What is Reiki?

Ask a thousand different Reiki Masters, practitioners, students, or Sadhakas this question and get a thousand different answers. The world is growing in curiosity as to what Reiki really is and if it "works". Some wonder if vibrational medicine, relaxation, and herbal therapies are the prescriptions of the future. As with any resonance therapy, Reiki can bring your body into complete balance, and most of the time, all you have to do is lay back and relax. Below I give a brief insight as to how Reiki came to be, my view of what Reiki is, why to choose it as a therapy, and yes... what it feels like!

A Brief History... Very Brief

Most Western Masters will tell you Reiki is a form of hands on healing or a complimentary practice to the ever present Allopathy. Eastern Masters tend to view Reiki in a more traditional perspective, taught through generations of Reiki Masters, that focuses more on meditative practices rather than viewing it as solely a healing art. In this blog, I aim to tell you how I view Reiki and the impact it has had on me professionally, as a practitioner and Sadhaka (A being who is dedicated to practicing a sadhana, or spiritual practice, with every movement). After all, Reiki is a way of life and how each individual views it is neither wrong nor right. It is simply about living your truth, whatever way that may be.

Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) is formed from two Kanji, or Japanese alphabet symbols, "Rei" and "Ki". The two words have different meanings depending on the dialect used, but are most often translated to mean "Universal life energy or life force." Reiki is neither a religious practice nor a religion in itself. It is simply a daily practice of gratitude and hands on healing used to help yourself and others.

Mikao Usui is often credited for the "discovery" of Reiki. The legend, like any story passed by word of mouth, differs depending on who you ask. It is said that while on a retreat to the mountains, Usui had a vision after days of meditation. While in this deeply meditative state, the symbols appeared to him and he found that his life purpose was to spread this new found knowledge he termed "Reiki". Through generations of his teachings, Reiki found its way from a small village in Japan to the United States, Canada and beyond. There are now thousands of different Reiki lineages and schools all over the world!

Previously, I used the term discovered in quotations when speaking about Mikao Usui because while we credit him with this feat, it is impossible to give him credit for creating Reiki or discovering something that has been in use for centuries. In Usui's case, I do give him credit for creating a teaching system for Reiki and helping others understand how to utilize its power. In a way, he sort of rediscovered Reiki, or better yet, Reiki rediscovered itself through him and in turn was able to be gifted to the masses through his profound teachings. Hawayo Takata, a student of one of Usui's masters, is given credit for the spread of Reiki outside of Japan to the United States and beyond.

Reiki, in my own words.

I often hear those who are at the top of their professions say, "I didn't choose this way of life, it chose me", and in truth, that is how I feel about Reiki. It was only after many twists and turns that Reiki entered my life... and I wasn't even looking for it. Reiki didn't come into my life when I was dying on my futon from a substance abuse relapse. It didn't show up when I was meditating twice a day, every day, for 2 years while religiously practicing yoga. It came into my life when I needed it most, and in its own perfect universal timing.

Similar to when I am performing a healing session, Reiki energy comes and goes as necessary. I have learned to cope with the ebb and flow of this Universal timing and to trust in the power it holds. The world can seem grey and dull. Especially when you dedicate each painful day to a dead end job that robs you of precious time instead of living your truth. Reiki can bring spiritual nourishment and color. It can introduce self-love and balance. It supplies healing and peace and, at least, gives you some time to be quiet and relaxed.

Reiki energy streams throughout the cosmos and is of the original universal energy that created the stars, planets and us human beings. The absolute energy. The beginning energy. It is the oneness that is present in each and every one of us as human beings.

It is said that the Universe was created from sound. In the Bible it is written that on the first day, God said, "let there be light." According to Big Bang Theory (no, not the television show), there was an explosion of sound that created the Universe that is still expanding and echoing throughout the cosmos to this very second. According to some Buddhist Monks, the Om is considered to be the highest form of sound and is the vibration that the Universe speaks through and resonates with.

Reiki is this primordial consciousness and sound that is ever present, not only in each and every one of us humans, but also in every single atom in existence. It is the energy of the Universe. It is the spirit within the plant that produces a flower bloom in the early Spring. It is the life force used when an apple grows from a tree after a long Winter hibernation. It is the energy the sun rays use to warm our skin and the energetic pulse you feel inside yourself when hearing your favorite song. This loving energy is all around us. By using Reiki, we can transmute this power from the Universe through our physical body and create healing within others.

In my personal opinion, I believe that Reiki has been used since the dawn of time and possibly, not only solely through humans. Since Reiki is the Universal energy present in all things, it would be absurd to think it was only just discovered and utilized less than 125 years ago. Animals, trees, mountains and stars are all connected to this Universal force and must in some way use this energy between each other. We humans simply use Reiki energy in the form that is available to us, which is through touch and meditation. Those of us who have the gift of seeing auras have spoken of witnessing trees interact with humans, animals and other trees through the energetic connection of one another's "aura", or the energetic field surrounding the physical body. We must realize that we are all part of one grand ecosystem, with each of us giving and receiving energy despite our difference in life form.

Why choose Reiki for healing?

I once heard another Reiki practitioner compare a human to an onion. In his explanation, he stated "Each individual human being is comprised of multiple layers, comparable to an onion. Through energetic healing, we can positively manipulate each layer in order to rid the body of disease, promoting total health in the human system." I considered his statement, and after many months of my own research, practice and dedication to Reiki, came to realize he was correct.

Outside of the physical vessel that each of our souls inhabit, commonly referred to as "the human body," there are multiple energetic fields surrounding us known as subtle bodies, energetic bodies, or auras. These energetic fields are just as much a part of you as the physical body you live in. In fact, they are one in the same. They are you!

Unlike our physical body which is comprised of bones, blood and organs, these subtle bodies are composed of energy, sound and light. Each one of these auric fields can be positively manipulated by Reiki energy through the use of "Chakras", which are energetic storage centers for spiritual power in the body.

Although Chakras are present all over the body, there are seven main Chakras, located along the spine, that are used in connection with each of the seven subtle bodies. These subtle bodies are also linked to different organ groups. For example, the layer that reaches out about a foot in each direction on either side of your physical body is named the Etheric Body. The Etheric Body is directly connected to the Root Chakra. The Root Chakra, in turn, works in congruency with the large intestine, kidneys, bladder, rectum, sciatic nerve, bottoms of the feet, and adrenal glands. Since the subtle bodies are in direct connection with the physical body, Reiki energy can be applied to the energetic body first, thus passing through each layer and effectively treating ailments along the way.

It is my belief that Reiki can aid in healing chronic illness by treating the subtle bodies first, where disease is often harbored energetically in conjunction with the physical body. While negative energy manifests in the physical body as disease, it is also stored in our energetic bodies as negative thought patterns, emotions or trauma.

Disease presents itself energetically as subtle changes to our auric bodies. A Reiki therapist trained to see auras can sometimes identify that you have an ailment before you even tell them. They may also be able to tell that you are happy, lonely or if you are being truthful.

These changes to a human's subtle energy field can be classified as positive or negative energy. Positive energy promotes overall health and well being, while negative energy fosters disease and mental disfunction. Often when I am giving a healing session, I clear the subtle bodies of any negative energy first and then work my way into the physical body.

Serious diseases, such as cancer or heart disease, often give early warning signs that manifest in the physical body as minor ailments long before developing into chronic illness. The ancient healing practice of Ayurveda says that the treatment of minor symptoms or health issues won't change a person's well being. In order to achieve optimal health, we must first treat the root cause of the health concern in order to suppress the possibility of lifelong disease. For example, we shouldn't be taking Ibuprofen for chest pain when we should be changing our lifestyle and diet to rid ourselves of possible heart disease. Reiki can be an effective aid to disease prevention, along with promoting healthier thought patterns and introducing balance between the physical and subtle bodies.

Reiki is a vibrational medicine that works with Universal energy. As such, it follows that the energetic body should be treated first. As previously stated, each energetic body or layer is linked to different organs. A disturbance in our aura ,or subtle bodies, can possibly reveal a disease harbored within our physical body. For instance, if a client is suffering from a kidney disease such as kidney stones, then a consequential physical condition such as acne may develop around the eyes. Pertaining to the client's subtle body, the consequence would be an energetic disturbance in the Etheric Body, thereby causing the aura to be discolored due to negative energy.

Along with the physical symptoms brought about by kidney stones, such as pain during urination, nausea and chills, energetically the client would experience a change in within their subtle body. This causes an overproduction of negative energy, meaning the client may be depressed, have a gloomy outlook on life or feel extreme anxiety. As an energetic healer, I can recognize this distinct clue and link it to a potential kidney complication.

During a hands on healing session, I would clear the aura of the client first, releasing any negative energy. Then I would work within the Etheric and physical body, manipulating the Root Chakra in order to promote positive energy flow from the subtle fields into the clients physical body. After positive energy has been introduced into both the subtle and physical bodies, any remaining negative energy would be released through the clients feet. This positive energy flow encourages total balance and overall health to flourish within the client.

This type of energetic healing is where I believe Reiki can be most effective. Even though as the practitioner I am doing no actual healing myself, as Reiki energy knows where the body needs help the most, I can give the energy a starting point by using the clues the body has given me to guide Reiki energy through the body. By positively manipulating these layers, I believe Reiki can effectively help prevent disease at each stage. This is where we can begin to work within each layer of the system in order to promote overall health. In other words, Reiki allows me to treat the energetic body first, where disease is harbored, and thus allows me to penetrate each different layer until it reaches the physical body and then push the energy out of the body. So, in other words, I am treating the human body like an onion, and treating dis-ease at each layer. When all the "bad" layers are peeled and removed, we see a healthier human being at it's core.

Though Reiki is considered a hands on healing by most, I utilize Reiki to cleanse the Spiritual Bodies, Auras and Chakras as well as treat the physical body. After all, the chakras are located in the physical body along the spine, and it is through these energetic portals that Reiki enters to heal the body and also where negative energy is stored and can be relieved from the body.

What does Reiki feel like?

As a practitioner, I am never the subject of the healing, nor am I the healer. Rather, I am simply a conduit for this ever present force that flows through me from the Universe of which we are all a part of. I should point out that Reiki is a complimentary medicine, a strong one at that, and isn't meant to fix a broken bone or magically rid you of chronic disease in one session. It is an energetic medicine that takes time and is intended to help treat the source of disease as well as alleviate minor symptoms. It also promotes extreme relaxation, awakens intuition, strengthens the immune system, and brings overall balance to the mind, body, and soul.

I have been on the receiving end of a Reiki healing about as many times as I have given one, and the feelings I get from each are almost always different. When I am giving a Reiki session, I often feel as though I am deeply meditating and my hands are kind of doing their own thing. I am usually meditating on the different symbols or sometimes having an out of body experience. Since energy is flowing through me I usually can hear my stomach gurgle, signifying there is energy transference happening. My hands often feel like they are vibrating and hot.

As a receiver, I usually feel warm. I feel present and content. There have been times where I have felt deeply intense sensations throughout my body and have seen images arise in my mind, but most of the time I just feel deeply relaxed. When a healer is working on certain areas of my body I can usually feel sensation there, almost as if they have placed a warm blanket on me. After the session I usually experience alleviation of any minor symptoms like muscle aches, head pain or tiredness. I usually feel uplifted, refreshed and have a more positive outlook on life.

Sometimes during distance healings I use crystals, or a pillow, or dolls in place of a person. Distance healings are usually more profound for me, especially when I use crystals. I usually find myself in a deep meditation, often transfixed on different symbols and deeply feeling the Reiki energy in my body. I visualize the person, animal or situation that is receiving the Reiki energy and hold them in my mind. Distance feels more personal to me oddly, and I love giving and receiving in this element.

The point of me sharing how I feel in each of these situations isn't to give anything away or to tell you how you should feel when you have a Reiki experience. The point is that it really doesn't matter what is used or who is using it, who is giving or receiving, Reiki is its own power. Whether you have a profound experience or don't feel anything at all during the healing, the aim of Reiki is just to relax and be still for a little while. If all you get from the experience is a little peace and quiet, then I would consider that a success.

As for being the healer, I am simply a host through which this divine universal power is emanating from. Reiki knows what needs to be healed. Reiki's effectiveness is in its subtlety. Simple in theory and in practice, but limitless in its potential. It knows how to heal and when put in the right hands, can begin to cure anything from minor headaches to serious lifelong disease.