What is Reiki?
Reiki (pronounced ray-key) healing is a practice that is probably
thousands of years old. It is thought to have first been used by Tibetan Buddist monks but was rediscovered in the late 1800's by Dr. Mikao Usui,
a Japanese Buddhist. The Usui system of Reiki is a very simple yet
powerful form of healing which is easily given and received by anyone.
The word Reiki has it's roots in two words: Rei means universal and Ki
means life force or energy. Ki is the energy that all things are made
of, like the Chinese Chi (as in Chi Gung or Tai Chi) and is the
fundamental energy of everything physical and everything in other planes
of consciousness.
Reiki is a special kind of healing energy that can only be channeled by
someone who has been attuned to it. The attunement or initiation is the
continuation of an ancient process of aligning the initiate with the
Reiki healing energies using sacred Reiki symbols revealed to Dr. Mikao
Usui. Once attuned the initiate is a channel for Reiki healing energy
for life.
Reiki energy is a healing energy that moves through the practitioner and is
spiritually guided to the recipient. This never depletes the practitioner's own energy and in fact helps to energize and heal the practitioner. Since
Reiki energy is spiritually guided it always goes to where it is needed;
it can be considered as an intelligent energy that works on the physical, emotional or spiritual level. For this reason, every recipient of Reiki energy can experience it differently.
All healing uses a universal energy to heal, however Reiki healing is
guided for use only for the greater good. Reiki energy can never be
abused or misused. People who practice healing prior to receiving a
Reiki attunement will usually notice a change in energies. Once
attuned, Reiki treatments are then given by the practitioner who simply
needs the intent to heal and places his or her hands on the person to be
healed. Whilst a number of easily learned hand positions are used on
the recipient's body, the Reiki energy has a way of naturally flowing to
where it is needed and therefore needs no conscious direction by the
practitioner.
Reiki can be done effectively through distance healing by other symbols
taught to the practitioner to connect to the recipient's energy. Distance and in-person reiki session are equally powerful, there is no difference in the amount of healing you will receive. The best part about a distance healing is there's no apprehension of meeting in person and you can relax in your own environment for the session.
Reiki is not a related to any religion. It is a stress reduction and relaxation technique of touch and distance healing used to help balance energy and promote healing within the body. You can practice any religion or none at all and still benefit from Reiki.