A Brief History of Usui Reiki

Much of the true history of Usui Reiki is still unknown in the West.  It was passed down without written documentation in an effort of preserve the sacredness of the practice. 

There are many versions of the history of Reiki available online and in books.  First, I’m going to tell you a little bit about the verified history of Usui Reiki as I have learned it.  Then I’ll give you a brief summary of the history of Reiki as related by Master Takata. 

I would love for you to read the detailed account of the history of Reiki by William Lee Rand.  It can be found at  https://www.reiki.org/faq/historyofreiki.html.  He gives the best researched history of Reiki I have been able to find so far (more research is being done all the time).  In contrast to many other accounts, examples of Reiki practices that predated Usui are given mention. 

A Summary of Usui Reiki According to William Lee Rand

  Mikao Usui was the founder of the Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki system.  Usui was a Buddhist scholar born in 1865 that seemed to have dedicated his life to helping others.  He was a spiritual man and in 1922, when facing some personal and financial difficulties, he decided to go on a 21-day retreat on Mt. Kurama seeking spiritual awakening. 

While meditating on the retreat he had a miraculous spiritual experience that gave him his ability to heal others and to pass this gift on to others through attunement and led him to create his style of Reiki. 

He used this knowledge to establish the Usui Reiki Healing Society. Mikao Usui believed an important part of living a good and healthy life was following certain ethical principles.  Inspired by Emperor Meiji, Usui established the five principles, which I will discuss more later. 

Usui is believed to have had thousands of students before his death in 1926, but only 16 of these reached the Master level. 

After Usui’s death, one of his Master students, Chujiro Hayashi, became Usui’s successor and began his own Reiki society.  He simplified the Reiki healing process and created many detailed hand positions for treating various ailments.  He also simplified the attunement process. 

In 1940 Master Hayashi committed suicide to keep from being forced to give intelligence and fight in WWII.  Before his death he asked Madam Takata, who he had trained and attuned, to be his successor.

Hawayo Takata, a Japanese Hawaiian born in 1900, had become very ill and had gone to Japan for healing.  She was preparing to receive surgery when she believed she heard a voice telling her not to have the surgery and to find another way. 

She asked the doctor about an alternative healthcare option and he sent her to Hayashi’s clinic where she was treated and became well.  She convinced him to teach her Reiki, though it was never meant to leave Japan. 

Hawayo Takata was eventually attuned to the Master Level.  She brought Reiki to the West and trained many people, attuning 22 Westerners to the Master Level.  From those 22 Masters, Reiki spread throughout the Western world.

Hawayo Takata’s Reiki History Story

The story that has been passed down as Hawayo Takata’s teaching by the Masters who came after her has been found to be mostly fabrication. 

As the story was told, it succeeded in gaining acceptance in the Western world and facilitating the growth of the healing system here. Had a more accurate account of the origin of Reiki been spread, it may never have expanded throughout the world the way it has. 

 The story that was passed down from Takata, and that was widely accepted until fairly recently, was that Usui was a Christian professor challenged by a student to find a way to heal as Jesus did. 

In his efforts for find a healing system comparable to that of Jesus, Usui went on the 21-day fast on Mt. Kurama.  On the 21st day he received a spiritual awakening and had visions of many symbols.  Afterward, he stubbed his toe on his way down the mountain.  Upon grabbing his toe with his hand, he discovered his healing abilities. 

Usui went to the poor and offered them healing, but they kept coming back needing more healing because they didn’t change the way of life that was making them sick.  He then decided that for Reiki to be lastingly effective there must be some sort of exchange. 

At that point he began charging money for healing sessions and attunements and opened his clinic. 

This is only a very brief summary of Madam Takata’s story as I have learned it.  More detailed versions can easily be found with an online search engine and in numerous books about Reiki. 

Continued Reiki History Research

There are many Reiki scholars who are endeavoring to collect a more complete and accurate history of Reiki. As more information is uncovered, this article will likely become outdated. I encourage you to look for up-to-date resources from reliable sources for the most accurate information.

It’s interesting to learn about the history of this healing modality that has done so much to change my life.  I hope you will continue to educate yourself as more information is made available to us. 

Reiki Sent – How Fast Can a Distance Treatment be Sent?

Sending Distance Reiki

On any given day, you will find multiple requests for free Reiki on the internet.  There is so much suffering in the world and so many people needing help.  After these requests there are streams of replies that all amount to, “Reiki Sent”.  Wonderful.  It is wonderful that so many people are willing to share their practice to help others.  But, are they really sending Reiki?

As a Second-Degree Reiki student, I was taught several methods for sending distance Reiki.  I was also taught that with practice the ability would come almost instantaneously.  I assume that this instantaneous method is what gets sent the most often in these situations.  I would like to share with you my personal opinion of this method of practicing Reiki. 

I do believe there is worth in these treatments.  You can quickly produce the symbols in your mind, reciting their names and connecting with the recipient.  It doesn’t take long to set the intention to send the energy.  However, I think of this method of sending Reiki as being closer to sending prayers than healing.  Without taking the time to focus and get into that zone where we become Reiki and let the energy flow freely through us to our recipient, I feel that what we are really doing is sending a request for Reiki to send itself to the recipient.  Much in the way that some religions will ask God to send healing. 

I do a variation of the same thing myself with my Reiki Box.  This is why I choose to refer to my free Reiki Box offering as Reiki Box Blessings, rather than Reiki Box Healing.  I put multiple names and situations within my box and once a day I draw the symbols over it and spend about 10 minutes channeling Reiki to the contents.  I ask Spirit and my guides to allow Reiki to continue to flow to the people and situations that I have been working with.  I offer this service for free.  It allows me to help several people at once and takes little time or effort.  I work a little and I expect Spirit to bless my recipients by doing the rest.  You can read about how I created my box in my article 5 Steps To Create, Use, And Maintain A Reiki Box.

In contrast, when I send a distance healing session, I do everything I would if my client was in the room with me.  I clear the energy in my space and set the stage, so to speak, with soft music and essential oils, and any crystals I plan to use.  I focus in on the recipient using their name and location, and image if I have it, while I draw and recite the proper symbols.  When the connection feels strong and my higher self has met with theirs, I go through an entire session.  I use a Reiki Surrogate doll for this, going through the scanning process, placing crystals, and doing the hand placements.  I do this because it is easier for me to let my body go through the physical motions, but the real work is being done on a non-physical level.  For me, this is true distance Reiki.  I am opening myself to the energy and becoming one with it and taking the time to focus and channel it through myself to my client.  At the end of the session, I do ask that Reiki continue to flow to my client as long as needed, but I have not left it all up to Spirit and Reiki, I have done my part.  This method takes time and skill and I do charge for it accordingly. 

I believe we are always doing good when we intend to send Reiki to others and that it will always have some benefit for them.  I trust Spirit to help open the recipients of this instant Reiki up to the energy and to help them.  I believe that the more people that send the intentions, the stronger the effect will be.  However, I think that as Reiki Practitioners, when we take the time to connect and channel the energy in a meditative and conscious way, we are personally doing more to help our clients and that they will receive a greater benefit from the treatment. 

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