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Reiki - Japanese Energy Healing

Introduction to Reiki

What is Reiki?

Reiki healing is a natural and simple type of hands-on healing. Placing our hands on another (or on ourself) as an act of comfort or to relieve pain is a natural human instinct, the first thing many of us do when we experience pain is put our hand on it.

Human touch conveys warmth, care and healing. This warmth that is experienced is an emination of life force energy. In every culture there is a name for this energy... Mana (Polynesia), Awen (Celtic), Prana (India), Chi (China), Orgone Energy (European) or Ki (Japanese). It is Ki from which the name Reiki is derived.

Rei: “The wisdom and knowledge of all the universe”, “higher spiritual consciousness” or “atmosphere of the Divine”.

The higher intelligence that guides creation and harmony. 

 

Ki: "air", "breath", "wind", "vital breath", "vital essence" or "the activating energy of the universe".

The life-force energy which flows through all living things.

We are all connected to this energy to some degree and when our system is in balance this energy flows through us freely and maintains us in a healthy state. However, most of us have forgotten this connection and our normal western way of living disconnects us further and further from this source of healing. Our way of life causes our system to become blocked and thus the energy becomes imbalanced and this leads to illness or disease. These blockages and disconnection come about through stress, improper diet, repressing emotions, 'doing too much', 'doing too little', or not living our true life path; amongst other things.

A Reiki treatment is a chance to have our energy rebalanced and to have initiate the process of removing these energy blockages. Leading to a more natural flow of energy within our system. In this state our natural healing processes are activated to relieve illness or disease.

A Reiki practitioner is somone who has recieved "attunements" from a Reiki Master/Teacher to open their system to the flow of this Reiki energy, remove all blockages from their sstem and to connect the energy to thier hands. This allows them to act as a channel for this vital life-force energy.

During a treatment the Reiki practitioner passes their hands over the body of the recipient transfering this energy to them, the recipient absorbs this energy wherever it is most needed allowing healing on every level. Reiki works physically, emotionally and spiritually to redress imbalance and to heal the root of any blockages.

Reiki is totally positive and can never cause harm to a living thing. It is valid for everyone to use no matter how young, old or frail. If asomeone is ill, in pian or in emotional distress Reiki will help. However, Reiki is not a replacement for conventional medicine.

Reiki is not a religion or affiliated to any religion. Reiki energy is the life force energy of the universe and predated any human philosophy.

A (very) Brief History of Reiki

Dr. Mikao Usui,was responsible for the revival of the ancient healing art of Reiki, in at the end of the 1800's.

Mikao Usui searched for the source of Jesus's healing abilities for a number of years, studying the texts of all religions and travelling around the world in his quest. He finally found what he was looking for written in Sanskrit in some ancient Buddhist Sutras. With this knowledge he set off to mediate upon the sutras to discover their true meaning.

He spent 21 days fasting and meditating at the Holy Mountain of Kuriyamo in Japan. During this 21 day period he spent his time meditating and reading the Sutra’s. Nothing unusual happened until the dawn of the last day. It was still quite dark when he saw a shining light moving towards him with great speed. The light grew bigger and bigger until it finally hit him in the middle of his forehead. At this moment Dr. Usui thought he was going to die. As he watched a brilliant White Light appeared before him, he saw within it all the well known Sanskrit symbols. He shouted,” YES, I Remember”. Thus was born the Usui system of Reiki.

After his return to Kyoto Mikao Usui worked serving the poor and needy in the slums before setting up a Reiki 'Hospital'. He trained others in the art of Reiki healing, creating a small number of Reiki Masters who could also pass on the attunements and the teaching. Reiki was bought to the west by Hawayo Takata. She trained 22 Reiki Masters during the 1970's and 1980's in Hawaii, the United States and Canada. Since this time Reiki has spread across the world and it is from this lineage that the majority of Usui Reiki Practitioners have been trained.

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