Reiki: Connection at the Confluence of Religion and Spirituality
With Susan Mitchell and Paul Mitchell
Hosted by Yolanda Williams
Susan and Paul’s Invitation
Want to be a part of this inquiry? You can join our engaged conversations at Reiki Home*, or create your own group with Reiki friends and colleagues.
Let’s keep exploring the spirituality we share, leaning into the next good question and building the future out of our collective richness.
We’d also love to hear questions you come up with. You can email us at [email protected].
The Questions we’ve explored:
- When were you aware of spirituality as an aspect of your life’s journey and what part has Reiki played in that?
- What do we think these spiritual capabilities are that we’re endowed with since birth?
This second question is rooted in a quote from Mikao Usui’s memorial stone. “The true purpose (of Reiki) is to correct the heart mind, keep the body fit, and lead a happy life using the spiritual capabilities human beings were endowed with since birth.” - What are your spiritual aspirations and longings that Reiki or life calls you to embody in a deeper way?
* Reiki Home provides opportunities for students to expand their understanding and practice of Reiki. They offer a wide array of online Reiki circles, webcasts, and engaged conversations.
Susan Mitchell
Reiki Master, Co-Founder of Reiki Unified, First Director of The Reiki Alliance, Past Editor of Reiki Magazine International
Susan Mitchell learned Reiki from Hawayo Takata, who brought Reiki to the West from Japan. Susan dove into Reiki practice after her first degree class in 1978, putting her hands on everyone who would let her.
She was the first director of The Reiki Alliance from 1988-1998 and an editor of the Dutch Reiki Magazine International. Susan helped curate the Hawayo Takata archives now housed at University of California, Santa Barbara. In 2019 Susan had the honor of editing In Her Own Voice, A Tribute to Phyllis Lei Furumoto, 1948-2019.
Susan is the co-founder of Reiki Unified, a non-profit grass roots organization focused on protecting U.S. Reiki practitioners from certification and licensing.
Websites: reikihealingarts.com | www.reikiunified.com
Paul Mitchell
Reiki Master, Head of the Discipline of Usui Shiki Ryoho, Founding Member of The Reiki Alliance, Author
Paul Mitchell learned Reiki from Hawayo Takata and was one of the twenty-two masters she initiated. Paul was a founding member of The Reiki Alliance and in 1993 was recognized as Head of the Discipline of Usui Shiki Ryoho by Phyllis Furumoto. They formed the Office of Grand Master (OGM).
Since Phyllis’ death in 2019, Paul has worked in the OGM with Johannes Reindl and Joyce Winough. He is committed to the life-long journey and inquiry into healing, growth, and spiritual development.