Reiki

This article is about the energy therapy. For the Japanese era name, see Reiki (era). For uses of the homophone "raki", see raki.

A reiki treatment in progress

Reiki (霊気 or レイキ, English: /ˈreɪkiː/) is a spiritual practice developed in 1922 by Mikao Usui. A portion of the practice, tenohira or palm healing, is used as a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Tenohira is a technique whereby practitioners believe they are moving "healing energy" (a form of ki) through the palms.

History

Reiki
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	靈氣
Simplified Chinese	灵气
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin língqì Wade–Giles ling2-ch'i4 Yue: Cantonese Jyutping ling4-hei3
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabet	linh khí
Korean name
Hangul	령기
Hanja	靈氣
Transcriptions Revised Romanization ryeonggi McCune–Reischauer ryŏngki
Japanese name
Hiragana	れいき
Kyūjitai	靈氣
Shinjitai	霊気
Transcriptions Revised Hepburn reiki

Derivation of name

Japanese reiki 霊気 "mysterious atmosphere; spiritual power" is a loanword from Chinese lingqi 靈氣, which some Chinese-English dictionaries translate: "(of beautiful mountains) spiritual influence or atmosphere"; "① intelligence; power of understanding ② supernatural power or force in fairy tales; miraculous power or force"; "① spiritual influence (of mountains/etc.) ② ingeniousness; cleverness". This Japanese compound joins rei 霊 "ghost, spirit, soul; supernatural, miraculous, divine; ethereal body" and ki 気 "gas, air; breath; energy; force; atmosphere; mood; intention; emotion; attention", here meaning qi "spiritual energy; vital energy; life force; energy of life". Some reiki translation equivalents from Japanese-English dictionaries are: "feeling of mystery", "an atmosphere (feeling) of mystery", and "an ethereal atmosphere (that prevails in the sacred precincts of a shrine); (feel, sense) a spiritual (divine) presence."

English reiki or Reiki transliterates a Japanese loanword. Reiki is syntactically used as a noun (referring to either "the putative energy" or "the therapeutic method based upon it"), a verb, or an adjective. Some Western authors loosely translate reiki as "universal life energy". This coinage partially mistranslates: ki means "life energy" — rei does not mean "universal".

Origin

See also Mikao Usui#Five concepts and Timeline of Reiki history

Mikao Usui (臼井甕男) originated Reiki in 1922 after a twenty-one day retreat on Mount Kurama, involving meditation, fasting, and prayer. Usui said that by mystical revelation he had gained the knowledge and spiritual power to apply and attune others to what is called Reiki.

In April 1922, Usui moved to Tokyo and founded the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki Healing Society).

Usui was an admirer of the literary works of Emperor Meiji, and, in the process of developing his Reiki system, summarised some of the emperor's works into a set of ethical principles, which later became known as the Five Reiki Precepts (五戒, or Gokai, meaning "The Five Commandments"). Many Reiki teachers and practitioners aim to abide by these five precepts, or principles, one translation of which is:

"The secret method of inviting good fortune.

The marvellous medicine for all sickness

Just for today:

Do not be angry

Do not worry

Be grateful

Work with integrity

Be kind to others and to yourself.

Every morning and every night, sit in the Gassho position [hands held palm-to-palm] and speak these words out loud in your heart.

For the evolution of body and soul, Usui Reiki Ryoho" — Mikao Usui, the founder.

Usui taught over 2000 students to use Reiki. Sixteen of his students continued their training to reach the Shinpiden level, equivalent to the Western third degree, or master level.

Usui died in 1926.

Early development

After Usui's death, Chujiro Hayashi, a former student of Usui, left the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai and formed his own association. Hayashi simplified the Reiki teachings, stressing physical healing and using a more codified and simpler set of Reiki techniques.

Hayashi initiated and trained Hawayo Takata, who traveled widely in the US, practising Reiki and teaching the first two levels to others.

Takata stressed the importance of charging money for Reiki treatments and teachings. In 1976, Takata began teaching the Shinpiden stage and introduced the term Reiki master for this level. She also fixed a price of $10,000 for the master training.

Takata died in 1980 by which time she had trained 22 Reiki masters. Almost all Reiki taught outside Japan can be attributed to her work.

Systems of Reiki

Today, many Reiki systems exist, though there are two major systems, respectively called Traditional Japanese Reiki and Western Reiki.

Traditional Japanese Reiki

The term Traditional Japanese Reiki is normally used to describe the specific system that formed from Usui's original teachings and the teachings that did not go out of Japan. Around the time of the 1990s, Western teachers travelled to Japan in order to find this particular system of Reiki, but found nothing. They therefore started to establish Reiki schools, and started to teach Reiki levels 1 and 2 to the Japanese. Around 1993, a German Reiki master, Frank Arjava Petter, also started to teach to master level, and following this, the Japanese started spreading their knowledge of the Traditional Reiki, which was already the westernised style. Since then, several systems of Traditional Japanese Reiki were established, the main systems of which are listed below.

• Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (臼井靈氣療法學會, meaning "Usui Spiritual Energy Healing Method Society") is the name of the society of Reiki masters founded by Mikao Usui. His style is assumed to have survived to the present day (assumed as no-one knows exactly how the Gakkai practises nowadays), with Ushida being the one who, upon death, substituted the presidency of the association. This society remained secret for many years and at present, the shihan (master), Masaki Kondoh, is the president of the Gakkai. Though many of their teachings still remain secret, little by little, members of this association - such as Master Hiroshi Doi - have been sharing their knowledge with the rest of the world. In spite of this, it continues to be a hermetic society, nearly impossible to access.

• Reido Reiki Gakkai (靈道靈氣學會, meaning "Spiritual Occurrence Spiritual Energy Society") is the name given to the system that derives from the masters of the Ryoho Gakkai, and is led by Fuminori Aoki. Fuminori Aoki added to the teaching of the Gakkai, though differences in teaching are minimal. In this system, the symbol of the Koriki that was inspired Fuminori Aoki has been adapted.

• Komyo Reiki Kai (光明レイキ會) is the name given to the system that takes the name of a school of Japanese Traditional Reiki, and was established by Hyakuten Inamoto (稲本　百天), a Reiki teacher with Western Reiki background. It differs from other systems in that it does not come from the Gakkai, but instead from the Hayashi line, through Chiyoko Yamaguchi (山口　千代子) that remained in Japan. Nevertheless, Inamoto never achieved master/teacher level from Chiyoko Yamaguchi, only levels 1 and 2. Komyo Reiki includes more teachings and specialised skills.

Jikiden Reiki (直傳靈氣, meaning "Direct Teaching of Spiritual Energy") is the name given to the original system that was taught by Dr. Hayashi, and was founded by Mrs. Yamaguchi and her son, Tadao Yamaguchi (山口 忠夫).

Western Reiki

Western Reiki is a system that was developed by Hawayo Takata. The principle difference between the traditions is the use of set hand patterns for internal treatments instead of Reiki Ho, the intuitive skill "of knowing where to place the hands." Western Reiki places more emphasis on the healing of ailments, and ascension to higher levels of attunement is more formalised.

The Western Reiki tradition spread to Hawaii first, then to California and the rest of the Western world. As a result of the second world war, Takata decided to modify Traditional Japanese Reiki system to make it more understandable and credible to the mentality of the West, of which several variations followed. Additionally, there are independent teachers and small associations who continue Takata's system independent of the Reiki associations.

• Usui Reiki Shiki Ryoho (臼井靈氣式療法, meaning "Usui's System of Natural Healing") is the name given to the Western system of Reiki, and is a system that has tried to stay true to the original practises of Hawayo Takata. It is taught today by, for instance, the Reiki Alliance, led by Phyllis Lei Furumoto, Takata's granddaughter. In this system, as with most Western systems of Reiki, there are three levels, respectively called the First Degree, Second Degree, and Master/Teacher, and uses Takata's versions of the four original symbols.

• Usui/Tibetan Reiki is the name given to the system that was developed by an American by the name of William L. Rand. This system is derived from Usui Reiki as taught by Takata and includes techniques from the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, such as Byosen Reikan Ho, Gyoshi Ho, Kenyoku Ho, and Gassho, and also combines elements from the Tibetan Raku Kei system as taught by Arthur Robertson. A modified attunement method incorporating the Violet Breath and the use of two Tibetan symbols along with the four Usui symbols is used. Along with introducing more symbols and the violet breath, Usui/Tibetan Reiki incorporates psychic surgery. Unlike Reiki Usui Shiki Ryoho, it has four levels, called First Degree, Second Degree, Advanced Reiki Training, and Master/Teacher.

• Gendai Reiki Ho, developed by Hiroshi Doi, incorporates elements of both of the above two systems. Doi was first trained in Western Reiki by Mieko Mitsui, a Master of the "Radiance Technique." In 1993, he was granted membership to Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai. This system complements the Traditional Japanese Reiki with the Western system, but in essence, it is still Western Reiki, since Doi does not have the correct qualifications of a traditional Japanese Master.

Teachings

Reiki teachings claim that there is an inexhaustible, universal "life force" spiritual energy, that can be used to induce a healing effect. Believers say that anyone can gain access to this energy by means of an attunement process carried out by a Reiki Master. Claims for such energy have no known theoretical or biophysical basis.

Reiki is described by adherents as a holistic therapy which brings about healing on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. The belief is that the energy will flow through the practitioner's hands whenever the hands are placed on, or held near a potential recipient, who can be clothed. Some teachings stress the importance of the practitioner's intention or presence in this process, while others claim that the energy is drawn by the recipient's injury to activate or enhance the natural healing processes. Going further, the belief is that the energy is "intelligent", making diagnosis unnecessary.

A second level of training, including another initiation, is said to equip the practitioner to perform Reiki treatments from a distance. This method, it is stated, involves the use of special symbols to form a temporary connection between the practitioner and the recipient, regardless of location, and then to send the Reiki energy. Techniques are also taught whereby Reiki can be sent to a specific point in time, either in the past or the future.

Training

The teaching of Reiki outside of Japan is commonly divided into three levels, or degrees.

First degree

The first degree Reiki course teaches the basic theories and procedures. A number of "attunements" are given to the student by the teacher. Students learn hand placement positions on the recipient's body that are thought to be most conducive to the process in a whole body treatment. Having completed the first degree course, the a Reiki practitioner can treat himself and others with Reiki. Course duration is dependant on the Reiki Master Teacher; some hold four sessions spread over a number of days, others hold two sessions over two days.

Second degree

In the second degree Reiki course, the student learns the use of a number of symbols thatare said to enhance the strength and distance over which Reiki can be exerted. Another attunement is given, which is said to further increase the capacity for Reiki to flow through the student, as well as empowering the use of the symbols. Having completed the second level, the student can work without being physically present with the recipient - a practise known as "distant healing".

Third degree

Through the third degree, or "master training", the student becomes a Reiki Master. In Reiki terminology, the word "master" does not imply spiritual enlightenment, and is sometimes changed to "Master Teacher" in order to avoid this confusion. One or more attunements are carried out and the student learns a further symbol. Having completed the master training, the new Reiki Master can attune other people to Reiki and teach the three degrees of Reiki. The duration of the master training can be anything from a day to a year or more, depending on the school and philosophy of the Reiki Master giving the training.

Variations

There is much variation in training methods, speed, and costs. There is no accreditation body for Reiki, nor any regulation of the practice. Reiki courses can even be taken over the Internet, although Traditionalists state that attunement must be done in person in order to take effect, as the Reiki Master/Teacher doing the attunement must be able to actually touch the energy field of the person being attuned. Some traditionalists maintain that any method that teaches Reiki "quickly" cannot yield as strong an effect, because there is no substitute for experience and patient mastery of the art.

Practice

Whole body treatment

In a typical whole-body Reiki treatment, the Reiki practitioner instructs the recipient to lay down, usually on a massage table, and relax. Loose, comfortable clothing is usually worn during the treatment. The practitioner might take a few moments to enter a calm or meditative state of mind and mentally prepare for the treatment, that is usually carried out without any unnecessary talking.

The treatment proceeds with the practitioner placing his hands on the recipient in various positions. However, practitioners may use a non-touching technique, where the hands are held a few centimetres away from the recipient's body, for some or all of the positions. The hands are usually kept still for 3 to 5 minutes before moving to the next position. Overall, the hand positions usually give a general coverage of the head, the front and back of the torso, the knees and feet. Between 12 and 20 positions are used, with the whole treatment lasting 45 to 90 minutes.

Some practitioners use a fixed set of hand positions, while others use their intuition to guide them as to where treatment is needed, sometimes starting the treatment with a "scan" of the recipient to find such areas. The intuitive approach might also lead to individual positions being treated for much shorter or longer periods of time.

It is reported that the recipient often feels warmth or tingling in the area being treated, even when a non-touching approach is being used. A state of deep relaxation, combined with a general feeling of well-being, is usually the most noticeable immediate effect of the treatment, although emotional releases can also occur. As the Reiki treatment is said to be stimulating natural healing processes, instantaneous "cures" of specific health problems are not usually observed. A series of three or more treatments, typically at intervals of 1 to 7 days, is usually recommended if a chronic condition is being addressed. Regular treatments, on an on-going basis can be used with the aim of maintaining well-being. The interval between such treatments is typically in the range of 1 to 4 weeks, except in the case of self-treatment when a daily practice is common.

Localised treatment

Localised Reiki treatments involve the practitioner's hands being held on or near a specific part of the body. Recent injuries are usually treated in this way, with the site of injury being targeted. There is great variation in the duration of such treatments, though 20 minutes is typical.

Some practitioners use localised treatments for certain ailments, and some publications have tabulated appropriate hand positions. However, other practitioners prefer to use the whole body treatment for all chronic conditions, on the grounds that it has a more holistic effect. Another approach is to give a whole body treatment first, followed by a localised treatment.

Reiki within health services

The National Health Service within the United Kingdom, more commonly refereed to as "the NHS", now offers complementary therapies such as Reiki throughout surgeries, such as Velindre Cancer Centre, with other therapies such as Crystal Therapy, Aromatherapy, and Homeopathy, and offers information regarding Reiki as too does the National Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the USA .

Criticism and controversy

Scientific research

A 2008 systematic review of randomized clinical trials assessing the evidence basis of Reiki concluded that efficacy had not been demonstrated for any condition. Nine studies fit the inclusion criteria; a modified Jadad score of methodological quality was used, taking into account the difficulty of blinding practitioners. Non-randomized studies were excluded, as the potential for intentional or unintentional bias in such studies is large, rendering the results uninterpretable. Overall, the methodological quality of the evidence base was found wanting, with even high-ranking studies failing fully to control for placebo effects and most studies suffering "methodological flaws such as small sample size, inadequate study design and poor reporting." As trials with such flaws are known to be likely to show exaggerated treatment effects, there is insufficient evidence to indicate that Reiki is effective as sole or adjuvant therapy for any medical condition, or that it has any benefits beyond possible placebo effects. Placebo trials of Reiki are complicated by the need for a realistic placebo.

Safety and effectiveness

Main article: Alternative medicine § Testing of safety

Concerns about safety in Reiki are similar to those of other unproven alternative medicines. Doctors of medicine and allied health care workers believe that patients might avoid clinically proven treatments for serious conditions in favor of unproven alternative medicines. Reiki practitioners may encourage their clients to consult a medical doctor for serious conditions, stating that Reiki can be used to complement conventional medicine. Clinical trials have not reported any significant adverse effects from the use of Reiki.

The National Council Against Health Fraud suggests that any clinical effect of Reiki may be due to suggestion (the placebo effect), and Reiki has been labelled as a "feel-good" therapy, where recipients themselves do not expect any significant healing effects.

Internal controversies

With the many varied ways that have been used to teach Reiki, there have emerged points of controversy between different groups, teachers and practitioners. Controversies exist on topics such as the nature of the Reiki energy itself, fees charged for courses and treatments, training methods, secrecy of symbols, and attunement methods.

Following the death of Hawayo Takata, through to the mid 1990s, there were rival claims to the title of "Grandmaster" of Reiki. However, this dispute largely evaporated when it was discovered that Takata herself had created the term.

Catholic Church concerns

In March 2009, the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a decree (Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy, 25 March 2009) halting the practice of Reiki by Catholics, including Reiki therapies used in some Catholic retreat centers and hospitals. The conclusion of the decree stated that "since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy."

See also

• Complementary medicine
• Energy medicine
• Kinesiotherapy
• Qi
• Reiki history, a concise Reiki history timeline
• Vibrational Medicine

References

• B.J. Baginski, S. Sharamon. Reiki: Universal Life Energy (English print: Life Rhythm, 1988), ISBN 0-940795-02-7.
• Daniel J. Benor, MD Spiritual Healing: Scientific Validation of a Healing Revolution (Vision Publications - Dec 2000) ISBN 1-886785-11-2.
• Kajsa Krishni Boräng. Reiki (Principles of) (Thorsons, 1997) ISBN 0-7225-3406-X.
• L. Ellyard. Reiki Healer: A Complete Guide to the Path and Practice of Reiki (Lotus Press, 2004) ISBN 0-940985-64-0.
• Trevor Gollagher. Reiki: a Gift from the Universe (Pub. unknown 1998).
• Mark Hosak and Walter Luebeck. Big Book of Reiki Symbols (Lotus Press, 2006) ISBN 0-914955-64-0.
• W. Luebeck. Complete Reiki Handbook (Lotus Press, 1994) ISBN 0-941524-87-6.
• W. Luebeck. Reiki: Way of the Heart (Lotus Press, 1996) ISBN 0-941524-91-4.
• W. Luebeck, F. A. Petter & W. L. Rand. Spirit of Reiki (Lotus Press, 2001, 5th print: 2004) ISBN 0-914955-67-5.
• Oliver Klatt etc. Reiki Systems of the World (Lotus Press, 2007) ISBN 0-914955-79-9.
• Eleanor McKenzie. Healing Reiki (Hamlyn, 1998) ISBN 0-600-59528-5.
• Pamela Miles. Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide( Tarcher/Penguin, 2006) ISBN 1-58542-474-9.
• Nina L. Paul PhD Reiki For Dummies( Wiley Publishing Inc, 2005) ISBN 0-7645-9907-0
• F. A. Petter. Reiki Fire (Lotus Press, 1997) ISBN 0-914955-50-0
• F. A. Petter. Reiki: The Legacy of Dr. Usui (Lotus Press, 1998) ISBN 0-914955-56-X
• F. A. Petter, T. Yamaguchi and C. Hayashi. Hayashi Reiki Manual: Traditional Japanese Healing Techniques from the Founder of the Western Reiki System (Lotus Press, 2004) ISBN 0-914955-75-6
• Dr. Barbara Ray. The 'Reiki' Factor in The Radiance Technique(R) (Radiance Associates, 1983 -current Expanded Edition (c) 1992) ISBN 0-933267-06-1
• Sandi Leir Shuffrey. Reiki: A Beginner's Guide (Headway [Hodder & Stoughton], 1998) ISBN 0-340-72081-6
• Bronwen and Frans Stiene. The Reiki Sourcebook (O Books, 2003) ISBN 1-903816-55-6
• Bronwen and Frans Stiene. The Japanese Art of Reiki (O Books, 2005) ISBN 1-905047-02-9
• Bronwen and Frans Stiene. A-Z of Reiki (O Books, 2006) ISBN 1-905047-89-4
• Durst and Borland. Reiki Away Your Achey (Penguin, 2002) ISBN 0-564690-33-8
• M. Usui and F. A. Petter. Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui (Lotus Press, 2003) ISBN 0-914955-57-8
• Dr. John & Esther Veltheim. Reiki: the Science, Metaphysics and Philosophy (Parama, 1995) ISBN 0-9645944-0-4
• An Introduction to Reiki National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (retrieved on 3 July 2007)
• ABC of complementary medicine Catherine Zollman and Andrew Vickers, BMJ 1999;319:693-696, 11 September 1999, (retrieved on 3 July, 2007)
• BRCP Divisions and Practises Institute For Complementary Medicine (retrieved on 3 July, 2007)
• Miles, P., True, G. Reiki: Review of a Biofield Therapy (Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, March/April 2003, 9(2) pp62–72).
• Human Hemoglobin Levels and Reiki (Journal of Holistic Nursing, 1989, 7(1)pp47–54)
• Wardell, D.W., Engebretson, J. Biological correlates of Reiki touch healing, (J. Advanced Nursing, 2001, 33(4): 439-445)

External links

• Introduction to Reiki at the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• The International Center for Reiki Training Many articles on Reiki and research into Reiki.
• The International House of Reiki Excerpts from Tomita Kaiji's 1933 book and many other articles.
• Council of Australian Reiki Organisations Ltd. an Australian non-profit national body with approximately 22,500 members through affiliated organisations.
• National Council Against Health Fraud article on reiki
• Reiki - Skeptic's Dictionary
• Quackwatch article on Reiki