What is Reiki?
Reiki is a form of spiritual healing. The word Reiki is derived from two Japanese words "Rei" and "Ki." Rei translates into several meanings: command, cool, spirit, expression of gratitude, and soul or spirit. Ki also translates into several meanings: yellow, time, disposition, intention, essence, and pure, among others. Reiki is a form of energy healing that was re-discovered in Japan around 1850 by a gentleman named Dr. Mikao Usui. Dr. Usui became aware of his healing gift during a retreat on the sacred Mt. Kurama where he spent nearly a month in meditation. Upon reaching the end of his meditation, he saw a beam of light come toward him. Knowing that this beam of light would impact him - good or bad - he was struck by it and lost consciousness. When he came to, he was surrounded by different colored bubbles, each containing a different symbol. It is said that as he analyzed each symbol, he became attuned to them and was instructed on how to use them. As Dr. Usui made his descent from the mountain, he experienced several miracles in which he was able to heal himself and a young woman through touch. As he became aware of this powerful energy, he went on to heal others and later opened his own clinic where he continued to see people in need of healing. His method of healing became known as Usui Reiki.
Usui Reiki was introduced to the west by a woman named Hawayo Takata. Ms. Takata was born in Kauai, Hawaii on December 24, 1900. At a certain stage in her adult life, she began experiencing health issues and travelled to Japan to seek medical help. Having sought medical attention at a hospital in Japan, she decided to look for alternative ways of caring for her health, which led her to Dr. Hayashi, who had been one of Dr. Usui's most dedicated student. Dr. Hayashi treated Ms. Takata over several months until she was healed. When her health was restored, and on her request, Dr. Hayashi spent several more months training her so that she could continue healing herself when she returned home to Hawaii. Back home, Ms. Takata continued her healing through Reiki and later opened a clinic where she continued to practice the same healing technique taught to her by Dr. Hayashi.
Today, Reiki is practiced all over the world and its power continues to be just as effective. The Reiki energy is channeled through the practitioner which is directed to the recipient for healing. The goal of Reiki is to promote calm and relaxation within the mind and body so that the body can heal itself. The same way we know that stress causes a person's immunity to decline, so too, we promote relaxation to bring the body back to health. Reiki is great at treating a variety of things, including pain and inflammation. In the state of California where I currently practice, Reiki is done with a hands off approach, meaning that the practitioner does not touch the person being healed. One can compare it to a 'laying of hands' except that the practitioner's hands are held over the person's body. I must highlight here that if you are feeling ill, there is no substitute for medical attention. Please see a doctor right away! Reiki is great to use in conjunction with any medical treatment - there is never any negative side effects and the energy will know where it needs to go to heal you. Due to its popularity and gentleness, Reiki has made its way into hospitals, especially in areas where patients being treated for cancer as Reiki helps to alleviate a lot of the pain and, thus, allows the patient to rest and feel better.
Other Types of Reiki
Karuna Reiki® is an advanced form of Reiki healing that evolved from the Usui and Tibetan Reiki systems. Karuna Reiki® was developed by William Lee Rand, along with other healers at the International Center for Reiki Training. This form of Reiki follows the same principles as the aforementioned systems, except it heals at a much deeper level. It is said that this form of Reiki helps heal a person at a cellular level. The energy is much stronger, yet it feels gentler to the recipient. Karuna is a Sanskrit word that means compassion. In Reiki, Karuna is translated to mean "any action that is taken to diminish the suffering of others and can also be translated as "compassionate action."
Crystal Reiki is used in conjunction with Reiki and incorporates the many healing properties of crystals. Crystals are placed on or near a person's body during a Reiki healing session.
Because Reiki's healing energy is multidimensional, a healing can be performed remotely. This means that the healer does not need to be in the same room as the person receiving healing. The healer can be across the world and the recipient would receive the healing. This is important for me to highlight especially today with the presence of COVID-19. If you would like healing, I can provide Reiki remotely - via phone, Facetime, or Skype.
What to Expect During Your Reiki Session
The goal of Reiki is to bring you to a place of awareness and relaxation. Before a Reiki session, we will go over any questions you or I may have. I will have you lie down on a massage bed so that you are able to relax your body comfortably. Keeping a short distance from your body, I will place my hands over the top of your head and in a scanning motion work my way down to your feet. Depending on the depth of healing needed, I may ask you to turn on your side or stomach, or I may use crystals or sound. This process is the same for remote healing, except that you will be sitting or lying down in the comfort of your own home. Please note that remote healing does not take as long as an in-person session, so the time and pricing for each type of session will be different for that reason.