Crisis?
Reiki!
By: Mike Wanner
 

A huge resource can be your own spirituality if you are comfortable using it. One spiritual resource accesses the life force that flows through all living things. It is a natural healing technique that uses laying-on of hands to transfer or channel this energy. The resource is called Reiki and it is Japanese for “Universal or Spiritually guided life force.”

Reiki is simple. Anybody can do it, even me, even you. There are no special skills required. As long as you can form the intention, you to can do Reiki.

It is believed that Reiki originated thousands of years ago but it’s use for physical healing was lost or held secret for most of the last twenty centuries. In the late nineteenth century, Mikao Usui rediscovered this gift.

Reiki is non-invasive and can be given in person by placing hands on or near the person to receive. A practitioner places their hands over the receiver’s clothing in various positions around the head, neck, torso, feet and legs. During the session the client may feel deep relaxation and a feeling of inner well being. Many clients also experience the sensation of healing warmth coming from the practitioners hands.

The intent of this project is to help you learn enough about Reiki so that you can determine for yourself what options might be easily added to your self help toolbox.

Reiki is very flexible and can be practiced with those of all beliefs both from a medical and spiritual perspective. Reiki is not a religious teaching nor a substitute for the skills of Medical, Psychological or Spiritual practitioners.

In the fantastic vehicle that you were born into - your body, the source of you has marvelously crafted a self-regulating, self-healing and independent thinking creature. Unfortunately, we do not always use our independence wisely and we can do unwise things that place us in jeopardy.

The system called Reiki could also be described as nurture, Love, compassion, understanding and community.

For our purpose now, I will limit my focus to the simple elegance of some options for you. I would encourage all who experience regular stress to learn the technique known as Reiki. One might see many different advertisements for Reiki and become confused as to what is the appropriate class to take. Let me just hint that a good place to start might be your local health food store. Inside a lot of these stores are local brochures for practitioners. Of course, personal recommendations from people you trust are best. You might ask the store clerk if they know about Reiki. Ads for “USUI SHIKI RYOHO” Or the “Usui System of Natural Healing” might be indications that you are getting closer to selecting your instructor. Follow your heart and your gut.

I recommend that everyone learns Reiki but after teaching it for many years, I am well aware that there are many obstacles to that happening. So I am offering here three plans that might help you get started.

The empowerment through reiki is done by the use of four attunements that the student receives. Each attunement is a spiritual initiation in which the teacher does a ritual to invite the fine tuning of your spiritual connection. These “attunements” are simple and many describe them as beautiful spiritual healing experiences.

Once attuned, the sense for spiritual sensitivity is heightened and the ability to understand at a deeper level can be realized.

Three plans for your consideration are:
1. Plan A - Take a Level 1 Reiki Course (Also known as Shoden Level)
2. Plan B - Get one attunement and read this article.
3. Plan C – A Reiki Treatment

Plan A - Level I Includes: Plan B - Includes Plan C- Includes

History of Reiki. This Article Reiki Treatment
Four Attunements. One Attunement
Hand Positions for self and others.
Five Reiki Ideals
Two Reiki Principals.
Receiving a whole body treatment.
Giving a whole body treatment.
Practice on self and others.
Explanation of The 21 day Adjustment Period.

Plan C is to merely experience it by going to a Practitioner and requesting a session. Both plans A and B are steps in the direction towards the ongoing benefit that Reiki offers. Plan C is a one time experience. Helpful yes but not as beneficial as ongoing contact with the energy. The Reiki sessions usually cost about the same as massage or other bodywork.

Plan B is hereby created because i have found value in the past of giving single attunements to individuals who don’t have the time or endurance to take a reiki training. A single traditional attunement can be enough to help some people help themselves. Please know this idea may not be well received by reiki teachers in your area and be prepared to receive rejections before anyone will do it. The idea is new.

My concept is simply to find out what a Reiki Level 1 class costs in your area and call a master and ask them if you pay them 25% of the class cost, would they give you one attunement? For example, if a class costs $150 - you would offer them $40 to give you one attunement so you can work on your personal healing. I suggest that you also ask if you could come back and pay the difference to complete your training.

Benefits for you:
1. You get an introduction to God’s great gift sooner than later.
2. Scheduling is not a problem.
3. Increase in the clarity of your thoughts.
4. Empowerment.
5. Physical benefit.
6. You move from helpless to hopeful.
7. You settle down and relax.
8. Your body can shift to homeostasis which is it’s natural healing mode.

Benefit to a cooperating Teacher:
1. S/he gets a candidate for a future class.
2. S/he gets to share reiki.
3. S/he gets paid for the personal attention to your crisis.

Things you need to know about Plan B:
1. Your single attunement is not permanent and the flow of Reiki will diminish or stop over time.
2. You cannot get a certificate for partial training.
3. Your intention has a powerful influence on your ability to have Reiki flow. You may wish to say something in your head to activate it like saying to yourself – “Hands
on. Reiki on”.
4. You may want to buy a Reiki book for ideas on hand positions.
5. Some good basic hand positions are:
a. Hands on tummy for upset feelings
b. Hands on Head for jumbled thinking. A great position is one hand on the forehead and one hand on the occipital ridge where the back of the head angles down to the neck. Alternate hands so you stay comfortable.
c. Hands on the Heart Chakra (center of the chest) for heartache.
d. Wherever your internal guidance suggests.
6. Everybody naturally has the ability to channel some Reiki. Remember when you hit your elbow and put your palm charka over it and the pain stopped. It is enhanced by each attunement.
7. When you put your hands on yourself and activate reiki, it will go where it is needed so follow your internal guidance, relax and let go of all concerns.
8. The most important part of getting Reiki right is to put your hands on or near your body, form an intention to invite Reiki to flow, make yourself comfortable, let go of all concerns and allow the blessing of Reiki to flow.

If you have a crisis and have gotten to this point, it is time to look for a Reiki class, a reiki practitioner and/or a master to give you an attunement. Reiki is a great way to move closer to source energy and the peace that brings. May you be blessed AND SO IT IS.

What is Reiki?
There is a life force that flows through all living things. Reiki is a natural healing technique that uses laying-on of hands and other energy transference methods to transfer or channel this energy. The word Reiki means “Universal or Spiritually guided life force energy” in Japanese.

Where did it come from?
It is believed that Reiki originated thousands of years ago but it’s use for physical healing was lost or held secret for most of the last twenty centuries. In the late nineteenth century, Mikao Usui rediscovered this gift of healing while on his personal journey searching for the source of healing.

What is a session like?
Reiki is non-invasive and is administered through the laying-on of hands. The practitioner places their hands over the client’s clothing in various positions around the head, neck, torso, feet and legs of the receiver. During the session the client will feel deep relaxation and a feeling of inner well being. Many clients also experience the sensation of abnormal heat or warmth coming from the practitioners hands. A session usually will take between 45 and 90 minutes.

What will Reiki help?
While there can be no guarantees of the results of a Reiki treatment, there are reports where Reiki has helped the healing process with cancer, injuries, broken bones, illnesses, insomnia and stress. It can help the receiver to release and heal emotional issues as well as increase self esteem and aid in goal achievement. It can work in compliment with other modern medical and health care techniques. Receivers come away from a treatment feeling better, more relaxed and more balanced.

The History of Usui Reiki.
Books are out that tell different stories. The latest information out has significant credibility. I emphasize that stories are retold subject to the interpretation of the teller. The legendary nature of some of the earlier stories is shared because it shows the potential.

The newest information is found in books dated since 1998 by Authors William Rand and Frank Arjava Petter. There is also translated information coming from Mr. Doi of Japan whose 1998 book title is translated as “Modern Reiki Method of Healing”

Mikao Usui (Usui Sensei) was born on August 15, 1865. His academic ability was felt to be extraordinary. He traveled in the west and studied in china. It is said that he was a person of generosity, modesty and faith. A smile always filled his face. He loved to read and had a thorough knowledge of history, biography, medical science, Buddhism, Christianity, psychology, magic and physiognomy.

Usui Sensei was on a quest for spiritual connection. With all his training he lacked spiritual enlightenment and he went on to study Zen practice for three years. He asked his teacher how he could attain a true awakening from then on and the teacher said “die one time” Taking his teacher literally, he was willing to pay the price. He was willing to die for the spiritual enlightenment so he went on to fast at Mt. Kurama.

It is said that at midnight after the three weeks, he felt a great shock in the center of his brain as if he was struck by lightening and he went unconscious.

When he came back to awareness, it was past dawn. He had a refreshing feeling like he never felt before. He felt united to the universe through the union of the shock that entered his body and the reiki within.

In high delight he started down the mountain. He peeled his toenail on a rock and he reacted by putting his hand on his toe. In an instant, the pain stopped and he was healed.

In April 1922, He moved to Tokyo and established the society to spread and perform the Reiki Ryoho- Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai. The place was filled.

In September 1923, a severe earthquake with a huge fire broke out in the kanto area and the injuries were massive. His dedication to the injured caused his reputation to spread and he was invited all over the country. In February 1925 he expanded and moved to Nakano.

He went on to travel to Kure, Hiroshima, Saga and finally to Fukuyama where he died abruptly at an Inn on March 9th 1926 at the age of 60.

During his life, he had trained more than 2,000 Reiki students. It is also reported that he trained 16 Masters and one of them was Chujiro Hayashi (1879-1940) who committed to see that Reiki would not be lost again. Hayashi trained the person who would bring Reiki to the western world Hawayo Takata.

General Reiki Uses include:

To connect for spiritual guidance.
To protect your family, friends and associates.
To bless your food prior to eating.
Situational Healing (Reiki things instead of worrying about them.)
Help Pets – Dogs, Cats , birds, pigs, etc.
Fish floating in the fish bowl – reiki the whole bowl.
The relationship with your boss, supervisor, co-worker etc. etc.
Plants. Trees. Shrubs.
Vehicle breakdowns.
When you are in trouble.
For resolution to everyday problems.
For guidance in any troubling situation.
The environment.
World peace.
The current war in _______________.
All the people that were in a disaster:
a. All those on flight__________.
b. All those that live in ____________.
c. All those effected by________.
Congress, Senate, The President, The Governor,
The Mayor, our Spiritual Leader___________.
Elimination of problems with pests (insects, ants, bees, etc.)
Help for the poor, The homeless, Unwed Mothers.
Orphans, those that are addicted etc. etc.

Reiki Stories

1. “I work hospice care. I had a patient who was told by her doctor that she had five days to live. She was crying as she said, this is my fourth. I said Mary, “No one but God can say how long you have”. As I held her, it was as if a light went off in her. It is now 4 years later.”

2. Reiki and Psychotherapy

“In my practice of clinical psychology, I had a patient who called one day to cancel her appointment, leaving me the message that she had pancreatitis and was in the hospital. On the second day of her hospitalization, I went to visit her. When I got there, the room was empty, but soon she was brought in in a wheelchair pushed by a nurse; she had been having a medical test. Her color was greenish and she looked limp. It took two staff members to get her from the chair onto her bed, because her abdominal pain and weakness were so great, despite high levels of pain medication.

I told her I had some healing ability in my hands, and asked if she would like me to use Reiki on her pancreas? She said, ‘Yes,’ and my hands quickly found the place in her abdomen where the energy was intense and hot. I kept my hands there as we chatted. Then I said, ‘I’m picking up an image of your ex-husband in your pancreas.’”

“Oh! Do you know what that bastard did?” she exclaimed, and she told me the latest way he was trying to exploit her through the children. As she talked, and as I did Reiki, I felt the energy clear and cool down.

“What’s happening in your abdomen?” I asked.

“You know what? I don’t have any pain!” she exclaimed. She sat up in bed and still felt no pain. She stood up, and I saw that her color was normal, as was her vitality. Giggling like two schoolgirls, we walked down the hall, past the nursing station, to the dayroom. After our visit we stopped at the nursing station to confirm with words what the nurses had observed. They discharged her later that day.

My own assumption is that she had repressed her anger at her ex-husband, and the energy had lodged in her pancreas that had a history of previous weakness. For me, this was an example of the power of combining two therapeutic modalities.

3. “I would like to request reiki for my boyfriend, …who is having a kidneystone in his bladder removed via laser surgery tomorrow morning … at …. .
I have an interesting reiki experience to report from his stone. Last night, he felt the stone move partway into his urethra and he was afraid it might block everything the next time he went to the bathroom. So I did reiki on his lower abdomen, focusing the energy back upward. And he felt it move and back up till it was back completely in his bladder.

Ain't reiki great! Thanks to all. Love, ……”

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Copyright 2008 Michael Wanner

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