WHAT IS REIKI?

Usui Reiki Ryoho is a system of healing created by Mikao Usui in Japan in the early part of the 20th Century.

The phenomenon that has come to be known as Reiki, however, is as ancient as mankind. Throughout the ages, various manifestations of it have been used to facilitate healing, and systems, traditions, or folklore surrounding the myth of "healing hands" can be found in cultures all over the world.
Reiki has been likened to chi/ qi/ ki, the subtle energy that moves through specific pathways (meridians) in the body and can be manipulated by acupuncture and acupressure. To some extent this is correct as Reiki does supply chi - it is, however, a more encompassing type of energy that is not confined to the body.

In this sense, Usui did not develop or even rediscover Reiki. More to the point, he created a system of Reiki, which has given structure to training, clinical uses, and specific ways of treatment. Usui's traditional Reiki was brought to the West by Hawayo Takata in the 1930's as "Usui Shiki Ryoho". Usui Shiki Ryoho has no religious connotations.

In order to reach its full therapeutic potential Reiki has to be spiritual practice for the practitioner only. The recipient, on the other hand, does not require any awareness or previous knowledge of meditation/ relaxation techniques to benefit from treatment.
If the recipient allows it to, Reiki can work on a spiritual level, gradually opening a pathway to one's inner sources, strengthening intuition, and providing a sense of connectedness. Along with this shift, clients often find a new sense of purpose in their lives and naturally let go of negative attitudes.

Current Reiki practice has divided into a multitude of forms, all of which have their origin in the system developed by Usui. His own students and subsequent Reiki Masters modified elements of the original system based on personal preference and the results of their own experimentation. A number of these modified forms draw on independently evolved techniques, or have adopted elements from other healing modalities and belief-systems. There is no right or wrong Reiki, nor a stronger or weaker one, but simply diverse forms to suit the needs of each individual.