Comments on: Reiki and the Catholic Bishops, Again

By: Reiki & the Bishops in the Boston Globe

Reiki & the Bishops in the Boston Globe — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:12:49 +0000

[...] posts: Bishops’ Syndrome, Reiki and the Catholic Bishops, Again Email this Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide By Pamela Miles If you've enjoyed this, [...]

By: sharonbaker

sharonbaker — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:07:21 +0000

I am an RN, Reiki Master and have practiced energy therapies for over 20 years. I recently treated a Catholic priest with Reiki (and related) both at the rectory and in hospice(Catholic facility). He found his sessions provided pain and stress relief during his last stages of brain cancer. He was completely supportive and said Jesus did this kind of healing. It was an honor to be at his side until he crossed over.

By: Pamela Miles

Pamela Miles — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:30:47 +0000

That’s a very good question, John, the answer to which Reiki practitioners would do well to try to understand.

The Catholic hierarchy clearly doesn’t think that Reiki is a frivolous matter, or they wouldn’t bother condemning it. We don’t have to agree with them to understand where they are coming from, and when we make the effort to understand where those who oppose our values are coming from (instead of just condemning them for condemning our values), we are better equipped to dialogue. One would hope that healers would be uniquely equipped to engage in a productive dialogue even when our values are attacked.

There is a non-involved public watching this controversy unfold. What do the Reiki practitioners look like to them?

By: John M

John M — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:16:32 +0000

Why does the Catholic hierarchy strain to find things to condemn, especially if they benefit humanity (such as Reiki, gay rights). Don’t they have better things to do?

By: Carla Heisten

Carla Heisten — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:46:41 +0000

Very interesting and exciting that this conversation is taking place…that in itself is encouraging. I personally do my best to realease my judgments of the church…not always entirely successful in this as they are deeply ingrained, but i do try to remember that the churches opinions are as valid to them as mine are to me. Must be that i am human? Huh? go figure.
I did note the statement that Jesus should not need to be supplemented. Apparently that didn’t apply to modern medicine, or to prayer as Allison mentioned. Pray then take an asprin…that is ok, but no Reiki. Am I interpereting their position incorrectly? There is more to it I know. It really is very interesting how everyone’s views of life are so different. No one sees things or interperates them the same way. We all have our very own illusion of life don’t we?! How fun. It would be so boring if we were all the same.
I am very glad that people in general are at least becoming much more aware of the alternative ways of approaching healing. Reiki has brought me much closer to “God” by whatever name, including Jesus, so for me I suppose, in my life Reiki has succeeded where the traditional church failed me. Viva la difference! and let the conversation continue!

By: Kay Gillard

Kay Gillard — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:29:31 +0000

First off, I completely agree with every Allison says about prayer & the laying on of hands – really well said.
What a shame that the person presenting the Catholic viewpoints here had such an incredibly narrow view of Reiki. I do think that this kind of black and white thinking is prevalent in the Catholic church but it is by no means the view of all Catholics. The beautiful thing about Reiki is that it does connect us in directly with divine energy – and that means it is suitable for anyone to use, regardless of their background. As has been suggested in the comments, all you’re talking about then is an issue of language. My students would all describe this connection to the energy source in different ways, depending on whether they are christian, pagan, hindu, buddhist, muslim, or anything else.
Reiki can fit within different spiritual frameworks and this is what makes it so inclusive. What is wrong with explaining this energy in terms of a faith one already holds? Only one speaking from a place of fear and insecurity could suggest that to deepen one’s spiritual practice outside of the confines of the church is to ‘downgrade Jesus’ (or any other emanation of divine energy). I think Rev Weinandy is a very sad spokesman for the Catholic church on this issue; what is even sadder is that the narrow stance has made many Catholics feel the need to hide their practice and will stop many Catholics using Reiki as part of their healing, which they could get so much benefit from.
I have a friend who is a Catholic priest in America and a Reiki Master, and he tells me that the American Catholic church is more closed to these sorts of practices than the Vatican, something that these comments agree with! I didn’t know that the Pope had a more open stance, so thanks for sharing that information too! Unfortunately the American Catholic church’s stance on this has led to a real crisis of faith for my friend, and many in his area to speak out against his Reiki work. They may lose a priest who is compassionate, loving and healing – what a terrible shame. So while I agree with you Pamela that not everyone goes the New Age route and a holistic route to healing can exist within religions, views like Rev Weinandy’s do put up a block to this happening for many people.

By: Pamela Miles

Pamela Miles — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:44:25 +0000

Welcome, Kathleen. Do you see the irony in your comment that today’s inclusive society has no room for narrow views? How inclusive is that? Wouldn’t a truly inclusive society have room for those with narrow views as well? Otherwise we’re just substituting a new version of intolerance for the old one.

Also, not everyone who seeks essence goes the New Age route. There are many options, some of which exist within religions.

By: Kathleen D. Parker

Kathleen D. Parker — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:28:41 +0000

I think that the responses here today were wonderful. As a “Recovering Catholic” I have spent many years searching for God. I feel that it was His/Her guidance that led me to Reiki and the fulfillment of my Karma. Have I become “New Age”? Probably, but only because I seek and follow the Spiritual essence of the Universe ( God ) as opposed to the dogma of man. Narrow views have no place in todays inclusive society. We need to expand our ability to love, not criticize.

By: Pamela Miles

Pamela Miles — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:26:11 +0000

Thank you for bringing up a couple of important points, Bea.

Human nature is such that people are often afraid of what they don’t know. This is why, if we want the public and conventional health care to consider Reiki, which is to them a new approach to healing, it is critically important that we present the practice in neutral terms. Some people may be more drawn to Reiki when it is wrapped in New Age ribbons, but most people are put off by woowooness (I’m sure that is not a word, but you know what I mean).

Your last point reminds me of a quote by a famous scientist (Einstein?) which says that the hypothesis determines what is studied. This may seem obvious, but what about the possibilities that never make it into hypotheses?

We each do our own informal “research” as we go through life, looking at our experience through the lens of our personal hypotheses, grabbing what we can as proof that we are right, and disregarding the rest. This faux research closes the door to growth, and demonizing other perspectives deepens the isolation.

By: Bea Lutterbeck

Bea Lutterbeck — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:47:01 +0000

Fortunately, not ALL Catholics are opposed to Reiki. I was a Reiki volunteer at a Catholic Healthcare West hospital’s Cancer Center for many years. Reiki volunteers were welcomed by the hospital’s oncologists, nurses, patients and nuns alike.

However, I did get tossed out of a health fair at a Baptist church once. Members of the local American Holistic Nurses Association had been invited to participate and demonstrate /offer alternative and complementary therapies. Church officials observing a hands-on Reiki demonstration claimed it was the work of the Devil. They asked those of us doing Reiki, Healing Touch and Therapeutic Touch to leave. We were told that only Jesus could heal with his hands. We tried to explain that “we” weren’t healing anyone, etc, etc, but we were escorted out, nevertheless.

At another time in history, we’d have been burnt at the stake. Right? Some things don’t change much, do they. Like it or not.

What make me sad is that most people in our society have no faith in their ability to self-repair, thus no incentive for self-care. Whether the it’s church “prescribing Jesus,” or the medical establishment prescribing pills and surgery, most people believe that the fix for whatever ails them is going to come from something outside of themselves. When I remind people that the doctor may take out your appendix, but it’s your body’s wisdom that knows how to stop the bleeding at the site, grow the cells back together to close the wound, send white cells to the area to prevent infection, etc, they get it, and you see the “ah-ha” on their face. Then I explain that Reiki just helps your body do what it already knows how to do.

Everyone has had the “miraculous” experience of a cut finger healing. Was it Jesus? Was it God? Was it Reiki? Was it body wisdom? Was it the Neosporin? Was it the vitamin A in your baked yam? Was it mom who kissed your boo-boo? Do you even know? Can you even know? I doubt it. But, it you are a Bishop, or a Neosporin manufacturer, or a mom, or other stakeholder, you will proclaim to know, and worse likely declare all other “knowing” is blasphemous.