My apprenticeship in Reiki has began in early 2007, but the reasons behind the circumstances that have led me to learn the healing art are rooted in over a decade earlier.
Late in my teens I was diagnosed with Cervical Dystonia, an incurable neurological disorder that has been a detriment to my lifestyle and my life for many years. I tried everything short of surgery to try and fix it but to no avail.
Then about 3 years ago my parents found out about a visiting touch therapist of whom they heard a lot of good things. Our neighbours had a teenage son who previously suffered from Bell's Palsy and this healer was able to cure him completely! My family decided to visit her and see if she could offer us any help. When I was first introduced to her she immediately hugged me and exclaimed that I had a wonderful energy about me.
In turn she gave each of us a short hands-on treatment. When she tended to me last, she told me that, like her, I had the ability to draw pain and heal through touch. She briefly showed me how to lay-on hands and boldly predicted that in a couple of years I would be doing the same work as her.A couple of years later I was visiting friends and relatives in England with my wife (then fiancee) Alli. One of our family members mentioned that she had been suffering some pain, so Alli quickly mentioned that I have a gift for hands-on healing and encouraged me to demonstrate. After laying my hands on the woman, she told us that it really helped and that it seemed like I could really do this kind of stuff. She told me about Reiki and encouraged me to find out more about it.
After coming back home from the trip I spent months reading books and websites to gain as much knowledge as I could about Reiki, chakras, crystals, and energy medicine. When I felt that I was prepared enough, I sought and found Vivian—a very nice Reiki master/instructor that I really liked—and she taught me formally about Reiki, as well as passed on a level 1 Reiki attunement and award me with a Reiki Level 1 certificate. After a month of practicing and training my new-gained abilities I came back to Vivian for the level 2 class, attunement, and certificate.
Shortly after those events I came to live in Owatonna, MN, and have been practicing level 2 Reiki on family, friends, acquaintances, and anyone who was interested in order to gain experience. The feedback I got was always positive and I felt encouraged to continue on my spiritual journey. Finally in April of 2009 I felt like I was ready to advance and took a Reiki master class from a very-well known Reiki master teacher in the Reiki community: Diane Anderson. It was an amazing class and I have learned a great deal. Two months later I took her Reiki master teacher class to finish my training. This is the highest level one can go.
In August of 2009 Alli and I have moved to live in Northfield. There is a wonderful new-age store here called the Monarch Gift Shop where I have been given the opportunity to give Reiki healing sessions, as well as seminars and classes. Ever since starting to work at Monarch I have been blessed with being able to share the Reiki gift with all who may need it. I am also happy to report that after practicing self-Reiki for this long my Cervical Dystonia is almost completely gone!
Lineage
A Reiki lineage lists the passage of Reiki energy attunement from
master to student beginning with its originator—Mikao Usui—and going
along until myself (and hopefully some future students some day.)
Dr. Mikao Usui Dr. Chujiro Hayashi Hawayo Takata Iris Ishikura Arthur Robertson Rick and Emma Ferguson Lynne Jenkins Marlene George Barb Keshen Vivian Eilon Igal Vainshtein (Level I & II) |
Dr. Mikao Usui Dr. Chujiro Hayashi Hawayo Takata Virginia Samdahl
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Igal's Students Level I: Toby Anderson, Anna Sheehan, Fellina Fucci, Michele Gehrke, Linda Brown, Alli Vainshtein, Deb Buchbinder, Elizabeth Ringhofer, Heidi Griffin. |
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Resume
Download my Reiki resume. Multiple formats are available for your convenience.
Version 1 (Office 2007)
Version 2 (Office 97-2003)
Version 3 (Windows WordPad)
Presentation
Download my slide-show presentation. You need Microsoft Powerpoint to view it.
Version 1 (MS Office 2007)
Version 2 (MS Office 97-2003)