What Is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese healing art used for relaxation, stress reduction as well as spiritual and physical healing. It is implemented through hands-on or hands-off (distance) healing. Reiki was developed by Mikao Usui, a Japanese spiritual seeker. The word Reiki is made of two words—Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which stands for “life force energy.” Reiki is essentially life force energy guided by a higher power.
When one’s life force energy is low, we are more prone to feel stressed out or get sick. Conversely, when our life force energy is high, we are more capable of being healthy and happy. Reiki balances and/or restores our natural life force energy so that the body’s natural healing abilities are properly utilized. Reiki is simple, natural and safe. It can be used in conjunction with working with a therapist or life coach as well as with any medical, or alternative healing method.
Reiki treats the whole person: mind, body, emotions and spirit. During a treatment one may feel warmth or coolness, or energy moving through the body. The flow of energy generally feels relaxing. Clients often fall asleep. Sometimes people experience colors or images. Whether experienced consciously or not, the Reiki energy is always working for the highest good of the recipient.
In order for the Reiki treatments to have lasting results, the client must take an active part in the healing process. The client must be willing to take responsibility for his or her own healing. While it is not necessary to believe in Reiki, Usui recommends certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony in one’s life. The following five principals promote psychological and physical health.
Just for today
Do not anger, do not worry, be filled with gratitude
Do your duties fully. Be kind to others.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer position,
direct these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth.
Mikao Usui
Benefits Of Reiki:
- – Facilitates healing
- – Helps release toxins from the body
- – Assists in releasing emotional and mental energy blocks
- – Brings clarity and allows for deep personal insight to occur spontaneously
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Reiki Qualifications
Reiki is not taught in the typical sense of the word. It is actually transferred during what is called an attunement or ReiJu given by a Reiki master/teacher. Reiki is a learned practice and eventually “mastered” by doing. Reiki is not an intellectual pursuit. It is available to anyone who is interested in learning this fascinating healing art. Today there are many different types of Reiki, one not being better than another.
I received my attunements for Shoden (I) and Okuden (II) in the tradition of Jikiden Reiki, the aim of which is to follow the original teachings of Mikao Usui. I am however not a Jikiden purist. I enjoy working intuitively, therefore I may incorporate techniques from other Reiki traditions. As a practitioner, I see myself as a conduit or channel for Reiki energy. This means that I am always guided by a Higher Power (Rei), and that therefore the lifeforce energy (Ki) always moves where it needs to go. Reiki doesn’t allow for anything that the client isn’t ready for.
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My Energy Healing Journey
I have always been intuitive. It’s normal for me to feel the energy of another person, but like so many of us, I never paid it special attention. Because I allowed my mind to run the show, I often chose not to listen to this inner-knowing. I was raised to think, to use my mind and to not let my heart or invisible forces run the show, even though my South American grandfather had been a healer all his life. Since I can remember, I’ve created healing potions for myself and my family. Food has been my medicine. I jokingly called myself a witch. I used my hands to provide relief or healing for myself. Without giving it much thought, my life was always about healing. None of it was done in any formal capacity. Over the years however, I have been guided to move in the direction of using as opposed to excusing my knowledge and abilities. When I realized that I already relied quite a bit on my sense abilities, I decided it was time to officially incorporate my healing abilities into my practice.
It is important to note that we are all healers. When we choose to turn our attention inward and discover our true nature, the veil lifts; our gifts become more accessible when we decide to keep a spiritual practice. Anyone can do it. “Healers” don’t heal people, they facilitate healing. People heal themselves.