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What is Reiki?

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The word Reiki means universal life energy and it is defined as the power which acts and lives in all created matter. The word Reiki is made up of two parts. The Rei is the universal aspect of this energy and the ki is the vital life force energy which flows through all living beings.

Reiki is believed to have begun in Tibet several thousand years ago. Seers in the Orient studied energies and developed a system of sounds and symbols for universal healing energies. Various healing systems, which crossed many different cultures, emerged from this single root system.

Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese Christian educator in Kyoto, Japan, rediscovered the root system in the mid-to-late 1800's. He called this form of healing Reiki and taught it throughout Japan until his death around 1893. Reiki was introduced to the Western world in the mid-1970s. Since then, its use has spread dramatically worldwide.

How it works

Reiki is one of the more widely known forms of "hands on" energy healing. It involves the direct application of Chi or energy for the purpose of strengthening the human energy system or aura. Reiki can never do damage as only the necessary amount of energy flows through the recipient.

The benefits

  • Reiki supports the body's natural ability to heal itself.
  • Reiki functions on all levels, whether mental or spiritual, bodily or emotional.
  • Reiki balances the body's energies.
  • Reiki loosens up blocked energy and promotes a state of total relaxation.
  • Reiki cleanses the body of poisons.
  • Reiki adjusts itself according to the needs of the recipient.
  • Reiki works with animals and plants.

    What to expect during a consultation

    Reiki focuses on healing all levels of a person's being by connecting with the Life Force within. We all have access to this Universal Energy and anyone can lay their hands on another and become intuitively aware of their energy field.

    A Reiki healer works directly with the client's force field to restore a person to wholeness of being. The client may feel the energy as a warm glow, coldness, vibration, pulsation, tingling or other sensation. For healing to take place, it is always the choice of the client whether they are ready to be healed or not.

    Reiki can be combined with other treatments including shiatsu, polarity therapy, colour therapy, aromatherapy and acupuncture, to name but a few. It supports and increases the effectiveness of every kind of medication and treatment and can be used in combination with surgery as it detoxifies the body and speeds up the healing process. Reiki should never be administered during an operation whilst the client is under anaesthetic or if the client is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

    Have any Reiki-related experiences? Tell us about it in the comment box below.

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