I‘ve recently been inundated with questions about exactly what Reiki Mastery means, since I’ve often contended that it has little to do with the Reiki level one has attained. So I’d like to take a look at this question here in a bit more detail. I apologize in advance for any feathers that may be ruffled in my attempts to do so. 
First of all, let’s take a quick look at some of the ways one becomes a Reiki Master. The traditional way is to begin with Reiki Level One instruction, and upon achieving a certain level of mastery at that level the practitioner could then proceed to the next level and so on until the student has reached the highest level. If a Reiki Practitioner has truly put in the time and effort at each step, then the final level will have been earned, justified and hence, mastered. In my own style of Reiki, Hana Reiki, even Level One Certification is not given until students have displayed a mastery of that level. Sitting through a class is hardly indicative of the required level of mastery IMHO. 
On the other end of the spectrum are the Reiki Master Certificates sent out along with a Reiki Master attunement, generally in return for a certain amount of money (but not always). In my opinion these certificates should say that the recipient has received a Distance Reiki Master Level Attunement (which is exactly what has happened) and NOT that the recipient is a Reiki Master. Since the majority of Reiki Masters in the world fall on this end of the spectrum it has become more and more mainstream, making it an accepted practice… and far be it for me to go against what is approved and accepted by the masses. 
There are a myriad of Reiki trainings falling in between these two extremes and again, IMHO they are all valid. The conservatives might poo-poo the instaReiki path while the more liberally minded might poo-poo the blood, sweat and tears path, but I believe Reiki Mastery is well within the grasp of either, as it is a personal decision as to exactly what to do with the certification awarded.
The web pages here at TotalReikiMastery.Com are designed such that Reiki Practitioners from any and all lineages can start wherever it is they they happen to presently be on their Reiki Path, and chart their own course to Total Reiki Mastery. This is my own chosen route, which I am far from completing, and it just makes sense to me to take the journey alongside other like minded individuals so that we are, in a sense, walking our own paths… but walking together. 
Reiki Mastery is not the attainment of a certificate, but if that is enough for you… more power to you. I personally liken the process to receiving a black belt in karate. Nowadays the black belt is bestowed when a karateka, or karate student is deemed to be worthy by a teacher and/or has completed a certain level of training. Traditionally, there really was no black belt. One wore a white obi (karate belt) and as the years went by it grew dirtier and dirtier until it was virtually black, indicating years of use and hence, mastery. While this theory is considered a myth by some, I believe the theory to be sound and it makes a valid point.
Further, Karate is a martial art and therefore a karateka is an artist, a martial artist. Many people have contented, myself included, that Reiki is both an art and a science, the difference simplistically being that science is finite while art is not (although quantum science seems to be blurring the boudaries between the two). All true artists endeavor to take their art to ever deeper (or higher) levels and that is the same conclusion I have reached with Reiki, i.e., the true Reiki artist will never be satisfied with his or her current level, but will constantly be striving to perfect their art… which in reality may not even be possible… so the question becomes, how close is close enough? What degree of Reiki Mastery is enough for you?
No matter what your personal answer is to that question TotalReikiMastery.Com is here to support you. If there is ever any way that we can be more helpful to that end… please do not hesitate to ask.
For further explanation or discussion, your thoughts are most welcome and highly encouraged, please feel free to comment below!!!
