What is Reiki?
Reike is a Japanese word. The first part of it Rei means Universal by definition but is regarded as a very general interpretation. In the Japanese language there are "ideograms" which means words may have various levels of meaning. The meanings can vary from vary basic ones to highly esoteric. So, the definition of Rei meaning Universal is the very basic one. William Lee Rand who is a figure head in the Reiki community has actually gone to Japan and has researched the origins of Reiki as well as the language and interpretations. In the way Rei is used in the word Reiki it has another layer of meaning. The more accurate translation would be higher knowledge or spiritual consciousness, or "God Consciousness".
The second part of the word "ki" means Life Energy. This is the non-physical energy that is in all living things. In the eastern world there is a huge importance on "ki" energy. Many practice some thing call Qigong which is an exercise on moving life force energy. So, the two now put together, Reiki is Life Energy guided by God-Consciousness. The Reiki practitioner is merely a vessel in which the energy flows, it is not the Reiki healer him/herself. Also because the energy is guided by the "higher consciousness" the energy can never cause any harm and will always be for the receivers highest good. If you want to learn more about the history of Reiki, I invite you to visit William Rand's website at www.Reiki.org.
Is Reiki recognized by the medical community?
Reiki is starting to make more and more of a presence in the medical community. The Cleveland Clinic even has information on it's website recognizing the benefits reported from Reiki. They have stated that it helps with relaxation, pain relief, stress managment, anxiety, surgery recovery, and much, much more. Visit their site to find out more by clicking here. You can now even schedule sessions through the Clinic before or after surgery. There are also various studies being done on the effects of Reiki. More and more, hospitals are beginning to incorporate more non-traditional therapy in their offering. In an article, William Rand has sited several studies that have shown the benefits of Reiki. Click here to read the article.
How does one become a Reiki Practitioner?
First of all, there are some that simply are born with it. This life energy is free flowing in all living things. The difference is the awareness of it. When I was younger I had always had the idea of being a healer, and I also wanted to be a minister. I always thought I could feel something within me, but I didn't really know what it was. Once, my girlfriend (now my wife) was having issues with her hand and was experiencing quite a bit of pain. I placed my hands on hers and concentrated and shortly after that her pain was gone. Years later I found out about Reiki. It felt right when I read about it and I decided to take a workshop in it.
The idea is, that through a ceremony a person is attuned to the energy at different levels. In Reiki there are three levels in the traditional Reiki style. Each level the student receives an "attunement". Using Reiki energy the learner is "attuned" or made aware of this Life Energy and God-Consciousness. Many people who get attuned have experienced a heightened psychic sensitivity or intuitive awareness. Some report visions or getting messages.
It is through this heightened awareness of the energy, the alignment of the practitioner's energy with the life energy, and the intent to be of service to humanity is what makes the student become a Reiki Practitioner. It is more than a workshop though, even if only learning to do treatment on friends or family it really is a life style changing commitment in order to be a more "effective" healer. In the IARP (International Association of Reiki Professionals) this is why the last item in the code of ethics reads as follows "Be actively working on your own healing so as to embody and fully express the essence of Reiki in everything that you do".
I myself have worked and now live the twelve steps from AA. I do at least one meditation once a day. I have changed my diet to mainly organic foods, and have maintained an exercise program. I am not saying this to boast, but to illustrate that the reason I do these things is to keep me healthy so that I can be a more effective vessel to help others. This being said, I also want to emphasize that Reiki is not a religion, though it is spiritual in nature. There are Practitioners of Reiki from many religions and various walks of faith.
What is involved in a Reiki Session?
Depending on how long the session is and the client's needs the session can vary. In the first session, I go over a brief overview of Reiki and also have some forms for the client to fill out. In a typical session I start with a prayer and affirmation then I use an Aura cleansing technique that I learned from one of my teachers, but it is not a Reiki Technique. This takes only a few minutes and I do this while the person sits on the edge of the massage table. Once this is complete the client would lay down on his or her back. I offer scented oils during the treatment. I have a lavender oil that is wonderful for alleviating stress or anxiety and to help the client relax. I also offer a healing oil that is also relaxing but a better choice if there is actually physical aliments that need to be addressed.
It is up to the client whether the session is a touch or no touch session, and I go through a few key Reiki Hand positions. However if while doing the treatment intuition pulls me to go to another area, I follow my intuition. I plan to add pictures of each position soon so you can see exactly what is entailed.
Position 1-3 are all at the head. The first I place my hands over the eyes, a tissue can be placed over the face first if the client prefers. The second is to either side of the head, and the third is under the head. These areas are addressed until the client is calm and relaxed.
Positions 4-5 address the shoulders and the heart, and the throat.
Positions 6-8 are done at the upper, mid, and lower abdomen area.
Positions 9-10 the knees are addressed.
Positions 11-13 are the feet done individually then together (Many clients find these positions to be very grounding.).
After the feet positions depending on time I typically will move back up and end with placing one hand on the head, and the other on the abdomen and let the energy flow through the person's body. If the client has back problems instead, I have the client lay on his or her stomach with the head looking down through the massage table's head pillow and will start at the shoulders and go down the back in 4 different stages. I only do back positions at the request of the client, otherwise I feel that the front hand positions address all of the energy centers of the body there by treating the entire body.
At the end of the session, I end with a Reiki Aura sealing technique and a prayer and affirmation. If the client is open to it, I also like to teach a technique developed by Patti Conklin called color works which clients can use to help release energy blocks and issues of the past.
