| Reiki (pronounced ray kee) is a Japanese word | | | | Even amongst traditionalists, the Reiki |
| made up of two characters, rei meaning spirit | | | | course will differ somewhat, as some Masters |
| and ki or life force. The term is usually | | | | do not teach students to pass on the method |
| translated universal life energy or life | | | | to others, only to use it in healing. Others |
| force. | | | | insist to be recognized as a Master, the |
| | | | student must be able to teach the techniques. |
| The closest parallel in Western philosophy to | | | | |
| the practice of Reiki is faith healing or the | | | | The traditional Reiki course consists of |
| laying on of hands in a spiritual sense. The | | | | three levels, Levels I and II can usually be |
| Reiki practitioners believe the the life | | | | mastered in one 6-8 hour session for each |
| force is channeled through the bodies to the | | | | component. Level I for example would include |
| hands where it can be sent into the body of | | | | information about the history of Reiki, a |
| the client or patient. This is done through | | | | ceremonial process called attunement, which |
| two processes, first attunement to receive | | | | is a structured formalized series of |
| the flow of the life force by the Reiki | | | | movements, chants, hand positions and |
| master, then the positioning of the hands and | | | | touching, provided by the Master to each of |
| sometimes other parts of the body such as the | | | | the students. There are four attunements |
| eyes or the breath to channel this flow to | | | | during the Level I course. Also included in |
| the patient. | | | | Level I is practice of the hand positions |
| | | | required for Self-Attunement and later, |
| Those who wish to become Reiki therapists | | | | practice of the same hand positions as they |
| under traditional Usui Reiki must learn from | | | | are used on another person. The Level I Reiki |
| a Reiki master in an unbroken line from the | | | | is completed with the first session. |
| original Grand Master. According to | | | | |
| traditionalists, Reiki cannot be learned; it | | | | Some people elect to stop at Level I, but |
| must be experienced. | | | | others choose to continue to Level II Reiki. |
| | | | The second course is taught in two 3 hours |
| All training courses in the United States | | | | sessions, sometimes separated by over night, |
| originate from the Grand Master, Mrs. Hawayo | | | | but at least 2 hours must elapse between the |
| Takata who claimed to be a student of one of | | | | first and second sessions in order to provide |
| the students trained by Usui. Although some | | | | learning and memorization of the names and |
| of her claims are not able to be confirmed, | | | | descriptions of the Reiki symbols. These |
| such as the statement that no Reiki Grand | | | | symbols are important to the practitioners |
| Masters in Japan survived World War II, she | | | | and must be called and drawn correctly so |
| trained at least 21 masters in the years | | | | that they may be visualized correctly when |
| between 1970 and 1980 in the traditional Usui | | | | applying attunement or therapy to oneself or |
| method. | | | | to others. Two more attunements are given |
| | | | during the Level II course. |