What is Reiki?
Usui-sensei, Japan
What is Reiki, and how does it work?
What is Reiki, and how does it work?
Reiki is very simply, 'Rei' - from heaven, universal - 'ki' - energy. It is a method of channelling energy through symbols unlike any other in human history. These teachings are passed down from one person to another, meaning we can trace our lineage all the way back to Usui Sensei, the original founder of Reiki. Reiki can work anywhere, any distance, and anytime. It is activated when the practitioner calms their mind and focuses on the symbols we learn in practice to channel this energy to ourselves, the surroundings, and our clients. We place our hands very gently on different areas of the body, mostly the top of the head, shoulders, arms and legs. If you prefer not to be touched - no problem! See more info on what a Reiki session is like in 'Sessions and Pricings'. Feel free to visit the Australian Reiki Federation for further FAQ here.
Side effects of Reiki
I adore Reiki because it is otherwise quite simple; and contains very minimal side effects. As it can place the receiver in a very calm state, the side effects of reiki are mild drowsiness, mild headache and stomach ache. I have only ever witnessed drowsiness that resolves when the session has ended as a side effect in my clients. To avoid the others, I encourage lots of water in take before and after the session, and sometimes for light diet and rest as required. In general, people can continue their day as normal after the session, just with an added sense of peace and calm throughout their day.
The following excerpt has been shortened from Reiki: The Healing Touch, Rand, William: Michigan (1991) Vision Publication. To see the full content, please click here
Reiki is very simply, 'Rei' - from heaven, universal - 'ki' - energy. It is a method of channelling energy through symbols unlike any other in human history. These teachings are passed down from one person to another, meaning we can trace our lineage all the way back to Usui Sensei, the original founder of Reiki. Reiki can work anywhere, any distance, and anytime. It is activated when the practitioner calms their mind and focuses on the symbols we learn in practice to channel this energy to ourselves, the surroundings, and our clients. We place our hands very gently on different areas of the body, mostly the top of the head, shoulders, arms and legs. If you prefer not to be touched - no problem! See more info on what a Reiki session is like in 'Sessions and Pricings'. Feel free to visit the Australian Reiki Federation for further FAQ here.
Side effects of Reiki
I adore Reiki because it is otherwise quite simple; and contains very minimal side effects. As it can place the receiver in a very calm state, the side effects of reiki are mild drowsiness, mild headache and stomach ache. I have only ever witnessed drowsiness that resolves when the session has ended as a side effect in my clients. To avoid the others, I encourage lots of water in take before and after the session, and sometimes for light diet and rest as required. In general, people can continue their day as normal after the session, just with an added sense of peace and calm throughout their day.
The following excerpt has been shortened from Reiki: The Healing Touch, Rand, William: Michigan (1991) Vision Publication. To see the full content, please click here
Shrine at Karuma Mountain, Japan
Mikao Usui, or Usui Sensei as he is called by Reiki students in Japan, was born August 15, 1865. He had an avid interest in learning and worked hard at his studies. As he grew older, he travelled to Europe and China to further his education. His curriculum included medicine, psychology and religion as well as the art of divination, which Asians have long considered to be a worthy skill. Usui Sensei also became a member of the Rei Jyutu Ka, a metaphysical group dedicated to developing psychic abilities. He had many jobs including civil servant, company employee and journalist, and he helped rehabilitate prisoners. Eventually he became the secretary to Shinpei Goto, head of the department of health and welfare who later became the mayor of Tokyo. The connections Usui Sensei made at this job helped him to also become a successful businessman.Usui Sensei understood this concept on an intellectual level and dedicated his life to achieving it; this is considered to be an important step on Usui Sensei’s spiritual path. He discovered that one path to An-shin Ritsu-mei is through the practice of Zazen meditation. So he found a Zen teacher who accepted him as a student and began to practice Zazen. After three years practice, he had not been successful and sought further guidance. His teacher suggested a more severe practice in which the student must be willing to die in order to achieve An-shin Ritsu-mei.
Mikao Usui, or Usui Sensei as he is called by Reiki students in Japan, was born August 15, 1865. He had an avid interest in learning and worked hard at his studies. As he grew older, he travelled to Europe and China to further his education. His curriculum included medicine, psychology and religion as well as the art of divination, which Asians have long considered to be a worthy skill. Usui Sensei also became a member of the Rei Jyutu Ka, a metaphysical group dedicated to developing psychic abilities. He had many jobs including civil servant, company employee and journalist, and he helped rehabilitate prisoners. Eventually he became the secretary to Shinpei Goto, head of the department of health and welfare who later became the mayor of Tokyo. The connections Usui Sensei made at this job helped him to also become a successful businessman.Usui Sensei understood this concept on an intellectual level and dedicated his life to achieving it; this is considered to be an important step on Usui Sensei’s spiritual path. He discovered that one path to An-shin Ritsu-mei is through the practice of Zazen meditation. So he found a Zen teacher who accepted him as a student and began to practice Zazen. After three years practice, he had not been successful and sought further guidance. His teacher suggested a more severe practice in which the student must be willing to die in order to achieve An-shin Ritsu-mei.
So with this in mind he prepared for death and in February, 1922, he went to Kurama yama, a sacred mountain north of Kyoto. He went to fast and meditate until he passed to the next world. It must be kept in mind that he was not looking to discover a method of healing, but was seeking to experience this special spiritual state. In addition, we know there is a small waterfall on Kurama yama where even today people go to meditate. This meditation involves standing under the waterfall and allowing the water to strike and flow over the top of the head, a practice that is said to activate the crown chakra. Japanese Reiki Masters think that Usui Sensei may have used this meditation as part of his practice. In any case, as time passed he became weaker and weaker. It was now March 1922 and at midnight of the twenty-first day, a powerful light suddenly entered his mind through the top of his head and he felt as if he had been struck by lightning; this caused him to fall unconscious.
So with this in mind he prepared for death and in February, 1922, he went to Kurama yama, a sacred mountain north of Kyoto. He went to fast and meditate until he passed to the next world. It must be kept in mind that he was not looking to discover a method of healing, but was seeking to experience this special spiritual state. In addition, we know there is a small waterfall on Kurama yama where even today people go to meditate. This meditation involves standing under the waterfall and allowing the water to strike and flow over the top of the head, a practice that is said to activate the crown chakra. Japanese Reiki Masters think that Usui Sensei may have used this meditation as part of his practice. In any case, as time passed he became weaker and weaker. It was now March 1922 and at midnight of the twenty-first day, a powerful light suddenly entered his mind through the top of his head and he felt as if he had been struck by lightning; this caused him to fall unconscious.
Usui's memorial stone, Japan
Sunrise over Kata-Tjuta, Yulara
As the sun rose, he awoke and realized that whereas before he had felt very weak and near death from his fasting, he was now filled with an extremely enjoyable state of vitality that he had never experienced before; a miraculous type of high frequency spiritual energy had displaced his normal consciousness and replaced it with an amazingly new level of awareness. He experienced himself as being the energy and consciousness of the Universe and that the special state of enlightenment he had sought had been given to him as a gift. He was overjoyed by this realization.
When this happened, he was filled with excitement and went running down the mountain to tell his Zen master of his great good fortune. On his way down he stubbed his toe on a rock and fell down. And in the same way anyone would do, he placed his hands over the toe, which was in pain. As he did this, healing energy began flowing from his hands all by itself. The pain in his toe went away and the toe was healed. Usui Sensei was amazed by this. He realized that in addition to the illuminating experience he had undergone, he had also received the gift of healing. He also understood that this was his life purpose; to be a healer and to train others.
As the sun rose, he awoke and realized that whereas before he had felt very weak and near death from his fasting, he was now filled with an extremely enjoyable state of vitality that he had never experienced before; a miraculous type of high frequency spiritual energy had displaced his normal consciousness and replaced it with an amazingly new level of awareness. He experienced himself as being the energy and consciousness of the Universe and that the special state of enlightenment he had sought had been given to him as a gift. He was overjoyed by this realization.
When this happened, he was filled with excitement and went running down the mountain to tell his Zen master of his great good fortune. On his way down he stubbed his toe on a rock and fell down. And in the same way anyone would do, he placed his hands over the toe, which was in pain. As he did this, healing energy began flowing from his hands all by itself. The pain in his toe went away and the toe was healed. Usui Sensei was amazed by this. He realized that in addition to the illuminating experience he had undergone, he had also received the gift of healing. He also understood that this was his life purpose; to be a healer and to train others.
The depth and breadth of his experiences inspired him to direct his attention toward discovering the purpose of life. In his search he came across the description of a special state of consciousness that once achieved would not only provide an understanding of one’s life purpose, but would also guide one to achieve it. This special state is called An-shin Ritus-mei (pronounced on sheen dit sue may). In this special state, one is always at peace regardless of what is taking place in the outer world. And it is from this place of peace that one completes one’s life purpose. One of the special features of this state is that it maintains itself without any effort on the part of the individual; the experience of peace simply wells up spontaneously from within and is a type of enlightenment.
The depth and breadth of his experiences inspired him to direct his attention toward discovering the purpose of life. In his search he came across the description of a special state of consciousness that once achieved would not only provide an understanding of one’s life purpose, but would also guide one to achieve it. This special state is called An-shin Ritus-mei (pronounced on sheen dit sue may). In this special state, one is always at peace regardless of what is taking place in the outer world. And it is from this place of peace that one completes one’s life purpose. One of the special features of this state is that it maintains itself without any effort on the part of the individual; the experience of peace simply wells up spontaneously from within and is a type of enlightenment.
My friends and I in a sunset group meditation Darwin, NT
Energy forms our known universe
Energy forms our known universe
I am no scientist, but the nurse in me loves facts and so I find it fascinating to see how physics overlaps with my spiritual curiosity. It is well known that all matter in our universe vibrates on certain frequencies, but we as living things only have a finite amount of energy to produce at any given time. This is why Reiki is so interesting to work with, because rather than deplete my energy when I channel it to others, it increases mine and the energy of the receiver. If you would like to learn more about the science-based practice of Reiki, please visit the Center for Reiki Research here .
I am no scientist, but the nurse in me loves facts and so I find it fascinating to see how physics overlaps with my spiritual curiosity. It is well known that all matter in our universe vibrates on certain frequencies, but we as living things only have a finite amount of energy to produce at any given time. This is why Reiki is so interesting to work with, because rather than deplete my energy when I channel it to others, it increases mine and the energy of the receiver. If you would like to learn more about the science-based practice of Reiki, please visit the Center for Reiki Research here .