A form of New Age healing which has become very popular in recent years is "Reiki". This is basically a practice of laying on of hands for the healing of the sick. Although this present writer has observed that many people who are engaged in this practice are useually seeking to do good, there are some causes for concern, especially about where the 'source' of the healings originate.

One of the most disturbing things about the practice of Reiki is the involvement with spirits. Nowhere in any of the Reiki literature that I have seen, so far, is there any explanation of what these spirits are. It just seems to be taken for granted that they exist and are involved with Reiki beliefs. Most of the quotes are taken from the booklet: "Reiki. First Degree Manual." By S. J. Culshaw, Reiki Master.

The Reiki Guides

• "Divine beings called Reiki Guides sometimes assist in the healing." (The Manual, p. 11).

• The Reiki Guides are present at "attunement", when a person is given the Reiki power. This is performed by the Reiki Master and "...attended and guided by astral Reiki Guides". It is worrying to discover that this process of "attunement" is "...controlled by forces beyond the Reiki Master." (The Manual, p. 17). So these Guides are free to what they please and no one, not even the Reiki Master, is able to stop them.

• The following is taken from a woman's magazine called "Chat", issue 36, 6 Sept., 97, p. 6. The background of the story is about a lady who suffered back pains for many years. All kinds of methods, both medical and spiritual, were tried but to no avail. Eventually this lady was introduced to Reiki healing. Sceptically, she met with a Reiki Master who, to her astonishment, healed her back problem. From this point on she was hooked and practised Reiki on herself daily. The story continues: "But then I discovered a strange side effect. One afternoon, I sat down, inhaled deeply and visualized the Reiki symbols. Then I felt heat soar through me. My body started to shake. Then this booming male voice suddenly filled the room. It sounded like a Red Indian chief from an old John Wayne movie. And you know what the scariest thing off all was? It was coming from inside me - I was speaking in a forked tongue! I tried not to, but I couldn't stop myself! Bathed in sweat, I phoned John Shango and was relieved to hear my own voice. "That's wonderful, Jill", he exclaimed. "You've been chosen by the Reiki healing spirits. They'll be your companions for ever now." Since then, I've had 35 different ones speaking through me. There's Dr Usie, the Japanese man who founded Reiki, Little Flower, with her lilting voice, Chief Sitting Bull, who always sounds angry - and many more. I can talk to them all whenever I want - I just ask them out loud to answer me, and they always do. They speak to me in their own language and the translation comes through my mouth, too. I feel like a very exotic telephone exchange! Not only have I got a new lease of life, I can even heal other peoples pain now. It's wonderful - like having 35 guardian angels!".

• Belief in God not necessary. Those who therefore profess to be Christians and get involved in Reiki could well be having fellowship with atheist's (c.f. 2 Cor. 6:14).

• "...you do not have to believe in God to practice Reiki, just love." (The Manual, p. 5).

• All healing from Reiki Practitioners cost money. This originates from the founder's belief (Dr. Mikao Usui) that for one to appreciate Reiki, it had to be charged for. (The Manual, p. 7, 8).

• If a Reiki healing does not work p. 10 of The Manual tells us that "...some people do not want or are not meant to be healed." So if a healing does not work in Reiki, the person who is sick gets the blame and the Reiki practitioner, or Master, gets away scott free!

• Reiki believes in the Buddhist concept of Karma (The Manual, p. 11).