Essential Reiki

Essential Reiki Plot Summary

Introduction

Imagine placing your hands on someone in pain and watching their discomfort melt away within minutes. This isn't magic or fiction—it's Reiki, one of the world's most accessible yet profound healing arts. For thousands of years, the practice of channeling universal life energy through the hands has existed in various forms across cultures, but the system we now call Reiki emerged from Japan and has since transformed millions of lives worldwide. What makes Reiki extraordinary is its beautiful simplicity. Unlike other healing modalities that require years of training, Reiki can be learned in a single day through a process called attunement—a brief ceremony where a Reiki Master opens the student's energy channels. After this attunement, the healing ability remains for life, requiring no special preparation, equipment, or even belief system to work effectively. Through this book, you'll discover not only the profound history of this healing art dating back to ancient Buddhist traditions, but also practical techniques to harness this energy for physical healing, emotional balance, and spiritual growth—whether for yourself, others, or even across great distances.

Chapter 1: The Origins and History of Reiki Energy Healing

Reiki's journey through time and across cultures is a fascinating tale of rediscovery and preservation. The word "Reiki" combines two Japanese terms: "rei" meaning universal or spiritual, and "ki" meaning life force energy—the same concept known as "chi" in China or "prana" in India. While the energy itself has been recognized for millennia, the modern system of Reiki began with Mikao Usui in Japan during the late 1800s. Usui, a Buddhist monk and scholar, embarked on a quest to understand the healing methods used by Buddha and Jesus. After years of study and a 21-day meditation on Mount Kurama, he experienced a profound spiritual awakening where the Reiki symbols and healing system were revealed to him. This moment transformed Usui from seeker to healer, and he began teaching others his newfound knowledge. The lineage continued through Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a retired naval officer who became Usui's successor. Hayashi refined the hand positions and created a more structured system for treatments. He established the first Reiki clinic in Tokyo, where practitioners worked in teams to heal patients. It was at this clinic that a Hawaiian woman named Hawayo Takata arrived seeking treatment for several serious health conditions. After experiencing complete healing, Takata became determined to learn Reiki herself. Despite initial reluctance to teach a foreigner, Hayashi eventually trained her and, recognizing the looming threat of World War II, named her his successor. As he had feared, Reiki practice was suppressed in Japan during the war years. Takata became the sole carrier of traditional Reiki knowledge to the Western world, teaching 22 Reiki Masters before her death in 1980. From these 22 teachers, Reiki has spread throughout the world, evolving into various branches while maintaining its essential healing properties. Today's Reiki practitioners can trace their lineage back through their teachers to Takata, Hayashi, and ultimately Usui himself—a living connection to this ancient wisdom. This unbroken chain of transmission through direct attunement is what distinguishes Reiki from other energy healing methods and ensures the authenticity of its practice across generations and cultures.

Chapter 2: Understanding Reiki's Energy Principles and Life Force

At its core, Reiki works with the fundamental energy that animates all living things. This life force energy, known as "ki" in Japanese, flows through all organisms and is essential for health and vitality. When this energy flows freely and abundantly, we experience wellness in body, mind, and spirit. When it becomes depleted or blocked, physical symptoms and emotional distress can manifest. Reiki operates on the principle that this energy can be channeled through one person to another, helping to remove blockages and restore proper flow. Unlike other healing techniques that may deplete the practitioner's personal energy, Reiki draws from the unlimited universal source. The practitioner serves merely as a conduit, which is why Reiki healers often report feeling energized rather than drained after giving treatments. The energy itself has an innate intelligence that directs it precisely where healing is needed. This explains why practitioners don't need diagnostic skills or medical knowledge—the energy automatically flows to areas of imbalance. A Reiki healer might place hands on a headache only to find the energy addressing an underlying digestive issue that was the true source of the pain. Reiki works holistically across multiple levels of being. On the physical level, it promotes relaxation, reduces pain, and accelerates healing. Studies have shown it can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and boost immune function. On the emotional and mental levels, it helps release negative emotions, reduce anxiety, and provide clarity. Spiritually, it facilitates a deeper connection to one's higher self and purpose. This universal energy respects free will and ethical boundaries. It can never cause harm and will not override a person's autonomy. If someone isn't ready to release a particular issue, the energy will work elsewhere or at a pace the recipient can integrate. This self-regulating aspect makes Reiki exceptionally safe for everyone from newborns to the elderly, and for conditions ranging from minor aches to terminal illness. Understanding these principles helps explain why Reiki can seem miraculous yet operates according to natural laws—it simply facilitates the body's innate healing abilities by providing the energy needed for repair and regeneration.

Chapter 3: The Three Degrees of Reiki Training and Attunements

Reiki training is traditionally divided into three progressive levels or "degrees," each building upon the previous and expanding the practitioner's capabilities. These degrees represent not just increasing technical knowledge but a deepening relationship with the energy itself. First Degree (Reiki I) focuses on direct hands-on healing. During this initial training, students receive their first attunement—a sacred ceremony where the Reiki Master opens the student's energy channels. This process is often described as "turning on the switch" that connects the student permanently to the Reiki energy source. Many students report profound sensations during attunements, including warmth, tingling, seeing colors, or experiencing deep peace. After the attunement, students learn the standard hand positions for treating themselves and others. The emphasis at this level is on physical healing and self-treatment, as regular self-practice helps the new practitioner integrate the energy and experience its benefits firsthand. Second Degree (Reiki II) introduces distance healing and the use of sacred symbols. Students receive a second attunement that significantly increases the power of the energy flowing through them. They learn three special symbols that serve as keys to unlock specific aspects of the energy: one amplifies power, another addresses emotional and mental healing, and the third enables healing across time and space. With these tools, practitioners can send healing to people who aren't physically present, work with past traumas, or address future situations. Many report that Reiki II creates significant life changes as the increased energy clears old emotional patterns and outdated beliefs. Third Degree (Master level) represents the culmination of Reiki training. At this level, students receive the Master attunement and learn additional symbols, including the Master symbol that works at the soul level. Most importantly, they learn how to pass attunements to others, becoming teachers in their own right. The Master training focuses on spiritual development and the responsibility of carrying forward the Reiki tradition with integrity. This level often triggers profound personal transformation as the practitioner aligns more deeply with their life purpose and service to others. Each degree involves a period of integration, as the body's energy system adjusts to the higher frequencies. Far from being mere certifications, the three degrees represent stages of an ongoing journey of healing, growth, and spiritual awakening that continues long after formal training ends.

Chapter 4: Reiki Hand Positions and Self-Healing Techniques

The foundation of Reiki practice lies in a systematic sequence of hand positions that cover the major energy centers and organs of the body. These positions, when followed in order, create a comprehensive treatment that addresses the entire system rather than just isolated symptoms. For self-treatment, the practitioner begins with hands placed gently over the eyes, allowing the energy to balance the brain hemispheres and calm the mind. From there, the hands move to the sides of the head, back of the head, throat, heart, solar plexus, abdomen, and finally the pelvic area. Each position is held for approximately 3-5 minutes, though practitioners soon develop an intuitive sense of when to move on based on the energy flow. The session concludes with positions on the knees, ankles, and feet to ground the energy. This complete sequence can be done lying down before sleep or upon waking, making it easily integrated into daily life. The beauty of self-healing lies in its accessibility. Since the energy flows automatically once the hands are placed, practitioners can multitask—watching television, listening to music, or even meditating while the energy works. Many report that regular self-treatment creates noticeable improvements in sleep quality, stress levels, and overall wellbeing within just a few weeks. Some chronic conditions that haven't responded to conventional treatments begin to resolve with consistent Reiki self-care. When giving Reiki to others, the hand positions follow a similar pattern but are adapted for treating someone lying on a massage table or bed. The practitioner typically starts behind the recipient's head, then moves around the body, covering all major energy centers. Throughout the session, both giver and receiver may notice sensations such as heat, coolness, tingling, or pulsing under the hands—all normal indications of energy movement. An important aspect of the hand positions is their non-invasive nature. When treating sensitive areas like the chest or pelvis, hands can be placed slightly above rather than directly on the body, maintaining both comfort and effectiveness. This aspect makes Reiki particularly valuable for working with trauma survivors, children, the elderly, or anyone who might be uncomfortable with touch. With practice, practitioners often develop their own intuitive variations on the standard positions, following guidance about where the energy is most needed. This flexibility within structure is one of Reiki's greatest strengths—providing a reliable framework while honoring the unique needs of each healing situation.

Chapter 5: Distance Healing and Symbolic Energy Transmission

One of the most remarkable aspects of Reiki is its ability to transcend physical limitations of time and space through distance healing. This capability, formally introduced in the Second Degree of training, opens entirely new dimensions for healing work that might otherwise seem impossible. Distance healing works because energy follows intention and thought. When a practitioner directs Reiki energy with clear focus to someone across town or across the world, the connection is established instantly. This process utilizes the Hon-Sha-Ze-Sho-Nen symbol, often translated as "no past, no present, no future," which helps the practitioner connect beyond the normal constraints of physical reality. The concept may seem mystical, but many practitioners note it's similar to how we can instantly think of someone far away—consciousness itself has no spatial limitations. There are several methods for sending distance healing. Some practitioners visualize the recipient in detail, while others use a surrogate like a pillow or teddy bear to represent the person. Some work with photographs or written names, while others simply hold the intention while drawing the symbols in the air. What matters most is the practitioner's clear intention and connection to the Reiki energy source. Recipients of distance healing often report being aware of the exact time the session was sent, feeling sudden warmth, relaxation, or energy movements. Many experience the same benefits they would from hands-on sessions—pain relief, emotional release, increased energy, or peaceful sleep. This effectiveness makes distance healing invaluable for helping people who are hospitalized, traveling, or otherwise unable to receive in-person treatments. Distance healing isn't limited by time, either. Practitioners can send Reiki to past events to help heal old traumas, or to future situations like upcoming surgeries or important meetings. The energy can also be programmed to deliver itself at specific times, such as every hour for someone in acute distress or every night to assist with sleep difficulties. Beyond individual healing, distance Reiki can be directed to global situations, environmental concerns, or conflict zones. Many practitioners regularly send healing to areas affected by natural disasters or social upheaval, contributing positive energy where it's most needed. This application transforms Reiki from personal healing into a form of compassionate service to the wider world.

Chapter 6: Passing Attunements and Teaching Reiki to Others

The attunement process stands as the heart of the Reiki system, distinguishing it from all other energy healing modalities. This sacred ceremony, performed by a Reiki Master, creates an energetic opening that connects the student permanently to the universal life force. Understanding and preserving this process is essential for maintaining Reiki's integrity across generations. During an attunement, the Master serves as a conduit for powerful transformative energy. The student sits in a meditative state while the Master performs a series of precise movements around them, using breath, specific hand positions, and sacred symbols to open and align the student's energy channels. This process takes only a few minutes but creates lifelong changes in the recipient's energy field. Many students report profound experiences during attunements—seeing colors or light, feeling energy movements, connecting with spiritual guides, or experiencing deep emotional release. Learning to pass attunements requires not just technical knowledge but spiritual preparation. The Master must develop the ability to hold and direct extremely high frequencies of energy while maintaining clear intention and focus. This involves specific breathing techniques, energy control exercises, and the ability to maintain what's called the "Hui Yin" position—a subtle muscular contraction that helps direct the energy flow. Traditional training often included years of apprenticeship to master these skills, though modern approaches may condense this timeline. Teaching Reiki involves more than just passing attunements. A responsible Master provides comprehensive instruction in hand positions, the meaning and use of symbols, ethical guidelines, and the historical context of the practice. They create a safe, supportive environment for students to experience their first healings and answer the many questions that arise as new practitioners begin working with the energy. The decision to become a Reiki Master carries significant responsibility. The Master becomes a living link in an unbroken chain stretching back to the founder, Mikao Usui. Their attunements will affect not only their direct students but potentially thousands of future practitioners. This awareness has traditionally made the Master level something approached with reverence and careful consideration. While different Reiki lineages may have varying approaches to attunements and teaching, all share the common purpose of empowering others with this healing gift. The best teachers recognize they are not bestowing power from themselves but rather facilitating each student's connection to the universal source—a connection that ultimately transcends any individual teacher or teaching style.

Chapter 7: Reiki's Connection to Buddhism and Enlightenment

Though often presented as a standalone healing technique in the West, Reiki's deeper roots lie firmly within Buddhist spiritual traditions, particularly Japanese esoteric Buddhism and Tendai practices. Understanding these connections illuminates Reiki's deeper purpose beyond physical healing—it was originally conceived as a path toward spiritual transformation and enlightenment. The five sacred Reiki symbols taught in advanced training directly correspond to Buddhist concepts of consciousness transformation. They represent a systematic progression toward enlightenment that mirrors traditional Buddhist stages of spiritual development. The Cho-Ku-Rei (power symbol) represents the beginning of the spiritual journey and the focusing of attention. The Sei-He-Ki (emotional/mental healing symbol) corresponds to the purification of emotions and thoughts. The Hon-Sha-Ze-Sho-Nen (distance symbol) reflects the transcendence of ordinary limitations of perception. The Master symbol, Dai-Ko-Myo, represents the enlightened mind itself—pure consciousness beyond all conditioning. Even the hand positions used in Reiki treatments align with meditation postures and mudras (symbolic hand gestures) used in Buddhist practice for centuries. The emphasis on non-attachment—allowing the energy to flow without directing it through ego—echoes the Buddhist principle of non-clinging. The practitioner learns to be present without imposing personal will, a fundamental aspect of Buddhist mindfulness. Mikao Usui, Reiki's founder, was a dedicated Buddhist practitioner who reportedly received the Reiki system during an intensive meditation retreat. The spiritual principles he incorporated into Reiki training reflect core Buddhist values: compassion for all beings, ethical living, mindfulness, and the recognition of interconnectedness. The five Reiki principles (or precepts) taught to all students—"Just for today: do not anger, do not worry, be grateful, work diligently, be kind to all beings"—parallel Buddhist ethical guidelines and could easily be found in any Buddhist temple. Understanding this spiritual dimension explains why many long-term Reiki practitioners report experiences that go far beyond physical healing. Many describe profound shifts in consciousness, increased intuition, synchronicities, spiritual insights, and a deepening sense of connection to all life. What begins as a healing practice often evolves into a spiritual path that transforms one's entire relationship with reality. This connection to Buddhism doesn't make Reiki religious—practitioners of all faiths or none can benefit from its techniques. Rather, it places Reiki in its proper context as a comprehensive system for transformation that addresses the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. When understood in this light, Reiki reveals itself not merely as a complementary therapy but as a doorway to profound spiritual awakening.

Summary

Reiki stands as a beautiful bridge between ancient wisdom and modern healing needs—a system so elegantly simple that children can learn it, yet so profound that lifetime practitioners continue discovering new depths. At its essence, Reiki teaches us that healing power doesn't come from complex techniques or years of study, but from reconnecting with the universal life energy that flows through all living things. By opening ourselves as channels for this energy, we participate in healing that extends far beyond the physical, touching emotional wounds, mental patterns, and spiritual disconnection. What might our world look like if more people carried this healing capacity in their hands? How might our healthcare systems transform if this complementary approach were more widely integrated? As scientific research increasingly validates what practitioners have known for decades about Reiki's effects on pain, anxiety, and healing rates, these questions become more than theoretical. For those intrigued by the possibilities, the journey begins with simple curiosity and openness—the same qualities that have drawn millions to experience this remarkable healing art firsthand. Whether you're seeking physical relief, emotional balance, or deeper spiritual connection, the gentle power of Reiki offers a path forward that honors both ancient traditions and the unique needs of our modern lives.

About Author

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Diane Stein

Diane Stein (1948 - Present) is a natural healer and teacher of women's spirituality for thirty years. She is the author of thirty-three books on healing, natural remedies, metaphysics, women's spirituality, and the Goddess. Diane lives in Florida with her dogs. You may also find her at: Facebook.com/DianeSteinAuthor

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