| Reiki (pronounced ray kee) is a Japanese word made | | | | somewhat, as some Masters do not teach students to |
| up of two characters, rei meaning spirit and ki or life | | | | pass on the method to others, only to use it in healing. |
| force. The term is usually translated universal life | | | | Others insist to be recognized as a Master, the |
| energy or life force. | | | | student must be able to teach the techniques. |
| The closest parallel in Western philosophy to the | | | | The traditional Reiki course consists of three levels, |
| practice of Reiki is faith healing or the laying on of | | | | Levels I and II can usually be mastered in one 6-8 hour |
| hands in a spiritual sense. The Reiki practitioners | | | | session for each component. Level I for example |
| believe the the life force is channeled through the | | | | would include information about the history of Reiki, a |
| bodies to the hands where it can be sent into the body | | | | ceremonial process called attunement, which is a |
| of the client or patient. This is done through two | | | | structured formalized series of movements, chants, |
| processes, first attunement to receive the flow of the | | | | hand positions and touching, provided by the Master to |
| life force by the Reiki master, then the positioning of | | | | each of the students. There are four attunements |
| the hands and sometimes other parts of the body | | | | during the Level I course. Also included in Level I is |
| such as the eyes or the breath to channel this flow to | | | | practice of the hand positions required for |
| the patient. | | | | Self-Attunement and later, practice of the same hand |
| Those who wish to become Reiki therapists under | | | | positions as they are used on another person. The |
| traditional Usui Reiki must learn from a Reiki master in | | | | Level I Reiki is completed with the first session. |
| an unbroken line from the original Grand Master. | | | | Some people elect to stop at Level I, but others |
| According to traditionalists, Reiki cannot be learned; it | | | | choose to continue to Level II Reiki. The second |
| must be experienced. | | | | course is taught in two 3 hours sessions, sometimes |
| All training courses in the United States originate from | | | | separated by over night, but at least 2 hours must |
| the Grand Master, Mrs. Hawayo Takata who claimed | | | | elapse between the first and second sessions in order |
| to be a student of one of the students trained by Usui. | | | | to provide learning and memorization of the names |
| Although some of her claims are not able to be | | | | and descriptions of the Reiki symbols. These symbols |
| confirmed, such as the statement that no Reiki Grand | | | | are important to the practitioners and must be called |
| Masters in Japan survived World War II, she trained at | | | | and drawn correctly so that they may be visualized |
| least 21 masters in the years between 1970 and 1980 | | | | correctly when applying attunement or therapy to |
| in the traditional Usui method. | | | | oneself or to others. Two more attunements are given |
| Even amongst traditionalists, the Reiki course will differ | | | | during the Level II course. |