Reiki: What is it and its origin
Updated: Feb 23
What is Reiki?
You might have heard of Reiki from a friend but don’t relatively know what it is. Perhaps you’re considering Reiki but aren’t sure whether it’s right for you. Or maybe your doctor has suggested Reiki as a form of therapy needed for your medical treatments. Whichever your case is, Reiki is a treatment that can be highly beneficial to your whole body (click here for testimonials).
Reiki is a unique technique that stimulates the body's natural healing abilities and promotes emotional, mental and physical welfare. It is a healing technique that promotes relaxation, eases pain, and reduces stress and anxiety by targeting the energy field around your body. Reiki practitioners use their hands to deliver energy to your body, improving the flow and balance of your energy to support healing.
Overview of Reiki Treatment
Reiki or energy healing is a form of meditative therapy that promotes relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes a positive mental state. It is a way of guiding the energy through the recipient’s body to boost self-healing abilities.
It is believed among Reiki practitioners that they are not the cause of the healing, nor are they the source of that healing energy; they’re a channel through which the energy flows — just like the way a garden hose acts as a channel for water. It’s not a religion and is not associated with religious practice.
THERE ARE FIVE CORE TYPES OF REIKI NAMELY:
Usui Reiki (Western Method)
Jikiden Reiki (Eastern Method)
Karuna® Reiki
Lighterian™ Reiki
Sekhem or Seichem Reiki
What is the history of Reiki
A. Origins
Reiki (pronounced “ray-key”) is an ancient Buddhist practice that originated in Japan in the early 20th century.
The word "Reiki" is derived from two Japanese words: "Rei," which means "universal”, or “higher power" and "Ki," which means "life energy." Reiki practitioners believe that there is a universal energy that flows through all living things and that this energy can be channelled to promote healing and well-being.
Also known as Usui Reiki, the history of Reiki starts with its founder, Dr. Mikao Usui.
Sometimes called the Usui Sensei, Dr. Mikao Usui was born into a wealthy Buddhist family in 1865. His family was able to provide a well-rounded education for their son at the time. Dr. Usui learned martial arts, swordsmanship, and the Japanese form of Chi Kung, known as Kiko in a Buddhist monastery.
During his education, Dr. Usui had a keen interest in medicine, psychology and theology. It was this interest that spurred him to find a way to heal himself and others using the laying on of hands. It was his desire to find a method of healing that was unattached to any specific religion and religious belief so that his method would be available to everyone.
During his training years in the monastery, Dr. Usui created his own training rediscovery course in a cave on Mount Kurama. For 21 days, Dr. Usui fasted, meditated and prayed. On the morning of the twenty-first day, Dr. Usui had an experience that would change his life forever. He saw ancient Sanskrit symbols that helped him develop the method of healing he had been struggling to invent. Usui Reiki was born.
After his spiritual awakening on Mount Kurama, Dr. Usui founded a clinic for healing and teaching in Kyoto, Japan. As the Usui Reiki practice began to spread, Dr. Usui became famous for his healing practice.
B. Development
Mikao Usui founded his first Reiki clinic and school in Tokyo in 1922. He taught several Reiki masters to ensure that his system would not be forgotten in the event of his death. Among them was a former naval officer named Dr. Chujiro Hayashi. Usui Sensei had asked Chujiro Hayashi Sensei to open his own Reiki clinic and to grow and develop Reiki based on his previous experience as a medical doctor in the Navy. Inspired by this demand, Hayashi Sensei initiated a Reiki school and clinic called Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai (Institute).
At his clinic, which was located in Tokyo, he kept careful records of all the illnesses and conditions of his Reiki patients. He was also great at keeping records of which Reiki hand positions worked best to treat each illness and condition. Hayashi Sensei also modified the way Reiki sessions were given by changing the position of a client when receiving treatment. Instead of the sitting position as Usui Sensei had used, Hayashi Sensei had the client lay on a treatment table and the Reiki treatment is performed by several practitioners at a time.
Dr. Hayashi further developed the Usui system of Reiki by adding hand positions to provide more cover to the body. Dr. Hayashi also made modifications and refined the attunement process. With his improved system, he was able to train several more Reiki Masters, including a woman named Hawayo Takata. Mrs. Takata was a Japanese-American woman who originally went for healing at Dr. Hayashi’s clinic.
In Tokyo in 1935, Mrs. Takata was very sick and needed surgery, but she had a strong feeling within her that she didn’t need that surgery to be healed. After asking her doctor about alternative treatments for her condition, she was told about the Reiki practitioner in town. This was the first time Mrs. Takata was hearing of Reiki, but she scheduled an appointment, even though she was a little bit sceptical. Following her first meeting with Dr. Hayashi, Mrs. Takata began to see Dr. Hayashi on a day-to-day basis. She found the sessions to be relaxing and pleasant and, most importantly, healing.
Over time, Mrs. Takata learned several Reiki methods. She then returned to the United States, where she continued to practice Reiki and went on to become a Reiki Master. Much of this happened near the commencement of World War II. With the ambition of spreading her healing methods, Mrs. Takata travelled around the U.S. mainland and other parts of the world teaching and giving treatments. She became a powerful healer who attributed her success to the fact that she performed a lot of Reiki on each client. She would often perform multiple treatments, each sometimes lasting hours and treat difficult cases every day for months until the client was healed. To help with this process, she often encouraged the members of a client’s family to learn so they could give Reiki to the client as well. She made changes to her Reiki practice and then used Reiki to help heal many others in the United States.
Modern Reiki
Thanks to Mrs Takata, today, Reiki practitioners use the techniques developed by Dr. Usui, the founder of Usui Reiki. The genius of Reiki is that practitioners can use Reiki to help heal themselves and for their own health and enhanced well-being. In fact, working on self-healing is a requirement for offering Reiki healing to others.
Modern Reiki masters can offer Reiki energy to others through mild light pressure touch or no touch at all, using the specific traditional Reiki hand positions. It works over long distances as well, there is no need to even be in the same country. Reiki healing complements many medicinal therapies and traditional medicine and can be used to help aid in the potential healing of people suffering from pain, illness, disease and more.
Modern Reiki is becoming increasingly popular as time goes by, and the lineage of Reiki masters is growing daily. With Usui Reiki, many people are using this traditional treatment to heal themselves and others.
Animals also love Reiki, they are very open to energy, even showing the body part where they need healing. I have uploaded a few videos to youtube and to my website when I am treating pets via zoom (distance healing) so you can have an idea of how it looks. You can read my blog post about the benefits of Animal Reiki and animal communication and/or find out more about how Reiki can help your furry companion.
If you would like to read more about my work as a Reiki practitioner, you can read more on my website here.
Feel free to book a free discovery call to see how we can go deeper into what your body needs and support your physical and emotional well-being.
You can book a session online or contact me at info@therapyforlondoners.com to find out more.
Take care!
Gabriella Davidovics
Psychotherapy I Hypnotherapy | Reiki | Animal Healing & Communication
+447848988121
info@therapyforlondoners.com
@therapyforlondoners
Frequently Asked Questions on Reiki
What is Reiki and how does it work?
Reiki is a Japanese healing technique that involves the use of the practitioner's hands to channel energy to the recipient. The word "Reiki" is made up of two Japanese words: "rei," which means "universal," and "ki," which means "life force energy."
During a Reiki session, the recipient typically lies down fully clothed while the practitioner places their hands on or near the recipient's body. The practitioner then uses various hand positions to channel the energy, which is to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual healing and balance. The energy flows through the practitioner's hands and into the recipient's body, helping to release blockages and restore balance to the body's energy system.
Reiki works on a holistic level, addressing not just the physical symptoms of illness but also the underlying causes.
What is the main purpose of Reiki?
The main purpose of Reiki is to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual healing and balance. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that is based on the idea that a "life force energy" flows through all living things. When this energy is low or blocked, it can lead to physical or emotional imbalances or illness. Reiki practitioners use their hands to channel this energy to the recipient, helping to release blockages and restore balance to the body's energy system. Reiki can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, from physical pain and illness to emotional stress and anxiety. It is often used as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medical treatment.
Is it good to do Reiki?
Yes, it is. Reiki is a helpful complementary therapy that can promote relaxation, reduce stress, and support your overall health and well-being.
It's important to keep in mind that while Reiki is generally considered safe and non-invasive, it should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment. If you have a medical condition it's important to seek the advice of a medical professional. Reiki can be used alongside conventional medical care as a complementary therapy to support your overall health and well-being, but it should never be used as a replacement for medical treatment.
If you are interested in trying Reiki, it's a good idea to seek out a qualified and experienced practitioner like me who can help guide you through the process and address any questions or concerns you may have.
How many reiki sessions are needed?
The number of Reiki sessions needed can vary depending on the individual and the reason for seeking Reiki. Some people may feel immediate benefits after just one session, while others may require multiple sessions to notice significant changes.
For example, if a person is seeking Reiki to address a specific physical or emotional issue, they may require multiple sessions to experience lasting relief. In general, a series of 3 to 6 sessions is recommended to start with, with follow-up sessions as needed.
Ultimately, the number of Reiki sessions needed depends on the individual and their unique circumstances. It's important to discuss your goals and expectations with your Reiki practitioner and work together to develop a plan that is tailored to your specific needs.
What Reiki can cure?
It's important to note that Reiki is not a substitute for medical treatment and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or cure any specific medical conditions. However, Reiki can be a helpful complementary therapy that can promote relaxation, reduce stress, and support overall health and well-being.
Reiki works on a holistic level, addressing not just the physical symptoms of illness but also the underlying emotional and mental causes. Most people find that Reiki can help them manage symptoms of a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other stress-related conditions.
Reiki can also be used to support overall health and well-being by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and improving mood. It is often used as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medical treatment to help manage symptoms and support the body's natural healing processes.
Will Reiki help my anxiety?
Yes, Reiki is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety.
Reiki is a form of alternative therapy that involves the use of the practitioner's hands to transfer energy to the recipient, with the aim of promoting relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety, and enhancing overall well-being.
Keep in mind that Reiki should not be used as a substitute for professional medical or mental health treatment, but works well alongside it.
Reiki works on a holistic level, addressing not just the physical symptoms of illness but also the underlying emotional and mental causes. Some people find that Reiki can help them manage symptoms of a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other stress-related conditions.
Please do not hesitate to check out my combined approach besides Reiki when it comes to dealing with anxiety: solution-focused talking therapy, hypnotherapy, NLP, IEMT.
Can reiki heal a person?
Reiki is a form of alternative therapy that involves the use of the practitioner's hands to channel energy to the recipient to promote healing and balance. Many people report feeling a sense of relaxation and improved well-being after a Reiki session.
Reiki works on a holistic level, addressing not just the physical symptoms of illness but also the underlying emotional and mental causes. Most people find that Reiki can help them manage symptoms of a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other stress-related conditions.
Reiki can also be used to support overall health and well-being by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and improving mood. It is often used as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medical treatment to help manage symptoms and support the body's natural healing processes.
It's important to note that Reiki should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment and practitioners are not diagnosing medical conditions.
What are the benefits of Reiki?
Reiki is a form of alternative therapy that is used to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. Here are some potential benefits of reiki:
Stress relief and deep relaxation
Stronger immune system
Increased self-esteem and confidence
Improved sleep
Pain relief
Increase in personal energy, vitality, and confidence
Detoxification and deep cleansing
Healthy mind-body connection
Release of emotional and energetic blockages, inner peace
How long do the benefits of Reiki last?
The duration of the benefits of Reiki can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the individual's health status, the severity of their condition, and how often they receive Reiki treatments. Some people may experience immediate and noticeable improvements in their physical or emotional well-being after a Reiki session, while others may experience more gradual changes over time.
In general, the effects of a single Reiki session are often reported to last for a few days to a week, and some people may benefit from regular Reiki treatments to maintain the effects.
It's also worth noting that the benefits of Reiki can be subjective and may not be measurable using standard medical or scientific tests. Some people report feeling more relaxed, less anxious, and more energized after a Reiki session, while others may experience a greater sense of emotional healing.