What is Reiki?

In 1922, a Japanese Buddhist named Mikao Usui developed Reiki, a kind of spiritual practice. Reiki is classified as an oriental medicine. It makes use of palm healing as a form of alternative medicine. Practitioners of Reiki claim that the palms transfer healing energy in the form of ki.

Reiki is used as technique to reduce stress and aid in relaxation to promote healing. The term Reiki was derived from the words rei, which means ‘Higher Power’ and ki, which means ‘life force energy. Practitioners believe that the ‘ki’ flows through the whole body and that it is what makes humans alive.

There are two known traditions of Reiki ‘“ the traditional Japanese and Western Reiki.

Japanese Reiki

The traditional Japanese Reiki follows the original Usui’s teachings. Traditional Japanese Reiki is described by the oldest Usui’s teachings that never left Japan. There are four main traditional Japanese Reikis that have been established.

Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai

The Reiki masters founded by Mikao Usui established this society. This group managed to salvage Usui’s style up to this present day. This society kept their practices secret for many years. However, some members like Master Hiroshi Doi have shared their knowledge with those who want to learn. On the other hand, the society is still nearly impossible to penetrate and hermetic.

Reido Reiki Gakkai

This Reiki system, which means Spiritual Occurrence, is led by Fuminori Aoki. Reido Reiki Gakkai was patterned to the teachings of Ryoho Gakkai. However, some of Aoki’s teachings were added. The Koriki symbol, which means ‘the force of happiness’, was adopted by the system.

Komyo Reiki Kai

This system was established by a Reiki Master with a Western Reiki background named Hyakuten Inamoto. Komyo Reiki Kai is translated in English as ‘Enlightened Spiritual Energy Meeting’. The difference of this system was that it does not originate with the Gakkai. It originated through Chiyoko Yamaguchi who came from the Hayashi line.

Jikiden Reiki

Mrs. Yamaguchi and her son Tadao Yamaguchi founded Jikiden Reiki. This system used the original teachings of Dr. Hayashi and it means ‘The Direct Teaching of Spiritual Energy.’

Western Reiki

Hawayo Takata has to be given credit for the establishment of the Western Reiki. Takata was trained by Hayashi. Hayashi went back to Hawaii bringing with her the Reiki teachings of Hayashi. Reiki clinics were setup and it started the spread of the techniques to the Western part of the globe. Takata made some changes to Reiki so her teachings adapt to the western mentality. Three popular Western Reiki had been established.

Usui Reiki Shiki Ryoho

In English Usui Reiki Shiki Ryoho is translated as ‘Usui’s Spiritual Energy Style of Therapy’. This system maintained to stay as similar enough to the teachings and Reiki practices of Hawayo Takata. In United Kingdom, this system was used as qualifying norm to practice Reiki in general public.

Usui/Tibetan Reiki

Arthur Robertson developed the Usui/Tibetan Reiki. This system mixes the teachings of Takata and Usui Reiki Shiki Ryoho. However, there are also some additions and modifications in other methods.

Gendai Reiki Ho

This system was established by Hiroshi Doi, which means Modern Spiritual Energy Method. This method was the integration of the Japanese and Western Reiki.