What is Reiki??

Reiki refers to an ancient hands on healing art that can be applied to you or others, animals, plants, Mother Earth anything that has a vibration.  This healing energy originates from the universe and does not draw from the energy of the giver.

Reiki is a Japanese word meaning “universal life force energy.” Rei  means universal and Ki or Chi refers to life force. This name was given by Mikao Usui who re-discovered the lost art in the late 1800’s.  Usui studied the 2500-year-old Sanskrit text and learned of the healing art but not how to activate it.  So he climbed Mount Koriyama and meditated for 21 days and walked off the mountain with the answers and ability to channel the universe’s energy for healing.

Once attuned, the energy flows through the top of your head, and down your neck to shoulders, arms and your palms then enters the energy field that surrounds your body.  The sensations that can be experienced are warmth, tingling, and relaxation and at times people fall asleep.  You can use this energy on headaches, stomach problems, and babies with colic or teething pain.  Children find the energy very relaxing and is great for an over active child.  Professionals like nurses, caregivers, massage therapists can use this energy, as it is in harmony with other treatments.  Reiki is a great pain reliever, and can be used after surgery, chemotherapy or other severe health concerns.  Reiki can be used on newborns, grandparents, to the family pet and may affect, not only the physical but the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects.

Now, I’ll explain how you can channel this energy and the Reiki Levels.
The attunement process will open you to channel the universe’s energy for the intent of your healing journey or that of another.  This process is what sets Reiki apart from other hands on modalities.  Being able to utilize the universe’s energy rather than yours has its benefits.  Other energy practitioners find their ability to channel energy at least doubles on their first attunement. 

Level One opens you to channel the energy through the attunement process. Level One usually includes; History, Uses, information on Chakras, and how the energy can effect symptoms or illnesses and which hand positions you use to effect a certain area.  After your attunement you would be practicing Reiki that very first day on yourself and then on another participant.  Many more techniques can be included depending on the Master/Teacher. 

In Level Two, 3 of the 5 remaining symbols are introduced (many were lost during the Chinese take over in Tibet) these symbols resonate with the physical, emotional and mental aspects of your energy system.  A second attunement is given and you learn what the symbol’s purposes are and how to draw them.  Again you would have hands on practice using the symbols in a session with someone.  The biggest draw to Reiki Two is the Distance Healing practice, which allows you to send the Reiki energy to anyone or anyplace in the universe.  We also do a meditation to meet your Reiki Guides during the class.

The Advanced and Mastery levels will deal with more in-depth issues and practices and depending on the training of the student the time involved is about 15 hours. Note in the Traditional Usui method, there is only three levels with Mastery being the level for those who chose to train others.  You receive another attunement and the last two symbols, one resonates with the soul aspect and the other is used mostly in the attunement  process.

The complete Reiki training can be taken within 6 months or upwards of several years.  Look for a Master who offers Reiki shares where you can practice what you have learned.  Classes and manuals are great but this is a hands on Healing Art which can not come solely from theory.

At these Reiki shares, you should get and receive a Reiki treatment in a group setting.  The average Reiki practitioner will take Levels One and Two separately and may decide this is all they require, while some will be drawn to continue with the Mastery training and bring this wonder to others.  Remember, “To Teach is to Learn Twice”.

I am a Usui Reiki Master/Teacher and Registered Massage Therapist who has been practicing and teaching in the Calgary area since 1999.