snapshot of a public talk through a window
A summary of … “PR experiences”
Paradox! Oftentimes Reiki people complain that Reiki is not adequately recognised by the public, that hospitals do not incorporate Reiki sufficiently and that politicians do not have Reiki on their agendas. And then there are journalists and medical doctors who say: “You don’t show yourself enough!”
How to talk about Reiki?
A few weeks ago I overheard participants at a Reiki conference wondering how one could present Reiki in public. These were Reiki Masters! I believe it should be part of standard training of Masters that they learn how to give Reiki lectures. Privately or in public.
There are many who call themselves “Master” because they have received a Masters’ initiation. For them learning how to present Reiki is part of a formal training at the end of which they call themselves “Reiki Teachers”. There are professional associations who give advanced training to this effect. At the end of the day, though, any Reiki practitioner should be able to give voice to his privilege of Reiki – not just the teachers. For them the answer is:
Speak your own truth, i.e. your personal, subjective experience and recount what results you believe have come from the treatment. And: the less you talk and the quicker you treat, the easier it is. Because the Reiki explains itself.
“Be daring”, says the doctor
The head of a major hospital in Switzerland criticized Reiki practitioners for not transparently communicating that they give Reiki treatments to a patient because of their preconceived opinion that medics would “not approve”. He invited us to be more transparent and up-front. Furthermore, he strongly recommended that patients should ask for Reiki treatments in hospitals – no matter if they receive it or not, because this will ease Reiki to find its way into the awareness of officials.
A nurse notes Reiki treatments in her daily reports despite the fact that Reiki is neither recognized nor paid by the medical aid in her hospital. Her rationale is that she contributes to the consciousness of Reiki with her notes.
Radio: for the traditionalists
Recently I posted an article addressed to the Reiki community at large inviting them to be more pro-actively audible and visible. Soon afterwards the MDR (Middle German Radio station) called. The national TV station, to whom they belong, ran a week under the theme of “I believe”. They invited me to give an interview on Reiki. If you speak German, here it is (10 minutes):
Podcast: for the young and young at heart
Around the time of the Radio adventure a man in his early 20ies called. Together with a friend he just launched a podcast targeting primarily a young audience (below 25); they release interviews focusing on spirituality. We had a wonderfully relaxed dialogue touching upon many topics – including men and their motorbikes .
Public talks and the Internet
For the last 10 years or so the attendance at public talks has gradually diminished. This observation is made in many fields of activities. One of the explanations is that people inform themselves more and more on the internet. Whether this trend will reverse in the near future may be wishful thinking – we shall see. But the internet will probably not disappear. Therefore, social media platforms serve as the soap boxes of modern day as fleeting as entries there may be with the on-rush of ever more new postings.
Websites provide for a more permanent presence in the net and Video message seem to be particularly popular. My wife and I have been filmed by TV station a few years ago. Each video is about 5 minutes – far too long for today’s viewer whose attention must be grabbed within 60 seconds…. If you would like to see our videos nonetheless, here is Mischa’s and here is mine.
Conclusion
This entry summarizes some of the recent activities. The question of “public relations” in Reiki matters has been a pending one for practically 100 years …. 95 to be precise – if we consider 1922 the birthyear of Reiki, which, btw, reminds me of the celebration in 2022 (more here).
The key message: Dare to speak about Reiki, no matter what your experience and allow yourself to be surprised how open the other person may respond.