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Reiki: Using the Universal Life Force to Heal
- By Michelle Speckler
- Published 12/6/2006
- Reiki
- Unrated
Michelle Speckler
Michelle Speckler is president of Speckler Creative, a
marketing/communications company in Livingston, Montana. A professional writer and journalist, she writes for print and electronic media on a broad range of topics including health, alternative healing, mental illness, high technology, and higher education. Michelle is a Level 2 Reiki practitioner; has taught yoga, meditation, and pranayama; and presently teaches classes on mental illness and its impact on family members and community.
WHAT IS REIKI?
Reiki is an ancient healing art whose name is derived from two Japanese words: “rei,” meaning “Universal Spirit,” and “ki,” meaning “life force energy.” Reiki treatments work by helping to create a harmonious environment within your body and spirit so that deep physical, emotional and psychological healing can take place.
HISTORY
The system of Reiki was unearthed from its ancient sources by a Japanese man, Mikao Usui, in the early 1900's. He studied and systemized the ancient art and eventually applied what he had developed into the Usui System of Natural Healing. Traveling extensively in Japan, he used this method to treat people, thereby spreading the awareness of reiki. Before passing on, Dr. Usui trained others in his methods and named as successor Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a man trained in western medicine and a reservist in the Japanese Imperial Navy. Dr. Hayashi continued the work of Usui and in turn selected a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii, Hawayo Takata, as his successor. It is thanks to the generous efforts of Hawayo Takata, often called the Mother of Modern Reiki, that the majority of people in the west know reiki.
THE SYSTEM
At its most basic, reiki is a set of hand positions that when placed on or above the body act as conduits for Universal life force energy to treat self and others.
There are three levels of reiki learning and practitioners:
In level one, or first-degree reiki, the student learns the reiki principles and hand positions, and receives an attunement through which they can receive life force energy. The energy at this level is primarily a physical healing energy. It can balance the chakras, relieve stress and heal the body in general.
In level two, or second-degree reiki, the practitioner learns the reiki symbols, how to send healing over a distance and receives a second attunement. The energy from this level of practitioner has been enhanced and amplified, and can now also affect healing on mental and emotional levels, often the true cause of disease.
As a level three, third-degree or Master reiki practitioner, the student learns the reiki master symbol, how to offer the attunement process to others and how to teach reiki, and receives a master attunement. This level of energy has the capacity to integrate all levels of one's being.
In the reiki system, the practitioner is not using their own energy, but it allowing the Universal life force to flow through them. This has led some people to call those who do reiki , “reiki channels.” It warrants stating that reiki is not about channeling spirits. The word “channel” in this context merely reflects that the practitioner is allowing themselves to be used as a conduit for Universal life energy.
Despite what myriad new age catalogs and Internet sites will try to tell you, the ability to do reiki cannot be learned in books. To authentically practice reiki you need to receive an attunement from a reiki Master.
REIKI SESSIONS
Reiki is a healing art. It is not massage nor is it based on a religion, a belief or any suggestion. Sessions usually take an hour, although some practitioners offer 1 1/2 hour sessions. During a reiki session, the client is always fully clothed and may be comfortably reclining on a massage table or seated in a chair. Sessions help ease tension and stress, and can help support the body to facilitate healing on all levels, not just during illness.
Reiki is a powerful, noninvasive healing modality affecting the very source of both our physical and spiritual wounds. It’s pain-free, has no harmful side-effects and requires no effort on your part. It’s a wonderful way to bring more harmony, balance and ease into your life.
Reiki is an ancient healing art whose name is derived from two Japanese words: “rei,” meaning “Universal Spirit,” and “ki,” meaning “life force energy.” Reiki treatments work by helping to create a harmonious environment within your body and spirit so that deep physical, emotional and psychological healing can take place.
HISTORY
The system of Reiki was unearthed from its ancient sources by a Japanese man, Mikao Usui, in the early 1900's. He studied and systemized the ancient art and eventually applied what he had developed into the Usui System of Natural Healing. Traveling extensively in Japan, he used this method to treat people, thereby spreading the awareness of reiki. Before passing on, Dr. Usui trained others in his methods and named as successor Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a man trained in western medicine and a reservist in the Japanese Imperial Navy. Dr. Hayashi continued the work of Usui and in turn selected a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii, Hawayo Takata, as his successor. It is thanks to the generous efforts of Hawayo Takata, often called the Mother of Modern Reiki, that the majority of people in the west know reiki.
THE SYSTEM
At its most basic, reiki is a set of hand positions that when placed on or above the body act as conduits for Universal life force energy to treat self and others.
There are three levels of reiki learning and practitioners:
In level one, or first-degree reiki, the student learns the reiki principles and hand positions, and receives an attunement through which they can receive life force energy. The energy at this level is primarily a physical healing energy. It can balance the chakras, relieve stress and heal the body in general.
In level two, or second-degree reiki, the practitioner learns the reiki symbols, how to send healing over a distance and receives a second attunement. The energy from this level of practitioner has been enhanced and amplified, and can now also affect healing on mental and emotional levels, often the true cause of disease.
As a level three, third-degree or Master reiki practitioner, the student learns the reiki master symbol, how to offer the attunement process to others and how to teach reiki, and receives a master attunement. This level of energy has the capacity to integrate all levels of one's being.
In the reiki system, the practitioner is not using their own energy, but it allowing the Universal life force to flow through them. This has led some people to call those who do reiki , “reiki channels.” It warrants stating that reiki is not about channeling spirits. The word “channel” in this context merely reflects that the practitioner is allowing themselves to be used as a conduit for Universal life energy.
Despite what myriad new age catalogs and Internet sites will try to tell you, the ability to do reiki cannot be learned in books. To authentically practice reiki you need to receive an attunement from a reiki Master.
REIKI SESSIONS
Reiki is a healing art. It is not massage nor is it based on a religion, a belief or any suggestion. Sessions usually take an hour, although some practitioners offer 1 1/2 hour sessions. During a reiki session, the client is always fully clothed and may be comfortably reclining on a massage table or seated in a chair. Sessions help ease tension and stress, and can help support the body to facilitate healing on all levels, not just during illness.
Reiki is a powerful, noninvasive healing modality affecting the very source of both our physical and spiritual wounds. It’s pain-free, has no harmful side-effects and requires no effort on your part. It’s a wonderful way to bring more harmony, balance and ease into your life.