Reiki is a spiritual healing art with its roots in Japanese origin. The word Reiki comes from the Japanese word (Rei) which means “Universal Life” and (Ki) which means “Energy”. Reiki is not affiliated with any particular religion or religious practice. It is not massage nor is it based on belief or suggestion. It is a subtle and effective form of energy healing using spiritually guided life force energy.

Reiki is the life energy that flows through all living things. Reiki Practitioners understand that everyone has the ability to connect with their own healing energy and use it to strengthen energy in themselves and help others. It is believed that a person’s “ki” or energy should be strong and free flowing. When this is true a person’s body and mind is in a positive state of health. When the energy becomes weak or blocked it could lead to symptoms of physical or emotional imbalance.

A Reiki session can help ease tension and stress and can help support the body to facilitate healing on all levels – physical, mental, and emotional. A session is pleasant and relaxing and is often utilized for one’s personal wellness and not just for an illness.

HISTORY

Reiki is believed to have begun in Tibet several thousand years ago. Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese educator in Kyoto, Japan, rediscovered the root system in the mid to late 1800’s. Dr. Usui did an extensive study over the period of twenty-one years of the healing phenomena of history’s greatest spiritual leaders as well as ancient systems that are linked directly to the human body and the nervous system which activate the universal life energy for healing.

After undergoing a metaphysical experience personally, he then began to instruct others on this form of healing he named Reiki and taught it until his death in 1893. His tradition and methods were passed through several grandmasters of Reiki. Today, Reiki takes many forms, however, The Usui System of Natural Healing is still the form most widely practiced. Practitioners and Master Teachers are trained through an initiation process where Masters pass on their knowledge and expertise to their students.

DESCRIPTION OF A TYPICAL SESSION

A session is usually 60 to 90 minutes long. A discussion will usually take place during your first session with a Reiki Practitioner. They will describe the session to you, give the client an opportunity to discuss any particular problems or issues they are experiencing and ask them what hat you are hoping to achieve from their session. For the actual session, the client will rest comfortably on a massage table o their back with their shoes removed. Reiki can be performed with the client sitting comfortably in a chair as well. Unlike massage therapy, no articles of clothing are removed; loose, comfortable clothing is suggested. A session can either be hands-on, where a Practitioner will apply a light touch during the session, or hands-off where they will hold their hands slightly above your body. If a client prefers not to be touched they can indicate this to the practitioner before they begin.

The session will then proceed with the Reiki Practitioner moving through specific standard Reiki hand positions beginning at the person’s head or feet. A recipient of Reiki might feel a warming sensation or a tingling during the session or nothing at all but sheer relaxation. The session should be very pleasant, relaxing and invigorating.

WHAT IS IT USED TO TREAT?

Reiki is a great tool for stress reduction and relaxation. Many people use Reiki for wellness, not just to assist in healing. Reiki is not a cure for a disease or illness, but it may assist the body in creating an environment that may facilitate healing. Reiki is a great tool to use in complement to traditional medicine and is practiced in many hospitals and medical care settings. Reiki practitioners understand that an illness is an expression of some part of the body/mind that does not know how to be well. Reiki works first on a mental and emotional level, as it works to achieve long-term improvement by helping people address, heal and release issues that lead to the problem. Depending upon the severity and duration of the problem a physical change may or may not occur. Sometimes all that can be achieved is helping a client to accept and live with a major illness – improving someone’s quality of life and comfort.

Many times a client will learn to treat themselves after having Reiki treatments by taking a Reiki I course. This can be very beneficial and can sometimes provide the number of treatments that are recommended for a serious condition when cost would prohibit it otherwise.

(Article published from the International Association of Reiki Professionals website.)

(This article is first in a series discussing Reiki and its compatibility or incompatibility with specific religions.)

Is Reiki compatible with your religious beliefs if you are a Christian?
There are several viewpoints on this topic. Reiki is certainly considered spiritual but not necessarily of any specific religious descent. Even though Dr. Usui, who rediscovered Reiki, was considered a Buddhist monk, this does not mean that is not entirely connected with Christianity.

Reiki Principles teach us:

Just for today I will not worry
Just for today I release all anger
Just for today I shall earn my living with integrity
Just for today I will be kind to every living thing
Just for today I will give thanks for my many blessings

You will note that these are written in the way that some Christian teachings are as the “just for today” and the love-filled messages and direction. Certainly Christian principles acknowledge the purity and benefits of these Reiki Precepts. These precepts, which are at the core of one’s Reiki practice, are very compatible with Christianity.

REI – Spiritually guided, all of creation. The first half of the word “Rei-ki” translates as “God Light” or “Spiritually Guided”. It can mean God, Love or Light It is meant to describe the creation in its totality – every cell, blade of grass, stone, tree, animal, human, every planet and star. Christians can interpret this as God’s love.

KI – Life Energy. This is the name given to the vital energy that is used to give life to God’s creation. This energy, also knows as chi or prana, can be viewed as the loving energy that surrounds our physical world. This energy provides vitality for wellness, balance and wellbeing on all levels – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The word “Reiki” can then be viewed as God’s love shining on us, giving us healing love. Reiki is a special type of energy, one guided by God’s love..

Reiki can be viewed as a personal or spiritual path– not necessarily a religious one, although it can be used to enhance Christian work.

Whatever your views are on spirituality, Reiki should be seen as a way for us to reconnect with ourselves. Reiki teaches us that pain, suffering, and illness is caused in some part, by separation from the oneness of creation on some level. Christians understand the oneness of creation as God and the holy trinity. Reiki helps to reconnect us as humans with our loving Creator.

Reiki can be considered “God’s Work” just as many other things can be. If you are a Christian and believe in God, then practicing Reiki can bring you closer to God and to your own personal spiritual and religious path. Many very religious individuals practice Reiki and feel that it is the work of God and that God brought them to Reiki in order to follow his example and to help heal others. There are many dedicated and selfless members of the clergy who are Reiki Masters and teachers. By giving the gift of Reiki, either in a session or a class, you are without a question doing God’s work.

This article appeared in the July 2006 issue of The Reiki Times, the monthly magazine of the IARP.
© 2006. International Association of Reiki Professionals LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Reiki is a spiritual healing art. It is not massage nor is it based on belief or suggestion. A Reiki session usually is between 60 and 90 minutes in length. The session is performed by a Reiki Practitioner (RP or RMT) using specific Reiki hand positions. During a Reiki session, the client is fully clothed while comfortably reclining on a massage table or seated in a chair. A Reiki session aids in stress reduction and it is almost always a very relaxing experience. Reiki sessions or classes are a great investment in yourself.

Reiki is:
- A subtle and effective form of energy healing using spiritually guided life force energy (Rei-ki)
- Practiced in every country of the world
- Being used in many setting including hospitals, hospice, as well as in private practice and in self-care
- A wonderful complementary modality in a personal wellness or healing program

Reiki is not:
- Affiliated with any particular religion or religious practice
- New, it is thousands of years old (at least)

Defining qualities of Reiki:
- A practice of transmitting healing energy through the hands
- Passed on through the attunement process
- The energy is not guided by the practitioner, but the energy has it's own innate wisdom to guide itself.
- Reiki energy is not based on belief, faith or suggestion.

A Reiki session can help ease tension and stress, and can help support the body to facilitate healing on all levels- physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. A session is pleasant and relaxing and is often utilized for one's own personal wellness, not just illness. A Reiki I class is a great gift to give to yourself. To find a Reiki Practitioner or Reiki Master Teacher in your area of the world please see Find a Reiki Practitioner or Teacher.
(Article published from the International Association of Reiki Professionals website.)