Traditional Reiki 

Reiki began in Japan with MikaoUsui, a man determined to reach enlightenment. He attended Buddhist schools as a child and was around monks for most of his life. Despite this, he still felt like he hadn’t found enlightenment and set forth on a journey to find her.

MikaoUsui, Japan

According to Buddhist belief, there are three ways to reach enlightenment:

- Spiritual Retreat

- Traumatic Event

- Death

MikaoUsui returned to the Buddhist temple as an adult to attend a spiritual retreat and still he was unable to find the enlightenment he was searching for. Later in his life, before discovering reiki, he was a (neither successful or unsuccessful) business man who eventually went bankrupt, marking his encounter with a traumatic experience.

The only thing he hadn’t experienced up until this point was death.

So he went up to the mountain to starve himself. During this time, he received reiki. He took this as the enlightenment he had been searching for but needed confirmation. He came down the mountain and shared his story with a master who gave him confirmation. He began sharing reiki and healed many people.

He eventually opened up a school and it is his students who have carried it to where it is today.

Reiki is a Japanese healing technique which is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words "Rei" which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and "Ki" which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy." Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery. An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life. Reiki is spiritual in nature; it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it. The purpose is to help people realize that healing the spirit by consciously deciding to improve oneself is a necessary part of the Reiki healing experience. In order for the Reiki healing energies to have lasting results, the client must accept responsibility for her or his healing and take an active part in it. The ideals of Reiki are guidelines for living a gracious life and virtues worthy of practice for their inherent value. It is possible to heal at any level of being: physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. Reiki can be given anywhere at any time as no special equipment is needed.

The practitioner is a channel which the energy is drawn through by the need or imbalance in the recipient. Neither person has to use any effort of will or concentration during this process. As running water smooths the jagged edges of a rock until it is small enough to roll away, Reiki flows to the areas of need, soothing pain and supporting the body's natural ability to heal itself. Reiki restores balance in one's life.

Reiki has its roots in ancient Chinese and Japanese medicine. Since the early 1990s, reiki therapy has been used with greater regularity in healthcare settings. Over 900 U.S. hospitals and healthcare systems use reiki as a complementary therapy. Reiki is not harmful to patients in any way, and it is safe to use reiki in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiation, and medications used in the medical treatment of cancer.

Reiki is used in healthcare as a complement to—never as a substitute for—patients’ regular medical treatment and medications. Reiki supports the body’s natural healing abilities. This is an important point to remember.

 

Self-Reiki Treatment

How Do I Prepare for A Reiki Self-Treatment Session?

The following suggestions can help you prepare for your reiki self-treatment. Read this information carefully.

Before beginning, remind yourself that reiki is the universal life force energy that already exists within everyone. Reiki energy strengthens the body’s natural healing abilities.

Patients are encouraged to perform their reiki self-treatment whether they feel well or not. View your reiki self-treatments as special times you can set aside during the day to be peaceful and calm.

Set aside a regular time each day to perform your reiki self-treatments. It is suggested that you start with a 20-minute self-treatment first thing in the morning and then another 20-minute self-treatment at the end of the day. These treatments can be performed for longer stretches of time if you would like (30 to 60 minutes). The time of day can also be adjusted to best fit your schedule.

Find a safe and comfortable space in your home to perform your self-treatments. Try to use this same space regularly. You can perform these self-treatments sitting in a chair or lying on your back on a sofa, bed, or the floor.

Unless you need someone present in the room for your care and safety, consider performing your self-treatments alone in the room.

Create a quiet environment without distracting noise. Many patients find it helpful to play some relaxing instrumental music during their self-treatments.

When you are ready to start your reiki self-treatment, go to your designated space, turn on your relaxing background music, and remove your shoes. If you are reclining, place a pillow under your head and place a rolled-up second pillow under your knees. For comfort, place a blanket over your body to stay warm. Close your eyes. Relax your body and mind. Notice and make mental note of any special places in your body or mind that need special attention in your session. Remind yourself that your reiki self-treatment is being performed for the highest and greatest good. Breathe in easy and relaxing breaths during your self-treatment. Often it helps to focus your attention on your breath and body as you perform the various hand positions.

Reiki is a meditative practice that promotes relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes a positive mental state through gentle touch. Reiki self-treatment is a way to benefit from the therapy in your own home. There are 10 positions that can be done during your reiki self-treatment.

How Do I Perform a Self-Reiki Treatment?

Try to follow the hand position instructions in the order in which they are described below. However, feel free to make any adjustments you believe will be beneficial to you. For a 20-minute self-treatment, it is suggested that you perform each hand position for 2 minutes, but don’t worry about the exact amount of time. You may feel the need to do some of the hand positions for a longer time than others. With practice, you will memorize the hand positions. Please don’t worry about doing the hand positions in a perfect way. Simply relax and do the best you can; that will be good enough. Finally, feel free to place your hands in other places on your body that you feel need relaxation and healing.

 

Some of the main positions are as follows:

Hand Position 1:Begin your reiki self-treatment by gently placing your hands together in a prayer position in the middle of your chest, just below your chin. Keep your hands in this position for a moment or two while focusing your attention on your breath-ins and breath-out. Once again, breathe slowly and deeply to promote relaxation of your body and mind.

Starting Reiki Session Hand Position (1-2 Minutes)

 

 

Hand Position 2: Gently place both hands on top of the head. Breathe in deep and relaxed breaths. Focus your attention on your hands on the top of your head. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles and skin on your head.

 

Hand Position 3: Gently place both hands over your eyes. Again, breathe in deep and relaxed breaths. Focus your attention on your hands over your eyes. For your breathing comfort, try not to place your hands over your nose. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles and skin in your forehead, face, and eyes.

 

Hand Position 4: Gently place your right hand over your throat and the left hand over your heart. Continue to breathe in deep and relaxed breaths. Focus your attention on your throat and heart. For your comfort, try not to place your hand with too much pressure over your throat. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles in your neck, throat, and upper chest area for up to two minutes.

 

 

Hand Position 5:Gently place your hands just below the breast line. The middle fingers should be touching each other. Continue to breathe in slow and deep breaths. Focus your attention on the area under your breasts. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles in the center of your chest and rib areas.

 

Hand Position 6: Gently place your hands over the stomach and navel area. Continue to breathe in slow and deep breaths. Focus your attention on this area of the body. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles in this area.

 

Hand Position 7: Gently place both hands on the shoulder muscles. Continue to breathe in slow and deep breaths. Focus your attention on this area of the body, and allow this hand position to relax the muscles in this area.

 

Hand Position 8: Gently place your hands above the waistline, on the kidney area. Continue to breathe in slow and deep breaths. Focus your attention on this area of the body, and allow this hand position to relax the muscles in this area.

 

 

Hand Position 9:Gently place your hands on either the tops of your feet or the soles of your feet. To make this position easier, cross your left leg over your right knee to reach your left foot. Cross your right leg over your left knee to reach your right foot. Don’t strain yourself. Just do the best you can.

 

 

You may want to play some relaxing instrumental music as you perform your self-treatments. 

 

FREQUENTLYASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

 

Ø  What is Reiki and Reiki Therapy?

Reiki is the Japanese name for “Universal Life Force Energy,” which is the life-giving energy present in everyone. The best way to understand reiki is to view it as our “experienced sense of being alive.” Reiki therapy is a gentle touch therapy that involves the placing of the therapist’s or patient’s hands on various locations on the patient’s body to promote relaxation and a sense of calm.

Ø  Is Reiki scientifically proven?

There are a number of reputable scientific studies that provide evidence that Reiki is therapeutic. These studies can be found by using one of the professional medical databases such as PubMed or Cochrane Collection. Studies meeting medical and scientific standards are usually published in peer-reviewed journals. There are over 20000 such studies on the therapeutic value of Reiki.

 

Ø  How will Reiki cure my diseases? How long will it take?

When you receive reiki treatment, Reiki starts working at the root causes. The real cause of our diseases are almost always based in some emotional turbulence, either recent or long-standing. Systems which remove the illness physically, will rarely have long-lasting effects, as the emotional cause is still prevalent.

Reiki starts working at the disease bottom-up, approaching the root cause first. Because of this, it sometimes takes a little time to show effect. There are instances, however, in which sensitive patients benefited from Reiki treatments immediately and experienced relief.

 

Ø  What will I feel when I receive Reiki healing?

A reiki healing experience is as wide and varied as there are people. One might see colors, feel warm or cold, feel some form of vibrations, shiver, hear voices, or even feel nothing at all. The experience depends on the level of sensitivity of the person receiving healing. If you didn't feel anything, it doesn't mean that you didn't receive reiki - it just means that you aren't sensitive enough to detect energy, or probably don't know how to identify it yet.

Children tend to be the most sensitive, followed by women and then men. Sensitivity to energy reduces with age, although it can be redeveloped later in life.

 

Ø  What kind of problems can Reiki solve?

If it is a problem, Reiki can help. From common colds to diabetes, from lawsuits to finding parking slots, Reiki is helpful everywhere. Whether you are sick or depressed, or simply want to repair a strained relationship, Reiki can help. It helps bring anger in control, helps introverts talk, and even helps maintain your calm during exams and make the best of your memory!

 

Ø  Will Reiki definitely cure me?

Just as in allopathy or any other medical system, Reiki does not guarantee any cure. The speed and magnitude of the healing depends on the patient's subconscious desire to heal himself. While on one hand there have been miraculous recoveries, there are also occasional cases where there is either negligible improvement, or an improvement that the patient refuses to acknowledge.

 

Ø  What if I get too much energy?

There is no such thing as 'too much reiki' or too much energy. Reiki is an intelligent energy, and it works at energizing and balancing the chakras of the patient. Once the energy requirement of the patient is fulfilled, reiki stops flowing, thereby eliminating any chances of charging someone with 'too much energy'.

 

Ø  I am under medication for my ailment, can I still take Reiki treatment?

Reiki does not interfere with any medical system, or even other alternative therapies. It increases the immunity of the patient and helps to reduce the side effects of medicines. It can be used along with any other system, whether allopathy, Ayurveda, homeopathy, aromatherapy, yoga, meditation, and others.

 

Ø  Are there any side effects of Reiki?

There are no side effects of Reiki, as Reiki is a non-intrusive method. As mentioned above, Reiki is an intelligent energy and only that much is given to a patient as much is required. Aside from the fact that some patients feel so relaxed that they feel sleepy, it has no side effects at all.

 

Ø  Do I need to believe in Reiki to get healed?

Reiki is not faith healing, and no faith or belief in the system is required to get cured.

 

Ø  Will Reiki bring a dying patient back to life?

If the person is destined to have a miraculous recovery and reclaim his life, then yes, Reiki will work. However, in most cases, Reiki calms the patient and eases the process of death. Reiki will never prevent or postpone death, but it makes the process much easier, and brings peace of mind to the person in question.

 

Ø  Can Reiki help victims of black magic?

Yes. Violet flame Reiki offers protection against all kinds of negative energies, including the effects of black magic. Reiki can also protect you against harmful spirits.

But reiki alone sometimes is not sufficient to remove black magic spells. You need to go for Lama fera.

 

Ø  Are there any books which can teach me Reiki?

There are several books and online articles on Reiki, but you need more than just theoretical knowledge to learn Reiki.

Becoming a Reiki channel involves the opening of your chakras (the energy centers of your body) so that you can channel energy through your body and pass it on to others. For this purpose, you need to go through the attunement process of reiki by a qualified teacher.

Attunement is working on the same principle as tuning a radio frequency to listen to the desired channel. Same way the body is radio when attuned, you start receiving and sending healing energies.

 

Ø  What is the difference between 'healing' and 'attunement'?

When you receive a Reiki healing, you are being given energy by a healer. The energy transferred to you during one healing session typically lasts for 24 hours from the time given, unless specified otherwise.

When you receive an attunement, the teacher opens your chakras and makes you capable of receiving energy from the universe all by yourself, so that you do not have to depend on anyone else for your energy needs.

 

Ø  Do distant attunements work?

Distant attunements do work, there is absolutely no difference between in-person/distant attunements. Many people have felt tremendous effects of reiki after distant attunements, and some have even felt the energy flow through their hands. Whether you feel something, less feel or don't feel. Attunement worked on you. And attunement never fails. Someone may feel the energy flow instantly, some take time. It all depends on the individual sensory and vibrations. Attunement masters really have nothing to do with these. Try it, and you'll know!

The first important DO is to practice ethics, both business and personal. Never provide Reiki to someone without their permission. Even if family or friends request, you need the individual’s permission. We do not have the right to interfere with another’s life path.

 

 

 

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