What is Reiki?
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. During your
first visit, a pre-session discussion with your Practitioner will usually take
place prior to your first actual treatment. During the conversation, the
Practitioner will generally describe the session to you, give you an opportunity
to discuss any particular problems or issues you are experiencing, and ask you
what you are hoping to achieve from your session. For the actual session itself,
you will rest comfortably, generally on your back, on a massage table with your
shoes removed. Alternatively, 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.
*** (source of information on this page is http://www.iarp.org/articles/What_is_Reiki.htm) ***