The Reiki Subversive's Manual
by Karl Hernesson 2002
(73 page pamphlet. £2.50)
This bursting-at-the-seams little pamphlet is recommended for anyone who ever thought Reiki was only for the fluffy-bunny psychic-dolphins from-outer-space brigade. Karl Hernesson shows how Reiki is also a tool that can be used by Eco-Warriors, Peace-Activists & Protest-Pagans too, Reiki as spiritual Non-Violent Direct-Action, in fact.
The pamphlet's cheery bright yellow "smiley face" cover encases a 73 page treatise & DIY guide which is down to earth, informed, & shot through with valiant idealism & humour. This is Reiki with a big smile, an attuned crystal in one hand & bolt-croppers in the other.
The project's agenda "... is to use Reiki against the meat-grinder, globalisation & the "new world order", which represent money interests, greed & the continuing rape of the earth & its inhabitants, & to use it for the good of the earth & all life she supports...".
It works like this. Acts of barbarity & oppression generate "heavy", stagnating energies. On the other hand, Reiki - the ever-present life-energy - is "light" & achieves healing through balancing out "heavy" energies. It can be channelled & directed into harmonising the energies not only of people, animals & plants, but also inanimate places & institutions. Karl suggests "The Houses of Parliament, Monsanto... animal testing labs", amongst others, as being in particular need of Reiki healing. There is also a detailed report of his Reiki land-healing of a vandal-haunted shopping centre in Nottingham, providing ideas galore for the would-be "Spiritual Warrior".
As a pacifist who campaigned whole-heartedly against the war in Iraq, Karl describes his techniques as "Reiki Self-Defence", a spiritual response to the "heavy" energies of fear, violence, anger & negativity generated by the forces of authority. "Heavy" energies are an entity's way of expressing & drawing attention to its own imbalance, a way, in fact, of "making a plea for a Reiki healing". So, if you have Reiki & they need healing... "let 'em have it".
For example "If you are a protester who gets arrested, Reiki everything you can, them, the vehicle, the police station, the cell. If you can attune, attune them to Reiki, & everything & everywhere they take you & keep it flowing... violate their heaviness... eat their energies, cleanse & purify them..."
Earlier this year I spoke to Karl at the PF conference in Nottingham. He told me he was currently working with Storm Constantine to produce a book length expansion of The Reiki Subversive's Manual. He showed me the manuscript, a huge sheaf of paper obviously already close to being finished. In the meantime, the pamphlet is still a fine introduction to the gentle art of Reiki Subversion.
(Available directly from the author at : karlhernesson@hotmail.com Or from Libra Aries Books, 9 The Broadway, Mill Rd, Cambridge. CB1 3AH Tel: (01223) 412 411)