What Is Reiki?
Reiki is a way of life, based on Five Underlying Principles: Just for today, I will not Worry. Kyo dake wa, Shinpai suna. Just for today, I will not be Angry. Kyo dake wa Ikaru na. Just for today, I will do my Work Honestly. Kyo dake wa, Gyo o hageme. Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings. Kyo dake wa, Kansha shite Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing. Kyo dake wa, Hito ni shinsetsu ni
Rei is a Japanese word that means universal life, superior energy or for the more devout God's wisdom, and Ki means energy or more specifically life force. Reiki is a spiritual and healing practice of balancing our energy and using it for remedial and curative purposes. It is a framework in which we can better ourselves without being pressured. Reiki doesn't expect us to not be human. The aim is to better ourselves one step at a time, following the method of "Just for today". It is above all the flow of love, that we can benefit from. In the early twentieth century, a Japanese Buddhist Monk rediscovered Reiki energy. Mikao Usui believed that our bodies can heal naturally and the universal energy is there to help us do so. Reiki is transferred by the placement of hands over the energy centers of the body. It is an intelligent energy that flows to the part of the body that requires the most healing. Since Reiki is universal energy, it does not need belief in any particular system or faith- Reiki is beyond religion.
History of Reiki
Mikao Usui (1865-1926) was born in Japan. He trained to be a Buddhist Monk. Being a scholar of sorts he was on the existentialist path to seek the meaning of life and he came to the conclusion that the main aim of life was to perfect the practice of mindfulness to attain the ultimate goal of An-shin Ritsu-mei. This is defined as not holding on to what is not in our hands and releasing that control to the universe. In his dogged desire to find the answers which remained ever-elusive, Usui decided to head up to Mount Kurama to pray in solitude and fast, in February 1922. After three weeks of meditation, at midnight he felt a great shock in his brain, which radiated out as though he had been struck by lightning. It caused him to lose consciousness for a while. When he came to consciousness, he realised that he was feeling well, full of vitality and completely nourished. Reiki energy had permeated his being. He came down from the mountain and had a full meal which did not cause his stomach to hurt. He healed the girl who served him, as she had a toothache and he placed his hand on her face. On returning to his monastery, Usui found his friend the Abbot in bed with severe painful arthritis. Usui had discovered the secret of hands-on healing which had been granted to Christ and Buddha. Wanting to share his spiritual gifts he went into the slums of Kyoto, to heal the beggars and give them a new name so they could go on to live productive new lives. He was devastated when seven years later when he realised that the beggars were returning to beg since it was easier. That was when Reiki was given in exchange for energy transfer. Dr Usui decided to document his teachings and he thus founded the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, which was the Reiki Healing Method Learning Society. The methods of learning were stringent and there was hands-on training required for the initiate who would move up the ranks from Level 1-Shoden or Entrance to Level 2-Okuden or Deep Inside, to Level3-Shinpiden or the Mysteries and Secret teachings where the initiate became a Reiki Master. The Emperor of Japan bestowed a doctorate upon Usui for the work he did. By 1930 Dr Usui, had initiated 19 students to the level of Reiki Master and when he died he was cremated and his ashes are held in a Zen Monastery in Tokyo. Dr Chujiro Hayashi was the next Grand Master of Reiki and he went on to initiate Takata to keep the knowledge safe. Reiki thus spread to the West through a woman Hawayo Takata (an American-born Japanese) and made its way back to Japan where the information had been nearly lost, over time.
The Traditional Reiki Symbols - Shirushi
The Traditional Reiki Symbols are known as the Shirushi. They were traditionally meant to be kept secret. Sensei Takata, the first foreigner who was taught Reiki had insisted that her students memorize the symbols. They were a part of the secret initiation and hence could not be shared with anyone, other than the initiated. In 1992, two of the Reiki symbols were revealed in a book by A.J. MacKenzie Clay called The Challenge To Teach Reiki. Following that the Reiki symbols were more out in the open. These Symbols are incredibly powerful. However, without a Reiki Attunement, they would not work. These Symbols are originally not used by Dr Usui. However, he introduced them later as they were a powerful means to direct Reiki Energy, forming a means to direct the focus. Where can the Reiki Symbols be used?
The Sky is the limit for the use of the Reiki Symbols. The only limit to using the Reiki Symbols lie in the imagination.
You can visualize it in your room for protection.
You can use energy to clean your surroundings.
You can sew physical copies in your children's clothes.
You can give Reiki to your food and drinks.
You can send Reiki to your career and dreams, and even to your past using the symbols.
Cho Ku Rei - The Power Symbol
The Cho Ku Rei is known as The Power Symbol. It is termed so since it is the symbol that is essential to activate the other symbols of Reiki Energy.
Cho Ku Rei is the symbol to be used first in any kind of treatment, either for the self or for healing others.
Cho Ku Rei is translated as "placing all the power of the Universe here, now"
As a Power switch, the Cho Ku Rei enhances the energy of the Reiki running through the practitioner.
By the virtue of enhancing the Reiki energy the Cho Ku Rei is a very potent symbol of protection and cleansing.
The Cho Ku Rei Symbol allows Energy to flow freely and enhances every other symbol and treatment.
The Cho Ku Rei is needed to turn on Reiki 2, or else it is still the powerful first-degree Reiki that the practitioner transmits.
The Cho Ku Rei also brings Balance into your life.
Sei Hei Ki Symbol Mental & Emotional Healing
The Sei Hei Ki is a powerful symbol of emotional and mental healing.
The Sei Hei Ki is a symbol of balance and harmony.
The Sei Hei Ki is the symbol that is used to break addictions. It does so in a two-fold manner. The Sei Hei Ki gets to the root cause of the addiction and explains what emotional need that addiction is fulfilling. Sei Hei Ki also ensures that there is awareness of the negative effects that addiction casts both physically and emotionally on one's life.
Sei Hei Ki brings about an acceptance of both the negative and the positive in one's psyche and thus brings about healing, by bringing self-love.
The Cho Ku Rei is the power symbol that turns on the healing, the Sei Hei Ki is the one that opens the gate to that healing.
Since the Sei Hei Ki promotes healing through the acceptance of one's entire psyche, it is a wonderfully powerful symbol to use against depression, anxiety and fear.
Sei Hei Ki works on relationship issues, on anger, ad sadness and healing a state of grief.
Using the Sei Hei Ki in conjunction with the Cho Ku Rei, releases and protects against future depression. The two symbols can also be used for someone who is in pain or suffering from cancer or leukaemia and visualizing it permeating the body leads to healing.
The Sei Hei Ki also helps with weight issues, anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Sei Hei Ki works on chronic problems and blockages in the body.
Sei Hei Ki is my personal travel favourite. It gives protection during travel.
Sei Hei Ki helps expand consciousness and find lost objects.
Hon Sha Za Sho Nen The Distance Reiki Symbol
The Hon Sha Za Sho Nen is the most powerful Reiki symbol there is.
The Hon Sha Za Sho Nen is a timeless Symbol, without past, present or future. It transcends time. It goes beyond the linear notion of time.
The Hon Sha Za Sho Nen is a symbol that transcends space, thereby being able to perform distance healing.
The Cho Ku Rei combined with the Sei Hei Ki and Hon Sha Za Sho Nen together activate healing over time and space.
Using the Hon Sha Za Sho Nen Reiki can be sent to any part of the world.
The Hon Sha Za Sho Nen can send Reiki to the past or the future. By sending Reiki to the past it means healing Childhood Trauma. Reiki could be sent to the future to work on an exam or an interview.
Hon Sha Za Sho Nen can send Reiki to a country, a disaster area, or any place or time it is required.
Hon Sha Za Sho Nen can be used safely on children
Hon Sha Za Sho Nen can be used to heal Karma in the past, and for World Peace.
It is possible to use the Hon Sha Za Sho Nen on yourself. It is also possible to send Reiki to your spirit guides or a loved one who has passed away.
Dai Ko Myo Great Shining Light
The Dai Ko Myo is the Reiki Masters Symbol, and can only be used by a master.
Healing the soul is the power possessed by the Dai Ko Myo.
Dai Ko Myo is the symbol to use to activate the initiation and attunement of Reiki to others.
Dai Ko Myo helps to find the purpose of the soul.
Dai Ko Myo is the symbol of spiritual connection and empowerment. It is an incredibly creative symbol.
Dai Ko Myo is the symbol that connects us to cellular healing.
Dai Ko Myo works at a genetic level by heightening our intuitive and psychic abilities.
Dai Ko Myo connects us to the divine love that is omnipresent.
Dai Ko Myo helps manifest desires, dreams and the soul's true purpose.
Dai Ko Myo comforts on the level of the spiritual body. It raises the vibration of the individual.
If you would like to experience the Healing Power of Reiki, consider Booking A Session.
Works Cited: Usui Mikao, Petter Frank Arjava. The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr Mikao Usui. Twin Lakes, WI: Lotus Press, 2011.