Reiki = Healing Hands

I am a Reiki Master ... what that means in a second :)

Reiki is a system of energy work ... done for healing and a variety of other things ... such as release of tension, 
stress, amplification of energy and more.

First, a tiny bit of history ... the system currently used in one form of Reiki was codified back in the 1800s by Mikao Usui,
mind you, he did not invent it ... just re-defined it.

Now the concept of the laying on of hands to heal or doing energy manipulation is not new, it was old before the current system that is now being used, there just was not a "system" to it and a means to train others in the art, the system I practice is called ... Usui Shiki Ryoho ... named for its creator. There are many many other forms of Reiki, as many as their are people, 
but for our discourse I will stick to the one I know best.

It was and largely still is, an intuitive thing, the good Dr. Usui, sought to create a system, so this means of healing could be taught to others  rather than relying on blind chance to provide the healer.

The word Reiki in Japanese, means any kind of healing done with energy work, various forms of accupressure etc. would fall under this category by a loose definition, but Reiki has come to be associated almost exclusively with Usui's system, there are other ways, as noted above, that have been developed since the good Usui's time.

Now this system is so venerated, that their are those who would feel the Reiki symbols I used for the picture above, would be nothing short of sacrilege. Sacred they are ... most assuredly but Sacred does not equal .. secret ..

The levels as I mentioned above, are a means of rating the understanding of the art, and the depth at which one works.

There are three levels, as mentioned before to Usui Reiki. To put them "very" simply, they are.

Reiki one, is a basic attunement, that aids the person in doing self healing. It is a time for learning Reiki's history, the hand positions, the basic mechanics if you will. To learn what are the chakras, how to use them, to learn the ethics of Reiki and to begin healing others.
At this point, one is considered an Initiate.

Reiki two, is a more detailed attunement, that opens up more systems as it were, for the person to use. Learning to use the symbols and signs, more details of treating others, how to do distance healing. This is the point where one becomes an acting Practitioner.

Reiki three, or Master, is the point where you are not only a healer, but also teacher and are able to give attunements and training to others.

Of course, there is much much more to this, but you get the basic concept. The time frame between all these stages, depends entirely on the individual and how motivated they are to learn, and use Reiki. On average, most people find that about a years span between level two and level three, is agreeable, given how much there is to learn. Less than this, and most people don't feel "comfortable" with their understanding yet, and want to use it and become confidant in it, before they attempt to teach it. I totally approve and applaud this sensible approach.

Further note: Reiki is not just a one on one student teacher process handed down by a guru to disciple. This is a time honored tradition of course, but it is by no means absolute. One can, and as with anything we learn, often do, the major learning on our own. Attunement can be done on the self, and one can be entirely self taught on the subject, after all, someone had to come up with the concept, and how it all works, to start with, there had to be a 'first" Master. However, it is a lot easier if you have a living teacher you can call on to aid you.

This laying on of hands is instinctive ... we all do it ... What happens every time you hurt yourself ? The very first thing you do is reach for it with your hands do you not ? This Instinct for channeling healing energy to what is ailing is inherent in all of us. One who uses Reiki,
does so on purpose, and with training, for someone besides themselves.

There are many formal poses of the hands for working with different areas of the body ( see links below for good page on that ) but again, it's as much intuitive work with the energy fields, as it is science.

One can all but see the blockages and poor routing of such fields, much as a Masseur does when feeling your muscle tension, in fact therapy which combines these two forms, is not uncommon. ( there are those who say that the benefit comes from the massage, not the Reiki, to which I say .. " if you think that ... why are you paying more for a Reiki treatment ? "

Which brings up another subject ... payment for energy work ... there are those who feel this is wrong ..period.. to accept or charge for such work. The same is often felt in charging for divination ... however. Any healing work is an exchange, it must be, the party being worked on must

A: Accept and be a party to such work, this is not a passive thing you do to them thing.
B: By the law of returns, they must give something back, if that energy, is the stored energy, of cold hard cash, then so be it.

The Reiki itself is free, as it should be, what you should be paying for however, is their time, supplies, etc. You would not consider not paying a medical doctor for healing, as if for nothing else, you are paying for the many years it took for them to learn how to be a doctor, why then would you not give an exchange for Reiki ?

As with other energy work, for example, the Craft, one does not draw this power from themselves alone, you would exhaust yourself in short order. You draw it from the Earth, from the cosmic force that sustains us and channel this energy through the chakras for the deliberate infusion into another living thing.

This is why there must be an exchange, we cannot just take this power over and over, and give nothing back. In the Craft we are just borrowing it for a moment and return it when we are done with it. In Reiki you have given it to another,
yet it still must be returned, once it's done its work.

This kind of interaction between healer and client is rare in today's society, as by and large we are passive when it comes to our health care  ( this does not apply to all people by any means, some like myself are very much a part of the process )

Reiki on the other hand requires you be aware, that you open yourself to the hands of the other party. It requires a level of trust, a level of acceptance ... and yes ... belief ... as with any healing endeavor, even your basic medical doctor, if you don't believe that the medicine
they give you is gonna help .. News .. it won't .. period.. as you will not allow it to help you.

Now there are those who pooh pooh the idea of remote Reiki entirely, but think about it for a moment, if we can take this power and do wondrous works of the Craft with it, how much of a leap is it, to think we could direct healing power to a living thing not 
under our hands ?

We are spiritual beings having a human experience, and as such are beings of light and energy, long distance Reiki contacts that energy and works with it directly. Now ,it does work easier if you have the person right there under your hands, as you don't have to work as hard at it, but can it be done remote..? You bet !

And Lastly

As noted above, it's done with Love ... how many times have you thought of love, while thinking of a typical doctor ( which is whom we think of first most often, when we think healer ) ? Not very often I don't doubt, as compassionate caring is no longer part of most medical doctors outlook, at least not to an overt level to where they express it openly. With Reiki however, it's a must ..it's a given.. Love of their fellow living things is inherent in all Reiki practitioners.

Hot hands are only one sign of active Reiki, in fact, often ones hands are cold, it depends entirely on the amount of, and kind of energy needed. Psychic abilities often improve with the use of Reiki, if one has the skill for them. Anyone can learn Reiki, it will NOT cure "anything and everything" ( it can help a great deal though ). The amount of time to hold ones hands in place, depends entirely on how much work that area needs, the 5 minute concept is a guide line for beginners, not a rule one has to follow forever.

Reiki is not a "cure all", it's not a miracle, it's a means whereby the body can help heal itself, given extra power to do so and that is all it is. Now mind, this is often enough to avoid worse problems later down the road, and can do some major healing over all to current conditions. However it is not a case of a wave the hands and Wa la, all is well. This belief is often what gets Reiki considered to be some kind of "faith healing" or fraud.

Lack of immediate "visible" signs of healing, does not mean, the healer is a fraud or incompetent. Just like a medical doctor, healing takes time, commitment, the right amounts and number of treatments etc. You didn't become ill in a day, it's highly unlikely you will become well in one either.

Reiki can be very useful in helping psychiatric patients, as it makes no distinction between body ailments or mental ones, especially since it's well known, that a great many mental issues, have problems in the mind pathways, as the basis behind the mental problem.

In fact, to find a release of emotional or mental burdens or trauma, during Reiki, is quite common and considered a beneficial "side effect" of the release of body tensions and the correction of imbalances. This is also commonly seen in massage therapy. Any good Masseur knows and expects a release of mental trauma, and even old buried issues, to come to the surface during body treatments, it's a well known effect.

Becoming a Vegetarian or giving up smoking or drinking is a personal choice, not a requirement for Reiki. Moderation in all things, is the healthiest path. If one feels no call to give up such things, then forcing oneself to do so, believing its 'required" will just cause stress, which is not conductive to healing. Reiki is not able to do "harm" to any living thing, so using it on a pregnant woman will do neither her, or her child injury.

( One exception, of a sort, is noted to this, which is not to give Reiki to someone just before surgery, as it may make them resistant to anesthetics. Ditto treating massive trauma or un-set broken bones. If you are first on scene of a major accident, focus on reducing shock, pain and blood loss, as if you attempt bone healing, before the bone is properly set, you may interfere, more than you help. Reiki is not the first choice, for first aid in a major trauma case. This advice is based on the self reports of many Reiki masters, take it as you will )

The Credo of Reiki

Just for today , I will let go of anger
Just for today, I will let go of worry
Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings
Just for today, I will do my work honestly
Just for today, I will be kind to my neighbor and every living thing

Namaste'
Is both a greeting and farewell
It is the spirit of Reiki

I honor the place in you
In which the entire Universe dwells

I honor the place in you
Which is of Love, of Truth, of Light
and of Peace

When you are in that place in you
And I am in that place in me
We Are One

Namaste'
I hope my little missive gives you a small glimpse
into the world of Reiki

Reiki is not intended to take the place of traditional medicine but rather
is an adjutant to it. Please consult your doctor for any and all medical issues.

Is Reiki real ?

Reiki NU

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