Rating: 
Summary: True to Reiki's Essential Nature
Review:
Reiki is a word that points to the the ancient and Eternal Transcendent Energy of Healing and Enlightenmet Cognized by such as Jesus and The Buddha . . . Diane Stein's book "Essential Reiki" honors these ancient traditions. While there are some departures from "traditional" Usui Reiki, for me, the Energy and Resonance is palpable in this work.
Many "secrets" of Reiki, including the "Sacred Symbols," are revealed in this wonderful book. Diane has done a great service to humanity here. Highly recommended for Reiki Students and Teachers alike.
~ Ishan (a Reiki Master/Teacher)
www.AwakeningToTheEternal.org
Rating:
Summary: A Woman Ahead of her Time - A Healing Modality for Our Time
Review: Finally a place to voice my opinion about this controversial work!I think this is a great book! Not because I think it is a complete guide to reiki, or that it has the most accurate information (even for its time), or that I think it is up to date... no I think it's a great book because the author had a vision, and she wrote the teachings of reiki down when no one else would! Not to mention how entertaining some of her wacky ideas are! And if for those alone, it is worth the read! I have enjoyed a few of Steins books, and for the most part I think she is a great teacher. I think she is a freakin' nut job, but that's ok. Having been a reiki master for going on four years now, I know that a lot of what this crazed-feminist-woo woo-spiritualist has to say is not exactly reliable information! Much of it is channeled information (that means she talked to dead people, space aliens, and/or spirit guides to get it) and her radical worldview comes shining through! As many have stated, she comes off at first as a man hater. I know she is not. But yes, she is pro-fem. And that is quite all right. The most inaccurate information in her book is the bit about reiki's history in Atlantis. Not that I have been to Atlantis, I just find it a bit silly to think that in grade school people learned level one, in middle school they learned level two, and in high school they became reiki masters. That's just kind of simplified. Sure there may have been some kind of level system to a system of healing that may have came down from space aliens to Atlantians, etc. But I just doubt it would have matched so perfectly to the three level system of Usui Reiki. I don't think her book could harm you, as long as you know you don't have to be a wiccan to practice reiki! Oh, and its ok to be a straight male to practice as well! Ha! Essential Reiki is a book that revolutionized the way reiki is practiced! It brought reiki out of the dark ages where it was almost impossible for the working class to obtain such wonderful knowledge! It helped make anyone a potential healer! It kept reiki masters honest during a time of copy write, trademark, and restriction battles! And, this book had the audacity to present the sacred symbols many elitists would have liked to keep secret! All in all it's a wonderful book, and at one time this was the boldest contribution to reiki ever seen on the planet! Be Well, Stephen Mace
Rating: 
Summary: Not Being a Healer May Hinder Your Reading
Review: I am very interested in alternative medicine and I had always wanted to learn about Reiki so I ordered this book.
I was very interested through the sections on Reiki I and Reiki II, even finding her documentation on alternative's to Christ pre-33rd year life intriguing. I would like to research that more before I made much comment. I feel, however, that the sections on the 3rd degree become a little too indepth for the casual reader.
I found myself drifting off once she began discussing Kundali and Chi. It all began to run together. This is a very interesting book for a layperson up to this point and is probably a wonderful resourse for a practioner. If I am able to obtain a Reiki I attunement I will come back and edit my review.
Rating:
Summary: Don't let the controversy stop you from reading this book!
Review: I can understand why Diane Stein's Reiki teachings are so controversial; they fly in the face of those who would like to keep Reiki commercial and exclusive. I found Diane's stated goals for the book to be very honorable and nothing that should offend the true healers in our midst. She writes very clearly and with great compassion. Nowhere does she say someone can receive distance Reiki attunements. But when her teachings diverge from traditional Reiki, she says so, which gives the reader a full opportunity to take her "apocryphal" teachings or leave them. As a non-lesbian, I found nothing offensive about Diane's repeated use of feminine pronouns. She certainly says nothing anti-male, and she includes the male versions of the Chi Kung exercises. I don't know that I accept Diane's version of Christ's life, but it's such a small portion of the book and has no bearing on her Reiki teachings. In my opinion, Diane's most powerful teaching is that true healing, whether Reiki or not, depends on healers who aren't afraid to use their own intuition, which might mean diverging from accepted practices sometimes.
Rating:
Summary: Cogent, Lucid and Wise
Review: I read am absolutely delighted by Diane's book on the Essential Reiki, and am shocked by the disparaging reviews I have read. Diane is a superb writer. Her book is extremely well referenced, and is cogently and intelligently written. It is also heartfelt, clearly evoking in me a powerful sense of the sacredness of this healing mode. I am left wanting to know more, and more than that- wanting to know what Diane knows about energy. Ms. Stein is certainly way ahead of most of the disparaging reviewers, and unfortunately she is suffering mightily as a result of their limited boxed-in linear thinking. I understand she has violated Reiki's exclusivity by sharing her knowledge, and she is certainly not traditional, but those who can get past their sacred cows will see someone who has much to teach. She was clear throughout that one needs the attunement to practice Reiki, and she was clear about when she was adding her own wisdom. I wholeheartedly recommend this fascinating book to those curious to explore the world of energy healing. I could not put it down!
Rating: 
Summary: nreikiheals@iname.com April 13, 1999 La Palma, California
Review: I read Diane Stein's book before I received my attunements. It was highly suggested by my Master Teacher. I found it to be a very comprehensive study and well illustrated. I was delighted to find the symbols for all 3 levels of Reiki and a complete explanation of her workshop sessions. I have 6 books on Reiki with their own style of writing, some more comprehensive than others on healing animals and varied information on the history, and healing techniques. Though I like them all (traditional), Essential Reiki is the most complete reference book that I have found. I am not wiccan, and I'm not a feminist. My background is Christian. The meta-physical side of me embraces the Truth in all religions. I am a Reiki Master in the non-traditional sense. Personally, I would exclude the power exercises in the back of her book, and refrain from the feminist slant that her book promotes. For this reason my rating is a 4 instead of a 5. At the same time I'm grateful that she had the courage and knowledge to write this book! The main difference I find between Diane's book and traditional Reiki is...non-traditional isn't secretive, and isn't exclusive because of cost. I teach in a workshop setting and give Reiki treatments. I am open to travel, and teach other self help workshops. You are welcome to contact me for further information.
Rating:
Summary: A truly Essential part of your Reiki studies
Review: I read this book shortly after taking a Level One Reiki class and found it to be an amazing source of information and ideas. I have since then obtained Master/Teacher certification and highly recommend this book to my students. I do disagree with some of the things in this book but I feel it is important to read all points of view and make one's own decisions. There are many add-ins within this book that are mixed in with the Reiki information and for a newcommer, that might become confusing or misleading but that is easily remedied with further study with a Reiki Master/Teacher and through continued readings of other authors. From it's debut, this book has been controversial. Reiki elitists continue to speak out against this book in defense of their own methods as training fees are getting more affordable to the public. This book has done a great service to the public by giving detailed information about this wonderful energy and system! It can't make you a reiki practioner but it will help you learn about reiki. As far as distance attunements go, I have received them and given them as well as received and given in-person attunements and I can attest that distance attunement is quite valid and potent. Reiki has no limits, only people's minds have limits.
Rating:
Summary: A Woman Ahead of her Time - A Healing Modality for Our Time
Review: Ms. Stein is to be commended for bringing a vital healing modality out of its shrouds of secrecy and making it available to everyone - not just men, not just persons who have thousands of dollars to pay a Reiki Master. It took a tremendous amount of courage to perform such a feat. Fanatics (usually those making lots of money by keeping Reiki "secret")threatened and terrorized Ms. Stein for wanting to help others. Clearly, her motivation for writing this book was commendable. She personally either charges nothing or very little in comparison to the majority of Reiki Masters, to pass this knowledge on to others. I find prior reviewers note that she is "selfish" to be laughable and absurd. It is interesting that some reviewers are so put off by her references to "her" instead of "he" in the book. Why should it always be "he?" No doubt male readers, used to their superior position in a patriarichal society don't like feeling that their position is being challenged. Perhaps we need some introspection to determine exactly why that reversal of word usage is so upsetting to us. The attunement process, the symbols, and the sage advise in this book are valid and they WORK. As far as her views on the origin of Reiki, the planet, etc. - who knows if she is right or wrong? How can you call a theory ridiculous when all we have are theories? You don't know the real answer - neither do I. Perhaps others would think your theory absurd. Bravo, Ms. Stein. Get this book. It has changed thousands of lives. It can change yours as well.
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable for learning and teaching
Review: Purely as a teaching author, Diane Stein has a gift in thoroughly presenting her topics in a straightforward, loving, readable, understandable and all-encompassing way. Read this book.
I am a Reiki master, and this is *the* book I recommend to anyone seeking through me to know and learn and use Reiki. By recommending the seeker read this book, it gives me a near-perfect gauge in determining the seeker's genuine interest in learning Reiki. In other words, if the seeker does not endeavor to read this book, the seeker neither deserves nor receives my help in learning Reiki. It is my symbol of their genuine desire and willingness to commit to Reiki. I, therefore, don't need to charge them any money to gauge their commitment to this wonderful healing system of change.
Hence, Ms. Stein has made it possible for me -- and everyone else who realizes it -- not to have to reinvent the wheel each time we want to pass on the Reiki knowledge and ability to another being, be it human, other animal, stone, plant, or spiritual being. For all her effort on most thoroughly synopsizing Reiki, and for the wonderful endproduct, "Essential Reiki," I can only applaud her and give her book 5 wonderful stars.
As with many endeavors, there are flaws to this book, but anyone who has the sincere calling to Reiki will be able to take what they like and leave the rest in this book, knowing that even with its flaws there is still infinite good here in this book's material.
I consider Diane Stein's "Essential Reiki" to be the only book on Reiki one would need. I have read others, but they are so immemorable to me, I can't recall them.
As a sad postscript, I must say that I can't stand "debate" in public reviews such as this. But I am so compelled: Reiki, indeed, as one of its essential properties that makes it so fabulously mysterious and healing, can and does and will always continue to transcend time and space. Distance Reiki attunements work. Period.
And may Reiki fall serendipitously into the lap of all who endeavor it.
Rating:
Summary: A Book for Seekers
Review: This book is considered as both controversial and confusing in the fact that Diane has published both Reiki and non Reiki symbols. Diane Stein has written an extensive book from both her personal experience and research into related esoteric practices. Taking a circuitous route to becoming a Reiki Master she has compiled an interesting book on the information she has learned and practiced.
Diane Stein is a great healer and her book will be of benefit to all seekers of further information on Reiki.
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