'Reiki ' means incessantly flowing cosmic energy, with which man has been able to establish a direct contact. Reiki originated in Japan. In Japanese, 'Rei' implies all abounding, or universal, and 'ki' means revitalizing life force energy. So' Reiki' means, 'Universal Vital Life Force Energy'.
Reiki is a simple, easy to apply, natural method of healing. This can be done at any time, at any place under any circumstances. The moment you are attuned to 'Reiki', this all abounding Universal Vital Life Force Energy' begins to flow from the palm of your hand, and this amazing, unique gift remains with you for life. Reiki takes care of your health on the level of the mind and body. You are also enabled to transfer it to others, to heal them with Reiki. The person, who is the channel for the flow of Reiki, gently touches the ailing part with the dome of his palm. A moment after this is done, the channel of Reiki, feels gentle vibrations emitting from his hand. The receiver feels a warm current coming from the giver's hand. Some feel mild electric like current impinging on him. Reiki seems to guide the person who chanelizes this energy. On which part Reiki needs to be given more or for how long, can be judged by the giver by experience. Generally chronic problems need a lon ger duration of time. But problems of an acute nature that come up suddenly get quick relief from Reiki. Reiki not only heals the ailment from its root but also helps to balance the mind. Reiki does not interfere with any kind of scientific medical treatment, nor disturbs any religious beliefs, or sentiments, and can work in harmony with them. IT ESSENTIALLY STIMULATES THE BODY'S OWN MECHANISMS TO FREE ITSELF OF DISEASE, AND REVITALIZES THE MIND AND BODY.
Reiki is not psychotherapy or hypnosis; nor is it any black magic. It is a simple, natural process of chanelizing the all-prevalent cosmic energy. Persons attuned and trained by 'grandmasters' in Reiki conduct Reiki attunement and training.
One must start by giving Reiki to oneself, for 21 days, during which self-purification takes place. One can then progress to the next step of giving Reiki to others. One can then progress to the next step of training others or giving attunement to them. These levels proceed from Ist degree to the IInd, then IIIrd and then the grandmaster's degree. All are done under the guidance of 'grandmasters 'in Reiki.
Reiki helps to relieve you not only of physical ailments but also rejuvenates the personality and helps in artistic as well as intellectual pursuits like, the fine arts, music, writing, and all the creative arts. It helps the mind to be more clear, innovative, and positive. Reiki acts like a protective shield for a person.
The all-abounding nature of Reiki, is like the everlasting love of the Almighty.
But in some cases the desired result cannot be obtained. The person who gives Reiki is like a channel. The power of his own belief in the same, his own purity, and spiritual strength do affect the effect of Reiki given by him.
Another instance of this apparent no benefit from Reiki, is when the disease is too advanced like , for eg. The last stage of cancer. Here Reiki cannot cure the ailing person.
This is because, there is no time at hand , which is necessary for the healing process.
But the sufferings in mind and body, due to the illness can be relieved to a substantial extent. Reiki helps to increase the strength of mind. Reiki accepts the inevitable stage of death in human life. But dose help to minimize the suffering involved, and makes it more peaceful.
The process of enabling oneself to pass the divine energy of Reiki, from a 'Grandmaster' is called 'attunement'. In this session a brief introduction to health science, and yoga is given. The seven chakras, in yogic science, and the human auras, have an unusual importance in healing . Every chakra has certain auras associated with it. Each chakra has its own colour and vibration. A person trained in Reiki can feel if the energy in any chakra is vitiated, or weakened. Reiki can enhance the energy level where required.
Gem Stones can also be used for the purpose. As each chakra has its own colour, so does it correspond to certain gem stones. I have experienced tremendous benefit to people by use of this method of energy balancing in the aura. The creidt goes to the Gem Stones and Reiki, the giver being only a channel for the same.
Reiki is valuable for development of one's potential and for spiritual progress.
Reiki : An Ancient Healing Art
Reiki is an ancient, hands-on technique of healing. Explaining Reiki to someone is like describing the wind. It is very experiential. Sometimes referred to as "therapeutic touch," Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key ) is a method of natural healing based on the application of Universal Life Force Energy (the name literally means Universal Life Force Energy ).
Reiki is one of the more widely known forms of healing through direct application of Chi , or a force very similar to Chi for it may be that Chi is different from the energy used by Reiki. Chi is the term used by the Chinese mystics and martial artists for the underlying force the Universe is made of. Mystics in all cultures have talked about the physical universe being made of an underlying simpler form of something, much as modern physics research is now coming to understand the Universe is made of energy which is subject to (or affected by) thought. Just as modern physics says this energy is affected by thought the mystics also say this underlying form is affected by thought, going so far as to claim we create our own reality from our thinking and the thoughts we share between each of us every day.
Stop and reflect for a moment. Imagine the implications of the universe around us made from energy which can be shaped and manipulated by thoughts. This is the implication of both Quantum Physics and ancient Metaphysics. Might this make some diseases easier to explain, especially those which have no apparent physical cause? Might this make miraculous cures easier to explain? For example there was research study done a couple years ago showing that prayer improves the health of those who are prayed for, the focus of intent in prayer sends thoughts out in the form of " I wish such-and-so to happen ", so if the world is energy subject to the power of thought then prayers must work (depending on how clearly and carefully you hold and elaborate on the prayers or thoughts). Remember this while reading here about Reiki.
Reiki is very easily learned, very simple to use, and beneficial for all. It is one of many forms of healing through the use of the natural forces which were given the name Chi by ancient Chinese mystics. Some forms of healing using Chi energy forces are Chi Gong , Pranic Healing , Chelation (as taught by Brabara Brennan and Rosalyn Bruyere), and Polarity Balancing . All (apparently) use the same energies, with the difference being techniques of application and an energy quality commonly known as vibration . (This term vibration is widely used in the "New Age" community to refer to the range in experience between the dense or low vibration of the physical world to the high vibration of the highest spiritual expression; while the term is inadequate to truly describe the differences, and while Reality is probably not a simple bipolar scale of experience, the term is descriptive of how the energy feels). I'm reluctant to definitively say Reiki uses Chi because I am not an expert on what the Chinese mean by this word. To my eye the force referred to with the name Chi is the same as Prana , Orgone , Odic , they are all names for the same force.
Since the word Reiki means Universal Life Force Energy , it (strictly speaking) refers to the energy and not the specific techniques taught by Reiki Masters. The techniques are more properly called the Usui System of Natural Healing after the founder of the system, Dr. Mikao Usui. However as Reiki is the common name, and a fine name at that, this is the name we will use here.
A Reiki healing is very simply performed. The practitioner places his or her hands upon the person to be healed with the intent for healing to occur, and then the energy begins flowing. The Reiki energy is smart since the Universe is a very smart place indeed. The energy knows where to go, and what to do once it gets there, or else is being directed by a higher intelligence. The energy manages its own flow to and within the recipient. It draws through the healer exactly that amount of energy which the recipient needs. All this happens without direct conscious intervention by the healer. The healers job is to get out of the way, to keep the healing space open, and to watch/listen for signs of what to do next.
Reiki's Capabilities
Reiki is capable of healing anything because it works at very fundamental levels of reality. Even though the capability is there, this is not what always happens. The limits to Reiki seem to be in the recipients willingness to cast off old habits and patters, to accept change and to accept healing. The level of reality where Reiki operates is the underlying energy structure of matter, as the physical matter we see around us is a solidified form of energy (Remember Einstein's famous equation which says that each unit of mass is equivalent to a certain amount of energy). At the level where Reiki functions, anything can be changed because all is fluid like and is very malleable. Or so is the theory and so is the experience of Reiki practitioners. Emotional difficulties are just as healable as physical ones since emotional issues are even more directly present in the energy structures.
In this context, the word Healing has a somewhat different meaning from the widely accepted meaning. The widely accepted meaning for healing seems to be curing of symptoms, for that seems to be what medical doctors and the like look to do in their practice. The other meaning for healing , used in the practice of Reiki as well as other related areas, is the return to greater wholeness. There is an ideal form each of us has, this ideal form being the highest and clearest expression of who we are. Pain or disease comes from any deviation between the persons current form in the 3D physical world and this ideal form. Healing, then, is to bring this physical form into closer alignment with the ideal form.
The way we acquire deviations from our ideal form is to accept limitations into our life. Most of this comes from early childhood because that is the phase of life where we are the most open and inquisitive about life. A limitation may be a parent yelling " BE QUIET!! " enough times that the child learns to not speak. Another limitation may be a limp that continues longer after the physical injury has healed, maybe with phantom pains. These limitations are behavior patterns, eating patterns, physical limitations, imagined physical limitations, psychological, mental, or emotional ways of being, living, expressing or loving that is not in alignment with our personal highest expression.
In any healing the goal is to find the limitation, recognize the pattern, recognize where it came from, and let it go. Reiki accomplishes this by providing the recipient enough energy to step above (metaphorically) to see all that and have the courage to let go. This usually does not happen consciously as a result of Reiki, but sometimes it does happen that Reiki gives the recipient the conscious awareness of the pattern and recognizing where it came from. Our lives are a constant flow of patterns of activity (such as the pattern used to accomplish eating breakfast) and it is our choice to have these patterns remain stuck in limited expression, or to release the old patterns and try on new and shinier ones.
Reiki is also a gateway shining pure love into the universe. It is this love which allows us to transcend our wounds and help us remember our true nature.
A Reiki treatment consists of the practitioner placing his or her hands on the clients body having only the intent for the energy to flow. There is no complicated rituals to perform. Only the simple exchange of energy between two or more people. Only the simple intent to share healing. Only the desire to ease the burdens of another and the willingness to receive.
The Reiki energy is smart for it knows where to go and what to do. The Reiki practitioner does not direct the energy nor is it necessary to study arcane theories of the universe in order to use it. It is simply intent which causes the Reiki energy to flow and intent which directs it. The best thing for the practitioner to do is nothing, but to get out of the way and allow the energy to do its work.
There is a treatment protocol traditionally taught to Reiki practitioners which involves a series of hand positions. These positions are well spaced along the clients body and together they provide good coverage of the clients entire body. While the energy does go where it is most needed, it is frequently observed that it stays near where the practitioner has placed his or her hands. By covering all parts of the body evenly the patient will, by default, get the best treatment possible. These hand positions are a good place for a practitioner to begin practicing Reiki. With experience he or she should feel free to experiment based on the needs of the moment. The pictures shown come from the book Essential Reiki (the book gives permission to reproduce the pictures for teaching materials). In addition to the positions shown for the front of the body, there is a matching set of positions for the back. Behind the neck, behind the heart, behind the kidneys, and on the sacrum (tailbone).
Any set of hand positions are only a guideline (though I suppose some Reiki Masters insist on using only the hand positions they teach). Most Reiki practitioners use intuition or other methods to say which positions are to be used in each healing, varying from the traditional positions as the situation warrants. One common method is the sweep in which the practitioner sweeps his or her hands through the clients energy field looking for hot spots . These indicate places needing healing energy.
One note about body privacy. Many times the practitioner must place their hands very near (or on) body parts most consider to be private (genitalia). As a system of treating the entire body one certainly would not want to leave such body parts out of treatment. At the same time there is matters of privacy to protect. Would you expect a doctor to not treat those areas simply out of a sense of privacy or embarrassment? No!
Each practitioner has their own way to handle this. They might ask permission before placing their hands in sensitive areas. Their hands can be placed on top of the clients hands, with the energy being beamed through the clients hands. The practitioner may also hold their hands above the area in question so there is no touching and beam the energy from a slight distance. The hands in many places very near the sensitive areas trusting that the energy will flow into the areas not directly treated. The remote healing techniques of Reiki level II can be used also.
Practitioner comfort is quite important while practicing Reiki. A full treatment can easily last for an hour and if the patient is lying on the floor how can the practitioner remain comfortable hunched over for that long? Better is for the patient to be seated in a chair that gives the practitioner easy access to their whole body. Massage tables are very good for Reiki since they can be adjusted, are comfortable, and allows the patient to relax more fully. Some companies make tables meant specifically for Reiki which allow a roll around chair to go underneath the table.
There is an interesting correlation with Reflexology . The theory in Reflexology is that when our bodies first form all parts of the body in one place, and as the body grows an energetic connection is formed such that the soles of the feet, the ears, and the palms of the hands, all contain a map of the rest of the body. In reflexology the matching places in the feet, ears or hands are massaged to stimulate different parts of the body. As one becomes more in tune with and aware of the energy pay attention to the energy around the clients feet. I haven't seen it fail yet that the feet have extra energy at the places matching the major issues in the clients body.
Do this for both legs. You might want to do two positions for each leg. One as shown, the other with one hand on knee and the other on the hip bone. This way the entire energy and nerve system circuitry of the legs have energy run through them.
With Reiki it is quite possible to treat oneself as well as others. Treating oneself is simply placing your own hands on yourself and intending for the energy to run. By treating oneself you can more quickly know what the experience of receiving Reiki is like.
Comfort is sometimes harder to arrange depending on where the energy is needed. Being inventive most of the places in ones body can be reached. For those body parts which cannot be reached one can try the remote healing techniques to do a remote healing to yourself.
[From The Reiki Page by David Herron]