About Reiki

The word Reiki (pronounced 'Ray-Kee') is defined as Universal or Spiritual (Rei) Life Force Energy (Ki). Traditional Usui Reiki (also called Usui Shiki Ryoho) is a very powerful healing system - but it is also essentially very simple and anyone can learn to use it to help them develop a sense of wholeness on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. Reiki can be used to heal yourself on all levels, enhance your spiritual development, heal other people, heal animals and for many other purposes.

The Reiki healing system is believed to have originated in the Far East where it was rediscovered by a Japanese doctor called Mikao Usui.  Following years of study, Usui underwent a spontaneous attunement to the energy we now call Reiki.  He was shown how to work with the energy and universal symbols.  Dr Usui continued for many years to work with the technique to heal others as well as to teach and attune people to the system.

Mrs Takata was attuned by one of Usui's students after receiving treatment in a Reiki clinic. Mrs Takata brought the system to the West and the lineage of all Reiki Masters (working in the traditional system of Dr Usui) can ultimately be traced back to Dr Usui and Mrs Takata.

Being attuned to Reiki does not entail conversion or adoption of spiritual beliefs or practices from any particular religion or philosophy. If you have a spiritual belief system, Reiki will tend to strengthen that and your experiences through Reiki will help you understand and define your own beliefs.

A Reiki attunement is a passing on of the ability to channel and use Universal Reiki energy.  This can be used to help the person heal (on physical, mental emotional and spiritual levels), to facilitate spiritual development, to ease stress, to cleanse an item or area and to balance and harmonise the energy of a person/animal/place etc.

Reiki complements other holistic therapies very well and can be used in conjunction with other treatments such as colour therapy, massage, crystal healing - basically any therapy where it is appropriate to use a 'hands on' approach.

Reiki treatments are given by gently placing the hands on the body of the (clothed) recipient in various positions.  The energy flows through the practitioner and into the client and increases the level of Reiki energy throughout their system.  The increased flow allows for blocks of stagnant energy to be released and thereby restores the system to its natural harmonious and balanced state. 

Reiki can also be sent at a distance using sacred Reiki symbols that are taught at Reiki Level II. The nature of Reiki is universal and infinite; time and distance are no barriers to the energy.  Distance treatment can be given without diminishing the benefit of the energy. 

There are various Reiki ‘brands’ and modalities available today – most are simply variations on the traditional teachings of Dr. Usui.  Some of these newer modalities can enhance your Reiki experience but I (personally) see them more as enhancements of the original system rather than substitutes of it and feel they are best taught in addition to the traditional techniques rather than instead of them.