The original Japanese name of the method is Usui Reiki Ryoho. Usui is the name of the founder, and the words Ryoho and Reiki are Japanese and consist of two Japanese ideograms (Kanji) respectively:



Rei and Ki & Ryo and Ho 

Rei    靈     Rei means spirit

Ki      氣      means air, steam and it is interpreted as energy

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Reiki means spiritual energy

 

Ryo   療     means healing, therapy, treatment

Ho     法     means method, system, technique



Ryoho means method, system or healing art.

 

Thus, the original name Usui Reiki Ryoho is interpreted as “Method of Healing with the Spiritual Energy of Usui”.

 

The Founder of the method of Reiki, Mikao Usui was born in Japan in 1865 and died in 1926. Around 1921, Mikao Usui founded the Usui Reiki Ryocho, an original method of application of the universal, spiritual and healing of Reiki, which is mainly transferred through the touch of hands. Mikao Usui passed on and taught the method to more than two thousand people and trained many teachers and healers.

 

Reiki was passed on and became widely known in the West by Mrs. Takata; she was born in Hawaii in 1900 and lived in USA, until her death in 1980. The teacher of Mrs Takata and student of Dr. Usui was Tzouziro Hayashi, who was born and lived in Japan (1879-1940).

 

 

Reiki is a Japanese technique for the reduction of stress and the achievement of relaxation and wellness. It is channeled through the hands and it is based on the idea that an unseen force, a “vital energy”, flows inside us and is the main reason that keeps us alive. If the level of this vital energy is low, then we may expect the emergence of diseases or feel stress and exhaustion, whereas when it is high, we feel happier, stronger and healthier.

 

The five principles or precepts of Reiki, which offer a simple guideline for daily conduct with others and our self, are the following:

 

 

• Just for today, I will not get mad / will have no anger

• Just for today, I will not worry

• Just for today, I will be grateful

• Just for today, I will work intensively with myself

• Just for today, I will respect and honour others

 

There are three degrees in Reiki:

• In the first degree, the person learns to do “treatments”, not only to others but himself as well, simply through touching and “channeling” energy.

• In the second degree, the person learns to do distance healing (with the help of certain techniques) and becomes an accomplished healer.

• In the third degree, Reiki helps the person to develop in a more spiritual level and to teach Reiki to others.