A Project Genesis website

Reiki

Question

Is the practice of Reiki permitted?

Answer

According to the International Center for Reiki Training (reiki.org), “While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.”

Based on that statement, it sounds all right. Sometimes, however, there is a difference between theory and practice. One would have to see it in practice to verify that there is no idolatry. But in principle, it sounds like any other healing practice (maybe even better than traditional medicine which often says, “take this pill and you’ll feel better” which errs on the side of avodah zara if there is no tefila involved).

Rabbi Seinfeld
daasbooks.com

Follow-up question

Question

In the Beginner Reiki or 1st Level Reiki training, a symbol is taught to the students. This symbol is to be visualized on the Reiki practitioner’s hands as they minister to the patient.

It is also known that in Intermediate or 2nd Level Reiki, two additional symbols are taught. One is to be visualized on the hands and used when one wishes to facilitate healing in the subconscious or unconscious mind of the patient. The second symbol is to be visualized and used on the hands while imagining the image of a remotely located patient to be “held” between the practitioner’s hands.

Does this use of symbolic imagery constitute a form of idolatry?

Answer

I don’t think so, but don’t have enough information to say for sure. The basic framework is that a practice is idolatrous if it ascribes even the slightest power to an object or force other than God.

Rabbi Seinfeld
http://rabbiseinfeld.blogspot.com