Reiki (pronounced ray-key) healing is a practice that is probably thousands of years old. It is thought to have first been used by Tibetan Buddhist monks but was rediscovered in the late 1800’s by Dr Mikao Usui, a Japanese Buddhist. The Usui system of Reiki is a very simple yet powerful form of healing which is easily given and received by anyone.
The word Reiki has its roots in two words: Rei means universal and Ki means life force or energy. Reiki is life force energy that can only be channelled by someone who has been attuned to its energy. The attunements or initiations are the continuation of an ancient process of tuning the healer to a higher vibration. This clears a channel for the flow of energy. Once attuned, this channel will remain open and the energy is available to be used by the healer for the rest of his/her life.
Reiki energy is a spiritually guided healing energy that moves through the healer to the recipient. This never depletes the healer’s own energy and in fact helps to energise and heal the healer. Since Reiki energy is spiritually guided it always goes to where it is needed; it can be considered as an intelligent energy.
All healing uses a universal energy to heal, however Reiki healing is different in that it is guided for use only for the greater good. Reiki energy can never be abused or misused. People who practice healing prior to receiving a Reiki attunement will usually notice a change in energies.
Once attuned, Reiki treatments are then given by the practitioner who simply needs the intent to heal and places his or her hands on the person to be healed. Whilst a number of easily learned hand positions are used on the recipient’s body, the Reiki energy has a way of naturally flowing to where it is needed and therefore needs no conscious direction by the healer.
Learning Reiki healing
Reiki healing cannot be practiced without an attunement by a Reiki Master but equally it is not just an attunement that makes a good Reiki healer. To be a good healer is to be aware of your shortcomings and of the traits and nuances of your personality. Truth and honesty about yourself helps you to become a soul and personality that shines out with love and wisdom. I once read that you heal more by who you are than what you do and I have found this to be true as I have continued my own journey into healing. The process of self-healing also bestows a great depth of understanding of the healing process that helps in understanding and healing others.
You can become a truly wonderful healer by not only being committed to self-healing but by learning skilful healing techniques. This involves learning more about mental, emotional, physical and spiritual issues and learning to heal a range of illnesses and problems. Wise healing is done through the higher self and is divinely guided and experienced healers learn to listen to their Divine guidance and follow it to give healing that is always for the best.
Reiki 1
The Reiki first degree (Reiki 1) is usually considered as a stage during which the healer heals their self and practices at healing other people – usually friends and family. The Reiki 1 healer should not charge money for their healing of others and should not advertise their healing service. The Reiki 1 practitioner learns to channel the Reiki healing energies in an efficient way and I feel that at this stage most initiates will be on a journey of self discovery. I feel that self healing is a continuous process that merges with spiritual practice.
I will give the Reiki 1 attunement to most of those who ask for it. Just having the attunement will open people to Divine energies whether or not they consciously use the energies for healing. Some of those who have had the Reiki 1 attunement may stop using it after a short while and others may continue to use it and progress to further levels.
Reiki 2
At Reiki second degree (Reiki 2) the initiate receives another attunement which considerably increases the power of their healing. Reiki 2 healers may advertise as a Reiki healer and charge for this service if they so wish. The Reiki 2 healer is given much more versatility in their healing; it may be sent to anywhere and into the past and the future and initiates learn to use Reiki in every aspect of their lives and learn to use sacred Reiki symbols in their healing.
Before giving a Reiki 2 initiation I require that people have made an honest effort at self healing and channelling Reiki energy. I would like the Reiki 2 initiate to show that they have practiced healing on friends and family and have embraced the Reiki healing system and energies. I also require that initiates have attained a reasonable degree of spiritual insight and intend that their love and compassion is used to bring healing to others.
Reiki Masters
The Reiki level 3 is an attunement that enables the initiate to attune others for Reiki 1, 2 and 3 and this level is known as Reiki Masters. The Reiki level 4 requires that the initiate is competent at teaching Reiki and this level is known as Reiki Teacher. Usually the Reiki levels 3 and 4 are done together and people at this stage call themselves Reiki Master although some will call themselves Reiki Master/Teacher to reflect the distinction between levels 3 and 4.
The Reiki Master initiation is for those who have shown a commitment to their own spiritual development and that of others. My own Reiki Master told me that the Reiki Master degree changes lives permanently. Whereas there are those who may have the level 1 initiation and then may or may not practice it, this should not happen at Reiki Master. It is an affirmation that the initiate wishes to lead by example in the field of Reiki healing and it is an affirmation by the true Reiki Masters, in spirit, that you may become an ambassador of their great love. It is a step that is taken after careful consideration and with a deep sense of reverence for and commitment to the Reiki healing system.