Lodestone & Lady's Mantle - Finding Real Magic - Is he a real Witch/Reiki Master?

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  Finding Real Magic
by Carmin

    Myriad Traditions give us very specific instructions on the PROPER way to perform magic, usually contradictory, with the assumed purpose of giving us something to fight about. The top three on the list are the PROPER way to cast a circle, elemental grouping of ritual tools, and last but not least, the legitimacy of someone else's degree or Tradition. Lets begin, shall we?

Is he a real Witch/Reiki Master?

    Something that has greatly concerned me as of late is the emergence of the title-horse. Though not a recent invention, the garnering of titles by an individual, none of which trace a historical or otherwise valid lineage, seem to lead down a path of inflation. If the majority of practitioners have 2O cords on their belt, how valuable are any of them? If something is so easily acquired, taking little more than a few nights work to write up the rules of your ultra shiny brand new Tradition and declare yourself High Muckety-Muck Priestess (times infinity) of it, how precious will your rites be? Will it give you strength in times of trouble? Will it work?
To that end, does the teacher with obscure titles and great hair have more to give you in a workshop than that oh so vanilla Gardnerian down the block that's been practicing for 15 years? Oh, and by the way, before you answer that, the latter won't charge you a $300 "love donation" to speak to her.

    The only simple solution to this is also the most difficult. Get to know your community. Talk, play, work, and build relationships. Get to know the value of the person, of their insight and experience. To paraphrase a great spiritual leader, 'Judge them not by the color of their cords, but by the content of their character'. Doing so leaves us less vulnerable to charlatans and more interdependent; Less likely be made insignificant in your sincere efforts because of someone else's plastic, photoshopped glamour. I encourage you to be more real. Sans image consultant, breast augmentation, and love donation.

    I digress. The easiest way to determine whether or not someone is a real "Reiki Master" is by asking them. "How long have you been doing this?", "What is your lineage?", "Why do you practice Reiki?" That last one may throw them for a loop. Keep your head on your shoulders and don't be content with pat, formulaic answers. Ask them why they charge for their attunements, a sore spot among Reiki practitioners. Some believe that if something is not difficult to attain, it lessens its value and ability to work. It has been reckoned that in a capitalist society, this means money. A shrinking minority believe that it should be available to all that need it, and the Universe will extract its own price from the receiver, whether that be a confrontation with your broken pieces or being set on a path you did not plan on, or necessarily even want, such as healing and attuning others. One final point to touch on: Reiki is like sex. If they have to ask if you can feel it yet, they aren't doing it right.

Part 3 - Is She a Real Shaman?

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