Reiki is a form of spiritual hands-on healing which was rediscovered in the 1800’s by Dr. Usui, a mystic trained in both the Christian faith (as a minister) and the Buddhist faith (through 20 years of study with a Buddhist monk.) Some say Christ journeyed to Tibet and learned Reiki before he began his ministry. Hands-on healing has been a part of native healing practices in all cultures, of course. Reiki is but one example. Reiki is understood to work with the Chi energy, or life force of the universe. Reiki is a Japanese word meaning universal Life Force. The practitioner learns to channel life force energy through the crown chakra at the crown of the head (the function of which is connection to God.) This energy then passes through the hand chakras of the practitioner into the body of the client. This energy can be used for healing of spiritual or physical pain. Clients usually report a feeling of relaxation, and the energy goes where it is needed. So it is not even necessary for the client to tell the practitioner where it hurts. It is understood that the seven main energy centers of the body (chakras) are affected by Reiki.
It is not unusual for a spiritual energy to appear during a Reiki treatment. For example, the spirit of a departed loved one, a secret friend from childhood, or the spirit guide of the client may be attracted to the client’s side. The client or practitioner, or both, may be aware of this energy. It is also not unusual for practitioners to sense past-life information in the client. Also; painful experiences from this lifetime may be stirred up in the client’s energy field. Sometimes here is a healing crisis precipitated, in which the pain gets worse at first, and then full healing can occur.
Practitioners are trained in (usually) three levels. At the highest level, the practitioner is called a Reiki Master, and is entitled to train others. The ceremony at each level of practice (level one, two, and three) involves a spiritual opening to receive the energy.
Reiki principles include: Just for today, I will not be angry. Just for today, I will be kind to my neighbor and every living thing.
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings.
Etimology
The word, Reiki is derived from two Japanese words, which are Rei and Ki. Translating these two words into the English language is not entirely easy; this is because the Japanese language can have multiple meanings. The meaning of the word depends on the context in which it is being used. This means anyone using the words must be wary of the prevailing context. In this write-up, the words will be used in the spiritual healing context. As a result, the deep meaning may not be seen in a dictionary
Contextual meaning
Rei means ghost, while Ki means vapor. But in a more spiritual sense, Rei can stand for Higher Intelligence guiding the functioning and creation of the universe. Rei is more or less a subtle form of wisdom that tends permeate everything, be it animate or inanimate. The evolution of all creation is also guided by this subtle wisdom, be it the development of life or the unfolding of the galaxy. Aside from the spiritual meaning, this term, Reiki, also has meaning on a human level, in which it can act as a source of guidance and also available as a source of help in times of need. Reiki is all-knowing and has an infinite nature. Rei is equally referred to as God by some translations. It also has several other translations aside from this, depending on the culture that gives it the name.
Ki, on the other hand, is a non-physical form of energy that gives life to all living things. Everything that is alive, be it human, animal or plant, has Ki flowing in it. An individual feels ready to take on the challenges of life, ready to enjoy life, feel more confident and stronger when his Ki is high. On the other hand, people are more likely to get sick or feel weak when their Ki is low. Humans can receive Ki from various sources, like sleep, sunshine, food and the air we breathe. Also, Ki can increase as a result of meditation and breathing exercise. The Ki leaves the human body when the person dies. In the word “China,” the word “Chi” means the same thing as Ki. It has the same meaning as Prana in India. In Hawaii, it can be called either Ki or Ti. In some other climates, it is called life force, bioplasma, orgone or odic force.
Healing force
Keeping the descriptions above in mind, we can then define Reiki as a non-physical healing energy that is composed of life force energy, guiding the spiritually-guided life force energy or Higher Intelligence. Those who practice Reiki have experienced similar to the definition given above. These individuals can testify to the fact that Reiki seems to have a life and intelligence of its own. The intelligence flows through the individual where it is necessary to instill more life and ability. Also, Reiki is not limited by the ability or experience of the practitioner because it cannot be controlled or guided by the human mind. Since the human mind has no control over it, it is, therefore, difficult to misuse it. Reiki creates a unique healing effect as it is moving through the body of the individual. It is possible to influence life force energy on the human mind. Then Reiki is more complex or different from the simple life force since it cannot be thus controlled. This lack of control over Reiki is one of the factors that make it beneficial for healing in those having ill health.
The cause or source of health emanates from the Ki flowing around and through the individual and not from the condition or presents functioning of the physical tissues and organs. As Ki flows through the individual, it activates the tissues and organs, which makes it responsible for the creation of a health condition in the individual. There will be an adverse effect on the physical tissues and organs if there is a disruption in the flow of Ki. Conclusively, the main cause of illness is the disruption in the flow of Ki.
Reiki and feelings
One other thing about Ki is that it responds to the feelings and thoughts of the individual. This means the quality of the feelings and thoughts of the individual determines if the flow of Ki will be weakened or strengthened. It also means that the main cause of restriction in the flow of Ki is the feelings and thoughts of the individual. There will be a disruption in the flow of Ki if the individual is having disharmonious or negative feelings and thoughts. The mind has been proven via western medicine to contribute to illness in an individual. Some western doctors even conclude that the human mind is directly or indirectly responsible for illness about 98% of the time.
The existence of the human mind is not limited to the brain; it also extends throughout the human body. This is because the nervous system that has its roots in the human brain also spreads to the other parts of the human body. Research also shows that the mind goes beyond the limits of the human body to extend outside in a subtle energy field about 3 feet thick referred to as Aura.
As a result, one can refer to the human mind as mind/body since the two of them are linked closely.
Reiki and human thoughts
When someone has a negative thought, it is not only limited to the brain but spreads through the human body. The flow of Ki is restricted at those points where negative feelings and thoughts collect. This will bring about a restriction in the function of those organs located in that area. Illness can ensue if the individual fails to eliminate the negative feelings and thoughts.
Humans are rarely aware of the negative feelings and thoughts that are logged in the subconscious mind/body. As a result, these negative feelings are the ones that cause the greatest of problems. The fact that the human is not aware of them makes it difficult to eliminate or change them. Reiki is being guided by the Higher Intelligence, and as a result, it knows how to respond to any restriction in the flow of Ki; it also knows where to go to bring about healing when such a restriction occurs.