| Bronwen and Frans Stiene, founders of the | | | | It is believed that this will be a valuable |
| International House of Reiki, were | | | | resource for anyone interested in the history |
| continually coming across hints that | | | | of Mikao Usui, his teachings, Reiki and |
| suggested there was more to the system of | | | | related practices. It is also for beginners |
| Reiki than meets the eye. Historical | | | | or those who feel lost and confused by the |
| discrepancies, symbol variations and changed | | | | myriad of choices that are presented to them |
| attunements suggested that the system had | | | | as Reiki in today's society. |
| become somewhat like a game of Chinese | | | | |
| whispers. The inability to verify much of the | | | | This is an attempt to create unity rather |
| 'new' historical material was also causing | | | | than dissension. Until now no book has |
| disillusionment amongst many practitioners. | | | | tackled these questions from such a practical |
| On travelling to Japan they realised that | | | | and analytical standpoint. If we can see |
| traditional Japanese Reiki communities with | | | | where we came from - we can see clearer where |
| ancient practitioners were slowly opening | | | | we are heading. |
| their doors to Westerners and many of Reiki's | | | | |
| unknown secrets were gradually being | | | | The system of Reiki is decidedly Japanese |
| divulged. | | | | though there is sure to be a similarity |
| | | | between all healing techniques throughout the |
| This journey stimulated Bronwen and Frans to | | | | ages. The 4 traditional symbols were |
| write a book tracing the history of the | | | | introduced in the later stages to Mikao |
| system through to the modern day. To help | | | | Usui's teachings and were for those who had |
| clear confusion in the Reiki world this book | | | | difficulty connecting to the energy. They |
| also includes lists of branches, schools and | | | | originate from the Japanese culture. In the |
| organizations throughout the world. There is | | | | West the symbols have often been mystified |
| a comprehensive lineage chart, timeline, | | | | giving them the 'power' rather than seeing |
| extensive glossary and general information | | | | them as training wheels. Mantras and |
| for novices and practitioners of all levels. | | | | meditations on the other hand were taught in |
| This book is due out in December 2003 and is | | | | Mikao Usui's teachings from as early as 1915. |
| called The Reiki Sourcebook. | | | | |
| | | | The West did not 'discover' Mikao Usui's |
| Reiki's treasure is its ability to re-fuel | | | | memorial stone until the mid-1990s. Mikao |
| you with your own life giving energy. It is | | | | Usui's students erected it in temple grounds |
| generally accepted that this speeds up | | | | in 1927, one year after his death. Overlooked |
| physical and emotional healing, gives clarity | | | | by the West for 60 years, this was truly a |
| and added perception, brings about spiritual | | | | Reiki treasure. On translation this memorial |
| fulfilment and will return you to your true | | | | stone answers many of the questions that have |
| path in life. | | | | arisen in the Western Reiki community. Mikao |
| | | | Usui was not a doctor or physician - instead |
| To learn the system of Reiki is simple and | | | | he had worked as a businessman, was an |
| yet today the processes vary considerably | | | | administrator and security guard to the Major |
| from school to school. Mikao Usui created the | | | | of Tokyo as well as being a lay monk. |
| teachings in the early 1900s and they came to | | | | |
| the West via Hawaii in the1940s. Here it | | | | Bronwen and Frans met Hyakuten Inamoto, monk |
| seems the system was quietly altered to adapt | | | | and Reiki Master in Kyoto. He introduced them |
| to the turbulent times of World War II. The | | | | to his teacher, the 85-year-old, Chiyoko |
| consequences are that for the last 60 years | | | | Yamaguchi who had been taught by Chujiro |
| Western Reiki students have been unaware that | | | | Hayashi, a student of Mikao Usui. In Tokyo |
| there was a more traditional and spiritual | | | | they met with two Reiki Masters, one who was |
| side to Reiki. After the death of the Western | | | | a member of the 'secret' Usui Reiki Ryoho |
| Reiki Master Hawayo Takata in 1980, the | | | | Gakkai. Here they found out that this society |
| system took on many new faces and there are | | | | uses two manuals. One includes original |
| likely to be over 1000 different branches of | | | | statements from Mikao Usui. Today this manual |
| teachings available today. | | | | is printed in modern Japanese and includes |
| | | | beautiful Japanese poetry to stimulate the |
| Some of these new branches have channelled | | | | mind as well as a healing guide for beginning |
| information, others claim to have 'the only | | | | practitioners. The Gakkai uses techniques to |
| true teachings'. All in all there have been | | | | stimulate the meridians helping practitioners |
| innumerable inconsistencies in the stories | | | | to sense the energy. Once they have |
| that Reiki Masters have told their students. | | | | accomplished a set of exercises they then |
| Some believe the system of Reiki is Egyptian, | | | | move on to the next level. Receiving that |
| Tibetan, or even linked to Shambhala. | | | | level does not mean that you have completed |
| Questions have arisen such as; was Mikao | | | | it but that you have only just begun... |
| Usui, the founder of Reiki, a doctor or not? | | | | |
| Did he charge $10, 000 dollars to become a | | | | Yes, Mikao Usui's teachings have many |
| Reiki Master? Did he use manuals to teach? | | | | treasures - some well known and others just |
| Was he a Christian? | | | | now returning to the light. Suzuki san, a |
| | | | 108-year-old nun and student of Mikao Usui, |
| The intent of The Reiki Sourcebook is to look | | | | is surely one of these great treasures. Frans |
| closely at all these questions and to link | | | | also flew to Florence, Italy to study with |
| together information that has been spread far | | | | her Western student. There he learnt that |
| and wide by time and circumstances. By | | | | there are said to be 12 students of Mikao |
| capturing the results of this systematic | | | | Usui still alive aged between 98 and 112. |
| global research, it aims to share the | | | | |
| information and to promote and stimulate | | | | This system is about to change. It will not |
| discussion in the global Reiki community. It | | | | become more complex or difficult or contain |
| is not entirely about 'new' information but | | | | more jargon as has happened in the past. It |
| the bringing together of histories and | | | | will simply return to its simplest, highest |
| anecdotes to create a cohesive understanding | | | | form and its practitioners, as individuals, |
| of what has happened to and been said about | | | | will blossom taking their communities with |
| the teachings during the past 100 years. | | | | them. |
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