What is Reiki?

Reiki, pronounced RAY-KEY, is a Japanese word that is made up of two separate Kanji characters, Rei and Ki. Rei means Spirit and Ki means energy. So putting these two words together we get Reiki as meaning Spiritual Energy. Reiki, however, is commonly translated as meaning "Universal Life Energy" and it is usually thought of as a natural healing method for the physical body. However, it is actually much more than this. Reiki heals issues or problems at all levels of the body, be it physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. Reiki practitioners allow this Universal Life Energy to flow through them and out their hands (usually) into another person, a plant, an animal, etc. This energy DOES NOT come from the practitioner, so the practitioner is not the "healer", rather the Reiki is - hence no ego is involved.

Note: The distinction must be made here that when we say the name "Reiki", we can be talking about 1 of 2 things. Either Reiki as this spiritual energy or Reiki as a specific system for utilizing this spiritual energy.

The 5 Reiki Precepts (Principles)
As given by Hyakuten Inamoto

  • Today only
  • Do not anger
  • Do not worry
  • With thankfulness
  • Work diligently
  • Be kind to others

Listen to the 5 Precepts (Principles) in Japanese read by Hyakuten Inamoto.

Here are the 5 Reiki Precepts (Principles) as given by Hawayo Takata.
(From an audio tape of her teaching.)

  • Just for today, thou shall not anger
  • Just for today, thou shall not worry
  • Just for today, we shall count our blessing
  • (Just for today) Do our work honestly
  • (Just for today) To be kind to all things that have life.

So how does Reiki work?

To express my understanding of how Reiki works let me use an analogy. Picture this, you have a glass of dirty water and a magical pitcher that is full of pure water. The pitcher is magical because no matter how much water you pour out of it, it always remains full. In this analogy, you are the dirty glass of water and the Reiki energy is the pure water in the magical pitcher. By using Reiki you are slowly pouring the pure water into yourself (the dirty glass of water) and as you continue to do this, you become more and more clear as the dirt inside the glass of water is carried out and over the top of the glass; eventually leaving the water in the glass as pure as the water in the pitcher. When this is accomplished, we have perfect health. We all have "dirt" in ourselves, be it bad habits, illnesses, addictions, impatience, laziness, etc. Reiki helps clear this dirt out of us and leaves us feeling truely remarkable. Anyone who has received a Reiki treatment will probably attest to this statement. And for those who have not experienced a Reiki treatment, I encourage you to find out for yourself what a Reiki session feels like. The uses of and benefits from using Reiki are limitless.

Who can learn Reiki?

Anyone can learn to use Reiki after receiving instruction and initiation from a qualified Reiki Master/Teacher. Reiki is not a religion or a cult. One does not even have to believe in Reiki in order for it to work.