Reiki
Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a Japanese form of healing by the 'laying on of hands' and is used to promote relaxation, stress reduction and healing on an emotional, spiritual and physical level. Reiki has been practiced for thousands of years and is a very simple yet powerful technique that can easily be learned by anyone.
Reiki is both a powerful and gentle form of healing. Virtually, any physical, mental or emotional issues can be treated with Reiki; and it doesn't interfere with any other treatment you may be undergoing. While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion and will never do harm. It always knows what a person needs and will adjust itself to create an effect that is appropriate.
The word "Rei" means universal and is interpreted to mean a higher knowledge or spiritual consciousness. This is the wisdom that comes from God or the Higher Self. This God-Consciousness is all knowing and understands each person and how to heal them. The word "Ki" means the same as Chi (in Chinese) or Prana (in Sanskrit). Ki is life force energy, which is the non-physical energy that animates all living things. As long as something is alive, it has life energy circulating through it and around it. The more free-flowing the energy is as it circulates through the body, the healthier you become. If your energy is low or the flow of energy through the body is restricted, the more susceptible you will be to illness.
As the physical energy (Ki) is diminished by improper eating habits, lack of exercise, stress, pollution, negative thinking, emotional distress and physical injury, illness can begin to develop in the physical body. Since illness begins in your energy field before it manifests in your physical body, it is important to clear blockages, stagnant energy and negative thought patterns with energy work in order to prevent illness from occurring. For example, if you are really busy at work with many important deadlines to meet, relationship difficulties, under overwhelming stress, feeling irritable and to top it off it is Christmas... well what ends up happening... you get sick. If you were to have a Reiki treatment to clear some stress and blocked energy you may be able to prevent your sickness from developing.
During a Reiki treatment, the person receiving the treatment lies fully clothed on a treatment (massage) table, or sits in a comfortable position. The Reiki practitioner places their hands on the 'person to be healed' with the intention of healing. Various hand positions (starting at the head to feet) are used during a Reiki session. The person may experience sensations of heat, cold, or tingling, and emotional releases may occur. After a treatment, the person receiving the treatment will feel relaxed, calm, less pain and have more energy.
Although there are many kinds of healing energy practices, Reiki is a special kind of healing energy that can only be channeled by someone that has been attuned to it. The Reiki attunement is a powerful spiritual experience in which adjustments in the chakras and energy pathways occur to accommodate the ability to channel Reiki (i.e. to become a Reiki practitioner). Once you have received a Reiki attunement, it will be with you for the rest of your life. Your spiritual and intuitive awareness, as well as your psychic sensitivity, will be more heightened after a Reiki attunement and with each attunement you receive.
As there are 3 levels of Reiki, attunements are done with each level of training. Traditional Usui Reiki typically consists of 2-3 days of intensive training with a Reiki Master for each level being studied. The Master level is the third level and is the highest level of Reiki. There is also an Advanced Reiki Training which is part of the Master level (and typically taught separately), as a precursor to go onto finish the Master program.
Dr. Lynn Tintinalli has been practicing Reiki since 1999 and is a certified Usui/Tibetan & Karuna Reiki Master. She offers courses in all levels of Traditional Usui Reiki.
