Reiki
Reiki, pronounced ‘ray-key’, is Japanese for ‘universal life energy’, a term used to describe a natural system to help bring about an improved sense of wellbeing and a positive feeling of spiritual renewal. Reiki is a form of ‘hands on healing’ which is believed to have spread to Japan through India, Tibet and China thousands of years ago. The modern Reiki tradition was founded by Usui Mikao in the early 20th century and evolved as a result of his research, experience and dedication.
The essence of Usui Sensei’s teachings is self-practice. Reiki assists Practitioners in discovering their true nature and realising that inherently each person is the keeper of all the knowledge that he or she requires and that healing exists within each person, not outside. Although rooted in Shinto and Buddhist traditions Reiki is not a religion or faith system but a system for self –development, it is a tradition that is open to any belief system and benefits may include deep relaxation and the promotion of a calm peaceful sense of wellbeing and as an added benefit the ability to help others.
During his lifetime Usui Sensei taught Reiki to around 2000 people but initiated only about 20 teachers. Following his death Reiki continued in Japan until the second world war when it almost disappeared, being practiced only by a few and mostly in secret. In the West however Reiki began to flourish. From its beginnings in Hawaii it spread through out the world through followers of Hawayo Takata, however it was adapted to suit the American way of life and became very westernised. In the 1990’s Reiki was reintroduced to and rediscovered in Japan. There are now many variations of Reiki on offer, all equally valid but not necessarily traditional.
Usui Sensei
The three main Reiki Traditions are:
Usui Shiki Ryoho
This is the traditional Western lineage brought to the West in 1936 by Mrs Hawayo Takata. Teachers of this system can trace their lineage back to Usui Sensei. It is the most popular and widely accepted tradition outside Japan.
Jikiden Reiki
Jikiden means ‘direct transmission’. Jikiden Reiki is a Japanese tradition following the teachings of Yamaguchi Chiyoko and her Son Yamaguchi Tadao. Jikiden can trace its Lineage back to Usui Sensei through one of his students Hayashi Chujiro
Usui Reiki Ryoko
After the death of Mikao Usui his students set up the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, a society that is still running today. but stayed in secrecy in Japan until the 1980s. It’s teachings are now becoming available in the West.
Western and Japanese traditions are different in their application, Western styles place the emphasis on hands on treatment whereas the Japanese systems focus on meditation and self development.
We believe that all are equally valid and important and teach a fusion of both systems in our workshops.
For more details of future workshops please follow the links below: