Traditional Japanese Reiki · Shinpiden
Shinpiden
The journey continues
There may come a point in our Reiki journey when we begin to recognise that what we have learned so far is only part of something much greater. Through Shoden and Okuden, we have explored the Reiki Precepts, developed our personal practice and begun to discover how Reiki can become part of the way we live our everyday lives.
Shinpiden invites us to continue that exploration, bringing together what we have already learned while opening ourselves to a deeper understanding of what it means to be Reiki.
It is not about reaching the highest level and deciding that we have arrived. In many ways, it is an invitation to begin again, approaching our practice with beginner's mind and allowing ourselves to discover what we may not have been ready to see before.
Reaching the Summit, Only to Discover Another
I sometimes think of our Reiki journey as being rather like climbing a mountain. We begin at the bottom, looking towards a summit that seems a long way away, and gradually find our way upwards through our learning, experiences and personal practice.
Eventually, we reach the summit we have been working towards. We might feel a sense of achievement and perhaps even believe that we have reached our destination. Yet when we look around, we discover another peak beyond the one we have just climbed, and perhaps another beyond that.
Our perspective has changed. We can now see things that were not visible from where we began, and we may also recognise that some of the ideas and beliefs that helped us reach this point no longer serve us in quite the same way.
Shinpiden invites us to approach that next stage with beginner's mind, allowing ourselves to let go of the identity we have built around what we already know and remain open to what is still unfolding.
The more we see, the more we see.
For me, that is one of the beautiful things about Reiki. There is always more to discover, not because we are continually trying to reach somewhere better, but because our relationship with the practice continues to change as we do.
Moving Towards Being Reiki
Traditional Japanese Reiki places considerable emphasis on our own personal practice and the way we live the Reiki Precepts. Through Shoden and Okuden, we have explored different practices that help us develop awareness, return to stillness and notice how we respond to the experiences of everyday life.
At Shinpiden, we continue to work with those foundations while exploring what it means to move beyond simply doing Reiki and increasingly allow ourselves to be Reiki.
This doesn't mean that we suddenly reach a place where we no longer experience anger, worry or the challenges of being human. Rather, our continued practice gives us opportunities to notice what is happening within us and how we choose to respond.
We may begin to recognise more clearly when we are caught up in our thoughts, when we are holding on to an expectation or when we are resisting something that is unfolding. The Reiki Precepts invite us to return to the present moment and explore how we might meet those experiences differently.
Over time, the distinction between our Reiki practice and the rest of our lives may begin to soften. What we discover during meditation or self-treatment can increasingly find its way into our relationships, our choices and the ordinary moments of our day.
This is not something we complete during a three-day course. It is an ongoing commitment to ourselves and to our relationship with Reiki.
Bringing the Practice Together
At Okuden, we begin working with the first three Reiki symbols, exploring their individual qualities and how they can support our practice.
I sometimes think of those symbols as different aspects of a much greater whole. At Shinpiden, we are introduced to the Master symbol, which invites us to explore that sense of wholeness and consider what it might mean to move beyond experiencing ourselves and the world only through separation.
We continue to work with the practices we have already learned, while exploring further teachings and approaches that support our personal development.
There is no expectation that we must complete every practice every day. We have a range of practices available to us, and part of developing our relationship with Reiki is learning to recognise what supports us at different times.
Some days we may feel drawn towards meditation, while on others we may choose a different practice. What matters is our willingness to continue returning to Reiki and allowing that commitment to become part of the way we live.
Three Days of Learning, Practice and Discovery
Shinpiden is taught face-to-face over three full days at Navitas Holistic Therapy & Reiki Centre in Crewe.
Our time together provides an opportunity to explore the Shinpiden teachings, receive the Master attunement and deepen our understanding through personal practice, shared experiences and conversation.
The course also includes the teaching aspect of Traditional Japanese Reiki, providing the foundations for students who feel drawn to share the practice with others.
Some students attend Shinpiden because they wish to continue their own Reiki journey and have no immediate intention of teaching. Others arrive knowing that they would like to begin supporting students through their own Traditional Japanese Reiki training.
Both intentions are welcome. The personal commitment to Reiki remains central, whether our journey eventually includes teaching others or continues primarily through our own practice.
Continuing Beyond the Course
As with the earlier levels of Traditional Japanese Reiki, the learning does not end when our time together finishes. Shinpiden invites us to continue exploring the teachings through our own practice and to notice how our understanding develops as we bring Reiki into our everyday lives.
Attending the three-day course is an important part of your Shinpiden journey, but certification is awarded once you have completed the post-course requirements and submitted the necessary work to me for sign-off. There is no requirement to begin teaching after completing Shinpiden, and there is no time limit for completing your certification.
You will have access to the Shinpiden Manual and a dedicated Shinpiden Resources membership, which includes videos and downloadable materials to support you as you work through those requirements.
I recognise that life can sometimes take us in unexpected directions, and there may be a considerable gap between attending the course and finding the time or space to complete the required work.
The resources are designed to remain available to you over the longer term, allowing you to return to the material and continue your certification journey when you are ready.
I am also available to support you as you work through the requirements, so you do not have to navigate that process entirely on your own.
Our connection also continues beyond the course itself. Each month, you will receive my Reiki Student Newsletter and Reiki Master Teacher Newsletter, in which I share reflections, experiences and different perspectives that I hope will inspire you to continue exploring your own relationship with Reiki.
These newsletters are another way of remaining connected with the practice and the wider Reiki community, wherever your own journey takes you.
Walking This Part of the Journey With You
My own relationship with Traditional Japanese Reiki has continued to evolve through my personal practice and the experience of sharing the teachings with others.
One of the things I value most about this approach to Reiki is that it continually brings us back to ourselves. We can learn techniques, study the symbols and develop our understanding, but eventually we are invited to look at how we are actually living the practice.
How do we respond when life doesn't unfold as we expected? Can we recognise when we are holding on to an idea of how things should be? Are we able to return to the present moment and allow ourselves to see what is actually happening?
These are questions I continue to explore within my own life, and they inevitably find their way into the way I teach.
I don't see Shinpiden as a destination at which we finally become Reiki Masters. I see it as another opportunity to deepen our commitment to the practice, recognise how far we have travelled and remain open to everything we have yet to discover.
Sandra Goodman
Reiki Master Teacher
Is Shinpiden Your Next Step?
Shinpiden follows Shoden and Okuden within the Traditional Japanese Reiki pathway. Before moving into Shinpiden, I encourage students to spend time with their Okuden practice, allowing the teachings and symbols to become familiar through their own experience.
You may feel drawn towards Shinpiden because you want to deepen your personal practice and explore the teachings further, or perhaps you are beginning to recognise a desire to share Traditional Japanese Reiki with others.
Whatever your intention, I would encourage you to consider what this next stage means to you and whether you feel ready to make an ongoing commitment to your own practice.
There is no need to rush towards the next level simply because it is available. The teachings we have already received continue to offer us opportunities for discovery, and sometimes allowing ourselves more time with them is exactly what we need.
If you feel that Shinpiden is becoming part of your next step, we can begin with a conversation.
Interested in Shinpiden Training?
Shinpiden courses are offered periodically at Navitas. If you're considering taking this next step in your Reiki journey, you can check whether a course is currently scheduled or let me know you're interested in attending a future course.
Check Upcoming Courses
View the events currently scheduled at Navitas Holistic Therapy & Reiki Centre to see whether a Shinpiden course is coming up.
Register Your Interest
If there isn't a Shinpiden course currently scheduled, you're welcome to register your interest with me. I'll be in touch when new dates become available.