Reiki is an ancient method
of healing that is performed by the laying on of hands.
It is based on the idea that a universal life force
is flowing through all of us. If one’s life force
is low, we feel lethargic and are more prone to becoming
sick. If one’s energy force is high, we feel happier,
healthier and more alive. Through a practitioner’s
hands, healing is channeled into the individual to increase
the amount of life force available to him or her.
The term, "Reiki"
is consists of two Japanese words, “rei”
which means “higher power or universal wisdom”
and “ki”, which refers to the life force
flowing in all living beings.
A Reiki treatment is done with
patient sitting or lying down. The practitioner moves
his or her hands to different areas of the patient’s
body. Healing energy is then directed into the body
and moves to wherever it is needed.
To the receiver, Reiki energy
feels like a glowing warmth flowing in and around
the body. As healing occurs, feelings of anxiety are
often released. A sense of relaxation, well-being
and peaceful security ensues. Any injured or weakened
areas of the body are soothed. The benefits of Reiki
are physical, spiritual and emotional.
Reiki is an amazingly simple
and safe treatment that anyone can learn. The ability
to give reiki to others is passed on during an “attunement”
given by a Reiki master. This attunement allows Reiki
practitioners to become a channel and tap into the
supply of life force energy to help themselves and
others.
Reiki is one of the more widely known forms of energy
healing. Energy Healing involves direct application
of Chi for the purpose of strengthening the clients
energy system (aura). Chi is the term used by the
Chinese mystics and martial artists for the underlying
force the Universe is made of. Mystics in all cultures
have talked about the physical universe being made
of an underlying form of something, much as modern
physics research is now coming to understand the Universe
is made of energy which is subject to (or affected
by) thought. Just as modern physics says this energy
is affected by thought the mystics also say this underlying
form is affected by thought, going so far as to claim
we create our own reality from our thinking and the
thoughts we share between each of us every day.
Stop and reflect for a moment.
Imagine the implications of the universe around us
made from energy which can be shaped and manipulated
by thoughts. This is the implication of both Quantum
Physics and ancient Metaphysics. Might this make some
diseases easier to explain, especially those which
have no apparent physical cause? Might this make miraculous
cures easier to explain? For example there was research
study done a couple years ago showing that prayer
improves the health of those who are prayed for, the
focus of intent in prayer sends thoughts out in the
form of "I wish such-and-so to happen",
so if the world is energy subject to the power of
thought then prayers must work (depending on how clearly
and carefully you hold and elaborate on the prayers
or thoughts).
Remember this while reading
here about Reiki.
Reiki is very easily learned, very simple to use,
and beneficial for all. It is one of many forms of
healing through the use of the natural forces which
were given the name Chi by ancient chinese mystics.
Some forms of healing using Chi energy forces are
Chi Gong, Pranic Healing, Chelation (as taught by
Brabara Brennan and Rosalyn Bruyere), and Polarity
Balancing. All (apparently) use the same energies,
with the difference being techniques of application
and an energy quality commonly known as vibration.
(This term vibration is widely used in the "New
Age" community to refer to the range in experience
between the dense or low vibration of the physical
world to the high vibration of the highest spiritual
expression; while the term is inadequate to truly
describe the differences, and while Reality is probably
not a simple bipolar scale of experience, the term
is descriptive of how the energy feels). I'm reluctant
to definitively say Reiki uses Chi because I am not
an expert on what the Chinese mean by this word. To
my eye the force referred to with the name Chi is
the same as Prana, Orgone, Odic, they are all names
for the same force.
Since the word Reiki means
Universal Life Force Energy, it (strictly speaking)
refers to the energy and not the specific techniques
taught by Reiki Masters. The techniques are more properly
called the Usui System of Natural Healing after the
founder of the system, Dr. Mikao Usui. However as
Reiki is the common name, and a fine name at that,
this is the name we will use here.
A Reiki healing is very simply
performed. The practitioner places his or her hands
upon the person to be healed with the intent for healing
to occur, and then the energy begins flowing. The
Reiki energy is smart since the Universe is a very
smart place indeed. The energy knows where to go,
and what to do once it gets there, or else is being
directed by a higher intelligence. The energy manages
its own flow to and within the recipient. It draws
through the healer exactly that amount of energy which
the recipient needs. All this happens without direct
conscious intervention by the healer. The healers
job is to get out of the way, to keep the healing
space open, and to watch/listen for signs of what
to do next.
Reiki is capable of healing
anything because it works at very fundamental levels
of reality. Even though the capability is there, this
is not what always happens. The limits to Reiki seem
to be in the recipients willingness to cast off old
habits and patters, to accept change and to accept
healing. The level of reality where Reiki operates
is the underlying energy structure of matter, as the
physical matter we see around us is a solidified form
of energy (Remember Einsteins famous equation which
says that each unit of mass is equivalent to a certain
amount of energy). At the level where Reiki functions,
anything can be changed because all is fluidlike and
is very malleable. Or so is the theory and so is the
experience of Reiki practitioners. Emotional difficulties
are just as healable as physical ones since emotional
issues are even more directly present in the energy
structures.
In this context, the word Healing
has a somewhat different meaning from the widely accepted
meaning. The widely accepted meaning for healing seems
to be curing of symptoms, for that seems to be what
medical doctors and the like look to do in their practice.
The other meaning for healing, used in the practice
of Reiki as well as other related areas, is the return
to greater wholeness. There is an ideal form each
of us has, this ideal form being the highest and clearest
expression of who we are. Pain or disease comes from
any deviation between the persons current form in
the 3D physical world and this ideal form. Healing,
then, is to bring this physical form into closer alignment
with the ideal form.
The way we aquire deviations
from our ideal form is to accept limitations into
our life. Most of this comes from early childhood
because that is the phase of life where we are the
most open and inquisitive about life. A limitation
may be a parent yelling "BE QUIET!!" enough
times that the child learns to not speak. Another
limitation may be a limp that continues longer after
the physical injury has healed, maybe with phantom
pains. These limitations are behavior patterns, eating
patterns, physical limitations, imagined physical
limitations, psychological, mental, or emotional ways
of being, living, expressing or loving that is not
in alignment with our personal highest expression.
In any healing the goal is
to find the limitation, recognize the pattern, recognize
where it came from, and let it go. Reiki accomplishes
this by providing the recipient enough energy to step
above (metaphorically) to see all that and have the
courage to let go. This usually does not happen consciously
as a result of Reiki, but sometimes it does happen
that Reiki gives the recipient the conscious awareness
of the pattern and recognizing where it came from.
Our lives are a constant flow of patterns of activity
(such as the pattern used to accomplish eating breakfast)
and it is our choice to have these patterns remain
stuck in limited expression, or to release the old
patterns and try on new and shinier ones.
Reiki is also a gateway shining
pure love into the universe. It is this love which
allows us to transcend our wounds and help us remember
our true nature.
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