REIKI

WHAT IS REIKI?

Reiki is Universal Life Force Energy.
Reiki is the Japanese art of energy healing.
Reiki is not a philosophy, a religion, a psychology, or a form of massage.

The word Reiki (RAY-key) is a combination of two Japanese words – Rei and Ki. Rei is the upper character and means universal, higher knowledge, soul, spirit, ghost, or spiritual consciousness. It is the all-knowing God-consciousness.

Ki is the lower character and means life energy, universal life force, or vital life force. (In Chinese it is called Chi, in Sanskrit it is called Prana, in Hawaiian it is called Ti or Ki, and in the West it is called bioenergy.) Reiki then is soul energy or spiritually guided energy.

All living things have life energy circulating through them. A living things becomes vulnerable to illness if the life energy is low or if there is a block of flow. Reiki energy guides itself with its own wisdom, rather than requiring the direction of the practitioner. The practitioner becomes a channeler of the energy to the client.

Reiki heals holistically by balancing energies in the body and promoting natural self-healing. It promotes relaxation, creativity, balance, awareness, positive thinking, and vitality, reduces stress, clears toxins, stimulates natural immunity, releases suppressed feelings, and creates feelings of peace, security, and well-being. Reiki can be used for healing humans, animals, plants, and food. Reiki can be used for many ailments like pain reduction, headaches, stomach upsets, back problems, respiratory problems, anxiety, and many more. Heart rate and diastolic blood pressure have decreased significantly in people who received 30 minutes or more of Reiki.

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF REIKI?

Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese Christian educator, developed Reiki in the early 1900’s after 3 weeks of fasting and meditating on Mount Kurama. Dr. Chujiro Hayashi was a naval commander that traveled with Dr. Usui to teach and heal. After Dr. Usui passed on, Dr. Hayashi became the leader of Reiki. Dr. Hayashi passed leadership of Reiki to Mrs. Takata of Hawaii (perhaps because she would not be in Japan and therefore relatively safe and able to continue the practice during WW2). She eventually moved to California, bringing Reiki to the Western world in the 1970s.

WHAT ARE REIKI ATTUNEMENTS?

A Reiki practitioner must become attuned in order to perform Reiki. Attunements can only be performed by Reiki Teacher Masters. Once initiated into Reiki, a person remains a Reiki channel throughout his or her lifetime.

During the attunement, the Rei or God-Consciousness makes adjustments in the students’ Chakras and energy pathways to accommodate the ability to channel Reiki and then links the student to the Reiki Source. These changes are unique for each person. The Reiki Master/Teacher channels the attunement energies into the student. The Reiki attunement is a powerful experience for most people. Many students report having spiritual experiences, healings and visions. The student can also increase spiritual sensitivity. Students often report an increased awareness, which exemplifies increased intuition.

WHAT ARE THE LEVELS OF REIKI PRACTITIONERS?

Level 1: Beginning Practitioner
The new practitioner learns how to channel Reiki energy to self and others. Classroom training includes basic information about Reiki including the history of Reiki and the specific hand positions. The new practitioner is attuned to Level 1 energy, which is a low vibration. The attunement opens the chakras and palms so that healing energy from the universe can be channeled. A few months of developing proficiency at this level is needed before advancing to Level 2.

  Level 2: Advanced Practitioner
The Reiki practitioner learns long distance (remote) healing and the first three Japanese healing symbols. The three symbols aid the practitioner in channeling energy. Symbol 1 is used to turn the Reiki power on. Symbol 2 helps to heal on the mental and emotional  levels. Symbol 3 assists in sending Reiki energy over time and space. (Traditionally these symbols are not shared unless an individual is ready for the 2nd attunement). The practitioner is attuned to level 2 energy which is a higher healing frequency than Level 1. A few months of developing proficiency at this level is needed before advancing to Level 3.

  Level 3: Reiki Master (Non-Teaching)
Level 3 is the master degree. At this stage, meditation techniques, Hui Yin, the Violet Breath, Psychic Surgery, Gyoshi Ho (Reiki through the eyes), Byosen Scanning (scanning through feeling/sensing sensations), and Reiki Crystal Grids can be learned by the practitioner so that he/she can remove energy blocks. A final attunement empowers the practitioner with a Reiki Master Symbol. This symbol provides the practitioner with additional spiritual growth and understanding of self. This level is called the non-teaching level because the knowledge to pass attunements to other students is not given to the practitioner until Level 4.

  Level 4: Master Teacher Reiki

This level is for those practitioners who wish to teach Reiki. The focus is learning to attune others to the Reiki energy and on teaching Reiki to others. The final symbol, Reiki Master Teaching Symbol, is learned. This is used for attuning others to any Reiki level.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A REIKI SESSION?

After a brief introduction and welcome, the client lies on his/her back usually on a massage table. The practitioner(s) then channel Reiki energy by placing the hands lightly on the body in specific positions. The session will usually last about 45 minutes. When the session ends, the practitioner(s) and client will share their experiences with each other. The client is provided water and advised to drink plenty for the next several days.

Some clients may feel sensations such as heat, tingling, cold, or pressure. Reiki energy is repairing and opening energy channels, pulling out negativity, dissolving blockages of stale energy, and filling energy deficiencies in the body and aura.

Reiki can also be combined in the same session with various massage techniques that can provide an altered state of relaxation.

WHAT DO REIKI PRACTITIONERS THINK ABOUT DURING A SESSION?

Attuned practitioners meditate on four different Reiki symbols. These symbols are considered to be secret. The first 3 are revealed to the Reiki practitioner at Level II. The last symbol is passed to Teaching Reiki Masters. However these symbols can be found on virtually any Reiki website so I am sharing them below. In addition, many new symbols have been channeled and are being shared in the Reiki community. In my practice, I just use the original Usui symbols shown below:

WHAT ARE THE TRADITIONAL REIKI HAND POSITIONS?

There are many different hand positions depending on the form and teacher that you study. I am including the standard positions that I was taught. Sometimes intuition prompts you to move to alternative hand placements so each session is tailored to the specific client receiving treatment.

REIKI MANTRA

Reiki go, Reiki flow, Reiki knows just where to go.

5 PRINCIPLES OF REIKI (The Gokai) by Dr. Mikao Usui

1. Just for today, I will not be angry. (Kyo dake wa Okoru na)

2. Just for today, I will not worry. (Kyo dake wa Shinpai su na)

3. Just for today, I will do my work honestly. (Kyo dake wa Gyo wo hage me)

4. Just for today, I will be kind to my neighbor and every living thing. (Kyo dake wa Hito ni shinsetsu ni)

5. Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings. (Kyo dake wa Kansha shite)