Day 19 of 365 - The Healing Modality of Reiki

For a long time I had heard the word 'reiki' mentioned in conversations, but did not really know what it meant, except that it was some kind of energy work.  I did have a couple of reiki sessions with a friend who was doing training in it.  They were pleasant experiences but did not entice me to learn further at the time.  But, as the saying goes, the teacher will appear when the student is ready.

As my circle of friends expanded to include more people interested in different forms of body work and energy healing my curiosity about Reiki expanded too.  One of my NIA teachers (NIA is described in a previous post) is also a Reiki practitioner and teacher.  So, I dipped my toe in and took an introductory class about Usui Reiki.

There are a number of styles of Reiki healing which were developed and practiced in Japan in the early 1900's.  The Usui system is the one my teacher trained in.  Reiki means spiritually guided life energy.  The Master teacher provides the guidance for their students to receive this spiritual experience and how to use their hands to transmit or channel the healing life energy to others.
I was intrigued enough by my introductory class to take the training in the fall of 2010 for what is called First and Second Degree Usui System Reiki.

After that I had the necessary basic skills to give healing treatments in person or to send healing energy to those at a distance.  It was not my intention to become a Reiki practitioner as a vocational option.  But, I appreciated having it as another personal tool for my own purposes, and also to be able to assist friends or family members who wanted to receive it as a support.

Reiki is something that continues to evolve and one of the main North American teachers of Usui Reiki, William Lee Rand, has developed other forms of Reiki in recent years.  In the fall of 2016 I decided to take advanced Reiki training which is called Usui/Holy Fire II Reiki Master.  All my trainings have been with the same teacher here in my city.  I was curious to take this level after my teacher spoke highly of the benefits she experienced both personally and as a practitioner.

It was at this last level that I learned about charging crystals with Reiki (mentioned in yesterday's post about crystals), and using a crystal grid as a means of sending continuous healing energy to those who have requested support.  Although at present I do not use a grid structure, I do have an altar where I keep charged crystals for specific intentions of others as well as general intentions of my own.  This is one of the primary ways that I transmit Reiki.

The other daily use of Reiki is to personally set intentions for my day, to balance my energy centers when I feel off kilter, and to prepare me for sleep at night.

I was raised as a Catholic and as such, had a lot of exposure to rituals through Mass and the Sacraments.  Those experiences, for the most part, provided solace and comfort as well as a personal experience of grace and a connection to God.  However, as my horizons broadened over time, I realized that many other wisdom traditions showed us ways that we can become direct channels of this energy, not just recipients.

That is the context into which I place my Reiki training and experience.  It is something that will continue to evolve over time as I practice it for myself and for others.  I don't yet know if I will expand my Reiki into a working practice in future.  But, for now, I am grateful to have it as yet another tool for my health and vitality and for that of others.

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