Reiki: Healing of the life force energy

Reiki: Healing of the life force energy Authors: April Cormier and Ivy Cawley

Introduction Despite western medicine’s belief and techniques, there are individuals who seek alternative medical treatments when western medicine fails to meet their needs. Some people in this generation understand that to achieve overall health, one must be healthy on a physical, mental and spiritual level. Western medicine helps the patient achieve health on a physical level but lacks to help the patient achieve overall health. Although the health system is becoming more aware of the need to incorporate mental and spiritual health in their treatment, people today are seeking alternative methods of healing. One method of alternative healing that people internationally use to achieve overall health is Reiki.

History Of Reiki • The history of reiki is not exactly known but there are different beliefs among cultures about how reiki started. Some believe that reiki originated in Atlantis, the stars, Tibet, Egypt or India but overall every culture agree that it was Mikao Usui that rediscovered reiki.

History of Reiki: Mikao Usui Mikao Usui was born in Yago, Japan in 1865 and was raised in a Buddhist family that sent him away to Tendai Monastery to receive education. Mikao Usui received a doctorate in literature, became fluently capable of speaking different language and studied in the domains of western medicine, theology and philosophy. Eventually Mikao Usui got married had two kids and became a business man in Kyoto but still continued his spiritual studies by becoming involved with a spiritual group called Rei Jyutsu Kai. The group has a center at the base of mountain Kurama Yama that houses a famous Buddhist temple where many sages and emperor came to pray.

History Of Reiki: The Five Reiki Principles Dr. Mikao Usui developed the five principles of Reiki to guide practitioners and students on their way to healing and positivity. These principles are the ideals that must be achieved by every healthy person. These principles are believed to be an important key to Reiki healing and are believed to be vital to the reiki system. The principles are spiritual medicine and a secret way of inviting blessings. Here are given the principles of Reiki, along with their meanings. Information Taken from: http://www.iloveindia.com/reiki/reiki-principles.html

History Of Reiki: The Five Reiki Principles I - Just for today, I will not be angry. Anger at others or oneself or at the whole world, creates serious blockages in one's energy. It is the most complex inner enemy. Reiki is an excellent tool to remove anger blockages which have accumulated in the body over years, but it cannot remove the residue of current anger which occurs daily. Letting go of anger. brings Piece into the Mind. II - Just for today, I will not worry. While anger deals with past and present events, worry deals with future ones. Although worry is not always a negative phenomena, endless worries may fill one's head, and each one bores a small hole in one's body and soul. While anger requires a focused Reiki treatment to remove obstacles, worry requires the energy to be spread throughout the entire body. Letting go of worry, brings healing into the Body. III - Just for today, I will be grateful. Be grateful from your hart inward. Inner intention is the important element in this principle. Simple things as thanks, forgiveness, smile, good words, gratitude can improve others life and make them happy. Being thankful brings Joy into the Spirit. IV - Just for today, I will do my work honestly. Support yourself and your family respectably, without harming others. Earn a respectable living, live a life of honor. Working Honestly brings Abundance into the Soul. V- Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing. Honor your parents, honor your teachers, honor your elders. Being Kind brings Love into the Will. Information taken from: http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/five-reiki-principles.html

History Of Reiki: Mikao Usui • At one point during his life, Mikao became fatally ill and received versions of instructions from Mahavairocana Buddha, the Great Central Buddha that restored him back to health. Mikao became very interest in Buddha healing and became a student of the great Buddhist Shingon Bonze. After many years of learning about healings and teaching others his knowledge, Mikao was having problems in his life so he decided to attend Kurama to mediate. During his mediation experience, he discovered that utilizing this unknown life energy helped him solved his problems. After this experience, he continued to study and tests the validity of the life force energy and developed a healing method that is presently called Reiki. • Once Reiki had been tested, Mikao opened clinics and taught reiki classes to the public. After a devastating earthquake in Japan, Reiki was used to treat many of the victims and soon Mikao and his technique became very famous across Japan. Mikao traveled around Japan offering his and his students services to heal and teach reiki. Unfortunately, Mikao Usui died in Fukuyama of a stroke at 62 years of age.

History Of Reiki: Dr. Chujiro Hayashi • Fortunately, Mikao Usui`s student kept the tradition alive and continued teaching and using Reiki. One student in particular, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi became a reiki master under the teachings of Mikao Usui at age 47. After achieving his masters, Dr. Hayashi opened his own reiki clinic in Tokyo called "Hayashi Reiki Kenkyu-kai". Dr. Hayashi believed that simply healing the head and torso could heal the entire body since life force energy would simply flow everywhere. Dr. Hayashi wrote a manual which was one of the first reiki books published. The book describes the different head and torso hand positions invented to achieve healing. Aside from his busy schedule, Dr. Hayashi taught reiki classes and initiated 17 reiki masters in which one of his students was Mrs. Hawayo Takata. • Dr. Hayashi died in 1940 at the age of 62 by performing Seppuku' which is a form of Japanese ritual suicide that involves disembowelment which is removing vital organs from the stomach with a sword or knife.

History of Reiki: Mrs. Hawayo Takata • Mrs Hawayo Takata was born December 24th, 1900 in Hawaii in which both her parents were Japanese immigrants. Later on in life, her parents moved back to Japan and she stayed back and married the bookkeeper of the plantation where she was employed named Saichi Takata. In 1930, Saichi Takata died and Hawayo was left raising their two daughters and working extra hard to provide for her family. Working herself to the bone, Hawayo Takata developed severe abdominal pain, a lung condition and had many nervous breakdowns. A terrible accident occurred in her family, forcing Hawayo to return to Japan to tell her parents that her sister had passed away. During her stay in Japan, she visited Dr. Hayashi`s clinic to receive reiki treatment and recovered miraculously

History of Reiki: Mrs. Hawayo Takata Mrs. Hawayo Takata was so impressed with the reiki treatment that she decided to engage herself in Dr. Hayashi`s reiki classes. Hawayo received her level 1 and 2 reiki in Japan and decided to return home to Hawaii to develop reiki in the local communities. Hearing this, Dr. Hayashi decided to return with Hawayo to Hawaii to help her. In 1938, upon returning to Hawaii, Dr. Hayashi initiated Hawayo as a reiki master and both began teaching reiki classes until Dr. Hayashi returned to Japan in 1940. Between 1970 and 1980, the year of her death, Hawayo Takata initiated twenty-two reiki masters. These masters have gone on to spread the word and teaching of reiki in the west making this reiki treatment one of the most sought medicine alternatives.

What Is Reiki? • The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words “Rei” meaning god’s wisdom or the higher power and “Ki” meaning life energy force. Reiki is a famous Japanese healing technique that involves the healer giving the patient the life force energy. The life force energy is an energy that every person must possess in order to survive. When a person becomes sick or stressed, this is caused by the weakening of the life force energy. Performing Reiki allows the healer to transmit their life force energy to revive the energy by laying their hands above their patient. Reiki can be performed on animals with the exception that it takes longer to work among animals than on humans.

What is Reiki • Reiki has been proven to increase relaxation, stress reduction and has cured many diseases among patients. Reiki focuses on healing the mind, body, emotions and spirit in order to promote and increase the person’s life force energy to achieve overall health. Reiki is a natural, safe and alternative method of healing that provides healing and valuable benefits to users. • The Reiki healer must have an understanding of chakras that are related to a specific internal organs and the patient’s aura. Behaviors can be associated with particular chakras helping the healer know the organ and area of the body that needs the life energy force. Life force energy always flows where it is needed making it important for the healer to target the proper area. The Reiki process teaches the healer that when they feel or assume that a chakra is weakened that the life force energy will be present strongly in their body to confirm the assumption.

Auras and Reiki An aura is known as an electronegative field that surrounds us. The electronegative field consists of different energies particles that are able to penetrate and enter and exit the body any time. The energy particles can be contained within the body or can hover over the body in a oval shaped field called the auric egg. The auric egg extend 2-3 feet outside the body and reaches head to toe. The aura consist of seven auric bodies that exist around the body In a different frequency and the bodies are interrelated. Each auric body affects emotions, thinking , behaviour, health and feelings. When a person is sick this indicates an imbalance is present between the auric bodies. .

Auras and Reiki • THE AURIC BODIES AND YOUR NEEDS ON EACH LEVEL OF AURIC FIELD • 1) Physical auric body - Physical sensations. Simple physical comfort, pleasure, health. • 2) The etheric auric body - Emotions with respect to self. Self-acceptance and self love. • 3) Vital auric body - Rational mind. To understand the • situation in a clear, linear, rational way. • 4) Astral (emotional) body - Relations with others. Loving interaction with friends and family. • 5) Lower mental auric body - Divine will within. To align with the divine will within, to make commitment to speak and follow the truth. • 6) Higher mental auric body - Divine love, and spiritual ecstasy. • 7) Spiritual (intuitive) body - Divine mind, serenity. To be connected to divine mind and to understand the greater universal pattern. Information Taken from website: http://www.reiki-for-holisti health.com/auracolormeanings.html

Reiki Chakras The word chakra originally means wheel or circle. In Reiki healing practice, chakra refers to seven energy centers where reiki masters touch when performing healing. Chakra is like a map in our bodies that guide the healer to reach to our needs. There are seven energy centers that are related to the functions of our vital body organs. These chakras are also described by colors, that is, red for root, orange for sacral/spleen, yellow for solar plexus, green for heart, blue for throat, indigo for third-eye and violet for crown. Color indicates a specific state of mind, activity in an energy centre, or even uses the colors to decide upon a client's spiritual development.

The Root Chakra • The root chakra is known to keep the person grounded to his or her physical existence and it is described by the color red which indicate passion. The root chakra is positioned at the bottom of the pelvis and their physiological functions are survival, vitality, reality, grounding, security, support, stability, sexuality, individuality, courage and impulsiveness. The organs that are under root chakra include kidneys, adrenal glands, leg bones, large intestines, rectum and spinal column.

The sacral/ spleen chakra • The spleen chakra is located at the lower abdomen and it is described by the color orange which indicates emotions and desires. Sacral include the whole reproductive system, and bladder. The psychological functions of this chakra include feelings, emotions, intimacy, procreation, polarity, sensuality, confidence, sociability, freedom and movement.

The solar plexus chakra This chakra is located at the stomach area. Liver, stomach, gall bladder, small intestine, and pancreas are the organs involved under solar plexus chakra. This type of chakra is associated with creativity and emotions and is described by a yellow color. Psychological functions of the solar plexus chakra are as follows, personal power, will, knowledge, wit, laughter, mental clarity, humor, optimism, self-control, curiosity and awareness.

The Heart Chakra • The heart chakra is located at the centre of the chest. The body organs involved in this type of chakra includes arms, lower lungs, skin, and the thymus gland. This is the chakra of the entire circulatory system, described by color green which indicates balance and love. Psychological factors of the heart reiki include relationships, love, acceptance, self-control, compassion, guilt, forgiveness, harmony, peace, renewal and growth. • Heart chakra is the center of all emotions, especially those of love and it creates linkages form the outside emotions to inner spiritual emotions. Heart chakra gives us emotional balance and ability to love

The Throat Chakra Located where the throat is, and it controls thyroid gland, jaw, upper lungs and vocal codes. Throat chakra is describes as blue color and its psychological functions are communication, wisdom, speech, trust, creative expression, planning, spatial, and organization caution. Throat chakra is also involved in digestive system.

The Third Eye Chakra • This chakra is located on the fore heard and it involves brain, nose, face, eyes, and other organs located in the head. Indigo is the color assigned to this type of chakra, which its psychological functions include intuition, invention, psychic abilities, self realization, perception, release, understanding, memory and fearlessness. This chakra helps us to create vision of things that are beyond ordinary site.

The Crown Chakra • The last chakra is crown located on the top of the head. Its physical functions are knowingness, wisdom, inspiration, charisma, awareness, higher self, meditations, self sacrificing and visionary. The color assigned for this chakra is violet. The crown chakra stands for the person's whole being. It gives us direct connection to the spirit and it can lead us the on the path towards universal existence. It is also through this chakra we experience inner peace. It opens the path towards spiritual wisdom and enhances psychic abilities.

Chakras • Reiki is related to Chinese and traditional medicine, that is assigning meaning illness. In Reiki, through touch the healer will feel no energy around the area of chakra, and from that she or he will be able detect the problem and perform healing.

Healing Aids to Promote Life Force energy Reiki healers use crystal stones, colorful rocks, relaxing music, send prayers to individuals, and use of reiki symbols, aromatherapy and specific hand position help to speed up in the obtaining energy to achieve healing.

Crystal and other precious stones Crystals and precious stones have been used for years because people and healers believe they balance process of mind and spirit. When used in Reiki healing process they help speed up the healing procedure. Crystals are very powerful stones they expand an individual aura and therefore, increase energy flow around them. • Reiki Music Music in Reiki healing is very important because it opens the flow of energy and connects spirit and mind so healing can begin from within. Such a state can only be achieved through providing the patient an environment where he or she can relax and communicate with his or her soul and music just does that. Music tells us what our body craves and helps to connect to our needs

The Power of Prayer Reiki healers sometimes send the healing powers through prayers or say prayer to increase the flow of energy around the healing domain. Prayer can travel further than any other type of healing techniques. To reach distance patients, Reiki healers can send a prayer to the patient and patient will be able to receive the healing without the presence of the healer around. • Touch Touch is another technique used in Reiki healing. In this technique the healer is able to relief pain, aches through touch by transmitting her healing energies to the patient

Symbols Reiki uses symbols to represent mantras, chakras and powers. These symbols have to be used at the right time, the healer has to understand the meaning of them and has to have certain qualifications for effective healing. Symbols help increase healer’s energy.

The first symbol is the mental/emotion symbolwhich signifies the union of God and man. This symbol brings brain and body together so people can release their emotions and mental concerns to bring peace from within by clearing anger, fear and sadness The second symbol is the distance symbolwhich signifies the absence of the past, present and future. This means we can send healing powers needed for the time being or in future or past times and the healing powers or prayers will still be effective

The third symbol is the balancing symbol blocks energy and balances it, so in can flow through a person. During healing, energy flow reduces the intensity of the pain and relaxes the body The fourth symbol is the master symbol • Most popular symbol in Reiki and is used only by Reiki masters to heal soul. It gives the healer intuitive abilities in healing.

Aromatherapy Stress has a major impact on the body by weakening the life force energy and chakras leaving the body defenceless to pathogens and causing illness. Natural therapies such as reiki and aromatherapy balance the life energy force. Out of the five senses, the sense of smell is closely associated with our emotions and how the body responds to them. Aromatherapy involves using essential oils that are volatile and originate from plants, seeds, stems, trees and flowers. These oils are very beneficial because they contain antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties and can relieve muscles, inflammation and enhance breathing. Before beginning the treatment, the healer must determine the emotional and physical problems of the patients. This knowledge will determine what chakra needs to be treated and the type of oils to use during therapy and where reiki healing should be focused. With the chakra strengthened, facilitates the person`s ability to accept the life force energy from the healer and assuring successful reiki.

Scents and oils that stimulate specific Chakras • Base (Root) Chakra : Patchuli, cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver • Second (Sexual) Chakra: Rose, rosemary, ylang-ylang, juniper, sandalwood, jasmine • Third (Solar plexus) Chakra: Juniper, lavender, bergamot, rosemary, vetiver • Fourth (Heart) Chakra: Cedarwood, rose, sandalwood • Fifth (Throat) Chakra: Lavender, patchuli • Sixth (Third eye) Chakra: Geranium, lavender, rosemary, spearmin • Seventh (Crown) Chakra: jasmin, frankincense (Information Taken from the website :http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/aromatherapy-and-chakra-health.html)

Administering Aromatherapy • Adding a few drops of oils to a potpourri of dried flowers to expose the environment to the scent is called diffusion. • Spraying uplifting or calming mist containing the oils. • Diluted essential oils with massage oil and message on body to receive the therapeutic benefits such as curing aches and pains and chest congestion, stimulate the immune system and the chakras and use to relax your client to achieve the life energy force during reiki • Adding essential oils to a bathe is a pleasurable and effective way to enjoy aromatherapy.

Hand Positioning • There are many hand positions that reiki masters can use to achieve healing but twelve hand positions are the basics that a reiki masters use during reiki healing. • First hand position: The reiki master places their hands over the patient`s face with palms on forehead and thumbs over the patient`s eyes.

Hand Positioning • Second hand position: The reiki master places their touching inner wrist around the head and placing fingertips on the patient's ears. • Third hand position: The reiki master places their hands behind the patient's head to form a cradle.

Hand Positioning • Fourth hand position: The reiki master surrounds the patient's jawline with their hands, touch their fingertips underneath the chin and places their palm of their hands over the ears. • Fifth hand position: The reiki master places their left hand on the patient's chest or if the patient is uncomfortable the simply put their hand above the chest and their right hand is placed upon the neck.

Hand Positioning • Sixth hand position: The reiki master places their hands on the upper rib cage just below breast and if patient is uncomfortable the reiki master's hands simple hover over the area. • Seventh hand position: The reiki master places their hands on the abdomen right above the navel to trigger the solar plexus chakra.

Hand Positioning • Eighth hand position: The reiki master places their hands on each pelvic bone • Ninth and Tenth hand position: To perform these hand positions, the patient turns on their stomach so the reiki master can place their hands on the patient`s shoulder blades and mid back.

Hand Positioning • Eleventh and Twelfth hand position: The reiki master places his hands on the lower back and on the sacral area which is located just above the buttock

Hand Positioning • These same hand positions would be used for a reiki master who wishes to give reiki treatment to themselves with the exception that most position require the reiki master to be sitting down to perform reiki. • After the reiki session has been completed, the reiki master waves his hands to clear the patient's aura and clear away any energetic debris lifted from the body during treatment. Reiki Masters must make a silent request that any negative or stagnant energies to be transformed into positive and beneficial energies so they can be returned to the patient's body or into the universe.

The path in becoming a Reiki Master Reiki master are at the highest level of reiki and are able to teach reiki to others. There are three stages before anyone can become a reiki master. Level 1 : 1st degree Practitioner Level 2: 2nd degree Practitioner Level 3: Master Practitioner/ Reiki teacher After obtaining level 1 , the person can attune their life force energy, open and receive energy to your chakras and transfer the life force energy to other people`s chakras.

After obtaining level 2, the person is able to send reiki healings through distant treatment such as the past and the future, heal situations to give the best outcome and can help others break through addition with this level reiki. • The person must be capable of treating a group of people and attained retreats before a person can obtaining this level. After obtaining your level 3 , the person can attune their energy to a higher level and much more easily and can teach other people the art of reiki. • Many schools in the west that offer all three levels of reiki, find a local one nearest you.

Health Benefits of Reiki • Every part of the body has their own energy field that always changes. When disease occurs in the body it is intervenes into the energy field and blocks or lowers our life force energy. Reiki healing allows the reiki master to lay their hands and channel the life force energy into the body in order to balance auras and chakras to bring health

Health Benefits of Reiki • Creates deep relaxation and aids the body to release stress and tension, • Accelerates the body's self-healing abilities • Aids better sleep • Reduces blood pressure • Can help with acute (injuries) and chronic problems (asthma, eczema, headaches, etc.) and aides the breaking of addictions • Helps relieve pain • Removes energy blockages, adjusts the energy flow of the endocrine system bringing the body into balance and harmony Information Taken from :http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/

Health Benefits of Reiki • Assists the body in cleaning itself from toxins • Reduces some of the side effects of drugs and helps the body to recover from drug therapy after surgery and chemotherapy, • Supports the immune system, • Increases vitality and postpones the aging process • Raises the vibrational frequency of the body • Helps spiritual growth and emotional clearing Information Taken from :http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/

Conclusion Reiki is a fascinating alternative option of medicine that has made its way from Japan to everywhere internationally. Reiki healing has the capability to heal the person on many levels such as our physical, emotional and spiritual body and souls using the life force energy which western medicine has not yet achieved. Everyone should be encouraged to try reiki because it is a safe, natural healing that contributes to many health benefits. Know that you have an understanding of reiki healing, you should give reiki a chance, it wont hurt.

For Additional Information • http://www.reiki.nu/history/history.html • http://www.asunam.com/life_of_mikao_usui.htm • http://www.reiki.nu/history/hayashi/hayashi.html • http://www.reiki.nu/history/takata/takata.html • http://www.iloveindia.com/reiki/reiki-principles.html

For Additional Information • http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/five-reiki-principles.html • http://www.reiki.nu/treatment/chakra/chakra.html • http://www.practicalreiki.com/7chakras.htm • http://www.reiki.org/faq/WhatIsReiki.html • http://www.reiki-for-holisti health.com/auracolormeanings.html • http://www.trainingreiki.com/reiki-chakras.php • http://www.trainingreiki.com/reiki-crystals.php

For Additional Information • http://www.trainingreiki.com/reiki-music.php • http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_2_36/ai_n16546072/ • http://www.trainingreiki.com/reiki-symbols.php • http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/aromatherapy-and-chakra-health.html

For Additional Information • http://healing.about.com/od/reiki/ss/reikihands.htm • http://healing.about.com/od/reiki/ss/selfreikihands.htm • http://www.reikiclassesonline.com/LevelsofReiki.htm • http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/

Reiki: Healing of the life force energy