Reiki Know More
Reiki History:
Reiki, as it is practised worldwide today, dates back to the teachings of Mikao Usui in Japan in the early 1920’s. Usui was a lifelong spiritual aspirant, a lay monk with a wife and two children. In Usui’s time, various lineages of Buddhist, Taoist, and Shinto practices coexisted as the dominant themes in Japanese spirituality and culture.
Usui’s intense spiritual practices culminated in a profound revelation that led to the practice now commonly called Reiki. This realization most likely occurred in 1922.
Usui travelled widely in Japan during the last four years of his life, offering his spiritual teachings to more than 2,000 beginning students, but training only 16 as Reiki masters. One of his master’s students, Chujiro Hayashi, was a retired naval officer. Hayashi worked with Usui to excerpt the healing practices from Usui’s larger body of teachings so that they could be more widely disseminated.
With Usui’s blessings, Hayashi opened a Reiki clinic in Tokyo where 16 practitioners gave treatment in pairs. Hawayo Takata, a first-generation Japanese-American, came to Hayashi’s clinic for relief from several medical conditions, including asthma. Months of treatment restored Takata’s health, and she became a devoted student.
With Hayashi’s active guidance and support, Takata brought Reiki to Hawaii in 1937 and eventually to the US mainland. Takata practiced and taught Reiki for 40 years before she began training Reiki masters (practitioners empowered to teach others). Since Takata’s death in December 1980, her 22 Reiki masters have spread her teachings. Reiki has become very popular and is now practiced around the world, although not usually in the traditional form Takata taught.
How does Reiki relate to other integrative therapies?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) describes Reiki as a complementary and alternative medicine practice that uses putative (yet to be measured) energy fields, or biofields, to affect health. Energy biofield therapies “generally reflect the concept that human beings are infused with subtle forms of energy,” believed to surround and interpenetrate human form. Energy therapies, such as therapeutic touch and Healing Touch, are believed to balance these subtle energy fields.
Some Reiki Pretoria practitioners find that Reiki differs from other energy therapies and is closer to meditation. For example, while most energy therapies use techniques to assess the recipient’s biofield and make specific corrections, Reiki practitioners do not diagnose and do not deliberately reorganize the biofield.
Reiki practice is extremely passive. The Reiki practitioner’s hands are still for most of the treatment, moving only to change hand placements. The Reiki practitioner is neutral, not attempting to fix the recipient or to change the biofield. Additionally, the practitioner does not in any way control Reiki energy; she/he merely rests her hands lightly on the body (or just above the body if needed, for example, in the presence of an open wound or burn).
Reiki energy in the practitioner’s hands arises spontaneously in response to the individual recipient’s need for balance at that particular time. In this way, each Reiki treatment is automatically customized to the immediate need of that particular recipient, even though the practitioner may use the same sequence of hand placements for each treatment.
Reiki is optimally given in a full treatment format but can also be administered in abbreviated treatments to a specific area or area of the body. In urgent situations, even moments of Reiki touch can be soothing.
Reiki FAQ
- What is Reiki?
Reiki is a natural healing method that uses gentle hand movements to direct energy and support physical, emotional, and mental well-being. - How does Reiki work?
Reiki practitioners place their hands lightly on or near the body to channel energy. This energy helps the body relax and supports healing. - Is Reiki safe?
Yes. Reiki is non-invasive, painless, and does not interfere with medical treatments. - What can Reiki help with?
Reiki may help reduce stress, improve sleep, relieve pain, ease anxiety, and support recovery from illness or injury. - Do I have to believe in Reiki for it to work?
No. Reiki does not require belief. It works whether you believe in it or not, as long as you are open to receiving. - What happens during a Reiki session?
You lie down or sit comfortably. The practitioner places their hands on or near your body in a series of positions. Most people feel calm and relaxed during the session. - How long is a Reiki session?
A typical Reiki session lasts 45 to 60 minutes. Shorter or longer sessions are also possible. - How many sessions will I need?
This depends on your needs. Some people feel better after one session. Others may benefit from regular sessions. - Can Reiki be done at a distance?
Yes. Reiki energy can be sent across distance. Distance sessions work in the same way as in-person ones. - What does Reiki feel like?
People often feel warmth, tingling, or a gentle pulsing. Some feel emotional release or deep peace. Others may feel sleepy or refreshed. - Is Reiki a religion?
No. Reiki is not a religion. It does not involve any religious belief or practice. - Can I combine Reiki with other treatments?
Yes. Reiki can be used alongside medical or therapeutic treatments. It often supports faster recovery and better results. - Who can receive Reiki?
Anyone can receive Reiki, including children, the elderly, and people with medical conditions. - Are there side effects?
Reiki is generally gentle. Some people may feel tired or emotional after a session, which usually passes quickly. - Can I learn to do Reiki myself?
Yes. Reiki is taught through training and attunements from a certified teacher. Most people can learn the basics in a Reiki Level 1 course.