Introduction To Reiki, Part One

Reiki is the practice of using energy, believed to be the life force of all living things, to relax and heal the mind and body.  The practice has its roots in Japanese culture, and the word itself can be broken down to give meaning to the practice.  The word Rei, in Japanese, means “universal”, and Ki, means “life energy” - together “universal life energy” is the basis for the art of Reiki.

Reiki is not a massage, nor a meditation, but rather a transfer of energy between a practitioner and a receiver (client) through handwork.  Maybe you are wondering, “But what does this mean?”  Stay with me...

Reiki is a spiritual practice by nature, but it is not associated with religion.  Reiki has no dogma, nor is there any defining belief you must uphold to be able to receive or practice this form of alternative healing.  However, those deeply defined by their religion, find that Reiki further feeds their beliefs and puts them more in touch with their religious experience.  Because Reiki is energy, it is open to interpretation.  Call it God, a Higher Power, or simply energy.  The idea is that you are able to find a space within yourself to tap into the idea of energy that is bigger than you - the energy shared with every other living thing in the universe.

How Reiki Came To Be...Reiki

There are many interpretations for how Reiki came to be, but however deep the history goes, Mikao Usui is most traditionally considered the founder, because it was Usui who introduced the art to a wider audience.  His practice began in the 1920s after an insightful 21-day prayer and meditation practice, and in his lifetime he is said to have trained over 2000 people in the art of Reiki.  Today, there are over 25 different offshoots of Reiki, but Usui Reiki remains one of the most practiced.

According to Usui’s practice, the purpose of Reiki is to help show people how to heal their own spirit by making the conscious decision to do so.  It is the receiver’s active participation in a Reiki session that helps to determine the success of the treatment.  Healing yourself sounds pretty cool, right? 

What To Expect During A Reiki Session

During a Reiki session, energy flows from the practitioner’s hands to the receiver.  The receiver remains fully clothed, and it is standard practice to have the receiver either lying down or seated.  The practitioner will then place their hands on or near the receiver’s body in a series of hand positions around the head, shoulders, stomach, feet, and sometimes other extremities.  Each hand placement will be held over a specific area for 3 to 10 minutes at a time, with a full treatment lasting between 45 and 90 minutes.

Here is a video demonstrating a typical Reiki (chair) session: How to Give a Chair Reiki Session

Chakras Explained

Chakras refer to energy centers located throughout the body.  In Reiki, there are 7 major chakras, or energy centers, that are used to guide the practitioner over the receiver’s body to help clear any stored energy so that it is able to flow unimpeded throughout the body.

The chakras run along the spine in relation to the body’s nervous system, and each chakra is said to correspond to an organ and bodily function, as well to certain feelings and emotions.  They are often represented by specific colors.  Whenever there is an upset in one or more of the body’s chakras, then the mind, body, and spirit are believed to be out of balance.  Reiki works to restore that balance. 

The Seven Chakras

1. Root - located at the base of the spine and associated with survival, body connection, and a sense of security.

2. Sacral - located at the lower abdomen, lower back, and below the navel and is associated with sexuality, emotional stability, adaptability, and movement.

3. Solar Plexus - located between navel and base of the sternum and is associated with personal power, independence, energy, and metabolism.

4. Heart - located at the center of the chest and is associated with feelings of love, and self-acceptance.

5. Throat - located at the base of the neck and is associated with creativity, expression, communication, language, and sound.

6. Third Eye - located between the eyebrows and is associated with intuitive insight and conceptual awareness.

7. Crown - located at the top of the head and is associated with a spiritual connection and higher consciousness.

It’s a lot to take in, so let’s take a break. Next week, we’ll continue with a look at how the chakras correspond to reiki hand positions to get a better idea of how chakras relate to the practice.