An Overview of Reiki
What is Reiki?
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "Divine Wisdom or Light" and Ki which is "Life Force energy". Reiki literally means, “high spiritual wisdom in the form of energy”.
Reiki is a method of energy healing to help guide Life Force energy in a way that promotes self-improvement and healing. It works to clear blockages within the main energy centers of the body, allowing the Life Force to flow unrestrictedly. When these blockages are formed, they create disharmonious states of being within the body that manifest into an array of uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, feelings, and actions, which can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression in our daily life.
While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It holds no doctrine or creed and there is nothing you must believe in order to receive and use it.
How does it Work?
Life Force nourishes the organs and cells of the body, supporting them in their vital functions. It flows within the body though the chakras or energy centers. When this flow is disrupted, it causes diminished function throughout the physical, mental, and emotional bodies.
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Life Force is responsive to thoughts and feelings. It becomes disrupted when we accept, either consciously or unconsciously, negative thoughts or feelings about ourselves or others, which manifest in the form of attachments.
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Reiki is able to heal by flowing through the affected parts of the energy field and charging them with positive energy. It raises the vibratory level of the energy field in and around the physical body, where negative thoughts and feelings are attached. This results in the negative energy breaking apart and dissolving. Reiki can effectively clear, straighten, and heal energy pathways, which allows the Life Force to flow in a healthy and natural way to restore the body, mind, and emotions back to wholeness.
What does a Session look like?
When receiving Reiki, the recipient lies fully clothed on a treatment table while the practitioner places their hands on, or just over of the different energy centers of the body. Before connecting with Reiki energy, the practitioner will begin by grounding themselves and the recipient. The recipient will enter a deep state of relaxation, allowing their awareness to become fully present. After that, the practitioner will then begin directing the flow of Life Force from the crown chakra, throughout the body, releasing any blockages back into the ground. They will repeat this process through the seven main energy centers of the body until the channel becomes clear. The practitioner will use their intuition to guide them to any other blockages within the body that may need additional attention. You may feel sensations throughout your body such as; heat, tingling, or pulsing where their hands are, or see images of colors and shapes within your mind. Some people get so relaxed that they fall asleep. A full treatment is typically 45 minutes.
What is the History of Reiki?
The following referenced history of Reiki is taken from Reiki, The Healing Touch, by William Lee Rand and has been carefully researched to contain verified information from dependable sources.
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"There have been many attempts to explain the history of Reiki, but unfortunately, in the past, many of them have been based more on myth and an attempt to validate a particular style of Reiki and for the most part, lacked accurate information. Realizing the need for a factually based history of Reiki, I’ve spent over twenty years researching this information based on written records and interviews with those close to its development. The result is the following history of Reiki, which is derived from evidence based facts...."