_What is Reiki?

Reiki One Circle at Brickell Yoga Shala 2011

_Reiki  is a system of natural healing involving what some call a “laying-on of hands,” which has been practiced for thousands of years old, though rediscovered or formulated in the 1800s by the Japanese healer, Mikao Usui.

Reiki is the most simple yet powerful natural healing method and is both easily given and received. As Reiki is inherently a Universal Life Giving Energy and can be characterized as Unconditional Love, it can be and is used for all purposes, conditions and situations. It is safe at any time, any place, on anything and anyone.

Rei - Spiritual Wisdom
The Japanese word Rei means “Universal” and is a very general definition  whereas more specifically understood as “Higher Spiritual Consciousness” or “All-knowing and All-pervading God-force.” This energy "understands" the root cause, and therefore the cure for all problems and difficulties.

Ki - The life force
Ki or Chi in Chinese, Prana in Sanskrit, Mana in Hawaiian, is the vital life force that flows through all living things. It has been identified by all cultures and consequently has various names. Ki surrounds and animates all life and is the primary source of our thoughts, emotions and spiritual existence.

Martial Arts is based on the use of Ki in physical and mental development. Shamans, past and present, have used the same energy for spiritual development and awareness, as well as healing and manifestation. Ki is employed by all healers, regardless of their discipline tapped into from the source of which we are a part.

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Reiki can perhaps thus be defined as the Spiritually Guided Universal Life Force of Unconditional Love.  This describes clearly the experience most people have as they channel and as they receive Reiki.

No special faith or belief is required to practice Reiki. It is channelled by people of different religions, faiths and philosophies. Reiki does not depend on a belief in the Universal Life Force.

Reiki is transmitted from a Reiki Master/Teacher to an individual by way of an attunement. The recipient then is able to channel this energy and will then experience the flow through the hands whenever coming into contact with any other field of energy (human, animal, mineral, vegetable) and will retain this ability to channel Reiki for the rest of her/is life.

Reiki is UNIVERSAL ENERGY meaning it has neither polarity, magnetism nor is it a mind-directed energy, which might otherwise require that the healer visualize the energy entering into them and then with their mind direct it to another living being. With Reiki there is no need to visualize,  concentrate on or invoke the energy. Whereas the mind is always the key in many healing therapies, Reiki is simply channeling the life force  or cosmic energy by way of contact with another body’s energy field, be it animal, vegetable or mineral. We are all comprised of this life force whatever our manifest physical form.