Through Usui Reiki Ryoho, herbs, meditation and nature Roberta R. Barnes is dedicated to the art of well-being.  Roberta began using herbs in the 1970s, and learned a form a meditation at a very young age from her father while her mother taught her what is now referred to as the law of attraction. She was first introduced to Usui Reiki in the 1980s, but her journey will never end.

Plato once said, “The cure of the part should not be attempted without treatment of the whole”.  Roberta Barnes treats the whole person by  focusing on bringing balance to the mind, body, and spirit and surround the whole life with harmony.  Balance and harmony improve the quality of your life and touches the lives around you in a positive way. The original guided meditations Roberta gives in both her meditation and Reiki classes help you to experience both the peaceful stillness and vibrations of universal enrgy in your own reality.  The postive energy of her healing studio nestled in the trees of Maine is the perfect environment to produce positive energy to surround you even before you begin your healing journey.

 

Roberta R. Barnes' path to teaching and practicing Usui Reiki Ryoho                                   I First experienced Reiki in the 1980s, and began my offical Usui Reiki Ryoho studies in the 1990s. I first completed the highest level, called teacher/master, in Western styles of  Usui Reiki Ryoho, and then moved on to complete the highest levels in Japanese styles of Usui Reiki Ryoho.  I completed my update Shihan (teacher's) level directly under both Hiroshi Doi and Hyakuten.  I studied under them for their knowledge, and honor them by not adding in practice from other healing modalities I have studied.  I do not teach Western Reiki.

Each person's path is different, and my Usui Reiki Ryoho journey then lead me on to complete my Shihan (master/teacher) level in Gendai Reiki-ho first under a Shihan that had studied under Hiroshi Doi and then to complete it again directly under Hiroshi Doi, the founder of Gendai Reiki Healing Kyokai.  I completed the teacher’s level in Komyo Reiki directly under Rev. Hyakuten Inamoto, the founder of Komyo Reiki Kai. Each of these men are Japanese and have only two Shihans (teachers) between themselves and Mikao Usui the founder of Usui Reiki Ryoho.

One thing I learned through Doi Sensei and Hyakuten Sensei is that no Shihan is better than another, it is simply what and how he or she teaches. I am pleased that three of my Shihans taught me methods that honor the simple yet profound spiritual practice Mikao Usui founded.  Mikao Usui created only 3 symbols in 1925, so there is no need to add in any more when you understand the triangle they form, and that they are only the finger pointing to the vibrations of universal unconditional love and harmony. This spiritual practice that connects with the source has no need for material training wheels or the ego that tries to direct what it cannot, so there is a wonderful freedom with Japanese styles of Usui Reiki Ryoho that have not had altered.   

 I teach and practice Gendai Reiki-ho and Komyo Reiki as I learned from my Reiki Shihans (teachers), who have only 2 teachers between himslef and Mikao Usui.  The style I most commonly teach is Gendai Reiki-ho, but most students who have completed the Okuden level in Gendai Reiki Ho with me, also complete the Chuden level in Kmoyo Reiki Kai with me. 

I was fortunate to be able to attend the Usui Reiki Ryoho International 2002 conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with approximately eighty other Usui Reiki Shihans (teachers) from around the world. At that conference Doi Sensei and Hyakuten Sensei shared with me those three powerful words that I repeat again and again in my manuals and verbally in my classes.  

Liiving in both the United Stated and Canada, I have studied various styles of natural healing for over 30 years.  When reviewing my notes and the books from other healing modalities, I find myself constantly saying, “Reiki does that, but without any props, fuss, or odd rituals”.  I constantly found things in my master herbalist studies that, like Gendai and Komyo Reiki, focused on the importance of bringing the whole person into balance and creating harmony in all areas of life. I completed my Master Herbalist through Caluton College of Natural Health, but while I use some herbs I constantly say thank you for the universal wisdom that flows with Reiki.

Besides the universe helping me to connect with the three Reiki Shihans (teachers) perfect for my journey, I have been given hands-on learning experiences.

 I began studying ballet at the age of 4, which flowed into Tap dancing, Spanish dancing, mountain climbing, cheerleading and much more. One ballet dance I preformed as a girl was even aired on T.V., at one time.  While I was still in the early years of enjoying the wonderment that my children brought into my  life, an accident left me with two spinal cord injuries and a brain injury.  During the 5 months in hospitals directly following the accident I learned the importance of focusing on solutions.  Medical doctors focusing on my physical injuries gave me depressing diagnoses, complete with relatives being advisesd to put me in a nursing home . My relatives and I focused on solutions, and I walked out of the second hospital. The journey that followed was difficult, and painful both physically and emotionally until I began my Usui Reiki Ryoho journey.

 I learned how to get up each time I fall. I say fall as opposed to fell, because some cells do not heal by Webster’s definition.  Each person experiences everything in life differently. Nevertheless, the worst or best that has happened to you or me is equal to the worst or best that has happened to anyone else.  I have experienced both the delight of hearing an audience clap for my dancing and the joy of jumps, etc. in cheerleading.  I have also experienced the bewilderment of my feet/legs feeling as if they belonged to someone else because they refused to move without the use of my hands. Nevertheless, Now I am able to give thanks that when my feet touch the floor/gound I can stand and walk.

Professional medical care allows the body to again function to a point, but then Usui Reiki Ryoho, Meditation, and herbs take center stage in helping the mind, body and spirit to heal, and improve the quality of your life.  As recent as four years ago, following a fall my bones healed faster and better then medical doctors ever expected.

 I was blessed that three of my Reiki Shihans (master teacher),not only have a close lineage to Mikao Usui, but teach his spirtual practice without adding in ohter helaing modalities.  I walked away knowing the form of energy used is a form of THE source, so nothing needs to be added in and no one can direct.  

I also give varying guided meditations in both my Meditation and Japanese Reiki classes to help students experience energies in their own reality.  Listening to requests by my students I went to a professional recording studio and recorded two of my original guided meditations on the CD "Finding Your solutions".  More information about this CD is on her Healing & beyond page,  or you can CLICK HERE to order the CD.

 

 My energy and technique lineage through Hiroshi Doi is as follows.  It is important to know a teacher's lineage and see certificates, simply to know the Shihans he or she has studied under.  I studied with Doi Seseni for his, and I practice and weave universal energy into my life as I was taught.

Mikao Usui -- Founder of the Usui Reiki Ryoho system and First President of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Reiki Japanese Association founded in 1922/23).
Kan'ichi Taketomi -- Third President of the URR Gakkai, initiated by Mikao Usui.
Kimiko Koyama -- Sixth President of the URR Gakkai, initiated by Kan’ichi Taketomi.
Hiroshi Doi -- President of the Gendai Reiki Healing Association, present member of Usui's Gakkai. Initiated by Kimiko Koyama and others.  
Roberta R. Barnes  

Hiroshi Doi San (Doi-Sensei) is president of the Gendai Reiki Healing Association.  He completed studies in more than 30 healing methods and began practicing a style of Usui Reiki Ryoho that had bounced back to Japan from the Western part of this world. Then he received initiations from members of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, such as prior president Ms. Kimiko Koyama, and in 1993 became a member of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (the society in Japan crfeated by Mikao Usui). At that time the URR Gakkai was not widely known, and even today no one outside the Gakkai knows what goes on inside the Gakkai.

Doi-Sensei developed Gendai Reiki-ho as a way of blending the Western style of Reiki that he refers to as “sophisticated” and the "traditional" Reiki that emphasizes the way of consciousness for raising spirituality”. Gendai Reiki-Ho is apporved of by the Gakkai as a style honoring the essence of Mikao Usui.  Doi-Sensei's theory and effectiveness has won worldwide recognition.

 

My energy and technique lineage through Rev. Hyakuten Inamoto is as follows.  I studied with Hyakuten Sensei for his, and I practice and weave universal energy into my life as I was taught.

Mikao Usui (Founder of the Usui Reiki Ryoho system) -- Chujiro Hayashi -- Chiyoko Yamaguchi -- Rev. Hyakuten Inamoto -- Roberta R. Barnes

Rev. Hyakuten Inamoto, also a Japanese resdient of Japan, is the founder of Komyo Reiki Kai. This style of Usui Reiki Ryoho places emphasis on spiritual infoldment, the goal being for “satori” or enlightment.  Hyakuten-Sensei’s Reiki Shihan (teacher) was Mrs. Chiyoko Yamaguchi who from 1938 to 1940 studied under Dr. Chujiro Hayashi. Chujiro Hayashi was a medical doctor, and one the three students Mikao Usui’s raised to the level allowing him to teach Usui Reiki Ryoho.

Hyakuten-Sensei spent over a year studying one full day each week with Yamaguchi-Sensei. Komyo Reiki Kai focuses on personal transformation through Reiki.  Hyakuten Sensei, like my other two Reiki Shihans, helped me to learn that teaching from the heart/soul rather then the book allows the student to assimilate the essence of the unique from of universal energy called Usui Reiki Ryoho, rather then memorizing symbols and techniques. He is an independent Buddhist monk who officially belongs to the Jodo-Shu (Pure Land) sect of Japanese Buddhism.

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Learning to again do those things, which sometimes are taken for granted, is a challenge that requires tapping into resources of the whole person and beyond. Nevertheless, with universal unconditional love and harmony doing your best with spinal cord injuries is easier. If you begin your Usui Reiki Ryoho journey, you learn to feel the universe's rhythm that bring all areas into balance and surrounds with harmony. Getting up after you fall is much easeir when you are in balance and surrounded with harmony.

All of life is much easier when you are in balance and surrounded by harmony. What is in balance and surrounded with harmony heals in the way that is best, which many not be in the way the book says it should be. Taking the word should out of your vocabulary makes life easier.

  In the spring and summer especially, if you learn to listen, the songs of the birds can connect and help you feel the earth’s rhythm, which is another form of universal energy. I offer various workshops at different times of the year to help you to raise your vibration; you can see more at connecting with nature.  In the fast lane of life those small yet powerful rays of sunshine, and smiles tucked beneath leaves are often overlooked. Once you know how, you can have many astonishing yet peaceful experiences that can add light to those dark corner in life.

The meditation I teach is free-style meditation that you can blend into your life style.  I also give workshops that combine a number of guided meditations, which I call Down the Rabbit Hole.  In all that I do I enjoy helping each person not only holistically feel better, but to realize how special he or she is and to cherish their uniqueness.

One way for you to know which style fo Usui Reiki and which Shihan (master teacher) is best for you, is to review the Shihan's certificate(s) and lineage connected to each certificate.  All Usui Reiki Ryoho practitioners will have at least one certificate as well as being pleased to share with you their lineage. 

I am also pleased to be able to say that I have been approved by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage & Body work (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider.         

 Below are some of my Reiki Shihan (master/teacher) certificates that I enjoy sharing. Besides other Usui Reiki Ryoho certificates, I also have family, consultant, and master Herbalist certificates.

         

 

 

Links to interesting sites

The Reiki Threshold	Richard Rivard offers well-researched factual information about Usui Mikao and the factual history of Usui Reiki Ryoho.
Power Tools	An Exploration of Usui Reiki Ryoho and Beyond; Johrei, Macrobiotics, Deliberate Creation, and more.