I was fortunate enough to meet Raymond in a dog park during the first day of a recent stay in Oakland. In conversing about my travels, his neighborhood, and our respective dogs, he casually dropped Alan Watts' name and told me that he practiced Reiki and massage. At this point I figured we'd be fast friends. Growing up the son of a massage therapist turned certified teacher of Alexander Technique, I've been around body/energy work my entire life, and through engaging in various forms of energy work over the years I've learned that you need to follow your gut when choosing practitioners, guides, and allies in these fields. That being said, Raymond's presence put me at ease from the moment we met, and I decided to have a Reiki session with him during my two day stay in the Bay Area. What a good decision! I had no working knowledge of Reiki entering the session, and working with Ray was an incredibly powerful, centering experience. He has an expansive knowledge of Reiki work, a generous spirit, and a kind heart. After two months on the road I really felt the need for some energy work, and this session helped ground and center me tremendously. Ray also set aside ample time at the end of our session to show me the basics of Reiki self-care. This is powerful stuff folks! In addition to leaving our session feeling wonderful, I left with a valuable new tool for self-care and healing. After a couple weeks practicing the fundamentals of Reiki self-care I can say honestly that it has become a valuable part of my daily practice. It sets the tone for my days and helps quiet my mind and bring awareness back into my body, all of which is incredibly helpful in preparing me to play music from the heart and live up to my potential. read more

I had been wanting to schedule a Reiki session for a while now. I am much more experienced with different styles of meditation, but through out the last couple of years I have become interested in learning more about Reiki. So after a little bit of internet research, I came across Raymond's page and scheduled an appointment. I arrived with some lower back pain. It's not an uncommon thing for me so I usually just try to carry on through out the day and try not to aggravate it any further until I can set time aside to do some yoga stretches at home. The pain usually lasts for a couple of weeks. Anyway, Raymond was great! Such a lovely person! :) He explained the basics of Reiki for me in a very articulate and reassuring manner. The session was great. He even took a few minutes to focus on my lower back pain. After the session, I asked about receiving my first attunement. He was able to do this for me and gave me a lot of background info and helpful tips so that I can practice at home. He even had me practice on myself before I left. It was during this time that something amazing happened. I hadn't felt that kind of pure, grace-like energy flow through me in such a long time. It was incredible! By the time the session was over, my lower back pain had dramatically reduced and I felt wonderful! It has been about a week and a half and I'm so glad I had this opportunity. I don't regret it one bit. Along with a few yoga stretches, I feel that Reiki has helped me recover from my lower back pain completely in a matter of days. What a relief! If you're willing to give Reiki a try, I definitely recommend getting in touch with Master Raymond Self! read more

Born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area. I have been studying massage and Reiki for over 10 years. I first got into the massage industry 13 years ago to heal my broken body. I was in a serious bike accident which left me pretty banged up. With no health insurance for physical therapy I decided to go to massage school where I studied the body and mind. it was there I received body work daily and I began to heal my self while helping others to heal themselves. After I completed a 9 month program covering both Western (Swedish and Deep Tissue) and Eastern styles of massage i found Reiki ( i should say Reiki found me )and my journey into alternative energy medicine began. After graduating massage school I went back to college to earn my A.A. in transfer studies. It was during this time that I began my Reiki journey. For three years I worked on myself at level one of Reiki. I never knew how much Reiki would change my life. I began to really review my life and some of the choices I was making. It made me look and become more aware of myself and responsibility as a human being. This really started to open myself to new things like Hat-ha Yoga and Taiji Qigong in order to learn about the body as a energy system. Once I graduated from City College I decided to continue my studies move forward with the Reiki energy work. its been 6 years later(10 total in reiki field) i am now able to teach Reiki. I believe in this powerful work we are doing and I look forward to sharing this gift with you. i teach reiki and meditation as well as work with clients on a one on one basis. Namaste Raymond Self read more

After a highly enlightening conversation with Raymond in which we discussed meditation and the fact that "We are the universe experiencing itself," I decided to go see him for a full Reiki healing session. I was so impressed that I am now embarking on a course of practice so I can learn to practice Reiki myself. Essentially, what I learned from Raymond is that practicing Reiki is very much like meditation, but what you're meditating on is channeling the energies of the universe for the purposes of healing yourself and/or others. I was not expecting the actual physical sensations, like waves of energy emanating from Raymond's hands as he performed the cleansing. I have tried meditation before but never penetrated that deeply that I experienced anything like that. All I had hoped for was a sense of serenity and peace, which I was able to achieve with Raymond's healing and guidance. And when Raymond told me "This peace is within you always, I didn't do anything to put it there. You can always get back to this, it's always in you," I saw instantly that he was 100% right. It was a big moment for me. So basically what I'm saying is, Raymond is a really deep and enlightened guy, it's well worth your time just to have a chat with him even if you aren't interested in Reiki. But I bet that, after talking with him, you will be interested. And you couldn't find anyone better to guide you: Raymond embodies what he teaches. He is full of peace, love, and wisdom, and he is the best kind of teacher: not just willing but eager to pass on what he's learned. read more

I went to see Ray earlier today for a Reiki session, and boy am I glad I did! Ray has such a wonderful, genuine spirit about him that I recognized even from our very first phone conversation. He was so eager to teach me all about the deep power of Reiki with an approach that was peaceful, loving, and just completely down-to-earth. He has a no-nonsense way about him and is obviously knowledgeable and at one with his own spiritual practice. I really feel like he is also clearly a healer (doesn't let ego get in his way) and I immediately felt comfortable in his presence, even though I'm a woman and sessions are held in his warehouse. Do not be alarmed, haha. :) Ray is super-friendly and a good listener with a warm heart. I would definitely recommend going to see Ray for a Reiki session if you're looking for a straightforward, yet compassionate, journey inside yourself. Get ready to feel the energy flowing, that's for sure. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, having never before experienced a Reiki session, and he spoke gently about what he would be doing and answered my questions to make sure we were both on the same page before the session began. Then during the session, I could at times feel waves of energy moving across my body, which is something I never would have thought could happen; it was a real trip. Overall, I really felt like Ray was invested in bringing peace into my life and helping me unlock doors to reveal my own personal life's path. Thank you, Ray, for truly caring. Namaste. read more

I must admit that when I first began to hear about Reiki, I dismissed it along with all the other meditation and yoga "mumbo jambalaya". I have had difficulty in the past with all of it and just simply thought I wasn't quite wired for it. I always tuned out during conversations in many groups about these subjects. ...and then I was attuned by Master Raymond Self. This Reiki attunement meant I could begin self healing! I had difficulty the first week, but I also had some really powerful Jedi moments that made me a believer. I stuck with it and finally built a daily regimen after the first 21 days. Raymond is very patient and an excellent listener and teacher. He gave me a lot of insight that helped with all the difficulty I was having getting started. Raymond is quite versatile as well. Not only does he do house calls, He has done a distance healing with me at the same time I was doing self healing and I could actually feel exactly which chakras he was on as well as when it stopped. He has also set his chair up at a nightclub and gotten rave reviews! If you find yourself in need of energy work, or better yet, would like to be attuned to start practicing yourself, Master Self is the way to go. ..I mean you have no excuse if the Reiki will come to you!! This review is MsManya certified! read more

Raymond was a chance meeting for my first time in Oakland (from VA), as fate would have it we met at a dog park and our dogs brought us together. As Raymond and my boyfriend got to talking, they had some similar interests. We met back in March, my boyfriend had a session with Raymond and came home quite at peace afterwards. I'm in the healthcare field for respiratory therapy, but have been interested in massage therapy for some time. Learning little tricks here and there for massage, I started hearing about Reiki about two to three years ago, and understood very little about it. After getting to speak with Raymond and see his passion for it- I must admit my curiosity was sparked, especially after my boyfriend's session. I had the pleasure of doing a group Reiki session with my boyfriend, his brother, and Raymond: it has intrigued me to further center myself and see what level I can take my Reiki practice to. The long and short of it, you'll thank yourself for making time to investigate this meditation practice, but you'll also be thanking Raymond for his vivacious energy and unique way of connecting with you. Raymond, you have a gift, thank you for sharing it with me! :) read more

I just had a second Reiki session with Raymond Self. Overall, I am feeling good and I know there will be some more changes over the next few days. After the first session, I had noticed an overall feeling of relaxation in my mind & body and slept great which is unusual for me most of the time. Within a couple of days I had noticed a shift in my overall thoughts & well being/energy. A couple of weeks after my 1st appointment, I had contacted Ray again to schedule some more work. At the time of this writing, he was offering a package deal so I purchased 3 sessions. We are working on clearing some creative blocks and also getting some energy healing into my shoulder and other various aches & pains. I am looking forward to the wonderful changes that Raymond's healing brings. He does house calls (which is where he did my work), He is punctual, and very passionate about his work! You will know this within minutes of talking with him. He really listens to what your concerns are and discusses with you the issues you want to focus on for each treatment/session. If you are in need of energy work for whatever reasons contact Ray for a consultation. read more

A friend of mine recommend Raymond to me. Since the first moment I saw Raymond, I felt a very good energy coming from him, I felt peace and harmony . Today was my second Reiki session I did with him and definitely I will do more and more because it is simply wonderful! All the bad energy loaded in others , the stress of work, nags, anxiety, and even the physical and mental tiredness of a busy life that I have, I felt them disappear after the sessions, the feeling of lightness and internal cleansing is so great that I simply love. Raymond inspired me to do meditation and Reiki on myself , I will continue to have Reiki with him so I can keep my balance, peace and kindness . If you are interested in Reiki Raymond is the right person to help you , even if you do not know much about, give a chance to yourself to find out with him, because the results are wonderful , you will see yourself, the world, people and all creatures of the earth with other eyes, you will better understand the meaning of this universe that we are part of and the energy that we are. Muito obrigada Raymond! Paz, amor, Reiki e namastê para todos. Susana. read more

Just had my first "official" Reiki session with Raymond, although he'd done a couple of informal treatments on me while just visiting at the dog park. I could feel the healing power of his hands after just a few minutes of his working on me. I'd been dealing with a lingering cold and exhaustion after extensive work-related international travel and after a short, informal treatment outdoors at the park, something definitely shifted and I began to feel better. So I scheduled a "real" session, in my home. Raymond arrived on time, set up his table and went to work. I felt peaceful, relaxed, yet energized at the end of that first session. Raymond has a special gift. I'll be getting more sessions with him. He has a great offer for new clients, 3 sessions for $100 and $50/session after that. Great value, great work! Thanks Raymond! read more

I met Raymond on Saturday and he drove all the way from Oakland to my neighborhood in Inner Richmond in San Francisco. Just that in itself, without adding on extra fees, was very impressive. We decided to do reiki in the park across the street from my apartment, and I have never experienced reiki outside. It was such a lovely experience. My grandmother was dying, and I was going through some other stuff, so he helped her and myself. The wind was blowing and birds were crowding around us due to the energy. He gave me some great tips during our session about my own meditations and how to help heal myself. His energy was light, loving and giving. I would definitely work with Raymond again, and he was extremely affordable. (Which I think should always be the case, when healing others!) Very flexible, communicative, and great energy. read more

I spend most of my day hunched over a key board, and have tried many forms of body work to relieve some of the discomfort i have become accostomed to experiencing. I have tried some pretty painful therapies and lead myself to believe that if its not painful it doesnt work. Raymond proved me different. The minute he put his hands on me i felt the warmth radiating from him into the areas that needed healing. It was amazing. There was no cracking, no stretching, no pain. I was wide awake, but more relaxed then i had been in years. When i left i felt like a weight id been carrying around had been lifted. I walked straighter, i had more energy, and it didnt hurt to get there. Im hooked. Ill be back. read more

I had been to reiki several years ago for various issues & it was very intense almost disturbing to the point that I was not sure about how I was feeling. Then several years later, I talked to Raymond about reiki & his perspective on it, then he gave me a reiki treatment. I felt so peaceful more peaceful, calm & relaxed then I have felt inside in many years. It was incredible & a wonderful experience! My issues were greatly improved & seem to be getting better everyday! I highly recommend Raymond Self reiki master, I will most definitely return for further treatments/sessions & will recommend him to friends as well as family members! Give reiki by Raymond a try you will Not be disappointed! read more

I began receiving Reiki treatments from Raymond about 3 weeks ago & let me tell you the man really has a great touch when it comes to working with energy flow. I feel the energy work that Raymond has performed on me has really opened some heavily blocked chakras & has helped to channel more creative energy within me. He has a very calm & awakening demeanor. Every time I meet with him for a Reiki session I always leave feeling more relaxed & centered. I can't sing enough praises for Raymond's ability & look forward for every session with Raymond. If you need energy work Raymond is definitely someone to consider. & compared to other Reiki Masters that I investigated he is quite affordable! read more

Looking for alternative/holistic healing I came across Reiki which I've always wanted to try. Ray came to the rescue as I had no idea what to expect with Reiki. He explained it in depth to me and even came to my house so that I was in a comfortable, relaxing environment. Not only did he preform the Reiki but pointed me in the direction of how to best go about taking better care of injury. The energy that was gained from Reiki is amazing, I'm not saying it cured my physical pain in one treatment but I feel confident that in time, working with Ray will keep me balanced and on a positive track to fix the injury for good! read more

I didn't know anything about Reiki or what the beneficial effects were. But after speaking w/ Raymond I decided to get a full session to see what it's all about. Best decision I ever made! The treatment was a wonderful surprise. During our consultation I told him my lower back was bothering me and afterwards it never felt better. I honestly didn't think that energy work could relieve muscle ache but it did! I was feeling extremely relaxed and my mind felt so clear. I also had the best sleep that night as well. Thank you Raymond for introducing me to Reiki! read more

I have recently started my practice of reiki with Master Self. Resources, practice advice, help in physical and mental preparation for practice were all shared with me. As my practicing has continued, Raymond, through thoughtful discussion has been very helpful in my adjustment to the physical and emotional results of "practice", as well as noticing and helping me in bettering the details of my daily practice routine. Master Self should be high on your list if you have decided to practice reiki. read more

I had my first Reiki session with Raymond on 7/31/14 and experienced instant relaxation via his healing hands. His calm energy really slowed my own energy tempo down. Conversely, and as he stated, my energy level went up for the remainder of the evening after about 15 minutes after the 30 minute session was completed. I do not know much about Reiki, but Raymond helped me get a better understanding of this strange art. I look forward to the next session. Money well-spent! read more

I met Raymond and his beautiful dog at a dog park yesterday and we started talking. I'd only had a few Reiki sessions before Raymond and all were good but today's session with Raymond was the best experience I've had. I learned so much and Raymond is an excellent teacher. I love his style and how open-minded he is in his approach...I got no sense that his ego was running the show..it was just all about the healing. Loved it and I highly recommend him. read more