What is Reiki?

Reiki is generally described as an energy healing system, re-discovered in the early 1900s by Japanese scholar Mikao Usui.

Here are some key facts about how it works:

Reiki is – literally – very hands-on: The energy is transmitted by simply placing your hands on a client – or even on yourself.
Reiki is “truly sustainable energy”: The more you give to other people, the more energized you become yourself.
Reiki can heal your life – in a truly encompassing sense. Not only does it stimulate your body’s innate healing abilities and deal with physical ailments, it goes right done to the root of problems, whether physical, mental, or emotional.
Reiki helps to relax and cope with stress, harmonising body and mind, and aiding meditation.
Reiki starts a detox process in the body, helping to rid itself of the toxins we take in every day.
Reiki increases intuition and will help you to become more aware of your life’s purpose.
Reiki is a spiritual path, reconnecting you with the power and peace within yourself.
Reiki is not a religion. It is simply a tool that works with whatever religious path you have chosen for your life – and equally well, if you do not follow traditional religious beliefs.
Reiki is “applied quantum physics”. It works on the level that makes the fabric of the universe, slowly un-doing the illusional world that we created
… and finally:
Reiki will change your life. Once you feel the flow of cosmic energy coming out of your palms, and witness the effect it has on anything it touches, you cannot help but question the established ways of the world.

The Reiki History

Although much has been written (and re-written) about the origins of Reiki, very little is based on proper scientific research.

Therefore, here are just a few – undisputed – facts.

We will dive deeper into the Reiki history during the courses.

Reiki was (re?-) discovered by Japanese scholar Mikao Usui.

Born in 1865, he was partially educated in a Buddhist monastery and developed a strong interest in spiritual matters at a very early age. He was also a keen martial arts practitioner – which may explain the emphasis on energy in the system of Reiki.

Besides pursuing various “worldly” careers throughout his life (as well as caring for a family), Usui dedicated much of his time to spiritual studies. Although a Buddhist throughout his life, he explored different traditions, including Tendai Buddhism and Zen Meditation, he seems to also have studied other religions. For a number of years, he even was a Buddhist monk, although he was allowed to stay with his family.

It seems that he was looking for a certain, deeper spiritual connection within himself, something he had apparently read about in ancient scriptures, but grew disappointed as he could not find what he was looking for.

After years of intense search, he finally embarked on a long period of fasting and meditation where he came close to death. On the last day of this retreat, he suddenly felt a big change in himself – and had found the spiritual connection he had been looking for.

It is generally assumed that he meditated on Mount Kurama, near Kyoto, when he experienced this moment of enlightenment, or Satori, as the Japanese say.

It is said that on his way back from his retreat, he met a number of people with physical illnesses, and placed his hands on them in a gesture of comfort. To his great surprise, the symptoms got better.

He explored this more and more, and eventually realised that his spiritual awakening, or connection, came with the “side-effect” of physical healing.

Back in Tokyo, he started teaching his method of opening a channel for a spiritual connection with oneself – with great emphasis on meditation and spiritual growth. But he also started to offer healing to people

This was the birth of the system that is now known as Reiki – all over the world.

Mikao Usui

1865 – 1926

Founder of Reiki

Usui-Sensei (or Master Usui), as he was called by his students, never actually called his system Reiki.

What he taught was a 3-part system, consisting of meditation, principles for everyday life, and the cultivation of spiritual energy, that he simply called “My method” or “My method to achieve personal perfection”.

Mikao Usui brought the world nothing less than an amazingly straightforward system to achieve enlightenment.

The Reiki Academy London is dedicated to promoting and cultivating this great legacy.

The Reiki Principles

Just for today
Do not be angry
Do not worry
Be grateful
Work with diligence
Be kind to others

Mikao Usui
Founder of Reiki

Although we are spending quite some time at the courses to reflect on the meaning of each of the principles, and how to integrate them into our lives,

they originally came with very simple advice from Mikao Usui:

Sit every morning and every evening – with your hands clasped in prayer position – and repeat these principles aloud.

By simply repeating we will eventually memorize them so well that they pop up into our minds when they are needed.