Reiki a universal energy technique to Heal

Reiki is known as spiritual energy, like its counterparts it is based on a pantheistic worldview.

Ray Yungen reports that in 1970 there were ½ million Reiki chanellers now there are 1 million Reiki chanellers in Germany and there are 2.6 million web pages on Reiki. So in the 90's it grew significantly. 

Reiki is the Japanese word for Universal Life Form Energy. The definition for Reiki is universal, transcendental spirit, power, and essence. The Rei and ki are broken down into their two component parts, (Kanji Japanese alphabet) it is described as the vital life form energy similar to the Chi of Chinese acupuncture. In the Encyclopedia of Alternative Health Care, author Kristin Olsen says Reiki is “an energy healing system based on ancient Tibetan knowledge discovered by a Japanese theologian.” Many people have commented on the ecumenical aspect of Reiki. Supposedly it was founded by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese Christian minister in Kyoto, Japan, in the mid-1800s. When one of his students challenged his belief that Jesus Christ healed people with His hands, Dr. Usui began a quest for proof that this type of healing actually did exist.

Dr. Usui began a journey of many years looking for a way to heal through the 'light of God' which is the way Jesus had healed. Studying first at Christian schools in the US, he had no results. He studied Buddhist writings at a monastery in the Orient he still could find no answers. Usui learned the ancient language of Sanskrit and began to read the sutras, the ancient books of esoteric Hindu religious teaching.

The story goes that after discovering this healing in the sutras, Usui told the monks of this monastery he intended to fast and meditate for 21 days on a nearby mountain in Japan. If he did not come back they should come and get his body.

He went to the mountain and gathered 21 stones with which to count the days. Each day he would throw away a stone and in this way count the time. On the 20th day no revelation had come and he threw away the last stone saying “Well, this is it, either I get the answer tonight or I do not.”

On the final day of his meditative quest, at night on the horizon he could see a ball of light coming towards him. The first instinct was to get out of the way, but he realized this might just be what he was waiting for, so he allowed it to hit him right in the forehead. As it struck him he was taken on a journey and shown bubbles of all the colors of the rainbow in which were the symbols of Reiki, these were the very same symbols in the Tibetan writings he was studying but was unable to understand. Now, there was total understanding.

After this experience he began back down the mountain and from this moment on was able to heal. This first day this new power proved itself to Usui when he stubbed his toe and was able to heal it, his own starvation, an ailing tooth and the Abbots sickness which was keeping him bedridden. These are known as the first four miracles.

Thus was discovered was the healing knowledge he termed “Reiki.” The name comes from the Japanese words rei, meaning “boundless and universal,” and ki, meaning “vital life energy force that flows through all living beings.”

Wanting to use these abilities to help others, he spent the next seven years in the beggar section of Tokyo healing the poor and sick.

How Does It Work?

Reiki is a “laying on of hands” healing. Reiki today is an energy technique that is passed along from Reiki masters to initiates. According to Olsen, these Reiki masters themselves don't understand how it works. They can only describe it as a linking with the cosmic radiant energy, an opening of chakras, or an attunement with universal life energy. Proponents say, these can be applied to the practitioner himself, to plants, or to animals and can even heal long distance!

Reiki is drawn through the channel, not sent. By laying hands on the person you supposedly draw appropriate amounts of energy to whatever areas of your body need it. The energy centers, also known as charkas (found in Hinduism), are opened to enabling the person to channel higher amounts of universal Life Form Energy. Their claim is that “recipient” does do not take on an any of negative energy or blocks from the practitioner it is claimed Reiki passes through a purified channel in their body and by this process, each has a treatment. Proponents say the technique can be applied to the practitioner himself, to other people, to plants, or to animals.

“Once the chakra is opened the universal energy is chanelled to flow freely and in higher amounts Reiki is never sent but drawn through the channel The energy enters through the crow chakra of the healer it passes through the upper energy centers, the heart and solar plexus then passes throughout he arms and hands to the recipient. So the practitioner and the patient both are treated. They teach that we all have the reiki energy and that anyone can learn to lay their hands on another to help accelerate the healing process by transferring magnetic energy” (Paula Horan Empowerment through Reiki May, 1990 Calendar of Events, Hawaii newspaper)

Reiki treatments consist of a series of three or four sessions lasting about an hour each. The practitioners do not claim to diagnose. The 'words' spoken mentally or verbally during the healing session is of great importance to them. The symbols drawn with the healers palms over the patient should be correct as the light energy is brought through the healer. During a Reiki session, the practitioner supposedly draws energy and focuses it through his hands, thus providing a link between himself and the patient. Some Reiki teachers have described this connection as “lighting up.” The practitioner's hands are held at twelve basic positions, for five minutes each. A practitioner allows his or her own intuition to guide the placing. Over problem areas, the hand is held twice as long. Some Reiki practitioners claim to heal at long distances.

We are told that we all have Reiki energy (Universal Life Form Energy) and anyone can lay the hands on another person and help accelerate their healing process by transferring this energy (many claim that this is how Jesus healed using these various techniques). One needs to go through the attunement (the initiation) process which the student experiences in the various Levels of Reiki classes. With practice, they say they can detect energy responses from the body that often give clues to the site of an organic problem and its seriousness.

Practitioners described their becoming a channel through which this force of the of the universe  is transferred through them. This healing process is applied with “palms into the body of the person I am touching, sometimes lightly, almost imperceptibly, sometimes in famished sucking drafts. I get it even as I'm giving it. It surrounds the two of us, patient and practitioner."

What is this "juice of the universe?" The answer is an important one, given by a renowned Reiki master who explains:

A Reiki attunement is an initiation into a sacred metaphysical order that has been present on earth for thousands of years ... By becoming part of this group, you will also be receiving help from the Reiki guides and other spiritual beings who are also working toward these goals,"

Ray Yungen writes, “While this is not widely advertised, Reiki practitioners depend on this "spirit guide" connection as an integral aspect of Reiki. In fact, it is the very foundation and energy behind Reiki. One Reiki master who has enrolled hundreds of other masters spoke of her interaction with the spirit guides:

For me, the Reiki guides make themselves the most felt while attunements are being passed. They stand behind me and direct the whole process, and I assume they also do this for every Reiki Master, When I pass attunements, I feel their presence strongly and constantly. Sometimes I can see them." (p.95 A Time of Departing)

“Nurses and massage therapists who have been attuned to Reiki may never disclose when Reiki starts flowing from their palms as they handle their patients. Reiki will naturally "kick in" when it is needed and will continue to flow for as long as the recipient is subconsciously open to receiving it." (P.97 A Time of Departing)

Most believe they are helping people with this undiscovered but ancient energy balancing new age technique. They believe they have discovered tools for reawakening, higher levels if of conscious, creating better health.

Again. like other new age practices, this energy is manipulated by techniques learned by the initiate. This is no different than many of the other prana, chi, Ki techniques. It has nothing to do with a Christian worldview and actually opposes it.