Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1174218
Believe What You Want to Believe But what about reiki practitioners who believe their practice is energy-based? "No one needs to change the way they practice or their personal beliefs," Miles says. "It's more about the model you're presenting to the public. If you insist upon presenting reiki practice with a new-age model—an energy model—you've just really limited your audience." But Miles confirms most reiki practitioners operate under that model. "Almost everybody coming to my trainings, whether they're coming to a first-degree (beginner's) training or they are reiki professionals, are thinking in terms of the energy model." But most of those who come to her have also seen the limitations of the reiki perspective they've had, or the way they were communicating, and 70 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k n o v e m b e r / d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 9 they find it frustrating not to be able to share a practice they find so valuable without people rolling their eyes. "I say it doesn't matter what you believe; of course you can believe anything you want. But why do you communicate from your beliefs? Isn't that religion? Just think in terms of engaging clients in a way that's meaningful to them, and then they have their experience and they come to their own conclusions." Instead of reiki teachers thinking it's their job to indoctrinate people into their belief system, they could be focused on teaching students how to practice, and inspire and motivate their students to self-practice regularly. "Because daily self-practice unlocks the goods." Miles says she is always careful and considerate to draw a distinction between spirituality and religion. "I share the quote from [the actor] Peter Ustinov that says, 'Beliefs are what divide people. Doubt unites them.' Our presentation is more credible and welcoming when we make space for people's doubt."