Reiki is a form of hands-on healing, with its origins in India and the East dating back thousands of years to the time before Christ and Buddha.

The original name, disciplines and methods of Reiki were lost due to the traditional method of passing knowledge from generation to generation by word of mouth. Exactly when this ancient art of healing disappeared is difficult to determine. However, we do know that it was rediscovered by a Japanese scholar and monk name Dr Mikao Usui. It was in fact Dr Usui who created the name ‘Reiki’.

While there are numerous types of Reiki: e.g., Usui, Seichem and Kundalini to name a few, each style has a special focus and was channelled through an original source (Master) and then passed down through a lineage from one teacher to another.

Reiki is a two syllable Japanese word meaning ‘universal life force’. Although the proper Japanese pronunciation is ‘rye-key’, it has been westernised to ‘ray-key’.

‘Rei’ means universal, omnipresent – present everywhere at the same time. Esoterically, ‘Rei’ means spiritual consciousness, the omniscient wisdom from God or the higher self.

‘Ki’ is the non-physical vitality that gives life to all living things. Many cultures understand and recognise the importance of ‘Ki’ energy and how it impacts our lives and well-being.

‘Ki’ energy can be activated for the purpose of healing. When you feel healthy and full of enthusiasm, the flow of ‘Ki’ energy in your body is high and unencumbered. Life seems easier to deal with and you have a higher resistance to illness and disease.

However, when your ‘Ki’ energy is low because you are under stress or feeling unhappy and tired, you will be more susceptible to disease and sickness. Your attitude can be pessimistic and you may find it difficult to deal with life’s challenges. ‘Ki’ is the very essence of the soul; it leaves the body when a person dies.

Reiki is holistic; it works on the body, mind and spirit by stimulating a person’s own natural healing abilities. The blocked emotional and physical elements that lead to illness and disease are cleared. Reiki is neither positive nor negative; it is in fact the highest and most profound vibration of life. Divine in origin, it allows us all to become one with all things alive in our world. Reiki is pure unconditional love and joy bringing all who experience and embrace it principles together in harmony.

For those who are interested in a scientific viewpoint of Reiki, including distance healing, here is an article from Ann Linda Baldwin, Ph d entitled Reiki, the Scientific Evidence.