Reiki - A Member's Perspective

Editor's Note: This article is part of a series from members' perspectives relating to the essence of Reiki and what Reiki means to them. We encourage members to continue to submit articles for this series

What is Reiki
by Rev. Roberta Barnes

What is Reiki? As Mikao Usui said, "It is love, harmony, and healing energy." .

In Japan, Mikao Usui developed Reiki-ho as "the way to make mind and body healthy on the basis of Universal Reiki". Reiki is not only a wonderful "healing technique", but also "an effective way to raise spirituality and to create a positive life". The Reiki practitioner's body is the instrument through which the energy flows drawn by the magnet of any imbalance in the mind, body, or spirit of the person, animal, or plant receiving. Clients might speak of feeling a gentle heat from the practitioner's hands going deep within, but warmth is only one sensation that may or may not be experienced.

Reiki is easy to learn, but being a spiritual practice, it requires cultivation of the mind, and the development of one's spirituality. It is not connected to any religion, but complements all religions. It heals from the core of the illness, not masking symptoms, whether the person believes it will or not. A person's profession, education level, gender, age, spiritual beliefs, or ethnic background, do not affect the flow of the energy.

Reiki allows an increase of mental clarity and emotional balance. It purifies karma and heals in all types of trauma. It can transcend time and space. No worry has to be given to harm coming from it. Reiki will only flow when needed, and will never give a negative reaction with any prescribed medication. Meaning that while one should not neglect to care for the mind, body, or spirit in the best way, Reiki will not create a need. It revitalizes life energy, awakening and enhancing the healer within.

Over the centuries, there have been countless forms of hands-on healings. Using universal energy to heal goes back thousands of years, and today there are other energies channeled. Reiki-ho is the name Mikao Usui gave to the system he developed, using the vibration of love and harmony. Changes in techniques to his system can be seen as far back as Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai. Each Reiki Master that changes the system he or she has learned renames the system, so as not to dishonor the original teacher. It is commonly believed that Mikao Usui was spiritually awakened while fasting on Mt. Kurama in March 1921. He connected to the universal energy, naming it Reiki.

An attunement, opening one's channel, inviting one into the light, a transformation, or empowering a person, have all the same meaning. An attunement can only be given by a person that has reached the level allowing her or him to be a Teacher. A healing process, or shift, happens within the mind, body, or spirit at a time that is right for that person, following an attunement. This takes various forms, such as after performing a Reiki shower, repeating the Gokai, and doing Hatsurei-ho, the day takes shape in a bright fresh way not before experienced.

Once a person's channel has been opened, the ability to channel Reiki is never lost. Continued practice allows Reiki to flow in a pure stronger way, and it can flow into everyday things such as water. Concentration is not needed, but relaxing and not letting the mind get in the way are essential. To think, I want to heal that person, animal, or plant, is a loving thought, but the "I" blocks the flow of Reiki. Reiki can never be directed to an illness, or given to anyone, as it is universal energy belonging to no one.

Usui-Sensei created symbols early in his teachings because some people had difficulty in understanding energy without something visual they could connect to it. Reiki teachers changing his system, have created their own symbols. Today there are over 300 Reiki symbols used worldwide. This abundance of symbols does not necessarily increase the strength of the energy, but helps students identify all the various ways in which Reiki can heal.

Then we move to the hand positions created over the years. Reiki travels to where the need exists regardless of symbols or where hands are placed, and like water through a garden hose spills into other cells it passes through. Byosen Reikan-ho releases the need for standard hand positions, but each practitioner may develop a system that is comfortable for them. Most practitioners share the practice of sweeping their hands down, cleaning the aura of the client before and following a session. During post session cleansings, a shiver of excitement from either the practitioner or client might spontaneously happen if the removal of a block that has been released is felt.

Various tools and energies have been blended with Reiki, creating numerous styles. Some commonly used tools include acupressure, crystals, mudras, chakra healing, light body, herbs, guided journeys, and tarot cards. When one reaches into the collection of tools gathered there is a tingle as the heart, mind, and soul form a triangle to express the pure white light of love and harmony, healing in new ways. It is never necessary, or harmful, to learn different styles of Reiki. Different combinations can be an excellent synergy in one situation and yet inappropriate in another.

The Gokai, five admonitions, five precepts, or the principles are all names of the backbone of Reiki-ho. It is repeated in hundreds of ways, but all reflect the state of just for today no anger, no fretful worry, expressing thanks, being diligent in work, and extending kindness to all. Study of the Gokai gives understanding to even the strength of today.

Techniques vary greatly. Some such as Reiju, depend upon a pure connection and intent, and are only taught to those reaching the highest level of whichever style of Reiki is studied. Reiju's meaning can be broken down as giving or accepting (ju) a spiritual property or knowledge (rei). The Reiju used by the Gakkai is said to be based on the original form in which Usui-Sensei opened others' channels to the light. The form of Reiju used by the Gakkai is shared only within the society itself, but some members, such as Hiroshi Doi, teach a form they have created.

Reiki may sound complicated with so many people introducing so many different things into their practice, but it is not. The wonderment of the universal energy Usui-Sensei named Reiki resonates with life energy, enhancing everything positive one does in their life, and works in harmony with other positive energies.

Often courses are taken for a skill that can bring a return of money. Reiki is a spiritual path we travel for our own growth. It enhances skills, and can bring wealth in many forms. Medical care professionals often have their channels opened to enhance their work. Fees are asked for treatment sessions and attunements, as each person's time is valuable, and receiving something when giving nothing in return dishonors the person receiving. The barter system sometimes works well with Reiki.

Are there people in the world that have read a book or watched a video, and know the subject well enough to pretend they have had their channel opened? There will always be pretenders in the world, but any person having had their channel opened will have at least one certificate, and easily be able to give their energy and technique lineages back to Usui-Sensei.

Everyone is born with the right to be healthy, and live with happiness, and the path of Reiki helps us to fulfill that right

Rev. Roberta Barnes is a Gendai Reiki-Ho Shihan (teacher), Komyo Reiki Shihan (teacher), and Natural Reiki Master/Teacher who has a practice in the beautiful state of Maine.

Reprinted from The Reiki Times, Volume 8, Issue 4. ©2004. International Association of Reiki Professionals LLC. All rights reserved. www.iarp.org