What is reiki?

The founder of the traditional system of Reiki was Dr Mikao Usui, he had a great interest in Sanskrit and the ancient chakra system, and when he discovered the reiki energy he used the chakra system to channel the reiki energy to create powerful energetic healing. He began a spiritual practice on the Kurama mountain near Kyoto in Japan for 21 days, which included fasting and meditation on the last day he found himself filled with a white spiritual light offering healing and renewed energy, it was after this experience he opened his first reiki clinic and the tradition has been passed on from teacher to student ever since.

Reiki is a powerful healing energy that can be used to create more harmony, balance and happiness in your life. It is a non-invasive therapy that is used throughout the world and can help ease physical and mental or emotional pain to bring more balance and harmony in all areas of your life. It will intuitively know what you need and work for your highest and greatest good, providing a protective space for you to bring yourself back to a more balanced being.

‘Rei’ translates as the universal spirit and ‘Ki’ is the universal energetic force. It is known by different names by different cultures. In India and the yogic tradition it is what is known as prana. Being balanced offers reiki treatments to fine tune the more subtle layers of energy in the body and encourage feelings of harmony and inner peace, with a soothing effect on the nervous system.

How does it work?

The essence of reiki is love, understanding and compassion, the more we can channel these positive emotions and release any energetic blockages within us the more life force we can create and retain. Treatment with reiki can encourage the energetic body to release any blockages or past traumas and restore a sense of balance. Reiki is a very intelligent high vibrational energy, traveling to where it is needed the most and enabling you to deal with any emotional or energetic issues when you are ready, in a protective way. A reiki treatment will work towards your highest and greatest good and boost your energetic system.

All living things have life force energy, the healthier and happier you are the more life force energy you have. Sometimes we can find ourselves out of balance, with disharmony in the body. This can be caused by our active and busy lives, which can create stress and negative emotions, which can in turn, decrease our life force, and our energy can become low making things even more unbalanced.

Reiki treatments with balanced being can help to increase and restore the flow of life force energy around the body, boosting your energy and vitality.

What happens during a reiki treatment?

The practitioner will make you comfortable on either a therapy bed or in a chair, and use their hands to work on the energy centres within your body. Reiki can be used differently and is usually a combination of both a hands on and hands off approach and can include a light touch from the therapist.

The treatment will usually last for an hour and afterwards you should feel relaxed and calm. When the treatment is finished, there will be an opportunity to discuss any sensations and provide feedback.

What are the 5 principles of reiki?

Due to the oral tradition and the teacher-student relationship in the reiki lineage, there are many versions of events, with a few variations and differences. This is also the case for the 5 principles of reiki, although even with any differences in translation, the intention of the principles remains the same - the principles are there to encourage kindness and healing for yourself, those around you and the rest of the world.

The five spiritual principles of the Reiki system are commonly known as this in the West.

• Just for today do not worry

• Just for today do not anger

• Honour your parents, teachers and elders

• Earn your living honestly

• Show gratitude to everything

However, in the japanese tradition the meanings are slightly different:

• Just for Today

• Do not Worry

• Do not anger

• Show appreciation

• Work hard on yourself

• Show compassion to yourself and others

The exact wording of the principles, although important to know, can be adapted so they feel and sound right for you. Working with reiki has a lot to do with intention and the positive energy that you can create through directing your thoughts and energy for the greater good.

If you have any questions, or would like to find out more or book a reiki treatment please get in touch to receive a health questionnaire and have an initial consultation.