By
Roberta R. Barnes
Is Reiki one of those fad things? Is it one of those things for the simple minded?
Simple
minded, brainiacs, and such labels do not exist in the spiritual
practice of Usui Reiki Ryoho, commonly called Reiki. Neither is it a new
age fad. It is a practice using the vibrations of love and harmony of
ageless universal energy. Many of the ideas Mikao Usui, the founder,
blended into his practice are based upon things practiced for thousands
of years, such things as the law of attraction.
Mikao
Usui/Usui-Sensei/O-Sensei connected to the universal vibrations of love
and harmony through a disciplined mediation, following three years of
Zen studies in 1921. This was his second awakening. He first called the
spiritual practice he created in 1922 my method/system. Later he called
it Usui Reiki Ryoho. He passed on in his sleep the 9th day of March 1926
following a full day of giving sessions. He is sometimes called Dr.
Usui, but he did not receive any doctorate; he followed a different path
and openly shared his gift with others. He was a very intelligent and
insightful man that spent his life searching for knowledge of all kinds.
People
of all ages, all educational levels and an overwhelming number of
occupations practice some style of Usui Reiki Ryoho. No style honoring
the tradition of Usui Reiki Ryoho is difficult or has odd rituals.
Various styles of Usui Reiki Ryoho are taught simply because once a
person completes the level allowing him or her to teach they sometimes
change the way in which he or she was taught. Nevertheless, the unique
form of universal energy used has not changed. The form of the energy
used is a combination of the vibrations of love and harmony of ageless
universal energy.
When a person decides to study Usui Reiki Ryoho,
what style he or she should study depends upon the direction in which
he or she wishes to face in life. Reiki Shihans (teachers) are always
pleased to show their certificates, and energy and technique lineage
back to Mikao Usui, the founder.
If you feel you do not have the
time to study, following one of the Mikao Usui's precepts, "no anxious
worry". You can experience the benefits of Usui Reiki Ryoho without
study. Simply schedule a Reiki healing session given by a person that
has devoted time to study and practice. A healing session includes no
odd rituals; you simply lie back and enjoy the relaxing energy of love
and harmony flowing through all your cells. A Reiki healing session
gives balance to your whole self and surrounds you with harmony. Some
people schedule regular Reiki sessions to maintain homeostasis.
Various
styles, such as those that have not strayed far from the spiritual
roots Mikao Usui created, teach how to blend Reiki into every day life.
As Reiki blends into your life it becomes like your breath,
automatically flowing yet taking you into that peaceful altered state
when you focus on it. The hours of study and practice might seem
unappealing, but think of the quote, "If something is worth doing, it is
worth doing right."
While Reiki is not something you can teach
yourself, learn from a book, or download from the internet, it is not
difficult. Hiroshi Doi, a member of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai says
about Reiki, "nothing fishy, nothing odd, nothing difficult'". If you
have heard unsettling things about Reiki reflect on Dr. H.C.F. Meyer. In
the 1800s, he patented an oil he proved to be helpful for such things
as snakebites. "Snake oil" has become a term for things that do not work
because others altered Dr. Meyer's method using different herbs and
procedures, but using the same name.
Y Usui Reiki Ryoho is a
spiritual practice, but it is neither a belief system nor a religion.
Reiki is best described as a journey of self-growth and self-healing,
which touches others along the way.
Y Reiki is energy. The core of
all our cells is energy. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) molecules are one
of the most important biological compounds for all living organisms.
The reason being is that these molecules serve as the direct source of
energy for doing cellular work.
Y The meaning of Reiki can be
broken down. "Rei" means something mysterious, miraculous, and sacred.
"Ki" means the atmosphere of something unseen or the energy of the
universe. "Ki" does in some instances means an individual's life force
energy, however Reiki is universal energy. Universal energy is
inexhaustible energy that can replenish life force energy as needed.
Y
Science states energy can be neither created nor destroyed; it can only
be changed from one form to another. Reiki is a unique form of
universal energy coming from the vibrations of love and harmony.
Y
Reiki requires no directions; when it flows through a practitioner to
the receiver, it knows where to go and what to do when it gets there. As
Hiroshi Doi and Rev. Hyakuten Inamoto said in 2002, "Trust in Reiki".
Y
Memorizing hand positions and symbols is not required. Reiki symbols
are the finger pointing or the training wheels used by the teacher to
aid the student in understanding the cords of energy that some cannot
see, feel, smell, taste or hear. Symbols, techniques, and attunements
are tools in each teacher's toolbox. The tools vary, and the use of
those tools varies with different teachers. It is when devotion to study
and practice are added to the tools that the masterpiece of embracing
universal energy evolves.
Y The energy named Reiki will flow as
soon as a person has received an attunement from a qualified Reiki
Shihan (teacher). Once a person is invited/initiated into Reiki
(attunement), he or she will never loose the connection to universal
love and harmony.
Y Mikao Usui was Buddhist all his life, but the
only similarities between Usui Reiki Ryoho and Buddhism are only
discipline and practice. Anyone of any religion can practice Reiki.
Y
Regardless of the style of Usui Reiki Ryoho practiced the form of
energy named Reiki retains the same strength as long as the mind steps
aside and allows it to flow uninterrupted. The actions, mindset, or the
spirit of the person through which it flows can taint the flow of Reiki.
Tainting or blocks can easily be removed by a focused hands-on
technique given by a qualified Reiki Shihan (teacher).
Y Love and harmony do not harm any life form; nothing negative ever comes from any style honoring Usui Reiki Ryoho.
Y
Reiki practitioners/teachers do not diagnose, manipulate tissues, nor
prescribe any medications, changes in diet, or exercise, unless he or
she holds a professional medical license. Reiki practitioners/teachers
like herbalist try to educate and awaken the healer within each person.
Reiki is a safe antidote for stress, but does not replace professional
medical care. Reiki is complementary to professional medical care, and
other healing modalities.
Y Reiki practitioners move his or her
hands to gently rest on non-invasive areas guided by Byosen, the feel of
inharmonic vibrations given off by the source of a disease or
distressed cells. Reiki flows through hands, eyes, breath, and all
pores, but sessions are most commonly hands-on with the client remaining
clothed. Encumbrances in mind, body and spirit, which can cause
emotional distress, are released in the way best for each individual,
and positive energy then fills the void.
Y The Gokai (Reiki
precepts or principles) is five simple lines. This is easy to remember
and practice, and enriching to all areas of life.
Y Reiki will
only flow as much as the cells receiving are capable of holding at that
moment in time. Reiki will stop flowing when it is no longer required.
The person allowing Reiki to flow to the imbalance of another cannot
catch any imbalance unless it is a contagious disease.
Y Reiki
practitioners do not take on the ills of others. Reiki Shihans
(teachers) can easily tell anyone developing empathic abilities how to
erase any distress he or she feels.
Y Reiki is a beautiful method
of using universal energy to promote and speed healing via balance and
harmony. While it requires time to assimilate, following the hours you
spend with your teacher, you can practice wherever and when ever is good
for you. Technology has added to the ease in learning by making our
Reiki teachers available for our questions even after we have received
our Reiki certificate.
Y Everyone has a healer within and some
people have a natural ability to help others heal. The method Mikao Usui
named Reiki Ryoho can enhance all when allowed to do.