Reiki
Reiki is a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practice originating from Japan, in which a trained practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above the recipient's body to channel "universal life energy"—known as ki in Japanese—with the aim of facilitating the body's natural healing processes and restoring energy balance.[1] The term "Reiki" combines the Japanese words rei ("universal" or "higher power") and ki ("life energy"), reflecting its foundation in Eastern philosophies that posit an unseen "life force" energy flows through the body to support physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being; disruptions in this energy are believed to contribute to illness.[1] Developed in the early 1920s by Mikao Usui, a Japanese spiritual teacher and healer, Reiki emerged from Usui's meditative experiences on Mount Kurama, where he reportedly attained enlightenment and the ability to transmit healing energy through attunement processes.[2] Usui established a training system and taught over 2,000 students in Japan before his death in 1926, with approximately 16 advanced practitioners (referred to as masters) receiving full attunement to teach others.[2] The practice was further refined by one of Usui's students, Chujiro Hayashi, who opened a Reiki clinic in Tokyo in the 1930s and emphasized hands-on healing techniques.[2] Reiki was introduced to the West in 1937 by Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American student of Hayashi, who brought the teachings to Hawaii and later the U.S. mainland; Takata trained 22 masters during her lifetime, significantly contributing to its global spread after her death in 1980.[2] Today, Reiki is practiced worldwide, often integrated into healthcare settings as a supportive therapy for conditions like pain, anxiety, and stress, though it is not considered a substitute for conventional medical treatment.[1] In a typical Reiki session, which lasts 45 to 90 minutes, the recipient remains fully clothed and lies on a treatment table while the practitioner uses gentle, non-invasive hand positions—either touching specific areas or hovering slightly above—to direct energy flow; no physical manipulation or pressure is applied, making it a passive experience for the recipient.[1] Training to become a Reiki practitioner occurs in three progressive levels: Level I focuses on self-healing and treating others through direct touch (typically 8–12 hours of instruction); Level II introduces symbols for distant healing and emotional balancing; and Level III (master level) enables teaching and attuning new practitioners, often requiring additional advanced study.[3] While Reiki is generally regarded as safe with no known adverse effects, scientific evidence for its efficacy remains limited and inconsistent, with studies showing mixed results for benefits in pain relief or relaxation but no clear support for the underlying energy transfer concept.[1]Origins and History
Etymology
The term "Reiki" consists of two Japanese kanji: 霊 (rei) and 気 (ki). The kanji 霊 (rei), originating from Middle Chinese 靈 (leng), means "ghost," "soul," or "spirit" in Japanese contexts.[4] The kanji 気 (ki), derived from Middle Chinese 氣 (khj+jH) and simplified in 1946, denotes "spirit," "mood," "air," "atmosphere," or "vital energy."[5] In general Japanese usage, "reiki" (霊気) translates to "mysterious atmosphere" or "miraculous sign," evoking a sense of spiritual or supernatural essence.[6] Within the Reiki healing system, however, "rei" is interpreted as "universal" or "higher power/God's wisdom," while "ki" signifies "life force energy," yielding the composite meaning "spiritually guided life force energy."[7] This contextual translation emphasizes a pervasive, guiding vital energy, distinct from the term's broader linguistic roots.[8] The word's formation reflects influences from Japanese spiritual traditions, including Buddhism—which transmitted Chinese qi concepts via Tendai texts—and Shinto, where notions of divine spirits (kami) parallel the ethereal connotations of "rei."[9] When Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to the West in 1937, she adapted explanations of the term for English-speaking audiences, popularizing the "universal life force energy" phrasing to align with familiar spiritual and energetic ideas, while retaining the original Japanese name.[10] This early 20th-century shift facilitated its integration into Western alternative healing practices.[11]Historical Development
Mikao Usui, a Japanese Tendai Buddhist and scholar born in 1865, developed the Reiki system in 1922 following a profound spiritual experience. After years of studying various healing traditions, including Shinto and Buddhist practices, Usui undertook a 21-day fast and meditation retreat on Mount Kurama near Kyoto. On the final day, he reportedly experienced satori—a sudden enlightenment—during which he received visions and symbols that formed the basis of Reiki, a method of channeling universal life energy for healing. Usui then established the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai society and opened a clinic in Tokyo's Harajuku district to teach and practice the technique, training over 2,000 students before his death from a stroke in 1926.[9][12] Usui's student, Chujiro Hayashi, a former naval officer, played a pivotal role in preserving and expanding Reiki in the 1930s. Trained as one of Usui's last masters, Hayashi founded the Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai clinic in Tokyo around 1931, where he modified some aspects of the practice to emphasize hands-on treatment sequences. Hayashi trained additional masters, including Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman who sought healing at his clinic in 1935 for health issues stemming from surgery and stress. Takata, cured after several months of sessions, apprenticed under Hayashi and became a master in 1937, marking her as the first woman initiated into the highest level. She returned to Hawaii in 1937, establishing the first Reiki practice outside Japan and initiating the system's transmission to the West.[12][13][14] Following World War II, Reiki faced challenges in Japan under the Allied Occupation (1945–1952), as U.S. authorities issued the Shintō Directive to dismantle state-sponsored religious practices, viewing them as linked to militarism; this led to the dissolution of many spiritual groups. The practice survived through a few dedicated lineages but remained obscure domestically until its revival in the late 20th century, partly through reintroduction from Western practitioners. In the United States, Takata trained 22 masters before her death in 1980, fueling a surge in popularity during the 1980s holistic health movement. Her granddaughter, Phyllis Lei Furumoto, emerged as the lineage bearer and co-founded the Reiki Alliance in 1983 at a gathering in Canada, an organization dedicated to upholding traditional Usui Shiki Ryoho standards and fostering global unity among masters. By the 1990s, Reiki had integrated into broader complementary health practices, with Furumoto's leadership helping standardize training amid growing international adoption.[15][16][12]Conceptual Basis
Core Principles
Reiki's core principles form the philosophical foundation of the practice, guiding practitioners toward personal growth and ethical healing. Central to this framework are the Five Reiki Precepts, known as the Gokai in Japanese, which were established by Mikao Usui, the founder of Usui Reiki Ryoho, as daily affirmations to foster mindfulness and spiritual development.[17] These precepts emphasize living in the present moment, releasing attachments to negative emotions, cultivating gratitude, diligent effort, and compassion, serving as a moral compass for practitioners to integrate into their routine through recitation, often twice daily with hands in the gassho position.[18] The precepts are traditionally recited as follows, with original Japanese, romaji transliteration, and English translation:| Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Kyō dake wa | Kyō dake wa | Just for today |
| Okoru na | Okoru na | Do not anger |
| Shinpai su na | Shinpai su na | Do not worry |
| Kansha shite | Kansha shite | Be filled with gratitude |
| Gō o hagemu | Gō o hagemu | Devote yourself to your work |
| Hito ni shinsetsu ni | Hito ni shinsetsu ni | Be kind to people |