What Is Reiki

'Reiki' is a Japanese word which has many meanings in use. Worldwide, reiki is used to describe systems of healing and wellbeing which trace their origin back to Dr Mikao Usui (1865 – 1926). In his ‘Explanation of Reiki Therapy’, Dr Usui stated that ‘first of all, therefore it makes persons healthy, and at the same time improves their mind, thereby improving mankind’s enjoyment of human life.’

There are today various systems of reiki practised. There are reiki systems that come directly from Japan (‘eastern reiki’), reiki systems that come from Japan via the US (‘western reiki’), reiki systems that combine eastern and western reiki such as Gendai Reiki and reiki systems that have evolved from western reiki such as Karuna, Tera-mai, Seichim etc. Eastern reiki tends to have a more ‘technical’ approach. The Reiki Healers and Teachers Society believes in combining the best practices of eastern and western reiki and in a knowledgeable approach to the therapy.

Someone who is practising reiki should be able to trace his or her lineage of teachers back to Dr Usui either via Mrs Takata or Dr Hayashi or other students of Dr Usui via Usui-do or the Japanese reiki Gakkai. By the end of his life Dr Usui had taught many students and there are many potential lineages.

Today reiki is being used at home, in hospitals, in hospices as a complementary therapy that is accessible to all.