Taking back attunements?

[tennis97girl]

Hi there,
I'm a Reiki Master and I also teach at a massage school. One of the workshops we offer to our students is Reiki 1. My first year teaching the class, I had a talented young man really excell in energy work. At the end of the class, I do level one attunements on everyone who wants one. This young man received one. The next day, he went to church and talked to his 'elder' and was told Reiki was evil because it was the work of the devil. (Apparently, the devil is into healing now.) He came back the next day and ordered me to take the attunement back! I hate to admit it, but even after much discussion with him over the matter, I did what I could to take the level one attunement back! I've never forgotten this situation. This same young man was also told reflexology was evil because it was, well, from non-Christians. I'm surprised he took massage therapy at all, because it too, was developed by non-Christians.
Has anyone else had an experience like this?
I'm very careful in my classes now to tell everyone they are free to leave after the morning lecture, if they have no interest in actively using Reiki. The last class I taught in May, half the students left. I don't know if it was spring fever (very young class near graduation) or if they all were very serious about their 'Christian' concerns.
I'm a Methodist and have been welcome to teach Reiki at my church at least once a year for free. So I'm really puzzled by this trend at my school.

 

[The Paranoid Android]

Elder? Is the student in question Mormon? If so, doesn't surprise me.

Re half your class leaving... healthy detachment aside, I feel sad when I see people dismiss/reject energy work without giving it much chance. Especially those who have decided already, "I don't believe in that kind of stuff." Great, enjoy your reality.

 

[Drixnot]

Or Jehovah's Witness. Also not surprising. What a shame. Let it go though. Keep teaching what you do, maybe some of that will do some good for the students who are so fearful, even if at the time they leave your class.

It takes a long time and many people and experiences to tear down that kind of indoctrinated fear.

 

[jared_e42]

I think there are "elders" in many different brands of christian churches.

Do you have an evaluation sheet for people to fill out at the end of class? Do you have questions on it that would help give you more specific information about why someone would not be interested in using Reiki?

 

[idodgesubs]

deleted

 

[sortma5ivci]

Why not turn it around and tell this person they need to reject the attunement rather than having it 'taken back."

Tell them to pray to whomever they pray to to remove the attunement and it will be gone. Chances are, they will feel better results this way.

i think this is a great idea - it will allow that person to feel control over the situation.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I agree with people who have questioned if this person was a Jahovah Witness or Mormon. They are extremely strict in their tenents and one cannot defer from them because they they are seen as worse heretics then when the protestants broke from the catholics all those centuries ago.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I agree with greatlakes. I honestly have never heard of anyone being able to give back their attunement. If I have time I'll do some research into this.

You might want to look at this forum

http://www.reiki-4-all.com

 

[Rose S]

How active is that forum........I cannot tell really by just browsing around. It looks active though and its definately going into my faves so I can browse later Thanks for posting it!!

holistichealer

 

[Zach F]

You're welcome.

I think that it is pretty active. I only visit occasionally however.

 

[Zeina]

The fundamental charismatic non-denominational Christian church that I attended once upon a time would have sent me to hell with gasoline britches on if I said I'd been attuned in Reiki. Conservative Catholics, as well, tend to frown upon it. Unfortunately this attitude is rampant in my neck of the woods. It breaks my heart. Reiki is awesome and it changed my life! Is it any surprise I'm having trouble calling myself a Christian these days?

Kemilyna

 

[singinggram]

Or Jehovah's Witness. Also not surprising. What a shame. Let it go though. Keep teaching what you do, maybe some of that will do some good for the students who are so fearful, even if at the time they leave your class.

It takes a long time and many people and experiences to tear down that kind of indoctrinated fear.

I have to totally agree with your statement, Breathe. I use to be a JW years ago and would never have touched Reiki at that time. Through the years, with many personal changes, and experiences, I have totally changed my views and now I am a Reiki Master too. I can't imagine not doing Reiki now!

 

[Ranger4402]

Great, enjoy your reality.

Y'know, I deeply enjoy and appreciate your posts. You seem like a really cool being. But this is my new favorite quote ever!

 

[princess_of_god_89]

Yay thank you!

 

[sh0rtea d0o wh0p]

Can an attunement really "take" if that attitude exists? Reiki only goes where it is welcome. Is it the elder talking or the student in that case, maybe the student has accepted it, but needs to tell the elder that it has been removed. I live in a predominantly Roman Catholic area, Reiki is just so far off their radar, I was questioned about craniosacral therapy, that it is "Not from God"!!!

The local RC priest made a very tiny comment about a healing touch instructor coming to town, and they had to cancel her workshop because of it. And it was the United Church that was facilitating it!

I think progress will be slow, but movies like "What the Bleep" will hopefully help move things along.

 

[simples]

Great, enjoy your reality.

Y'know, I deeply enjoy and appreciate your posts. You seem like a really cool being. But this is my new favorite quote ever!

heh, it is great.

 

[nomoreskyline]

It is these attitudes from "Christians" that are causing the congragations to become smaller and smaller in the churches. I have friends who are clergy and former nuns as well as friends who are Buddhists, Muslims, and Pagans.

All who follow the true teachings of their faith are very tolerant of others. Church officials who criticize others are living in a place of fear. They are the ones who need to be prayed for and who need our love. Remember, God/Christ/Buddha/Muhammed all said to love your neighbour. Love, to me doesn't mean criticize but to simply love.

Namaste'

 

[Mount Analogue]

Don't want to be repetitive here -- I have posted on the "Reiki Conflicts with my beliefs as a Christian" thread with two books I have discovered that might help both Christians who are interested in doing Reiki and those who are performing Reiki and not Christians -- who are fielding questions from Christian clients who have fears about it.

As mentioned in the previous thread, I cannot recommend these books until I read them! Book reports sometime next week . . .

Sherry

 

[Maev]

Hi Sherry.

I look forward to reading your reviews.

Just for the record, I have no problems with Reiki and Religion/Spirituality. I'll perform Reiki for you no matter what you believe. Being able to play music for nearly forty years I see as a gift from "That which We Call God." Reiki is no different. The fact that Reiki came via an attunement from another person simply makes that person a gift too. I got my first level from a Catholic Nun for Pete's sake!

Reiki is not a problem, nor is religion. The problem is in narrow-mindedness and intollerance.

Namaste'