usui Sensei [= Master] had spent much time meditating on the power spots on Mt. Kurama
where he had received his early Buddhist training. So he decided to travel to this holy mountain, where he enrolled in
Isyu Guo, a 21-day course sponsored by the Tendai Buddhist Temple located there, and during this training that the great
Reiki energy entered his crown chakra. This greatly enhanced his healing abilities and he realized he had received a
wonderful new gift - the ability to give healing to others without depleting his own energy!

Sumeet Sharma again: Reiki is as old as mankind itself. It was however in use for a long time without any distinct
identity. Information from clairvoyants like Michelle Griffith throws light on the origins and metaphysics of Reiki. According
to Griffith, Reiki was originally brought to the earth by the GREAT BEINGS during the Lemurian times over 100,000 years
ago. This was the first place where humans were incarnated on the earth. They had a GREAT BEING among them who
revealed the secret of Reiki. Finally when Lemuria sank, the knowledge of Reiki was also lost.
The Great Being also realised the problems emerging out of the negative Karma, viz. greed, lust, anger, jealousy and
delusion. Reiki helped in overcoming these, and, being a perfect energy, establishing the connection with God. 1.

NOTE: FOR INDEX, SEE PAGE 93


Reiki does not expect one to be spiritually inclined for it to work, because it is UNCONDITIONAL HEALING ENERGY. Reiki
was again brought back to the earth by the GREAT BEING to the Atlantis city some 50,000 years ago
However, Atlantis also sank, and with it the treasure of Reiki energy. Some 7,000 years ago during the Egyptian
civilization Reiki was brought back for the third time, and continues to remain with us even today
The clairvoyants of the New Age School of thought believe that Reiki is a contract between Mother Earth and God, in
order to heal Mother earth and its denizens.
[New Agers believe in the lost continent theories, karmic debt, reincarnation, higher beings and spirit guides etc.]

THE MODERN RE-DISCOVERER OF REIKI
Sumeet Sharma continues: Dr. Mikao Usui was the principal of Doshisha Christian University in Kyoto, Japan
Once when he was asked by one of his students as to how Jesus Christ healed his followers, Dr. Usui could not give an
answer Ashamed, he resigned from his [job] and started his quest to discover how Christ had healed.
He traveled to Chicago and studied there for 7 years and acquired a degree in theology, although he was unsuccessful in
finding the answer to his question. He later traveled to India and Tibet, learnt Sanskrit, and finally studied the sacred
Tibetan Lotus Sutras and found clues to the healing power of Jesus. He then returned to Japan and focused on Buddha
as he was known to have performed the same miracles as Jesus. His journey finally led him to a Zen Monastery where he
read the Sutras, writings and teachings of Buddha. On the advice of the monks, he took to meditation
Fasting and meditating for 21 days atop a holy mountain near Kyoto he received enlightenment when a golden light hit
his forehead with the sacred Reiki symbols and he heard a divine voice Dr. Usui ran down the hill in excitement and hurt
his toe, and it started bleeding profusely. He placed his hands on the area of pain and the pain vanished in minutes He
went to the Zen monastery the following day, and on seeing a monk suffering from acute arthritic pain, he simply placed
his hands on the area of discomfort, and the monk was relieved of the pain.
Usui was said to have originally desired to heal the masses, and first lived in the slums near Tokyo, performing seemingly
miraculous healings on the poor without charge. Then, after a time, these same patients who had been healed returned to
him, having lost their healings. He meditated on why this was so and how he could remedy the problem. He decided that
they became ill again because in any action of man, there should be an exchange of energy, thus Karmically releasing
the other person from any debt that may take fruit in the future [S. Sharma], and so he began to charge money for his
services.

However, Dr. Richard Blackwell who claims to have discovered and translated some of Usuis own original notes in 1993,
disagrees with the above version. According to him, Usui was neither a Christian nor the dean of a college.
As a youth, Usui reportedly had a powerful vision. He then studied Shingon Buddhism which was founded in 7
th
century
Japan by Shuichi and Kukai who themselves had been trained by Indian Buddhist Masters in China.
Blackwell believes that Usui was a reincarnation of Kukai and in earlier life would have already mastered the practices of
The Tantra of the Lightning Flash which Heals the Body and Illumines the Mind known to Kukai.
Since there was no living guru who knew the tantra, Usui began to practice all by himself and finally received
empowerment. He poured water empowered by this tantra on his hands before healing.

BEYOND USUI
Dr. Usui continued to propagate Reiki throughout Japan till around 1926, and gathered 16 teachers, one of whom,
Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, founded the first Reiki clinic in Tokyo. One of his students, Hawayo Takata, a Hawaiian widow was
suffering from various ailments was healed through Reiki and succeeded Hayashi as Reiki grandmaster when he died in
1941. Before her death in 1980, she had created 22 Reiki Masters in the US and Canada.
Today, Reiki is propagated world-wide by three major organisations: The Reiki Alliance founded in 1981 by Phyllis
Furomoto, the grand-daughter of Takata, The International Association of Reiki [centered in the Czech Republic, Poland
and Scotland], and The American International Reiki Association, founded in 1982 by Dr. Barbara Weber Ray [see below].
One of Reikis foremost proponents and author of several best-sellers on the therapy is Paula Horan [see below]. She has
made several visits to India.
According to Paula Horan, the Level III Reiki in use today is only the first of seven levels of tantric practice.

HOW DOES REIKI HEAL?
Reiki heals one physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, offering solutions to most known diseases and maintains
the connection with god... The God-consciousness called Rei guides the life force called ki and these two together jointly
become Reiki. All those who use Reiki can practically experience how it guides itself with its own wisdom. The Reiki
energy automatically flows to wherever the healing is required, although the practitioner may have overlooked the exact
area where the healing is required.
It has been observed by clairvoyants that Reiki energy is bipolar in nature. It is made up of both male and female healing
energies. The male part comes from above i.e. the Crown and other higher Chakras and is known as the Shiva energy in
Tantra Yoga, and the female part comes from below i.e. the Root Chakra and is known as the Shakti energy in the Tantra
system. 2.





These two energies communicate with each other and decide how much polarity is needed so that when the energies
leave the hands they have the proper combination of male and female healing energies.
One will be amazed to note that when more than one person works on a subject, the Reiki communicates with all the
practitioners involved, channeling the male energy from some and the female energy from others, and properly mixing the
two energies needed to heal the subject.
Reiki can never cause harm as it is guided by the God-consciousness. It always knows what a healee needs and adjusts
itself to create what is appropriate for the person. The practitioner does not direct the healing nor decide what to heal
because he is only a channel or instrument through whom the Reiki flows to the healee. The healer is also not in danger
of taking on the Karma of the subject being treated Practitioners energies are never depleted as it is a channeled
healing [and] continuously receives the Reiki once he or she is attuned [Sumeet Sharma]
According to ICRT, Reiki heals by flowing through the affected parts of the energy field and charging them with positive
energy. It raises the vibratory level of the energy field in and around the physical body where the negative thoughts and
feelings are attached. This causes the negative energy to break apart and fall away. In so doing, Reiki clears, straightens
and heals the energy pathways, thus allowing the life force to flow in a healthy and natural way.

REIKI ATTUNEMENT AND THE REIKI MASTER
Reiki is a special kind of life force that can only be channeled by someone that has been attuned to it.
It is possible that some people are born with Reiki, or have gotten it some other way. However, most healers who have
not received the Reiki attunement from a Reiki Master are not using Reiki but another kind of life force.
Reiki is not taught in the way other healing techniques are taught. It is transferred to the student by the Reiki Master
during an attunement process. This process opens the crown, heart, and palm chakras and creates a special link between
the student and the Reiki source. The Reiki attunement is a powerful spiritual experience.
The attunement energies are channeled into the student through the Reiki Master. The process is guided by the Reiki or
God consciousness and makes adjustments in the process depending on the needs of each student.
The attunement is also attended by Reiki guides and other spiritual beings who help implement the process.
Many report having mystical experiences involving personal messages, healings, visions, and past life experiences.
The attunement can also increase psychic sensitivity. Students often report experiences involving: opening of the third
eye, increased intuitive awareness, and other psychic abilities after receiving a Reiki attunement. [ICRT]
Advanced Reiki Training [ART]
At the ICRT, it is a one day intensive with a price-tag of $210.00. It includes:
The Usui Master attunement which increases the strength of your Reiki energy.
The Usui Master symbol which increases the effectiveness of the Reiki II symbols and can be used for healing.
Reiki meditation that strengthens the mind and expands consciousness.
Advanced techniques for using Reiki to solve problems and achieve goals.
Using Reiki to protect yourself and others.
The use of crystals and stones with Reiki.
How to make a Reiki grid that will continue to send Reiki to yourself and others after it is charged.
Reiki psychic surgery that allows you to remove negative psychic energy from yourself & others & send it to the light.
A guided meditation that introduces you to your Reiki guides wherein you receive healing and information.
Finally, an exercise for those planning to take Reiki III/Master training. [Reiki levels are I, II, III A and III B. After
attaining III B level, one can attune prospective channels of degree I, II and III A].
Generally, Reiki is held up as a rediscovery of the ancient and universal practice of the same healing power possessed
by the prophets and Jesus Christ.

Much like other forms of New Age healing techniques, the following characteristics are common of Reiki:
1. The technique is promoted as special and unique but obtainable via weekend workshops;
2. Reception of power comes through a lineage of masters;
3. The power is controlled via a supernatural power, whether divine, angelic or universal;
4. It is a spiritual power operating through a quasi-scientific metaphysical & mechanistic paradigm;
5. Psychic powers accompany the reception of the healing power;
6. Healers may charge money for their services.
Like most New Age healing techniques, practitioners and schools of Reiki vary their practice and combine it with other
practices such as the use of crystals, magical incantations for protection, psychic surgery, group energy channeling, and
spiritualism that includes the taking over of the body by ones guide.

BUT HOW DOES REIKI REALLY HEAL?
Using the paradigm of the chakra system of yoga, the Reiki healer is said to receive an initiation that allows him or her
to heal. Similar to acupuncture and yoga, Reiki posits that unseen energy paths exist throughout the body that need
only be charged with positive energy to restore each network of pathways and to restore health to the body. (The Cross
and the Veil, a Catholic website http://www.crossveil.org/.) [see pages 17, 43] 3.




Neither healing nor energy, Reiki is actually a form of Vajrayana or the "Diamond Vehicle", the tantric or esoteric
Buddhism of around 500 AD, studied by Usui (see English language section of the internet web page, BUDDHIST
ORIGINS OF REIKI at http://www.geocities.com/callceb/Reiki.html ).
This form of Buddhism employs the use of spells, symbols, very complicated rituals, and the acquisition of magical
powers, in order to reach a stage of enlightenment. These psychophysical techniques are passed on from master to
disciple through various esoteric ways, which explains why we sometimes call this movement Tantric or Esoteric
Buddhism: Santa Clara University Religious Studies Department, see http://www-relg-studies.scu.edu/.
Tantra has its origin in tantric yoga, in which sexual energy is manipulated for a variety of purposes from seeking a
magical union of lovers, to attaining union with god seen as the Supreme Self (see Tantric Buddhism in India,
http://www.tantra.com/mission/shaw.html )
Tantric yoga involves secret practices and ceremonial rituals including group sex. Lovers visualize each other as
manifestations of the male or female aspect of God and attempt to achieve ecstasy and a monistic oneness, a melding
together of souls with (red tantra) or without (white tantra) physical union.

A STUDY OF BOOKS ON REIKI, THEIR CONNECTIONS WITH ESOTERICISM/NEW AGE
1. Das Offizielle Reiki Handbuch, Grand Master Dr. Barbara Ray
I have rarely come across a handbook on Reiki that does not use the OM symbol or recommend the OM mantra for
chanting along with practice of Reiki. Rays book follows the line. There are also references to yoga. Her Bibliography too
is revealing: Several of the listed books are authored by prominent New Agers like Fritjof Capra [The Turning Point, The
Tao of Physics] and Ken Wilber [The Spectrum of Consciousness, Theosophical Publishing House].
Other books are Handbook to Higher Consciousness, The Mystic Spiral- Journey of the Soul etc.

2. New Life Reiki I and II, Grand Master Dr. V. Sukumaran [International Institute of Reiki, Chennai; Affiliate of World
New Life Reiki Foundation, UK].
Reiki can be used for emotional, physical and spiritual balancing. Advantages of New Life Reiki Healing are chakra
meditation, mind-cleansing rebirth exercise, special third eye opening [The healeee] will be attuned to the universal life
force healing energy by opening his/her inner channel during a sacred initiation ceremony He/she will be taught aura
cleansing, chakra energising, karmic blockage removing, to work with the sacred and secret Reiki symbols, practice of
sending and receiving Distant Healing etc Attunement is the very core of the Usui method, and can only be transmitted
by a trained Reiki Master. The books have charts on the chakra system and the colours, elements and mantras
associated with them. Some of the recommended steps in Reiki Meditation are: Awakening of subconscious mind,
Visualizing Reiki energy, Energising with Reiki, colour and affirmations. Chakra Meditation is a journey through the energy
centres in the subtle body with the help of chanting the mantras and visualizing the colour of each chakra The mantra
of the ajna or third eye chakra is OM and its colour is indigo. One is then led to create an energy circle around oneself
which helps one to locate the exact position of each chakra and feel its rotation; increase the inner guidance, intuition
and clairvoyance; keep the pathway of Kundalini Shakti free of blockages for natural awakening.

VISUALIZATION: In Reiki Distant Healing, you visualize the patient in front of you. You fix your third eye contact
on him for the whole session and then go through the normal routine of cleansing, energizing and so on.
In Reiki Golden Ball Massage, you visualize a golden ball splitting into tinier ones and massage them into your skin.
For Reiki Breathing, inhale blue colour for healing and energising inner wounds, exhale white, seeing [visualizing] the
toxic energies leave your body, and dispose of them in violet fire.

SYMBOLS: In the Level II programme, Sukumaran instructs the students in the use of a number of esoteric symbols-
their names and pronunciation, purpose, how to draw them, and where to. They can be drawn using ones fingers
[physically], by mental projection using the third eye, and at the aura or spiritual level. There is the Shanti or Peace
symbol for healing the past and living harmoniously in the present. A Hosanna symbol used for clearing and healing.
Even a Cross, the compulsory final symbol for the act of sealing the energy. Others are the Crescent and Star, and the
Swastika to be used on your doorstep to ward away evil. The OM is of course always unavoidable.

How to use them? An example. To clean a room: First cleanse with the Cho Ku Ray, then use the Hosanna, the Trisnari or
Trishul which destroys negativity, the Aguipa which burns away evil spirits. To be done 5 times along the sides and
diagonally. Next energise with Cho Ku Rei, the Vel [or spear] followed by the OM, the six-pointed Star, the Swastika and
lastly the Cross for sealing and protection. The energy, according to Dr. Sukumaran lasts for 12 hours.
His Reiki Foundation offers courses on Pendulum Dowsing, Crystal Healing, Magnetotherapy, Aromatherapy, the use of
Kirlian Photography etc. He also runs the Kumara Reiki Hospital and the Kirlian Photography Institute in Chennai.
With an MD in Pediatrics, Dr. Sukumaran says that Dowsing is an ancient and scientific art of asking questions and
receiving answers from the universal energy field using a pendulum [and is useful for] those who are interested in
finding their future path and selecting their lucky numbers, colours, dates, gems and so on. 4.




3. Reiki, Grand Master T. N. Indira
The cover pages are adorned with the sacred Reiki symbols, the yin-yang and the OM. Indira introduces us to Reiki
with 10 points that include such gems as You will receive a body. You may like it or not, but it will be yours for the entire
period this time around When your there has become a here, you will simply obtain another there
The answers to lifes questions lie inside you Whether you think you can or cant, in either case youll be right.
Included in her 6 principles are Release your desires to your higher selves. They manifest when it is right for you to
receive Thank the universe even before it is given The universe will test you The universe is blessing you.
She provides a list of short prayers, all of them directed to O My Lord, Universal Power.

SYMBOLS: They are sacred and secret. It is part of the Reiki tradition that they be kept confidential
The attunement actually empowers the symbols so that they will fulfil their intended purpose Before the attunement, the
symbols do not seem to have an influence on the Reiki energies Whenever a Reiki symbol is used by someone who has
second-degree Reiki, the God-consciousness or Rei responds by changing the way the Reiki energy functions. This process
has been created by a divine covenant between God and those who have second degree Reiki
The symbols must be drawn and used correctly to activate them. Reiki symbols have their own consciousness, so it is
possible to meditate on them and receive guidance directly from the symbols themselves, on how to use them.
You do not have to be in an altered state of consciousness when you use any symbol. All you have to do is draw it once
(physically or mentally) and say it three times (orally or mentally) Do not discuss symbols with Reiki I therapists or with
non-Reiki persons, as outside of Reiki II context the symbols have no meaning.
The Cho Ku Rei, Sei Hei Ki and Hon Shan Ze Sho Nen are the 3 basic symbols taught to II degree channels.

REIKI DISTANT OR ABSENTEE HEALING: Its symbol is Hon Shan Ze Sho Nen. Its purpose is to bring down
the energy into your heart chakra and open the mind so that Reiki can operate beyond time and space Sometimes a
picture of the client is used in conjunction with the symbol You can use it to send Reiki into the future It can also be
used to send Reiki into the past This technique can also be used to heal problems that stem from past lives. Detailed
stepwise instructions are given on how to send Reiki into ones childhood and into the future.

GROUP DISTANT HEALING: A group of Reiki II practitioners can send distant healing with powerful results.
Two methods are employed; the senders arranged either face to back in a spiral formation in a chain laying-on of hands
with the outer person sending the Reiki, or in a circle with the healee imagined to be in the centre.
In all cases the symbols must be use for the energy to be effective. Indira also recommends that a teddy bear or even a
pillow may be used to represent the patient, provided it is imagined as him and his name is used.

BEAMING: It is possible, using the distant healing symbol, to beam Reiki to your client from across the room.

ALTERED STATES: Focus your mind only on the Reiki as it flows through you. If other thoughts come into your
mind, gently brush them away By doing this you will enter an altered state that allows the energy pathways to open
more than normal. It will also allow your Reiki guides to more easily add their energy to yours.

PSYCHIC SEALING to keep out negativity is done by locking the tip of the tongue to the palate.
This method is employed in the Meditation on Twin Hearts of pranic healing to establish a connection between the front
and back chakras so that the prana [or ki] will flow with increased potency. According to Indira, this seal would be
effective for a period of 2 days, and any negativity coming against the healee would bounce back as positivity.

CONNECTING TO THE HIGHER SELF: Invite your guru/master/god dead or alive. Send symbols.
Take their blessings and permission to talk to them. If you have questions you will get the answers.
When the meeting is over, thank him by bowing down for having visited you. Experiment sending Reiki to Jesus, Krishna,
Sai Baba, Buddha, God, the full moon, the earth, your spirit guides etc.

MEDITATION: By intoning OM, you add its powerful vibration in your body
The O is experienced as a vibration in the direction of the third eye. Jointly the two sounds of OM help you experience
the poles earth and heaven, the forces of yin and yang.

AFFIRMATIONS: Affirmations change our thought patterns, and therefore our lives, according to Indira.
If there is any part of us that does not buy into the affirmation, then change may not occur at all or may be incomplete.
One such affirmation: From the Lord God of my being to the Lord God of the Universe, I release any vows of poverty,
chastity and sins of my ancestors that I have taken in this or any other lifetime, so be it and so it is!
[I request readers to read that again and let the real meaning of this affirmation be clearly understood.]
Pranic healer Choa Kok Sui has invented several affirmations including I am a divine being. I AM THAT I AM. 5.




4. All you Wanted to Know about Reiki by Sumeet Sharma
Sharma has been extensively quoted by me in this write-up. Like all exponents of Reiki, he often includes references to
higher beings, spiritual guides and masters, the power of intuition, benefits of yogic exercises, balancing of the chakra
system, kundalini awakening, the subtle or etheric or astral body, past lives, karmic levels, and freedom from the cycle of
birth and death [associated with the Law of Karma, and reincarnation].

5. The Practical Book of Reiki, Healing through Universal Lifeforce Energy by Rashmi and Maharaj Sharma
This book treats Reiki in far greater detail, but basically says the same things as most other books on the subject. Though
Reikis origin is in a Japanese, it is highly significant for us that all its proponents, whether Eastern or Western, cannot
explain its working without the use of what is inherently Hindu [or Vedic] in character, the chakras and kundalini. That is
because everything in Reiki rests on the basic monistic premise of an all-pervasive universal energy, call it ki, qi or chi.
Which in Sanskrit is prana. These energies operate at the level of the subtle or energy body that is seen clairvoyantly as
the aura around the physical body. There has to be a vehicle for this etheric energy vis--vis the physical body, for
healing; hence the meridians, nadis and chakras.
The goal of Reiki is clear when the Sharmas say, The more the life energy is free to move in the body, the easier it is for
Kundalini, the spiritual transformative energy, to be awakened.
Through the energy awakening, the goal of kundalini yoga is enlightenment, self-realisation, and self-deification.
Books recommended are Auras, See them in only 60 Seconds by Mark Smith, and Chakra Workout for Body, Mind and
Spirit [blends the traditions of yoga, Sufism and Taoism for the modern seeker] by Blawyn and Jones.

6. Reiki, Universal Life Energy by Bodo J. Baginski and Shalila Sharamon
A holistic method of treatment for the professional practice of absentee healing and self-treatment of body, mind and
soul. Before experiencing Reiki, Shalila learnt meditation under an Indian guru and went to spiritual healers of different
ancient traditions. She is also an expert in holistic astrology. Bodo was initiated at Findhorn, the worlds premier New Age
commune in Scotland and is trained in various alternative therapeutical practices.
They affirm, We are standing on the threshold of a new age which will either be brought about by a new quality of
human consciousness or else by the radical destruction of old, outlived structures Reiki has nothing to do with
spiritualism or the occult or with the calling up of ghosts or demons, nor is it concerned with hypnosis or any
psychological technique.
According to them, ki or chi is named the Holy Ghost by Christians. The Reiki laying-on of hands is compared with Mark
16:18 they will lay their hands on the sick and they will recover. The monism of the Upanishads [tat tvam asi] is justified
they say in Jesus words in John 10:30 I an my Father are one.
Patients will come into contact with new ideas after a few Reiki treatments.
Some will start doing yoga or start to meditate or practise some other kind of spiritual method
The speed of these new developments may be too fast and they will want to lay Reiki to one side for a while.
A friend of ours had very definite Kundalini experiences after treating someone with Reiki
We know of a couple who teach yoga, rebirthing and reincarnation therapy and who have begun to practise Reiki too.

[Indeed, Reiki, pranic healing and many such new age therapies are but facets of yoga rediscovered.
In all these non-pharmacological therapies, the fundamental belief is that man is in essence consciousness and therefore
he has within him the power to heal himself. Faith Heals, Folio, The Hindu, March 2000].

They frequently refer to prominent New Agers Marilyn Ferguson, Fritjof Capra and Rupert Sheldrake, other New Age
practices like kinesiology, Touch for Health, Kirlian photography, Transcendental Meditation, Bach Flower Remedies, and
quote the sayings of its founder Dr. Eduard Bach, and from the works of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Paramahansa
Yogananda, C.W. Leadbeater [theosophist and 33
rd
degree freemason], and the Tao Te Ching.
The authors recommend the use of a good dowser to locate the Reiki couch for best results.
They discuss the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain and the National Federation of Spirit Healers in England.
So much for their denial [italics, above] that Reiki is associated with spiritualism and the occult.

REIKI CRYSTAL HEALING
Crystals are believed to vibrate at the perfect frequency of the universal energy and are used as tools along with Reiki, to
work on the subtle energy body. T.N. Indira recommends holding a crystal in the palm for greater effectiveness. There is
of course the separate art of healing with gems and crystals known as gemology, often used in tandem with the sister
practice of chromo- or colour therapy. Pranic crystal healing is offered as a separate course apart from the basic,
advanced and psychotherapy levels.
According to Sumeet Sharma, Crystals work as capacitors of energy, both positive and negative. They are capable of
producing a mechanical movement known as piezoelectric effect used in quartz watches. Since they store energies, they
can be given Reiki, and can [be used as ornaments] within our aura level to continuously emit Reiki. 6.




THE REIKI GRID
A crystal grid using 8 crystals can be created and charged with Reiki. The crystals have to be selected using intuition,
cleansed with salt water for 24 hours, prayed over, and attuned to the creative energies of the earth, sun and moon
during the days of the full moon. The one that intuition says has the most yang is selected as the master charging crystal.
The grid is a circle with six crystals placed at equidistant points facing inward and one in the centre. One has to channel
Reiki into each crystal while praying to the spirit guides. The master crystal is used to keep the grid charged through Reiki
meditation. It is claimed that the grid will continue to send Reiki energy for 48 hours or more.

REIKI PSYCHIC SURGERY
It may be applied for not only physical but also emotional or spiritual afflictions.
One of the recommended symbols is the Christ Light. The cross is visualized as standing on the patients crown chakra,
the flow of positive energy from the cross arms to the healer and the negative energy going back to the cross.

REIKI AND HYPNOSIS
Sumeet Sharma says, Since Reiki basically works on the mind, anything that calms the mind will enable Reiki to go
deeper. When one is not open and receptive, one closes his outer aura and no healing can enter without the subjects
permission. In the hypnotic state, if Reiki is beamed with strong affirmations, the recovery is faster.
Healing is quicker when we combine Reiki with hypnosis or neuro-linguistic programming or Silva Mind Control
techniques. Sharma is also the author of Reiki and Hypnosis for Success and Self-Realisation.

TREATING ANIMALS AND PLANTS AND NON-LIVING THINGS WITH REIKI
Since everything is energy and energy is everything, the same principles of applying Reiki on humans can be extended to
all things, directly or from a distance. For best results try talking to your plants suggests Sumeet Sharma.
Small articles may be held in the hand when energising. If they are large, visualize them as small.
Allopathic medicines can also be energised with Reiki symbols, when they work faster and deeper. Shalila and Bodo
devote two chapters to this.

REIKIS COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER NEW AGE ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
We have already seen good examples of this in the analyses above. Additionally,
*The best part of Reiki is that it crystallises very well with any therapy, be it ayurveda, acupressure, aroma therapy,
shiatsu, Bach flower remedies, homoeopathy, massage, yoga, meditation, even hypnosis [Sumeet Sharma].
He explains how to enhance the benefits of each of these therapies by applying Reiki.
*Other practitioners we know of use Reiki with acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, ayurveda, Bach Flower
Remedies, colour therapy, homoeopathy, shiatsu, tai chi etc say Shalila and Bodo. Their book is illustrated by Alois
Hanslian who is described as teaching New Age Art. The artists conception of the earth [in a drawing on page 68] is that
of the landmass as a single continent, the one-world order of the New Age Movement.
*The December 2000 newsletter Universal Rhythm of the Karnataka Reiki Council, Bangalore states its objective to
integrate Reiki with other complementary therapies.
*The Sep./Oct. 2000 newsletter of Shree Sharada Lokaseva Foundation, Bangalore apart from concentration on Reiki,
conducts courses and carries information on mind-imagery techniques, yoga, pranic healing, pendulum dowsing, self-
hypnosis, crystal healing etc.
*HOMAT 2003, the Holistic Medicine and Alternative Therapies international exhibition in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
organized in collaboration with the Malaysian Homeopathic Council had participants in the fields of homoeopathy,
ayurveda, acupuncture, therapeutic touch, aroma therapy etc. and Reiki.
*Advertisements in the Mylapore Times [Aug 29-Sep 4, 1998] and Adyar Times [May 9-15, 1999] offer crystal and gem
healing, pendulum dowsing, magnified healing, shamanic healing and tarot card reading along with Reiki by Grand Master
Shobhaa Ramji who operates the Cosmic Healing Centre in Chennai. She is also a hypnotherapist, feng shui consultant
and Sufi healer among many things. Her visiting card sports the triangle yantra with the six-pointed star in it and the OM
at the core. She operates the Divvine Retreat centre at the prestigious Spencers Plaza, that sells everything from lingams
to laughing Buddhas, and sacred herbs with mystical properties to vaastu & feng shui charms.
*Usha Sethuraman, another Chennaiite, combines treatments using Bach Flower Remedies, magnets, colours, yoga, feng
shui, astrology, pranic healing and Reiki.
She is additionally a graduate from a homoeopathic medical college [Grand News, August 13, 2003].
*Reiki, psychic healing etc. are gaining steam despite not being regarded as fields of medicine by the Indian Medical
Council say Sultana Khadija and Jayalakshmi Menon in Finding Dr. Right, The Asian Age, July 20, 2003.
*Dipti Sitwala was a mental health specialist in the US when she got disenchanted with the efficacy of drugs.
Breaking the rules, she stopped medication and used the healing chants of OM instead. The results were very
encouraging. Awed by all things divine, she learnt shamanism and to heal the shamanic way
She took to techniques of meditation. Sai Baba of Shirdi was a lifechanging experience. Then she graduated to Reiki
guided by Paula Horan. [Tapping Energy the Reiki Way, Deccan Herald, July 9, 2004] 7.



*The danger from Reiki and other therapies to the ignorant and those under authority who have no freedom of choice is
great. The January 2000 issue of Society [Healing Hands] reports that mentally challenged students at the SPJ Sadhana
School in Mumbai have been trained in Reiki since 1997 by their principal Dr. Radhike Khanna.
It is reported that they gave Reiki to a Sr. Gaitonde, to their parents, and, using visualization and distant healing, on the
transport system to stop a BEST bus strike.
*Under the caption Reiki treatment for cops mooted, The Indian Express of April 13, 1999 reported that the Indian Reiki
Foundation [IRF] which has a tie-up with the Ramachandra Medical Hospital to treat cardiac patients with Reiki, has
sought permission from the government to train the State police to enable them to get rid of their stress and gain natural
energy Treatment would also be extended to students and prisoners to develop a positive thinking among them. IRF
director, Dr. V. Sukumaran [see above] according to Occult Obsession [India Today, July 10, 2000] is a dowsing expert.
He will divine the cause of your misery through a small pendulum that swings madly when suspended over affected body
parts.
*Farah Baria, the writer of the article, informs us that Shruti, a Gurgaon-based Reiki healer also uses cosmic sounds like
OM as therapeutic tools for mental and physical empowerment.
*The cover story of The Week of May 23, 1999 was titled The New Mantras of Healing: From yoga and meditation to
Reiki and pranic healing, urban India is finding new ways to manage stress.
The feature was researched by two Christians, Sunil Thomas and Samuel Abraham. They list a large number of corporates
that have included such stress management programmes for their employees.
Stress guru Prof. Rooshikumar Pandya has been training officers of Mumbai Police for over 12 years
Reiki healer Prama Bhandari from Delhis Tushita Buddhist Centre, in association with the NGO Cancer Sahayog has been
working with terminally-ill women patients at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for the last three years.
A large number of hospitals like the Apollo Group have started to offer alternative therapies like pranic healing and Reiki to
terminally ill patients who are in a vulnerable position.

KARUNA REIKI AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYMBOLS
This system was developed by William L. Rand.
Its symbols were reportedly channeled by several other Masters including Marcy-Miller, Kellie-Ray Marine, Pat Courtney,
Catherine Mills Bellamont, and Marla Abraham. Karuna is a Sanskrit word that means compassion.
It is the energy made available by all enlightened beings who are working to end suffering on earth.
The argument is that when individuals experience enlightenment, they realise that all beings are one, and therefore it is
natural for them to extend compassionate action or Karuna to everyone without distinction.
For some time only the two Japanese characters of Rei-Ki were used. In Reiki III A degree, the Dai Ko Myo is taught.
It is known as the Master symbol. While using it to open the third eye, one must thrice repeat the affirmation I establish
my divine presence on earth. But as Reiki flourished there were continued additions.
Most of them are, to say the least, grotesque. That includes the Hosanna Power symbol accredited to Eileen Gurhy of New
York. While it is drawn, one has to say Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna.
The Zonar symbol, a Z with the Greek symbol of infinity on it, is said to be one of those retrieved from the past for
modern man by Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It is applied for past-lives, and karmic and interdimensional issues.
Using numbers from the Bible and the [esoteric Jewish] Kabbalah, a Silva Mind Control instructor named Bert Goldman
constructed the Midas Star symbol.
The six-pointed star or Star of David is a combination of two triangles representing male [upward-pointing] and female
[downward-pointing] energies. The symmetrical superimposition of the two brings about a balance of the two energies.
This star is very popular in yantras. In many yantras the central figure is a six-pointed star inside a circular pattern of lotus
petals. In the Ganesh yantra, there is a triangle inside the star. Other shapes too are given symbolic importance.
A circle represents the cyclic force. Triangles, associated with pyramids have esoteric connotations.
An equilateral triangle represents a balance of energies. A triangle in a square forms the most basic yantra pattern.
In the Sarvatobhadra Mandala a square with its points upwards is used. The square, a circle within the square, a triangle
within the circle and a point inside the triangle makes the most powerful yantra pattern as in the Tara yantra.
World Reiki Day is celebrated on January 6
th
. World Reiki Year was celebrated in 2000.











8.



CHRISTIANS ON REIKI
1. Understanding the New Age
Russell Chandler [Religion writer of the Los Angeles Times]
In the chapter on Holistic Health and Healing, he remarks, Yoga, Reiki, Rolfing and a host of other bodywork
therapies are based on the assumption that the body needs alignment of its physical parts and vibrational energies.

2. The Facts on Holistic Health and the New Medicine
John Ankerberg and John Weldon
Reiki is a process designed not only for psychic healing, but also for personal spiritual [occult] transformation as well.
During the process of learning the technique, the master injects psychic energy into the student, allegedly opening his
psychic centres [chakras] and activating his life force. This process is reminiscent of the Eastern gurus dramatic
transmission of occult power into disciples, known as shaktipat diksha...
It is an occult technique designed to manipulate occult energies. Reiki instructors function in a manner indistinguishable
from psychic healers who utilize spirit guides The practice appears innocent any many people assume it cant hurt.
Unfortunately, occult practices can and do harm and they are anything but innocent.

3. Reiki: Healing with the Force
Marcia Montenegro Holy Spirit Interactive: New Age # 60 February 27, 2005
A brochure advertising Reiki, an energy healing technique, translates the word Reiki as guided Universal Life Force
Energy, (Ana Jones, certified Reiki Master-Teacher, Professional Intuitive, and Interfaith Minister, in her flyer, Reiki,
Natural Healing). Jones further asserts that Reiki Masters are spreading Reiki throughout the world bringing Reiki into
private practice, centers, hospices, clinics, and even some hospitals. This indeed is the case.
Background
Just what is Reiki and where did it come from? Reiki (ray-kee) is a system of energy healing based on the theory that a
universal healing energy or life force permeates and infuses the universe, and that this energy can be channeled into
someone so that their own life force is enhanced (Barbara Loecher, Sara Altshul ODonnell, and the Editors of Prevention
Health Books, Women's Choices in Natural Healing [Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1998], 268).
Reiki began in the 19th century when Mikao Usui, a minister and teacher in Kyoto, Japan, searched for an understanding
of how Biblical healing miracles worked. Usui read the Buddhist sutras (religious writings) in their original languages, and
found material on healing and what seemed to him a way to activate its power.
After a 21-day fast and retreat, he welcomed the energy into himself, the energy being what Usui thought was the
healing power (J. Gordon Melton, New Age Encyclopedia [Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1990], 382). Usui also came up
with five principles of ethical practice: being grateful for blessings, not being angry, not worrying, working honestly, and
being kind to ones neighbor and all living things (Ibid).
Usui drew disciples of his teachings, and later Usuis succession was passed on to Chijuro Hayashi (Ibid). In the 1930s, a
dying Japanese-American, Hawayo Takato, returned to Japan and encountered Reiki practitioners whom, it is claimed,
were able to heal her. She became the first woman Reiki master and first American Reiki master, and it is she who
initiated Reiki training in the United States by touring the country in the 1970s (Ibid, 383).
Barbara Weber Ray, in Atlanta, Georgia, became a teacher of the methods of initiating other Reiki masters in 1978; and
Ray founded the American Reiki Association, later called The Radiance Technique Association International (Ibid). Reiki is
also known as the Usui Shiko Ryoho System of Healing (Ibid, 382).
Philosophy and Practice
Reiki theory holds that practitioners can channel the universal life force as a healing energy into the clients body in order
to balance and enhance the flow of vital energy, (Loecher, 268). The client/patient lies on a table as the Reiki
practitioner gently touches him/her. The practitioner places their palms on major organs and glands, and on the areas
where the chakras are located. [The chakras are part of Hindu belief that there are seven chakras, centers of psychic and
spiritual energy, going from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Certain Hindu teachings claim that the kundalini,
an energy force coiled snakelike in the base chakra, needs to rise to the topmost chakra as part of the spiritual
enlightenment process.] As the Reiki practitioner holds his/her hands over various areas for several minutes, it is believed
that the client/patient is drawing in whatever energy is needed from the universe, using the Reiki healer as the channel
(Ibid). The Reiki energy enters the top of the practitioners head and exits through the hands, after passing through the
patient (William Collinge, M.P.H., PH.D., The American Holistic Health Association Complete Guide to Alternative Medicine
[NY, NY: Warner Books, 1996], 285).
The clients body has an innate intelligence or inner wisdom which knows where to apply the healing force (per
conversation with a Reiki healer, Festival of Lights Expo, Falls Church, VA, April, 2000).
To practice Reiki, one must be attuned through a particular ritual in which the teacher activates the universal energy
within the student (Loecher, 268; Melton, 383). There are three degrees of Reiki; the first degree requires four
attunements, after which the student can transmit healing energy by touching anything alive, (Loecher, 269). Being
initiated into the second degree requires the use of sacred symbols and teaches the student how to transmit energy over
distance, as well as teaching the art of mental/emotional healing (Ibid). 9.




According to Mary Ruth Van Landingham, Reiki Master Teacher, when using the symbols taught in the second degree, one is
"actually changing the holographic memory within the matrix or soul of a person," ("Terra Christa" Newsletter, Winter
2001 Workshop Schedule, Vienna, VA). To become a Reiki master/teacher, initiation into the 3rd degree is essential (Ibid;
Melton, 383).
Response to Reiki
Reiki is more akin to the occult than to medicine: As in all esoteric systems of belief, initiation into secret teachings and
techniques is required in learning Reiki. This initiation and secrecy is a hallmark of occult systems. The belief in
summoning, controlling, manipulating or channeling an invisible energy that cannot be objectively measured or identified,
and for which there is no biological, medical, or other evidence, is another classic trademark of occultism.
Although disguised with spiritual language and beliefs, Reiki fits the profile of an occult practice. (In fact, many occult
practices use spiritual and/or Biblical language).
Some may object to this classification of Reiki, pointing out that it is no different from Christian faith healing.
Any faith healing taught secretly, requiring various initiations, with a view that one is accessing a force (even from God)
through a technique, would be occultic as well. However, true Biblical healing is not based on a belief in ones own power
or technique, but is dependent solely on Gods ability and willingness to heal. In Biblical healing (disregarding the issue of
whether the gift of healing exists today), one is not accessing a force or technique but petitions God to heal.
Faith healing can be abused, as it is in many cases today in which the healer draws attention to himself/herself through
sensational methods, makes claims that cannot be verified, or uses fraud.
Reiki and Jesus:
There is no evidence that Jesus used Reiki, as many Reiki books and teachers assert.
Jesus, being God the Son, did not need a technique, but healed because His nature was the same as Gods (which is what
being the Son of God signifies), and God is the Healer and Giver of life (Genesis 1 and 2; Psalm 103:1-3, 147:3; Hosea
6:1; Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:18; John 10:10; Acts 11:18).
Jesus miracles of healing were not just to cure, however, but were a sign that He was the promised Messiah. Luke 4:18
refers to prophecy of the Messiah as a healer in Isaiah 61:1. In Luke 7:18-23, John the Baptist sends a messenger to ask
Jesus if He really is the Promised One, the Messiah. Jesus replies: Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:
that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel
preached to them, (v.22). In His answer, Jesus refers to two Isaiah passages, Isaiah 35:5 and 61:1, which gave John the
confirmation he asked for.
Jesus was not channeling a universal energy, but was acting with the power of God. As Acts 10:38 says, God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by
the devil, for God was with Him. The power of God was not coming through a technique or secret teaching, but from the
Person of Jesus Christ. When Jesus conferred this power specifically to and only on His disciples, He gave them authority
over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness, (Matthew 10:1, Mark
3:13-15, Luke 9:1). It is His authority over illness that Christ gave the disciples, not a secret teaching or technique. This
authority over disease was only one aspect of the power and authority of the Son of God. He also demonstrated authority
in His teaching (Matthew 7:29), authority over demons (Matthew 8:28-24, also in Mark 5:1-17, Luke 8:22-25, as well as
many other passages), authority to forgive (Matthew 9:5, also in Mark 2:10, Luke 5:24), authority over nature (Matthew
8:23-27, also in Mark 4:36-41, Luke 8:22-25), and authority over death (Matthew 9:23-26). After His resurrection, He was
given all authority: All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18).
Jesus healing magnified the glory of God. After the blind man by the side of the road was healed in Luke 18:35-43, he
followed Jesus, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God, (verse 43). This same praising
of God happened after Jesus healed the paralytic (Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 2:10-12, Luke 5:22-26), when He healed the
lame, crippled, blind, dumb, and many others...so that the multitude marveled as they saw the dumb speaking, the
crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel (Matthew 15:30, 31),
when Jesus raised the dead man in Nain (Luke 7:11-16), when He made the woman bent doubled stand straight (Luke
13:13), and when one of the ten lepers healed by Jesus turned back glorifying God in a loud voice and falling on his face
at Jesus feet (Luke 17:15, 16).
Faith, Healing, and Salvation:
Another indication that Reiki is not connected to Jesus is that many cases of Jesus healing also report that He saved the
person by delivering him/her from sin. Before His birth, the purpose of Jesus regarding mans sin was stated by the angel
who told Joseph, ...you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins, (Matthew 1:21).
Healing was not just physical healing, but allowed the person to see who Jesus was. In doing this, Jesus was fulfilling the
words of Jeremiah: Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed. Save me, and I shall be saved, (Jeremiah 17:14). The man
born blind worships Jesus after his sight is restored and he truly sees that Jesus is the Messiah (John 9:38).
The woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus garment and was healed, and was told by Jesus that her faith had
made her well (Matthew 9: 20-22, Mark 5:31-34, Luke 8:43-48). Faith in what? Faith that she could be healed? Faith that
Jesus could heal? It was more, for it was faith that Jesus could heal because He was the Messiah. The woman was
healed, not just physically, but spiritually. In this passage about the woman with the issue of blood, the word translated
as well, when Jesus tells her that her faith has made her well, is a word also meaning saved.
10.



This word is different from the word translated as healed in the same passage. It is the same word, in fact, as the one
used by the angel speaking to Joseph about Jesus saving His people from sins. Since Jesus told the woman to go in
peace, we can assume that she was able to do so because her faith had brought not only physical healing, but salvation.
That is, she was given deliverance from the penalty for sins and was granted eternal life, thus able to know the true peace
of salvation. Faith is always shown by Jesus to be faith in Him because the healing was a sign of who He was, apart from
any belief in healing. Jesus was constantly reprimanding the disciples for having little faith, even after they had seen His
miracles. Jesus stood silent before Herod who had heard about Jesus and was hoping to see some sign performed by
Him but had no interest or faith in who Jesus was (Luke 9:9 and 23:8-9). And Jesus praised those who had faith, such as
the Roman centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant (Matthew 8:5-13).
But faith is not necessarily a prerequisite for healing, for it is not ones faith that brings the healing, but rather it is the
Healer. The blind man healed by Jesus went through progressive stages of recognizing who Jesus was after he had been
healed, not before (John 9). When first asked by the Pharisees to tell them who had healed him, the blind man simply
says he was healed by a man called Jesus (verse 11); later, he says Jesus is a prophet (verse 17). Upon further
questioning by the indignant Pharisees, the blind man states that Jesus has to be from God, otherwise Jesus could not
have healed someone born blind (verses 32, 33). This statement angers the Pharisees, who cast the blind man out of the
synagogue (verse 34).
This was a drastic action, cutting off a Jewish believer from the teachings, benefits, and protection of the synagogue.
Earlier, the blind mans parents had been afraid to testify their son had been healed, because they knew that if anyone
said that Jesus was the Messiah, they could be put out of the synagogue (verse 22).
After being cast out of the synagogue, the blind man has a second encounter with Christ, who has a question Himself for
the blind man. He asks him if he believes in the Son of God (verse 35), and the blind man asks who the Son of God is.
Jesus tells the blind man that He (Jesus) is the Son of God (verse 37). Upon hearing this, the blind man says, Lord, I
believe, and immediately worships Christ (verse 38). This situation is not only a case of faith coming after the healing,
but a healing tied in to who Jesus is, the Son of God. The blind man shows he has trusted and believed Christ by
worshiping Him. Jesus makes a further point with this by telling the Pharisees that they are really the blind ones and thus
remain in their sin (verse 39-41), implying that the blind man, who now sees, has had his sins forgiven as well.
The Pharisees refused to acknowledge Christ as the Messiah, and cast out those who did.
Reiki and God:
Jesus healings revealed Him as the Messiah, and glorified God. Reiki, however, is about a force or energy which is often
called and variously spelled as chi, ki, qi, or prana (seen as the ki at the end of the word Reiki). A belief in this force, also
called a life force, universal force, healing force, universal energy, or healing energy, or a combination of these terms, is
at the root of all energy healing such as Reiki. This force, or ki, replaces the personal God and reduces God to a mere
energy that is a substance in the universe [see CANA document on Yin-Yang].
It is even asserted that chi is the force that gives life (Collinge, 16; Loecher, 280). One doctor tells his patients that qi is
whatever took a microscopic cell and caused it to grow into your beautiful baby, (Loecher, 280). This statement stands in
stark contrast to the psalmist who says to God, You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in
my mothers womb, (Psalm 139:13).
As one flyer says about this energy, you could call it God, you could call it chi, prana. You could call it Love, (Chun Do
Sun Bup Energy Healing Center, Cho-Ku-Rei: Reiki/Seichim Tool of Transmutation). In other words, even if this force is
considered God, it is an energy to manipulate and use according to ones desire. It is reducing God to a fuzzy, impersonal
force accessed through secret teachings and esoteric experiences.
To claim that God is a force or energy permeating the universe is pantheism, a belief that God is an impersonal divine
energy. There can be no intelligence in an energy, nor can there be compassion, love, mercy, justice, or healing. The
ability to heal illness requires an intelligence that distinguishes illness from health, as well as compassion and a desire to
heal; this compassion and ability to discern, in turn, require a mind, will, knowledge, and judgment.
A force has no such attributes; a force is devoid of intelligence, mind, will, knowledge, compassion, and judgment, which
are all traits of a personal being, not an impersonal energy.
Some assert that the persons body has an intelligence or wisdom that channels the energy to the needed areas.
Where or what is this intelligence? Anecdotes and subjective experiences of healing are given as evidence, but healing
could occur as part of the placebo effect, as part of the remission of certain illnesses, or because the person was not even
sick to begin with.
Even a small amount of attention paid to a person not feeling well, combined with the desire of that person to believe in a
certain method or healer, can bring about a feeling of well-being. This does not mean an illness has been cured.
Healing Today:
Why are not all who believe in Christ today completely healed of illness? Fair question. We are in bodies that bear the
seed of death. When Jesus walked the earth, His healings were complete and immediate to demonstrate His power and
authority as the Messiah, the Son of God.
He was fulfilling the prophecies that the Messiah would heal the sick, make the lame walk, and make the blind see.
This authority and power marked Him as the Messiah. However, even those people whom Jesus healed had to eventually
die, including Lazarus and others who were raised from the dead. That is because sin, illness and death remain in the
world until the day they will be vanquished by Christ (1 Corinthians 15:25; Revelation 20:10, 14). 11.



Then there will be a physical redemption of the saved whose bodies will be transformed into spiritual bodies, which will,
however, still be physical (1 Corinthians 15:42-49).
Jesus resurrected in a spiritual body that was His physical body; He was not a spirit Accounts of Jesus after His
resurrection include: And they came and took hold of his feet and worshiped Him, Matthew 28:9; Jesus walks and breaks
bread with two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-31; Jesus shows His hands and feet to the disciples,
saying, See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you
see that I have," Luke 24: 39-40, and He eats broiled fish before them in verses 42 and 43; in John 20:17, Mary clings to
the risen Jesus outside the tomb; and Jesus cooks breakfast for the disciples by the sea in John 21:12, 13. Our bodies are
not just temporary shells, but were created for us by God as part of who we are.
If Reiki is channeling Gods healing energy, or imitates Jesus, then let us compare the purpose of Reiki in light of how
Jesus healed. Jesus not only healed incurable cases, such as blindness from birth, but His healings revealed He was the
Messiah, brought people to faith in Him as the Savior, and glorified God. His healing was also part of saving people from
sin. Is this what Reiki is doing? In fact, it is not. Reiki is based on principles of secret teachings, and on a belief in the
accessing and channeling of a force. These principles are occultic and not Biblical.
Reiki springs from belief systems that deny sin, deny the need for a Savior, and deny the Bible as Gods word. Reiki not
only denies what Christ taught, but if it has any power, it is not demonstrating the complete healing and saving power
Christ demonstrated, and therefore cannot be how Christ healed.
Other Energy Healing Methods
All energy healing techniques, such as Therapeutic Touch, Touch for Health, Polarity, Cleansing or Smoothing
the Aura, and methods claiming to balance or unblock the chi or prana (a divine force believed to be taken in by the
breath), such as Ayurveda, acupuncture, acupressure, shiatsu, chi kung (also spelled qi gong), and much of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, are based on similar principles of the life force and manipulation of energy as Reiki is.
Some of these systems, such as acupuncture, have engendered biological theories on how they work. Some may be
combined with scientific treatments. Yet the basic principles of these methods assert that healing comes through
balancing, unblocking, manipulating and/or channeling an energy or universal life force which replaces God, or is thought
to be God or from God. These healing methods are not just techniques, but are interwoven with spiritual philosophies
about who God is, who Christ is, and how the world and the body work. They are not based on science or medicine, but
on spiritual beliefs. None of these beliefs point to the God of the Bible, but rather to pantheism. They may speak of Jesus,
but only as a cosmic Christ who came to heal but not to save, since the existence of sin and need for salvation are usually
denied.
Jesus the Messiah, however, spoke of sin and sickness together, and of mans need for Him: "It is not those who are
healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means, I desire compassion and not
sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, (Matthew 9:12, 13). Jesus practiced healing and saving
from sin together. Even if Reiki were to truly heal physically or emotionally, it would not heal on the spiritual level. True
healing in the most holistic sense of the word acknowledges the need for spiritual healing through deliverance from sin.
This healing comes only by recognizing Jesus as the Son of God who offers forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God
(Mark 2:10; Luke 1:77; John 9:35-38, 11:25, 26, 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19) through the pouring out of His
blood on the cross (...for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins, Matthew
26:28).
He said to them, But who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:15)
And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me. I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in
Me may not remain in darkness. (John 12:45, 46)
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else,
will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish, (John 11:25, 26).

4. Reiki
Maranatha briefing, April 2002 [See http://www.drgareth.info/Reiki_GL.pdf]
The Maranatha Community, 102 Irlam Road, Flixton, Manchester M41 6JT Tel: 0161 748 4858 Fax: 0161 747 7379
Reiki is being intensively promoted today. Concerted efforts are being made to present it as an acceptable, harmless and
beneficial technique of healing. It is, in fact, deeply rooted in the occult. It originates in and is heavily influenced by
Eastern religions. This folder gives basic information about Reiki.
1. WHAT IS REIKI?
Reiki practitioners claim it is a technique of healing and a form of therapy. It is also called healing touch or healing
energy by some. It was initially promoted in this country in New Age circles, at psychic fairs and advertised in occultic
journals. It is being offered to the public as a legitimate, complementary therapeutic technique. It is being promoted in a
growing number of countries and an international network has developed. According to Reiki Plain and Simple by Vincent
Amador, Reiki is a system of enlightenment, a hands on healing art. It is also described as a spiritual healing
technique and an energy healing technique. Spiritual healing brings fundamental healing by helping us to become part of
the universal consciousness, while energy healing centres around removing the symptoms of mind and body disorder.
(Reiki History 2002, The story of Mikao Usui). 12.



What Does Reiki Mean?
It is a Japanese word meaning 'energetic spirit' or 'universal or spiritually guided life force'. (The UK Reiki Association: The
Usui system of Reiki). Rei is a term for a spirit or spiritual quality. It means supernatural knowledge or spiritual
consciousness. This is the wisdom that comes from God or the Higher Self. (The International Centre for Reiki Training:
What is Reiki?). God is seen as higher self and not a transcendent being. Ki is a term used to describe an all-
encompassing cosmic energy or life spirit. Ki means the same as Chi in Chinese and Prana in Sanskrit. Reiki believers
claim that this impersonal dynamic power (ki) can flow through a channel (rei) as a healing force.
Ki is used in meditative breathing exercises and by the shamans of all cultures for divination, psychic awareness,
manifestation and healing. (The International Centre for Reiki Training: What is Reiki?). Reiki is, therefore, a spiritist
channelling technique akin to that used in sances or with ouija boards.
2. THE ORIGIN OF REIKI
It was devised in the early 1900s by a Japanese Buddhist, Mikao Usui who was born in 1865. He sought the key to the
miraculous healings of Buddha and Jesus. Following a fast on a sacred mountain he said a light suddenly struck him in the
third eye and the Reiki symbols were revealed to him. It is said that he was then able to miraculously heal people by
laying on of hands. Contradictory claims are made about him. It is suggested he taught at the Christian school at Kyoto
and attended Chicago University. Both institutions have no record of this (William Rand: Reiki: The Healing Touch). It is
known that he was born in Japan into a Buddhist family and became a Buddhist monk. He studied Sanskrit scriptures and
the Japanese form of qigong and practised martial arts. He had some knowledge of medicine and psychology, and was
involved in fortune telling. He was a member of one of many spiritualist groups that existed at this time. It was a
metaphysical group dedicated to developing psychic abilities and Usui is described as a sensitive spiritualist by Reiki
Master William Rand in Reiki, The Healing Touch. Many practitioners falsely claim Reiki is an ancient art, steeped in the
centuries. It is, in fact, a comparatively new technique, but with similarities to Tibetan Buddhist healing practices called
the Medicine Buddha, which also involves laying-on of hands. The other similarity is that healing is transmitted through
empowerment given by a teacher, as in Reiki attunement. (What is the History of Reiki?: The International Centre for
Reiki Training).
How Did Reiki Develop?
A retired Japanese naval officer, a psychic, Chujiro Hayashi, was taught by Usui and established a clinic in Tokyo. He
committed suicide. His work was continued by a Japanese-Hawaiian lady, who he had taken on as an apprentice. She
practised for 40 years, and in 1970 began to train other masters. She claimed With Reiki comes health, happiness,
prosperity and long life (Kajsa Krishni Borang in Thorsons First Directions book Reiki). She died in 1980 and passed
leadership to her granddaughter Phyllis Lei Furmoto and Barbara Weper-Ray. Before she died she initiated 22 masters and
gave permission to masters to initiate others. There are various schools of Reiki such as the traditional Usui Reiki (based
on Mikao Usui), Tibetan Reiki, Raku Reiki, Angelic Reiki, where information on healing was supposedly given by the
Archangel Michael, Seichim Reiki, which was developed after a spiritual experience in the Great Pyramid in Egypt and
receiving a Sufi (which is a Muslim occult practice) empowerment, and many more. These different schools further
emphasise the occult nature of Reiki.
3. THE REIKI SESSION
Reiki practitioners claim to be a channel for a 'life force' to flow through them, supposedly directed through the
practitioners hands to the clients body. They believe that this life force brings healing by activating and accelerating the
flow of energy and by restoring balance within the body. A sinister aspect of Reiki treatment in hospitals is that patients
are not being made aware of what type of treatment they receive. Reiki teams have also found it best not to use the
word "Reiki" at first , but to talk about healing energy. Later, after trust has been gained, they explain more
about the technique and that it is called Reiki. Volunteers at the Reiki clinic have found it helpful not to use metaphysical
terms when talking to patients or to hospital staff about Reiki.
Terms like aura, chakras, energy bodies, etc. tend to cause confusion and mistrust. It works better to explain Reiki in
simple everyday terms by simply saying that touching is something that everyone needs and enjoys. (William L Rand:
Reiki in Hospitals The International Centre for Reiki Training 1999). Significantly, Rand observes that some patients have
reported spiritual experiences after Reiki.
The Reiki Promise
The Reiki practitioner will offer peace and harmony, self-empowerment, inner transformation, release of repressed
emotion, relief of physical tension and mental stress, and removal of emotional and physical blockages. It is presented as
being gentle and offering power to the giver and to the receiver. Reiki practitioners even claim the power to achieve
distance healing and also the treatment of animals and plants. Like many other New Age systems, Reiki is particularly
concerned with self-healing and self-empowerment. The Reiki Outreach International co-ordinates what they believe to be
the sending of energy to world situations.
The Reiki Transaction
A fundamental part of Reiki teaching is that there must always be payment for the treatment provided. Registered Reiki
practitioners are obliged to charge for their services and clearly one of the motivations for practising may be financial
gain. Initially, Usui was treating patients without payment. However he noted that patients who had been healed
returned after some time, having lost their healing. After meditating, he decided that patients became ill again because
they did not sufficiently appreciate the Reiki healing and so he began to charge money for his services. (Clare McGrath
Merkel: Reiki and Tantric Magic). 13.

Adverse Effects
According to its proponents, Reiki is never harmful: Because Reiki is guided by the god-consciousness, it can never do
harm One never need worry about whether to give Reiki or not, it always helps. (W. Rand: Reiki, the Healing Touch).
Those coming for Reiki 'treatment' are often people in great need. They may do this without any knowledge whatsoever
of the nature and origin of this force and the implications. Those who subject themselves to Reiki lay themselves open to
unknown influences and the possibility of emotional and spiritual contamination. Even Reiki 'practitioners' recognise the
risks of receiving bad, sick or negative energy. Reiki practitioners are more explicit about the dangers that can occur if
anything goes wrong in the initiation process. Jason Storm in Reiki Revolution warns students not to proceed too quickly
with their Master training for the following reason: If you do it quickly, you can expect increased and amplified symptoms
of clearing, and especially with the Level III clearing, it can be very, very emotionally and karmically unpleasant. Even
more explicit is the website of Angelic RayKey which quotes Reiki-frequently asked questions (1992-98) warning Reiki
teachers to be selective with their students: If they are carrying karma that must be released, it WILL. When they are not
ready to release it, there can be disastrous consequences. It is like raising the kundalini without a guru watching over the
person. This can result in madness and death.
If this can happen during the training process what could happen to patients having Reiki treatment? It is claimed that
the Reiki healing brings peace, comfort and serenity. Experience reveals that it can also bring disturbance and severe
emotional and physical trauma.
What is the source of Reiki energy?
Some Reiki practitioners claim that the energy knows where to go and what to do once it gets there, whereas others say
the energy is being directed by a higher intelligence. Significantly, one practitioner, David Herron, publishes an affirmation
I invoke the healing Buddha and the master spirits of Reiki. The International Centre for Reiki Training states: Reiki
energy comes from the Higher PowerWhen viewed clairvoyantly, Reiki energy appears to come down from above and to
enter the top of the practitioners head after which it flows through the body and out the hands.
Presuppositions
Reiki practitioners believe that every individual has a field of energy surrounding him or her. This is called the Aura. They
also believe that every individual has seven chakras in which emotion and healing is rooted. They also believe that routes
or pathways connect with and lead to the chakras. Many Reiki practitioners use dowsing to identify their problems. This is
done by holding sticks or a pendulum in the manner of shamans and witch doctors.
New States of Consciousness
In common with other occult techniques, Reiki encourages people to enter into altered states of consciousness. The
official Reiki Handbook (Third edition 1984) speaks of enabling people to move from the physical level through levels of
higher consciousness, transcendental awareness, and spiritual awareness to the cosmic plain. This is seen as the
level of Universal Consciousness-Light. (Barbara Ray & Yesnie Carrington: The Official Reiki Handbook 3rd edition
1984).
4. INITIATION INTO REIKI
Reiki teachers are first asked to accept five basic innocuous principles that are designed to help empower the student and
bring about an awakened mental and spiritual state. These principles are Buddhist in origin. According to Reiki Plain and
Simple by Vincent Amador: The secret method of inviting blessings, the spiritual medicine of many illnesses: For today
only, do not anger, do not worry. Be grateful and do your work with appreciation. Be kind to all living things. There are
other versions of these principles, for example do not be angry, do not worry, be grateful, live a life of honour, and
honour your parents, teachers and elders. To channel Reiki energy it is claimed that you must first have had an
attunement by a legitimate Reiki teacher. Attunement is an initiation procedure to supposedly establish a strong
connection between the person concerned and the universal life force energy. During this process, Reiki Symbols and
energy are placed into the meridians, aura, energy body or Chakras of the recipient. Reiki masters prepare other Reiki
teachers by claiming to open up an energy channel in the practitioner, from the top of the head to the hands. The
International Centre for Reiki Training describes what happens (Reiki, Questions and Answers; 1999): During the
attunement, the Reiki Master will touch the students head, shoulders, and hands The attunement energies will flow
through the Reiki Master and into the student. These special energies are guided by the Higher Power During the
attunement, some students feel warmth in the hands, others may see colours or have visions of spiritual beings. This
process is presented as gentle and non-intrusive but students are often told that what happens to them cannot be
reversed and that once the energy transmission is activated it remains for life. Students are obliged to go through a
process of initiation, which is secretive and occultic. This follows a series of levels or degrees. The First Degree is primarily
concerned with the physical dimension, the Second Degree is primarily concerned with the emotional dimension, and the
Third Degree is primarily concerned with the spiritual dimension. The UK Reiki Association states: Each step of the Reiki
path has a specific monetary fee: $ 150 US for a first degree, $ 500 for second degree and $ 10,000 for Mastery. The fees
call out a students commitment at each level and lead the student into a deeper understanding of the energy of money.
It is interesting to note that Reiki training is offered at Glastonbury and Stonehenge by the American International Centre
for Reiki Training. A web site Reiki Healing Glastonbury also offers links to Tarot and Astrology readings.
The Teaching Process
According to the teaching cassette issued by the International Reiki Institute in Scottsdale, the most important aim of the
Reiki initiation is to awaken what they call the Third Eye. They say this allows the person to see the god within
everyone and everything. 14.




They also say this gives the person sight and then you can see auras and energy...the energy awakens and activates the
crown chakra which is your connection to cosmic informationIt is your link with your higher-selflike a door on top of
your head which allows you to receive higher information.
The First Degree
The First Degree training includes the history of Reiki, the basic hand positions and 'attunements', which open the
initiate's ability to channel energy. During the First Degree process, students are shown the hand positions for treating
people. Symbols are secretly drawn over them, particularly the claimed psychic energy chakra points. Students have to
close their eyes and the symbols are not revealed to them at this stage. In the First Degree the teacher claims to open up
the students crown chakra the energy centre at the top of the head -and the chakras in the palms of the hands. They
suppose that thus an energy channel is created between the crown chakra and the chakras in the palms.
The Second Degree
The Second Degree course includes additional attunements, absentee healing and the learning of esoteric symbols.
Students are told not to disclose these to the public. Students are taught three symbols. These are memorised and then
used by either being drawn with the hands or visualised, at the same time mentally saying the name of the symbol. The
first is the power symbol which is used when it is felt that an increased amount of Reiki energy is needed. The second
the emotion symbol is used when mental and emotional balance is needed. The third the distance symbol is used for
absent healing. This is used for healing events of the past because it is claimed that the practitioner can channel energy
both through space and time.
The Third Degree
The Third Degree leads to appointment as a Reiki 'Master' and for this course there are special visualisations and
levitations and those participating are introduced to and make contact with their own Reiki 'spirit guide'. Thus Reiki is
undeniably a form of spiritism. In the Third Degree, the practitioners are taught the fourth symbol the master symbol.
This is drawn on the top of the practitioners head and in the palm of their hands and then the symbol is blown or
implanted into the energy channel. The sinister claim is made that once this has been done, it can never be reversed since
these symbols are permanently implanted.
The Secret Symbols
Reiki teachers believe that the symbols they use are holy and should be kept secret. Reiki Master William Rand writes:
There is power in secrecy It is likely that these symbols are of Buddhist origin. Practitioners claim to send Reiki energy
by means of the symbols. They invite the symbol into the awareness of their students or they contemplate the sound of
the symbols name, thus charging it with Reiki energy. Master Naharao, an Indian guru, and Bill Waites in the Reiki
Practical Guide say, the sacred symbols are universaland confidential. In the opinion of many Reiki teachers the most
closely guarded secret is the knowledge of the symbols and anyone who reveals their essence would be considered a
traitor and ostracised by the community of Reiki instructors. The symbols are graphic shapes drawn on paper and the
student has to copy and learn these because the papers are destroyed after each lesson. It is never sufficiently explained
why such secrecy is needed. One possible explanation is that Reiki training is done for the financial gain of the Teacher.
For example, Mrs Takata charged US $10,000 for the Master training.
The first Reiki symbol Cho Ku Rei is commonly called the power symbol. A possible meaning is God is here or put the
power here. The second Reiki symbol is the Sei Hei Ki or mental-emotional symbol. It is stated to be the one mind, the
Buddha Mind and a harmony symbol. It is claimed that in the oneness of the first and second symbols that body, mind
and spirit are healed and cleansed. The third Reiki symbol, the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is a combination of Japanese symbol
language meaning to act in the realisation of absolute being-ness. It originates from a Buddhist Chant that means Right
consciousness is the root of everything or A righteous man may correct all thoughts. The last symbol, the Dai Ko Mio
symbol, also known as the Usui Master Symbol is the symbol for the great shining light, (Vinny Amador: Reiki and
Spirituality). William Rand writes about this symbol: It is said to be a Zen expression for ones own true nature or
Buddha-nature of which one becomes cognizant in the experience of enlightenment or satori According to Rand, the
master symbol is therefore a powerful symbol from Zen Buddhism.
Two additional symbols are used. The Fire Serpent symbol Nin Giz Zida a Tibetan symbol -is used to supposedly open
the chakras. The Fire Serpent represents the sleeping serpent coiling at the base of the spine. It opens the channel
allowing the flow of the Kundalini fire. The Raku symbol is used supposedly to ground the receiver of the Reiki energy and
practitioners claim that this can dissipate negative psychic energy when related to the Third Eye.
Reiki Rituals
Mrs Takata advised three rituals (Reiji-Ho), which are to be carried out before each treatment. The first is the folding of
the arms in front of the chest and asking the Reiki power to flow through you. The instruction is repeat the wish three
times in your mind, that the Reiki may flow, then send the mental-healing symbol and seal it all with the power symbol.
The second stage is pray for the recovery and/or help of the patient on all levels. No indication is given of who is being
prayed to. The third stage is hold your folded hands in front of your third eye and ask the Reiki power to guide your
hands to where the energy is needed.
Mikao Usui arranged for his sessions to have three parts Gassho (meditation with two hands coming together in
preparation), Reiji-Ho and Chiryo (meaning treatment).
15.



5. THE SPIRITIST DIMENSION
As the founder of Reiki, Mikao Usui, was deeply involved in Spiritism and Buddhism, it is not surprising that Reiki relies on
Spiritism and Buddhism for its healing method. The Usui and Seichem Reiki Training Manual states the Reiki
Attunement is a sacred spiritual initiation that connects the initiate with higher levels of consciousness and permanently
connects the initiate to the Reiki source. The spiritist nature of Reiki is made clear in the Manual: the attunement is also
attended by Reiki Guides and other Spiritual Beings who help implement the process. These are also called Ascended
Masters, Spirits or simply Guides (Vincent Amador: Reiki Plain and Simple). According to the Reiki First Degree Manual
by Reiki Master, Stephen James Culshaw, those who are taught are attended and guided by astral Reiki guides. The
Reiki Guide is a spirit being. It should be noted that many Reiki practitioners are also involved in a range of other psychic
activities. It is also admitted that the process of attunement is controlled by forces beyond the Reiki Master. Reiki Master
Diane Stein in her book Essential Reiki says of the Reiki spirit guides, These are a group of discarnate (bodiless) healers
that take part in every Reiki Healing. The Reiki one practitioner is probably not aware of them but with Reiki they begin
to make themselves known. In Reiki three training, they are running the whole show.
Occult Spirituality
Reiki practitioners admit the spiritual dimension of their beliefs and practices. Eleanor McKenzie in Healing Reiki says
Through practising Reiki we can once more strengthen ourselves fully and begin to experience fully all aspects of our
humanity and the Earth as we were meant to. She specifically states Reiki is a spiritual path. In referring to the Reiki
symbols which have considerable spiritual significance, she freely admits They introduce the esoteric and occult.
Reiki and New Age Religion
Reiki is very closely associated with the New Age Movement. It is profoundly influenced by pagan and spiritist beliefs.
Barbara Weper-Ray founder and First President of the American International Reiki Association confirmed the New Age
dimension of Reiki in her book The Reiki Factor. She said not by chance has this technique re-emerged at the dawning
of the Aquarian Age an age that will be characterised by science and spirit.
Practitioners of Reiki claim not to have any association with any religious faith. They specifically claim that Reiki stands
apart from any belief system. The truth is that Reiki followers have very precise beliefs, are deeply occultic and their work
and beliefs have very close bonds with Eastern religions. In the book 'Reiki and The Healing Buddha' we read the Reiki
symbols are sacred symbols because of their interactions with the higher realms of Buddhas or gods. Most practitioners
of Reiki embrace belief in reincarnation. In 'Reiki -a practical guide' Master Naharo, and Bill Waites, refer to Reiki in terms
of its main aim being to build bridges to former lives. The treatment focuses on the third-eye, the throat and heart
chakras, energy centres which are 'in charge' of reincarnation. Reiki teachers are vague about the spiritual powers which
they claim to be releasing, often speaking of 'Reiki rays, or divine intelligence or life force'.
Reiki and Prayer
Reiki training appears to side-step the issue of the object of prayer and intention. However, students are specifically asked
to Put your hands in the prayer position. Some Reiki training notes specifically say Centre your self and call in your
guides and angels.
Reiki and the God of New Age
Reiki dismisses the concept of a personal God who is a loving Father with whom individual people can have a relationship,
and who brings healing. God is perceived as being an impersonal force present in all living beings (pantheism). If God is
referred to it is always with the impersonal it. Mikao Usui himself said I believe there exists One Supreme Being the
Absolute Infinite a Dynamic Force that governs the world and universe. It is an unseen spiritual power that vibrates and
all other powers fade into insignificance beside it. He then decided I shall call it Reiki.
6. REIKI & CHRISTIAN BELIEF
Involvement with any aspect of the occult is totally incompatible with the Christian faith. Reiki stands in marked contrast
with the healing of Jesus and it is certainly does not accept His authority as Lord. Those who become involved in Reiki
deny the many Biblical warnings against endeavouring to make contact with spirits. It is clearly stated Who ever does
these things is an abomination to the Lord
(Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Whereas Reiki clearly runs the risk of leading people into spiritual bondage, Jesus saw His
ministry as one of deliverance to those in spiritual bondage. His power is still evident in Christian ministry today, but it
must be recognised that Reiki has emerged due to the neglect of this ministry by the wider Church. When Reiki
practitioners place their hands on or above those who come to them, this is not to be confused with the Christian practice
of the laying on of hands, which unlike Reiki, is totally related to the acknowledgement of the presence of the personal
Living God and the power of His Spirit. Significantly, Reiki teaching makes no reference to the reality of sin or to its
consequences. The need for salvation is, therefore, not recognised. Jarl Omholt-Jensen who was actively involved in Reiki,
before he became a Christian states that there is an occult power and entity behind these techniques He writes such
healing offered occupies the area of witchcraft. He claims Each of these activities can be made inoperative when
prayed against and bound in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Self-Healing?
Christians believe that God alone is the source of all life, love and healing, but Reiki challenges this. Reiki Masters, Ann
McMurty & Stirling Marie Sexton state in their Reiki session guidelines It is the clients who always heal themselves.
Reiki teachers claim that in the final analysis, nothing can free you from the conditioning that causes your suffering
except you. (Vinny Amador: Reiki and Spirituality). 16.


7. CONCLUSION
Reiki practitioners are doubtless sincere. Those who go to them are seeking help. Many experience some physical change
and there are real effects of Reiki treatment. The source of the 'Reiki power, however, has to be recognised as occultic
and there are very serious doubts about the long-term consequences of any involvement.
A Surprising Truth
Those within the Health Service, the Hospice Movement and even some churches who believed that Reiki was a simple
massage or healing touch therapy, are often shocked to discover that Reiki Masters are in fact spiritist mediums. Most
would refuse to allow patients to be subjected to the potentially damaging influences of channelling and psychic healing.
Those concerned with healing are invariably surprised when they discover the secrecy which is an inherent part of the
Reiki process and they are understandably suspicious of a process embracing symbols which must not be disclosed.
Similarly, they are concerned that Reiki practitioners are reluctant to disclose secret phrases, often in Sanskrit, which are
repeated in mantra form to invoke the presence of a particular spirit force.
Personal Experiences of Reiki
As a doctor I have personally witnessed the way in which Reiki has traumatised many individuals. They have all been
unaware of the nature of the spiritual power to which they have opened themselves. I would strongly caution people not
to dabble with Reiki in any way. (L.S., General Practitioner)
Reiki healing was initially unusual, interesting, even attractive, and it worked. Then it became absolutely terrifying. I lost
all my self confidence. But the power of Jesus Christ rescued me and now Im fine. So dont touch it, ever. (N., Cheshire)

CATHOLICS FOR REIKI. REIKI IN CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS OUTSIDE INDIA
1. Crossveil www.crossveil.org] [see also page 43]:
Unfortunately, a number of Catholic nurses, doctors, hospitals and retreat centers have innocently included Reiki as an
alternative form of medicine. One such place, The Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, Maryland, USA,
advertises on the web for a combination of Reiki and massage:
Why receive Massage or Reiki while on retreat? Because we believe that both are graced ways of experiencing Gods
healing touch during a retreat. In a pastoral context massage becomes a sacrament of touch, an anointing, for it
combines one of the oldest and simplest of medical treatments with the ancient healing powers of the laying on of hands
and the anointing with oil. Hands are symbols of human service and communicators of the healing potential within. Oil is
a biblical symbol of the divine gift of health, strength and respect for the whole person. In massage these symbols
coalesce to heal, comfort, soothe, relax and strengthen the whole being. [Sr.] Mary Ann Finch
Many seriously ill patients in [Catholic] hospitals are exposed to occult techniques, including Reiki, without full knowledge
or consent. While in a weakened and vulnerable state, volunteers perform Reiki magic over them as described in the
following. According to William Lee Rand, in his web article, Reiki in Hospitals:
The Reiki Clinic at the Tucson Medical Center (TMC) in Arizona has a team of Reiki practitioners who give Reiki to
patients in their roomsThe TMC program started in May 1995...The program first began in the Cancer Care Unit, but has
since expanded to many other areas in the hospital. At first, the attending physician had to give permission for Reiki to be
provided. This has changed, and now the attending nurse makes the request. Reiki sessions are given by two-person
teams as this creates a feeling of safety and confidence for both the patients and the practitioners.
A patient must sign a consent form and sessions are given in their rooms while they are in bed. It is up to the Reiki team
to explain Reiki to the patient before giving the treatment. They have found that this usually works best by first taking a
few minutes to introduce themselves and get to know the patient, then explain the work they do.
They have also found it best not to use the word Reiki at first when describing how they can help, but to talk about
healing energy. They explain how healing energy exists in the body but is depleted when a person is sick, and they
describe their work as helping to increase the patients healing energy supply. Later, after trust has been gained, they
explain more about the technique and that it is called Reiki. They also play special healing music during the Reiki session.
Volunteers at the Reiki clinic have found it helpful not to use metaphysical terms when talking to patients or to hospital
staff about Reiki. Terms like aura, chakras, energy bodies, etc. tend to cause confusion and mistrust.
It works better to explain Reiki in simple everyday terms by simply saying that touching is something that everyone needs
and enjoys. They also found that describing their work as Reiki treatments tended to create some fear, whereas calling
them Reiki sessions worked much better.
In essence, Reiki and the New Age paradigm in general, seeks to change our bodies and minds, which are temples of the
Holy Spirit, into dens which spirit guides may inhabit, and which are reduced to metaphysical machines that can only be
corrected and perfected through mechanistic energy infusions. It is a power paradigm which emphasizes control and
domination of psychosexual forces a kind of occult, psychic masturbation.
Catholics practise Reiki; they also propagate it with other New Age alternative therapies. Opposing and
exposing this is the raison detre for this ministry, and it is why this article is necessary.
Catholic nuns and priests conduct Reiki courses in the form of seminars and retreats. Catholic charismatics,
even a senior priest, a twice former National Chairman in the Renewal in India, have been known to use it
and teach it to others. Here, below are some pro-Reiki articles, the first one written by Catholics from a
Reiki organization run by Catholics and other Christians. Do not permit their contents to either influence or
scandalize you. They will be followed by detailed articles by other Catholics exposing Reiki healing- Michael
17.



2. CATHOLICS AND REIKI www.christianreki.org
Q. How do we know that healing is appropriate for Christians to do?
A. In I Corinthians 14:1 Paul tell us to eagerly desire spiritual gifts. In I Corinthians 12: 28 Paul says that healing is one of
the gifts. Paul also says that each of the gifts is best expressed with love. Also, Jesus is quoted in John 14:12 as saying, "I
tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.
He will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father." We know that Jesus practiced laying on hands
type healing, therefore, it is scriptural for Christian to practice healing by laying on hands.
Q. What is the best way for a Christian to practice Reiki?
A. Reiki provides a very wonderful way for Christians to make use of God's power. When giving or receiving Reiki
attunements or treatments, call on God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to work directly through you and do the healing
for you. This can be done through prayer before Reiki sessions, attunements or classes etc. Christians have also found
praying for additional healing power from Archangel Michael, Gabriel and the other angels of God to be very effective. In
this way your connection with God's love can become very powerful and act as a source of guidance, healing and love
that will always be available to you.
Q. Why is the Reiki attunement necessary? How does it work?
A. The attunement is a process that turns on your healing energy. During this process God is able to connect you more
strongly to his power which strengthens the healing energy coming from your hands. While everyone has some healing
ability we know from experience that those who receive a Reiki attunement have noticeably stronger healing energies
coming from their hands and are able to help others in a more effective way with their Reiki treatments.
As a Christian it is recommended that you say a prayer at the beginning of the attunement process asking that God, Jesus
Christ and the Holy Spirit will perform the attunement through the Reiki master. Christians have found this to be a very
valuable and uplifting experience that strengthens their connection to God and increases their healing ability.
Q. How do we know that Reiki comes from God? I've heard some people say Reiki comes from Satan.
How can I know the truth?
A. Our understanding about Satan comes from the Bible. No where in the Bible do we find an instance where Satan
healed someone. Satan tempts people to sin but Satan does not heal people. Furthermore, in Luke 6:44, Jesus says,
"Each tree is recognized by its own fruit." Which is to say that if something is beneficial and helps people, and those
results are long lasting such as the healing people receive from Reiki, then it must be good and come from God.
Q. Is Reiki a religion?
A. Religions are usually involved with issues such as heaven and hell, sin and salvation etc. and have a doctrine or code
that one must believe in in order to be a part of the religion. Reiki does not deal with these things. Reiki is a simple
healing technique. It does not require one give up ones religion or changes ones religious beliefs in any way to practice it.
Most Christians who practice Reiki state that Reiki brings them closer to God, to Christ and to the Holy Spirit and because
it is a method of healing, it helps them fulfill their Christian calling to help others.
Q. Is Reiki a cult?
A. In order for something to be a cult, it must have certain detrimental effects on its members. A usual requirement is
that they must give up their previous religious beliefs and accept the new beliefs of the group without question. In Reiki,
this is not required. People are free to continue with any religious belief they have previously chosen and in fact people of
all religious beliefs practice Reiki. In most cults, there is a leader to which members must follow and obey. Reiki has no
leader. Practitioners can practice anyway they want and are not controlled by anyone. In addition, in most cults, members
are asked to give all or most of their possessions to the group, they often live communally and contact with the outside
world is discouraged. None of these conditions exist in Reiki. Reiki is religiously neutral.
Q. I understand Reiki uses symbols. I've been told that Christians shouldn't be involved with anything that
uses symbols.
A. Keep in mind that symbols are part of Christianity. The fish and the cross are Christian symbols. Note also that
Catholics make the sign of the cross over their chests for protection and to become empowered with Christ.
Symbols are used in Reiki to connect with different kinds of Reiki energy and since Reiki healing energies all come from
God, the symbols are a way to connect with God. However, if a person doesn't like the idea of symbols, they are not
necessary to use with Reiki as in Reiki I there are no symbols.
Q. I've heard of Reiki practitioners speak of Reiki guides. What's this about?
I've been told that Christians should avoid contacting spirits.
A. The idea of Reiki guides is not actually part of the original Reiki teaching, but was added later by Western practitioners.
Therefore, one doesn't have to contact a spirit guide to use Reiki as Reiki energy comes directly from God and spirit
guides are not necessary. However, it is possible as a Christian to use a similar concept when practicing Reiki.
Keep in mind that Jesus, Mary and other Biblical figures received help from spiritual beings in the form of angels. Angels
are spiritual beings that God has created to be his messengers and it is possible for Christian Reiki practitioners to make
use of their help. God's angels can help heal and also provide guidance. It is also possible to call on God directly and
especially Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to be present and provide healing energy directly from them, but sometimes
God will send an angel to do this also. Remember, the entire book of Revelations was given to John by an angel -
indicating the responsibility God sometimes gives to angels to act as spiritual guides. 18.




Q. Is Reiki wizardry, black magic etc?
A. Wizardry and black magic etc. is always used with the idea of gaining power over others or gaining some personal
benefit regardless of God's will. It does not call on God but on lower powers or other lower beings to help fulfill ones
desires. Reiki does not operate in this way. It cannot be used to fulfill ones personal desires unless they are part of God's
plan. Reiki can only be used to heal and to help people and is always guided by God.
Q. I've heard that Reiki is a Buddhist practice. Is this true?
A. While Mikao Usui who founded Reiki was a Buddhist, he had respect for all religions including Christianity which he had
studied. At one point in his life he lived with a Christian family and had Christian friends. He did not want Reiki to be a
religious practice but wanted it to be a simple healing technique that anyone could use. Because of this there are no
Buddhist practices in Reiki. Reiki is religiously neutral. Reiki energy comes from God, which is understood to be the one or
Universal God.
Q. Is Reiki right for all Christians to practice?
A. As we can see from the information presented on this website, Reiki is in alignment with the teachings of the Bible.
Yet, it is not likely that that all Christians will be drawn to practice it.
If you are interested in Reiki and are in the process of making a decision about receiving a Reiki treatment or attending a
Reiki class, it is suggested that you pray about it and then follow the guidance that comes to you from God.

3. TESTIMONIES OF NUNS, PRIESTS AND MINISTERS WHO PRACTISE REIKI
(i) Sister Mary Mebane OSF
I am a Franciscan Sister, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, headquartered in
Redwood City, CA, and am stationed at Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA, where I am a Chaplain.
I have been a Sister for 42 years and counting. I found answers to the questions I had about Reiki in the Bible.
Laying on of hands is a gift of God and was used extensively by Jesus and his followers and still is! Reiki is spiritual - a
spiritual way of "Being" and not a religion. The Reiki Ideals/Principles are a firm foundation and I can always get deeper
and deeper into them. In my morning prayer I always make the intention that anyone who wishes to receive Reiki through
me will. (Rom. 14:7: The life and death of each of us has its influence on others.) I felt the hand of God in my life even as
a very small child and I felt the call to healing a long time ago, but was not sure how to go about "getting it." I would
timidly ask God for it, then withdraw the request as I did not feel I was "worthy."
In 1997 at Marian Medical Center I saw a flyer about a Retreat featuring Tai Chi, massage, and something called "Reiki."
As I wanted to learn Tai Chi, I signed up. I did not learn Tai Chi, but came away with something much better, the healing
gift of Reiki. In the preliminary talk I heard that I could receive this gift and that the only thing that could stop the gift
was to consciously block it. I had no intention of doing that, so at Zaca Lake Retreat Center, sitting in the Sacred Grove, I
received my first Reiki attunement from Jeanette McDaniel, RN. As the attunement began, I saw a huge fountain from
which poured forth healing energy and a path that stretched from horizon to horizon.
I heard a voice saying that I could step on the path if I wanted to. I did not have to be told twice!
I mentioned that I make my intention daily to be a healing channel for anyone who wants to receive it from me.
God has given each of us free will, and God will not violate this. When I ask patients if they would like me to pray with
them, they know I am praying for healing. I ask permission from unconscious patients on the mental level, knowing their
Higher Self will respond. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, sometimes I do not get an answer.
In that case I send Reiki with the provision that if the person does not want to receive it, that it go to someone who does.
My model is Jesus asking the man at the pool of Bethzatha (The Sheep Pool) if he wanted to be healed. (John 5:3-9) He
did not just heal him without his permission. Healing of body, mind and spirit is exemplified for me by Jesus in the story of
the 10 lepers (Luke 17:11-19). They came to him for healing and they were healed: physically, emotionally and mentally
(their self-esteem was restored and they "got their lives back") and they were restored to the worshipping community. It
is interesting to note that the one who returned to express gratitude for the healing was not a Jew, he was a "foreigner."
Dr. Usui, as we know, was Japanese and a Buddhist.
In the matter of sending Reiki, it is good to remember that Jesus sent healing also. Note Matt. 8:5-13, the cure of the
centurion's servant and the cure of the Syrophoenician woman's daughter (Mk. 7:24-30). In Luke 10:1-6, the disciples
were sent out and were to send "peace" to whatever house they wanted to stay in. If the peace was not accepted, it was
to return to them. So, too, if Reiki is sent and is not wanted, it is sent back to you, or you can send it to others, or to
Mother Earth.
I have sometimes given a gift of Reiki, a bear or piece of jewelry, etc., which I have charged with Reiki energy.
This, too, is very Christian. In Mt 9:19-22 and Mt. 14:35-36, healing flowed out of the hem of Jesus' cloak or the fringe on
the cloak. In Acts 19:11-12, handkerchiefs or aprons that were touched by Paul brought healing to the sick and people
would place the sick where Peter's shadow would fall on them and bring them healing. Last, but not least, Jesus Himself
told us (Mk 16:18) that we would lay our hands on the sick and they would recover and in John 14:12ff Jesus said that "I
tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater
works because I go to the Father." I believe there are many paths to healing, but the Reiki path is the one I have been
called to, and with the Lord's help/support/encouragement, through the Bible and through those people He places on my
path, I hope I will become an even better Christian and Sister. I ask God to continue to bless me and my work as a
Practitioner and a Teacher. Peace, Love, Light, Sister Mary Mebane, OSF



(ii) Sister Anny Vogeizang, Sisters of Charity of St. Charles Boromeo
I have become a REIKI master to fulfil my vocation, which began with a dream. After overcoming my hesitations I began
my master training in 1991 and as from January 1993 I have been giving REIKI courses every month, to a group of at
most 9 students. My religious congregation fully supports our activities and purchased a building for us in 1994. We call it
REIKI Centre DRIELUIK. . The room is 40 square metres. Behind this big room are still another two little rooms half the
size of the big room.
Our Reiki classes contain a cross-section of society: pastors (both roman-catholic and protestant), engineers,
manufacturers, contractors, teachers, employees, housewives and housemen, healthcare workers, students etc.
Dick and Corry have participated in all the courses as assistant-masters. In October 1994, after they both had received the
3rd degree, Dick continued the master training and as of spring 1995 Dick and I take turns in giving the course, assisted
by Corry and Dick or me. We have chosen for quality, 9 students with 3 all round teachers. It already has begun to bear
fruit. People who come here have often been made aware of DRIELUIK and its teachers by former participants. I see it
as my goal in life, following the Lord Jesus Christ, to help alleviate suffering that is unnecessary. Jesus did good, laid his
hands on the sick for healing, talked to people who were in pain or in trouble etc. Dick, Corry and I do the same.
The students transfer the money to the Project Vagrant Children Philippines. In this way, our helping hands reach
further than the Netherlands. As from January 1993 more than NLG 150,000 was transferred to the Philippines.
In the Netherlands it is not required for a religious person to specify to the church authorities in detail what your activities
are. Within the general goals of religious people there is enough room for anything you prefer, especially for the explicit
words of Jesus, namely: Lay your hands on each other for healing.
I quote the bible: Marcus 16:15 Travel around the world . . . . . Mc. 16:18 and if you lay your hands on the sick, they
will become healthy.
Sometimes fellow-nuns or religious people of other congregations join us for a REIKI course. Within our DRIELUIK
premises, we give REIKI information once a month. We are also asked to provide information elsewhere.
We send you the cordial greetings of our threesome, Corry, Dick and yours truly,
Anny Vogeizang, Member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Charles Boromeo.
DRIELUIK Perikweg 41, 7512 DM ENSCHEDE, The Netherlands

(iii) Anglican Priest
I am the Vicar of St John's Read and St Peter's Simonstone, near Burnley, Lancashire, England. I have always had an
interest in medical matters including complementary therapies. About three years ago I was browsing a bookshop and
came across several books about Reiki but at the time didn't do anything about this.
Later that month I was ministering to a woman who was terminally ill with cancer. It turns out she was receiving Reiki
treatments. She had been one of my church stalwarts. The Reiki didn't save her but I have never seen anyone face death
with as much composure as she did. After her death I reasoned that perhaps Reiki had something to do with her outlook
on her situation. That same week I received through my door a program of courses for a local college which offered Reiki
training. Curiosity made me enroll and I have never looked back.

(iv) The Experience of a Roman Catholic Reiki Master, by Jasper T. Suquila
Hello Everyone. Hi I am Jasper T. Suquila, age 29, from Caloocan City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. I am interested to
join your group and I thank the Lord Jesus that I am not alone as a Christian who practices Reiki.
I am a Reiki Master from the traditional Usui Reiki Ryoho stream, and am practicing Reiki actively for the past three years
already. I am a Roman Catholic, (and I still am), temporary professed Dominican Third Order, graduated AB Theology
from a Dominican school and currently finishing my MA Applied Theology (with concentration in Religious and Values
Education) from De La Salle University - Manila as a scholar.
I am a Christian Living/Values Education teacher in the High School for more than seven years already, and I do give reiki
to my co-faculty teachers and students alike when they ask for it. I also use Reiki when I give counselling to my students
who have family problems and behavioral problems. I am so glad to know and find that there are a lot of people who
worship and serve the Lord Jesus and yet are practitioners of Reiki. I thought that I am the only one in this
predicament/situation. I have encountered a lot of "conservative" (read: narrow-minded) Catholics who think that I am
practicing superstition and "pagan" methods of healing. There are also other Christian sisters and brothers from other
denominations who profess to "love" Christ and yet are the first one to "cast stones" to Christians who are Reiki
practitioners whom they deem as "followers of Satan" and are considered as "damned" or lost.
I have been a member of a Catholic Charismatic renewal community and I praise God for giving me the gifts of
healing and teaching. When I came to a Reiki introduction talk, I am amazed and at the same time critical of Reiki,
because it seems to me that Mikao Usui received also the gift of healing from God. As I attended my Level I Reiki, I am
still cautious of it and I prayed very hard to Jesus to protect me from any "harmful spirits" who may be going around and
enter my body. During my first attunement, I asked the Lord Jesus to cover me with His Precious Blood, and invoked the
Holy Spirit to protect me from any spirit from entering me. I have a personal relationship with Jesus, and I told Him: "Lord
Jesus, if Reiki comes from you, let its power flow through me, if not, I ask you to cover me with Your precious Blood and
seal me with Your holy Light. Send forth your angels to! surround this place in Your Name." I prayed intensely while my
Reiki Master was attuning me. 20.



Guess what? The power of Reiki flowed through me and I felt the tangible presence of God. I thought to myself "This is
the Shekinah of YHWH!". The sweet presence of God filled me, and the experience is akin to my Baptism of the Holy Spirit
during my Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar, which I attended years ago, and I felt the loving touch of the Holy Spirit
surrounding me and filling me, just like my experience during the Sacrament of Confirmation when I was a child. While in
gassho position I began praising Jesus for this wonderful gift of Reiki.
My life has never been the same again with Reiki. For me, Reiki brought me closer to Jesus, and also, was more in touch
with Jesus' mission on earth, which is to heal the sick and proclaim the Reign of God in our midst.
My hands are very hot whenever I "pray over" the sick using Reiki.
As a Reiki Master, I define Reiki as "God-directed life force energy". I even equate Reiki to a manifestation of the healing
presence of God in Christ Jesus. I believe that Reiki is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Reiki is indeed one of the charismatic gifts
of healing (as mentioned in 1st Corinthians chapter 12). I believe in the sacramental and incarnational dimensions of Reiki
to others. Let me elaborate it theologically.
Leonardo Boff, a Franciscan theologian, in his book, "Sacraments of Life, Life of the Sacraments" expresses his view that
any object or person can be a "sacrament", if that thing or person leads you to God, and that person or object becomes
for you a dynamic and visible symbol of the invisible presence of God. We encounter God in the midst of ordinary human
experiences. The utter transparency of the invisible healing presence of God is made visible through Reiki.
When we touch others to give Reiki, we are making visible the invisible healing presence of God in our midst.
Touching is a human action where we make others feel that they are loved and cared for. Touching is a universal human
action of affection. When we give Reiki to others by touching others, we make them feel the healing presence and power
of God, who is Love Itself (1st John 4:18) and let us remember that the love of God has been poured out through the
Spirit (Romans 5:5). In Scripture we read in First Corinthians 12 we the phrase: "gifts of healing" (NRSV). The word "gifts"
is in plural form. It means to say that there are a variety of "gifts" of healing, not just the traditional method of laying of
hands found in the New Testament. Remember that Jesus of Nazareth healed in a variety of ways. We do not see a
"uniform or standard way" of healing the sick. I believe that Reiki is one of them.
As St. Irenaeus of Lyons said: "The glory of God is a human fully alive!" I believe that Reiki is part and parcel of the
healing tradition that has just been recovered by Mikao Usui. We must recall that Reiki only seeks the highest healing
good of a human person, and that brings a person's frequency or auric field and state of being into balance and perfect
health which we call homeostasis. We cannot use Reiki to harm others or do evil. It will not simply work.
When we give Reiki, we give glory to God, whose perfect Will and mission for human beings is wholeness and perfect
balance in health, "fully alive!" as I have mentioned above.
For those who think Reiki cannot be reconciled to Christianity, just remember that first, Reiki is not a religion.
It is a charismatic gift from the Spirit. In the Charismatic tradition, one receives the gifts of the Spirit through the laying of
the hands, just like Reiki is received and open us up to the reservoir of God's manifold healing virtue through attunements
(done through laying of hands also.) We are Christians who just happen to be Reiki practitioners and not the other way
around. Second, God is the source and origin of Reiki, not Mikao Usui, or the Reiki Masters. Reiki Masters do not own
Reiki, they are just channels of Reiki. Reiki Masters only open the uninitiated to the power of Reiki, but is not the source
of Reiki. Third, The Principles of Usui is very much Christian and more closer to the spirit and intention of the Christian
Scriptures.
Always remember the theological principle regarding the primacy of God's unconditional love for all human beings and all
creation. God reveals Himself in many different ways through different people (Hebrews 1:1), and I do believe that Reiki
is a manifestation of His healing presence to others. We cannot put God in a box or put Him nicely in our own limited
human perceptions of reality. God is more than what we say or think of Him. You cannot say that: "God can only do this
or do that" or say: "God cannot be the source of Reiki". God is more than who we think He is. In the book of Isaiah we
read about God:" For My ways are not your ways and My thoughts are above your thoughts...."
I have a lot to share. But this is all for now. With all my love and respect, Jasper T. Suquila
A Roman Catholic who happens to be a Reiki Master

(v) The Revd. Dr. Alan Sowebutts
Nowadays I am a Reiki Master and have also taken Karuna [Reiki] training.
Looking back these events seem to be more than mere coincidences (synchronicities/divine guidance...)
I currently practice Reiki for the benefit of my parishioners and their contacts, some of whom are chronically ill with MS
and ME. These I have attuned to first level and they are treating themselves; all attest the benefits.
I have never found any incompatibility between Reiki and The Christian Faith as I have experienced it and being able to
help people in their health has been immensely enriching for me and for them as in my ministry I try to imitate Christ.

(vi) Reiki in the Name of Christ by Warren L. Kurtze
Many of my Christian friends have refused to accept the spiritual gift of Reiki.
They often claim Reiki will not work in the name of Christ and/or is contrary to scriptures.
The intent of this article is to share some joyful experiences involving Reiki and a Born-Again-Christian.
Hopefully, these experiences will help others in sharing Reiki with their Christian friends.
It was November 27, 2003, when I was in the Colorado Mountains enjoying the holidays and providing Reiki treatments.




During this time a strong Born-Again-Christian was visiting our home. I invited her to my healing room. There I provided
some basic Reiki information using wall charts of auras and etc. To my surprise she was cautiously receptive. At one time
she had practiced massage and believed in a healing touch, but not healing energies.
The next morning she woke with a level 8-sinus pain and a running nose. With her permission she was treated with Reiki.
To her amazement she was healed within minutes. Her joy and excitement led to tears and praising the Lord.
An hour later I invited her to morning meditation. During meditation she was lead through a forest with the sounds of
birds and the smell of flowers. We came to an opening with a blue pond being filled by a waterfall. I asked her to sit
beside the water and talk with her Lord. Once again, to her amazement, she actually had a conversation with Christ.
Several minutes later we returned to the present. Her joy was overwhelming. She broke down into sobbing tears mixed
with laughter. Without exaggeration she was unable to walk for several minutes. She was completely paralyzed with joy.
Frankly we both began to sob and laugh.
The joy, the compassion and the experience with her Lord were truly beautiful.
Two hours later I received a call from a client in serious pain. This person's pain was so great that assistance into the
house and the healing room was required. I asked my Christian friend to help in the healing process. She was taught basic
Reiki techniques and was asked to use Jesus as her guide. During the healing treatment her hands became red hot. She
began picking up the clients pain and releasing it. The client even commented on the Christian's hands being so hot. Now
my Christian friend does not understand it, but she heard a voice of her Lord telling her to place her hands on the client's
hip where the pain was centered. Please remember that the client-needed assistance to enter the house. This is important
because after the treatment the client "danced" out of the house, requiring no assistance.
Clearly, a Christian who used her faith in the scriptures called upon her Lord as a guide and then used the basic principles
of Reiki to heal with tremendous results.
In concluding this article, I wish to share the view that REIKI is a tool for anyone to use, regardless of theology.
With Love and Compassion, Warren L. Kurtze
Usui/Tibetan Reiki Master/Teacher. ICRT Registered Karuna Master, Levels I and II. Reiki practice in the Colorado
Mountains and Kansas City.
Kansas City Telephone 913-897-7257; Cell 913-530-7807; Mountain Practice (when there) 719-942-4577
Nuns, Priests and Ministers: If you practice Reiki and would like to write a testimonial letter explaining how Reiki supports
your Christian faith please send it to: [email protected]

4. SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVES: HEALING OF MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT
By Sister Mary Matthias Ward. Special to The Independent
http://www.gallupindependent.com/2007/august/081107sp_hlngmbs.html
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at The Independent: (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or [email protected]
For this time I choose to write on Healing of Mind, Body, and Spirit. I choose to do it because in our society, among both
Protestants and Catholics, there are such misunderstandings. I choose to write this article because as I write this, we, the
people of the Diocese of Gallup, need healing. With the accident of Bishop Donald Pelotte, SSS, we are in crisis and we
need an inner healing. Bishop Pelotte needs both a physical and an inner healing.
When there are areas of the unknown, we readily jump to labeling things as New Age as being of Satan and criticizing
without asking for an explanation. Here at Sacred Heart Retreat Center in Gallup, we have a Reiki Retreat. We have a
labyrinth, yoga, and Centering Prayer. All of these from time to time have been labeled as New Age, and we have
received our share of criticism.
Our centers mission statement declares that we strive for wholeness and holiness. Is there anyone among us that
doesnt need an inner healing? How many of us pray daily for the healing of others as well as ourselves?
It does seem that attitude toward health, spirituality, our way of life and our place in society has changed dramatically.
People search for answers to daily problems. During these times of chaos, we humans suffer from physical and
psychological stress. The environment struggles for survival as well. We have no power to control these developments,
but we can face them. We need to own our healing gifts (Gods power within us) and look at what blocks Gods power and
what diverts Gods power. As we walk our journey carrying our crosses, we can experience God and find inner healing.
For myself, Im able to find an inner peace by walking among nature, by walking the grounds of Sacred Heart Retreat
Center, and from seeing and appreciating Gods artwork from every direction. I am able to balance my life by taking the
time to communicate with my God, in prayer, in meditation, in spiritual reading, and in contemplative living.
As unique as each of us is, so is our finding inner healing. On Wednesday evenings we offer Centering Prayer. For some
this contemplative prayer is what they need to sustain them. For others there is a Thursday night prayer group that finds
praying together, reflecting together, sharing faith together is what is needed to sustain them.
St. Paul says that healing is one of the spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:28). Jesus says: I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith
in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father (John
14:12). So, why do we fear healing? Why do we fear the laying on of hands?
Here at the retreat center on the last weekend of August, we will offer a retreat entitled Journeying with our Angels
through Reiki. This retreat will highlight how our angel guides us on our journey to healing, balance, and harmony. What
an experience of inner healing! 22.



Reiki provides a marvelous way to make use of Gods power. The Reiki Master will call upon God, Jesus Christ, the Holy
Spirit and the angels especially Michael, Raphael and Gabriel - to work through the person and to heal the person.
Yes, I know Ive been accused of bringing Satan into the Diocese of Gallup. Satan tempts people to do evil. Satan does
not heal. Reiki is not a religion. Reiki is not a cult. Reiki can be a religious experience which brings one closer to God. Reiki
is in alignment with the teachings of the Bible.
I dare to say, not all of us will be attracted to Reiki. That is all right. But, let us not down persons who are attracted to
the process of healing. We dont all communicate the same way with our God. But, hopefully, we all do communicate
with God.
During this chaotic time in our diocese, within our world, lets try to be open to how each person chooses to communicate
with their God, how each person seeks to sustain inner healing, an inner peace. St. Paul says Be transformed by the
renewing of your minds (Romans 12:2). I pray this for myself and for each of you as you may read this.
Sister Mary Matthias Ward, Ursuline Sister of Maple Mount, KY, is the director of Sacred Retreat Center in Gallup. She can
be contacted by mailing her at P.O. Box 1338, Gallup, N.M. 87305 or calling her at (505) 722-6755 or (505) 870-5679.
This column is written by area residents, representing different faith communities, who share their ideas about bringing a
spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues.

5. REIKI TEACHERS HIT BACK AT PRIESTS SATANIC WARNING
03/09/2006 http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=194215658&p=y94zy6364
Reiki teachers have hit out at a priest who branded the Japanese healing methods as the work of Satan, it emerged
today. Fr Tom Ingoldsby of the Salesian Order accused patients of the complementary therapy of opening
the door to evil and occult forces which have later side effects.
But the Reiki Federation of Ireland (RFI), which regulates the training and practice of the healing method, dismissed the
outspoken clerics views as being rooted in ignorance and suspicion.
Father Ingoldsby made his remarks in his Fast Food for the soul: in the Open Door newsletter, which is distributed free to
5,000 homes each week in the West Dublin and North Kildare area.
Reiki teacher and RFI co-founder Angela Gorman said it was understandable that some people remained sceptical about
complementary therapies but she warned them not to be close-minded to new ideas.
Some peoples opinions of Reiki are often anchored in ignorance and suspicion rather than pure scientific fact, said Ms
Gorman, a former nurse. There is a vast difference between being sceptical and being close-minded. Some people just
dont want to open their minds to new concepts.
Father Ingoldsby wrote in his column: Many people today are falling for Reiki unaware that they are on a dangerous
road, as once the door is opened to Satan, it is extremely difficult to get him out. People who go for a Reiki treatment are
exposing themselves to occult forces which may give one a false sense of peace of mind or some type or temporary
healing. Everyone should be warned that side effects can materialise later. Father Ingoldsby, who is based near
Portlaoise, went on to cite the case of a Catholic man who reported migraine pain after receiving Reiki treatment: A priest
discerned by prayer that there had been evil channelled into him, Father Ingoldsby claimed. The cleric also said former
Reiki healers witnessed strange spirits entering them and required deliverance by an experience priest.
Ms Gorman, who has been teaching Reiki for over a decade and appeared on Rte Late Show last year to defend the
therapy, said it was becoming increasingly mainstream in society. She said it has already been used in many Irish
hospitals and a transition class in Dublin was also taught it last year. Many public figures like the Prince of Wales openly
support the healing methods benefits. Addressing the World Health Organisation in May, Prince Charles encouraged
doctors to take a more holistic view by putting great emphasis on preventative healthcare. Medics at Columbia
Presbyterian Medical Centre in New York recently used Reiki on open-heart surgery patients. Ms Gorman has also noticed
a large increase in traffic on her website, www.thehealingpages.com from curious members of the public.

KonkaniCatholics yahoogroup digest no. 1068 Re: Reiki Teachers Hit Back at Priest's Satanic Warning
Posted by: "noel jude" [email protected] Fri May 4, 2007
Hello, This is a very good article. I hope more & more people open their eyes to this new demonic force that is entering
the society. Many Christians are looking for fast healing method. A huge number of Catholics are also falling prey to this
new method of healing. This is purely demonic & very dangerous. Warn your friends & family members to avoid this.
Once again lets talk about this on one to one basis to our friends & our family members. It will make a big difference.
Posted by: "Jennifer D'Souza" [email protected] Sat May 5, 2007
Dear Michael,
Yet another stronghold of the evil one... in the disguise of alternative medicine or therapy!
Thanks for sharing this article... God Bless You! Jennifer D'Souza (Mumbai)

6. NUN SEES REIKI AS EXTENSION OF FAITH
February 16, 2006 By Kathleen Ganster http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06047/655755.stm
An American Catholic nun performing a Japanese healing art may seem unusual to some, but Sister Mary Jo Mattes
believes it's a natural combination. "God is the one in charge. God is the one who is directing the healing," she said. 23.




Sister Mary Jo is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Millvale and the Reiki master and teacher in charge of the new
Tabor Reiki Center in Millvale.
Reiki is a spiritual healing art in which hands are placed on or near a person and moved in specific positions. Reiki is
noninvasive, and clients remain fully clothed.
A Reiki practitioner "transfers universal life force to the recipient," Sister Mary Jo said. The treatment starts with both the
client and practitioner asking God for healing, she said. "I ask the client what their desire is then and ask them to be open
to God's graces. We then pray and ask for God's direction," she said. "The Reiki practitioner directs the healing energy to
various parts of the body, not necessarily where the person may have pain."
Sister Mary Jo, 46, was introduced to Reiki nearly 20 years ago when she was on a retreat.
"I had hurt my back and had Reiki done, but my back actually hurt more. It turned me off to Reiki, although I later
learned I really should have stayed with it," she said. "Then a few years later, I decided to try it again and went every day
for treatment. After only a couple of treatments, I felt better."
About that same time she saw a brochure advertising Reiki training at the Sophia Center in Cleveland. The center will send
a trainer to teach a group of 12 or more, so Sister Mary Jo got a group together for training two times in Millvale. She
enjoyed it so much she went to the Sophia Center for more training and had the opportunity to practice Reiki on clients
and train others. Although her education and training is in business administration, Sister Mary Jo worked for years at St.
Francis Hospital with young people who were dependent on drugs and others in need. Since the hospital closed, she has
stepped up her Reiki practice.
Sister Mary Jo had been practicing at the Tabor House of Prayer on Hawthorne Avenue in Millvale, where she lives, but
she didn't have enough space there. "I had to put things up and take them down, so I found the [new] location late last
year," she said of the center's new site at 715 North Ave., which will hold an open house Sunday.
Dorothy Pfund, of Millvale, is one of Sister Mary Jo's clients and a practitioner of Reiki. "I first went when I fell and hit my
head. Of course, I went and had X-rays, but they didn't show anything and I still had pain. I went and they worked on my
head and it helped," she said. During a recent treatment, Mrs. Pfund said, "I felt a lot of heat on my head. Sister said it
was because I had a head cold. The energy goes where you need it. It is really hard to describe."
Mrs. Pfund is trained as a practitioner but she performs Reiki only on friends.
Some of the practitioners do volunteer work in the community, Sister Mary Jo said. "Glenshaw Presbyterian Church will
use Reiki masters in their healing services," she said.
She hopes the center will introduce more people to Reiki and that other practitioners will work from there as well.
"We want to expand our services," she said.
The open house at Tabor Reiki Center, 715 North Ave., Millvale, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Reiki
treatments and refreshments will be offered. For more information, call 412-821-1149 or visit the Web site,
www.millvalefranciscans.org

Michael Brown, Spirit Daily www.spiritdaily.org is a reliable Catholic writer who exposes New Age error in the US Church
7A. OCCULT LINK IS SEEN IN A 'HEALING METHOD SPREADING THROUGH
CONVENTS, RETREATS by Michael H. Brown
02/07/07 [resources: Ransomed from Darkness and Prayer of the Warrior] Spirit Daily www.spiritdaily.org
In case after case, centers run by nuns seeking ways to redefine themselves or raise money are embracing a spiritual
method called reiki - which is also sweeping through other parts of the Church - and it is a lesson of why something is
defined as occult (or "New Age"). We reported on this several weeks ago: the infiltration of questionable spiritual
practices, of which reiki may be the most prevalent, in Catholic retreat centers across the continent. That propensity
can be expected to increase as the number of nuns - and their resources - dwindle and as they feel less attached to
diocesan authorities. What is reiki? How does it "work"? Why is it perilous?
Proponents of reiki believe that there are "vibrational" fields around humans that influence our well-being - energies that
surround and interpenetrate. It is similar to the Eastern concept of "ki" or "chi" energy that many non-Christians in Asia
believe flows around the human form as sort of an aura or psychic influence. When they are out of balance, manipulating
these fields can bring healing, claim those who practice it. Basically, the reiki healer is supposedly affecting or activating
the energy of a person with his own energy or channels sort of a laying on of the hands, but without a vital component:
the Holy Spirit. If such impersonal energy or spiritual forces exist and are manipulated in such a fashion,
especially without the Name of Christ, it enters a dangerous area. Evil spirits are attached to it.
Noted a leading reiki master, Pamela Miles, recently: "In a formal session, the recipient lies fully clothed on a treatment
table, covered by a blanket if desired. Traditionally, the practitioner places hands lightly on the head and the
front and back of the torso, with hand placements varying somewhat among different practitioners. Treatment usually
lasts between 45 and ninety minutes, although in a hospital it is typically fifteen to twenty minutes." While such practices
may cause some relief (just as psychic healing can, at least temporarily), it invites in spirits of darkness
that are only too happy to masquerade as angels of light if indeed they are not behind the reiki energy to begin with.
The devil mimics all that God does, and this includes healing. Just as the Holy Spirit gives us "words of knowledge," there
are psychics who rely on their own occult energy to read thoughts ("telepathy"), divine wisdom from objects
("psychometry"), see at a distance "clairvoyance"), and peer into the future ("precognition"). 24.




The problem is that such power is not only vastly less effective than the force that flows from God and His saints, but
also come with the bondage of owing forces of darkness in return. Psychics, fortunetellers, mediums, and
channelers are often very problem-plagued people, and many succumb at an early age. Despite initial relief, those
"healed" by them can end up worse than they were to start with, until they go to Jesus. This is no bias against the many
good people who have fallen into the deception. It is understandable - especially when one is in pain - to seek any form of
relief. And it is wrong to be closed-minded against all that is unknown. We are called to pray for those involved in such
practices as we pray for our own balance, open-mindedness, and discernment.
Many are those who argue that the Vatican went too far, for example, in condemning (as it did, in a
document about the New Age, Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life) the practice of acupuncture, which also
touches on the same surrounding or interpenetrating forces.
But the Catholic Church is wisely cautious (the "narrow gate") and clearly it is the Holy Spirit Whom we are to go to
when we want to cause a spiritual affect - not our own or some other cosmic field of "energy."
Reiki began with the teachings of a man named Mikao Usui in the early 1920s and is now practiced throughout the world -
entering Catholic circles in a big way during the last decade [see previous story on extent of infiltration]. Its spread
indicates both a disaffection with traditional Christianity and a lack of teaching about such topics from the pulpit. Indeed,
despite specific Vatican admonitions, parishes themselves have been known to sponsor reiki events and
priests have spoken of it from the altar.
Those who are apprehensive about such practices are looked upon as overly wary, closed-minded, or even paranoid. If
so, they are joined by the Vatican and many experts on occult dangers. The argument: reiki is not really manipulation of
occult energy but simply a meditation technique in which the healer acts as a conduit to reorient a person's own energy.
"Healing pulsations" are activated. It is used for everything from anxiety, sleep disorders, and indigestion to diabetes and
cancer. Tests have shown such benefits - at least in the short term - that major hospitals have allowed the practice,
including Catholic ones (such as St. Vincent's Hospital's Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York). It comes at
a time, ironically, when practices such as Eucharistic Adoration have been resisted by chapels, churches, and convents.
But in fact traditional Christianity has produced healings that are vastly more numerous, time-tested, and impressive.
Thousands of cures were attributed, for example, to a humble Canadian monk named Brother Andr Bessette at an
oratory in Montreal. His cures were effected largely through treating those who came to see him with olive oil from a lamp
that burned in front of a statue of St. Joseph. When it is said that thousands were cured, such is meant literally.
Like reiki practitioners, Brother Andre often put his hands on the infirm for forty minutes and in some cases even hours --
massaging the areas of illness with the holy oil or a medal. The difference: the energy Blessed Andre invoked was the
Holy Spirit, through the intercession of Christ and with the help in particular of a truly hidden power named St. Joseph.

7B. NEW AGE MAKES HUGE INROAD INTO RETREAT CENTERS OPERATED BY
CATHOLIC NUNS www.spiritdaily.com/newageinfiltration.htm by Michael H. Brown
[Resources: Prayer of the Warrior. See too, Vatican Document: "Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life"]
Towards the end of John Paul II's pontificate, the Vatican issued a document about the New Age that was reviewed,
one can assume, by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, even though his congregation was not redactor of
the actual paper, which could be described as both a report and an instruction.
It would do well for the U.S. bishops to revisit that document ("Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life") and make
certain that parishes, convents, seminaries, and retreat houses across North America understand and more importantly
heed Rome's definition of what is meant by the "new age" -- a refined form of occultism that looks upon God
as more an energy and impersonal, psychic force in classic pagan perspective and is expressly prohibited by Rome. For
despite that prohibition, which was clearly stated in the 2003 instruction, many are those who report New
Age or Eastern-style practices that have been allowed and even promoted in church halls, convents, during
seminars, and occasionally from the pulpit. It's an insidious infiltration that thus far has not received nearly the
attention it warrants [see bottom] -- putting, as it does, those who are exposed to it into potential touch with the dark
side, which comes as an angel of light.
I invite you to send such cases here, if they are occurring in your parish. In just the past week, we have linked to
articles about nuns in northeast Philadelphia who instruct in massage, energy, kinesiology, and "therapeutic touch" (which
some say is akin to psychic healing). At any rate, they are described as "nuns" at the Center for Human Integration. They
also use "reiki," an ancient form of therapeutic touch that taps into occult "ki" or "chi" forces.
"There is a remarkable variety of approaches for promoting holistic health, some derived from ancient cultural traditions,
whether religious or esoteric," says the Vatican document. "Advertising connected with the New Age covers a wide range
of practices as acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic, kinesiology, homeopathy, iridology, massage, and
various kinds of 'bodywork' (such as orgonomy, Feldenkrais, reflexology, rolfing, polarity massage,
therapeutic touch, etc), meditation, and visualization... The source of healing is said to be within ourselves,
something we reach when we are in touch with our inner or cosmic energy."
There it is in black and white -- the Vatican definition of New Age -- and yet confusion (a mark of the enemy) reigns.
There are nuns into drumming circle prayer. There are sisters who are reiki masters. On church grounds, there are
haunted mazes*. *labyrinths Michael Prabhu 25.



I don't pretend to know definitively all that is wrong or right but I know we are to follow the Vatican and that evil
masquerades itself.
What are Catholics doing involved in something that is expressly cited in negative fashion in Vatican documents?
"This weekend will provide for a deepening of the experiences of meditation, prayer, journaling, yoga and reiki. There
will be ample time for practicing techniques, quiet reflection and sharing. Donation: $75 (includes $25 non-refundable
deposit). St. Joseph Center, Mount Saint Joseph, Wheeling," says an announcement from West Virginia. At the left are
illustrations from the West Virginia Institute for Spirituality (for further info., it says, "e-mail Sr. Carole Riley, Ph.D.").
"Prepare the Way of the Lord -- Saturday, December 9 (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)," says another ad. "Participants will
discover ways of praying with their bodies using creative movement as the sacred scriptures are explored in the season of
Advent. (Wear comfortable clothing). Presenter: Sr. Molly Maloney, OSF, M.A., LMT. Offering: $35 (lunch included)."
What's going on in West Virginia? What's going on in dozens of other dioceses? Should "St. Joseph" really be uttered in
the same breath as Buddha, or "tai chi"?
There are Catholic centers that offer an "ancient, sacred tradition" called the "labyrinth" (seven cycles and seven turns
representing the seven stages of life). Some argue that it is okay and that there is even a labyrinth at a French cathedral
at Chartres. There is the enneagram, which claims to determine types of personalities.
In Pennsylvania are the "Sisters of the Humility of Mary" who offer yoga and even holistic health care for animals.
I'm not competent to judge the esoteric nature of all such practices (no one is against feeding a dog well), but again it
seems to contravene the Vatican. "The important thing to note," said the document, "is that God is reduced in certain
New Age practices so as furthering the advancement of the individual."
"New Age appeals to people imbued with the values of modern culture. Freedom, authenticity, self-reliance, and the like
are all held to be sacred." The Vatican definition has been ignored, and it appears to be nothing less than a full-blown
crisis -- with the question of how Catholics can so openly ignore authority.
"From this place we respond to the needs of families, youth, the elderly, homeless, prisoners, and immigrants in sites that
include Ohio, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, Michigan, Nebraska, Texas, Virginia,
Washington, and West Virginia," says the website in West Virginia. "Internationally, we serve in Haiti and have served in
Africa, Bangladesh, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, and Vietnam."
Reiki, drumming circles, medicine dolls: it involves nuns across the Western Hemisphere. Canada. The U.S.
Writes one concerned reader, "It didn't take me long, but I found convent after convent, parish after parish,
Catholic retreat center after retreat center, engaged in reiki and more. Is the Vatican aware? Aware that so
many Roman Catholics are... Pagan Catholics?" Strikes me as a good question.
[see also (links): Villa Maria and medicine dolls, Sisters of St. Francis and reiki, nun who is reiki master,
convent reiki therapy, Franciscan healing touch, Franciscan tai chi, the labyrinth with Sisters of Saints Cyril
and Methodius, labyrinth at St. Joseph retreat center in Boston, reiki in Cincinnati, labyrinth in New York,
Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon: ancient Indian healing, Third Order Sister of St. Francis and naprapathic
treatments Tai chi during Lent, labyrinth in Ontario, labyrinth in Michigan, drumming circle prayer, Holy
Cross sisters and the labyrinth Dominicans and reiki, and haunted labyrinth at church]

7C. SPECIAL REPORT PERVASIVENESS OF NEW AGE AMONG NUNS
MAY LOOM AS SCANDAL ON SCALE RIVALING ABUSE CRISIS AMONG MALE
COUNTERPARTS http://www.spiritdaily.com/newagefolo1.htm by Michael H. Brown
The infiltration of New Age practices into convents and retreat houses operated by Catholic nuns appears to
have reached the level of an epidemic, with so many reports that at times it appears difficult to find one that
doesn't allow such spirituality, at least to some degree. Such may be hyperbole but what is not hyperbole is that
esoteric spirituality has spread -- in alarming measure -- through what is left of female American religious in a way that
recalls the startling prevalence of sexual abuse among male religious counterparts. That's not to say that most religious
have gone occult. And it is certainly not to cast aspersions. The majority of nuns are in their seventies or eighties --
beyond active involvement in activities such as operating a retreat center. Moreover, those who are linked to these
practices often appear to be good, well-meaning women who have simply followed the spirit of our time.
But the question is what that spirit is and the trend -- contravening Vatican teaching -- is as widespread as it is
troublesome. One thing is clear: the call of Vatican Two for women to distinguish themselves spiritually has been
answered in virtually every part of North America in a totally unexpected way: establishment of mysterious, Eastern-
style meditation.
When we ran an article on this several weeks ago, we were deluged by instances -- many dozens -- in which Eastern
contemplation, labyrinths, reiki, or other exotic non-Catholic methods of spiritual development were present at Catholic
retreat centers -- almost surely unknown to the Vatican.
The examples seem daunting, and because of their serious nature, we are going to let this report proceed at length.
One example: the Portiuncula Center for Prayer, modeled after St. Francis and run by Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred
Heart. Located less than an hour southwest of downtown Chicago, this Catholic center offers therapeutic massage,
reiki, reflexology, holistic facials, and Zen Shiatsu (which taps into the "energy" points around the body). 26.




It also has a "labyrinth" which it describes as "an ancient circular diagram" consisting of a "single concentric circular path
with no possibility of going astray. The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives; it
touches our sorrows and releases our joys" Labyrinths are a meditation, relaxation, and spiritual tool that invite a
person to walk towards the center with a problem, prayer, or idea
Two other remarkably widespread practices are reiki, which taps into the "energy" around us, and the "enneagram" -- a
controversial way of categorizing personalities. The energy of reiki is the "ki" of Eastern religions, which tends too rapidly
toward psychic energies and earth spirits. The symbol of the enneagram was promoted by a famed occultist name
Gurdjieff and bears certain resemblances to the way personality types are discerned through a zodiac (though in this case
the discernment comes by way of "self evaluation").
At another Franciscan center in Scottsdale, Arizona, is not only the enneagram but "aqua yoga." Many Catholic convents,
retreat houses, and parishes are embracing this technique of meditation and relaxation -- often as a mere physical tool
but nonetheless in contradiction to a Vatican document on the New Age, "Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of
Life", that prohibits it
The concern: yoga is from Eastern pagan religions and like reiki can tend toward a deeper involvement in mysterious
energies. In some cases, "mantras" (a word used over and over) are employed and such mantras can be the name of
Hindu or other "gods." The Beatles brought a focus on yoga when they studied it with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the
1960s. Before that, it was popularized by deep occultists known as Theosophists.
In some cases, centers that hold seminars in reiki and enneagram are receiving funds through diocesan
appeals [A large number of examples of Catholic New Age centers in convents, retreat houses, parishes, are given]
Does this not matter to the bishops?
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Alexandria, Louisiana. What is going on there?
"How glad I am to see a place to report rampant New Age practices in Catholic retreat centers," writes yet one more
viewer. "Here are a couple of places I wish to report. The first is the Jesuit Spirituality Center in Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
Click on the link, http://www.home.centurytel.net/spiritualitycenter/html/2006.html scroll down, and you will find retreats
on the labyrinth, Zen, Christian yoga (whatever that is!), Meyers/Briggs personality inventory, reiki, and special
retreat for gays and lesbians."
"My mother was New Age almost before the New Age got here, and ended up worshiping Satan," notes a viewer, who
like many preferred anonymity. "My twin sister is New Age (deeply) and seemingly can't be talked or prayed out of it My
sister is a medium and channels spirits who sound so wise, profound, and compassionate that their writings fooled an
abbot of a monastery into approval. (Her vocabulary, when she is channeling, is far above her own vocabulary.) I know
that lately I've been hearing hints from her that she likes the idea of 'androgyne,' a combining of male and female in one
person to make them 'complete.' To me that commits an error so severe that the person has crossed over into Satanism."
"It seems to me that the devil made huge inroads into Catholicism by distorting the Vatican II teaching that Catholics
should respect whatever of truth lies in other religions," frets an e-mailer named Trudi Lawrence. "Monks, nuns, and
probably priests mistakenly and unguardedly went looking for truths there that they thought Catholicism didn't have."

7D. SEMINAR WITH WITCH ACCENTS DANGERS OF NEW AGE AND OCCULT
IN CATHOLIC SETTINGS http://www.spiritdaily.com/newagefolo3.htm by Michael H. Brown
Such clearly seemed to take place at the Bishop Howard Hubbard Interfaith Chapel at the College of St.
Rose in Albany, New York, recently, where, according to at least one report we have received, a Haitian
voodoo service was allowed. We have no further details. According to the diocesan spokesman, Ken Goldfarb,
the chapel is not under diocesan control, and repeated attempts to educe an answer from the college itself
have not as yet borne fruit (despite promises of a quick reply). But if true it may be the most extreme
example in what are proliferating reports of alternate religions, New Age-like practices, and outright occultism in
Catholic settings.
Another example: a conference in Louisville, Kentucky, called "Earth Spirit Rising"
http://www.earthspiritrising.org/index.html) (June 8 through 10). The conference -- which features a famous witch from
California named "Starhawk" http://www.earthspiritrising.org/presenters.html#Starhawk -- will propagate the view of
earth as a living organism. "This shift is a change towards Earth Wisdom," says the website. "It represents a movement
towards recognizing that nature provides the ultimate answers to the questions of our times."
Sponsoring "patrons" of the event include the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Cincinnati Region; Sisters
of Providence, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana; Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana; Sisters of St.
Francis of Sylvania; Sisters of the Precious Blood; St. Mary of the Springs; St. William Church; the
Franciscan Sisters of Mary; and the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.
The sponsoring "friends," meanwhile, include Sisters of St. Joseph of LaGrange, Illinois; Sisters of St.
Joseph of Wheeling, West Virginia; the Thomas Merton Center, Bellarmine University; and The Well, Sisters
of St. Joseph, La Grange, Wisconsin.
The New Age long has been seen in ecological movements that incorporate paganism by means of "Mother Earth" (as
opposed to defending it as God's Creation). Christians argue that only God Himself has the ultimate answers -- and that
while protecting the environment is crucial to the good Christian, introducing pagan notions (particularly nature spirits,
and especially witchcraft) is contrary to the doctrines of Catholicism -- and condemned in the Bible. 27.



It is not known if local bishops and the Vatican are aware of the nuns' participation.
Meantime, a hullabaloo ( http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070331/NEWS0117/703310483/1075)
erupted during March when a conservative Catholic -- long a participant in Marian activities -- confronted a yoga
teacher at Blessed Pope John XXIII Church in Fort Myers, Florida,. The yoga sessions were being held inside a
chapel in full view of those worshipping in the church itself.
While mainly used in the West to "stretch and strengthen muscles, control stress, and find peace," yoga, notes one wary
Christian website, is from the Sanskrit word Yug, meaning "union" with the Divine higher "self"). The involvement of self
or God as an impersonal universal energy is a prime tenet of the New Age.
Moreover mantras used in the meditative practice often invoke pagan spirits by name, and deliverance ministries warn
that methods used to clear or "blank" the mind can offer a vacant home for spirits.
It can be traced back to Patanjali, who was a religious leader. Shiva, one of Hinduism's three most powerful
gods, was known as 'The Destroyer' -- he's called Yogi Swara or the 'Lord of Yoga.'" []

The National Catholic Reporter [NCR] report, below, is in response to the US Bishops
condemnation, see pages 76 81, 94-96, of the practice of Reiki healing.
The NCR, see pages 35, 79, is a left-wing publication that supports New Age, liberalism,
relativism, religious pluralism and the heresy of modernism.
8. Reiki practitioners take issue with their bishops
April 19, 2009 By NCR Staff http://ncronline.org/news/spirituality/reiki-practioners-take-issue-their-bishops
The U.S. Catholic Bishops last month advised Catholic chaplains, health care facilities and retreat centers not to promote
or support Reiki therapy, a Japanese alternative healing practice.
The practice of Reiki, the bishops said, "finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief."
"A Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition," the bishops said.
The statement, issued by the bishops Committee on Doctrine, can be found on the U.S. Bishops web site.
After its publication, NCR asked two Catholic women who have been practitioners of Reiki to share their experiences. Both
said it has enhanced their spiritual lives. Neither sees it as conflicting with their Catholic beliefs.
Lauri Lumby Schmidt tells her story. She is a Reiki Master. She says it has allowed here to continue the healing
ministry of Jesus. (copied below) [see page 30]
Maureen Griffin tells her story. She has been a Reiki practitioner for nearly six years and says it has been an invitation
to hear God's answers. (copied below) [see page 32]
Submitted by Fr Martin Fox on Apr. 20, 2009: The NCR takes a fascinating stance in this controversy: Science? Eh!
Christian doctrine? Not determinative. What matters supremely is personal experience--a good personal experience, in this
case of Reiki, is what determines right or wrong! Perhaps the NCR will next apply this method to astrology? The
"Prosperity Gospel"? Indeed, how far can we go, in "resolving" so many difficult issues we face as Catholics, where the
Gospel confronts our times--materialism, quest for power, idolatry of choice, or the age-old retreat from reason itself--by
simply applying this method: empirical evidence is not important, nor is the rule of Faith, but merely personal experience!
Why, we need never have called the Council of Nicea.
Submitted by Michael Bindner on Apr. 20, 2009: Father, don't discount personal experience. When all is said and done our
aggregate personal experience in encountering God, despite and not because of the workings of the Roman Catholic
Church and its oftimes heavy handed doctrinal positions, is the most enduring proof of the existence of God. By the way,
personal experience really is the only way to judge the truth of Astrology as well. There is no doctrinal proof either way -
except for the fact that the Magi were likely astrologers and found Christ based on astrology and not some heavenly
apparition. The doctrinal issues for Reiki and Astrology are about an adult approach to what could be paganism. The
objection to paganism in the Torah was about not being taken advantage of by a class of pagan priests and cultists who
did unsavory things, like sacrificing children to Baal. There is none of that in either Astrology or Reiki. Paganism is not
likely even a part of Reiki (don't know, haven't been through the ritual to unleash the ability). Paganism in astrology
shows more about the origins of paganism than astrology. Unless you are willing to concede that there actually is a pagan
pantheon on Olympus, the reality is that astrology and human archetypes probably had more to do with creating the
pagan gods - in that way paganism, including its eastern form, Hinduism - is about understanding human nature. Call it
proto-natural law if you will. We don't have the first three commandments for God's sake. God is perfect and has no stake
in the game. We have these commandments for our own sakes. Our highest worship, which is sung, is refrigerator art -
and the songs of the angels are slightly better refrigerator art - when compared to the harmony of the Divine Being. To
think one's religiosity is essential to God is to repeat the sin of Lucifer, who thought himself more important to creation
than the Christ. Let's not make that mistake, shall we.
The Prosperity Gospel is definitely a matter to look at doctrinally, since it has a moral element rather than a strictly
personal one. It has to do with greed on the part of preachers and a justification for ignoring the poor. It is much the
same as Brahmanism in that respect. It can be denounced for both doctrinal and practical reasons.
Submitted by Arlene Flaherty, OP on Apr. 20, 2009:
It'd be great if the Catholic Bishops would try Reiki- maybe it'd help what ails them. 28.




Submitted by Anonymous on Apr. 20, 2009: I think the U.S Bishops need to stop trying to micromanage the lives of
Catholics and start setting good examples by modeling the behavior of Christ, by loving rather than condemning. Instead
of making more and more laws, lets do a little fulfilling of the law. I have experienced Reiki and received quite a bit of
pain relief from it. I did not turn away from my faith because of it. Why don't the Bishops go to the drug companies and
tell them most of their drugs are not based on pure science, but manipulated science. Belief in much of so-called "modern
medicine is just as superstitious as Reiki. I go to the Arthritis doctor and what happens. He tells me to live with it and take
pills that cause heart attacks. This kind of stuff has to stop or the bishops will continue to lose more and more credibility
until no one will listen to anything they say at all.
Submitted by Anonymous on Apr. 20, 2009: I agree. It reminds me of my trip to Scotland. While on a bus tour in
Edinburgh, the guide proudly showed us a bronze statue of the inventor of anesthesia who was from Scotland. He told us
that the church promptly came out w/ the statement that Catholics could not use anesthesia b/c it was unnatural.
Submitted by Anonymous on Apr. 20, 2009: This is a tough area as I have seen the good and the ugly with Reiki
practitioners. The Bishop has valid points and I support him. Too many weird people crossing the line with their own
philosophy about what the church is and not, no following the law or Bishop's etc. I had a horrible experience as people
claim to be mystics, practice in new age ideology.
Submitted by Pam DiDente on Apr. 20, 2009: Rose, FYI Pam
PS These Bishops are not representative of the Catholic church even though they think they are.
Submitted by Snowdrop on Apr. 20, 2009:
Sadly a lot of small business people will be affected by this, however a friend of mine who is also in the Reiki business told
me that she is well aware of practitioners who are non-catholic and tend to really emphasize a "spiritual" side. Some who
often invoke "spirits" and "souls" of the past. She does not agree at all with such practices. And she is aware that some
continue to do so without the person receiving the treatment even knowing. I have received the treatment from my
friend, but would advise caution since eve people who profess to be "catholic" or "christian" can harbor other beliefs as
well. That is why I agree with the Bishop's caution. I feel sorry for my friend because its her only source of income...
Submitted by Henk Gal on Apr. 20, 2009:
I'd suggest that the American bishops also go after the doctors, the psychologists, the psychiatrists, all kinds of
counsellors, social workers, psychotherapists, etc., etc. There are weirdos among them all, and maybe, the bishops would
take the time to weed them out, or at least issue some more cautions because we lowly lay men and lay women are not
smart enough to discern what's right or wrong, good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, etc.
Submitted by Anonymous on Apr. 20, 2009: The U.S. Catholic Bishops apparently don't have all that much to do, do they?
Other then investigating the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the Religious Congregations in the United
States, what are they doing during this month of April, proclaimed by our President Barack Obama as Child Abuse
Prevention Month? Are they unaware that the problem of sexually abusive clerics continues? They can't really think it is
"now behind us" as Wilton Gregory stated so emphatically some years back, can they? Don't forget that there is a big rally
in Albany, New York tomorrow about the Markey/Duane Childhood Sexual Abuse Bill which includes a one year window for
past crimes and sins. What ever happened to the two or three reports about the rape and sexual molestation of women
religious specifically in the African countries but around the world? Nothing has been heard about them since they were
shelved in the late 1990s.
Dear Bishops, Did you ever even begin an investigation or did you just decide that it wasn't so, said it wasn't so and so it
never existed? I suppose, like the question of the ordination of women in the Roman Catholic Church, it is similarly not to
be discussed. Who fiddled while Rome burned?
Submitted by Brother Ed on Apr. 20, 2009: Are the bishops losing it entirely? Nothing to say about nuclear weapons, etc.
but they can take a position on Reiki? What's next? A condemnation of the killer whale?
Submitted by Anonymous on Apr. 20, 2009: My first thought about the bishops' concerns about Reiki is that they do not
have any experience with Reiki. The stories written by Lauri and Maureen describe the benefits from their experiences and
practices of Reiki. I'm glad they shared. Mary
Submitted by Nancy in Fort Worth on Apr. 20, 2009: The bishops' experience with Reiki is that a lot of WOMEN administer
it; ergo, it must be bad, evil, full of witchcraft stuff, etc.
If the practice was offered by only men, or primarily men, it probably would have never been discussed.
And thanks to the poster for aligning the curia with Nero. Excellent analogy. I fully expect to hear from them eventually
that female circumcision practices in Africa might not be such a bad thing...
Oy Vey....Senility has struck. Any hope left that the "people" will take back their church from these misguided souls?
I left the convent years ago because I realized "change" would not come from within. Each year the Church seems to take
a step backward into the middle ages. This borders on the ridiculous.
Submitted by Anonymous on Apr. 20, 2009:
Reiki is merely another subject the Vatican knows nothing about. It joins the long list of authoritarian mandates fostered
by or directly attributable to Benedict XVI. There is no logic behind the pronouncements from the Vatican and it all seems
to be power moves to intimidate the entire church. Even the best priests simply "cave in" and don't comment from the
pulpit about what is happening. It becomes increasing difficult to celebrate the liturgy (or are we supposed to say "hear
Mass"?) when the clergy is pretending that nothing unsettling is coming from Rome! 29.




Submitted by Anonymous on Apr. 20, 2009:
I experienced the benefit of Reiki last October when I underwent a bilateral mastectomy following my third cancer
diagnosis. There is no way I could have gotten through the surgery and recovery without reiki. My practitioner was
Catholic and we called upon the angels for healing and protection. They were there for me and I definitely experienced
their presence. I would love to tell the bishops my story; they need a reality check.
Submitted by Anonymous on Apr. 20, 2009: When we had the priest scandal, the bishops reverted to new regulations for
the Liturgy. Now that they are taking on Reiki I wonder what issue they are trying to avoid or cover up. Personally I think
they do not have enough to keep them busy.
Submitted by Anonymous on Apr. 20, 2009: From where I sit, if Christians practicing Reiki are abandoning the
philosophy/religion that goes with it i.e., all the stuff about "controlling a life energy" of some sort, but rather they remain
in Christian prayer during the use of touch, then they have stumbled upon a variation of "charismatic healing." From the
descriptions that I have seen of effective "Christian Reiki," Christian practitioners would do well to search the work done,
especially during the late 1960s through the early 1980s, on healing in the Charismatic movement. The effects such as
heat and relaxation appear to me to be the same effects extant in praying over people for healing and in people who are
"slain in the Spirit." Christian practitioners ought to abandon the "Reiki" philosophy/religion and name and instead
investigate what Christianity has to offer. My best guess is that certain patterns of touch are helpful in Christian healing
prayer and that is where if they team with a good theologian, current "Christian Reiki" practitioners will find their true
ministry. Just as their are some approaches to Christianity whose beliefs and practices are not part of Catholicism, nor
aligned with the church, there are, of course, similar divisions in Reiki, and some, indeed, may not be compatible with the
Church. But to universally reject all of Reiki because of this would be the same as rejecting all of Christianity due to the
beliefs/practices of "some" Christians. I have been a Reiki practitioner for ever 20 years, and a practicing Catholic for
nearly 70, with a degree in Theology from a Catholic university (University of San Diego) and have never seen a conflict
between the two. I believe the bishops need to re-evaluate their position and offer an apology to Catholic users and
practitioners of Reiki. Perhaps next their Eminences, Graces, and Excellencies can investigate the doctrinal and scientific
bases for Osteopathic medicine and Chiropractic, or simply pharmacology, especially psychiatry, which have proved so
helpful in the past. Committee meetings should be investigated next.
Submitted by Mark Andrews on Apr. 20, 2009: The bishops know as much about Reiki as Reiki practitioners, and the
recipients of Reiki treatments, know about theology: damn little.

9. 'Reiki allows me to continue the healing ministry of Jesus'
Lauri Lumby Schmidt http://ncronline.org/news/spirituality/reiki-allows-me-continue-healing-ministry-jesus April 19, 2009
A woman stricken with Multiple sclerosis came to me for a Reiki treatment some years back upon the recommendation of
her son. Her granddaughter had been killed in a tragic accident a year earlier and her husband, who could no longer
handle the stress of her disease, had recently filed for divorce. She was bent over with grief and stooped from the
crippling effects of her disease. As I listened to her story, and witnessed the despair and hopelessness in her face I
doubted that Reiki would provide her any relief. As we entered the treatment room, I asked myself, What good can I
possibly do for this woman? I was then reminded to never doubt the healing power of God!
When the treatment was complete, she stepped down from the treatment table. I will never forget what I saw. She stood
up straight and in her new found stride there was a sense of purpose and ease that had not been there before. Her face
glowed with a look of new found peacefulness and serenity. She actually looked joyful.
She then sat beside me. For the first time in my life, I feel completely at peace, she exclaimed. The pain of the grief
and the loss have simply melted away. I feel like I have been resting within a warm vessel of peace and love. She said
she had never felt such peace, ever.
With her remarks, I found myself moved to tears. I cannot fully explain what happened that day. I only know that on that
day, this woman experienced the grace of Gods healing power, and it came through me.
Regardless of the limitations some might perceive within the philosophy or practice of Reiki, this incident proved to me,
beyond a doubt, that Reiki can be a powerful tool through which God facilitates healing. No one can convince tell me
otherwise. It is for this reason that in spite of the prohibitions set forth by a U.S. bishops committee I continue to openly
share Reiki. While some might accuse me of disobedience, I am content in knowing that to God, the ultimate Authority,
my obedience is true.
As a Reiki practitioner and instructor of Christ-centered hands-on healing practices, I was deeply saddened by the
release of the March U.S. bishops Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Practice.
The bishops committee proclaimed that since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific
evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutionsor persons representing the Churchto promote or to provide
support for Reiki therapy.
It saddened me to see that a healing practice that has been widely embraced and shared through Catholic retreat and
spirituality centers by lay and religious alike will now be effectively burned at the stake. Being neither theologian nor
scientist, I cannot begin to argue the doctrinal perspectives of the bishops involved. Nor can I challenge the scientific
studies that were consulted in issuing their statement. However, as a woman of faith, I need neither theologian nor
scientist to decide for me if Reiki is, or is not, of God, or whether it is, or is not, an effective tool for healing. 30.



From the time some 20 years ago when a friend introduced me to Reiki to the day 10 years later when I found Catholic
women religious with whom I could study, to the moment that God opened the door for me to practice Reiki at the
Catholic campus ministry where I was employed, I knew that this was the path God had ordained for me.
In the nine years that I have actively shared Reiki with others, this discernment has been confirmed as I have witnessed
the profound presence and action of God revealed in the sharing of this remarkable tool.
Along with other Catholic Reiki practitioners, I consider Reiki to be a way in which we can accept the call to continue the
healing ministry of Jesus. In discerning this path, we are saying yes to being the body of Christ. Support for this healing
ministry is readily available through scripture in the ways in which Jesus commissioned his disciples and in Pauls
exhortation on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 9: 2 Jesus sent them to proclaim the loving counsel of God and to heal the sick.
John 14: 12-14 Amen, Amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones
than these because I am returning to the Source. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do so that our Creator may be
glorified. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.
1 Corinthians 12: 7-11, 27 To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given
through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another expression of knowledgeto another faith; to another gifts of
healing; to another mighty deeds; to another prophesy; to another discernment of spirits; to another variety of tongues;
to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to
each person as the Spirit wishes... Now you are Christs Body, and individually parts of it.
While support for this healing ministry is found through scripture, my journey has not been an easy one. I have learned
that practicing a truth that is not explicitly handed down by the magesterium [sic] can be a dangerous business. By a
fearful few, I (along with other Catholic Reiki practitioners) now have been accused of heresy, simony, witchcraft, sorcery
and of communing with Satan. In each moment, however, that I become afraid or begin to doubt, God reveals to me
another grace frequently received by those to whom I humbly minister.
Lauri Lumby Schmidt is a trained spiritual director, a Reiki Master, and writer. Lauri was employed as the Pastoral
Ministry Coordinator at the Newman Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and is currently the owner of Authentic Freedom
Ministries, which offers retreats, adult spiritual formation and classes in meditation and healing practices.
Submitted by David Lorenz on Apr. 20, 2009: Lauri - Thanks for sharing your wisdom and your faith with all of us. I am
sure that the ones that you have healed are especially thankful.
Mark 9:38-42 John said to Jesus, Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to
stop because he wasnt in our group. Dont stop him! Jesus said. No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon
be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you
belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.
Submitted by Anonymous on Apr. 20, 2009:
Thank you for sharing you moving story, Lauri. May God continue to be with you.
Submitted by Veronica Casano on Apr. 20, 2009: Thank you for printing a reply to the Bishops.
I am a retired Complementary Therapist who worked at an over 400 bed Catholic hospital using Reiki with quiet music and
guided imagery in over 3000 sessions to bring the healing love of God to hospitalized persons. For me, Reiki gives me the
chance to Station Keepto watch with and be present to those suffering from physical or emotional pain. Reiki allows
me to touch someone who desperately needs to feel Gods love with skin on. This can be especially true for people who
are blaming God for their pain or dont have a personal relationship with God. I have seen many extraordinary
physiological changes in Gods people both with touch alone and when I combine the touch of healing love with positive
visualizations and images.
There are so many hurting people in the world who face an uncertain future. They are often isolated because family and
friends are overcome with their own fears and avoid listening to them and overworked clergy and doctors dont have the
time or put up walls to the heart-felt anguish of illness. Throughout time, certain women have been called upon to station
keep and just be present to the pain of the other. This heart-felt presence, whether it is labeled Reiki or any other name is
healing to the core. Yet many have been put to death as witches for their ministry. And unfortunately some practitioners
compound the problem by saying that their brand of therapeutic touch is better than someone elses. There is no trick, no
secretwhen the heart is open healing flows. It is so simple, yet without some sort of initiation most people refuse to
believe that God calls us all to be healers. So we initiate people into what they were already possessed and to the birth-
right they were called to claim. When I perform such a ceremony, I tell my students that the gift I have passed down to
them is something they already have, but usually they dont get it at first. Even the apostles needed a little ceremony to
accept their gifts. I pray that the one avenue of compassion and humanity left in hospitals remains open for Gods people
and that the clinical left brain world of medicine does not snuff out care and love as true healing
Submitted by COCat on Apr. 20, 2009: Ms Schmidt's life and ministry form the obvious exception to the findings of the
bishops, as reported in this story. Will there be more exceptions? I suspect yes. I think both God and Jesus are more than
anyone, even the bishops, can completely understand. Still, we must carefully read and reflect on all that the bishops are
teaching about this issue, and with informed conscience and prayer, make our own decisions. Our faith is much more than
what one person or one group experiences.
Submitted by S. Carolyn on Apr. 20, 2009: Thank you Lauri for sharing your story. I too have evidence of God's healing
power coming through the hands of a reiki practitioner. 31.


Submitted by Michael Prabhu, Chennai, India www.ephesians-511.net
Dear Lauri and the four who posted their responses, I beg to disagree.
The US Bishops are correct. Reiki healing [and others that use Universal or any other Life Force
Energy] are esoteric spiritual therapies. They DO work, the fact is undeniable. But the power behind
them is occult. There is no neutral power in the spiritual realm.
There is nothing scientific about Reiki "healing".
I have researched Reiki and other New Age alternative therapies for many years and I speak and
write to expose their errors and spiritual dangers in my Catholic apologetics ministry.
If the Bishops have condemned Reiki, it follows that acupressure, acupuncture, reflexology, shiatsu,
the martial arts [ALL of them], homeopathy, kundalini yoga, chakra therapy, pranic healing, etc., all
stand equally condemned by the Church. They all employ the manipulation of an "energy" known
variously as prana, chi, ki, qi, mana, vital energy, cosmic energy, bioplasma, etheric energy, etc,
which reportedly act on the alleged vital body, etheric body, astral body, etc. of the individual.
A study of the February 3, 2003 Vatican Document on the New Age, "Jesus Christ the Bearer of the
Water of Life" will help.

10. 'Reiki is an invitation to hear God's answers'
http://ncronline.org/news/spirituality/reiki-invitation-hear-gods-answers April 19, 2009 By Maureen Griffin
I was first introduced to Reiki some five years ago. At the time, I was in a very unhealthy relationship; I saw no way out
of financial woes; and I had forsaken my career in theatre. The longer I stayed trapped, the sicker I became mentally,
emotionally, and physically. By the time I had my first Reiki session, I had been seeing a therapist twice a week for
depression; I had developed all kinds of food allergies; and I was an emaciated 99 pounds.
Being skeptical of anything that even hints at being spiritual, I called my diocese to see if they knew anything about
Reiki, and to my surprise, I was transferred to a nun who actually taught it! She told me, We find that Reiki aids in
meditation and prayer. I later discovered for myself that by relaxing the body, the mind just naturally follows. Reiki helps
you achieve a meditative state, enabling you to quiet your mind you I can hear Gods answers.
Soon afterwards I was lying on a massage table for my first Reiki session. I had no idea what to expect which in
retrospect was a good thing because I was open to the experience. When she first laid her hands on my head, I
immediately felt heat. The warmth traveled to different parts of my body throughout the session as her hands changed
positions. It was, for me, like being submerged in a hot bubble bath of comfort. I was so relaxed that my conscious
thoughts simply gave way, and images started to float through my mind. When the hour was over, I felt refreshed, and as
I walked down the street afterwards, it was as if my feet werent even touching the ground.
After several Reiki sessions, I felt strong enough to tackle life. I sort of let Reiki slide, looking at it as an indulgence I no
longer needed. Within a year, however, I was back at the Reiki Clinic, deeply depressed with life seeming hopeless. The
effects of Reiki are cumulative, and at that point I was definitely in need of a booster shot.
By the time the Reiki Masters hands reached my shoulders, tears flowed down my cheeks. The tears led way to sobs, and
the sobs seemed almost unbearable. I can still remember the emotional pain that surfaced in me at that moment. That
session was a catharsis for me. I felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders which, indeed, it
literally had.
A short time later, I was studying to become a practitioner. I soon found the strength to extricate myself from the
relationship in which I had felt so trapped. Money matters seemed to work themselves out almost miraculously, and I
went back to my career in theatre. All of my food allergies disappeared, and I am now a healthy 124 pounds.
As a practitioner, I have been blessed to witness similar changes in others. A friend of mine, who was in constant pain
from a year of chemotherapy, was pain-free for an entire day after an hour of Reiki. My boyfriend, who had a serious back
injury and subsequent fusion surgery, had been taking an average of six Vicodin a day which, among other things, was
affecting his personality. After a half hour of Reiki, he was smiling, relaxed, and feeling physically better. He later told me
the best part for him was that it gave him a new attitude towards life. He realized it was possible to feel better. He then
added, I knew that. (Reiki does not tell you anything you dont already know; it merely reminds you of what you forgot.)
A month later, my boyfriend is now almost completely off painkillers; hes begun to eat healthy foods to lose weight, and
is going to acupuncture to quit smoking.
I like to think of Reiki as an invitation to hear Gods answers. In order to hear God, we first need to have complete faith
and trust in Him. How often when we pray are we fearful perhaps even of hearing an answer we wont like? God is our
benevolent Father. How could He not give us what is good? Jesus tells us that. Jesus also tells us that when we pray with
faith, we will receive. Do we honestly believe that, though? For me, Reiki helps ease my fears and quiet my mind to help
me feel Gods presence in my life.
Healing, whether it be physical, mental, or emotional, cannot occur unless we are unafraid and open to Gods healing
power. In short, it takes faith. Fear is the antithesis of faith. Reiki helps get us past our fears so we can listen to the
Fathers guidance.
Griffin is a Reiki practitioner and life-long Catholic who grew up on Long Island. 32.




Submitted by Sondra H on Apr. 20, 2009:
As Ms Griffin described how she felt when the practitioner placed their hands on her head, I recalled the same exact
feeling when I was in a desperate mental and physical state. I asked my priest friend to administer the sacrament of
healing. I too felt that warmth and healing. It brought me to tears to feel the discomforts of life leave me.
In "New Age", Satan is known to counterfeit ALL of the phenomena of the use of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Such
phenomena are a "vindication" of the "genuineness" of the New Age psychic, occult and esoteric experiences.
Since they are spiritual in character, one has to check whether their philosophies and fruit correspond to Biblical values. If
they contrast and contradict, and SURE THEY DO, flee.

REIKI IN CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS IN INDIA
*This writers first encounter with the previously unheard of subject of Reiki was at the Fr. Rebellos School of
Evangelization [Mangalore, 1997/1998] when the issue of whether it is a healing therapy that may be practised by
Christians came up. Neither the late Fr. Francis Rebello SJ nor Fr. James Manjackal MSFS who were directing the course
could say anything significant as at that time little was yet understood about New Age medicine. [Additionally, one of this
writers counselees revealed that he was a trained Reiki therapist, and was it okay for him to practise?]
Preaching extensively across Europe today from his base in Germany, Fr. Manjackal has not only encountered the
extensive use of Reiki by Catholics, but speaks strongly against its esoteric and New Age nature, and calls upon all
Catholics to abjure the practice. Around this time, the first-ever article on Reiki [or any alternative therapy] explaining its
occult and New Age [a term not yet commonly known in the Indian Church] nature, appeared in a Catholic charismatic
periodical [see below]. It was written by a lay Catholic, a former New-Ager.

*The following year, while at a Catholic Bible College, the writer discovered three laypersons occupying senior and
important capacities in intercession, counselling and in the drug-deaddiction centre [one was also a graduate of Advanced
Pranic Healing] who had obtained Masters certificates in the art of Reiki, one of which was from Germany. [Two of them
have abjured these practices and have surrendered their original certificates and course material to the writer]. By this
time the writer had investigated the therapy known as pranic healing which too he had encountered being propagated by
Catholic laypersons, and even a spiritual director and former regional chairman of the charismatic renewal, and his
research showed that these systems were New Age, and dangerously loaded with occult philosophies and practices.
[While Reiki is a hands-on therapy, pranic healing is a no-hands one. Except for the founders and their initiations, the
two differ only in a few minor details. It is suggested to readers that they read the separate write-up on pranic healing for
a broader understanding of Reiki.]

*Around this time, lay-preachers Trevor Lewis of Mumbai and Fritz Mascarenhas of Bangalore began to share their
experiences of persons who had come under severe occult bondage and demonic harassment after encounters with Reiki
[some had to be prayed over for deliverance], even by simple contact with books on the subject.
Identifying these practices as fraught with spiritual danger, they called for Catholics to abjure the therapies and to confess
such practices as a sin against the First Commandment of God.

*Informative write-ups on New Age in general and on Reiki in particular began to appear in more Catholic magazines, all
authored by laypersons. This writer had meanwhile conducted extensive research on the Reiki [and pranic healing and
other] phenomena, and after having had several fruitless meetings with the Auxiliary Bishop of Chennai [Dec. 1999/ Jan
2000] during which he submitted to the Bishop his findings on the extent and manner of their infiltration into the Church,
the writer began to circulate in print, copies of the reports detailing his shocking findings:

*One Bishop who is close to some lay Catholic pranic healers confided to me that he himself possessed a book or two on
pranic healing and had not realised that the therapy is incompatible with Christianity.
I showed this Bishop the book Healing- A Holistic Approach authored by the late Orthodox Bishop of Kottayam, Dr.
Paulose Mar Gregorios favoring the practice of such alternative therapies as Reiki and pranic healing.

*In my estimate there are today a few hundred nuns who are attuned Reiki and pranic healers in the Indian Church. And
a few score priests. I know some of them personally. My wife and I have been threatened by two priests with dire
consequences for exposing their activites to our Bishop and the CBCI, one telephonically, and the other through a letter.
These nuns and priests are in positions of authority and influence, and they are able to transfer to ignorant laypeople the
poisonous philosophies and practices that they have gone to great trouble to Master.
My own spiritual director, a holy Jesuit who passed away recently, had initially seriously discouraged me from this
ministry, believing that I was exaggerating the danger to the Church. He changed his mind and his position after a visiting
nun conducted reiki healing on him for a chronic back problem, and after the Jesuit brother whom he accompanied to the
nearby Devaki hospital for a heart condition was given a dose of treatment with pranic energy.

*Most greatly affected are our innocent children in Catholic schools, colleges, seminaries and houses of formation. 33.



Stella Maris, the Catholic womens college in Chennai [run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary], organized Reiki
promotions on the campus and students were marked for attendance. [Yoga is offered as an elective subject, martial arts
is encouraged, and at one time it was the location for the full-moon-night initiation service of the Pranic Healing
Foundation of Tamil Nadu till my campaign against it yielded dividends and the venue was moved.]

*When pranic healing founder Choa Kok Sui came to Chennai in January 2000, he was welcomed at the Good Shepherd
Convent by the Superior, in an ostentatious ceremony called the Mass Healing and Meditation that looked like a mini
Kumbh Mela. After which they proceeded to Tirupati for a darshan of Sri Balaji at Tirumala.

*When Reiki Grand Master Paula Horan conducted a programme in Bangalore on 14 December 2000, the venue was
provided to her for the promotion of her occult and New Age techniques by the Jesuits at Ashirwad on St. Marks Road.
She arrived after conducting a session under the Karnataka Reiki Council at a Hindu temple in a different part of the city.
Horan has authored 5 books: Empowerment through Reiki, Abundance through Reiki, Core Empowerment, Reiki- 108
Questions & Answers, and The Ultimate Reiki Touch.
Typically, the contact persons for further information and registration were Catholics [the Braganzas from Hubli].

*Many Catholic schools, especially those run by nuns, are known to have conducted reiki classes. Dr. Sujata Goda, the
only holder of a doctorate in yoga [Madras University] is the Director of the Patanjali Yoga Vidya Kendram, Chennai and
member, Tamil Nadu Pranic Healing Society. Among the educational institutions, she is either a permanent faculty or
guest lecturer in [the Catholic] Sathyabama College of Engineering, Rosary Matriculation School [FMM nuns]
and St. Bedes Sports Foundation [the Alma Mater of this writer, run by the Salesians of Don Bosco].
Her hobbies include tarot reading, palmistry, numerology, vaastu shastra Effectively combining her knowledge of yoga
with Reiki and pranic healing could produce miraculous results.[Madras Shoppers Digest, October 2000]

*Several St. Pauls bookstores have stocked books on Reiki. At the Bangalore shop, the referred Sumeet Sharmas All
You Wanted to Know About Reiki [I had already purchased it on Nov.4, 1999 at ATC, another Catholic bookshop in
Bangalore] was on display with other Reiki titles in October 2000, and the nun in charge told me that she was a
practitioner, defended its principles, and asked me to leave because I was making a list of the New Age books.]
I found Reiki in Everyday Living by Earlene P. Glennis at the Good Pastor International Book Centre in Chennai.
Priests have argued with me that they surely could not be on the wrong track if St. Pauls sold them the very books on
Reiki that they were using for their spiritual growth.

*Catholic periodicals carry articles on these alternative medicines. For example:
In The New Leader of Feb 1-15, 2002, we have Sr. Rosamma John ICMs The Phenomenon of Healing in which she
likens hypnosis, pranic healing and Reiki to the Potta phenomenon and lauds the concepts of energy fields, prana, the
chakras, the bioplasmic [vital or etheric or energy] body and the use of suggestions given in altered states of
consciousness [ASCs]. The result of that?
A laypersons Letter to the Editor in the issue of March 1-15: The phenomenon of phenomena like yoga and Reiki-
a qualified and knowledgeable person like Sr. Rosamma has given us a refresher with her enlightening belief that there is
power in many of the tools like pranic healing to heal many illnesses.
In The New Leader of Feb 16-28, 2002, in handling a question enquiring Can Catholics Practise Reiki?, Fr. Edmond
Grace SJ enlightens us that Christian practice of yoga, Zen and tai chi are examples of how in recent times many people
have grown in their awareness of, and faith in Christ, through practices developed by eastern religions.
In 2002 the NL carried several ads. of the Catholic Health Association of India [CHAI]s Health Action magazine for books
on pranic healing etc.

*CHAI, the Catholic Health Association of India regularly advertises occult books as Good News to all our friends
who practise Pranic Healing and Reiki through Health Action, copies of which are found in parishes, seminaries and other
Christian institutions. CHAI was set up with the assistance of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India [CBCI] and its
editorial board is always headed by priests and nuns.
CHAI promotes the New Age through Alternative Medicine in over 3000 medical institutions and have threatened this
writer with legal action for defamation and libel, their interpretation of my warning the Church about their activities.
CHAI conducts its initiation of Catholics into the occult at pastoral centres, religious houses of congregations etc. through
a number of programmes with innocuous sounding titles like Counselling or Ministry of Leadership.

*Our Low-Cost Holistic Health Centres. There are several in India. I have visited the two in Chennai and in Pune.
These are spawning attuned Reiki and pranic healers in the thousands. Priest, seminarians, nuns and laypersons.
Run by ICM nuns who are highly qualified in alternative medicine, they conduct courses on a regular basis round the year.
Their graduates are serving in mission stations abroad, and much closer to home than we would like to imagine. These
centres have been set up with the approval of Archbishops and funding of Catholic agencies [which are again CBCI
supported] like CHAI and CARITAS. 34.



The logo of the Chennai centre is the occult yin-yang, while the Pune centre has a slightly modified one.
Health Action regularly publishes stories on what goes on at these Holistic Health Centres, all run by nuns.

*Catholic public events have become opportunities for several of these organizations to seduce people with their New Age
wares. At the 12
th
National Charismatic Convention in Vijayawada in October 2003, the St. Pauls book stall exhibited a
dozen such titles ranging from Reincarnation to Vaastu Shastra to Yoga.
They were removed by members of the National Service Team when I brought them to their notice.
However I was not so successful at the 10
th
World Day of the Sick International Celebrations in Vailankanni at the
Basilica of Our Lady of Health, 9
th
to 11
th
February 2002.
Despite the fact that midway through the convention I was obliged to literally hijack the microphone to draw the attention
of the 3000 delegates [Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops, priests, nuns and laity] to the following, with no apparent
results:
i) St. Pauls were selling the New Age as usual, at their book shop
ii) So was CHAI, with a wide range of occult books, distributing free copies of Health Action to entrap the unwary,
especially the previous months issue [Jan 2002], specially prepared for the occasion, which is the best example of New
Age medicine that I have come across among Catholic publications. It carries an article by Sr. (Dr.) Eliza Kuppozhackel
MMS, the head of the Pranic Healing Foundation of Kerala, in which she also mentions Reiki.
iii) There was a new addition. Sr.(Dr.) M. Amalavathy ICM and her unique brand of universal energy [Spiritual
Human Yoga, the latest competitor to Reiki and pranic healing, far more insidious and satanic, if such a thing were
possible]
iv) A stall promoting the martial art of Tai Chi, hosted by Sr. (Dr.) M. Amalavathy ICM.
v) The Sister-Doctors Forum of India [SDFI] promoting alternative systems of medicine using, again, universal energy
vi) The Souvenir. Along with letters from the Vatican, archbishops, bishops, a CBCI Commission, it carries articles by
several priests, an essay on alternative New Age therapies by a Lutheran minister(!), and a 15-page article by Sr.
Amalavathy on a wide range of esoteric practices and alternative medicines [over 40], that includes Reiki and pranic
healing. Between the Health Action issue and the Souvenir, every alternative medical practice that the Vatican warns
about in its 3
rd
Feb. 2003 article on the New Age was propagated at Vailankanni as worthy of practice by Catholics.
I have sent detailed reports on all the above [and more] to the Bishops and the relevant commissions of the CBCI.

*The left-wing liberal National Catholic Reporter* September 3, 2003 Vol. 1, No. 23 reports on
Reiki in the Catholic Church in India through this article, Meditating and Medicating on the
Margins by Fr. Francis Gonsalves, a Jesuit of the Gujarat province who lectures in systematic
theology at Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi, and has published many articles on theology,
spirituality and social justice: *see pages 28, 79
While most believers raise their hands in worship, Catholic priest Swami Devaprasad, who
harmonizes hatha yoga with Christianity, frequently raises his feet, too. In Pune, Buddhists are
thrilled that Fr. Peter D'Souza conducts vipassana courses, and that Medical Mission Sr. Ruth
Manianchira heals hundreds through reiki. Fr. Joe Pereira of Mumbai cures alcoholics and drug
addicts through yoga, while in South India, Jesuit priests Ama Samy and Sebastian Painadath run
Zen courses and Bhagavad Gita retreats, respectively, with rousing response.
Spirituality, not doctrine -- the human body, not merely the mind -- is the meeting ground of
India's modern missionaries who meditate and medicate on the margins between Catholicism and
Indic religions. Moreover, their margin-ministries are moving the Indian church toward
rediscovering the Indian Christ, and refurbishing Indian Christian-ness.
Reiki -- meaning, "spiritually guided life force energy" -- helps Manianchira unleash channels of
spiritual power that lie latent within the depths of being. Indeed, the wellsprings of all religions
surge from these spiritual depths.
Manianchira is enthusiastic about the healing powers of reiki: "a wonderful glowing radiance
that flows through you, surrounds you, and treats the whole person -- body, emotion, mind, spirit
-- creating extraordinary effects like relaxation, peace, security, well-being, and other miraculous
results."
In conformity with the charism of the Medical Missionaries in India, Manianchira has jettisoned
the "hospital model" or "medicine-dispensing model" in favor of "not merely removing symptoms
but addressing the root causes of illness which lie at the very depths of our being." She strives for
'integral healing' and 'sustainable health' for all.
Manianchira admits to calling upon the power of "Jesus the Healer" to empower her in her
mission. "I often see Jesus as a reiki practitioner," she confesses, "who preaches forgiveness and
love as means of wholeness." 35.



Manianchira receives letters spiced with scriptural sayings alleging that reiki and pranic healing
are satanic systems*. Fortunately, her religious community supports her fully
Among the ecclesiastical hierarchy, there is mixed response toward incorporating Indic spiritual
systems into Christianity. Some bishops and priests support such moves. Others stump them.
Hopefully, Jesus the reiki Healer will draw us toward holism
*It is always gratifying when ones efforts are recognized, but the circumstances in question are
not edifying. They are, to use a word that I always exclude from my vocabulary, but for want of a
better substitute introduce here, most unfortunate. I am referring to the letters that Sr. Ruth
Manianchira MMS admits to receiving. The letters are in fact my reports, primarily one titled:
New Age Alternative Medicines such as Reiki and Pranic Healing which are being practised and
taught in Holistic Health Centres run by Catholic nuns in Chennai and in Pune with the blessing of
the Church.
This report is dated 29.06.2000. It is addressed to the Rev. Dr. Lawrence Pius, the Auxiliary
Bishop of Madras-Mylapore. It was prepared after an investigative visit by this writer to the
Centre in Pune on 28.03. 2000. The report was also sent to other Bishops and to Commissions of
the CBCI, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, and to Most Rev. Valerian DSouza, Bishop of
Poona [Pune] who is also the Episcopal Advisor to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. There has
been no response from any quarter.
Sr. Ruth is mentioned by name in the report, along with the other Medical Mission Sisters who run
the healing centre which offers round-the-year courses and treatment in a variety of esoteric
[occult] and New Age therapies, all of which find a place, either specifically mentioned or by
implication, in the 3
rd
February, 2003 Provisional Report on the New Age published by the
Vatican. The report was accompanied by this writers intensively researched articles on Pranic
Healing etc. which conclusively confirm the diabolical nature of these alternative medicines.

PROMOTION OF REIKI BY CATHOLIC LAY PERSONS IN INDIA
In my parish, the choirmaster, who along with some of his family members are the proverbial pillars of the Church, has a
notice board just outside his home [about 10 metres distant from the Church gate], which advertises classes for yoga and
meditation, and most recently, Reiki. A family member is reported to be a pranic healer, and the choirmaster himself
practices weekly Zen meditation before a statue of the Buddha at the nearby Jesuit house, Dhyana Ashram. I am aware of
several Catholics in our parish and neighbouring areas who practise and promote all kinds of alternative therapies.
In Chennai we have business people Clifford and Sushma Saldanha, and Sushil and Ramani Joseph [daughter of Mammen
Mappillai, CEO of industry giant MRF Ltd.] who are Trustees of the Pranic Healing Foundation of Tamil Nadu.
If one investigates closely, one will find the Saldanhas and Josephs in every major Indian city. Being well-connected and
wealthy, they exert great influence in Catholic institutions and are able to bring many Catholic religious and laypersons
into their net. A study of the mind of a holistic healer will help illustrate the need for serious concern.

Dr. Leo Rebello of Mumbai is a classic case.
This writer came into contact with him when he received a series of letters from the doctor, pouring out ire and vitriol on
this ministry and on the Catholic Church in response to this writers summary of the Vaticans New Age document that was
published in The Coastal Observer and The Examiner [both of Mumbai] in May/June 2003.
Dr. Leo Rebello is a classic example of a New Ager in his propagation of holistic healing and alternative forms of medicine.
Issuing a number of challenges [which this writer had no time to take up], he sent a parcel to this ministry.
It contained Rebellos book titled Aids & Alternative Medicine [first published 2000, third edition March 2003] and his
magazine Amrit-Manthan, International Journal devoted to Holistic Healing. BOTH contained articles on Reiki.
In the Amrit-Manthan, he makes these claims: It is a holistic healing method which was originally practiced by Jesus
Christ and given to his 12 disciples. For some time it was lost to the world. In the 19
th
century it was revived by a
Japanese, Dr. Mikao Usui Attunement is the process of opening a channel for cosmic energy to flow.
Once such a channel is established, it remains a Reiki channel for the rest of the life
The book Aidshas a chapter A to Z of Alternative Medicine. It explains Acupuncture, Acupressure, Affirmations,
Auto-suggestion, Bach Flower Remedies, Biofeedback, Chromo-[or colour] therapy, Distant Healing, Feng
Shui, Gem Therapy, Guided Imagery, Homoeopathy, Hypnotherapy, Iridology, Kinesiology, Kirlian
Photography, Magneto-therapy, use of Qi [Ki or Chi or Prana], Radionics, Radiesthesia, Reflexology,
Shiatsu, Silva Mind Control, Surya Namaskar, Yoga, Zone Therapy, seemingly harmless natural or traditional
methods and systems like Ayurveda, Bodywork, Energy healing, Massage, Naturopathy, Ritual Healing,
Tibetan Medicine and Unani. AND REIKI.
I repeat these lists ad nauseam [taken always from different sources] in almost every report or article to show the reader
that all proponents of alternative medicine unanimously agree on what therapies come under this category. 36.



It is unfortunate that some Christians who may practice any one of the above, say homoeopathy or acupuncture or yoga,
will stubbornly reject the available evidence on these systems while at the same time admitting that Reiki is occult.
Almost all these therapies have been listed in the Vatican document in the New Age.
Others which havent been specifically named will find place in generalisations in the document, such as herbal remedies
etc. This writer has already dealt with a large number of them in individual articles, and the rest will follow shortly.

It must be explained why pranic healing never figures in these lists. The World Pranic Healing Foundation, through its
organization of National and Regional Foundations down to the attuned pranic channeler at the local level, run a tightly
knit network that ensures that certified pranic healers who, like would-be Reiki healers fork out the course fees for being
raised to successively higher levels, not only tithe so that money is funneled continuously back upwards to the very
founder, but also are strictly prevented from practising [officially at least] any other form of alternative medicine, in a sort
of monogamous relationship.
Reiki however is a different story, and so is more widespread. The several Reiki organizations and even most certified
Reiki Masters and Grand Masters pass on their occult anointing to anyone interested. For a fee of course.
Since Reiki [and pranic] healers have spent good money to obtain their certification and accreditation, the recovery of
these investments has sparked a burgeoning number of Reiki healers, many of them additionally equipping themselves
with proficiency in several of the numerous therapies that we have seen listed above. In this ministry, the writer comes
across more and more such cases among Catholics, even priests and nuns.

Dr. Rebello has published works like Nature Cure and Yoga Therapy, Surya Namaskar, Homoeopathy for All, Holistic
Healing, etc. The first edition of Aids was titled Aids and Holistic Healing. Rebello postulates that yoga, ayurveda,
homoeopathy, unani etc. cure Aids. He promotes what he calls Dr. Leo Rebellos Aids Vaccines and homoeopathic urine.
He says that Yoga is an eight-fold path of evolution from man to superman and discusses the therapeutic effects of the
various asanas complete with photographs. Meditation is far superior to prayer and going to churches to meet God
In the evening, when you meditate, recall whether you have done anything wrong, willy-nilly. If so, give auto-suggestion
that this will not happen again, he teaches. Like all New Agers, Rebello does not entertain the concept of sin or
repentance for sin, and the solution to all unwelcome situations is in SELF-HELP.
He believes that For centuries mystics, spiritual healers and psychics have been fascinated by the auras that surround
people Our body is composed of the seven colours of the rainbow Vibrations from gem-stones can relieve or remove
mental and emotional problems Since Aids pushes through blood, a ruby can be worn on the right hand
If you imagine, it can become reality Some great vegetarians were Jesus Christ, Gautama Buddha, St. Mathew
St. Paul abhorred meat-eating and considered it as an indication of religious degradation I too firmly believe that
Vegetarianism alone can change the destiny of humankindRaw food should be the only nourishment taken by man.
In Amrit-Manthan Rebello recommends books like Kundalini- The Serpent Power by Dr. Barin De [the functioning of
chakras psychic centres for meditation, signs of a rising kundalini Get hold of a copy of this book if you want to
become a Superman]; Suryanamaskar by Dr. Sharad Nayampally, National Journal of Homeopathy by Dr. Vishpala
Parthasarathy, Iscador Therapy by Dr. K.N. Kasad an eminent homoeopath.

Registered World Citizen Dr. Leo Rebello N.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., FF Hom., Kt., is Goodwill Ambassador of St. Stanislaus Order,
Poland; Senator-Minister for India of the International Parliament for Safety and Peace, Italy; Director of the Natural
Health Centre, Bombay; President of the Indian Council of Natural Medicine and Research, President of the AIDS Alterniva
International and President of the World Constitution and Parliament Association, USA and Fellow of the European Medical
Association. He is listed in several Whos Who and the Limca Book. He has written 25 books, lectured in 56 countries at
WHO, UNAIDS, UNESCO and UNDP conferences.

His ambition is to set up a Holistic Health Farm and a Holistic Health Hospital with an international university,
homoeopathic medicine production unit, media centre to promote alternative medicine etc., where patients will be
treated with Natural and Traditional healing modalities. Amrit-Manthan plans to institute annual awards for outstanding
contributions in the fields of ayurveda, naturopathy, homoeopathy and yoga. Rebello works hard to challenge the
quackery and hegemony of a pseudo-science called allopathy, also known as modern medicine, western medicine,
scientific medicine, orthodox medicine or official medicine. He avers that allopathy is not a science and wages war
against the pharmaceutical mafia. He propagates the Total approach of Alternative medicine also known as Traditional
or Complementary or Holistic or Ethno or Natural medicine.

According to him, Aids is the greatest myth of our times HIV is not AIDS AIDS is a false alarm. Let us not panic. It is
not a dread disease as is made out to be.
Through Internaturalis [Lugano, Italy], an organization to create awareness on holistic health, and through the Nobel
Committee for Medicine at the Karolinska Institute [Stockholm, Sweden] and the World Health Freedom Foundation
[Arnhem, Holland] Rebello was nominated for the first Nobel Prize for Alternative Medicine 2003 [there is no such
category] on the grounds of his contribution to Humanism in medicine and holistic health modalities. He is described by
them as the Mahatma Gandhi of the Health Freedom Movement, the Indian Albert Schweitzer. 37.



Dr. Rebello proudly boasts that he has not subjected his two sons to any inoculations or vaccinations, and except the
sweet pills of homoeopathy they do not know the taste of other medicines. His wife Kashmira has explained the Indian
lore of Amrit Manthan. It is all about Lord Vishnu, the devtas or celestial beings, the great serpent god Vasuki Nag, the
asuras or demons, Lord Shiva, the God of Medicine Dhanvantari, and Amrit, the elixir of life which Rebello offers through
the use of alternative medicine.
New Age leanings are revealed in Aids [page 20] where he quotes Richard Grossinger in Planet Medicine:
Man is one, and our salvation lies eventually in a mutual sharing of all knowledge. In Amrit Manthan [page 48] he
recommends that we would do well to imitate New Ager Deepak Chopra who is now marketing old wine in new bottles
which is precisely what the New Age and alternative medicine is all about!
The back inner cover of Amrit-Manthan carries two photographs of Dr. Rebello sitting under trees in the classic yogic lotus
posture of padmasana.

Dr. Rebellos comments on Jesus Christ and His Church
In response to my letters and articles on New Age in The Coastal Observer, I received emails from Dr. Rebello.
Excerpts from them:
Whatever ignorant comments the Roman Catholic Church may have to offer about Alternative Medicines, New Age
Movement is NOT what the Church understandsThe Church does not understand that even Jesus Christ employed
Traditional or Natural Medicines [clay] in healing the sick and the diseased. The Church remains the most decadent
institution, enslaving the Christian followers If we go by the logic of Vaticans explanation on New Age, then Jesus Christ
should be the first New Ager because he ordained us directly to pray to the Father in Heaven without any intermediary
like the Pope [19
th
June 2003]
I was born in Bombay of orthodox Goan Roman Catholic parents. I took active part and interest in Church activities until I
saw the holy acts of holy priests! After studying many major and minor religions, I stopped going to Church some 33
years ago I am married to a Parsi lady, Kashmira, who got distinction in Bible studies I have NOT converted her nor
have I christened my two sons
Clay and spittle is nothing but traditional and natural wisdom learnt by Jesus in the Gurukul Do you know where Jesus
Christ was from the age of 12 until the age of 30? He was in the Gurukul where he learnt the secrets of nature including
the highest siddhi of walking on water by yogic method. And when he raised the dead it was all powerful Sanjeevani!!
Do you think that the old testament is different from the Vedas? Do you think that the Christian belief in the Trinity is
original and not the same as the Hindu trinity? And do you think Virgin Mary is the only virgin who produced a divine
child? Did you know that Zoroasters mother was a virgin? What about Karnas mother who chanted some mantras in
favour of the Sun God and conceived? What about Ganpatis mother Parvati? What about wind God Marutis extraordinary
birth? According to me the so-called Holy Bible [etc.] are all history books
I think most cardinals are Freemasons They control the Church and you follow them blindly. So it is like one blind
leading the other. Time has stood still in the gargantuan slavish organization called the church. [10
th
July 2003]

*The Examiner, Bombay, August 23, 2003. "Letter to the Prime Minister"
The letter occupies almost a full page of The Examiner, but I reproduce here only the portion relevant to us:
The idea of your Swasthya Suraksha Yojana is limited only towards one of the systems of medicine (western medicine
allopathy). How about having tertiary level hospitals of Ayurveda, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Naturopathy which
the government has recognized? Letter to the editor, by Ronald Rebello, Mumbai.
Who is Ronald Rebello who wrote to the Prime Minister copy to The Examiner, asking for "tertiary level hospitals of
Acupuncture" etc.? At the time of writing that letter, Ronald Rebello was just 21 years old.
He died on February 23, 2007, aged 25. He was the son of Dr. Leo Rebello. Who is Dr. Leo Rebello?
Dr. Leo Rebello is a lapsed Catholic, a leading New Ager and fanatic promoter of New Age Alternative Therapies.
Dr. Rebello wrote me that both their sons, Ronald and Robin were never subjected to any inoculations or vaccinations,
and, excepting homoeopathy, have never used any allopathic medicines, under their dad's "professional" care.
It is therefore very sad to hear of Ronald Rebello's 25 days of high fever which remained undiagnosed or refused to
reduce, resulting in his untimely and unnecessary demise.
It is my sincere belief that Ronald Rebello would be alive today if his father had not denied him vaccinations, inoculations
and allopathic treatment in favour of homeopathy and other dubious alternative medicines about which he has written so
much in the books that he has authored. And this is the grave danger in what The Examiner is doing with issues
concerning the health of its subscribers and readers as I have demonstrated in my many articles.
For example, The Examiner, March 1, 2008, "Cancer Therapy" Letter to the Editor by Dr. Neville S. Bengali, the
doctor recommends magnet therapy claiming that it checks cancer in its initial stages; he also suggests "a judicious co-
ordination of different systems (like allopathy and/or homoeopathy with magnet therapy)."
Following such advice can prove fatal for patients who depend heavily on alternative therapies.

Misuse of the name and reputation of Mother Teresa to promote New Age Alternative Medicine
1. By Dr. Leo Rebello and his organization
38.



The back cover page of Amrit-Manthan has photographs of Rebello posing with Vajpayee, K.R. Narayanan, Giani Zail
Singh, Morarji Desai, Swami Agnivesh etc. But at the very top of the page is a picture of him with Mother Teresa! The
letter dated January 8, 2003 from the Nobel Committee in Stockholm proposing Rebellos name for a Nobel award refers
to his poem on Health which Mother Teresa recited from 1989 till her death.
Though this Prayer For Health to the Heavenly Father is apparently innocent, it ends with the words Amen, Amin, Om!
and even if it did not, it is highly improbable that Mother Teresa would have used this prayer even once.

2. By the Indian Institute of Alternative Medicines [IIAM], Kolkata
This matter was first brought to the attention of the Church in February 2000 when I submitted several reports to my
Auxiliary Bishop on pranic and Reiki healing, along with the relevant photograph.
The IIAM is affiliated to the Indian Board of Alternative Medicines [IBAM] and the Open International University for
Complementary Medicines. IBAM is affiliated to East West University of Holistic Health Sciences, USA; World Federation of
Holistic Life, Italy; Vedic Institute of America; Indiana Institute for Complementary Medicines, USA; Nizhoni Institute for
Global Consciousness, New Mexico; Therapeutica Mystica, Mexico; and organizations in Japan, Brazil, Malaysia, Holland, S.
Africa, New Zealand etc. all of which promote New Age therapies.
The IIAM offers 1 year Diploma and 2 year Certificate Courses in dozens of alternative medicines and therapies including
acupuncture and acupressure, electro-homoeopathy, feng shui, vaastu, pranic healing and Reiki. Every year, the
Seva Chakra award instituted by the Board is conferred on some important dignitary. One year it was presented to Robert
Muller, former UN Asst. Secretary-General and one of the worlds leading proponents of New Age goals, who greatly
contributed to propelling the UN in that direction. [He is mentioned in my earlier write-ups].
On 9
th
April 1995, at a ceremony held on the occasion of World Health day at the Institutes centre, the Boards highest
honour, the Seva Chakra was presented to Mother Teresa!
As in the case of Amrit-Manthan, the promotion brochure of IIAM/IBAM sports over 20 photographs of Indian and World
leaders with the founders of the Institute. But the ONLY photograph displayed on the FRONT page and TWICE AS LARGE
as the others, is that of a beaming Mother Teresa receiving the award.
These illustrations reveal not only the extent of ignorance in the Catholic Church about the realities of New Age and
Alternative Medicine, but that these organizations, which propagate philosophies and practices that are diametrically
opposed to those of Christianity [stated quite openly in the case of Dr. Rebello], do not hesitate to [mis]use eminent
Catholic personalities to further their goals.
This is exemplified by the continued support received from the Bishops and the CBCI by Catholic organizations like CHAI
and the DHARMA BHARATHIs and the HOLISTIC CENTRES that propagate esoteric books, pranic healing and Reiki, New
Age ideologies, study of scriptures of world religions by Catholic school children, yoga and meditation, mantra chanting
etc. This despite the fact that this writer has submitted in-depth analyses and reports on these issues to many senior
Bishops and to the office-bearers and concerned commissions of the CBCI for over 4 years now.

CATHOLICS ON REIKI
1. Fr. Clemens Pilar COp in [Appendix II, Some practices correlated with esotericism] Esoteric Practices and Christian
Faith, An Aid to Discernment, includes Reiki along with pranic healing, homoeopathy, yoga and others.

2. Fr. Benedict Groeschel CFR, another writer and speaker against the New Age, who was recently critically injured
when he was mowed down by a car, in an article appropriately titled Humbug!, in The Priest, wrote about his visit to a
seminary building of a religious order that had been turned into a retreat centre because of a lack of vocations and was
now offering the art of Reiki. His comments:
In a book I dont recommend, An Introduction to the Art of Reiki, the author Ronni Johnson tells us that Usui discovered
a way to re-create the healing miracles performed by Christ and Buddha. Usui received an epiphany that led him to
understand the deeper meaning of ancient texts, including the Bible and the books of other religions.
Like anyone operating without the Christian faith, Usui denied that salvation comes from the grace of Christ, the divine
Son of God. Despite the evidence, he seems to have missed the reality of original sin and the need for salvation.
It is not my business if people want to get involved with reiki or examine the entrails of a dead chicken by the light of a
full moon, but these things should not be done under the auspices of the Catholic Church
Some clergy ought to realise that if you cant find a tabernacle in the chapel but instead you get directed to the reiki
room, somebody has been humbugged. With an appropriate nod to P.T. Barnum, are we running a Church or a circus?

3. In the July-August 2003 issue [New Age, What Every Christian Should Know] of Emmanuel, published on behalf of
the Emmanuel Prayer Group, Bandra, Mumbai by Errol C. Fernandes [who recently succumbed to leukemia], relentless
crusader against the New Age, in the article titled Reiki: Fad or Fidelity* he asks and answers some essential questions:
How should a Catholic look upon Reiki? Are its stated principles compatible with the Catholic faith? *see page 43
Do repentance and forgiveness have a role in healing? Is the Reiki view of universal energy a rejection of God as the
source of healing and salvation?
In his August 2003 CHARISINDIA article A Catholic Understanding of the New Age, Errol Fernandes lists some of the
practices/therapies associated with it enneagrams, reiki, feng shui, Zen, pranic healing, yoga, T.M. and so on. 39.



4. Articles on Reiki by Catholic writers have been carried in several Catholic charismatic publications:
*The earliest was Should Christians Practice Reiki?
In the April 1998 Divine Voice from Muringoor, by Vijay Martis, himself a former New-Ager. Arguing that the Word of
God defines three spirits: the Holy spirit, the human spirit and evil spirits, he says that for Reiki to be acceptable to
Christians, it must be from the Holy Spirit and therefore should lead its practitioners to the Truth [John14:17, 15:26,
14:6]; but in reality one can receive and practice Reiki irrespective of ones religious beliefs. He concludes thus:
This makes Reiki an experience (being a spiritual one) something a Christian should seriously think about before getting
into The answer to whether a Christian should practice Reiki is no. Any Christian practitioner of Reiki has placed himself
in a dangerous position and should approach steps of reconciliation with God. Take it from a brother in Christ who was
lost for over six years in New Age Martis also mentions Reiki as an alternative medical practice in his articles What New
Age is Really About, May-June 1999 Charisindia [repeated in February 22, 2003 The Examiner] and in The Dangers of
New Age, January 2002 Divine Voice], and Who Needs the New Age, July-August 2001, Charisindia.

*Capt. Mervin John Lobo lists Reiki as an occult New Age therapy in Scriptural Condemnation of the Occult, Sep.1999
Divine Voice and The Examiner of Sep 25, 1999, again in Inculturation or Paganism?, Nov. 2001 Shalom Tidings and Jan.
2002 Divine Voice, and yet again in New Age and the Catholic Church, May-June 2003 Shalom Tidings.
He says We are warned that in the last days a false religion of marvellous power will subvert the faith of many people
using the same powers as the magicians of Egypt [2 Timothy 3:5-8]. Reiki is a satanic attempt to keep people from
worshiping the Blessed Trinity.

*In the Souvenir of the 1999 Divine Bible College, Muringoor, D. Charles [brother-in-law of the Auxiliary Bishop of
Madras-Mylapore] groups Reiki with New Age practices like pranic healing, yoga, and transcendental meditation in Unless
Someone Instructs Me.

*International authority on New Religious Movements and tireless crusader against the New Age [who, too, was recently
seriously hurt when she was run over by a car], Erika Gibello in the May-June 1999 Charisindia gives the explanation
and the answer, paraphrased/quoted here, to Should a Christian Use Reiki? :
Rei means universal essence or transcendent spirit, and Ki is the energy similar to the Chi of Chinese acupuncture [or
the prana of pranic healing], she notes. Reiki is supposed to help us to tune in to the universal energies, to bring health,
harmony and happiness to the whole of humanity [and] claims to lead people into higher consciousness There is a
strong link to tantric Buddhism, hence tantric Hinduism. There is a direct link between the understanding of energy in
Reiki and the tantric concept of kundalini energy which has to be awakened to help the acolyte to a higher consciousness.
In fact it is taught in Reiki that the free flow of life force energy in the body helps to awaken the kundalini which leads to
earlier spiritual transformation and self-realization.
As in yoga, the Chakras or assumed energy centres located in the assumed etheric body play an important part.
Additionally, to what can be seen as Eastern philosophical understanding, Usui developed the Five Principles of Reiki
which are to help to attune people so that they could assume responsibility for their own well-being:
Just for today I will count my many blessings.
Just for today I will let go of my worry.
Just for today I will let go of my anger.
Just for today I will do my work honestly.
Just for today I will show love and respect for every living thing.
Much of Reiki teaching relates to the release of accumulated emotions which form a negative block that should be
released and to the same degree as the release of emotions, bodily well-being will be experienced, which may vary from
relief of pain to total cure of some sicknesses.
While there is much talk in Reiki about spiritual development, nowhere is there a clear indication what such a
development would consist of. There is much talk of emotional release and mental realignment of the personality, but
nowhere is there an explanation of what the essence of human happiness really represents.
There is one clear message: Reiki knowledge does not embrace the belief in a personal Creator-God.
Although there is much talk of negative energy blocks, nowhere is there an understanding of personal human SIN.
Both these facts are alien to the Christian message of RECONILIATION with GOD as the basis for our happiness.
Spiritual healing through REPENTANCE and emotional healing through FORGIVENESS are not found in Reiki.
Our Christian understanding is that both can lead to physical healing if the root cause of the sickness is in the spiritual or
emotional area of a suffering person.
It appears that all so-called NEW AGE methods in search of human health and happiness are devoid of the basic Christian
understanding of repentance and forgiveness. One could call those New Age methods pre-Christian.
Someone could turn round and ask So what is wrong with using pre-Christian methods? Arent they a help for healing the
body? One does not have to accept the philosophy behind it all!
(You will find this a familiar argument when talking about yoga exercises!)
40.



If those methods would claim to be physical only, but the fact is that they offer essential wrongly-assumed spiritual pre-
requisites. Many involve occult beliefs which are diagonally opposed to Christian faith and the Catholic Churchs teaching.
Much of what is offered today in the parcel called New Age be it Reiki, crystal healing are in essence nothing less than
temptations for man to believe the very same lie with which satan deceived Eve: that we are God, that we do not need
our Creator if we follow any of those methods leading us to Self-Realization.
Today, for the first time in human history, not only those yogis or gurus but millions of ordinary people worldwide are
misled to mystically look within themselves. There, in what ought to be the Temple of the true God, they seek to discover
their alleged higher self which is equal to God, which is God. The deification of self is the original sin- the original
rebellion. Any method, be it acclaimed thousands of years old or newly found, which offers to lead to human happiness
but which leaves God and our repentance unto Him out, is especially bringing danger of loss of faith in God with it. Why
do we Catholics tend to search so far afield? Did not St. Augustine already teach that our hearts are restless until they
rest in Thee, O God? Does not Jesus warn us [Matthew 5:30] It is better for you to lose one part of your body than to
have your whole body go into hell? In our context, when investigating esoteric or occult methods of healing [such as
Reiki] which endanger our Christian faith, we should be aware that HEALING AT ANY COST or HAPPINESS AT ANY COST
can never be a Christian approach.
The FIVE PRINCIPLES OF REIKI listed above are not as straightforward as they appear to be.
For instance, anger is seen as a very disharmonious energy, and worry is a thought pattern that results from a feeling
of separateness from the I AM consciousness. The monistic belief that all is one and one is all underscores the
principles. Through the study of physics, we now know that we are all a collective energy from the same source.
There is truly no solid matter, only different levels of vibration As a result, any positive energy, whether directed at any
animal, plant and mineral is included in the whole. To show love and respect to all others is to love and respect ourselves
and our mother earth. To be in gratitude is to know at the core of your being that all is one. Many people live in this
consciousness of separation from the Absolute that which embodies all that is.
Quotes extracted from Reiki, T.N. Indira.
Erika Gibello is Secretary, International Association of Exorcists

5. The May 2003 issue of the Divine Voice magazine carries an article titled You Can Serve only One Master.
It is the testimony of Severin Menezes*, a Catholic lady from Chennai, a personal friend of the writer, who was a highly
trained practitioner of New Age therapies, and having a successful commercial clientele.
She was initiated into Reiki by a nun, the director of the Catholic Holistic Healing Centre in Chennai mentioned earlier, and
graduated to the seniormost echelons of the pranic healing Foundation after her intense study of Theosophy, yogic
meditation, crystal healing, kriya shakti, psychic self-defense, mantra chanting, and the highest form of pranic healing
known as Arhatic yoga, the knowledge of which is limited to a very few exponents.
In her own words, I was in diabolical bondage. I could not let go. But she learnt the truth about the source of the
power behind Reiki and the other New Age healings, and found that she could serve only one Master; and let go she
did, only with the help of His grace, as she reveals in her moving testimony. The very same Jesus [Hebrews 13:8] is there
for all those of us who may find themselves in a similar situation. The Truth shall set you free [John 8:32].
Sumeet Sharma in All You Wanted to Know About Reiki: There is no logical proof, nor can the Reiki energy be
physically seen or measured. One can only experience the healing effect that it has upon the channel. [page 134]
*see http://www.ephesians-511.net/documents/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_HOLISTIC_HEALTH_HEALER.doc

HOLISTIC HEALTH
The 3
rd
February 2003 Vatican Document on the New Age deals with this issue in several places, especially in
n 2.2.3*, 2.2.4*. *sections on Health: Golden living and Wholeness: A Magical Mystery Tour.
The subject has been explained in almost every report or article produced by this writer. Channel News Asia airs two
programmes weekly, one called Alternate [sic. they mean Alternative] States, the other on Chinese Medicine.
They reveal just how contrary to Christian beliefs the philosophies that underlie these therapies are.
In a recent programme, a practitioner explained that the only remedy for perfect holistic health of body, mind and soul is
for man to reconcile with and be one with nature, which is the purpose of Chinese Traditional Medicine [CTM].
Christianity however teaches that ultimate wholeness is reconciliation and unity with God. It is however not the god that
CTM (which is based mainly on Taoism [nature = god] and again on Buddhism) has raised.

6. Fr. Conrad Saldanha of Most Holy Trinity Church, Mumbai eloquently explains Holistic Health:
Holistic Health suggests two things. Negatively it would mean an absence of such a state of health i.e. a
brokenness of health. Positively, a situation of wholeness or health, or a search for it. Correct diagnosis of the
problem is therefore essential before treating each case. Is brokenness of health the root cause of the disease
that leads to absence of wholeness, or is it the symptom of some deep-rooted malaise? In order to understand
the difference, one needs to ask these questions:
What does one mean when one talks of wholeness or holistic health?
41.



Is it just an absence of disease or good health which is manifested by way of dynamic activity, or does it also
include a mental state of tranquility and wellbeing which is not attained by any material or chemical catalyst?
It is in this search for a perfect state of health that we could reach ideological levels and Christians could be
entering into a web of deception. We could blindly run to New Age gurus, yogic institutes, practise Reiki,
following a stringent diet and exercise regimen. A self-centred unwholistic life, thought there may be moments
of wellbeing in the exercise. The Christian mind is set on God while the carnal mind is set on the flesh and is
in enmity with God [cf. Rom.8:5-8]
This is the decisive point in our search for holistic health as Christians. Is eternity the centre of our lives or is
immediate wellbeing the goal?
By not making health the centre of our lives, we will be ordering our lives on a right priority i.e. it is not health
that should get priority in our lives, but the Giver of all health should have the first place.
But seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things will be given to you [Mt.6:33]; For
he who gains his life will lose it and he who loses his life for my sake will gain it [Mt.10:39].
Practically, how does one embark on this path? First, through correct diagnosis of mans problem.
The Scripture diagnoses our problem as our being cut off from the life of God [Rom.3:23], due to which we
experience the symptoms of constant conflict in our whole being. I want to do good but I end up doing evil,
and I dont want to do anything evil, but I end up doing it [Rom.7:14f]. The treatment recommended by the
Word of God is not symptomatic relief but is aimed at rooting out the problem. The treatment then is this: Be
reconciled to God [2 Cor.5:20].
Our situation demands reconciliation with God through repentance, and faith in His saving grace offered
through Jesus death on the cross [2 Cor.5:17-20].
It is through reconciliation with God and with one another that Gods life is poured into our lives. A life that
does not lead to disintegration, degeneration and intranquility but that which is abundant and leading to peace
[Jn.10:10, 14:27, Eph.2:14]. It is the life in the Holy Spirit. If we allow Him to work in our lives, then His Living
Water [see Vatican Document on the New Age] will well up and we will experience health even unto eternal life
[Jn.4:14].
Besides, He will, even as we surrender ourselves totally to His will, help us to attain the stature of Christ who
enjoyed the fullness of life and health and could therefore give to others the same life and health.
Further, through his resurrection He still lives with us in the Sacraments of the Church.
So get practical, and dont adopt any shortcuts to wholistic health.

MORE CATHOLICS EXPOSE THE LIES AND DECEPTION OF REIKI HEALING
7. Of Medicine, Magic, and Original Sin
by Brian J. Kopp, DPM Published by The Wanderer Printing Company, March 8, 2001
EXTRACT: The public, in essence, is turning away from science, and returning to that which so much of early man
embraced, namely superstition and gnostic paganism. These "new" alternative techniques rarely have scientific
basis, but rely on mystical interpretations of the body and soul which are inherently foreign to the Catholic
understanding of reality. Despite the dangers and traps of western science noted above, these "powers" or "energies"
of the body, which form the fundamental basis of these alternative remedies and techniques, still must be examined
objectively. Are they "real?" Do they indeed exist? Can they be quantified or measured? If not, why? Are they part of that
Nature God created? Of course, if they do exist, they must be made to "fit" into the realm of God's creation, best
understood by western philosophy and theology.
However, our western understanding of God's creation has no place for powers or energies freely floating
around for us to tap into, use and manipulate. Western tradition has a simple word for the tapping into and
manipulation of energies or life forces. That word is "Magic." Magic, in the western Christian world view, is
a forbidden art.
God did not make energies freely floating around into which we may tap and which we may manipulate by our will, like
some cosmic Star Wars "Force." Any religion or "medicine" that promises its adherents such power is a dishonest or
sinister one, for such is forbidden by God. Such "knowledge" is Gnostic, or forbidden or hidden knowledge, and it is
antithetical to Christian belief.
What of so-called healings brought about by practitioners of eastern or New Age mysticism based medicine? Are there
other "powers" by which we may be healed? The only force or power in the universe is the power of God.
We are not permitted to attempt to conjure up God's power by herbs, potions, incantations, yoga, "Healing
Touch," Reiki, or any other technique. We can indeed use intercessory prayer to ask God for true healing by His
power. Saints have done so. Jesus our Lord healed multitudes by His power. Angels are credited with healings in
Scripture, but only through God's power.
However, we cannot conjure up God by an act of our own will or by ritual or incantation or transcendental meditation.
42.



Therefore, in the Catholic understanding of reality, these healings can at best only come from forces which God never
intended us to understand or attempt to manipulate. Two thousand years of Christian thought and proper scientific
investigation have not revealed any such powers. At worst, and more likely, they come from demonic forces, and magic is
always and only the conjuring of demonic forces. Even when a "cure" is documented in alternative methods, the nagging
question remains, "What profit it a man to gain the whole world yet lose his Eternal soul?"

2. Reiki: Fad or Fidelity by Errol C. Fernandes [see page 39]
Reiki is a subject most readily identified with New Age. Reiki (pronounced ray-kee), a technique claimed to heal various
ailments and conditions. How should a Catholic look upon Reiki?
Are its stated principles compatible with the Catholic faith? Does repentance and forgiveness have a role in healing?
Is the Reiki view of universal energy a rejection of God as the source of healing and salvation?
Usui early in the 20th century. Some stories claim that Mikao Usui was a professor in a Christian seminary and was trying
to find out the power by which Jesus healed, and so discovered Reiki (hence the ridiculous claim by some that Jesus
healed by using Reiki!).
Reiki practitioners who have written articles and books on the subject differ in their recounting of the origins of Reiki.
Generally, it is held up as a rediscovery of the ancient and universal practice of some healers.
Using the far eastern paradigm of the chakra system taught in Yoga, the Reiki healer is said to receive an
initiation that allows him or her to heal.
Similar to acupuncture and Yoga, Reiki teaches that unseen energy paths exist throughout the body that need only
be charged with positive energy to restore each network of pathways and to restore health to the body. According to a
web site dedicated to its promotion, Reiki heals by flowing through the affected parts of the energy field and charging
them with positive energy. It raises the vibratory level of the energy field in and around the physical body where the
negative thoughts and feelings are attached. This causes the negative energy to break apart and fall away. In so doing,
Reiki clears, straightens and heals the energy pathways, thus allowing the life force to flow in a healthy and natural way.
Neither healing nor energy, Reiki is actually a manifestation of Tantric magic studied by Usui during a prolonged
Buddhist retreat and fast during which time he reportedly studied a Buddhist Tantric text.
Tantra is a form of Yoga in which sexual energy is manipulated for a variety of purposes from seeking a magical
union of lovers to attaining union with God or with the Supreme Self.
In essence Reiki, and the New Age paradigm in general, seeks to change our bodies and minds, which are meant to be
temples of the Holy Spirit, into dens which spirit guides may inhabit, control and guide.
What can be done to remove Reiki, the most pervasive of popular occult techniques, from Catholic institutions where it is
an established presence?
1. We can tear off the veils of deception through dissemination of this kind of literature. (I will tear off your veils and
rescue my people from your power, so that they shall no longer be prey to your hands. Thus you shall know that I am the
Lord. Ezekiel 13:21)
2. We can sponsor true centres of healing in hospitals, colleges and retreat houses that include programs in:
the sacrament of reconciliation; Eucharistic adoration; anointing of the sick and prayer for healing; orthodox spiritual
direction for those in crisis; restoration of those affected by New Age involvement.

3. Reiki and Tantric Magic; Healing or Hell?
by Clare McGrath Merkle Clare McGrath Merkle www.catholicculture.org
The Cross and the Veil INDEX http://www.crossveil.org/page2.html Publisher & Date: The Cross and the Veil, Unknown
Description: An article about the occult, New-Age practice of Reiki and how it has infiltrated into Catholic
hospitals disguised as a healing technique.
The International Center for Reiki Training has a comprehensive web site for understanding the practice of Reiki
(pronounced RAY-KEY) at http://www.reiki.org. According to the site, Reiki is defined as a specific kind of universal
healing energy that was rediscovered by a medical doctor, Mikao Usui, in the 19th century. The following excerpts are
taken directly from the web site. Following each quote is The Cross and The Veil's commentary.
"Dr. Mikao Usui, or Usui Sensei, as he is called by his students in Japan, is the founder of the Usui System of Reiki.
He was born August 15, 1865 in the village of Yago in the Yanagata district of Gifu prefecture, Japan. It is thought that he
entered a Tendai Buddhist school on or near Mt. Kurama ("Horse Saddle Mountain") at age four. He also studies kiko, the
Japanese version of qigong, which is a health and healing discipline based on the development and use of life energy.
The young Usui found that these healing methods required the practitioner to build up and then deplete his own life
energy when giving treatments. He wondered if it were possible to do healing work without depleting one's own energy.
He went on to study in Japan, China and Europe...his curriculum included... fortune telling, which Asians have long
considered to be a worthy skill... Usui Sensei was also a member of the Rei Jyutu Ka, a metaphysical group dedicated to
developing psychic abilities. In 1914 Usui's personal and business life was failing. As a sensitive spiritualist, Usui Sensei
had spent much time meditating to the power spots on Mt. Kurama where he had received his early Buddhist training.
So he decided to travel to this holy mountain, where he enrolled in Isyu Guo, a 21-day training course sponsored by the
Tendai Buddhist Temple located there...it was during the Isyu Guo training that the great Reiki energy entered his crown
chakra. 43.





This greatly enhanced his healing abilities and he realized he had received a wonderful new gift - the ability to give
healing to others without depleting his own energy!"
Reiki practitioners who have written articles and books on the subject differ in their recounting of the origins of Reiki.
Generally, it is held up as a rediscovery of the ancient and universal practice of the same healing power possessed by
the prophets and Jesus Christ. Using the eastern paradigm of the chakra system (see article on yoga), the Reiki healer
is said to receive an initiation that allows him or her to heal. Similar to acupuncture and yoga, Reiki posits that unseen
energy paths exist throughout the body that need only be charged with positive energy to restore each network of
pathways and to restore health to the body.
Reiki heals by flowing through the affected parts of the energy field and charging them with positive energy.
It raises the vibratory level of the energy field in and around the physical body where the negative thoughts and feelings
are attached. This causes the negative energy to break apart and fall away. In so doing, Reiki clears, straightens and
heals the energy pathways, thus allowing the life force to flow in a healthy and natural way.
Neither healing nor energy, Reiki is actually a manifestation of Tantric magic studied by Usui during a prolonged
Buddhist retreat and fast during which time he reportedly studied a Buddhist Tantric text. Tantra is a form of yoga in
which sexual energy is manipulated for a variety of purposes from seeking a magical union of lovers to attaining
union with God or with the Supreme Self. Tantra is one of the most powerful forms of yoga (tantric yoga) and involves
secret practices and ceremonial rituals including group sex. Lovers visualize each other as manifestations of the male or
female aspect of God and attempt to achieve ecstasy and a melding together of souls with or without physical union.
Reiki Attunement and the Reiki Master
Reiki is a special kind of life force that can only be channeled by someone that has been attuned to it. It is possible that
some people are born with Reiki or have gotten it some other way. However, most healers who have not received the
Reiki attunement from a Reiki Master are not using Reiki but another kind of life force. Reiki is not taught in the way other
healing techniques are taught. It is transferred to the student by the Reiki Master during an attunement process. This
process opens the crown, heart, and palm chakras and creates a special link between the student and the Reiki source.
The Reiki attunement is a powerful spiritual experience. The attunement energies are channeled into the student through
the Reiki Master. The process is guided by the Reiki or God consciousness and makes adjustments in the process
depending on the needs of each student. The attunement is also attended by Reiki guides and other spiritual beings who
help implement the process. Many report having mystical experiences involving personal messages, healings, visions, and
past life experiences. The attunement can also increase psychic sensitivity. Students often report experiences involving:
opening of the third eye, increased intuitive awareness, and other psychic abilities after receiving a Reiki attunement.
What is Advanced Reiki Training? This is a one day intensive. It includes:
The Usui Master attunement which increases the strength of your Reiki energy.
The Usui Master symbol which increases the effectiveness of the Reiki II symbols and can be used for healing.
Reiki meditation that strengthens the mind and expands consciousness.
Advanced techniques for using Reiki to solve problems and achieve goals.
Using Reiki to protect yourself and others.
The use of crystals and stones with Reiki.
How to make a Reiki grid that will continue to send Reiki to yourself and others after it is charged.
Reiki psychic surgery that allows you to remove negative psychic energy from yourself and others and send it to the light.
A guided meditation that introduces you to your Reiki guides wherein you receive healing and information.
Finally, an exercise will be given for those planning to take Reiki III/Master training.
You must take ART if you want to take Reiki III/Master. This class is often taught with Reiki III as a three day intensive.
Cost, $210.00
Much like other forms of New Age healing techniques, the following characteristics are common of Reiki:
1. The technique is promoted as special and unique but obtainable via weekend workshops;
2. Reception of power comes through a lineage of masters;
3. The power is controlled via a supernatural power, whether divine, angelic or universal;
4. It is a spiritual power operating through a quasi scientific metaphysical & mechanistic paradigm;
5. Psychic powers accompany the reception of the healing power;
6. Healers may charge money for their services.
Usui was said to have originally descended the mountain from his retreat with healing powers and the desire to heal the
masses. He lived in the slums of a city for several years, performing seemingly miraculous healings on the poor without
charge. Then, after a time, these same patients who had been healed returned to him, having lost their healings. Usui
meditated on why this was so and how he could remedy the problem. He decided that his patients became ill again
because they did not sufficiently value the healings they received, and so he began to charge money for his services.
Like most New Age healing techniques, practitioners and schools of Reiki vary their practice and combine it with other
practices such as the use of crystals, magical incantations for protection, psychic surgery, group energy channeling, and
spiritualism that includes the taking over of the body by ones guide. 44.


Reiki and Catholic Institutions
Unfortunately, a number of Catholic nurses, doctors, hospitals and retreat centers have innocently included Reiki as an
alternative form of medicine. One such place, The Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, Maryland, advertises on
the web thusly:
Why receive Massage or Reiki while on retreat?
Because we believe that both are graced ways of experiencing Gods healing touch during a retreat.
In a pastoral context massage becomes a sacrament of touch, an anointing, for it combines one of the oldest and
simplest of medical treatments with the ancient healing powers of the laying on of hands and the anointing with oil.
Hands are symbols of human service and communicators of the healing potential within. Oil is a biblical symbol of
the divine gift of health, strength and respect for the whole person. In massage these symbols coalesce to heal, comfort,
soothe, relax and strengthen the whole being. Mary Ann Finch
Catholic Hospitals
Many seriously ill patients in hospitals are exposed to occult techniques, including Reiki, without full knowledge or consent.
While in a weakened and vulnerable state, volunteers perform Reiki magic over them as described in the following:
According to William Lee Rand, in his web article, Reiki in Hospitals:
The Reiki Clinic at the Tucson Medical Center (TMC) in Arizona has a team of Reiki practitioners who give Reiki to
patients in their roomsThe TMC program started in May 1995...The program first began in the Cancer Care Unit, but has
since expanded to many other areas in the hospital. At first, the attending physician had to give permission for Reiki to be
provided. This has changed, and now the attending nurse makes the request. Reiki sessions are given by two-person
teams as this creates a feeling of safety and confidence for both the patients and the practitioners.
A patient must sign a consent form and sessions are given in their rooms while they are in bed.
It is up to the Reiki team to explain Reiki to the patient before giving the treatment. They have found that this usually
works best by first taking a few minutes to introduce themselves and get to know the patient, then explain the work they
do. They have also found it best not to use the word Reiki at first when describing how they can help, but to talk about
healing energy. They explain how healing energy exists in the body but is depleted when a person is sick, and they
describe their work as helping to increase the patients healing energy supply.
Later, after trust has been gained, they explain more about the technique and that it is called Reiki. They also play special
healing music during the Reiki session.
Volunteers at the Reiki clinic have found it helpful not to use metaphysical terms when talking to patients or to hospital
staff about Reiki. Terms like aura, chakras, energy bodies, etc. tend to cause confusion and mistrust. It works better to
explain Reiki in simple everyday terms by simply saying that touching is something that everyone needs and enjoys. They
also found that describing their work as Reiki treatments tended to create some fear, whereas calling them Reiki sessions
worked much better.
In essence, Reiki and the New Age paradigm in general, seeks to change our bodies and minds, which are temples of the
Holy Spirit, into dens which spirit guides may inhabit, and which are reduced to metaphysical machines that can only be
corrected and perfected through mechanistic energy infusions. It is a power paradigm which emphasizes control and
domination.
What can be done to remove Reiki, the most pervasive of popular occult techniques, from Catholic institutions?
1. We can tear off the veils of deception through dissemination of this kind of literature. ("I will tear off your veils and
rescue my people from your power, so that they shall no longer be prey to your hands. Thus you shall know that I am the
Lord." Ezekiel 13:21)
2. We can sponsor true centers of healing in hospitals, colleges & retreat houses that include programs in:
the sacraments of reconciliation;
Eucharistic adoration in honor of the Holy Face;
anointing of the sick blessed with prayers to the Holy Face;
orthodox spiritual direction for those in crisis;
restoration of those affected by New Age involvement.
3. Those Catholics who are especially gifted with the charisms of extraordinary faith, healing, deliverance and intercessory
prayer can form discernment groups under the leadership of a priest experienced in orthodox Roman Catholic spiritual
counseling in order to inaugurate these ministries.
Just as Jesus expressed just anger at the taking over of His Fathers House, we too should be just as zealous in reclaiming
our loved ones and institutions from these false idols.
Clare McGrath Merkle is the editor of The Cross and Veil website and was once involved in the New Age as a "healer" and
advanced Kriya yoga practitioner. The site is the fruit of ten years of personal renewal and five years of efforts at
evangelization.

4. The Occult Nature of Reiki Sean's Faith Website 2004 www.angelfire.com
Introduction
Reiki is based on the same occult "universal life force" as reflexology, acupuncture, etc. Reiki is regarded in
fact as being one step before the dreadful practice of "angel therapy" or "integrated energy therapy" which uses "energy"
from supposed angels to make people think they are "healed". 45.


Also please see the files on Reflexology and Angel therapy on this site.
As a remedy for having been involved with reiki, I suggest mentioning this in Confession, and if possible getting into the
practise of sitting before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament each week. He is the Healer we all need.
Reiki Lie #1: Usurpation of the work of the Holy Spirit.
An article from James McCoy in San Francisco Faith" (July 1998 edition) reads:
"The Marianist Center advertisement says that the "source from which Reiki energy comes is the Source of All Life.
Because the Creator of All Life is the source of this healing, it is unlimited, boundless, mysterious and profound."
But the Catechism of the Catholic Church applies the term "source of all life" to the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the
Blessed Trinity. And "creator of all life" is reserved for God alone. The advertisement's terminology raises questions.
Can you conclude from it that "Reiki energy" is just another name for "grace"? If so, why not say so?
If "Reiki energy" does not come from the Holy Spirit, from what spirit does it come?" In the Catechism, paragraphs 2116
and 2117 we read:
". . .Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, **the phenomena of
clairvoyance**, and recourse to **mediums** all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis,
other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear
that we owe to God alone."
All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and
have a supernatural power over others even if this were for the sake of restoring their health are gravely contrary to the
virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming
someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible.
Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her own part warns the faith against it. Recourse to
so-called traditional cures does not justify either powers or the exploitation of another's credulity."
Reiki Lie #2: Denial of the One True God, with instead a teaching of pantheism, that "all is God"
Monotheism is the belief that there is One True God. In reiki, the 'universal life force' (or qi, ki, chi) is drawn from the
earth or atmosphere, through the reiki practitioner, and channeled into the recipient (or 'patient.') This channeling of
energy [allegedly] brings about a physical change in the patient. Some reiki practitioners will call this 'universal life force,'
'God.' [Catechism] paragraph 2117 condemns this practice, even if it is being used to restore one's health.
From The International Center for Reiki Training article: How Does Reiki Work? we read:
"We are alive because life force is flowing through us. Life force flows within the physical body though pathways called
chakras, meridians and nadirs. It also flows around us in a field of energy called the aura. Life force nourishes the organs
and cells of the body, supporting them in their vital functions. When this flow of life force is disrupted, it causes
diminished function in one or more of the organs and tissues of the physical body. ... There were two clairvoyant healers I
knew who had highly developed abilities. They could easily see the life force flowing through a person's body, as well as
see the aura and chakras. They could also communicate with a person's guides and Higher Self. They were adept at
moving negative psychic energy out of the body as well as channeling healing energies. Reiki is guided by the God-
consciousness."
From The International Center for Reiki Training article: What is Reiki? we read:
"Reiki is Spiritually Guided Life Force Energy... It is the God-consciousness called Rei that guides the life force called Ki in
the practice we call Reiki. Therefore, Reiki can be defined as spiritually guided life force energy. This is a meaningful
interpretation of the word Reiki. It more closely describes the experience most people have of it; Reiki guiding itself with
its own wisdom, and being unresponsive to the direction of the practitioner. . . The word Rei as it is used in Reiki is more
accurately interpreted to mean supernatural knowledge or spiritual consciousness. This is the wisdom that comes from
God or the Higher Self. This is the God-Consciousness which is all knowing. It understands each person completely. It
knows the cause of all problems and difficulties and knows what to do to heal them."
Reiki Lie #3: Promotion of the lie of reincarnation (see also the Reincarnation file on this site)
Here is a quote from the magical-musings website:
"[One] level upon which reiki works is the karmic...Often, problems in this life are results of karmic issues from past lives.
However, unless you are regressed through hypnosis by an extremely reliable & trustworthy hypnotherapist, there is no
way for you to identify these past life issues, let alone start working to correct them. This is where reiki comes in. You
don't need to tell the reiki, "I need to work on my past life as a Sioux medicine man during which I harmed many people
through negative use of my energy & abilities." Since reiki has an intelligence all its own, it already knows what you have
done in your past lives. Furthermore, the reiki energy also knows where your karma needs correcting; and, it also knows
that some karmic lessons need to be experienced for your own spiritual growth - so those issues it will leave in place." So
we see that the lie of reincarnation is another fundamental aspect of this reiki "energy".
Reiki Lie #4: Denial of the problem of sin.
This problem is especially troubling in regard to Christians who practice Reiki. See here for questions to ask in this regard.
1. Is Reiki ordered towards the "building up of the Church"?
2. Is Reiki a gift given by the Holy Spirit, or a practiced skill attainable by all by their own volition?
3. Are your "shepherds" (Bishops) in full knowledge and consent of your practice of Reiki?
4. Can you derive the sense of value of the Reiki you practice exclusively by its results?
5. Is Reiki a power that you control?
6. Does Reiki purport to "control or forecast natural events, effects, or forces by invoking the supernatural"? 46.



Does Reiki have "distinctive qualities that produce unaccountable or baffling effects"?
Can Reiki be described as "seemingly requiring more than human power; imposing or startling in performance; producing
effects which seem supernatural or very extraordinary; having extraordinary properties"?
(These are the definitions of "magic")
7. Does a Reiki treatment involve invitation of the patient to belief in Christ?
8. Does it require a plea based on faith in Christ?
9. Does it bear witness to the Gospel?
10. Is Reiki ordered towards freeing the recipient from the bondage of sin?
11. Does Reiki teach that there is any value in suffering, any participation in selfless love or unconditional giving?
12. Can Reiki help to bring about a "victory over sin and death"?
Reiki Lie #5: The lying claim that Jesus healed using Reiki.
The biggest difference, of course, is that Christ's healing came from God. Reiki healing does not invoke God at all, but
rather channels "energy" or power from some other source. The "energy" has an intelligence all its own, and goes where
it will. The reiki practitioner has no control over it, except to pass it on. So why does Jesus really heal?
Matthew 9:4-7 reads: "Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is
easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has
authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7 And the man
got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such
authority to men." Jesus healed to show those on earth that He had authority. His healings were also intended to lead
others towards a knowledge of the True God. He never charged others for His healings, and he certainly didn't need
several "sessions" with those He healed. To claim Jesus used Reiki to heal is to blaspheming the Holy Spirit, the Very
Author of Life Himself.
Reiki Lie #6: The association of electromagnetic fields with the "universal life force".
The problem with this idea of course is that Reiki practitioners claim Reiki is a non-physical energy. If it is non-physical,
then it is not electric, and it is not magnetic. Therefore Reiki has nothing to do with the electromagnetic fields which are
generated by people's bodies (and upon which such valid medical techniques as NMR are based) and to claim a
connection is in fact being intellectually dishonest. Furthermore, the electromagnetic energy associated with a person's
body is energy particular to that person's body and has nothing to do with any "universal life force".
If you are in any way involved with Reiki, come out of it now. It is poison to your soul and will lead you
further and further from the One True God.

5. A CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL REPORT

http://www.in-unity.org/InUnity_introduction.htm;
http://in-unity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=1
Read the Bible ... especially the New Testament. Read the Catholic Catechism, starting at the beginning so that you have
a fuller understanding of our Catholic faith. Join a parish community. We all need the support of one another.
Introduction
From time to time, we receive emails asking about this and that "method" of healing, with the most recent concerning
Reiki. Until now, we have answered them one by one, without thinking to put anything on the Internet.
However, I was recently at a function where I met someone who said that he practices some aspects of Reiki along with
regular massage and I began to realise just how many people - even Catholics - accept this as perfectly normal.
Not one Catholic I spoke to that day could understand why I perceive such practices as potentially dangerous or why I
was concerned about what they saw as a natural form of healing that has nothing to do with spiritual practices.
And little wonder, when many practitioners either say they haven't a clue where the energy they profess to "channel"
comes from, or completely deny that there is any spiritual element involved.
Yet the entire concept is based on New Age thinking, which, according to the Vatican, is not compatible with
Christianity, and the very name "Reiki" belies any claim that it can be regarded as a purely natural method of healing.
Recently, the Catholic Church published a preliminary study on New Age spirituality, called "Jesus Christ, The Bearer Of
The Water Of Life" which is available on the Vatican's website. To understand why Reiki is not a valid option for
Christians, it is necessary to understand something of the underlying principles which guide New Age spirituality and to
see how these apply to Reiki, as well as to contrast these beliefs with Christian teaching. If you have time to read that
study, we highly recommend it. Otherwise, please continue....
Part Two - The Meaning of Reiki.... Rei = Sprit, K = Life Force Energy
Is Reiki REALLY Spiritual?
It is the God-consciousness called Rei that guides the life force called Ki in the practice we call Reiki. Therefore, Reiki can
be defined as spiritually guided life force energy." (International Center For Reiki Training).
Adherents will often claim that there is no spiritual element to Reiki, that it is purely natural and that it can be practiced by
anyone, irrespective of their religious beliefs. However, far from lacking in any spiritual element, Reiki is essentially
spiritual and is deeply-rooted in New Age thought and philosophy. 47.



Its origins seem to be as confused as its core beliefs, with some adherents claiming it to be a "rediscovery" of some older
practices while others claim that the founder received the first "attunement" directly from some "higher power" after
several (some say 40) days fasting. But before going further into its origins, read what the International Center For Reiki
Training, has to say about some of the spiritual aspects:
It is the God-Although consciousness called Rei that guides the life force called Ki in the practice we call Reiki. Therefore,
Reiki can be defined as spiritually guided life force energy. This is a meaningful interpretation of the word Reiki. It more
closely describes the experience most people have of it; Reiki guiding itself with its own wisdom, and being unresponsive
to the direction of the practitioner. Reiki claims to channel a universal energy, or life force, through the practitioner into
the one seeking healing, in order to balance and enhance their own "life force.
Reiki energy is described as spiritual in nature, Reiki does not claim to be a religion and says that practitioners are not
asked to change any religious or spiritual beliefs they may already have. In fact, they are free to continue believing
anything they choose, or to believe nothing at all. They are encouraged to make their own decisions concerning the
nature of their religious practices, yet in order to become a Reiki healer, the "student" has to be "attuned" by a Reiki
Master, as if this is some ability that has to be passed from person to person.
Some Christians appear to believe that you can tap into Reiki energies without adhering to its underlying spirituality, but
although there are different forms of Reiki, there are not different attunements for people of different religious
backgrounds. There is but one attunement, based on esoteric beliefs drawn from Buddhism and Hinduism, that
supposedly opens the chakras, to allow various energies connected to them to flow and which allegedly makes any
necessary "adjustments" to the student, as deemed necessary by whatever "higher power" Reiki claims to tap into. During
attunement and during a healing session, Reiki symbols are drawn in the air, on the body or on paper.
Of Reiki energy, the International Center For Reiki Training says:
Reiki energy is a subtle energy. It is different than electricity or chemical energy or other kinds of physical energy. Reiki
energy comes from the Higher Power, which exists on a higher dimension than the physical world we are familiar with.
When viewed clairvoyantly, Reiki energy appears to come down from above and to enter the top of the practitioners head
after which if flows through the body and out the hands. It appears to flow this way because of our perspective. However,
the true source of Reiki energy is within ourselves. This does not mean that we use our personal energy when we do
Reiki, but that the energy is coming from a transcendental part of ourselves that is connected to an infinite supply of
healing energy.
The Reiki attunement is described as a powerful spiritual experience. The attunement energies are channeled into the
student through the Reiki Master. The process is guided by the Rei or God-consciousness and adjustments are made in
the process, depending on the needs of each student, as perceived by the "higher power."
The attunement is also attended by Reiki guides and other spiritual beings who help implement the process.
Many report having mystical experiences involving personal messages, healings, visions, and past life experiences.
Some claim insight, a new "wisdom" and the ability to know things normally hidden.
Looking again at the origins of Reiki, we discover that the founder either spent time with Buddhists practicing Tantric Yoga
or came across and meditated on writings pertaining to it and supposedly received this method of healing following
exposure to this form of spirituality. Tantra yoga is an advanced method which, in the ancient East, would not be
available to students until after many years of discipline, yet its energy is supposedly available to Reiki students after a
couple of "attunements ". It contains within it spells, black magic and necromancy. It is connected to worship of the
"supreme" Hindu goddess Shakti and Shakti is the force behind the power that, in this belief, lies "coiled" at the base of
the spine, known as Kundalini and which is visualised as a serpent.
During Reiki attunement, it is Kundalini energy which is guided to open the seven chakras.
In Eastern practices, it is acknowledged that Kundalini releases immense and potentially dangerous psychic energy which
can induce all manner of neurosis and psychosis, if uncontrolled. Yet as I mentioned, this energy is supposedly available
to anyone who goes along for their Reiki "attunements.
I hope that by now you will have realised that Reiki masters do see this method of healing as being spiritual in nature and
that, whatever else may be its claims, it uses the language of New Age. Let's take a look and see whether this spirituality
is compatible with Christianity.
Part Three - God By Another Name?
Someone once said, "Surely this is the same God you worship, but by another name." Far from it! If someone mentions
the name of someone you love, not only is an image of that person conjured in your mind, but everything you know about
them is wrapped up in their name. For example, if someone says my husband's name, all my experiences of him are
contained in that simple sound, to create a sense of warmth and love and memories of shared experiences.
Yet I know that not everyone who has the same name is also my husband. They simply do not have his nature. Likewise
with God. As a Christian, I have a distinct experience of God, as far as I am able and a distinct view of Him, as revealed in
Jesus Christ. Others may call themselves, or be called, "god" but they do not have His nature and are clearly not Him.
In the Monotheistic understanding of God, we are created for His glory and not the other way round. We may grapple
with human imagery to describe Him, we may have to look to Creation to see some of His incredible beauty, we may
barely be able to perceive Him, so far above us is His Nature, but we are also aware that we are created by Him and for
Him and that we are created in His image and likeness through the power of the Holy Spirit. All of Creation directs us to
Him. Everything that is good reveals something of Him. There is nothing in Creation that is not intended to give glory to
God. In trying to describe God, the Catholic Catechism tells us: 48.


40 Since our knowledge of God is limited, our language about him is equally so. We can name God only by taking
creatures as our starting point, and in accordance with our limited human ways of knowing and thinking.
41 All creatures bear a certain resemblance to God, most especially man, created in the image and likeness of God.
The manifold perfections of creatures - their truth, their goodness, their beauty all reflect the infinite perfection of God.
Consequently we can name God by taking his creatures" perfections as our starting point, "for from the greatness and
beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator".15
42 God transcends all creatures. We must therefore continually purify our language of everything in it that is limited,
image-bound or imperfect, if we are not to confuse our image of God-"the inexpressible, the incomprehensible, the in-
visible, the ungraspable"-with our human representations.16 Our human words always fall short of the mystery of God.
43 Admittedly, in speaking about God like this, our language is using human modes of expression; nevertheless it really
does attain to God himself, though unable to express him in his infinite simplicity. Likewise, we must recall that "between
Creator and creature no similitude can be expressed without implying an even greater dissimilitude";17 and that
"concerning God, we cannot grasp what he is, but only what he is not, and how other beings stand in relation to him."18
Yet we also learn that God has not chosen to remain aloof or impersonal, but has gradually revealed Himself to us as Our
Father, a deeply personal God, concerned with every little detail of our lives from the very moment of our conception. As
Mankind grapples with this revelation in history, God reveals His Name and His loving concern for His people. He is not an
energy- force, a power to be tapped into but is a distinct Person who invites us to draw closer to Him, to come to know
Him as personally and deeply as we are able and to worship and to serve Him as we are designed and created to do. We
are created in God's image, but we are not God and can neither "tap into" nor direct God.
Our life comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, part of the Godhead, a separate and distinct Person and yet One with
the Father. Again, not an impersonal life-force to be called, commanded, channelled, used or manipulated for our personal
benefit but the very Spirit of God who blows where He will. He animates us. It is from Him that we draw our very life.
We have rejected this life through our disobedience and the world suffers the consequences. Every part of Creation is
affected by our sin. Mankind walked away from God and His precepts to follow his own way and has suffered the results
of that first sin, that first turning away from God in pursuit of knowledge and life outside of Him.
Sin has multiplied through each generation, but although we have been unfaithful, God has sought always to restore us to
Himself and has renewed His Covenant with us time and again, keeping His word even while we broke ours. But full
restoration could come not through anything we could do or deserve. Instead, it had to come, as has everything, through
God's initiative, in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of a Virgin, is the Son of the Most High in the most perfect
sense. In Him, heaven and earth are reconciled. He is the Word of God who has existed for all eternity, was sinless yet
offered Himself to die for our sins. He was crucified, died, was buried, rose from the dead and ascended to His Father,
taking perfect humanity to the Throne Of Grace. Then, as if that were not enough, He sent the Holy Spirit in a "new" way,
animating us with the very life of Christ, transforming us to be more and more like Jesus even as we remain fully
ourselves. In short, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three distinct Persons and yet are so fully One God. The
Holy Spirit testifies to Jesus, always directs us to Jesus. Jesus Christ lifts us up to the Father, always gives glory to the
Father. It is not possible for any Person of the Holy Trinity to deny another Person of the Holy Trinity.
QUESTIONS TO CONTRAST NEW AGE AND CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY
(Taken from "Jesus Christ, The Bearer Of The Water Of Life")
Is God a being with whom we have a relationship or something to be used or a force to be harnessed?
(NEW AGE) The New Age concept of God is rather diffuse, whereas the Christian concept is a very clear one. The New
Age god is an impersonal energy, really a particular extension or component of the cosmos; god in this sense is the life-
force or soul of the world. Divinity is to be found in every being, in a gradation from the lowest crystal of the mineral
world up to and beyond the Galactic God himself, about Whom we can say nothing at all. This is not a man but a Great
Consciousness. In some classic New Age writings, it is clear that human beings are meant to think of themselves as
gods: this is more fully developed in some people than in others. God is no longer to be sought beyond the world, but
deep within myself. Even when God is something outside myself, it is there to be manipulated.
(CHRISTIAN) This is very different from the Christian understanding of God as the maker of heaven and earth and the
source of all personal life. God is in himself personal, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who created the universe in order to
share the communion of his life with creaturely persons. God, who 'dwells in unapproachable light', wants to
communicate his own divine life to the men he freely created, in order to adopt them as his sons in his only-begotten Son.
By revealing himself God wishes to make them capable of responding to him, and of knowing him, and of loving him far
beyond their own natural capacity. God is not identified with the Life-principle understood as the Spirit or basic
energy of the cosmos, but is that love which is absolutely different from the world, and yet creatively present in
everything, and leading human beings to salvation.
Is there just one Jesus Christ, or are there thousands of Christs?
(NEW AGE) Jesus Christ is often presented in New Age literature as one among many wise men, or initiates, or avatars,
whereas in Christian tradition He is the Son of God. Here are some common points in New Age approaches:
the personal and individual historical Jesus is distinct from the eternal, impersonal universal Christ;
Jesus is not considered to be the only Christ;
49.



the death of Jesus on the cross is either denied or re-interpreted to exclude the idea that He, as Christ, could have
suffered;
extra-biblical documents (like the neo-gnostic gospels) are considered authentic sources for the knowledge of aspects of
the life of Jesus which are not to be found in the canon of Scripture. Other revelations about Jesus, made available by
entities, spirit guides and ascended masters, or even through the Akasha Chronicles, are basic for New Age christology;
a kind of esoteric exegesis is applied to biblical texts to purify Christianity of the formal religion which inhibits access to
its esoteric essence.
(CHRISTIAN) In the Christian Tradition Jesus Christ is the Jesus of Nazareth about which the gospels speak, the son of
Mary and the only Son of God, true man and true God, the full revelation of divine truth, unique Saviour of the world: for
our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in
fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
The human being: is there one universal being or are there many individuals?
(NEW AGE) The point of New Age techniques is to reproduce mystical states at will, as if it were a matter of laboratory
material. Rebirth, biofeedback, sensory isolation, holotropic breathing, hypnosis, mantras, fasting, sleep deprivation and
transcendental meditation are attempts to control these states and to experience them continuously. These practices all
create an atmosphere of psychic weakness (and vulnerability). When the object of the exercise is that we should re-invent
our selves, there is a real question of who I am. God within us and holistic union with the whole cosmos underline this
question. Isolated individual personalities would be pathological in terms of New Age (in particular transpersonal
psychology). But the real danger is the holistic paradigm. New Age is thinking based on totalitarian unity and that is why
it is a danger.... More moderately: We are authentic when we 'take charge of' ourselves, when our choice and reactions
flow spontaneously from our deepest needs, when our behaviour and expressed feelings reflect our personal wholeness.
The Human Potential Movement is the clearest example of the conviction that humans are divine, or contain a divine spark
within themselves.
(CHRISTIAN) The Christian approach grows out of the Scriptural teachings about human nature; men and women are
created in God's image and likeness (Gen 1.27) and God takes great consideration of them, much to the relieved surprise
of the Psalmist (cf. Ps 8). The human person is a mystery fully revealed only in Jesus Christ (cf. GS 22),and in fact
becomes authentically human properly in his relationship with Christ through the gift of the Spirit. This is far from the
caricature of anthropocentrism ascribed to Christianity and rejected by many New Age authors and practitioners.
Do we save ourselves or is salvation a free gift from God?
(NEW AGE) The key is to discover by what or by whom we believe we are saved. Do we save ourselves by our own
actions, as is often the case in New Age explanations, or are we saved by God's love? Key words are self-fulfilment and
self-realisation, self-redemption. New Age is essentially Pelagian in its understanding of about human nature.
(CHRISTIAN) For Christians, salvation depends on a participation in the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, and on
a direct personal relationship with God rather than on any technique. The human situation, affected as it is by original sin
and by personal sin, can only be rectified by God's action: sin is an offense against God, and only God can reconcile us to
himself. In the divine plan of salvation, human beings have been saved by Jesus Christ who, as God and man, is the one
mediator of redemption.
In Christianity salvation is not an experience of self, a meditative and intuitive dwelling within oneself, but much more the
forgiveness of sin, being lifted out of profound ambivalences in oneself and the calming of nature by the gift of
communion with a loving God. The way to salvation is not found simply in a self-induced transformation of consciousness,
but in a liberation from sin and its consequences which then leads us to struggle against sin in ourselves and in the
society around us. It necessarily moves us toward loving solidarity with our neighbour in need.
Do we invent truth or do we embrace it?
(NEW AGE) New Age truth is about good vibrations, cosmic correspondences, harmony and ecstasy, in general pleasant
experiences. It is a matter of finding one's own truth in accordance with the feel- good factor. Evaluating religion and
ethical questions is obviously relative to one's own feelings and experiences.
(CHRISTIAN) Jesus Christ is presented in Christian teaching as The Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14.6). His
followers are asked to open their whole lives to him and to his values, in other words to an objective set of requirements
which are part of an objective reality ultimately knowable by all.
Prayer and meditation: are we talking to ourselves or to God?
The tendency to confuse psychology and spirituality makes it hard not to insist that many of the meditation techniques
now used are not prayer. They are often a good preparation for prayer, but no more, even if they lead to a more pleasant
state of mind or bodily comfort. The experiences involved are genuinely intense, but to remain at this level is to remain
alone, not yet in the presence of the other. The achievement of silence can confront us with emptiness, rather than the
silence of contemplating the beloved. It is also true that techniques for going deeper into one's own soul are ultimately an
appeal to one's own ability to reach the divine, or even to become divine: if they forget God's search for the human heart
they are still not Christian prayer. Even when it is seen as a link with the Universal Energy, such an easy 'relationship'
with God, where God's function is seen as supplying all our needs, shows the selfishness at the heart of this New Age.
New Age practices are not really prayer, in that they are generally a question of introspection or fusion with cosmic
energy, as opposed to the double orientation of Christian prayer, which involves introspection but is essentially also a
meeting with God. Far from being a merely human effort, Christian mysticism is essentially a dialogue which implies an
attitude of conversion, a flight from 'self' to the 'you' of God. 50.


The Christian, even when he is alone and prays in secret, he is conscious that he always prays for the good of the Church
in union with Christ, in the Holy Spirit and together with all the saints.
Are we tempted to deny sin or do we accept that there is such a thing?
(NEW AGE) In New Age there is no real concept of sin, but rather one of imperfect knowledge; what is needed is
enlightenment, which can be reached through particular psycho-physical techniques. Those who take part in New Age
activities will not be told what to believe, what to do or what not to do, but: There are a thousand ways of exploring
inner reality. Go where your intelligence and intuition lead you. Trust yourself. Authority has shifted from a theistic
location to within the self. The most serious problem perceived in New Age thinking is alienation from the whole cosmos,
rather than personal failure or sin. The remedy is to become more and more immersed in the whole of being. In some
New Age writings and practices, it is clear that one life is not enough, so there have to be reincarnations to allow people
to realise their full potential.
(CHRISTIAN) In the Christian perspective only the light of divine Revelation clarifies the reality of sin and particularly of
the sin committed at mankind's origins. Without the knowledge Revelation gives of God we cannot recognize sin clearly
and are tempted to explain it as merely a development flaw, a psychological weakness, a mistake, or the necessary
consequence of an inadequate social structure, etc. Only in the knowledge of God's plan for man can we grasp that sin is
an abuse of freedom that God gives to created persons so that they are capable of loving him and loving one another.
Sin is an offense against reason, truth and right conscience; it is a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by
a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity...Sin is an offense
against God... sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it... Sin is thus 'love of oneself even
to contempt of God'.
Are we encouraged to reject or accept suffering and death?
(CHRISTIAN) Some New Age writers view suffering as self-imposed, or as bad karma, or at least as a failure to harness
one's own resources. Others concentrate on methods of achieving success and wealth (e.g. Deepak Chopra, Jos Silva et
al.). In New Age, reincarnation is often seen as a necessary element in spiritual growth, a stage in progressive spiritual
evolution which began before we were born and will continue after we die. In our present lives the experience of the
death of other people provokes a healthy crisis.
Both cosmic unity and reincarnation are irreconcilable with the Christian belief that a human person is a distinct being,
who lives one life, for which he or she is fully responsible: this understanding of the person puts into question both
responsibility and freedom. Christians know that in the cross of Christ not only is the redemption accomplished through
suffering, but also human suffering itself has been redeemed. Christ without any fault of his own took on himself 'the
total evil of sin'. The experience of this evil determined the incomparable extent of Christ's suffering, which became the
price of the redemption... The Redeemer suffered in place of man and for man. Every man has his own share in the
redemption. Each one is also called to share in that suffering through which the redemption was accomplished. He is
called to share in that suffering through which all human suffering has also been redeemed. In bringing about the
redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the redemption. Thus each man in his
suffering can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ.
Is social commitment something shirked or positively sought after?
(NEW AGE) Much in New Age is unashamedly self-promotion, but some leading figures in the movement claim that it is
unfair to judge the whole movement by a minority of selfish, irrational and narcissistic people, or to allow oneself to be
dazzled by some of their more bizarre practices, which are a block to seeing in New Age a genuine spiritual search and
spirituality. The fusion of individuals into the cosmic self, the relativisation or abolition of difference and opposition in a
cosmic harmony, is unacceptable to Christianity.
(CHRISTIAN) Where there is true love, there has to be a different other (person). A genuine Christian searches for unity in
the capacity and freedom of the other to say yes or no to the gift of love. Union is seen in Christianity as communion,
unity as community.
Is our future in the stars or do we help to construct it?
(NEW AGE) The New Age which is dawning will be peopled by perfect, androgynous beings who are totally in command of
the cosmic laws of nature. In this scenario, Christianity has to be eliminated and give way to a global religion and a new
world order.
(CHRISTIAN) Christians are in a constant state of vigilance, ready for the last days when Christ will come again; their New
Age began 2000 years ago, with Christ, who is none other than Jesus of Nazareth; he is the Word of God made man for
the salvation of all. His Holy Spirit is present and active in the hearts of individuals, in society and history, peoples,
cultures and religions. In fact, the Spirit of the Father, bestowed abundantly by the Son, is the animator of all. We live
in the last times.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other
gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or
that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them. It is
written: "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.
Based as Reiki is on New Age spirituality, which denies the basic tenets of Christianity then it is not possible to embrace
both. No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with
respect and the second with scorn (Luke 16.13) 51.



As much as New Age adherents may state that they don't mind what you believe, they draw heavily on Eastern
spirituality, which they take piecemeal as it suits them, create a pseudo-mystical experience, promote occultic and psychic
practices forbidden in the Bible and contradict teachings the Church has handed down to us from the beginning
concerning God and the nature of Jesus Christ as His only Son. They promote pantheism, gnosticism and embrace almost
every heresy dreamed of since Christ walked the earth. You can deny Christ's divinity, even deny the existence of God
Himself and they do not mind. For all their words of love and tolerance, there is one faith they wish to see rendered
ineffective, and that is Christianity. Bearing all this in mind, I fail to see how any Christian can, in good conscience,
embrace or practice any form of healing or embrace any form of spirituality connected with New Age. They will find
themselves as a house divided against itself and might even find themselves unwittingly fighting against Christianity and
thus against Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we know that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are One and since we know with absolute certainty
that none of the Three Persons of the Godhead can deny either of the others, we know that the spirit to which Reiki refers
cannot be the Holy Spirit. We then have to ask ourselves whether it might just be another "snake oil" or whether it does
indeed call on some form of psychic or supernatural power, as it claims. And if it does utilises supernatural forces, we
have to ask ourselves what sort of spirit it is that would deny God as Creator, deny Jesus as His Only Son and deny the
Holy Spirit or, at best, relegate Him to the place of some sort of impersonal cosmic life-force.
Part Four - What Spirits Could Be Behind Reiki?
Natural
We are community creatures who thrive in groups and can become very distressed when isolated. Little wonder, when
you consider that, until relatively recently, our very physical survival depended on us belonging to a community. Various
therapies that use touch are simply reinforcing a sense of belonging, of being nurtured and safe. In fact, all creatures that
are nurtured from infancy respond well to touch, as any mother or pet-owner knows. Massage, in particular, works on
both an emotional and physical level. It can stretch out and relax injured muscles, improve the circulation, boost the
immune system and release chemicals that give us a sense of well-being. This is all well-documented.
Our other senses are also part of our historical survival-kit. They constantly tell us about our environment and how to
respond to it. They tell us the season of the year, when it is time to sow and when it is time to reap, when we need to get
up and going and when it is time to relax and unwind. They warn us of danger and they tell us when all is well with the
world. We can use our understanding of the way we are affected by different sounds, colours and smells, to produce a
desirable effect. Designers use this understanding of colour when they suggest ways to decorate the various rooms of our
homes to induce the very state for which they are intended. Musicians use this understanding of sound to stimulate and
excite or to relax and soothe. Perfumeries use this understanding of scent to produce smells which evoke certain
responses. This too is well-documented.
We are affected by energies we cannot see (electricity and radiation, for example) and the Church does not imagine that
we have discovered everything within physics that there is to discover. But it does call these things what they are - natural
and physical, just waiting to be discovered, understood and explained by the sciences.
None of these natural things are forbidden us. We are permitted massage therapy, to go and buy aroma-therapy
products, to take herbal medicines that have been proven to be of benefit etc. provided there is no spiritual
component or belief attached to them.
Additionally, and not easily measured, quantified or understood is the way some people report unsought psychic
revelations. We've all heard of a mother who suddenly knew that her child was in danger and was later proven right, or a
person who felt suddenly prompted to call a friend, only to discover that the friend had been taken ill.
I've experienced this myself. The Church doesn't deny that these experiences are real and neither does it condemn them.
It possibly falls into the realm of us being part of "the communion of saints." The key to this is that these moments are
UNSOUGHT. For us, as Christians, they can be seen as a call to pray for the person or the situation.
It is when we seek these experiences that we can, and often do, run into trouble, because there is no shortage of spirits
that are quite willing and able to take advantage of anyone seeking occult (hidden) knowledge.
So could it be that Reiki is completely natural?
Of course it could - and any resultant beneficial result is almost certainly natural, working within the laws laid down by
God. But that this is not what Reiki claims for itself. It claims to be spiritual and it claims to channel spiritual energies.
- If Reiki is purely physical, you don't need Reiki. You will do just as well in an hour with a physical therapist or even
better if you treat yourself to a day of pampering at a spa, and with the added benefit of being certain that those who are
laying hands on you are not calling on any spiritual powers.
- If Reiki is purely physical, why do we sometimes see healing retreats featuring this technique, in Catholic parishes. When
did you last see advertised a "healthy diet retreat?" Or perhaps a "physical therapy and exercise retreat?" Reiki is
promoted in spiritual environments precisely because those doing the promoting believe there is a spiritual element.
- If Reiki is purely physical, why do its practitioners need an "attunement" that may be assisted by unknown spirits?
- If Reiki is purely physical, why are most of its promoters firmly in the New Age camp, with its smorgasbord of selective
Eastern beliefs (while refusing the disciplines of these religions) yet always denying the fundamental tenets of Christianity?
Regardless of the personal beliefs of individual practitioners, Reiki does claim to harness and manipulate hidden psychic
and spiritual powers, in contradiction to Christian teaching, so we really do need to ask the source of these spirits. 52.



Human Spirit
Human beings are created to be spiritual, as much as physical, creatures. We are basically "wired for God," created in a
way that makes us seek Him. Sometimes, in this quest, we become sidetracked, get off-course, even deny the very
existence of God, but we are no less spiritual on account of it. Therefore it is entirely possible that Reiki and everything
connected to it is from nothing more than a misguided human hunger for spirituality. In other words, it could be from the
human spirit. The problem with that is that the human spirit is fully capable of being led astray and frequently is. There
are plenty of evil spirits quite happy to take advantage of spiritual confusion and lack of religious discipline, so we really
have to exercise a lot of discernment and bow to the knowledge and teaching of the Church in these matters, for the
Church cannot mislead us in matters of faith and morals.
Part of discernment requires that we look at the source and the fruits of any sort of practice, whether it is connected to
healing or just dealing with our daily lives. The fruit of Reiki, as with any New Age practice, is to slowly disengage
individuals from their Christian faith and so water it down that it becomes ineffective in their lives.
Evil Spirits
I don't believe that most Reiki practitioners set out to deliberately use evil spirits. Many don't believe in the existence of
evil spirits, while those who are practicing Christians believe they have protection from these spirits, simply by invoking
the name of Jesus. But not believing in something doesn't make it cease to exist and being a disciple of Jesus Christ also
means being obedient to our Heavenly Father.
New Age practices and beliefs ... including Reiki ... take us into realms forbidden by God.
- It suggests that we can safely open ourselves to occult powers.
- It holds out the promise of occult knowledge.
- It seeks to manipulate occult forces.
- It claims spirit guides.
- It suggests that we have the power within ourselves to become godlike.
- It contradicts the Christian (and indeed the Jewish and Islamic) concept of God the Father.
- It is happy to deny Jesus Christ and some suggest He was nothing more than a Reiki Master.
- It relegates the Holy Spirit to nothing more than an animating force.
- It denies the need for Redemption and offers a panacea to all the problems caused by sin.
- It uses signs and symbols, as if these have power in themselves.
Let's look at what the Catholic Catechism has to say on this (italics mine):
III. "YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME"
2110 The first commandment forbids honoring gods other than the one Lord who has revealed himself to his people. It
proscribes superstition and irreligion. Superstition in some sense represents a perverse excess of religion; irreligion is the
vice contrary by defect to the virtue of religion.
Superstition
2111 Superstition is the deviation of religious feeling and of the practices this feeling imposes. It can even affect the
worship we offer the true God, e.g., when one attributes an importance in some way magical to certain practices
otherwise lawful or necessary.
To attribute the efficacy of prayers or of sacramental signs to their mere external performance, apart from the interior
dispositions that they demand, is to fall into superstition.41
Idolatry
2112 The first commandment condemns polytheism. It requires man neither to believe in, nor to venerate, other divinities
than the one true God. Scripture constantly recalls this rejection of "idols, [of] silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see." These empty idols make their worshippers empty: "Those
who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them."42 God, however, is the "living God"43 who gives life and
intervenes in history.
2113 Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divining
what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods
or demons (for example, satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, "You cannot
serve God and mammon."44 Many martyrs died for not adoring "the Beast"45 refusing even to simulate such worship.
Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God.46
2114 Human life finds its unity in the adoration of the one God. The commandment to worship the Lord alone integrates
man and saves him from an endless disintegration. Idolatry is a perversion of man's innate religious sense. An idolater is
someone who "transfers his indestructible notion of God to anything other than God."47
Divination and magic
2115 God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting
oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity
about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility.
2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices
falsely supposed to "unveil" the future.48 Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and
lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in
the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect,
and loving fear that we owe to God alone. 53.


2117 All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service
and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary
to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming
someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism
often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called
traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.
The Catechism is just reiterating what has been revealed in the Bible, concerning the use of occult methods and powers.
Put simply, we owe all our allegiance and worship to the one, true God. We are not permitted to call upon occult powers
under any circumstance, not even in order to do good. Yet we see that Reiki does precisely this. When, acting in our
human spirit, we disobey God, we are sinning, and God will not bless our sins. If we seek other spirits that are not of God
(nothing that God sends will prompt disobedience to Him) then we are seeking the help of evil spirits. Period!
But are there really powers and spirits that are not of God?
Are There Really Powers And Spirits That Are Ungodly?
One of the problems of our times is that we have lost any sense of the presence and operation of evil spirits and powers
that run contrary to God's plan, yet this is not what the Bible tells us. There are countless references throughout the Old
Testament, to the existence of "unclean" spirits as well as commands to avoid all those who seek to contact them or use
their powers.
Do not go to mediums or consult fortune-tellers, for you will be defiled by them. I, the LORD, am your God. (Lev 19:31)
The New Testament, likewise warns us that there are other spirits at work that are dangerous to us. Be sober and vigilant.
Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
And St. Paul tells us clearly: ....our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with
the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. (Eph 6:12)
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with
flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil
spirits in the heavens.
Today, even many good Catholics see these things as figments of overly-active imaginations, something belonging to
medieval times, yet the Church has recently reiterated and underlined the truth of the existence of demons and their
resultant spirits. It has, once again, brought their activity out into the light and seeks to address what is perceived as a
growing need for deliverance and, in more serious cases, formal exorcism.
In 1998, Pope John Paul II addressed the role of Jesus as exorcist. According to a Zenit report:
The Pope's message cast light on a very important, but often neglected ministry: that of the exorcist. This is
not the macabre role seen in the movies, but, as the Pope explained, a putting into action of the power of
the Holy Spirit to defeat the power of the Devil.
Fr. Gabriele Amorth, exorcist for the diocese of Rome, announced several months ago that the role of the
exorcist was in crisis. "The reduction of numbers of exorcists is leading many people to seek out 'wizards,'
Satanic sects, and unscrupulous phonies who simply use others experiencing truly traumatic experiences
for their own gain."
Fr. Amorth pointed out how this phenomenon may indicate that Christians have stopped believing in the
"Prince of this world." The exorcist affirmed that "in the academic preparation of priests, demons have
already gone out of existence," since "for decades this part of dogmatic theology hasn't been studied in the
seminaries and ecclesial universities." Modern theologians have tried to make the exorcisms in the Bible
into mere "cultural language" to symbolize the struggle against evil, using the language of the day.
The Pope's speech comes almost as a response to these statements. He confirmed the Church's tradition on
the matter of exorcism, saying, "The three synoptic Gospels stress how, just after His baptism, Jesus was
'taken by the Holy Spirit to the desert 'to be tempted by Satan'." The Pontiff recalled how Jesus' work as
exorcist lasted throughout His whole life. "With Jesus," he added, "the Devil lost his power in the presence
of the Holy Spirit."
PetersNet has an interview with Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez on the topic of exorcism and in 1999, the Church
published an document, called "De Exorcismus Et Supplicationibus Quibusdam," to address current needs and to apply
strict guidelines.
All this should tell the reader that the Church takes very seriously the activity of evil spirits - and so should we, because
their hatred of God, hatred of Jesus and jealousy of our relationship with God drives these rebellious and fallen entities to
seek nothing other than our total destruction.
Of course, for most of us, this does not mean a direct and obvious onslaught. Most of us would recognise and run a mile
from anything that smacked of Satan's work or looked obviously evil, and so, more often than not, these spirits appear as
angels of light, as bearers of good ... and for a while they can maintain this illusion. But their aim is not good. Their aim
towards us is purely malevolent and, sooner or later, the good they appeared to bring backfires on us.
Today, we are seeing an unprecedented drop in faith in the basic tenets of Christianity among those participating in New
Age practices. Additionally, as the euphoria wears off and the harsh reality of life hits home once more, there is a
consequential increase in depression, loss of self-worth, psychological and even psychiatric disturbances
among those who have participated in these New Age spiritual practices. 54.



The fact is that you cannot seek to unleash psychic and spiritual energies and hope for a good outcome. The devil is a liar,
as he has been from the start. His hope is to lure people gently away from the protection afforded by the Precious Blood
of Jesus, making all manner of promises but sooner or later, the promise turns out to have been empty and all that
remains is hopeless despair. If you have been involved in any of these practices and want to find your way out, please do
know that there is help. That help lies in Jesus Christ, who has the absolute victory over evil and all its snares. Jesus
doesn't promise a bed of roses in this life but He offers a peace that transcends all our difficulties, has the power to
forgive all our sins and restore our relationship with God (which often results in physical healing) and lead us into an
eternal life of unimaginable bliss in the presence of the Most High God. If you are feeling lost, hopeless, depressed or any
of the other ultimate consequences of participating in pagan and occultic practices, or if you have just become involved in
them and want out, CLICK HERE NOW. You can return to these pages to continue reading, by simply closing the new
window that opens, but we want you to know that there is hope, peace and forgiveness just waiting for you.
How Does This Differ From Healing In The Church?
Jesus came to restore our relationship with God to that which was intended from the outset. While Jesus was among us,
His primary mission was to teach about the Father and to call us back into full relationship with our Creator. As Jesus
taught, he demonstrated His authority and divinity by healing ... but these outward healings were a sign of an inner,
spiritual reality, which was the forgiveness of sins. They were never done for their own sake, but always to call attention
to His mission on earth and to demonstrate that with His coming, the Kingdom of God was now present to all who would
but enter by believing in Him and doing the will of His Father and ours. Through His death, we have been healed.
Through His resurrection, we have been freed, even from the bondage of death itself and those who die in Him will also
rise, when the Kingdom of God, perceived only in part, is fully revealed in the Second Coming.
I don't want to go to spend too much time on our Christian beliefs in this article, not because they are undeserving(!) but
because there are so many wonderful sources, including the Catholic Catechism which can more fully explain, but
following Jesus' Ascension to Heaven, He fulfilled His promise to send the Holy Spirit upon believers so that they too
would be able to heal and to cast out demons - not simply for the sake of making people feel better but as a sign of His
Lordship over all Creation. He promised to be with us until the end of time. He had already designed ways for us to avail
ourselves of His healing, restorative love and forgiveness through the Sacraments.
In each of the Sacraments of Initiation, of Reconciliation, of Eucharist and of Anointing Of The Sick, we are given the
opportunity to be healed of the most serious harm done to us ... our broken relationship with God. We may also
experience physical healing as our sins are washed away and we receive total forgiveness. For most of us, it is a gradual
process, a combination of Sacramental graces and discipline in an ongoing process that lasts our entire time on earth, as
we do battle with ourselves and our pride.
Additionally, the Holy Spirit grants charisms, or special gifts, to those who are baptised into new life, in Jesus Christ.
Among these is the charism of healing. It is for the Holy Spirit to decide how He will distribute these gifts and although we
can certainly pray for them, so that we may better testify to the Lord Jesus and use the gifts for the upbuilding of the
Church, it is still the Holy Spirit's decision on who will receive what. The Holy Spirit gives freely as He wills.
We cannot pass our gifts to others for it is always God's initiative and never our own.
In contrast, Reiki suggests that these powers can be passed from one to another, which is in clear opposition to what the
Church has taught from the outset.
When we pray for one another, as Christians, we are not channellers of God's power but are mere intercessors for one
another. We lay hands on the sick and we pray specifically for them, but our primary prayer is always that God's will be
done and that any subsequent healing will serve to glorify God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Physical or emotional healing is
always, for us, a sign of a greater reality. The reality that Jesus is Lord, that He alone has the power to heal and to forgive, and
that healing is to serve as a testimony to the absolute power of Jesus over Satan's attempts at our ruination.
Truly Christian healers not only admit that they have no power, but they testify to the only one who has, JESUS CHRIST.
Again, in contrast, Reiki and other methods of spiritual healing, proclaim nothing, testify to nothing and even has no
objection to the complete denial of every tenet of Christian faith. Therefore, it is not Christian, cannot be Christian and
cannot even be called Godly, because God does not deny Himself and neither does He grant genuine charisms or the
power to command the spirit-world to those who would deny Jesus. Acts 19:
Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits, saying, "I
adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." When the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, tried to do this, the
evil spirit said to them in reply, "Jesus I recognize, Paul I know, but who are you?" The person with the evil spirit then
sprang at them and subdued them all. He so overpowered them that they fled naked and wounded from that house.
If you are in need of healing, your first recourse must be to Jesus and to His mercy available through the Church. Avail
yourself of the Sacraments, if you are a member of a Sacramental Church. You might also want to find if your diocese had
an active charismatic community who will pray with you for your healing. If you are unsure how to go about this, feel free
to email us [email protected] and we will see if we can help you locate one near you. You might want to read this
page, if you have been involved in any New Age occultic practices or even if you suspect you might have been.
Finally, remember that God loves you and even if you had been the only person in the world to ever have sinned, Jesus
would have come and would have gladly suffered and died to save you. That is how uniquely precious each one of is to
God, who loves us beyond our wildest dreams. Jesus wants to heal you ... although it might not be in ways of your
choosing but in other, better ways. Turn to Him now. He is waiting for you. 55.




Leaving Reiki Behind - Jesus Has The Victory
If you have been involved in New Age practices or any occultic activity and you want to find your way out of this cycle
that takes you deeper into this false mysticism, then Jesus is just waiting to receive you, forgive you and restore you.
First of all, KNOW that Jesus has already overcome the very worst that evil could throw at Him. Jesus came to earth to
restore our relationship with God. He taught, healed the sick and cast out demons. For all this, He was willingly crucified -
a most horrific torture - died and was buried. Three days later, He had risen from the dead and for several weeks showed
Himself to many witnesses who have testified to what they saw and experienced. He ascended to heaven and sent the
Holy Spirit to empower His Church to heal, to cast out demons, to forgive sinners and restore people to their full
relationship with God.
JESUS HAS WON THE VICTORY
No matter what you have done, it can never be so bad that it is beyond God's healing love, and He wants to heal you. To
avail yourself of His free gift of eternal life, you need to repent of your past wrongs and sins, including and especially any
involvement with the occult and pagan practices. To repent means to turn away, to renounce these former things. If you
have made up your mind that you want the Living Water that quenches the thirst of the human spirit but you don't know
how to pray, you might turn to God and say something like:
Heavenly Father, I am very sorry that I have sought life outside of you. I am sorry that I have sought to know things that
you, in your wisdom, have kept hidden for my own good. I am sorry for.... (just add what you have done or been involved
in) and I renounce all those things now in Jesus' Name. I turn away from all of Satan's lies and deceptions and accept
Jesus as my Lord and Saviour (for the first time, or anew, as it applies to you) and desire the fulness of life He has
promised to all who follow Him to your heart. Jesus, come into my life and cleanse me of all my sins. Holy Spirit, refresh
me and fill all those spaces of my mind, heart and soul where I have allowed darkness to enter. Teach me the ways of
God and lead me increasingly to a personal relationship with Jesus so that I may worship the Father, my Creator in
fullness and in truth. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.
This prayer is not a magical solution, an instant spell, but it is a beginning of a new or renewed way of life. If you are a
Catholic, go to Confession. If you haven't been for a long time, it doesn't matter. The priest will understand. If you have
been practicing your faith but have not confessed your involvement in the occult, you need to do it now. If you are not a
Catholic, go and speak to a Pastor of your denomination. If you are not a Christian, go along to any Catholic (or other
Christian) church and speak to a Pastor. Try and make an appointment so he will have plenty of time for you, then be
assured of a loving welcome and follow his advice.
And finally, St. Paul has some advice: Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness
as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to
quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God. With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all
perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones. (Eph 6:11-18).

Questions About Reiki And Other New Age Practices
My Reiki healer is such a good person. How can they be tapping into non-Christian powers?
Many people who get into alternative methods of healing, including those within New Age, have genuinely compassionate
hearts and want to do good. Unfortunately, they don't trust in God's Providence and Wisdom and seek to bring about
healing through other powers. This doesn't mean they are bad people but that they are ill-catechised and may have
unwittingly been led astray. Sadly, in doing so, they may have opened themselves up to powers that are anti-Christ and
these spirits and powers are quite happy to make use of their good nature for their own ends.
Remember that you don't have to be a louse to catch lice!
Can I accidentally "catch" evil spirits?
Not really. We are generally afforded protection against them, even though they might torment and otherwise try to
undermine us. But once we step out of the protection afforded by Jesus and the teachings of His Church, we are opening
ourselves up for the potential to be used by them. Some practices go further and have us openly, albeit it unwittingly,
inviting them in. When someone comes to the door of your home, you wouldn't just let them in without knowing who they
are, yet many are quite willing to open themselves up for "attunement" by powers about which they know nothing and
then seek to manipulate those powers for their own end.
What about Catholics, or other Christians, who practice Reiki?
Some people imagine that you can tap into these esoteric powers, even though they stand in contradiction to everything
that is Christian, while still remaining safely Christian, as long as they use Jesus' name. This is little more than
superstition. Jesus' authority works within us not by the simple utterance of His name, but through our discipleship, our
following His teachings and our embracing of Him as our only Lord and Saviour. New Age stands in opposition to
Christianity. It is, therefore, anti-Christ. It isn't possible to embrace the spirit of antichrist and the Holy Spirit, at one and
the same time and anyone who imagines otherwise is deluding themselves. Catholics with a genuine charism (gift) of
healing have no need to call on anyone other than Jesus Christ, need no methods, no attunement. They simply need to
pray. 56.



What does Reiki say about Jesus?
Basically, in New Age spirituality, Jesus is seen as an "ascended Master," one of many. Some Reiki practitioners suggest
that Jesus studied Reiki before beginning His ministry and that He was a Reiki Master. The spirituality behind Reiki does
not see Jesus as divine, in the sense of being the only Son of God. Neither do adherents believe in His resurrection, His
ascension or in the Second Coming. Of course, they will tell you that you are free to continue believing in Him if you like!

6. The "Quasi-Religion" of Reiki by Andrea Menegotto, CESNUR
RELIGION AND DEMOCRACY: AN EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCES BETWEEN EAST AND WEST
THE CESNUR 2003 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE organized by CESNUR, Center for Religious
Studies and Research at Vilnius University, and New Religions Research and Information
Center, Vilnius, Lithuania, April 9-12, 2003
A paper presented at the CESNUR 2003 Conference, Vilnius, Lithuania. Preliminary version.
Reiki is a system of spiritual healing that appears to be on its way to becoming a complete religion
J. Gordon Melton, 2001
Abstract:
Reiki is a technique of Japanese origin in order to reduce stress, to relax and to increase just your own degree of physical
and moral well-being. It is based on the idea that universal (rei) energy (ki) flows inside all living beings.
We often wonder whether Reiki is simply a technique or it is, as a matter of fact, a religion.
The study of its origins, its characteristics and some tens of thousands of various schools, (paying a particular attention to
Italian scene) may induce to think that the category of quasi-religion coined from American specialists can adequately be
applied to such a phenomenon.
Reiki is a technique of Japanese origin on a Chinese, more ancient basis, in order to reduce stress, to relax and to
increase just your own degree of physical and moral well-being. Broadly speaking, since a unitary organisation does not
exist, the name Reiki is also used to indicate the movement of those who practise this technique and share a certain
number of principles that support it. The technique is based on the idea that universal (rei) energy (ki), Japanese version
of the Chinese qi, flows inside all living beings. The flow of this energy can be improved or corrected, in deviation case,
through the gestures of a person initiated to Reiki that puts his hands on another person (or on himself), or simply raises
his hands towards the other without touching him.
Reiki was introduced to the West from Mrs. Hawayo Takata (1900-1980), a Hawaiian of Japanese origin, who discovered it
during a travel in Japan, between 1935 and 1937. On her return to the Hawaii islands in 1937, Mrs. Takata invited her
Japanese master of Reiki, Chujiro Hayashi (1879-1949), and in 1948 together they opened the first western centre. The
latter is one of the sixteen masters who were officially initiated from the founder Mikao Usui (1865-1926). During over
forty years of her career in the West, Mrs. Takata told the history of Reiki more times; nowadays the story can still be
listened to, from her clear voice through an audiotape (1989). However, may be in order to adapt it to western tastes, this
history has been reported taking some freedom with the facts.
Two authors, William Lee Rand (1998) and Frank Arjawa Petter (1997), favourable to Reiki and they themselves masters
of Reiki, come to these conclusions. They led their searches in Japan and, later on, they constituted a revisionist
tradition of the history of Reiki. The same theses were later reproposed in Italian language in a volume written by Dario
Canil and Petter himself in 2000.
In this report we do not intend to go over again the most interesting vicissitudes of the origins of Reiki in an organic way,
to analyse the controversies that developed around it or the main organisations to which some masters have joined
themselves (and that embody some trends) or to deal with the recent developments, arguments properly faced by some
scholars of the new religious movements (CESNUR, 693-696; Melton, 2001; Hammer, 2001).
We would rather try to read the reality of Reiki, paying a particular attention to the Italian scene, striving to understand if,
on the basis of its phenomenology, Reiki can be simply considered a technique or, instead on the contrary, a religion.
1. The Experience of the Founder
If the history of Reiki and of its founder is free from some elements having mythological features, introduced by Mrs.
Takata and found out from Rands and Petters work (a vulgata very diffused in Reiki circles, whose traces are also found
in several publications, would like, for example, Mikao Usui to be a minister or catholic clergy), we realize that little is
known about the Reiki founder. In order to reconstruct the story of the founder, Rand and Petter, based themselves,
among the other things, on the inscription that is found on the Usui Memorial Monument, which was erected and
supervised from the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai ([Society for the Spread of] Usui System of Reiki Recovery, the organisation
founded in Tokio in 1922 from M. Usui himself), and placed at the cemetery of the Buddhist temple of Saiho-ji in the
quarter of Suginami in Tokyo (the Italian translation of this gravestone inscription is proposed by Canil [Canil & Petter, 83-
86]). The Reiki founder was born in Yago, a small village (in the Prefecture of Gifu), on 15
th
August 1865. When he was a
child, he attended a tendai Buddhist school. It is not clear if he achieved further qualifications even if his first followers
reported that he had studied Medicine, Buddhist Theology and the Art to foretell the future of the Japanese fortune-
tellers. He married Sadako Suzuki, from whom he had two children. He travelled in Europe, China, Tibet, Nepal and India,
becoming a successful businessman. He became a member of an esoteric group, interested in parapsychological
phenomena and the world of the spirits, the Rei Jyutu Ka. In 1914 he was involved in an economic ruin. 57.



As a result of that, he devoted himself to religion and he went up to the temple on Kurama mount, sacred to the tendai
Buddhist school, in order to meditate and to fast for a period of twenty-one days. Putting into practise a common
Japanese custom, that is meditation under a waterfall, he received an unexpected illumination and he felt full of divine
energy. Canil describes the crucial moment in Usuis life in this way: After several days of fast and meditation, he lived
Satoris experience, a particular state of conscience: he had the vision of Avalokiteshvara, a highly developed being that
embodies the Buddhist principle of compassion. This being instructed Mikao Usui on the mountain. He initiated him,
teaching Mikao Usui to transmit the cosmic energy of healing to the others (Canil & Petter, 29-30).
After that, his mission for the spread of Reiki began, but Usui is also remembered to have been a precursor of the crystal
therapy, a worldwide practise of recovery which will become extremely diffused about sixty or seventy years later in some
circles influenced by New Age. For many years, it was thought that documents written by Usui did not exist, until Petter
published the outcome of his long research culminated in their discovery occurred in 1997, in a German version and, later,
in an English one. He reproduced in copies, some parts of Japanese texts of the Reiki Ryoho Hikkei, that is the handbook
written by Usui in the years 1920-1925 (Petter, 1997-1998, Usui & Petter, 1999).
It is a work composed of an introduction concerning different techniques of working with energy, a series of questions and
answers developed in the style of the interview and, finally, one hundred twenty five poems having spiritual features,
composed probably by Emperor Meiji in the Japanese traditional shape of Waka. In order to understand Usuis thought,
the five principles of Reiki have also proved to be useful, even if the revisionist reading of the origins of Reiki has led us
to think that they werent written up from the founder as, instead, Mrs. Takata asserted attributing them to Usuis
particularly inspired meditations, but, on the contrary, by the above mentioned Emperor Meji and adopted by Usui on the
basis of the great esteem he had for him (Canil & Petter, 79-82). Such principles are guidelines that concur, through the
unity and the harmony between the individual and the cosmos, to the flowing of the universal vital energy. Usui suggested
his disciples repeating these principles every morning and evening at loud voice, with authentic availability and opening of
mind and heart. Anyway, apart such sources, little remains of his thought and his teaching. However, on the whole, there
are no doubts he taught the divine nature of the ki, the importance of the sacred songs, the prayer and the thankings to
God. Moreover, one of the main secret symbols of Reiki in the original version of Mikao Usui, corresponds to the symbols
of the supreme divinity worshipped in the Buddhist temple on Kurama mount: the Universal Vital Energy (Petter, 1997;
Usui & Petter, 1999). Considering the fact that even the Reiki founder is Buddhist and referring in particular to the
formative experience of the Kurama mount and in a more generalized manner to the existing ties between the doctrinal
system of Reiki and the spirituality connected with the sacred place Buddhism tendai, Petter asserts the existence of the
Buddhist background into which Reiki might be inserted (Usui & Petter, 1999, 10-14).
Anil Bhatnagar, (2002, 67-76), a Reiki master living in India, doesnt supply us with any indications as regards his sources,
and anticipates of just one year Usuis date of birth, whose complete name, according to the Indian author, is Mikaomi
Gyoho Usui. He introduces a further and partially different version of the biography of the founder and of the history of
the origins of Reiki, even if the Reiki master demonstrates to know the circulating, more or less legendary, biographies.
Besides supplying information which was already known thanks to other authors, Bhatnagar stops on some details that
other works left out or skimmed over.
Bhatnagar states that the Reiki founder got a doctorate in Literature and was able to speak many languages but, above
all, the information according to which Usui turned to spirituality after an economic and financial ruin, is put in doubt. His
religious interest is rather the result of a near-death experience (on this type of experience, read: Introvigne, 1996), being
survived to an attack of cholera about 1890. After his awakening, Usui frequently went up Kurama mount and practised
meditation under a waterfall. Being thirsty of knowledge, he studied for a long time the ancient texts of Buddhist medicine
at the libraries and the monasteries of Kyoto, experimenting the techniques he learned through the reading. Therefore he
became a well known Buddhist master who had a lot of followers, but Usui had the hope of discovering a technique of
simple and effective recovery, that could be learned from everybody independently of his own religion and culture. In
about 1900, he, by chance, discovered an ancient Buddhist manuscript entitled The Tantra of the Lightning Flash, that
precisely revealed him a technique, which went back to Buddhas times (563-483 B.C.) and practised in Tibet in the
seventh century. He went up Kurama mount in order to meditate and deeply understand this system. There he received
the illumination from the Reiki energy itself. Later on, he devoted himself to deepening his discovery for many years
before being able to teach Reiki to the masses.
In a private correspondence with the author of the present text (Bhatnagar, 2003), the Indian Reiki-master, questioned on
his sources, declared to consider the version spread by Mrs. Takata too superficial.
Besides having therefore used some works of other authors (Petter 1997, Stein 1997, Lee Rand 1998, Ellyard 2002), he
also referred to use the intuitive guide of Reiki itself in a state of trance to know the hidden details of the history of the
origins of the same technique.
Moreover, in his volume, Bhatnagar seems to refer broadly to the version spread by the Australian Reiki master Lawrence
Ellyard (2002; Klatt, 2002) that announced the discovery (happened in 1994), and partly published in English translation,
of the diary and a series of manuscripts of Usui, among which the above mentioned The Tantra of the Lightning Flash,
dating back to the seventh century, and of which Ellyard himself is informed directly (in 1999) from the discoverer: his
Buddhist teacher and clinical psychologist of American origins, lama Yeshe Drugpa Trinley Odzer (Richard Blackwell),
ordered both in the Tibetan and Shingon traditions. He received the text from his father, a captain of the American Army
who had come into its possession in Japan in 1945, having purchased it from some monks who were seeking funds to
rebuild their own monastery damaged by bombardments in the Second World War. 58.


Quite frankly speaking, even lama Yeshe himself, two years before his disciple had published the translation of some
excerpts of the manuscripts he had discovered (Yeshe, 2000). Independently of the historical reliability of the news
supplied by Bhatnagar and Ellyard (really, an absolutely not negligible question), also the history of the origins of Reiki
proposed by these authors, not only confirms the existence of a Buddhist background but also its direct Buddhist origins,
objective or legendary, but in any case deeply rooted in the beliefs and the teachings of Reiki practitioners and masters.
Therefore Bhatnagar himself asserts that, after Usuis discovery Reiki was re-born (Bhatnagar, 68).
2. The Initiations
As to the several schools and Reiki masters offer more or less different interpretations as regards the modalities that
qualify to the practise of Reiki it can be said, in a generalized manner, that the practise of this technique is approached
through three levels or degrees, called: shoden (the first level has the scope to activate the receptive channels of the
universal energy and allows to transmit it through several positions of the hands); okuden (inner teaching needs the
precise acquaintance of the three secret symbols of Reiki and of their execution and it concurs to canalize the energy into
the mind even at a certain distance); and shinpiden (mysteric instruction coinciding with the choice to become a Reiki
master and with the delivery of the fourth symbol). According to others, but this is controversial point, it is followed by
three more secrets.
As to secretness of the symbols of Reiki that should only be known by those who have had access to the second and the
third levels, a wide discussion involving Reiki masters is in progress over the last few years. While someone asserts that
the diffusion of the acquaintance of the symbols to the great public great public can finally prejudice their good use and
represent a decrease of the respect which is due to their sacrality, others believe that for a pedagogic aim it is advisable
symbols may be easily found on Reiki handbooks.
Therefore, not without any wide polemic sequels, others have let the great public know the names and the symbols, their
meanings and their graphical representation (Manual 1995; Stein, 1997), moreover revealing some disparities concerning
their meaning and, sometimes, the number of the symbols.
They are gained access to the various levels through some ceremonies defined from the greater part of the authors like
initiations. It must moreover be noticed that other Reiki masters prefer describing such ceremonies like activations,
insisting on the natural aspect of Reiki, that in their opinions has nothing religious, esoteric or magical, but then
however they highlight the spiritual nature of this technique (Udgatri & Masseglia, 2001, 74-77). Bhatnagar (44-48)
generally uses the term attunements, sometimes reserving the qualification initiation only for the access to the third
level. Attunements must be followed by a period of physical-psychological purification of twenty-one days.
Such temporal duration obviously reminds of the period of fast and meditation spent by Mikao Usui on Kurama Mount,
historical news that Bhatnagar himself defines reasonable (Bhatnagar, 72).
Initiation a widely prevailing definition however in the international literature has a very remarkable meaning. Hawayo
Takata herself taught that they induced deep changes into the person on his spiritual, emotional and physical sphere
(Brown 1992, 90).
Initiations enable the initiated through the harmonization and the opening of energy channels, to become a channel of the
universal vital energy that, according to the founder Mikao Usui, has a divine nature. In such sense, they also correspond
to an awareness of his divine or spiritual self and to the experimental rediscovery of an archetype that can be found in the
same energy but also in the experience of the illumination of the founder that gives life to a lineage. The bond between
the student and the Reiki master during the series of initiations perpetuates a lineage of energetic transmission that,
through the several masters, flows directly from the founder Mikao Usui. The Reiki master is the means through which the
opening of the energetic channels takes place and he has, therefore, the intermediary role, not producing himself the
event of the initiation. Carmignani (2001, 244) describes the role of the master introducing a parallel: Reiki master and
the priest of the animist religion of the Orish actually carry out the same function of intermediaries between the physical
world and the spiritual world.
The initiation rituals have always been a fundamental object of study within religious sciences (Ries, 1986) to which the
phenomenologist of the religion, the Rumanian Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) paid great attention in his researches (1957;
1986). The initiation corresponds to a change of the ontological, religious, spiritual and social status of the initiated that is
often described in terms of a new birth or rebirth. To the initiations as they are meant in the circles of Reiki, all the
categories coined from Eliade referring to the several religious fields, are not certainly applicable. Anyway, some aspects
and modalities of the rituals of initiation can be seen as a not useless attempt of organisation inside the models Eliade
developed. According to this scholar, the rituals of initiation are classifiable into three groups, on the basis of their
function: (1) the first group is made up of the pubertal rituals of passage; (2) the second from the rituals that allow the
access of the initiated to a closed religious society, that may be a secret society or a religious or military confraternity; (3)
the third consists of the ritual of initiation that leads to a vocation that might be defined mystic: it is the case of the
shaman, of medicine man and of sacerdotal initiations. With such a type of initiation, the initiated acquires exceptional
powers and gets to a state of life inaccessible to the other members of the society.
If we exclude the category of the pubertal rituals, we can, instead, consider the effects attributed to the Reiki initiations
and the remarkable changes from a spiritual but also social and ontological point of view that initiation ceremonies
produce on the initiated, to get to several levels of Reiki. Consequently, it is possible to place, somehow, also the initiation
to Reiki inside other two groups of initiation rituals considered by Eliade. They have the function of making the initiated a
channeller of the Universal Vital Energy, and therefore a subject endowed with powers that others do not have and
making part of a lineage and a community of initiated that Lee Rand defines sacred metaphysical order. 59.



3. Reiki, Religions and Religion
The analysis of the origin of Reiki, the fact that the message of the founder turns out to be incomprehensible if it is
separated from the original religious context, the essential reference to an energy that has divine features, the
organisation of the rituals of initiation inside some categories found out by religious sciences and the similarities that exist
between Reiki and the several extreme-oriental movements which combine Buddhism and Taoism (CESNUR, 661-666),
that cannot elude the specialist of religious movements, could hastily get to the conclusion that Reiki is a religion.
The fact that nearly all schools deny that, it is not decisive at all. In fact, other new Japanese religions and in particular,
some in which the imposition of the hands such as Sky Mahikari (Introvigne, 1999), equally deny being religions and
prefer introducing themselves like above religions opened to people of every faith.
Their character of new religion is however given for certain by specialists. But the movement of Sky Mahikari also offers
a complete message of salvation, a theology of the history, a cosmological formulation and tries to explain the origins of
the mankind. In most Reiki schools, instead, these elements turn out to be absent.
Therefore, the issue of the definition and the positioning of Reiki within the category religion needs to be faced with
some additional instruments. A useful element, in such sense, can be the location of the position that Reiki has in the
present post-modern religious and spiritual context, that is in the age of the deinstitutionalization of the religion to use
an expression of the French sociologist Daniel Hervieu-Leger (1993). In the world surely thousands, may be tens of
thousands of several different schools of Reiki exist, each one has its own features and often it arranges the techniques
and the ideas of Mikao Usui with elements of other origin, of Buddhist derivation, coming from the background of the
esoteric, of the New Age-Next Age world and also, sometimes, Christian). Beside the greatest international organisations,
Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, The Reiki Foundation (ex Reiki Alliance), The Radiance Technique International Association,
Karuna Reiki (Canil & Petter, 51-75), many organisations and smaller schools exist.
They characterize themselves for an intense activity and a certain public visibility. In order to limit us to some examples,
the Shambala Reiki associates the technique of Usui with tantric recovery NgalSo taught by Lama Gangchen Tulku
Rinpoche, an exponent of the Tibetan Buddhism (CESNUR, 599-699), the Associazione Reiki Amore Universale (R.A.U.) in
Rho (Milan, Italy) and the Centre Eleven in Cuneo (Italy) join Reiki to elements of theosophical character and of other
nature (CESNUR, 696-701), the Osho Neo Reiki comes into being instead from the acceptance by Osho Rajneesh (1931-
1990 [Coney, 1999; Fox, 2002]), at the end of 1980s in the Ashram of Poona of the technique taught by Usui that now,
according to the disciples of Osho, is useful to practise as self-recovery, joined to the meditation in order to obtain the
harmonization between the body and the spirit and to progress in the spiritual way. From a series of interviews carried out
between people who have themselves accepted to undertake occasionally Reiki sittings, practitioners and Reiki masters of
different ages, sex, degree of education and religious beliefs (Milione 1999-2000; Udgatri & Masseglia, 71-125), the fact
emerges, as an almost constant datum, that Reiki is not considered a religion. However in the common opinion it has a
spiritual connotation and it is thought to be useful.
Besides being a technique for the achievement of the physical well-being and in some cases of the recovery as a
complement, in order to improve our own spiritual way thanks to the free flow of the Universal Vital Energy and to its
harmonizing function. It is to be pointed out, as an interesting datum, the fact that many Reiki masters have built up
themselves and are skilful also in alternative therapeutic practises or techniques able to increase the human potentiality,
or they reveal an interest for the oriental spirituality (Buddhist in particular). Therefore not few people declare to have
been disciples of Osho Rajneesh.
William Lee Rand, together with others authors, in his volume Reiki. The Healing Touch, states that Reiki is spiritual in its
nature (I-11) and that it is not a religion since there are no dogmas in which to believe and it acts in any case, either one
believes in it or one doesnt. The author himself in Reiki for a new millennium precises that Reiki comes from God or from
an advanced power (Lee Rand, 139). Therefore it enables many people to keep their ideas and their own religious
experiences. Resuming a vulgata widely diffused in the world of the new religiosity, Lee Rand supports the idea of an
esoteric formation of Jesus Christ between the twelve and thirty years. Before dedicating himself to the public ministry
Jesus travelled in India, Tibet and China and was initiated to Reiki or to a primitive technique similar to Reiki to become a
Reiki master. On the other hand, Mikao Usui himself in his handbook asserts that the way to Reiki is not comparable to
any other (spiritual) way in the world and he thinks that trough Reiki, everybody has the potentiality to receive gifts
from the sphere of the divine (Canil & Petter, 88).
The statements of Lee Rand, who is an author among the most quoted in circles favourable to Reiki, even if they are
exemplificative, help to pick some of the essential features of the doctrinal system which is the practical basis of Reiki,
that is of the ideas expressed from the totality of the authors and Reiki masters as a theoretical- philosophical justification
of the spiritual and physical connotation of Reiki. The anthropological and spiritual reference picture is characterized by an
underlying, syncretistic formulation tending to create a mingling among elements drawn from the various religious
traditions. In a generalized manner, and owing to the reasons that are by now well known, elements drawn from the
philosophies and oriental religions prevail with a strong predominance of Buddhism. For example the flowing of the energy
into the human body is described through the system of the energetic channels and the chakra.
In its proposals, made to an external public, the syncretistic attitude yields the step to an open relativism.
Consequently Reiki is described as a not exclusive spiritual way. It can be put together to other ways and to their own
religious beliefs. 60.



If we keep in consideration the interviews to which a hint has been made, such a conception seems to be deeply rooted in
the greater part of the interviewed. Making reference to the sacral dimension of their practises, authors and Reiki masters,
unanimously prefer speaking about spirituality rather than of religion even if they make explicit reference, with various
right, to a divinity concept that is identified with the Universal Vital Energy.
In the perspective of the relationship health-salvation (Fizzotti, 1994; Pavesi 1994), the option of the schools of Reiki is
openly oriented towards a holistic vision of the cosmos and of man. The body and the spirit are actually the two action
plans of the practise of Reiki and the harmony between these produces a physical and spiritual well-being.
On the basis of these elements, Reiki can simply appear as one of the alternative therapeutic practises, flowing into the
immense network of alternatives therapies. It can be framed, in its turn, in the large metanetwork of the New Age.
In particular, the historical evolution of the spreading of Reiki to the West and its present very remarkable international
expansion, leads to think that such a practise has not suffered any damage but instead it has drawn benefits from the
evolution-decline of the New Age. It has taken place, starting from the half of 1990s, in that phenomenon having a more
individualistic character which is called Next Age (Introvigne 2000; Zoccatelli 1997; Berzano 1999; Menegotto 1999). If
this classification reveals to be adequate according to several scholars, a scrupulous observation of the modalities of
presence of Reiki in the West, can lead us to think that probably the existence of such a practice has a much more
complex sociological connotation. In fact, Reiki presents its own characteristics of transverseness in its appearance on
the western scene. The modalities of its existence transversely cross the religious scene of the post-modern West. In the
plurality of its schools, Reiki sometimes lives inside or on the sidelines of some new religious movements, above all of
oriental origin, of its own human potential or, more exactly, of the New Age-Next Age tradition. In such cases, it gets
integrated inside a wider vision of man and the cosmos. It appears a complement that enables the person who is already
walking along a sure spiritual way, the optimisation of the results, thanks to a harmonization between body and spirit.
Very often yet Reiki has an independent life for the cure of the body, and it is advised inside well-being centres. In spite of
that, it continues, however, in its founding ideas to recall some dominant concepts in the sacred post-modern scenery and
some notions that on the basis of the criteria of religious sciences are classifiable as clearly relevant to the sacred and
spiritual spheres. This transverseness is also typical of other alternative therapeutic practises. The case of Reiki appears
however either for the great diffusion that this practise has presently in the West or for the great presence of centres in
which it is practised, surely the most meaningful case.
Owing to the likeness existing, under many aspects, between Reiki and some new Japanese religious movements, since
the attention for the recovery is a central element, the ideas supported by many scholars is that the new religious
movements in many cases offer an opportunity of psychological-physical well-being, if we consider the category of the
healing religions (Fizzotti, Pavesi), coined from sociologists and historians of the religions just before the phenomenon of
the new religious movements, assumed the importance that nowadays it is attributed to it and we consider their most
important features, we realize that such a label can be adapted to Reiki with good approximation.
However, the category of religion cannot be extended without any difficulty to Reiki, being it lacking in its doctrinal system
in elements such as a complete message of salvation and a theology of the history that explains the origin and the destiny
of man.
However, nowadays, a shared definition of religion (CESNUR, 15-17) does not generally exist in social sciences and in the
study of religions. The reality of Reiki well seems to adapt itself to a model of research supplied by some American
specialists. Therefore it turns out to be unrelated to the folk, but also to definitions elaborated in scientific centres or
other authoritative contexts (Introvigne 2001; Greil 1993). Being Reiki really placed in a borderline along the frontier of
the sacred, it lives a continuous dualism in the relationships between technique-religion, profane-sacred, material-
spiritual, body-spirit, it seems better to adapt the category of quasi-religion to it (Greil 1993; Greil and Robbins, 1994).
In this perspective the study of the reality of Reiki reveals to be a further contribution to the wide debate on the concept,
the meaning, the role and the place that the religion occupies in our age.
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religione. Relazione alla giornata di studi in onore del professore Enrico Nicolis di Robilant. Facolt di Giurisprudenza
dellUniversit degli Studi di Torino (19 ottobre 2001). To the author.
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segreti del 2 livello. Borgofranco dIvrea (Torino): Blu International Studio.
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Religion and Globalization (pp. 73-93). Aarhus (Danimarca): Aarhus University Press.
Menegotto, A. (Ed.) (1999).New Age: fine o rinnovamento? Le origini, gli sviluppi, le idee, la crisi, la fine del New Age
e la nascita di un nuovo fenomeno: il Next Age. Una nuova sfida per la Chiesa, San Giuliano Milanese (Milano): Sinergie.
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System, as Well as New Aspects of the Reiki Energy. Twin Lakes (Wisconsin): Lotus Light Publications.
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7. Yoga in philosophy and practice is incompatible with Christianity
by Father James Manjackal MSFS http://jmanjackal.net/eng/engyoga.htm
FOR COMPLETE WRITE-UP SEE MY DOCUMENT ON YOGA http://www.ephesians-511.net/documents/YOGA.doc
EXTRACT: In my charismatic retreats, the majority of the participants come with various moral, spiritual, mental and
physical problems in order to be liberated and healed and to have a new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. With all
sincerity of heart I will say, 80 to 90 % of the participants had been to Yoga, reiki, reincarnation, and other Eastern
religious practices where they lost faith in Jesus Christ and the Church. In Croatia, Bosnia, Germany, Austria and Italy, I
had clear instances where individuals who were possessed with the powers of darkness cried out I am Reiki, I am Mr.
Yoga, identifying themselves to these concepts as persons while I was conducting prayers of healing for them. Later, I
had to pray over them by the prayer of deliverance to liberate them from the evil possessions.
There are some people who say, There is nothing wrong in having the practices of these, it is enough not to believe the
philosophies behind. The promoters of Yoga, reiki, etc, themselves very clearly state, that the philosophy and practice
are inseparable.
62.



8. The Lure of Alternative Religions. Interview with Author Roberta Grillo
http://www.zenit.org/article-19044?l=english
MILAN, Italy, March 1, 2007 (Zenit.org) People who enter alternative religious movements or sects are often seeking that
"something which is lacking," says the president of Milan's Socio-Religious Research Group.
Roberta Grillo, who is also a religion professor, is the author of "Attenti al lupo. Movimenti religiosi alternativi & sette
sataniche" (Beware of the Wolf: Alternative Religious Movements and Satanic Sects), published in Italian by Edizioni Ares.
In this interview with ZENIT, Grillo explains the incompatibility between the practice of Reiki and Christianity,
and the difference between alternative religious movements and the ecclesial movements recognized by the Church.
Q: Do you think that people who frequent these new alternative religious groups would be at ease in the Church?
Grillo: The reasons that impel a person to enter one of these groups are many, while that which enables them to remain
in them is due in part to the massive mental conditioning always exercised on the victim.
At times, the triggering factor that has caused their joining is a lack of acceptance, or serious incomprehension on the part
of a relative, friend or teacher. Other times it is curiosity or the desire to acquire instruments that give power, success ...
but it is always the desire for happiness.
I believe that the Church, precisely because she is "mother," should make it easy for these people who are "searching" to
find acceptance and charity, joined to science, good guidance and discreet and wise psycho-spiritual support.
Q: Sometimes, the fear of some parents as regards new alternative religious movements makes them also mistrust new
movements in the Church. How can this confusion be resolved?
Grillo: There is an essential difference between these two realities. Alternative religious movements always create a very
strong, binding mental conditioning. The ecclesial movements, on the other hand, are such because they are based on the
Gospel, and the Gospel is a proposal, not an imposition.
At times the Church might seem to be too large a family. People can then choose that ecclesial movement or community
in which they can find those charisms that are more suited to themselves. Not to speak of the religious orders, committed
already for centuries to the Church, each according to the charism received -- contemplative prayer, dedication to the
poor and suffering and preaching.
Q: In your list you include Reiki and state that one cannot be a Christian and practice Reiki. What is it and
why do you consider it dangerous?
Grillo: It is about a universal energy, possessed once by the prophets and Jesus Christ.
The pity is that instead of referring to Jesus Christ, the Bible and the Gospels, these "therapists" draw their
power from Buddhist spirituality and the doctrine of the "chakra," known by yoga philosophy and practiced
by Hinduism and Buddhism. Proposed as a positive instrument, useful for one's own and others' well-being,
Reiki is in reality a secret discipline in its symbols and contents, associated with health therapies that have
no scientific basis such as crystal therapy and therapeutic astrology, aromatherapy and chromotherapy.
Not to speak of the relationship between Reiki and Christianity. There can be no compatibility for the Christian, other than
the loving acceptance owed to every person, according to the word of the Gospel.
Hence, there can be no "dual belonging," which includes adherence to this pantheist, Gnostic and occultist system,
diametrically opposed to the Christian.

9. Yoga Health or Stealth
from: The Cross and the Veil http://www.crossveil.org/page2.html
FOR COMPLETE WRITE-UP SEE MY DOCUMENT ON YOGA http://www.ephesians-511.net/documents/YOGA.doc
EXTRACT: Tantra Yoga and Kundalini Yoga Two other yogas of immense popularity are Tantric and Kundalini Yogas.
Tantra Yoga is a product of Shaktiism, the worship of the Hindu supreme goddess, Shakti (Power). Shakti is worshiped as
both the divine will and the divine mother who calls for absolute surrender. In her fierce destructive aspect she is
depicted as Kali. Shakti is also the power that lies dormant in the base of the spine, coiled like a serpent (kundalini).
Kundalini energy is aroused and guided up the spine to open chakras and attain spiritual liberation. It is the rising of this
serpent power that marks the removal of karma and the push toward enlightenment.
Tantric practices are found in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain sects and are classified as secret esoteric practices involving
purification, control of psychological processes as well as spells, rituals, symbols, black magic and necromancy.
Tantraism utilizes sexual energy (whether through ritualized overt sex acts or subtle psycho-spiritual stimulation) to
achieve bliss states. A number of other yoga paths or combinations thereof exist in the US. Numerous teachers or
experts mix and match yogic traditions, increasing the likelihood of malpractice, abuse and ill effects. The excitation of
the kundalini (serpent power), this mysterious form of psychic or physiological energy is, in fact, the result of all forms of
yoga. The effects, both bad and good, are the subjects of not a few texts. Secret tantric texts are also the basis of the
"healing" technique known as Reiki - most popular now in Catholic circles and promoted at many hospital healing
centers. Reiki has as its base the use of secret tantric practices which are most deadly and damaging spiritually.

10. Church Warns Clergy, Religious Of Popular 'Ki' Experience
January 23, 2001 KOREA SEOUL (UCAN) Seoul archdiocese has cautioned priests and religious regarding the
increasingly popular practice of "ki" (energy) sessions that blend physical movement, breathing and
concentration. Auxiliary Bishop Peter Kang Woo-il of Seoul sent Jan. 12 a document titled "Alert on ki
training culture" to all clergy and superiors of religious institutes in the archdiocese. 63.



"Recently there has been an increasing number of clergy, Religious and laity who frequent centers of 'ki-gong' and
'abdomen breathing,' and they invite others to join them," Bishop Kang said.
He said though people begin the practice for health, they gradually develop it to a kind of spiritual dimension. "The
religious dimension to which such ki culture leads becomes easily linked to a mystical, transcendental and individualistic
outlook of the world -- that is not easily compatible with Christian faith," the bishop noted.
The Church leader asked clergy and Religious who practice ki techniques for help in spiritual concentration or meditation
to use "discernment because such a practice can cause confusion among ordinary Catholics." "Unlike established religions
that seek the common good of society, some new religious sects promise individual peace and physical health," he said.
Citing the letter "Orationis Formas" (On some aspects of Christian meditation) of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith issued Oct. 15, 1989, Bishop Kang stressed that trying to develop prayer as a skill may be opposed to the child-like
spirit stressed in the Gospel. "Pure Christian mysticism has nothing to do with a skill," he said, citing the Vatican document
which was published in Korean in 1999.
Ki and ki-gong, or "qi" and "qi-gong" in Chinese, are generally regarded as belonging to the Taoist stream.

11. Reiki Healing and the Catechism, Part 1
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00AJEF
Hello, friends!
The other thread, we were discussing Reiki healing. I would like to show, using reason and nothing more than the
Catechism of the Catholic Church and the writings of the International Center for Reiki Training, the following claim:
It is impossible for Catholics of sufficient knowledge and faith to accept that Reiki healing is not a manifest moral evil.
I know we learn that the Sophists always began by stating what they sought to convince and arguing backwards from it; I
hope it is understood that the only reason I start here with my conclusion is for complete transparency. It also makes it
easy for me to define terms, as such:
Reiki healing: (pronounced Ray-Key) is a method of natural healing based on the application of Universal Life Force
Energy, one of the more widely known forms of healing through direct application of Chi, or a force very similar to
Chi , a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that allows everyone to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force
energy" to improve health and enhance the quality of life, The word Rei as it is used in Reiki is more accurately
interpreted to mean *supernatural* knowledge or spiritual consciousness. This is the wisdom that comes from God or the
Higher Self. This is the God-Consciousness which is all knowing. It understands each person completely. It knows the
cause of all problems and difficulties and knows what to do to heal them.
Sources: Well, I had them down at one point, but I got rid of them when I removed my footnote references by mistake.
Anyhow, they come from Reiki advocacy Websites.
Manifest moral evil: Evil that is clearly apparent or obvious to the mind or senses.
Pertinent Church Teaching [italics are added emphasis]:
Genuine charisms of the Holy Spirit are ordered [to the Churchs] building up; and are considered as gifts givennot
skills; and all charisms are discerned by and submitted to the Churchs shepherds.
799: Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly
benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of men, and to the needs of the world.
800: Charisms are to be accepted with gratitude by the person who receives them and by all members of the Church as
well. They are a wonderfully rich grace for the apostolic vitality and for the holiness of the entire Body of Christ, provided
they really are genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit and are used in full conformity with authentic promptings of this same
Spirit, that is, in keeping with charity, the true measure of all charisms.
801: It is in this sense that discernment of charisms is always necessary. No charism is exempt from being referred and
submitted to the Churchs shepherds. Their office [is] not indeed to extinguish the Spirit, but to test all things and hold
fast to what is good, so that all the diverse and complementary charisms work together for the common good.
Occult practices conceal a desire for power, contradict the love of God alone, and are not justified by health-seeking or
cure-seeking variants. All of these are called superstition.
2116: Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of
clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other
human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we
owe to God alone.
2117: All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at ones service
and have a supernatural power over otherseven if this were for the sake of restoring their healthare gravely contrary
to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming
someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism
often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her own part warns the faith against it. Recourse to so-called
traditional cures does not justify either powers or the exploitation of anothers credulity.
2138: Superstition is a departure from the worship that we give to the true God. It is manifested in idolatry, as well as in
various forms of divination and magic.
Authentic Christian healing is characterized by inviting belief, in being granted to those who turn to him in faith, by
strengthening faith and by bearing witness. Genuine acts of Christ are ordered towards freeing men from the greatest
slavery, sin. Miraculous healing is always inextricably intertwined with faith, and with the remission of sins. 64.


548: The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him
in faith, he grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Fathers works; they bear witness
that he is the Son of God. But his miracles can also be the occasions for offense; they are not intended to satisfy peoples
curiosity or desire for magic. Despite his evident miracles some people rejected Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the
power of demons.
549: By freeing some individuals from the earthly evils of hunger, injustice, illness, and death, Jesus performed messianic
signs. Nevertheless he did not come to abolish all evils here below, but to free men from the greatest slavery, sin, which
thwarts them in their vocation as Gods sons and causes all forms of human bondage.
2616: Prayer to Jesus is answered by him already during his ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of his
death and Resurrection: Jesus hears the prayer of faith, expressed in words (the leper, Jairus, the Canaanite woman, the
good thief) or in silence (the bearers of the paralytic, the woman with a hemorrhage who touches his clothes, the tears
and ointment of the sinful woman). The urgent request of the blind men, Have mercy on us, Son of David or Jesus, Son
of David, have mercy on me! has been renewed in the traditional prayer to Jesus known as the Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner! Healing infirmities or forgiving sins, Jesus always responds to a prayer
offered in faith: Your faith has made you well; go in peace.
The sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick contain in themselves the fullness of Grace for the
purpose of human healing, and never so at the exclusion of authentic spiritual healing consisting not only
in ease of mind but more essentially of the remission of sins.
1421: The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to
bodily health, has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even
among her own members. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the
sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.
1468: The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to Gods grace and joining us with him in
an intimate friendship. Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament.
The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is always mindful of the special value of suffering, whereby people [unite]
themselves to the Passion and death of Christ, or in their subsequent maturation, provoking a search for God and a
return to him.
1499: By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to
the suffering and glorified Lord. That he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to
the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.
1501: Illness can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt against God. It can also make a
person more mature, helping him discern in his life what is not essential so that he can turn toward that which is. Very
often illness provokes a search for God and a return to him.
But once again, physical healing and reconciliation are inextricably intertwined.
1503: Christs compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that
God has visited his people and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Jesus has the power not only to heal, but also
to forgive sins; he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of
1504: Often Jesus asks the sick to believe. He makes use of signs to heal: spittle and the laying on of hands, mud and
washing. The sick try to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all. And so in the sacraments Christ
continues to touch us in order to heal us.
However, in all things, the victory over sin and death takes precedence.
1505: But he did not heal all the sick. His healings were signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God. They announced a
more radical healing: the victory over sin and death through his Passover
Interestingly, the authenticity of Christian mystical healing is signified by its sometimes refusing to work, not for a failure
on part of the healer or the recipient, but merely as a reflection of Gods will.
1508: The Holy Spirit gives to some a special charism of healing so as to make manifest the power of the grace of the
risen Lord. But even the most intense prayers do not always obtain the healing of all illnesses. This St. Paul must learn
from the Lord that my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, and that the sufferings to
be endured can mean that in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christs afflictions for the sake of his Body, that is, the
Church.
Some questions for Christian Reiki practitioners:
1. Is Reiki ordered towards the building up of the Church?
2. Is Reiki a gift given by the Holy Spirit, or a practiced skill attainable by all by their own volition?
3. Are your shepherds (Bishops) in full knowledge and consent of your practice of Reiki?
4. Can you derive the sense of value of the Reiki you practice exclusively by its results?
5. Is Reiki a power that you control?
6. Does Reiki purport to control or forecast natural events, effects, or forces by invoking the supernatural? Does Reiki
have distinctive qualities that produce unaccountable or baffling effects? Can Reiki be described as seemingly requiring
more than human power; imposing or startling in performance; producing effects which seem supernatural or very
extraordinary; having extraordinary properties? (These are the definitions of magic)
7. Does a Reiki treatment involve invitation of the patient to belief in Christ? 65.



8. Does it require a plea based on faith in Christ?
9. Does it bear witness to the Gospel?
10. Is Reiki ordered towards freeing the recipient from the bondage of sin?
11. Does Reiki teach that there is any value in suffering, any participation in selfless love or unconditional giving?
12. Can Reiki help to bring about a victory over sin and death?
13. Is Reiki guaranteed to work given that all the measurable conditions are in place?
-- Skoobouy ([email protected]), December 11, 2002
Answers
Footnote: The line beginning with the words "The sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick contain in themselves"
should be bold; it is my authorship and not a quote of the Catechism.
-- Skoobouy ([email protected]), December 11, 2002.
Great job, Skoobouy! I have added a link to this thread at the bottom of the original Reiki thread, so that visitors there
may see your serious theological analysis here. JFG -- ([email protected]), December 14, 2002.
I hope this is a response space for the reiki/healing/jesus web information, if not, sorry. healing energy is all around us
and is a divine gift that is for us all. healing energy has been called many things over history today one of the methods
used to access this energy is called Reiki. the reiki master studies how to access/connect to the energy and becomes only
a channel to let the energy come down and work on the students or patient. the reiki master is a master and tool in all
this because of the intent to "connect". reiki education tells us that originally Dr. Usui in Japan was asked by one of his
students how did Jesus heal. he meditated and prayed about this until he was enlightened and shown a series of symbols
that represented how to anchor the energy of healing here on earth. even thought reiki is open to all religions and belief
systems it is based on how Jesus healed. John 14-12, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me, can do the same
miracles I have done, and even greater things than these will you do." we all are still learning and there is room to expand
our knowledge from the dark ages. reiki is a light that gives of a vision of what tomorrow can be.
-- cindy lee ([email protected]), March 09, 2003.
The passage you quoted, John 14:12, is the very reason why methods like Reiki healing are not of God. When Jesus said
"anyone who has faith in ME", He was emphasizing that He alone is the one in whom we place our faith, not in methods
or systems or "series of symbols that represented how to anchor the energy of healing here on earth". All of these
approaches are violations of the first commandment. They are false gods - sources which people look to and place their
faith in, INSTEAD of in God. The fact that such methods are "open to all religions and belief systems" stands as clear
evidence that it is not of God, or compatible with His teaching, which is NOT open to all belief systems, but insists on
belief in the TRUTH. -- Paul ([email protected]), March 09, 2003.
Skooby's words (from the Catechism of the Catholic Church) bear repeating:
2117: All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at ones service
and have a supernatural power over otherseven if this were for the sake of restoring their healthare gravely contrary
to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming
someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism
often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her own part warns the faith against it. Recourse to so-called
traditional cures does not justify either powers or the exploitation of anothers credulity.
Jesus didn't "train" to heal others; those healed by Him did not need to come back for a re-check; Jesus healed body and
soul; He did not charge for healing. These are just a few differences between Christ's healing and reiki.
The biggest difference, of course, is that Christ's healing came from God.
Reiki healing does not invoke God at all, but rather channels "energy" or power from some other source. The "energy" has
an intelligence all its own, and goes where it will. The reiki practitioner has no control over it, except to pass it on.
Reiki practitioners all use the same Bible quote as the one cited above by cindy lee, when trying to woo Christians. They
also all chant the same mantra, "reiki can do no harm." Yes, it can. Beware. http://www.crossveil.org/page9.html Pax
Christi. -- Anna ([email protected]), March 10, 2003.
I have no answer, but a question? Reiki as I understand it deals with Chi. I am an acupuncturist and use the concept of
Chi in my practice to help my patients, would you consider this "New Age?" Is oriental medicine in your opinion in the
same category as other occult practices? Would you consider having acupuncture for low back pain? Thank you for your
reply. PHS -- Dr. Paul H. Stuetzer ([email protected]), April 28, 2003.
Jmj Hello, Dr. Stuetzer.
You stated: "Reiki as I understand it deals with Chi. I am an acupuncturist and use the concept of Chi in my practice to
help my patients, would you consider this 'New Age?' Is oriental medicine in your opinion in the same category as other
occult practices? Would you consider having acupuncture for low back pain? Thank you for your reply."
If you are a Christian, and if you practice "non-Western" techniques without involving elements of any "Eastern" religion,
then there is nothing immoral in using them. If the only way to use something like acupuncture is to involve some non-
Christian religious elements, then it should be avoided. I know too little about acupuncture to know whether the legitimate
"medicine" therein [if there is any] can be divorced from the "religion" therein [if there is any] -- but you would know.
On the other forum thread on Reiki, one of our excellent "regulars" here, Anna, wrote in February:
"[T]he Vatican has ... come out with a statement on the New Age, and although reiki practitioners claim that this practice
is derived from ancient practices, many aspects of it could be categorized as New Age. 66.



The philosophy behind reiki is 'pantheistic,' while Catholicism (and Christianity) is 'monotheistic.' Pantheism is the belief
that 'everything is God, that the world is God, or that the development of the world is the development of God' (Catechism
of the Catholic Church paragraph 285). Monotheism is the belief that there is One True God. In reiki, the 'universal life
force' (or qi, ki, chi) is drawn from the earth or atmosphere, through the reiki practitioner, and channeled into the
recipient (or 'patient.') This channeling of energy [allegedly] brings about a physical change in the patient. Some reiki
practitioners will call this 'universal life force,' 'God.' [Catechism] paragraph 2117 condemns this practice, even if it is
being used to restore one's health. Try a bit of research at www.crossveil.com, which explains reiki far better than I ever
could. A former reiki practitioner, now Catholic, describes reiki in detail." [Thanks, Anna.] God bless you. John -- J. F.
Gecik ([email protected]), April 29, 2003.
Thanks, John, for your response. I've been away from this forum for just a couple days. I don't claim to be well versed in
reiki or the new age, but I can tell you of an experience of someone dear to me who received reiki treatments to alleviate
migraine headaches. She ultimately came to the conclusion that if some unknown supernatural force or power other than
the power of Christ was being used by the practitioner to alleviate her pain, she'd rather live with the migraines and offer
them up for the poor souls in purgatory! We can actually sometimes benefit ourselves or others spiritually by our physical
sufferings. Not all means of alleviating physical sufferings are "spiritually good" for us. Pax Christi. -- Anna
([email protected]), April 30, 2003.

12. Reiki, Compatible with the Christian Faith?
Miguel Pastorino http://www.zenit.org/rssspanish-30862 April 19, 2009
Translated from the Spanish original by Luz Maria Engineer, Mumbai, India
Recently the North American bishops published a document regarding the incompatibility of the Christian faith with the
practice of Reiki. In order to go deeper into this theme Zenit interviewed Fr. Miguel Pastorino, who participated in
the International Consultation on New Age which took place in the Holy See in 2004, which was dedicated especially to
the study of new therapies promoted by this movement. Fr. Miguel Pastorino is founding member of the Ibero American
Web for the Study of Sects (RIES) and presently Director of the Department of Social Communication of the Archdiocese
of Montevideo, (Uruguay).
What is Reiki actually?
It is not merely therapy, but a spiritual vision of the cosmos, with initiation rites and a pantheistic spirituality which is
amalgamated with Christian elements and esoteric and agnostic principles, according to various schools or systems. Reiki
is defined as a spiritual path or system of spiritual growth by many of its masters. As a method of natural healing by
means of the universal cosmic energy Reiki is a term of Japanese origin which refers to the universal (rei) vital energy
(ki) which flows through a person who has been attuned into Reiki.
Rei describes the universal, impersonal, omniscient being which bestows life, like the rays of the sun upon all living
beings. Ki is what emanates from the rei, is the energy or vital force which passes by means of all that lives. Usually
ReiKi is translated as: Spiritually guided Universal energy Reiki affirms that all illness is always caused by an
imbalance of the vital energy. For this reason, one must find the harmony balance of the energy existing in the
different energy centers of the body (chakras), by means of the imposition of hands. Many of its practitioners promise
great relief for those who receive it, in the physical and spiritual plane, a great relaxation and deep sense of interior
peace a new life.
Reiki centres offer courses of up to 3 or 4 levels: In the first level, the four inferior chakras are opened, which function as
receptive channels of energy (other authors speak of learning to attune the energy and do not speak of the opening of
the chakras) by means of some established ceremonies, and the use of hands for healing is learned; in the second level
other initiatory steps are given and the symbols which characterize Reiki therapy are revealed and healing from a distance
can be done (3
rd
symbol). In the third level, maturity is achieved and one reaches mastery, although actually there is a
forth level for this.
What are the Chakras?
Yes, well, not all Reiki systems use the resource of Chakras; New Age has dispersed the use of the same n different
alternative therapies under the pretense of scientific truth, which it obviously does not have.
Chakra is a masculine gender Sanskrit word which means wheel, circle, that is, charkas are vortexes or very active
centers, like whirlwinds, of cosmic energy in the human body (7 main ones in Hinduism, 4 according to Buddhism). It is a
belief of Hindu origin, related to the 7 bodies (esoteric, physical, mental, astral, ethereal, subtle, animist). They are
reflections of the subtle body, found in the human body, which subsists after death and contributes to the animation of
the foetus at the moment of reincarnation of the soul in another body. That is, it is a religious belief.
What is the origin of this system?
Healing by means of energy has a millenarian antiquity in Asia, but Reiki sprang up at the beginning of the 19
th
C with
Mikao Usui (1865-1929), dean of a small university in Kyoto, Japan; a noble, virtuous and admired person. A teacher with
the charism of guru, he had mystic visions, and created the new healing system, which is not only a technique but a
spiritual path as well. It is said he went up to Mt. Kurama, Kyoto, and that in the course of meditating he received the
capacity to channelise universal energy. Usui placed Reiki under the system of natural healing which he began to reveal
from then on. In this way he established the Usui Reiki Risho Gakkai in Tokyo, where he established initiation ceremonies
for is disciples. 67.



In its initial stage Reiki emerges as a sect (Universal Vital Energy) which is later brought to the West (not secularized fully)
as a curative practice. Then in 1980 the American International Reiki Association is instituted, contributing to its diffusion
in Western countries. The same name, Reiki, is used by the Usui sect as well as for the practice of alternative or
complementary therapy, from which springs the confusion among many. Similarly to other Eastern Masters, Usui
redefines some ethical principles of Confucianism and other Asian traditions. Actually, there exist many diverse schools
and systems of training for Reiki, as a result of the natural adaptations that the original version went through upon
arriving in the West. This is the reason why it is difficult to speak of one unique Reiki system.
Because there may exist Reiki Masters who teach it in fidelity to Mikao Usui, having no intentions of deceiving anyone,
Christians cannot ignore the doctrinal incompatibility of its doctrines with the Christian faith, though it may present itself
as harmless therapy. It is well known how difficult it is to delineate the borderline between the therapeutic and the
spiritual in eastern disciplines. While defending works on the spirituality of the person, an implicit religious content is
always included, though it may not be called religion.
In general, which are the main elements of the cosmovision of Reiki which are incompatible with the Christian faith?
In the first place, the cosmic dualism of Taoist origin, the theory of opposites (Yin-Yang) living in constant spiritual
warfare against negative energies, from which one is safeguarded by protecting symbols (shields), amulets which
promote a magic and superstitious mentality. On the other hand, in its writings there underlies a pantheism which reduces
God to an energy which can be channelised if one concentrates and learns the techniques to do so. The syncretism is
such that in its prayers to the Father, he is called the Universal Superior Being and the Holy Spirit is equated to Ki or
Chi, that is to say, the energy permeating all which is received from the Universe, since God is no longer a person, but
an energy which we can channelise. In some cases they resort to a pseudoscientific language to explain that we do not
see God simply because he is an energy at another frequency level. This suffices to understand that they are very far from
the Christian faith and steeped in the New Age.
Similarly, some manuals of other Gnostic anthropologies speak of a divine spark trapped in our flesh and 90% of its
adherents believe in reincarnation. Also, Jesus is called a great master healer who imposed hands and even funnily,
propose him as a very ancient Reiki master. They include a doctrine about Jesus which disfigures his identity as God-
made-man and as unique Saviour, making him a healer among many. The Christian sense of the imposition of hands has
nothing to do with the use they make of this gesture in Reiki.
Suffice it to say that no one can call himself a Christian and have such a vision of God, of the world, of humanity and life
after death. I have nothing against therapies of Japanese origin, but I always warm Catholics about the incompatibility of
this doctrine that presents itself as a simple therapy with the Christian faith.
Seeing that the world of new alternative therapies is so complex, how does one discern when it is
distancing us from the Christian faith?
Serious discernment is required with reference to the multitude of eastern disciplines imported to the West, since in the
case that it may not be prejudicial in itself, it is important that one does not err in rejecting what is different just because
it is unknown, nor giving nave credence due to lack of a critical sense and adherence to the faith. The majority of Eastern
disciplines brought to the west in the second half of the 20
th
C (Yoga, Martial Arts, Zen Meditation, Tai Chi Chuan, Chi
Kung, etc.) enjoy the beneficial healing testimonies received by those who practice them. That is because when practiced
in a well purified content and with serious discernment, it is not a problem for a Christian to practice any one of them,
except when it includes the learning of doctrinal and spiritual elements. An actual difficulty is that many of these are being
reinvested with esoteric spiritualities promoted by New Age. One has to discern case by case and an important vaccine
for good discernment is a deep experience of faith in Jesus Christ and solid Christian formation.
The North American bishops have declared the scientific invalidity of Reiki. What is your opinion in this
regard?
Clearly it has no scientific validation, as well as many other therapies imported from the East, and much less do those
pseudo-therapies promoted by the New Age. I believe a dangerous situation is brought about when a person abandons
medical treatment in order to immerse himself in endless strange therapies with no scientific validation. One of the
problems brought about by some Reiki masters is the promise of total healing, which obviously is not true. Reiki
contradicts all advances made in the medical field. It presumes to find the cause for all that is bad in the energetic,
spiritual and psycho-somatic imbalances. In this sense, there is a lot of dogmatism, lack of seriousness, discernment and
honesty in this type of affirmations. The so called complementary therapies, among which Reiki is included, enjoy good
propaganda, but not all are equally serious and are not always as effective as promised. It is true that traditional medicine
has not opened itself too much toward new paradigms in its field, but it is also true that today anyone can proclaim
himself therapist and one does not know of what discipline, where he graduated from, nor if anything he says is true.
With all the scientific advances and the presence of new forms of uninstitutionalized religion it becomes difficult to draw
conceptual limits, and thus, the border line between science, magic, the paranormal and the religious appears to be
diluted in a gnostic magma. Many are confused by the misinformation that exists with regard to this topic.
You are from Uruguay. What is the situation like in your country?
The socio-cultural fashion of the New Age is the main distributor of Reiki in our country and the majority of its healing
centres are truly centres of eastern spirituality, syncretic, where its practitioners end up believing in reincarnation, and
that they form part of the great universal, impersonal and energetic being. Instead of fostering faith in the grace of God
they foster faith in the energy that invades everything and whose absence brings about the deterioration of beings. 68.



Jesus Christ is relativised into another healer among the many in the history of humanity as he is equaled to other
Buddhas (enlightened), and his identity is altered when he is not recognized as God among us.
Just like the many disciplines promoted by New Age, Reiki is accompanied by a series of manuals and theoretical material
which minimize Christianity with a syncretism that relativises the basis for the Christian faith behind a Buddhist and even
esoteric fascination. It presents itself as non-religion when all the themes it touches upon and about which it attempts to
bring newness are clearly religious.
Many Christians thirsting for peace, harmony, security and inner and physical healing go out to search in the East i (and at
times perhaps in the consumeristic caricature New Age has made out of ancient eastern traditions) for what they have not
found in the West that is colder, more rationalist, dried up by secularism, and empty of spirituality. The historic churches
have at times been imprisoned by a modern paradigm and a secularized theology, making themselves incapacitated in the
art of giving answers to the spiritual thirst of our times. On the other hand, the religious marketplace is the latest
novelty for the anxious consumer of new spiritual experiences masked as therapies, thus taking the lead in the battle to
offer answers to the spiritual needs that are most urgent.
Then again, I cannot generalize, since there are many Catholics, who ignoring the doctrinal incompatibilities, launch out
on spiritual paths they think are complementary and have found therein something of peace and spiritual well-being. That
is certain, yet one must not cease to explain that sooner or later those paths will distance them from the gospel. This
situation addresses us with regard to our mission of evangelization. Why does one have to go seeking in other wells for
what in Jesus Christ will satisfy thirst in abundance?
Some people classify Reiki as a sect. How should we think of it?
It is not a sect but the question is a complex one. People who practice it have very good intentions: to improve their life
and that of others, to be channels of love {cosmic and divine}, to be instruments of healing. Many conduct their sessions
absolutely free since charity cannot be priced, all of which is a sign of the ethical and spiritual renewal which is produced
in many of these ambiences, which is a very positive thing. Yet, on the other hand, anything tied up with the New Age is
being turned into a new religious business for many. We are becoming swamped with Reiki masters who charge up to
$2,000 and higher per level, extremely costly courses which enjoy a good reputation in Fitness Centers. If one looks at the
promotional material of various centers in Montevideo one finds testimonies of what Reiki has done in their lives, their
spiritual search and how Reiki appears as the answer, even selling amulets with symbols that attract energy
They also say it is compatible with any religion because all religious syncretism present itself as such: all is
complementary while being faced with the opposite. Many new syncretic religious movements present themselves as
complementary when in reality they are substitutes for traditional religions. Many are those who under the faade of
simple therapy have found a spiritual master who listens to them, a welcoming community, and environment of peace and
harmony, a new religion which since it is not institutionalized they say is not a religion.
In any case it must be said that it is not a Church, or a sect, but it suffices to read the manuals to see that a cosmo-vision
like this is a religious proposition with doctrine, cult and spirituality. This is how we are able to see in a practitioner of
Reiki psychological traits of a new convert: fanaticism, close-mindedness and persecution paranoia towards those who
want to questions certain aspects of their new discovery. When one listens to their conversation, they are not speaking
about matters of therapy but spiritual ones.
We should not condemn the good intentions of so many people who want to improve the quality of their lives, but we
Christians can fall into the temptation of taking spirituality for granted or importing it from Asia as a result of having dried
up our own well. It is not in vain that the Holy See has named the document regarding the New Age Jesus Christ, the
Bearer of living water, calling us in the face of the New Age to rediscover our own genuine Christian spirituality, which we
have not always cultivated in depth. Besides, with the great problems we are submerged in, in the agonizing and
alienating anonymity in which we live, many pay any price in order to feel important, feel special, by being an energy or
healing Master. Today everyone wants to be a guru.
What challenges does this type of therapy promoted among its own believers present to the Church?
Many of these present problems within our Church are solved with a spiritual renewal, with a true conversion and today is
the appropriate time for the first proclamation and adult catechumenate which will truly initiate Catholics into life in Christ
and the mysteries of our faith. As our Latin American bishops affirmed at Aparecida, a faith reduced to cultural baggage, a
list of moral norms and devotional practices, the occasional practice of some sacraments, cannot resist the onslaught of
the times. Our greatest threat is the grey pragmatism of the Church in which apparently all is moving normally but in
reality faith is wasting away.
The solution to many of the present problems is to have a real and profound existential encounter with the Living Christ,
which changes lives and centers the pastoral life in the inexhaustible fountain of the Christian life, which is Jesus Christ
himself. A true pastoral conversion is required which will help us come to the realization that we cannot neglect the
essential. Perhaps as Christians we have spoken little or almost nothing to our brothers about the love God has for us,
about our reality as unique and unrepeatable beings, about grace, about the life of God poured on us, about the need for
being healed of our spiritual, psychic and physical wounds; and perhaps this type of thing will tell us that we have left
some vacuums which others have come to fill. Today many are those who manifest a hunger and thirst for spiritual
growth, especially in counties that are highly secularized. I am happy to see how in many places in the world there is an
awakening of a spiritual renewal in the Church, which without doubt is the best vaccine for many of the present
challenges facing us. 69.



13. Spanish diocese prohibits use of Catholic buildings by pseudo-religious sects and
movements http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=8641 February 15, 2007
MADRID, February 14 (CNA) - This week the Archdiocese of Burgos in Spain announced it has prohibited the use of
church buildings and facilities by pseudo-religious sects that disguise or hide their true identity, in order to thwart their
chameleon-like strategy of proselytism. In a statement, the archdioceses denounced the evil and fanatical
proselytism of religious sects that employ the chameleon-like tact of toning down their own identity in order to resemble
the religion of the majority in each place, which in Spain is Catholicism.
Thus, the statement continued, sects initially encounter little resistance. Once they have conquered someones heart,
their reasons obscure common sense and it becomes easier to make the person a follower.
The archdiocese warned that one of the strategies of such groups is to use Catholic facilities (schools, diocesan centers,
retreat houses) to hold their events. It has been done and continues to be done despite the obvious manipulation
intended to overwhelm the initial resistance of possible attendees and especiallyif they are minorsof their parents or
teachers, who in turn run the risk of concluding that such groups are compatible with the faith and with Christian morals
simply because of the place where they are meeting. For this reason, the archdioceses said no Catholic facilities would be
allowed to be used by pseudo-religious sects associated with movements and philosophies such as the New Age, Yoga,
transcendental meditation, Rei-ki, Dianetics, and others. If the nature of a particular group that is requesting use
of Catholic facilities is not known, the statement indicated, efforts must be made to obtain the essential information about
the group that will enable officials to determine its purpose and goals. Even if authorization is granted, individuals
capable of discernment may be asked to attend the meetings to witness first-hand the groups activities.

14 A. Reiki and healing touch
CHRISTIAN OR NEW AGE? PART III by Susan Brinkmann, Special to the Herald. Aug 9, 2007
http://www.coloradocatholicherald.com/display.php?xrc=543
This is the third part of a series that examines how Catholics are being challenged by followers of New Age philosophies.
Everyone wants to be healed. Anyone who has ever attended a healing Mass can attest to the crowds that flock to the
altar of the Lord to receive his healing touch. Unfortunately, there are plenty of imitations available in the so-called "New
Age" movement. One of the most popular is Reiki, with a variety of close cousins such as "healing touch," "therapeutic
touch" and "hands of light."
Those alternative therapies are among practices that Catholics are cautioned about in a Vatican document, "Jesus Christ
The Bearer of the Water of Life A Christian reflection on the New Age," issued in 2003 by the Pontifical Council for
Culture and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
In their warning, the councils note that in such New Age therapies, "the source of healing is said to be within ourselves,
something we reach when we are in touch with our inner energy or cosmic energy."
According to Moira Noonan, a former Reiki Master and author of a memoir, "Ransomed from Darkness," that is, indeed,
what Reiki teaches. "Reiki is a method of healing through the transmission and activation of a persons spiritual energy,"
she writes. "This therapy looks somewhat like the Christian laying-on of hands, but this is deceptive. The symbolism of
Reiki is deeply influenced by Buddhist traditions and invisible spirit guides. These spirit guides are specifically invoked by
name to confer their healing powers."
There is discrepancy in what is said to be the true history of Reiki. For instance, organizations that are involved in selling
the concept to the largely Christian West either downplay or deny its association with Buddhism. See "What Catholics
believe" later in this article. However, disinterested parties, such as academic centers for religious studies, seem to agree
on certain key facts about Reiki.
First, it was said to be rediscovered in the 19th century by a medical doctor named Mikao Usui.
Second, Usui rediscovered Reiki during a 21-day retreat devoted to studying Buddhist Tantric texts. Tantric Buddhism
involves the use of spells, incantations, complicated rituals and magical powers to achieve enlightenment.
And, third, Reiki energy supposedly entered Usui during his retreat. From that time on, Usui had healing power, and he
initiated others into the secrets of that power through what he called "attunements."
In that procedure, "attunement energies" are channeled into students through Reiki masters, who are guided by the Rei
or God-consciousness, and by other Reiki "guides" and other spiritual entities that help the process along.
Like other forms of New Age healing, Reiki is promoted as a technique that is obtainable through weekend workshops.
Becoming a Reiki master can be expensive: Workshop fees range from $175 to $500.
Healing Touch
Healing practices that are based on using energy-channeling to heal have morphed into a variety of techniques known as
"healing touch" or "therapeutic touch."
One of the most popular is promoted by Barbara Brennan, a former NASA research scientist turned New Age healer. The
author of "Hands of Light," Brennan is regarded as one of the most widely recognized teachers of New Age healing that
uses spirit guides. The former New-Ager Noonan attended Brennans institute.
"As Brennan herself admits, her ideas are drawn from direct communication with a spirit guide named Heyoan," Noonan
writes in her memoir. "(Brennans) channelings from this entity are regularly published word-for-word by her institute, and
offered to the world as expressions of divine wisdom. This is what I mean when I talk about the role of demons in the
practice of Reiki," Noonan writes. 70.



Another former New Age practitioner, Clare McGrath Merkle, had similar experiences with energy healers, which caused
her to return to the Catholic faith. Merkle is an accomplished author and speaker who has appeared on the Eternal Word
Television Network (EWTN) and various national radio programs. She now devotes her life to warning people about the
dangers of the New Age. Merkle says one popular, so-called energy healing technique is being promoted by a company
called Healing Touch International (HTI). HTI was founded in 1993 by two nurses who wanted to bring the influence of
New Age "energy channeling" techniques to hospitals, schools and parishes.
Merkle writes in the article, "Is Healing Touch at your parish?" that "The HTI web site describes the techniques as energy
based healing therapies from a Judeo-Christian perspective. They (say they) teach ways to integrate Healing Touch into
church/parish healing ministry." But, she says, beneath its Christian veneer, the principles underlying "Healing Touch" are
not compatible with Catholicism. "If you go to their Web site and look at their recommended resources and books, its a
mile long of occult texts," Merkle said.
That is not how it appears to the public however: "They work in teams at hospitals, and come around to your bed and
ask, Would you like us to pray over you? Of course people who are sick are going to say yes. Then they start doing their
energy work."
Is this deliberate deception on the part of Healing Touch practitioners?
Probably not, Merkle says. The problem is that most practitioners have done little more than read a few books or take a
few weekend workshops in their training. Very few can correctly identify the source of the "energy" theyre trying to
manipulate.
According to Merkle, many experts say that although such "energy" techniques are known by different names, they have
the same root: "The root is in Kundalini yoga and the raising of the serpent power up the spine, opening the chakras
and giving people magical occult powers. She says New Age "energy techniques" and "healing modalities," as they are
called, are forms of this magic.
What Catholics Believe
The fact that these practices borrow from other religions is not the problem, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said in the
1989 document issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, "Some Aspects of Christian Meditation."
Speaking about various forms of Eastern meditation, he assures us that we can adopt what is good from other religions,
"as long as the Christian conception of prayer, its logic and requirements are never obscured." The problem with Reiki and
healing touch is that it is based on beliefs peculiar to various forms of Hinduism and Buddhism which "posit the existence
of a life energy (ki or kundalini) and interpret that energy as spiritual," which is not a Christian belief.
Christians believe that man is a union of body and soul, and that the soul is an essential form of the body not an
energy force. "From a spiritual perspective, we believe the soul is the life-principle of the body, not something else," wrote
the editors at Catholic Answers. "Consequently, there is no spiritual life energy animating the body. Any energy used as
part of the bodys operations such as the electricity in our nervous system is material in nature, not spiritual. . . .
Since this (belief) is contrary to Christian theology, it is inappropriate for Christians to participate in activities based on this
belief."
Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa, an internationally known biblical scholar and popular television and radio host, raises another
question about practitioners of those and other healing fads that are being practiced, in some cases, on a churchs
property. "Are these people practicing medicine without a license?" he asks. "And if so, who is going to be liable if theres
a malpractice suit?" Although many practitioners sincerely believe they are helping people, there is no scientific study
associated with any of these methods, Father Pacwa says. Even more troubling is the fact that their practitioners disguise
them as a form of the Christian laying-on of hands, according to Father Pacwa.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the laying on of hands as a "sign" (CCC, No. 699) not a means of
channeling "energy."
"Reiki is an attempt to make a technique out of praying for the sick," Father Pacwa said. "Praying for the sick has to be
understood as an aspect of Gods grace operative in our lives. Its not a technique. Thats where it becomes magical,
and Christianity is not about using magic." NEXT TOPIC: We look at enneagrams.

14B. ENERGY MEDICINE: PART ONE THE SCIENCE
CHRISTIAN OR NEW AGE? PART VIII by Susan Brinkmann, Special to the Herald, October 18, 2007
http://www.coloradocatholicherald.com/display.php?xrc=742
This is the eighth of a series that examines how Catholics are being challenged by followers of New Age philosophies.
Its called "ki" in Japan, "chi" in China and "prana" in India but it all means the same thing a form of
universal "energy" which is believed to flow through human beings that can become unbalanced. Practitioners of
Therapeutic Touch, Reiki, yoga, tai chi, Qi Gong, polarity therapy, and as many as 60 other forms of "energy
healing" seek to channel this energy to restore health.
Although originating in the East, energy medicine has become popular in the West, and is practiced in many U.S. medical
facilities.
Because these practices are not regulated by the FDA and are not required to meet their rigorous standards of efficacy,
consumers need to beware. This is especially true because alternative and complementary medicine has become a
multimillion dollar business in the United States.
71.



In order to protect consumers against potential fraud, Congress established a National Center for Complimentary and
Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in 1998.
In an overview of the field of energy medicine, the NCCAM has concluded that most techniques are not scientifically valid.
As their report indicates, consumers need to be made aware of the scientific distinction between the two forms of energy
veritable and putative and which is involved in energy medicine.
Veritable energy consists of mechanical vibrations (such as sound) and electromagnetic forces, including visible light,
magnetism, monochromatic radiation and rays from other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. "They involve the use of
specific, measurable wavelengths and frequencies to treat patients," the report states.
Putative energy is what practitioners of Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, reflexology and yoga purport to be manipulating.
It consists of alleged "energy fields" that human beings are supposedly infused with. This subtle form of
energy, or "life force," is known as "ki" in Japanese medicine and "chi" in Chinese medicine, and elsewhere
as "prana," etheric energy and homeopathic resonance.
"These approaches are among the most controversial of complementary and alternative medical practices," the NIH
reports, "because neither the external energy fields nor their therapeutic effects have been demonstrated convincingly by
any biophysical means."
According to Victor Stenger, professor emeritus of physics and astronomy at the University of Hawaii, the most powerful
and accurate detectors known to science have never discovered even a hint of this energy form.
"Much of alternative medicine is based on claims that violate well established scientific principles," writes Stenger in his
article, "Energy Medicine," which appeared in The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine.
"Those that require the existence of a bio-energetic field, whether therapeutic touch or [traditional Chinese]
acupuncture, should be asked to meet the same criteria as anyone else who claims a phenomenon whose existence
goes beyond established science. They have an enormous burden of proof. . . ."
The fact that major nursing organizations and publications refer to these unsubstantiated energy forms is causing major
problems in the medical community. "Medical journals should follow the lead of most scientific journals and not publish
extraordinary claims without extraordinary evidence," Stenger writes.
Unfortunately, there is confusion among the public and even among some healers as to what kind of energy is being
manipulated. This is why the best source for this information is the practitioners own literature.
For instance, Reiki literature clearly refers to the energy it manipulates as a "spiritually guided life-force energy." Polarity
therapists claim they are working the "human energy field" but go on to say that this energy field "exists everywhere in
nature." Cranial Sacral Biodynamics claims it works on the "formation of a relationship between the practitioner and
the inherent ordering principle, the Breath of Life" of a client.
Energy medicine also causes confusion in the professional realm particularly in the field of legitimate medical
massage, which is defined as the manual manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for therapeutic purposes.
Confusing legitimate medical massage with energy healers who purport to do much more, casts a pall of charlatanism
over the whole medical profession.
The problem has become so serious that the American Medical Massage Association (AMMA) issued a position statement
in December 2005 denouncing six categories of what are considered metaphysical, paranormal or pseudoscientific
practices that include Reiki, therapeutic touch, touch for health, crystal healing, aroma energy and many others.
The AMMA believes the widespread use of these methods "has advanced to the point of becoming a serious problem that
is adversely affecting the overall professional image and reputation of massage therapy in the United States."
According to the AMMAs legislative and external affairs coordinator, Amanda Cihak, "While it is scientific fact that the
human body is comprised of energy, i.e., protons, neutrons, electrons, there is a vast difference between those massage
therapists wanting to assist the bodys natural healing processes and those who claim they can manipulate ones energy,
chi, life-force, etc. "Many times a practitioner will perform Reiki, Energy Healing, Cranial Sacral or Polarity Therapy
without the consent or desire of a client, while they believe they are receiving an actual clinical or medical massage
treatment," Cihak says.
Insurance companies are yet another industry experiencing problems from this confusion of legitimate medical massage
and energy healing. According to Cihak, more and more companies throughout the country are making a distinction
between massage therapy which includes Reiki practitioners, and clinical massage therapy which requires additional
training, documentation and education specifically in clinical/medical massage. The confusion is enhanced when energy
healers are permitted to work in legitimate medical facilities. This is particularly problematic in Christian hospitals.
Aside from showing a long list of "professional organization" endorsements, energy healers often get in the door at
Christian hospitals by claiming techniques such as Therapeutic Touch and Reiki have nothing to do with religion.
According to the Catholic Medical Association (CMA), these claims are untrue.
In their February 2004 position statement, titled, "Therapeutic Touch is not a Catholic Hospital Pastoral Practice," the
CMA explains why these practices come with considerable "religious baggage" in spite of the application of a secular
veneer, and are therefore not compatible with Catholicism. "Therapeutic touch is essentially a New Age manifestation in a
medical setting," writes Doctor Patrick Guinan in the CMA document. "New Age philosophy is well defined in the recent
Vatican document, Jesus Christ, The Bearer of the Waters of Life. New Age is the belief that conscious reality consists of
cosmic energy and pantheistic forces that can be known and controlled by an elite knowledgeable in this mystical system.
New Age is in direct contrast to traditional Western Judeo-Christian culture that posits a personal God and humans
endowed with a free will." 72.


14C. ENERGY MEDICINE: PART TWO THE THEOLOGY
CHRISTIAN OR NEW AGE? PART IX by Susan Brinkmann, Special to the Herald, November 2, 2007
http://www.coloradocatholicherald.com/display.php?xrc
This is the ninth part of a series that examines how Catholics are being challenged by followers of New Age philosophies.
A nurse who practices energy medicine claims in a journal for Christian nurses that she was told "God had blessed her
with the gift of healing through the manipulation of a persons energy field."
One Web site claims that energy medicine is "in alignment with the Bible."
Yet another advises: "Reiki provides a very wonderful way for Christians to make use of Gods power. . . . When giving or
receiving Reiki attunements or treatments, just call on God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to work directly through you
and do the healing for you."
Those are examples of the way practitioners of energy medicine are drawing Christians into a wide variety of healing
methods, such as Reiki, therapeutic touch, Qi Gong, polarity therapy and crystal healing, all of which are based
on the alleged existence of a universal life force that can be manipulated for healing.
Can we simply substitute the name of Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, for this energy, or choose to believe that the source of the
energy is God?
Unfortunately, no. The basic concept of energy medicine the energy, itself is not a Christian belief. It belongs to New
Age and non-Christian religions.
"The New Age god is an impersonal energy, a particular extension or component of the cosmos; god in this sense is the
life-force or soul of the world," states the Vaticans document on New Age practices and philosophies, "Christ, Bearer of
the Water of Life."
"This is very different from the Christian understanding of God as the maker of heaven and earth and the source of all
personal life," it continued. "God is in Himself personal, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who created the universe in order
to share the communion of His life with creaturely persons."
That aspect of a loving God is missing from the "force" in energy medicine, according to Father Anthony J. Costa, the
director of Spiritual Formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary College Division in Philadelphia.
"Theres an intimacy with God that is integral to our faith. he loves us unconditionally. We look to the different texts in the
Old and New Testaments and see the intimate love that he has for us," Father Costa said. "We see all the examples of his
love for us and his desire to be with us. We see this in the petitions in the Our Father, the intimacy with Abba, our Father
this desire Jesus has for us to be in union with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You dont have that with an energy
force."
He added that healing through energy medicine also lacks one of the most important components of Jesus ministry
spiritual healing. "There are many examples from the Gospel where the healing leads to conversion, with conversion being
a central aspect of our faith, which is not noted in any of these methods," Father Costa said.
Meanwhile, plenty of people involved in the propagation of energy medicine try to convince their followers otherwise, and
they are not afraid to use distortions of Scripture to try to make their point. Perhaps the most common error is to confuse
the Christian laying on of hands with New Age methods of energy manipulation.
For instance, William Lee Rand, founder of the International Center for Reiki Training, in his article, "Was Jesus a Reiki
Master?" goes so far as to suggest that because Jesus sometimes laid hands on people while healing them, he may have
been using Reiki.
"There are many similarities between the laying on of hands healing Jesus did and the practice of Reiki," Rand writes. He
goes on to list only those episodes in the Gospels where Jesus used his hands to heal excluding every other method,
such as the casting out of demons and healing by command.
Rands article "seems to cite different examples from Scripture about healings, and give an interpretation that misses the
real spirit of the [Gospel] text," Father Costa said.
"Sure Jesus touched people when he healed. But there are other cases such as when he healed the centurions servant
when he "said but the word," and they were healed. The foundation is that it comes through Christ," Father Costa
added. "Its not simply powers that are being passed from one person to the other. The source is Jesus."
Kathleen McCarthy, president of In His Sign Network, who has been involved in a charismatic healing ministry for 33
years, notes significant differences between the Christian laying on of hands and what is done by energy healers.
"In the charismatic gift of healing and the laying on of hands, the hands are a just a symbol of service," McCarthy said.
"Were not acting as a channel. Were not a conduit for any energy. We are an instrument of Gods healing. There is only
one healer Jesus Christ and were calling upon him to touch the person. Our hands are just an outward sign showing
this person that were joining with them in prayer."
That is an important difference from practitioners of energy medicine techniques such as Reiki, McCarthy said: "The Reiki
master and students think this is their power a power that stays with them, that they cant lose. When I lay my hands
on a person, I know this is a passing manifestation of Gods power.
"Its the power of the living God. Its not a power that I have. All I do is come in the name of the one who has atoned for
the world. I come in his name."
Thinking that we can participate in these practices simply by believing that the energy comes from God can be a
dangerous delusion, particularly in the case of techniques such as Reiki, which employ "attunement" rituals involving
secret symbols and the use of spirit guides. 73.



On his Web site, Rand says that the attunement process "opens the crown, heart and palm chakras and creates a special
link between the student and the Reiki source."
He goes on: "The Reiki attunement is a powerful spiritual experience. The attunement energies are channeled into the
student through the Reiki Master. . . . The attunement is also attended by Reiki guides and other spiritual beings who help
implement the process."
The process Rand describes is riddled with dangers, from the unnamed Reiki "source" to the channeling of energy and the
use of spirits to implement the process.
"Nowhere does Scripture teach us to channel energy in the way characteristic of Reiki," writes Father Gareth Leyshon, a
Cardiff, Wales-trained astrophysicist who was ordained a priest in May, 2007, on his Web sites "Catholic Critique of the
Healing Art of Reiki."
"In fact, presuming that God will assist in a way which He has not revealed to be His will constitutes the sin of tempting
God," Father Leyshon stated.
Particularly problematic in the case of Reiki is its process of initiation, which uses secret symbols. Even though first-level
practitioners are initiated by having the symbols replicated over them, rather than being taught them they may not
even be aware of the symbols at the time the ritual incorporates into it what Father Leyshon describes as "divination."
"If these symbols originate in a non-Christian mystical experience (which they do, according to Reiki sources) then any
attempt to use them (including the attunement to become a first-level initiate) constitutes a use of knowledge obtained by
divination," he writes.
"The mere fact of needing to be initiated rather than simply being taught to manipulate ki gives Reiki the character of a
ritual rather than a therapy," Father Leyshon adds.
Indeed, the fact that there is any initiation at all should be the first warning that Christians are entering a dangerous area,
he said: "One who submits to a Reiki initiation allows spiritual authority to be exercised over oneself. Since the authority is
not clearly sourced in the Triune God, this act of submission must constitute idolatry; and the indispensability of initiation
is the clearest sign of why Reiki cannot be compatible with Christianity."
Father Leyshon advises pastors and superiors who must confront Reiki in their ministries not to worry so much about
whether there is such a thing as Reiki or whether it is effective. They should simply stress that "Christians are committed
to turn to no spiritual source other than the Triune God, who has not revealed Reiki as a means of harnessing his power."
According to Father Costa, we can confront the advance of "energy" medicine in our own time and place by reaffirming
what we believe and who we believe Jesus is.
"Any time we have anything that is not pointing to Jesus that is not rooted in the healing that comes from him is
always an indicator that we are not being authentic, that we are not following the way of the cross," he said.
(These articles originally appeared in The Catholic Standard and Times, the Philadelphia archdiocesan newspaper.)

15A. Yoga and horoscopes can lead to possession by Devil
by Jonathan Petre [hyperlink] Daily Mail, U.K., 24th May 2008
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1021712/Yoga-horoscopes-lead-posession-Devil-claims-Cardinals-exorcist.html
The book says reading horoscopes could put people at risk from evil spirits
It is a physical workout enjoyed by millions and its devotees include Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sting. But yoga
enthusiasts have been warned by a leading Roman Catholic clergyman that they are in danger of being
possessed by the Devil.
Father Jeremy Davies*, exorcist for Cardinal Cormac Murphy-OConnor, the leader of Catholics in England
and Wales, says that activities such as yoga, massage therapy, reiki or even reading horoscopes could put
people at risk from evil spirits.
In a new book, he also argues that people with promiscuous lifestyles could find themselves afflicted by demons.
And he says that the occult is closely linked to the scourges of drugs, demonic music and pornography which are
destroying millions of young people in our time.
The 73-year-old Catholic priest, who was appointed exorcist of the Archdiocese of Westminster in 1986, was a medical
doctor before being ordained in 1974. He has carried out thousands of exorcisms in London and in 1993 he set up the
International Association of Exorcists with Fr Gabriel Amorth, the Popes top exorcist.
In Exorcism: Understanding Exorcism In Scripture And Practice, which is published by the Catholic Truth Society,
Fr Davies compares militant atheists to rational Satanists, and blames them for a rise in demonic activity.
Yoga enthusiasts 'are in danger of being possessed by the devil'
He adds that perversions such as homosexuality, pornography and promiscuity are contributing to a growing sense of
moral unease. He writes: Even heterosexual promiscuity is a perversion; and intercourse, which belongs in the sanctuary
of married love, can become a pathway not only for disease but also for evil spirits...young people especially are
vulnerable and we must do what we can to protect them.
The thin end of the wedge (soft drugs, yoga for relaxation, horoscopes just for fun and so on) is more dangerous
than the thick end because it is more deceptive an evil spirit tries to make his entry as unobtrusively as possible.
Beware of any claim to mediate beneficial energies (e.g. reiki), any courses that promise the peace that
Christ promises (e.g. enneagrams), any alternative therapy with its roots in eastern religion (e.g.
acupuncture). 74.



Fr Davies argues that occult practices such as magic, fortune-telling and holding sances to contact the spirits of the dead
are direct invitations to the Devil which he readily accepts.
But the Oxford-educated priest, who is based in Luton, Bedfordshire, says there are different degrees of demonic
influence, and the most extreme forms occur rarely.
*Father Jeremy Davies is the exorcist for Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the leader of the Catholic Church in England
and Wales. Biography in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Davies_%28exorcist%29

15B. British exorcist warns that atheism brings Satan into the world
by Simon Caldwell, Catholic News Service, May 25, 2008
http://www.baltcatholicreview.org/subpages/storyworldnew-new.aspx?action=3688
LONDON- Atheism is becoming a key cause of demonic influence in the world, a British exorcist has warned.
Father Jeremy Davies, exorcist of the Archdiocese of Westminster, which covers most of London, said that the spirits
inspiring atheism were those who hate God.
In a new 56-page book called In Exorcism: Understanding Exorcism in Scripture and Practice, Father Davies
wrote that Satan had blinded secular humanists from seeing the dehumanizing effects of contraception and abortion and
IVF (in vitro fertilization), of homosexual marriages, of human cloning and the vivisection of human embryos in scientific
research.
The result, he said, was that Europe was drifting into a dangerous state of apostasy whereby only (through) a genuine
personal decision for Christ and the church can someone separate himself from it.
In the book published by the London-based Catholic Truth Society, he said that sin was the primary reason why people
lost their freedom to the power of the devil.
Father Davies also said atheism was largely to blame for entrapping people in states of perversion.
The book raised concerns about some very unpleasant things that endanger young people especially, and the priest
said, We must do what we can to protect and warn them.
He called occult practices such as magic, fortunetelling and contacting the spirits of the dead direct invitations to the
devil which he readily accepts. He said such practices involve the abandonment of self-control, making them as
corrupting an influence as hard drugs, demonic music and pornography.
At the same time, Father Davies said the thin end of the wedge, such as soft drugs, yoga for relaxation and
horoscopes for fun, were just as dangerous.
Beware of any claim to mediate beneficial energies (e.g. reiki), any courses that promise the peace ... Christ promises
(e.g. enneagrams), any alternative therapy with its roots in Eastern religion (e.g. acupuncture), he added.
They are not harmless, said Father Davies, a former medical doctor who was ordained in 1974 and has been an exorcist
since 1986. Sanity depends on our relationship to reality.
Father Davies also said it was not uncommon for people who later turned away from sinful lifestyles to undergo periods of
supernatural oppression as the devil fought them for their souls.
The priest, who is based in the town of Luton, north of London, said that key among the transgressions that have a
special affinity with Satan was rebellion against God which included the sins of blasphemy, atheism and attacks on
Christ and the church as well as sins against the light, when people resisted Gods grace.
He also warned Catholics to be wary of what he called the idolatrous demonic side of Hinduism, Buddhism,
Shintoism and the druidism that had its origins in ancient Britain.
The exorcist denounced new revelations and criticized Mohammed, founder of Islam; Joseph Smith, founder of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church,
now called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. He called them heretical prophets and false
messiahs who led their followers to a demonic bondage of conscience.
Father Davies strongest condemnation, however, was reserved for the pride of modern atheistic scientists.
Pride is the specific trait of Satan, he said. There are two kinds of Satanism: occultic, in which Satan is worshiped as a
person; and what is said to be even more terrible and certainly is even more deceived, rationalist, in which Satan is
regarded as an impersonal force or symbol and the glory belongs to the Satanists.
How close to rationalist Satanism, without realizing it, is atheistic scientism the hubris of science going beyond its
proper sphere and moral boundaries the tree of knowledge presently spreading its branches throughout our Western
culture, which is rapidly becoming that of the whole world, he said.
He also said that a contagious demonic factor is among the causes of homosexuality.
Even heterosexual promiscuity is a perversion; and intercourse, which belongs in the sanctuary of married love, can
become a pathway not only for disease but also for evil spirits, he said.
His book also spells out the degrees of demonic influence a person may experience, ranging from temptation and sin to
obsession, then possession, with perfect possession being the gravest and rarest form that usually entails a deliberate
commitment to evil on the part of the person involved. The book includes sections on the rites and means of exorcism and
deliverance, including those of buildings and places as well as people.
Father Davies told the reader that if a person is in desperate need of help and feels stranded, he or she should go straight
to the local bishop.
75.




15C. Yoga leads to possession by devils?
PTI Monday, May 26, 2008 http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1166562
LONDON: It's a spiritual practice that provides all the health benefits of physical exercise. Yet, a British exorcist has
claimed that yoga could put people in danger of being possessed by evil spirits.
According to Father Jeremy Davies, exorcist for the leader of Catholics in the UK, yoga puts people at risk from devils
and the occult is closely associated with the scourges of "drugs, demonic music and pornography" which're "destroying
millions of young people in our time".
But Madhavi Padhy, one of the foremost yoga exponents based in New Delhi, laughed off the claims of the 73-year-old
Catholic priest, saying "they are baseless". "Yoga originated in India thousands of years back. It has no connection with
evil spirits. On the contrary, it helps you become more aware of your body, mind and environment. It also plays a key role
in relieving stress and bringing inner peace," Padhy said.
Father Davies has argued in his new book 'In Exorcism: Understanding Exorcism In Scripture And Practice'
published by the Catholic Truth Society, that people who practice yoga may end up afflicting themselves by
demons, British newspaper the 'Daily Mail' has reported.
"The thin end of the wedge (soft drugs, yoga for relaxation, horoscopes just for fun) is more dangerous than the thick end
because it is more deceptive -- an evil spirit tries to make his entry as unobtrusively as possible. Beware of any claim to
mediate beneficial energies (e.g. reiki), any courses that promise the peace that Christ promises (e.g. enneagrams),
any alternative therapy with its roots in eastern religion (e.g. acupuncture)," he wrote in his newly published book.
Father Davies has also said that occult practices such as magic, fortune-telling and holding sances to contact the
spirits of the dead are "direct invitations to the Devil which he readily accepts".
"Even heterosexual promiscuity is a perversion; and intercourse, which belongs in the sanctuary of married love, can
become a pathway not only for disease but also for evil spirits... young people especially are vulnerable and we must do
what we can to protect them."

16A. GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING REIKI AS AN ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
From the Committee on Doctrine, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
March 25, 2009 http://www.usccb.org/dpp/Evaluation_Guidelines_finaltext_2009-03.pdf;
http://www.usccb.org/dpp/doctrine.htm
1. From time to time questions have been raised about various alternative therapies that are often available in the
United States. Bishops are sometimes asked, "What is the Church's position on such therapies?"
The USCCB Committee on Doctrine has prepared this resource in order to assist bishops in their responses
I. HEALING BY DIVINE GRACE AND HEALING BY NATURAL POWERS
2. The Church recognizes two kinds of healing: healing by divine grace and healing that utilizes the powers of nature. As
for the first, we can point to the ministry of Christ, who performed many physical healings and who commissioned his
disciples to carry on that work. In fidelity to this commission, from the time of the Apostles the Church has interceded on
behalf of the sick through the invocation of the name of the Lord Jesus, asking for healing through the power of the Holy
Spirit, whether in the form of the sacramental laying on of hands and anointing with oil or of simple prayers for healing,
which often include an appeal to the saints for their aid.
As for the second, the Church has never considered a plea for divine healing, which comes as a gift from God, to exclude
recourse to natural means of healing through the practice of medicine.
1

Alongside her sacrament of healing and various prayers for healing, the Church has a long history of caring for the sick
through the use of natural means. The most obvious sign of this is the great number of Catholic hospitals that are found
throughout our country.
3. The two kinds of healing are not mutually exclusive. Because it is possible to be healed by divine power does not mean
that we should not use natural means at our disposal. It is not our decision whether or not God will heal someone by
supernatural means. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out, the Holy Spirit sometimes gives to certain human
beings "a special charism of healing so as to make manifest the power of the grace of the risen Lord."
2
This power of
healing is not at human disposal, however, for "even the most intense prayers do not always obtain the healing of all
illnesses."
3
Recourse to natural means of healing therefore remains entirely appropriate, as these are at human disposal.
In fact, Christian charity demands that we not neglect natural means of healing people who are ill.
II. REIKI AND HEALING
A) The Origins and Basic Characteristics of Reiki
4. Reiki is a technique of healing that was invented in Japan in the late 1800s by Mikao Usui, who was studying Buddhist
texts.
4
According to Reiki teaching, illness is caused by some kind of disruption or imbalance in one's "life energy." A Reiki
practitioner effects healing by placing his or her hands in certain positions on the patient's body in order to facilitate the
flow of Reiki, the "universal life energy," from the Reiki practitioner to the patient. There are numerous designated
hand positions for addressing different problems. Reiki proponents assert that the practitioner is not the source of the
healing energy, but merely a channel for it.
5

To become a Reiki practitioner, one must receive an "initiation" or "attunement" from a Reiki Master. 76.




This ceremony makes one "attuned" to the "universal life energy" and enables one to serve as a conduit for it. There are
said to be three different levels of attunement (some teach that there are four). At the higher levels, one can allegedly
channel Reiki energy and effect healings at a distance, without physical contact.
B) Reiki as a Natural Means of Healing
5. Although Reiki proponents seem to agree that Reiki does not represent a religion of its own, but a technique that may
be utilized by people from many religious traditions, it does have several aspects of a religion. Reiki is frequently
described as a "spiritual" kind of healing as opposed to the common medical procedures of healing using physical
means. Much of the literature on Reiki is filled with references to God, the Goddess, the "divine healing power," and the
"divine mind." The life force energy is described as being directed by God, the "Higher Intelligence," or the "divine
consciousness." Likewise, the various "attunements" which the Reiki practitioner receives from a Reiki Master are
accomplished through "sacred ceremonies" that involve the manifestation and contemplation of certain "sacred
symbols" (which have traditionally been kept secret by Reiki Masters). Furthermore, Reiki is frequently described as a
"way of living," with a list of five "Reiki Precepts" stipulating proper ethical conduct.
6. Nevertheless, there are some Reiki practitioners, primarily nurses, who attempt to approach Reiki simply as a natural
means of healing. Viewed as natural means of healing, however, Reiki becomes subject to the standards of natural
science. It is true that there may be means of natural healing that have not yet been understood or recognized by
science. The basic criteria for judging whether or not one should entrust oneself to any particular natural
means of healing, however, remain those of science.
7. Judged according to these standards, Reiki lacks scientific credibility. It has not been accepted by the scientific
and medical communities as an effective therapy. Reputable scientific studies attesting to the efficacy of Reiki are lacking,
as is a plausible scientific explanation as to how it could possibly be efficacious. The explanation of the efficacy of Reiki
depends entirely on a particular view of the world as permeated by this "universal life energy" (Reiki) that is subject to
manipulation by human thought and will. Reiki practitioners claim that their training allows one to channel the "universal
life energy" that is present in all things. This "universal life energy," however, is unknown to natural science. As
the presence of such energy has not been observed by means of natural science, the justification for these
therapies necessarily must come from something other than science.
C) Reiki and the Healing Power of Christ
8. Some people have attempted to identify Reiki with the divine healing known to Christians.
6

They are mistaken. The radical difference can be immediately seen in the fact that for the Reiki practitioner the healing
power is at human disposal. Some teachers want to avoid this implication and argue that it is not the Reiki practitioner
personally who effects the healing, but the Reiki energy directed by the divine consciousness. Nevertheless, the fact
remains that for Christians the access to divine healing is by prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior, while the essence of
Reiki is not a prayer but a technique that is passed down from the "Reiki Master" to the pupil, a technique that
once mastered will reliably produce the anticipated results.
7

Some practitioners attempt to Christianize Reiki by adding a prayer to Christ, but this does not affect the
essential nature of Reiki. For these reasons, Reiki and other similar therapeutic techniques cannot be identified with
what Christians call healing by divine grace.
9. The difference between what Christians recognize as healing by divine grace and Reiki therapy is also evident in the
basic terms used by Reiki proponents to describe what happens in Reiki therapy, particularly that of "universal life
energy." Neither the Scriptures nor the Christian tradition as a whole speak of the natural world as based on "universal
life energy" that is subject to manipulation by the natural human power of thought and will. In fact, this
worldview has its origins in eastern religions and has a certain monist and pantheistic character, in that distinctions
among self, world, and God tend to fall away.
8
We have already seen that Reiki practitioners are unable to differentiate
clearly between divine healing power and power that is at human disposal.
III. CONCLUSION
10. Reiki therapy finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief. For a Catholic to believe in
Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems. In terms of caring for one's physical health or the physical health of others, to
employ a technique that has no scientific support (or even plausibility) is generally not prudent.
11. In terms of caring for one's spiritual health, there are important dangers. To use Reiki one would have to accept
at least in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that undergirds Reiki theory, elements that
belong neither to Christian faith nor to natural science. Without justification either from Christian faith or natural
science, however, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition,
the no-man's-land that is neither faith nor science.
9
Superstition corrupts one's worship of God by turning one's religious
feeling and practice in a false direction.
10

While sometimes people fall into superstition through ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach in
the name of the Church to eliminate such ignorance as much as possible.
12. Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for
Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such
as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy.
77.


SIGNED:
Most Rev. William E. Lori Bishop of Bridgeport, Chairman
Most Rev. John C. Nienstedt Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Most Rev. Leonard P. Blair Bishop of Toledo
Most Rev. Arthur J. Serratelli Bishop of Paterson
Most Rev. Jos H. Gomez Archbishop of San Antonio
Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron Bishop of Oakland
Most Rev. Robert J. McManus Bishop of Worcester
Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl Archbishop of Washington
NOTES:
1
See Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Prayers for Healing (14 September 2000), I, 3:
"Obviously, recourse to prayer does not exclude, but rather encourages the use of effective natural means for preserving
and restoring health, as well as leading the Church's sons and daughters to care for the sick, to assist them in body and
spirit, and to seek to cure disease."
2, 3
Catechism, no. 1508.
4
It has also been claimed that he merely rediscovered an ancient Tibetan technique, but evidence for this claim is lacking.
5
As we shall see below, however, distinctions between self, world, and God tend to collapse in Reiki thought.
Some Reiki teachers explain that one eventually reaches the realization that the self and the "universal life energy"
are one, "that we are universal life force and that everything is energy, including ourselves" (Libby Barnett and
Maggie Chambers with Susan Davidson, Reiki Energy Medicine: Bringing Healing Hospice [Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts
Press, 1996], p. 48; see also p. 102).
6
For example, see "Reiki and Christianity" at http://iarp.org/articles/Reiki_and_Christianity.htm and "Christian
Reiki" at http://areikihealer.tripod.com/christianreiki.html and the website www.christianreiki.org.
7
Reiki Masters offer courses of training with various levels of advancement, services for which the teachers require
significant financial remuneration. The pupil has the expectation and the Reiki Master gives the assurance that one's
investment of time and money will allow one to master a technique that will predictably produce results.
8
While this seems implicit in Reiki teaching, some proponents state explicitly that there is ultimately no distinction
between the self and Reiki. "Alignment with your Self and being Reiki is an ongoing process. Willingness to
continuously engage in this process furthers your evolution and can lead to the sustained recognition and ultimate
experience that you are universal life force" (The Reiki Healing Connection [Libby Barnett, M.S.W.],
http://reikienergy.com/classes.htm, accessed 2/6/2008 [emphasis in original]). Diane Stein summarizes the meaning
of some of the "sacred symbols" used in Reiki attunements as: "The Goddess in me salutes the Goddess in you";
"Man and God becoming one" (Essential Reiki Teaching Manual: A Companion Guide for Reiki Healers [Berkeley,
Cal.: Crossing Press, 2007], pp. 129-31). Anne Charlish and Angela Robertshaw explain that the highest Reiki attunement
"marks a shift from the ego and self to a feeling of oneness with the universal life-force energy" (Secrets of Reiki [New
York, N.Y.: DK Publishing, 2001], p. 84).
9
Some forms of Reiki teach of a need to appeal for the assistance of angelic beings or "Reiki spirit guides."
This introduces the further danger of exposure to malevolent forces or powers.
10
See Catechism, no. 2111; St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae II-II, q. 92, a. 1.
SOURCE: http://www.spiritdaily.com/reikiruling.htm [all bold emphases mine- Michael Prabhu]

16B. Reiki Therapy Unscientific, 'Inappropriate for Catholic Institutions,' Say Bishops'
Guidelines http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-067.shtml
WASHINGTONThe U.S. bishops have issued guidelines that call Reiki therapy, an alternative medicine originating in
Japan, unscientific and inappropriate for Catholic institutions.
They outlined the position in "Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy." The guidelines were developed
by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, chaired by Bishop William Lori of
Bridgeport, Connecticut. They were approved by the USCCB Administrative Committee, March 24, during its spring
meeting in Washington. The Administrative Committee is the authoritative body of the USCCB to approve committee
statements.
The document can be found at http://www.usccb.org/dpp/doctrine.htm
The Guidelines describe Reiki as a healing technique "invented in Japan in the late 1800s by Mikao Usui, who was
studying Buddhist texts." The guidelines state that "according to Reiki teaching, illness is caused by some kind of
disruption or imbalance in one's 'life energy.' A Reiki practitioner effects healing by placing his or her hands in certain
positions on the patient's body in order to facilitate the flow of Reiki, the 'universal life energy,' from the Reiki practitioner
to the patient."
The Guidelines state that "Reiki lacks scientific credibility" and "has not been accepted by the scientific and medical
communities as an effective therapy."
"Reputable scientific studies attesting to the efficacy of Reiki are lacking, as is a plausible scientific explanation as to how
it could possibly be efficacious," they state.
. 78.



The Guidelines note that "Reiki is frequently described as a 'spiritual' kind of healing as opposed to the common medical
procedures of healing using physical means." They assert, however, that there is a radical difference between Reiki
therapy and the healing by divine power in which Christians believe: "for Christians the access to divine healing is by
prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior, while the essence of Reiki is not a prayer but a technique that is passed down from
the 'Reiki Master' to the pupil, a technique that once mastered will reliably produce the anticipated results."
In sum, Reiki therapy "finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief," the Guidelines state.
"For a Catholic to believe in Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems," the Guidelines state. "In terms of caring for one's
physical health or the physical health of others, to employ a technique that has no scientific support (or even plausibility)
is generally not prudent."
The guidelines warn that in using Reiki for one's spiritual health, "there are important dangers."
"To use Reiki one would have to accept at least in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that undergirds Reiki
theory, elements that belong neither to Christian faith nor to natural science. Without justification either from Christian
faith or natural science, however, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of
superstition, the no-man's-land that is neither faith nor science," they state.
"Superstition corrupts one's worship of God by turning one's religious feeling and practice in a false direction," the
Guidelines state. "While sometimes people fall into superstition through ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach
in the name of the Church to eliminate such ignorance as much as possible."
"Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for
Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such
as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy," the Guidelines said.
Report of CNS is at: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0901448.htm

16C. US bishops: Reiki is dangerous, superstitious
March 27, 2009 http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=2429
In a document released March 25, the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops blasted
Reiki, a practice developed in Japan in the late nineteenth century that has gained acceptance in some Catholic retreat
centers and other institutions.
After distinguishing between natural medicine and supernatural healing effected by Christ, the bishops conclude:
Reiki therapy finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief. For a Catholic to believe in
Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems. In terms of caring for one's physical health or the physical health of others, to
employ a technique that has no scientific support (or even plausibility) is generally not prudent.
In terms of caring for one's spiritual health, there are important dangers. To use Reiki one would have to accept at least
in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that undergirds Reiki theory, elements that belong neither to Christian
faith nor to natural science.
Without justification either from Christian faith or natural science, however, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki
would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no-man's-land that is neither faith nor science. Superstition corrupts
one's worship of God by turning one's religious feeling and practice in a false direction. While sometimes people fall into
superstition through ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach in the name of the Church to eliminate such
ignorance as much as possible.
Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for
Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such
as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy.
The bishops add, Some forms of Reiki teach of a need to appeal for the assistance of angelic beings or Reiki spirit
guides. This introduces the further danger of exposure to malevolent forces or powers.
Reiki lacks scientific credibility
Catholics trusting Reiki operate in superstitious no man's land
Reiki inappropriate for Catholic health care institutions, retreat centers, chaplains

16D. Reiki: good health, spirituality - or only superstition? US Bishops' committee
condemnation raises questions about healing
by Jerry Filteau, NCR* Washington correspondent, April 16, 2009 *National Catholic Reporter, see page 28
http://ncronline.org/news/spirituality/reiki-good-health-spirituality-or-only-superstition
WASHINGTON A declaration by the U.S. bishops Committee on Doctrine that Reiki is based on superstition and
incompatible with Christian faith could force scores of U.S. congregations of women religious who run Catholic retreat
centers to reevaluate programs that teach or use Reiki therapy.
The statement says it is inappropriate for Catholic hospitals, retreat centers or individuals representing the church, such as
chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy.
Reiki pronounced RAY-kee is a spiritual or metaphysical healing practice invented in Japan in the 1920s that has
gained a fairly substantial following in the United States in recent decades. It claims that by laying hands on or above an
injured or sick person in a series of positions, a Reiki master or practitioner can draw universal life energy into the
person and help hasten his or her healing. 79.



Many women in Catholic religious orders have become Reiki masters or practitioners and regularly teach or practice Reiki
therapy at their orders retreat facilities or spiritual centers around the country. A Web search showed scores of such U.S.
centers as well as several retreat centers run by women religious in Canada offering similar programs.
The six-page doctrinal committee statement was approved for publication by the administrative committee of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops at a meeting in Washington in late March.
It says that a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no-mans-
land that is neither faith nor science.
The statement says that on the medical level, Reiki is a technique that has no scientific support or even plausibility.
While Christians believe in the efficacy of prayer for healing, they do so with a reliance on divine power, not with the
expectation that the person engaged in invoking that power can cause the release of that power, it says.
For Christians, the access to divine healing is by prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior, while the essence of Reiki is not a
prayer but a technique that is passed down from the Reiki master to the pupil, a technique that once mastered will
reliably produce the anticipated results, it says.
The statement says reliance on healing techniques that have no foundation either in medical science or Christian faith
moves into the realm of superstition, which corrupts ones worship of God by turning ones religious feeling and practice
in a false direction.
The Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center in Fremont, Ohio, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of Cincinnati, offers a
different take on the practice.
There are multiple interpretations about Reiki, the center says on its Web site. Our retreat center uses a Christian
interpretation based on the life, mission and teachings of Jesus Christ. Nothing and no one replaces his power. Reiki here
is offered in the context of prayer.
This years course offerings there include Reiki I April 14, Reiki II May 12-13, Reiki III Aug. 18-20 and Karuna Reiki a
trademark course that qualifies participants to be recognized by the International Center for Reiki Training as Karuna Reiki
masters Oct. 19-22.
Mercy Sr. Breta Gorman, a registered Karuna Reiki master at Our Lady of the Pines, declined to comment on the doctrinal
committees statement, saying that her religious superior has asked order members not to speak to media about it until
they had time to research the statement and its implications.
At Mount St. Joseph, just outside Cincinnati, the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Spirituality Center offers Reiki therapy as
part of its opportunities for spiritual enrichment to the community through a wide variety of programs. Staff member Sr.
Mary Fran Davisson is described as a Reiki master and nationally certified, Ohio-licensed massage therapist. Sr. Maureen
Heverin is described as a level II Reiki healing practitioner. NCR telephone attempts to reach both were unsuccessful.
Capuchin Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy, executive director of the U.S. bishops Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices,
commented on the Cincinnati Mercy Sisters interpretation of Reiki, saying, If you try to turn it into something thats
authentically Christian, then its no longer authentically Reiki. But it seems that if you keep it anywhere authentically Reiki,
then its incompatible with Christianity.
He said that the classical Reiki literature reviewed by the bishops doctrinal committee places Reiki therapy in a philosophy
and theology of New Age pantheism hugging into the cosmic forces, that sort of thing, that has nothing to do with the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Its purely a Gnostic kind of therapy.
Gnosticism refers to a number of heresies in various periods of Christian history that focus on esoteric human knowledge
rather than divine grace as a source of salvation.
When asked to compare it with other relaxing techniques offered by alternative therapies, he said, We dont condemn
relaxing techniques, but this is not just a relaxing technique.
When NCR asked Weinandy if the committees research included any interviews with Catholic practitioners of Reiki, he
said it did not. He called the committees investigation an academic study of how Reiki therapy is understood by its
adherents. He said the committee based its conclusions about the incompatibility of Reiki with Catholic teaching on a
purely academic type of research, in the sense that we read books and went to Web sites and we amassed a huge
amount of material, but we didnt interview anybody.
That answer raised serious questions about how the doctrinal committees response to the issue corresponded to current
Catholic practices that may differ from a classical Reiki approach.
If Reiki is removed from the metaphysical claims of its founder drawing on a so-called metaphysical universal life
energy to accelerate healing of the subject it might easily be put in the same class as various things like massages,
aromatherapy, tai chi and other alternative treatments that claim to improve healing, apart from traditional medicine, by
relaxing the patient and creating a more positive psychological healing environment.
Weinandy acknowledged that such other practices are not banned by the church, but he said Reiki moves into a different
area of pantheism and Gnosticism with its assertion of a universal life force or energy that Reiki practitioners or masters
can reliably manipulate and direct by their hand placements over a patient or subject.
He also said that its obvious, isnt it? from Web Google searches that most of the Catholic retreat centers targeted by
the doctrinal committees statement are run by Catholic orders of women religious.
Women religious who are Reiki masters were reluctant to comment to NCR about the bishops document or their future
ministries in light of it.
I dont feel comfortable about talking about it, said Millvale, Pa., Franciscan Sr. Mary Jo Mattes, a Reiki master who said
she had seen the bishops doctrine committee statement but had not yet studied it carefully. 80.



Phone calls to other women religious who are Reiki masters or practitioners at their retreat centers or homes in New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, California and other states were not returned.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Sr. Annmarie Sanders, communications director for the Leadership Conference of Women
Religious, said the leadership conference has not addressed the issue raised by the bishops doctrinal committee because
no one has asked us to.
She said that when issues of compliance with church teaching by religious orders arise, normally the congregations take
care of that by themselves without involving the leadership conference, a national organization of the heads of womens
religious orders.
NOTE: A number of readers comments are available at this link.

16E. US Bishops Declare Reiki Therapy Unchristian, Denounce Its Use in Catholic
Institutions http://www.zenit.org/article-25540?l=english
WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 1, 2009 Reiki, a Japanese alternative medicine, lacks scientific credibility and is outside
Christian faith, making it unacceptable for Catholic health care institutions, the U.S. bishops' conference stated.
On Saturday, the conference issued the "Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy," developed by their
committee on doctrine, headed by Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and approved by the administrative
committee Friday.
The document notes that "the Church recognizes two kinds of healing: healing by divine grace and healing that utilizes the
powers of nature," which "are not mutually exclusive."
Reiki, however, "finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief," it explained.
The guidelines note that this technique of healing "was invented in Japan in the late 1800s by Mikao Usui, who was
studying Buddhist texts."
The report continues: "According to Reiki teaching, illness is caused by some kind of disruption or imbalance in one's 'life
energy.' A Reiki practitioner effects healing by placing his or her hands in certain positions on the patient's body in order
to facilitate the flow of Reiki, the 'universal life energy,' from the Reiki practitioner to the patient."
It further explains that the therapy has several aspects of a religion, being "described as a 'spiritual' kind of healing," with
its own ethical precepts or "way of life."
Reiki "has not been accepted by the scientific and medical communities as an effective therapy," noted the guidelines.
"Reputable scientific studies attesting to the efficacy of Reiki are lacking, as is a plausible scientific explanation as to how
it could possibly be efficacious."
Nor can faith be the basis of this therapy, the bishops affirmed, as Reiki is different than the "divine healing known by
Christians."
They explained, "The radical difference can be immediately seen in the fact that for the Reiki practitioner the healing
power is at human disposal." For Christians, they said, "access to divine healing is by prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior,"
while Reiki is a technique passed from "master" to pupil, a method that will "reliably produce the anticipated results."
The guidelines state: "For a Catholic to believe in Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems. In terms of caring for one's
physical health or the physical health of others, to employ a technique that has no scientific support -- or even plausibility
-- is generally not prudent."
On a spiritual level, the document states, "there are important dangers." It explains: "To use Reiki one would have to
accept at least in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that undergirds Reiki theory, elements that belong
neither to Christian faith nor to natural science.
"Without justification either from Christian faith or natural science, however, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki
would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no-man's-land that is neither faith nor science.
"Superstition corrupts one's worship of God by turning one's religious feeling and practice in a false direction. While
sometimes people fall into superstition through ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach in the name of the
Church to eliminate such ignorance as much as possible."
The document concludes, "Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it
would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons
representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy."
On the Net: Guidelines: http://www.usccb.org/dpp/doctrine.htm http://www.zenit.org/article-25540?l=english
Truth About Reiki. A response to: US Bishops Declare Reiki Therapy Unchristian
Praise to Jesus for printing this article about Reiki, a plague for the Catholic Church here in Canada. Catholic people are so
ignorant as to this practice and we need teaching, as most of our nurses are recommending it to patients. Again, thank
you. In Our Lady, Patricia Duggan Combermere, Ontario Canada http://www.zenit.org/article-25569?l=english

17. U.S. Nuns Facing Vatican Scrutiny
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/us/02nuns.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss by LAURIE GOODSTEIN July 2, 2009
The Vatican is quietly conducting two sweeping investigations of American nuns, a development that has startled and
dismayed nuns who fear they are the targets of a doctrinal inquisition. 81.






Nuns were the often-unsung workers who helped build the Roman Catholic Church in this country, planning schools and
hospitals and keeping parishes humming. But for the last three decades, their numbers have been declining to 60,000
today from 180,000 in 1965.
While some nuns say they are grateful that the Vatican is finally paying attention to their dwindling communities, many
fear that the real motivation is to reel in American nuns who have reinterpreted their calling for the modern world.
In the last four decades since the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, many American nuns stopped wearing religious
habits, left convents to live independently and went into new lines of work: academia and other professions, social and
political advocacy and grass-roots organizations that serve the poor or promote spirituality. A few nuns have also been
active in organizations that advocate changes in the church like ordaining women and married men as priests.
Some sisters surmise that the Vatican and even some American bishops are trying to shift them back into living in
convents, wearing habits or at least identifiable religious garb, ordering their schedules around daily prayers and working
primarily in Roman Catholic institutions, like schools and hospitals.
They think of us as an ecclesiastical work force, said Sister Sandra M. Schneiders, professor emerita of New Testament
and spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, in California. Whereas we are religious, were living the life
of total dedication to Christ, and out of that flows a profound concern for the good of all humanity. So our vision of our
lives, and their vision of us as a work force, are just not on the same planet.
The more extensive of the two investigations is called an Apostolic Visitation, and the Vatican has provided only a vague
rationale for it: to look into the quality of the life of womens religious institutes. The visitation is being conducted by
Mother Mary Clare Millea, an apple-cheeked American with a black habit and smiling eyes, who is the superior general of
her order, the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and lives in Rome.
In an interview in a formal sitting room at her orders United States headquarters in Hamden, Conn., Mother Clare said
she had already met one-on-one with 127 superiors general of womens orders, many in that room but also in Chicago,
Los Angeles, Rome and St. Louis. She is preparing questionnaires to send to each congregation of women and recruiting
teams of investigators, mostly nuns and some priests, who will make visits to congregations that she selects. The
visitation focuses only on nuns actively engaged in working in society and the church, not cloistered, contemplative nuns.
Mother Clares task is to prepare a confidential report to the Vatican on the state of each of about 340 qualified
congregations of nuns in the United States, as well as a summary with her recommendations, all of which she hopes to
complete by mid-2011.
The investigation was ordered by Cardinal Franc Rod, head of the Vatican office that deals with religious orders. In a
speech in Massachusetts last year, Cardinal Rod offered barbed criticism of some American nuns who have opted for
ways that take them outside the church.
Given this backdrop, Sister Schneiders, the professor in Berkeley, urged her fellow sisters to use restraint and caution with
the visitation, saying the investigators should be treated as uninvited guests who should be received in the parlor, not
given the run of the house. She wrote this in a private e-mail message to a few friends, but it became public and was
widely circulated.
Mother Clare said she was aware that some womens institutes werent happy to hear of the visitation, but that so far
about 55 percent had responded in person or in writing.
Its an opportunity for us to re-evaluate ourselves, to make our reality known and also to be challenged to live
authentically who we say we are, she said.
Each congregation of nuns will be evaluated based on how well they are living in fidelity both to their congregations
own internal norms and constitution, and to the churchs guidelines for religious life, Mother Clare said. For instance, if a
congregations stated mission is to serve youth, are the nuns doing that? If they do not live in a convent, are they
attending Mass and keeping the sacraments? Are their superiors exercising adequate supervision?
Theres no intention to make us all identical, she said.
Church historians said that the Vatican usually ordered an apostolic visitation when a particular institution had gone
seriously astray. In the wake of the priest sexual-abuse scandal, the Vatican ordered a visitation of American seminaries.
It is now conducting a visitation of the Legionaries of Christ, a mens order whose founder, the Rev. Marcial Maciel
Degollado, sexually abused young seminarians, fathered a child and was accused of financial improprieties. He died in
2008.
But the investigation of American nuns surprised many because there was no obvious precipitating cause.
Sister Janice Farnham, a part-time professor of church history at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, said,
Why are the U.S. sisters being singled out, when women religious in other countries are struggling with many issues
about the quality of their lives, in the Church and in their societies?
The visitation could result in some communities of nuns being ordered to make changes, but judging from how the
Vatican handled previous visitations, those consequences may never become public.
The second investigation of nuns is a doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an umbrella
organization that claims 1,500 members from about 95 percent of womens religious orders. This investigation was
ordered by the Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is headed by an American, Cardinal William
Levada. 82.



Cardinal Levada sent a letter to the Leadership Conference saying an investigation was warranted because it appeared
that the organization had done little since it was warned eight years ago that it had failed to promote the churchs
teachings on three issues: the male-only priesthood, homosexuality and the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church as the
means to salvation.
The letter goes on to say that, Given both the tenor and the doctrinal content of various addresses at assemblies the
Leadership Conference has held in recent years, the problem has not been fixed.
The Leadership Conference drew the Vaticans wrath decades ago when its president welcomed Pope John Paul II to the
United States with a plea for the ordination of women. But several nuns who have attended the groups meetings in
recent years said they had not heard anything that would provoke the Vaticans ire.
Officers of the Leadership Conference refused interview requests, but said in an e-mail message that they had one
meeting in late May with the investigators, Bishop Leonard P. Blair, of the Diocese of Toledo, and Msgr. Charles Brown
from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican, who voiced the Vaticans concerns. (Bishop Blair
declined to comment). In the fall, they said, they will meet again to respond to the concerns.
We are looking forward to clarifying some misperceptions, Sister J. Lora Dambroski, president of the Leadership
Conference, said in the e-mail message.
Besides these two investigations, another decree that affected some nuns was issued in March by the Committee on
Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The bishops said that Catholics should stop practicing Reiki,
a healing therapy that is used in some Catholic hospitals and retreat centers, and which was enthusiastically adopted by
many nuns. The bishops said Reiki is both unscientific and non-Christian.
Nuns practicing reiki and running church reform groups may have finally proved too much for the churchs male
hierarchy, said Kenneth Briggs, the author of Double Crossed: Uncovering the Catholic Churchs Betrayal of American
Nuns, (Doubleday Religion, 2006). Mr. Briggs said of the various investigations: For some in the leadership circles in
Rome and elsewhere, its a piece of unfinished business. Its an effort to bring about a re-establishment of a very
traditional, very conservative set of standards for what convent life is supposed to be.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: July 9, 2009. An article and a picture caption last Thursday about Vatican investigations of American nuns
characterized incorrectly the advice that one nun, Sister Sandra M. Schneiders, gave to others on how to respond to the
inquiries. In a private e-mail message that became public and was widely circulated, she urged restraint and caution; she
did not tell nuns not to cooperate.

18. Reiki Report
http://www.ccr.org.uk/archive/gn0909/g06.htm by Fr. Pat Collins, CM [email protected]
GOODNEWS online is the official website of the National Service Committee for the Charismatic Renewal in England.
Fr Pat Collins CM summarizes the conclusions of a recent report on Reiki brought out by the American bishops
Over the years a number of people have asked me what I think about Reiki. To tell the truth, more often than not, I have
had to admit that I do not know much about the subject, but that it sounds a bit like a New Age form of healing to me.
Recently, I was delighted to find that, in March 2009, the doctrinal committee of the American hierarchy, consisting of
eight archbishops and bishops, had published a lucid and helpful document entitled Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an
Alternative Therapy.
It begins by echoing the teaching of Sirach 38:1-15, when it says there are two kinds of healing, natural and divine. On
the one hand, we can be healed by human means such as surgery, psychotherapy and medicine, while on the other hand
God can heal us by means of such things as the anointing of the sick and the charism of healing. In this connection the
bishops refer to the Instruction on Prayers for Healing which was published by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in
2000, and to par. 1508 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The bishops point out that charity demands that we
should not neglect natural means of healing people because even the most intense prayers do not always obtain the
healing of all illnesses.
The Origins of Reiki
A Zen Buddhist monk, Mikao Usui, discovered Reiki in the mid nineteenth century in Japan. At the end of a 21-day
meditation on Mount Kurama he achieved a spiritual awakening and received the knowledge of Reiki, i.e., how to attune
to the universal lifeforce or energy. According to Reiki, sickness is ultimately due to an imbalance of the universal life force
in the human body. So a Reiki practitioner brings about healing by placing his or her hands in certain key positions on the
patients body in order to facilitate the flow of Reiki or universal energy. Rather than being the ultimate source of this
healing energy, the healer is merely a channel for something that exists everywhere and in everything, including the
healer. To become a practitioner of Reiki healing a person must receive an initiation, or attunement from a Reiki
master, i.e. someone who has reached a high level of attunement as a result of completing an advanced stage of training.
Is Reiki a Natural Means of Healing? When one reads books and articles on Reiki it becomes clear that its beliefs are
mainly expressed in spiritual and religious terms of a pantheistic kind. Such literature is filled with references to God, the
Goddess, the divine healing power, and the divine mind. The life force is described as being directed by the Higher
intelligence, or the divine consciousness. Furthermore Reiki healers make use of Japanese sacred symbols and engage
in religious type ceremonies. Reiki is often referred to as a way of living governed by five ethical precepts. As the bishops
point out, in some respects Reiki is similar to a religion. 83.




That said, many practitioners such as nurses, use Reiki as a purely natural form of healing. However, there is no empirical
evidence to show that this form of alternative medicine has any good effects. In fact it lacks credibility in so far as the
universal life energy that Reiki talks about is unknown to modern science. As the bishops observe, the justification for this
form of therapy must necessarily come from something other than science.
Reiki and the Healing Power of Christ
As I know from personal experience, some modern day Christians such as priests, nuns and charismatics, try to harmonise
Reiki with Christian healing. To do so they have to accept, at least in an implicit way, the central tenets of the worldview
that underpins Reiki healing. Many of these tenets are incompatible with Christian thinking. This is so, for instance,
because Christians see divine healing as a free gift of Gods grace, which is not within human control, whereas Reiki
practitioners believe, in a Pelagian way, that healing can be reliably experienced as a result of human insight and effort.
The American document points out, the fact remains that for Christians access to divine healing is by prayer to Christ as
Lord and Saviour, while the essence of Reiki is not prayer but a technique that is passed down from the Reiki Master to
the pupil, a technique that once mastered will reliably produce the anticipated results. Apparently, some practitioners of
Reiki, who are influenced by New Age thinking, consult with angelic beings. It e r c e and spirit guides when they are
ministering healing to others. The American bishops point out that this practice can open a channel to sinister demonic
influences. They observe, This introduces the further danger of exposure to malevolent forces or powers. This point may
explain why I have heard quite a number of people say that, having received Reiki healing, they developed all kinds of
problems ranging from depression to headaches and physical ailments. Indeed, a man who had been a Reiki master rang
me up one day to say that he had heard me warning about the dangers of this form of therapy in one of my recorded
talks. He told me that he had come to see the truth of my words from his own personal experience and that of his clients.
I was pleasantly surprised when he revealed that he was giving up Reiki because he had discovered that it sometimes had
a very dark side.
While some practitioners attempt to Christianise Reiki, in a syncretistic way, by adding a prayer to Christ and using
Christian symbols, the American bishops point out that these cosmetic changes do not alter the essentially pagan nature
of this form of therapy. For these reasons, Reiki cannot be identified with what Christians call healing by divine grace.
Reiki is operating in the realm of superstition, the no mans land that is neither faith nor science
The bishops conclude by observing that for a Catholic to believe in Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems. They say
that a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki ends up operating in the realm of superstition, the nomans land that is
neither faith nor science. The bishops warn that superstition corrupts the persons worship of God by turning religious
feeling and practice in a false direction. They explain that while sometimes people fall into superstition through
ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach in the name of the Church, to eliminate such ignorance as much as
possible. That was the main reason why I wrote this short article.
The document ends with these salutary words, Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or
scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health facilities and retreat centres,
or persons representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to promote or provide support for Reiki therapy.
(Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy is available online at:
http://www.usccb.org/dpp/Evaluation_Guidelines_finaltext_2009-03.pdf.)
Fr Pat Collins CM is a prolific writer and a respected retreat leader. He is based in Dublin, Ireland.

19. A Catholic Critique of the Healing Art of Reiki
Dr Gareth Leyshon, St Johns Seminary, Wonersh http://www.drgareth.info/Reiki_GL.pdf [email protected]
Abstract
The complementary therapy known as Reiki is considered from a Catholic perspective. The irreducible content of the
practice of Reiki is identified as putative manipulation of the healing energy known as ki by practitioners initiated through
an attunement ritual using secret symbols. Some general problems of describing ki in the language of Catholic theology
are discussed. Certain critiques of Reiki by Christian groups are found to be inadequate on the grounds of attributing guilt
by association, or targeting beliefs not necessarily held by all Reiki practitioners. Nevertheless, attempting to manipulate ki
according to the principles of Reiki is found not to accord with Christian revelation, and the necessity of practitioners
being initiated by the use of secret symbols is particularly problematic. Some recommendations are made concerning the
pastoral consequences of this conclusion: avoidance of promoting Reiki in a church context, appropriate support for
Christians who have received or practiced Reiki themselves, and addressing the provision of Reiki through the public
health care system.
1. Introduction
The Eastern healing art known as Reiki is growing in popularity in the West, and is widely available in Britain.1
A number of Christian groups have become concerned about Reiki and published pamphlets2 warning of the dangers they
believe to be inherent in the technique. In my own pastoral experience, Catholic parishioners in England and Wales are
having recourse to, and sometimes themselves offering, the practice of Reiki; therefore, it is important to have a well-
grounded theological response. If the practice of Reiki is incompatible with Christianity, it is to be rejected; otherwise it
should be regarded as a healing gift from God, to be welcomed in the same way as Western medicine.
84.



2. Essential Aspects of Reiki
Like most alternative and complementary therapies, Reiki is not monolithic. Most sources attribute the origin of modern
Reiki to one Mikao Usui (1865-1926), but offer their own variations.3 I have chosen as a typical example of teaching on
Reiki, the website of the UK Reiki Federation. Their What is Reiki? page,4 with very minor variations, reproduces the
content of a page they offered in October 2002,5 in which a National Consultation of Study Groups of the UK Reiki
Federation sought to converge on a text, prefaced with the following:
A complete layperson's explanation of Reiki is needed that can be used in part or whole, for official documentation and for
telephone enquiries with the Federation. It must be general enough to encompass all styles, whilst still being informative.
This indicates the Reiki communitys acknowledgement of their own diversity, and indicates that the current statement of
the UK Reiki Federation is likely to represent a broad cross section of UK practice (though there is also an alternative UK
body, the Reiki Association6).
The Reiki Federations web page makes four key assertions:
. There exists a natural healing energy [which] works on every level, not just the physical, and promotes the bodys
regenerative self healing ability. This energy is known as 'ki' in Japan, 'chi' in China, and 'prana' in India.
. The Reiki practitioner serves as a channel for this energy; the clients body draws in what it needs.
. Reiki practitioners must become attuned in order to receive and act as a channel for this energy.
. The use of symbols (here defined only as devices used by Reiki practitioners) is an integral part of such attunement or
initiation.
It is clear from usage in the various sources that the name Reiki itself is sometimes applied to the energy itself, and
sometimes to the practice of channelling it. The presentation by the Reiki Association7 concurs with the first two points,
and elsewhere8 confirms the concepts of initiation and symbols.
3. The Problem of Ki Energy
There is a widespread belief in the East (prevalent in at least India, Japan and China) of a form of energy which is
believed to flow through the human body and can become unbalanced; in Japanese, this is called ki. Many Eastern
practices invoke such energy traditional acupuncture, reflexology, Tai Chi, yoga and qigong would be examples. As a
theory or model of the behaviour of the human body, the idea of ki may have merit especially since it seems useful
enough to be accepted in so many parts of the East. Is ki purely a placebo, a meaningless elaboration of the feel-good
factor which works whenever one human being invests time and energy in caring for another, or for ones own self?9 Is ki
a description of a natural phenomenon which people call spiritual because they do not understand its true nature? Or is
ki truly spiritual, a reality pertaining to the human soul rather than the body?
This paper aims to apply a Catholic ontological and moral analysis to the practice of Reiki. This is complicated by the fact
that the categories of Catholic analysis do not map neatly into an Eastern worldview. In the dualistic Christian paradigm, a
human person is a unity of body and soul; the realm of the body is natural (physical), and the realm of the soul is spiritual
(supernatural). From an Eastern perspective, the whole human person body, mind and spirit would be regarded as
natural, and so care must be taken in interpreting the word natural in references such as the natural healing energy
quoted above.
Energy has a precise meaning in the language of science: it can be measured, and converted from one form into another.
In the realm of spiritual phenomena, the word energy is used analogously: something which flows and produces an
effect at its point of destination. The Christian tradition recognises three possible sources of spiritual energy: God, the
human soul, and evil spirits. There is no category of detached energy or life-force: the Hebrew Bible sees the life of living
creatures as due to the ruach, the breath of God which at times appears as a life-force and other times as almost an
independent being in Gods service.10 In the New Testament tradition, this is understood as a divine person, the Holy
Spirit; and another Divine Person, the Word incarnate in Jesus Christ, is identified as life11 and the one through whom
all things have their being.12
In this paper, I am not going to attempt to identify the true (ontological) nature of ki. This would be a vast undertaking
requiring an analysis of many practices from numerous Eastern countries, and possibly also empirical tests of the
usefulness of ki as a model. Fortunately, as demonstrated below, it will be sufficient to consider beliefs about ki as held by
Reiki practitioners in order to compose a moral response to Reiki. Here I shall merely indicate the more general moral
implications which would follow if the true nature of ki were resolved in the various possible ways:
. If it were shows that there were no evidence that ki was real, any further attempt to manipulate it would be
superstitious, a sin under article 2111 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
. It may be the case that there are properties of the human body which Western medicine has not yet come to terms
with. If the concept of ki is shown to encode such a property of the physical body, then we may undertake exercises
understood to manipulate ki within the limits validated by science without any special moral problems.
. If ki were established to be spiritual, and attributed to God as its source, then nothing alien to God could be ascribed to
it. But in this case, the only assertions which could be made about ki could be those which do not contradict the contents
of the Deposit of Faith insofar as they concern the nature and activities of the Divine Persons.
In any case, techniques to manipulate ki would constitute the sin of tempting God13 except where clearly founded in
revelation from the Triune God.
. If ki were established to be spiritual, but did not meet the above conditions for being due to the Triune God, then its
source must be the human soul (psychic energy) or evil spirits. 85.



The invocation of evil spirits is both sinful and potentially dangerous, and clearly forbidden to Christians. But even if ki
were shown to be a psychic power, its exercise would not be permitted to Christians: Article 2117 of the Catechism forbids
as gravely contrary to the virtue of religion all attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and
have a supernatural power over others even if this were for the sake of restoring their health. The scope of what is
meant by occult here clearly includes psychic powers, since the same article later emphasises the gravity of recourse to
demons as a special case.
In the remainder of this paper, we shall consider the question of what Reiki practitioners believe they are doing when they
attempt to manipulate ki. The description above makes a baseline definition clear: They believe they are channelling a
spiritual energy which comes from beyond themselves, into their clients. An individual Reiki practitioner may, or may not,
espouse the belief that this energy is an all-pervasive monistic force;14 Western practitioners with limited training,
especially if Christian in personal faith or cultural background, may hold a more syncretistic view. I shall offer my own
moral critique of Reiki shortly, but first we shall examine criticism made by other Christians.
4. Inadequate Critiques of Reiki
In the absence of scholarly, peer-reviewed material in this area, the available critiques on Reiki are documents published
by various concerned groups. Three have come into my possession: one by the Maranatha community, an ecumenical
Christian grouping based in Manchester; another from a Catholic group in Dublin; and the third is a briefer document,
Christian in tone but not in explicit content, by a group of ten concerned medical practitioners from Stockport. Addresses
for all these sources are given in the endnotes. A particular difficulty in accepting the findings of all these documents is
the diversity of practice within Reiki acknowledged above: their critique may apply to the version of Reiki which they have
investigated, but may not apply to every practitioner.
A common line of argument found in these documents, as in much Christian literature opposed to New Age practices, is
guilt by association. This seeks to establish that the person who invented/promoted a particular technique was a
practitioner of occult arts; or that the technique in question is being promoted by a group which also offer practices clearly
contrary to Christian morality; or simply that the technique originates from another religion. All of these are rightly treated
as warning signs that the technique must be scrutinised carefully, and are of value in apologetics for building an emotional
case to urge listeners to be wary of the technique; but none of them actually taint it. Catholic theology15 rejects nothing
of what is true and holy from any of the worlds religions. An academic critique must consider the practice of Reiki itself.
Guilt by Association arguments include claims that Mr Usui was involved in fortune telling and a member of a spiritualist
group;16 assertions that Reiki groups falsely claim Mr Usui was a Christian scholar or minister;17 and quotes such as:
Reiki training is offered at Stonehenge and Glastonbury a web-site Reiki healing Glastonbury also offers links to Tarot
and astrology readings18 or: It should be noted that many Reiki practitioners are also involved in a range of other
psychic activities.19 All of these give a Christian cause for concern, but none build a substantial argument.
Some Reiki practitioners, it is alleged, explicitly acknowledge that spirit guides assist the performance of Reiki,20 or that
the energy is directed to the right place by a higher intelligence.21 Where this is the case, then the practice of Reiki is
certainly mediumship, a practice forbidden22 and spiritually dangerous. But both the Maranatha23 and Dublin24
documents cite Diane Steins book Essential Reiki as acknowledging that the presence of spirit guides is not apparent to
those practicing Reiki at the lowest level. If first level Reiki practitioners are not aware of such guides, and do not invoke
them, can their practice of Reiki fairly be called mediumship? And is the involvement of such guides proven, or merely a
belief held by some Reiki masters? Such questions undermine the universal applicability of critical statements such as
Practitioners are actually spiritist mediums who channel spiritual powers in the same way as mediums in sances.25
Many Reiki practitioners use dowsing to identify their [clients] problems.26 If some form of divination is used to advise
bout appropriate treatment, this is a valid objection to Christian participation but the objection is to the diagnostic
method, not the application of Reiki.
Reiki dismisses the concept of a personal God.27 Some Reiki practitioners may do so, especially if they hold a monistic
belief that the energy they channel is part of the ultimate force which governs the universe.28 But in my pastoral
experience, Christian Reiki practitioners may claim they are channelling energy from God; an individual practitioner may
have reached a syncretistic blend of prior personal beliefs and Reiki formation.
Reiki teachers are first asked to accept five basic innocuous principles [which] are Buddhist in origin: ... For today only,
do not anger, do not worry. Be grateful and do your work with appreciation. Be kind to all living things. 29 These
principles may be of Buddhist origin, but of themselves are not opposed to Christianity. The difference is in the world-view
which informs their practice: a Christian seeks Gods grace for what the Buddhist attempts to achieve by force of will. And
to whom can a Buddhist be grateful? Since the text itself acknowledges that there are other formulations of the principles,
critiquing them does not constitute a critique of Reiki.
5. Problematic Universal Features of Reiki
Two defences may be offered by Christian Reiki practitioners: that the treatment is natural; or that it is a spiritual
technique which should not be rejected because the Catholic Church rejects nothing true and holy from other religions.
We have already seen that the term natural in this context does not equate to non-spiritual, and that Reiki
practitioners generally believe they are manipulating an energy which affects both body and spirit. They do not generally
believe (at least in the case of low-level practitioners) they are calling upon a personal being, nor do they believe they are
exercising psychic powers to release something sourced in themselves. Given our earlier general discussion of ki, we must
ask if they could be exercising something good which has its origin in the Triune God. 86.





Luke 11:11-13 tells us that, as a human father will not give bad gifts but good things to his children, so God will give the
Holy Spirit to those who ask. At face value, this seems to be a strong promise of protection, that no harmful power will
be received when the true God is sought; and the nearest equivalent to ki in Christian thinking is the Holy Spirit. But
Scripture must be read in context, and elsewhere affirms the importance of honouring only the one true God, and testing
the spirits.30 Nowhere does Scripture teach us to channel energy in the way characteristic of Reiki; and in fact,
presuming that God will assist in a way which He has not revealed to be His will constitutes the sin of tempting God.31
Furthermore, given reason to doubt that God has sanctioned the manipulation of ki, channelling Reiki constitutes the kind
of taming of spiritual energy (actual or attempted) which falls short of explicit recourse to demons but which is
nevertheless forbidden by article 2117 of the Catechism.
Of even greater significance is the process of initiation32 which Reiki practitioners must undergo, with the use of secret
symbols for initiation. First level practitioners are initiated by having the symbols made over them, though they are not
taught the symbols themselves; these are taught at the second level. If these symbols originate in a non-Christian
mystical experience undergone by Mr Usui, as claimed by the Christian anti-Reiki literature,33 then any attempt to use
them (including the attunement to become a first-level initiate) constitutes a use of knowledge obtained by divination
though the first-level initiate may not be aware of this at the time. The mere fact of needing to be initiated rather than
simply being taught to manipulate ki gives Reiki the character of a ritual rather than a therapy.
Since the attunement enables the initiate to connect to the source of ki, it is religious in the etymological sense that
religare means to reconnect.
A possible defence might be that ki exists and of its very nature can only be manipulated by a person who has been
enabled to do so by a ki manipulator, so initiation is not sinister but logically necessary. If eventually ki were found to be a
natural phenomenon with this very property, this approach would be defensible, though it would need to account for how
the original manipulator (Mr Usui) acquired his ability to do so. This, however, smacks of special pleading given that ki is
believed to be spiritual by Reiki practitioners; one who submits to a Reiki initiation allows spiritual authority to be
exercised over oneself. Since the authority is not clearly sourced in the Triune God, this act of submission must constitute
idolatry; and the indispensability of initiation34 is the clearest sign of why Reiki cannot be compatible with Christianity.
6. A Pastoral Response to Reiki
Given that we have established that recourse to Reiki is forbidden by Catholic moral principles, we can assert that
soliciting or practicing Reiki is always wrong in the sight of God, though only formally sinful to the degree that the persons
involved realise the wrongness of their actions. Evidence from those exercising the ministry of deliverance and exorcism
indicates that deliberate and informed choices to resort to non-Christian spiritual powers can result in the form of demonic
attack known as obsession or infestation, and that uninformed exposure to such powers (as might be the case with a
person who receives Reiki having been assured that it is a simple form of healing touch35) can result in the lesser form
of demonic irritation known as oppression.36 Anecdotal evidence indicates that involvement in Reiki has led to Christians
needing deliverance, although the nature of the cases makes it difficult to publish evidence. It must be stressed, however,
that demonic attack is a vulnerability, not a certainty, for those who have exposed themselves in these ways.
It is clearly not appropriate for Reiki to be promoted in any way under Catholic auspices: it should not be offered on church
property,37 nor by clergy or members of religious orders, nor should it be promoted in any kind of church literature. It is
not necessary to argue that there is no such thing as ki or that Reiki is ineffective; pastors and superiors may prescind
from the questions of whether it works, and the mechanism, by simply stressing that Christians are committed to turn to
no spiritual source other than the Triune God, who has not revealed Reiki as a means of harnessing his power.
Opposition to Reiki can be turned into an opportunity for evangelisation: the emphasis can be placed less on what is
forbidden, and more on the true healing power of Christ which can be accessed through the sacraments, through the
pastoral care mechanisms of the faith community, and through explicitly Christian healing prayer ministries.
In the case of Christians who have received or practiced Reiki, sacramental confession is always appropriate as a means
of coming to terms with ones own wrongdoing, even the case of one for whom ignorance may have precluded formal sin.
The confessor should stand ready to pray for deliverance from oppressive spiritual influences (this may be done
inaudibly); under current Vatican directives,38 if there is evidence of obsession (often manifested in the form of strong
recurrent temptation in a particular area), prayer for deliverance from this is reserved to the diocesan exorcist.
Preachers should consider whether to publicly warn against recourse to Reiki in their homilies; there are many texts about
worshipping God alone or the healing power of Jesus Christ which could provide an appropriate opportunity. Pastors may
consider the implications of presenting such teaching if a member of the congregation is makes their living as a Reiki
practitioner; what support might the Christian community offer if a member must be challenged to give up their livelihood
for the sake of the Gospel?
Reiki is now offered in some hospitals and health centres, and it may not be helpful to lodge appeals with secular
authorities on the basis that Reiki might actually invoke evil spirits. The authorities may truthfully reply that Reiki
practitioners deny attempting to invoke evil spirits, and clients genuinely feel better after receiving Reiki. The best that
might be sought realistically in the secular arena is a clear labelling of Reiki as a spiritual technique in all relevant
literature and publicity; it is up to the Churches to remind Christians that they must turn to no spiritual power other than
Jesus Christ, His Father and the Holy Spirit. 87.




7. Conclusion
Reiki practitioners believe that they are invoking a spiritual energy, ki, which has healing properties. Even if ki exists as a
natural phenomenon not yet explained by science, the practitioners attempt to manipulate ki in the belief that it is
spiritual. The Catholic Church rejects nothing true and holy from other religions. The truth about Reiki, however, in the
sense of whether it works at all, would demand a clinical trial to demonstrate its efficacy; another aspect of truth demands
a full understanding of ki, which is beyond the scope of this paper. The holiness of Reiki depends on whether or not it
can be shown to honour and call upon the Triune God to the exclusion of all other spiritual powers; since this cannot be
demonstrated, the exercise of Reiki constitutes a sin of tempting God and is unholy. The practice of Reiki therefore
constitutes a forbidden manipulation of spiritual powers, and renders both practitioner and client vulnerable to attack by
evil spirits.
The rejection of Reiki poses numerous pastoral problems: the exclusion of Reiki from Catholic auspices, pre-emptive
advice to Christians not to become involved; appropriate challenge and pastoral care (including deliverance, where
necessary) for those already involved; provision of a Christian healing ministry as a positive alternative to Reiki; and
advocacy to prevent Christians being misled into accepting Reiki in a secular (healthcare) context.
Endnotes (incorporating Bibliography)
1 See, for instance, the practitioner list of the UK Reiki Federation: http://www.reikifed.co.uk/pub/dir/counties.shtml;
also a short list at http://www.reiki4u.free-online.co.uk/healerdirectory.htm. All websites cited here were accessed on
August 12th/13th 2004 except where indicated.
2 Should a Catholic use Reiki Healing! / The Truth About Reiki A WARNING TO CATHOLICS. Published by: Catholic
Response to the New Age, PO Box 8340, Rathmines, Dublin 6, Ireland (hereafter, Dublin); Maranatha Briefing REIKI.
April 2002, The Maranatha Community, 102 Irlam Road, Flixton, Manchester M41 6JT (hereafter, Maranatha);
Notes for Health Professionals and Patients / REIKI treatment a warning. Dr Janice Allister and nine other named
doctors and health care professionals, dated 2002, from 6 Green Tree Gardens, Romiley, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 3JL.
3 The website http://www.naturalhealers.com/qa/reiki.html#g4 acknowledges Lightarian Reiki, Urevia, Shamballa
Multi-Dimensional Reiki, and Karuna, in addition to Traditional Usui Reiki.
4 http://www.reikifed.co.uk/pub/about/reiki/index.shtml#whatisit
5 http://www.reikifed.co.uk/define.htm, consulted October 2002 but no longer active.
6 http://www.reikiassociation.org.uk/identity.html
7 http://www.reikiassociation.org.uk/reiki.html
8 http://www.reikiassociation.org.uk/definition.html
9 Samuel Pfeifer, Healing at Any Price?, Milton Keynes: Word Publishing, 1988, p. 58, quoting A. Kohlrausch in J. Grober &
F. E. Steive (eds.), Handbuch der physikalischen Therapie, Vol I/II, Stuttgart, 1971, p.180.
10 See any text dealing with Christian anthropology, e.g. Anton van der Walle, From Darkness to the Dawn, London: SCM
Press, 1984, p. 37.
11 John 14:6
12 John 1:3-4
13 Catechism of the Catholic Church, article 2119.
14 For a summary of the typical New Age monist understanding of God or divine energy, see Jesus Christ, Bearer of the
Water of Life: A Christian Reflection on the New Age, (hereafter JCBWL) 2.3.4.2. Pontifical Council for Culture &
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, 3/02/2003
15 Second Vatican Council, Nostra Aetate, 2
16 Maranatha, 2
17 Maranatha, 2; Dublin, page 1.
18 Maranatha, 4
19 Maranatha, 5
20 Maranatha, 5
21 Maranatha, 3
22 Catechism of the Catholic Church, article 2116.
23 Maranatha, 2
24 Dublin, page 3
25 Allister et al., op. cit; an almost identical statement is found in Maranatha, 1
26 Maranatha, 3
27 Maranatha, 5
28 JCBWL 4 highlights the difference between Christian belief in a personal God and the idea that God is an impersonal
force which characterises many New Age ideas.
29 Maranatha, 4
30 I John 4:1-3
31 Catechism of the Catholic Church, article 2119.
32 Maranatha, 4, verified by the text at http://www.reikifed.co.uk/pub/about/reiki/index.shtml
33 Maranatha 2 88.




34 JCBWL 6.2 highlights the presence of an initiation rite as a danger sign that a New Age activity might in fact be a
forum for false worship.
35 It may be offered without full explanation in a health-care context: see Allister et al., op. cit, also Maranatha 7.
36 Scanlan & Cirner, Deliverance from Evil Spirits, Servant Books, 1980; S. Conaty, The Hows and Whys of Deliverance,
unpublished lecture notes. Also F. MacNutt, Deliverance from Evil Spirits: A Practical Manual, Chosen Books, 1995, pp. 67-74.
37 JCBWL 6.2 acknowledges that some New Age practices are inappropriately offered in Christian spirituality centres.
38 Canon 1172 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, interpreted in the light of the 1985 Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith letter Inde ab aliquot annis

SOME COMMENTS ON REIKI FROM NON-CHRISTIANS
1A. Group opposed to anti-faith bills
http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsection=inbombay&xfile=March2007_inbombay_
standard12359 Monday, March 12, 2007
Maharashtra is about to pass a bill to take over all the temple trusts and to implement the Black Magic Act in the
coming session. An organisation which works for the safekeeping of the Hindu religion, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti
(HJS) has been expressing strong opposition to the implementation of these laws. They have held protests several times
in different places. Such a protest was staged near Parel railway station. According to the organisation, there is no need to
introduce new laws because the existing laws are sufficient to control illegal malpractices. They also say that the
Maharashtra government is doing this just to show that it is a progressive government. The Maharashtra Eradication
of Black Magic, Evil and Aghori Practices Bill, 2005 (better known as Black Magic Bill), has now been submitted to
the Upper House for ratification. If approved, Maharashtra will have a draconian law that targets the faith of the people.
A coordinator with the Mumbai region of the Samiti Shivaji Vatkar said, Police will have many uncontrolled powers.
Though the name of bill suggests that it is intended to eradicate black magic, this is not true. Many expert counsellors
have clarified that under the name of black magic, this law is actually targeting faith and all the crimes listed under this
law are already covered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), so there is no need for a new law.
He also mentioned that the bill is proposed, drafted and being forced by a group of rational thinking, namely
Andha Shraddha Nirmulan Samiti, an organisation that works against superstitions. Their leaders are Dr.
Narendra Dabholkar and Prof. Shyam Manav. The bill is intended to arrest saints and devotees as declared
by this organization.
Apart from the Black Magic Act, the State plans to take over all temples within the state, but mosques have been
excluded. The secular state government has excluded all the mosques, durgahs and madarassas registered with the Wakf
Board, said Vatkar. The Congress united front government running Maharashtra state has made it bankrupt and is now
planning to take over 4,50,000 temples and all religious institutions in the state. As per the recommendations of the 15th
Law Commission formed under the chairmanship of D. N. Chaudhury, the state government is planning to pass a law to
this effect. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh ordered the drafting of a new law after a stampede killed 267 people at
Mandradevi Temple in Satara in January 2005. The Maharashtra Temples or Religious Institutions (Management and
Regulation) Bill will come soon in the cabinet. The government has put forth the reason that planning and utilization of
temple funds is not done properly and therefore, the above law is proposed. According to the Samiti, the government is
proposing the temple takeover act because government has become bankrupt and wishes to utilize money offered by
devotees to conceal its failure. The government is taking over only wealthy temple trusts and ignoring the trusts which
actually need the financial support. Congress and Marxist governments have misused temple funds in various states
including Maharashtra.
Impact of the Black Magic Bill
A law that allows the State to arrest without bail and initiate criminal proceedings against those who believe in the power
of the divine to cure sickness or any other problem. The law suggests the sentence of 7 years of rigorous imprisonment
with a fine of 50,000 Rupees for violators.
All Hindu epics, Bible, and Quran will be questioned for their correctness on the basis of modern science, thus banned.
Alternate [sic] medical therapies like Reiki, Pranic healing, music healing
techniques and all others will be banned.
All miracles are declared fake by this law by which one is liable for arrest if they are not able to prove the teachings of the
religion and divine forces on the basis of science.
How will the Temple Takeover Act impact the state?
The government may take control of trusts. (4,50,000 temples). All the mosques, durgahs and madarassas registered with
the Wakf Board are excluded. The state will decide how the trusts money will be spent. The trusts now contribute two
percent of their gross income to run the Charity Commissioners Office. If the new law is passed, this may go up to eight
percent. There should be three trustees in each trust, one of whom will be appointed by the government.
All income should be in a common fund, there should be no lifetime trustees, each trustee should be liable (not just the
trust) and the Charity Commissioner must approve donations being made by the trust. 89.





1B. Hindu group stages hunger strike in protest against Black Magic Bill
by Pamela Raghunath, Correspondent March 16, 2007 (UAE) http://www.gulfnews.com/world/India/10111470.html
Mumbai: A Hindu group has begun a three-day hunger strike in protest against the Maharashtra government, which plans
to pass the Anti-Superstition Act and the Temples Takeover Act during this budget session.
Dr Durgesh Samant, national spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) said: "Though the Anti-Superstition Bill
has a good intention to eradicate blind faith and evil practices, certain sections in it seek to criminalise religious rites and
rituals, holy texts, worship, customs and traditions." The group, who work towards the unity and awareness of Hindus,
thinks certain sections of the Bill, such as Section 13, attack the basic right of "Freedom of Religion" conferred on every
citizen by the Indian Constitution. The HJS is also strongly against the proposed takeover of the temple trusts under the
Maharashtra Temples or Religious Institutions (Management and Regulation) Act. The step is seen as an attempt to take
over the huge amount of funds held by the trusts. But the government says it is meant to be used judiciously to ensure
incidents like the stampede that claimed the lives of more than 250 devotees at Mandradevi Temple in Satara a few years
ago does not happen again. The HJS has demanded to know why mosques are not being taken over.
Dangerous rituals
The Maharashtra Eradication of Black Magic, Evil and Aghori Practices Bill 2005, better known as the Black
Magic Bill, has already been passed by the legislative assembly and will be now placed before the legislative council. The
Bill was introduced to stop and control the practice of dangerous and irrational rituals mainly in rural areas.
But the main opposition to the Bill is that it allows the state to seize material or documents and make arrests without bail
and initiate criminal action against those who believe divine or supernatural power can cure illness or other difficulties.
Although objections have been raised that
alternate [sic] practices like Reiki, Pranic healing and even some of the
popular god-men could come under the purview of this law, the Bill, as a precaution
states: "For the removal of doubt, it is hereby declared that nothing in this Act shall apply to the acts involving religious
rites and rituals which does not adversely affect any person mentally, physically or financially."
See also http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/03/16/10111470.html

2. A person named Vividhaditya, writing at http://www.himvani.com/news/date/2006/04/:
On HimVani, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/him.vani/ (earlier known as clubinfonet) there have been discussions on
missionaries trying to convert Hindus in Himachal. Some of them were concerned that everyone has the right to choose
his/her religion. I feel, conversion is a dangerous trend, as mostly it is not the so-called upper castes that are targeted.
Its the so-called lower castes that are being influenced upon
I personally know one gentleman from the so-called lower caste whos a convert and has been elevated as a Father/priest
by the Evangelists (a sect of Protestants). Hed been given a huge mansion in Sundernagar (Near Mandi) and the charge
to convert people. He in turn too had been targeting the soft spots. Once, I asked him why he got converted. He had
many misconceptions about the Gita and the Sanatan Dharma or Hinduism. He pointed out to me that, one, he was fed
up that while they werent allowed to touch the palanquins of the deities gram/kul devtas and were not allowed to
enter the temples, at the same time, they were asked to do the donkeys work for the devta like contributing
wheat/rice grains, pulses, money in cash, wood as fire-fuel, carrying the tents, the devtas dhol and nagaaraas, during
the Jagra, Jatra, Shaant, Bishu, Sankranti and other social festivals and occasions Secondly, his wife had been ill for long
and the devtas or their mouthpiece the malis had fleeced many a khadus and bakras as offering and sacrifices from
them, without his wife getting cured. The devtas, reasons for his wifes ailment always were that his wife is possessed by
some supernatural element sometimes, by other devta, sometimes by some daayan, sometimes by Bhutbish, etc.
Christianity offered him recluse from all this horror and also offered him respectability by getting off the label of belonging
to a particular caste from his forehead. And thirdly, his wife too was cured by the prayers, some Christian priest
offered for her. (Although I doubt these prayers; as most of them are energy healers Reiki I feel,
which irrespective of any religion, anyone can do, who has learnt the art. And the same is being done in
guise of Christianity. There are many Tibetans too, who do Reiki, but they dont mix therapy and religion,
which I feel these missionaries are doing. What they do is mostly Reiki, I believe.)

3. Notes for Health Professionals and Patients. REIKI treatment a warning
Published by the Council for Health & Wholeness, 26 Ambleside Road, Flixton, Manchester M41
6PH, U.K. Source:
Reiki healing is being intensively promoted today in many parts of the country. It is being presented as an acceptable,
harmless and beneficial technique of healing, sometimes called healing touch or therapeutic touch. Anyone considering
becoming involved in Reiki should be aware of the following:
-
complementary therapies.
- o demonstrate that Reiki treatment has a positive clinical
effect.
90.




- y
realise it or not. It is not, as claimed, neutral with regard to religious belief systems.
-
practitioners are actually spiritist mediums who channel spiritual powers in the same way as mediums in sances.
- xercised by Reiki practitioners is undoubtedly real but the source and use of this power has to be
questioned. Even Reiki teachers recognise that this power can damage the recipient.
CONCLUSION
Reiki is a totally inappropriate activity for any hospital, surgery or other healthcare setting. As medical practitioners we are
concerned that Reiki may place patients at unnecessary and unknown risk. We are aware of people who have suffered
adverse effects and would therefore strongly warn against any involvement whatsoever with this practice.
Dr. Janice Allister MB BS, DRCOG, DCh, MRCGP
Dr Michelle Byrne MB, ChB
Carolyn Morcom MA, RMN, Adv. Dip. Couns
Dr Elizabeth Penlington MB, BCh, MFCH, FRIPHH
Dr Anke Raabe MRCS
Dr Hans-Christian Raabe MD, MRCP, MRCGP, DRCOG
Dr Andrew Robertson MB ChB, MRCGP, DRCOG
Dr Linda Stalley BM, BS, MRCP, DRCOG
Dr. Chris Summerton MA, MD, MRCS (Eng), FRCP, FRCP (Edin.), Cert MHS, FAETC
Dr E S Williams MB, BCh, MFGP (SA), FFPHM

4. YOUTH ATTRACTED TO NEW AGE SPIRITUALITY
Aamir Abdullah/ Saswata Ghoshal http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070025004
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 (New Delhi)
Spirituality seems to have made a big comeback in urban India, especially among the youth.
In fact, there is a whole new spirituality that has mushroomed along with the traditional.
For instance, the Buddhist Vipasana, or spiritual getaways in the hills, has been transformed into detox holidays for the
body and the mind.
Similarly, Sri Sri Ravishankar's Art of Living classes help people bust stress, Reiki heals, and Feng Shui arranges
people's living space in harmony with nature. While remaining true to their core ancient philosophy, these methods they
have found ways to reach out and resolve modern dilemmas.
''I think there was always a sense of connection with religion, but it was deep down because for sometimes in between a
lot of people felt disconnected from the ownership of religion. Also people were not sure whether this was just superstition
or something that was very important to them as people in terms of their identity.''
''And now I think having seen all the political mess that can be made in the name of religion when wrong people grab it, I
think regular Indian are now out there saying that well this actually belongs to me,'' said Renuka Narayanan, Editor,
Religion & Culture, Hindustan Times.
Moreover, 21st century spirituality has no religious bars - neither does it have too many customs and rules.
Interestingly, renunciation is also not a part of them; so one doesn't t have to quit his/her job and material belongings or
to go to Rishikesh. No wonder the old and young, especially the young, are flocking to new-age spirituality.
''Faith is rocking in the 21st century in India. It's like the return swing of the pendulum. The 20th century was about
putting away faith and running away from it. Now inevitably it's come right back.''
''And a lovely thing I find about the younger people is that they are more chilled out and that they don't have the hang-
ups of the people in their 40s and 50s about identifying their faith and are fine with: It didn't work for you, it has worked
for me and I am not afraid to take it,'' added Renuka Narayanan.
For example, 21-year-old Komal Seth - a new recruit in Buddhist satsangs - says that the new age spirituality has
transformed her life. ''I always knew I could dance. But I never knew if I was dancing for myself, or the people watching
me. What was I dancing for? I could never get that out. Now I know that I am dancing for God. I am dancing for union
with him which is nothing but union with myself,'' said Komal Seth, Dancer.
Not just Komal, it's an entire SMS generation is seeking out soul doctors.
''Everybody wants to enact somebody. Be it Shah Rukh or whoever. You should be yourself. That's the coolest thing.
Spirituality makes you realise what are you,'' said one youngster.
''One thing that changed was my relationships. Initially the kind of relationship that my mom and me had was pathetic. It
used to lead into these late-night fights. Our neighbours had big time entertainment.''
''I was just suffocating. That's one kind of a relationship I didn't want. After undergoing the workshop I realized how
special she is to me and I am to her,'' said another.
Stress, competition and too many choices along with an everyday tango with wants and desires have added to the
complexities of modern life. While this throws up many problems, it offers few solutions and even little direction, and that
is where this growing quest for the spiritual comes in.
91.



THE EXAMINER, THE ARCHDIOCESAN WEEKLY OF BOMBAY
CHRISTIAN YOGA?
Letter to THE EXAMINER by this writer dated November 16, 2003, published in the issue of November 22, 2003.
Sir,
In your Local News [The Examiner, October 25, 2003] there is mention of Yoga Courses being organised regularly by
the Jeevan Darshan Kendra/Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Mumbai.
These free courses, conducted by the disciples of Nikam Guruji from the Shri Ambika Ashram, Thane have attracted 'more
than 200 persons' to the second course, currently in session, compared to 90 participants in the first course of 13
evenings.
Fr. Francis D'Britto is quoted as saying that "Yoga is a time-tested science of purifying one's body and soul..."
One wonders how many Catholics are learning the practice of yoga here with the aim of purifying their bodies and souls,
and imbibing yogic philosophies with the "aim (of) creating harmony between mind and body as well as the self and
God."
As a scientist I am unable to figure out the manner in which the "science" of yoga is capable of or can achieve "purifying"
one's soul, and "creating harmony between (one's) self and God."
Yoga is not physical exercises. It is a meditation (concerning the mind) system in which the various asanas or postures
only help one to progressively reach a state of 'enlightenment'. The realisation that the self and God (the Self) are one.
And the same. It subscribes to a monistic (all is one, one is all) understanding of the nature of god, which is incompatible
with the Christian dualistic concept of God and creation. I possess over four dozen books by Christian authors that agree
on this. But more importantly, so do all works on yoga authored by non-Christian proponents of this meditation.
Fr. D'Britto's words themselves are an admission that with yoga there is more than just the physical (the body) aspect, as
it involves the 'mind'; and that there is a spiritual component: it aims at union (not harmony, but a monistic union,
YOGA derives from the Sanskrit yug meaning 'union') with God.
The recent (3rd February) Vatican Document on the New Age warns Catholics about the dangers of holistic health
therapies that attempt to treat a person holistically i.e. body, mind (soul) and spirit. The Document discusses yoga as a
New Age practice. Another Document, the "Letter to the Bishops....on Christian Meditation"(October 15, 1989) also warns
of the spiritual dangers of Eastern meditation techniques like yoga.
For these very reasons, the Bishops of Croatia 'fiercely reacted' and 'strongly protested' to their government which
resulted in a 'scrapping' of yoga from their schools (Times of India, July 18, 2003)
In the light of all this, I am perplexed as to why the Church in India makes no official statement, while yoga is increasingly
propagated in diocesan centres, church summer camps, and schools, and is now an elective subject in Catholic colleges.
MICHAEL PRABHU, [email protected] 12 DAWN APARTMENTS, 22 LEITH CASTLE SOUTH STREET, CHENNAI 600028.

From: Errol Fernandes To: Editor, The Examiner Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 10:58 AM
Dear Fr Charanghat, Following is a letter for publication in The Examiner. Thank you.
Errol C Fernandes 304, Asit Apartments, Kane Road, Mount Mary, Bandra, Bombay 400 050 E-mail: [email protected]
"Christian Yoga" and the Role of Teachers
Sir,
The letters of Michael Prabhu (22 November 2003) and R. Coelho (13 December 2003) raise some very serious concerns.
If the Vatican has seen fit to commission a study and publish a document on New Age and the various philosophies/
spiritualities it covers, showing these to be incompatible with Christian spirituality, how is it that some priests and nuns
continue to promote these among the laity while the hierarchy remains largely silent and seemingly unconcerned?
Many Catholic publications carry advertisements promoting Enneagram programmes, Yogic Meditation, Reiki
healing, Vipassana etc. There is no move to correct this, although the document "Jesus Christ, Bearer of the Water of
Life. A Christian Reflection on the New Age" notes, "It must unfortunately be admitted that there are too many cases
where Catholic centres of spirituality are actively involved in diffusing New Age religiosity in the Church. This would of
course have to be corrected, not only to stop the spread of confusion and error, but also so that they might be effective in
promoting true Christian spirituality".(6.2)
The laity at large also seem confused in the matter of teaching authority in the Church. I have met many Catholics who,
on being shown what has been clearly written in Vatican documents, argue on the basis of "but Father ----- says" and "but
Sister ---- says." Isnt it time the shepherds spoke to the flock?
Errol C Fernandes
From: Errol Fernandes To: Michael Prabhu Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2003 4:33 PM
Subject: Fw: Christian Yoga and the Role of Teachers
Just for your information - don't be surprised if the letter is not carried. Errol
NOTE: As expected, the letter was NOT carried- Michael.

92.



What can be done to remove Reiki, the most pervasive of popular occult techniques, from
Catholic institutions?
The suggestions of The Cross and the Veil are:
1. We can tear off the veils of deception through dissemination of this kind of literature.
("I will tear off your veils and rescue my people from your power, so that they shall no longer be prey to your
hands. Thus you shall know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 13:21)
2. We can sponsor true centers of healing in hospitals, colleges & retreat houses that include programs in:
* the sacraments of reconciliation;
* Eucharistic adoration in honor of the Holy Face;
* anointing of the sick blessed with prayers to the Holy Face;
* orthodox spiritual direction for those in crisis;
* restoration of those affected by New Age involvement.
3. Those Catholics who are especially gifted with the charisms of extraordinary faith, healing, deliverance
and intercessory prayer can form discernment groups under the leadership of a priest experienced in orthodox
Roman Catholic spiritual counseling in order to inaugurate these ministries.
Just as Jesus expressed just anger at the taking over of His Fathers House, we too should be just as zealous in
reclaiming our loved ones and institutions from these false idols.

INDEX (Page Numbers in Brackets)
Introduction to Reiki (1-4)
An examination of some books on Reiki (4-7)
Reikis compatibility with other New Age alternative therapies (7-8)
Karuna Reiki (8)
Christian writers expose the errors and spiritual dangers of Reiki (9-17, 94)
Reiki in Catholic institutions outside India (17-33)
Reiki in Catholic institutions in India (33-39, 114-116)
Catholics expose the errors and spiritual dangers of Reiki (39-89, 94-114, 116-122)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops opposes Reiki (76-81, 94-100)
Some comments on Reiki from non-Christians (89-91)
The Examiner, the Archdiocesan weekly of Bombay (92)
INDEX (93)
93.






























ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Christian writers expose the errors and spiritual dangers of Reiki, continued from page 17
5. Potentially Harmful and Dangerous Spiritual Practices
Compiled from numerous sources by Chris Lawson, Spiritual Research Network [SRN]
http://www.spiritual-research-network.com/dangerouspractices.html
EXTRACT: We consider all of the subjects listed below to have the potential to be spiritually harmful - and a
large number of them to be extremely dangerous [see web site for complete list- Michael]
-Alliance method ("traditional" Reiki, Usui System of Natural Healing; called "Hayashi" in
Japan)
-Reiki Therapy
SRN issues a warning about the following topics because they are either one, two, three, or all four of the following:
-Mystical and supernaturalistic health related methods
-Founded on occult principles
-Dangerous forms of occult and mystical practices
-Based on the writings and beliefs associated with either paganism, spiritism, occultism or mysticism.
A strong warning is advised to all who would involve themselves with practices that originate within the realm of New Age,
occult, and spiritistic practices. All occult methods have the capability of leading to serious physical, spiritual, and personal
bodily harm. We state this because all of the practices above are in some way, shape or form connected to a pantheistic
(or panentheistic) worldview, which is the root of Eastern spirituality and the world of the occult.
Many individuals who delve into New Age and occult practices have suffered the consequences of spiritual oppression,
occult bondage, psychological delusion, insanity, irreversible mental and physical damage, insanity, suicidal tendencies,
possession states, moral degradation, sexual perversion, fatal accidents, and more.
For those who are presently involved in any form of occultism or in any practices founded upon the principles of the
occult, we recommend that you fully repent of this sin and in complete willful submission to the Lord Jesus Christ, call
upon Him to free you from all demonic influences. Occult bondage is too strong to break free from through any other
means... Jesus Christ is the only answer!
The Bible is clear regarding all forms of occultism - it is dangerous at best, and can damn the soul at worst. For those who
do not know, 'energy work', Reiki, channeling, yoga kundalini energy, spiritual intuitives, etc. are all forms of "divination"
and mediumship in varying degrees. No matter how the world of the occult is repackaged and introduced into Western
civilization, God's view on the subject remains the same - it is an abomination with severe consequences:
When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the
abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his
daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a
witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these
things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive
them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou
shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God
hath not suffered thee so to do. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet [prophetic of Jesus Christ]
from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. (Deuteronomy 18:9-15).
Notice the last line here... But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.
The warning of 3,400 years ago still stands today!
We issue our warning because we believe (and so do others) that involvement with these practices, including
dabbling in them at beginner levels and the promotion of them to any degree, has the potential to incur
harmful and dangerous influences upon oneself and upon one's family.
We believe these dangers arise from trafficking with unseen hostile spirit beings that have the ability to counterfeit
themselves and masquerade as "results" in the lives of the practitioners and their clients. Making a business out of
contacting the spirit world, through any of the endless means of occult methodology is no safe trade.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

Continued from page 81
16F. The debate over reikis benefits spills over at Roman Catholic hospitals
By Bella English, Globe Staff, September 22, 2009
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2009/09/22/reiki_banned_from_roman_catholic_hospitals_as_neither_science_no
r_medicine/
Debbie Griseuk is a reiki practitioner and teacher who volunteered her time to elderly nuns in Manchester, N.H., and
patients at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua. In fact, she first became interested in the Japanese hands-on healing technique
at St. Joseph, where she attended a lecture along with some nuns. She went through a training course at the Roman
Catholic hospital, eventually becoming a reiki master.
94.



But last spring the US Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that reiki - hailed by many as therapy, derided by others
as quackery - would no longer be practiced in the churchs hospitals and retreat centers. Reiki, according to the bishops, is
not grounded in science or Christianity and is therefore inappropriate for Catholic institutions.
Practitioners and clients claim that reiki (pronounced RAY-kee) reduces pain, stress, and anxiety; accelerates recovery
from surgery and illness; and boosts the immune system. The church hierarchy begs to differ. Without justification either
from Christian faith or natural science, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in reiki would be operating in the realm of
superstition, the no-mans-land that is neither faith nor science, according to the six-page guidelines. Superstition
corrupts ones worship of God by turning ones religious feeling and practice in a false direction.
Griseuk, who lives in Merrimack, N.H., read about the decision and chuckled. It must have been a slow day at the
Vatican, says Griseuk, who was raised in the Catholic Church.
The following week she got a call from St. Joseph saying the hospital would no longer offer reiki. Griseuk had to close the
seven-year-old volunteer clinic located at a wellness center associated with the hospital. The bishops did not do their
research, she says. Reiki is not a belief system, not a cult, not a weirdo thing.
The bishops statement comes at a time when reiki is enjoying increasing popularity in the United States. Reiki supporters
say that energy is transferred from a practitioners hands to the areas in a clients body most in need of healing. In a reiki
session, a client sits or lies down, and the practitioner places his or her hands lightly on or just above the fully-clothed
body, holding the hands in place for a couple of minutes before moving to another energy point of the body.
Reiki means universal life energy in Japanese. It is believed to have been developed by a Japanese doctor at the turn of
the 20th century and was brought to the West in the 1940s by a Hawaiian woman of Japanese descent, who learned the
practice in Japan and then taught it to a handful of Americans.
Reflecting a growing interest in alternative healing, an estimated 1.2 million people in the United States have had reiki
treatments, according to a 2007 survey by the National Institutes of Health - a 12 percent increase since 2002. The NIH is
funding a study of the effects of reiki on stress. Should reiki decrease stress pathways or reduce physiological responses
to stressful situations, it could be a useful adjunct to traditional medicine and have significant health and economic
benefits, according to an NIH statement.
From what we are seeing, the trend indicates further upward growth through 2009, said Linda M. LaFlamme, executive
director of the International Association of Reiki Professionals, which is based in Nashua. Practitioners stress that reiki
supplements, rather than supplants, traditional medicine.
Kay Murphy of Merrimack had reiki sessions at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, N.H., after two knee replacements,
and swears by it. The small program was cut after the bishops statement.
I was a skeptic, but it helped with pain, says Murphy, a retired guidance counselor. She has since taken a reiki course
and treats family and friends. Of the bishops decree, she says: Its unfortunate, because people can benefit from this.
Apparently, St. Joseph Hospital agreed. A hospital brochure on reiki called it one of the most popular forms of integrated
therapies at the hospital. The manager of volunteer services is quoted as saying: This energy is deeply relaxing and
enables the patient to release stress and anxiety. This state of relaxation facilitates our bodies natural healing.
Griseuk says nurses would sometimes call her for help with patients, and some doctors would write reiki in their orders.
She also worked with retired nuns at the Presentation of Mary convent in Manchester, and now maintains a private
practice in Merrimack and Nashua.
But the Rev. Robert McManus, bishop of Worcester and a member of the committee on doctrine that drew up the
guidelines, says the bishops research concluded there is no medical proof that reiki promotes healing. And I think there
was a concern on some level that this type of new age philosophy of life . . . as a spirituality, lets say its lacking. The
Christian tradition also holds that all healing comes from God, who chooses intermediaries - doctors and nurses - to carry
it out, McManus adds.
Has he ever experienced reiki? No, he says with a chuckle. I take two aspirin and call the doctor.
Dr. Herbert Benson, who pioneered the field of mind-body science, is ambivalent about reiki. An extraordinary powerful
aspect of healing comes from belief and expectancy, says Benson, a cardiologist and director emeritus of the Benson-
Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. When one believes in something, when one
expects something to occur, a mind-body effect occurs that has been classified as the placebo effect. The placebo effect is
a remarkably powerful tool in healing.
With reiki, he says, the question remains: Is it based in science or the placebo effect? Its not that the healing benefits
are not valid; its simply that it hasnt been worked out whether its the placebo effect or whether its the reiki itself, he
says. His clinics do not offer reiki, but Mass General has some nurses trained in the technique who use it upon request.
Brigham and Womens Hospital has a pilot program in which volunteers and interested nurses are trained to perform reiki
with patients who request it, barring those with certain physical limitations, says spokeswoman Lori Shanks.
A spokesman for Caritas Christi, which oversees the Catholic hospitals in the Boston area, says they do not offer reiki.
Sarah Ward, director of marketing and communications at St. Joseph, said that if patients request reiki, they will receive
it. We would still offer it if patients asked for it, as we do for anything spiritually related for patients, but we wouldnt
actively promote it or offer classes anymore, says Ward.
Patients at St. Joseph still call Griseuk and she occasionally goes to their hospital rooms to perform reiki. Galileo was
denounced by the Catholic Church, she says. I dont mind being in his company. 95.



16G. No more reiki at US Catholic health facilities September 24, 2009
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=16643
The US Bishops have stirred debate among practitioners following their announcement that reiki will no longer be
performed in the Church's hospitals and retreat centres.
The bishops' statement comes at a time when reiki is enjoying increasing popularity in the United States, The Boston
Globe reported.
Reiki supporters say that energy is transferred from a practitioner's hands to the areas in a client's body most in need of
healing. In a reiki session, a client sits or lies down, and the practitioner places his or her hands lightly on or just above
the fully-clothed body, holding the hands in place for a couple of minutes before moving to another "energy point" of the
body.
"Without justification either from Christian faith or natural science, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in reiki would be
operating in the realm of superstition, the no-man's-land that is neither faith nor science," according to the six-page
guidelines by the USCCB.
"Superstition corrupts one's worship of God by turning one's religious feeling and practice in a false direction."
Bishop Robert McManus, a member of the committee on doctrine that drew up the guidelines, says the bishops' research
concluded there is no medical proof that reiki promotes healing.
"And I think there was a concern on some level that this type of new age philosophy of life ... as a spirituality, let's say it's
lacking." The Christian tradition also holds that all healing comes from God, who chooses intermediaries - doctors and
nurses - to carry it out, McManus added.
Debbie Griseuk, a reiki teacher and practitioner, read about the decision and chuckled, The Boston Globe said. "It must
have been a slow day at the Vatican," said Griseuk, who was raised in the Catholic Church.
FULL STORY
The debate over reiki's benefits spills over at Roman Catholic hospitals (The Boston Globe)
Catholic Church Bans Japanese Healing Technique "Reiki" (OpposingViews.com)

16H. Reiki lacks scientific credibility
www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-067.shtml
Catholics trusting Reiki operate in superstitious no man's land
Reiki inappropriate for Catholic health care institutions, retreat centers, chaplains
Reiki Therapy Unscientific, 'Inappropriate for Catholic Institutions,' Say Bishops' Guidelines
WASHINGTONThe U.S. bishops have issued guidelines that call Reiki therapy, an alternative medicine originating in
Japan, unscientific and inappropriate for Catholic institutions.
They outlined the position in "Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy." The guidelines were developed
by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, chaired by Bishop William Lori of
Bridgeport, Connecticut. They were approved by the USCCB Administrative Committee, March 24, during its spring
meeting in Washington. The Administrative Committee is the authoritative body of the USCCB to approve committee
statements.
The document can be found at http://www.usccb.org/doctrine/publications.shtml
The Guidelines describe Reiki as a healing technique "invented in Japan in the late 1800s by Mikao Usui, who was
studying Buddhist texts." The guidelines state that "according to Reiki teaching, illness is caused by some kind of
disruption or imbalance in one's 'life energy.' A Reiki practitioner effects healing by placing his or her hands in certain
positions on the patient's body in order to facilitate the flow of Reiki, the 'universal life energy,' from the Reiki practitioner
to the patient."
The Guidelines state that "Reiki lacks scientific credibility" and "has not been accepted by the scientific and medical
communities as an effective therapy."
"Reputable scientific studies attesting to the efficacy of Reiki are lacking, as is a plausible scientific explanation as to how
it could possibly be efficacious," they state.
The Guidelines note that "Reiki is frequently described as a 'spiritual' kind of healing as opposed to the common medical
procedures of healing using physical means." They assert, however, that there is a radical difference between Reiki
therapy and the healing by divine power in which Christians believe: "for Christians the access to divine healing is by
prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior, while the essence of Reiki is not a prayer but a technique that is passed down from
the 'Reiki Master' to the pupil, a technique that once mastered will reliably produce the anticipated results."
In sum, Reiki therapy "finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief," the Guidelines state.
"For a Catholic to believe in Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems," the Guidelines state. "In terms of caring for one's
physical health or the physical health of others, to employ a technique that has no scientific support (or even plausibility)
is generally not prudent."
The guidelines warn that in using Reiki for one's spiritual health, "there are important dangers."
"To use Reiki one would have to accept at least in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that undergirds Reiki
theory, elements that belong neither to Christian faith nor to natural science. Without justification either from Christian
faith or natural science, however, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of
superstition, the no-man's-land that is neither faith nor science," they state. 96.

"Superstition corrupts one's worship of God by turning one's religious feeling and practice in a false direction," the
Guidelines state. "While sometimes people fall into superstition through ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach
in the name of the Church to eliminate such ignorance as much as possible."
"Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for
Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such
as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy," the Guidelines said.

16I. Reiki teacher resigns from Dominican Center after bishops tell Catholic institutions
they should not be practicing healing technique Charley Honey, The Grand Rapids, Press April 25, 2009
http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/04/reiki_teacher_resigns_from_dom.html
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - To Jan Atwood, Reiki is all about healing, not theological battles.
That is why the teacher and practitioner of the Japanese healing technique has resigned from the Dominican Center at
Marywood, after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told Catholic institutions they should not be practicing it.
Atwood will step down Friday as coordinator of bodywork at the Grand Rapids Dominicans spirituality center, 2025 E.
Fulton St. She says she does not want to fight the bishops' claim that Reiki is incompatible with Christian teaching.
"It was a difficult decision to make, but I just felt everything was telling me to move on," said Atwood, who has been
providing Reiki therapy at Marywood since the late 1990s. "I don't want to be a part of something that's political. I just
want to do the work."
Her departure leaves the Dominicans uncertain whether to continue offering Reiki as an alternative healing therapy.
Sisters say they were surprised by the bishops' recently released guidelines.
"This protest against Reiki is puzzling to me," said Sister Mary Navarre, a member of the Dominican leadership team. "It's
not hurt anybody as far as we know, and it seems to have helped a lot of people."
Proponents say Reiki reduces stress and promotes healing by laying hands on or near the body. Trained practitioners say
they can free blocked energy points by channeling "life-force energy."
The bishops counter Reiki lacks Christian or scientific support. The USCCB Committee on Doctrine said it is "inappropriate"
for Catholic retreats or health care centers to practice Reiki.
"(A) Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no-man's land that is
neither faith nor science," the report states.
It is up to local bishops whether or not to enforce the guidelines, said the USCCB's Rev. Tom Weinandy. Grand Rapids
Bishop Walter Hurley did not return calls, but spokeswoman Mary Haarman said he shared the report with the Dominicans
"for their review and action as appropriate."
Reiki attributes to humans healing power only available to Jesus, Weinandy said.
Dominicans say they see no conflict with Christian teaching in the kind of Reiki they offer, which sees the life-force energy
coming from God.
"It's very Christian, and we're not using witchcraft or anything of that nature," said Sister Nathalie Meyer, prioress of the
Dominicans. "We certainly are not out to do something that isn't good for the church."
She said Hurley "put no pressure on me," and her congregation will study the issue along with other Dominican
communities before deciding on a future course.
Atwood, a Reformed Church in America member, is moving her practice to an office on Broadway Avenue NW.
She said she averages about 15 Reiki sessions a month and has trained about 300 people in the technique.
Atwood said she is being part of Christ's body by helping people heal, adding, "I believe so strongly what I'm doing is
from God." [E-mail Charles Honey: [email protected]]

16J. The Catholic Church versus Reiki
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/04/reiki_versus_the_catholic_church.php
April 13, 2009 [THE WRITER ARGUES THAT JESUS PRACTISED REIKI! - Michael]
Nearly two weeks ago, P.Z. Myers mentioned a story that would normally have provoked a post by me. Specifically, the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had issued a warning against the use of reiki as being unscientific, unproven, and,
worse, "dangerous to Christian spiritual health." Unfortunately, this story came out right before Autism Awareness Month
and the all out spring offensive by antivaccinationists fronted by Jenny McCarthy, along with all the nonsense that entails,
and my attention rapidly got sidetracked. The reason I've come back to it is that I recently learned that defenders of reiki
have responded to the U.S. bishops.
How could I resist?
First, let's look at what the Catholic Bishops said about spiritual healing:
The Church recognizes two kinds of healing: healing by divine grace and healing that utilizes the powers of nature. As for
the first, we can point to the ministry of Christ, who performed many physical healings and who commissioned his
disciples to carry on that work. In fidelity to this commission, from the time of the Apostles the Church has interceded on
behalf of the sick through the invocation of the name of the Lord Jesus, asking for healing through the power of the Holy
Spirit, whether in the form of the sacramental laying on of hands and anointing with oil or of simple prayers for healing,
which often include an appeal to the saints for their aid. As for the second, the Church has never considered a plea for
divine healing, which comes as a gift from God, to exclude recourse to natural means of healing through the practice of
medicine.1 97.



Alongside her sacrament of healing and various prayers for healing, the Church has a long history of caring for the sick
through the use of natural means. The most obvious sign of this is the great number of Catholic hospitals that are found
throughout our country.
If you believe that spiritual or divine healing through the power of God is possible in the manner described in the Bible,
then this is not an unreasonable position to take. Of course, the wag in me can't resist pointing out that, when you boil it
all down, this position is really no different from "integrative" medicine, in which unscientific and religious "healing" is
"integrated" with conventional scientific medicine. And that's exactly why I think the U.S. Catholic bishops have reacted
too strongly to reiki. In fact, they lay it right out plainly for all to see in this passage:
8. Some people have attempted to identify Reiki with the divine healing known to Christians. They are mistaken. The
radical difference can be immediately seen in the fact that for the Reiki practitioner the healing power is at human
disposal. Some teachers want to avoid this implication and argue that it is not the Reiki practitioner personally who effects
the healing, but the Reiki energy directed by the divine consciousness. Nevertheless, the fact remains that for Christians
the access to divine healing is by prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior, while the essence of Reiki is not a prayer but a
technique that is passed down from the "Reiki Master" to the pupil, a technique that once mastered will reliably produce
the anticipated results.7 Some practitioners attempt to Christianize Reiki by adding a prayer to Christ, but this does not
affect the essential nature of Reiki. For these reasons, Reiki and other similar therapeutic techniques cannot be identified
with what Christians call healing by divine grace.
9. The difference between what Christians recognize as healing by divine grace and Reiki therapy is also evident in the
basic terms used by Reiki proponents to describe what happens in Reiki therapy, particularly that of "universal life
energy." Neither the Scriptures nor the Christian tradition as a whole speak of the natural world as based on "universal life
energy" that is subject to manipulation by the natural human power of thought and will. In fact, this worldview has its
origins in eastern religions and has a certain monist and pantheistic character, in that distinctions among self, world, and
God tend to fall away. We have already seen that Reiki practitioners are unable to differentiate clearly between divine
healing power and power that is at human disposal.
They conclude:
12. Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for
Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such
as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy.
I do have to admit that the bishops get two things right. Reiki is definitely not supported by any scientific evidence, and it
is definitely not based on Christian religion. Rather, it's based on Eastern mysticism, and that is explicitly the reason that
the U.S. Bishops reject it. In other words, this is a religious battle. The U.S. Bishops have noted the infiltration of reiki
practitioners into Catholic hospitals, and they are not pleased by it, not so much because it's quackery (if it were because
they believe it's quackery, then why didn't they expel reiki practitioners from Catholic hospitals years ago?), but because it
represents a competing religious world view muscling in on their turf a little more than they were willing to put up with.
The simply can't have that, and were forced to take action. So while I'm happy that the U.S. Bishops are making a push to
remove reiki practitioners from Catholic hospitals, I can't help but observe that they are doing the right thing for the
wrong reason. In other words, healing at Lourdes is OK, as is laying on hands. However, if the laying on of hands involves
invoking the power of a heathen religion, it's not OK.
In fact, there are a great many similarities between reiki and faith healing. I refer my readers back again to a famous reiki
website to show why. There, I found a concise description of the history of reiki "from the horse's mouth," so to speak.
There you will learn about Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of reiki. It turns out that Dr. Usui's quest to learn how to heal was
inspired by Jesus himself when as a student he asked his master if he believed that Jesus had healed. He answered yes.
Dr. Usui then asked him how Jesus healed, and he was forced to admit that he did not know. According to reiki
practitioners, this led Dr. Usui on a spiritual quest lasting decades to find out how to heal as Jesus did. This quest
ultimately culminated in 1922, when, like Jesus, Dr. Usui engaged in fasting and praying on a mountain in the wilderness,
described thusly:
After a few more years of study, he felt he had come to an understanding and that to go further required serious
meditation. He went to a nearby mountain declaring his intention to fast and meditate for 21 days and that if he did not
come back they should come and get his body.
He went to the mountain and settled in with 21 stones with which to count the days. On the 21st day nothing had come
as yet, and he turned over the last stone saying "Well, this is it, either I get the answer today or I do not". At that
moment on the horizon he could see a ball of light coming towards him. The first instinct was to get out of the way, but
he realized this might just be what he was waiting for, so allowed it to hit him right in the face. As it struck him he was
taken on a journey and shown bubbles of all the colors of the rainbow in which were the symbols of Reiki, the very same
symbols in the writings he was studying but had been unable to understand. Now as he looked at them again, there was
total understanding.
After returning from this experience he began back down the mountain and was, from this moment on, able to heal. This
first day alone he healed an injured toe, his own starvation, an ailing tooth and the Abbots sickness, which was keeping
him bedridden. These are known as the first four miracles.
I again point to the strong parallels to the story of Jesus' life and ministry as found in the Gospels. Jesus, too, spent 40
days praying and fasting in the wilderness before he began his ministry. Likewise, Dr. Usui didn't begin his healing
ministry until he, too, had undergone the same sort of ritual purification. 98.

This story also resembles that of Moses in the Old Testament where Moses received his wisdom and instructions from God
Mount Horeb from a burning bush. The religious underpinnings of reiki are unmistakable and indisputable, and they have
multiple parallels with stories in Jewish and Christian scriptures. Moreover, the religious concepts behind reiki infect many
other "alternative" therapies under the rubric of "energy healing." Therapeutic touch (TT) is a good example. Just like
the case for reiki, TT practitioners claim that there exists a "life energy" that can be manipulated by practitioners for
healing effect. Indeed, there really is no "touch" in therapeutic touch, as it only involves the practitioner holding his or her
hands close to, but not necessarily touching, the patient and thus altering the flow of this life energy for healing effect. In
reiki, the difference is that the practitioner does more than just redirect the patient's "energy flow." Believers in reiki
believe that a reiki practitioner can actually channel healing energy from the universe into patients, even going so far as to
believe that healing at a distance is possible.
Given these clear religious underpinnings of reiki, I always wonder why reiki practitioners seem to crave so desperately
validation by science, but they do. They try study after study trying to demonstrate that reiki does anything more than a
placebo (which it is) and virtually always fail. As for homeopathy, the studies for reiki tend to be most "positive" in the
small pilot studies with less rigorous design, but the difference between reiki and placebo becomes smaller, the larger and
better-designed the study, becoming indistinguishable from placebo in the largest, best-designed studies. In addition,
sometimes reiki believers go to ridiculous extremes, as I've blogged about before, discussing, for example, a study in
which some unfortunate rats were subjected to reiki. It's all what Harriet Hall likes to refer to as "Tooth Fairy science."
What brought me back to this story was that I've been made aware of some reactions of reiki practitioners, and the
results are--shall we say?--enlightening. Indeed, there's very little discussion of science, a fair amount of discussion of
dubious anecdotal evidence ("I've seen it work!"), and a whole lot of discussion of religion. For example, Dennis Dupuis
wrote:
The point I most wish to share with you is that Jesus did this. He did not call it "Reiki", but it was the same thing. I am a
Catholic who has a deep belief and desire that I should live my life as Jesus lived his. "What would Jesus do?" is a
wonderful approach to every life situation. The laying on of hands and wishing to be an instrument of God's love in the
healing and comforting of another living being, especially our fellow humans, especially when this fellow human is
suffering, is how Jesus lived and how I believe he would have us live now. How can this not be in accord with our Catholic
faith and practice?
Mr. Dupuis doesn't understand. It's because reiki is based on religion--and a religion based on what the Catholic Church
considers a heathen religion, to boot--there was never any doubt that one day the Church would start to push back
against it. More interesting is that Mr. Dupuis doesn't seem to have found it worth mentioning any science supporting
reiki. Indeed, on a blog called Reiki Ramblings, the blog of a website called Catholic Reiki, I found this quote:
While it is a carefully thought out work, it's done from an outside view, not one that's experienced the connection with
God through Reiki. With the very many views on what Reiki is, I can't really blame the bishops. We don't really have one
voice as to what Reiki is. In some ways this is good as we must internalize the message of what Reiki is rather than
following a message from a Reiki central authority.
I wonder if there is a lack of communication in the words we use. Sometimes the words we use don't convey the same
meanings to another. It is a matter of my personal faith that Reiki is Good and comes from the Source of all goodness.
The Bishops offered a conservative response to a relatively new idea. Possibly, in the future Reiki will be "Christianized"
just as the feast of Saturnalia was changed to Christmas.
This is a very apt description. Reiki is a religious, not scientific, practice and belief system. It may well be that if the
Catholic Church can't beat it, it'll do what it's done with so many pagan practices and beliefs over the centuries: Co-opt it.
Be that as it may, it says nothing about reiki's efficacy from a scientific viewpoint. Perhaps my favorite quote is this one by
a reiki practitioner named Sue Routner:
It is very sad that the bishops feel the need to denounce Reiki and feel justified to do so publicly. I also find it very odd
that they argue on the basis of scientific proof, as they have up until now not provided any such proof that God exists.
Ouch. That one's going to leave a mark! Of course, the irony is very thick here, given = no reiki practitioner up until now
has provided any scientific "proof" that (1) the life energy (qi) postulated by reiki teachings exists; (2) that any reiki
practitioner can even detect this life energy, much less manipulate it for "healing intent"; or (3) that any reiki practitioner
can detect or channel healing energies from a "universal consciousness." Indeed, as evidence, I present perhaps the
lamest retort I've seen from a reiki practitioner yet:
People used acetylsalicytic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin, for thousands of years before there was any "scientific
explanation as to how it could possibly be efficacious." There is no record of the Catholic Church denouncing it before
scientists found an explanation.
The stupid, it burns. This is one of the most annoying woo complaints I hear. First off, people have not been using
acetylsalicylic acid for "thousands of years. People have been using salicylic acid, which is the natural product that is
modified to produce acetylsalicylic acid, a.k.a. aspirin. In fact, acetyl salicylic acid is a semisynthetic drug and was not
synthesized until the 1850s, and it wasn't until 1897 when the drug and dye firm Bayer started testing aspirin as an
alternative to salicylic acid that was less irritating to the stomach. Moreover, the big difference between aspirin and reiki is
that we knew aspirin worked. There was lots of evidence. Moreover, even though the exact mechanism by which aspirin
works for a long time, scientists did know that it worked by chemical interactions with cells through their proteins based
on known science. It was not necessary to postulate a mystical energy field that no science can detect or religious woo. In
any case, no reiki practitioner has been able to show that reiki works or that the "life energy" required for it to work
exists. 99.



I rather suspect that, as believers in woo try to "integrate" more and more "alternative" or "complementary and
alternative medicine" (CAM) into mainstream medicine and academia, there will be more conflicts between Catholics and
these modalities. Reiki was the "low-hanging fruit," so to speak, given that it's the most explicitly religious of the CAM
modalities, but lots of others are arguably religious in nature. For example, homeopathy is based on medieval concepts of
sympathetic magic; from the Catholic perspective it is arguably sorcery, which is explicitly forbidden in Catholic doctrine.
Also, as I mentioned, TT is in essence an offshoot of reiki. At the very least, its inspiration came from reiki. In fact, I
rather wish the Catholic bishops had come down just as hard on TT as it did on reiki.
Whatever the reason the Catholic Church is going after reiki, it actually gets it exactly right about the lack of scientific
studies supporting reiki as being anything more than yet another elaborate placebo. It's just a shame that the primary
motivation appears to be, more than anything else, a desire to cast out a competing religious viewpoint. I'd rather see
reiki thrown out of hospitals, Catholic or otherwise, based on the fact that it's pure quackery based on Eastern mysticism,
not on a new Inquisition.
SELECTED COMMENTS
Your position of the USCCB's rejection of Reiki has some merit; you both admit that it's quackery, but your logic falls short
when you fail to understand why the bishops would not support a conflicting religious viewpoint.
They are bishops of the Roman Catholic Church, and Reiki is involved calling on demonic powers (I reference the exorcist
Fr Tom Euteneuer of Human Life International here) which are opposed to the faith. As faithful shepherds, they must
clarify what is Catholic practice and what is not. That is their job. Any good religious leader would do the same.
I agree that they should have taken action a long time ago, before Reiki was entrenched in Catholic institutions, and
devoutly practiced by religious. Many Catholics today are ignorant of Catholic practice, and require correction to stay true
to the faith. May they also enlighten the faithful about the Easter religious origins of Yoga, Tai Chi, and Fung Shuei (sp?).
Their action, however tardy, is welcome. - Leticia Velasquez
I recently spent a wonderful day at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Milwaukie OR and was introduced to Reiki, Tai Chi,
Reflexology, Breathing Exercises, Spiritual Direction and culteral/religious practices of the Celts, Mayans and Africans.
Catholic nuns were involved in a number of these practices/classes. It was a nurturing, relaxing and uplifting experience. -
Hilda

Continued from page 89
20. Reiki by any other name? The Energy of the Universe Flows Around the Bishops' Blockage
May 2010. By Hurd Baruch with Moira Noonan http://www.newoxfordreview.org/article.jsp?did=0510-baruch
Hurd Baruch, a retired attorney living in Tucson, Arizona, is the author of Light on Light: Illuminations of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ From the Mystical Visions of the Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich (Maxkol Communications, 2004).
Moira Noonan, a native Californian, is a former Reiki Master Healer turned Catholic catechist and international speaker.
She is the author of Ransomed From Darkness (North Bay Books, 2005), which chronicles her journey from New Age
spirituality back to the Catholic Church.
Do you remember the "Masters of the Universe"? Even if you weren't introduced to them by Thomas Wolfe's novel The
Bonfire of the Vanities, surely you read about them in your newspaper. They were the thirty-year-old guys who were
pulling in multimillion-dollar bonuses for arbitraging Russian rubles against Thai baht, for stuffing GMAC bonds into
pension-fund portfolios, and for packaging subprime mortgages into those triple-A-rated collateralized mortgage
obligations (then called "CMOs" and now known as "toxic waste").
Well, forget them if you can. With the economic collapse, they have passed from the scene. Allow us, instead, to
introduce you to the "Mistresses of the Universe." Who are they? They are the women who purport to channel the energy
of the universe, bringing it down to the level of your body, as an alternative form of healing. The most widespread
technique they practice is known as "Reiki therapy," and, according to an article in the National Catholic Reporter, "Many
women in Catholic religious orders have become Reiki masters or practitioners and regularly teach or practice Reiki
therapy at their orders' retreat facilities or spiritual centers around the country" (Apr. 16, 2009).
What, exactly, does Reiki (pronounced ray'-key) claim to do? Name your ailment, and Reiki supposedly can help to heal it.
According to William L. Rand, a "Reiki master" who has written a popular instruction manual, it has "aided in healing
virtually every known illness and injury," including multiple sclerosis, heart disease, cancer, influenza, and impotence.
Even treatments lasting as little as a few minutes have allegedly set and mended broken bones.
Contrary to the claims of medical science, Reiki practitioners say that our health problems stem from negative psychic
energy in the body or its "aura" (the multi-layered energy patterns that surround every living thing). What a Reiki
treatment does is to surge energy through the aura and the body to break apart the negative energy blocks and charge
the body with positive energy, thereby healing it
[To read the complete article, subscribe to New Oxford Review for access to all web content at newoxfordreview.org AND
the monthly print edition for as low as $29 per year.]
COMMENT posted by "eberwein", May 10, 2010:
I am very happy to see this article, shedding some light on Reiki, and by extension, on many "new-age" practices that
have infiltrated the church. My own past involves being a 13-year teacher of "Transcendental Meditation. We TMers had
the same deliberate schizoid marketing approach as Reiki: emphasize the "alternative healing" aspect and downplay (lie
about) the mystical when you are trying to get in the door. 100.


Once in, emphasize the mystical to flatter your adherents sense of discovering a secret, long-hidden knowledge. The
spiritual damage we visited upon people was great. I left the TM movement because of the deception that was standard
practice. Years later, when I became a Christian, I was refreshingly and increasingly drawn to what Chesterton calls
"orthodoxy."
So imagine my surprise, when as a Presbyterian seminary student, I often visited a local Catholic seminary's library to do
research (this was pre-google) and found Reiki and the Enneagram and American Indian sweat lodging and umpty-ump
other trojan horses happily celebrated by my Catholic brethren in high places.
As I now draw closer and closer to Rome, I admit it was the Roman churches seeming tolerance for heresy and
syncretism that kept me away. Not that Evangelicalism is any better. When we find a wayward church, we simply walk
down the street to another one. The entire Christian church seems so eager to be viewed as tolerant that little
distinctiveness remains.

21. Do Twilight, Harry Potter open door to the Devil? by Linda Morris, March 21, 2010
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/do-twilight-harry-potter-open-door-to-the-devil-20100320-qn74.html
The appointment of a new exorcist by Sydney's Catholic Church precedes a warning by a senior clergyman that
generation Y risks a dangerous fascination with the occult fuelled by the Twilight and Harry Potter series.
Julian Porteous, the auxiliary bishop of Sydney, warns that pursuing such ''alternative'' relaxation
techniques as yoga, reiki, massages and tai chi may encourage experimentation with ''deep and dark
spiritual ideas and traditions''.
Bishop Porteous, who is second to Cardinal George Pell in the Sydney Archdiocese, told The Sun-Herald the Twilight and
Harry Potter books and films ''are attractive to adolescents and can be innocent enough.
''However, they can open up a fascination with this mysterious world and invite exploration of various phenomena through
the use of occult practices like sances.''
Exorcism is no fantasy according to the church, with the Sydney archdiocese last month appointing an as-yet unnamed
priest, suitably ''endowed with piety, knowledge, prudence and integrity of life'' to conduct exorcisms, as required by
Catholic canon law.
In Rome, the Vatican is preparing its first official English translation of the rite of exorcism, which was promulgated in
1614 and reissued in 1999. Its chief exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth, claimed this month to have carried out 70,000
exorcisms. Bishop Porteous - who has stood in as exorcist for the Sydney archdiocese over the past five
years - warns that yoga, reiki massages and tai chi can lead to people being in the grip of ''demonic forces''.
''A person can move from the use of a simple practice to de-stress to embracing the underlining theory and religious
beliefs because these all come out of religious traditions of the East and people can then find themselves in the grip of
demonic forces,'' he said. ''People can be naive in that regard.''
But David Tacey, associate professor of English at La Trobe University, said demonic possession was an archaism long
discredited by science, psychology and modern theology. Any suggestion that reiki massage, yoga and tai chi could have
evil influence were ''expressions of Western ignorance about Eastern practices'', he said. ''This is an example of how
certain voices in the church have no idea about other cultures and religions,'' Professor Tacey said. ''To argue that only
Christianity can rescue people from these supposed 'demonic' forces is a wonderful evangelical trick. The arrogance and
ignorance is transparent, and anyone can see through it as an attempt to recruit people to the failing mainstream
religion.''
The main signs of ''diabolical influence'' recognised by the Catholic Church include speaking in unknown languages,
including ancient tongues, and exhibiting superhuman strength.
Some victims have spoken to Bishop Porteous of feeling an evil presence around them or of feeling an oppressive force
bearing down on their chest.
Bishop Porteous has been verbally abused during exorcisms yet he says he does not fear the Devil. ''You're conscious the
powers of Christ are greater than the powers of evil,'' he said.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN EXCORCISM
The minor rite can be done by any priest and provides prayers of protection and assistance for people who fear they are
being tempted by the devil. Prayers of minor exorcism are built in to the rite of baptism.
The major rite applies to cases of full demonic possession. The priest wears a purple stole, representing his role as a
leader of the church. He carries holy water which he sprinkles over the victim during prayers. The crucifix is held aloft,
representing the most potent symbol of Christ's victory over evil. Prayers are either dedicative or indicative. During
dedicative prayer, the exorcist asks God to drive out an evil spirit. The indicative prayer directly commands the demon to
leave: ''I command you evil spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, begone.''
Also at: http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=20153

21. Reiki: New Age occultism by Paul Anthony Melanson, November 20, 2005
In La Salette Journey, a Catholic blog http://lasalettejourney.blogspot.com/2005/11/reiki-new-age-occultism.html
Yesterday, while at Confession, I noticed a calendar of events for various parishes around the Diocese of Manchester.
According to this flyer, Transfiguration Parish has offered workshops in Reiki (as have the La Salette
Missionaries at their Center for Christian Living in Attleboro, Massachusetts). 101.



For this reason, I offer an article written by noted Catholic author Michael H. Brown and which appeared at his excellent
website Spirit Daily, www.spiritdaily.com:
Occult Infiltrating Catholicism In Ways That Are Both Clandestine And Blatant
The occult continues to make inroads and is infiltrating the Catholic faith itself, often in the guise of self-help psychology
or meditation. We receive constant reports about this. In Ohio there is a movement for a "future church" that would
accent feminine spirituality and a mother goddess. A banner of the goddess has even been hung in a church. At a Catholic
school in Indiana -- advertised as the nation's premier Catholic college for women -- there was an account of freshmen
introduced into witchcraft during a literature course, where they were tested on a book by a witch named "Starhawk."
We have a report that an altar was set up in the front (when a pagan priestess dressed in robes was invited to address
the class). For opening ceremonies at the school -- according to the same report -- the college removed statues from a
church and replaced them with a shrine to the earth, where a "circle of blessings" was conducted. Meanwhile a
Midwestern Catholic publisher -- based in Notre Dame -- offers a book called Prayers to Sophia, an allusion to the
"goddess of wisdom."
These are but some of the most blatant examples. In Colorado were reports of nuns who prayed to the east and west
each morning -- a New Age invocation geared to the gods of nature -- and in New York rumors that a crystal had been
placed by a nun in a Blessed Sacrament chapel. In Minnesota nuns long have been indoctrinated into what can only be
called the New Age.
While these are all dangers -- and contrary to the Catholic faith -- an even more insidious infiltration has come
through methods that don't seem occult on the surface. Many Catholics are now involved in "reiki" --
pronounced ray-kee, a New Age system of energy healing based on the theory that a universal healing energy or life force
permeates and that it can be "channeled" into someone so that their own life force is enhanced. The occult and New Age
(as it is now known) involve anything that considers the universe and humans ruled by an impersonal energy. They often
spring from Eastern religions or pagan beliefs. "The practitioner places their palms on major organs and glands, and on
the areas where the chakras are located," notes one website about reiki. "The chakras are part of Hindu belief that there
are seven chakras, centers of psychic and spiritual energy, going from the base of the spine to the top of the head.
Certain Hindu teachings claim that the kundalini, an energy force coiled snakelike in the base chakra, needs to rise to the
topmost chakra as part of the spiritual enlightenment process."
We don't pretend to understand all the energies of the cosmos, and are not here to ridicule or condemn. But there are
obvious dangers in all systems of belief, however well-meaning, that define a universal energy as anything but a personal
God or that draw from mystery religions from the East.
There is also the "enneagram," which even priests and nuns practice. "Out of nowhere, the enneagram burst onto the
Christian scene and became very popular with publishers and retreat houses," notes author Ralph Rath. "The enneagram
is a circular diagram on which personality types numbered one through nine are symbolically represented at nine
equidistant points on the circumference. The numbers are then connected by arrows in significant patterns which point
the way to health (integration) or to neurosis (disintegration). Each human personality is said to fall into one of these nine
types."
Unfortunately, the origin of the enneagram is in sufism, a mystical offshoot of Islam. "In contrast to the contemplation
and the yearning for holiness of the Muslim mystics of former ages, contemporary Sufism, which claims over forty million
adherents, has become a mix of pantheism, magic and rationalism with a belief in telepathy, teleportation, foreknowledge,
transmigration of souls, and a denial of a personal God," notes another scholar.
Such has also been noted by the Church hierarchy. "Everywhere we notice the multiplication of bookstores, stores,
courses and workshops, spiritual retreats, films, and television programs that promote the ideas and values of New Age,"
warned an archbishop, Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City, in a pastoral letter years ago. "Its ideas, awareness
campaigns, and spirituality appear with increasing frequency in our children's classrooms and even in the preaching and
religious teaching of Catholic institutions. Addressing this, Pope John Paul II clearly warned a group of bishops not too
long ago: New Age ideas often open up a way for themselves in preaching, catechesis, congresses, and retreats, and thus
come to influence even practicing Catholics who may not be aware of the incompatibility of those ideas with the faith of
the Church."
The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture released its own warning a year ago -- warning specifically about concepts of
the "universal mind" and "higher self" that permeate New Age systems. All must be treated with caution.
Tantra. Yoga. Hatha. Raja. Kundalini. Mantra. Mandala. Nirvana. Christian Zen. Higher consciousness. Self-realization.
Centering prayer. Rolfing. Guru. Enlightenment. Sodhana. Eckhart. Jung. TM. Mind Control.
"There are many 'words' used by Christians today of which they have no knowledge regarding what they really mean,"
warns another writer, Eddie Russell. "These words and practices are introduced to them by plausible people and they are
never questioned. The result is that many Catholics [and other Christians] may be practicing New Age occult religions
without realizing it. Some of these practices are spiritually dangerous to say the least."

22. Reiki and Yoga: No part of Yoga can be separated from the philosophy behind it
Marie Anne Jacques, http://www.michaeljournal.org/reiki.htm From: [email protected];
Reiki and Yoga
Former Hindu guru Rabi Maharaj, "No part of Yoga can be separated from the philosophy behind it." 102.



If you listen to the gurus and yogis: the practices of yoga, Reiki, centering prayer, transcendental meditation and all
similar methods lead to experiences of self-fulfilment or enlightenment.
Unfortunately, many people today think yoga and Reiki are something that is compatible with Christian doctrine. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Even though in many communities, "Christian" yoga and Reiki may be used, it is contrary
to what the First Commandment teaches us. They instruct us to go down to the level of human realizations that are man-
made and not from God. This is very dangerous.
The Catechism teaches us that "all practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to
place them at ones service and have a supernatural power over others even if this were for the sake of restoring their
health are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion." No. 2117
Also, the Church cites idolatry as being against the First Commandment, saying: "Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not
God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons."
The New Age ideology promotes self-divinization in many forms.

An explanation of centering prayer
Heres a quote from Rev. Dreher describing the ideology of "centering prayer" which follows the same principles as yoga
"Centering prayer (or yoga), differs from Christian prayer in that the intent of the technique is to bring the practitioner to
the center of his own being. There he is, supposedly, to experience the presence of the God who indwells him. Christian
prayer, on the contrary, centers upon God in a relational way, as someone apart from oneself. The Christian knows a God
who is personal, yet who, as Creator, infinitely transcends his creature. God is wholly other than man. It is also crucial to
Christian prayer that God engages mans whole being in response, not just his interior life. In the view of centering prayer,
the immanence of God somehow makes the transcendence of God available to human techniques and experience.
"Centering prayer is essentially a form of self-hypnosis. It makes use of a "mantra," a word repeated over and over to
focus the mind while striving by ones will to go deep within oneself. The effects are a hypnotic-like state: concentration
upon one thing, disengagement from other stimuli, a high degree of openness to suggestion, a psychological and
physiological condition that externally resembles sleep but in which consciousness is interiorized and the mind subject to
suggestion."
This type of "prayer" or meditation is a form of hypnosis; this has been proven by various studies by professional
psychologists. They did tests to confirm that people under the hypnotic state of meditation used in yoga experienced a
drop in blood pressure, respiratory rate, lactic acid level in the blood, and the galvanic conductivity of the skin.

The difference between Christianity and Eastern ideologies
Since we want to find what the difference is between meditation used in Yoga and Christian meditation, why dont we look
at the differences between the Christian and Eastern spiritualities first?
According to what the Catholic faith teaches, all men are creatures who are called out of nothing, to serve and know God.
A Christian is someone who knows his life is linked with Christ; that without Him, he cannot survive. The Christians whole
life has been reconstructed in Christ because essentially, he lives in Christ if he is in the state of grace. (i.e. not in the
state of mortal sin). Of course, this has to be his choice, since God always respects the free will of the human person.
Eastern religions, on the other hand, look for God as if He was a part of the universe, instead of having created it. They
believe all reality is one, so God is just a part of a reality, just as man is. They believe they have to go beyond the "real"
world in order to get to the spiritual world that is under it. They believe that God is only a state of being, a "state of mind"
if you will.
For Christians, however, God is indeed REAL and all of creation only exists to serve Him, because He willed it so. In
Christian thinking, it (the world and all that is in it) need not even exist but for the benevolence of Gods love, of His
Fatherly love for us.
So in the East, human means are "necessary" in order to go towards God, with the goal of achieving an altered state of
consciousness, whereas a Christian seeks to speak and interact with God. In this interaction with God, a Christian aspires
to attain a certain "participation in the divine nature" (2 Peter 4:4). The Eastern religions on the other hand, seek to find
God within and find an escape from the realities and distractions of the outer world. This is always attempted by different
psychological and/or physiological techniques rather than by an encounter with the Divine Personhood of God.
The Eastern religions confuse technique with encounter. They do not believe in God as supreme Person, but as a part of
themselves and of the universe. We are not identical with Him, as He is Creator of the universe. We cannot manipulate
this fact with techniques of any sort. We can use the way that children speak with their parents as an example, because in
reality we speak to God in the same way, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
When a Catholic speaks about sanctifying grace for example, he means the grace of union with God. By the means of this
grace, we are given a share of the holiness of God Himself, it is His way of giving Himself to man. By applying this grace
in our daily lives, we travel on the journey of conversion, which is complete union with Him. Our goal as Catholic
Christians is not only the inner peace so much sought after by the Eastern religions, but the sanctification of body, mind
and heart, not only personally, but including the entire world. The Eastern world instead claims inner peace for oneself,
without taking into account the "otherness" of God, and even other realities of ones life.
Archimandrite Sophrony of Mount Athos, who is an authority in Orthodox spirituality, speaks from his own personal story.
He was involved in Eastern religions for years, before he returned to the Orthodox faith of his youth. We quote him at
length, for he speaks with clarity on these subjects: 103.



"In advising against being carried away by artificial practices such as Transcendental Meditation I am but repeating the
age-old message of the Church... The way of the Fathers requires firm faith and long patience, whereas our
contemporaries want to seize every spiritual gift, including even direct contemplation of the Absolute God, by force and
speedily, and will often draw a parallel between prayer in the Name of Jesus and yoga or Transcendental Meditation and
the like. I must stress the danger of such errors...
"He is deluded who endeavours to divest himself mentally of all that is transitory and relative in order to cross some
invisible threshold, to realize his eternal origin, his identity with the Source of all that exists, in order to return and merge
with him, the nameless transpersonal Absolute. Such exercises have enabled many to rise to supra-rational contemplation
of being, to experience a certain mystical trepidation, to know the state of silence of mind, when mind goes beyond the
boundaries of time and space. In such like states man may feel the peacefulness of being withdrawn from the continually
changing phenomena of the visible world, may even have a certain experience of eternity. But the God of Truth, the
Living God, is not in all this.
"It is mans own beauty, created in the image of God, that is contemplated and seen as divinity, whereas he himself still
continues within the confines of his creatureliness. This is a vastly important concern. The tragedy of the matter lies in the
fact that man sees a mirage which, in his longing for eternal life, he mistakes for a genuine oasis. This impersonal form of
ascetics leads finally to an assertion of the divine principle in the very nature of man. Man is then drawn to the idea of
self-deification, the cause of the original Fall. The man who is blinded by the imaginary majesty of what he contemplates
has in fact set his foot on the path to self-destruction. He has discarded the revelation of a personal God... The movement
into the depths of his own being is nothing else but attraction towards the non-being from which we were called by the
will of the Creator." (His Life is Mine, 115-116)
To put it simply, authentic prayer goes to God from our soul, and not in the soul itself. Our souls are brought closer to
God Himself, and not brought into some distant space in our mind, as what happens in Transcendental Meditation, Yoga,
etc. Incidentally, these practices not only distance us from God, but also give us the idea that we can escape from our
lives and reality. Christian teaching is just the opposite, because it teaches us to first put our faith in God, and then allow
Him to help us to carry our cross.

Yoga and gurus
The yogi instructors speak freely about the techniques they use, and why they use them. Kundalini Yoga Master Gurmukh
admits in a video that yoga evokes energy through the postures, breathing techniques, chanting, and meditation. She
says that it is necessary to: "Clear and empty the mind, awake the snake within you and go into a larger world."
People think they can separate the exercises that Yoga uses, from their spiritual roots, but this cannot be done. Ignoring
something does not make it cease to exist. Occultism expert and ex-New Age practitioner Caryl Matrisciana says: "Most
people have no idea what theyre doing when they practice the rituals of Yoga and think that theyre only basic physical
exercises. They have no clue that all the 'asanas' (postures) are designed to prepare the Hindu practitioner for his belief in
the 'cycle of death' known as reincarnation."
Any Hindu will tell you that yoga is not purely physical it was not designed for physical fitness, but to realign the serpent
force within the body to achieve Godhood, which is yoga. Anyone doing exercise for fitness ought to look for exercises
designed for that.

Reiki A history
A Reiki website describes it in a very interesting way. "Reiki transcends the man-made divisions of religion, economics,
location, gender, and race."
In Reiki, they call the teachers "master." Master also means that the student has come far enough along in his or her
development that troublesome lifestyle habits and limiting belief systems (such as Catholicism) are taking less and less
time and energy away from living a "fully conscious life."
A German Reiki channeler makes this comment: "It frequently happens that patients will come into contact with new ideas
after a few Reiki treatments. Some will start doing yoga or autogenous training or start to meditate or practise [sic] some
other kind of spiritual method... Fundamental changes will set in and new things will start to develop. You will find it
easier to cast off old, outlived structures and you will notice that you are being led and guided more and more..."
William Lee Rand, a New Age advocate for Reiki states: "Reiki can be defined as a non-physical healing energy made up
of life force energy that is guided by the Higher Intelligence, or spiritually guided life force energy. We believe this "Higher
intelligence" reached during Reiki sessions is not a source of good universal energy as is stated by Reiki masters but
rather is of a demonic nature.

The occult is like a wolf in sheep's clothing
Unfortunately, entire religious communities are giving precedence to the ideologies of the Hindu religion. These practices
were introduced by such men as Thomas Merton (who was influenced heavily by the Hindu ideologies), and who have
done enormous harm to the Church because of the ignorance of the people on the danger of these practices. Many people
do not realize that it was gurus and other experts in Hinduism who were consulted for these particular meditation
techniques. 104.



Reiki is incompatible with Catholicism because it does not acknowledge Jesus as a divine Person and Saviour of mankind.
Pantheism is a belief system that really resembles what the followers of Reiki are talking about. They believe in a universal
energy that has nothing to do with Jesus something that gives life to human beings, and also rules the entire Reiki
practice. The users of Reiki believe that they can use this energy to heal, but in reality they are practicing divination and a
form of magic when they utilize these powers. (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2111, 2116-17).
Reiki then, uses forces that are not Christian at all, because they rely on these "powers" or spiritual agents. The Catholic
Church says that all living creatures were created through Jesus and that every human being has a soul, making him a
"living, human body." Reiki says that while the principle of mans life should be spiritual, they do not agree that each man
has a soul. They put all their emphasis on what they call energy or "Ki."
"Any energy used as part of the bodys operations such as the electricity in our nervous systems is material in nature,
not spiritual," counters This Rock Magazine in their October-December 2001 issue, confirming the Catholic Churchs
teaching on the subject. "The various forms of Hinduism and Buddhism that posit the existence of a life energy (ki or
kundalini) interpret that energy as spiritual," the magazine continues. "Since this is contrary to Christian theology, it is
inappropriate for Christians to participate in activities based on this belief."
The difference between Reikis "spiritual consciousness" and Christianity is that Jesus is indeed a divine Person. Also, we
have to understand that a Catholic may not call upon God besides in the name of the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit
(in other words, the Holy Trinity). Interceding to other entities can call evil spirits, especially when the person is calling
upon an impersonal "God Consciousness" which of course, is not the Holy Trinity!
A Claretian priest named Fr. John Hampsch, who has been a spiritual director for many years, states that there are many
spiritual dangers with Reiki. In fact, during an interview he stated that a woman he knew once said that she heard a Reiki
master calling spiritual "beings" by name during a Reiki treatment. Apparently, this Reiki master thought he was helping
this woman become healed, but instead he was exposing her to the threat of "spirits" of whom he knows really nothing
about.
Fr. Hampsch states that Reiki, "Is dangerous stuff, it is very subtle but there is undoubted danger, as with other occult
practices, because one opens up to the influence of evil spirits. He affirms that there are always "devils compensation" in
occult use and practice. In other words, you may experience an improvement in your health for a time, but the ultimate
"payment" will always be much more dangerous and harmful. It may include addictions, morbidity, uncontrolled anger, or
even thoughts of suicide. He concluded that he has talked to many people who have experienced troubles after being
"treated" by a Reiki master.
In Vatican IIs Ad Gentes, the Decree on the Churchs Missionary Activity, Catholics are told to look "attentively on how
Christian religious life may be able to assimilate the ascetic and contemplative traditions whose seeds were sometimes
already planted by God in ancient cultures prior to the preaching of the Gospel" (no. 18).
Notice that this Church document relates that we are to "assimilate" and not "accommodate." We are not, in other words,
to entertain practices that allow us to receive ideas that may encourage us to religious relativism. Any retreat center that
wants or is promoting Reiki needs to really study this point, if they wish to remain Catholic.
New Age spirituality is not even medically plausible, and can never be linked to Christianity because of the dangers
involved for the people who become tangled up in it. Only Jesus Christ is the divine Healer, he is the "Way, the Truth, and
the Life" (Jn. 14:6), only in Him is there salvation.

Jesus Christ, Bearer of the Water of Life
In a document written by the Pontifical Council for Culture entitled: "Jesus Christ, the Bearer of the Water of Life," the
Catholic Church gives a reflection on the "New Age" ideologies.
"It should be recognized that the attraction that New Age religiosity has for some Christians may be due in part to the lack
of serious attention in their own communities for themes which are actually part of the Catholic synthesis such as the
importance of mans spiritual dimension and its integration with the whole of life, the search for lifes meaning, the link
between human beings and the rest of creation, the desire for personal and social transformation, and the rejection of a
rationalistic and materialistic view of humanity.
"When one examines many New Age traditions, it soon becomes clear that there is, in fact, little in the New Age that is
new. The name seems to have gained currency through Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry, at the time of the French and
American Revolutions, but the reality it denotes is a contemporary variant of Western esotericism.
"It has involved a progressive rejection of a personal God and a focus on other entities which would often figure as
intermediaries between God and humanity in traditional Christianity, with more and more original adaptations of these or
additional ones. A powerful trend in modern Western culture which has given space to New Age ideas is the general
acceptance of Darwinist evolutionary theory; this, alongside a focus on hidden spiritual powers or forces in nature, has
been the backbone of much of what is now recognised as New Age theory.
"Even if it can be admitted that New Age religiosity in some way responds to the legitimate spiritual longing of human
nature, it must be acknowledged that its attempts to do so run counter to Christian revelation. In Western culture in
particular, the appeal of "alternative" approaches to spirituality is very strong. On the one hand, new forms of
psychological affirmation of the individual have become very popular among Catholics, even in retreat-houses, seminaries
and institutes of formation for religious.
105.



"John Paul II warns with regard to the 'return of ancient gnostic ideas under the guise of the so-called New Age: We
cannot delude ourselves that this will lead toward a renewal of religion. It is only a new way of practising gnosticism
that attitude of the spirit that, in the name of a profound knowledge of God, results in distorting His Word and replacing it
with purely human words. Gnosticism never completely abandoned the realm of Christianity. Instead, it has always existed
side by side with Christianity, sometimes taking the shape of a philosophical movement, but more often assuming the
characteristics of a religion or a para-religion in distinct, if not declared, conflict with all that is essentially Christian'."

23. REIKI MORTAL DANGER
http://padrejoseluis.blogspot.com.es/2009/04/el-reiki-peligro-mortal.html
By Fr. Jos Luis Aguilar
Reiki, which is being widely dispersed in Argentina these days, proposes a "system of healing" by laying on of hands. In
reality it is a very dangerous practice which opens the door to the dark forces, that is, the demonic. It is incompatible with
the Christian faith. Let us see why:
1. Reiki claims to control and utilize the so called "vital universal energy". But what exactly is this vital universal energy
(which is also called cosmic energy, magnetic, "christic" energy)?
St. Paul speaks of the cosmic powers of this dark earth (Ephesians 6:12). We know that as a result of original sin not only
is man affected but that the harmony of the world has been destroyed (CC no. 400) and the energy of the cosmos has
been perturbed by evil forces. "The whole world lies under the power of the devil" (1 John 5:19) Thus whoever opens
himself to this "universal energy" opens himself to powers he does not know and that are not all good.
2. Reiki is transmitted by means of initiation seminars, in contrast to the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are not transmitted
from one person to another but are received as a free gift of God.
What is active in Reiki is not the Holy Spirit. (Besides, if Reiki were a gift of God it would not require the use of money).
3. Thus, the one who is initiated becomes a medium to receive from Reiki and transmit to others the same state of
consciousness. It is in this state of being a medium that one becomes receptive to the entities of the world of darkness.
Exorcists affirm that from first initiation the evil spirit enters a person. Those who in this way acquire the powers of the
Beast are able to emit "healing vibrations" or conscious/unconscious messages that can influence, in a positive or negative
manner, people, situations, animals and even matter.
4. The Reikist ends up opening himself to the so called "Master Guides" or "Spirit Guides" which are interior voices
speaking to them. We may ask ourselves, if they are not Jesus Christ, nor God, nor the Holy Spirit, then who are they?
Scripture speaks about these powers which direct the universe, and from which Jesus Christ despoiled the power of death
(Colossians 2:15). I know of a person who when she wanted to leave Reiki, these "guides" unmasked themselves and
began to insult and threaten her in many ways day and night, even with death. When she prayed the rosary they could
not stand it and would beg her to stop.
5. Reiki is pantheistic, teaching that man is simply an emanation of the "divine cosmic energy" and that it is enough to be
aware of this to obtain divine powers.
Is it not the same temptation as that of the serpent, "You shall be like gods"? We believe we have been created by a good
Father who wishes to share his love and happiness with us.
6. Reiki believes in reincarnation, that is, it does not matter what one does with ones life, as there will be another one.
It is incompatible with the Word of God that teaches that each person, body and soul, is unique, unrepeatable, and that
we die only once and after that comes judgment (Heb 9:27), that we are responsible for all we do with our life.
7. Reiki, like other New Age practices, discredits Christianity as being guilt-producing and intolerant. It considers Jesus
Christ simply as one of the many reincarnations of a great "Teacher" whom they know by means of seers and other occult
communications. For Christians, Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God who shed his blood on the cross for the
forgiveness of sin and to save us from hell, who rose to open heaven for us.
8. Reiki claims to heal all the levels of being physical, mental and spiritual.
Does it really heal? Apart from the fact that the suggestions produced in the psyche of the sick could initiate a process of
self-healing, which has nothing to do the cosmological explanations they give, it could bring about a temporary
improvement of health, but very soon symptoms make an appearance, the same which tend to follow occult or spiritistic
practices, as well as other physical or psychic illnesses, divorces, etc.
9. How can one escape from Reiki?
It is a difficult and long process because the devil does not let one escape easily. But it is possible because Jesus Christ is
victorious over all occult powers/entities. Above all, a profound or deep conversion to Jesus Christ is required, as well as
confession to a priest to sever all connection with the occult powers; prayer for deliverance, which any priest can do, and
if required, an exorcism done by a priest-exorcist of the diocese. A true Christian life is required, daily mass, so as to be
nourished with the Body and Blood of the Saviour, and to go through the spiritual agony which will follow. According to Fr.
Amorth (exorcist from Rome) for those who leave Reiki, laying on of hands is not allowed for several years.

24. Reiki - fantastic claims and other New Age wonders!
http://home.arcor.de/embajador/Reikidangers/Links/fanatic_claims.html
www.christianreiki.eu content from http://www.catholic-jhb.org.za/articles/reiki.html [a Johannesburg, South Africa
charismatic web site that no longer exists]
106.

The latest in New Age movements, Reiki, has reached South Africa, with various urban legends already circulating, namely
that Reiki is
a) Sanctioned by the Church, and that Pope John Paul II has attended Reiki seminars, and that various Priests and
religious are running Reiki training sessions.
Or as others would have it
b) deliberately hidden secret "Gospels of the Apostles".
Simply put, these claims are false and represent false teachings. At best, Reiki is sentimentalism (such as the past and
future lives of a reiki practitioners pet); at worst it is false religion. From revisionist history to bizarre claims about Jesus
Christ, Reiki is an experiment in the absurd.

Web links
Excellent Christian websites addressing the truth about Reiki:-
WWW.REIKIDANGERS.ORG
Some of the amazing claims of Reiki include: (these are actual quotes taken from reiki websites)
A Brief Overview
"The knowledge that an unseen energy flows through all living things and is connected directly to the quality of health has
been part of the wisdom of many cultures since ancient times. The existence of this "life force energy" has been verified
by recent scientific experiments, and medical doctors are considering the role it plays in the functioning of the immune
system and the healing process."
Reiki claims not to be a religion, but is "spiritual" nonetheless
"While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to
learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because
Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion
rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.
While Reiki is not a religion, for optimum well being in the light of Eastern medical theory that we are a mind-body-spirit
unity, it is necessary to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki
system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony,
which are nearly universal across all cultures."

Past-life regressions?
Dog's Miraculous Transition by Melinda DeBoer
You may remember the article in the Fall Reiki News about Zekes healing from past life trauma manifesting as cancer.
One of the greatest gifts that Zeke gave me was his love and passion for life. It was very hard for him to let go of his
body. A psychic friend told me that a special ceremony would help Zeke release to the heart of God and would fill him
with wisdom to make his choices....My psychic friend told me that Zeke will be coming back as a new species of Eagle to
raise the consciousness of humankind. [Note:- Zeke appears to be a dog. That aside, a clear belief in transmigration of
the soul from one species to another]
http://www.reiki.org/reikinews/dogstransition.htm
They also indicated the attunement process itself was a powerful healing experience, releasing restrictions relating to their
healing work they had unknowingly acquired when they were healers in past lives.
http://www.reiki.org/faq/howdoesreikiwork.html
"His vision was confirmation of a past-life regression I had experienced in Palm Springs, California, in 1987. When we
were in an altered state and told to look at our feet, I saw claws. Scanning the rest of my body, I saw a huge eagle. In
that lifetime, I was able to transform my shape from human to eagle. I thought it was weird at the time because other
people were having "normal" regressions, like queens and kings, Indians, Vikings, and so on, while I was flying around as
an eagle! This past-life regression was in synch with my Reiki Master telling me that I was a shape shifter. I hadn't
understood at the time, but after the regression it was instantly clear. Other past lives as a light being were verified
through Reiki treatments when several people saw me as a body of light while I was channeling Reiki. There are two
people I have worked on who have seen my spirit guide, an Eagle dancer."

http://www.reiki.org/reikinews/reikin18.html
Jesus Christ, not the Son of God, but merely (or possibly) a "Reiki Master", who also (possibly) spent time
in the East learning Reiki spiritual mastery.
"It is not known whether Jesus was born with the ability to heal through touch or if this was something he acquired. His
activities between age twelve and thirty are not mentioned in the Bible. It has been suggested by several researchers that
during this time Jesus traveled to the East and was schooled in many of the mystical teachings of India, Tibet and China.
If this is so, it is possible that Jesus was initiated into Reiki, or a Reiki like practice during this time as Reiki has his origins
in India, Tibet and China.
The early followers of Jesus' teachings were made up of several groups. One such group was the Gnostics. They practiced
laying on of hands and professed to have a secret knowledge that had been passed on to them by Jesus and his disciples.
The Gnostics were made up of many smaller groups some of which were known as the Docetists, the Marcionites, and the
Carpocratians. They were united by their core beliefs which included: a personal experience of Jesus or the "kingdom of
heaven within," their freedom and lack of rules, guidelines or creeds and their reliance on inspiration and inner guidance.


Their existence is attested to by the Gnostic gospels which are part of the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as a letter written in
the second century AD by the early Church father, Clement of Alexandria. In Clement's letter, he spoke of a secret gospel
of Mark which was based on the normal canonical one but with additions for special followers of Jesus, referred to as
"those who were being perfected" and "those who are being initiated into the great mysteries." When Christianity became
organized after the second century, its teachings were centered around faith and the official teachings of the church,
rather than healing or "good works" and inner guidance as practiced by the Gnostics. At this time, those promoting the
organization of the church began subduing and killing those Gnostics who would not conform with the authority of the
newly developing Church. With the elimination of the Gnostics and the establishment of the Christian Church, the practice
of laying on of hands by Christians was lost."

http://www.reiki.org/reikinews/reikin16.html
Reiki has miraculous healing powers
"Reiki sessions cause patients to heal faster with less pain," says Marilyn Vega, RN, a private-duty nurse at the Manhattan
Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York. "Reiki accelerates recovery from surgery, improves mental attitude and reduces
the negative effects of medication and other medical procedures."

http://www.reiki.org/reikinews/reikinews.html
Clairvoyants
"In my work I have found it valuable to call on the services of clairvoyant healers to help with my own healing as well as
to gain a better understanding of how healing energies work. One of the most clear clairvoyants I have worked with is
Michelle Griffith. She has the ability to see and understand Reiki energy and tell the difference between different kinds of
Reiki and other healing energies. In addition, she can read the aura and chakras, communicate with your guides and
higher self, read past lives and help you understand and heal your issues. In the eight years I have worked with Michelle,
I have never encountered an issue she was not able to help me with."

The Healing Power of Symbols
"I drew the Reiki power symbol on my hands and continued to do Reiki on myself, then asked her what she saw. She
said, "Now I see the healing energy coming in your crown, but it goes right back out and forms a box of light around you
- you are protecting yourself." Protection is one of the uses of the Power symbol! Reiki uses various symbols, including
The Reiki Symbols
Activating Reiki Symbols
The Power Symbol
The Mental/Emotional Symbol
Healing Unwanted Habits
The Distant Healing Symbol
Using the Distant Healing Symbol
Group Distant Healing
Empowering Goals
Hand Positions for Self-Treatment
Alternate Treatment for Self or Others
Hand Positions for Treating Others
Scanning and Beaming
Scanning
Self-Scanning
Beaming
Giving a Complete Reiki Treatment"

New Age gibberish
Blessed By Spiritual Beings by William Lee Rand
Reiki can by used to develop and strengthen your connection to spiritual beings. This can be a very positive and helpful
experience especially when you choose an enlightened being or work directly with God. In fact, for the most part, I
suggest when using this technique, you focus on only connecting with enlightened beings or with God as these level of
beings are the most trustworthy and can provide the greatest help. By enlightened beings, I am referring to those who
are one with God, free of all ego and filled with compassion and wisdom. These include Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, the
Holy Spirit, the Archangels, Quan Yin, Krishna, Buddha, and others. Also, when I refer to God, I am not referring to a
male or female God, but to the One Supreme Being who is beyond male/female, yin/yang etc.

First decide which spiritual being you would like to work with.
Choose one you are familiar with or feel guided to work with. If you are unfamiliar with enlightened beings, I suggest
doing some reading about any of those mentioned above or any others you discover in your research. If you have any
trouble deciding, I suggest you simply choose to work directly with God. 108.



Once you have a spiritual being in mind, sit in a quiet place and say a prayer to the being asking to be more strongly
connected with them and to receive their blessings. The use of a picture of the being can be helpful also. Then draw out
the Reiki distant symbol along with any other symbols you are guided to use such as the master symbol and begin
sending Reiki to them. As you do so, continue to pray asking that your connection become stronger and stronger. You can
also pray for guidance for any project or issue you need help with, ask that your skill as a healer be improved and that
your Reiki healing energies become more effective, or say prayers for others.

http://www.reiki.org/online/june02/junenl02.htm
Commentary
Needless to add, Reiki is NOT associated with the Church, the Catholic Charismatic Movement, or any other Christian
ministry associated with the Church. It is nothing other than pure heresy, which detracts from Jesus Christ as our Saviour
and Lord.
Clearly very popular, a keyword search on the Internet reveals over 3 million web pages devoted to Reiki. The writer
found no websites dedicated to communicating the truths of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and disclaiming the heresies
expounded by Reiki followers.

http://www.reikidangers.com/dangers.htm
Wake up and be blessed with the Truth about reiki and hear the mercy call of Jesus Christ; "return to me
and I will return to you"
What the bible in 2Thessalonians 2-9, 11 tells about reiki is completely true;
".....through the activity and working of satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of
(pretended) miracles and signs and delusive marvels - all of them lying wonders......11-therefore God sends
upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is
false" If you take up the Bible and read in 2 Thessalonians, the chapters 2 and 3, reiki becomes very clear to us. When
we pray for those who are asking for help after being in reiki and are being set free in Jesus name, then it's getting clear
for them as well; Reiki is a tool that Satan uses nowadays! But there is Hope and an alternative for reiki, in Jesus.
These written warnings and conclusions on these pages, are not to reject you, dear reikian, we love you in Christ, God
loves you and sent His only begotten Son to the cross for all of us. We like to share with you what we know for a fact and
we know that reiki works, how it works, but it is not what it seems to be. A clear conclusion out of all these different
denominated Christian Churches websites is, whether Catholic, or Evangelical, or Protestant, or
Pentecostal, they are ALL telling you the same thing about the deception and occult power of reiki! Reiki is
not from God, nor from Jesus!
Yes, even saved ex-reikimasters and ex-reikians confirm this, as those Christians who stopped with reiki and are set free
after receiving prayers. Yes, even pastors and active Christians who are helping ex-reikians. They are ALL warning you
about reiki and ALL of them are stating from different angles and out of their practical experiences in their daily life of
serving God and living in this world. Underneath we present some of the conclusions, which you can take out of the many
Church websites we found with the subject reiki;
*That reiki is not of Jesus Christ, thus not from God, is also proven by an active Reiki Alliance Master who
accepted Jesus, was being baptized, immersed completely in the water, rose up, became Holy Spirit filled.
From that precise moment on, after 12 years, reiki stopped flowing through the hands, all the reiki symbols
seized working and reiki left forever! So, reiki is not from Jesus Christ, thus not from God. (as you can read
this in one of the website links we offer; reikireality)
that reiki works, but is non biblical and sinful. (as will be explained in the next pages to come, as in the Church-
links)
that reiki clearly never was, nor could have been used by Jesus Christ. Although every reikimaster and
reiki book is claiming that reiki was the healing method of the Lord.
that many reikimasters are initiating Christians into reiki and are telling them that reiki is safe and the
Lord Jesus Christ was probably a reikimaster, as they are. (Matt.24-24)
that reiki is denying that Jesus Christ is the son of God, His work on the Cross and His resurrection. But
lures people in reiki seminars by stating that you can learn to heal like Jesus did and after the seminar no-
one talks anymore about Him, explaining that reiki is not a religion.
that reikians were serving and creating half-gods in reiki, by giving the glory of any healing to reiki as a
spiritual entity above them. Are feeling called to convert anybody into a reikian and are practicing reiki
upon others without asking or warning them.
that reiki can be used to manipulate and nowadays is mixed with other forms of the occult as, white-
magic, black magic, witchcraft and Satanism.
Christian deliverance-ministries proves by experience that to undo the reiki initiations, every reikian and
most certainly any active 2nd degree reikian or reikimaster needs a full biblical baptism, ... a deliverance-
session , in Jesus Name. These strong prayers, to be set free totally, in Jesus name, again proves the occult
nature of reiki. But coming Home to Jesus Christ, in the mercy of God makes it's all possible!!
109.



Was this your choice and are you still sure that you want to be a part of this spiritually?
This is between you and God and we just warn you and tell you the good news, too. In "reiki spirits" you will find a
testimony of a lady who got saved by Jesus Christ after reading this web site, she writes;
"The spirit-world is real, but no one- not even the reikimasters have a clue- of what is really going on. ONLY
Jesus Christ can help us! If you are, like me, highly sensitive and take a reiki1 weekend, you're lucky.
Because you will know that you are dealing with the devil; if you're not and don't have this, you will reap
years and years fruits of the darkness. If you really would know from whom the reiki power comes and its
plans with you, you would, like me start praying to Jesus Christ to receive the only TRUE LIGHT. I am going
through a deliverance program of my evangelical Church right now, I want to be baptized, and my loved
ones are looking amazed to all the changes in my life....
God is so great, otherwise this would have ended differently. "
Return to Him and He will return to you...........
Salvation belongs already to the sinner, just as He forgave us, you can be forgiven.
Jesus came to set us free, to reconcile us to God; He died for ALL our sins.
Jesus is risen and offers a better alternative for reiki, and holds a better Future!
He loves you and waits for your decision........hear the mercy call of God!

http://www.reikidangers.com/spirit.htm
We reveal the spiritual problems and sins, so you can come to repentance, in the name of Jesus!
Because His Word is; "for God did not send the Son in order to judge the world, but that the world might find salvation,
and be made safe and sound through Him" (John 3-17) and if you repent remember; If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1-9)
We love you reikians, this is not about you as a person, we want to warn you about reiki spiritually. We don
not condemn you, but are revealing these spiritual problems and sins, so you can repent. We see the
destruction of reiki at work and devastated reikians, knocking on our church doors for help. At the end of
this page you will find testimonies of saved ex-reikians. That is why we are taking the trouble, the
expenses and the time to make this site. We are Christians, because we dedicated our lives to Christ-Jesus.
We call you reikians, as you have dedicated your life to reiki, as many reikimasters do. We know that Jesus
loves you, just click on "Salvation" and repent for all the sins mentioned on this page afterwards, be
blessed with Gods Grace!
1. Reiki is spiritual and it does work, but is not divine, not of Jesus, and not of God (John 14:7). There is a difference
between angels and fallen angels (1 John 4:1-4); there is a difference serving God (Matthew 4:10), and serving reiki.
Between giving honor to God and honoring reiki, after each healing. (Matthew 22:37) God Almighty, the Creator, who is
our Father and is the Lord Jesus Christ's Father. He is, is so much more then which you call god; the universe, or cosmos
or All there is, universal life force or any name you can think of. He is, God of all Gods, Our Creator (Gen1:1). So, repent!
2. Yes, it is sinful, sitting before a home-made altar (idolatry), with photo's of dead reikimasters (spiritualism), various
objects, candles, incense (honoring spirits), praying and paying for and accepting reiki, thus authorizing a reiki-ritual
performance to open the spiritual doorways for reiki energy and their spirits and afterwards serving in gratitude reiki and
his reiki spirits. (Serving false gods, Exodus 20:1-6) So, repent!
3. Did you know that the demon behind the initiating reiki symbol of your reikimaster is called "DIA KO MIO" and
is held secret and holy by a reikimaster? This reikimaster-spirit, which is summoned to open and connect you to reiki as a
channel and itself, during the reiki initiations, is the "Phoenix who rises out of the ashes" .A demon who claims to be risen
and is clearly not biblical and of Christian nature (1 John 4:1-4). Praise God that Jesus Christ came to set us free and
succeeded! (Mark 16:19) So, repent!
If you are a Pastor /Church, go to "salvation-prayer" and you will find more tools concerning reiki for your church!!!
4. When you use reiki daily, new spiritual doors open and if you give a reiki treatment to someone else, a spiritual
doorway is opened in the life of this (unaware) person, through which the reiki spirits will have, or will make more access,
to this persons life. So, repent!
5. Yes, reiki works, heals and reveals many things, but after some time, you get in big trouble. Many reikimasters turn
like; mentally ill, divorced, financially broke, or severe sick, mostly after some 10- 15 years of mastery. (Romans 1:18-21,
Romans 2:5-9). The reiki alliance has a help line for supporting these sick masters, but no way reiki helps (Matthew12;
30-33). So, repent!
6. Yes, reiki is sinful, it is using reiki spirits, fallen angels, it is worshipping false gods, it is in contradiction with Gods
Word, its healing people on the short term, but leading them to destruction on the long term, its rebellious to God (Titus
1:16) and reiki changes constantly, mixing itself with more occult practices like witchcraft, various gurus, magic and
Satanism (Matthew 12:25, 26, 27). So, repent!
Are you still sure that you want to be a part of this spiritually???
So, repent!
Jesus can set you free; He has a answer for all our needs. He loves you dear friend and gave His life for you,
that you may know His true unconditional unyielding love. He longs to spend time with you; He accepts you
as you are right now. 110.



Jesus Christ already paid the price, there are no rituals, it is just one simple step to receive Him and change
your life. Jesus Christ is waiting for your decision right now... you can not tell Him anymore you didn't
know! (Romans2, 2)
You can get out right now and get saved... Jesus loves you and wants to help you.

REIKIDANGERS-TESTIMONIES
from saved people through this web site, by the Glory of Jesus; "let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he had
redeemed from the hand of the enemy" Ps.107:2
We received this letter: God Bless you, I am a re-born Christian, serving the Lord Jesus in the ministry of
deliverance and can confirm many of the experiences shared on this website as true. I have encountered
these problems, caused by demons and their spiritual impact on saved ex-reikians, whilst praying for them
on many occasions. The dramatic change in the lives of ex-reikians, Ive seen, after Jesus Christ had set
them free, was really wonderful. Thank you for publishing this impressive well of information and to
proclaim the Truth about reiki. Jesus is Lord and may He save many reikians out of their distresses and
bondages, caused by the deceptive healing art of reiki, in Jesus Name we pray with you.
Many people around the world are blessed by Jesus Christ and write to us after praying the salvation
prayer, here are 7 examples out of many; because by the Grace of God we are saved.
You can be a great sinner. But Gods Grace is always Greater, through the provisions made on the Cross, by Jesus Christ.
He is the only way to come Home to the Father, by the free gift of Mercy to everyone who confesses Jesus with their
mouth, repents and turns from sin, will be saved!
1-From Holland
Hi, I have been through a very rough period and this all started in Oct 2006, two days after I did a reiki-1 seminar
weekend. It has started to reduce now because in December I got saved. Although I have been a fanatical anti Christian,
I came to believe and have faith. I wanted to let you know so you can put this on your web site. Kind regards.
QUESTION Reikidangers: Praise God, I thank the Lord, but could you give some more details?
1-ANSWER: I took a reiki1 weekend with a well known reikimaster in Holland. During the reiki seminar we noticed that I
could give really a lot of reiki, wow!! Right after the reiki seminar a lot of strange things started to appear in my life.
Within a few days I changed from a happy "girl" into a depressive zombie. I always was a bit on the edge, but the amount
of anger and hate which was in me was indescribable. I started to look for information about what reiki really was and
found your web site www.reikidangers.com this couldn't be true!!!!!! The next day I had an appointment with my
reikimaster; "this is only a phase of purification" which is normal in the first 3 weeks after a reiki-seminar. No worries! And
those Christians, well they are always so negative and short sighted. I went home, quite relieved, but it got even worse,
all kind of "things" had an access in me, through the opened reiki channels, the reiki experts said; "just put it in the white
light and everything will be okay". But everything went worse, I saw cats coming out of the wall, I saw a man next to me,
who nobody saw except me. Flashes of light that took all kinds of shapes, dead people and spirits who attacked me! At
night I heard loud voices who teased me and evil faces starring at me. When I saw 2 demons in my house, I ran to a
healer who helped me and charged 500us. She told me that this was a big honor and I was chosen to stop the demonic
world, predestined to guide 1000's of dead people to the light. From that moment on it got worse...............................
The spirits tried to get me out of my body, to control my thinking; if I fell asleep I woke up because something was in
me... on and on and on. But, 2.5 months after reiki, I remembered a book about the work of Jesus Christ, although being
anti-Christian, opened it and all the pages turned black!!! WHY CAN'T I SEE THIS? That night before going to sleep, I've
prayed for the first time to Jesus as Lord and asked for protection and... ALL THE ATTACKS STOPPED!!!!!
Afterwards the attacks came back, and I cried out "GOD HELP ME"... and I vomited in my car. Now I am in a
deliverance program in my Church and dare to be home alone again, wow!!! I know now that the Bible is no little finger
who commands us what to do or not, the Bible exits because we have a caring Father who wants us to keep as far away
as possible from the devil. The spirit-world is real, but no one- not even the reikimasters have a clue- of what really is
going on. ONLY Jesus Christ can help us! If you are, like me, highly sensitive and start a reiki1 weekend, you're blessed,
because you will know that you are dealing with the devil; if not you will reap years and years fruits of darkness. If you
really knew from whom the reiki power comes and its plans with you, you would, like me start praying to
Jesus Christ to receive the only TRUE LIGHT. I am going through a deliverance program in my Church right
now, I want to be baptized, and my loved ones are looking with big eyes to all the changes.... God is so
great; otherwise this would have ended differently. Kind regards.

2-From the U.S.A.
Dear Christians, I got initiated into Reiki (1) in 1994. When the Reiki Master was initiating me into Reiki 1 I felt a
strangeness immediately at the time. I taught no more of it and continued to practice Reiki on myself and some others. In
March 1995 I got initiated into Reiki (2) by a different Reiki Master and I heard a lot of Anti-christian sayings and Anti-
Christ words come from the Reiki Master and I immediately became afraid. About 3-4 weeks later as I was in bed with my
eyes closed faces kept appearing for a second before my closed eyes of people. I at the time presumed that these were
spirits coming to look at me whilst I was resting or maybe its so long ago I was actually doing Reiki when this happened.
It did not frighten me but I went back to my original Reiki Master and asked him, Reiki is Christian isnt it? 111.


"He said no its not" - but the previous Reiki Master was a Bagwan Ramesh devotee. I got my original Reiki Master to
initiate me to Reiki 2 again so I would not be connected to the Bagwan Ramesh aspect of Reiki. I had being going out
with an Italian girl who I had done Reiki on and I finished with her nothing to do with Reiki but she later got initialed to
Reiki 1 so she told me when she rang me from Italy. I met her in 1996 and she was very depressed but she was
depressed before she done Reiki 1. I continued to do Reiki and got initiated to the Reiki Master symbols and other
symbols Egyptian and other ones. I felt this energy rising up my back spine and I continued to practice Reiki. Then whilst
asleep I would jolt awake with flashes of light in my head. This happened a lot and it was only a bit unsettling. Then I met
another Reiki Master from USA and she attuned me to another Master Symbol to be used in initiating others. I initiated my
girl friend but now my wife to Reiki 1 and 2, soon afterwards she had a blazing row with her Father screaming at him over
something simple, she told me she would not do Reiki anymore as it felt bad for her. I initiated two people I knew to Reiki
1 and 2, his wife a Buddhist from Thailand to Reiki and they started to have rows and arguments as well. I continued to
do Reiki and on one occasion after a really powerful self healing Reiki session I got into an argument in work which i had
to apologise for. After I met a born again Christian who told me about Reikidangers........................ I stopped doing Reiki.
Although I always before I did Reiki almost from the beginning I always asked Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to protect
me from any evil and or negative energy/spirits but that may not have been enough. After my born again Christian friend
prayed over me in Tongues I went home from work and got rid of all my Reiki books and astrology books by tearing them
up and throwing them in the rubbish bin. Since then I have heard stories about other Reiki practitioners being attacked
physically whilst doing Reiki on others obviously by Demons.
I have asked God to forgive me in the name of Jesus Christ (as you kindly put on your web page) and have become a
Born again Christian. I have always believed very strongly in Jesus Christ but more so now as I realise the real dangers
and the tricks that are played on people about Reiki and its origins. I feel reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. My
interest in occult matters really started off around the time i was 17 to 18 years whilst i began taking LSD. I have stopped
all that along time ago and I taught Reiki was a way to heal yourself from the bad effects of LSD and also my Ego would
have played a part telling people I was a Reiki Healer.
I ask you to pray for me and any people I may have damaged unintentionally by doing Reiki and initiating them into
Reiki.......................................

3-From Australia
Dear Christian friends, your web site is so valuable and is truly the work of God. When I was born again 2.5 years ago in a
beautiful Pentecostal Church here in Australia... I was a level2 reiki practitioner. I gave this away then and there. However
after a year reiki merged in to my life again in a very subtle way. I prayed and could not understand why I was led back
again to web sites telling me that reiki was O. K.
Through more prayer and time and finally your web site; I am now free from reiki! Praise the Lord Jesus Christ.....the
Way, the Truth and the life.

4-a Christian from Holland
God bless you dear writer; I have studied your web site and before I looked at your site I already knew about the dark
side of reiki. I was searching for information about the occult side of reiki. Because my sister, who has serious skin-
problems and more and more is receiving reiki-treatments from my aunt who is a driven reiki practitioner. I find it is
striking, because the things you describe are almost a 100% true in her situation! Only she didn't see the Light yet and
probably doesn't want to see it. This out of pride. More and more I have discussions with people about reiki and because
of my personal involvement, I like to talk with people from my church, too. They seem to be more open for me and
believe me on my word. But those who are not going to church, they are very skeptical and like to believe the universal
energy-fairy tail. So my question is........ A.H.-Holland

5-From Canada
God bless you, your web site saved me, I was a Christian and was about to take a reiki seminar, but something led me to
your web site and the links to what the Bible has to say about reiki.... I came back and closer to the Lord Jesus by
repenting and praying. Thank you so much, God is doing a wonderful work through you. Jesus has blessed me so much
and I've prayed for you, too. Please carry on with your important work. Could you help me in finding a good church,
because it was a long time ago that I visited one. I am so happy.....

6-ex-reikian from the Caribbean
I wanted to thank you, because I am free and met Jesus. I just finished my last seminar and wanted to start working as a
professional healer. I was surfing here and was thinking it over on the beach and I came home to find your website reiki
dangers on the net. I followed all the steps to reikireality, got saved by Jesus and downloaded the deliverance book. For 3
days I prayed this through and I AM SO HAPPY-JESUS LIVES. It feels great to be so happy and everything you write is so
true, Jesus is the only Way, the Truth. What....

7-ex-reikimaster from Spain
I bless you in Jesus name and am grateful that finally someone writes the truth about reiki, I wish I had know this many
years ago and didn't had to suffer that much. I was a reikimaster active in almost all of Europe for years. 112.



I have experienced many negative things of what reiki dangers is putting in writing, I never suspected that reiki had
anything to do with it. Then I surrendered to Jesus, was forgiven, got fully baptized and reiki stopped forever. My pastor
and church were very kind and prayed a lot for me. I needed several deliverance sessions to be freed completely from the
reiki-spirits and the bondages, which I became through my other occult practices and sins. But now all demonic bondages,
rituals and doorways are gone, in Jesus name, and my sins are forgiven. God is Good and Merciful, thank you Jesus.
Thank you again for your efforts to preach the Good News of the Gospel and the way to the Truth and Love of God.
Thank you for showing the deceived reikians and naive Christians the truth and dangers about using reiki and I do confirm
that Jesus Christ is alive!! I would like to ask you to...

8-From the U.S.A.
I just want to thank you for your website. I had been considering learning Reiki but very careful about not wanting to
offend God & if it was even of God. I was very leery of the attunement process to begin with and your site just confirmed
all this. Many Christian websites and books make it seem very appealing and that this is how Jesus healed. Your website
makes perfect sense and in my heart I know that you are right, Reiki is not of God. Thank you, J...

9-From a Pastor in Spain
"I am not sure who wrote, conceived and actually created the wonderful Christian resource for those who have been
involved in Reiki, but it is a superb and uncomplicated, and I trust you will convey my congratulations and thanks."

"But when anything is exposed and reproved by the Light, it's made visible and clear; and where is
everything visible and clear there is Light. Therefore He says: Awake o sleeper, and arise from the dead,
and Christ shall shine upon you and give you Light. Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposely and
worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise" (Ephesians 5, 13-15)

25. Westminster Exorcist Says Promiscuity can lead to Demonic Possession
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08081506.html
By Hilary White WESTMINSTER, UK, August 15, 2008
A priest of Westminster, the leading diocese of the Catholic Church of England and Wales, has written that promiscuity,
whether homosexual or heterosexual, can lead to dire spiritual consequences, in addition to the dangers to physical
health. Promiscuity, as well as homosexuality and pornography, says 73 year-old Fr. Jeremy Davies, is a form of sexual
perversion and can lead to demonic possession. Offering what may be an explanation for the explosion of homosexuality
in recent years, Fr. Davies said, "Among the causes of homosexuality is a contagious demonic factor."
Fr. Davies continues: "Even heterosexual promiscuity is a perversion; and intercourse, which belongs in the sanctuary of
married love, can become a pathway not only for disease but also for evil spirits."
"Some very unpleasant things must be mentioned because young people, especially, are vulnerable and we must do what
we can to protect and warn them," he told the Catholic Herald.
He also said that Satan is responsible for having blinded most secular humanists to the "dehumanising effects of
contraception and abortion and IVF, of homosexual marriages, of human cloning and the vivisection of human embryos
in scientific research." Extreme secular humanism, "atheist scientism", is comparable to "rational Satanism" and these are
leading Europe into a dangerous state of apostasy. "Only by a genuine personal decision for Christ and the Church can
someone separate himself from it."
Fr. Davies (an Oxford graduate who is also a qualified physician) comments come in conjunction with the publication of
his new book, entitled, "Exorcism: Understanding Exorcism in Scripture and Practice" published earlier this year by the
Catholic Truth Society (CTS).
In the Catholic Church, exorcisms can only be performed by a priest who has the "express" permission of his bishop.
According to the Code of Canon Law, only experienced priests can be chosen who exhibit, "piety, knowledge, prudence,
and integrity of life." Before the official rite of exorcism is used, the subject must also be examined thoroughly by doctors
and psychiatrists to rule out any non-spiritual causes of his difficulties and physicians are often asked to assist during the
course of an exorcism.
Fr. Davies also warns in his book against so-called New Age and occult practices, as well as
trendy exercise and "spiritual healing" regimens derived from eastern religions.
"The thin end of the wedge (soft drugs, yoga for relaxation, horoscopes just for fun and so on) is more dangerous than
the thick end because it is more deceptive - an evil spirit tries to make his entry as unobtrusively as possible."
"Beware of any claim to mediate beneficial energies (e.g. reiki), any courses that promise the peace that Christ promises
(e.g. Enneagrams), any alternative therapy with its roots in eastern religion (e.g. acupuncture)." Needless to say,
overtly occult activities such as sances and witchcraft are "direct invitations to the Devil which he readily accepts."
Fr. Davies was appointed exorcist of the Westminster Archdiocese in 1986 after a four month training period in Rome. In
1993 he co-founded, with Italys Father Gabriele Amorth, the International Association of Exorcists which now has
hundreds of members worldwide. In 2000, Fr. Davies told the Independent newspaper that incidents of demonic
possession are rising dramatically along with the increase of New Age beliefs and practices, ignorance of the Bible and a
growth in spiritual confusion. 113.


"At the centre of this is mans ever-growing pride and attempted self-reliance. Man trying to build a better world without
God - another Tower of Babel," he said. In 2005, the Vatican recently made headlines around the world by publicly
announcing the launch of a course on exorcism for priests
The Churchs writings on exorcism and demonic possession say that a person can be influenced or even possessed by
demonic forces when they are "hardened" in serious sin and the Church specifies that these include people who are
involved in heavy drug use, violence and sexual perversions. It is also noted that the "heinous crime" of abortion
exacerbates these. Italian exorcist Fr. Gabriel Amorth writes that it is particularly difficult to liberate a victim who is guilty
of abortion, and that this can take a "very long time".
To order Fr. Davies book: http://www.cts-online.org.uk/acatalog/info_Ex27.html

26. Do Twilight, Harry Potter open door to the Devil?
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/do-twilight-harry-potter-open-door-to-the-devil-20100320-qn74.html
By Linda Morris, March 21, 2010
THE appointment of a new exorcist by Sydney's Catholic Church precedes a warning by a senior clergyman that
generation Y risks a dangerous fascination with the occult fuelled by the Twilight and Harry Potter series.
Julian Porteous, the auxiliary bishop of Sydney, warns that pursuing such ''alternative'' relaxation techniques as yoga,
reiki massages and tai chi may encourage experimentation with ''deep and dark spiritual ideas and traditions''.
Bishop Porteous, who is second to Cardinal George Pell in the Sydney Archdiocese, told The Sun-Herald the Twilight and
Harry Potter books and films ''are attractive to adolescents and can be innocent enough.
''However, they can open up a fascination with this mysterious world and invite exploration of various phenomena through
the use of occult practices like sances.''
Exorcism is no fantasy according to the church, with the Sydney archdiocese last month appointing an as-yet unnamed
priest, suitably ''endowed with piety, knowledge, prudence and integrity of life'' to conduct exorcisms, as required by
Catholic canon law.
In Rome, the Vatican is preparing its first official English translation of the rite of exorcism, which was promulgated in
1614 and reissued in 1999. Its chief exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth, claimed this month to have carried out 70,000
exorcisms. Bishop Porteous - who has stood in as exorcist for the Sydney archdiocese over the past five years - warns that
yoga, reiki massages and tai chi can lead to people being in the grip of ''demonic forces''.
''A person can move from the use of a simple practice to de-stress to embracing the underlining theory and religious
beliefs because these all come out of religious traditions of the East and people can then find themselves in the grip of
demonic forces,'' he said. ''People can be naive in that regard.''
But David Tacey, associate professor of English at La Trobe University, said demonic possession was an archaism long
discredited by science, psychology and modern theology. Any suggestion that reiki massage, yoga and tai chi could have
evil influence were ''expressions of Western ignorance about Eastern practices'', he said. ''This is an example of how
certain voices in the church have no idea about other cultures and religions,'' Professor Tacey said. ''To argue that only
Christianity can rescue people from these supposed 'demonic' forces is a wonderful evangelical trick. The arrogance and
ignorance is transparent, and anyone can see through it as an attempt to recruit people to the failing mainstream
religion.''
The main signs of ''diabolical influence'' recognised by the Catholic Church include speaking in unknown languages,
including ancient tongues, and exhibiting superhuman strength.
Some victims have spoken to Bishop Porteous of feeling an evil presence around them or of feeling an oppressive force
bearing down on their chest.
Bishop Porteous has been verbally abused during exorcisms yet he says he does not fear the Devil. ''You're conscious the
powers of Christ are greater than the powers of evil,'' he said.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN EXCORCISM
THE minor rite can be done by any priest and provides prayers of protection and assistance for people who fear they are
being tempted by the devil. Prayers of minor exorcism are built in to the rite of baptism.
The major rite applies to cases of full demonic possession. The priest wears a purple stole, representing his role as a
leader of the church. He carries holy water which he sprinkles over the victim during prayers. The crucifix is held aloft,
representing the most potent symbol of Christ's victory over evil. Prayers are either dedicative or indicative. During
dedicative prayer, the exorcist asks God to drive out an evil spirit.
The indicative prayer directly commands the demon to leave: ''I command you evil spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ,
begone.''

Continued from page 39
Indian Church Divided on Inculturation Strategy to Entice Hindu Converts
http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?id=1131077207&type=news
Mario Rodrigues, The Statesman, November 2, 2005
A conclave of priests and bishops at the Papal Seminary in Pune last week called for the renewed "Indianisation" of the
Catholic Church and the adoption of Hindu rituals, including aarti during Mass, studying Sanskrit and the
Vedas, experiencing ashram life and so on. The conclave discussed this and other issues besieging the Church and
the laity in the new millennium. 114.



According to one report in the media, a seminary spokesman said: "The Catholic Church plans to adopt a number of
Indian traditions and practices which will give us a feel of being an Indian."
The issue, however, is not as simple as reports made it out to be. In the first place, the question of what
"Indianisation" is and the limits to which it can be encouraged are a moot point. For a vast number of
Indian Catholics, "Indianisation" does not mean "Hinduisation" of the Brahminical variety, which is what
reports seemed to suggest.
Putting the issue in perspective, Fr Tony Charangat, editor of the influential Church weekly, The Examiner,
clarified that this was not a call for performing Hindu puja during Mass. "Were only for the use of rituals, myth and
culture as the best means of communicating the message of Christianity in the Indian context," he told The Statesman. He
added that this process of inculturation was important because through it "we will be able to understand our own
experience and our own culture better".
European missionaries like Roberto de Nobili (the 'Roman Brahmin') and John de Britto, who came with the early
Portuguese colonisers, were the earliest "Indianisers" who practised what they preached. Their message was kept alive by
their disciples down the centuries but overall, the practices of Indian Christianity were decidedly Western till
Independence.
But realisation dawned that the Church must become less Europeanised and more Indian to relate meaningfully to the
social milieu in which it existed. This process was fast forwarded by the epochal Vatican Council II (1962-65) when Rome
shed its triumphal bearing and embraced ecumenism, inter-faith dialogue, inculturation and religious liberty.
This allowed the use of local languages (in place of Latin) and customs in Church services all over the world. It also gave
a licence for a creative and radical reinterpretation of the Gospels, which in turn was responsible for the genesis of
liberation theology in Latin America.
Christians form less than three per cent of the overall population of India and this includes Catholics (who subscribe to
five rites), mainline Protestant denominations, other evangelical sects and the Orthodox churches of Kerala, both Catholic
and otherwise.
Kerala churches have been proactive in their Indianisation tendencies and activists of the Syro-Malabar liturgy once
tried to forcefully put this on the agenda when the late Pope John Paul II visited India a few years ago. In
recent times, the process has acquired urgency because of the spate of attacks on Christians and Church institutions by
the loony Hindu fundamentalist brigade that peaked during the "saffron raj" of the NDA at the Centre.
Today, Indianisation of the Church has come a long way. How far down the road of Indianisation the post-Conciliar
Church here has travelled can be deduced from the fact that new-age churches are modelled after temples, the "Indian
rite mass" (conceived by Cardinal Parecattil of the Syro-Malabar Church and the Jesuit Dr Amalorpavadas of
the Latin Church, "masterminds" behind the inculturation movement in India) incorporates (Brahminical) Hindu
rituals such as the chanting of Vedic and Upanishadic mantras. Prayers begin with "OM", readings are taken
from the Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagvad Gita, tilak is applied to foreheads of priests and people,
priests wear a saffron shawl instead of a cassock and sit on the ground at a table surrounded by small lamps rather than
stand at the traditional altar.
In addition, Indian music is played at Church services, the entrance procession for the Mass has girls dancing the
Bharatnatyam, kirtans and bhajans are sung at Communion. Priests and nuns are encouraged to adopt Indian
religious values and customs in their religious practices and participate actively in Hindu festivals such as
Ganesh-visarjan (immersion) and Raas Lila.
Many priests and nuns have anyway renounced their Western names and taken on Indian ones and many Church
institutions now bear Indian names such as Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune (Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and
Religion), Sadhana meditation centre, Lonavla, Satchitananda Ashram, Trichy, and so on.
Priests and nuns are besides encouraged to live in ashrams and experience divinity through the practice of
disciplines such as yoga, vipasana [sic], transcendental meditation, reiki, pranic healing and so on.
Diehard conservatives in the clergy have been appalled by the changes and one searing critic has described this process
as a "scandalous ecumenism with Hinduism".
Such attempts have also not gone down well with sections of the laity. "The leadership wants to inculturate and have
been contextualising theology to suit the Indian milieu but lay people are not willing to change," Fr Allwyn DSilva,
director, Documentation, Research & Training Centre at the St Pius College, Mumbai, said.
He felt this was the "main block" faced by the Church in several regions, especially in a city like Mumbai where the
population is cosmopolitan.
But this is not the only problem. Another stumbling road block is the question of what is Indian and whether
Brahminical Hinduisation should be the dominant theological and liturgical trend in the Church.
There has, in fact, been stiff opposition to the advance of "Hinduisation" from radical Dalit theologians such
as the late Rev Arvind Nirmal, the Rev M Azariah and the Rev James Massey, who have accused the high
caste-dominated Church leadership of "Brahminising" Christianity in the name of "Indianising" the church.
"The current or traditional Indian Christian theology, which is based upon the Brahmanic traditions of Hindu religions did
not/does not address itself to or reflect the issues which the majority of Christians faced either before or after they
became Christians. It is because this expression of theology is based upon the religious traditions of the minority even
among the Hindus, because Brahmins (priestly caste) represent 5.22 only of the total population of India," Rev Massey
has argued. 115.


These Dalit theologians have made a stinging critique of the Churchs internal power structures and its alliances with the
ruling elite and vested interests, leading to sections of the clergy and laity challenging these oppressive structures both i n
Church and society and demanding empowerment.
This is one reason for the recent attacks on Christians orchestrated by upper caste-led leaders of the RSS, VHP and
Bajrang Dal. Dalits, who form about 70 per cent of the total Indian Christian population, are still discriminated against
even in the Church, and their ideologues and leaders would surely oppose such Brahminical trends being imposed from
above.
Not that the Church is not aware of these problems. "Christianity does not mean uniformity and has taken into account
cultural diversity," concedes Fr Charangat, while acknowledging the existence and importance of several little cultures and
liturgies such as tribal liturgy and subaltern liturgy which have to contend with the "greater culture" (Brahminism).
"For them (Dalits), adopting these things would be anathema since they are fighting against hierarchy," he avers.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of India, with a view to accommodating contrasting tendencies, has left it to regional
bishops to decide what is appropriate Indianisation, informs Fr Charangat. "It is a struggle and a challenge for us how to
Indianise," he says. Indeed, it is. The recent expression of resolve at Pune amply demonstrates that the battle continues.

MY COMMENTS
If practising "disciplines such as yoga, vipasana [sic], transcendental meditation, reiki, pranic healing and
so on" is part of the Indian Churchs "Inculturation Strategy to Entice Hindu Converts", then I can only
visualize the fulfilment of the Biblical warning in II Corinthians 11: 13-15:
"For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, who masquerade as apostles of Christ. And no
wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. So it is not strange that his ministers also
masquerade as ministers of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds."

Reiki, Yoga good for the soul?
http://www.therecord.com.au/site/index.php/Perspective/reiki-yoga-good-for-the-soul
By Bishop Julian Porteous, Sydney Auxiliary Bishop, April 21, 2010
Yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki, these are now familiar terms to most Australians. They are relatively recent imports into our
culture, but they have spread with extraordinary pace across the nation. Yoga has been around the longest, while Reiki is
a more recent immigrant.
Coming from Asia, they have been marketed as good for relaxation, fitness and general health. They are widely used, and
many speak of their benefits. One could say that they are not viewed as exotic practices but are a part of mainstream
Australian life. Sports people use them. Business people turn to them. Many Christians have been drawn to them, seeing
them as supplementing Christian spiritual practices.
Despite the large scale acceptance of these practices, we need to ask: are they good for the soul?

The Practice of Yoga
Yoga is well known as the practice of adopting various bodily postures that are intended to help the person enter a "state
of inner stillness". This is seen as a way of de-stressing, for relaxing and restoring a sense of general wellbeing. Hatha
Yoga, the most common form, offers 20 basic postures.
Adopting these postures is accompanied by various ways in which the practitioner is guided to be able to be still and
empty the mind. The bodily posture needs to work in cooperation with the quietening and steadying of the mind. Thus,
each posture is to be accompanied by a control of the breathing, the focus of the mind, and the repetition of a mantra. In
other words, there is an inner journey which must be undertaken along with the physical postures.
As the person wishes to move further into yogic practice the teacher may propose that it is necessary to surrender oneself
to the prana, or divine energy. A person can go even further on this inner journey towards entering altered states of
consciousness. This further development will entail an emptying of the mind so that one becomes more open and passive.
The result is that there will be a reduction in logical thought, a lessening of the influence of the emotions and a weakening
of the will, so that there is greater freedom for the divine energy to operate. A person must surrender in trust to some
real but unknown divine force.
The ultimate goal is to come to a place of oneness with the universe. However, to achieve this goal there is a requirement
on the practitioner to dismantle their personality the philosophy underlying Yoga considers all but the spiritual an
illusion. The actual final point of Yoga is an absorption into the divine energy.
The spiritual underpinnings of Yoga
When we consider the goal of Yoga in these terms we have crossed a line. No longer is Yoga simply a relaxation
technique, rather it is a path into a spiritual world. This world is the spiritual world of Hinduism. Yoga has been imported
from India.
The practitioner, who no doubt has experienced some tangible benefits from using Yoga and wants to know more, is now
led into new territory. New concepts and new ways of seeing themselves and reality around them are introduced. They
claim that the human body has seven chakras (or energy centres). The student is introduced to existence they claim of
the force called Kundalini the divine energy that flows within the body. Kundalini is, in fact, a Hindu goddess, designated
as a coiled snake.
116.


In this process the person is being offered an alternative view of the nature of the human person and of the
character of the divine. These are concepts that are completely at variance with Christianity.
What is the practitioner now coming into touch with? The spiritual belief behind Yoga is that there is an impersonal,
infinite energy called Brahman. This energy has created everything and is in everything. Hinduism believes that nature is
divine. Thus they say, "All is god, god is all". We Christians call this pantheism.
Advancing further into the spiritual world behind Yoga one learns of the possibility of developing the ability to exercise
psychic powers (or siddhis). This is what the Christian Scriptures call divination. The Catholic Church warns of the dangers
of such spiritual activities "All forms of divination are to be rejected", teaches the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It
goes on to specify: "Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of
clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and in the last analysis, other
human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers." This spiritual world offered through Yoga is
dangerous territory.
A person advancing in the ways of Yoga is under the direction of a guru who is needed to escort the person into these
higher spiritual levels. One has to ask, what does the guru believe? Who is his god? Where is he taking the person?
For the ordinary person who wants a simple system of actions to assist in relaxation, all this may seem far from what they
have experienced and they may have no intention of going this far. All they desire is to benefit from the simple practice of
the postures. This is quite reasonable. However, someone using Yoga will be exposed to the spiritual world that underpins
it. There is a temptation to take on the "spirituality" behind Yoga, albeit inadvertently. A person may find themselves using
the Hindu terminology. They may find themselves thinking more about oneness with the universe and less about a
personal relationship with God in Christ. Indeed, for the Catholic, the sacramental life may seem prosaic compared with
the satisfaction derived through Yoga. What can happen is that there is a subtle shifting of vision from a Christian faith
grounded in a relationship with Christ to a more "enlightened" universal view of reality as professed by Yoga. Somewhere
along the line clear Christian faith has dissolved and has been replaced with a new spiritual outlook.

The seemingly graceful art of Tai Chi
With these thoughts in mind let us examine the popular practice of Tai Chi.
The origin of Tai Chi is China. We are familiar with seeing people practise the slow, graceful movements in parks and
halls. Once again the movements are associated with other practices which are in common with Yoga. The exercise of Tai
Chi requires the control or slowing of breathing. The practitioner will be encouraged to empty the mind so that peace and
harmony can be found through the absence of thoughts.
Tai Chi is touted as providing a means for the reduction of stress and generally improving overall health. It is commonly
used in schools and businesses, in nursing homes and on Catholic retreats. Tai Chi claims to enhance the spiritual aspect
of life. It is also claimed to enable people to experience healing powers. The promotional material is quick to claim,
however, that it is not a religion. They propose it as simply a technique.
Those who teach Tai Chi are conscious that there is, in fact, a spiritual philosophy that underpins it. Slowly, this deeper
dimension comes to the fore, particularly for those who want to go further with the practice. The ultimate source of this
philosophy is Taoism. Tai Chi aims at releasing the Chi, or life force, or divine energy. As with Yoga, various places in the
body are understood to be centres of the Chi.
The understanding of the nature of the human person, which is found in Taoism, is quite at variance with the Christian
understanding. There is a completely different spiritual worldview.
Having an open mind
To benefit from Tai Chi at a deeper level one is asked to have an "open mind". It is claimed that the person will only be
able to discover the supernatural power within when they let go of rational thought and open themselves to these new
realities.
One of the paths to having an open mind is to be able to move beyond a reliance on the difference between good and
evil. In other words, a person has to suspend moral thinking. The reason for this view is found in the Taoist philosophy of
the yin and yang. Harmony and stillness are found when the yin and yang are in balance. Thus, there is a requirement to
move beyond the use of moral facilities and enter a new realm of free floating openness.
Such a position of radical openness is extremely dangerous. We have abandoned those faculties given to us to direct and
protect our lives: our reason, our emotions and our will. The normal use of these faculties assists us in making fully
human decisions, and enabling us to be responsible for our actions. Abandoning these faculties in search of a deeper
spiritual existence opens the person to all sorts of unknown forces. Our defences are down. It can lead to exposure to
demonic powers.
To pursue Tai Chi to its fullest, a person must surrender to the Tao, the supreme creator. Once again we come to realise
that something that is declared to have no religious meaning is in fact a path to a new set of religious beliefs. There is a
fundamental deception at work.

Reiki "an ancient healing art"
Reiki healing has come on the scene in recent years. It hails from Japan. It is described as "an ancient healing art". In fact
Reiki, as we know it, is just over a century old. It was developed by Mikao Usui and is grounded in Buddhism. It is
sometimes called, "The Usui System of Natural Healing".
117.


Reiki uses a gentle "hands on" technique. The person seeking healing lays on a table, clothed. Hands are placed on or just
above key locations of the body: the head, the heart, the navel, the groin. People speak of experiences like a strong surge
of energy through the body; they can find themselves relaxed and some speak of strong emotional release. Reiki thus
works on the emotions, the mind and the spirit as well as the body. It is often described as providing holistic healing.
Reiki has its particular spiritual aspects. It has four sacred symbols. These Usui symbols are directly connected with the
exercise of the healing power.
Stages of Initiation
To become a practitioner of Reiki there are three levels of initiation, or "attunement". These are supervised by a Reiki
Master. There is a requirement of a spiritual preparation for each level. This preparation includes fasting (from sugar,
smoking, alcohol and TV), engaging in some time of meditation and of seeking an inner cleansing from negative emotions
like anger, fear or jealousy. It is clearly a religious rite of passage.
The Master traces symbols over the initiate, invoking power to the chakra centres. The initiate adopts postures of prayer
as the Master performs his liturgy. This religious rite aims to channel divine energy to the person which they can then use
in healing. There is a transmission of power taking place in these rites. But what is the origin of this power?
Moving to higher levels of Reiki opens the person to psychic powers. They become capable of channelling spirits and
clairvoyance. Thus, they have moved into the world of the occult. For the person to be able to receive these psychic
powers it is necessary to deny the reality of evil. Nothing is evil, Reiki Masters declare. The mind is to adopt a position of
passive openness. Again, we can ask: open to what?
There are documented accounts of some of the dangers that a person engaged seriously with Reiki can experience a
release of powerful forces of lust, for instance. Moving into these realms when ones normal defences are neutralised
allows spiritual forces complete freedom to move. These forces can quickly reveal themselves as dark and threatening.
In March 2009, the US Bishops produced a document: Guidelines for evaluating Reiki as an alternative therapy. The
Bishops state, "To use Reiki one would have to accept at least in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that
undergirds Reiki theory, elements that belong neither to Christian faith nor to natural science. Without justification, either
from Christian faith or natural science, however, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the
realm of superstition, the no-mans-land that is neither faith nor science".
The document states categorically, "Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific
evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centres, or
persons representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy".

Not good for the soul
Entering into the spiritual world beyond the simple practices is clearly not good for the soul. They are particularly inimical
to Christian faith. While they may offer practices that can be helpful at a superficial level they are a Trojan horse for
dangerous spiritual infiltration. Engaging in them opens the person, in their desire to know more of the technique, to the
possible exposure to demonic powers. Indeed, a person who follows these religious philosophies to their full extent find
themselves worshipping of a false God.
There are a number of common elements to Yoga, Tai Chi and Reiki. They all offer a physical practice that is readily
accessible. They claim to offer methods that achieve relaxation and offer paths to greater wellbeing and healing. Many
people find this to be the case. At the superficial level of these systems there may be no more than providing a source of
simple benefit for the person being able to de-stress, being able to relax and experiencing some personal healing.
However, these experiences can be seductive.
The advocates of these practices declare that the practices are not religious. They clearly want to re-assure people that
they are not being duped into another religion. Yet, each of these practices has a strong theological basis. They carry a
vision of the human person and clear understanding of the nature of the divine. Each of them, in fact, has a spiritual
origin and can easily draw practitioners into these religious philosophies. They all offer an alternative understanding of the
make-up human person and they invite people to discover their view of divine reality.
By their nature they do not stop with the simple physical exercises their advocates know the deeper spiritual meaning of
what they are doing. They cant help but promote this deeper reality. They want to lead people to the truth as they see it.
Thus people are drawn into this new and exotic spiritual realm. This is at odds with Christian faith and belief.
The divine, as they see it, is an impersonal force and not the personal God revealed in Christianity. The practitioner,
fascinated with the discovery of new powers, is drawn to surrender to this divine force. Simple exercises of relaxation
have led to idolatry!
Having said this, it is important to state that it is not an inevitable process for everyone who uses Yoga or Tai Chi or seeks
some healing through Reiki. These practices can be used simply as physical exercises that are helpful. If a person is wary
of getting caught up in the spiritual philosophies, then they can be used with no detrimental effect at the moral or spiritual
level. Indeed, it may be possible for the development of similar techniques grounded in a healthy Christian spirituality. As
the Church has done in past times it is possible to find ways in which they can be "baptised" and integrated into the
Christian faith.
However, an understanding of the spiritual roots to these practices is necessary to ensure that prudence
accompanies their use. These practices can be dangerous at the spiritual level. In this sense they can be
not good for the soul.
118.


From: Diane Benedek To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 9:43 PM
Subject: Thank you for the website
+Hi Michael,
My name is Diane and I am from Pennsylvania, in the United States. I wanted to thank you for this website which is filled
with so much information on the new age.
I have noticed that there is a large infiltration of new age in many so-called Catholic retreat houses and in nursing and in
other areas of modern life here in the U.S. A friend of my sisters wants her to help her out with a womans clinic. If she
wants to work there, she would have to learn how to do Reiki. My sister tried to explain to her friend that this was bad,
but her friend is convinced that there is a Christian Reiki. A neighbor went to a so-called Christian Reiki retreat and than
saw a demonic figure out her window two weeks later. They did prayers and used holy oil and it seemed to have
worked. I said if you are not tapping into the Holy Spirit, than it must be the evil spirit.
Also, she wanted to know if there is such a thing as Christian yoga. Can you do the exercises without doing the
meditations? Ive heard that the poses in yoga are actually poses to pagan gods.
Thanks so much for the wealth of information that you have compiled. This is so helpful. God bless you and your ministry
and your family too.
Diane Benedek

ROME ORDERS DECREE AGAINST REIKI-PROMOTING PRIEST WHO IS SANCTIONED AND
LAICIZED
From: MLP To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 2:11 PM Subject: Reiki
Dear Michael,
A Spanish Bishop has issued a decree against a former priest who teaches "Christ-cantered" reiki (reiki "cristico" in
Spanish). The decree is posted on the Diocese's website:
http://www.obispadodeourense.com/noticias/2012/08/decretopenal.pdf.

I am translating for you hereunder the information as published by Infories (a Spanish and South American organization
who studies new religious groups and cults):
"The Bishop of Ourense (Spain) Jos Leonardo Lemos Montanet has issued a penal sanction in accordance with canon law
against the priest which is already reduced to lay state Gumersino Meirio, who together with the Zen master Maria
Benetti spreads the doctrine of "Reiki cristico". That is how the information was summarized by the digital media Religion
en Libertad.
On 11 May 2011, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ordered that a penal decree be issued against Meirio,
under penalty of Interdict, for having disobeyed the orders of his former bishop, Hugo Norberto Santiago of the Diocese of
Santo Tom in Argentina, asking him to cease to spread those "erroneous doctrines". Since Mgr. Santiago was unable to
issue the decree, it is done by Mgr Jos Leonardo.
The bishop's decree forbids him from "continuing to defend and spread those heterodox doctrines" and warns him that "if
those errors are not corrected in a public way and with verifiable acts" he will risk the penalty of Interdict, which among
other things impedes him to receive the sacraments."

Regarding the penalty of Interdict, there is an article explaining it here: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08073a.htm
The most important point for me is that the order to issue the decree came from the Vatican. This is hugely important for
your ministry.
Unfortunately, the information is only available in Spanish and French for the moment. But it would be excellent if you
could include it in your website and therefore make it known in English. I translated the information very quickly, so the
English would need some polishing.
I hope this info will be a great encouragement for you!
MLP, Switzerland













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From: Diane Benedek To: 'prabhu' Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 6:55 PM
Subject: RE: A REPORT FROM THIS MINISTRY AND ARTICLES ON FALSE MYSTIC VASSULA RYDEN IN THE CONTEXT OF
HER CURRENT VISIT TO INDIA
+Hi Michael,
I have heard negative things regarding her also.
Thank you for the information.
I dont know if you have heard but I saw that a religious brother (I think from Australia) has written a book about Reiki,
Yoga, etc. teaching how bad it is. I probably should get it because I know of people who are into both.
I have to tell you a story about something which happened to my sister. She had become friends with a girl in her
exercise class. This woman turned out to be a practicing witch and my sister had no idea. She told my sister that she was
into herbal remedies and could help my sister with a minor physical ailment. So my sister went to her and she had my
sister lay on a table (which were surrounded by crystals) and than she proceeded to touch different parts of my sisters
body and this woman claims that her body responded to her touch. (She was performing Reiki on her). So several days
later my sister told me what she was doing, how this woman had also given her herbal remedies. And that my sister was
feeling really good. I was really concerned about this woman. She had a brochure explaining what exactly she does such
as Reiki, animal communication, herbal remedies. She also went to live with some pagan tribe in South America to learn
from them.
I told my sister that if this woman wasnt tapping into the Holy Spirit than she was tapping into the evil spirit. My sister
thought I was being too cautious and was planning on continuing to see this woman. After I spoke with my sister, I was
really concerned so I said a short prayer to St. Michael and I asked him to let my sister see what this woman was really
doing.
The next day, I got a frantic call from my sister. It was in the morning and she told me she was on her way to church.
She told me last night after she and her husband were asleep her husband woke up and sat up in bed and said "Whos
there, who are you?" The figure disappeared. When my sister woke up he told her that he had seen a figure standing next
to her side of the bed. The figure was cloaked in a dark velvet type robe and was holding a candle. He said the figure
looked to be huge and was possibly floating above the ground.
121.



Now my brother-in-law is not one to make things up like this. He said he was awake when he saw the figure. My sister
was so upset that she put a rosary around her neck and somehow was able to get back to sleep. But after she fell asleep
she felt a great pressure on her chest as if something was trying to enter into her body. She was able to fight it off
because of the Blessed Mother.
When she called me I told her that I had prayed to St. Michael to help her to see what was behind this womans true
motive. She got rid of the medicines and she tried to find a priest that would help her but it seems as if they didnt believe
her or didnt know what to do. For a while she had all kinds of demonic activity going on in her house and we were finally
able to find help for her. My sister was told that this woman used her body as a Ouija board. We finally found a good
priest to help her. And after my sister and her family consecrated themselves and their house to the Sacred Heart the
activity stopped.
Everything that I have shared with you is the truth. This was the sister I was telling you about who someone recently
approached her and asked her to learn how to do yoga and teach it in a class. But my sister is very wary of anything new
age now so she declined. This other woman claims that there is a Christian yoga and Christian reiki but my sister tried to
explain everything which happened to her.
There is a lot more to the story but I have written so much. I wanted to share this with you because I think it might be
able to help someone else and also to confirm to you to continue to do the good work that you are doing.
God bless, In Jesus, Diane

The "Creeping" Effect - The New Age and Evangelical Christianity
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=5365
By Ray Yungen, December 6, 2010
If you have ever wondered why New Age authors and their teachings are creeping past many Christians, then maybe the
definition of creeping might help. The term means: slowly advancing at a speed that is not really apparent until you look
back over a long time period. For instance, creeping inflation is not noticed in the short term, but when one looks back over
twenty to thirty years, it is shocking. A meal that cost two dollars in 1970 now may cost eight dollarshowever, the
increase moved so slowly that the impact was diminished.
This same kind of movement has happened within our society and has gradually become mainstream. What was once seen
as flaky is normal todayeven useful. This trend is impacting evangelical Christianity at only a slightly lesser degree than
secular society. The reason for the slight variance is that many, perhaps most, Christians have not yet grasped, or come to
terms with, the practical mystic approach that New Age proponents have already incorporated into the secular world, as
well as Christendom.
A mystical pragmatism is growing particularly fast through various New Age healing techniques. One such procedure is
called Reiki (pronounced ray-key), a Japanese word that translates to Universal Life Energy or God energy. It has also been
referred to as the radiance technique. Reiki is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist healing system, rediscovered by a Japanese
man in the 1800s, that only recently has come to the West.
The Reiki technique consists of placing the hands on the recipient and then activating the energy to flow through the
practitioner and into the recipient. One practitioner describes the experience in the following way:
When doing it, I become a channel through which this force, this juice of the universe, comes pouring from my palms into
the body of the person I am touching, sometimes lightly, almost imperceptibly, sometimes in famished sucking drafts. I get
it even as Im giving it. It surrounds the two of us, patient and practitioner.1
What is this juice of the universe? The answer is an important one, given by a renowned Reiki master who explains:
A Reiki attunement is an initiation into a sacred metaphysical order that has been present on earth for thousands of years .
. . By becoming part of this group, you will also be receiving help from the Reiki guides and other spiritual beings who are
also working toward these goals.2
While this is not widely advertised, Reiki practitioners depend on this spirit guide connection as an integral aspect of
Reiki. In fact, it is the very foundation and energy behind Reiki. One Reiki master who has enrolled hundreds of other
masters spoke of her interaction with the spirit guides:
For me, the Reiki guides make themselves the most felt while attunements are being passed. They stand behind me and
direct the whole process, and I assume they also do this for every Reiki Master. When I pass attunements, I feel their
presence strongly and constantly. Sometimes I can see them.3
A Christians initial response to this information might be, So what? I dont travel in those circles, so it does not concern
me. This nonchalant viewpoint would be valid except for the fact that Reiki is currently growing to enormous proportions
and in some very influential circles. (It may even be in your local hospitals, schools, and youth organizations.) It is
essential to know that many nurses, counselors, and especially massage therapists use Reiki as a supplement to their work.
It is often promoted as a complementary service.
Even more significant are the numbers involved in this practice. Examine the following figures to catch just a glimpse of
the growing popularity of Reiki. In 1998, there were approximately 33,000 Reiki listings on the Internet. Today that
number, on some search engines, constitutes over 22,000,000 listings. In just ten years, that number has increased almost
700 fold! As I said in the first chapter of this book, there are now over one million Reiki practitioners in the U.S. One Reiki
master delightfully noted this surge of interest when he stated:
Over the years, there has been a shift in the belief system of the general public, allowing for greater acceptance of
alternative medicine. As a result, we are seeing a growing interest in Reiki from the public at large. People from all
backgrounds are coming for treatments and taking classes.4

One very revealing statistic involves Louisville, Kentucky, where 102 people were initiated into Reiki in just a single
weekend.5 This denotes a large number of people are drawn to Reiki in the Bible belt, traditionally a conservative part of
America.
It is important to understand the way in which Reiki is presented to the public at large. Despite its underlying metaphysical
foundation, when one reads the literature put out by Reiki practitioners it is not at all apparent. One Reiki master who runs
a day spa repeatedly uses words like comfort and nurture in her brochure. Reiki is something that will give you pleasure.
Another woman who is a professional counselor tells her potential clients that Reiki will give them deep relaxation and
reduce pain. Again and again these same themes emerge from promotional literature on Reikirelaxation, well-being,
reduce illness, reduce stress, balance your mind, etc. How can one say that Reiki is bad when it claims to help people?
The reason for this level of acceptance is easy to understand. Most people, many Christians included, believe if something
is spiritually positive then it is of God. A pastor friend of mine recounted a situation in which a Christian, who had some
physical problems, turned to Reiki for comfort. When this pastor advised the man that Reiki fundamentally opposed the
Christian faith he became furious and responded with the following defense, How can you say this is bad when it helped
me? That is why I titled a chapter in my book Discernment. To discern is to try the spirits (1 John 4:1). If something is
of God it will conform to the very cornerstone of Gods plan to show His grace through Christ Jesus and Him alone
(Ephesians 2:7). Reiki, as I defined earlier, is based on the occult view of God.
This assessment of Reiki is beyond question. Every Reiki book I have ever seen is chock full of pronouncements that back
up the point I am trying to make. In The Everything Reiki Book, the following clears up any doubt about Reikis
incompatibility with Christianity:
During the Reiki attunement process, the avenue that is opened within the body to allow Reiki to flow through also opens
up the psychic communication centers. This is why many Reiki practitioners report having verbalized channeled
communications with the spirit world.6
What is even more disturbing is that the Reiki channeler may not even have control over this energy as the following
comment shows:
Nurses and massage therapists who have been attuned to Reiki may never disclose when Reiki starts flowing from their
palms as they handle their patients. Reiki will naturally kick in when it is needed and will continue to flow for as long as
the recipient is subconsciously open to receiving it.7
Another such method is Therapeutic Touch. Like Reiki, it is based on the occultic chakra system, portrayed as the seven
energy centers in the body aligned with spiritual forces. The seventh chakra identifies with the God-in-all view.
Therapeutic Touch is widely practiced by nurses in clinics and hospitals. It is seen as a helpful and healing adjunct to
nursing care.
If the connection between Reiki healing and other metaphysical practices can be seen, then we more fully understand why
the following quote is one of the most powerful statements as to the true nature of contemplative prayer. A Reiki master in
the course of promoting the acceptance of this method relayed:
Anyone familiar with the work of . . . or the thought of . . . [she then listed a string of notable New Age writers with Thomas
Merton right in the center of them] will find compatibility and resonance with the theory and practices of Reiki.8
Reiki comes from Buddhism, and as one Merton scholar wrote, The God he [Merton] knew in prayer was the same
experience that Buddhists describe in their enlightenment.9
This is why it is so important to understand the connection between the writings of Richard Foster and Brennan Manning
with Merton. Promotion indicates attachment, and attachment indicates common ground. Something is terribly wrong
when a Reiki master and two of the most influential figures in the evangelical church today both point to the same man as
an example of their spiritual path.(from chapter 5, A Time of Departing, Ray Yungen)
Notes:
1. Healing Hands (New Woman Magazine, March, 1986), p. 78.
2. William Rand, Reiki: The Healing Touch (Southfield, MI: Vision Pub., 1991), p. 48.
3. Diane Stein, Essential Reiki (Berkley, CA: Crossing Press, 1995), p. 107.
4. William Lee Rand, Reiki, A New Direction (Reiki News, Spring 1998,
http://www.reiki.org/reikinews/reikinewdir.html, p. 4.
5. Reiki News, Winter, 1998, p. 5.
6. Phylameana lila Desy, The Everything Reiki Book (Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2004), p. 144.
7. Ibid., p. 270.
8. Janeanne Narrin, One Degree beyond: a Reiki Journey into Energy Medicine (Seattle, WA: Little White Buffalo, 1998),
p. xviii.
9. Brian C. Taylor, Setting the Gospel Free (New York, NY: Continuum Publishing, 1996), p. 76.

The Truth about Energy Healing
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=12017
By Ray Yungen, Lighthouse Trails, June 24, 2013
Energy Healing
In the book, Forever Fit, Cher speaks of a friend of hers who is a metaphysical healer:
She heals with her hands and, boy, if she puts her hands on you, you know youve been touched. Even near your body you
feel it. Its simply unbelievable. But she is truly tuned in to some kind of higher power.1
New Agers and occultists believe that man has more than one body, that there are other invisible bodies superimposed on
the physical body. They refer to one of these as the etheric body and believe there lies within it energy centers called
chakras (pronounced shock-ras). The term chakra means whirling wheel in Sanskrit, the ancient Hindu language. They
were seen by those with clairvoyant powers as spinning balls of psychic energy. It is taught that there are seven chakras,
which start at the base of the spine and end at the crown chakra at the top of the head.


Each chakra is supposed to have a different function corresponding to certain levels of awareness. The chakras act as
conduits or conductors for what is called kundalini or serpent energy. They say this force lies coiled but dormant at the
base of the spine like a snake. When awakened during meditation, it is supposed to travel up the spine activating each
chakra as it surges upward. When the kundalini force hits the crown chakra, the person experiences enlightenment or Self-
realization. This mystical current results in the person knowing himself to be God. That is why kundalini is sometimes
referred to as the divine energy. According to New Age proponents, all meditative methods involve energy and power, and
the greater the power, the greater the experience.
Basically, what all energy healing entails is opening up the chakras through meditation or transferring the kundalini power
from someone already attuned to it:
At the sixth chakra, a person opens to a higher level of intuition and inner guidance. At the seventh, the person feels a
sense of merging with Spirit.2
I want people to know that energy healing is fundamentally supernatural in nature. It is not based on something physically
tangible as massage or chiropractic. The chakras are not something you can open up surgically and look at like you can the
physical organs like the heart or spleen.
The chakra system is the basis for virtually all energy-healing techniques. In energy-healing, the power is channeled into
the patient, thus bringing about the desired wellness and wholeness of the person receiving it. Currently, there are a
number of energy-healing systems. Although they have different names, the energy that they use is from the same source.

Reiki
One of the fastest growing New Age healing techniques being used today is Reiki, (pronounced ray-key), a Japanese word
which translates universal life energy or God energy. It has also been referred to as the Radiance Technique. Reiki is an
ancient Tibetan healing system which was rediscovered by a Japanese man in the 1880s and has only recently been
brought to the West.
The technique consists of placing the hands on the recipient and then activating the energy to flow through the practitioner
into the recipient. One practitioner describes the experience in the following way:
When doing it, I become a channel through which this force, this juice of the universe, comes pouring from my palms into
the body of the person I am touching, sometimes lightly, almost imperceptibly, sometimes in famished sucking drafts. I get
it even as Im giving it. It surrounds the two of us, patient and practitioner.3
One obtains this power to perform Reiki by being attuned by a Reiki master. This is done in four sessions in which the
master activates the chakras, creating an open channel for the energy. The attunement process is not made known for
general information, but is held in secrecy for only those being initiated.
One of the main reasons Reiki has become so popular is its apparently pleasurable experience. Those who have
experienced Reiki report feeling a powerful sense of warmth and security. One woman, now a Reiki master, remarked after
her first encounter: I dont know what this is youve got but I just have to have it.4 People dont make such comments
unless there is an appeal involved. A successful business woman gives Reiki the following praise:
Reiki should be available through every medical, chiropractic and mental health facility in this country. Your fees are a
small price to pay for such impressive results. I dont know how Reiki works, but it works; thats all that counts in my
book.5
New Age teaching is that once someone is attuned he or she can never lose the power; it is for life. Even distance is not a
barrier for the Reiki energy, for the channeler may engage in something called absentee healing, in which the energy is sent
over long distances, even thousands of miles.
One master relates:
Just by having the name or an object of the person or perhaps even a picture in your hand, you can send Reiki to them to
wherever they are in the world.6
Over one million people are practicing Reiki in the United States alone today.7 In many cases, these are people who treat
or work with others on a therapeutic basis, such as health professionals, body workers, chiropractors, and counselors.
Despite its bizarre and unconventional nature, Reiki has struck a chord with an incredible number of average people. In
Europe alone, the number of people accepting Reiki is very impressive. One Reiki master claims that in the thirteen years
she lived in Europe she alone initiated 45,000 people into Reiki as channelers.8
What Reiki is really about is using this power to transform others into New Age consciousness. As one Reiki leader states:
It also makes a level of spiritual transformation available to non-meditators, that is usually reserved for those with a
meditative path.9
Statements like this reveal that Reiki is in line with all the other New Age transformation efforts. It changes the way people
perceive reality. Most practitioners acknowledge the truth of this. A German Reiki channeler makes this comment:
It frequently happens that patients will come into contact with new ideas after a few Reiki treatments. Some will start
doing yoga or autogenous training or start to meditate or practise [sic] some other kind of spiritual method. . . .
Fundamental changes will set in and new things will start to develop. You will find it easier to cast off old, outlived
structures and you will notice that you are being led and guided more and more.10
What concerns me is that Reiki apparently can be combined with regular massage techniques without the recipient even
knowing it. A letter in the Reiki Journal reveals:
Reiki is a whole new experience when used in my massage therapy practice. Massage, I thought, would be an excellent tool
to spread the radiance of this universal energy and a client would benefit and really not realize what a wonderful growth
was happening in his or her being (emphasis mine).11
Of all the New Age practices and modalities, Reiki holds the title to being the most intriguing and perhaps eerie one. This is
brought out in the following observations made by one of the leading Reiki masters in the country. He reveals:



When I looked psychically at the energy, I could often see it as thousands of small particles of light, like corpuscles filled
with radiant Reiki energy flowing through me and out of my hands. It was as though these Reiki corpuscles of light had a
purpose and intelligence.12
Since Reiki is not something taught intellectually even children can be brought into it. In one Reiki magazine, I found an
ad that was offering a Childrens Reiki Handbook: A Guide to Energy Healing for Kids. The book is described as a guide
that provides kids with what they need to prepare for their first Reiki Attunement.13

Therapeutic Touch
Therapeutic touch is another widespread healing technique. This method was developed and promoted by Dr. Delores
Krieger, a professor of nursing at New York University.
While Reiki is obtained by being attuned by a master, therapeutic touch is acquired by standard metaphysical meditation
commonly referred to as centering. Teachers of therapeutic touch readily acknowledge that centering is probably the most
important part of the entire process.14 A practitioner relates that when she first encountered therapeutic touch in
graduate nursing school, it was the craziest, kookiest stuff Id ever seen or heard. This skepticism did not last. She
explains:
I got through the semester, though, and in the process Dr. Krieger performed the procedure on me. It was then I knew
something very real was going on, so I continued to learn about it, and practice it.15
Like the others, she attributes this power to the individual Higher Self16 and feels that this type of healing is not just for
the body, but is also very spiritual.17

Hands of Light
In her highly acclaimed book, Hands of Light, healer Barbara Ann Brennan lays out the dynamics of such practices as
Reiki and therapeutic touch.
A color photo in her book shows a drawn picture of a woman doing energy healing on another woman. On each side of the
healer are two faceless figures that fit the description of the beings of light spoken of in my first chapter. The picture
reveals that the power is coming from the two entities whom Brennan describes as the guides.18 Brennan explains
that:
The healer must first open and align herself with the cosmic forces. This means not only just before the healing, but in her
life in general.19
These cosmic forces also have names. Brennan tells of an exchange between herself and a spirit being (who calls himself
Heyoan) who reveals to her: Enlightenment is the goal; healing is a by-product.20 What he meant by this is that the
forces behind energy healing are really pushing the man-is-God view and any physical benefits are just the bait.
Anyone considering undergoing any chakra-based energy therapy should first seriously consider Brennans sobering
revelation that I and Heyoan are one.21

Conclusion
Christians need to be aware for the sake of their families that this is something that poses the potential to greatly impact
anyone in their circle of friends or loved ones. In one Reiki magazine, I found an advertisement for a Reiki teddy bear,
which said: This teddy bear can be infused with Reiki energy and given to a child.48 This is a stunning illustration that
New Age influence should not be dismissed as mere silliness. It is anything but silly!
To order copies of The Truth about Energy Healing, click here.
Endnotes:
1. Robert Hass and Cher, Forever Fit (New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1991), p. 165.
2. Joy Gardner-Gordon, Pocket Guide to Chakras (Freedom, CA: The Crossing Press, 1998), p. 13.
3. Healing Hands (New Woman Magazine, March 1986), p. 78.
4. Joyce Morris, The Reiki Touch (The Movement Newspaper, October 1985).
5. Barbara Ray, Ph.D., The Reiki Factor (Smithtown, NY: Exposition Press, 1983), p. 63.
6. Vincent J. Barra, Psychic Healer Transmits Reiki Energy (Meditation Magazine, Summer 1991), p. 31.
7. William Lee Rand, Keeping Reiki Free (Reiki News Magazine, Spring 2005), p. 37
8. Mari Hall, Reiki and the Adventure of My Life (Reiki News Magazine, Summer 2006), p. 14.
9. Paula Horan, Empowerment through Reiki (Wilmot, WI: Lotus Light Publications, 1990), p. 9.
10. Bodo J. Baginski and Shalila Sharamon, Reiki Universal Life Energy (Mendocino, CA: Life Rhythm, 1988), pp. 33, 49-
50.
11. Sharings (The Reiki Journal, Vol. VI, No. 4, October/December 1986), p. 17.
12. William Lee Rand, The Nature of Reiki Energy (The Reiki News, Autumn 2000, p. 5.
13. The Reiki News, Spring 2006, p. 43.
14. D. Scott Rogo, The Potentials of Therapeutic Touch, Interview with Janet F. Quinn, Ph.D., R.N. (Science of Mind,
May 1988), p. 14.
15. Ibid., p. 83.
16. Ibid., pp. 83-84.
17. Ibid., p. 87.
18. Barbara Ann Brennan, Hands of Light (New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1987), p. 171.
19. Ibid., p. 187.
20. Ibid., p. 182.
21. Ibid.
125.


A Disturbing Substitute for Faith
http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/389/a_disturbing_substitute_for_faith.aspx
By Anna Abbott, April 18, 2011
Reiki, a healing practice, has gone from the New Age fringe to the cultural mainstream to the insides of convents.
In a Napa Valley pharmacy, I came upon 10 people in a circle listening to a woman instruct them on Reiki, a therapy based
upon universal energy. She walked around them, resting her hands on their shoulders as they sat with their eyes closed.
Afterwards, some said they felt warmth; others, tingling.
The demonstration seemed in a way innocuous, yet I sensed something awry and opted out, retreating to the herbal tea
samples section. A few years before, that same Reiki practitioner had offered me a free sample of her work; I declined
then as well. Somehow Reiki didnt strike me as harmless meditation or healing.
Nevertheless, Reiki has gone from the fringes of the New Age to the cultural mainstream. Newsweek has highlighted it
with acupuncture and other methods. It is offered at hotels and spas. In the Napa Valley Register in November 2005, a
woman credited Reiki with curing her of pancreatic cancer, claiming she visualized God as golden energy flowing through
her body. Reiki also enjoys the favor of celebrities such as Prince Charles.
Reiki now enjoys favor among some Catholics. Some dioceses offer classes on it; some religious orders practice it according
to a Christian attunement. At the website christianreiki.org, Sr. Mary Mebane says, Laying on of hands is a gift of God
and was used extensively by Jesus and his followers and still is! St. Celestine Catholic Church in Elmwood Park,
Illinois has a Reiki Wellness Clinic run by Sr. Terri Grasso. The Sisters of Mercy in Cincinnati and the
Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose also offer Reiki as ministries.

What exactly is Reiki?
It can resemble massage, except the client is fully clothed. Some practitioners place their hands on the clients body; others
do not. The practitioners are manipulating the persons energy flow. Most of the time, a sheet covers the client while
the practitioner moves his hands in different positions around him.
There is also long distance healing where clients can e-mail or phone in their illnesses. Some Reiki practitioners claim to
heal plants and, on one website, a woman is thanked for healing family pets.
Reiki is often advertised as a rediscovery of an ancient healing method. Some claim it originated in Tibet centuries ago.
But it actually began in 20th century Japan. In 1922, Mikao Usui claimed to have a mystical experience after going on
retreat to Mt. Kurama. He started the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki Healing Society), saying his methods led to
spiritual and bodily evolution. Reiki practitioners interpret this evolution as healing not only the physical body, but the
soul and the world as well. When Usui died in 1926 in Fukuyama at the age of 62 of a stroke, his students numbered in the
thousands.
His successor, Chujiro Hayashi, started his own association. Hayashis student, Hawayo Takata, is credited with bringing
Reiki to the United States. She emphasized that Reiki wasnt for free, that people should pay for the teachings and healings.
Takata said that she learned this lesson in Hawaii after she performed a free Reiki session for a neighbor, who remained ill.
But when she charged for a session for another friend, that one recovered. The lesson Takata culled from this experience
was that clients must perceive the value of the healing.
Not long before she died in 1979, Takata formed the American Reiki Association with Dr. Barbara Ray. Many current Reiki
practitioners credit Ray as their mentor. The American Reiki Association is now called the Radiance Technique
International Association.
Lori Furbush of Healing Touch Yoga in Santa Rosa is a convert to Reiki. Though she was raised Catholic in Dallas,
she became interested in Eastern philosophy and practiced yoga. A female Reiki practitioner invited her to join with 10
other people in laying hands upon a woman suffering from terminal cancer. Later, a woman placed her hands upon her
head.
Furbush says, I felt a strange vibration down my spine, and the woman said she was a Reiki master. She explains Reikis
growing popularity by saying, Its accessible because its not part of any religion. Its about focusing love and compassion
on your target. Its a very meditative practice; I serve as a conduit for life force energy. It feels soothing, like waves of
energy.
Furbush says, Some people arent aware of the energy. Some feel clarity and are more peaceful. Some see images, past
memories; some become agitated and cry. Reiki is bliss and relaxation.
Connee Pike, chaplain and spiritual care manager for Hospice of Napa Valley, discovered Reiki a dozen years ago in
Klamath Falls, Oregon. She says, I met a Reiki master from Germany who trained me . . . I first experienced Reiki during a
tragic time in my personal life. I felt a spiritual presence, offering healing. There had been a death in my life. Reiki gave me
a way to grieve and feel comforted. She uses Reiki with her spiritual midwifery for dying clients as well as those going
through childbirth. Pike says that Reiki gives us a sense of love, returns us to our natural state. It can feel like a waterfall, a
sense of oneness, and it works well with other therapies. There are no side-effects.

But what are the spiritual side-effects?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2117) teaches,
All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at ones service and
have a supernatural power over otherseven if this were for the sake of restoring their healthare gravely contrary to the
virtue of religion. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the
exploitation of anothers credulity.
With its life force energy, and practitioners presenting themselves as conduits of this force, Reiki raises serious
questions.
126.


Reiki appears to be a form of Gnosticism. Its practitioners assert secret knowledge, despite the fact one can find the
symbols of it on the Internet with a few clicks. A Reiki practitioner in Calistoga, California reported to me that when she
looked at one of the power symbolswhich bears an uncanny resemblance to the musical treble clefshe perceived it
differently than I did because shes initiated.
Reiki practitioners charge for their healings or teachings. One practitioner based in Sebastopol, California charges $35 per
long distance session; another, based in nearby Santa Rosa, has a deal of $75 for a series of five daily half-hour
sessions.
Since Reiki dubiously invokes a nameless life force, why is Reiki popular among Catholics? A look at the International
Center for Reiki Training website suggests one reason: practitioners are taught how to make their practices palatable to
Christian audiences. Jesus is called a Reiki master. Some claim Jesus acquired his healing powers through secret
initiations in Asia. The archangels and Mother Teresa of Calcutta are spirit guides. The anonymous life energy is
renamed the Holy Spirit.
This site also gives guidance on how to perform Reiki healing services in churches, offering such suggestions as having
participants visualize the Reiki symbols rather than drawing them and using hymns to give the service a Christian aura.
While some Reiki practitioners claim they heal in the name of Jesus, others invoke the Buddha or Kuan Yin (the Chinese
Buddhist goddess of compassion) as spirit guides. (I have seen an altar adorned with a laughing Buddha and the San
Damiano crucifix in the home office of a Northern California practitioner.)
The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose promote Reiki at their community retreats, according to an April
article at the website California Catholic Daily. These sisters, in contrast to other modernized orders, are clad in their
traditional habits. At a summer retreat on the Beatitudes, I learned that Sr. Cheryl Holyk, a second-level Reiki
practitioner and nurse, would be giving her healings.
Attempts to contact Holyk were unsuccessful, but I was directed to Sr. Joan Prohaska and informed that she practices
Reiki. According to the orders website, Sr. Joan practices energy healing at St. Simons Convent in Los Altos Hills,
California. I asked her if she practices Reiki, but she said the California Catholic Daily article misrepresented her. Though
the receptionist said that Sr. Joan practices Reiki, she would only admit to the practice of energy healing.
Sr. Maureen Conroy, described as a massage therapist and Reiki master, practices at the Upper Room Spiritual
Center in Neptune, New Jersey. She discovered Reiki back in 1992 and says that when she first received a Reiki treatment,
she fell in love with it. Its holistic healing for the body, mind, and spirit. She says her fellow Sisters of Mercy practice it
as well. Generally, sisters are open to Reiki; they are open to receive it, she says.
Conroy describes her practice as Jesus-based. She teaches Reiki workshops at various Catholic retreat centers
around the United States; the workshops range in cost from $150 to $270.
She believes that Reiki has a scientific basis. Everything moves. Everything vibrates. The life force is the vibration of life.
All life, all energy comes from God, she says. As a Reiki practitioner, she believes she is connecting with Jesus healing
ministry.
Questionable practices passed off as a new spirituality flourish in an atmosphere that lacks faith, and Reiki is a vivid case in
point. It has become one more substitute for faith. But the real healers of modern timessuch as Mother Teresa of Calcutta
and Padre Pioillustrate that power lies not in magic; it lies in the simple words, Thy will be done.
Anna Abbott writes from Napa, California.

Business as Usual
http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/566/business_as_usual.aspx
By Anna Abbott, May 06, 2011
A year after the US bishops condemned it, Reiki is still offered at some Catholic facilities.
Last May, the United States Conference of Catholic bishops issued a statement condemning the occult practice of Reiki.
That statement has had an ambiguous impact on religious orders, convents, retreat houses, and hospitals.
In the May statement, the bishops warned that Reiki blurs the line between science and superstition. Yet Reiki is still being
practiced at some Catholic facilities, sometimes under aliases. The bishops statement is viewed in many quarters as an
opinion rather than an authoritative condemnation.
Lauri Lumby Schmidt, who runs Authentic Freedom Ministries in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, openly champions Reiki
and has defended it in publications such as the National Catholic Reporter. In a phone interview with CWR, Schmidt
said Authentic Freedom Ministries provides support for the spiritual journey and caters to Catholics, but is not
connected with any diocese. I offer Reiki as part of my spiritual ministry, she said.
Schmidt considers herself Catholic, saying that she learned Reiki from Franciscan sisters and the Sisters of
Mercy. I disagree with the bishops document. I believe as Christians, were called to follow Jesus example through
compassion and healing. Jesus healed through touch. Many (scientific) studies have shown that Reiki supports relaxation,
healing, stress relief. The Mayo Clinic uses Reiki.
The bishops document saddens Schmidt because people wont be able to share Reiki as part of their ministry. She
adds, God has led me to Reiki as a spiritual tool. Ive had nothing but grace. I cant abide by the bishops prohibition as a
matter of conscience. Schmidt wonders why the bishops have targeted Reiki in particular, since there are tons of hands-
on healing modalities.
The Living Water Spiritual Center in Winslow, Maine, is run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon. Barbara
Joseph provides Reiki as one of her many services at the retreat center. In a phone interview, Joseph said, I have a
variety of skills. I am a healing arts practitioner; Ive done Cranio-sacral, energy-based body work since 1990. I also
do whole food organic nutrition. I give private Reiki sessions and always offer Reiki training. Yes, I still do Reiki there [the
Living Water Spiritual Center]. I enjoy going over there.
127.

She noted that she is not affiliated with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon. Describing her background, Joseph said that she
was raised Jewish, but is now a spiritual being who strives to live a life of service and goodwill personally, professionally,
and globally. Joseph considers the Living Water Spiritual Center merely a venue for her work. So far, the Sisters have
declined to comment about offering Reiki at their center.
According to the website of Villa Maria, a retreat center run by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary in Villa Maria,
Pennsylvania, Reiki has been offered there. But that mention was removed from the site after this writer
brought it to the centers attention. James Merhaut, the CEO of the retreat center, said in an e-mail, We
stopped offering Reiki for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, we stopped because the bishops
document called us to discontinue the offering. Secondly, we probably would have stopped anyway because we
were getting few registrants for Reiki. Merhaut said that Villa Maria now offers therapeutic massage as an
alternative, because it has scientifically verifiable benefits. He said that massage is a common practice in Catholic
parishes, Catholic retreat centers, and Catholic health care facilities.
Reiki goes under various aliases, such as Energy Healing, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Massage, and
Quantum Touch. These healing modalities still speak of energy, and are Reiki in all but name. They
speak of a vague, cosmic force that the practitioner controls for a fee. Insidiously, Christian terminology and even Scripture
are often used to cover occult practices. Gnosticism is given a Christian guise. To make matters worse, some practitioners
openly mimic sacraments. New Age practices are perversely baptized simply by using Christian language, objects, and
rituals.
At the Christine Center in Willard, Wisconsin, which was founded by the Wheaton Franciscans in 1980, Roberta
Hodges offers quantum touch. Hodges calls it revved-up, amplified Reiki; energy is energy. She said that its superior
to Reiki because it has yoga breathing. In a phone interview, Hodges said, Quantum touch raises life-force energy. Its
beneficial on the emotional level. Our emotional traumas that are buried can come to the surface. Its a mysterious
thing. Sr. Cecilia Corcoran, who heads the Board of Directors at the Christine Center, discussed the bishops
prohibition in a phone interview. Corcoran said, We dont do Reiki here. We dont advertise it. We support bodywork
like massage. Personally, I dont have problems with Reiki and Healing Touch therapy. It is important to note that Sr.
Cecilia links Reiki with Healing Touch, illustrating how similar these practices are in the view of their adherents.
Healing Touch is also popular at Catholic hospitals. Tammy Dragel, a Healing Touch coordinator at St. Josephs
Hospital in Tampa, Florida, defines it as an energy-based modality that complements conventional therapies. She said
that she hasnt taken any Reiki classes. Like Reiki, Healing Touch claims to be energy-based.
Healing Touch is also available at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, run by the Sisters of Mercy.
Coordinator Marcia Gill declined to comment, as did Barbara Stanivuk of St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, Indiana,
managed by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.
Christina Brugman of Kirkland, Washington, provides Healing Touch to the retired Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.
She defines Healing Touch as an energy-based healing system. Brugman considers the bishops document interesting.
She said she considers herself Christian, but has a Catholic background. Brugman compares energy to sunlight and water,
which is available to all regardless of religious affiliation. In a phone interview, she commented, I dont understand the
thinking of the bishops.
Linda Smith leads the Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry in Denver, Colorado. She also belongs to the board of
Energy Medicine Credentialing, Inc. Smith differentiated between Healing Touch and Reiki, saying, Reiki is under a belief
system of being empowered by a master. Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry is Judeo-Christian. Gods healing grace flows
through a person. Were conduits. Smith was a Catholic nun for 27 years, but made the personal decision to move on.
She said she started her healing ministry in 1997.
Smith defined Healing Touch further. Were scripturally-based, not denominationally based. I go to Methodists,
Lutherans, and Episcopalians. Were not talking dogma and theology, but Scripture. Smith said that Healing Touch works
with therapeutic-grade essential oils like hyssop and cedar wood. She describes Healing Touch as vibrational healing:
laying on of hands, prayer, and anointing with oil. Clinical aromatherapy is another component.
Smith thinks it is biblical. In the Old Testament, God gave Moses the formula for anointing oil. He had to anoint the
tabernacle, the cups, and sacrificial animals. Smith used the example of the healing of lepers, saying, The priests were
putt ing oil on the crown chakra to restore the leprous person. She considers essential oils as providers of physical,
emotional, and spiritual health.
Reiki, Quantum Touch, and Healing Touch are part of a spectrum of occult practices offered to Catholics,
often by Catholics, frequently at Catholic institutions.
At the Christine Center, vision quests, Mahamudra (a Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice), full moon
yoga and kirtan (Hindu devotional song) retreats are offered. The Living Water Spiritual Center has
programs on New Age author Eckhart Tolles books, such as The New Earth, and on the Enneagram.
There are labyrinths at the Franciscan Retreat Center at Mount St. Francis in Colorado and the Holy
Family Passionist Retreat Center in Connecticut.
New Age practices have seeped into religious orders and institutions; Reiki is merely one example in this constellation. Fr.
Thomas Weinandy, executive director of the Secretariat for Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
said in a phone interview that it is up to individual dioceses to discipline these orders. It is the responsibility of local
bishops to enforce the guidelines concerning Reiki, he said.
New Age practices have become prevalent within some religious orders because they are considered to be more relevant
and beneficial than the traditional Gospel, he said. It is hard to conceive why anyone would think that the Gospel as lived
and taught by the Catholic Church for over 2,000 years could be improved upon by employing New Age tenets, especially
when these tenets are pantheistic and Gnostic in nature. Such New Age beliefs distort the truth of the Gospel, and instead
of being beneficial actually harm the lives of those who hold such beliefs. Instead of living in the light and the truth o the
Gospel, they have entered into the darkness of error.


Why do you say Reiki is evil?
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=235
January 18, 2005
You say "Reiki is occult and therefore is evil" but yet if there have been cases of healings and people being cured how
could that be "evil"? What is evil about healing people?
Did the Bible not say in Luke 6:44, "Each tree is recognized by its own fruit"? Jesus therefore said if something in helpful
or beneficial in some way, wouldnt that come from God?
Reiki isnt about gaining power or control over things for ones personal benefit, but will only work to aid things if they are
in God's will.
I dont understand your reasoning. Healing is one of the gifts of God according to Corinthians 12: 28.
I didnt really believe in God, after taking a reiki class I was reaffirmed in my belief in God and attend mass now and also I
read scripture, I dont think without reiki helping me I wouldnt have made these changes for the better.
Please answer all the points I have brought up. -Jacob
The Bible says that even Satan can appear as an angel of light.
Just because some people are helped by Reiki does not make it good. In the first place the "cures" people received could
have been accomplished through coincidence or through the placebo effect. That is what scientific study tries to sift out so
as to make sure the "treatment" is really the cause of the healing.
In addition, Satan can effect apparent "cures" when it serves his purpose to deceive people.
Also, one of the most important tenets of Christianity is that the "ends do not justify the means". Even if the result is a
good one, we cannot use evil means to gain that good result. Reiki, on its face, is an evil means regardless of what
alleged "good" effect it may produce. The gift of healing in Corinthians is a spiritual gift that comes from God, not Reiki or
even from science. It is a spiritual gift.
In terms of the tree and its fruit, this is a general analogy. Like all analogies there are flaws. In fact it is possible for some
bad fruit to be produced by a good tree; and some good fruit to be produced by a bad tree. A bad apple tree may
produce a single good apple; and a good apple tree may produce a single rotten apple.
Hitler did a few good things and mostly evil things, yet both the good and the evil came from the same "tree."
I praise God that you have returned from Him, but your return to God did not come from Reiki, it came from the grace of
God and God's desire to bring goodness out of evil. God brought you back to Him DESPITE the Reiki, not because of it. He
took the lemon that is Reiki and made lemonade with it.
You ask "what is healing about healing people?" It is evil to heal people using ungodly methods.
Embryo Stem Cells may someday be used to heal people, but Embryo Stem Cell research murders babies. That is evil.
Harvesting a person's organs to transplant into another person without the permission of the donor will save the life of the
recipient but is evil in that it steals the organ from the donor.
Killing a person to harvest their heart to transplant into another person will heal the person needing the heart, but killing
to get the heart is evil.
There are thousands of ways to heal someone through evil ways. The "ends do NOT justify the means."
I am glad you are back with God, but for you to be TOTALLY back with God you must renounce Reiki and never do Reiki
again or recommend it to others. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM
For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try
the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer
Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful.

Was any harm done by former Reiki training?
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=260
March 20, 2007
I've read some of your postings on reiki. About 8 years ago, while away from the Catholic Church, I took interest in
various "new age" practices, one of which was reiki. I took a level one reiki class in which, as you mentioned, the ability to
perform reiki is "passed on" or "transferred".
Five years ago I returned to the Catholic Church and am fully committed to my faith. I no longer practice reiki and stay
away from anything that is "new age". However, you posed the question in your writing from May 13, 1999, "What is Reiki
'transferring'?" and "What 'spirit' is working in those who receive Reiki?"
My question is, do you believe that anything harmful or evil was done to my soul by participating in that class, and, if so,
is there anything I can do to correct that? -Karen
I thank God that you have returned to the Church and left behind those "new age" ways!
I presume you have confessed your new age involvements so any sin involved has been forgiven and erased from your
soul.
There are two more things that I think are needed. One is to take back the ground that Satan stole from you when you
were involved in the new age and two, to specifically renounce the new age activities.
This can be done with the following two prayers:
Prayer to Renounce Satan and Claim Victory
I claim the full victory that my Lord Jesus Christ won on the Cross for me. Having disarmed the powers and authorities,
He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Col. 2:15) His victory for me is my victory.


In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I renounce all the workings of Satan in my life in all its forms, whether brought into
my life by my actions or by others, especially that of _____________. I break all attachments, ground, curses, spells, and
rights Satan may have in my life whether such ground was gained through my actions or through others. Strengthened by
the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles
Peter and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, I ask you Lord to command Satan and all his minions, whomever they may be, to get out of my life and stay out.
With that authority I now take back the ground in my life gained by Satan through my sins. I reclaim this ground and my
life for Christ. I now dedicate myself to the Lord Jesus Christ; I belong to Him alone. Amen.
Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God
rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and
all the other evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
The above prayer includes a "taking back ground" provision. The prayer before is a "take back the ground" prayer that I
recommend on a regular basis, especially to be said after confession.
Confession forgives the sin, but the consequences of the sin remain (the ground Satan gain through our sin). Thus such
as prayer as below, removes Satan from our yard.
Prayer to Take Back Ground:
Dear Heavenly Father, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael
the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels in Heaven, and powerful in the holy
authority if His Name, I cancel all ground that evil spirits have gained through my willful involvement in sin. I reclaim that
ground and my life for Christ. Amen. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

Can one be demonically harassed in front of the Blessed Sacrament?
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=445
September 9, 2007
I was attuned to Reiki level one in a sincere, but misguided effort to help my husband, who suffers from a chronic pain
disorder. A "Christian Reiki master", who invoked Jesus while attuning me, explained that Reiki is the same sort of healing
done by Christ and His disciples, and she assured me that "no way would Satan want to heal anyone." I couldn't imagine
that anything so effective and beautiful could be from anything but God, Himself.
I was completely deceived until I browsed through a Christian book on ministering to those trapped in Wicca and
happened to see a Wiccan power generation symbol that looked suspiciously like the Reiki power symbol (uh oh!!) I
quickly found out that Reiki is actually an occult practice. Horrified, I immediately threw out everything in the house on
Reiki and ran to confession the next day, tearfully and formally renouncing Reiki and all occult influences in my life.
As soon as I rejected Reiki I began to experience a persistent stinging pain in my palms, and guessed I was being
punished by an angry entity. Since, I have grown much in my understanding of the value of suffering and have
experienced profound conversion.
I am doing post graduate studies in Sacred Scripture, and am enthusiastically training in Catholic apologetics. Thanks be
to God, I have already had opportunity to warn many others of the dangers of Reiki and the New Age. It seems, however,
the more I warn others, the more my palms sting. I pray fervently, go to Mass and Eucharistic adoration regularly, and
pray for deliverance from the demonic, and yet I can sometimes feel heat coming from my palms when I pray or hold my
hand up while blessing someone during Mass. I am completely baffled at how this could be happening in front of the
Blessed Sacrament, at Church of all places! Is this even supposed to be possible?
I don't believe I have any serious spiritual blind spots left but am open to any suggestions you might have. -Carol
Yes, it is possible to be harassed by demons even in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
I praise God that you "saw the light" about Reiki and renounced it, confessed it, and rid yourself of it.
I also praise God that you know the redemptive value of suffering. This is a rich theology of the Church that many do not
understand.
Since this pain began when you renounced Reiki that suggest that it is a form of a demonic attack. I would recommend
praying the "Rebuking Particular Spirits" prayer in our Catalog linked below. The particular spirit in your case will likely be
the spirit of Reiki.
Even though you have renounced Reiki and been to confession, a bondage may still be attached. Hopefully the prayer
mentioned above will resolve that issue. If not, then I would recommend the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance found in the
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU section linked [see page 129].
If the self-help strategies do not help, then you may need personal consultation for a formal deliverance counseling.
Sometimes there are things that we have forgotten, or would not have thought about, in our lives that work like hooks
that demons can hang onto. Our deliverance sessions are designed to locate all the "hooks" in a person's life so demons
cannot use them as an excuse to remain in a person's life. This "hooks" can be big or trivial. Reiki is a big hook, but going
to a palm reader at a carnival when you were 10 years old just for a lark is a hook too.
First, however, try the spiritual warfare prayers that may apply, such as the Rebuking prayer, then the Seven Steps to
Self-Deliverance. After that, if you need, contact me for a personal consultation.
It is also possible that this pain is the consequences that you must endure to remind you of where you have been as you
go forward to help others, like St' Paul and the thorn in his side. But before coming to that conclusion, try the advice
above.
Again, I praise God for your enlightenment about Reiki. God will use you to warn others about this, but you must prepare
yourself to be a spiritual warrior. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

Reiki
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=482
October 29, 2007
I am 18 and Ive been reiki. I was in the reiki-1 course 2 years ago and Ive got some kundalini-reiki tunings over the
internet. Since I was in this course Ive been feeling different, like unreal feeling all the time. I dont know how to get rid
of this. Ive prayed many times that God would remove this thing, but the warmth and reiki energy channeling doesnt
seem to disappear. Even when I dont use reiki it just channels trough my hands. I feel so powerless under this force like I
cannot do anything to it but I feel its not right. Im afraid that if I dont get rid of it I will go to hell. What do I do?
There is another question: Ive read a Tibetan Buddhist book and they claim that "I" doesnt exist. So this is why Ive
started to think that I dont know who I am so I dont believe I exist. How could I solve this? Niko
Thank you for writing and sharing your experience with Reiki. Your experience is yet another example of the dangers of
Reiki and other occultic and new age practices.
I would advise the following steps:
1) NEVER do Reiki again.
2) Ask God's forgiveness for getting involved in Reiki and RENOUNCE Reiki. You can find a Renouncing and Taking Back
Ground prayer in the Prayer Catalog linked below.
3) Live the good Christian life and avoid new age and occultic books, movies, games, and activities.
4) If this does not begin to give you relief then pray other prayers in the Spiritual Warfare Catalog such as the Rebuking
Particular Spirits (in this case at least the spirit of Reiki).
5) Follow the advice given in the Seven Steps of Self-Deliverance.
Following these steps will usually take care of the problem. If not, then you may need to contact me for a Personal
Consultation.
As for going to hell, you will not go to hell because you are being harassed by spirits. If you ask God for forgiveness
according to the tradition of your denomination, and live the Christian life, you have the hope of heaven.
You are Christian, Niko, not Buddhist. Why are you considering Buddhist ideas? If you are that easily influenced by non-
Christian ideas you need to stop reading non-Christian books. LEARN YOUR FAITH and stop reading Buddhist books.
Of course you exist. If you didn't exist there would be no you to post this question. As for who you are, you are a child of
God who has been created by God and given an immortal soul. You were created to love and worship God and to do his
will -- to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.
You need to read some good Christian books and nothing but good Christian books. You need to read the Bible. You need
to stop reading Buddhist books and other non-Christian materials and stop involving yourself in non-Christian activities.
If you wish to be free from harassment you must do this. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

Reiki
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=462
October 1, 2007
I belong to a Theresian community and am Catholic. We are having a retreat and one of our members wants to do Reiki
there and some of the others want it as well. They said it had a "Christian" side to it. I am not comfortable with it and
would like to know if it should not be done. Brenda
Reiki DOES NOT have a Christian side. Under no circumstances should your group participate in this activity. In fact, in my
personal view, if this group has so little Catholic understanding as to be seduced into things like Reiki, I would resign from
the group.
I actually did that with a major and well know third order. I resigned because of their lack of fidelity to the Catholic
worldview by participating in nonsense like Reiki, Enneagram, and other new age garbage.
Reiki is yet another one of the Eastern Healing philosophies based upon a pantheistic theology and the god of self. In the
literature of the International Center for Reiki Training we find the typical claims to science that are actually utter
lies.
For example, from a brochure, A Brief Overview put out by the International Center for Reiki Training, we find:
The knowledge that an unseen energy flows through all living things and is connected directly to the quality of health has
been part of the wisdom of many cultures since ancient times. The existence of this "life force energy" has been verified by
recent scientific experiments, and medical doctors are considering the role it plays in the functioning of the immune
system and the healing process. Reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that allows everyone to tap into
an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve health and enhance the quality of life.
This life force is called Ki in Reiki:
Ki means the same as Chi in Chinese, Prana in Sanskrit and Ti or Ki in Hawaiian. It has also been called, odic force,
orgone, and bioplasma. It has been given many other names by the various cultures that have been aware of it.
Ki is the life force. It is also called the vital life force or the universal life force. This is the nonphysical energy that
animates all living things. As long as something is alive, it has life force circulating through it and surrounding it; when
it dies, the life force departs. If your life force is low, or if there is a restriction in its flow, you will be more vulnerable to
illness. When it is high, and flowing freely, you are less likely to get sick. Life force plays an important role in everything
we do. It animates the body and also is the primary energy of our emotions, thoughts and spiritual life.
There is absolutely no evidence at all of the existence of this Ki or life-force, or Chi as the Chinese call it, flowing
through the body which must be in balance with the Ki of the universe to effect health.
131.


It is an utter lie to claim scientific evidence for this. To begin with, this "force" is claimed to be non-physical energy. If it is
non-physical then it is impossible for science to "verify" its existence. Science can only examine the physical and material
world. God is non-physical and God cannot be proven or verified by science. The soul is non-physical and the soul cannot
be proven or verified by science.
The grain of truth here is that in some ways the "Ki" is what we would call the soul, the life-force that animates all things.
And we Christians do perform "therapy" on the soul through prayer, contemplation, meditation, spiritual reading, spiritual
counseling and the like.
But we dont claim an invisible fluid bioplasma running through the body that must be in balance between Yin and Yang as
the Chinese call this.
Despite the oxymoron of scientific evidence for a non-physical force, there is simply no evidence whatsoever for such a
force.
When I was a New Age Health practitioner myself, I was taught this same garbage, that the invisible fluid ran through the
body and that scientific evidence supported this. I never saw that research or evidence, but I took it upon faith from my
teacher that it was true. It is not true.
But if we dig deeper into Reiki, we will discover things far more sinister.
Reiki, which is a Japanese healing philosophy, was introduced into the West by Mrs. Hawayo Takata. Mrs. Takata said that
the word Rei means universal
However, Mrs. Takata also indicated that this interpretation is a very general one. The kanji ideograms have many
levels of meaning. They vary from the mundane to the highly esoteric. So while it is true that Rei can be interpreted as
universal, meaning that it is present everywhere, this level of interpretation really doesn't add to our understanding of
Reiki.
Research into the esoteric meaning of the Japanese kanji character for Rei has given a much deeper understanding of
this ideogram. The word Rei as it is used in Reiki is more accurately interpreted to mean supernatural knowledge or
spiritual consciousness. This is the wisdom that comes from God or the Higher Self. This is the God-Consciousness which
is all knowing. It understands each person completely. It knows the cause of all problems and difficulties and knows
what to do to heal them.
Although Reiki claims not to be a religion -- apparently because Reiki, has no dogma, and there is nothing you must
believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in
it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience
of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it. -- it nevertheless asks us to believe in and to accept
a false god the Higher Self. Reiki comes right out and admits that its concept of god, the god it appeals to, the god that
gives it wisdom, is the Higher Self.
Reiki, like all Eastern Healing Philosophies, is based upon and founded upon pantheism at best and outright idolatry of the
Self at worse.
This is not to say that we cannot find grains of truth in this philosophy, which is not unusual. Most philosophies have some
grains of truth. Consider the following poem teaching Reiki ethics. In it you will see shadows of Jesus Sermon on the
Mount:
The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
But this ethic is not sourced in the True God, but in an understanding of god as the Self.
But if none of this is enough to give a clue to the idolatry, occultic, and utter inappropriateness of Reiki for the Catholic,
consider this from the Reiki brochure:
An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the
student by the Reiki Master. Its use is not dependent on ones intellectual capacity or spiritual development and,
therefore, is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.
In other words, Reiki, as well as other Eastern Healing practices, is passed on in a sort of Apostolic Succession, a laying on
of hands as it were. What are they passing on? With Apostolic Succession of bishops the laying on of hands imparts and
passes on the Mark of Holy Orders given by the Holy Spirit. It imparts the Holy Spirit. This also happens at Baptism and
Confirmation. The "transfer" is of the Spirit. What is Reiki "transferring"?
The ability to use and practice Reiki is not intellectual or spiritual development, then where is the ability coming from?
We know that with the True God, He often imparts knowledge, skills, and gifts to those who do not have the intellectual
or spiritual development to do what they do. But they do it anyway! How? They do it by the power of the Holy Spirit
working in them.
What spirit is working in those who receive Reiki?
Bottom line? Reiki is not something for Christians to be involved with. It is New Age nonsense based upon Japanese
Buddhism at best and an idolatry of a false god at worst. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM
132.


Medicine Wheel [and Reiki]
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=880
January 19, 2009
I want to know if there is any way that the Native American medicine wheel can be taught in a workshop to Catholics. I
am concerned because although this retreat house is run by our local Catholic convent they are offering reiki (which I
know is wrong) and now teachings on the medicine wheel as a way to bring a deeper spirituality for Catholics with the
"creator". My gut says this can't be correct and I want to protect those that are being misled but I am not sure how to go
about it. Perhaps I am mistaken about these teachings but I know they have to do with the four directions and each has a
teaching i.e.: emotional, spiritual etc. I also am confused about how they are allowed to do these things as a Roman
Catholic retreat house? Andrea
Your gut is correct.
Reiki is extremely dangerous. We have had clients who have become seriously demonized because of Reiki. There is no
excuse for Catholics to be involved in Reiki or American Indian spirituality.
As for way these woman religious get involved in this stuff, well, as a general observation, the women religious in this
country have lost their faith. Feminism and wacko spiritualities are pandemic among women religious. Retreat houses are
so bad that as a general rule all one can do is to not recommend any of them without specific investigation.
I would advise you stay away from this convent and pray for these women to return to the faith of the Catholic Church.
A Christian's Reflection on the New Age and Some Aspects of Christian Meditation are two Church documents that are
must reads.
In addition, I recommend articles on the Dangers of Centering Prayer and the Enneagram. Other resources are listed on
our Resource Page. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

Should I confess Reiki again?
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=977
May 9, 2009
I went to confession and confessed getting receiving reiki treatments, and the priest told me it was not a sin, as it was
offered at parishes in our diocese. Now, however, I've read that the Church has condemned reiki. Do I need to re-
confess? Mary
The priest who told you that should be disciplined by the Bishop for leading his flock astray. I am very weary of priests
and others who assert their disobedient or ignorant views and thereby harm the faithful.
As for your confession, I do not think you need to re-confess. You confessed it and the priest absolved you. His ignorant
opinions do not affect the validity of the Sacrament. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

Parish priest promoting Enneagrams and Reiki
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=991
May 31, 2009
Our Parish Priest has teaching the Enneagram, using Reiki on unsuspecting parishioners and promoting the book "The
Shack", even doing a homily on Christmas Day re: "The Shack".
Recently he was challenged regarding the teaching of the Enneagram and seems to be upset with those who have
challenged him.
Some of the parishioners have been saying the Saint Michael prayer immediately following the mass. This has been
challenged by this priest. He states that he must be out of the immediate area of the church and in the vestibule before
the prayer of St. Michael can be said. He stated that it not fair to other parishioners and the children of the school who
may be attending the mass and that they are being "trapped". This sounds to me that he almost has a fear of the prayer.
Please comment on this issue. I am praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet for him and a woman parishioner that seems to be
helping him promote this New Age stuff. I am also trying to get the Vatican Document out to as many as I can titled
"Jesus Christ, the Bearer of the Water of Life" which I found on your website. Jeannie
I am saddened to hear about this. There are so many priests trapped by their pride and ego, which is the cause of these
sorts of things.
I would send the priest a business-like letter that expresses your concerns, co-signed by others with the same concerns, if
possible, that includes a copy of the Vatican document. If this does not resolve the situation then it is time to write the
Bishop, also co-signed by others who are concerned.
In the letter to the bishop report your steps to resolve this and the priest's responses to those efforts. This includes copies
of any correspondence sent to the priest or the priest sent to you. Any verbal communications should be summarized as
accurately and factually as possible. The letter to the Bishop should be in a business-like and professional manner
expressing the concerns of yourself and the others. Keep to facts and the facts of the priest's response to your concerns.
Do not speculate on the priest's motivations, or characterize anything. Stick with objective facts and concerns.
Canon Law gives you the right to express your concerns about matters such as this:
Canon 212.1 Christ's faithful, conscious of their own responsibility, are bound to show Christian obedience to what the
sacred Pastors, who represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith and prescribe as rulers of the Church.
.2 Christ's faithful are at liberty to make known their needs, especially their spiritual needs, and their wishes to the Pastors
of the Church.


.3 They have the right, indeed at times the duty, in keeping with their knowledge, competence and position, to manifest to
the sacred Pastors their views on matters which concern the good of the Church. They have the right also to make their
views known to others of Christ's faithful, but in doing so they must always respect the integrity of faith and morals, show
due reverence to the Pastors and take into account both the common good and the dignity of individuals. -Bro. Ignatius
Mary OMSM

Reiki
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1294
August 10, 2010
When my Mom was unconscious in the hospital for many days and weeks, one of my daughters told me a teacher from
the high school or a former teacher from the high school would do Reiki on patients. I thought it was a good idea, and he
did Reiki on my mother who was around 80 years old, she has since passed away. Did we sin by doing this? Did we
introduce the demonic into her body? I had no idea that Reiki was evil until I read from your website. If somebody has no
idea, does the possession still happen and is the person still damned for eternity? Wanda
Reiki is a serious and dangerous activity. It can, and often does, lead to demonization. To ask a Reiki person to come in
and perform this on one's mother is, I believe, a sin. It is a spiritual assault and battery. You need to bring this to
Confession and in addition, renounce this activity (see our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog linked below).
It is important for you to confess this sin and to further renounce it since your requesting Reiki to be done on your mother
can open the door for demonic harassment upon you and your family. One cannot open the door for the devil without
getting burned in some way great or small.
I have no idea whether or not your mother may have been harassed by demons as a result of this before she
died. But, your mother is with the Lord now, thus whatever effects caused by this Reiki are passed.
Reiki does not automatically cause possession. It mostly causes a lower levels of demonization, but often levels that
are difficult to remove.
As to a person's eternal destiny: Whether or not a person is demonized, or even fully possessed, has no direct bearing
upon a person's eternal soul. The devil cannot possess the soul. A possessed person can be in a State of Grace and thus
go to heaven when he dies regardless of the possession.
As for a person "in their innocence" doing something like Reiki, the devil does not care. He can still attack.
Innocent people are attacked all the time. A person innocently sticking their finger in a light socket because they are
ignorant of the consequences will still get an electrical shock.
But, Wanda, you are not completely innocent. Reiki is bad news on its face and every Christian ought to inherently know
that. All validly baptized people have within them the Holy Spirit. If we will listen to the Holy Spirit we will not find
ourselves in such messes. If we know our faith we can avoid much heart-break. We cannot have that "gut" feeling that
something is wrong if our minds are not informed by the Faith, and/or our spirit is not listening to the still small voice of
our Lord warning us to stay away from certain things.
In any event, you know now. You need to inform your children. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

Reiki
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1433
May 1, 2011
I babysat my fiancs nephew last night and he woke up in the middle of the night screaming as if someone was hurting
him. We went into the room and he was standing up banging on the walls. When my fianc went to pick him up the boy
started hitting him. Once he was picked up he put his head down on my fianc and stopped screaming, he then lifted his
head up and looked straight into my fiancs eyes and started laughing. He could not wake him up, but once he put his
head back down we put him back into bed. The boy did this two more times but I picked him up instead the next times
and I am very devout Catholic might I add. When I picked him up he woke up and said he had a bad dream but wouldnt
tell me what it was. He was too afraid to back to bed so we had him in our bed until he fell asleep and put him back. My
daughter was sleeping in the same room as him and never woke up once while this was happening (maybe the guardian
angels protected her and helped her stay asleep?)
I found out today when we went over to my fiancs moms house that she had given an over the phone Reiki healing to
the little boys mom the night before. When I brought my worries up with my fianc he told me he didnt care and that it
was his mom! He started saying that I was saying his mom was evil when all I was doing was explaining to him the evils
of reiki.
Im worried that if I leave my children with his mother one day she might do a reiki blessing as she tried to give me and
my daughter one today. I stayed away from their house when she gave the boys mom another reiki blessing today. I
dont know what to do about this. I love my fianc but Im worried that it might be dangerous for my daughter and I to
stay with him. Also, this little boy use to have night terrors but hasnt had one in almost two years and never laughed
when he did this and was always able to be woken up during the night terror. What should I do about my fianc and his
mother? His sister is also becoming very much into this and this is very scary for me. Could this boy have acted this way
because of reiki? It seemed as if he was possessed when he started laughing the way he did. -Serenna
Well, in my opinion you have only one choice -- call off the wedding and break up with this guy.
134.


If you marry him you will be inheriting a heap of trouble--from him and from his family. You have already witnessed the
demonic influences upon this poor child you babysat due to Reiki. The mother's bondage with the devil through Reiki and
your fianc not caring about it means that he is ineligible for marriage.
To put this bluntly, you will be a fool to stay with him and you will be placing your children in danger. Your fiancs family
is obvious steeped in bondage. If you wish to avoid that bondage yourself and avoid risking your children you must leave
this man and never see him or his family again.
Your "feeling" of love must be overridden by your duty and obligation given to your by God to protect your children, and
yourself. God says true love rejoices in righteousness. There is nothing righteous (right) about this situation.
You have to make the decision and you have to live with the decision you make. But, this is my advice. We will be in
prayer for you and your children, and the fianc (hopefully soon to be "ex) and his family.

Reiki
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1718
November 8, 2012
I found your site giving a testimony about a demonic attack in connection with reiki. I was attacked by Satan but in my
fighting I found Jesus and he saved my soul. I was mentally ill afterwards but by the grace of the Lord healed and am set
free again. I live without any anti-psychotics again since more than 2 years without relapse, the doctors are very
surprised. God gave me a new life and love. I have a very strong faith now. I am happily married since one year for the
first time.
Now my question. I bought during my possession a cross on a chain as protection. I still have it. Should I throw it away
because it was on me at the time during the attack or can i keep it? -Alexandra
I truly praise God for your remarkable story of your deliverance and healing.
As for the Cross, if that particular Cross is a trigger for you, that is, if it constantly reminds you of your affliction or you
feel an evil attachment on it, then bless the Cross with Holy Water and bury it in the ground. We have instructions on how
to do this. Otherwise, have a priest bless it and it should be okay. A priestly blessing should cleanse the Cross of anything.
-Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

How can I protect my granddaughters from Reiki?
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1812
April 14, 2013
I have a three year old and one year old grand daughters. The paternal grandmother practices Reiki and my daughter has
asked that she refrain from doing Reiki on these little innocents. This woman does not respect our faith, and we are
fearful that when she has visits with them, she "blesses" them and does other occult practices on them. Just the other day
she took the three year old to a children's play, and my grand daughter came home with a necklace (string with heart
shaped "rock" that this woman gave to her), that my daughter and I immediately had a very bad feeling about. I believe
God broke it, because less than five minutes later the heart rock was detached from the knotted string, without any
cause: the hook was not broken and the string was still solidly knotted right in front of our eyes. We threw it away when
the little one wasn't looking. I wanted to bless her with holy water, but my daughter thought that would be crazy. The
next morning, the little one was playing when all of a sudden she threw up for no reason. No fever, no illness, no reason,
then after we cleaned up the mess, she continued playing.
I am afraid it might be related to some occult practice that this demonic woman may have done. My daughter then let me
bless the little one with holy water.
How do we protect our little grand daughters/daughters from any occult practice that may be done on them by this
woman? We cannot keep her away from them unfortunately. I am very concerned as is my daughter. Also when the one
year old was born, we allowed her into the birthing room and we found out later, from her, that she "blessed" this little
one with Reiki. A few days later we had our Priest bless the baby. Mary
I am sorry to hear about this. What needs to be done is clear. This paternal grandmother needs to be totally shunned and
banned from the family. No contact with the children at all no presents from the paternal grandmother, no contact of
any kind even over the phone, no visits to her house and no visits to the children's house, no visits in some neutral
location. A total shun.
You state that it is not possible to keep the kids from this grandmother. Why is that? Is there a court-ordered visitation
given to the grandmother?
If the husband is not willing to shun his mother, then he needs to consider this would he shun his mother if his mother
was sexually molesting his kids? Well, Reiki is about the most dangerous and demonic activity one can do. The effects of
this grandmother doing Reiki on these children is raping the children's spirit and psychology. It is worse than sexual
molesting.
This is not an exaggeration. These children are being abused by the grandmother in ways that are about 100 times more
serious and devastating than sexual abuse. Not kidding. It sounds like effects have already taken place with the vomiting
episode.
The children's parents have the job to protect their kids of predators. Well, the paternal grandmother is a predator.
Your daughter must insist that her husband follow this advice. If the husband refuses then he is a child abuser in my
opinion.
135.


Short of a total shunning, the children should be blessed with holy water daily, the prayers to break spells and curses
needs to be said each time the kids are in any contact with this woman, the prayer to renounce ancestral sins needs to be
prayed, and the rebuking spirits prayer, against the spirit of Reiki is needed. The Hedge Protection Prayer for the
household, and for the kids specifically is needed.
Anytime the kids are with this woman, the parents need to find out what happened during the visit. This needs to be done
carefully.
Any gifts given to the kids by this woman ought to be blessed with Holy Water and prayed over before giving it to the
children (better to not give the gift to the kids at all).
Holy Water is given to us by the Church precisely to assist us in fighting the devil. Your daughter needs to understand
this. Taking the child to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is also helpful, as well as praying with the kids, teaching the
kids prayers, and attending Mass as often as possible.
This is a spiritual war. Your daughter and you need to act like warriors and take all actions necessary to protect the
children. To not accept this soldier's mission is to place the kids in great jeopardy. What is happening could cause the kids
decades of bondage and harassment, which can negatively effect their entire lives.
Shun this woman and pray the prayers in the Spiritual Warfare Catalog. Even if shunning, the prayers will still be needed
as it is likely she will seek revenge.
God is more powerful than the spirit of Reiki, but we must do our part. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

Reiki music
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1825
May 2, 2013
I was reading your post from another person on the forum about Reiki practice. I was uncertain what Reiki is.
I had been listening to a lot of the music on YouTube for ambient sound while studying my university mathematics /
engineering courses.
Is there a worship or demonic connection with this music?
This may seem like an odd question, but I had heard a lot of weirdos say they have been "healed" listening to reiki in the
comment sections which I take as just being ignorant.
However listening to this, while studying, I had experienced a tremendous amount of intense flash bulb memories that I
found to be unbearably depressing. Can you comment please? Jed
In short, have absolutely nothing to do with anything reiki!
Do not listen to this Reiki music ever again. Reiki is sourced in the demonic and you run the risk of serious spiritual
damage, sometimes even psychological damage, and even demonization by participating in Reiki, or listening to that
music. STOP IMMEDIATELY.
You need to destroy any recordings, tapes, and materials of Reiki that is in your possession. Use our instructions for
Destroying Cursed or Occult Objects. Clear the cache on your browser to remove any YouTube or other files of this music.
Bless you computer with Holy Water and ask God for forgiveness for listening to this music. Then renounce your
involvement of listening to the music and take back the ground that Satan stole from you because of your listening to this
music. You can find prayers for this in our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog, [see page 129].
All this needs to be done even if you did not know the dangers and did not mean to place yourself in danger. -Bro.
Ignatius Mary OMSM

Reiki
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=86
August 2, 2004
I was wondering if in the case of things such as Reiki and psychic phenomena, that if one were to give the credit to God
for allowing and facilitating ones use of the abilities it would absolve a person of any sin related with their practice?
Is it possible that if one can allow God to work through you and to use such talents towards a higher good, i.e. using
psychic talents to ward off evil spirits, or reiki to heal someone in God's name?
Aren't there gifts that are given to people from God if one relinquishes control of their life to God and has perfect faith, as
in laying of hands and tongues? Could these other occult abilities be attributed in the same way, to God in order to make
them holy, an admittance that power and ability come from nowhere but directly from God himself? -Matt
The answer to your question is not just "no" but "ABSOLUTELY no". God condemns psychic divination and activities like
Reiki. We can fool ourselves in thinking we are doing this in God's name, but we are not.
Think about this a minute. There have been people out there who murdered "in the name of Jesus". Does God approve of
this? Absolutely not.
One of the central tenets of Christian thought is that the "ends do not justify the means." Thus even is something appears
to be good coming out of Reiki or psychic divination, it is still bad. We must be concerned not only with the outcome, but
HOW we got that outcome.
God does not work through psychic divination or Reiki and thus trying to give Him credit for something he is not going to
do is just a rationalization to excuse oneself in their rebellion against God by involving themselves in such activities.
There are gifts that God gives to people. These gifts sometimes have similar aspects to them as occult and psychic
abilities; that is because such abilities are based on the same spiritual principles.


The BIG difference, however, is that any gift from God is a gift from God, not a obtaining a gift for oneself (or from the
devil). The gifts from God are unadulterated and pure. Also God's gifts are used specifically to glorify God and to build-up
the Church. Psychic divination and Reiki spit on God and tears down the Church, glorifies only oneself, and leads people
away from trust and faith in the True God.
The devil simply takes the spiritual principles that God created and twists them around, corrupts them, and counterfeits
them to be used for his own purposes. He then seduces people into believing that his counterfeit gifts are "godly". Don't
fall into that trap Matt.
There is no such thing as a "Christian psychic". -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

Reiki and Hypnosis
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=74
July 24, 2004
I have anxiety related problems and I have gone to several professionals in order to treat them without much success. I
have considered hypnosis as an alternative and am planning to go to a therapist. In fact I have downloaded some
hypnotic mp3's from the internet that seem to be working well with me. However, I can't help thinking it could be
dangerous because of some book I read that mentioned it could be so, spiritually speaking.
Another question is, is Reiki dangerous? I know this therapist has a couple of diplomas for taking Reiki courses. Paul
While hypnosis can have some limited value in a clinical setting, especially in pain control for burn patients, it is not the
best approach in other settings or for most of the problems it is typically used for; and it can be a dangerous approach. To
allow our will to become vulnerable to hypnotic suggestion can be very dangerous. If one does undergo hypnosis be sure
of the therapist who does it. Are they clinically qualified, do they hold views that could be characterized as "new age". If
so, avoid them.
A better solution, however, for anxiety, assuming the anxiety is not such that needs medication, is spiritual counseling, not
psychological counseling. Non-medical anxiety is mostly about issues of faith, problematic behavior problems, and the like.
Nouthetic Counseling (based upon spiritual principles) is the best course. The best psychologists in the business are in the
Bible and in the Saints.
I would recommend you get a book called, "God's Psychiatry" by Charles Alan. Meditate on the Scriptural reflection in the
book. You may find that this will reduce your anxiety. "God's Psychiatry" can be purchased by Clicking Here if you wish.
As for Reiki, ABSOLUTELY STAY AWAY FROM THAT. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

Christian reiki
http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/fs/viewanswer.asp?QID=1077
June 27, 2008
What would you say to this man who proposes a Christian Reiki? Perry
This man (the link has been removed so people will not go to it) is delusional. There is absolute no way Reiki can be
considered Christian.
I would refer this person to these documents from the Vatican:
A Christian reflection on the "New Age"
On Some Aspects of Christian Mediation
I would also refer him to my own essay in a previous Q&A on Reiki*. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM
*http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=462 See page 131