Reiki Books

I was pleasantly surprised just how much information was actually packed into this one book. With so much printed today on the subject of subtle energy, this book takes a deeper and somewhat broader look at how the subject of energy work relates to our nature as energy beings, and our individual powers of intent and action. This is a great addition to anyone's library of metaphysical or spiritual growth resources. For me, it has put much in perspective. It describes some of the kundalini rising experiences I have had, in a way that helps put them into greater perspective. I am very glad I found this!

After reading books on Bhudism and Toltec wisdom I thought this book would provide precise methods of enhancing my body's energy systems and develop more awareness. In both cases it failed miserably.
The first half of the book covered such disparate topics like the Internet and its influence in world communication, quantum mechanics and the Heisenberg principle, world politics, energy vibrations, and even geophysics. Somehow the author connected them all to some central celestial theme. I can see why many skeptics avoid metaphysics. Essentially, the first half was a culmination of many books with the author's slant.
The second half spent 221 pages describing so called "energy axioms." [...]

This book is an exploration of the human energy centers and their role in our human evolutionary process. If you are someone who has noticed the increasing rapidity at which change is taking place in your life, and you have a desire to know more about what may be happening energetically to your body, mind and spirit, this easy to read text will put much into perspective for you. Our bodies, our lives and our interaction with our environment are all manifestations of our ability to handle energy at the level of spirit. I found this material extremely helpful in my own life changes and have been looking for this for quite some time. The book describes how we are interwoven into our earth environment electromagnetically, and how bringing ourselves into greater balance can improve all aspects of our lives. There are practical keys to raising the energy vibrations of the body and how this relates to our spiritual, emotional and physical health. It speaks of depression and other mental states in terms of energy re-alignment, and provides insights into the effects of energy balancing on our evolution as human beings on this earth.

Energy Dynamics is the most complete collection of subtle energy information that I have seen gathered in one place. It is written in a way that anyone can understand not just those who are involved with energy work. The reference resources alone make the book of great value and the axioms hit the nail on the head every time. It is at the top of the list of books that I recommend to friends wanting to know more about energy and the dynamics behind it. Thank You! T.R.

This book tells of the importance of subtle energies, how they manifest changes in our lives, how to spot when we are in balance or out of balance, and what practical steps we can take to increase our energies at spiritual and physiological levels. This material gave me a new perspective on the importance of our body's energy centers and how our physical, mental and spiritual selves are interconnected. Highly Recommended!"

Christel Nani has interesting, almost confrontational energy which gets her points across directly. The information is very basic, good for someone just beginning their study of energy anatomy. The quality of the recording is spotty and it was clearly recorded at a live event so some of the comments to audience members leave the listener wondering...

Excellent, it gave insights into personal problem areas with practical ways of dealing with them.

Good ideas here. I think I liked the Archetypes CDs better, but this one has a lot of useful information in it, and Ms. Nani's engaging plaint-talk style too. I recommend it for those who are exploring their lives and purpose.

I was expecting a guided meditation, so I was dissapointed.
It is a lecture format, andit is vvery good, but I really wanted a good guided meditaion on Healing the first three chakras.
I tried to revise my review, but cant figure out how to revise the stars.

I am the proud owner of BOTH Christel's golden CD nuggets :) It is like having a workshop with the two of them whenever I need one:) I am lucky to know that for certain, because I have had the good fortune of attending four workshops LIVE with Christel and Rebecca. A real WAKE UP call and eye opener.

Great book for the Reiki Students I am teaching and for self meditation and Reiki techniques for a student. I highly recommend this book and have used it for my Reiki Classes.. JA

This focus on healing and meditation with the beautiful color illustrations is so very helpful to more understand the aspects of Reiki.

This is a beautiful book just to page through. It displays the various techniques one can use to get results for using the universal life energy available to us all to speed healing for the body or the mind. Like most books on the subject, it does not display the symbols used by Reiki Masters, as they are considered too sacred to share with anyone not considered as serious students of the healing art. But the techniques are there for anyone to benefit by. The only problem I noticed is that because of the beautiful colors and background photos on each page, it is not always easy to read the text on some of the darker pages.

A beautifully written book with art work and meditations that will enhance your healing journey...

This book is a goldmine for practitioners of Reiki- a populist
alternative medicinal methodology. The system of Chakra consists of multiple roots from head (Crown) to the groin. The restorative powers are said to have a positive impact on
sufferers of arthritis, tension, sinus etc. The gentle
release of great energy helps to block pain and discharge toxins.

The author depicts various massages; namely,
- a skull massage to eject toxins and relieve pain sensations
- rubbing the forehead while lying flat
- hands above and below the mid-waist while lying flat
- upright position with hands circling like a ball
- hands across the waist front and back
- hands in the T formation on the chest
- hand pressure behind the knees
- hand massage of the right and left thighs
- both hands walk up the spine

Proponents of Reiki claim that it has a positive effect on
musculo-skeletal tensions and ills throughout the body.
Alternative medicinal practitioners everywhere will appreciate
this volume. Persons with chronic conditions will like the
new alternatives described in the book.

I recently acquired the Sounds True disc, Mantra Meditation For Creating Abundance. On track # 11, it appears as though the translations for the following may have been reversed:
6. Om Hrim Lakshmi-yei Tarjane-bhyam Namaha (index finger)
through
9. Om Hrim Maya-yei Kanishta-Bhyam Namaha (little finger).

When Thomas Ashley-Farrand gives the audio instructions, he begins the sequence with the little finger and ends with the index finger.
Hard to say which version is accurate (although I would assume that it is a misprint and that Mr. Ashley-Farrand got it right on the recording). Its a mystery whether the translations have also been reversed, or whether the translated meanings are still accurate and only the order of the fingers has been reversed.

Also, on #9. Om Hrim Maya-yei Kanishta-Bhyam Namaha,
the pronunciation sounds like "Kanishtika-Bhyam" rather than "Kanishta-Bhyam".
Again, no way to know if this is a misprint or simply a different pronunciation.

I am about mid-way through a 40 day discipline and have been following the wording and order given on the audio, ignoring the printed material. I did write to Mr. Farrand's email for comments (which, incidentally, is [...], but reads [...]) but received no response.

Overall, I feel that when undertaking a mantra discipline, accuracy in pronunciation and wording is of great importance. Mr. Farrand's CD's may serve as a rudimentary introduction to Sanskrit mantra for the typical Westerner, but for the serious seeker, I would recommend an authentic Indian text.

A few years ago I purchased another of the author's works and chanted for abundance in a casual, somewhat haphazard way and didn't get results. Thinking that the failure might be do to my approach and application, I chose to get serious about chanting for abundance by purchasing this cd and diligently following the instructions. I set up a small altar and performed a 40 day Lakshmi discipline. And then another 40 days. After 80 days without results I added a Ganesh chant to the mix. Now, after 100 days, with nothing to show for my time, it's safe to conclude that chanting does not work for me. I gave the program more than a fair try, but enough is enough. I am not going to waste more time with this.

I wanted a new mantra, and this fit the bill. Each mantra is given, and explained with some fascinating personal stories. According to my Hindu friends these mantras are correct. Since each requires a 40-day period to complete, I can't tell you yet how much I will benefit. But I feel much better and have more confidence in my self. (I am a salesman.) True, mantras should be given by a guru, but I have been on the path for a few years, and will make it. You will need japa beads since each mantra is recited 108 times.

This is a great investment that truly delivers on its promise. I started using both (Shri Anandi Ma's "Mantras for Abundance" and Farrads CD) at the same time and you know what! its been about 20 days and I just landed a new job paying $11,000 a year above what my former job paid. In my opinion Farrad's is a must have if your wanting to tune into abundance. There are some type-o's in the printing of his CD jacket however, (you should just follow his instructions given on the CD). Even so, I still highly recommend it, how could I not.

I was initially looking for more financial abundance, but decided to also do the mantra for abundance of relationships with family and friends, abundance of energy and patients. This really worked for me . I felt so calm and peaceful. My relations with everyone were great. And yes I had more than I expected for financial abundance. I'm very pleased with this. This is not a "magic spell". This re-directs energy in the right places and opens up doors of opportunity. It is up to you to walk through them. Listening to this CD was facinating. Never a dull moment. Really opened my eyes.

I am a beginning Reiki student and eager to read all material that will advance my studies. I was very disappointed in this selection. I feel that it is one woman's catharsis on a dysfunctional family and served very little information to a first time Reiki student looking for guidance. While I totally respect the author, the angst she is feeling, and her role with the International organization, I do not see the value of this "diary entry". Other titles on Reiki better serve the interests of beginning students, in my opinion.

This book is a biography of a Reiki Master. It does not include the "How to" or even the "What" of Reiki. This book discusses the events in a Reiki Master's life and encourages you to find similar events in your life and apply Reiki to the negative emotions.

Mari's latest book comes from her soul as it reaches out to touch "your" soul. Not a how to do book on Reiki, but rather a glimpse into how Reiki energy facilitates personal journey's through life. When I read "Reiki for the Soul" I was touched in ways and in places in my heart and soul that had lain dormant for a long time. As I read the personal account of Mari's journey through relationships, parents, work, love and ourselves, I found myself going through an evaluation of my life in each of those aspects. The doorway image that Mari uses is excellent as we have a "choice" to step through the doorways of change or not. Early in the book Mari outlines the "Stepping Stones of Change". I have used this illustration in the Reiki Classes I teach. I can only say, have a box of Kleenex with you as you read this book, it touches not only your soul, but your heart as well.

I am the author of this book. If you are looking for a beginner's book on Reiki there are many available. This book helps you to take your Reiki futher and deeper into yourself. It was written with the hope that everyone can see that no matter what our life circumstances have been there is a light that helps us out of our darkness and that light is Reiki. It was my intention to evoke you to remember just how many doorways you have personally walked through and where the next doorway may be in you life. It is a journal for you to share yourself in. Let your heart be open to all possibilities. Even in disappointment there are lessons,essential truth and choice.

This book was nothing short of magical. It successfully blended Reiki and journeying into your own depths. The questions at the end of each doorway encouraged you to travel inward discovering and challenging old thoughts and belief systems. I loved it so much I bought 5 copies for Christmas gifts! Happy Journeying!

I would give *less than 1 star if possible*

The statements made in this book about a "new" history of Reiki have not been authenticated in any way.

Reiki people should not accept "new" Reiki histories without some factual background and, sadly, there are no facts to back up the story told in this book. Should it just be accepted as truth because someone says it is? I don't think so.

You would have thought we'd learnt our lesson and people would be more careful as to what they print as the "truth", especially after the Lama Yeshe (also known as Richard Blackwell) experience. To explain further: Richard Blackwell wrote a book with a "new" history of Reiki and it turned out to be completely made-up and the result was great confusion and disillusionment. Curiously, an ex-student of Lama Yeshe's is even quoted in this book and the teachers of the author were all teachers of Lama Yeshe's material.

This book highlights serious flaws in the concept of Jin Kei Do, apart from its general lack of clarity (the accepted Reiki history is pretty mashed up as well).

A major problem is that this book lays claim to two histories:
A relatively accepted history of Reiki taken from other Reiki books and Reiki websites called Part I.
And a second history, Part II, that begins to interweave, what I would only call fiction (as it is totally without verification), with the known history of Reiki. This "new" Reiki history has conveniently been fitted into conventional Reiki history. Here, names of people from Buddha down and their supposed practices and actions, along with the land Tibet, are described as influencing a part of the founder of Reiki's practices. These practices were then secretly passed down and have made there way to a man in Australia who purports this is all true.

Another major problem is: Not one of the Japanese people mentioned in the accepted history of Reiki like Hayashi, Eguchi, the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, Mrs Yamaguchi, Tatsumi and even Mrs Takata taught the chakra system. Yet Jin Kei Do appears to be based upon chakras. Chakras were a new age addition to Reiki and there is absolutely no record of them being used prior to Mrs Takata's death - how come then Jin Kei do uses chakras? I would guess because Jin Kei Do was actually created in the 1980s.

The book also states that a character named Seiji Takemori had to study for more then 3 years with someone called Takeuchi to learn this system. How, then, did the man who lives in Australia, Ranga Premaratna, only manage to study for about 25 days with Seiji Takemori to learn the whole system? The number of 25 is pulled from a Jin Kei Do website although it is called a "relatively short period of time" in the book.

And finally this book goes so far as to lay claim to a similarity between its practices and the highest yoga tantra AND even earlier Hindu yogic practices! A Buddhist of Yogic Master would find it odd, to say the least, that a person could learn all of that in 25 days!!!

This book is not a Reiki book even though it uses Reiki to base its claims on. It includes a bit of this, a bit of that and a lot of fiction - not good for a non-fiction book!

So many people and so many schools of Reiki focus exclusively on using Reiki solely as a means of healing others. While this is a wonderful part of the whole, Reiki is more than that. It is a powerful vehicle of personal and spiritual growth. It is through this growth that we develop both the Compassion and Wisdom to truly help others - whether it is in the channeling of energy to promote healing or, more importantly, in lending a hand to help another along the Path.

Steve's personal journey of spiritual growth through Reiki is an inspiration and worthy to be followed. He is a true teacher who has obviously walked his talk.

Thank you, Steve.

I have been practicing and teaching Reiki for over 10 years. With the publication of "Reiki Jin Kei Do: The Way of Compassion and Wisdom", I now have a book that I can happily and unequivocably recommend to my students, clients, and others interested in learning about this unique lineage of Reiki. Steve's book is comprehensive, well researched, well written, and accurate. It has integrity, providing a grounded and balanced perspective on the topic of spirituality and healing. I am thrilled that he has made this book available and hope that many readers will enjoy and learn from the wisdom in its pages.

It is so refreshing to find a book on Reiki that does not just rehash the same old material than can be found in pretty much every other book on the subject. This book is going to take the Reiki world by storm. Not only is there material in here on the history of Reiki that I never knew before but it offers a totally original way of approaching the system of Reiki itself. What is really refreshing amongst recent books on Reiki is that it is not full of Japanese words that only Japanese and Japanese-fluent readers can understand or really relate to. A real eye-opener of a book. It is about time someone wrote a book on Reiki like this with its emphasis on personal spiritual development rather than on the therapy side of the system. This book could change the world's view of Reiki for good. In fact I think it is inevitable (and much needed). A great book for beginners who want to know what Reiki is really all about and a great book for those who practise Reiki already - this will really deepen your understanding and practice of the Usui system. Surely this is as close as we can get now to the true heart and essence of what Reiki was meant to be in the first place? Thanks Steve for a great book and for redefining Reiki at last in the way that was so needed and long overdue!

This book provides thorough exploration of a rare lineage of Usui Reiki. I am already recommending this book to students in my Reiki classes!

I am a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist with a full-time practice. I have taken Craniosacral courses from the Upledger Institute, and have taken the Biodynamic Foundation training with Michael Shea, and have taken several advanced Biodynamic Craniosacral classes with Michael Shea and Franklyn Sills who are very well grounded in the Biodynamic work. I am disappointed in Charles Ridley's portrayal of the Biodynamic Craniosacral community by his apparent limited experience in his studies of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. To apply his opinions from his experience with one Biodynamic teacher to the rest of the Biodynamic community seems irresponsible.

definitly an intelligent and non efferent point of view. It is the very first time that i can really read something different (F.Sills and friends are so numerous...).
Anyway, thanks for your intelligence Mr Ridley...thanks a lot because Osteopathy is not about techniques but principles, experiences and philosophy... Love from France

Like speaking of the tao, one breaks stillness to speak of stillness . Consciousness can only be realized, not known. Spirit and matter are so different in nature, yet have the same origin. Charles reflects on that fulcrum through which source is made manifest. This is a book that breathes the 'Breath of Life'. Thank you Charles for bringing this to our awareness.

This isn't your bio-cranio-dynamic toolbox; it is, instead, a profound and precisely nuanced exploration of the feel of consciousness as it traverses the tissue we know as the body.
No hammers, saws, intentions, suggestions, or directed energy; here the practitioner is invited to rest in what is, without desires or expectations.
If this intrigues you, this is the book for you.

Charles was able to describe the states one experiences with Biodynamic CranioSacral Therapy better than anyone else I have read so far. Anyone who has practiced "regular" CranioSacral therapy for awhile will be able to relate to his descriptions and I believe understand the basis of Biodynamic CranioSacral work, even before they take their first course. This is a must for those who practice both CranioSacral therapy and meditation, as they will understand the connection between both.

This is an extremely well written book that explains the dynamics of acupuncture and energy medicine in a way that is easily grasped. The material is original, thought-provoking and clearly extensively researched. The book is appropriate for acupuncturists, acupuncture students, energy/body workers, psychotherapists, massage therapists or anyone in the healing arts who wishes to gain a better understanding of mind/body medicine from both an Eastern and a Western perspective.

Dr. Mark Seem is a well known and respected Acupuncturist and founder of Tri-State Institute of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in Stamford, Connecticut. The book presents theoretical foundations of the Acupuncture technique as practiced and taught by the author.
I read Bodymind Energetics about a year ago as part of my medical acupuncture study. It is a good introductory text for someone interested in Acupuncture and Energetic Medicine.
The book is accessible and well written; yes, as mentioned by the previous reviewer, it is repetitious at times, but I don't hold it against the author because the ideas advanced in the book are new for the majority of readers, and these concepts do require multiple different angles of presentations to make them clear.
One of the reviewers complained about the angry tone of the book. There is some truth in this observation. One thing we need to remember, though, is that the author of the book has Ph.D. in French Philosophy. I am not making a disparaging remark. Au contraire. What I am saying is that the author is a very intelligent and sensitive person (otherwise he wouldn't achieve what he has achieved and wouldn't be doing what he is doing!), but, judging by his (very elegant otherwise) writing style, the author's intellectual roots are undoubtedly Gallic with all the applicable stereotypes (see Monty Python and the Holy Grail or read Mark Twain's ramblings on the subject).
Just remember that there is plenty to learn from this book, and you will do much better paying attention to the content of the book, rather than tone with which it is written.
The one weakness of the book, in my opinion, is its cover: the picture of black human figure surrounded by energy field lines is somewhat misleading. I suspect that this picture scared off a lot of intended readers. Don't pay any attention to the cover: the book has nothing to do with Blavatskaya/Astral Body/Distance Healing/etc.

Mark Seems Bodymind Energetics addresses the issue of our understanding of the "physical" and "psychological" aspects of health. Seem covers some of the historical background to the "body-mind" split in western thinking and the practice of medicine. He uses models of thought taken from studies of the early pioneers of psycho-somatics, and models developed from ancient Chinese medical texts to discuss this 'split'.

This is an extremely interesting and thought provoking work on the subject.

When I first read this book, I could not help but wonder why the author sounded so angry! The entire text could have been written in 20 pages, but tends to drag on monotonously, repeating statements many times in the same aggressive tone. The tone and repetition of the text tends to lead you away from the few morsels of interesting and useful information, such as the wonderfully concise overview of basic chinese medicine that even a lay person could understand. It is such a shame that this book was so horribly written with it's truly advanced use of the English language, that it is difficult to follow, understand, and even pick up again to finish. This is no light reading, folks.

I thought this book was very good and well writen. It's a good introduction to the consepts of Taoism. I found the explanations to be more useful and less confusing than some of the other books I have read. If your new to Taoism this is a good book to start with. I would like to add that this is not a how to book and just gives a general idea of Taoist consepts. If your looking for a How to Book I might suggest:
The Tao of Health, Sex & Longevity - By Daniel P. Reid.

Olson's book was not what I hoped - probably, it never meant to be. On the positive side, I found the modern translation of eastern classics that I was looking for. That includes many passages from Ko Hung, a Taoist writer of the fourth century CE, the brief list or alchemical directives from the Jade Emperor, and the "Three Treasures" by T'ien Hsin Chien. All three read smoothly in modern English, and I'm sure that Olson's scholarship and fluency add much that another translator might not have captured.

Olson adds explanatory notes of his own, as so many translators do. Those notes can be especially helpful with especially obscure and esoteric works like these. The original texts often intended to block their meaning from the non-initiate, so the modern, western reader will surely need help in approaching this material, and Olson provides that help.

My problem with this text is that Olson goes far beyond explanation and into side-trips that damage his credibility. At one point, for example, he asserts that "Normally water is just H-2-O, but it can range from H-1-O through H-18-O ...," somehow stabilized by "... a strong magnetic pull on certain portions of the earth ..." He seems to use the words magnetic and magic interchangeably, in this case, and somehow forgets to include references on the topic. Another passage describes a potion that lets fish swim happily in boiling oil. Metaphorical senses for these (and many other) statements elude me, and the literal senses of them simply undermine any good that the book might have offered.

Readers interested in the esoteric content might derive benefit from the book that I can't. I just came for the classics in translation, though. I wanted to enjoy these translations, but Olson's accretions made that impossible for me.

-- wiredweird

This is a wonderful book written by an author with both a scholar's understanding of the origins these Taoists classics and a practitioner's insight that these are living growing Taos (paths), not meant to be slavishly copied. I especially applaud his recognition that practicing Taoist techniques with a motivational mindset from Mahayana Buddhism called Bodhichitta, results in a "warmer" type of personal growth then traditional Taoism. Historically, the highest attainments of Taoism were expressed by wild, solitary Taoist hermits with little interest in teaching or passing on their knowledge. Their writings were often intentionally obscure with personal instruction clarifying them nearly unobtainable. Buddhist adepts on the other hand with their commitment to help all sentient beings concentrated on developing clear and obtainable sutra teachings.

Most of the presently available modern Taoists texts come from those sects that combined teachings and philosophies from China's three treasures, Taoism, Ch'an Buddhism and Confucianism, such as the Complete Reality School. I think that Stuart Olson can be seen to be a continuation of these principles; namely that times, places, and conditions change, Taoist practices and teachings do as well, or they are not true Taoism.

You will find in this text the root instructions to begin or deepen a Taoist practice. The criticism that this is not practice manual doesn't follow because there are no practice manuals for Taoism, and there couldn't be. In the many paths of Taoism the practices of ritual, poetry, herbology or martial arts are as important as philosophical study. A Taoist Sage/Adept many practice all of these or none of them... Enjoy this text as if it is advice from a Taoist friend.

A very handy little book covering the base concepts of taoist longevety. Not a total guide so much as an introduction to the various methods. Along with the translated classics the authors personal stories are fun and interesting. Some parts the authors background in Buhddism shows but its hardly intrusive.

This product may be all right after you already read about mantras like the Healing Mantras book. I like listening to the mantras on this one.
However, I must caution people following the writing in the CD jacket, because there are errors. And unless I am mistaken, on track 14 on a couple of occasions there was a different pronunciation on a couple of occasions. Then, there was the error with Om Nomo Narayanaya which was written as Om Nomo Narayaya. That's an error in track 15 in terms of what is written, but not what is said. Then, with the mantra for finding a spiritual wife (track 14) where it is written Ramah in the mantra, it should be Ramam. I still am grateful for the CD. Maybe, Mr Farrand was in a rush to get these things done and the one who was assisting him didn't write things properly. He is a very busy man. So, just do your homework when listening to these CDs as I have done. I would recommend you start with Healing Mantras (the book) and the CD with the same name as I said. Then, you could handle the jump into this CD. Anyway, feel free to ask me any questions (my e-mail is watsonpi at yahoo ). Do not just jump into mantra practice without really getting a feel for what you are doing. I suppose I could have given it 4 stars, but I would feel it is not for a beginner, tht should have been made clear which is not a prolem for someone like me who has read the aforementioned book and also has the 6 CD set called "Sacred Words of Power", so I have somewhat of a background. Double check the mantras on different sites. Farrand also has a site, and you can read him writing the mantras out there, too, and you can compare. I am grateful to Namadeva or Thomas Ashley Farrand. It is worth buying this CD once you've acquired some knowledge.

This is an excellent product for those whom are interested on learning the meaning of the mantras and their powerful effects as well as the way to chanting mantras. Do not expect music or something like that in them, ok? I got the serie of three CD's and they are excellents!

This CD included some basic mantra information, but mainly mantra meditations specific to relationships. I would not recommend this for someone new to mantra meditation. If unfamiliar with basic mantra elements, some of Ashley-Farrand's general mantra CDs or books would probably be more suitable. I enjoy this CD, and reference it when certain relationship issues arise, and I wish to meditate for more clarity.

The author verbalizes each mantra with an excellent description of how to use these mantras. Mantras should be given to one by one's guru, but I am trying the 40-day prgram anyway. (I have no guru). You need to get a set of japa beads.