We built a Reiki Dōjō

When I opened Shinpiden+, my Japanese inspired on-demand training for Reiki III graduates, the students had a forum to be in community with each other. It did the job, but it was a noticeboard rather than a home, and a home is what was needed: where you chat about your day and your practice, share stories, swap recommendations and even ask for a bit of support along the way. Oh, and it has to look and feel beautiful.

So, I decided to create that!

It is called The Dōjō, and it is a private social space that lives inside the Shinpiden+ teaching space. Not unlike Facebook in style BUT there is no algorithm, no advertising, no strangers. Just the people studying alongside you and a beautiful peaceful environment to hang out in.

I am more excited about it than I expected to be. Haha!

Three rooms

Kyō wa ‘as for today’ is the daily room. Check in from your practice, share a photo of what is outside your window, say good morning. Nothing is too small for this space. Mine started with a photo of my cat sitting on my Japanese language homework.

Omiyage is the shelf. Omiyage are the small gifts you bring home from your travels, and this room is for recommendations of any kind. A book, an album, a podcast, a way of resting, a good walk. It does not have to be about the practice of Reiki. One student has already sent us all off to listen to the Whale Rider soundtrack and another their favourite pea soup.

Engaku is where we ask and give support. This is not a one-way street. We all come to this space as humans learning to be better humans, and we all come as practitioners.

And a pathway to each other

You can message any other student directly. That is the part I did not anticipate loving so much. Reiki study can be quite solitary, especially if you are the only practitioner you know in your town. Now there are people from all over the world: Australia, the United States, the UK, India, Europe, and you can simply say hello to one of them in real time and have a chat.

There is also a short note that arrives most mornings with whatever has been posted, so nobody has to remember to check in.

How to get in

The Dōjō is for Shinpiden+ students, and if you are already one, you are already a resident. Nothing to sign up for. Just walk in.

If you are not, this might be the nudge. Shinpiden+ is my in-depth training in the Japanese roots of the system of Reiki for Reiki III graduates – take your practice deeper! And it now comes with a home rather than just a login.

In the course itself there are also contemplation areas beneath all 29 lessons, so you can share your thoughts as you work through the material and read what everyone else made of it.

Find out more about Shinpiden+

Three days before I started creating this, this was just a question about whether to fix the forum. Now there is a beautiful building with a bunch of Shinpidenplussers inside. Come and join us.

x Bronwen