The Healing Power of Reiki: What You Need to Know

Reiki healing has a fascinating history. This is what I learned during my first level of reiki training.

NOTE: This is a condensed version of the history of Reiki. If you want to dive deeper, there's a fantastic book called "Reiki for Life" by Penelope Quest that provides a more in-depth look at the history.

The story starts with Dr Usui, a Christian minister and principal at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, when one of his students asked him to teach a healing method similar to that practised during Jesus's time. This request sparked his lifelong journey to uncover why the art of healing had faded away from his own culture and others around the world.

Dr Usui often meditated and regularly sought spiritual guidance during his practices. One day, he asked for guidance during meditation and was instructed to learn Sanskrit, so he could read the original Buddhist writings that hadn't been translated. After learning Sanskrit, he began reading the teachings of the Tibetan Buddhist Sect. It was there that he found what he believed were the keys to healing and came across symbols, formulas, and descriptions of how Buddha had healed.

After learning about healing, he still didn't feel very empowered. So, he meditated with a friend, and they were guided to Mount Kurama to meditate and fast for 21 days. For 21 days, Dr. Usui went to his meditation spot on the mountain. He had gathered 21 stones to mark each day, and at the end of his daily meditation, he would throw the stone down the mountain. On the 21st day after his meditation, he threw the last stone, and a very bright light appeared, lighting up the sky and going into his third eye chakra, he saw many different colours and Sanskrit letters. This experience brought him a formula for Universal Life Force and Reiki symbols. He felt rested and full of life and energy even after fasting for 21 days.

So, what is reiki?

Reiki is a practice that involves transferring universal life force energy by gently placing hands on specific energy points of the body. The word 'Rei' means 'universal wisdom', and 'Ki' means 'life force energy.'

Reiki isn't a religion, but it has its roots in a spiritual practice detailed in the Reiki Story. It's based on the teachings and heritage of Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese educator who is largely considered the founder of present-day Reiki practice. Many believe that Dr. Usui rediscovered an ancient healing tradition that was widely used in the past.

Reiki is a gentle and calming energy that can help heal our entire being. When it flows through us, it helps to relax, balance, and soothe our energy. Its effects go beyond just our physical body. Our mind, body, and soul are all connected, so when Reiki brings cleansing and healing energy, it benefits our spiritual wellbeing and mental state, too. Positive changes in one area can benefit the others. Reiki works by bringing healing energy through the body, which can cleanse and detoxify on different levels, leading to better overall wellbeing for the body, mind, and emotions.

Many people who have tried Reiki healing have noticed positive changes in their health. They have found relief from a variety of symptoms and have even experienced improvement in their health. Here are some of the conditions that have seen improvement:

• Stress

• Anxiety

• Insomnia

• Depression

• Pain

• Hormonal imbalances

• Fatigue, trauma, grief

• High blood pressure

So, how does reiki help with our emotions?

Dr Usui believed that our bodies have important energy centres called chakras. These chakras act as pathways for life force energy. He developed specific hand positions to help this energy flow smoothly through the body, promoting healing and balance.

The body's emotional centres, which are like energy hubs, are looked after by the heart and stomach chakras. Dr. Usui designed some hand positions to work around these chakras to help with emotional healing. After a series of treatments, people often feel less anxious, stressed, and reactive. Reiki can also have a really positive impact on conditions like OCD and depression, making a big difference in people's lives.

Some healing practitioners believe that our emotional state plays a major role in our overall wellbeing, suggesting that unaddressed emotions can manifest as physical ailments and health issues.

So why are we only hearing about energy healing now?

Lately, more and more people are becoming interested in spirituality and learning about how to understand themselves better, tap into their inner energy, and grow on a deeper, more spiritual level. Reiki has been a big part of this renewed interest in the spiritual side of life. Years ago, people didn't talk much about things like Reiki, healing, self-help, auras and chakras.

These topics are now a normal part of our daily conversations, and practices like meditation help us look inward to understand our emotions and beliefs and make us feel more empowered and resilient.

These beliefs and many others encourage us to think of ourselves not just as a body but also as a soul and energy integrated within the body, which our minds can deeply influence and affect.

Cautions

Reiki should only be done by someone who has been properly trained. It's important to talk to your practitioner beforehand if you have any heart conditions or if you're pregnant.