Reiki History
What It Is and How It Works
Can Reiki Be Used With Other Forms of Treatment
Can Reiki Do Harm
Ethical Principles of Reiki
Recommended Reading
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                                               Cindy
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Reiki History:

Reiki pronounced ray-key is an ancient healing method rediscovered in the middle of the nineteenth century by Dr. Mikao Usui. Wanting to understand the healing methods used by Jesus Christ and finding no information on how to carry this out, Dr. Usui’s search took him to many countries to look for answers. After spending many years studying Christian, Chinese and Indian writings he returned to Japan where he discovered some Sanskrit formulas and symbols in old Bhuddist sutras which seemed to hold the answers to the questions he was seeking. At that time he was residing in a monastery in Kyoto, Japan. Dr. Usui decided to visit the Holy Mountain of Juriyama for 21 days to meditate and fast in solitude. Dr. Usui hoped to find during his stay on the Holy Mountain, a way to connect with the level of consciousness in which the Sanskrit symbols had been written, and to better understand the truth of their contents. On his last day on the mountain he was enlightened with a divine experience where he received the Reiki healing energy and the ability to transmit it to others. Through the energy and information given to him on the Holy Mountain he developed the Reiki Healing System. Dr. Usui healed and taught Reiki for many years until his passing. One of his closest collaborators, Dr. Chijiro Hayashi took his place becoming the second Reiki Grand Master in the line of tradition establishing a private Reiki Clinic in Tokyo until 1940, where criticality ill cases where often seen. In 1935 Hawaya Takata who was a US citizen, came to Japan to see Dr. Hayashi for severe illnesses and started to receive Reiki treatments once a day by two practitioners for a few months, after which time she regained back her health completely. She stayed in Japan for one year becoming a student of Dr. Hayashi. In 1938 Dr. Hayashi made her a Reiki Master. Upon his death in 1941she succeeded him as Grand Master. She lived and healed in Hawaii for many years and it wasn’t until in her seventies, she began to train Reiki masters herself. When she passed away, she left 22 Reiki masters in the USA and Canada. Before her passing in 1980 she and some of the Reiki masters formed the American Reiki Association. Today Reiki is represented by two organization which have succeeded the first. Both based in the USA. The American International Reiki Association, Inc. (A.I.R.A., now called T.R.T.A.I.) and The Reiki Alliance.

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What it is and how it works:

Reiki is a simple holistic, natural healing method of transferring universal life energy. Universal life energy is a state of being that lives in all things. It is simple, safe and easy. The word Reiki comes from the Japanese words “Rei” meaning spirit or universal and some believe an even much deeper understanding and more accurate interpretation to mean higher knowledge or spiritual consciousness. And “ki” meaning energy is also translated by most to mean universal life energy or life force also known as vital life force.

Reiki is not a religion and doesn’t require a set belief system to work. It does not require meditations, incantations, rituals or ceremonies. You do not have to play music, burn candles or incense or do anything special, though using these to accompany the process of Reiki is wonderful for any session, whether that be a healing session, or a training session. You simply use the power of intention to channel the Reiki energy. You use your hands by directly placing them on yourself, an animal, another person, plant(s) or food. Or you can beam energy from a short distance of a few inches or several feet. Beaming Reiki energy into the air around you in a room to clear energy or where you feel the energy stagnant, dense or constricted. This can also use outside in the open. Or you direct it to a distant person, place or past or future event. The energy will follow the intention and go to where it is needed the most and for the higher good of all.

As long as man has existed there have been methods of healing based on the ability to transfer universal life energy. As in any healing modality it is ones intent that brings forth the ability to heal. This energy creates all life in the universe and sustains it. Reiki attunements and healing sessions awaken the natural healing life force that is a part of all living beings. Reiki can help us find our way back to a state of wholeness or (holiness). It reaches all levels of existence bringing it back into a state of balance. That healing life force within us can sometimes go through ebbs and flow with periods of only being a barely noticeable glow. When we receive the Reiki attunements that glow of healing life force is once again sparked into full life allowing the Reiki practitioner to gain access to this energy once again. When the Reiki practitioner intends the energy to benefit another, the connection to this life force is awakened in the recipient. Reiki’s healing energy has a logic all its own that finds it way to where, how and to what extent healing is needed the most. Allowing the individual to take in exactly what they need. Reiki supports the body’s natural ability to heal itself. It works on all levels of the physical, emotional and spiritual. Healing can usually be felt immediately afterwards and over the next couple of days or weeks. Changes can be seen on a physical and or emotional level as the energy starts to shift and restore balance to all levels. Reiki balances the physical systems, flushes toxins on all levels, help calm and clear the mind and open the heart. As in flower essences and homeopathy therapy, Reiki treats the individual as a whole and not just the symptoms. Many times the individual is also healed in other area’s that was not their original main focus at the time. This can open up their lives in new and wonderful ways.

The Reiki practitioner is a channel for the Reiki energy to flow through to the patient through their hands. They are not the source of the energy, but only a channel through which the Reiki energy flows. While Reiki flows from the practitioner to the patient their bodies are also being charged, cleansed and balanced at the same time. The practitioner will usually feel a sense of flowing energy in their hands. It can be felt as warm or cold and some say it feels like little sparks of vibrations or pulsing coming from their hands. At times that energy will increase in intensity depending on what the patient needs. The patient may or may not feel the same sensations as the practitioner. The practitioner’s intuition also increases the more they use Reiki and they can start to sense in a patients body where healing is needed most. As our senses increase we are more able to clearly hear spirit as it guides us while we channeling the universal life force healing energy to another. Your higher self may be guided to do something totally different that what you had planned. You may feel a strong impulse to use new hand positions or go completely out of sequence then how you usually conduct a healing session. As you open your heart more and more and listen to your intuition you can rest assured that you are being guided by spirit and the Reiki energy will flow to wherever it is needed the most. This is especially true when working with animals. With animals you need to let your heart lead you and when you do, spirit guides you and so does the animal you are working on. Reiki can never be done wrong when one uses intentions of healing for the higher good of all.


                    
                                                                    Nick
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Can Reiki Be Combined With Other Forms of Treatment?

Reiki will support and increase the effectiveness of almost any kind of medication and treatment. Reiki’s holistic healing energy will detoxify, cleanse, harmonize and support the biological healing process. It can be used in combination with surgery before and after. Reiki when combined with other holistic therapies has shown to have excellent results. Each year more and more hospitals and medical facilities are using Reiki to help heal in combination with conventional medical practices.

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Can Reiki Do Harm?

Reiki can never do harm or damage in any way. It only flows in the quantities necessary to the individual who is receiving it.


         
                                                                 Jamie
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Ethical Principles of Reiki

Just for today do not worry
Just for today do not anger
Honor your parents, teachers and elders
Earn your living honestly
Show gratitude to everything
Dr. Mikao Usui 

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Recommended Reading: My personal favorites

Reiki - Universal Life Energy
by Bodo J. Baginski & Shalila Sharamon
ISBN: 0-940795-02-7
This was my first and still my favorite and most cherished book on Reiki. The authors describe their experience in treating their patients, humans, animals and plants with Reiki. They give an account of the origin and history of Reiki--independent of the individual schools existing--and explain how Reiki acts, how it can be learned, and its various uses, while providing a wealth of useful hints and instructions on the practice of Reiki.  

Animal Reiki 
by Elizabeth Fulton & Kathleen Prasad
ISBN: 1-56975-528-0
The first book on Reiki devoted entirely to animals. A wonderful, insightful book about the healing power of Reiki and how it helps heal animals and deepens your bond with them.The authors give their own amazing personal accounts of healing animals both domestic and wild.

Tails From the Source: The Animal Reiki Source Newsletter Collection-volume 1 2004-2005
by Kathleen Prasad
ISBN: 978-1-4357-0529-6
Kathleen Prasad's newest book filled with incredible stories from many different Reiki practitioners and their experiences with Reiki and animals.

Essential Reiki 
Diane Stein
ISBN: 0-89594-736-6
One of the very first books published which shows the sacred Reiki symbols. Diane offers in depth information on all levels of Reiki with many personal stories of her experiences giving Reiki and teaching. She also gives information on Reiki for animals and Reiki with gemstones and crystals. One of the best books I have ever read on Reiki.  

Reiki – The Healing Touch – First and Second Degree Manual
by William Rand
ISBN-10: 1886785058
ISBN-13: 978-1886785052
A great book on Reiki. Gives information on Dr. Usui’s life not found in other books. Information on all aspects of Reiki, Includes hand positions for self healing and healing others, beaming and scanning. 

Hands Of Light - A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field
by Barbara Ann Brennan
ISBN: 0-553-34539-7
A scientist's look at the field of bioenergetic healing, offering specific techniques towards expanding perceptual tools of healing, seeing auras, understanding psychodynamics and the human energy field, and spiritual healing.