Reiki Articles

Reiki-ing it in - The following article appeared in the Herald
If you need an alternative to the tumultuous 9 - 5 experience, you'll probably enjoy the tranquility and re-invigoration of Reiki. The Reiki giver harnesses universal energy and transfers it to the patient through their hands to restore their vital energy and wellness, Fremantle Reiki Clinic director Lawrence Ellyard said. Mr Ellyard said the calming effects were immediate and it helped people sleep at night.

"It has a relaxing and balancing affect on people, which they often describe as going in to a deep, restful and meditative state", he said. He said people from all walks of life receive treatments, from the super busy, the ill or even just the curious. All benefited from the treatment and kept coming back for more.

Mr Ellyard and about a dozen practitioners give people a dual treatment, so if you're keen for two people to dote on you for a glorious half-hour, the clinic's at 78 High Street on Tuesday nights from 7 - 9pm (bookings by appointment). The not-for-profit clinic offers the first session free and promises an experience reminiscent of the 19th century when the Japanese invented Reiki. For more information, call Lawrence on 08 9335 1111.

Shining a Divine Light on Reiki - The following article appeared in Annym Magazine
We spoke to five different organisations and asked them varying questions about the direction and genesis of Reiki, although the responses vary the essence that each response has been given in has an unfiltered passion and belief in Reiki as a system of healing. Many thanks go to everyone who participated in our forum, and Annym would like to honour the authenticity that each response has been given with.

We spoke to
International Institute for Reiki Training (IIRT),
Inner Connections (IC),
Australian Reiki Connection (ARC),
Usui Reiki Practitioners Alliance (URPA),
and Spiritual Harmony Centre (SHC).

How did Reiki originate?
IIRT - Reiki originated through the work of Dr. Mikao Usui. During the late 19th Century, Japan , he formulated a method for aligning people with Universal Life force energy. His system utilised a form of attunement, which created this ability to harness this vital energy. He also taught many techniques for healing, based on meditation. His system is believed to have developed over many years and has seen many changes at its popularity spread throughout the world.

IC - Reiki as we know it originated in Japan where Dr Usui rediscovered it.

ARC - Reiki came about from the teachings of Mikao Usui, a Japanese man. Usui died in 1926 and a year later his students erected a memorial stone, which in part states REIHO CHOSO USUI SENSEI KUDOKU NO HI'. Memorial of the merits of Usui Sensei, the founder of Reiho (Reiki Ryoho)
That which is attained within oneself after having accumulated the fruits of disciplined study and training is called 'Toku' and that which can be offered to others after having spread a path of teaching and salvation is called 'Koh'. Only with high merits and great virtues can one be a great founding teacher. Sagacious and brilliant men of the olden time or the founders of new teachings and religious sects were all like that. Someone like Usui Sensei can be counted among them. Sensei newly founded the method based on Reiki of the universe to improve the mind and body. Having heard of his reputation all over, people crowded around to seek his teachings and treatments. Ah, how popular it is!

URPA - Reiki is very ancient, probably known throughout Tibet , Reiki is a Buddhist tradition.

SHC - Dr Usui re-discovered Reiki. In response to a question about the healings given by Jesus, he went in search of an answer. After many years of travel and study, he decided go to a nearby mountain to meditate for 21 days. On the 21 st day, he was given the Reiki symbols.

How did your organisation come about, and what is the vision of the organisation?
IIRT - Our organization was formed out a need to preserve the authenticity of traditional forms of Reiki. We know Reiki is a wonderful tool for healing oneself and others, and recognize the importance of tradition and correct methodology. The Institute has a vision to create a community of Reiki, where it can one day stand along side mainstream medicine as a potent and relevant form of biomedicine.

IC - Healing has been with me since I was little, when I did Reiki I never intended to do my masters, Divine Guidance led me to further Reiki and sharing the knowledge I have with others, and help others to move along their path.

ARC - Australian Reiki Connection Inc came into being in 1997 after a meeting in May in Melbourne . Presented at the meeting was a vision for a unified, independent Reiki association. Also presented on the night was research into the standards to achieve various levels of training, which could be linked to the training certificate 1V of Reiki and so on.

The vision had several aims; some were to provide fellowship to the many Reiki channels, and a solid structural base by way of standards of practice and teaching.

URPA - To establish and maintains standard in the public/professional practise of Reiki.

SHC - We have a desire to make a difference and to preserve the quality of life. We saw a need in the Eastern Suburbs and decided to fill this need. We wanted to give more than the average Spiritual development centre, to expand and to explore together with like-minded people. Spiritual development is not getting in touch with spirit outside ourselves, but to awaken the spirit within. We want to share our knowledge and experience, with the hope that as we teach we also learn. Teaching Reiki is only one part of the whole process.

Why choose to train or join with your organisation?
IIRT - Our focus is on training people to be Reiki practitioners. Our institute has the methods and support to achieve this end. We offer membership, accreditation, student clinics, and a broad spectrum of training in Reiki, which is unique to many western Reiki forms.

IC - I encourage people to get in touch with their own energy and intuition. I teach Traditional Usui,

ARC - The association does not offer training in Reiki. The association offers a database of masters and practitioners who fulfil criteria that enables them to be referred. The public can be assured that the teachers who are referred to them have Reiki training, meet business criteria, and work to the codes of ethics and practice/teaching.

URPA - To support the Natural Consultant Process in addition you cannot train with us, we are not an RTO and do not see that we will ever be one.

SHC - We decided to make Reiki affordable and accessible to all. We have discovered that training people over 8 weeks has enabled them to integrate the Reiki energy/training. It has allowed time to answer any queries they might have and enjoy the whole experience.

What is your organisations lineage?
IIRT - Our school actually teaches several Reiki styles and therefore has several Reiki lineages.

IC - I am a Reiki Seichim master and trained with Vivienne Ellison 5 years ago.

ARC - The association has members with many lineages that all go back to Usui. This is a standard for membership.

URPA - We are open to anyone who can trace their lineage to Usui’s, most members lineage is thru Takata. I now is a member of In Kei Do Lineage

SHC - Phyllis Furomoto

Why is lineage so important?
IIRT - A Reiki lineage is much like a family tree. It is important to know where ones teachings come from and this in itself provides a blessing and energy transmission.

IC - I am a Reiki Seichim master and trained with Vivienne Ellison 5 years ago in the Usui tradition. I think lineage is important as far as knowing the Master is teaching the traditional Usui system and symbols.

ARC - There are many forms of Spiritual Healing, but Usui created the Reiki system of natural healing. Only a teacher of Reiki can teach Reiki, and their training must be traceable to Usui.

URPA - It shows where your teacher fits in the line from Usui

SHC - Lineage is not important, ego is involved with lineage, Reiki is not MLM, and it makes no difference to the healing.

How does lineage fit in when you do Reiki 1 and 2 with one teacher and then masters with another?
IIRT - This is ok if the two teachers in question have the exact same methodology, attunement procedures, and Reiki lineage. However, in more cases than not, this is not the case. Ideally, a teacher in training is best served by training with the same teacher as an apprentice for several years. Although switching forms mid stream is not preferable, it is possible, yet many teachers will recommend you re-sit the prior levels to fill in many missing links and differences in the Reiki attunements and methodology. If one does this, then one has two Reiki lineages or an extended Reiki family tree. Most people do not seem to have a problem integrating different lineages.

IC - It works, as long as I know they come from the traditional Usui line.

ARC - You as a student may have been taught variations of the one system that is Reiki, and have more than one lineage. The teacher of master level would have taught the student to attune others to Reiki, and how and what to teach. Only the student of various levels will know if what they are teaching is of one lineage or another, it may or may not be relevant. For the purpose of the association records, the applicant would send in all of their lineages.

URPA - You then have two lineages

SHC - It does not affect the energy of Reiki at all, the energy does not come from Usui it comes from source, and it is the calling in of universal energy.

How much responsibility do Reiki teachers have as far as student’s ongoing training/support?
IIRT - I would say, a lot. To not offer a ground for on-going development is a great shame for the teacher and student. A teacher is a guide and has an obligation to their student. Besides, practice ensures proper development and the teacher can keep the student on track. It is about creating community amongst like-minded individuals. In this way, everyone wins.

IC - I am here and they ring me if they need help, teachers need to be available

ARC - Masters are responsible for the training and support of their students of Reiki. The form of support may vary according to the circumstances, but may involve support via the many forms of media or support groups to give and receive Reiki.

URPA - Reiki 1 & 2 – none, unless student wishes to go into Public/Professional practise, then the teacher should be available to mentor and assist. Masters – a lifetime commitment and connection

SHC - Responsibility is important; our student response to training over eight weeks is incredible, intense, and wonderful. The last three weeks is also the integration period so students practice healing on strangers and immediately, and receive feedback from us, and they know that we are available for ongoing support at anytime.

How long does it take to become a Reiki Master?
IIRT - Depends where you learn and from whom. Some learn quick and some learn over many years. We offer the later. Our training is in depth and achievable. It takes time, practice, and integration to have the experience and authority to teach Reiki. We are more interested in quality, over quantity and in this way; the Senior Instructor of our school invites likely candidates.

IC - It varies a lot depending on the student, and I use my discernment and intuition regarding Reiki 2 and Masters.

ARC - It takes longer than a weekend to learn to be a master of anything. The ways and means of teaching masters is a subject that requires more time and analysis than this brief paper could provide. As president of a Reiki association of varied lineages and opinions, it is not my place to answer for them on this issue.

URPA - Depends on the Master, at least five years of continuos practice and living with Reiki principles and at least 1-year apprenticeship and one week of intensive preparation and training, and commitment to ongoing personal development.

SHC - I guess it depends on your reasons for wanting to become a master, for some it is a completion to the whole Reiki experience, for some it is so they are able to pass on the Reiki attunements to allow others to receive the healing energy, and for some it is something else to put on your business card.

How do you know when someone is ready to teach Reiki?
IIRT - When they have completed the necessary amount of practice and exhibit the kinds of qualities we are looking for.

IC - Who am I to say that someone is ready to teach, I think it is up to the individual, many people do their masters not to teach but purely for the energy.

ARC - It would be evident in their willingness to learn and practice.

URPA - You just know

SHC - Again it depends on the person, their level of skills their confidence and their abilities.

How does getting your Reiki Masters on the internet work?
IIRT - I'm not sure that it does work. Would you give someone a black belt in martial arts after just one lesson?

IC - Who knows you tell me

ARC - The standards of the Australian Reiki Connection Inc do not allow for membership of those who have not had hands on training.

URPA - It does not without the Masters touch

SHC - I am very open minded about this, if you can send distant healing why not distant attunements, I think it falls short on the personal interaction, it is not something that I would personally be involved with but and can often be a money making scheme. It certainly is a personal choice.

How did so many forms of Reiki become available?
IIRT - Reiki was passed on from Dr. Usui to many people. When Reiki come to the United States , one teacher, Mrs. Takata taught 22 westerns to be teachers they in turn passed it to others. Today, some 30 years on we now have over 68 different Reiki styles and millions of Reiki practitioners worldwide. The growth is exponential, but this does not always ensure quality.

IC - All I can say is it is like Chinese Whispers, all I can think of is that some are legitimate and some are not.

ARC - One man taught a system of Reiki to many who in turn taught many others. The nature of human beings is to evolve and in doing so they bring evolution to their practices.

URPA - Other bits where added meditation etc

SHC - Perhaps people were looking for more than what Reiki had to offer, one step beyond Reiki.

Do you envision a unified Reiki community and how do you see that working?
IIRT - I hope so. I do not believe we can form a unified practice of Reiki because of the tremendous diversity that exists today. I do believe, however that we can establish a common ground and basic standard. This involves a common code of ethics, code of practice and quality assured training. This will lift the overall practice of Reiki as a credibly modality.

IC - All I can say is it is like Chinese Whispers, all I can think of is that some are legitimate and some are not.

ARC - Yes, in Australian Reiki Connection Inc membership you will find many varied points of view; fellowship and respect is the foundation of the association. It is what draws members to it.

URPA - No, because we are all different but can all work together.

SHC -. With tolerance, and understanding.

Is your organisation a Registered Training Organisation, or are you planning to become one?
IIRT - To my knowledge, very few are. However, there are some recent developments in the pipeline and I feel this will become a reality in the near future.

IC - No, in the future I would like to be.

ARC - The association aims to support and advocate on behalf of its members, and as such it is not an RTO. Many members have set up RTO’s or are considering it.

URPA - No and it’s not what we see our role as

SHC - We are not registered as a training facility but as a Spiritual Development Centre. Reiki training is only one part of the entire organisation

How do you feel about Government regulation?
IIRT - I think this is ok, just so long as Reiki teachers can have the freedom to teach what they like. If it gets too restricted, all the fun goes out of it and then where will we be?

IC - I don’t like it its all about control.

ARC - This is a topic for individual’s to ponder. What are the aims of those who seek it? It has been said to give credibility to Reiki, quality of training, standardization of training, ethics etc; will government give this?

Australian Reiki Connection Inc members have worked hard over the years to gain all of the above without government regulation. It has been successful in gaining health fund provider numbers for those members who seek referral, insurance, and many members are already working in hospitals and clinics around Australia .

Australian Reiki Connection Inc has been set up with the framework of government accreditation, and as an association of many members Australia wide aims to involve itself in the discussion.

URPA - Government is responsible to protect vulnerable people maybe it has to come we just need to educate the government on Reiki and how it works.

SHC - When you set rules for Reiki it soon becomes a dogma, I do believe that it should follow certain guidelines and above all the health and well-being of the client is the most important aspect.

How do you respond to this statement ‘Reiki, is Universal healing energy, therefore all Reiki practitioners are channels for the same energy, regardless of who, what, where, and when they were trained and what they compliment their Reiki therapies with’?
IIRT - That is a big statement. One could say that at an ultimate level we are all 'one'. We could also way that we are many expressions of that 'one' source. I often describe this with the analogy of a hand. Our palm is the source. Our fingers are but a few different expressions of this energy. A Pinkie finger is not the same as a Thumb, yet all have the function of a working hand. Just so, one Reiki style is not the same as another but all serve the function of healing in whichever way this speaks to those who work with it.

IC - I agree with that

ARC - Reiki is! All students of Reiki channel Reiki. Just as you have and accept many radio stations to provide you with music, news, and weather, so too can you enjoy the one Reiki.

URPA - Certainly with the proviso that hands on master who was initiated by a hands on master initiated them.

SHC - The energy source we tap in to or connect to is there, regardless of our beliefs, it is like a flowing river, it does not matter on what part of the river we stand to drink the water, where it flows from remains the same.

 
Reiki Styles – Japanese Reiki, Dr. Usui’s Original Reiki Teachings
By Lawrence Ellyard

Lawrence Ellyard is the Director and Master Instructor of the International Institute for Reiki Training, Fremantle, Western Australia. He is also the Author of three books on Reiki: ‘Reiki Healer’, ‘Reiki Samadhi’ and Reiki Satsung’. The following article expresses some interesting food for thought on Reiki and its former roots in early 20th Century Japan.

Reiki, the Japanese art of hands on healing has seen some major changes of late. With Japan finally opening its doors to the west, a new, yet very ancient Reiki style has emerged.

The Takata (or Western) Reiki tradition is a simple yet effective way to combat illness and relieve the stresses of daily life and has flourished in the West for some 30 years. However, the deeper spiritual practices and techniques of the Japanese tradition have remained behind the closed Reiki society of Japans “Bamboo Curtin”, until now. Throughout the years, the Japanese view has remained isolated. With cultural and spiritual traditions especially, there is little interest in outsiders being welcomed with open arms. Even today, outsiders or Westerners are referred to as ‘Gaijin’ or ‘Western Barbarians’, so it is little wonder that this view has kept many of the esoteric arts under lock and key.

For the last 80 years, the Reiki of Japan has been a closed society. For the Japanese, this is exactly how many would wish for it to remain. In fact, its mere existence has remained a complete mystery to western Reiki practitioners for just as long. Through various means, the unearthing of some of the Japanese Reiki methods have come to light, notably, through the actions of Mr. Hiroshi Doi. Mr Doi was a student of Ms. Koyama who, before she resigned in January 1998, was the head of the Japanese Reiki Gakkai (Learning Society). Although Mr. Doi is not considered a teacher of the Original Reiki Gakkai, he has opened the door to some of the original Japanese Reiki teachings.

Until recently, it has been popular belief that all Reiki lineages leading back to Usui, including teachers, died out in Japan during the Second World War and that the original Japanese Reiki tradition was lost forever. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, Reiki has flourished in Japan and continues to today, more importantly, the Japanese Reiki style is considerably different in practice.

The Japanese Reiki tradition has lived on through an unbroken succession of teachers of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai. Dr. Mikao Usui, acting as its first president, founded the Reiki Gakkai in 1922. (note: not recognised as a grandmaster). Since this time, there have been several Presidents overseeing the practices of the Japanese Reiki tradition. This society was only open to those students who had studied Usui's Reiki. The Gakkai currently has 500 members and has had six presidents since Dr. Usui (1865-1926); these include:

Mr. Jusaburo Ushida 1865-1935,
Mr. Kanichi Taketomi 1878-1960,
Mr. Yoshiharu Watanabe (Born, date unknown to 1960),
Mr. Hoichi Wanami 1883-1975,
Ms. Kimiko Koyama 1906-1999,
and the current president Mr. Masayoshi Kondo.
This society started a new ‘religion’, or spiritual organization, a common practice at this time in Japan.

In recent years, a great deal of research has taken place by a variety of teachers within the western tradition, searching the roots of Reiki. This came from a number of Reiki teachers questioning the traditional Reiki history and through deeper probing, proved it to contain many inconsistencies.

To fully appreciate the motive behind these inconsistencies requires a brief lesson in history. In the late 20th century, Reiki’s founding teacher, Mikao Usui, propagated a system of healing which he named: ‘Reiki’. His system proved to be very successful and demonstrated tremendous results for healing illness and enhancing spiritual awareness. Although Usui initially taught these teachings only to his Buddhist followers, in the later years of his life he began teaching a more Universal form of Reiki.

As many new (non-Buddhist) students began to learn Usui’s methods, the teaching changed and evolved. Outside the guidelines of the Reiki Gakkai, many students took their own stance on Reiki. One of these students, Dr. Hayashi, developed his own version of Usui’s system, adjusting the style and as a result passed his knowledge to Mrs Takata. She in turn adjusted the methodology and historical tradition, which explains the tremendous diversity between Japanese and Western Reiki Styles.

The western style of Reiki first made its ways to the shores of America in the early 1970s. Prior to this, this Japanese export maintained a somewhat low profile in Hawaii from the 1940’s.

Mrs Takata decided to change many facts concerning the development of the Reiki tradition, adjusting the fundamental story from a Buddhist to a more palatable Christian model so that Reiki would become widely acceptable to the highly conservative, post ‘Pearl Harbour’ Christian Americans.

Takata’s desire for Reiki’s popularity became realised. Today, as a result of Mrs Takata and her appointed teachers, literally millions of people around the globe now know and use her Reiki healing system.

Mrs Takata ‘propagated’, as she called it, ‘The Usui System of Natural Healing’. The fact is that Mrs Takata’s system, although a completely valid and proven healing system bears little resemblance to the original Japanese Usui methods.

Many of the original Japanese methods were removed, including the methods taught by the founding teacher, Mikao Usui and subsequent members of the original Reiki Society.
It is this original Japanese tradition which is now being introduced back to the west.

Today, Reiki has become so popular, that it has been exported back to Japan. Western Reiki Masters are teaching Reiki to the Japanese. It seems that the Reiki tradition is at a crossroads and at the dawn of a complete cycle, from Japan to the west, from the west to Japan and back again. With all the interest in Japanese Reiki and the number of Western Reiki teachers running around Japan, looking for any of Usui’s students, or students of Usui’s students, a tremendous amount of ‘heresay’ is developing. As a by-product, internal politics are developing regarding what is Reiki, who’s got the right version and who’s who in Reiki.

Big shifts are occurring in the once secure structures of the established Western Schools. With the amount of new information emerging out of Japan, the way we view Reiki will change forever. Practitioners and teachers of traditional Reiki no longer have to rely on Reiki as an oral tradition. As new documents surface and Japanese practitioners step forward to give their views, the historical tradition becomes clearer.

For many western taught Reiki practitioners, the common question is; is there any difference? The simple answer is ‘Yes’. The Reiki Ryoho system teaches a variety of energy enhancing techniques, enabling the practitioner to consciously generate and direct greater amounts of healing energy. Included are a variety of meditations, Chi Kung style exercises and many practices for spiritual development. The Ryoho system itself teaches 18 of Usui’s techniques for healing.

Many of the Japanese techniques bear Japanese names and accompany specific practices. A large foundation to Reiki practice is the use of symbols and Reiki attunements, creating a direct connection with the Reiki energy. Because these methods bypass the oral tradition of Mrs Takata, students have the opportunity receive a direct transmission in the authentic Reiki System.

If you would like to know more about the new historical discoveries currently underway, or if you have questions concerning this material, please forward your enquiries at our contact us page.