I think people should be careful doing Reiki

[lottieandmia22]

This post assumes a belief in spirituality so I'm not interested in debating that specifically. If you want to please start your own thread.

From what I can see, reiki is channeling occult energy through people's bodies and is therefore potentially risky. It seems to me that new age practitioners will repeatedly say they don't believe in malevolent entities but I think this is naive.

One of my friends told me that his dad was never the same after he became involved with reiki.

And also nearly everyone I've met who has done it was told by the reiki practitioner that they are 'special' have a 'gift' or could easily become a reiki master.

You don't know that for certain.

yeah, we do though. Science etc.

It's just faith healing. Or taking energy from the air. IMHO. No different from yoga breathing and so on. But it is a bit of a money spinner.

"You don't know that for certain."

I do, you know!

Scientists admit they don't know everything. Well, the ones where their ego isn't so huge they can't see past their own head that is.
A fool thinks himself to be wise but a wise man knows himself to be a fool - Shakespeare
,

vitalogy.

Exactly.

I am a scientist who has worked in research for two decades.
It is a bad and arrogant scientist who has a closed mind.

Of course scientists don't know everything. But they do know some things!

speakout and vitoligy ☺️

vitalogy

My apologies for placemarking.

I am a scientist who has worked in research for two decades

I hope that is not true

It is a bad and arrogant scientist who has a closed mind
Good scientists have very open minds: to new SCIENCE. Not woo bollocksology.
Scientists who believe in anti-science, which most woo is, are very very bad scientists. For example a scientist who believed in homeopathy would have to wilfully disregard all known laws of physics and chemistry. That would be a very bad scientist.

A fool thinks himself to be wise but a wise man knows himself to be a fool - Shakespeare

Socrates, actually. Shakespeare was just quoting it as a well known by then proverb.

metacrisis I apply strict scientific principles to my work.

I also have a personal life. I know many other research scientists, professors and heads of Departments.
One- head of a large Cancer Research Unit has taken his two year old son for homeopathic treatment. Another swears by amber teething necklaces.

These people are not arrogant.

@ metacrisis. I love Mumsnet!

These people are not arrogant

They are idiots though.

They are idiots though.

They clearly are not. The man who uses a homeopath runs a large MRC genetic Unit with 500 research staff.
He is a global class scientist.

Everything is energy, including us humans. Reiki works with that energy, for those who choose to use this method, to help themselves with what ever they are seeking help with.

To call it an "occult" practice, in the negative, very clearly illustrates that you have not researched reiki at all. And you don't actually talk from experience, which is fine - as you are allowed an opinion, of course.But it's hardly objective! But please don't knock till you have tried it.

And as for charlatans, well these exist in every area of life/work/practice etc. I can't tell you how much reiki has helped me in the past. It calmed me down and helped me to gain greater in a very stressful bad time in my life.

“One- head of a large Cancer Research Unit has taken his two year old son for homeopathic treatment. Another swears by amber teething necklaces.

These people are not arrogant.”

No. Not arrogant. But not applying the scientific method. One only hopes they are more scrupulous in their professional lives.

" They are idiots though. "

no they're not, don't be so arrogant.

“Everything is energy, including us humans.“

What does this mean?

Everything is energy, including us humans. Reiki works with that energy, for those who choose to use this method, to help themselves with what ever they are seeking help with

you realise that doesn't mean anything? We are energy? What kind of energy? What about the rest of us that is not "energy"?

no they're not, don't be so arrogant

Of course they are. Homeopathy is disproved by the most basic of science. Any scientist knows it cannot and is not real. Any scientist going for homeopathy is a monumental fool.

And amber teething necklaces? I didn’t think anyone believed in those any more......

oh homeopathy - ye I agree with you there.

My godmother had a colleague who had been hit on the head by a falling lavatory cistern (remember when they were above?) and was treating herself homoepathically.. Godmother suggested whacking herself round the head with another, smaller cistern...

Was also very cynical about reiki but have seen it in action and it was good for my dog..

However, calling people 'idiots' doesn't do you any favours.

Personally I think Christianity is a load of tosh but if the thought of going to heaven comforts a dying person then who am I to argue?

BertrandRussell no they are not applying scientific method when they do these things in their private lives.
But scientists are human, and most humble enough to realise they don't have all the answers.
Any many are happy to take their scientific hats off and explore other ways of thinking.

My daughter had two teeth extractions recently as part of her orthodontic treatment.
The orthodontist recommended that she takes Arnica ( a homeopathic treatment) to assist with healing and prevent bruising.
I questioned this and he said " Don't ask me to explain- I admit it makes no rational sense" He said that in 30 years of dentistry he had seen so many patients taking Arnica who healed faster and better.
And always recommends it.
When I gave birth my midwives told me to take Arnica in my hospital bag.
I had a car accident a few years ago- my GP gave me Arnica from his desk to help heal the bruising.
My good friend is an infant feeding advisor at a large hospital.
Part of her work involves working with premature babies.
They have a regular Reiki practitioner come into SCBU to attend to sick babies.
She has watched many babies become more stable, breath better, more regular heartbeat after a Reiki session.

She has no explanation, she admits it flies in the face of science but she welcomes the practitioner because she has seen it work.

All idiots I guess.