
JAMES FLETCHER
REIKI
What is Reiki?
As defined by the Shibumi International Reiki Association:
Reiki is a 'Japanese healing technique for the self and others.
The system of Reiki is unique, which explains why it has become the model for many contemporary energetic forms of healing. You can either experience a Reiki treatment or undertake a Reiki course.
A course will teach you a spiritual practice and how to perform Reiki treatments. Comprising a simple structure of three levels for those wishing to learn it, after training at the first level it is possible to offer treatments to friends and family and begin your spiritual journey. Once the second level is completed, and the practitioner has gained treatment experience, it is possible to begin treating clients professionally. The second course also takes you deeper into your personal spiritual journey. At the third level, students begin to train as teachers of the system while continuing their spiritual journey.
Reiki is the energy that moves through your body, in fact Reiki practitioners understand that Reiki is the energy that moves through everything and is technically translated from the Japanese to mean 'Spiritual Energy'. This energy is what is utilised within the system of Reiki teachings.
Origins - The founder of the system of Reiki was a Japanese man called Mikao Usui (1865-1926). The influences upon his teachings included his Japanese martial arts practice, Shintoism (the traditional Japanese folk religion), Japanese Buddhism (namely Tendai) and Shugendo (a spiritual mountain practice). Naturally, the Japanese culture and philosophy that was apparent during Mikao Usui’s lifetime was also a great influence upon what has developed as the system of Reiki.
Reiki Treatments - A Reiki treatment is approximately one-hour long and is useful for specific healing or general relaxation. The client remains fully clothed at all times as the Reiki practitioner goes through a set healing process placing hands on, or just off, the body as agreed with the client prior to the treatment. Sex, age and condition are of no concern as the client’s own body controls this energetic process. During the treatment the body will only take the amount of energy that it requires. A treatment is not intrusive and clients do not remove clothing and no private parts of the body are touched.
Reiki Courses - There are three levels of training within the system of Reiki:
Shoden Reiki Level I
A minimum of two full days in-person Reiki training plus receiving ongoing support including:
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Reiki meditations and techniques to strengthen and clear your energy are taught for personal benefit
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Learning about the Japanese energetic system (the three diamonds)
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Gaining a clearer understanding of the working of energy in your life and its benefits
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Finding a spiritual connection to life helping you to feel happier and healthier
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A method of healing the self and others using hand positions on or near the body
Okuden Reiki Level II
A minimum of 1 full day in-person Reiki training plus extra training in professional Reiki treatments and receiving ongoing support including:
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Studying further Reiki meditations and techniques for moving deeper into your personal spiritual practice
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Learn the three Reiki mantras and symbols and their relationships to the Japanese energetic system
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How to treat others using a variety of Reiki methods
Shinpiden Reiki Level III
A minimum of three full days in-person Reiki training plus receiving ongoing support and the option of ongoing
training as a professional Reiki teacher including:
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Further Reiki meditations and techniques for moving deeper into your personal spiritual practice
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The fourth Reiki mantra and symbol and its relationship to Japanese cosmology

My Reiki Journey
I began my reiki journey in 2008 under the guidance of friend and reiki teacher Steve Yates. Prior to this I was introduced to reiki through receiving treatments, and knowing a few people who practised, and I immediately fell in love with the feelings of calm, bliss and peace that these treatments gave me.
I trained with Steve in the first two 'levels' of the system of reiki, learning a traditional Japanese system of reiki, coming from the Hayashi/Yamaguchi system, with a touch of added Western elements such as crystal healing and chakra healing. Steve passed away in 2014 and is very sorely missed.
I went on to train with reiki teacher Dave Green who teaches a blended system of reiki, incorporating elements of traditional Japanese reiki and the Western reiki brought over by Hawayo Takata. Dave runs a successful health & holistic business - Natural Self - and I am constantly learning from him about the many subjects he teaches.
My reiki journey returned to a more traditional Japanese system of reiki and I completed my shoden and okuden (levels 1 & 2) with reiki teacher Grenville Williams of OneWorldReiki who teaches the system of reiki as taught by Frans Steine of the International House of Reiki. These teachings aim to be as closely aligned to the system of reiki taught by Usui Mikao in Japan at that time, by going deeper into the studies and beliefs of Usui whilst he was alive.
I completed my reiki teacher (shinpiden in Japanese) training in 2019 under the guidance of Grenville and have been studying and practising the system of reiki in much greater detail and depth ever since.
I am also regularly learning from the continued teachings of Frans Stiene of the International House of Reiki - who is considered to be one of the world's leading figures in researching the roots of the system of reiki and has been a major influence on global research into the system of Reiki since the early 2000s. His practical understanding of the Japanese influences on the system have allowed students around the world to connect deeply with this practise.
My teachings are centred very much towards developing a rich personal practise and I specialise in working with people who are feeling stuck with the path that they are currently on, and those who feel lost with how to live a more spiritual life, having felt that way for a large portion of my life.
Reiki treatments.
I offer reiki treatments, available in half-hour or hour long sessions, though if it is the first time I am seeing you, we will need an extra half an hour as way of introduction (free of charge).
Reiki sessions are tailored to meet the needs of the client, and can involve hands-on healing, breath-work and meditations.
Click here to read more about a typical reiki treatment or please get in touch if you would like to know more.