Master / Teacher Level Certification Requirements

Class Schedule

 

So You've Decided to Become a Reiki Master...

Making the decision to become a Reiki Teacher is one which requires not only a commitment to your prospective students, but most importantly, to yourself. In the article "Being & Becoming the Master", I talk about the idea that being a Reiki Master is so much more than mastering Reiki. It is all about Mastering the self. This does not mean that you have to be perfect all of the time. It means that you recognize and take ownership of areas where you still are a "work in progress" and that you do not blame others for your own shortcomings. It means that you do your absolute best you can, to live the Usui principles everyday and recognizing that you are continually working (and playing) at "being the best me I can be". It means living a life of integrity, honesty and being true to yourself, and we can't forget, having gratitude for everything that life offers you, especially the challenges.

William Lee Rand also talks about the idea that being a Master is not about Mastering Reiki, but allowing Reiki to master you. I had an "A-ha" moment. What he was really saying is that you no longer follow your own personal (ego) will, but are now being allowed to be guided by Divine Will. The more consistently you can do this, the closer to being a true master you become. This process, does not happen overnight.

Becoming a true "Master" in a continual and lifelong process, but of course, in order to teach Reiki, there are some technical things that we must know before we will feel confident in teaching our first few classes.

When I took my Master level, I had some guidance from my teacher, but would have preferred to have been even more prepared before teaching my first class. This is why Danard and I have chosen to have some requirements of our students before we will confidently "set them free" to teach on their own. We do this because we wish to see all of you succeed in your career. We want to pass on to you the best guidance that we can offer so that you will be confident when you teach your first class. It is the biggest compliment to a teacher, when a student is not only successful, but surpasses the teacher. This means that the teacher has done their job well.

Why Should I spend So Much of My Time (and money) to Get My Reiki Teacher Certification, when I can go somewhere else and take a few weekend course and get the same thing?

We have had a few potential students ask us this, so we feel that is important to answer this question up front and honestly with you. We want to not only see you have a flourishing business as a Reiki Master / Teacher, so that the legacy that Usui, Hayashi and Takata left behind, can be continued at the highest level possible. But we also want you to truly be the Master you are meant to be.

We realize that few Reiki teachers these days, have such stringent training and requirements in order to receive certification as a Reiki teacher, but we have chosen to give our students the best training possible in order to be prepared to go out and teach. We have also chosen to follow a more traditional method for certifying Reiki teachers.

It is only in recent years that Reiki has been taught as 3-4 weekend courses and then the student is allowed to teach. Traditionally, a student in training to become a teacher would study under their teacher for months and even years of apprenticing, volunteering their time in the clinic, in meditation and doing self healing, etc, in order to complete their training. It wasn't until the Master felt that the student was able to uphold the teachings of Usui and worked on themselves and others, as well as that they truly understood what the position of Mastery truly meant. Originally, there were no "levels" as we have them today either. You were taught the path of Mastery which involved much, much more than a few weekend classes.

These days there is a permeating attitude of the "fast food" mentality, which is okay if a person only wants to lead that kind of superficial lifestyle. But when it comes to truly doing the work that it takes to uncover the Divine being that you are, this attitude can only carry you so far. And unfortunately I have observed from countless conversations with the public, there seems to be a pervasive attitude that holding the title Reiki practitioner or even a Master does not hold the same value as it did during Usui, Hayashi and Takata's time.

I have even spoken to other Reiki Masters who don't truly value the incredible gift it is that they hold in their hands. This is because their own teachers did not understand this and consequently, did not pass that knowledge and wisdom onto their students. If even the masters hold the belief that "it's just Reiki", then how can the public ever truly understand how powerful this form of healing is. Reiki is the frequency of love - and what's more powerful than the ultimate power in the universe?

It is our feeling at Thunderbird Sky, that until the attitude that "it's just Reiki" needs to change. Until then, the general public will not see the value in what we do as practitioners and teachers. The only way to do this is to go back to a more traditional method of teaching Reiki. Though we have modernized our program to include the basics of how to run a business, marketing, and other healing techniques that we not originally taught, we still follow the model that a certain amount of practice, time and self healing is required to truly be a Master in the discipline of Reiki.

As a result, we hope that our students leave our program feeling like they have received the highest value from their training possible. If you wish to continue your training with us, we welcome you with open arms. If you choose to take the easier path, we bless you on your way and truly wish you the best on your path.

Why does it cost so much to get my Master / Teacher certification when other teachers only charge to take the weekend courses?

We do realize that our program does require a certain amount of a financial commitment on your part. This is for a few reasons. The first and main reason why we charge for the classes themselves, plus the modules, evaluations, etc, is that our time, as well as yours, is valuable. What you are paying for is the time it takes for us to impart the information and review the completed assignments.

Danard and I have also had many years of experience and knowledge of what it takes to hold the title of Reiki Master / Teacher in a way that strongly represents the principles that Mikao Usui taught. We have also spent over 20 years between to two of us, working on ourselves to gain this knowledge that we pass onto our students.

In the past, and to a point, still is a belief that those who do healing work or teach about healing or spirituality, should not charge a fee for these services. At one point, the healers and teachers were compensated in a much different way for their time and wisdom that we are today. They were paid "in kind" for what they did, usually as a trade for what the healer or teacher required for their physical survival. Their clients and students would pay them by giving them offerings of food, clothing, shelter, (also tobacco in Native traditions)etc, as payment for their services. Bear in mind, that even though money wasn't exchanged like it is now, there was still an exchange.

Because we have a monetary system in place now, the trade system is based on currency. We buy our food and clothing, pay our rent / mortgage, and any other needs or wants, with money. We exchange our time and energy for money so we can live in hopefully a comfortable way.

This is also how we make our living, just as a doctor, lawyer, school teacher or bus driver (or any other professional) does. In order for there to be an "equal exchange of energy", and of course for us to pay our bills, we do have to charge for our services. We have thought long and hard about how much to charge, and for what elements of this program to actually charge for. Our goal is to make it as cost effective for you, but also in a way that respects our own time and energy we put into training our students.

We have also spent countless hours creating and revising all of the manuals, certificates, exams, certification checklists, and other documents required to make your training complete, plus the printing costs and time it takes to organize your classes and modules, and also to evaluate and mark your exam, essay and evaluation sessions. Part of the fees associated with your training, is to cover the considerable time and resources it took for us to put this program together.

Bear in mind that most "year long" spiritual and self growth programs cost anywhere from $1500 to $5000 plus, per year to participate in. And all of those programs require either a lump sum payment, or only a few smaller installments. When you tally up the fees to go from Reiki level 1 to Master Teacher with us, it will cost you between $1500 and $1700 which can take anywhere from one to several years, not a yearly fee like many other programs.

On average, it takes most students about three years to go from level 1 to Master Teacher. This works out to only about $500 to 600 per year, which is not a lot of money. Plus, we make it easier because you only pay for your courses, modules, etc, when you take them. This way, you can budget what you can afford, when you can afford it.

Can I work at my own pace?

Absolutely! We have designed this program to fit your schedule and budget.

Because our Master / Teacher requirements are much more stringent that most Reiki teachers, we also have decided that there will be no time limit to meet the requirements, as we feel that it is important to move at your own pace so that you have all the time you require to digest all of the information. This also helps to make it more cost effective for you, as you don't have to shell out a bunch of money all at once. You will be able to budget your time and money as you are able, to make the program more manageable.

Can I do more than the expected minimum requirement?

Yes. These guidelines are minimum requirements, but by no means, are a maximum. If you feel you wish to do more than is listed here, by all means, we welcome you to do so. We encourage you to do as much as you feel is required over and above what is listed, so that you will be completely confident in your ability to teach Reiki to the best of your ability!

I've noticed that there have been occasional changes and updates to the program.

You are correct. This is because as we as teachers, grow and are learning more, we may occasionally make changes to the program that we feel will benefit our students. We recommend that you check back with us (or to this page) to make sure you are up to date on what your requirements are. As we are all individually and continually growing, so is this program.

We only make changes when we find a newer and better way of giving you the best training we can. We will generally make changes when we've either received feedback from enough of you to require a change be made, or we receive new information that we feel would greatly enhance your training. So please make sure to check back regularly to keep up to date.

Depending on what the cost might be for our students, or the time it would take, sometimes these changes become absolute requirements, sometimes they become supplemental information that is optional for your certification. It will always be stated when new requirements are added or modified and if the changes are optional or required from that point on and if there is a fee attached.

If you ever have any questions, comments or feedback about the program, fees, requirements or program updates, please don't hesitate to call or email us and we will gladly address your questions or concerns.

 

Certification Requirements

A. Case Studies - No fee to submit your case studies, except for evaluation sessions

1. A min. of 10 hands on treatments – full treatments.
2. A min. of 10 hands on treatments – short treatment
3. A min. of 15 hands on treatments on yourself
4. A min. of 5 distant healing sessions on another person.
5. A min. of 21 distant healing sessions on yourself
6. A min. of 5 healing attunements
7. A min. of 5 each of each level student attunements (only to be performed on another student who already has that level Reiki attunement or a teacher)
8. (NEW) Two evaluated sessions done on either Candice or Danard.
   Fee: $25 per evaluation.

Upon completion of your case studies, you will be required to hand them in so that Candice or Danard can review them.

If you wish to have a one-on-one session about your case studies after completion, please let us know. You will receive a one hour session at no cost to review your case studies and have any questions answered that may have come up. For additional review time, there is a $25/hour fee.

 

B. Private or Semi-Private Coaching sessions - $50 / session

A minimum of seven sessions with either Candice or Danard is also required to complete your Master / Teacher certification. Private coaching sessions are generally 1.5 – 2 hours in length. If you wish longer sessions, add $25 per extra hour.

The first seven modules are required, and the final 3 (marked in brackets as optional) are recommended, but are not a requirement.

Each one of these modules must be completed:

1. 1 attunement practice module
2. 1 course outline & manual prep module
3. 1 "Being the Master" module
4. 1 Intuitive Development module
5. 1 Elements of a Successful Practice module
6. 1 Review of all levels in preparation to teach your first class
7. 1 Marketing Strategies Module
8. 1 Working with Crystals module (optional)
9. 1 Working with Guides and Angels module (optional)
10. 1 Sound Healing module  (optional)
    

 

C. Auditing a Min. of two Reiki courses (any level) - $50 per class audited

 

D. Assistant Teach any or all levels - (NEW) There will now be a $25 fee per class that you assist teach for any new students who have not already enrolled in the program. This fee covers the preparation time with your teacher, before each class that you will assist, as well as the half hour debriefing session after each class.

If a current student already enrolled in the program wishes to voluntarily pay this fee, we will respectfully accept it, but it is not a requirement.

This final step in your process will help to build confidence in your ability to teach Reiki and pass on the attunements under the guidance of an experienced Reiki Master. You will be required to assist teach a minimum of one Reiki class in each of the levels to complete your training.

Assisting to teach a class will help you feel more at ease and relaxed when you teach your first class on your own. You may assist teach with one or more classes - it is entirely up to you, but it is highly recommended that you assist with once class of each level before starting your own classes.

If you wish to have a one-on-one session with Candice or Danard after each class to "debrief", please let us know in advance. You will receive a half hour private session after each class that you assist with, at no cost. Over and above half an hour, there will be a $25 / hour fee.

 

E. Final Exam and Essay - (NEW) $25 each upon submission to Candice or Danard as a fee to cover the time it takes to mark the exam and essay.

The final exam and essay will be taken after all other requirements have been completed and evaluated by your teacher. The essay topic will be up to the discretion of the student and will be discussed with your teacher before you begin working on it.

 

We congratulate all of you on your decision to become a Reiki Master Teacher and look forward to assisting you in your process!

For more info, feel free to contact us about becoming a Reiki Master