What is Reiki? Here is a description of Reiki that I quite like from the Canadian Reiki Association.
The word Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) is a Japanese kanji for universal life-force energy.
Reiki is a Japanese holistic, light-touch, energy-based modality. Working as a support mechanism to the body, Reiki re-establishes a normal energy flow of ki (life force energy) throughout the system, which in turn can enhance and accelerate the body’s innate healing ability. Through a series of hand positions either directly on or just above the body, the energy worker allows for the flow of energy through their body. The client’s body then draws off the amount of energy that is required. The simplicity of a Reiki session may raise some skepticism, however, after experiencing it, many clients keep coming back for more of those relaxing feelings.
Reiki is simple and produces measurable results. It is power, light and love. Reiki transcends the man-made divisions of religion, economics, location, gender, and race.
That is a good description and I believe that Reiki is much more than that, especially Reiki Level 1.
I believe that Reiki is an exploration of who you are and what it means to be present in the moment.Dr. Usui provided a set of simple tools that, if practiced, allow you to heal yourself and to uncover your inner strengths and talents. You have the chance to blossom into your life by discovering and letting go of all the things which limit you, the expectations, judgments, fears, all of the conditioning you have gone through and your own limiting beliefs about yourself and life.
Reiki Level 1 is about discovering that you have choice in every moment. It is about being present in the moment and noticing what is happening all around you and most importantly inside you. Many people live their life full of drama because they live in the past or the future and are rarely in the present moment. It is in the present moment that life takes place; it is where we find our truth, passion, strength and our path. It is in the present moment that all healing takes place.
Just learning Reiki will not change you; it is a set of tools, a path that you can choose to follow to discover yourself and all of life. You may find that at times the path, your path, may have challenges and it is by looking at and working through these challenges that you get to be free of any of the things which are not you. It takes your commitment and consistent effort to be the person you are. Who are you?
Reiki provides a strong structure for you to use when you discover that you have gotten caught up in the drama and would like to come back to yourself in the present moment.
We have been taught to look outside of ourselves for everything and to gather more and more experiences to feel fulfilled and to have worth. In my experience, the looking outside of myself just leaves me feeling unfulfilled and wanting/needing more.
Dr. Usui has left us simple tools that we can use to look inside of ourselves for everything we need (it has been there all the time). The tools are so simple it is easy to dismiss them. It is the fact that they are so simple that gives them their power. Life does not have to be as complicated as we have been taught to make it.
What are these tools that we can use to change our life?
What I like about Reiki is that it is simple, it works, anyone can do it and all we need is to be present and have a focused intent. Reiki works well with complementary skills because they too only require that we be present and have a focused intent.