Daily Living Reiki

What is Reiki

 

 A brief overview of the Origins of Reiki in Japan

 

Dr. Mikao Usui i(1865-1926) is the founder of the Usui System of Natural Healing. After many years of studying the practices of Tendai Buddhism, Shintoism, the Martial Arts and Shugendo, he developed from his own spiritual revelations the Art of Reiki.  He taught for many years, and opened his first clinic in 1920. He passed away in 1926.

 

Hayashi Chujiro, (1870-1940) was a Japanese Navel Officer and surgeon. He put Usui's teachings into a repeatable system of hand positions and symbols so that it could be more easily taught and used.  He opened the first commercial clinic in Tokyo in the early 1930's.  He committed hari-kari in 1940 rather than fight in WW II. He passed his teachings onto Hawayo Takata.

 

 

Mrs. Hawayo Takata (1900-1980) was a Hawaiian born Japanese-American woman who studied under Hayashi from 1936-1938. She and Hayashi established the first Reiki Clinic in the West in Hawaii in 1938.  In 1970 she began teaching by invitation on the mainland where the practice or Reiki rapidly spread. She is considered to be the founder of the Western School of Reiki..

 

 

 

 

 


"Reiki " roughly translated is "Spiritually-guided life-force energy."

In this article by Laura Ellen Gifford, she gives a beautiful explanation of the healing power of this energy. See her contact information at the bottom of the page.

 Our physical body is alive because of the 'life force energy' that is flowing though it. If our 'life force' is low or blocked, we are more likely to get sick, but if it is high and free flowing, we more easily maintain health and a feeling of well-being. One thing that disrupts and weakens the flow of 'life force energy' is stress. Stress is often caused by conflicting thoughts and feelings that get lodged in one's subtle energy system. These include fear, worry, doubt, anger, anxiety, etc. Medical research has determined that continual stress can block the body's natural ability to repair, regenerate and protect itself. The American Institute of Stress estimates that 75%-95% of all visits to doctors are the results of reaction to stress. The effects of unreleased stress range from minor aches to major health concerns, such as heart disease, digestive disorders, respiratory and skin problems.

Reiki (ray-key) is a technique that aids the body in releasing stress and tension by creating deep relaxation. Because of this, Reiki promotes healing and health. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "the Wisdom of God or the Higher Power" and Ki which is means 'life force energy.' So Reiki means 'spiritually guided life force energy.' The Reiki system of healing is a technique for transmitting this subtle energy to yourself and others through the hands into the human energy system. Reiki restores energy balance and vitality by relieving the physical and emotional effects of unreleased stress. It gently and effectively opens blocked meridians, nadas and chakras, and clears the energy bodies, leaving one feeling relaxed and at peace.

Reiki can:

  • Accelerate healing
  • Assist the body in cleansing toxins
  • Balance the flow of subtle energy by releasing blockages
  • Help the client contact the 'healer within.'

A treatment feels like warm, gentle sunshine which flows through you, surrounds you and comforts you. Reiki treats the person’s body, emotions, mind and spirit as a whole. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use.

Reiki is powerful, yet wonderfully gentle and nurturing. During a treatment, the clients remain fully clothed. Reiki is an effective alternative, or complement to massage therapy. Reiki supports any medical, or supplemental healing methods a client may be using and is of growing interest to chiropractors, medical doctors, physiotherapists, psychotherapists, psychologists and hypnotherapists.

Anyone can learn to tap into an unlimited supply of 'life force energy' to improve health and enhance the quality of life by learning Reiki, or by receiving treatments from a Reiki Practitioner or Master.

Laura Ellen Gifford is Director of Teacher Certification, Editor of "Reiki News", a Certified Reiki Master Teacher, Clairvoyant Healing Channel, Founder of Reiki Wellness Center and United in Healing. Contact Laura thru the Center or at Lauramaya@aol.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reiki in the West
 
Reiki was brought to the West by Mrs Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman born in Hawaii in
1900. Mrs. Takata had been treated by Hayashi Chujiro (on the left) during a trip to Japan in 1935  and as a result of treatment was able to avoid major surgery.  She became a student of Hayashi and eventually was one of the first women initiated as a Reiki Master.  In the pre-WWII climate in Japan, many of the Reiki practitioners, most of whom were men, were either drafted into military service or quietly  faded away.  Mrs. Takata returned to Hawaii and established the first Western Reiki practice there in 1938.  She appears to have taught in line with the teachings of Hayashi , although much of her story is surrounded by myth.  She remained in Hawaii until 1970 when she began teaching on the mainland and eventually initiated 22 Reiki Masters.   In 1980 she passed away.  Her students began to set up their own practices and, largley due to the rise of New Age practices, many different interpretations and practices began to emerge that were attributed to Reiki (such as mythological Tibetan teachings and Spirit channeling). There has been a movement underway in the last decade to set a standard for Reiki in the West.  In the mid-1990's western researchers discovered that some of the original Reiki practitioners were still alive and practicing in Japan and communication has gradually been re-established.  With the new information now available, Western practitioners are beginning to incorporate more of the original teachings of Usui into their practices.
The feeling of most Reiki
practitioners is that other modalities may be included in a healing session as long as integrity is not compromised and the practitioner lets their client know what other modalities they may be using.  Therapeutic Touch and working with the Chakras are some popular enhancements that are used by Reiki practitioners, and are very much in line with Reiki precepts.  Many practitioners are also qualified as life coaches and social workers.
With the rise in interest in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) you will also find many nurses, physical therapists, massage therapists and chiropractors who use Reiki to compliment their practices.  It is no longer unusual to find a Reiki practitioner in a clinic or hospital setting .

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