Teachings from the Heart / Reiki Level III: Microcosmic Orbit

Reiki - Teachings from the Heart^TM

Reiki Level III

Attunements
I've said before, that the attunement process creates a healer. I've also stressed out, that Mikao Usui didn't use an attunement Process.
An attunement ritual can be seen as a rite of passage into the healers realm. You are given nothing that you didn't already have before. The attunement acts as a confirmation, that you can do and are allowed to do that which you already can do.
Preparation to pass Attunements
For the method that I am teaching (Diane Stein), it is essential to practice the capability to hold increased amounts of Qi. And that increased amount of Qi allows for a quicker initiation by using only one attunement per level. (Some of the various schools of Reiki have different numbers of attunements for each level).
First, it is important to acquire a feeling for the flow of Qi through our body. I use Qigong methods only, as they are very efficient. Practised regularly they bring the benefits of health, wellness and happiness to you. Some people prefer to work with Yoga, Kundalini or other practices to increase the flow of Qi.

The Microcosmic Orbit ²
Begin by placing your attention on the navel (hara, dantien). When warmth (Qi) begins to build at the dantien, move it by mind intent down to the perineum (huiyin, root chakra) behind the genitals, then up into the spinal cord. Stop for a moment at the kidney point (mingmen), then raise the energy/Qi slowly up the spine to the top of the head (pineal gland, crown, baihui). Follow the energy flow, do not force it. Hold this energy at the crown for up to ten minutes, then direct it downward to the forhead/brow (pituitary, third-eye, yintang). By holding your tongue to the palate you are linking the energy flow between the front and back channels. Bring the flow through the palate and your tong down the front of the body back to the navel (dantien) again. Hold it there until the warmth collects, then start the orbit again

When you feel comfortable with this cycle, extend it and include the legs. From the navel (dantien), direct the energy flow to huiyin (root), then dividing it into two channels, send Qi down the back of the thighs to the back of the knees. From there it flows down the calves to the soles of the feet (yongquan), also called bubbling spring. It is the body's electrical connection with Earth energy. Once warmth builds in the soles, move the energy to the big toes, then up the front of both feet to the knees. Continue the flow up the front of the thighs and back to huiyin (perineum).
Return the flow up the spine and divide it again for the arms at a point between the shoulder blades. Send Qi down the inside of both arms to the middle of the palms, (laogong ). Concentrate on the sensation, then follow the flow along the middle finger and up the outside of the arms. When it reaches the shoulders it returns to the main circuit and flows up the spine and neck to the crown again. Continue the energy circuit along the central channel returning it to dantien/navel.

Regardless of where you end your practice, be it at the navel, or mingmeng or after a few Orbits, it is important to bring the energy back to. your navel and collect it. Collecting the energy gathers up the excess chi in the body and stores it in the navel. It protects your body organs from accumulating too much energy, which might make you feel very uncomfortable
Male: With your right hand placed on your navel and your left hand covering your right hand, draw a spiral with 36 revolutions working clockwise from the navel out. After completing the first spiral, draw a new spiral of 24 revolutions by reversing the direction and working from the outside in, ending at the navel.
Female: With your left hand placed on your navel and your right hand covering your left hand, draw a spiral with 36 revolutions working counterclockwise from the navel out. After completing the first spiral, draw a new spiral of 24 revolutions by reversing the direction and working from the outside in, ending at the navel.
Stay for three complete breaths or as long as you wish. At that point you may direct the collected Qi to any part of your body to increase your well-being.

Begin to integrate this practice into your daily life to increase your ability to hold extended amounts of Qi.
¹ Kundalini
Kundalini means coiling, like a snake. It can be described as a great reservoir of creative energy located at the base of the spine, or root chakra. Awakening the Kundalini could be interpreted as the tapping into this creative energy supply. There are opinions that prana (Chi, Ki, Qi, etc.) are absolutely equivalent to Kundalini, which is also cosmic energy.
Resources
Reiki North of Sixty
International Healing Tao Mantak Chia's Website
² Essential Reiki by Diane Stein
¹ Kundalini FAQ
Kundalini Resources on the Internet (Ori)
Qigong by Danny Connor
Dantien your secret energy center by Christoper Markert
Awaken Healing Energy Through Tao by Mantak Chia

The Microcosmic Orbit ² Begin by placing your attention on the navel (hara, dantien). When warmth (Qi) begins to build at the dantien, move it by mind intent down to the perineum (huiyin, root chakra) behind the genitals, then up into the spinal cord. Stop for a moment at the kidney point (mingmen), then raise the energy/Qi slowly up the spine to the top of the head (pineal gland, crown, baihui). Follow the energy flow, do not force it. Hold this energy at the crown for up to ten minutes, then direct it downward to the forhead/brow (pituitary, third-eye, yintang). By holding your tongue to the palate you are linking the energy flow between the front and back channels. Bring the flow through the palate and your tong down the front of the body back to the navel (dantien) again. Hold it there until the warmth collects, then start the orbit again
When you feel comfortable with this cycle, extend it and include the legs. From the navel (dantien), direct the energy flow to huiyin (root), then dividing it into two channels, send Qi down the back of the thighs to the back of the knees. From there it flows down the calves to the soles of the feet (yongquan), also called bubbling spring. It is the body's electrical connection with Earth energy. Once warmth builds in the soles, move the energy to the big toes, then up the front of both feet to the knees. Continue the flow up the front of the thighs and back to huiyin (perineum). Return the flow up the spine and divide it again for the arms at a point between the shoulder blades. Send Qi down the inside of both arms to the middle of the palms, (laogong ). Concentrate on the sensation, then follow the flow along the middle finger and up the outside of the arms. When it reaches the shoulders it returns to the main circuit and flows up the spine and neck to the crown again. Continue the energy circuit along the central channel returning it to dantien/navel.
Regardless of where you end your practice, be it at the navel, or mingmeng or after a few Orbits, it is important to bring the energy back to. your navel and collect it. Collecting the energy gathers up the excess chi in the body and stores it in the navel. It protects your body organs from accumulating too much energy, which might make you feel very uncomfortable Male: With your right hand placed on your navel and your left hand covering your right hand, draw a spiral with 36 revolutions working clockwise from the navel out. After completing the first spiral, draw a new spiral of 24 revolutions by reversing the direction and working from the outside in, ending at the navel. Female: With your left hand placed on your navel and your right hand covering your left hand, draw a spiral with 36 revolutions working counterclockwise from the navel out. After completing the first spiral, draw a new spiral of 24 revolutions by reversing the direction and working from the outside in, ending at the navel. Stay for three complete breaths or as long as you wish. At that point you may direct the collected Qi to any part of your body to increase your well-being.