Reiki is best known as, "the laying on of hands" on a human or animal to
soothe and relieve pain. A Reiki practitioner may lay their hands on the
body or hold their hands above the body to relieve the body of discomfort or
to facilitate healing. We do this innately when we stub our toe or bump our
elbow. After making a grimacing face, we begin to rub the painful area with
our hand.
We use the healing power of touch in so many different ways. You don't have
to be a parent to have experienced a deeper level of comfort when we soothed
a child or loved one with a kiss or touch. We have even used our breath to
blow on a bumps, scrapes and bruises. When we feel feverish, we might take
our own hand and feel our forehead.
Touching, caressing and stroking are instinctive healing qualities that not
only humans enjoy, but animals as well. Animals caress their young with
their faces or lick them to shove love and affection. Cats will walk between
our legs and rub their faces against our calves and dogs will lick our legs
to show tenderness and warmth. We all have the ability to show love.
It is scientific fact that the body radiates energy and heat. This energy is
believed to be the life force of the body. Many cultures have different names
for this life force of energy. Reiki comes from the Japanese term "Ki,"
meaning life force energy.
- the Chinese call it Chi'
- In Hebrew it is referred to as Ruach
- In India it is known as Prana
- Islamic countries call it Barraka
- the Japanese call it Ki'
- some Native Americans call it Orenda
- the Polynesians call it Mana
It must be said that Reiki is not a religion, nor is it affiliated with any
religion. The names above are merely what each culture calls the universal
life force energy.
Reiki is divided into three degrees. A Reiki practitioner at the level of
Reiki I generally uses their sessions to heal themselves. The practitioner
may often have better health after he or she has gone through Reiki I level
training.
The Reiki practitioner at the level of Reiki II may have larger amounts of
healing energy. These practitioners may do distance healing. Meaning that
the person being healed does not have to be present in order to receive
healing. A Reiki II practitioner will begin directing healing energies
rather than at Reiki I where they lay the hands directly on the body.
The Reiki practitioner at the level of Reiki III is a Master/Teacher. This
means that the practitioner has mastered the discipline of Reiki and is
therefore able to teach others. There is no ego involved in being a
Master/Teacher. It simply means this person can heal by channeling energy
through pure joy and love.
Reiki is not reserved for people who are in health care. Reiki can be taught
to anyone by a Master/Teacher Level III practitioner. We all have this inborn
ability to heal ourselves and Reiki can help facilitate that healing through
our own hands or the help of others.