Let's dive straight in and tackle this question by first seeing what Reiki is, and then, what it is not.
What Reiki is
In essence, Reiki is a very simple relaxation and stress–reduction technique that has many healing benefits. Its origins lay with Mikao Usui, a Japanese monk who developed the technique of Reiki in the early 20th Century. (If you read broadly on the subject however, there are indications that its roots, or at least its basis as a form of natural energy healing, may predate this by a considerable timescale.) Reiki was subsequently brought to the West by Hawayo Takata, who learnt the technique herself from one of Usui's direct students. Since then it has flourished to the point where it is being offered in numerous hospitals and medical centers around the world. You can find out more about this by visiting www.reikiinhospitals.org (you do need to register to gain access to the site, but registration is free and very easy).
In any definition of what Reiki is, it is beneficial to first understand the very meaning of its name, so let's branch off to take a look at that.
What Reiki means
The word “Reiki” is composed of two Japanese characters, and exploring each of these characters tells us a lot about Reiki, so let's look at each one in turn.
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The Japanese Kanji characters for the word ‘Reiki’
Image: Courtesy Frank Arjava Petter
The first character is “Rei”. On a general level, it means “universal” or something that is present everywhere. However, the Kanji character for “Rei” also has another more esoteric meaning associated with it. That meaning is “higher knowledge” or “spiritual consciousness”. On this level, and depending on your beliefs, “Rei” takes on a far more spiritual or religious interpretation. Variously it has been described as knowledge that comes from a Higher Self, a Higher Power, from God, or simply as the source of Universal Life Energy.
The second character is “ki”. It means “life energy”. It is the energy that permeates all living things. At its source, it is the same energy that has been referred to in China for over 4,000 years as Chi. It has been given different names in other cultures too. For example in India it is known as Prana and is closely associated with the natural energy centers of the body, more commonly known as Chakras. While all of these systems and methods are distinct, I believe that the source energy they are based upon is the same.
William Lee Rand defines “Rei” and “ki” put together as meaning “Spiritually guided life energy”, and I think this is a very good definition for “Reiki”. It is life energy that knows how to guide itself, and Reiki practitioners are simply people who have been taught how to allow this energy to flow into others.
Back to what Reiki is
Now that we have a better understanding of what Reiki means, let's go back to trying to define what Reiki is.
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Mount Kurama in Kyoto, Japan, is where Usui discovered the Reiki energy and is known as the Birthplace of Reiki.
Image: Public domain
Reiki is a very gentle healing process which centers around balancing the natural flow of energy in the body. It is unique among healing methods in that the practitioner does not direct the healing in any way, instead the practitioner simply acts as a conduit or channel for the energy to pass through, and it is the energy itself that goes to where it is needed to heal. This is our definition of “Rei” and “ki” in full effect. It does not mean however that the practitioner is oblivious to what goes on as the healing energy flows; quite the opposite in fact: almost all practitioners become adepts at sensing where the energy imbalances are and quite often surprise those receiving the treatment by accurately pointing out the problem areas even though that information had not been shared with the practitioner beforehand.
Reiki is a complementary healing treatment. It is classed as an alternative or holistic method of healing that is most often used side–by–side with existing medical treatments. When Reiki is used in this way, many people report speedier recovery, a reduction in negative side–effects, and better recuperation overall. When Reiki is used more generally, it results in improved health, and much better levels of general relaxation and well–being. Indeed, a single Reiki session often puts most people into a peaceful and restful state of sleep by the end of the session, so on this level, Reiki can also be a very good way to reduce stress.
So we have seen that Reiki is simple, it is gentle, and it is used mainly as an alternative and complementary form of healing. Yet its effects can be very profound, especially when used regularly to aid in the healing of deep traumas on all levels, be they physical, spiritual, mental, or emotional. Many books have been published on the subject, and you may also find many reports of peoples' experiences on many Reiki web sites across the internet, and I encourage you to research this for yourself too. A good place to start your internet research is www.reiki.org which is a site run by William Lee Rand who has spent many years devoting his time to Reiki, and who is also the author of the Reiki manuals I currently use in my Reiki classes as well as numerous other publications. You should also check my talk page from time to time as I will always be adding more articles and stories too. If you'd like some ideas on books to read, you can find some very well–known titles listed in my Reiki Store where you will also be able to read Amazon descriptions and customer reviews for each book too (if you do choose to purchase anything through my store I donate 10% of all proceeds to charity).
What Reiki is not
While most people who try Reiki do experience some or all of the benefits already mentioned, science cannot explain how Reiki achieves these results, so it remains without official medical approval or endorsement. As such, I therefore advise you to always seek professional medical advice from your doctor or care provider if you are in any doubt as to whether Reiki is a suitable complementary treatment for you to receive.
Reiki is not massage. There is no vigorous rubbing of muscles or tissue involved. The Reiki practitioner performs the treatment through a series of hand positions that are typically held for a few minutes over different areas of the body. Traditionally light touch is involved, but many practitioners feel that the results are the same with the hands held close to but not touching the area being treated. I tend to use the latter method, but if there is a need for contact I will ask your permission first.
Reiki has no negative side–effects. Put simply, the healing energy will either go to where it is needed, or it will not. It is an entirely natural process.
Reiki will not work if you block the energy as the practitioner performs the treatment. This can happen as the result of either a conscious or unconscious decision on your part not to accept the energy. Intention is one of the key underlying factors in successful Reiki, both for the practitioner and for the recipient. If the intention to heal and be healed exists, then Reiki will produce the desired results. In my experience, it is very rare for someone to block the healing energy they receive during a session.
So we have seen that Reiki is not an officially approved form of healing and that it is not a substitute for receiving professional medical advice or treatment. If you are receiving medical treatment or care, you should consult your doctor or care provider first.
We have also seen that there is no scientific explanation for how Reiki works. Yet there is an ever–growing body of evidence in books, independent studies, trials, and personal testimonials, all suggesting that Reiki does help to heal: with problems that are physical, with those that are mental or emotional, and with those that are spiritual.
Further information
If you are new to Reiki, please do take the time to do a little bit of independent research as I have suggested earlier in this article.
You may also be interested to read What is a Reiki session like? or other articles on my talk page.
You can also Contact Me if you have questions about my Reiki services.