What is Reiki?
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Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) is a Japanese word representing Universal Life Energy, the energy which is all around us. Reiki is also an ancient art of healing, rediscovered in Japan over 100 years ago. What is known as Reiki - the Usui System of Natural Healing, can be defined as follows:
It is a gentle but powerful "hands - on" technique, which restores the natural balance in the body. It provides deep relaxation thus evoking a sense of peace and well-being. It works on the emotions, mind and spirit as well as the physical body. It complements, but does not substitute, the healing properties of all modalities, including orthodox medical treatment, natural therapies, massage, physiotherapy etc. It can be given in conjunction with any other treatment.
The Usui System of Reiki is a natural healing art that anyone can learn. Although Reiki is a means of working with energy that we cannot see, it is not a religion, and requires no particular belief system. The Usui System of Reiki was born out of the experience and dedication of Dr. Mikao Usui, a Professor of Christian Theology in Japan. He rediscovered the healing system after many years of research and spent the rest of his life practising and teaching Reiki, which involved attunement to the energy and the laying on of hands. It was brought to the USA in the 1930's by a Japanese American called Hawayo Takata. Reiki is now practised and taught in every country in the world.
A Reiki Treatment stimulates the immune system, reduces stress and inflammation, can reduce/relieve pain, especially chronic pain, by bringing your body to balance. A Reiki treatment is safe, non-intrusive, non- invasive and non-manipulative. It reduces frequency and/or severity of opportunistic diseases that often occur in immune compromised conditions.
During a Reiki Treatment you lie on a table fully clothed, covered with a blanket. The practitioner's hands are placed in a specific sequence of positions on your head, front and back of the body. They rest gently in each position for about 5 minutes. The entire treatment takes about 1 ½ hours. You may fall asleep, be silent or talk. You may experience a variety of sensations such as tingling, heat, cold, and occasionally discomfort as you release useless old stuff or emotions. If you feel nothing, this does not diminish the benefits of the treatment. It only means that you are not perceiving Reiki in a physical way. You may experience benefits for several days afterwards. In addition to the formal positions, Reiki can be applied to any part of the body which has been injured. Reiki works through bandages and casts, and can even be transmitted at a distance. Reiki can relieve pain and acute symptoms quite rapidly while more chronic problems may require more extensive treatment, depending on the root cause of the problem. The number of treatments is your choice. For chronic conditions a course of 4 consecutive days followed by weekly treatments is suggested. Reiki can be used as preventative maintenance from once a week to once a month, as necessary.
After the treatment your body will be releasing toxins, so please drink plenty of water. If you are on medication and notice any changes, please consult your doctor.
A Reiki Practitioner is someone who acts as a "straw" through which you access the energy. Your body determines how much, where and how the energy will be used. It is your body that determines the amount of Reiki received. Healing progresses at your own pace, so you do not get more than you can deal with at one time. Undergoing initiation takes the treatment process another step, bringing the energy into your life and creating a continuous healing process for your body, mind and spirit.
Learning the Reiki System: Anyone can learn the Usui System of Natural Healing. The only prerequisites are openness and a desire to learn. There are two practitioner levels:
Shoden: "To deal with and transmit the energy."
Shoden is the first level of training. You will learn everything you need to know about Reiki for the purposes of giving treatment to yourself and others at this level. A Reiki class for the most part is not an intellectual learning process. It is a hands-on experience, and an opportunity to reawaken your own natural healing ability through the Reiki initiation process. This energy attunement occurs in four ceremonial acts shared by the Reiki Master with each student. A Reiki class is taught by a Master through this rite of empowerment, using the format of a formal treatment. There are four consecutive three-hour sessions. The history of Reiki is told, and the basic hand positions for healing yourself and others are given and practised. The students then practise, giving and receiving Reiki in these positions under the caring supervision of the Master.Oku Den: "Bringing in and transmitting the essence of the energy."
Oku Den is the second level of training, and is available to the First Degree practitioner who wishes to deepen his or her experience and use of Reiki in their lives. There is a minimum of 100 days between the First and Second Level training. The Second Degree class includes one initiation by the Reiki Master, and instruction in the conscious use of ancient symbols to increase the flow of energy in treatments, to reach the subconscious mind, and to be able to send energy to someone not present in as focused a way as a physical treatment.Do Shu: "Where a Way is Practised."
This is the Master or Teaching level, where a Master dedicates their life to the teaching and practise of Reiki, after extensive training with a Traditional Master. The Master lives their life through and for Reiki by following the 5 principles.It is quite simply a calling.