Known as a great social phenomenon in the present, Reiki is a therapeutic practice that aims to improve people’s wellbeing be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. Discover the secrets of this alternative therapy.
What is Reiki and how does this therapy work?
Reiki is an alternative therapy invented in 1922 by Japanese Mikao Usui that consists of channeling and transmitting vital energy through the so called “laying on hands” which supposedly reports peace and harmony, as well as multiple benefits for the organism.
Reiki comes from the words of the Sanskrit language Rei (universal energy) and Ki (vital energy), because like many of the traditional Orientals on which it is inspired, the ultimate goal isthe connection between the individual and the cosmos, in this case taking advantage of the energies of the universe to replenish vital energy.
In fact, the basic principle of Reiki is based on the Hindu belief in the chakras, seven energy centers distributed vertically in the human body, from the crown to the coccyx, which concentrate great potential in different aspects of the spiritual realm.
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Therefore, these types of beliefs are based on the fact that the human body, like all other physical bodies that exist in the world, accumulates energy that can be enhanced and channeled.
In this sense, hands are the most important part of the body because it is the area that emanates most, and therefore, it assumes an important role in the management, channeling and treatment of it. For example, through the mudra (different positions of the hand) Reiki therapists trap and guide the brain's energy flow during meditation.
That is why Mikao Usui understood that through “laying on hands” the energy of the chakras could be channeled favoring a physical, mental and spiritual improvement of the individual, and he developed a complex harmonization technique that has been imported and developed in the West since 1927.
What are the 5 principles of Reiki?
The most important Reiki principles, according to its founder, is to reach the Anshin Ritsumei, a state of unalterable peace that Eastern scholars spoke about.
For this he developed a healing technique that was erected as a true philosophical system based on five great principles, whose content every Reiki practitioner must know.
1. "Kyo dake-wa": Just for today
This principle affirms the importance of the present in the life of the individual over the past and the future. Starting from the principle of the brevity of life, it proposes the concentration and focus of the efforts on the daily behavior. To become aware of today and now - this is the basic principle of "Kyo dake-wa".
In addition, life is the accumulation of instants, and therefore what you do now determines your future. You have to be aware of that.
2. "I karuna": Do not get mad
Anger is lack of self-control, and a negative feeling that harms the individual who owns it and those around it. Since emotions and feelings are what cause karma (transcendental energy that gives back what you do), this principle of Reiki invites you to leave from the emotional sphere.
Therefore, developing the feeling of hatred or spite acts as a disintegrating element of the spirit. You have to master those impulses by eliminating your egocentricity.
3. "Shinpai suna": Do not worry
You have to do everything possible, day by day, to be better and make your life better, but there is a superior energy, the Great Cosmos, which arranges the elements so that they are beyond your control.
That is why it is necessary that you do not carry all the responsibility, and according to the principle of "Shinpai suna", you must get rid of anxiety and worries. Believing in the Universe and giving it all its power is the third step in Reiki philosophy in order to achieve balance and harmony.
4. "Kansha shite": Be grateful
Self-centeredness takes you away from perfection because it enslaves you to your emotions and makes you lose self-control. Remember that you do not live for yourself, and make it a point to thank nature and everything around you.
This gratitude comes from a high awareness that every human being can acquire, and that can develop through spiritual growth. This fourth principle of Reiki, the "Kansha shite", allows you to recognize the potential of gratitude toward enriching your spiritual harmony.
5. "Gyo wo hageme": Work diligently and honestly
Work is of fundamental importance in the doctrine of Mikao Usui, because it is the activating principle of existence and, on the contrary, laziness, the disintegrating element that harms the individual and society. That's why the fifth principle of Reiki, "Gyo wo hageme" invites you to create activities.
Striving and giving the best of yourself, learning at the same time from others, will favor the qualitative growth of your body and your spirit.
Discovering the benefits of Reiki therapy
Reiki is a complementary therapy in traditional medicine, and therefore not a substitute, and it is used for two major purposes:
- improvement of the individual’s well-being
- contribution to his spiritual healing
Therefore, it is not necessary for the individual to suffer a medical pathology.
1. Improvement of the physical state
Since the human being accumulates both positive energy and negative energy, the release of positive energy favors the improvement of possible physical pathologies.
Reiki can be very appropriate to help in the treatment of migraines, menstrual pain, constipation, in addition to strengthening the immune system to prevent infections.
Reiki sessions can help the person feel physically stronger and by releasing bodily energies, it accelerates the self-healing power of the body, which is why it is very suitable for people who are in rehabilitation.
2. Mental balance
Stress and anxiety are the great enemies of the individual in today's western societies, and the focus of the practice of Reiki in a special way is trying to mitigate the effects of stress.
Reiki sessions help reduce your levels of stress and anxiety by seeking spiritual peace and mental balance. In addition, Reiki can be very helpful to supplement psychiatric treatments on mental pathologies such as depression or insomnia. Always, bearing in mind, that it is never a substitute for professional clinical therapy.
3. Emotional benefits
In addition to helping the treatment of mental pathologies of a psychiatric nature such as depression, Reiki is ideal for working through emotional and psychological issues such as self-esteem problems, fits of anger, aggression or emotional problems.
Sadness is a feeling that is often impossible to diagnose clinically. That is why through this auxiliary therapy you can evolve towards a more balanced mood.
4. Spiritual harmony
Finally, Reiki affects in a special way the spirit of the human being. In fact, this is the radiating center from which the energy is extended to the other areas (physical, mental and emotional) and through which Reiki manifests more intensely. The ultimate goal of Reiki is, precisely, to attain peace, harmony and the balance of the spirit.
Reiki healing music
Reiki is complemented by other relaxation practices that are very popular in industrial societies, where the individual is subject to high levels of anxiety and stress. Based on this, Reiki uses healing music that induces mental states of meditation to favor the treatment of unbalanced energies.
Reiki music is usually made up of instrumental pieces with a calm rhythm and a low tone, that incorporate nature sounds and are specifically targeted for the liberation of the management of the energies in the practice of Reiki.
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Remote Reiki: does it really work?
The practice of Reiki has evolved over the decades to now include Reiki at a distance, also called Enkaku Chiryo, which, as its name suggests, consists in channeling the energies of other people who are in another part of the world. But, if Reiki consists of the laying on of hands, doesn’t this new version of Reiki imply a contradiction?
Does remote Reiki really work? Well, according to this technique, it is not only possible to transmit energy to others from a distance, but also to send energy to the past and to the future.
Every therapist who has reached the Second Degree receives the three Reiki master symbols which include the "Symbol of Distance or Symbol of Light". This powerful symbol guarantees the connection with someone who is not physically with you, by means of a photograph, a strand of hair or through visualization of the person.
Although there is some scepticism about this practice, distance or remote Reiki is based on aspects that are included in the doctrine of therapy and there are several therapists who have proven the success of the procedure.
For anyone interested in becoming a Reiki practitioner, IARP is the International Association of Reiki Professionals which is the professional association of the global Reiki community, working to provide independent Reiki practitioners and Reiki master teachers with outstanding benefits, resources, and tools to grow, enhance and expand your practice.