Reiki

Definition

Reiki has two meanings, the noun reiki carries a meaning in itself and the meaning of the verb reiki is derived from the noun. The word rei-ki is Chinese and the literal meaning of this word is cosmos (rei) and energy (ki or chi or qi).

Advocates of reiki claim that, through the symbols they use and are taught, reiki energy is able to enter and heal the body. Many scientists claim that, through a process of inductive reasoning, that because they cannot measure reiki energy to their satisfaction, it does not exist. There is no conclusive scientific evidence for the effectiveness of this form of therapy.

History

Reiki was claimed to be rediscovered by a Japanese man named Mikao Usui[?]. After long meditations and prayers he claimed that he gained consecration how to awaken and apply the reiki energy for healing. Believers in reiki claim that access to this energy is limited for the majority of people. Mikao Usui claimed that he could enable his students to enlarge their access to the energy through certain inaugurations. The “flow” of the energy after enlarging of the access becomes a healing quality. It improves the function of chakras by supplying them with energy.

Ethical Principles

Mikao Usui taught a set of principles along with the initiations. These were:

• Just for today, do not worry.
• Just for today, do not anger.
• Honor your parents, teachers, and elders.
• Earn your living honestly.
• Show gratitude to everything.

How does it work?

Advocates of reiki claim that reiki energy comes through the 7th chakra into the aura of a person and flows through his hands to chakras of the recipient.

Courses

The method developed by Mikao Usui spread over the world and now it is almost everywhere possible to attend a reiki course. To achieve a complete education, 3 courses are necessary: 1st degree course, 2nd degree course and master course. In the 1st degree reiki course it is taught how to work with reiki energy. The “channel” through which reiki energy passes to the 7th chakra has to be widened through an inauguration by the teacher, to let the reiki energy be strong enough to heal. Students learn the manner how to place their hands on the chakras of the recipient to be most successful by the healing process. In the 2nd degree reiki course it is taught how to send the energy through distances to the recipient. It is also taught how to direct the energy to a certain point of time in the future. This is made possible through a second inauguration. The “channel” will be opened even more. In the master course, students learn how to teach reiki courses and they become masters of reiki through the 3rd inauguration. It is up to students how many courses they want to attend. The courses are structured hierarchically, so it is not possible to attend e.g. the master course after finishing only the 1st course.

Criticism

Some scientists hold that, because they are unable to measure reiki energy to their satisfaction, it simply does not exist. Proponents of reiki claim that they can detect and manipulate this energy, but some scientists claim that if a physical or medical phenomenon is real, it can be measured and observed by science. Since they are unable to do this, and contend that the sensations practitioners of reiki claim to feel are not real, and that they deceiving themselves with magical thinking.

See also: Alternative medicine, Magical thinking