The Japanese word, Reiki, (ray-key) translates to "Universal/Spiritual   Energy/Life Force ."

The system of Reiki is often compared to the ancient healing method of  "laying hands" and is part of a five part life system presented in the late 1800's by Usui Mikao in Japan.  Today the word Reiki has come to represent one of these five, hands-on healing for wellbeing.  It works with the energy flow present in the body and is practiced by transmitting healing energy through the practitioner's hands to the recipient in order to balance energy, alleviate pain, and reduce stress.  Reiki is not intended to replace your current medical protocol, it is to be used as an adjunct to complement other treatments and wellness plans.

First, a Few Facts:

• Reiki is not based on any religion or faith.
• Reiki is safe, non-invasive, and has no negative side effects.
• Reiki has been scientifically proven to reduce blood pressure, lower respiration and heart rate, slow down bleeding and reduce stress.
• “Reiki increases vagal activity and decreases anxiety in patients after Acute Coronary Syndrome” - Dr. Rachel Summer, Dr. Claire Friedman, Yale University
• Reiki is widely used in clinical settings. It is currently being studied by many major universities and hospitals to gain a deeper understanding of its process and impact.

FOUNDER OF REIKI

Dr. Mikao Usui
9/15/1865 - 3/9/1926
Taniai, Japan

According to Diane Steine, in 1995 there were 750 Reiki masters world wide, less than 250 of them in the U.S.  Modern Western medicine was not at all interested in us.  We early practitioners started introducing the practice to the medical community by volunteering in hospitals and nursing homes.  In the last two decades things have changed dramatically.  Reiki has gone from the back rooms of new age book stores to treatment centers in major hospitals and Ivy League universities.  Reiki is becoming mainstream.  Although scientists haven't been able to explain how Reiki works, they've seen enough evidence to know something is happening.  There are currently several studies on Reiki underway at many major universities and medical schools in the U.S.

The Many Faces of reiki:

Reiki is, for the practitioner, a life style.  Living it is to focus on the five Reiki precepts which give us living guidelines to think about and work towards.  In addition to practicing the Precepts, Usui taught that; Reiki meditation was needed to reconnect to our inner power, hands-on healing was an important part of energy balance and wellbeing, the use of shirushi (symbols) and jumon (mantras) could balance us, and reiju (attunements) were to be used as energetic blessings; supporting us in being healthy, happy and whole. 

There are many branches of Reiki and I have studied many of these.  I have chosen to work with the form that is least influenced by Western culture, one of the systems of Reiki that was taught by Usui in Japan before it hit the West in 1938, the Usui Reiki Ryoho.  Western Reiki is called Usui Shiki Ryoho which was brought to us by Mrs. Takata, a third generation Reiki student from Hawaii.  This form is where my training began over 27 years ago. I am very grateful for all that I learned under this branch of Reiki. Usui Shiki Ryoho eventually became associated with the new age movement as people who learned Reiki used it in combination with crystals, chakras, angels, etc.  I say this with no judgement.  I believe all forms of Reiki are effective, I simply prefer the Japanese form.