reiki

Reiki is a technique of alternative medicine, developed (or rediscovered) during the latter half of the 19th century by Mikao Usui in Japan.

Definition

The Japanese term rei-ki was coined by Usui, and the literal meaning is cosmos (rei) and energy (ki or chi or qi). Another common definition is "universal life force energy." From this, a verb is derived. Practitioners believe that there exists a form of energy that they call Reiki and they also claim that they are able to direct it at will through the palms of their hands into their own or others' bodies, in order to heal illness. Many scientists and others dispute the existence of Reiki, claiming that the purported "Reiki energy" hasn't been measured by any known observational technique. There is no conclusive scientific evidence of positive results from this form of therapy.

Theory

Reiki energy is believed to enter the initiate through his 7th (crown) chakra, fill his aura and flow through his hands into the body of the recipient. Proponents say the recipients body will take the Reiki energy and use it to heal itself, if needed. They say that if the body does not feel that the energy is needed, it will not absorb the energy. Reiki is performed mainly through laying on hands. The patient is asked to lie down and relax. The operator then is said to open their "Reiki channel" and applies their hands to various parts of patient's body. Patients sometimes report feeling varying sensations: heat, cold, pressure and the like. This is attributed by believers to be the effect of Reiki energy filling the body and aura of recipient and filling up the energy deficiences, repairing and opening the meridians and dissolving the blockages of "stale energy." Reiki defines full health as total harmony of body, mind and spirit, and it is claimed that Reiki heals all mentioned parts of a human being. Proponents of Reiki claim that it can cure any affliction. In practice however, afflictions that are hard for conventional medicine are as hard for Reiki. Proponents also claim that Reiki is especially good at restoring vitality and reducing stress.

History

There is a great deal of controversy regarding the "original" reiki story. Many versions float around under which Dr. Usui was either a Christian or a monk, debating exactly what he was searching for, how the information came to him, and what happened afterwards. This text describes one version. Mikao Usui clamed to have "rediscovered" Reiki. After long meditations and prayers he said that he gained knowledge of how to awaken and apply the Reiki energy for healing. Believers in Reiki claim that access to this energy is limited for the majority of people. Mikao Usui also stated that he could enable his students to enlarge their access to the energy through certain initiations. The 'flow' of the energy after enlarging of the access is said by them to become a healing quality. It is said that Mikao Usui was actively pursuing the art of healing and before he developed Reiki method he studied Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, some internal martial arts like Qigong and even Yoga of Healing. However, he reported that the awakening of Reiki and developing the set of accompanying techniques is something entirely different. After developing Reiki method, Usui went to slums of Tokio to heal the beggars. However after several years he learned that it is their mindset that keeps them ill time after time of healing. So he engaged it philosophical studies that bore fruit in uncovering some texts of Yellow Emperor. He then summarized it in five ethical principles:

Just for today, do not worry.
Just for today, do not anger.
Honor your parents, teachers, and elders.
Earn your living honestly.
Show gratitude to everything.

Mikao Usui professed a mystical disposition towards Reiki and trained several disciples in this spirit. However, one of his disciples was the military doctor, Chujiro Hayashi, who took a less mystical approach. He simply stressed physical health and some codified behavior like a system of laying on hands in fixed positions. Usui also trained Mrs. Havayo Takata, the student who brought Reiki to USA. The States proved to be very fertile ground as Mrs. Takata applied American spirit of enterprise to Japanese tradition. Now Reiki is nearly extinct in Japan and flourishing in USA. New paths were developed out of Reiki core that fused it with Christianity, shamanism, channeling and so forth. Also new symbols were added. However, some people argue that it wasn't for good because Reiki is complete system and in particular some symbols are completely alien to Reiki tradition and possibly even harmful. Almost every tradition or style of reiki will agree on the following points of history: Dr. Usui was searching for a method of healing. The fast and meditation lasted 21 days. The hierarchy of Usui, Hayashi, and then Takata.

Courses

The method developed by Mikao Usui spread over the world and now it is almost everywhere possible to attend a Reiki course. To achieve a complete education in Reiki Usui Shiki Ryoho (the Takata's line), 3 courses are necessary: 1st degree course, 2nd degree course and master course. In the 1st degree Reiki course, the student learns how to work with the Reiki energy. The 'channel' through which Reiki energy passes to the 7th chakra has to be widened through an initiation by the teacher, it is claimed. Students learn how to place their hands on the body of the recipient during what Reiki practitioners call the healing process. These hand positions are mostly intuitive, however most practitioners work from a specific sequence, modifying it if they feel it is needed for a particular case. In the 2nd degree Reiki course, techniques of purported mental healing are taught, targeting problems like fears, depression, addictions and the like. It is also taught how to allegedly direct energy to a certain point of time, to specific person or place or specific issue. This technique is said to be used for distance healing. This is said to be made possible through three symbols taught at 2nd initiation. The 'channel' is supposedly opened even more. Some traditions teach additional symbols, not necessarily recognized by the community as a whole. In the master course, students learn how to teach Reiki courses and they become masters of Reiki through the 3rd initiation, that purportedly broadens the 'channel' with a "master symbol." One other additional symbol is taught. Traditionally, reaching 3rd degree was the work of years, however most cities have teachers that will attune a student to all three levels in a weekend if the fee is paid, though some frown on this practice and require 28-30 days after Reiki I before Reiki II is taught, and a minimum of 6 months to a year before acceptance into a Reiki III class. It is up to students how many courses they want to attend. The courses are structured hierarchically, so it is not possible to attend the master course after finishing only the 1st course.

Reiki community

While there are no chain of command, no vows of obedience and practitioners practice as they desire, there is notion to form a Reiki communities that sometimes extend to other healers. It started probably as masters started to organize Reiki circles for joint healing and honing the skills. However a real upsurge of Reiki communities enjoyed with advent of Internet and discussion forums. There has been global initiatives introduced (like healing the planet or global peace fostering) and great deal of online services (like training and healing) commenced.

Controversies

Some scientists hold that, because researchers have been unable to demonstrate the existence of Reiki energy with any certainty, it cannot be described as an effective or worthwhile medical practice. Proponents of Reiki claim that they can detect and manipulate this energy, but some scientists claim that if a physical or medical phenomenon has any reliable real-world effects, it should be measurable and able to be observed in rigorously structured studies. Since few scientists feel that Reiki's effects have been demonstrated to any significant degree, most argue that the sensations some clients of Reiki practitioners claim to feel are a subjective psychological placebo effect or the results of practicioners and their clients deceiving themselves with magical thinking. Some practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine are also skeptical of the claims of Reiki practitioners. Doctors, academics, and consumer advocates find it disturbing and potentially dangerous that patients with serious diseases like cancer sometimes choose Reiki over trained doctors. While it is understandable for patients to seek non-mainstream remedies when conventional options seem ineffective or untrustworthy, many doctors say that Reiki, like much other alternative medicine, is simply exploiting the fear and hope of people with serious illnesses while offering no demonstrable help. Reiki practitioners argue that Reiki is a reliable and effective treatment which is being unfairly dismissed by conservative Western scientific researchers, presenting a few cases of actual disease remission as a proof. There are various religious groups opposing Reiki. They condemn Reiki as promoting satanic or pagan practices. Once such group is the Unification Church, which cautions its adherents to avoid Reiki on the grounds that Reiki involves channeling the energy of evil spirits. The Roman Catholic Church generally refrains from accusations of Satanism in recent times, but it is common for Catholic thinkers to find Reiki suspicious at best, and some individuals and groups (like Dominicans) actively advise believers against it. Some even go as far as to call Reiki a cult, which is disputed by adherents on the grounds that there is said to be no structure, guru or chain of command in the Reiki community.