Dear Friends,

It was with great sadness that we recently learned of Raven Keyes’ passing. We are incredibly grateful for her support of Reiki Unified in helping us to fight the efforts to license Reiki practice. Whenever we put out a call to action, she responded with vim and vigor, helping to lead the way to keep Reiki free from legislative action. She will always remain in our hearts as a passionate Reiki Master and leader of truth, authenticity, and wisdom."

Her funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM BST on Friday, June 30th, at St. John's Church in Glastonbury, UK, and will be live-streamed. Once we receive the link we will post here.

Dear Friends,

We were shocked to learn today that the New Jersey Assembly has scheduled a public hearing for this coming Monday, March 20.

It may be hard to believe but showing up for oral testimony really works. We’ve seen this first hand in the last two years. When a hundred or more of us are at a hearing, speaking clearly, thoughtfully, and from the heart, bills have been dropped or returned to committee to languish indefinitely. When we’re not there, bills pass.

The time to prepare is short and that’s challenging. We know. We’re at our keyboards right now, getting ready. We also know it's worth the time and effort to protect the Reiki practice you love and to protect your livelihood. You will honestly make a difference when you show up for this hearing. 

The good news is that this isn’t a licensing bill . . .  yet. We will save ourselves so much time and effort if we can stop this bill right now, before it goes one step further.

You’ll find all the help and information you need below.

If you have questions or need more information, we’re here for you:  Info@reikiunified.com

Together we really are stronger and can succeed.

The Reiki Unified Team

Rita Glassman, Susan Mitchell, Christopher Tellez, Helene Williams

www.reikiunified.com

Info@reikiunified.com

Call for Oral and Written Testimony

Click for links and instructions on how to help

Call To Action! New Jersey Reiki Practitioners Need Your Help!

Call To ACTION!

We need you help in defeating New Jersey Assembly Bill No. 246 ( first step to licensure for Reiki practitioners and teachers.). This bill is before the New Jersey health committee. The bill (highlighted version) is below.

New Jersey Residents Please write your legislator and health Committee. Template below.

From another state or county please write to several of the members of the Health Committee sharing why you oppose Assembly Bill 2461. Points to reference are stated below.

Please Oppose New Jersey Assembly Bill 2461

Which Establishes a Natural Health and Vitality Task Force to Develop Recommendations for Legislative Action Regarding the Education, Qualifications, Training, and Licensing of Reiki Practitioners

1. Reiki is unfairly singled out, as it is the only spiritual practice included in the bill. The other practices the bill affects are: chiropractors; certified personal trainers; massage therapists; acupuncture; certified clinical nutritionists; and psychologists.

2. Reiki practice has no representation on the Task Force, which is composed of the Commissioner of Health, ex officio or a designee, and eight public members who shall include at least one naturopathic practitioner, one chiropractor, one psychologist, and one nutritionist.

3. There are more than 100 different styles of Reiki. It would be impossible for the task force to establish recommendations for education, qualifications, and training for all of them, as the only thing they may have in common is the name Reiki.

4. Based on this paragraph:

“The bill provides that the task force issue a report obtaining its findings and recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislature, including any recommendations for legislative or regulatory action.”

The regulatory aspect of this bill will be fraught with issues related to: * The improper definition of the scope of practice per each style of Reiki

* Lack of understanding of the differences in application for each type’s scope of practice when similar to another’s scope (Asian v Western)

5. This bill is the first step in the requirement of licensure for Reiki practitioners.

The bill, introduced in February 2022, is currently in the Assembly Health Committee and remains very much alive. This legislative session does not end until December 2023.

Please contact members of the Health Committee to voice your objection to this bill. The following link will take you to the web page of its members with their contact information:

SAMPLE LETTER THAT YOU CAN USE TO WRITE TO YOUR LEGISLATOR AND NEW JERSEY HEALTH COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Friends, it looks like the time to celebrate!

Reiki Unified thanks all our supporters for their efforts in opposing the Massachusetts legislation. Your voice was heard. Each and every one of you made a difference. Read on . . .

Update on MA Bills S.221 and H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies

On Monday, January 31, the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure in an executive session voted to send S.221 and H.350 to a further investigation and study order. A study order is typically an indication that the committee has decided to focus its efforts for the remainder of the legislative session on other matters. It is possible for the chairs to agree to take a matter out of study order, but it is very, very rare.This was the fifth attempt to regulate complementary practices in Massachusetts. Without your help, we are sure the bill would have passed.

Go Fund Me - Help Us Oppose State Regulation In The U.S.

We’re launching a GoFundMe campaign to maintain our website and social media presence and develop educational and organizing materials. The volunteer board has covered the costs of running Reiki Unified with our own money. We’re asking you to help fund our mission. We’re grateful for offerings of any size.

^{Make a donation today}

Together We Are Stronger!

The Reiki Unified Team—Rita Glassman, Susan Mitchell, Helene Williams, and Christopher Tellez

A public hearing was held on zoom on December 13th, 2021 S.221/H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies with the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. 60 people gave oral testimony with overwhelming opposition to S.221/H.350. 

Written Testimony has been extended to January 10th, 2022. So far we have over 1,200 people who have sent in written testimony in opposition. Please help us defeat this bill. Sample letter below. 

The proposed legislation S.221/H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies, affects therapies such as Reiki, Asian bodywork therapy, Reflexology, Feldenkrais Method, Trager Approach, Ayurvedic Therapies, Polarity or Polarity Therapy, Structural integration or Rolfing, Qi Gong, and Body/Mind Centering. This bill creates a licensing board (with members who do not have the expertise in each of our practices - 3 massage therapists and 2 alternative health practitioners).  This board will establish professional and ethical conduct, will direct us how to practice and teach, and mandate continuing education generally beyond the scope of our practices. If this bill passes it will increase the cost of practicing, reduce the number of practitioners, increase the cost to consumers, generate unnecessary barriers with higher fees to practice, increase unemployment, discriminate against low wage earners, people of color, and women. 

SAMPLE LETTER THAT YOU CAN USE TO WRITE FOR YOUR TESTIMONY

The subject line of your email should be: Testimony in Opposition to S.221 and H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies

The email should be addressed to the following individuals:   jointcmte-consumerprotection@malegislature.gov, paul.feeney@masenate.gov, Michael.Brady@masenate.gov, brendan.crighton@masenate.gov, edward.kennedy@masenate.gov, Bruce.Tarr@masenate.gov, Tackey.Chan@mahouse.gov., Mary.Keefe@mahouse.gov, Rady.Mom@mahouse.gov, Tricia.Farley-Bouvier@mahouse.gov, Joan.Meschino@mahouse.gov, tami.gouveia@mahouse.gov, david.leboeuf@mahouse.gov, Danillo.Sena@mahouse.gov, Jacob.Oliveira@mahouse.gov, joseph.mckenna@mahouse.gov, Steven.Howitt@mahouse.gov, susan.moran@masenate.gov,  

 Sample Email:

(Month) (Day) (Year)

The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

The State House

24 Beacon Street, Room 42

Boston, MA 02133

 RE:  Testimony in Opposition to S.221 and  H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies

 Dear Chairs, Senator Moran and Representative Chan, Vice Chairs Senator Feeney and Representative Keefe, and Members of the Committee:

My name is (your first and last name) (or I am writing on behalf of a business or organization) and I am a (type of practitioner, teacher or consumer) who resides in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (Do not add where you reside if you do not live or work in MA. Please note, that anyone in the US can join in writing a letter of opposition)State why you oppose the bill or other issue here.  Include a personal story.  Tell the Committee why the issue is important to you and how it will affect you, your family, and your community (and/or organization or business).

Also, choose up to three of the strongest points that support your position from the fact sheets and state them clearly.

FACT SHEET Talking Points

FACT SHEET Talking Points

Example: I want to voice my strong opposition to S.221 and H.350 as it affects over 100 holistic modalities (or 150 different styles of Reiki practice) that will not be fairly represented with the proposed Board of Massage and Alternative Healing Therapies.  There is no risk of harm to the public from these modalities. The restriction that you can only be licensed if you receive training at a program licensed by the state will put many holistic health care practitioners and teachers out of business and on unemployment because of the burdensome fees.  They will limit healthcare choices for consumers, raise prices of sessions, and close hospital and hospice volunteer programs.

 Please vote no on S.221 and H.350. I would greatly appreciate a response.  Thank you for your time and consideration of this issue.  

 Sincerely, 

Print your name 

Street address 

City, State, Zip code

Phone

Email

A public hearing held on zoom on S.221/H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies. will be held on December 13th, 2021 with the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. We need people who live in Massachusetts to give oral testimony opposing regulating of Reiki. Please register to give oral testimony by December 9th to give oral testimony on December 13th.

We also need written testimony. Anyone can Send Written Testimony to the Members of Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure in Opposition to these Bills 

The proposed legislation S.221/H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies, affects therapies such as Reiki, Asian bodywork therapy, Reflexology, Feldenkrais Method, Trager Approach, Ayurvedic Therapies, Polarity or Polarity Therapy, Structural integration or Rolfing, Qi Gong, and Body/Mind Centering. This bill creates a licensing board (with members who do not have the expertise in each of our practices - 3 massage therapists and 2 alternative health practitioners).  This board will establish professional and ethical conduct, will direct us how to practice and teach, and mandate continuing education generally beyond the scope of our practices. If this bill passes it will increase the cost of practicing, reduce the number of practitioners, increase the cost to consumers, generate unnecessary barriers with higher fees to practice, increase unemployment, discriminate against low wage earners, people of color, and women. 

SAMPLE LETTER THAT YOU CAN USE TO WRITE FOR YOUR TESTIMONY

The subject line of your email should be: Testimony in Opposition to S.221 and H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies

The email should be addressed to the following individuals:   jointcmte-consumerprotection@malegislature.gov, paul.feeney@masenate.gov, Michael.Brady@masenate.gov, brendan.crighton@masenate.gov, edward.kennedy@masenate.gov, Bruce.Tarr@masenate.gov, Tackey.Chan@mahouse.gov, Mary.Keefe@mahouse.gov, Rady.Mom@mahouse.gov, Tricia.Farley-Bouvier@mahouse.gov, Joan.Meschino@mahouse.gov, tami.gouveia@mahouse.gov, david.leboeuf@mahouse.gov, Danillo.Sena@mahouse.gov, Jacob.Oliveira@mahouse.gov, joseph.mckenna@mahouse.gov, Steven.Howitt@mahouse.gov, susan.moran@masenate.gov,  

Sample Email:

(Month) (Day) (Year)

The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

The State House

24 Beacon Street, Room 42

Boston, MA 02133

RE:  Testimony in Opposition to S.221 and  H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies

Dear Chairs, Senator Moran and Representative Chan, Vice Chairs Senator Feeney and Representative Keefe, and Members of the Committee:

My name is (your first and last name) (or I am writing on behalf of a business or organization) and I am a (type of practitioner, teacher or consumer) who resides in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (Do not add where you reside if you do not live or work in MA. Please note, that anyone in the US can join in writing a letter of opposition)

State why you oppose the bill or other issue here.  Include a personal story.  Tell the Committee why the issue is important to you and how it will affect you, your family, and your community (and/or organization or business).

Also, choose up to three of the strongest points that support your position from the fact sheets and state them clearly.

FACT SHEET  Talking Points

FACT SHEET Talking Points

Example: I want to voice my strong opposition to S.221 and H.350 as it affects over 100 holistic modalities (or 150 different styles of Reiki practice) that will not be fairly represented with the proposed Board of Massage and Alternative Healing Therapies.  There is no risk of harm to the public from these modalities. The restriction that you can only be licensed if you receive training at a program licensed by the state will put many holistic health care practitioners and teachers out of business and on unemployment because of the burdensome fees.  They will limit healthcare choices for consumers, raise prices of sessions, and close hospital and hospice volunteer programs.

Please vote no on S.221 and H.350. I would greatly appreciate a response.  Thank you for your time and consideration of this issue.  

Sincerely, 

Print your name 

Street address 

City, State, Zip code

Phone

Email

Podcast

Reiki Unified has been invited to be guests on Nathalie Jaspar’s podcast, Dive Into Reiki, to be airedNovember 23 at 6:00 PM EST.  Tune in to listen to the whole Reiki Unified team address many questions about licensure and regulation.  The following is a link to hear it live: Join Zoom Meeting Passcode: 723878.  Meeting ID: 876 2670 0945. This podcast will be recorded too. 

We started a Facebook page for real time updates. Please join us! 

In the coming days we will ask for your help in opposing S.221 and H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies in Massachusetts, by sending written testimony to the members of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. We will provide an email template to everyone. This bill is extremely important because it will set precedent for other states to follow suit.  The Reiki Unified website gives detailed information about the  Massachusetts Legislation.