Reiki is a wonderful healing energy that flows through all living things. The word Reiki is actually made up of two words:

Rei: meaning Universal Life Force
Ki: meaning Energy

Reiki healing energy has been around for thousands of years, but in its present form was founded by Dr Mikao Usui who was born in Japan in 1865. It is believed he entered a Tendai Buddhist school at the age of four and was an exceptional student.

He studied Kiko, the Japanese version of qigong, which is a health and healing discipline based on the development and use of life energy. He was also a member of the Rei Jyutu Ka, a metaphysical group dedicated to developing psychic abilities. In 1914 he enrolled in Isyu Guo, a twenty-one day training course sponsored by the Tendai Buddhist Temple at Mt Kurama. During the Isyu Guo training the great Reiki energy entered his crown chakra. This greatly enhanced his own healing abilities and he realized he had been given a wonderful new gift - the ability to give healing to others without depleting his own energy.

The rest of Dr Usui's life was dedicated to giving Reiki healing and to teaching Reiki to the many students who came to him. He taught over 2,000 students and initiated sixteen teachers. The Japanese government issued him with a Kun San To award for doing honorable work to help others. Mikao Usui died of a stroke on 9th March 1926.

How Reiki Works

When we are incarnate on a physical level it is because Life Force Energy 'Ki' is flowing through us. Anyone who has seen a dead body of a human or an animal, or dead trees and plants can easily identify that the Life Force Energy is no longer present.

Within our bodies there are energy pathways and where many of these pathways cross they form what are known as chakra. Chakra do not actually exist in the physical sense, however it is the free flow of energy through the chakra points in our bodies that allows us to experience good health. This refers not just to physical health, but also to mental, emotional and spiritual well being. The energy nourishes our cells and organs helping them to perform their functions optimally. It releases mental and emotional blockages and lifts the spirit. When the energy is not allowed to flow with ease or is blocked, we find that we can suffer with dis-ease or illness. Reiki is 'the secret art of inviting happiness'.

Reiki has its own intelligence and will flow to the place causing the block and clear the pathways so that the energy can, once again, run freely and with ease thus allowing the body to function properly and healthily again. Reiki also strengthens the immune system and assists the body's ability to heal itself.

Reiki is a hands-on or hands-off healing system that is very simple to use. It can cause no harm since its existence is only that of a healing energy. It can be used by anyone attuned to the Reiki Energy, and it can be used by the person attuned to Reiki on themselves as well as on others.

Reiki is drawn by the person receiving it and not given by the Reiki practitioner.

A Reiki Healing Session

In our world today, there are many pressures put on us by lifestyles, the media and the changing social structure. Extended families are becoming a thing of the past, and many people now opt not to marry. Families consisting of only one parent are now common. There can be financial and emotional pressure which causes stress and stress related problems and Reiki is an excellent form of healing and helps to strengthen and support people in the running of their day to day lives.

A typical Reiki healing session would last for about an hour with the client lying on a treatment couch or seated comfortably. The Practitioner and client remain fully clothed throughout the healing, although shoes, watches and any tight belts or jewelry should be removed.

The practitioner will then either lay hands on various parts of the body or can work in the aura or energy field of the client. Either way, Reiki energy is channeled through the Practitioner to the client to give healing wherever it is needed on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. This is a completely different experience for everyone, but is usually very relaxing and calming. The process of Reiki can result in a few days of clearing out when the client may need to pass water more frequently or may feel tearful as the body rids itself of that which no longer serves it well. There are no side effects or bad reactions to Reiki. Reiki cannot harm in any way. It is important to remember, however, that Reiki is a complementary therapy and is not intended to replace modern medicine or treatment, but to work alongside that treatment for the best results. If the client is on prescribed medication it is important that the correct dosage is adhered to.

Learning Reiki

Reiki is not taught as such, but is passed on from Master/Teacher to student by way of an initiation or attunement. This is because an energy cannot be learned but has to be experienced and this experience is different for everyone.

There are four stages or degrees of Reiki to which a student can be attuned:

Reiki I
This is the first stage of Reiki training and may be the only stage the student feels necessary to attain. Some of the very best healers have attained only this degree. A Reiki I course usually takes place over a two day period and the student will be taught the history of Reiki, how it works, how it can be used and the traditional hand positions. The Master/teacher passes Reiki on to the student through attunement. Depending on the Master, there may be only one attunement or up to four attunements. In either case, once the student has attained the first degree they will be able to give healing to family, friends, plants, animals and to themselves. Giving healing to oneself is a very important part of Reiki. Once attuned to Reiki, the ability to heal is with the student for life, and will never leave even if not practiced for a very long time. However, as with everything else, the more you practice the better!

Reiki II
The second stage of Reiki involves learning various healing symbols which will strengthen the ability the Reiki I student has already acquired and will enable the student to send healing over great distances and forwards or backwards in time. The course is usually one or two days and once more the Reiki is passed from the Master/teacher to the student through attunement. It is a very empowering healing tool and again, this may be as far as many students feel they need to go.

Reiki IIIa
Sometimes known as third degree Reiki, the student will be attuned to the Master symbols, greatly enhancing the student's healing ability and focus. There is a great deal of work involved in taking the third degree which is actually the start, rather than the finish of an ongoing lifetime study of personal/spiritual development and growth. This is not to be undertaken lightly as there should be definite commitment. At the end of this course, the student becomes a Reiki Master.

Reiki IIIb
The fourth degree of Reiki enables the Master to become a teacher. This is where the Master learns how to teach and pass attunements.

Courses are run in each of these four levels. Students will receive a manual and on completion will receive an appropriate certificate.