REIKI: THE ULTIMATE HEALING POWER

WHAT IS REIKI?

Reiki is a healing technique in which a person can channel energy into oneself or the other person by means of touch, which activates the natural healing processes of the other person’s body to restore physical and emotional state of well-being. It is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation. It also promotes healing. The word Reiki comes from the Japanese word ‘Rei’ which means “Universal Life” and ‘Ki’ which means “Energy”. Everyone has the ability to connect with their own healing energy. It is just that people don’t realize how much power resides within them. It is a much less known yet extremely powerful technique.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH REIKI

I am not a Reiki practitioner. But the marvelous experience I had with Reiki is worth sharing because I have personally experienced the healing process. I had a minor sprain in my hand while playing badminton. It was so painful that I couldn’t even move my hand. Since my exams were coming up I couldn’t afford an injured hand. I knew that it was just a sprain and it would heal on its own time. But I had a lot of math problems to solve and for that I had a lot of writing to do. It was then when I was introduced to the concept of Reiki by my grandmother. She had recently attended a Reiki training camp and said that she could relieve my pain to some extent through Reiki. At first I refused to believe that someone can really heal my sprain by merely closing their eyes and touching my hand that needed healing. But anyway I decided to give her a chance. She held my hand and closed her eyes. At first I felt nothing. But after about 5 minutes I felt a tingling sensation in my injured hand. The sensation kept on increasing. It felt like electricity passing through me, only it felt harmless. I thought that my hand was about to get numb and after a while I thought it did. She opened her eyes after 15-20 minutes and let go of my hand. She asked me to rotate my wrist and check of any decrements in the amount of pain I was experiencing and I did. I was completely dumbfounded! It was magic! The pain was completely gone as though it was never there. I didn’t know what she did when she closed her eyes but the pain vanished. It was then I realized that if this wonderful technique can cure a minor sprain within 15 minutes what wonders it will do if someone incorporates it in their daily life. This is when I started my research on this wonderful healing therapy and decided to spread this knowledge to as many people as I can.

HOW DOES REIKI WORK

Reiki can be performed on self as well as on others. There are five principles of Reiki:

1) Just for today, do not anger.
2) Just for today, do not worry.
3) Honor your parents, teachers and elders.
4) Earn your living honestly.
5) Show gratitude to every living thing.

Although there are many books available on how to practice Reiki, but Reiki cannot be learned through books or traditional educational techniques. It must be passed on through an attunement or initiation process. This means that you have to learn it from a master. The attunement energies are channeled into the student through the Reiki Master. So do not try to practice Reiki without getting attuned from a skilled Reiki practitioner.

BENEFITS OF REIKI

Reiki can be used for the following purposes-

• ·        For stress reduction and relaxation.
• ·        decrease pain
• ·        ease muscle tension
• ·        speed healing
• ·        wish fulfillment

 DEGREES OF REIKI

There are basically three levels or degrees of Reiki.

1. The First Degree: Reiki Level 1

Level 1 is a practitioner's initiation into Reiki and is open to anyone. The focus during Level 1 is on opening the energy channels on a physical level.  This includes the history, the nature of the energy, how it is passed on and how it interacts with the body. Many Reiki Masters emphasize self-Reiki as the goal of the Level 1 designation, encouraging students to focus on practicing Reiki on themselves. People experience energy in their palms after the first attunement like tingling, coolness or heat. The main aspect of the teaching is the Practical side. After a demonstration there is a practice session. Even though the main focus is on self healing, you are enabled to give minor Reiki treatments to others. Following your attunement you will begin to be aware of changes occurring on all levels.

2. The Second Degree: Reiki level 2

A gap of 21 days to 3 months is a must between level 1 and 2. Level 2 is focused on practicing Reiki on others, as well as an expanded opening of the energy channels. The main purpose of Level 2 is to do distant/absentee healing, group healing and also to become a professional Reiki practitioner. Students receive the "Reiki symbols" and Level 2 attunement. The Reiki symbols allow the practitioner to connect more deeply to the universal energy. From Level 1 to Level 2, the amount of energy that you channel increases about 200%.  Your healing ability also increases. This includes the ability to provide distance Reiki, or sending healing energy to individuals wherever they may be. 

3. The Third Degree & Reiki Master: Reiki level 3

The Reiki Master Level is considered the teacher's level — a practitioner who has received the energy and knowledge to attune new Reiki practitioners. You are given the master attunement. With attunement, you receive the full empowerment of the Reiki energy. Your energy frequency is raised, increasing the amount of energy that you channel about 400%, your intuitive powers are heightened, which makes you a more powerful healer. Becoming a Reiki Master also represents a deep commitment to the Reiki practice, and some feel that significant time should pass between achieving the Second Degree status and Master Level.