| Reiki is an ancient method of
healing that is performed by the laying on of hands. It
is based on the idea that a universal life force is flowing
through all of us. If one’s life force is low, we
feel lethargic and are more prone to becoming sick. If
one’s energy force is high, we feel happier, healthier
and more alive. Through a practitioner’s hands,
healing is channeled into the individual to increase the
amount of life force available to him or her. The
term, "Reiki" is consists of two Japanese
words, “rei” which means “higher power
or universal wisdom” and “ki”, which
refers to the life force flowing in all living beings.
A Reiki treatment is done with
patient sitting or lying down. The practitioner moves
his or her hands to different areas of the patient’s
body. Healing energy is then directed into the body
and moves to wherever it is needed.
To the receiver, Reiki energy
feels like a glowing warmth flowing in and around the
body. As healing occurs, feelings of anxiety are often
released. A sense of relaxation, well-being and peaceful
security ensues. Any injured or weakened areas of the
body are soothed. The benefits of Reiki are physical,
spiritual and emotional.
Reiki is an amazingly simple
and safe treatment that anyone can learn. The ability
to give reiki to others is passed on during an “attunement”
given by a Reiki master. This attunement allows Reiki
practitioners to become a channel and tap into the supply
of life force energy to help themselves and others.
Reiki is one of the more widely known forms of energy
healing. Energy Healing involves direct application
of Chi for the purpose of strengthening the clients
energy system (aura). Chi is the term used by the Chinese
mystics and martial artists for the underlying force
the Universe is made of. Mystics in all cultures have
talked about the physical universe being made of an
underlying form of something, much as modern physics
research is now coming to understand the Universe is
made of energy which is subject to (or affected by)
thought. Just as modern physics says this energy is
affected by thought the mystics also say this underlying
form is affected by thought, going so far as to claim
we create our own reality from our thinking and the
thoughts we share between each of us every day.
Stop and reflect for a moment.
Imagine the implications of the universe around us made
from energy which can be shaped and manipulated by thoughts.
This is the implication of both Quantum Physics and
ancient Metaphysics. Might this make some diseases easier
to explain, especially those which have no apparent
physical cause? Might this make miraculous cures easier
to explain? For example there was research study done
a couple years ago showing that prayer improves the
health of those who are prayed for, the focus of intent
in prayer sends thoughts out in the form of "I
wish such-and-so to happen", so if the world is
energy subject to the power of thought then prayers
must work (depending on how clearly and carefully you
hold and elaborate on the prayers or thoughts).
Remember this while reading here
about Reiki.
Reiki is very easily learned, very simple to use, and
beneficial for all. It is one of many forms of healing
through the use of the natural forces which were given
the name Chi by ancient chinese mystics. Some forms
of healing using Chi energy forces are Chi Gong, Pranic
Healing, Chelation (as taught by Brabara Brennan and
Rosalyn Bruyere), and Polarity Balancing. All (apparently)
use the same energies, with the difference being techniques
of application and an energy quality commonly known
as vibration. (This term vibration is widely used in
the "New Age" community to refer to the range
in experience between the dense or low vibration of
the physical world to the high vibration of the highest
spiritual expression; while the term is inadequate to
truly describe the differences, and while Reality is
probably not a simple bipolar scale of experience, the
term is descriptive of how the energy feels). I'm reluctant
to definitively say Reiki uses Chi because I am not
an expert on what the Chinese mean by this word. To
my eye the force referred to with the name Chi is the
same as Prana, Orgone, Odic, they are all names for
the same force.
Since the word Reiki means Universal
Life Force Energy, it (strictly speaking) refers to
the energy and not the specific techniques taught by
Reiki Masters. The techniques are more properly called
the Usui System of Natural Healing after the founder
of the system, Dr. Mikao Usui. However as Reiki is the
common name, and a fine name at that, this is the name
we will use here.
A Reiki healing is very simply
performed. The practitioner places his or her hands
upon the person to be healed with the intent for healing
to occur, and then the energy begins flowing. The Reiki
energy is smart since the Universe is a very smart place
indeed. The energy knows where to go, and what to do
once it gets there, or else is being directed by a higher
intelligence. The energy manages its own flow to and
within the recipient. It draws through the healer exactly
that amount of energy which the recipient needs. All
this happens without direct conscious intervention by
the healer. The healers job is to get out of the way,
to keep the healing space open, and to watch/listen
for signs of what to do next.
Reiki is capable of healing anything
because it works at very fundamental levels of reality.
Even though the capability is there, this is not what
always happens. The limits to Reiki seem to be in the
recipients willingness to cast off old habits and patters,
to accept change and to accept healing. The level of
reality where Reiki operates is the underlying energy
structure of matter, as the physical matter we see around
us is a solidified form of energy (Remember Einsteins
famous equation which says that each unit of mass is
equivalent to a certain amount of energy). At the level
where Reiki functions, anything can be changed because
all is fluidlike and is very malleable. Or so is the
theory and so is the experience of Reiki practitioners.
Emotional difficulties are just as healable as physical
ones since emotional issues are even more directly present
in the energy structures.
In this context, the word Healing
has a somewhat different meaning from the widely accepted
meaning. The widely accepted meaning for healing seems
to be curing of symptoms, for that seems to be what
medical doctors and the like look to do in their practice.
The other meaning for healing, used in the practice
of Reiki as well as other related areas, is the return
to greater wholeness. There is an ideal form each of
us has, this ideal form being the highest and clearest
expression of who we are. Pain or disease comes from
any deviation between the persons current form in the
3D physical world and this ideal form. Healing, then,
is to bring this physical form into closer alignment
with the ideal form.
The way we aquire deviations
from our ideal form is to accept limitations into our
life. Most of this comes from early childhood because
that is the phase of life where we are the most open
and inquisitive about life. A limitation may be a parent
yelling "BE QUIET!!" enough times that the
child learns to not speak. Another limitation may be
a limp that continues longer after the physical injury
has healed, maybe with phantom pains. These limitations
are behavior patterns, eating patterns, physical limitations,
imagined physical limitations, psychological, mental,
or emotional ways of being, living, expressing or loving
that is not in alignment with our personal highest expression.
In any healing the goal is to
find the limitation, recognize the pattern, recognize
where it came from, and let it go. Reiki accomplishes
this by providing the recipient enough energy to step
above (metaphorically) to see all that and have the
courage to let go. This usually does not happen consciously
as a result of Reiki, but sometimes it does happen that
Reiki gives the recipient the conscious awareness of
the pattern and recognizing where it came from. Our
lives are a constant flow of patterns of activity (such
as the pattern used to accomplish eating breakfast)
and it is our choice to have these patterns remain stuck
in limited expression, or to release the old patterns
and try on new and shinier ones. Reiki is also a gateway shining
pure love into the universe. It is this love which
allows us to transcend our wounds and help us remember
our true nature.
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