What is Reiki?

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is an energy technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes balance in and around the body. It is comparable with acupuncture or acupressure where the energy medicine aims to help the flow of energy and remove blocks. More energy means less anxiety, lower blood pressure, less pain, less mind chatter and an increased quality of life.

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The word Reiki comes from Japanese kanji. The word Kanji means Chinese characters and this is because China is where Japanese Kanji is originated. In fact the meaning of both Japanese and Chinese characters is very similar tot the extent that Japanese and Chinese people can read and understand each other's written language. 

The two kanji are Rei and Ki. Rei stands for Spiritual Wisdom and Ki stands for Life Energy. Life force energy is contained in all things and has powerful healing qualities and an intelligence of its own. When the body needs healing, the life force energy flows where it is needed most.

Reiki is a special kind of Ki. It is Ki that is guided by spiritual consciousness, and is defined as spiritually guided life energy.

Reiki healing is part of what conventional medicine calls complementary medicine. Doctors and nurse practitioners can be powerful advocates for Reiki practice.

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Mikao Usui

Mikao Usui developed Usui Reiki Ryoho, the most current form of Reiki, in March 1922. However, people have practiced Reiki for about 2,500 years.  Prior to Usui Sensei developing his style of Reiki, there were at least four other styles of Reiki healing that were being practiced in Japan. But we don't know very much about to what extent his system was similar to, or different from. What we do know is that Usui Sensei went to meditate on Kurama Yama, a sacred mountain north of Kyoto. He was not seeking to discover a method of healing, rather, he was  seeking to experience Anshin-Ritsu-Mei which is a type of enlightment in which one is continually in a state of supernatural peace. This state is not dependent on outer experiences, but comes welling up from within. When one is in this state, one is then guided to fulfill one's life purpose. Realizing its value, he was inspired to use it to help family members and others in need of healing.

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Dr. Chujiro Hayashi

He was a disciple of Mikao Usui who played a major role in the transmission of Reiki out of Japan.

Before his passing, Usui Sensei had asked Chujiro Hayashi Sensei to open his own Reiki clinic and to expand on his previous experience as a medical doctor in the Navy.  At his clinic, which was located in Tokyo,  he kept careful records of all the illnesses and conditions of his Reiki patients. He also kept records of which Reiki hand positions worked best to treat each illness and condition.

Hayashi Sensei also changed the way Reiki sessions were given. He had the client lie on a treatment table and receive treatment from several practitioners at a time instead of only one practitioner as Usui Sensei had done.

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Hawayo Takata

She was a powerful healer, an engaging teacher and a successful businesswoman who practiced and taught Reiki for more than forty years. She taught Reiki classes all over Hawaii  and many parts of the United States mainland. Before her passing, she taught 22 Reiki Masters who carried on the tradition.

Mrs. Takata thought that the Japanese style was too complicated for the Western mind to learn and therefore had simplified the system. All Western Reiki practitioners have a lineage going back through her.  One thing is important to understand is that if it were not for Takata Sensei, Reiki would most likely have fallen into obscurity and never have been practiced by people all over the world; even in Japan it would have been mostly unkown.

Unlike Usui and Hayashi sensei, Mrs.Takata did not provide her students  with a manual or printed materials.  She did allow students at least in one class to make notes and provided them with handouts.

Mrs. Takata's Reiki treatment consisted of what she called a "foundation treatment" followed by a search for the cause of the condition and additional Reiki applied in those specific areas related to the cause.  She welcomed what she called "healing reactions" as a sign that the body was beginning to heal itself.

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Reiki can never cause harm

Because Reiki is guided by spiritual consciousness, it can never do harm. It always knows what a person needs and will adjust itself to create an effect that is appropriate. It is always helpful and always safe.

 

Original Reiki Ideals

Here are some of the ideals that I hold dear to my heart and share with the people that I work with:

All versions that I have seen include the words "do not". This is my version of the Ideals:

Just for today...

I am free of pain

I am free of worry

I am free of anger

 I am kind to myself and others 

I work diligently

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Reiki Moving Meditation

This kind of meditation integrates Reiki energy more directly into the physical body.  

It is similar to a Tai Chi or Qi gong exercise, and incorporates Reiki energy along with affirmations and physical movement. This exercise helps anchor Reiki into the aura and physical body, creates a strong connection with the earth, heals the lower chakras, helps you become more centered in your own power and brings mental clarity.

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Karuna Reiki

The word Karuna means compassion in Sanskrit. Karuna Reiki is a system that has a higher vibrational approach than what we’re used to in Reiki Usui. This Reiki system consists of many meditations with the Ascendant Masters, angels, and Archangels. Karuna 

There are also meditations for learning how to forgive yourself and others. Karuna Reiki is simply more focused on accepting, understanding and forgiving and allows the practitioner to go deeper than with other systems.

The creator is Master William Lee Rand, the president of the International Center for Reiki Training, The Center For Reiki Research, and The Reiki Membership Association. He also writes as editor in chief at Reiki News Magazine. He is constantly working to promote world peace. One of the highlights was placing World Peace Crystal Grids in Jerusalem and at the North and South Pole.

To make things more clear, Karuna refers to helping yourself as well as others because we are all one. In helping yourself heal you want to help others too because we are interconnected.

Is Reiki covered by health insurance?

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Is Reiki covered by health insurance?

Currently Reiki is only covered by health insurance when it is part of a treatment such as physical therapy, massage, or palliative care that is covered by your insurance or when it is delivered by a nurse or licensed care professional as part of routine care during a hospital stay. So, if you visit a Reiki practitioner, plan on paying out of pocket.

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Everyone can learn Reiki!

Reiki is a very simple yet powerful technique that can easily be learned by anyone.

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There are three levels of Reiki:

Level 1: Attunement and self-awareness

You open up your chakras and gently clean your system.  This can be seen as a detoxication process to integrate the Reiki energy into your physical and other bodies but it is a gentle and life changing process. 

This level is all about you, in terms of self-development and self-awareness and is a powerful method for self-healing. You start to know yourself better through meditation and learn that you are a channel. 

You can use Reiki level 1 for healing and practice on friends and family.

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Level 2: You are ready to start seeing clients both in-person and online

You will receive Reiki symbols to bring the Universal energy of Reiki in your everyday lives in more practical ways. They enable the practitioner to better focus the universal energy but also tap into higher vibration levels. In turn, this will gradually develop your awareness and enhance the self-treatment effects. 

 

Level 3: Your ability to channel energy increases significantly by connecting to higher vibration levels

Reiki level 3 is a pathway to spiritual awakening and a deeper connection with the universal life force energy. Reiki level 3 is only the beginning of a potential spiritual evolution that lies within you. Of course, you’re the only one who can nurture this gift and manifest its value in the physical plane.

My suggestion is to follow your own rhythm and implement Reiki in a way that speaks best to your heart. Each Reiki level represents a spiritual and energetic “leap” towards higher awareness, knowledge, and consciousness.

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If I sparked your interest, please feel free to visit these sites. There is a lot of information on the Internet and some of it is overwhelming, 

https://reikiscoop.com/reiki-self-healing-and-the-power-of-focusing-on-the-basic-elements/

https://reikiscoop.com/reiki-levels/#reiki-level-1

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