What is Reiki?

Reiki is the Universal Life Energy. No special medical knowledge is necessary in order to practice Reiki technique, only an attunement process, also known as an initiation, which must be performed in the three different levels of Reiki. A person who has gone through the process of Reiki attunements is empowered to channel Reiki energy, either to themselves or to another person. The major energy centers of the body, the chakras, are opened to enable the person to channel this energy.

When we are giving a treatment, Reiki enters our body at the crown chakra and passes through the other upper chakras to our solar plexus chakra. From there, it passes through our arms and hands to the body we are treating.

One of the greatest benefits of Reiki, and the most important, is the possibility of self-treatment. Once a person is attuned, s/he need only have the intention to practice Reiki on him/herself, and the energy is drawn through. The beauty of Reiki technique lies in simplicity. Reiki is never sent, or given - although this is how it is often described - it is drawn by the recipient through the practitioner. If we lay our hands on someone to give a treatment, this person will draw appropriate amounts of energy to whichever areas of his body need it. Reiki possesses a unique wisdom of its own, directing itself to where it is most needed.

With Reiki technique the practitioner is never drained in the process, as s/he is also treated as the treatment is given. Neither party can pick up each others negative energies, as can happen with other healing modalities.

Reiki practice is not a religion, although it is a form of spiritual healing. It is given from the heart and is often experienced as the giving, or receiving, of Unconditional Love.

How is Reiki different?

Simplicity is the key of Reiki technique: it can be learned in just a weekend, although you can then continue exploring it for your whole life! Some people may notice an immediate reaction to the attunement; others will need time and practice in giving treatments to themselves and others to learn to feel the difference.

The main differences between Reiki technique and other healing modalities lie in the unique attunement process, and that Reiki is drawn through the purified channel by the receiver, rather than the practitioner being the one to 'do the Reiki'. Furthermore, you can never make a mistake with Reiki; it will go where it is needed in the body/mind, and if the person doesn't want it on some level, they won't accept it. The worst result you can achieve with Reiki is none!

What are the effects?

The results of the treatments are determined by the needs of the person being treated. There is no definite timetable for the release of illness; it can be quick or slow. Each person truly heals him/herself: Reiki practitioners act only as vessels through which the receivers draw the energy they need to create balance on all levels of their being.

As practitioners, it is not appropriate for us to place attachments on the results of our work, or to make any judgements, as each person accepts the amount of Reiki according to his/her needs. The results are often obvious, but sometimes not. We must also keep in mind that there are often secondary benefits to having a dis-ease, and the person may not be ready to be healed.

What are the attunements?

Attunements are the essence of Dr Usui's method of natural healing. Reiki is the Universal Life Energy, something that we all have as our birthright. Any one can lay hands on another person and transmit energy. What makes Dr Usui's system unique is the attunement process, which may be described as a series of initiations, wherein a Reiki Master, using an ancient method, transmits Reiki in an amplified state to a student. The Reiki attunement works in such a way that it creates an open channel for Reiki to flow in, from the top of the student's head, through the upper chakras and out through the hands. In addition, a 21-day cleansing period is triggered, which occurs as a result of negative patterns and blocks being released.

The attunements are very precise and can only be transmitted by a Reiki Master who has been trained in Dr Usui's method. As with the effects of a Reiki treatment, the attunements affect each person differently.

The first-degree attunement is focused mainly on opening the physical body, so that it can then accept, or channel, greater quantities of Reiki. It also opens the four upper chakras.

The second-degree attunement is a bigger jump than the first-degree, and the three symbols of Reiki are taught, enabling the practitioner to use Reiki in different ways, including distant healing. A gap of some months is usually recommended between first and second degree, to enable the first degree attunements to settle in the body, and the students to explore all possibilities with Reiki 1.

The third-degree attunement is that for Reiki Master - someone who has decided they wish to teach and share Reiki with others.