As a reiki master, I have seen the incredible benefits and transformations that reiki "attunements" or "initiations" have on my clients. I understand how they work through the Divine support I receive and rejoice with that person for taking the next step to become empowered in their healing, manifestation capacities and spiritual growth. Still, I wanted to hear an answer to a common question I hear from some people:
What is an attunement, not just in reiki, and why would a person need one if they're already perfect and complete?
Two answers came:
1. You think and believe that you are "less than" and "incomplete." An attunement may act as a perfectly functioning placebo and it gets the job done of reintegrating your consciousness with your true birthright and potential. This is for those who need just a little nudge.
2. A more nuts and bolts answer is that when you are born (if you're a healthy baby) you are perfectly happy and complete. A baby doesn't judge, it just is. Over time many people learn that apparently they are not whole and complete. This non-supporting programming can come from parents, society, school, religion, peers, media. The person lowers their energies and vibrates with fear, pain, distrust, low self esteem. The energy of "I am less than" takes over.
An attunement is much like one tuning fork vibrating the tuning fork next to it. For example, in reiki, the master brings in a particular high level divine frequency, and the initiate automatically pops up to that level and then remembers it. One can also equate it to "tuning" one's dial to catch the radio wave of reiki. So if the energy plays "C", the person will harmonize with "C" as well. There are also many wonderful frequencies and flavors within reiki too. The light of reiki can be split up into a rainbow through a prism, each ray being unique, yet part of the whole. An attunement will dial in that particular frequency for a person that they'd like to experience and play with.
Attunements come from many sources: ascended masters, angels and archangels, real life teachers, spirit guides. I see all attunements as a rememberance. Like someone singing a song and you sing along with it. Or someone starts a popular song "Row, row, row your boat" and you remember and complete it "gently down the stream" and may even get caught up in the song and let it carry you for a bit. Think of the word attunement: it's to a-tune.
Many people prefer to say the word initiation vs. attunement. To initiate a new beginning is good. We initiate a new day every day. It marks a beginning of a new, empowered way of being. This word and meaning is a bit tainted for some such as an initiation into a cult, for example. Don't be afraid of this word. Drop any negative associations to the past and think of it as a birthday party. Initiating a new year, a new phase of life, a day to soar into who you are meant to be: wonderful, wise, powerful, joyful magical creation called you.