Origins of Reiki
Reiki therapy is an alternative medicine practice that began all the way back in 1922 by a Japanese Buddhist named Mikao Usui. The word ‘reiki’ itself is comprised of two Japanese words; rei – which means ‘spiritual’ – and ki which means ‘vital energy’. Combine the two and Reiki roughly translates to ‘spiritually guided life force energy’.
Reiki is a practice that stimulates energy to move in the body. It was believed by ancient cultures that we all have seven chakras and they are all responsible for different flows of energy in our body. In case any of these chakras were ‘blocked’ our health –both mental and physical – would suffer. Diseases were said to be caused by imbalances of energy in the body. Reiki is a form of treatment meant to help keep your energy free flowing and healthy.
What Does a Typical Reiki Session Look Like?
Rieki is not a treatment offered through medication; rather it is the transmission of energy from the Reiki practitioner’s hands to the patient. The session begins with the patient lying down on a massage table while the practitioner places their hands over or on the patient’s chakras. These begin at the crown of the head all the way down their spine.
It is believed that negative energy that is blocking your chakras is what leads to conditions such as stress, depression, anxiety, sadness, and pain. When the Reiki master moves their hands along your chakras, they are clearing the pathway of your energy by replacing the negative energy with positive energy.
No one can quite pin down exactly how Reiki is said to work but many predict it is has similar effects to meditation wherein it relaxes the patient for the duration of the treatment and encourages healing. However, whether the treatment works or not is also heavily dependent on your mindset. You must go in with an open, accepting mind.
If you are determined to believe that Reiki will not work for you, it probably won’t.
Can You become a Reiki Practitioner Yourself?
Whether you want to help others with your practice or simply practice on yourself – it is very possible to become a Reiki practitioner yourself.
During your training, you will learn from a Reiki master in an ‘attunement process.’ This is said to open the crown, heart, and palm chakras and create a connection between student and master. There are three to four levels of Reiki. You must become attuned to each before you can move on.
Level One
This level is all about the history of the practice, the basics of what Reiki is and how to use it both on yourself and others, and correct hand placements. The goal is to get students familiar with the practice and have them explore self-Reiki by practicing on themselves.
Level Two
The second level focuses on two main aspects of Reiki – drawing the sacred symbols and transcendental Reiki. Transcendental Reiki involves focusing on transferring positive energies to someone geographically distanced from you.
Level Three and Four
The final training leading to the status of Reiki master involve practicing Reiki on others so as to perfect your attunement. This should be roughly six months to one year after beginning your Reiki training.
There are a number of online resources such as this website which can help you connect with Reiki practitioners, grow your practice, and learn more about Reiki. Ultimately, it’s about connecting with yourself and your energies and spreading the positive healing all around!