USUI Reiki Healing Master

Transcription

1 USUI Reiki Healing Master 1

2 Copyright 2011 by UsuiReikiHealingMaster.com All rights reserved. No part of this digital book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this digital book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. Trademarks All terms mentioned in this digital book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. The Publisher cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this digital book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark. 2

3 Warning and Disclaimer Please note that the information given in this guide is intended for education purposes only, and it is not intended to take the place of advice given by licensed health care professionals. Before commencing any form of medical treatment, please consult with your physician or other health care specialist. Our sincere intention is to provide you high quality information and the best advice, but we cannot be held responsible for any harm, damage or loss, material or immaterial. Every effort has been made to make this digital book as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information provided is on an as is basis. The author and the publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from the information contained in this digital book. This program has not been submitted and therefore is not approved by the FDA or any other medical organization. 3

4 Moreover, by reading this digital book, you CONFIRM that you have READ, UNDERSTOOD and ACCEPTED fully (without any exceptions) our Terms & Disclaimer found at: 4

5 1. Introduction 2. What is Reiki? 3. History 1.1 Derivation of name 1.2 Origins 1.3 Early development 1.4 Five Principles 4. Traditions - Japanese Reiki - Western Reiki 5. Training Levels - 1 st Degree - 2 nd Degree - 3 rd Degree - Variations 6. Practice: Applicable techniques - Healing - Breathing - Body treatment - Reiki on animals - Practice makes it perfect - The Reiki Symbols - Sending and Receiving Attunements - The Sandwich Method 7. Controversies - Science and Reiki: vs. or pro? - Is it safe? Is it effective? - Catholic Church concerns 8. Reiki: Questions and Answers - Do distant attunements really work? - Can anyone learn and practice Reiki? - Where can I find Reiki Practitioners? - Growing with Reiki - and finding new meanings in life 9. Glossary 5

6 There are thousands of published books, e-books, articles and detailed reports on Reiki out there. Still, there is this particular question waving out into the open: what is Reiki for real? A spiritual practice? A healing alternative method? An old Japanese tradition of using the power of human energy for best benefits? Or maybe some sort of lifestyle? What is it after all? We all know that Reiki uses a technique commonly called palm healing as a form of complementary and unconventional medicine and is sometimes labeled as oriental medicine. But is this what Reiki is all about? One thing is for sure: that Reiki is nothing but The One and Only Universal Healing Energy available to all! It helps rebalancing whatever has gone unstable. Unless everything is great about your life, Reiki can be of big help by speeding up any healing process whether it s mental, spiritual or physical. The spiritual life force aka. spiritual energy is thought to exist in all living things. That is why it is also believed that Reiki Master Practitioners all over the world, especially those certified in 2 nd Degree, can easily blend with t Nature and simply borrow its energy and transfer it into living things like humans, animals and even plants, curing them or sustaining the healing 6

7 process. It is widely believed that to learn Reiki one needs to be attuned to Reiki by a Reiki Master, enabling your inner potential for personal use and the good of others. This is far from the truth, because Reiki can be learned from books, manuals, reports, demonstrative movies or by attending Reiki classes. It s just as simple as that. One can easily get familiar with the specific techniques and hand positions by not necessarily attending Reiki classes but by merely reading books like the one you re glancing your eyes upon right now. This will not only affect your knowledge on Reiki in general; it will also lay some light down on your old concepts in this area. And remember, Reiki is the Energy of Life, it is within every-one of us and we can use this power as much as we please (once we learn to do so, of course) - without any attunements whatsoever. Attunements are just a fancy concept that Reiki Masters fabricated as a way to guarantee themselves plenty of repeated customers. Any traumas or illnesses or physical or emotional drawbacks can be tuned out and instantly cured with the miraculous working help of Reiki. Anything that you are not happy about can be significantly improved or plainly wiped out when needed. You might suffer from various affections like insomnia, anorexia, bulimia, depression, cruel addictions like alcoholism, smoking or 7

8 even chronic fatigue for whatever reason. You might have once experienced the heavy mood of feeling worn out, like willing to sleep all day long and do nothing isn t that so? Well this is barely a light affection! Those are the signs of some nasty, upcoming sickness that could stand in your way and mess around with your plans, your future, your life! Now that s definitely something you should worry about! But not for long! Because Reiki could be the safety belt you ve been asking for all this time! Reiki can truly change lives and, why not save lives! Reiki can eventually bring the best in you and shift around your principles and beliefs so that you finally realize that people might need you sometimes. By grabbing a book and getting yourself initiated into the Reiki world on your own, or by taking classes and attending seminars and trainings (it doesn t really matter!), you can really make a difference in other people s lives and maybe, someday, somehow help your loved ones around crucial times and save your friends and family. Passions should be the leading line here! As long as you fully commit to learning Reiki, whether it s with the help of a Guru or just by yourself, this traditional healing method can really make a difference, no matter what! Maybe you want to fix a broken relationship, a broken bond or a broken marriage. Maybe you might want to get rid of an accidental injury, ordinary 8

9 migraine or just some persistent cold in wintertime. All this can be cured via Reiki practices. Also, one can actually slow down the ageing process by practicing Reiki on the highest levels. Or maybe you do not necessarily wish to change anything but are looking for a different perspective / understanding on life. And the list goes on. Basically, if there is something that you want to develop, change, replace, get rid of or achieve, you will benefit from Reiki and don t forget that animals can benefit too! Last but not least, another amazing benefit is the colossal boost of self confidence and intuition! It will enable you to know what is right for you and to find out who and what can help you and who and what cannot. This is what Reiki does: brings the best in ordinary people willing to make a successful turn in a lifetime and attract positive things and circumstances into their lives. Nevertheless, Reiki should not replace medical guidance whatsoever! Indeed, Reiki can help us bring into balance our external and inner worlds. But that doesn t mean that seeking for accredited medical help should be out of the question. Reiki works miracles for real, but we are humans and we cannot underestimate the confirmed power of medication in suffering times. This balance that we can eventually turn into a special life style can lead us to tranquility and inner peace and releases us from the depths of anxiety and 9

10 illness. That is a fact, all right! It is already known that in order to reach the outer and inner peace, many are tempted to turn to spirituality instead of classical medicine. Reiki is one of these spiritual, mysterious ways, a personality cultivation based on initiation. It is one of the therapeutic forms that are made by hand laying, deep breathing techniques and plain energy. Finally, Reiki is THAT specific, intelligent form of curative, natural energy that can help us all regain our vitality and restore our mental and physical balance. 10

11 WHAT IS REIKI? The expression Reiki comes from a Japanesecomposed word: REI means universal, cosmic, divine, outside the telluric dimension and the second part KI stands for energy, vitality which is omnipresent. By mixing these two and speak them loud we can easily understand what the Reiki term really means: Spiritual Energy, Divine Authority or The Big Universal Force. The vital energy is already a known concept all over the world. In China it is called chi, the Hindi call it prana, the Egyptians used to refer to it as ka, the Sufis barakka and the Greeks pneuma. History files indicate that Hippocrates mentioned it as the nature s healing power, researchers all over the world - the fifth energy, the Russian scientists - bio plasma energy and the modern science nowadays calls it cosmic energy. Every name has its own distinct connotation, they all differ from the other, from the age, the place that were used in, but they all harmonize and blend enjoyably. They all describe the same supremacy, the same common sense and the very same entity: The Universe. Reiki is a natural, simple and risk-free process for self-healing on physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Anyone 11

12 can learn to tap into this higher energy of infinite, Divine Intelligence and unleash their built-in ability to facilitate Reiki energy. The force of Reiki is nothing else but the insight of the Universal Law that comes along with the vital energy we all carry with us the healing energy we can all use to cure our own body and minds or why not others. The socalled Healing Energy is singular, invisible and invincible! However, Reiki has little to do with religious issues, as it disseminates the spiritual side of the living humans and enhances self awareness and a better and deeper understanding of the primordial law above all: LOVE. It is present in every sensitive and insensitive occurrence in the world and it definitely resides in each and every observable fact of the humanity. From this particularity comes that Reiki is not necessarily a natural therapeutic method but rather a way to live a smart, healthy, happy life, to help the others, brighten the darkness of the human mind and surface the one purpose in one s life: to be and act human by any means. In other words, Reiki facilitators channel higher-dimensional, spirituallyguided Life Force Energy, as the receiver perceives this energy on a deep soul level and wisely matches it through resonance. This is the unconditionally loving energy that has given birth to us all and that unites us all. By studying, 12

13 practicing, learning and teaching Reiki, we can essentially learn to accept and be in compassionate understanding of every aspect of ourselves. We can let ourselves dive into the unexplored depths of the spiritual awakening and physical wellness, heal our minds and souls and love ourselves in the same way that the Creator loved us into being. Ultimately, Reiki is Love. Pure, natural Love. Multidimensional Love. Energetic Love. Therapeutic Love. Absolute Love. Finally Healing Love as each of us has this wonderful gift of healing from within. UNIVERSAL LOVE, LIGHT AND ENERGY ~ Prologue ~ The world is illuminated by the light of our love, hope and actions. Reiki (Ray-Kee) has lots of underground meanings, beside love, light and energy. It comes along with its own leading dynamic that creates unity all around and generates a flux of mixed additional energies flowing in each of us, whether we like it or not. It is all about inner floods like sharing bonds, dreaming dreams and blending with the Big Wide Universe. After all, it is an effective tool to help achieve peace and harmony, inside and 13

14 outside. It talks about the beauty within, the greatness of everything that surrounds us and the magnitude of our own thoughts, senses and feelings. Sometimes it is hard to find the beauty out there, but if you look through things and actually grasp their inner entities, you will find the beauty in everything eventually. Reiki does that for you! It helps you stay in touch with nature and its unlimited beauty, feel the overwhelming lights and shadows of the colors and miracles that make up this world. This is Reiki: not only healing energy but infinite beauty, soothing warmth, boundless sumptuousness and overflowing fascination. Reiki exists in all of the imaginable colors bursting with every passing second, in our souls and in our minds.reiki is practically EVERYWHERE! And by the time you start feeling that particular Love in your core and feel shivers down on your spine, the healing will begin for real! Reiki is so much more than just hands-on healing. It is a way of life, it is a way of feeling life, it is a way of Love. To actually sense this Love throughout your body until you feel you are larger than what you physically are is the most fulfilling sensation of all. And it surely stands no comparison. Sharing this emotion with others is part of the curative power of Reiki. You can always become familiar with the generic rules and 14

15 symbols of Reiki and learn their meanings in order to make the best out of practicing Reiki, but the true gift is sharing the Love. This ancient healing art s mission is singular: to help you find and manage your inner powers in order to live life to its fullest! It promotes health and well-being and suggests our own natural healing ability. You know what they say: fake it till you make it! This gentle, non-invasive, natural treatment method resonates with symbols for mental and emotional balance, love, abundance, connection to our higher spiritual self, joy and fulfillment. Reiki can: promote relaxation, advanced healing and restful sleep ease chronic pain and any persistent physical distress assist in reinstatement of mind/body balance release stress help one gain back self-confidence, self-esteem and self-control Energetic techniques are based on the fact that we all already posses these qualities and abilities of self-healing and that is because we are all part of one creative source, one singular intelligence called Divinity. This Source is EVERYTHING that was, is and will be. We can always choose to be in 15

16 touch with our Source, as it has all the energies and vibrations we need. Finally, whether we admit it or not, we all love to be loved. No exception! And Love is the strongest healing remedy of all! So why not take advantage of this curable, limitless resource of pure energy? 16

17 HISTORY Reiki s origin is ancient Tibet and it was revived in the late 1800s by Japanese educator Dr. Mikao Usui. The word itself means universal life force energy, also known as the chi which flows through all living things. The Hands on healing method has been known for many centuries and has been practiced in various cultures, places and conditions. Nowadays, over the Internet, there are to be found several different theories about where Reiki came from: the stars, Atlantis, Tibet, India, Egypt etc. What we do know for a fact is that Reiki was "reinvented" in Japan by Dr Mikao Usui during the beginning of the 20th century. Usui discovered Reiki in March 1922, during a spiritual experience on Mt. Kurama, a sacred mountain in Japan. Later, he founded a Reiki organization called the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in order to practice and teach Reiki from the position of the first president within. After his sudden death, descendents like Mr. Ushida, Mr. Iichi Taketome, Mr. Yoshiharu Watanabe, Mr. Toyoichi Wanami, Ms. Kimiko Koyama and Mr. Kondo kept the tradition alive and persevered into committing to this 17

18 innovative schooling system. Although Dr. Hayashi was a valued Reiki master, he s never been in charge of the Usui system. Nevertheless, the prestigious mechanism of healing that evolved from Dr. Usui's customized method is called the Usui System of Natural Healing or Usui Reiki Ryoho. Dr. Usui Dr. Hyashi Mrs. Takata 18

19 Dr. Mikao Usui: Dr. Usui was a respectable Christian minister and the head of a Christian Boys School in Japan. It all started when one of his students asked him if he truly believed in the miraculous healing stated in the Bible. Considering that he was a Christian, he answered "Yes" but when the bold young man asked if he knew how Jesus had done this, he amazed his students by simply saying it loud "No, I don t". From that crucial point, he decided to follow his own way in pursuing the mystery through which Jesus had healed all the lepers and set to engage in a special journey, for the years to come. It is believed that he actually studied Buddhist writings somewhere back in the Orient, since the Buddha had also healed. Still, he got no satisfactory answers. One day, he felt inspired to go further and explore the depths of meditation. He communicated his intention to the monks that is to contemplate for 21 days at a nearby mountain - and that, if he happens not to come back after three weeks, they should come and get his body. 19

20 He climbed the mountain and gathered 21 stones on his way to count the passing days during this daring experiment. On the 20th day, he threw away the last stone and said to himself: "Well, this is it, either I get the answer tonight or I don t". That night, way back over the mountain, he could see a ball of light flying towards him. The story says that his first instinct was to get out of its way, but he instantly realized this might just be what he was looking for. And so, he let it hit him right in the forehead. Soon after he was hit, he felt like being taken on a magical journey, accompanied by colored bubbles of the rainbow in which the actual symbols of Reiki were vividly pictured, the very same symbols in the Tibetan writings he never managed to understand. That was the memorable moment when he had this vision: that he had to carry the mission of spreading the secret of Reiki all around the world. Soon after this phenomenal experience, he went back to the mountain and startlingly discovered that he could actually take care of himself and heal his own wounds, even under the most unfriendly conditions of that wild habitat. First, he healed a broken toe-nail, successfully coped with his own starvation and an ailing tooth and fought back the Abbots sickness which was keeping him bedridden. These are known as the first four miracles. 20

21 He wanted to use these abilities to help others and so he spent the next seven years in the beggars section of Tokyo, healing the poor, the sick and anyone in need. Dr. Usui finally returned to the monastery for further reflection. Meanwhile, he developed different precepts and focused on the spiritual side of the healing method that we all refer today as Reiki. He traveled around the countryside, teaching and healing, working both with the spiritual healing as well as physical recovery. 21

22 Dr. Chujiro Hayashi: All along his adventurous trips and journeys, Dr. Usui met Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a Naval Commander in the Naval Reserve. He came from a distinct, well educated family. They both met in the marketplace, while Dr. Usui was holding a torch, announcing his lecture at a nearby temple. Dr. Hayashi felt completely conquered by Dr. Usui s passion and eagerness during his public speech. When asked by Usui to join him on his journey around the world, Dr. Hayashi didn t hesitate for a single moment and gladly agreed. They both traveled all over the place, teaching and healing. After Dr. Usui s sudden death, Dr. Hayashi officially became the leader of Reiki movement. He opened a clinic in Tokyo near the Imperial Palace. It consisted of eight beds in a large room and no more than two practitioners per patient. They would also treat the sick ones in their own homes, if and where house calls were needed. To become a Reiki Practitioner in that time, one had to be accepted by the masters in the Reiki organization and had to promise to use Reiki on a daily basis. Extra hours of volunteer work in the clinic also mattered. 22

23 Dr. Hayashi developed the practice of old Reiki treatment by using specific hand placements over the body, for full coverage of the organs and suffering body areas. His death is registered on Tuesday, May 10, This was just prior to World War II and it was more than obvious that Japan would eventually enter the war. Being a Reserve Officer, Dr. Hayashi knew he would be called for duty service and therefore become responsible for killing people. Haunted by the cruel, tricky feeling of self-guilt, he committed suicide. In addition, he wished to pass the leadership over Reiki to Mrs. Takata. 23

24 Mrs. Hawayo Takata: Mrs. Hawayo Takata was born in Hawaii on Dec. 24th, In 1930, she flew back to Japan to visit her family and break the tragic news on them: the death of her sister. During her visit, she became very sick and ended up on a hospital bed. Right before the scheduled surgical intervention, she kept hearing a voice saying "Operation is not necessary". Surprisingly, she jumped off the table and shouted "Is there any other way?". The doctor had a sister who had been cured of dysentery at Dr. Hayashi's clinic and suggested Mrs. Takata to address her. Shortly after the two women s meeting, Mrs. Takata was brought to the clinic in order to begin the treatment. After Mrs. Takata was cured, she wanted to learn this for herself. However, Dr. Hayashi showed no eagerness to initiate her, simply because she was a foreigner. Due to her doctor s insistence and kindness, Mrs. Takata was finally able to persuade Dr. Hayashi to be her personal Reiki trainer. The whole process of learning took her about 12 months and brought her to what we would now call Reiki Level II (she couldn t train other practitioners). Afterwards, she returned to Hawaii where she also 24

25 learned about the value that stands in receiving treatments. Her first attempt was to treat a neighbor but she did not charge that man as a patient and so the neighbor did not value the treatments and did not become well. She then agreed to treat a close relative but this time she asked for payment. Unexpectedly, this patient did stay well and so the tradition of charging for Reiki treatment was reinforced. In November 1936, Dr. Hayashi came to Hawaii for a speaking session on Reiki promotion. All this time, he mentored Mrs. Takata and advanced her to the Reiki Master Level. Later on, he passed the leadership of Reiki to Mrs. Takata. He first gathered all the Reiki Masters to this historical meeting where he put Mrs. Takata in charge of future Reiki trainings. Then, Dr. Hayashi publicly announced he intended to terminate his life by injuring three blood vessels on his own and on command. He programmed those blood vessels to burst on their own, by the power of will, and as he continued to speak and lecture, he died peacefully, right in front of the astonished crowds. Mrs. Takata returned to Hawaii and continued to teach and practice Reiki. Eventually, she moved to California, using and teaching Reiki there as well. She stopped training other masters until 1975, and right before she died in 1980, she took no less than 22 Reiki Masters under her wise, passionate mentorship. 25

26 After Mrs. Takata's transition, a few leading teachers made a couple of twists and changes in the way they taught Reiki. Most of the adjustments were favorable and included the input of a consistent variety of healing skills the teachers had learned from other systems or had acquired on their own. However, some changes were pretty restrictive and made it more difficult for students and followers to step forward within the educational system. Some divided the Third Degree into several smaller categories, declaring each new part a new Degree and charging additional costs. Often, the fact that they had modified the Takata system was not mentioned and by the time their students became teachers, they began teaching what they thought was clean Takata style and even calling it genuine Usui Reiki when in fact it wasn t. Whatever the certainty of the claims in the history given below, the ability to perform Reiki came from somewhere and stands for the ultimate proof that there IS a way of performing natural healing wisely for real. Reiki DOES heal, DOES work 26

27 and DOES help people get back in touch with their inner unlimited potential. 27

28 Here is the timeline of Reiki s history, briefly summarized over the years: 1865 August 15. Birth of Mikao 1868 The Meiji Restoration was officially launched 1873 The Christianity is not prohibited anymore (relevant to the deceptive history of Reiki) 1880 September 15: Birth of Chujiro Hayashi,Tokyo, Japan 1900 December 24: Birth of Hawayo Kawamuru, later known as Hawayo Takata 1902 Chujiro Hayashi graduates from the Japanese Naval Academy 1906 Kimiko Koyama, the 6th President of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, is born 1907 Sadako Suzuki marries Mikao Usui and officially becomes his wife 1908 Birthdate of Fuji Usui, first son of Mikao Usui and Sadako Suzuki 1913 Birthdate of Toshiko Usui, first daughter of Mikao Usui and Sadako Suzuki 1915 "Kenzen no Genri" is published. The Reiki Precepts were first printed in this book March 10: Hawayo Kawamuru and Saichi Takata got married and H.Kawamuru became H. Takata 1918 Mikao Usui starts practicing the Zen and the Zazen meditation form 1920 Birth of Chiyoko Yamaguchi / Chiyoko-san founds Jikiden Reiki 1921 Mikao Usui is hired as an administrative assistant in the Department of Health and Welfare 1922 Mikao Usui s commercial Reiki clinic opens its doors for the first time 1923 Mikao Usui implements the grading system used in the martial art practice Judo as Reiki Levels 1924 Mikao Usui relocates his commercial Reiki business to Nakano, near Tokyo 1925 Four new levels of Reiki are introduced by Kaiji Tomita: Shoden, Chuuden, Okuden and Kaiden 1926 Chujiro Hayashi claims ownership of Mikao Usui's commercial Reiki practice 1927 Memorial stone erected to honour Mikao Usui at Saihoji Temple located in Tokyo, Japan 1928 March 4: Shou Matsui authors the first article to appear in a magazine about Reiki 1930 Toshihiro Eguchi s book "Te-no-hira Ryoji Nyumon" is published 1931 Hayashi is asked to leave The Usui Reiki Gakkai for not respecting the standards set forth by Usui 1933 Kaiji Tomita publishes the book "Reiki to Jinjutsu - Tomita Ryo Teate Ryoho" 1935 Hawayo Takata travels to Japan and receives her first Reiki treatment 1936 Hawayo Takata earns Reiki level two 1937 Chujiro Hayashi travels to Hawaii to promote Reiki 1938 February 21: Hawayo Takata receives her Reiki Master Certificate from Chujiro Hayashi 1940 Chujiro Hayashi bequeaths his house and Reiki clinic to Hawayo Takata 1970 Hawayo Takata's version of Reiki first becomes known in North Americ 1980 December 11: Hawayo Takata dies 28

29 Derivation of Name The definition of Reiki can be read as "Universal Life Energy". This is the most common description used in the Western World nowadays. The Kanji can also mean the Universal life energy/spirit coming together with us and it represents the fusion with everything and everyone around. The word strictly refers to the energy itself, not the specific techniques taught by Reiki Masters. The techniques are more properly called the Usui System of Natural Healing after the founder of the system, Dr. Mikao Usui. Reiki is broadly known as a highly beneficial form of energy healing. Energy Healing involves direct application of Chi for the purpose of strengthening the client s energy system called aura. Chi is the common term used by the Chinese mystics and martial artists for the key force the Universe is made of. Spiritualists in all cultures have talked about the physical universe being made of an essential form of something, much as modern physics inquiries are now coming to understand the Universe is made of energy which relies on human thoughts and brain frequencies. They even went so far as to claim we create our own reality from our 29

30 thinking and the beliefs we share one to another every single day. The OED lists 1975 as the earliest recorded usage of the word Reiki. Japanese reiki, meaning "mysterious environment", is commonly written either in shinjitai kanji (modern Chinese) or as in katakana (typically used for transcribing foreign words). It compounds the words rei meaning "departed spirit, ghost; spirit, soul" and ki which stands for "spirit, mind, consciousness, energy, force, natural phenomenon " Some Reiki translation correspondents from Japanese-English dictionaries are: "feeling of mystery", spiritual presence or "an ethereal atmosphere that prevails in the sacred precincts of a shrine. Besides the usual Sino- Japanese pronunciation reiki, these kanji have an alternate Japanese reading, namely ryōge, meaning demon, ghost or any other suspect form of unseen living. With open hands, open minds and open hearts, Reiki means, way behind the classic definition, complete focus and awareness on the time being. In other words, one of Reiki s shortest definitions is NOW the present. Unconditioned love, kindness and compassion are the expression of our awareness. We simply and naturally heal ourselves and the others. We are the big light shinning above our own limits, NOW, in the living spur of the 30

31 moment, in every breath we take, glowing deep down in our minds and souls. Healing just is. Some might think this a bit esoteric or philosophical or even magical. It is actually very simple, but it cannot be reasoned to, it cannot be sought after, it cannot be found. It simply is. Reiki just is, whether the definition says so or not. 31

32 Origins The origin of Reiki can be traced back to ancient Tibet, thousands of years ago. This revolutionary technique was rediscovered in the late 1800's - early 1900's by Dr. Mikao Usui of Japan. The tradition of Reiki was an oral one and was passed on by master to master and student to student by word of mouth. Over the years new information has surfaced about the origins of Reiki, Dr. Usui's background and education, hand positions, etc., and has served to fix some of the mistakes and misinformation of the Western traditions of Reiki. 32

33 In Takata Sensei's 'teaching story' Usui Sensei is said to have discovered the 'secret key' to healing in the Buddhist Sutras. This is the first hint that Reiki may have had Buddhist origins. However, as to precisely which Sutras (there are a vast number of Buddhist Sutras - primarily in Sanscrit and Pali, but a great many also translated into Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese), and exactly what form this 'key' took, was never elucidated by Takata Sensei. The idea that Reiki was an ancient Tibetan form of healing, rediscovered by Usui Sensei, seems to have first been suggested by Arthur Robertson, a student of Iris Ishikuro (one of Takata-Sensei's Masters). Arthur was the creator - in the early 1980's - of the first so-called 'Tibetan' Reiki style, later known as Raku Kei Reiki. Tibet has always been identified as the secret fountain of Spiritual Wisdom - due to the propaganda created in the 19th century by various Esoteric groups such as the Theosophists, who became obsessed with Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism as well as Mysticism and Magic. So perhaps it was only to be expected that the idea of Reiki being a practice from the 'mysterious land of Tibet' would seize the hearts and imaginations of a great many of the' new age' Reiki contingent. The notion that Reiki originated in Tibet grew in popularity as a result of the marketing success 33

34 of Diane Steine's book: 'Essential Reiki', which became famous for openly portraying versions of the Reiki Symbols. However, Steine sought not only to merge Reiki with Tibetan Tantra, but also with Wiccan 'Goddesscentered' beliefs as well. 34

35 Early Development However, the original Reiki developed by Usui-sensei stayed in Japan. On the other hand, a different form of Reiki exceeded the boundaries of the Western World. In the true origins of Reiki, before the Western ego got hold of it, it was all about finding the light, the universal power within us. It was about the inner journey and developing the intuitive side so we could better interact with the light or universal energy which Usui called Reiki. Usui-sensei developed Hatsureiho to improve the connection with the inner light or, what today is called, the Internal Reiki Energy. Some Western Reiki Masters have insulted the keepers of traditional Reiki in Japan, who believe that Western Reiki is limited. In original Usui Reiki Ryoho, after a student receives the first level, he has to practice it for several years and owe it to their sensei to make proof of their improved spiritual gift before the second level is even considered. It is only when we connect with the light within that we can possibly hope to get in touch with the reflected light out with. Compare this with the become-enlightened-overnight-with-me-guru approach of many 35

36 Western Reiki Masters who offer Mastership over Spirituality in a weekend! The conflict between the Japanese and the Occidentals is still open, due to origin-related differences. Takata is the one that introduced the Usui Reiki system into the western world. Many have claimed that the Reiki Symbols (the four original symbols taught by Usui-Sensei himself) are secret Tibetan symbols. Now, while the origin of the so-called power symbol is still uncertain, it is commonly accepted that the 'mental/emotional' symbol is indeed a stylization of a character [from a form of the Sanscrit script known as Siddham - or shittan in Japanese] which is used in esoteric Japanese Buddhism as the spiritual emblem of the Buddha Amida. The distance symbol and the master symbol however are actually phrases of Japanese origin, written in kanji characters. While adopted by the Japanese, kanji are originally Chinese ideograms, not Tibetan characters or symbols. Tibet had, and still has, its own self-governing system of writing and people should keep in mind that the Chinese system of writing has never been used in ancient Tibet. 36

37 The Five Basic Principles Soon after his legendary breakthrough, Dr. Usui realized that Reiki was not just about healing others, but rather preparing the most accurate environment for them to heal themselves. Like in any other system, there are these main guidelines that once adopted, they can promote healing and awareness on many levels. One should follow these five principles while practicing Reiki: JUST FOR TODAY DO NOT ANGER Anger is one of the strongest emotions that is usually experienced because of the past background and it can often be covered all up and 37

38 carried through life. This principle does not say do not anger tomorrow, but rather just for today - let your anger go, live in the present and forget about the past! JUST FOR TODAY DO NOT WORRY Worry is related to perceptions of the future. It is based on the ground rhetorical question what if? What purpose does this serve? Why worry about that which has not and probably won't happen? The principle says that one should live in the present and do not worry for the future. HONOR YOUR PARENTS, TEACHERS, ELDERS AND YOURSELF Our parents, siblings and present life is decided by our past life karma, which means that we have decided our present actions. If we do honor our everyday choices and decisions, then it is the self that is being denied. Live in the present, be grateful and appreciate your life! EARN YOUR LIVING HONESTLY The action of honoring brings fulfillment, value and respect of what one does today, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but literally today! SHOW GRATEFULLNESS TO EVERY LIVING THING AND BEING 38

39 We are all part of a whole, of the Ultimate, no more, no less. At some spiritual level, we are all connected, think and act like one. Any act of hostility, whether it is towards another human, an animal, a plant or even a mental shape, proves cruelty to oneself and to all-else that exists. 39

40 When our energy fields contravene to these lost souls or thought forms - imbalanced energies from the external consciousness - then our soul/awareness and, as a result, our physical condition is jeopardized too. To begin the convergence of our soul and our spirit in this physical reality, all we need to do, on a daily basis, is reaffirm to ourselves that we are the absolute light that works for everyone and everything. We can do this quite simply in the following way: I thank the light that I am and the light that is all living things. I am looking within to the light that I am for the answers, and my conscious awareness of this communication with my true self is rising every day. I ask the light that I am and the light that is all things living to help me and protect me in times of need. I ask the light that I am and the light that is all things living to guide me and show me what I need to know to help me keep my consciousness awake and balanced. I ask the light that I am and the light that is all things living to help me release my inequities and help me to face my fears and melt them and purify them in the light that I am. 40

41 I ask the light that I am and the light that is all things living to guide me and show me what I need to do to help improve the collective consciousness of humans and bring the Earth s consciousness, the disease we have created, back in its best shape. I ask the light that I am and the light that is all things living to help me to keep my physical and spiritual body clean and balanced all the time. I ask the light that I am and the light that is all things living to help me to become more aware of the illusion and therefore more aware of the truth and light that I am. I ask the light that I am and the light that is all things living to help me keep grounded and balanced between all the aspects that I am in this physical body. In addition, we can use a very simple visualization. Imagine the light or the sun in the centre of our heart and then imagine this light growing and expanding outwards until it surrounds your entire body. This reaffirms the correct flow of energy from within to out with and helps to keep the Centric Point flowing correctly after it has been aligned and cleared of any blockage or external factors and connections. 41

42 Most people believe that the gokai - the Five Principles or Precepts above - are an important key to the Usui system. Perhaps it is that they are not just 'important' but rather VITAL - that they are the very CORE of Usuisensei's system - that the Precepts themselves are: "The secret method of inviting blessings, the spiritual medicine of many illnesses" spoken of in the introductory statement which comes directly before the Precepts themselves. That is because the Precepts themselves are 'keys' or strategies to apply to life and no one should ignore any of those. In a couple of renditions of the principles, no's 3 and 4 are merged together (and in one case, principles 1 and 2 are also combined into the same principle), yet whatever the version, these differently-worded translations still essentially all deal of the same five concepts: anger, worry, gratitude, work, kindness 42

43 These are the key-words for any human willing to make a turn in a lifetime and grow in deeper thoughts and brighter spirit. Some people have commented why one version of the principles says Honor your parents, teachers and elders where the majority of others have the general gratitude principle. On several occasions, Takatasensei expressed the principles in slightly different wording - in an attempt to explain the core emotion in response for the students present at the time. This is partly why different people use slightly variant wordings. It was common for Takata sensei to state the 'gratitude' principle as "We will count our blessings" or "... be grateful for our many blessings" and to qualify this by explaining gratitude included honoring our fathers and mothers, teachers and neighbors - and even our food. One thing is for sure: Takata thought that the greatest of the five was Gratitude. 43

44 TRADITIONS The Universal Reiki techniques aim to expand the ability of energetic channeling and give the practitioners the chance to count with some assorted range of methods for healing, personal development and spiritual growth. The big difference between Japanese Reiki and the other systems practiced back in the West is that the so-called borrowed style doesn t have clear Japanese roots (such is the case of Reiki Usui, Reiki Tera Mai and other Reiki programs of modern times). All these Western following systems were shaped after the Leader which is Reiki legacy of Hawayo Takata. It is already known that Takata was initiated by Chujiro Hayashi, a student of Usui, who adapted the original techniques, creating a brand new simplified working method. In the West, Takata s system (quite different from the Usui style) has been taken as the ground source to which other techniques have been added, creating other Reiki systems like Shamballa, Osho, Karuna and Tera Mai. 44

45 Takata vs. Usui Mrs. Takata s custom style relied on memorizing certain rules and working with standard procedures. This implies the typical hand positions in order to validate the applied treatment. Even though there are some limitations to this system, it still serves as a compact model and stands out among the other post-takata improvisations nowadays. By placing the hands gently over most of the body, the clients are fully treated from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes, thus creating balanced spreading of lights and energies within. In addition, by using this formula, one treats the areas in need automatically, whether you know where the pain is located or not. While the Takata style may have restrictions, it nearly allows anyone to generate consistent results and positive effects. Shortly after Mrs. Takata passed away in December 1980, most of her students went on with practicing the very same method she had taught over the years. Moreover, some began to experiment and to channel, expand or bring new Reiki systems out in the open. The first of these were Mari-el and her improved Radiance Technique. Many more followed and there are now at least 40 different kinds of Reiki being practiced in the West. Surrounded by such environments, one needs to have a clear and better understanding of ones personal needs and the gift to follow ones 45

46 inner guidance if one is to wisely choose which Reiki system to study, practice and eventually pass on to the next generations. While many other new techniques have developed back in the West, the same basic frame taught by Mrs. Takata seems to remain the groundwork of most of these and the classic performance of Reiki treatments continue to rely on her suggested standard hand positions. On the other hand, Dr. Usui s style illustrates a different approach. He didn t go for standard hand positions but taught his students to develop the ability to use ones intuition to guide one to the right hand placements. In this case, the mental input played a bigger role than the typical, plain physical touch. This often resulted in a one of a kind treatment for each client. He taught several techniques for doing this including Byosen scanning wherein one uses the sensitivity in ones hands to find the problematic areas in high need of Reiki as well as Reiji-ho in which one is guided directly with ones intuition or perhaps an inner guidance towards the client s bad energy field. This style allows one to develop a working relationship with the Reiki energy and thus be guided by its potential. In addition to the above techniques, Dr. Usui also taught Gassho meditation, Kenyoku or dry bathing which is a method for cleansing ones 46

47 energy, Koki-ho, a method that uses the breath to heal, Gyoshi-ho, a method of transferring Reiki s curative properties via eyes, Jacki-Kiri Joka-ho, a method for clearing negative energy from objects and Enkaku chiryo which is a method for sending away distant healing within the infinite space. We can easily conclude that Mrs. Takata s style focused on a sharp learning system that was the same for each client and used only the hands to send out Reiki. In contrast, Dr. Usui s style was more flexible and relied on the developed awareness of the practitioner to provide a special treatment based on the specific needs, sensations and mind-toheart frequencies of the client. He also taught how to send Reiki not only with the hands, but also with the breath and the eyes and incorporated other similar techniques as well. By bringing both the Western and the Japanese styles together in one system, the best of both worlds is achieved. The Western style, which is more linear, logical and left brained balances the Japanese style, which is more open ended, discerning and right brained. 47

48 Western Reiki Lineage 48

49 Japanese Reiki Lineage 49

50 Shamballa Reiki Lineage 50

51 Japanese Reiki TRADITIONAL JAPANESE REIKI focuses upon the natural correlation with the hara energy system and the Three Diamonds (Earth Ki, Heaven Ki and Heart Ki). Emphasis is placed more upon meditation, self awareness and self treatment. The actual treatment of others is considered a secondary yet very positive outcome of this particular approach of Reiki. This distinct system relies more on treating specific areas of the body using intuitive style techniques such as Byosen-ho and Reiji-ho and Breath. It is thought that this instinctive method brings the practitioner into a closer energy rapport with the client and so shares more with the one in pain. Western Reiki In WESTERN STYLE REIKI it is usually taught that Reiki works in conjunction with the meridian energy lines, charkas and aura. The concept of the charkas and aura is actually from India and is not used in the Traditional Japanese style of Reiki. Some Western style practitioners also use crystals, chanting, or drumming, and others include spirit guides in their work, which are New Age or Shamanistic additions to Reiki. The Western Style tends to use a systematic set of fixed hand-positions for general body treatment. In Western Style Reiki emphasis is placed upon 51

52 treatment of others first while self treatment of the practitioner is considered to be secondary. 52

53 TRAINING LEVELS Those who choose to engage in Reiki classes can feel free to attend such courses. But you can just as well keep reading this book and go on with practicing the hand positions in front of a mirror, in the comfort of your own home. The effects are exactly the same. The only difference is that, by going to classes, you will spend money and time, but you will have a physical person that can guide you. At first, Reiki training was divided into three main levels. Dr. Mikao Usui, the father of Reiki, spread his knowledge about the holistic healing all over Japan. Ever since, Reiki has sought no bounds and it has spread rapidly throughout the world. Among Reiki Masters, the Reiki classification into levels remains a continuous and controversial topic of discussion. However, people all around the world follow their own structure. Reiki practitioners also claim that they have improved the pattern of training by applying the principles of their own classified levels. Seeing that originally there were three levels of Reiki training, here is given clarification on each one of them in part. 53

54 Reiki for Beginners As the title suggests, level 1 or First Degree of Reiki offers the beginners an opportunity to receive Reiki energy for life. Every apprentice gets four initiations within a period of two days or three nights. Beginner's level or First Degree Reiki is the most important level, since the learner is initiated to Reiki energy for life. 54

55 Advanced Reiki Those who have already passed the first level of Reiki and seek to learn more about this ancient practice of holistic healing should explore the Advanced Level or 2nd level or Second Degree of Reiki. The training of Advanced Reiki includes additional healing exercises and meditation techniques. That is because, this time, the accent is to be found on exploring the spiritual side of it. 55

56 Reiki Master Level The Second Degree of Reiki is sufficient for that ordinary practitioner who doesn't want to become a Reiki Master. The Third degree or Level 3 is essentially meant for practitioners who aspire to be Masters and teach Reiki. 56

57 1 st Degree: REIKI FOR BEGINNERS Beside the basic ritual of initiation, the novice is also introduced to all the features of Reiki via discourses and other textual and wordy tricks through which the metaphysics and scientific mechanisms of Reiki are confirmed by numerous case studies, on a regular basis. The learners are strictly educated about how to apply self-treatments, how to take charge of their own healing potential, how to treat animals and others individuals during critical situations and how to become acquainted with the most common practices when it comes to hands-on-body working styles. Practical sessions are combined with theory-based lectures and gatherings, in which students get the chance to put knowledge into practice and experience Reiki on their own. This instructive workshop should be at least of 10 hours. Indeed, you would not be given much elucidation, as what really matters is receiving and using Reiki by placing your hands over the body. Nearly all Reiki masters tag along this philosophy and teach little in their workshops, while focusing on the applicable function of Reiki. However, if people receive a good explanation of Reiki dynamics, it is more likely they will use the technique in a better and much efficient way. Or else, learners usually end up using 57

58 Reiki without experiencing its fullest power. Most of the Reiki Masters choose to teach only essential amounts of theoretical training and then, initiate the learner to Reiki energy. However, the format of training and other aspects of the Reiki workshop could be different as per the acquaintance of Reiki Master and the culture wherein Reiki is to be taught. Remember, though, that you can always choose to be your own Master in digging Reiki down to its core, by studying hard and reading tones of books and manuals (like the one you re reading now). This will help you get in touch with Reiki. 58

59 2 nd Degree: ADVANCED REIKI Those who have completed the first level of Reiki and want to learn more about this practice are advised to go for the Advanced Degree/Level of Reiki. The proper training program is specially design to meet higher expectations and it includes additional healing and meditation techniques. Not only does it increases your Reiki energy, but also improves your skills of healing and auto-healing. Advanced Reiki actually takes your ability of healing to a new upper level and strengthens your capacity to manage your native gift of working miracles with your palms. At this level, you will be trained about more complex techniques, making smart use of the Reiki symbols that practically stand for energy patterns. When these patterns are introduced to the practitioners, they influence their lives in a very powerful, inexplicable way. Healing people from a distance (actually any energy blueprint or energy field) is the greatest technique of the Second Degree course. In the first degree, you would have learned the hands-on application of Reiki and for sure, this would be absolutely different because you can now even heal your near and dear ones living abroad. 59

60 After graduating the Advanced Level, you are enabled to do what a regular First Degree holder can do in one hour in just about 15 minutes or so! Isn t that great? Moreover, you can actually send Reiki to more than one person or a group at the same time and save time by treating more people simultaneously. As soon as you get the essence of the newly introduced, deeper principles and perceptions, the whole process appears quite simple and accessible, with every step you take in getting through Reiki levels. Since Advanced Reiki techniques make it possible to treat any energy field, you can treat plants, animals or any other living creature on Earth. Each symbol has its own use and its own energy field, harmonizing people and places, providing protection and developing the sixth sense we all must have heard about. Compared with the fairly simple application of First Degree Reiki, Advanced Reiki includes various and a wide range of applications and so the exercised skills can be developed further. The amount of information provided in the second degree is considerably more consistent and qualitative. 60

61 3 rd Degree: REIKI MASTER LEVEL The Third degree or Level 3 is essentially meant for practitioners who seek to become Masters and teach Reiki. Studies have revealed that no more than 30% of Reiki Masters are also Reiki trainers. In fact, most of the learners wish to learn each and every aspect of Reiki, but show poor interest in teaching. For such reasons, Reiki Masters proposed the requirement of a transitional stage between the Second Degree and the Masters Level. The workshop for third degree takes about three days to complete. During this program, the Second degree holder is taught advanced theories and superior, complex techniques. He also receives a traditional Master's initiation, which has a notable impact over his personal development over the years. The highest levels of consciousness are also influenced by the new, senior teachings. The first four initiations or attunements of Reiki are one of the most important first-time teachings. It makes possible for the learner to experience the natural bliss of being able to attune someone to higher levels of consciousness. Once the practitioner can feel the energy within and all the four attunements are completed, Reiki energy becomes eternal. He is also introduced to other applications and different, useful knowledge which can be utilized for personal growth and to help learners on lower levels. The Third degree 61

62 apprentice, once in tune with the higher levels of Reiki, can use them throughout his life. Subsequently, the person can decide whether he wants to become Master or not. For becoming Master, the person should have a strong desire to teach Reiki. He must have great theoretical knowledge as well as practical experience with Reiki specific skills. During Master's coaching sessions, the trainee is initiated to the Master symbol and from then onwards, he can attune students into the greatest healing system of all which is REIKI. 62

63 Variations It is a known fact that the classic Reiki training methods as well as time of completion and costs vary a lot, depending on multiple factors, around the world. Though there is no official endorsement and central body for Reiki, nor any rule of its practice, there are certain independent organizations within the United Kingdom, fighting for the standardization of Reiki practices, courses and acknowledgments, such as the UK Reiki Federation and the Reiki Council (UK). Anyone can learn this at home or by watching someone else doing it. The basic knowledge on the techniques can be achieved through pictures and photos out on the internet and the curative effects of the hand positions from books and reports as well. There are Reiki practitioners out there that keep posting videos online through which the viewers can learn the basics of this ancient, healing method. So, there s no stringent need to go to classes when you can simply sit back in your chair and watch a movie or two, just for getting familiar with this worldwide ancient technique. Reiki courses are also available online, although traditionalists state that attunement must be done in person in order to take effect, as the Reiki Master/Teacher doing the attunement must be able to actually feel and get in touch with the energy field of the 63

64 person being attuned. Some traditionalists also affirm that the so-called overnight methods like one-weekend-courses/trainings that teach Reiki "in a blink of an eye" cannot yield as strong an effect, simply because mastering Reiki on the supreme, absolute level takes time, patience and years of practice and commitment. * 64

65 First degree Reiki is traditionally done hands-on, that is the practitioner places his/her hands on certain areas of the body. One of the post-takata variations on first degree Reiki is sending the healing energy by distance, although only a few Reiki masters are now teaching this. By comparison, second degree Reiki is conventionally taught to be sent long-distance, to the other side of the world if you have permission of your client. Second degree can also be done hands-on with a client as well. The traditional three levels are meant to gradually introduce students to the power and therapeutic energy of Reiki. In order to fully unlock ones abilities to use Reiki, it is compulsory to complete all three working stages. Never betray your client s trust! It is your duty to keep your client s difficulties under strict confidentiality. Also, do not repeat anything you learn during a treatment either from the client or from your intuitive perceptions! Being a Reiki Practitioner does not give you any particular spiritual merit. Remember, you re only the Healer, not the Psychologist, not the Priest, not the Counselor nor a family member. People might try to make you a Guru or see you as en empowered divine identity like God. Don t let them think that of you! You are just a Reiki Practitioner committing to the benefits of the healing light above us. You might even 65

66 get over impressed with yourself but remember that when you see remarkable effects from treatment it is not because of your personal merit, it s because of Reiki. Remember! Under no circumstances, never promise a complete healing or cure! There is no golden guarantee, as Reiki only works with miracles, thoughts, vibes and chances! 66

67 Go with the flow! People have the right to choose whether or not to accept healing, even someone who comes to you for treatment may refuse to accept healing energy. That is perfectly fine! You cannot access someone s chakras without expressed permission. Never diagnose, do not give medical instructions and never suggest that anyone discontinue medications or other treatment. Reiki always works best when practiced in junction with medical standard procedures and pharmaceutical adjutants. The idea of Reiki reducing pain more when it is specifically requested has been already validated and confirmed via deep research and case studies. Reiki will not eliminate necessary pain if the recipient needs it to force them to go to a doctor or put their health in jeopardy for example. You can do an entire treatment going through the hand placements but can also just allow the Reiki to flow. It is good to mentally state any areas of particular concern that you are aware of. As long as you keep a clear channel for the healing energy to flow through, the treatment will go where needed most and terminate successfully. 67

68 Another helpful adjuvant in placing your Reiki degrees into practice consists in positive affirmations. Affirmations are a powerful tool when one is trying to achieve goals. You can simply repeat a positive phrase over and over in your mind or write it on a piece of paper if that helps. Repetition is the key and so, all of your Degrees and certified knowledge can now be used to empower these curative affirmations. This way, they tend to be more deeply embedded in the subconscious mind of the client. People are getting immediate results after having suffered for years, thanks to your exercised skill, patience and trained wisdom. 68

69 PRACTICE: APPLICABLE TECHNIQUES Healing Energy should not be directed or redirected haphazardly, as it is imperative for a Reiki practitioner to send this healing energy for the highest good of all concerned and allow it to be used by the high self of the recipient for any supreme cause. When directing energy, ask the person first if they want a treatment or go within and ask their subconscious mind, as human brains can actually hear and capture positive thoughts and good intentions. Use your instinct and let your actions and hands be guided by whatever your Reiki-style-trained heart dictates you. If the Reiki is not entirely accepted by the recipient, it will return to you like a boomerang. Never assume that another being wishes to be healed, even if they say that they do. Do not force heal a person! Just let the energy work for you and do the whole job. Results may not be obvious immediately. But Reiki energy continues to work long after the treatment is finished. It is used to heal mental and emotional habits that no longer work for you, as well as emotional and mental distress. It is also used to bring up and heal the emotional issues underneath physical problems. It helps reinforce positive 69

70 behavior changes and it releases all those dusty feelings, desires and conditioning that kept us trapped in negative patterns for all this time. Healing with the Reiki Light can be as simple as using the symbol you ve been taught in Level 1, while performing a healing, using the standard hand positions. It can also be used as part of meditations to help release and heal that particular conditioning that underlies problems. Used to facilitate emotional and mental healing and to assist self-programming and treating addictions and habits as well as all other mental and emotional concerns, Reiki Healing is said to work on the subconscious. Some teachers use it on the first 4 chakras only and some use it on all positions. The mental healing function helps in balancing the right and left sides of the brain and is often used for healing bad habits or for programming in desired habits. Colors are also a beneficial way through which Reiki practitioners combine the Universal Energy with the vibrant power of the multicolored light-beams inside the Chakras. 70

71 REIKI HEALING: AURA COLOR MEANINGS The human body is like a sponge for the Universal Force, which our personal energy fields aka. auras absorb through energy centers called chakras. The Aura Color is an essential element within Reiki practice and it usually suggests the anomalies of the physical body or possible medical issues that require intervention. It depends on the location of the chakra that connects with the suffering organ or problematic area. RED AURA COLOR: Relates to the physical body, heart or circulation. Being the most intense color, it creates friction on a high level. The dynamic it generates usually attracts or repels money worries or obsessions, anger and anxiety. 71

72 ORANGE AURA COLOR: Relates to reproductive organs and emotions. It s the color of life, vitality, good health and extreme stimulation. It is also related to appetites and addictions. GREEN AURA COLOR: Relates to heart and lungs and it suggests a very comfortable, peaceful state of mind. When detected in the aura, this usually represents growth and balance, and sometimes a sign of change. BLUE AURA COLOR: Relates to the throat, thyroid, esophagus etc. INDIGO AURA COLOR: Relates to the third eye, visual and pituitary gland. VIOLET AURA COLOR: Relates to crown, pineal gland and nervous system. The most sensitive and wisest of all colors. This is the intuitive color in the aura, and reveals extrasensory power of attunement about one s inner identity and sensorial configuration. Those who carry around purple auras are highly perceptive, visionary and innovative. 72

73 GOLD AURA COLOR: The color of enlightenment and divine protection. When seen within the aura, it says that the person is being guided by their highest good. It speaks about insight defense, inner knowledge, spiritual mind and intuitive thinking. BLACK AURA COLOR: Draws or pulls energy to it and in so doing, transforms it. It captures light and devours it instantly! Usually indicates long-term unforgiveness (toward others or another) collected in a specific area of the body, which can lead to serious health problems. Also, strange entities and outside elements within a person's aura, chakras or body. WHITE AURA COLOR: Reflects light, transcendence and higher energetic dimensions. Often represents a newly integrated energy within the aura s spectrum. 73

74 74

75 The standard hand placement of Reiki healing implies all the seven major chakras, which are often rendered dysfunctional and discolored even completely closed by both physical and spiritual problems. Keeping these gateways properly functioning is crucially important to our health. That is because disruptions in energy flow lead to illness. Reiki treatments are meant to clean and clear the chakras of negative energy and blockages, restoring the harmonious flow of life-force energy. The chakras are the gates through which energy flows both into and out of the aura. This colorful, radiant energy form flowing down our bodies the aura - consists of seven layers and sometimes more. Each aura deals with different aspects of our being, whether it is physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. The major chakras extend cone-like from the core of the spine through all of these layers. The chakras are located at the base of the spine (root chakra), between the genitals and naval (sacral chakra), a couple of inches above the naval (solar plexus chakra), the center of the chest (heart chakra), middle of the neck (throat chakra), just above the brow area (third-eye chakra), and top of the head (crown chakra). The body's many minor chakras (more than 100) include sensitive points behind the eyes, near the ears, behind the 75

76 knees and on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Anywhere there is a correspondence and there is a chakra, so the hands contain many energy centers. This explains how the chakras located in the palms and fingers are the ones through which Reiki healing energy is pursued. Once a master teacher attunes you to the source of Reiki, intention is all that is required for you to channel this energy. It flows into your body through your crown and heart chakras and gets out through your palm chakras to wherever you direct it (to specific parts of your body or to others). Each major chakra on the front of the body is a perfect match for its counterpart on the back. When joined together in the same spot, they are considered to be the front and rear aspect of one chakra. The root and crown chakras can be considered paired because they are the open-ended points of the body s main power current, which runs up and down the spine and into which all of the chakras point. 76

77 Reiki is nothing but a pure energy form that comes along with natural, painless healing. When it is combined with the sincere desire and intention of the Healer, who is willing to perform a sanitization within their emotional and spiritual consciousness, a total and successful healing occurs. One of the greatest Reiki healing health benefits is stress reduction and relaxation, which triggers the body s natural healing potential and improves and maintains general health. Reiki healing is a non-artificial therapy that gently balances life energies and brings health and well being to the recipient. This works with the Higher Self of the Receiver to promote well being of the entire physical, emotional and psychic body. 77

78 The new dimensions of HEALING BENEFITS OF REIKI HEALING - Aids better sleep, - Reduces blood pressure - Helps with acute and chronic problems like asthma, eczema, headaches, etc. - Relieves pain - Removes energy blockages, adjusts the energy flow of the endocrine system - Sets the spirit into balance and puts the body in best shape - Detoxifies the entire body when performed entirely - Reduces some of the side effects of drugs and helps the body to recover after surgery and chemotherapy - Supports the immune system, - Increases vitality and slows down the aging process - Raises the vibrational frequency of the body - Generates spiritual growth and emotional balance Reiki is excellent for healing any physical, mental, emotional and spiritual issues of any kind and it helps your body stay healthy as a horse. When the flow of the "Life Force Energy" is disrupted, damaged or blocked, you can expect emotional or health problems to occur. Imbalances can be caused from many situations happening in a lifetime, such as: emotional or physical trauma, injury, negative thoughts and feelings including fear, worry, doubt, anger, anxiety, negative selftalk, toxicity, nutritional issues, vicious lifestyle and faulty relationships, self neglecting and lack of love for oneself or others and the list can go on. Some When Of The Reiki we are Healing rested Health and Benefits: relaxed, our body is able to restore our natural ability to heal. Long term practice of whole-body Reiki will bring back the general condition of a healthy body. Once the energy channels are open, the body responds and learns how to deal properly with all the hassle inside and build-up toxins. If combined with other natural therapies (meditation, crystals, aroma therapy, ancient remedies, homeopathy, 78 etc.) Reiki will reinforce the curative effect and boost the positive results.

79 Breathing Let Reiki flow down into your lungs! Usui s legacy is this special technique called Joshin Kokyūhō, which means "the breathing method for cleansing the spirit", though literally translates as "Goddess Breath Method". Joshin Kokyū-hō is performed by breathing in slowly with the mouth closed. As the practitioner inhales, s/he also breathes the Reiki energy in through the crown Chakra in order to purify the body and make it a perfect match for the flow of Reiki. Part of the breathing technique in Reiki is imagining light in relation to these breaths. Via your thoughts, you can easily direct and scatter the healing rays into any area that you wish. This will help you begin to reset the blocked energies and put the mantra back in motion. Breathing Techniques In Reiki, breathing techniques and methods are one of the smart tools used to help with the interference of energy flows insideout. Getting familiar with the standard breathing techniques is one of the first steps in knowing how to use the enlightenment process for healing purposes. Reiki operates with what they call deep breathing techniques. These techniques allow you to become more conscious of the chakras that are being accessed to promote healing. It also allows you to more easily tap into the universal energies and connect with your inner self. The first type of breathing to apply when practicing Reiki is the short breath, feeling the upper part of the lungs before exhaling. This is how most people regularly breathe during night time. You will want to identify the inhaling as universal power and exhaling as a release of negative energies. The second step in breathing is filling your lower body in the location of the stomach and diaphragm. When inhaling, you should notice your tummy popping-up and by the time you exhale, your stomach should contract and get back to its regular stand-by dimensions. This is considered to be a full breath that is often used in meditation. The third breathing technique includes picturing that you are inviting the inhaled air to expand into your ribs. This will slow you down in order to allow you to attract the universal energies with the help of deep, full breathing. 79

80 It is reported that the recipient often feels warmth or itchy in the area being treated, even when a non-touching approach is being performed. A state of deep relaxation, combined with a general feeling of internal comfort, is usually the first obvious, triggering effect of the treatment in use, although any emotional burst-out can also occur. A series of three or more treatments, typically at intervals of 1 to 7 days, is usually recommended if a chronic condition is being addressed and regular treatments on a regular basis can be effected. The interval between such treatments is typically in the range of one to four weeks. BODY TREATMENT A typical whole-body Reiki treatment implies the practitioner suggesting the client to lie down, usually on a massage table, and relax completely. Baggy, comfortable clothes are usually worn during the treatment. The practitioner might take a few moments to enter a calm or meditative state of mind and mentally prepare for the treatment that is usually carried out without any unnecessary talking. The treatment proceeds with the practitioner placing the hands on the recipient in multiple positions. However, Reiki practitioners may use a nontouching technique, where the hands are held a few centimeters away from the recipient's body for some or all of the positions. The hands are usually kept in a position up to five minutes before moving to the next position. Overall, the hand positions usually give a general coverage of the head, the front and back of the upper body, the knees and feet. Between 12 and 20 positions are used, with the whole treatment lasting anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes per session. And the scan begins Many Western practitioners use a common fixed set of 12 palm positions, while others use their gut-feeling to guide them as to where treatment is necessary. There are times when the practitioner needs to prepare a scanning pre-session in order to search and trace the areas in need, before the receiver gets a suitable cure. The intuitive approach might also lead to particular positions being treated for much shorter or longer periods. A Western Reiki treatment is considered a type of large-scale action in comparison to the more localized-style treatment of Traditional Japanese Reiki. 80

81 When a person is in good health, regular therapy will increase the body s built-in defenses. This will manifest itself as visible boosted confidence and noticeable harmony in dealing with life challenges. The person under treatment will gain a positive perception of life and feel better about everything. Reiki will also grant the receiver with additional blessing energy, meant to accompany the needy one along the long road of recovery. A Reiki healing session can induce an extremely comfortable state of being that can bring alteration in the client s consciousness. It can be used also as complementary therapy because, in essence, Reiki is truly a complementary care. It complements and enhances the health care the patient receives in the hospital or from other health care providers. Reiki healing complements Eastern and Western medicine and everybody can benefit from it. It is entirely beneficial to the health of women (even pregnant), men, children and it is also exceptional to be used on animals (dogs, cats, horses), plants, water, etc. Reiki healing energy is a valuable tool for use at any moment, any time, any where for on-the-spot stress release, pain relief and quick reinforcement. 81

82 Reiki on Animals "For the love of your pet...do something DIFFERENT!" One shall not follow the wrong idea that Reiki is some kind of substitute for proper veterinary care. Instead, it is a fantastic healing energy that has the ability to strengthen the already special bond between you and your pet. You DO share a bond with those furry little guys! So why not taking proper care of them and give them a hand when needed? Who wouldn't want best cure for their sick pet, whether it is a faithful dog or just a golden, silent fish? Indeed, it has been demonstrated that just like humans, animals can be willing recipients of Reiki healing too! They practically crave for that organic warmth and all the affection you can give away in a touchable or rather touching manner! From the first sign of sickness, you can always try to channel your healing energy into your pet and project positive thoughts on the red-alert area to put the pain and the discomfort at ease. Reiki can definitely make your pet better. If your loving touch and expressed fondness means well to them, how much greater will a healing touch of Reiki be? Reiki will draw your pets closer to you, that is for sure! It also works on old, dying animals, in case you want to add a couple more happy years to their given calendar. 82 Traumatized or inexplicably aggressive animals, sad puppy eyes or lethargic cats any of these can be cured by Reiki energy, by flowing through the affected parts of the damaged field and charging them with positive, abundant, natural power. It raises the vibration of the energy field in and around the physical body where the bad health condition is attached. This causes the harmful energy to break apart and fall away. Reiki clears, straightens and heals the energy pathways, thus allowing the life force to flow in a healthy and natural way and mostly, its appliance matches any type of animal. Moreover, for behavioral issues such as jumpiness or hyperactivity, Reiki can help your pet settle down and reduce the hassle and anxiety residing in their little bodies, so they can be easily trained in the future.

83 The body is more than just a set of functioning parts and working wheels. Since everything generates a frequency, the body and its organs have their own energy field which is continually shifting from one state to another. All conditions of disease are rooted in this energy system. And it is well known that babies and animals have a higher body temperature as well as frequency than regular individuals like the adults and the elderly. If our four-legged friend s "life force" is low or blocked, they are more likely to get sick and suffer in pain. But, if it is high and flows generously throughout the entire body, our pets can maintain their health all by themselves. Still, what if the cute little animals around us get sick and no medicine can take away their aches? We are kindly advised to visit a Reiki practitioner and bring our furry companions with us too for a couple of light-healing sessions! Our pets need and deserve unconditioned love and compassion. They also ask for our permanent attention and care in needy times. Reiki comes with this friendly solution: several hands-on-body sessions should be more than enough for any health related problem, unless the animal is in big pain and needs special medical care like surgery. Still Reiki is capable of healing anything, from light injuries to any disease or cruel diagnosis, because it works at very fundamental levels of consciousness and grounded reality. It is ideal for use with animals because with Reiki, since effectiveness is not necessarily determined by physical contact, the animal is in charge of the treatment, accepting Reiki in the ways that are most comfortable, either hands-on or from a distance, or a combination of the two. It always goes to the deepest source of the problem and always supports a path towards balance and harmony. You can do it yourself, even if you re a novice! Your animal needs you and so it s about time for you to activate your most powerful inner powers and assist your suffering or even dying pet. A touch of health like Reiki never harmed anyone, not even a leaf or a flower. So why not take advantage of this miraculously working practice and put it into action for your dear ones, including the animals you tenderly take care of, day by day? Somehow, the animals will sense your best intention and, as they turn still during Reiki treatment, they ll gratefully take the energy in and respond positively in the end. 83

84 The principles of Reiki are the same whether you are treating a relative, a close friend, a complete stranger or the animals around your house. The energy flows just the same in all cases. Animal anatomy relates with the human body structure, so you can usually evaluate hand positions quite easily if you are trying to treat specific organs and lighten chronic pains. It is rather atypical to encounter an animal who will not eagerly accept Reiki. Dogs, cats, horses they all crave for cuddling and gentle touches. You can tell that by examining their body positions which indicates the problematic, painful spots. As with humans, if you find an area on an animal that seems to draw a lot of energy, spend more time on that specific area and send your love and compassion via Reiki. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one s soul remains unawakened ~ Anatole France ~ Pets will usually lie down during the Reiki session for as long as they need to actually feel the healing effect happening down their spine. When they've had enough, they usually get back on their feet or simply walk away. Normally, about half an hour is recommended for small-sized animals and about an hour for large dogs. They all like being touched behind the ears, on the back of the head, around the eyes, under the chin and down the chest, but also enjoy being touched on the belly. Communication is also important. Try talking to the animal under treatment in a soothing, comforting voice. Use slow movements and try beaming Reiki to the animal. Once they feel the Reiki energy, they tend to calm down. You can also treat injured 84or pain areas directly or through bandages. Reiki will also help speed the healing process for animals that have undergone surgery.

85 Animals love Reiki as much as they love cuddling into your arms. Simply lay your hands on the various places on their body or if your pet lies before you on the ground you can gently put your feet on them. Reiki radiates from your whole body, including the soles of your feet. Using Reiki alongside veterinary treatments can literally accelerate the healing process, ease pain and improve or help to continue the animal's quality of life. Its use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual maturity and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully transmitted to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. Therefore, you can be a Guru too! And maybe, who knows, you can save the life of your puppy or keep your cat in good health for many years! 85

86 Hearing and Healing Animals Yes! Animals need to be first heard before they are exposed to healing Reiki sessions. Did you ever talk to your dog and then wonder what is he thinking about? Maybe he s hurt, maybe he s in pain and cannot show it neither handle it, maybe your dog or your hamster is in serious trouble and needs fast intervention. This is bad! Now it s time for you to go into action and make smart use of Reiki! All you have to do is allow the pet to come into your proximity so you can hold them into your hands, hug them all around or have the chance to gently walk your fingers through their fur and just effortlessly allow the energy to flow into their little being. With pets, a Reiki session is usually quite less than when a human being is receiving the light. That doesn t mean that the importance of the exercise itself is lower, the value is the same and the curative effect heals the same and shares the very same positive result. When your pet is starting to get a little cranky, he s probably fighting back Reiki! That means it is definitely working! Everything goes on its way. But animals that have different illnesses or problems that are going on with them might need a little bit more attention. And it s very interesting to see your cat or your dog or your hamster just kind of crawl up to you when it does have the need for a bit more healing energy. They usually ask for more! More affection and more patience than regular human patients. And they surely know how to do it! They are doing it like kids use to ask for a candy or a new toy. Animals definitely need our attention, motherly care and assistance! The energy that everybody talks about the Reiki Energetic/Universal Wave - helps the animals relax, feel safer and it also helps with inflammations, furuncles, cuts, post-surgery injuries or any kind of biological discomfort. They simply enjoy energy work! They feel it, they gravitate towards it, they genuinely love it! All you need to do for the beginning is just set the intention, place your hands in certain areas and go from there! Keep only one hand in the affected area and pet the animal with the other, as any pet tend to hassle around for a while before it settles down. Shortly after, the pet will start responding to the pending treatment and eventually fall asleep. 86

87 Pet owners usually love, if not worship, their animals! They are practically their babies and most of them want to understand what s wrong so they can help the little one get better! Try this! Imagine that you ARE your animal and you just get yourself out of the way! Close your eyes for a few seconds and breathe in the essence of your animal. Start saying, for instance, I feel sick! that s what I feel with the real puppy. Of course, this is only applicable if, in reality, your pet is in big pain. There s no need for you to say that if the puppy only needs some comforting, light treatment and nothing more, otherwise you may induce this unhappy mood for real! Soon after making this affirmation, you ll get a sense of what s wrong with your animal and then you can switch to the most convenient Reiki technique that best suits your furry friend s needs. Finally, you might get a sense of some intense, internal discomfort. You ARE the animal, remember? So, on behalf of the animal, try to apply the Reiki hands-on technique on your pet s body, while you keep feeling as sick as the animal. You will soon notice that your puppy or your kitten shows signs of recovery and feels energized and invigorated. It doesn t mean that the disease is not still there, it could be! But the pain is gone! And your pet will surely feel relieved and grateful, at least, for the time being. 87

88 The Chakra System of Animals All animals, no matter what size, breed or species has power over their very own Etheric Chakra System. Like a human being's Chakra System, most animals have 7 active Primary Chakras, up to 21 Minor Complementary Chakras and 6 Bud Chakras. The Major Chakras in animals are fully developed Energy Centers: the Crown, the Third Eye, the Throat, the Heart, the Solar Plexus, the Spleen, and the Root Chakras. The Minor Chakras and Bud Chakras are smaller Energy Points. These are indispensable to the vitality of the animal and the colors of the centers vary from one animal to another. Still, only a few specific animals have developed the heart chakra and the color is green when it is awakened. Likewise, few animals have opened their throat chakra, the spleen chakra or the third eye chakra, although the potential is there. The pet's instinctive communication like purrs, barks, howls and growls, comes out naturally from the Root Center. Another center that varies in individual animals is the Sensing Center located at the bridge of the nose between the eyes. It is pale silver blue and governs sensory intake and the transmission of sensory input to the brain. This Center is more developed in highly sensitive animals, but can be either overdeveloped or underdeveloped in others. 88

89 Animals suffer in silence way too often since they can t verbally tell us that they're in pain. It's only through our efforts that they can experience accelerated pain relief. You must learn to identify the clues indicating that your pet is not feeling well, and as a responsible pet owner or as they call it pet parent - you need to be proactive about helping your cutie to feel better. 7 REASONS WHY ANIMALS LOVE REIKI Reiki is gentle, effective, natural and non-invasive. 2. Reiki relieves pain and reduces stress. 3. Reiki speeds up the healing of illness and injury. 4. Reiki promotes relaxation and balances the energetic channels. 5. Reiki complements both conventional and alternative medicine. 6. Reiki covers the origins of health issues, not just the symptoms. 7. Reiki increases harmony and enhances overall well being. 89

90 Practice makes it perfect! That s what they say: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it! It works with Reiki too! The more you practice the movements, the positions and study multiple cases, referrals and reports on mastering this ancient healing technique, the more you ll make out of it. If you know how to handle it and make smart use of Reiki, you ll surely get familiar with this valuable, miraculous medicine and heal more, rescue more, ease more pains and crush more sufferings that you have ever imagined! Here is a quick example of what you can do (on your own or on any other person in need). It s fairly simple and it doesn t require advanced Degrees or native gifts. It simply comes on its own and flows out naturally and unconsciously. Another thing you should keep in mind is that Visualization is the key-generator of the Reiki healing! It is all like playing around with colors, lights, angles, images, symbols, chakras, sensations and positions. Put this into practice: First, perform the Reiki Energy Field Cleansing as detailed. This cleanses the energy field, transmutes negativity and strengthens the aura. Perform the following: 1. Hold your hands above the stomach in pain, position your arms at the sides and your palms facing upwards. 2. Visualize the Dai Ko Mio (use Cho Ku Rei if Level I or Level II). Imagine the Reiki energy coming down over your whole body, from head to toes. See it as a white light. 3. Visualize the Reiki light flowing down into the crown and begin to move downward while filling every molecule of your body. Let it fill the head, the neck, shoulders, all the way down to your fingers. Let it move down the spine filling the back, chest, heart and the rest of the organs. Let it move into the hips, thighs, knees, shins, calves and feet. 4. While it is moving, observe it transmute all that is negative and not in your highest good into light. As it presses downward, see all that is not in your highest good moved out through the souls of the feet and then the Reiki changes it into light and disperses it. 90

91 5. Visualize the bottom of the feet dealing closed. 6. Let the energy begin to fill you from the bottom up. Fill the toes, up the legs to the hips, up the trunk, into the neck, down the arms to the hands, and finally into the head and forehead. 7. Hold this for a while until you feel filled with the Reiki energy. 8. Move your hands into the Gassho position and breathe naturally for a few seconds. Then let the energy radiate out into all levels of your energy field. When you are done with that, bow and thank the Reiki Universal Power or the Reiki Principles for this loving energy. TIP: To do the meditation, you use Do - Re - Mi - Fa - So - La -Ti - Do. This is the regular scale of musical notes that actually stands for the sounds of the chakras: Lam, Vam, Ram, Tam, Ham, Om, Soham, Do. This E-book gives you the opportunity to experience another Reiki Healing Free Exercise! You might want to try it on your own. Here it is the procedure: - The Golden Egg Reiki Exercise The Golden Egg exercise is a wonderful way to increase the basic functions of your body and can be easily applied over your own body. All you need to do is simply relax and find a comfortable chair to sit in with your back straight. First, you are advised to place your hands in the Gassho position and ask your subconscious mind to connect to the Reiki Energy. You can do that by focusing your attention on the energy itself or drawing an imaginary Dai Ko Mio Symbol into your energy field. Begin by breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. Visualize the Reiki Energy as an immense, warm flame of White Light, and breathe in its pure energy. Right after that, breathe out all the toxins and all the negative things. See the breath going out as slightly black and cloudy. (This energy is transmuted in the Reiki 91

92 light and is changed back to light.) Gradually, let your awareness expand, first within you, then outside your body and finally out there, over the entire universe. Focus on the energy of the universe- the stars, the planets, the fumes, the spirals and everything within. Now, as you breathe in the Reiki energy, focus on breathing in the energy in the universe, pulling it into you, revitalizing you, filling you from top to bottom. Let yourself be filled with the serene, loving energy of the universe. Take all the time you need! Now, as you breathe in the Reiki energy, slowly change the picture to breathing in peace and silence. Forget about the energetic field of the Universe and come back to your senses by allowing peaceful thoughts and images (exclusively!) to flash in front of your eyes and reveal the absolute healing to you. Think of something nice, imagine the feeling of stillness, and concentrate on breathing in that peaceful feeling. Let this fill you completely and by the time you breathe out, send that out to every part of the universe. Now see the color of the Reiki Energy turn yellow or golden. Visualize your breathing in this pure golden light. See it entering into your lungs, and then spreading out throughout your whole body. Do this for 9 breaths consecutively. Begin normally, in and out through the nose. Now, see this golden light pool at the base of the spine and see a golden thread from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. See this golden thread the thickness of a wire. Breathe for about ten breaths consecutively. Mentally begin to expand the thickness of the golden wire to about the thickness of a finger. Again, enlarge the thickness of the golden light to the thickness of two fingers running from the crown of your head to the base of the spine. Now, see the light expand to a column of light running from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Expand the column of beautiful golden light until it completely surrounds you. Just sit peacefully, surrounded by the beautiful golden light, and meditate. Never forget to breath out all the toxins, bad thoughts and low frequencies and so get them out of your system. Slowly shape the golden light into an oval. Turn it into a magical golden egg that surrounds you completely and protects you, but it strengthens you also. The inside of the egg shimmers with golden light, it 92

93 entirely fills you and reinforces your aura with healing energy. Sit still inside the protective egg as long as you like, and when you are finished, begin retracting the golden egg. First back into a golden column, and then slowly shrink the column back to the base of the spine to the crown of the head. Then make the column the thickness of two fingers. And then shrink it to the thickness of a finger, and finally to the thickness of a single thread of golden wire. Now draw the energy of the golden strand of wire up the spine over the crown and focus it at a point where the third eye is (that is between the eyebrows). Hold it there for 10 regulated breaths and then draw the golden dot through the head, into the mouth and down through the stomach and into the lower abdomen, letting it slowly melt down and disappear. You can draw up the egg whenever you need it for energy or for protection. You can wisely use these two Reiki exercises by practicing any of those on a regular basis, on your own body as well as on other individuals or animals. There is a treatment protocol traditionally taught to Reiki practitioners which involves a series of hand positions and eye-angles. These positions are well spaced along the clients body and together they provide good coverage of the client s entire body. While the energy does go where it is most needed, it is frequently observed that it stays near where the practitioner has placed his or her hands. By covering all parts of the body evenly the patient will, by default, get the best treatment possible. These hand positions are a good place for a practitioner to begin practicing Reiki. SELF-TREATMENT: The following explanatory drawings come from the book Essential Reiki of Diane Stein, ISBN-no /NUGI 626,734. In her book Diane agrees with publishing and republishing these prints for educational purposes. You will notice that for some positions two pictures are given: here you can choose which way of holding your hands feels best; as long as you treat the area mentioned it is perfectly fine. Stay at each position for about 5 minutes and longer if you feel the need for it. 93

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95 A complete daily self treatment of course is recommendable, but if that is impossible try the following: Whenever you are sitting still somewhere (on the bus, before the television, in a meeting), lay your hands on a convenient place on your body and state in yourself that the Reiki will flow to the parts of your being where it is needed. If you simply lay your hands on your upper legs for instance no one will notice anything unusual about you. 95

96 TREATING OTHERS: Before you start working with your client, inform him or her of all Reiki hand positions you will be using. Don t worry if nothing is felt or sensed, energy is flowing, what is important is to relax and let go of any expectations. Share what you sensed with the recipient. Place your hands over the client s eyes. Be careful to not squeeze the nose. Hands placed around temples. 96

97 Here the hands are framing the head, with the fingers curled around the occipital point. Get into this position by gently rocking the head into one hand, slide the other hand under the head, rock the head into that hand, move the other hand under the head, and then rock the head so it's centered on both hands. This is easier demonstrated than described. Here the hands are held over the throat and thymus. You might find clients uncomfortable with the hands over the top of the throat, as it might remind them of choking, and you might find it better to place the hands under the throat rather than above it. This is over the heart and heart chakra. The heart chakra is located between the breasts. Obviously you should choose your hand positions well here. Note that while Reiki derives from Qi Gong and therefore the "chakras" should be foreign to Reiki, the "chakras" are clearly part of the human energy system and the Tibetans and Hindu's called them one thing, while the Chinese called them another. 97

98 Do this for both legs! You might want to do two positions for each leg. One as shown, the other with one hand on the knee and the other on the hip bone. This way the entire energy and nerve system of the legs will have energy run through them. 98

99 With Reiki it is quite possible to treat oneself as well as others. Treating oneself consists in simply placing your own hands on yourself and intending for the energy to run. By treating on self you can more quickly know what the experience of receiving Reiki is like. It is all like a very intimate and personal experience. Comfort is sometimes harder to obtain, depending on where the energy is needed. Being inventive most of the places in ones body can be reached. For those body parts which cannot be reached one can try the remote healing techniques. Distant Reiki Healing Because Reiki Energy is not limited by time and distance, Distant Reiki Healings can also be given without the client being present. It is easily done and works just fine, no exception. The practitioner can use a proxy, visualization or a projection of Reiki energy beaming or, why not, a combination of these two methods. Sending Reiki away doesn t require huge amounts of effort but intense focus and good intentions. Distant Reiki Healing may also be done at an appointed time that the practitioner and the healer agree on and the practitioner sends the Reiki Healing Energy within the established timeframe. The Reiki distance-healing symbol is Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen. This symbol means - no past, no present, no future. Another way of interpreting this symbol is saying, "The Buddha in me contacts the Buddha in you". The Reiki distancehealing symbol is used to send Reiki energy from one place to another, from one person to another, from one body to another, from one chakra to another. Using the symbol gives the practitioner access to the life records or "Akashic Records" of a person. This information can be used in karmic healing. Negative experiences of the previous life, parallel life and of this life that have been ignored but keep affecting one's behavior can be brought back to the conscious and dealt with. After this tumultuous journey, the person will be set free! In long distance healing the energies work on the subtle body of the person like the Chakras and the Aura. It does not work directly on the physical body of the person. Reiki distance healing takes less time than hands -on treatment. It only takes a few minutes to send distance healing. The most important thing in distant healing Reiki is the intention that comes along with the healing. All you need to do is to clearly formulate your intention, use the Reiki long distance healing symbol and send energies. 99

100 The Reiki Symbols Raku: This symbol is pronounced exactly as spelled. It was channeled by Kathleen Milner and Marcy Miller. Harth means Love, Truth, Beauty, Harmony and Balance. It is the main symbol of Karuna Ki. It represents the Infinite Love and Compassion of the source. Harth is a symbol for the heart from which healing and love flow. It is used to heal the heart and issues of the heart, and helps one develop Karuna (compassion). It is useful and helpful in healing relationships. Harth restores our love of life and for the things we do. Harth is good to use for addictions of all kinds. (pronounced hon-sha-zee-show-nen) "The Distance Symbol" Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is used to send Reiki. You can send Reiki to anyone and anything. It is used to send Reiki over distance and time (such as when using Reiki to heal a past trauma or sending Reiki to a point in the future when you or someone might need it). It is also drawn before sending a distant attunement. You may be guided intuitively to use it in other situations when necessary. If you feel you need to use it but have trouble recalling it exactly, just repeat the name of the symbol and let Reiki do the rest for you. 100

101 Sei He Ki The second symbol is SEI-HE-KI (pronounced say-hay-kee) and is used in most healing procedures. It is sometimes known as the emotional symbol because it specifically addresses the emotional level and helps release deeply repressed feelings, quickly and easily. It is usually drawn once at the start of a session, and can be used again when you feel drawn to it at any time during the healing. Cho Ku Rei The first symbol is Cho-KU-Rei (pronounced cho-koo-ray). This is often referred to as the 'power symbol. You will normally use this symbol in every healing session, as frequently as you feel is right. Its affect is to channel far stronger healing energy. Some people may feel attracted to drawing it counter clockwise instead. Other symbols: Halu: This symbol is pronounced "hay-lou". It was channeled by Kathleen and Marcy and was given allegedly by Sai baba during a meditation session. Halu stands for love, truth, beauty and harmony. It is supposed to be a deeper ray of healing. This symbol is an amplification of Zonar. To draw this, the Z is completed and the pyramid is added. Halu is thought to be more powerful than Zonar and works in higher dimensions and at deeper levels. Halu is said to restore balance. It is thought to bring about "deep healing" at causal and karmic levels. Like the Usui Reiki symbol, Sei Hei Ki, it is supposed to help soften negative patterns in the unconscious mind that we use to keep ourselves from truth, and also to break up delusion and denial. It is also used to open a channel to higher 101

102 consciousness. It can be used to repel and dispel psychic attack and psychological attacks. To use Halu for this purpose, draw the symbol in the air and connect at your heart center to the divine compassion. Infuse and surround yourself with the symbol and this energy. Know and intent that no psychic or psychological attacks can harm you in the oneness of this love. Zonar This symbol is pronounced "zoe nar". It was channeled by Marcy Miller and purportedly given to Marcy from Sai Baba during a meditative session. Zonar means "infinity" or eternity. To draw the symbol, first draw the "Z" and then the infinity three times. This symbol is thought to work with past lives. The theory being that the cells carry the memory of trauma, and ideas from both this life and previous lives. This symbol is thought to help us work through these issues and release them and the additional Karma. Because of this it is thought to work well with child abuse and rape. Harth This symbol is pronounced exactly as spelled. It was channeled by Kathleen Milner and Marcy Miller. Harth means Love, Truth, Beauty, Harmony and Balance. It is the main symbol of Karuna Ki. It represents the Infinite Love and Compassion of the source. Harth is a symbol for the heart from which healing and love flow. It is used to heal the heart and issues of the heart, and helps one develop Karuna (compassion). It is useful and helpful in healing relationships but also helps patients with cardiac history. Harth restores our love of life and it also works for addictions of all kinds. Om This symbol is pronounced "Ah uu mm". It is a Sanskrit symbol used in many eastern spiritual practices. Represents the Universe functioning as a 102

103 whole unit; A father/mother beckoning creation, U = son/daughter the evolution of individual souls; and M absorbing of all that is created. The sacred sound of the Universe. Om cleans, stabilizes and seals the aura. It brings in light, purifies, protects and connects with GOD. Om is chanted and visualized in gold by and individual or in groups to be used for healing or psychic attunement; sound psychically charges the air with prana which is under the direction of thought and can be directed specifically. It is recognized as the primal sound and chanted to control natural manifestations; represents the three manifestations of all life: creation, preservation and destruction Use in the initiation process to seal in the other symbols or to seal each part of the attunement. Om opens the crown and if drawn above the head opens a pathway to God and higher consciousness. I have found that repeating the Mantra "Ah um mm" that the Reiki energy doubles, it is also good for your Chakras Antahkarana Symbol A symbol consisting of a cube shape with 7's on its face surfaces. Presumably of Tibetan origin although this cannot be determined, it is used in a specific meditation as well as on "master frequency generator plates" developed by Ralf Jensen. In Second and Master Level of Reiki you will have access to the Special Sacred Reiki Symbols and words. These are handed down from Master to Master and are used for attuning other initiates into your Reiki Linage. But more importantly they can be used for healing and protection. Reiki Symbols are means of focusing your attention in order to connect with "specific" healing vibes and frequencies. Therefore, using different symbols will boost up the Reiki energy. With practice, these symbols will become less relevant and the focus will change to the "intent" of the specific energies required. The Reiki symbols are like keys for opening doors to a higher mind and entering unexplored dimensions. You can also see them as buttons, when you press the button you automatically get something out of it. In my opinion one of the functions of the Reiki symbols is to instantly override the user's precognition that some things cannot be done (i.e. distance healing). The symbols trigger a belief or intention built into the symbols that helps the user to get the results intended. The different symbols also quickly connect the user to the universal life force. When a Reiki Master does an attunement and shows the Reiki symbols to a student, the form of 103

104 the symbol is impregnated in the students mind and merges with the metaphysical energies it represents. But when a Reiki practitioner draws, thinks about or visualizes a symbol it will instantly connect to the energies it represents. These symbols are partly based on the Japanese writing system, Kanji. As more and more people get attuned to Reiki this will mean that there can be a great number of variations between the symbols taught by different Masters. The Sandwich Method The Dai Ko Myo is now used in the full Reiki sandwich with the other three symbols taught in level two Reiki. This will keep them fresh in your memory and activates them all for your maximum benefit. As a Reiki teacher you must use all the symbols together in order to give Reiki attunements. A full Reiki sandwich is now Cho Ku Rei, Dai Ko Myo, Sei He Ki, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen, Cho Ku Rei. It has been found that symbols are really not necessary to pass an attunement but are very helpful for beginning Reiki teachers. Reiki symbols are the basis of this attunement method. The key benefit of teaching Reiki and sharing it with others is the heart centered connection. Reiki is a slow and gentle process that gradually clears our subtle energy pathways. The Reiki attunements can be thought of as a great clearing or awakening that can lead to more creative insights. Not everyone that you teach Reiki to will stay with the system or discern its benefits. Inertia plays a big factor in all of our lives. Encouragement goes a long ways in giving your students confidence and permission to experience Reiki. Reiki healing or making whole is a life-long process and works on all levels of our being. The more we use Reiki on a daily basis the more personal healing that occurs as our bodies gradually accept ever increasing levels of this subtle energy. Our spiritual gifts will naturally unfold as they are needed to support a higher state of consciousness. Along with the five Reiki principles, Usui based his Reiki system on three other practises: Gasshō, Reiji-hō and Chiryō. 104

105 Gasshō Gasshō (in Japanese, meaning "two hands coming together") is a contemplative state where both palms of the hands are brought together and was practiced at the beginning of every Usui's Reiki workshop/reunion. One technique of Gasshō consists in focusing on the pads where the two middle fingers meet. Reiji-hō Reiji-hō (meaning "indication of the Reiki power method") means connecting with the Reiki power by asking it to flow through the practitioner three times and is commonly split into three main stages. The first step is to ask the Reiki power to flow through the practitioner. It will either enter through the crown chakra (as this is the highest ascension), the heart chakra (as indicated by the pure love of Reiki) or the hands (as the palms are attuned with specific Reiki symbols). The distance symbol is sent first and is then sealed with the power symbol. The second phase is to pray for the recovery of the person if a specific disorder is being healed or for the general health of the person if otherwise. The third stage of Reijiho is to place both hands, palms facing each other, to the third eye (the area in between the two eyebrows), and ask the Reiki power to guide the hands to where energy is needed. Though similar to the practice of Byosen-hō, Reiji-hō relies specifically on intuition of where to heal, whereas Byosen-hō scans for areas with the hands, feeling for subtle changes in the aura of the practitioner's hands and the aura of the recipient. Chiryō Chiryō (meaning "medical treatment") requires the practitioner to place his/her dominant hand on the crown chakra and wait for hibiki ("feedback") in the form of an impulse or inspiration, which the hand then follows. During Chiryō, the practitioner gives free rein to the hand, touching aching areas of the body until it no longer hurts or until the hands move on their own to another spot. 105

106 CONTROVERSIES There have been endless studies and intriguing debates on Reiki s efficacy over the years. Concerns about safety in Reiki are similar to those of other alternative medicines like meditation, bio-resonance, bio-energy etc. That is mainly because doctors and associated health care workers believe that patients might avoid clinically proven treatments for serious illnesses in favor of unproven alternative medicines. On the other side, Reiki practitioners already encourage their clients to consult a medical doctor for serious conditions! They also tell their client that Reiki can only be used to complement conventional medicine. Nevertheless, clinical trials have not reported any major adverse effects from the use of Reiki. William T. Jarvis, Ph.D., of The National Council Against Health Fraud, suggests that any clinical effect of Reiki may be due suggestion and it is nothing but the predictable result of the inductive impact upon the subconscious mind. As if it hadn t been enough, considering the multiple varied ways that have been used to teach Reiki, there have emerged turbulent clashes and persistent differences between groups and individuals like teachers and practitioners! Controversies exist on topics such as the nature of the Reiki energy itself, training and attunement methods, doubtful healing techniques, mystery of symbols and not to mention the fees charged for schooling and private sessions. Following the death of Hawayo Takata, there were adversary claims to the title of "Grandmaster" of Reiki. However, this heated discussion basically vanished by the time the naked truth was revealed later on: that Takata herself had created the disputed term. Because of the lack of objective confirmation for its theories or its results, amplified by the mystical language and metaphor employed by its adherents, the scientists consider Reiki to be nothing more than a placebo or just a plain invention and a fading-out breakthrough that as fast as 106

107 it grew in popularity and fame it will soon come down slowly, as predicted by firm voices around the world. Many scientists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, health professionals and other experts in the clinical area keep holding a grudge against the success of Reiki, stating that there is no proof or evidence that a mechanism for such curative energy exists, nor proof that healing beyond that expected from the placebo effect can be achieved by it. The elite of the academic environment have expressed public concern when patients with serious medical issues and history such as cancer or chronic recurring diseases choose Reiki solely as primary treatment over qualified doctors. There are cases when people reject conventional medicine completely and choose to commit to Reiki exclusively. That bothers them the most! It is not flash news that patients tend to seek nonmainstream remedies when conventional options turn out to be ineffective or unreliable, many doctors say that Reiki, like many other forms of alternative medicine, is simply exploiting the fear and hope of people with serious illnesses for money while offering only a placebo, short-term effect. They call it fake healing, based on autosuggestion and positive thinking. The bitter opponents even stated that this could be the best working operating maneuver of being in full control of the social masses, physically, emotionally and financially. Now this sounds pretty harsh, knowing that Reiki actually helped thousands of people and saved lots of pets in agony when scheduled for surgery nearly close to being put to sleep, proof or no proof. Some critics go so far as to suggest that the treatment is little more than a con scheme to fleece gullible desperate sick people. They cite testimonials and give examples of stories of people who have paid huge "energy payments" to so called Reiki "doctors" - there have allegedly been cases where even failed attempts at treatment cost tens of thousands of dollars. The prime opinion among the scientific community is that the sensations felt by practitioners and patients of Reiki are sensitively subjective or the result of self-deceit. The response from Reiki practitioners is that Reiki is a reliable and effective treatment that is being unfairly dismissed by conservative Western scientific research. Some Reiki teachers and practitioners advocate a complementary approach to conventional medicine - holding it as the most prudent and responsible means of treating any illness - much like many other alternative medicine advocates suggest. 107

108 Some healthcare workers (medical doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, hospice and nursing home workers and other healthcare providers) believe that Reiki has some beneficial effect on the recipient and is a worthwhile inclusion in both professional training and patient care. Reiki vs. religious groups There are several religious groups opposing Reiki. Orthodox Christians identify Reiki as demonic. The Unification Church cautions its adherents to avoid Reiki. It is thought that Reiki involves channeling the energy of evil spirits. Some individuals and groups like Dominicans from the Roman Catholic Church actively advise believers against it. Reiki vs. The Catholic Church The Catholic Church recognizes only two kinds of healing: healing by divine grace and healing that makes use of the powers of nature. As for the second, the Church has never considered claiming divine healing, which comes as a gift from God, to exclude the alternative option of natural means of healing through the practice of classical medicine. Moreover, the Church has a long history of caring for the sick through the use of natural means. However, the Catholics have attempted to identify Reiki with the divine healing known to Christians. They are totally wrong. The major difference can be immediately seen in the fact that for the Reiki practitioner the healing power is limitless and at human disposal. Some practitioners attempt to Christianize Reiki by adding a prayer to Christ. However, this doesn t reshape the essential nature of Reiki. For these reasons, Reiki and other similar therapeutic techniques cannot be identified with what Christians call healing by divine grace. The difference between what Christians accept as healing by divine grace and Reiki therapy is also obvious in the basic terms used by Reiki proponents to describe what happens in Reiki therapy, predominantly that of "universal life energy." Neither the Scriptures nor the Christian tradition as a whole speak of the natural world as based on "universal life energy" that is subject to manipulation by the natural human power of thought and will. In fact, this worldview has its origins in eastern religions 108

109 and has a certain monist and pantheistic character, in those distinctions among self, world, and God tend to fall away. We are all Divine sons and daughters and empowered through Christ Consciousness! Of course we can heal ourselves and assist in the healing of others, it is our inheritance! Jesus Himself claims this as such in the New Testament. Reiki is NOT religious based, it is a God-given gift that each person has within themselves. This being said, we all wonder if there is a lack of communication in the words that both sides (The Catholic Church and The Reiki Practitioners) use. Sometimes the words we use don't convey the same meanings to another. One thing is for sure though: maybe Reiki is not GOD but it definitely relates with GOOD! Reiki is Good and comes from the Source of all goodness. After all, Reiki healing used God s love and the divine goodness above everything that s being said or criticized. Who knows? Maybe, in the near future, Reiki will be eventually "Christianized" just as the feast of Saturnalia was changed to Christmas! Reiki vs. Secret Teachings Teachers sometimes appear claiming to have power over hidden additional teachings from the original system and symbols unknown to other schools, but none of these claims are based on any evidence that supports the additional material that they use. A current example of such schools is Dr Ranga Premaratna's "Reiki Shin Kei DÅ/Ennersense/BuddhÅ" (who claims to possess the original Buddhist Reiki system as well as additional symbols, initiations and meditations). Although (among many others) the organization also claims that it possesses additional authentic extra teachings, the school does not provide evidence to validate these claims. Dr Premaratna demands strict obedience from his students and deregisters them if they refuse to comply. Dr Premaratna nowadays claims that his teacher, Seiji Takamori, was not really taught and initiated into Reiki by Hawayo Takata, although Takata herself stated that Takamori was one of her primary students. He additionally claims that although Seiji Takemori was a teacher, he only initiated Dr Premaratna alone. At one time however his training materials claimed no special ancestry regarding Seiji Takemori, and instead agreed with Hawayo Takata's statement that she herself was his only teacher. There are many questions mounting up around Reiki practice, and newly 109

110 rediscovered Japanese lineages may put many of the controversies to rest. These lineages can in fact produce historical evidence to support their claims of origin, and although perhaps the actual nature of "Reiki" energy is a mystery, the system of the "usui shiki ryoho" seems to be getting more and more comprehensible and accessible to everyone. Reiki vs. The Grandmaster Many conservative schools are based around claims of Hawayo Takata's many student teachers competing as the true "Grandmaster" of Reiki or teaching Takata s exclusive style. In recent years, however, more and more teachers connected in some way with Hawayo Takata restrain themselves from actively claim to be appointed as the "Grandmaster of Reiki" as they used to in the near past. Phyllis Furumoto (the granddaughter of Takata), seemed to cease claiming this title around the same time that it was found that historically no such title ever existed once the Japanese schools were publicly exposed by Western Reiki schools. Nevertheless, Barbara Weber Ray of the "Radiance association" still makes the claim. Often these "Grandmasters" attempt to patent the term "Reiki" in their particular country or countries of interest. Such actions are very unpopular in the wider Reiki community and no patents have really ever been granted in any country. Whatever the opponents keep saying, Reiki remains an extremely efficient healing method at least that s what the most recent studies, graphs and statistics out there indicate: 110

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112 Questions and Answers Can Reiki treat EVERYTHING? There are several questions out there that one could become reticent for, before even considering Reiki as an option. Reiki is a relatively new and intriguing segment for most us, ordinary people, and that is why our curiosity can eventually turn into a never-ending so-called Q & A journey. Here are some of your answers: A regular Reiki session usually takes around 30 minutes and sometimes even an hour and a half, but short treatments can also be helpful. Generally, full Reiki treatments involve the practitioner moving his/her hands through a series of various positions from different angles for different needs and medical conditions. But it always starts from the face and the head and then moves down to the front of the body from the throat region all the way to the hips, legs and feet. Reiki is also effective in treating injuries, such as bruises, open plagues or recovering cuts and scratches. It can alleviate pain instantly and speed healing in time. Reiki treatments can also be done at a distance from the client similar to praying for someone. That is because Reiki works miracles just like a prayer does! With the client's permission, energy clearing can be transmitted to a client from far away. Distance and emotional healing are learned in the second level of training. What can I expect from Reiki training? There are three training levels in the Usui Reiki system, which are sometimes referred to as first, second and third degrees: Levels I, II and Master. The main training and basic guidance is given by a licensed Reiki Master. In Reiki training, attunements or initiations are passed on from the Master teacher to the student along with other information such as ancient healing symbols and instructions for teaching (at advanced levels). Levels I and II generally take an hour or so, while training to become a Reiki Master may take a little longer, even years of schooling and practice. Many traditional Reiki Masters will require the most serious 112