The word Reiki is pronounced Ray Key. It is a Japanese word meaning, Universal Life Force Energy. This is an ancient form of healing, dating back thousands of years. It was rediscovered by Dr.Usui after deep study and meditation in the early 1900’s. He developed the technique we call Reiki and began treating people for illness and injury. He eventually trained others in this form of energy medicine and developed different levels of training. Reiki is now practiced all over the world, in clinics, hospitals, hospice care and private homes. It is used to treat people, animals, plants and any living thing.
A Reiki treatment is generally given in a private setting on a massage type table. The room is set up to be relaxing. There may be candles burning, soft music or a water fountain running. Since this is not a massage, the person receiving remains fully clothed and covered with a blanket if needed. The trained practitioner receives the Reiki energy and passes it to the client through their hands. The hands are placed gently on or above the client starting at the head and moving through various positions to the feet. Each position is held for 3 to 5 minutes ( there is NEVER any time when private areas are touched). The main areas of treatment are the energy centers of the client. The energy centers are known as chakras of which there are seven (7) main chakras and twenty-one (21) minor ones. The Universal Life Energy goes to the areas of need to release energy blocks. The practitioner is a conduit for the energy and therefore not giving or using any of their personal energy in the treatment.
Benefits for the persons receiving treatment will vary depending on the person and their needs. The experience is unique to each person. The following are a few examples of how a Reiki treatment may help.
- Pain relief
- Relaxation and improved sleep
- Energy blocks released within the energy fields themselves
- Clearer sense of direction.
Because Reiki works with the energy system, or chakras, it helps to improve a person’s energy flow, removing blocks that may lead to illness. For example, think of your body as a clear river joyously flowing along. A log falls into your flow and now it begins to create a block. At the blocked area garbage and debris begin to build up causing the water not to flow and to become stagnate. By removing the log the river once again flows freely. In a human body, this blocked flow creates stagnation that can lead to physical, emotional, mental and spiritual problems.. This Universal energy is intelligent and goes to these areas to release and help to get the person’s energy flowing again.
I feel Reiki is a great gift given to us to help each other through this journey of life. Although it is not a religion it is spiritual in nature and given to us by the Universal Source of all that is. It is a simple, yet profound healing therapy that any person young or old can learn to do. It gives the person receiving as well as the person giving a chance to become deeply connected in spirit, mind and body. Learning Reiki takes only the wanting to help others with this loving gift from our beautiful Universe of which we are a part.
The Original Reiki Ideals from Dr. Usui:
The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work and be kind to people
Every morning and evening join your hands in prayer, pray these words with your heart
And chant these words with your mouth.
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
The Founder, Usui Mikao
