What is Reiki? Reiki is a Japanese form of Divine healing energy. In different cultures it may be called life force or Chi. Reiki is made up of 2 ancient Japanese kanji characters. The first one means “soul, Universal God, Source, Spirit. Ki, the second kanji symbol means life force energy.

Reiki was rediscovered by Dr. Mikao Usui who was said to have studies Buddhist sutras, martial arts,and other mystical arts. His students were questioning how Jesus healed people. He did not know the answer. Dr. Usui traveled to Tibet and India, and talked with Masters to find the answers. But no one knew the answers.

Dr. Usui fasted for 21 day and saw Reiki energy above his head. He rediscovered Reiki and the symbols from this process and passed on the mysterious knowledge and symbols to several of his students. Some of the Reiki symbols used in healing are from Japanese Buddhism, Shinto and ancient Indian Sanskrit words.

In researching the history of Reiki, there is conflicting information. In Diane Stein's Essential Reiki, she talks about the history of Reiki going back to Ancient Tibet, India, and used by Buddha, Jesus and the first known civilization on Earth known as Mu. Maybe this energy was lost or forgotten, but Master Usui rediscovered it and brought it back to the Earth.

In Stein's Book it is said that master Usui passed the knowledge onto Chujiro Hayashi to to Hawayo Takata then to the original 22 Masters. In my Reiki Lineage, it is said that Master Usui passed the attunements to Chujiro Hayashi who passed attunements to Fran Brown, Hawayo Takata and the Original 22. In my research, this is part of the history that is unclear to me. These traditions were passed down orally, and have since gotten jumbled, it seems. Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to the Western World.

Reiki is not a religion, it is a spiritual healing art, that is from the Divine Source. It is used to help the receiver, and the Reiki practitioner heal from the Reiki energy on spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental levels. Reiki can be done at a distance or directly with hands on the receiver. These methods are a catalyst to help one become healed, self-realized, enlightened, and have an open loving heart.

A Reiki practitioner has received attunements from one or more Reiki Masters. These initiations open up and connect the Reiki practitioner to the spiritual healing energy. A Reiki atttunement will clear channels, and restore balance and harmony to the body. Anyone can learn Reiki who wishes to do so. The first step is to receive an attunement from a Reiki Master. Reiki can help heal people, animals, and the earth. It doesn't go against any religion or spiritual practice.

There are three levels of Reiki. Reiki I is hands on healing. Reiki II one learns distance healing. In Reiki III one learns to teach. The teacher is only a piece of the puzzle in learning Reiki. After receiving the attunement, it is up to the student to practice Reiki. One learns Reiki by doing Reiki.

Author's Bio: 

Dina Z Colada is the owner of Amazing You Now. She teaches confidence and will help you release past traumas through Reiki, Oneness Blessings, EFT, Meditations and Positive Affirmations. Dina is a Life and Dating Coach, Meditation Guide on Selfgrowth.com, Speaker, Writer, Life Designer, and Reiki Master, who teaches and speaks in group settings. She will help you discover and uncover an Amazing You Now! “In the Spirit of Success” a book filled with inspiring stories, featuring Dina Z Colada, Deepak Chopra, Esther and Jerry Hick, Dr Wayne Dyer, Sandy Forster, Neale Donald Walsch, Mark Victor Hansen and others is due for release in November 2011. Feel free to sign up for her free newsletter at www.amazingyounow.com. Please contact her for questions, comments or if you would like any of the services she offers, you can reach her at dinazcolada@gmail.com or you can call her personal number 304-871-4653. She offers Reiki distance healing for only $60.