The spiritual energy healing practice of Reiki is an ancient eastern holistic health tradition that dates back thousands of years. Reiki was rediscovered by
Dr. Mikao Usui of Japan and was brought to the west by
Mrs. Hawayo Takata in 1937.
The word
Reiki is derived from two Japanese words - Rei, which can best be defined as higher wisdom or universal and Ki, like chi or qi, is a term used to describe our life-force energy. This hands-on form of spiritual healing manipulates our life-force energy. It is believed that the effectiveness of healing with Reiki is directed by a higher spiritual power that sends this powerful life-giving force to the perfect place within us.
The goal of this alternative health modality is to restore balance and harmony between all the parts of our being. Reiki works to create a state of equilibrium in our life-force energy. It raises the vibration in the body and words to heal and clear its energetic pathways. This allows our life-force energy to begin to flow again. The
spiritual healing provided by Reiki promotes health and wellbeing to all of our parts, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
What To Expect During a Reiki SessionIn a healing session, the recipient lies down with their eyes closed. The
Reiki practitioner utilizing a series of fixed hand positions infuses the body with healing energy. In each hand position, the practitioner channels universal energy though their bodies, out of their hands and into the bodies of their client. The hands are held in each of these positions for several minutes at a time. Many of the hand positions correlate to the energy centers, the
chakras that run up the spine. The positions start at the top of the head and progressively work their way down the body.
Having a Reiki healing session is not like getting a massage. Reiki healing is performed on a flat surface such as a
massage table, but that is where the similarities end. You do not have to remove your clothes to obtain the benefits of the healing energy of this health modality. The muscles are not rubbed, kneaded, squeezed or pressed. Instead, the hands are placed gently on or held above the body.
Individuals who have received Reiki report a wide range of things. During a session, some report experiencing feelings of warmth, heat or vibration as the practitioner works on them. Others do not sense anything at all. The most common remark expressed by recipients of Reiki is the sense of relaxation, peace and an overall reduction in stress after a session.
Who Can Perform Reiki?You do not have to be a powerful healer in order to perform this form of
spiritual energy healing. Healing during a Reiki session is achieved when universal life-force energy is transferred from the ethers, through the practitioner and into the recipient. The clearer and more open the healing practitioner is, the better a vessel they are to channel the healing energy through them. This makes the use of Reiki as a healing technique open to anyone.
Reiki offers methods for both self-healing as well as methods of working one-on-one with a spiritual energy healing practitioner. There are also a number of wonderful books that can guide you to a deeper understanding of the healing power of Reiki, either for self healing or if you are interested in performing Reiki healings on others.
My first wife was initiated into Reiki as a healing practitioner when she and a group of friends flew to Japan in the mid '80s to receive the transfer of energy required for Reiki Master certification.
I was trying not to laugh my arse off, holding my nose the whole time. Why? Because according to the 'ancient wisdom' (Ha! Reiki as a healing 'art' was first introduced in Japan less than 100 years ago, in 1927), the recipient MUST transfer MONEY to the Reiki Master for the transfer of healing 'power' to be effective for life, and for 'certification' (i.e., a piece of paper that says, "I am a fool who parted with my money"; or in this case, our money.) I am sure there are others who practice for free, as the article indicates, but this what I experienced via my ex-wife's new-agey exploits. (YMMV, and all that.)
I kept telling her at the time, "Honey, the placebo effect exists because we, as energy beings, already HAVE that energy, and thereby, a healing ability innate within us all. Just free your mind and you'll be able to access it for your own advantage, and the advantage of others." Nope, she didn't listen, and off she went...... (and I indulged her because I loved her, and that is what loving hubbies do: when all else fails, go with the flow, even if expensive... and foolish. Besides, it gave her a nice Japanese vacation with her new-age girlfriends, and I didn't mind taking care of the kids while she was gone, which gave me a little much-needed time away from a stressful law practice. )
When she came back ten days later, I asked her for a demo of her shiny, new Reiki Master 'powers'. She wouldn't do it, because she knew I was an 'unbeliever' who thought the whole thing was BS, and it would 'waste her efforts'. (Note that a 'belief' system was required for best effect; i.e., placebo.)
So, when our daughter's hairy-as-hell teddy bear hamster fell ill, I said to my wife, "You're now a certified Reiki 'Master'. Go heal the hamster, if your Reiki is so powerful, as little Fluffy is clearly NOT an unbeliever, who will waste your energy." She refused, but later apparently attempted to do so when I wasn't present (our young daughter snitched to me), but the sweet little hamster bit the dust, anyway. So much for her Reiki abilities! (I told her to ask for a refund on behalf of poor 'Fluffy'. And yes, our beloved daughter really did name her hamster that. It was a very sweet little darling, btw, as hamsters usually are. RIP, Fluffy.)
However, the article at least makes clear (sort of) that we all have healing powers inside of us that we can unleash if we simply free our minds and allow ourselves to accept that we are energy beings with fabulous abilities to heal ourselves and others, if we only awaken ourselves to such. I just found the idea of the 'need' to transfer 'wealth' (read: money) in order for the Reiki Master's healing power (descended directly from Mikao Usui, no less! Wow!) to effectively transfer from Master to the initiate as nothing more than an obvious scam, and total BS. But she did get a very nice certificate, suitable for framing, and a cool vacation with her friends in Japan, so it wasn't a total bust. And I got to spend time with the kids, and that was fun.
Regardless, the placebo effect tells us clearly that we CAN heal ourselves (and likely others!) if we simply free our minds and open our spirits to the limitless potential we all possess, but rarely, if ever, utilize.