What is Reiki

Reiki is claimed by its adherents to be a technique for healing physical or mental disease . Reiki was formulated during the early 20th century by Mikao Usui in Japan . Practitioners use a technique similar to the laying on of hands in which they claim that they act as channels for Reiki energy — which they say flows through their palms to specific parts of the body in order to facilitate healing . Scientific studies have not confirmed the existence of this specific Reiki energy. Most of the explanations of the technical aspects of Reiki rely upon the existence of "subtle energies" and "auras." Reiki practitioners and some other holistic healers believe these descriptions of such energies and also believe in the validity of the practice. According to a study published in Alternative Therapies , Jan/Feb 2005 issue, in 2002 there were over one million U.S. adults who had one or more Reiki treatments .

The name Reiki comes from the Japanese pronunciation of two Chinese characters that are said to describe the energy itself: ' rei ' (meaning 'spirit') and ki (meaning 'life force energy' in this context). Common translations of the term reiki are "aura" and also "universal life force energy." English speakers have adopted the Japanese noun Reiki for use as a verb or adjctive . Japanese speakers commonly understand the term as describing a generic "ghostly power" and not referring specifically to the Usui Method of Reiki Healing (in Japanese - usui reiki shiki ryoho ).

Reiki Courses and Classes

Mikao Usui's Reiki method spread all over the world. Correspondence courses over the internet even offer distance training. To achieve a complete education in the "Usui method of Reiki Healing," three courses are necessary: the 1st degree course, the 2nd degree course, and the master course. The specific content of each of these courses varies widely from one teacher to another, depending on personal philosophies. A typical set of courses is something like the following:

First Degree Reiki courses teach the basic theories of how to work with Reiki energy. The channel through which Reiki energy passes to the practioner is said to be widened through an initiation by the teacher, permitting the Reiki energy be strong enough to effect healing. Students learn hand placement positions on the recipient's body that are thought to be most conducive to the healing process.

In the Second Degree Reiki course, a symbol for mental healing is taught, enabling students to purportedly treat even deeply ingrained problems like fears, depression, addictions, and the like. Students are instructed on how to direct Reiki energy to a certain point in time, to a specific person or place, or a specific issue. The issue can be something like an individual's particular health problem, or it can be a more abstract or general issue such as world peace. Practitioners say that this is possible using three symbols taught at the second initiation. The claim is that this skill allows the Reiki channel to be opened even wider.

As part of the master course, usually the third degree, students become a Reiki " master " through the third initiation; they learn how to initiate students and have the option of teaching Reiki courses themselves. The student learns a further "master" level symbol in this course as well as the method of attuning others. In some cases the third level is broken into smaller stages of attunements from the teacher; the attunements for the first, second, and third level may also be administered in stages. A teacher has completed practical training when told that he or she has the ability to attune others to all degrees and has been given the final fourth Reiki Master symbol that is used in attunements.

It is up to students how many levels they want to complete. The courses are sequential, and can be expensive, especially the third (master) level. Often a teacher will require time in between one course and another (during which the student is expected to apply new learning before taking the next degree). Before offering Reiki treatments to the public, a student is often advised to take a second-degree course.

Reiki Theories and practices

Some schools teach that Reiki energy enters the practitioner through the 7th ( crown or Shasrara) chakra , fills the practitioner's aura and flows through her or his hands into the body of the recipient. It is also taught that Reiki energy enters through the 1st ( root or Muladhara) chakra at the base of the spine, fills the aura, becomes centered in the 4th ( heart or Anahata) chakra, and flows out through the practitioner's hands. Most schools teach that the Reiki energy is a " intelligent " energy, which "knows what to do," or "where it is needed." Thus, Reiki adherents say, if the recipient needs it and is ready to heal, the Reiki energy will go where it needs to for healing. They also maintain that if, on the other hand, the intended recipient does not accept the energy on some level, the energy will not be absorbed. Some schools teach that Reiki " spirit guides " keep watch over Reiki energy and assist the practitioner. They claim that any intention to do harm will block the flow of Reiki energy.

In a Reiki session, the practitioner asks the clothed recipient to lie down and relax. The practitioner then purports to act as a channel for Reiki energy, theoretically allowing "energy" to be channelled through the practitioner to where the patient "requires" it. Usually the practitioner applies her or his hands to various parts of the patient's body. Some practitioners touch the body or hover their hands above it. Some patients report feeling various subjective sensations: heat, cold, pressure, etc.

Practitioners of Reiki attribute these sensations to Reiki energy filling energetic deficiencies in the body and aura of the recipient, repairing and opening their energy channels (meridians or nadis), pulling out "negativity," and dissolving the blockages of stale energy. Other recipients report feeling little or no change.

Some claim that practitioners can also channel Reiki energy through other parts of their bodies (for example, their feet, fingers, or through their eyes) if they wish. According to pracitioners, their intention is the primary method for directing the flow of the energy. Reiki healers claim that this energy can be used for healing either in physical proximity (i.e. by the positioning of hands in a non-invasive manner on a fully clothed body) or from a distance. Furthermore, many Reiki healers claim that the ability to share Reiki comes only after a "Reiki Master" performs an initiation or "attunement". Reiki practitioners, like those who work with forms of Oriental medicine, define full health as total harmony of body, mind, and spirit. Some Reiki traditions teach techniques to address each of the three respectively

Reiki Grandmaster

Many conservative schools are based around claims of Hawayo Takata's many student teachers competing as the true " Grandmaster " of Reiki or teaching exactly as Takata herself taught. In recent years however many teachers connected in some way with Hawayo Takata do not strenuously claim to be appointed as the " Grandmaster of Reiki " as they once did in the past. Phyllis Furumoto (the granddaughter of Takata), for example of the " Reiki Alliance " seemed to cease claiming this title around the same time that it was found that historically no such title ever existed once the Japanese schools were discovered by Western Reiki schools. Barbara Weber Ray of the "Radiance association" still makes the claim. Often these " Grandmasters " attempt to patent the term "Reiki" in their particular country or countries of interest. Such actions are very unpopular in the wider Reiki community and no patents have ever been granted in any country.