The spiritual practice Mikao Usui founded can bring balance and harmony to all life forms, so that each attains a state of well-being.
It naturally speeds and promotes
physical and mental health,
and that joy of life called happiness.
Healthy smiles from deep inside
often come from seeing wildlife.
These same smiles appear when
your mind/body/spirit are all brought into balance and surrounded with harmony, through Reiki.
In one word awesome, but I am guessing you would like to know a bit more.
Most people think of the spiritual practice Mikao Usui founded, which became known as Usui Reiki Ryoho, when the word Reiki is said or writtten. The first two lines of the simple yet powerful Gokai, Let go of anger, Let go of fretful worry have become well known.
In 2002 I listened to my Shihan (teacher) Hiroshi Doi say, “Usui Reiki Ryoho is worldwide healing method born in Japan”. He aslso referred to Reiki as a wave of love.
In Japan between 1921 and 1922 Mikao Usui created a method as “the way to make mind and body healthy on the basis of Universal Reiki”.
Reiki is most commonly thought of as hands-on healing, but this practice Usui-Sensei founded is much more. The system he founded is similar to the Shaman of ancient times in the way in which guidance is intertwined with the healing of universal balance and harmony, yet remains unique from any other healing modality. It also reflects many teachings in this century about what you think is what you get in that Usui-Sensei taught the mind is healed first.
Going to the Reiki Healing Sessions, Reiki Training, and Advanced Reiki you will see many of the benefits of bringing Gendai Reiki-Ho or Komyo Reiki into your everyday life.
Daiji is a Japanese word that describes Reiki-ho (Reiki method) in the English translation of great compassion.
Japanese styles such as Gendai Reiki-ho and Komyo Reiki Kai are not limited to healing obvious physical illnesses. They do not focus on the illness or searching for a diagnosis, but instead focus on the intent to bring the life form back to the state of well-being that is best for that life at that junction in time.
In the hours of Reiki classes, besides receiving multiple attunements, you learn techniques (exercises) for self-cleansing, self-growth, self-empowerment and blending universal love and harmony into your daily life. Even when you have mastered all the techniques, the journey continues toward seeking the enlightment that Mikao Usui-sensei reached; even though he was said to be a furnace of energy he humbly rated himself a 2 on a 1 - 6 scale. (this, as other information about Mikao Usui, was passed to me from a number of sources, each with a close lineage to Mikao Usui, which you will find referenced at the bottom of thie page)
Reiki can be broken down into the word-for-word translation as ‘Rei” meaning divine spirit, and ‘Ki’ meaning the energy of life. On the other hand, the true meaning of Ki (Qi in Chinese) goes beyond any word or phrase; a bit like meridians that transport blood and Ki, but are not visible in anatomical research.
The spiritual practice Mikao Usui created, and the unique form of energy he connected with cannot be adequately described in any words. A good example of how words cannot describe is the Chinese herb Dang-gui. The English name for this herb is Chinese Angelica. English translations of Dang- gui include “should come back”, “missing the husband”, and “proper order”, yet the properties of this herb revolve around enriching and circulating blood. Another example is the light seen when the physical body stops functioning, which does no resemble any light in this dimension regardless of its intensity.
To see the simple yet profound beauty of the spiritual practice Mikao Usui founded you must open up and look beyond any structured hand placement designated to heal specific illnesses. Reiki practitioner and Shihans (teachers) do not look at what is wrong with a person; Reiki practitioners and Shihans look beyond challenges trusting in universal wisdom to bring the balance and harmony required so that the life will be on the fast track to healing or on another path that is right for it at that time.
All styles honoring Usui Reiki Ryoho are complementary healing, which can enhance allopathic medical care and all other healing modalities in all areas of your life. This unique form of energy we most commonly call Reiki flows to the center of each cell in need and then like a flashlight shines from the inside out balancing and surrounding with harmony.
What is in balance and surrounded with harmony heals. The person/animal/bird/or other receiving life can feel the positive energy balancing within for two to three days following a Reiki healing session. Reiki is not only a wonderful “healing technique”, but also “an effective way to raise spirituality and to create a positive life.
This little five-letter word has a beyond words meaning. If you take the time to study Reiki as a spiritual practice, and not a technique to satisfy an egotistic purpose of being better then someone else, you learn what cannot be symbolized in any language. You learn of the meeting place from which true knowledge flows, as well as the wisdom in quieting the mind. Richard Rivard in his extensive research uncovered that Mikao Usui, the founder of Usui Reiki Ryoho, was such a “furnace” of energy" that others received simply by being in his presence.
Reiju and Reiji are what can be called techniques of Reiki developed in Japan to work directly with energy, no training wheels (symbols) required.
Reiki is no worry about whether the glass is half-full or half-empty, but instead accepting what is within and moving forward in the best positive light. Science tells us energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but only changes form. Reiki is not the same form as your own life force energy or the energy that is making these words appear. Reiki is a unique form of energy that each person experiences in his or her own way. The deep heat commonly experienced may not be right in some circumstances, and for this reason is not always felt. Reiki is a form of universal energy that balances and surrounds the mind/body/spirit with harmony in the way that is best at that Now/present moment in time. Homeostasis is a requirement for health and happiness, and balance and harmony create homeostasis.
Learning the practice of Reiki, as with all things that come from the timeless universe, requires time and lots of practice. Roberta Barnes has completed the highest, or teacher’s, level in several styles of Usui Reiki Ryoho, but she does not to call herself master, because she do not believe that any person can master universal energy. Having studied under a member of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai she has come to believe that members of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, through a great deal of practice, work to achieve being one with the energy. This is not being a master of anything, but rather being in a harmonious state leading to enlightenment. “Master” also brings to mind a person having control over others; with Reiki the only control is over one’s own discipline and setting aside the conscious mind, or beta level. Reiki Shihans (teachers) initiate others (attunements), and share exercises, techniques, personal experiences, and history learned from his or her Reiki teacher. Reiki symbols and hand positions are training wheels or teaching tools; see Reiki training page for more details.
Reiki being universal energy can flow to all life forms. Your dog, cat or other pet may not verbally tell you how great a Reiki session feels, but the sparkle in his or her eyes tells all. I have found most other animals and birds also very much enjoy the relaxing balancing energy. We may not speak the same language, but our headaches and other pain vanishing while vital energy is restored allows us to know what they can experience.
With an abundance of canards about Reiki sometimes the simple natural healing beauty/power is overlooked. While balance is going to where it can help, and harmony surrounds you, an incredible relaxation of mind, body, and spirit can be experienced. Harmony might not be the number one ingredient in many healing formulas. Nonetheless, those with a harmonious nature are those that are most often free of illnesses and those who recover with amazing speed from accidental injuries. Experiencing a Reiki healing session allows you to be in the moment of harmony.
The documented healing that can be connected to Reiki is nothing less then astonishing. In spite of this, Reiki is not a substitute for any professional medical care, and medical care should never be stopped without consulting the attending medical care professional. On the other hand,Reiki complements all medical care and can give unexpected speed and ease to healing. Some Reiki practitioners who are also medical professionals in hospitals initiate Reiki while doing conventional medical practice or therapy treatment. Cases of medical professionals blending Reiki into the treatment for various ills is becoming more and more common. Reiki speeds recovery in all types of trauma. More and more hospitals welcome Reiki practitioners coming in to assist in the healing process of those patients that have requested it. Reiki helps people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to adjust to his or her new environment.
Popular myths about founders of various practices can obscure the beauty of the system that person actually created. I have read many books and articles, but what I share here comes from sources close to, or in a direct line to, Mikao Usui, the founder of Usui Reiki Ryoho. On my bio page you can see some of my Reiki Shihans (teachers) and my Reiki energy/technique lineage. While two of my Reiki Shihans have only two teachers between themselves and Mikao Usui, another has put extensive time and effort into factual research. I have interacted with other Reiki Shihans (teachers) around the world, and my daily practice continues. On my bio page, you will find links to other factual informative websites.
Mikao Usui, and other people that stand out in history, are wonderful examples of the value of a life spent gathering knowledge. Mikao Usui was not searching for a hands-on healing method, but his quest for knowledge allowed him to open up and connect to two of the most powerful vibrations in the universe. You can see more of the benefits of Reiki when visiting my healing sessions page.
Mikao Usui was born August 15, 1865 in Japan. He left home in his youth, married and had two children, traveled, and held numerous jobs. Hiroshi Doi, a member of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai said Mikao Usui was called a person of free will. Usui-sensei passed away in his sleep after a long day of giving Reiki sessions (treatments), March 9th, 15th year of Taisho (A.D. 1926). *** His secular name is Usui Mikao and his Buddhist posthumous name is Reizan-in Shuyo Tenshin Koji. A Buddhist priest of the temple where the deceased use to belong customarily gives a person upon death, a Buddhist posthumous name. His Buddhist name is typical of the Japanese Buddhism sect Jodo shu. All those that knew him spoke of him as an extremely intelligent and sighted man. There are no records of him ever attending a university or receiving a doctorate of any kind. Who decided “Dr.” should be placed in front of his name is unknown. I was taught Sensei means honorable teacher or is used to show respect to another, so I say Usui-sensei. Legends surrounding Reiki and created myths about Usui-Sensei are plentiful, but the natural healing wonderment of the energy Mikao Usui named Reiki Ryoho overshadows all.
In March 1921, Usui-sensei went into disciplined meditation following three years of Zen studies. After a number of days into his meditation, he opened to the universe and connected with the vibrations of love and harmony of universal energy. The energy was so powerful that even with his study of marital arts, etc. from an early age, he lost consciousness for a number of hours. Not long after returning to his home, he became aware of the healing that accompanied the energy that now flowed through him. He developed a method to promote and speed healing in others. Instead of keeping his gift to himself, he began teaching what he first called ‘my method’ in 1922. Later he called it Reiki Ryoho, which explains Usui Reiki Ryoho. In 1923, Usui-sensei created the society Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.
The method called Usui Reiki Ryoho did not exist anywhere in the world prior to Usui-Sensei’s second or true awakening. The first awakening is intellectual, and the second is spiritual; his spiritual awakening was a gift to us all. Over the centuries, there have been countless forms of hands-on-healing. Using universal energy to heal has perhaps been happening for over 40,000 years, and there are other energy systems used today for healing.
The styles of Usui Reiki Ryoho called Gendai Reiki-ho and Komyo Reiki are not only wonderful “healing techniques”, but also “effective ways to raise spirituality and to create a positive life”. The spiritual practice of Reiki focuses on healing yourself first, and to heal yourself is to heal all that is around you. The law of attraction is easily understood when learning Reiki. The hours of study focus on bringing balance to mind, body and spirit and living harmoniously. The numerous exercises include clearing of the negative from your past and moving ahead on a positive path that naturally attracts positive to you.
Working with a Reiki Shihan (Master/Teacher) you can learn how to feel the energy, how to release the negative that is holding you back, how to connect, allow the energy to flow and thus heal. Learning how to allow Reiki to flow through you is easy, but being a spiritual practice is does require. One the other hand to experience the wonderment of Reiki you only have to schedule a Reiki healing Session with a qualified Reiki teacher or practitioner.
There are no secrets in Reiki, but direct contact with a qualified Reiki teacher honoring the practice of Usui Reiki Ryoho is important in helping to know in your heart the unique form of energy. Some styles of Reiki use many symbols to point a person in the right direction, and other styles focus on the person learning to feel all the various energies within the vibrations he or she has been opened to, without any memorization. Regardless of the style of Reiki, the wonderful feeling of relaxation encasing a person during a full session is hard to describe with words. To introduce people to the feel of Reiki, I often do a focused technique, Gendai Reiju, which takes approximately one minute while the person is sitting in a chair. This technique is used for many things depending upon the Reiki Shihan’s (master/teacher) intent. It is a very powerful form of Reiki, which each person experiences in his or her own reality. Only as much of this powerful energy will flow as the universe knows the individual is ready to receive.
Reiki allows an increase of mental clarity and emotional balance. It can enhance mental clarity in the workplace, and have positive effects on personal relationships. Allowed to flow into the workplace, workdays can be more enjoyable by obstacles melting away and productive relationships being developed.
Reiki purifies karma and heals in all types of trauma. It can transcend time and space. I have had many students say to me, “Reiki is making such a positive difference in my life”, and “I feel very blessed to have Reiki in my life.”
Reiki is a spiritual practice, but it is neither a belief system nor a religion. The energy is multidimensional traveling to the core of where an imbalance exists in the mind, body, or spirit. Once at the core it moves imperceptibly outward through the tissue balancing and surrounding with harmony. When you reflect back on anatomy and physiology 101 you are reminded how important balance is to survival. Balancing and surrounding with harmony includes never forcing. No one can direct Reiki nor force any life form or event to receive Reiki. Reiki will flow whether or not a person believes in Reiki, but it will not flow if the healee does not wish to be healed at that time. Once your channel has been opened, it will always remain open. You can read more about learning on my Reiki training page.
Those of you familiar with herbs may have read that Dr. John R. Christopher said, "Lobelia inflata knows where to go in the organism and what to do when it gets there." That is the perfect description of Reiki. We often notice prescription medicines working because they tend to act primarily through our nervous systems making a strong impression on at least one of the five primary senses. Reiki sometimes acts in subtle ways such as equalizing disturbances in the harmonic vibrations and homeostasis of our life force, or as with one who is pregnant the life force within. Reiki does not mask symptoms, but goes to the core of the illness.
The Reiki Shihan’s (teacher’s) or practitioner’s body is the instrument through which universal energy flows drawn by the magnet of any imbalance in the mind, body, or spirit of the person, animal, or plant receiving. Any attempt to direct or manipulate the flow of Reiki causes inharmonic vibrations. Consequently, when you schedule a Reiki healing session you know the practitioner will not be manipulating anything, but rather working in harmony with the beautiful vibrations from the universe. A healing session puts your mind, body, spirit in that peaceful place while universal energy is working in the way that is best for you.
Encumbrances such as those ‘should haves’, ‘could haves’ and negative taken on from others are released in the way that is best for you. Cleaning your aura is the first thing that happens in a healing session, quickly and simply. Your aura is your private energy field, and a part of you the same as chakras, light body centers and other. Whether you believe in these things or not, they are parts of your whole self that are balanced. Reiki balances in a quiet way with no “odd rituals” or instruments of any kind. During a Reiki session, you can release any worries about how things should be and simply relax. People with chronic pain have told me they are pain free for two and three days following a session. I have felt what I considered extremely sharp pain melt away.
Scheduling regular Reiki healing sessions is a good maintenance practice for your whole self. The stresses of everyday life can rob our bodies of vital energies and Reiki replenishes those energies. I have had clients say they felt wonderfully grounded following a session, which is excellent when going through one of life’s stressful times. The feeling of deep relaxation is healing for all levels. Reiki heals in the way that is best for that individual at that moment in time, and not the way others think it should.
A personal experience of mine demonstrates how Reiki expedites the recovery process. A few months after receiving one of my first Reiki Master/Teacher certificates, I underwent a rather serious surgery. The neurosurgeon explained prior to the surgery that at least a three-month recovery time would follow. That period included the Thanksgiving holiday and he explained I would not be cooking the dinner that year. Reiki surrounded the medical staff and me before, during, and following the surgery. The surgery went much smoother then expected, and in three “weeks” following the surgery I was asking my neurosurgeon for a back to work part-time release letter. That year no one was available to help me cook a Thanksgiving dinner for six people. Nevertheless, I cooked the full meal for all and still had enough energy to sit down and enjoy the meal. I could fill several pages with personal experiences of others and mine because such experiences demonstrating how Reiki allows one to tap into energy reserves are very common.
Anyone can learn to allow Reiki to flow through him or her from a teacher qualified in the tradition of Usui Reiki Ryoho. The teacher’s level is usually the fourth or higher. All levels of Reiki are honorable. Reiki is a spiritual practice and not a skill so there are no structured schools and Reiki teachers are not licensed. A Reiki Shihan (teacher) will however have a certificate and show her or her lineage going back to Mikao Usui. I recently over-heard a Reiki practitioner say that Hawayo Takata, a student of Chujiro Hayashi (Dr. Hayashi because he was a medical doctor before Usui-Sensei introduced him to Reiki) was a name that must appear in every lineage. That is another myth. Takata-sensei was only one student raised to the teacher’s level by Hayashi-sensei, who was only one of the three students Usui-sensei raised to the level allowing him to teach. Usui-sensei had 2,000 known students and raised twenty-one to the level just below that for becoming a teacher. Research has shown that Usui-Sensei taught each student in the way that connected with the experience that student came to him with, and for that reason it is doubtful that anyone actually knew everything that Usui-Sensei knew. We are very fortunate to have such men as Hiroshi Doi, a member of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, who began sharing factual Reiki history and techniques with the rest of the world in Canada in 1999. There remain things that are kept sacred by those such as Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai members, which will be shared when the time is right.
You may have been under the impression that Reiki is complicated, but it is not. The wonderment of the universal energy Usui-Sensei connected to resonates with life energy, enhancing everything positive one does in their life, and works in harmony with other positive energies. Fees are asked for healing sessions (Reiki treatments) and attunements, because each person’s time is valuable. It is also good to remember that receiving something when giving nothing in return dishonors the person receiving. Are there people in the world that have read a book or watched a video, and know the keywords well enough to pretend they have been imitated into Reiki? There will always be pretenders in the world, but simply asking to see Usui Reiki Ryoho certificates, and the energy and technique lineage back to Usui-Sensei relieves any need for worry.
The Gokai, also called five precepts or five principles, is the backbone of Reiki. The five short lines are five ways to invite health and happiness in your life now (today), which touches the past and future. Such a few words at first glance look like too little, but the Gokai like all of the practice in Reiki is simple yet profound.
The next time you hear something new about Reiki, stop and remember that there is factual truth and then there is created truth. It is not yours to evaluate or judge, but it is yours to believe or not to believe. Imaginations are a wonderful gift that can be sometimes misused. The way in which one views life also varies in accordance to which part(s) of the world he or she lives in.
Regardless of what you chose to believe, the beauty of Reiki always remains the same. The path of Reiki helps each individual to develop in the positive way that is best for him or her, a wonderful way of honoring the uniqueness in each of us.
Usui Reiki Ryoho is like the revitalizing sunlight that touches the earth with harmony promoting health and happiness the morning following a disaster.
"Everyone is born with the right to be healthy and live with happiness, and the path of Reiki helps us to fulfill that right.” ©Roberta R. Barnes, 2002
Resources for this article and source of quotes.
Richard Rivard Reiki Shihan of several styles of Reiki 1997 and forward.
Hiroshi Doi-sensei Gendai Reiki Ho Healing Kyokai class 2002. Hiroshi Doi is a member of
the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.
Rev. Hyakuten Inamoto-sensei Komyo Reiki Kai class 2003 Interviews and reserch done by Dave King and Don Beckett
