Reiki
Where did Reiki Come From?
Reiki originated in Japan and although there are a number of different types of Reiki the one I write of originated from Dr. Mikao Usui who lived from 1865 – 1927. Reiki is thought to have been in existence for thousands of years and some say it has always been with us.
Although we are not exactly sure of how Usui’s Reiki came to be the legend of Usui states he received the gift of Reiki, during a 21 day fast, on a mountain top. While meditating on Mount Kurama he felt life force energy enter his crown chakra resulting in Usui falling unconscious. It is thought he was attempting to reach a spiritual state through a special type of meditation that would help him find his life’s purpose and maintain a peaceful state at all times no matter what was happening around him.
When he regained consciousness, the next morning, he realized he was filled with a new awareness. It is said he felt very connected to the Universe and knew he had found what he was looking for. He was so excited that he ran to tell his meditation teacher and in his heightened state of excitement he stubbed his toe and fell. Instinctively he put his hand on his toe and felt energy emanating from his hands which relieved him from pain and healed his toe. He realized his life purpose was to use this energy to heal and to pass the knowledge to others.
In 1923 Tokyo experienced a great earthquake which caused a destructive fire. Usui grieved for those who had died and for those who were suffering so he went to Tokyo and brought Reiki daily to help those who were injured. We are not sure how many lives he saved with Reiki but it is said he saved many people from dying.
Usui went on to teach others the healing gift of Reiki and I am grateful for his generosity and healing powers which he used to help so many people.
What is Reiki?
According to Frank Arjava Petter (1997) he describes Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) as “an offspring of Qigong” that was “rediscovered by Dr. Mikao Usui of Kyoto, Japan”. Petter says it was Usui who named it Reiki and that Rei stands for holy, spirit, mystery, gift, nature spirit, or invisible spirit and Ki means energy, nature scene, talent and feeling. Others say Rei translates as “universal wisdom” and Ki means “life energy” and that Reiki is “vital life force energy guided by universal wisdom.
Petter says “Reiki is a perfect self-help system that adjusts to the user…it puts us back in touch with the long-forgotten but all-pervading life energy and teaches us how to love ourselves again. It helps us bridge the man-made gap between our fellow human beings and nature, so we can all live in harmony again”. It seems to me most members of society could use a little more self-love, more harmony, and some universal wisdom. 🙂
Most people experience a sense of relaxation when they receive a Reiki treatment. Some clients say they feel a little tired and I have had a few clients fall asleep while receiving Reiki which I perceive as a compliment. The fact that a client has fallen asleep is evidence that Reiki has done what it needed to do in that session as it always knows what you need whether you are aware or not aware of what you need.
Reiki practitioners “channel” energy to the recipient meaning the practitioner does not “do anything” to the client in the purest sense other than offer energy to you. Reiki knows where the energy needs to go and provides you with what you need.
Petter says “Reiki not only heals diseases, but also amplifies innate abilities, balances the spirit, makes the body healthy and thus helps achieve happiness. If Reiki can spread throughout the world it will touch the human heart….it will be helpful for many people, and will not only heal disease, but also the Earth as a whole”.
Do You have Doubts about Reiki?
It is understandable for us to be unsure when trying new experiences. We are hard wired to scan our environment for differences which has been essential for us to survive as a species. We are also a species that has invented technology beyond what our ancestors could have ever imagined and in order to create inventions sometimes it has been beneficial for us to take a leap of faith.
When I was taught Reiki I was told I could potentially encounter certain people who were skeptical of Reiki energy. Initially, when I learned Reiki I wasn’t sure it could help me or anyone else. All I knew was that I had to find out more about it and that Reiki seemed to draw me toward it magnetically.
I found a teacher who it seemed I was guided to because of her kindness and openness. Donna remains a wonderful friend and I am grateful to have found her. I loved her advice when encountering someone who may be dubious about receiving a Reiki treatment. She suggests:
“Don’t Believe, Don’t Disbelieve, Experience”
Wise words, I thought especially since each Reiki session is individual to that person. As mentioned earlier the energy of Reiki knows what we need so it is not the Reiki practitioner who decides what their client needs, it is universal knowledge or a higher power that provides what each individual requires in that particular moment.
How Do I Know If Reiki Is For Me?
First I would suggest you check in with your intuition to determine if you are being let to a Reiki session. You may have a warm sensation in your heart center, notice a gut feeling or be curious to explore whether this type of session could be helpful to you. It is important to be aware, if you are new to this type of energy session if at any time you are unsure of the energy session you are invited to ask the practitioner to stop the session. Knowing this provides a safe space for clients.
You may not sense you need Reiki at this time and may never feel called to find out more about this type of energy session. If so, then that is your answer as we are all in the space and time we are meant to be at this moment in time. If you would like to experience Reiki please continue to read below for more information.
How Do I Prepare for a Reiki Treatment?
If you have read this far there is something leading you to move forward. Curiosity could be the reason you continue gathering information or by this time you may have decided to try a Reiki session. If you have decided to move forward, there is some information that can support you in your treatment.
It is beneficial for you to wear comfortable clothing. In order for you to have the best experience, I suggest clients wear loose clothing. Usually clients can breathe more expansively and are able to relax more deeply when they are wearing clothes that can enlarge easily and are made from natural fabrics such as cotton, bamboo, or hemp, to provide more breath-abililty. These suggestions are made to enhance your experience however are not a necessity.
You will remain fully clothed while sitting in a comfortable chair that reclines to whatever position is most pleasant for you. The lighting will be low so as to be soothing while you receive the treatment. If you are sensitive to scents please advise me prior to the session as I will remove scented products from the space. If you would like essential oils to support you in your session also advise prior to the session. I intuitively pick an essential oil to support your energy throughout the session.
If you are able to remove all jewelry prior to the session, that would be beneficial as metals may influence the natural flow of energy however I do understand some people are unable to remove some items such a wedding ring. If you are unable to remove an item of jewelry or certain items it will not negate the effect of Reiki. If you are able to remove all items it is a precautionary measure to ensure your energy treatment is not affected by those metals.
Most people find it most comfortable to close their eyes while receiving a Reiki treatment. Closing one sense can help us open more acutely to our other senses. When we close our eyes we can usually place more attention on our other senses such as our sense of touch.
During a treatment the practitioner places their hands where they are intuitively guided which may include hands on healing or placing their hands close to the client’s body. There is no one protocol to offer a Reiki treatment since it is an intuitively guided experience for the practitioner as Reiki flows through us and not from us.
Since Reiki knows what we need, you do not need to have any particular reason in mind to receive Reiki energy however some clients come to a session with something on their mind and if so it is the case it can be advantageous to discuss this prior to the session.
With 18 years of counselling experience I have intuited energy shifts as people speak about something that is on their mind. Words carry a certain energetic frequency and speaking them in a safe and supportive environment can be a healing experience.
Reiki blends with traditional healing such as Western Medicine and non-traditional healing for example Osteopathy, Massage Therapy, Physiotherapy and Counselling. Reiki spearheaded my interest in energy healing and guided me on a path to create a unique system of energy called Synergistic Systems and to create Intuitive Energy Counselling. Again, this is proof Reiki can amalgamate with other types of healing modalities
Please keep in mind each session is distinctive to your energy which is why each session is personalized to your needs. Please feel free to ask questions and I will do my best to answer them.
Reiki Distance Healing
I am so grateful Reiki can be received via a distance healing. Some people have reported amazing experiences during or after distance healing sessions.
To begin, we decide on a time that is appropriate for you to relax and if you wish to meditate you are encouraged to do so. It is not necessary for you to meditate since being in a relaxed state is just as beneficial.
If feeling relaxed is challenging I suggest the healing session can be sent when your head hits the pillow, when you are asleep, or when the universe determines it is the best time to send the energy.
Once the day and time is established, I connect to your energy body and proceed with the healing session. Clients usually sense changes that occur during this process however sometimes people just feel relaxed, and some people fall asleep. There is no one way to experience the healing session as each person receives what they need.
Connecting by distance is a wonderful way of sending energy as I am able to connect to your chakras and work on those energy centers, sensing shifts and other types of energetic movements. Since I am not distracted by a visual image it allows me the ability to connect more deeply in a kinesthetic way.
I record the session and send it to you so you are able to listen to it as many times as you like to absorb the information in your own time and at your leisure.
