REIKI
Exploring Reiki: Its Origins, History, and Ancient Connections
Reiki is a healing technique founded by Japanese Buddhist Dr. Mikao Usui in the early 20th century, designed to reduce stress and promote healing through the flow of life force energy. The word Reiki itself is made up of two Japanese terms: Rei, meaning God’s wisdom or Higher Power, and Ki, meaning one’s life force energy. The knowledge that unseen energy flows through all living things and is intimately connected with our health is not new; it has roots stretching back to ancient civilizations across the world.
What Is Reiki?
Reiki is administered through the laying on of hands, based on the idea that an unseen life force energy runs through us, giving us vitality and health. It treats the whole person: body, emotions, mind, and spirit, and aims to restore balance and harmony to our energy field. Reiki is safe, simple, and accessible to anyone. The American Cancer Society acknowledges Reiki as a helpful complementary therapy for alleviating the side effects of cancer treatments. After all, energy follows thought, and positive thinking combined with energy healing can have powerful, tangible effects.
Unlike many healing methods, the ability to use Reiki is not learned in the traditional sense but is passed to the student through a special ceremony called attunement, conducted by a Reiki master. There are three levels of Reiki practice: First Degree, Second Degree, and Master/Teacher, each teaching different skills and techniques. I am proud to be a Level Two Reiki Practitioner.
Reiki and Spirituality
Reiki is not a religion, but it promotes living in harmony with oneself and others. You do not need to believe in anything specific to benefit from Reiki, though for me, Reiki has opened my eyes to spiritual dimensions I might otherwise have dismissed. I view Reiki energy as a divine gift, similar to prayer energy, that brings profound peace and healing.
How Reiki Works
Reiki works by channeling energy through the hands along meridian lines and chakras, energy centers in the body, typically corresponding to seven major chakras. Sometimes hands hover just above the body rather than touching, and with how warm my hands can get during Reiki sessions, this is often preferred. When your aura’s energy is balanced and harmonious, it reflects your overall health and well-being.
A Brief Look at Reiki’s History and Ancient Parallels
Although Dr. Mikao Usui formalized Reiki in 1922, the concept of vital energy flowing through living beings dates back thousands of years across many cultures.
Ancient Japan and Asia: The ideas of Ki (or Qi/Chi) energy have been integral to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Tai Chi, and Japanese healing arts for millennia. Usui”s Reiki system drew from these Eastern energy healing philosophies, integrating them into a unique practice.
Ancient Egypt: Egyptian culture had a deep belief in spiritual and energetic healing. The Ka was understood as the vital essence or spirit of a person, a life force closely tied to health and vitality. Egyptian priests were known to use laying-on-of-hands techniques and sacred oils for healing, reflecting an understanding of energy manipulation that shares similarities with Reiki.
Vikings and Norse Traditions: While the Vikings are best known for their physical prowess and seafaring skills, their sagas and myths mention seiðr: a form of Norse magic and spiritual practice involving trance, prophecy, and healing. Viking healers called völvas used chants and rituals to influence unseen forces, potentially harnessing energy for health and protection.
The Regency Period (Early 19th Century England): During the Regency era, mainstream medicine was quite rudimentary, and many healing methods were folk-based or spiritual. Practices like laying on of hands were common in Christian healing traditions, and animal magnetism (later called mesmerism) was explored as a healing force believed to flow through the body. Though Reiki itself was unknown, the belief in unseen healing energy was present in various forms.
Medical Perspectives on Reiki
Reiki is considered a complementary or alternative therapy in modern medicine. Scientific research into Reiki’s effectiveness has been mixed but shows promise in areas related to stress relief, anxiety reduction, and improving quality of life.
A 2017 systematic review in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine found that Reiki might have beneficial effects on pain, anxiety, and depression but noted that many studies were limited by small sample sizes or lack of rigorous controls.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) classifies Reiki as an energy therapy and states that more high-quality research is needed to confirm its benefits.
The American Cancer Society notes that Reiki can help reduce stress and improve well-being during cancer treatment, but it should not replace conventional cancer therapies.
Many healthcare providers offer Reiki as a supportive therapy to help patients relax and manage symptoms, emphasizing that Reiki is safe when used alongside traditional medical care.
My Personal Reiki Practice
I have been practicing Reiki for twenty-six years, and it has become an integral part of my self-care routine. Every night before bed, I Reiki myself, allowing the energy to relax my body and mind. As I do so, I meditate, focusing on God’s white light washing over me. The Reiki energy feels like a warm, tingling radiance flowing through me, bringing tranquility and peace, helping me drift into restful sleep. To me, Reiki is a divine gift, much like prayer, with profound healing powers for which I am deeply grateful. Thank you, God.
A special thank you to:
American Cancer Society. “Reiki.” https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/manual-healing/reiki.html, Rand, Alan. The Reiki Touch: Complete Home Learning System, Wilkinson, Richard H. The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, Price, Neil S. The Viking Way: Magic and Mind in Late Iron Age Scandinavia, Gauld, Alan. A History of Hypnotism., Vitale, A. T. “The Effect of Reiki Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Adults: An Integrative Review of the Literature.” Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 2017., & https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/reiki-and-energy-healing
