Warm wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year!
2019 was a momentous year in Reiki – for our global community, our personal practice, and our plans for the future.
Phyllis Lei Furumoto with Usui Shiki Ryoho’s new lineage bearer, Johannes Reindl of Austria
In the Spring, the global Reiki community bid farewell to Phyllis Lei Furumoto, the Grandmaster of Usui Shiki Ryoho who passed in March at her home in Green Valley, AZ. We also welcomed a new lineage bearer Johannes Reindl of Austria, who was selected, recognized, and publicly announced by Phyllis just before her passing.
At the University of California, Santa Barbara, the Hawayo Takata Archives were opened to the public. As Takata was the sole person to bring Reiki out of Japan almost 90 years ago, it is filled with documents and items integral to Reiki history.
NYC Reiki Center went through tremendous growth this year. We graduated four students in the 6-month intensive Certified Reiki Practitioner Program. We began a one-on-one Reiki mentoring program for ongoing education of students new and old to Reiki.
NYC Reiki Center and SF Reiki Center students on the steps of the entry to Mount Kurama, the birthplace of Reiki
In May, we took students on a pilgrimage visiting sites important to Reiki history throughout Japan. On that trip, Brian initiated his fourth Reiki Master and, after years seeing clients as a Master Practitioner, Diane also became a business partner and instructor at the Center.
Photo of Diane Domondon and Brian Brunius standing at the grave and memorial stone of Reiki Grandmaster Phyllis Lei Furumoto in Kauai, Hawaii.
With extra hands on board, Brian traveled more readily for Reiki – attending The Reiki Alliance conference in the UK in May, teaching in Canada in October, and attending the burial of Phyllis Furumoto in Hawaii.
Just over a year after she visited us in New York, we attended the Phyllis’ funeral and burial on the beautiful island of Kauai. Her ashes were interred below a beautiful hand-carved memorial stone in the same cemetery where many of her ancestors rest. Many thanks to the generous students who donated to the purchase of Phyllis’ grave and memorial ceremony.
We also took a Masters-only retreat to Kyoto with Christopher Tellez. Days of Reiki exchange and meditation on Mt. Kurama led to many projects for Reiki Centers of America, our non-profit dedicated to preserving traditional Reiki teachings and practice. And, the organization even opened its first office!
2020 already has so many exciting plans underway. Here’s just a few!
Cover of the 1933 Reiki book by Kaiji Tomita
- We’re commissioning an English translation of one of the most important pieces of Reiki history – a 1933 book written by Kaiji Tomita, a student of Usui Sensei. Justin Stein has been advising and found our academic translator. Soon, we’ll launch a crowdfunding campaign for the translation and academic review of the text.
- We’re cataloging and recording Reiki music that has been used at Reiki conferences and gatherings around the world. An advisory board has been meeting to select the first 15 songs. The project will also include songleader trainings in how to use the songs within Reiki communities, as well as Reiki songwriting workshops.
- We’ve invited Johannes Reindl to New York, as well as Reiki Master Marta Getty to teach her groundbreaking “Healing the Family Tree with Reiki.”
- And, we’re organizing another Reiki pilgrimage to Japan for October 9-16, 2020. If you’re interested, register soon because the 14 spots will fill quickly!
Thank you for being on this journey with us! We look forward to seeing you in 2020!
With Love and Hugs,
Brian Brunius & Diane Domondon
