| Reiki is the Japanese word for "universal life energy" | | | | Some reiki practitioners do not touch the physical body |
| and pronounced "ray-kee." It is a form of healing based | | | | but transmit healing into the surrounding aura. Reiki can |
| on tapping into the unseen flow of energy that | | | | be used to heal the self or someone else, and reiki |
| permeates all living things. | | | | energy can be projected into the future or directed to |
| It is believed that reiki originally evolved as a branch of | | | | a distant place. It can also be used on pets or plants. |
| Tibetan Buddhism and that knowledge of its power | | | | Anyone can learn reiki because it is not taught in the |
| and how to use it was transmitted from master to | | | | strict sense of the word, but transferred from teacher |
| disciple. At some point in the intervening centuries, the | | | | to pupil. This transferral is made though a series of |
| secrets of reiki were lost. They were rediscovered in | | | | "degrees." The first degree usually takes a weekend |
| the late 19th century by a Japanese minister, Dr. Mikao | | | | and four initiations by a reiki master. It does not involve |
| Usui. He spent 14 years seeking the ability to heal, | | | | changing religious beliefs. These initiations impart the |
| which he believed could be discovered thiough studying | | | | ability to transmit healing energy to oneself and others. |
| Buddhism, learning Chinese and Sanskrit to help his | | | | The second degree deepens participants' experience |
| research. It is claimed that he eventually found the | | | | and enables them to give distant healing. The third |
| knowledge he sought in an Indian sutra, or sacred text. | | | | degree is taken by those wishing to become reiki |
| Then, after a three-week meditation on a mountain | | | | masters, able to teach others. |
| top, he had a vision of four symbols that could be used | | | | The results of treatment can be dramatic, or more |
| to enable healing energy to be passed to others. The | | | | gradual, showing themselves in general improvements |
| ability to channel the healing power was achieved by | | | | in health and well-being. Reiki healing energies can have |
| attunement to each of these symbols. Before he died | | | | lasting results only if the recipient accepts his or her |
| in the 1930s, Dr. Usui initiated 16 others into the secret | | | | responsibility in the healing process and takes part in it. |
| of reiki, teaching them the master attunement. | | | | Daily self-treatment is regarded as preventive, |
| One of these reiki masters was Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, | | | | supporting emotional and spiritual growth. |
| who undertook to preserve reiki and pass it on. He | | | | There are more than 200,000 reiki practitioners and |
| brought scientific training to bear on the method, noting | | | | centers in North and South America, Europe, and |
| down the results of healing sessions, codifying the | | | | Australasia. The word "reiki" is a generic term in |
| sequence of hand movements in a reiki session, and | | | | Japanese and is not exclusive to Dr. Usui's healing |
| establishing a reiki clinic in Tokyo. | | | | method; this is more formally known as Usui Shiki |
| Treatment by a reiki practitioner is intended to promote | | | | Ryoho or the Usui system of natural healing, and is |
| physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Clients lie | | | | preserved by the international Reiki Alliance, which has |
| fully clothed while the practitioner's hands are placed | | | | agreed professional standards and a code of ethics. |
| on specific parts of the body, starting with the head. | | | | |