many of its concepts and terms more deeply when you consider the language and culture in Japan in the early 1900s. If you’re interested in studying more about the language or culture of Japan, start by looking at some of the resources in Appendix A.
What Reiki is
Gentle: Reiki’s touch is soft and light.
Harmless: Reiki can have only positive results.
Natural: You don’t need any equipment or tools.
Healing: Reiki’s goal is to bring forth the highest level of healing.
Balancing: Reiki balances your energy levels.
Relaxing: The top reason to try Reiki is to feel the bliss of deep relaxation.
Energizing: If you’re drained of energy, Reiki can revive you.
© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
FIGURE 1-1: The Japanese characters for Reiki.
What Reiki isn’t
Knowing what Reiki isn’t is as important as knowing what it is:
Reiki isn’t religious. Reiki is nondenominational. You can practice any religion (or none) and still use and benefit from Reiki. Mikao Usui was influenced by the religions of his country, Shintoism and Buddhism. But Reiki isn’t associated with any religion, and people of all faiths and beliefs are Reiki practitioners. Reiki isn’t New Age either, though Reiki can be used alongside any spiritual belief or religious system.
Reiki isn’t massage or reflexology. Reiki is an energy-healing system and not a manipulative system (hands manipulating the body). Reiki is distinct from reflexology and massage, but it can be used alongside these and other healing arts.
Describing the System of Reiki
Reiki is a system of connecting to, transmitting, and receiving the Reiki energy.
Connection to Reiki energy is made through
Reiki Principles (see Chapter 4)
Reiki symbols (see Chapter 8)
Prayer and meditation (see Chapter 9)
Reiki is transmitted through
The hands
The eyes
The breath
The energy can be transmitted through gentle touch, be beamed across the room, or be sent by distance through techniques for distance healing (see Chapters 11 and 15). The ability to be a conduit for Reiki energy is taught through Reiki classes. (See the later section “Taking Reiki classes” as well as Chapter 7.)
Examining the Energy of Reiki
Reiki is a system of energy healing. You don’t actually need to understand how the energy of the body works to use or benefit from Reiki, but it helps to know the basis for the way that Reiki works, which the following sections examine.
Defining universal energy
As a child, did you ever gaze at the stars with wonder and awe? The sun, the moon, the stars, and all the different life forms on our planet radiate a universal energy. Because this is the energy that animates humans and other living beings, it’s called the universal life-force energy. This energy is known by different names. You can call it universal life-force energy, love, God, or spirit.
Detecting subtle energy
The term subtle energy refers to the energy of Reiki and the energy fields that are associated with your body. When something is subtle, you must get quiet to feel its presence. (Chapter 2 describes other types of subtle energy systems.)
Meditation is frequently used before giving Reiki treatment so you can get quiet enough to sense the presence of the Reiki energy. (See Chapter 9.)
The energy field surrounding the human body is also called an aura, and it can be sensed with the hands as well as visualized with the eyes (with some practice).
When you receive a Reiki treatment, the energy may not feel subtle as you experience the heat from the practitioner’s hands and perhaps the waves rushing through your body. Each person senses the Reiki energy differently, and with time, your sensations will change. After you’re attuned (initiated) into Reiki energy,
