Everything in the universe, including our bodies, is made up of atoms vibrating at different frequencies. The better our state of health and the greater our spiritual development, the higher our vibration. When we are suffering from stress or dis-ease our vibration decreases. Reiki energy (universal life force energy) vibrates at such a high frequency that those who come into contact with it find that their own vibrational energies are raised to such an extent that illness and trauma have a much diminished impact on their lives. At the same time their spiritual evolution becomes more advanced, further increasing their ability to cope with whatever life throws at them.
Reiki: The History
Reiki is a powerful, yet gentle healing method thought to have originated in Atlantis. At that time the Atlanteans lived under a system not dissimilar to the caste system operating in India. Those without psychical gifts were forced to live on the fringe of society and act as slaves towards those who were gifted. In desperation, two enlightened individuals, who we now know as Ascended Masters, El Morya and Saint Germain, prayed to God for a solution; Reiki was the solution.
After the fall of Atlantis the survivors journeyed to Tibet where it was used by the High Priests in the temples. However, due to misuse by those who sought to increase their own personal power, it was withdrawn from mankind, and this ancient knowledge was believed to be lost until the early part of the 20th Century when it was re-discovered in Japan by Dr Mikao Usui.
Born in 1865, the young Usui entered a Tendai Buddhist school at the age of four located at the foot of Mount Kurama. He had an avid interest in learning and studied a variety of subjects including medicine, psychology and religion as well as psychic development. Eventually he became secretary to the Head of Health and Welfare, who later became Mayor of Tokyo. The connections that he made during this time enabled Usui to become a highly successful businessman.
By 1914, Usui's personal and business life were failing. He decided to travel to Mount Kurama, where he had received his early Buddhist training, and enrolled on a 21-day training course sponsored by the Tendai Buddhist Temple. There is a small waterfall on Mount Kurama where people go to meditate by allowing the waters to strike and flow over the top of the head, and it is thought to be during one of these meditations that the Reiki energy entered his crown chakra. This greatly enhanced his healing abilities, and he realised that he had received a wonderful gift - the ability to give healing to others without depleting his own energy.
During the next seven years Usui worked with the poor in Kyoto, until in 1922 he moved to Tokyo where he founded a healing society, and opened a Reiki clinic where he gave treatments and taught. Then in 1923 an earthquake devastated Tokyo, killing more than 140,000 people and making thousands more homeless. Dr Usui felt great compassion for these people and treated as many of them as he could. Because of this, his reputation as a healer quickly spread throughout Japan and he travelled around the country teaching and treating many people, initiating a further 16 teachers. He suffered a stroke and died in 1926 while teaching in Fukuyama.
One of Dr Usui's students was Chujiro Hayashi, who had his own school and Reiki Clinic in Tokyo. One of his many patients, Mrs Hawayo Takata, came to Japan from her native Hawaii in 1935 to receive treatment for a tumour and to inform her parents, who lived in Japan of her sisters death. While being prepared for surgery, she heard the voice of her late husband saying that the operation was not necessary. After conferring with her Doctors she was taken to Mr Hayashi's clinic, where she was subsequently cured within 4 months. Mrs Takata stayed with Mr Hayashi for a year, becoming the first foreigner to be given the Reiki attunements. She then returned to Hawaii and set up a Reiki clinic there. It was through her that Reiki was introduced to the west. Today there are in excess of 10,000 practising Reiki Masters throughout the world.
Reiki: What It Is
Reiki is a peaceful, loving energy, which restores balance and helps bring clarity and peace of mind to those suffering from physical, mental, spiritual or emotional pain. It is so relaxing that a one-hour treatment is said to be equivalent to 4 hours of deep sleep. When the body relaxes, the heartbeat and respiration automatically slow down, kick starting the immune system and helping the body to detoxify and begin its repair work. Answers to deep seated emotional problems are often found when we are in this state, as at this time, we are most in touch with the wise part of ourselves which knows exactly what we need, i.e. the higher self.
All our complaints are ultimately due to the illusion of separateness from the rest of the world. Many of us seek to fill this void through our relationships and careers; others try to find security through power; or seek to deaden their pain through alcohol or drugs, which serves only to deepen the void. In order to feel better about ourselves we need to become aware of the magnitude of who we really are - to catch a glimpse of the Divine, which exists in all of us. Reiki can often provide such an experience, as our consciousness expands due to the increase in vibration. The essence of Reiki can therefore, be summed up by the giving and receiving of unconditional love. There is no greater gift to either give or receive.
For this reason, Reiki is particularly beneficial to those suffering from depression or ME, although it is of great benefit to all conditions. The only contra-indication is broken bones that have not yet been set by a qualified Doctor.
How Reiki Differs from other Healing Methods
The difference between Reiki and other methods of healing is the attunement method. As Reiki vibrates on such a high frequency, in order to work with it one's vibration must be attuned to the same level. This is done by opening three of the chakras, i.e. the heart, third eye and palms of the hands and placing the Reiki symbols within the practitioner's energy field. Chakras are vortexes of energy, which are separate from the physical body and act as gateways to higher consciousness, providing a link between our thoughts, emotions and physical being.
Once attuned, you have access to the energy for the rest of your life. You have only to place your hands on someone, with the intent to heal, and the energy will start to flow. Reiki energy has an inner intelligence of its own, flowing automatically to wherever it is most needed, in the amount that is needed. This process is not under the conscious control of the practitioner, who is merely acting as a channel for the energy to flow through.
With some other methods of healing, the practitioner often experiences an energy drain, particularly with patients who are experiencing great trauma. This cannot happen with Reiki, as it is not your own energy you are using, rather 'Universal Life Force Energy'. As the energy flows through the practitioner to the patient, any problems the practitioner is experiencing are also dispelled. In this sense, the more you work with Reiki, the more energised, and the clearer you yourself become.
What to Expect from a Reiki Treatment
During a treatment the patient lies fully clothed upon a treatment couch while the practitioner places their hands on various parts of the patient's body, starting at the head and gradually working towards the feet. The sensations experienced by both practitioner and patient vary according to the condition being treated, and both do not necessarily feel the same thing. Some practitioners, especially those new to Reiki feel very little in their hands. As they gain in experience, they gradually become more sensitive to the energy's movement, learning to interpret the sensations they feel. This enables the practitioner to tailor the treatment to suit the needs of the patient. A treatment normally lasts from sixty to ninety minutes. The patient is often asleep by the time the practitioner has finished working on the head.
After treatment, about one patient in five experiences what is known as a healing crisis. There is nothing to fear from this, as it is merely the body's way of detoxifying itself. The patient may develop a headache or a runny nose; in all other respects they will feel quite well. It is important during this time for the patient to take care of themselves by drinking plenty of water and getting enough rest, thus assisting in this process. It is also important not to try and suppress the symptoms through the use of medication - simply allow the feelings to pass through, realising that this is a necessary part of the healing process. Such a crisis rarely lasts more than a few days and afterwards you will feel a lot better.
Everything that happens in our lives is a reflection of where we are. Nobody is condemned to suffer from dis-ease unless they choose to. Research in the United States has shown that up to 85% of dis-ease is a result of our attitude towards our environment and, in particular, ourselves. It is the body's way of expressing suppressed needs and emotions. If, for example, we have a need to be loved, our body will manifest dis-ease in a weakened area in order to create this experience. In this way the body gives us clues as to the emotional cause of the problem. Whenever we are unwell we should therefore ask ourselves, 'what is my body trying to tell me?' and 'what benefits are there from holding on to this condition?' A willingness to explore these issues opens the door for healing to take place on all levels. A Reiki practitioner (or for that matter any other complementary therapist) cannot promise to cure, only to do their best and to support the patient through their healing process.
How to Learn Reiki
Reiki is taught in three stages or Degrees. The First Degree, usually taught over a weekend concentrates mainly on self healing and healing others on a physical level. The Second Degree introduces you to three sacred symbols, which can be used to treat the mental and emotional patterns, which have manifested as dis-ease in the physical body. One of these symbols can be used to transcend space and time to send healing to people who cannot be with you, and to events, whether in this or past lives. It can also be used to send healing to specific areas of the world affected by conflict, or to help environmental disasters. The Third or Master Degree is for those wishing to teach and requires much dedication on the part of the practitioner. Reiki Masters often undergo great personal transformation following their attunements, so it is therefore, for those who feel a very close inner connection with the energy, and who wish to dedicate their lives towards raising the vibrational energies of both the Planet and mankind.
Ethical Principles of Reiki
Just for today - do not anger
Just for today - do not worry
Honour your parents, teachers and elders
Earn your living honestly
Show gratitude for every living thing.
