Reiki originated in Japan and was rediscovered in the early 19th century by the spiritual teacher Mikao Usui (1865–1926). Usui was a Japanese teacher interested in spiritual healing and inspired by the question of how figures like Buddha and Christ could heal with their hands. Around 1922, after a deep spiritual quest through ancient texts and symbols, he meditated and fasted for 21 days on Mount Kurama, where he had a spiritual experience and received Reiki energy. On Mount Kurama, Usui gained the insight to channel universal life energy for healing and spiritual development. This led to the development of the "Usui Reiki Ryôhô" method, as he called his teachings from then on. "Ryôhô" is Japanese for "therapy" or "remedy." The term reiki is composed of two Japanese characters (kanji): 霊 rei ("spirit" or "soul") and 気 ki ("energy" or "life force"). Another popular Western translation of 霊気 reiki is "universal life energy" or simply "life," "the world," or "spiritual energy." He originally developed this system as a spiritual path to happiness, harmony, and enlightenment. Meditation and the Gokai (the 5 Reiki principles) were at the heart of his teachings.
In Japanese Buddhism (especially in the context of Reiki), Gokai refers to the five precepts of Mikao Usui:
Kyō dake ha…
- …Ikaru after
- …Shinpai suna
- …Kansha shite
- …Gō wo hageme
- …Hito ni shinsetsu ni
Just for today…
- ...don't get angry
- …don't worry
- …be thankful
- …be diligent in your work/your activities
- …be kind to people and animals
Since the time Mikao Usui shaped, concretized, and passed on his teachings, others have made adjustments, and Usui himself has also made changes to what he taught over the years. In 1922, an association for the Reiki method was founded, the Usui Reiki Ryôhô Gakkai. In the West, the name of this association is often abbreviated to simply "Gakkai." Originally, Mikao Usui's teachings did not use attunements or symbols. He used Reijus, spiritual blessings. These blessings helped students connect with Reiki. Reiki was originally seen as the attainment of enlightenment. Mikao Usui's teachings were originally focused on union with "The Light." The flow of energy from the hands was a side effect of the spiritual exercises, not the true goal. A direct student of Mikao Usui was Chjiro Hayashi, who joined the Gakkai association. Years after Usui's death, Hayashi separated from the Gakkai and founded his own school, "Hayashi Reiki Kenkyû Kai." Chujiro Hayashi made changes to Usui's teaching, placing greater emphasis on the laying on of hands and the use of symbols and mantras. Hawayo Takata, a direct student of Chujiro Hayashi, was responsible for introducing Reiki to the West. Hawayo Takata emphasized the laying on of hands and attunements. Reiki first came to Hawaii, then to the rest of the United States and Canada, and finally reached Europe. Takata was also inconsistent in passing on the Reiki system. Her 22 direct master students discovered this after her death in 1980. Therefore, the master students decided to organize a meeting to discuss the future of the Reiki system and took the initiative to standardize the procedures and symbols. This form is called Usui Shiki Ryôhô (Usui System of Natural Healing). This school is often referred to as "traditional Usui Reiki" and "Usui Reiki." As mentioned earlier, it's clear that this school is not the original teachings of Mikao Usui.
The traditional Usui system (Usui Reiki Ryôhô) does not have attunements. Western Reiki (Usui Shiki Ryôhô) has three attunements; an attunement is an initiation or attunement ritual. During an attunement, the student's energy field is raised and they are taught new techniques.
Shoden, first degree (Reiki 1)
In Western "traditional" education, students in the first degree receive one or four attunements (depending on the school of thought). These attunements reactivate the student's channel for transmitting universal life energy, enabling them to transmit it. The attunement takes place through a combination of symbols, mantras, and hand positions. During the course, students learn the principles of Reiki and are taught the various hand positions. The course duration varies from one to three days, depending on the school of thought.
In the original Japanese association Usui Reiki Ryôhô Gakkai, the beginner's level is called "Shoden." The Shoden degree differs in content and purpose from current Western practices. Instead of attunements, it uses Reijus (spiritual blessings), and the focus is much more on meditation.
Okuden, second degree (Reiki 2)
In the second degree, one is initiated into three symbols in the "traditional" Western system. This initiation expands the student's channel of transmission (the reach of Reiki). During the course, the student learns to treat remotely and is taught the corresponding symbols and mantras so they can apply Reiki remotely. Symbol 1 is the power symbol, symbol 2 is the emotional symbol, and symbol 3 is the distance symbol. This allows the recipient to heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually through a distance treatment or a physical treatment. Distance is perceived not only spatially but also temporally. Thus, a Reiki practitioner can send Reiki into the past, present, and future. The course duration varies from one to three days, depending on the chosen method.
At the Usui Reiki Ryôhô Gakkai, the second level is called Okuden. Okuden is divided into two parts: Okuden Zenki and Okuden Koki. The Okuden degree is also not comparable to the Reiki method that came to the West through Hawayo Takata. Out of respect for the energy, the names of the symbols are not made public. In the West, this is unfamiliar and is considered mysterious.
Shinpiden, third degree (Reiki 3)
The third degree in Western "traditional" education is a training program that typically lasts one to three years, sometimes just one day or a weekend (depending on the school of thought). Students receive personalized instruction and coaching to teach and practice the Reiki method. Depending on the Reiki teacher (Reiki Master) and/or the Reiki school of thought, the third degree can be divided into two parts: A and B. With the 3A degree, students are designated as Aspiring Masters or Inner Masters, while with the 3B degree, students receive the title of Performing Master. This distinction is made to grant the Aspiring Master or Inner Master the Master energy but not the corresponding symbol and mantra. This eliminates the need to initiate others into Reiki. The Master symbol and corresponding mantra, necessary for initiating others, are taught in Reiki 3B.
The Usui Reiki Ryôhô Gakkai Reiki association does not work with so-called "Masters." The third level is called Shinpiden there, and this is not traditionally the level at which one learns to teach Reiki methods. There are still a few teachers in the original Japanese association. This level of a teacher is called Shihan.
Over the years, various Reiki schools have emerged. Examples of Reiki methods include:
- Usui Reiki - this refers to the traditional teaching that came to the West. Strictly speaking, it's not Usui's original teaching, but a significantly modified form.
- Usui Reiki Ryoho - founded by Westerners with the goal of remaining as close as possible to the original Japanese Reiki teachings. This school differs slightly from what is known as Usui Reiki Ryôhô Gakkai.
- Usui Teate - works with kotodamas (mantras) rather than symbols. It focuses more on the original Reiki method.
- Essential Reiki.
- Angel Reiki.
- Lightarian Reiki.
- Seichem.
- Tera-mai - discovered through channeling by American Kathleen Ann Milner.
- Celtic Reiki - Celtic variant of Reiki.
- Tummo Reiki – a mixture of Reiki with the Tibetan Tummo.
- Jikiden Reiki.
- Shambhala Reiki – introduced by Hari Das Melchizedek.
- Angels Energy – Reiki introduced by Esperanza Tovar Moratalla.
- Dolphin Reiki.
- Kundalini Reiki.
Reiki is an alternative healing method. Western Reiki is applied manually, treating the body with a supposed form of life energy. When applying Reiki, body, mind, and spirit are considered a whole in both illness and healing. The Reiki practitioner acts as an intermediary, transmitting universal life energy to the recipient during a Reiki treatment. This energy flows through the recipient's body and mind. The transmitted life energy has a harmonizing and nourishing effect on energy pathways (meridians, nadis) and chakras. This energy can be transmitted through physical therapy or remotely. This transmission of universal life energy has a positive influence on disharmony in every part of the human being. It has a comprehensive, harmonizing effect on everything that is based on energy: people, animals, plants, objects, and situations. Reiki is used for ailments on a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual level and to strengthen health and well-being. Reiki treatments are not considered a healing method by all practitioners, but rather a beneficial experience without any direct therapeutic effect on a possible condition or illness. The energy used in the Reiki method is omnipresent and forms the foundation of the world. It is argued that energy manifests on various levels, physically, emotionally, and mentally, and as such, shapes all objects and beings. Energy flows can become blocked in a body due to, for example, processing negative past experiences, resulting in physical and mental problems. A Reiki treatment can remove these blockages. Reiki is seen as cosmic, not personal, energy; practitioners merely transmit this energy. Everyone possesses the ability to transmit life energy, albeit usually to a limited extent. During an initiation (initiation or attunement ritual), the channel through which universal life energy is transmitted can be reactivated. This Western view contrasts with the original concept of Reiki: there, the quality of Reiki depends on spiritual development and one's state of being.