The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words — Ki, which is life force energy, and Rei, which is the wisdom of a higher power. Reiki, then, is a spiritually guided healing using life force energy.
For students, Reiki is not taught in the traditional sense so much as it is shown. The student becomes attuned to a Reiki master, and learns to connect with the life force energy that flows through us all. The ability to learn and use Reiki is not limited — people of all ages and backgrounds, of all levels of intellect and spiritual development can learn and practice Reiki.
Reiki is spiritual in nature, but is not a religion. Practitioners come from all religious backgrounds, and feel that their use of Reiki beings them into a deeper connection with their Higher Power. Students of Reiki are asked to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others — positive energy creates and maintains good health.
According to Reiki, the idea of Rei — wisdom from a higher power — guides the functioning of the universe. The life energy is infinite, neither created nor destroyed or even depleted during a Reiki class or session. Using the guidance of a higher power, your Ki — life energy — can be healed.
Those who practice Reiki believe that the life energy flows almost on its own to the places that need healing — places where negative thoughts and energy have blocked the flow of Ki. The healing is guided by a higher intelligence, not the mind of the practitioner.
The flow of Ki is responsible for animating the physical matter of the body. If the flow is blocked or disrupted, the physical body can suffer. Reiki practitioners believe that a problem in the flow of life energy is the cause for all illnesses. Ki is thought to respond to thoughts and feelings — negative thoughts and feelings can restrict the flow of life energy and cause illnesses. A problem that may be “all in your head” can truly be causing physical distress if it is affecting your Ki.
Reiki is a simple and non-invasive method of spiritual healing, and can be used in conjunction with other medical and therapeutic techniques. The spiritually guided flow of healing energy can help relieve side effects, improve mental state, and promote recovery. After all, isn’t healing the spirit just as important as treating the body?