What is Reiki?

WHAT IS REIKI 靈氣?

 

 

霊 Rei = Spiritual/Universal/Cosmic Energy
気 Ki = Earth Energy/Vital Life Force

 

Reiki is an original, two-fold system of natural healing created by a Japanese Buddhist man named, Mikao Usui, at the beginning of the 20th century.

There is a common misconception that Reiki is something you ‘receive’ during a ceremonial practice called ‘Reiju’ (or attunement). It implies that before Reiju, you did not have Reiki, but after Reiju, you suddenly have been given something you did not previously possess. It also implies that Reiki energy is separate from us and that a Reiki practitioner will ‘channel’ Reiki in order to ‘transfer or give the energy’ to a recipient.
Since Reiki means The Energy of The Universe, you cannot be separated from it, and it cannot be separated from you. You are it, and it is you. This means that you already ‘have Reiki’. Reiju simply wakes you up to this fact. In a way, it ‘turns on the switch’.

 

 

Reiki is a two-fold practice:

At its core, Reiki is first and foremost a spiritual practice, meant for personal enhancement and personal enlightenment.
Reiki is also a gentle, hands-on energetic healing technique used for stress reduction and relaxation that enhances the body’s ability to heal itself. It works on all levels (physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual) to promote balance within the system. It can be performed on oneself, on another person or child, or on pets, plants, food, medicine, or practically anything around you. Hands may be placed on or slightly above the recipient in various positions.

 

 

As a spiritual practice, Reiki can help to:
·Enhance harmony and balance in one’s life
·Connect to the present moment
·Feel centered and at peace
·Develop composure and calmness
·Practice detached compassion
·Discover one’s true nature and connection to Source
·Increase one’s own natural healing ability

 

 

As a hands-on healing technique, Reiki can help to:
·Increase energy levels
·Strengthen the immune system
·Accelerate healing
·Alleviate pain
·Reduce after/side effects of surgery/drugs
·Detoxify
·Reduce stress and anxiety
·Support the release of limiting emotions, patterns, and addictions
·Prevent disorders
·Enhance other health care interventions

 

The world «REIKI» is not an actual world at all, but rather a combination of two kanji. Kanji can take on different meanings depending upon what other kanji it is combined with. Possible meanings of Rei and Ki are:

 

 

靈 Rei:
1. Human spirit or soul.
2. Spirit or ghost.
3. Spiritual
4. The universe
5. Divine, luminous, charismatic, supernatural, mysterious.
6. A supernatural (mythical) beast or being; a fairy, an elf.
7. Reverence, sacredness, or blessing.

氣 Ki:
1. Something unseen.
2. Atmosphere.
3. Vital energy (personal or universal).
4. Air, breath, or steam.

 

So, the kanji 靈氣 (for Reiki) can possibly be defined as the miraculous and sacred energy of the Universe (Heaven and Earth), which infuses and sustains all life.

 

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Interview with Hyakuten Inamoto Sensei regarding Reiki and Reiki Ryoho

 

Information provided by Komyo ReikiDo Association with Hyakuten Inamoto permission.

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«Universal Life Energy» «Reiki is God Power» by Hawayo Takata.

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«Reiki: Transmissions of Light, Volume 1- The History and System of Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho» by Robert N. Fueston

靈 Rei – Strokes, 24. Consists of three parts:

Top is rain, middle is thing, and bottom is shaman.
Rei means «spirit or spiritual». The Japanese dictionary defines Rei as:

• Spirit, the spiritual aspect of human being as contracted to the physical.

• Divine, numinous, charismatic, supernatural, mysterious.

• The luminosity of God or Sage.

• Inconceivable spiritual ability; charismatic power; charisma, wonderful, a wonder.

• A rainmaker, a diviner, a person or being with spiritual or supernatural powers.

• A shaman

• A goodness; good, excellent, efficacious.

 

氣 Ki – Strokes, 10. Consist of breath with rice (rice in Japan is something used as a synonym for people).
Ki means «energy». The Japanese dictionary defines Ki as:

• Vital energy connected with the breath. Invisible life force

• In the view of Zhu Xi and other Neo-Confucians, the material force constantly reproduced.

• Air

• Breath, steam.

 

The description of the old form kanji (old kanji was used prior to World War II, Japan adopted a new simplified version of kanji- new kanji (shinji).

On the earth stands shaman with his arms raised against the sky. From the heaven the rain comes down with lifesaving energy consisting of three part: light, love, wisdom/power. The shaman acts as a channel (channeling this energy down to all people of the Earth). The Reiki teacher is the channel when he or she initiates students, and the practitioner is the shaman when he or she channels this spiritual energy to the people treated.”