Communicating about Reiki

From Pamela Miles:Hardly a day goes by that I am not communicating about Reiki in one form or another. It helps me to keep these three tips in mind:
Keep it short. How short? String together 7 words that start with “Reiki is.” Ok, now you're down to five. In conversation, leave it there until the person asks for more.

Keep it concrete. What, Reiki, concrete? No, of course Reiki is not concrete, but Reiki practice is, and so are some of the results. Illustrate by placing a hand on yourself as you speak, or offer a sample. Mrs. Takata often said, I can't tell you what Reiki is, but I can show you. Mention the research, but gently, like this: Some small studies have shown Reiki treatment can improve heart rate and blood pressure, and reduce pain and anxiety.

Keep it accurate. If you are sharing your personal experience of Reiki practice, state that clearly. Otherwise, be sure to speak factually. Granted, this practice is awash in myths and misinformation, and it can be hard to sort fact from fiction, but it just got a lot simpler. Reiki master Janet Dagley Dagley marshalled her journalistic researching skills to make it easy for you to update your knowledge of Reiki facts, at your convenience. Click here to learn more about her online course.
  FREE COMMUNICATION TOOLS FOR YOU
I am committed to raising public awareness of Reiki as a viable healing practice that has a place in health care, and I have created  tools to help you help this happen. Whether you need something to take the burden of communicating Reiki off your hands entirely (sorry, couldn't help myself), or you want to improve your own communication skills, you'll find something here that can help you:
COMMUNICATING REIKI MAINSTREAM 1. The first installment of Reiki Chats, my new video series, addresses the question, Can Reiki Help You? 2. “What is Reiki?–What to do?” gives more detail how to successfully respond when asked about Reiki. After reading it, please exercise your communication muscle by leaving a comment.
3. The UPI interview, “Reiki: A Healing Touch” outlines Reiki basics in plain language. You can direct people there, or use it as inspiration while composing your own response.
  COMMUNICATING REIKI IN HEALTH CARE
1. Integrative Practitioner has generously agreed to make the recording of my presentation at last February's medical conference available to the public. Click here for the free download, which you can use to open a conversation about Reiki in your local hospital. 2. Many Reiki masters have emailed to ask if they can use my 4 minute Reiki video when presenting Reiki to health care professionals or patient groups. Yes, you can! And then please email me and let me know how it went, and if particular questions came up that you'd like me to address in my blog, Reiki Central.

AND A FEW EXTRAS
Livestrong.com, Lance Armstrong's popular cancer support website, includes new articles about Reiki by Lorraine Shea.
  Are you thinking of mounting a website? I hope so. We need more credible representation of Reiki on the internet. An article on page 22 of the November/December issue of Massage&Bodywork magazine will give you a good start.
  If you are interested in keeping updated on health information in general, join me on Twitter, where I am known as @Wellth. 

Many Reiki blessings, Pamela