WHAT IS REIKI?
Reiki is a spiritual healing art which originates from Japan. The word Reiki comes from the Japanese word (Rei) which means “Universal Life Force” and (Ki) which means “Energy”. Reiki is not a religious practice. It is not a massage nor is it based on belief or suggestion. It is a subtle and effective form of energywork using spiritually guided life force energy. Reiki is the life energy that flows through all living things. Reiki Practitioners understand that everyone has the ability to connect with their own healing energy and use it to strengthen energy in themselves and help others. It is believed that a person’s “ki” or energy should be strong and free flowing. When this is true a person’s body and mind is in a positive state of well being. When the energy becomes weak or blocked it could lead to symptoms of physical or emotional imbalance. A Reiki session can help ease tension and stress and can help support the body to facilitate an environment for healing on all levels – physical, mental, and emotional. A session is pleasant and relaxing and is often utilized for one’s personal wellness. A standard Reiki treatment usually includes placing the hands above, or on, the head, shoulders, stomach, abdomen and feet. In addition, other positions may be used for specific conditions the client may have. Each position is held 2 to 5 minutes and the entire treatment can last 30 to 90 minutes. In the past the Reiki practitioner would have placed his/her hands on a few places on the head, then worked on the places of illness or injury, all while the patient sat on the floor or lay on a futon. Today the client will either sit on a chair or lie on a massage table fully clothed. A treatment creates a wonderful radiance that is deeply relaxing and includes many beneficial affects for both client and practitioner. At the very least, you will feel very relaxed during a session, often to the point of falling asleep. A Reiki session always seems to impress those who say they find it difficult to relax.
Unlike many modern day remedies REIKI works directly on restoring the balance on all levels and works directly on the problem and condition instead of just masking or relieving symptoms. Some of the benefits of REIKI are as follows:
o Dissolves energy blocks and promotes natural balance between mind, body and spirit;
o Increases energy levels;
o Creates deep relaxation and helps the body release stress and tension;
o Clears the mind and improves focus;
o Accelerates the body’s self-healing ability;
o Aids better sleep;
o Reduces blood pressure;
o Helps relieve pain;
o Assists the body in cleansing itself from toxins;
o Supports the immune system;
o Helps spiritual growth and emotional cleansing;
o Promotes creativity; and
o Compliments medical treatment.
The great thing about REIKI is that one does not have to be ill to experience the benefits.
If you would like to experience a REIKI treatment, We now offer this service at the Clinics. To make an appointment just send us an e mail on info@inmi.ie or call us on 01 8222252.
THE HISTORY OF REIKI
The origin of Reiki can be traced back to ancient Tibet, thousands of years ago. This technique was rediscovered in the late 1800’s – early 1900’s by Dr. Mikao Usui of Japan. In the year of 1822 in the city of Kyoto, Japan, Dr. Mikao Usui, ( a Christian Minister), was giving a sermon. After the service two seminary students asked him to explain how Jesus did the miracles of healing, and furthermore, whether or not he could perform those same miracles. Dr. Usui was not able to give the students an answer of yes. He felt that he understood the Bible intellectually, but he did not understand how Jesus healed.This marked the beginning of Dr. Usui’s lifelong quest to uncover the source of ancient healing techniques. He left Japan, came to America and studied at the University of Chicago. During his stay in the United States he earned a Doctorate degree in Theology.
Dr. Usui returned to Japan, and it occurred to him that the Buddha had performed the same type of miracles as Jesus. He too had healed the sick and had a great control of energy. , Dr. Usui went to a Zen monastery and asked the same question of the head monk. “Do the Zen know how to heal the body?” The monk explained that they were concentrating heavily on healing of the Spirit, and there just was not time to teach the physical healing of the body so at the end of his long search Dr. Usui thought he had found what he sought. Although he believed he had uncovered the knowledge, he still did not have the power to heal. He discussed this with his old friend the monk, and they meditated upon which path to take. They were told that Dr. Usui should go to a designated place upon the holy Mount Kuri Yama. He was to fast for twenty-one days and meditate, to seek the power to heal. During this time he would receive enlightenment and Spiritual clarity. Dr Usui gathered twenty-one small stones and placed them before him. Every morning he would awakened before the sun rose and would throw away one of the twenty-one stones to keep count of the days. As he threw the last stone off the side of the mountain, a light appeared far off in the east it began getting brighter and coming closer to him. Dr. Usui jumped to his feet.The light became very bright and streamed across the heavens and hit him directly in his third eye! For a moment he thought he had died and risen into heaven, because he had never before been in such a euphoric state. He saw many, many bubbles in all the colors of the rainbow. Then came the powerful bright white light, followed by golden Sanskrit letters the secret formula of the Universal Life Force and how to contact it He wanted to hurry back and tell the monk of his exciting news! In his rush he stubbed his toe on a rock. He reached down to comfort the pain and to stop the bleeding. He found that the pain and the bleeding stopped very quickly! He realized that something was different about the energy in his hands. They had become very hot! After healing his toe, Dr. Usui continued his pilgrimage down the mountain.
Soon he began to feel hungry, so he stopped at a home that served travellers and ordered cold rice and cold tea. A young Japanese girl with a bandage wrapped around her jaw brought Dr. Usui his meal. She told Dr. Usui that her tooth had been aching for days. Encouraged by his own phenomenal pain relief Dr. Usui asked, “May I give you a healing?” She accepted his offer gladly. He put his hands around her jaw and within a short period of time the pain and swelling started going down.
Dr. Usui was guided to go to the beggar kingdom in Tokyo. This kingdom was controlled by a beggar king. So Dr. Usui went to see the beggar king and asked if he might live there to heal the sick and the afflicted. The beggar king allowed him entrance, but did not believe Dr. Usui would succeed in healing the beggars. For seven years Dr. Usui worked on healing the sick in beggar kingdom. He worked from daylight to dark, healing the young and old alike, and saw many beautiful results take place! One afternoon Dr. Usui took a walk to the edge of the beggar kingdom. He saw a young beggar who looked familiar. He was one of the first beggars that he had healed!” Dr. Usui said, “I healed you and you are still a beggar. Oh, Dr. Usui, yes! And I did just what you told me! I went out to the temple to receive a new name. I went into society and began dealing with my Karma, doing just what you told me to do. I even got a job and soon married! But, it was too much responsibility. So, I decided that I would rather be a beggar. That way I wouldn’t even have to be responsible for myself.”
Dr, Usui was greatly upset, and thought “What a terrible thing I have done! Perhaps the churches were right, the physical is not enough the Spiritual has to be healed also! Never again will Reiki be given away! There will have to be an exchange of energy!” He decided to immediately leave the beggar kingdom. He realized that he had been giving healing away without requiring the healee to take any responsibility whatsoever! There had not been an exchange of energy for the services rendered. The new teaching provided Spiritual concepts to be integrated with the physical aspect of the Reiki energy.
Dr. Usui got a torch and lit it, and went walking in Kyoto. He was stopped and asked why he was carrying a lit torch in the middle of the day with the sun shining so brightly? He replied that he was searching for people with a heart full of love and with enlightened hearts, but who are sad and sorrowful and do not know the true light. He invited the people to come and hear about Reiki. It was during these travels that Dr. Usui met Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a Naval Commander in the Naval Reserve. Dr. Hayashi came from a well educated and well to do family.. Dr. Hayashi was very impressed with the sincerity and conviction of Dr. Usui. When asked by Usui to accompany him in his travels, Dr. Hayashi agreed. And they traveled around teaching and healing.
Dr. Usui made his transition about 1893, after asking Dr. Chujiro Hayashi to see that the Reiki teachings were preserved. Dr. Hayashi continued in Dr. Usui’s tradition, traveling, teaching, and dedicating his life to Reiki. He trained two Japanese women. One of these teachers stayed in Japan; the other, Mrs. Hawayo Takata of Hawaii, was made a Reiki Master in 1938, prior to Dr. Hayashi’s death. Dr. Hayashi passed on Tuesday, May 10, 1940.
