Reiki is first and foremost a personal spiritual practice which centers on development of focus, harmony and balance through healing and growth.

The system offers a collection of tools; precepts, meditation and energy building techniques, which help you to connect to your spiritual energetic self. Reiki is an energy balancing technique that is simple, powerful and effective. Its practice and teaching are the work of the founder of the system, Mikao Usui (1865 -1926). It is the combination of various practices, which are thousands of years old, into a simple system.

Reiki is not attached to any religion or belief system and is therefore acceptable to all. The simplicity and elegance of the system created by Mikao Usui was designed to also make it accessible to all.

For those not yet ready to explore their spiritual energetic self, then therapy is the first step to discover the core of your true being. Science is beginning to uncover what Eastern spiritual and energetic practices have understood and practiced for more than a thousand years.

Pronounced (ray-key), in Japanese the word is represented by two kanji or pictograms.

The first, “Rei” literally means “Spiritual’. The second,“Ki” means “Energy’”. Since being introduced to the West in 1938 the word Reiki has also come to mean the system as well as the energy. In the West this energy is sometimes referred to as ’subtle energy’.

Where Does Reiki Come From?

Reiki

It comes from Japan and was introduced to the Western World in 1938. Usui Reiki Ryoho, the branch and system of Reiki which I practice and teach is literally translated as ‘Usui Spiritual Energy Healing Method’. It is based on the original teachings of Mikao Usui.

Since being introduced to the West by a lady named Hawayo Takata the word “Reiki” has been used not only to describe the energy, but also the system and teaching. Traditional Japanese Masters call the system Reiki Ryoho “Spiritual energy healing method”. (Reiki - spiritual energy and Ryoho - healing method).

However, today you will find more than a 1000 different Reiki branches being taught in the West. Many of these are offshoots of other branches which have introduced additional elements to the system (much of which emanates from other systems and teachings including working with crystals, chakras and additional symbols) or combine both Western and Japanese teachings. You will often hear or see reference to “Usui Reiki”. This is insufficient as a description as all branches of Reiki originally stemmed from the teachings of Usui.

Who Is Mikao Usui?

Mikao Usui taught that it is by mastering the mysteries of the self that we learn to effect the mysteries of life.

Mikao Usui

Mikao Usui was born on August 15, 1865 in the village of ‘Taniai-Mura’ (now called Miyama-cho) in the Yamagata district of the Gifu prefecture, Kyoto - the former capital of Japan. He died from a stroke on 9 March 1926 in a town called Fukuyama in Hiroshima.

He grew up in a Tendai Buddhist family and had two brothers and a sister. As a child he entered a Tendai Buddhist monastery near Mt. Kurama. It is there he would have studied ‘kiko’ (the Japanese version of Qi Gong) to an advanced level. From the age of 12 he trained in a martial art called Yagyo Ryu (Samurai swordsmanship) in which he attained the level Menkyo Kaiden - the highest license of proficiency in weaponry and grappling. He was renowned for his expertise and highly respected by other well-known martial artists of his time.

What Is The History of Reiki?

The History of Reiki

Much of the relatively recently uncovered history has come from contact from people within Japan, living students of Mikao Usui, and the discovery and translation of his Memorial Stone.The roots of Reiki are in Tendai Buddhism, Shintoism and martial arts.Tendai Buddhism (a form of mystical Buddhism) supplied the spiritual teachings. Shintoism provided the methods of controlling and working with the energies. Mikao Usui the founder of Reiki had strong backgrounds in Kiko (a Japanese energy cultivation technique) and a martial art with a strong Zen style (Yagyu Skinage Ryu). Usui also undertook Zen training. All this probably contributed in some way to the development of his system - Reiki.

Why Did Mikao Usui Create The System?

Mikao Usui System

According to Hiroshi Doi a member of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, Usui wondered what the ultimate purpose of life was, and set out to try and find it. He was looking for a way of knowing one’s life purpose and to be content. Despite many years of exhaustive research and study he could not find a way to achieve this state, and so turned to a Zen master for advice. The master told him that if he wanted to know he must die! Usui-sensei lost hope at this and believed his life was over. He went to Mt Kurama to carry out a 21 day meditation and fast called ‘The Lotus Repentance’ which comes from Tendai Buddhism.

According to his memorial stone, he carried out the meditation and experienced an Enlightenment (known as Satori) which led to the development of Reiki. It was important to Mikao Usui that the system be accessible to all which is why the system he ultimately created utilizing ancient techniques and meditations is simplicity itself, yet brings about a profound understanding of the nature of life and what is to be human.

In time it came to be known as Usui Teate, [pronounced 'tee-ah-tay'] which means ‘Hand Healing’ or ‘Hand Application’. According to the Japanese author Michio Kushi, Te-ate is a traditional Japanese form of healing that has been practiced for centuries. He mentions that George Ohsawa, the founder of modern macrobiotics, taught this palm healing throughout Japan, the US and Europe. Kushi referred to Reiki as one of the modern forms of this art to emerge in Japan. Eventually it came to be known as Usui Reiki Ryoho.

What Is The Aim of The System ?

The Aim of The System

Although Reiki is generally promoted within the West as a healing system, its original purpose was for the personal and spiritual growth that would be experienced through the system: to know one’s true purpose in life and be content, to heal oneself and find one’s spiritual path, and ultimately achieve ‘Satori‘ .

While the system has been influence by spiritual and therapeutic discipline, practice and ideas found within Shinto, Buddism (and possibly Taoism) and martial arts techniques, Reiki itself have no specific religious affiliation.

What Is Usui Reiki Ryoho?

Usui Reiki Ryoho

Reiki Ryoho [literal translation Usui Spiritual Energy Healing Method] is a branch which stems from Usui’s teachings directly. This means that the teaching and practice has not evolved from Western influences and are purely Japanese in nature. It is this which you will learn from Holistic Self-Care: Just For Me, Inc. as passed on to me by my Master/Teachers Frans and Bronwen Stiene.

Mikao Usui combined techniques and teachings he had learnt from his martial arts and samurai training (Yagyu Skinage Ryu); Tendai Buddhism (a form of mystical Buddhism) supplied the spiritual teachings; Shintoism provided the methods of controlling and working with the energies; and Kiko (a Japanese energy cultivation technique) to create the system of Reiki.

A system which in it’s original Japanese form is simple, elegant and brings about a deep and clear understanding of what it means to be human and how to connect to the essence of one’s being - Ki.

It is not the energy which is unique, but the system used to connect to it.

This system (the “Journey”) is made up of five elements which are tools to understand and to strengthen one’s connection:

Gokai - The Five Daily Precepts Usui used for his students.
Hatsurei ho - Breathing and Meditation Techniques
Shirushi and Jumon- Symbols and Mantras
Tenohira - Palm-Healing
Receiving of Reiju from a teacher - increases the sensitivity of the student. This Reiju is claimed to be the original Reiju which Mikao

What Are Reiki Precepts?

Reiki Precepts

The practice of Reiki is two-fold: first to have a positive mind and to understand the meaning of a fulfilled life and it’s purpose; secondly, to help heal dis-ease, so that people may experience joy and abundance in life.

One of the five elements of the system, and considered to be the core of the system, is the Gokai (or Precepts). Mikao Usui laid down 5 Precepts (or Principles) which were partly based on guidelines for living a fulfilled life set down by the Meiji Emperor of Japan (1868-1912). They are the result of Mikao Usui’s observations of human nature and the necessity of us all taking responsibility for our own lives in order to achieve healing at all levels.

Reciting the Precepts to yourself daily or making an effort to follow at least one of them throughout the day will have remarkable and positive effects on your consciousness.

You will find various translations, as Japanese is a notoriously difficult language to translate, but this is accepted by many to be the most accurate:

The secret of inviting happiness through many blessings

The spiritual medicine for all illness

For today only:

Do not anger

Do not Worry

Be Humble

Be honest in your work

Be compassionate to yourself and others

Do Gassho every morning and evening
Keep in your mind and recite.

What Is Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai?

Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai

The literal translation for Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai is Society of the Usui Spiritual Energy Healing Method. It claims to have been created by Mikao Usui in 1922, although some believe that it was not created until after Mikao Usui’s death in 1926 and was simply set up as a memorial society. When this society first came into being it is believed that it was largely attended by members of the Japanese navy, mainly surgeons and doctors. It is possible that the more practical elements of the system, such as hand positions and symbols, may have evolved to help them. It is still in existence today but is closed to foreigners. Members are apparently asked not to disuses the details of the Society with non-members. They do not actively advertise nor pursue contact with Westerners.

There are three major levels of teaching in the Gakkai:

Reiki Level I: Shoden is “First Teachings“
Reiki Level II: Okunden is “Inner Teachings“
Reiki Level III: Shinpiden is “Mystery Teachings“

Within these levels exists six levels of proficiency. Each member is supplied with the Reiki Ryoho Hikkei [a Manual].

Where Is Reiki Today?

Reiki Today

In order to understand where Reiki is today one must first look at how it has evolved. If you have visited a few Reiki sites you may already realize that there appears to be some confusion about this amongst the Reiki community.

There are essentially two schools of thought. One practices and teaches Reiki from a wholly Japanese perspective and the other teaches it from one which initially emanated from Japan but which became influenced by Western philosophies and techniques.

‘Western’ Reiki, as it is generically called, stems from Hawayo Takata who was the first westerner (Japanese born in Hawaii) to teach and practice Reiki in the West. She was a student of Chujiro Hayashi who was a student of Mikao Usui. Hayashi taught Mrs. Takata and in 1938 initiated/attuned her into Shinpiden level (Master/Teacher) and gave her authority to teach the system outside Japan. So, indeed, ALL Reiki originally stems from Japan.

Given that when she first started teaching Japan was at war, and all things Japanese were not looked on with favor, she attempted to “westernize” Mikao Usui’s background. Hence he became a doctor, studying western medicine, a Christian and doctor of theology etc. So for many years the ‘history’ or ‘origins’ of Reiki were misleading for subsequent Western students.

In addition, after the death of Hawayo Takata many different styles of Reiki emerged from the Master/Teachers she trained. Many of her students brought additional new elements to the system, such as extra levels of training, more symbols, working with crystals, dowsing and other New Age elements.

Since the ’90s when Mikao Usui’s Memorial Stone was discovered and a few western Reiki researchers have been able to gain access to Japanese sources of information, a much more accurate historical background has been unearthed. Two of these researchers were Frans and Bronwen Stiene.

What Is The Practice of Reiki Today?

The Reiki Practice Today

Today there are many different branches and styles of Reiki. Some are purely Western in teaching and approach, some are purely Japanese in teaching and approach and others are a mixture of both!

I have trained in the Western Style of Reiki which works with chakras, fixed hand positions and places a great deal of importance on the use of symbols, working with crystals etc.

I have also trained in the ‘Traditional’ Japanese Style of Reiki which relies more on the use of intuitive scanning, is not so reliant on symbols and rituals, and is more centered on personal and spiritual development. It is a very simple system uncluttered with add ones. However, when worked with daily brings a deep and profound understanding of life.

Japanese and Western branches of Reiki are very different. For example, Japanese styles teach that the symbols used in Reiki are merely training wheels and may be discarded when their purpose has been fulfilled. However, what I learnt in Western style Reiki is that the symbols have a force and a power of their own. Some teachers incorporate elements of both teaching and styles. No matter which lineage you train with or receive treatment from, what you will learn and what you will receive will be Reiki.

My preference is for the more ‘Traditional’ Japanese style of Reiki - Usui Reiki Ryoho.

In the end it’s about personal development and which you feel more drawn to. The difference will be how regularly that practitioner works on themselves; how strong their practice is to strengthen the flow of energy within themselves; and what training tools they use to teach.

Getting the historical facts correct is important; otherwise there is no point to them. Indeed, as research continues no doubt more background will be unearthed. What history has taught us is that we must receive verification, where possible, before accepting it as fact. So we have to watch this space as it were. However, Reiki is very much an individual experience, different for everyone who receives practices and teaches Reiki.

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