| For those who partake in alternative medicine, Reiki is | | | | either be performed traditionally with set hand positions |
| a powerful compliment to all therapies whether | | | | or informally where the format is more open. |
| traditional or non-traditional. Whatever the case may | | | | There is a second level of Reiki that allows for healing |
| be Reiki is a practice that can bring body, mind, and | | | | over a distance. This is accomplished by using three |
| spirit into balance. | | | | special symbols that aid the practitioner to connect |
| What is Reiki? | | | | with the recipient. This means that healing may be |
| In 1922 a Buddhist monk named Mikao Usui meditated | | | | performed no matter the location. |
| for 21 days atop Mount Kurama, Japan. It is said that | | | | Can I perform Reiki on myself? |
| during his retreat that the concept of Reiki healing was | | | | The energy involved when performing Reiki makes it |
| given to him through divine inspiration. Later that year | | | | an excellent candidate for self-healing. In fact it is said |
| he established the Usui Reiki Healing Society in Tokyo. | | | | that when a practitioner generates energy for a |
| The name Reiki itself is made up two Japanese | | | | healing it enters through their crown Chakra in turn |
| words. When combined these words literally translate | | | | providing them with healing while healing the recipient. |
| to "guided spiritual life force energy". The energy | | | | The Reiki technique is simple and powerful. |
| generated by the practitioner is said to come from the | | | | Practitioners attest that the concepts surrounding Reiki |
| divine and not the practitioner themselves. | | | | are so wholesome and safe that even children can |
| This would mean that the energy is pure and | | | | learn to heal. Reiki has no side effects and can be |
| inexhaustible. The energy transmitted during the | | | | used on anyone one in any social setting, even on |
| session is also deemed "intelligent" and travels to the | | | | plants and animals. |
| precise area in need of healing, even without the | | | | How can Reiki help? |
| practitioner or recipient being aware of it. | | | | Reiki is used for many types of ailments both physical |
| How does Reiki work? | | | | and psychological. The flow of divine energy creates a |
| Reiki can be performed over the whole body or over | | | | chain reaction in the body that promotes healing at all |
| a specific area. The practitioner can use a touching or | | | | levels. This domino effect can be blocked however if |
| non-touching technique, where the hands hover over | | | | the recipient is not open to the receiving of the energy. |
| the recipient's body by a few centimeters. In either | | | | Reiki is a holistic approach to healing and deals with the |
| case the goal is for the flow of energy to be released | | | | human body, mind, and spirit as a complete system. |
| through the hands of the practitioner and penetrate the | | | | Therefore it is effective in all arenas of healing and |
| body of the recipient. | | | | compliments modern medical treatments. Reiki is not |
| The length of a Reiki session lasts from 45 to 90 | | | | promoted to replace other forms of therapies but |
| minutes. The practitioner's hands stay over each area | | | | encouraged as part of a comprehensive health |
| of the recipient's body for 3 to 5 minutes. Reiki can | | | | strategy. |