To qualify for Reiki Master training in the Reiki Healing Spiritual Centre you must  demonstrate a very strong desire to teach Reiki as well as have a sound  background in the practical application of Reiki. You cannot become a Reiki  Master simply because you are interested in it, or for intellectual reasons  only. We do not accept people who just believe in Reiki. They must know Reiki works from personal, hands-on experience in their own lives and  from practical experience and observation of patients they have treated.  Academic qualifications are not necessary, but can be helpful in the learning  processes involved with lecture content.

The trainee must learn all the necessary theoretical knowledge taught by the  Reiki HSC and be able to present it well. He or she is given a series of  assignments that involve studying the separate subjects taught in the seminars,  and then presenting them orally on cassette tape for the Reiki Master Teacher to  listen to and give feedback on. A trainee will be expected to repeat the  assignments until the teacher is satisfied the student can meet the requirements  of the Reiki HSC and the individual Reiki Master Teacher. There are also  about six days of intensive lectures and discussions spread out over the  training period.

More important than the theoretical side is the development of the Reiki  Master trainee as a person and as an initiator. The initiation process requires  the Reiki Master to be in a certain stage of development personally. Each  initiation activates certain chakras and other energy centers of the body that  involve transformative processes to occur in the energy field of the Reiki  Master. During the training the trainee receives the knowledge and ability to  perform each of the initiations individually. Each initiation must then be  practiced and synthesized into the energy field of the trainee. This whole  process varies between trainees according to their individual backgrounds. The  average time taken is about one year.

The Reiki HSC insists that Reiki Masters are trained over a minimum nine  month period. (Some take longer.) We have found that Reiki Masters who are  graduated too quickly (some are trained in weekend courses!) still have to go  through the synthesizing process and will have difficulty attracting students  until that process is completed. There are also Reiki Masters who are able to  activate the Reiki energy in the hands of their students but don't necessarily  initiate them to as high a level of awareness. Others do so because they are  trained to observe the metaphysical laws involved in the induction of a `Master  Initiator'.

Most major associations insist on a minimum one year training program.  Unfortunately, there are still a few individuals giving `quickie' courses.  Although it is their right to do what they want, it may not be in the best long  term interest of their students or Reiki. There are Reiki Masters who claim five  years of training or longer. They have chosen to count the start of their  training from the day they received First Degree. This is fine but it is not  what we are talking about in the above system.