Reiki – What Is It?

Reiki – what is it you might be asking. You can define Reiki as Universal Life Force energy, an energy that is all around us, within us, and in every plant, animal and object. You may have heard the word Reiki used in this context. Or you might be familiar with Reiki is a system of complementary healing or a system for greater self awareness. Reiki is all of these things. That is why receiving Reiki treatments or undergoing the attunement process can be such a profound, life-changing experience.

It is an energy that is endlessly abundant. Therefore, no single person can create it. People can only channel it and attempt to direct it. However, Reiki is also universal intelligence. This means that Reiki will always go where a person needs it most. The results of this can sometimes be quite unexpected. For example, I often see people who are suffering due to a high amount of stress in their life. They come for treatments to help reduce their stress levels, but often there is also an emotional release. People sometimes report remembering experiences that had not thought of for years. The residual effects of these experiences are released, allowing the person to move on with a greater sense of emotional wholeness.

How Did Reiki Start

Dr. Usui

Although Reiki energy has existed since the beginning of time, the system of Reiki healing was developed by Dr. Mikao Usui in the 19th century. Dr. Usui was born in 1865. At a very young age, Dr. Usui began to study at a zen buddhist school near mount Kurama in Japan. Dr. Usui proved himself to be a curious individual early on. He traveled widely and studied a variety of topics, such as psychology and medicine, as well as religion.

In 1922, Dr. Usui was experiencing problems in his work and personal life. He enrolled in a 21 day meditation retreat on Mount Korama to help him in these areas. Most probably Dr. Usui’s meditations took place near a waterfall, and he counted each day with a stone as it passed. Usui was not specifically looking to discover a method of healing, but rather a state of constant peace.

However, it was during this period that Dr. Usui re-discovered Reiki. The Reiki energy entered Dr. Usui’s crown chakra, allowing him to re-discover the Reiki energy. After Dr. Usui completed this retreat, he stubbed his toe while climbing down from the mountain. Upon laying his hands on the toe, the pain immediately subsided. Upon returning to town, Usui stopped for a meal. Usui was able to heal the girl so that the pain went away.

In April of 1922 that Dr. Usui opened his first Reiki clinic in Tokyo. In 1923, the Kanto earthquake hit. Usui began using Reiki to help as many of the survivors as possible, and he began training other Reiki masters using a more formalized attunement process. He also formalized the methods used to perform treatments and also developed the Reiki symbols. 

As Reiki’s reputation spread, Dr. Usui outgrew his clinic space, and, in 1925 established a new center outside of Tokyo. During his lifetime, Usui initiated 20 masters, had roughly 2000 students and helped countless others. 

One of those masters was Mr. Chujiro Hayashi.

Chujiro Hyashi

Mr. Hayashi was one of the Reiki masters Dr. Usui had trained, and Dr. Usui designated him as his successor. He was a retired naval medical officer, and after Dr. Usui passed in 1925, Mr. Hayashi opened his own Reiki clinic. Mr. Hayashi formalized a lot of the practices that Reiki students continue to learn today, including hand positions for specific ailments. He also made changes to the instruction and attunement process, teaching both levels 1 and 2 in a single 5 day seminar. In 1937, Hayashi traveled to Hawaii and was asked by the Japanese military to provide information that would assist in the attack on Pearl Harbour. Hayashi refused to do so, and was branded a traitor. For that reason, Mr. Hayashi committed suicide in 1940.

Mrs. Takata

Mrs. Takata was the one who was responsible for bringing Reiki from Japan to the west. She was born in 1900 and passed in 1980, so she was as old as the year. She practiced Reiki from 1937, when she received her attunements from Mr. Hayashi, until her death.

Mrs. Takata was born in Hawaii to Japanese immigrants, and her father worked in the sugar cane fields. At 17, Mrs. Takata was already working in the fields, and she married a bookkeeper in the business where she was working. Mrs. Takata’s husband passed away when she was only 34. This left her alone to care for 2 young children.

The stress of having to care for her family alone, caused her physical symptoms, such as abdominal pain, as well as a nervous breakdown. Shortly after this time, Mrs. Takata also experienced a family tragedy when her sister passed away. If this was not enough responsibility to shoulder, she had to be the one to tell her parents of her sister’s death. They had re-settled back in Japan, so Mrs. Takata had to fly there to share the devastating news. After delivering the news, Mrs. Takata went to a hospital and was received a diagnosis of gallstones, a tumor, asthma and appendicitis. Surgery was planned, however, Mrs. Takata chose to visit Mr. Hayashi’s clinic instead. 

After assessing Mrs. Takata’s condition, the Reiki clinic arrived at a similar diagnosis as the hospital. Mrs. Takata saw that her progress was impressive, and decided to learn Reiki to continue working on herself. In addition, Mrs. Hayashi asked Mrs. Takata to work at his clinic, which she did, becoming a Reiki master herself. In 1938, Mr. Hayashi acknowledged Mrs. Takata as one of the 13 Reiki masters he had trained.

Mrs. Takata continued to practice Reiki in Hawaii and opened several clinics there. She also took on students, and trained them up to level 2. As Mrs. Takata’s reputation as a healer grew, she began traveling widely and teaching. Mrs. Takata said that she was successful because she gave multiple Reiki treatments to each client, each one often lasting several hours. 

Mrs. Takata practiced Reiki and taught students all over the world until she passed away in 1980. It is thanks to her that many thousands of people can benefit from this powerful energy today.

A Focus On The Whole Person

It is important to note that Reiki is a complementary modality that focuses on the whole person, not just the physical. We are more than just flesh, blood and bones. We are spiritual beings with souls in physical bodies. Therefore, issues that manifest themselves as physical ailments could have a wide ranges of causes. Perhaps we feel stressed because of life events, or we are not sleeping or eating properly. Over time, poor habits and stressors can build and show up as physical ailments. This is where Reiki can be of help.

For example, if you are experiencing anxiety or stress, there is some scientific evidence that Reiki can have a positive effect on the autonomic nervous system. Beyond what conventional science has proven, I have seen plenty of anecdotal evidence that Reiki that Reiki can help produce a sense of calm in the person receiving the treatment. People often fall asleep on the table, and it normally only takes a couple of minutes for a person’s breathing to become deeper and more relaxed. This greater sense of peace and relaxation can then have positive effects on the physical conditions you may be experiencing.

In addition, because Reiki can enhance your sense of self awareness, you may suddenly become more aware of habits that are causing you harm. For example, you may realize that the job that is causing so much stress in your life is no longer worth it. I know of many people who have changed jobs after experiencing a Reiki attunement. They went on to choose careers that were more in line with their soul’s purpose.

Reiki Is A System Of Spiritual Development

In addition to promoting a sense of physical, mental and emotional well being, Reiki is also a system of spiritual development. However, it is important to note that it is in no way a religion. Therefore, practicing Reiki, or receiving treatments or attunements will never interfere with religious beliefs or practices. You need not worry that it will interfere in any way with your existing beliefs or religious practices.

Instead, Dr. Usui suggested a set of 5 principles that can serve as ideals in your daily life. These principles are remarkably simple. If you meditate on them each day, they will help guide you when making decisions about how to handle situations as they arise in your life. Check out this article to find out more about the 5 Reiki principles.