Usui Reiki, often referred to as simply Reiki, is a form of alternative healing that originated in Japan in the early 20th century.
It’s a holistic healing technique that aims to balance and harmonize the life force energy within the body.
Reiki is based on the principle that a universal life force energy flows through all living beings and that disruptions in this energy can lead to physical, mental, and emotional imbalances.
The practice involves the laying of hands or gentle touch to channel this energy to promote healing and well-being.
Reiki is a practice that aims to help the flow of energy and remove blocks in a similar way to acupuncture or acupressure.
Improving the flow of energy around the body can enable relaxation, reduce pain, speed healing, and reduce other symptoms of illness.
Reiki relies on no other instruments beyond the practitioner. It does not use crystals, powders or wands as a general rule.
However, one of the benefits of Reiki healing is distance healing (where Reiki is sent over several miles).
The Reiki healing sessions can last between 15 and 90 minutes. The number of sessions will vary, depending on what a client wishes to accomplish.
Some clients prefer to have one session while others have a series of sessions to work on a particular issue.
The word Reiki means “mysterious atmosphere, miraculous sign”. It comes from the Japanese words “rei” (universal) and “ki” (life energy).
Origin and Founder
Usui Reiki was developed by Mikao Usui, a Japanese spiritual teacher and healer, in the early 1920s.
According to the story, Usui embarked on a personal quest for healing and spiritual awakening, which ultimately led him to discover the Reiki system during a meditation and fasting retreat on Mount Kurama in Kyoto, Japan.
What is Reiki?
Reiki is a form of alternative therapy commonly referred to as energy healing. It emerged in Japan in the late 1800’s and is said to involve the transfer of universal energy from the practitioner’s palms to their patient.
What Reiki isn’t?
Reiki is not an exact science!
The practitioner must work together with the patient toward the healing. No patient can be cured without his/her approval.
Principles of Usui Reiki
Universal Life Energy: Usui Reiki practitioners believe in the existence of a universal life energy that flows through all living beings, sustaining life and promoting well-being.
Healing Energy Transfer: Practitioners act as channels for this healing energy, allowing it to flow through their hands to the recipient, promoting balance, relaxation, and healing.
What is a Reiki Practitioner?
The Reiki practitioner is a person that allows the Universal Energy flow through his body, using it as a channel toward the patient’s injury.
What a Reiki Practitioner isn’t?
The Reiki practitioner is not a doctor, and he/she can not be expected to completely cure very grave diseases, but merely improve the overall state of the patient.
Reiki Healing Process
During a Reiki session, the recipient remains fully clothed and lies down or sits comfortably.
The practitioner lightly places their hands on or near specific areas of the recipient’s body, focusing on chakras, energy centers, and areas of discomfort or tension.
The practitioner then channels Reiki energy, allowing it to flow through their hands to the recipient, aiming to dissolve energy blockages and promote the body’s natural healing process.
Levels of Reiki Attunement
Usui Reiki has different levels or degrees of training. The attunement process is an essential aspect of advancing through these levels.
Reiki Level I: Focuses on self-healing and learning the basics of channeling Reiki energy to others.
Reiki Level II: Includes the use of sacred symbols to enhance the healing process and allows practitioners to offer distance healing.
Reiki Level III (Master/Teacher): Enables practitioners to teach and attune others to Reiki.
Applications of Reiki
Physical Healing: Reiki is used to address physical ailments, injuries, chronic conditions, and pain management.
Emotional and Mental Healing: It’s employed to promote relaxation, reduce stress, ease anxiety, and support emotional well-being.
Spiritual Growth: Reiki is often used for spiritual awakening, personal development, and enhancing intuition and self-awareness.
Modern Spread and Acceptance
Reiki has gained widespread acceptance and popularity worldwide, integrated into various healthcare settings, wellness centers, hospices, and complementary therapy programs.
Many individuals turn to Reiki to complement conventional medical treatments, viewing it as a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Usui Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive healing modality that resonates with individuals seeking a holistic approach to well-being — it is based on the idea of balancing one’s life force energy to promote healing on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels, offering a pathway to relaxation, self-awareness, and overall vitality.
