Reiki Ryoho Hikkei

Reiki is a system of healing either performed hands-on or distantly.
The word Reiki (pronounced, Ray-Kee) is difficult to translate as it is made up of 2 Japanese ideograms - Rei and Ki. Put together these can be roughly translated as ‘universal life-energy’.

Although Reiki is a Japanese word, it does not originate from Japan. For its roots we must look briefly at its place historically in Buddhism. Although Reiki’s Japanese story does not start until comparatively recently, its roots are embedded in the healing techniques of Guatama Siddhartha, Buddah. It has been traced as far back as around 1BC within a Tibetan text “Tantra Lotus Sutra” which offers the symbol formula for the technique now known as Reiki.

The techniques that I have been taught and that I will pass on are from the Japanese Dr Mikao Usui. I have briefly outlined his story below but Reiki’s ancient history is well documented and researched as you can discover for yourselves.

In the late 1800’s Dr Usui began his quest to unlock the secrets of Reiki from the ancient Sanskrit texts. He had already spent a great deal of his life studying and, in particular, training in healing. Although he felt sure of the existence of Reiki he was unsure as to how it was to be practised.

He spent some time in the United States where he trained as a Christian minister, expressing a keen interest in the apparent duality of the life of Buddha and Jesus Christ. He was especially interested in the hands-on healing techniques they both used.

It would appear that Dr Usui did not find all of the answers he sought within the Christian faith so he returned to Japan where he resided in a Zen Buddhist monastery where he found the text describing the healing method.
Although he understood the Sanskrit text, for its full understanding Dr Usui felt he needed to take the ‘test’.

The ‘test’ was a period of meditation and fasting on Mount Koriyama. On the 21st day he was struck with a vision in which the Reiki symbols were revealed to him.

This we believe to be the first Reiki attunement and psychic re-discovery of an ancient method.

Dr Usui took what he had learnt from the text and his attunement and created the system we now recognise as, given its full title, Reiki Ryoho Hikkei. He founded his system upon the five Reiki principles:

Just for today I will give thanks for my many blessings
Just for today I will not worry.
Just for today I will not be angry.
Just for today I will do my work honestly.
Just for today I will be kind to every living thing.

Besides these he also taught his system based on the three Reiki pillars:
Gassho –
Gassho translates as ‘two hands coming together’. Dr Usui taught Gassho meditation and suggested it be practised for up to 30 minutes in the morning and before sleep either alone or in groups.

Reiji-ho –
This consists of three short rituals that should be carried out before each treatment.

Chiryo –
Chiryo is the system of hand positions through which the Reiki energy is transferred.

My own encounter with Reiki came at a time when I wasn’t particularly looking. It turns out, as is often the case, that this was when I needed it most.

I have always had a strong interest in religion and spirituality and I had already started down my own spiritual path, albeit slowly, some years before. I have had some training in Wing-Chun Kung Fu and was attracted towards the use of one’s Chi and the balancing of one’s Chakras.

Reiki works on many levels and it has permeated all areas of my life. I was already experimenting clumsily with Geomancy (Earth-Healing) before Reiki found me, now Reiki is an integral part of that work.

I have also always had a healthy acceptance of all things ‘para-normal’ (maybe it’s the Pisces in me) that is to say anything outside of the ‘normal’ 5-sense field. For me Reiki brought together everything that I was interested in. This did not happen overnight by any means and I nearly gave up on it, however at around 3 months after my 1st attunement it really ‘kicked-in’ for me. It has, I feel, been responsible at least in part, for many great changes in my life and this is something that I perhaps wasn’t aware of or ready for.

I have discovered that Reiki works in its own way, sometimes it maybe hard to see the positive but I believe that it can only work for one’s benefit and that in the end the positive becomes clear. This is something one needs to consider before bringing Reiki into one’s life. Are you ready for change?

The Reiki that I practise and will pass on is based upon Dr Usui’s traditional method. Through my readings I have found that there are many different variations of Reiki being practised and taught. Many of them claim to be the ‘true’ Reiki but it seems to me that they all are based on Dr Usui’s methods.

Reiki is not a religion or cult nor does it require faith. It just is and does. It is, for me, a way of being, a way of life.
That is not to say I am its greatest ‘disciple’ or pupil and neither do I devote the time that I would like to its study or its practise, but it has become part of who and what I am.
I have been working with Reiki for over four years and I have experienced its energy and its depth and I believe it is ultimately an individual’s choice as to how far one lets Reiki in, however some things are just meant to be.

I don’t expect anyone to agree with me. In fact I sincerely hope that anyone that takes Reiki into their life find their own path and their own way of working with it. I can only say that Reiki has enriched my life, as I am sure it will enrich and aid others.

I can also be contacted for any questions that you may have or to offer my healing services.

I provide a visiting hands-on service and also remote-healing.

Love, Light & Peace.