Questions About Reiki
So what is this Reiki, really?
Well, "Rei" comes from The Universal Spirit and "ki" comes from Life Force Energy. When we bring these to meanings together we have a very powerful combination. The Life force energy which is Universal. It comes from the Universe, it is within each and every one of us. In spite of the fact that it had been re-founded by Mikao Usui, it is really as old as creation itself.
How is Reiki Used?
Reiki energy is given from the Reiki Therapist or Practitioner to the patient. It is a non invasive form of energy by which the patient does not need to be undressed. It is likened to having a massage without touching.
An example of showing you what Reiki energy feels like. Try rubbing your hands together until you will feel friction between them. Before very long you will feel the heat in both hands. Now move your hands apart, say five centimetres apart. Then bring your hands together so that they are touching. Then move them apart.
Continue doing this until you feel the energy which may not be unlike a bubble of air trapped between your hands. You should be able to feel the energy drawing your hands together almost like magnets.
Imagine this kind of energy 'rubbed' or 'smoothed' around your entire body. Even with your clothes on, you will feel the effects of this positive energy. When a practitioner uses Reiki he / she will move along the patient's body until some difference in body energy is felt. This is a clear indication of where the Reiki energy is needed. Then the practitioner will put his/ her hands closer to the patient's body. Perhaps directly onto the patient's body. Thus infusing the patient with the practitioner's Reiki energy.
Reiki is not limited to the healing energies given to people. It is also given to animals, plants, as well as being used for spiritual and emotional healing. The Reiki energy is long lasting and has many benefits for the patient. It gets into the physical body and faciliates the ridding of toxins throughout the physical body. It is so powerful that an hour treatment by an experienced therapist may give up to a week's relief for the patient. Of course this all depends upon the physical, emotional and or spiritual state of being for the patient. For some, daily treatments may be recommended, for others, once a week may be all that is required.
Can anyone learn Reiki?
Yes, anyone can learn Reiki. It is as easy as becoming attuned or as I call it, becoming "Tuned to Reiki". I have heard of children as young as four years old becoming attuned to Level 1 of Reiki. It is an open healing modality that knows no boundaries. Its healing energies can travel the universe as deep, or wide, or long that it is. It is great for self healing as well as the healing of others. It has even been used by some creative souls for keeping food fresher, growing vegetables and fruit, cleansing houses and workplaces and much, much more.
It does require one to be able to meditate as this also facilitates the energy flow throughout the body. By being able to focus and be in control of one's own energies, thus one becomes a better therapist.
What are these symbols about?
These are the very important symbols which the therapist will use in order to facilitate a healing session. I liken them to my "tools of trade" and use them much like a phsyician may use his stethoscope, or other tools to faciliate a diagnosis or treatment on the patient. They are not magical, although there has certainly been some magical use of them. They are powerful symbols and each one has its own use.
These are not taught in the first level of Reiki, yet are saved for the second and third levels, thereby giving the practitioner time to practise his/her chosen modality of Reiki at a "grass-roots" level before being bestowed with the first symbols. They are usually signed over, or transferred telepathically to a patient to facilitate in the healing.
What are Attunements?
These are a system of imparting various Reiki symbols to the Crown, Throat and Heart Chakras in a certain order from one Reiki Master to the Reiki Student. Symbols are also imparted to the hands. These are usually given to the student while he / she is sitting in a medative state with hands in prayer position (also known as the Gassho Meditation). Many Reiki students have experiences from flashes of colour, symbols, spirits or other visions whilst being attuned. It is a way of "tuning" a person in to the Reiki Energies.
How many levels are there?
Depending upon which lineage the Master is from, there will be as few as three levels, or as many as seven. In the Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki there are three levels. The first level is known as the Shoden Level and is predominately learning about self healing practices and meditations as well as the five precepts.
The second level is known as Okuden Level and is primarily about Absent / Distant Healing as well as receiving three symbols and learning how and when to use them. These will become important tools of trade to anyone who is interested in their spiritual growth into the Reiki Realm.
The third or Master Level is known as Shinpiden and is the final level in this lineage. It is primarily about the Master symbols being given and learning how to work with them as well as learning how to pass on the attunements and to teach others Reiki.
What is Lineage?
Lineage is really quite simple. It began with Mikao Usui who is acknowledged today to be the founder of Reiki. He taught Chujuro Hayashi all levels of Reiki including Master level and he in turn taught Hawayo Takata. This means that this lady is third in line. To put it quite simply, it is the lineage of the person having been attuned to Reiki to Master level who goes forward to attune another to Master level and so on and so forth. The lineage of Sandy Cee is as follows:
- Mikao Usui
- Chujuro Hayashi
- Hawayo Takata
- Phyllis Furomoto
- Klaudia Hochhuth
- Mackenzie Clay
- Mary Shaw
- Christine Henderson
- Bruce Way
- Ray Abson
- Sandy Cee.
Thus, when I attune anyone to the level of Reiki Master, he / she shall be 12th in this lineage. |
