Last week I reviewed my past year with a business advisor. We looked at my income from giving Reiki treatments over the past couple of years. At the end she declared it is possible to make a part time living as a Reiki practitioner (she had been skeptical)!

This is based on giving around 4 treatments per week, some of which were voluntary. More than this would of course be possible too, so it should be perfectly possible to make a living as a Reiki practitioner.

Hi Omie

The next newsletter will be out in the New Year. In the meantime have you had a look at our annual Gathering with Susan and Paul Mitchell, both of whom were students of Hawayo Takata? Booking is now open if you are interested in joining us. You can find more details here: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=bskm48kab&oeidk=a07e86ud5gwed0379b3

It would be great to meet you there!

The Reiki Council is running a survey about Reiki practice in the UK - it will hopefully help them understand more about those of us trying to make a living through Reiki. You can do the survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ReikiCouncil2013

Hi Kate,

Its the newsletter im trying to have a look at, just to see when the annual events/meetings are.

Thank you for your help
Omie.

Hi Omie

Yes I'm well thanks.

Is it the Practitioner Support Network you are looking for access to?

Can you tell me what you were looking at so I can work out how to help you join?

Best wishes, Kate

Hi Kate,

Hope you are well. Could you tell me how I gain access to that support network? I have found it on here but it says I cant have acess and need to be invited to view it.

All the best,
Omie.

Thanks for letting us know how you are getting on Barbara.

Yes I was booked months ahead for the WI talks I did, so one does need to be patient! Lovely that you have found a new Reiki client - and isn't it lovely giving the first Reiki treatment to someone who hasn't experience it before!?

I think you are very wise to be cautious about canvasing your hospice patients. There's a boundary here you need to be careful not to cross and what you describe are the possible consequences! Trust that with your vision of being a Reiki practitioner clear in your mind the inspiration of how to connect with people will come and the people who need you will find you.

Meanwhile you are getting great experience in the hospice which will stand you in good stead for the future.

Just thought I would give an update on my progress. Well, the local WIs seem to book up their talks one year ahead. I have left my details with them for when they start looking for the next year. But it was worth a try. My local leisure centre has been slow to advertise their new spa days with reiki as an optional extra, so no joy there yet. I have however, had one patient booked from my advertising efforts. She seemed very happy with what was her first reiki treatment ever, and I think she may well come back next month for another.
My friends all ask why I don't canvas more with my hospice patients who may well know family members and friends who could be interested. The problem there is that as with many such organisations, giving patients personal details like phone numbers and email addresses can be a dodgy thing to do, especially if the people you treat are nearing the end of their lives or are having particular emotional problems. It is easy to get close to the people we are treating in such circumstances. However, when giving such information you may find yourself with desperate people phoning you at all hours for your help, when really they should be having proper counselling. I keep a positive mind on all this though. I truly feel that I was meant to be a reiki practitioner. I so love my hospice voluntary work, and to me, this alone justifies any expense and effort. Onwards and upwards!

Hi Kate, many thanks for your reply that is really helpful. I shall keep a look out. Best wishes :)

Hi Omie what an exciting time for you just starting our on your path with Reiki and a wider circle. I think you might find some of the workshops that are run by the TRA Practitioner Support Network (PSN) helpful. Look out for announcements of events next year. Also do you have any specific questions? Good luck!

Hi Barbara yes let us know how you get on: good luck!

Hi Sally - well I think it should be possible to make a living just with Reiki treatments, just as it is for massage or acupuncture. I think it takes time to build up a practice and we also need people to be more aware of Reiki's benefits. So having another option is a good idea especially when first starting out.

Hi everyone, I am quite new to Reiki but have recently completed my second degree level. I work full time at the moment and will be starting some volunteer work soon at a local hospice giving Reiki treatments to patients and family. I am also in the process of setting up a small treatment room at home so I have a nice place to give self treatments and also so I can offer treatments to the public. I would like to use my Reiki to suppliment my main income and wanted to ask if you had any advice for me, which I would really appreciate. I am hoping to attend Reiki shares as well and want to get as much experience as possible. thank you in advance, Omie.

Many thanks Kate for a good idea regarding networking. I will now seek out my local WI to perhaps give a short talk about Reiki and then hand my leaflets around. Will let you know how I got on.

i agree with Kate about getting lots of experience and building up confidence. I also think that Reiki on its own is not enough to earn a living from it unless you can teach and take classes. I think it is better to offer more than one therapy. I looking at training in Aromatherapy or similar to compliment my Reiki.

Hi Barbara, thanks for your reply. I think it ought to be possible for people to earn at least part of their living with Reiki without teaching.

It sounds like you are doing lots of the right things to let people know you are there and willing to offer Reiki. One of the things I've found to be really important and helps build a successful practice is being really clear about who you are, what you have to offer and who you want to help. What is also important is having confidence in your practice, so getting lots of experience is important I feel. It sounds as if you've had that in your volunteering - a really good way to experience how Reiki can work for people.

What I have also found helps is networking - in fact this is much more productive than cold advertising. Are there any local groups you could give a talk to? I just gave one to Solihull WI and was very well received. Or just joining a local community group and telling people what you do. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Hi Kate. I think most Reiki practitioners will tell you that its very difficult to make a living from it. Most will say that most of their income comes from classes. I am trying to set up my practice as we speak after doing a year of voluntary reiki for a local hospice. People love to have Reiki but they dont want to pay for it. I am approaching retirement from my usual profession and wish to do reiki practice to supplement my pension. I dont do classes as am not qualified for that. I am really pushing the boat out to advertise. Have paid for some leaflets to be printed which I did on my computer to start with. Have left them with my card at community centre, local old folks clubs, local library etc. No luck so far. I am also negotiating with local health club to have me on their books as available for spa days. Lots of doctors surgeries dont want to know. I think it will be difficult, but hopefully just earning a small supplement to my pension will be doable.

Hi Kelly

Yes it's frustrating when this happens. Were you clear with her about a cancellation policy when she made the booking? I always find that's a good idea, especially if someone has canceled before. I make it clear that I need 24 hours notice so the appointment can be offered to someone else if they don't need it. It's worth remembering also that people often cancel at the last minute because they are afraid.

As you say people often see Reiki as just a sort of relaxation that's a luxury. I think that's why it's particularly difficult at the moment, because people are being very careful with money. We need to get the message out there more that Reiki is a real benefit to health for everyone!

Hi Kate, I have just started to do bookings again and got very angry today as my client cancelled twenty mins before her appointment by text. I text back to say that she still needs to pay me and never heard back. I am fuming and never want her back again. She has messed me about once before. New terms and conditions have been added to my leaflet. It is hard, not just with Reiki but also with classes to. It is seen as a luxery after heating and food. Kelly x