What is Reiki?

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a Japanese word meaning universal life energy. This energy is the natural, vital healing force found in all life. Both the Western Usui System of Reiki Healing or the Usui Shiki Ryoho of the Reiki Alliance and the Japanese Jikiden Reiki Kenkyu Kai (Institute) or  Usui Reiki Ryoho methods are  hands on and distant healing practices that attune and develop natural latent human healing energy and balance body, mind, heart and spirit in a structured way through light, gentle, non-intrusive touch and compassionate intention and regard. Universal life energy is a only a very minimal description of Reiki's extraordinary benefit. In an early diary written by Hawayo Takata, the woman who first introduced the Usui System of Reiki to the her students in the West, stated: "This power (Reiki) is unfathomable, immeasurable, and being a universal life force, it is incomprehensible to man. Yet, every single living being is receiving its blessings daily, awake and asleep."

What does Reiki do?

Reiki can be a used as a personal tool for healing and growth, as a way to give supportive energy (to bless) family and friends, and as a  complementary therapy to holistic, naturopathic, alternative and conventional medicines among an almost unlimited number of beneficial purposes. A Reiki treatment simply supports the whole person physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually while drilling down on specific issues. Reiki is easy to learn and can be used in a home or clinical setting to enhance the health and emotional wellness of both self and others.

When a Reiki practitioner places hands on an area of their own or a client's clothed body, Reiki flows from the practitioner to the client and then back to the practitioner in a circle of compassionate energy that starts when the treatment begins and ends when the treatment stops usually an hour to an hour and a half later.  Although the experience of reiki treatment is completely individual --  experienced by both the client and the practitioner as a variety of sensations, including, heat, cold, vibration, tingling, unusual heaviness or lightness, or no sensation at all -- it is often reported as accompanied by a deep feeling of warmth, well-being, comfort, deep relaxation, and revitalization. Reiki relaxes muscles, stills the mind, and eases pain. Reiki treatment has been scientifically shown to accelerate healing. Many health professionals are effectively incorporating the use of Reiki into their individual practice. Those who learn Reiki find that it can be successfully administered very simply in all kinds of settings: home, clinic, hospital, or any place where people experience stressed muscles, accidents, exhaustion, or personal trauma. Many Reiki projects have been created for AIDS patients, victims of war, and hospice care settings, to name a few.

On the physical level, Reiki can bring relaxation to stressed muscles, decrease pain, accelerate the healing time of bones and wounds, diminish the tissue involvement of burns and bruises, and much more.

On a mental and emotional level, anxiety is reduced, a sense of well-being is increased and another level of relaxation can be felt. At this degree of deep relaxation, a rebalancing of energies can occur and the natural healing ability of the body is enhanced. On a spiritual level, people have stated they feel revitalized and newly awakened after a full-body session.

Where does the Usui System of Reiki Healing come from?

The Usui System of Reiki is named after its founder, Mikao Usui. Usui developed reiki in the 1920's in Japan. He began an investigation into the healing phenomena of history's greatest spiritual teachers. Through travel, study, research, and meditation, he developed the form of Reiki and spent the rest of his life applying and teaching this method. 

Usui died in 1926, but Usui's work continued in a pre World War II, Tokyo at a clinic run by Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a retired Japanese naval doctor. A patient, Mrs. Hawayo Takata of Hawaii, recovered from her serious ailments at Hayashi's Reiki clinic, and became his first known western student. She practiced and taught throughout the US, Canada and Puerto Rico from 1937 to her death in 1980. Her granddaughter, Phyllis Lei Furumoto now carries on her work. Today millions of people practice Reiki throughout the world.

Western Reiki healing has spread through an oral tradition of teaching, sharing information, and exchanging treatments. Reiki is not something that can be learned by reading a book—it is something to experience by receiving a treatment, taking a class, and talking with Reiki practitioners, students, and masters.

In Japan Jikiden Reiki which means "Directly Handed Down" form continues to hand down the original Japanese methods developed by Mikao Usui and Chujiro Hayashi as taught to Chiyoko Yamaguchi  by Dr. Hayashi and her uncle Wasaburo Sugano. The two methods Western and Jikiden Usui Reiki are at the same time both similar and strikingly different in many respects but utilize the same life force energy for healing.

How Can I Learn More?

Western Usui Reiki Treatments

Reiki treatments are given to the person fully clothed and generally lying on a massage table. The Reiki practitioner gently places his/her hands on the head, the abdomen, the back, and any particular areas of pain or discomfort. Treatments last between an hour to an hour and a half.

Western Usui Reiki Classes

The Usui System of Reiki is taught by Reiki Masters who are trained in the traditions of Reiki as passed through the spiritual lineage, and are committed to this healing art.

 A Reiki 1 class is usually taught in one to four sessions adding up to seven to twelve hours total. Each student is attuned to his/her own Reiki energy while also learning the history of Reiki, the basic hand positions for self-treatment and the treatment of others, and ways to use Reiki in their own lives.

 Reiki 2 is offered to students who have taken Reiki I, have had several months to one or more years of committed practice, and feel drawn to take this next step with Reiki.

Jikiden Reiki Treatments

Jikiden Reiki treatments last any where from 60 to 90 minutes and are generally concentrated on the head, upper back, soles of the feet, kidneys and areas that are of particular concern to the patient. After a short consultation the client lies fully clothed on a comfortable treatment table in a treatment room with soft lighting and relaxing music playing if the client prefers it. Treatment usually usually starts with gentle touch to the head, feet, or abdomen. Practitioners use the concept of Byosen, following the sensations in their hands that tell them which areas of the body need reiki most.  For some people 1- 3 treatments are enough to help them recover from a problem and for others a longer course of treatments is necessary.  While definite benefit can be gained from a single treatment, to get the best results from Reiki, regular sessions are important. Your body uses the extra energy to help repair its self quicker than it could otherwise.

Jikiden Reiki Classes

Jikiden Reiki stands for Reiki teachings from an original authentic Japanese lineage. This lineage goes from Usui sensei to Dr. Hayashi to Mrs. Chiyoko Yamaguchi (who started learning Reiki from him in 1938 when she was 17 years old) to her son Tadao, with whom I took my training in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada last fall. Because Jikiden Reiki was not passed down through Mrs. Takata and her masters it lacks the Westernization of Reiki as it is currently taught in the West. Jikiden Reiki allows you to experience a Japanese form of Reiki in its original beauty and simplicity. All seminars follow exactly the same format so that Jikiden Reiki is always passed on in its original, simple form. Jikiden Reiki Shoden and Okuden seminars give you all you need to know in order to treat yourself and others with Jikiden Reiki.

Jikiden Reiki first level Shoden

  You will receive 3 Reiju (attunements). You will learn about:
 The history of Reiki - Usui Sensei's life
  The history of Jikiden Reiki - the Yamaguchi family
 The objectives of Jikiden Reiki
  Gokai - the five Reiki Principles in Japanese
  Reiki Mawashi
 The concept of Byosen
 The first Shirushi (symbol)
  Learn and practice Ketsueki Kokan (blood circulation technique)
  Reiki Okuri (a method used to feel the Reiki energy flowing)
  Hatsurei-Ho (a method used to practice Reiki at home)
  Reiki practice/exchange

Jikiden Reiki second level Okuden,

  You will receive 2 reiju (attunements).
  You will learn about:
 Reviewing contents of Shoden level
 The second Shirushi
  A treatment used to help psychological issues
   The Jumon for distant healing and practicing
  Look at Kokai Denju (the notes Usui Sensei left)
  Reiki practice/exchange
   Reiki Kokan, a candle ceremony introduced by Hayashi sensei
    This workshop takes place on two day from 9a-5:30p the first day & from 9a-1p the second day.

When asked which version of Reiki is better Western Usui Reiki or Jikiden Reiki, I always recommend both. Reiki helps healing no matter what form. Call me we can discuss what class fits you best.

We invite you to share reiki with us. Join us for reiki treatments, reiki training, and reiki circle. Emerald City Reiki Center offers both Western Usui Reiki treatment, reiki training and reiki community. We also offer Jikiden Shoden (1st level) classes, treatments and community. Call us at 206) 725-8591 or 866-897-7296 for more information.  

Who can the Usui System of Reiki Healing really help?

It happens to everyone—the unexpected, the "worst possible" scenario. You don’t know how to work through it (though you think you should), and the approaches you’ve used in the past aren’t working this time. You just want to feel better.

Although your specific situation may be a little different, there’s a common quality to our struggle and longing. Reiki has helped people in all of these situations.

Do you see yourself here?

Stress dominates your life.
The demands of your life seem greater than your ability to cope with them. Everybody needs something from you, and you feel like you'll never catch up. You've tried deep breathing and exercise, but that just adds more to your schedule. You're becoming increasingly irritable, your sleep is lousy, and you may feel anxious or depressed.

Challenged by illness.
You're in treatment right now for something pretty big. You're in good hands medically, but the side affects are troubling.
Maybe you're in pain. And good as your medical team might be, they can't treat the worry about what this could do to you in the long run. Furthermore, you worry that your worry is impeding the healing process.

Grieving the loss of someone you love.
Maybe it's a relationship gone sour or someone important to you has died. Either way, you feel lost and alone. You've tried support groups or talking to friends, but they can’t seem to soothe what feels like a big empty hole.

Career collapse
Through your choice or the boss's, the career is gone. Or maybe you've lost your focus in life. Work used to be the one place where you really felt in charge. You knew who you were and had a clear life purpose. But now, the industry has changed, or you've lost your job, or your youthful enthusiasm. No matter how many self-help articles you read, you're feeling more and more listless and useless.

Deepening your healing wisdom and spiritual connection.
Things are going okay, but you feel a nagging restlessness, a sense that there's more to life than meets the eye. You know there's a larger truth than the one we live day-to-day, but you don’t quite know where to look for it.

I highly recommend an introduction to Reiki on YouTube that author and fellow Reiki master Pamela Miles has produced recently. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ammo6-Vje6s.  (If you can't access it directly by clicking the link here you can copy and paste the link into your browser.) Do check it out!

No matter which of these circumstances you find yourself in, Reiki can help you!