Reiki is an energy that surround and permeates all things. In Japanese it is translated as the Universal (Rei) Life Energy (Ki). Mrs Takata (the women who bought Reiki to the West) called it ‘God power’.  It is an ancient system of healing that was rediscovered by Dr Usui during a long period of fasting and meditation.  He came to a realisation through a life changing event that Reiki could heal and bring balance and harmony to others. For the rest of his life after this realisation Dr Usui then taught and practiced Reiki and it is this that now forms the basis of modern practices. For more information check the HISTORY link.

We all can channel Reiki at one level or another. When we have an upset stomach, have hit our finger or had a headache we have held or touched that part of our body as if to soothe and heal it. We do it intuitively, very much the same way we would hug someone in distress. It is the touch, the transfer of energy that we are unknowingly connecting to.

Although we are all channels for Reiki, it is the attunement process that refines the Reiki. Very much in the way we all can pick up a guitar and strum away to create a ‘song’, it is the tuning of the strings and the learning of the chords and the sequence that they are played in that creates the music.

Reiki energy is independent of religious beliefs and embraces all beliefs simultaneously. This simply means that no matter what ever religion; Reiki is compatible allowing one to partake, learn and practice Reiki. Some even integrate Reiki into their beliefs. In fact, the only thing that affects Reiki is your willingness to accept it. This does not affect the flow of Reiki, as that will occur independent of belief, it will only affect how Reiki interacts with your body; for it is our response to the Reiki that does the healing.  The fact that you are reading this page indicates you are already open to Reiki.

Over time Reiki has taken on many different forms and utilizes many different methods, but all Reiki taps into the universal life energy. No one Reiki method or style is better than another. Reiki is a very personal thing between you and the Reiki practitioner or master. Reiki has no judgment and goes where it is needed.

There are many uses of Reiki (see USES OR REIKI). The most common use is a session with a Reiki practitioner. This usually involves the recipient lying down or sitting. The practitioner than lays their hands in certain positions. This is taught in LEVEL 1 Reiki (see LEARN REIKI for more information to being attuned to Reiki)

When receiving a treatment you may feel some practitioners are more 'powerful' than others. This has a lot to do with your ‘relationship’ with the practitioner and how comfortable you feel. Indeed, some Reiki practitioners and Masters naturally have a very clear connection to the Reiki energy, but more practically it is their experience that can make them feel 'more powerful'. Very much in the same way one practices a guitar to become better at playing it, those who use Reiki on a daily basis may feel as if they have a 'better connection'.

Once again, however, the most important aspect of Reiki is your willingness to accept it. You should always feel 100% at ease with any Reiki Master or practitioner. If you don’t then they may not be the right Reiki person for you.

A note about images above: we found these inspiring images on the internet depicting the Chakras that Reiki Practitioners tend to use as locations for hand positions. Learn more Chakras under LEARN REIKI.

If you feel you own the copyright to one or more of these images and do not want to share them with us here, please contact us to have your image removed. Otherwise we thank you for sharing your artistic expression and light.

Usui Shiki Ryoho (the Usui System of Natural Healing), known as Reiki, is a form of healing and spiritual awakening, received and developed 100 years ago by a Japanese man, Mikao Usui, and brought to the West via Hawaii in 1937 (see HISTORY for more information).

It is passed on from one person to another through specific initiation rites, teachings and defined forms of practice.

The Japanese word reiki can be translated as 'universal or spiritually guided life force' and the Usui System is a way of working with reiki for healing of self and others. The word healing is used in the sense of regaining harmony and wholeness and Usui Shiki Ryoho addresses the whole person, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Reiki is a holisitic therapy.

Reiki does have some doctrine. It is necessary to have it in order to teach others Reiki and to instruct Reiki practioneers on how to use the Reiki.

THE FOUR ASPECTS OF REIKI

Healing Practice:  Reiki uses a basis of hands on healing for regular self treatment and treatment of others.

Personal Development:  Giving and receiving Reiki stimulates a process that brings a clearer sense of one's own true self and humanity, with a deepening self love.

Spiritual Discipline:  Reiki is not a religious ideal. It is a spiritual belief comaptable with all religion. Learning and using Reiki stimulates spirtuality in a person.

Mystic Order:  Practice of Reiki brings mystic experiences and a sense of connection and common purpose with others following this path. This is a feeling hard to explain, but once you feel it you know.

THE NINE ELEMENTS OF USUI REIKI

Oral Tradition:  The ability to practice Reiki is received only through face to face relationship with a Reiki Master, and involves verbal and non-verbal communication and an energetic transmission.

Spiritual Lineage: This is the lineage of being taught to be a Reiki Master. All start at Usui and this is handed on. Most of those in the west have a Usui, Hayashi and Takata lineage. See ABOUT US for our own lineage.

History:  This is shared in Reiki classes as part of the oral tradition.

Initiation is the ritual passed down from Reiki Master to Master. When performed with a student, this ritual results in the capacity to practise Reiki.

Symbols:  There are three symbols that are presented to the student in second degree classes as received from Mikao Usui, together with a specific ritual and form of practice. They are energetic keys which access communion with self, others and the mystery of life.

Treatment:  The basic treatment of self and others is the foundation practice of the Form and is simple and clear, with hands held still for several minutes in a sequence of positions on the head and body.

Form of Teaching:  This can vary from Reiki Master to Reiki Master. Do what ever feels right for you with a Reiki Master that you feel comfortable with. Please see LEARN REIKI for our style of teaching.

Monetary Exchange:  Reiki is energy and when one receives Reiki there needs to be an exchange. Each practitioner and Master has their own ways of expressing this exchange be it barter, donation, variable fees or set fees.

Precepts: These are shown below.

THE FIVE SPIRITUAL PRECEPTS OF USUI REIKI:

Five spiritual precepts have been handed down from Mikao Usui as a part of the oral tradition of the Usui System. They are:

- Just for today, know that your are safe & secure (do not worry*).

- Just for today, be at peace (do not anger*).

- Honor your parents, teachers and elders.

- Earn your living honestly.

- Show gratitude to every living thing.

The precepts remind us to be as conscious as possible, letting go of worry and anger, learning to honor and cultivate appreciation. The Usui System is not a religion. The precepts are there for practitioners of all religions to remind us of the same basic moral principles most of us learned as children: "Treat others as you would want them to treat you."

*the original precepts are in parenthesis, however we have adapted them to place them into a positive context.