Defining Reiki
Reiki is a traditional Japanese energy medicine. It is used as a complementary alternative therapy to alleviate the many symptoms of stress on our body and mind. Usui Reiki is the most common form of Reiki practiced today and was founded by Master Mikao Usui in 1922.
Defining Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese word in Kanji, whose alphabet is descended from Chinese Characters. 'Rei' translates to 'sacred' or 'spiritual', and 'Ki' as 'energy'’ The more common and modern translation would be universal life force energy. So, the healing art of Reiki inherently depends on the subtle energy system that flows through the body, inside and out. Most ancient and traditional medicines acknowledge what has been coined as the subtle energy body in their practices. Chinese medicine, particularly acupuncture, focuses on balancing Qi (kee) energy. ‘Qi’ is spelled and pronounced very closely to 'Ki'’, the meaning of energy in the word Reiki, which is descended from Chinese characters.
In Ayurveda and Yoga, Prana is the universal life force energy that navigates and supplies the body with subtle energy to maintain life. Ayurveda and Chinese medicine use pulse reading to apply their healing arts therapeutically. Even though each healing system is different, we can see the universal truth in each one. The intelligence of creation and pure consciousness reverberated throughout history from India, China, and Japan to ultimately become the holistic healing arts of the modern day.
Reiki is just the word used in Japanese healing arts to acknowledge the subtle energy that flows from our source of being throughout our physical body. Reiki healings involve an attuned practitioner to balance the flow of Reiki energy throughout the mind and body. We cannot scientifically prove or deny the presence of subtle energy and its source, but we do know that where attention goes, growth follows. We use Reiki this way in holistic medicine and other Eastern practices like Yoga and Meditation to purify the body and mind. This allows consciousness to open and flow steadily, freeing us from negative behavioral patterns that no longer serve us while making space for healing, knowledge, and evolution.
To read more about the mentioned topics above click the tags at the bottom of this article.
Ref.
Cleveland Clinic. (2023a, May). Acupuncture. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/4767-acupuncture
Cleveland Clinic. (2023b, November 27). What Is Reiki, and Does it Really Work? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/reiki
International Center for Reiki Training [ICRT]. (2019, September 10). What is Reiki? Reiki. https://www.reiki.org/faqs/what-reiki
Logan, B. (2023, January 6). The meaning of Reiki - International House of Reiki. International House of Reiki. https://ihreiki.com/reiki_info/reiki_history/reiki-meaning-of-the-word/?v=7516fd43adaa
Yogapedia. (2023, December 21). Prana. Yogapedia. https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5154/prana
Image Source: https://www.reiki.org/faqs/what-reiki
