Healing with Reiki might sound illogical to some. For instance, there have been opposing views between Reiki and Christian perspectives which lead many people to be confused as to what Reiki is about. Although Reiki was developed by a Buddhist monk from Japan, it is not a religion. It is simply a stress-reduction technique everyone can learn to use for their overall well-being. This article will provide you with information on Reiki and what it’s all about.
What Is Reiki?
The term Reiki is derived from two Japanese words – Rei and Ki. When defining from a spiritual context, Rei is a Japanese word that can be defined as a Higher Intelligence that guides the creation and functioning of the universe. Ki is the non-physical energy that flows through all living things.
Rei spreads through anything and everything. These include even non-living objects. This is the wisdom that serves as the guiding principle on the evolution of living beings and inanimate objects. On a human scale, it is there to help us in times of need or to serve as a source of guidance in our lives. Rei is all-knowing due to its infinite nature.
On the other hand, Ki is responsible for animating all living things. It is a non-physical energy that is flowing in everything that is alive, including animals, plants and humans. Why is Ki important to a person? When a person’s Ki is high, or or she will feel confident, strong and willing to enjoy life and embrace its challenges. When it is low, a person will feel weak and will likely fall ill. We get Ki from the air we inhale as well as food, sleep, and sunshine. We can also receive Ki by using breathing exercises and meditation.
With the two words in mind, Reiki can be defined as a non-physical healing energy guided by the Higher Intelligence. This practice is all about reducing stress and encouraging relaxation. Reiki treats a whole person, including body, mind, spirit, and emotions.
Reiki’s Origin
Reiki healing is a system developed by a Japanese born Buddhist monk, Dr. Mikao Usui, while meditating on Mount Kurama. He then formed a school/clinic as a way for people to obtain healing and to teach Reiki to students.
Dr. Usui taught his system of Reiki to over 2000 people during his lifetime. After Dr. Usui’s death, his senior students would continue on with his work.
Forms Of Reiki
There are two forms of Reiki – Traditional Japanese Reiki and Western Reiki. Western Reiki (also known as Modern Reiki) healing follows a more external approach with hand positions and the healing process. On the other hand, Traditional Japanese Reiki is a more advanced level that essentially focuses on the Japanese energetic system.
Hand Placement
Hand placement is important in Reiki healing. The effectiveness and ease of use in the Reiki system are based on the hand positions. It’s the most basic technique in helping the patient relax and relieve stress. This is why Reiki is also referred to as palm healing. Sometimes, Reiki is also called hands on healing.
According to experts, Dr. Usui used only five hand positions. These positions put focus on a person’s neck and head. After Reiki had been given to the neck and head, specific areas of the body where the imbalances were present would then be healed. This format is still used by practitioners of Traditional Japanese Reiki.
In Western Reiki, it is taught that Reiki works together with chakras and meridian energy lines through the use of hand-positions, which correspond to the seven major chakras in the body. These chakras are:
- Crown
- Third Eye
- Throat
- Heart
- Solar Plexus
- Sacral
- Base/Root
Treatment With Reiki
Unlike other healing systems, Reiki healing does not make use of medications or instruments. According to experts, Dr. Usui usually looked over a patient and touched the areas of the body that needed treatment. He typically gave energy to the body by means of massaging, tapping lightly on affected areas, stroking, and blowing on the affected areas. He used the palm healing technique to transfer Ki that allowed for self-healing.
A Reiki healing practitioner in a whole-body treatment typically instructs the recipient to lie down on a massage table and relax. The recipient is usually wearing loose and comfortable clothing during this time. The practitioner might take a few moments to enter a calm or meditative state of mind and mentally prepare for the treatment. This preparation is usually done without talking.
The practitioner will proceed with placing the hands on the recipient in many positions. This can also be done using a non-touching method, where the hands are held away from the recipient’s body. The hands are normally kept in a position for three to five minutes before moving on to the next position.
The practitioner will treat anywhere from 12 to 20 areas throughout the session that can last anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes. The hand positions usually cover the head, the front and back of the torso, the knees, and feet.
What happens when you are treated by a Traditional Reiki healing practitioner? The session will start with the practitioner “scanning” your body for areas to be treated. This is an intuitive approach, to know which positions to treat for shorter or longer duration. A Western treatment is considered as more of a large-scale treatment as compared to a more localized-style of Traditional Japanese Reiki.
What Happens After The Treatment?
The recipient often feels warmth or a sense of tingle in the areas being treated, even with a non-touching method. Relaxation and a sense of overall well-being are usually the most common aftereffects that a recipient of Reiki feels post-treatment.
However, it’s important to note that this treatment is not supposed to heal a specific illness, especially after just one session. This is why follow-up sessions are usually recommended, especially if chronic conditions are being addressed. Regular, on-going treatments can be used with the aim of maintaining well-being. The interval period between treatments is typically one to four weeks, unless in the case of self-treatment where daily practice is common.
