Healing Touch Therapies

REIKI (ray key) is a natural method of healing touch which is used to enhance health and well being on all levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It is natural because it is an innate ability that we all possess - and it is simple - anyone, anywhere can learn it or receive its benefits. Reiki is arguably the finest healing touch practice available today.

The word Reiki is a descendant of Japanese, Chinese, Tibetan and Sanskrit language expressions. It is used here purely in its Japanese form. Like many oriental words, it denotes a concept and therefore does not have an exact word match in other languages.

The upper part of the Reiki symbol is Rei (ray) and the generally accepted translation is spiritual consciousness, universal wisdom, divine or ultra-consciousness. At the heart of all true spiritual consciousness and wisdom is the all knowing and great compassion. Rei is why Reiki can be practiced as either hands-on healing or long distance healing, regardless of time, space or circumstance.

Ki (key) refers to the life force that animates all things and is represented by the lower part of the Reiki symbol. It is the same as Chi or Qi (as in Qi Gong) in Chinese, Ti or Ki in Hawaiian or Prana in Sanskrit and has been in use in the east for over 4,000 years. Western scientists have adopted labels such as orgone, bioplasma and odic force to denote Ki. Physical, mental and emotional health on all levels is due to free flowing Ki. Where Ki is fully present we are healthy, vital and alive with life. Where Ki is fully absent we experience death. Illness occurs where there is an imbalance or blockage in the flow of Ki, often to the physical body but diminished Ki could just as easily manifest as difficult life situations or debilitating mental, emotional stress.

In Reiki, it is the divine consciousness that guides the life force, therefore the most commonly accepted translation has become Spirit Guided Life Force or Spiritually Guided Energy. When we simply say 'Spirit' we mean this and all of the above. One of the many beauties inherent in this healing method is that the Reiki practitioner does not direct the healing energies. Instead they have learned to serve as a channel for Spirit to flow through to the client or student. Spirit is an all knowing presence and does not make mistakes. It gives only life.

We owe the history of Reiki to a Japanese monk, Dr. Mikao Usui. In the late 1800's Dr. Usui devoted his life's ministry to a spiritual quest to rediscover the lost art of healing. He did succeed and today his tradition (and his Reiki clinics) in Japan are still in practice. Dr. Usui wrote a manuscript, Reiki Healing Handbook, that he gave to all of his students. In it he states,

"In times like these, the happiness of humanity is based on working together and the desire for social progress. This is why I would never allow anyone to possess it (Reiki knowledge) just for himself ! ...Each of us has the potential of being given a gift by the divine, which results in the body and soul becoming unified...In this way (with Reiki), a great many people will experience the blessing of the divine...Through it, the human being will first be made healthy, and then peace of mind and joy in life will be increased."

Happiness is the goal; finding an all purpose cure for ailments is the fringe benefit that comes with it. Reiki not only heals diseases, but also amplifies innate talents, balances the spirit, makes the body healthy, and thus helps achieve happiness. Dr Usui advised ' it is important to start from a place close to you (yourself). Begin now. Work on your heart and do things from the quiet space inside of you.' He taught his students 5 principles to be contemplated (in their hearts) each morning and each evening. These principles are known by Reiki practitioners around the world as the Reiki Ideals:

Sounds simple. It is simple! And yet the actual experience of receiving Reiki through a trained practitioner is deeply profound and long lasting. The best testimonial for something words fail to convey is to look around the world: doctors, nurses, hospitals and medical communities are embracing Reiki as a valuable accessory to be used along with traditional western medicine, especially in the United States. In some countries it is covered by medical insurance. In the United States there are many MD's who say they could not imagine practicing medicine without Reiki and are hopeful it will soon become insured as a valid energy technique that reduces stress and promotes relaxation, which in turn enhances the body's natural ability to heal itself.

Unique to the Reiki touch healing practice is its use of various symbols. The symbols are designed to enhance awareness of self in the perfect form. Seeing illness does not heal it, it simply brings more illness in some form or other. The symbols create an aura of wellness and wholeness around the individual until they see only this - it only takes an instant. This is the instant where all healing begins and the same instant in which so many spontaneous miracles occur. All healing comes from this momentary shift in perception, which is really a shift in consciousness from fear to love.

The symbols aid us in balancing right-left brain function. It is not always easy for our right and left brain hemispheres to agree on anything. Take for example, hands on or long distant healing. Our left brain wants to analyze and dissect how this can work. It says 'it can't be real because it can't be seen or physically touched'. Yet our intuitive right brain knows and feels this to be a real and valid experience. Time and distance are irrelevant to Spirit but they are relevant to us. Unless we have agreement between our right-left brains we will experience discord instead of wellness. Our right and left brains both love symbols! In these moments of agreement we accept the harmony being given us from Spirit and we heal.

It is not important that we remember these moments, only that we have enough of them to heal. The Great Compassion that is Spirit would not require us to remember perfectly because our abilities to consciously remember are limited in this dimension. Nor does Ever Present Life need our analysis (left brain) to be Itself within us, It just is. Once we touch that part of ourselves that is in a state of grace forever it is never lost, only veiled or forgotten.

Reiki is the Divine All Loving, All Knowing, Ever Present Life Force and Life will extend itself, as that is Life's Nature. It will do so in a manner that is for the highest good of all based on each circumstance and based on our willingness to receive and share Life's Nature with It. It only takes an instant.