Reiki - What Is It?

[Willis Belushi]

Reiki is a practice that many may be confused about. Speculations
abound about this practice that was started by a Buddhist monk in the
mid twentieth century. Some have come to call it an "energy massage"
while other regard it in more holistic terms.
For those who partake in alternative medicine, Reiki is a powerful
compliment to all therapies whether traditional or non-traditional.
Whatever the case may be Reiki is a practice that can bring body,
mind, and spirit into balance.
What is Reiki?
In 1922 a Buddhist monk named Mikao Usui meditated for 21 days atop
Mount Kurama, Japan. It is said that during his retreat that the
concept of Reiki healing was given to him through divine inspiration.
Later that year he established the Usui Reiki Healing Society in
Tokyo.
The name Reiki itself is made up two Japanese words. When combined
these words literally translate to "guided spiritual life force
energy". The energy generated by the practitioner is said to come from
the divine and not the practitioner themselves.
This would mean that the energy is pure and inexhaustible. The energy
transmitted during the session is also deemed "intelligent" and
travels to the precise area in need of healing, even without the
practitioner or recipient being aware of it.
How does Reiki work?
Reiki can be performed over the whole body or over a specific area.
The practitioner can use a touching or non-touching technique, where
the hands hover over the recipient's body by a few centimeters. In
either case the goal is for the flow of energy to be released through
the hands of the practitioner and penetrate the body of the recipient.
The length of a Reiki session lasts from 45 to 90 minutes. The
practitioner's hands stay over each area of the recipient's body for 3
to 5 minutes. Reiki can either be performed traditionally with set
hand positions or informally where the format is more open.
There is a second level of Reiki that allows for healing over a
distance. This is accomplished by using three special symbols that aid
the practitioner to connect with the recipient. This means that
healing may be performed no matter the location.
Can I perform Reiki on myself?
The energy involved when performing Reiki makes it an excellent
candidate for self-healing. In fact it is said that when a
practitioner generates energy for a healing it enters through their
crown Chakra in turn providing them with healing while healing the
recipient.
The Reiki technique is simple and powerful. Practitioners attest that
the concepts surrounding Reiki are so wholesome and safe that even
children can learn to heal. Reiki has no side effects and can be used
on anyone one in any social setting, even on plants and animals.
How can Reiki help?
Reiki is used for many types of ailments both physical and
psychological. The flow of divine energy creates a chain reaction in
the body that promotes healing at all levels. This domino effect can
be blocked however if the recipient is not open to the receiving of
the energy.
Reiki is a holistic approach to healing and deals with the human body,
mind, and spirit as a complete system. Therefore it is effective in
all arenas of healing and compliments modern medical treatments. Reiki
is not promoted to replace other forms of therapies but encouraged as
part of a comprehensive health strategy.