INTRODUCTION
When people are starting out their search to learn Reiki, one of the most common questions is 'what is the cost of a Reiki Level 1 course?' Most in-person Level 1 Reiki courses in Melbourne cost between $350-$550, give or take . If you search enough, you're bound to find some cheaper Reiki courses out there, and there are some that cost up to $1000 or even more. The majority, however, sit between $350-550.
It is worth noting that you might be able to learn Reiki online for $75, but in my view, online learning of Reiki is something I'd approach with caution. You can read more about online Reiki courses here. For the purpose of this discussion, we will stick to in-person courses.
QUICK OVERVIEW: Understanding the Cost and Factors of Reiki Level 1 Courses
Key Factors Influencing Course Price:
Length of the Course: Reiki courses vary in duration, from a few hours to two full days. Longer courses tend to offer more in-depth training, including sufficient time for Reiju (Attunements), hands-on practice, and understanding Reiki's history and principles.
Size of the Course: Larger classes might be cheaper but often at the cost of personalized instruction. Smaller classes allow for more individual attention, thorough practice, and a deeper connection with the teacher.
Quality of Teaching: The depth and quality of teaching can vary significantly. It's essential to consider the teacher's experience, dedication, and the authenticity of the teachings.
Lineage and Authenticity: Ensure your Reiki teacher can trace their lineage back to Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki. This guarantees the authenticity of the teachings.
Post-Course Support: Ongoing support and mentorship from your teacher are crucial for maintaining and deepening your practice. Look for teachers who offer regular follow-up gatherings and continued Reiju.
Choosing a Reiki course involves more than just considering the cost. It’s about finding the right teacher and course that provide a comprehensive, authentic, and supportive learning experience. Your investment in Reiki is not just financial but also in your well-being and spiritual growth. Prioritize quality, authenticity, and ongoing support to ensure a fulfilling and enriching Reiki journey.
DETAILED EXPLORATION: Factors Influencing Course Price
Length of the Course
Some Reiki courses run for a few hours only, others run for a day. The vast majority of courses run for two full days. It is important to consider the depth of what you might learn in the shorter courses vs. the longer ones. Here we then get into a question of quality of teaching and value for money.
In my experience, to properly explore all the practices, their purpose and offering within the system of practices, allowing enough time for four Reiju (Attunements) per student (which need to be nicely spaced out), exploring the history of Reiki, practicing working with the energy as well as allowing enough time for hands-on practice and questions and sharing amongst students, two full days is really required. And I believe that further learning is necessary even after that if you can attend regular follow-up gatherings (you want to make sure your Teacher offers these).
Traditionally Reiki in Japan was not taught workshop-style like it is now; it was taught over a series of months and years. Students would attend regular practice gatherings weekly or fortnightly where they would learn the practices and for continued learning and deepening of their skills and relationship with the energy. It was an ongoing pursuit with the Teacher there to mentor them. That is important to keep in mind when searching for a Reiki course if you want a deep and meaningful connection and understanding of your own practice.
Size of the Course
If a course takes 10-20 students, they may offer the course at a cheaper rate because they can cover their overheads, the value of their time and profits more easily with larger groups. There may be some compromises, however, learning Reiki in a bigger class, such as less time for the most important aspect of learning Reiki, Reiju (Attunements), less time for practical, hands-on experience, and less time for questions and discussions. More on that below.
I have attended courses with 20 students and some with only 2-3 students. The smaller classes were without a doubt my preference.
Time Needed for Reiju: In the smaller classes, the Teacher wasn't running against the clock to perform the traditional four Reiju on students (which is advised to be at least 5 minutes per student, per Reiju). Reiju is incredibly important, if not THE most important aspect of learning Reiki and any compromise to this may not be worth any possible savings in dollars (I recommend reading more on the importance of Reiju here to understand the vital importance it holds for students).
I once attended a course in Melbourne that was marketed as an award-winning program teaching traditional Japanese Reiki. The class size was quite large, and to my surprise, we received only one Reiju over the two-day course, instead of the traditional four that beginner students are supposed to receive. The teacher claimed that one Reiju was as effective as four, but it was clear that the large class size made it impractical to administer all four to each student within the available time. In traditional Japanese Reiki, Reiju was given to students every week to strengthen their connection to the energy and helping them to continue opening up as channels of Reiki. The more Reiju students received, the better. The four Reiju given in workshop-style classes, are considered enough to really start students off with, in terms of their connection to Reiki and capacity to channel it but not too many which might be energetically overwhelming for students in that short period of time.
Even in courses where all four Reiju are given to each student in larger classes, Teacher would necessarily have to spend much less than the ideal five minutes per student just to fit them all in over the two-day period.
In my opinion, compromising such an important aspect of the student's connection and opening to Reiki is best avoided if you want to get the most from your Reiki course and Reiki practice.
Time Needed for all the Practices and Individual Guidance: In addition to the issue of Reiju, it is vital for students learning that there is plenty of time for students to share and ask questions, plenty of time for students to practice the techniques, and for each student to receive the attention and individual guidance that is important to receive as they begin doing the practices. This is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, in larger groups. Remember, your first Reiki class will lay the foundation of your future practice, it is important to get good, personalized instruction at this level. Most Reiki Teachers limit their classes to 4-5 students for that reason.
Questions to Ask When Searching for a Reiki Level 1 Course in Melbourne
My recommendation to you when searching for a Level 1 Reiki course, aside from looking at the cost, is that you ask any potential Reiki Master/Shihan/Teacher:
How many students they take as a maximum
How many Reiju they offer each student in their Level 1 Reiki course
How long they spend with each student on Reiju.
OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SEARCHING FOR A REIKI LEVEL 1 COURSE IN MELBOURNE
When it comes to Reiki, I would suggest that question shouldn't be "How much does it cost?" but rather, "What course and Teacher should I learn Reiki with to gain the most from Reiki and my experience?" As we can see from the length of the course and class size alone, there are many factors which impact the quality of teaching you may receive.
I will briefly share my recommendation of what to look for beyond just the cost when choosing a Level 1 Reiki course.
Lineage of the Reiki Teacher
As mentioned above, I highly recommend you ensure the course is in-person. Reiki involves Reiju (Attunements), an energetic transfer from Teacher to student, which opens up your energy channels and enhances your innate healing ability. This process was always traditionally in person by the Founder of Reiki and I believe it is important to trust in the wisdom of the Founder. It is questionable whether Reiju can be effectively done remotely and I personally wouldn't take that risk.
Also, make sure your Reiki Shihan can show you their lineage tracing back to Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki. This lineage is a mark of authenticity. If a teacher is unwilling to share their lineage, be cautious.
Choosing the Right Reiki System For You
There are significant differences between Western and Japanese Reiki courses. Western Reiki, known as Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho, often incorporates new-age techniques and has removed some traditional spiritual and healing practices. Japanese Reiki, on the other hand, aims to preserve the original teachings of Usui Sensei, focusing on simplicity and deep spiritual practices.
Do some research around the different systems and teachings before deciding which path you want to take with Reiki. Over the years, I have personally trained and practiced in several Western and Japanese systems. In the end, practicing and teaching Reiki based on Komyo ReikiDo is where I landed, because it felt like a complete and deep spiritual and healing practice that retained he integrity of the original traditional Japanese Reiki system of practice.
Go with what you are most drawn to.
Choosing the Right Teacher
Through my own experiences and observations, the integrity of the teacher is paramount. Learning from someone who embodies the essence of Reiki and has a deep commitment to their own practice can make all the difference in your journey.
Throughout my years as a Reiki practitioner, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of authentic teachings. But I've also seen the pitfalls of subpar instruction—teachers lacking real-life experience and commitment to their own practice, some with plenty of credentials but superficial experience. This can leave students disappointed and disconnected from the true essence of Reiki. I've seen too many students walk away from Reiki courses feeling disillusioned, struggling to maintain a consistent practice beyond the class and their connection to Reiki dwindling over time.
For those who haven't abandoned Reiki all-together (as many do), those who quest for genuine teachings often search for another Reiki course beyond the first, which means paying twice for the same level because they were unhappy with their first experience and a potential loss of enthusiasm for the Reiki journey.
That's why I urge you to look beyond the cost of a course and seek out teachers who offer a gateway to a lifelong journey of growth and healing. Your relationship with your Reiki Teacher sets you up with your relationship with Reiki and extends beyond the duration of the course. They will be your ongoing guide and support, providing wisdom from their own experience and spiritual understanding as you deepen your practice and spiritual path.
To choose the best Reiki Teacher for you, consider several factors: their credentials, course content, teaching methodology, and how well you resonate with their approach. Seek recommendations from reliable sources, speak to the teacher directly and get a feel for them and attend introductory workshops (if they offer them) for insights into a particular course.
Another crucial aspect of a good Reiki Teacher, is their own personal spiritual practice and experience of Reiki. Look for someone with a dedicated daily spiritual and healing practice and a robust professional Reiki background as all these factors allow them to cultivate deep insight, knowledge, and wisdom over time. Ensure they embody the principles they teach. Reiki is not merely a skill but a way of life—a commitment to a way of being.
Beware of Teachers who opted for quick certifications or teachers lacking substantial hands-on experience. True mastery requires ongoing dedication and immersion in the practice. Speak to them directly to gauge their experience, inquire about their personal journey and insights, and assess the depth of their wisdom. Most of all, trust your gut. You will sense their energy and have a feeling about them overall. It will guide you. Sometimes teachers may have impressive credentials and long experience, they may talk the talk or even make, big, broad, impressive claims, but may lack the depth of genuine practice or spiritual understanding you seek. Trust your instincts more than anything else when selecting a teacher; authenticity and depth of practice are key.
Post-Course Practice and Support
Continued practice, learning and mentoring: Continued support after completing Level 1 Reiki course is vital for maintaining and deepening your practice. In my experience many students need support in trying to find a way to create regular practice habits and as they begin to move into their own practice, more questions and new experiences continually occur. Having regular mentoring with your Teacher is vital.
This includes regular practice meet-ups, where students all get to practice self-healing together, ask questions and share their ongoing experiences and practice Reiki on each other, all with the continued guidance and mentoring of their Teacher. When looking for a Reiki 1 course, I recommend you look for a Teacher who provides continuing mentorship and who offers regular in-person and online gatherings.
Receiving Reiju post-course: On of the many reasons I chose to practice and Teach Japanese Reiki, is because Reiju is given at each student and community gathering, much like Usui Sensei, The Founder of Reiki did with his students over the weeks, months and beyond that they attended his gatherings. This is not done in Western style systems. Continued and regularly receiving Reiju gives students a helping hand to continue on their path of strengthening their connection to the energy and opening up as channels in addition to their personal Reiki practice in between Reiki gatherings. This may influence, more than cost, whether you decide to learn a Western or Japanese system of Reiki.
Conclusion
When searching for a Reiki Level 1 course in Melbourne, it's essential to consider not just the cost, which typically ranges between $350-$550 in Melbourne, but also factors such as course length, class size, and the teacher's lineage and authenticity. Smaller classes with more personalized instruction and traditional practices are generally preferred for a deeper and more meaningful learning experience. Beyond the initial course, ongoing support and mentoring from a dedicated teacher are crucial for maintaining and deepening your Reiki practice.
Choosing a Reiki course is more than a financial decision; it’s an investment in your well-being and spiritual growth. Prioritize the quality of the learning experience and teaching, the content of the Reiki course or Reiki system, authenticity and spiritual depth of the Teacher, and ongoing support. Reiki is a lifelong journey, and the right course, teacher and community will make all the difference.
If you have any questions, or want to chat to more about Reiki please contact me and we can arrange a time to chat. If you would like to book a Reiki session in Melbourne (or distance Reiki worldwide), you can book an appointment here or if you would like to learn Reiki yourself, sign up for Melbourne Reiki courses here. Alternatively, you can read more about learning Reiki here and see the up-to-date course costs for Level I Reiki here.
I look forward to connecting with you for Reiki!
Warmest,
Fiona x
Fiona Phillips
Certified Reiki Shihan (Teacher) and Practitioner
Komyo ReikiDo in Melbourne
Within The Space
Comments