About Reiki

What Is Reiki ?
Benefits Of Reiki
Is Reiki A Religion ?
Do I need to believe in Reiki to make it work ?
History Of Reiki
Reiki Principles
Can I learn to Give Reiki ?

What is Reiki
The Japanese word pronounced ray – key means "Universal Life Force Energy"
Rei means “Universal and refers to the spiritual dimension of the soul"
Ki means “The vital life force energy that flows through all living things”

The practice of Reiki is an original method of hands on healing, rediscovered by Dr Mikao Usui in Japan in the 19th century.

Reiki is a gentle yet powerful non-intrusive system of natural healing. It treats the person as a whole; restoring and re-balancing the flow of energy, relaxing the body and mind and nurturing a feeling of well-being.

The Reiki practitioner transfers universal life force energy to the receiver by placing their hands gently on the energy centres of the receivers body (fully clothed), this energy is used by the body to heal itself and replenish energy stores. The recipient can experience deep relaxation and peaceful wellbeing.

The universal energy has always been recognised and used by Eastern medicine. Acupuncture, T’ai chi and Yoga are also based on the free-flow of this energy in a person.

There is no worry of any side-effects or overdose, as Reiki does not apply any substances to the body. It is used as a complementary treatment that works along side conventional medication to increase the chances of recovery, especially post surgery. Reiki can greatly enhance the positive effects of other therapies such as Chemotherapy, Homeopathy and Acupuncture.

Reiki is practiced in various settings including Health and Beauty Spa’ s Complementary Therapy centres, private practice, Some GP surgeries and hospitals, hospices, cancer groups, post-operative recovery, drug rehabilitation, prisons, HIV/AIDS centres, and in the care of the elderly

Safety
Reiki should only be considered as an addition to professional medical treatment and NOT as an alternative. A GP should be consulted in all matters relating to health and especially in relation to any symptoms which may require diagnosis or medical attention.

What are the Benefits ?

Is Reiki a Religion ?

No, Reiki is spiritual in nature, but is not a religion.

Do I need to believe in it ?

No the receiver does not need to believe in Reiki to make it work. The Receiver just needs to want to be healed and needs to accept the healing.

Reiki History
Many types of energy healing have been used in many different cultures during the past century. Reiki or forms of Reiki have been mentioned in the Tibetan religion and Chinese writings as early as the century. It is believed that all healers were monks or priests and over the years many were killed in wars. This meant the teaching was lost.
Mikao Usui was born on 15th August 1862 in southern Japan. Whilst teaching in Kyoto, Dr Usui was asked by his students why ordinary people could not heal through touch, as many great healers had left the legacy that everyone could heal if they sought the answers. Dr Usui decided to find these answers and gave up teaching in favour of his new mission.

Dr Usui spent years studying in Monasteries, Libraries in The USA, China, India and Tibet. He learnt Sanskrit and read the Buddhist teachings in the ancient sutras, or spiritual texts. But something was still missing, he wanted to put his new knowledge in to practice and use it to heal. He decided he needed to use meditation and with that he travelled to Mount Kuri Yama in northern Japan. Where he started his 21 day meditation and fast, He counted the days using 21 stones that he had collected on his first day.

On dawn of the 21st day, which coincided with the new moon, Dr Usui felt around for the last stone, in the darkness of the morning. At this time he began to see a flicker of light in the sky. It began to move closer to him and larger as it moved. Although initially scared of what he saw, Dr Usui realised that it must have been the sign he had worked so hard to see. When the light reached him it hit him in the centre of his forehead, at first he thought the impact had killed him, then before his eyes were millions of rainbow coloured bubbles, which developed into glowing white bubbles. Each bubble contained a symbol and one by one they appeared to Dr Usui, so that he could remember them. When he awoke he was surprised to find himself in daylight and feeling strong and rejuvenated.

This was the start of 4 miracles to happen that day, whilst Dr Usui rushed down the mountain he stubbed his toe. He sat down and placed his hands over his foot. When he removed them, the bleeding had stopped and the toe was healed. Further on his way he came across a place where he could eat, he ordered a full breakfast (not recommended after a long period of fasting) the next miracle occurred when without any indigestion, Dr Usui ate all his breakfast. Whist he was eating his breakfast, the old man who had served him told of his daughter’s toothache and the pain she was in. Dr Usui placed his hands on the girl’s face, the pain started to disappear.

Dr Usui found his way back to the monastery and found his friend, the abbot, who was in great pain from his arthritis, whilst sharing his experiences of the past 21 days with the monk, he laid his hands on the painful limbs, after a short time the paid had gone.
After discussions with his friends and more meditation, Dr Usui went to the Beggars Quarter of Kyoto, where he felt he could help the sick to rebuild their lives. He began to heal both old and young, but it was not until about 7 years later when he met some of the original people he had healed that he realised he had made a huge error. In healing the people they had gone on to get jobs, have family’s and build lives, they all however felt immense pressure in their new lives and could not stand the responsibility, therefore craving their old less stressful life style as beggars.
Dr Usui realised that by giving Reiki away had only confirmed the beggar lifestyle to them. He realised that you had to heal the spirit along with the body. It was important that people give something in return for the healing they received, therefore giving Reiki a value.

It was now that Dr Usui developed his 5 principles and the teaching began, Dr Usui then devoted his time to teaching other men reiki. He used the symbols he had seen on the mountain to attune his students. Shortly before his death, Dr Usui decided to pass on the lineage of Reiki to his greatest friend Chijiro Hayashi, a navel officer. He became the 2nd Grand Master. It was Hayashi who developed the 3 degrees that make up the teaching of reiki, and he opened the first Reiki clinic in Tokyo. It was at this clinic a lady suffering from cancer was treated and recovered. She became a pupil and worked with Hayashi for a year. After she returned to the birthplace in Hawaii, Mrs Hawayo Takata later became the third grand master.

Mrs Takata was the 13th and last pupil to be attuned to Reiki by Mr Hayashi. She continued with Reiki and up until her death in 1980, she had attuned 22 masters, in the USA and Canada. Today Mrs Takata’s granddaughter Phyllis Lei Furumoto is the Usui Reiki Grand Master. There are now several hundred Reiki Masters teaching worldwide.

Reiki Principles

Just for today, I will not worry
Just for today, I will not be angry
Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings
Just for today, I will do my work honestly
Just for today. I will be kind to every living thing

Just for today, I will not worry
Each day you should wake up and trust that what ever the day will bring will be valuable and a wonderful experience. Worry, is very negative causing not only stress, but it can eat away at the good in your life. Do not worry about the past – it is past. Do not worry about the future, you cannot affect it, just let it happen. To worry is to waste the precious time we have.

Just for today, I will not be angry
Each day, resist Anger, as with worry, it can and will cause such stress, anger is a destructive emotion that will eat away at what matters most. Take a look at your anger, acknowledge why you are angry, then stand back from it and eliminate it from your life.

Just for today, I will do my work with integrity No matter what you want to do, do it with all your heart and love, you will know that you are not only giving your most to it, but then in turn you will get the most from it. Whatever makes you happy, work hard to achieve it. If you don't yet know what it is that you want or what it is that makes you happy, work hard to find the answers.

Just for today. I will be kind to every living thing This is very much about, treat others how you would like to be treated yourself. Recognize the value of being non-judgemental, what ever someone chooses to do in their life, acknowledge and respect that it is their life and is as precious and valid to them as your life is to you. Extend your compassion from just being for family and friends, to others further away, neighbours, people in the street, and eventually every living thing.

Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings Wake up and say “Thank you” for all the gifts you have, once we show our gratitude, it opens up our lives to receive more. Be grateful for all that you have and do not dwell on what you want, but cannot have. Gratitude enhances your life. This is the last of the principles which goes a long way to living them all.

Bless your life and live them all.

Can I learn to give Reiki ?
Yes

Reiki cannot be learnt, from a book, it has to be given by a Reiki Master.
A Reiki Master will attune a student with Reiki Energy and this is done on a one to one basis. Once attuned a student can start to give Reiki and through time and the more the student uses Reiki, the stronger it will become.

The Degrees of Reiki
The 3 degrees of Reiki were developed by Mr Chijiro Hayashi, the second Grand Master. In each degree, attunements are given.
Once you have completed the 1st degree, you are attuned to the Reiki energy, and will never loose it. In the 2nd and 3rd degree, symbols are taught to enhance the Reiki power. After the attunements, it is essential to self-treat for 21 consecutive days – see The 21 day detox.

The 21 day detox – cleansing
The 21 days represent the days Dr Usui was on Mount Kuri Yama meditating and fasting. On each day he threw away a stone. The stones are symbolic in the detox as they represent those things in your life that weigh you down, block your way or harm you. You should give yourself Reiki for 21 days after each Degree. It allows your body, mind and spirit to accept the attunements, this in its self will begin to heal you, clear any negativity and detox the body and mind to allow a more positive way of life.

Reiki Symbols
The symbols were always treated to be sacred and were always a secret until you completed the relevant degree, now, this is not the case and the symbols can be found in books, and across the internet. Seeing them prior to learning them does not decrease their effectiveness, as they cannot be used until the relevant attunement has been given. Once you have received the attunement and know how to use them, they will work for you when ever required.