Reiki

What Is Reiki?

Reiki is a Japanese word meaning Universal Life Energy. Reiki is an ancient Oriental healing art, which channels universal life energy through the hands of a practitioner into the body of a receiver. It is experienced as a gentle, non-invasive form of touch bodywork. It is extremely effective for such things as stress reduction, emotional release work or physical recovery from injuries and illness. Reiki brings the self back into harmony and balance, leaving the recipient feeling peaceful, calm and deeply relaxed.

The Reiki Principles

• Just for today I will give thanks for my many blessings
• Just for today I will not worry
• Just for today I will not be angry
• Just for today I will do my work honestly
• Just for today I will be kind to my neighbor and every living thing

How Does Reiki Work?

The practitioner puts his/her hands on the body drawing the Reiki energy down through her/his crown, third eye, throat, heart, and out the hands. The Reiki activates the body's natural ability to heal itself. It works wherever the receiver needs it most, releasing blocked energies, cleansing the body of toxins, and creating a state of balance. The energy goes to the deepest levels of a person's being where illnesses have their origin. Reiki treats holistically. It guides itself with its own wisdom rather than requiring the direction of the practitioner. It reinforces the receiver's ability to take responsibility for her own life and helps her to make necessary changes in attitude and lifestyle to promote a happy healthy life. It is a safe way to treat chronic and acute conditions, stress related disorders, conditions related to sinus, menopause, migraine, cystitis, asthma, chronic fatigue, arthritis, sciatica, insomnia and depression, to name a few.

Do All Healers Use Reiki?

There are many kinds of healing energy. All healers use healing energy, but not all use Reiki. Reiki is life energy that is guided by higher power. Reiki practitioners receive attunements (initiation) from a Reiki Master. The attunement opens the body's energy channels connecting the practitioner to the universal limitless source of Ki. The practitioner becomes a channel for transmitting energy to others. Healers report a remarkable increase in the strength of their healing when they receive a Reiki attunement.

What Is An Attunement?

The Reiki Master transfers Reiki to the student through a process of initiation or attunement. During the attunement high frequency spiritual energies flow through the Reiki Master into the student. The attunement opens the crown chakra and connects the student to the source of Reiki energy. It then opens the channels and pathways within the student's energy system so that she/he can channel Reiki. The Reiki Master does not direct the process during the attunement, but he/she simply acts as a channel for the energy flowing from a Higher Power. As soon as the student receives the attunement, she/he has the ability to give Reiki treatments. Once it is received Reiki will stay with the practitioner forever.

There are 4 levels of Reiki attunements. The first opens practitioners to the energy and allows them to practice treatments on themselves and others. The second level involves the learning of emotional, mental, karmic, power and long distance Reiki symbols. It increases the amount of healing energy. The third level is an advanced Reiki degree designed to assist practitioners in attaining Reiki mastership. Very few people have achieved the fourth level, which is called the level of Karuna (compassion).

Is Reiki A Religion?

Although spiritual in nature, Reiki is not a religion. It has no dogma and is not dependent on belief.

A Brief History Of Reiki

Reiki is an ancient Oriental healing practice whose remote origin has been traced back to Tibetan Buddhism. According to some sources, Tibetan monks kept the Reiki symbols secret.

In the later 1800s, a Japanese mystic and scholar, Dr. Mikao Usui began a search to discover how enlightened beings (such as Jesus Christ and Buddha) could heal physical illnesses. While learning Sanskrit, he discovered a "formula" for contacting a Higher Power that could bestow healing. However, he did not know how to use the "formula." So, he retired to the holy Mount Kriyama to meditate and fast for 21 days in order to receive the insight needed to activate the "formula." He marked the passing of time with 21 stones. He tossed away one stone every day. Nothing happened until the 21st day, when, after he threw away the last stone, he saw a point of light coming toward him. He realized that the light had consciousness and that it would empower the formula within him. The light struck him on the forehead and knocked him unconscious into an out-of-body experience. Four symbols, enclosed in bubbles of light appeared to him and remained in his presence until he was attuned to each symbol and to the knowledge of its use.

After his attunement, Dr. Usui practiced and taught Reiki in Japan, especially in the poorest sections of Tokyo. After Dr. Usui's death around 1930, his disciple, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, took over the role of Reiki Master. Dr. Hayashi developed the standard hand positions and the three levels of initiation. He also established a successful Reiki clinic in Tokyo. In 1938, just before his passing, he initiated Hawayo Takata, a Hawaiian/American born woman of Japanese descent. Mrs. Takata brought Reiki to mainland America. She initiated 22 Reiki Masters and chose her own grand-daughter, Phyllis Furumoto, to follow her as the lineage bearer of the Usui System.

In 1983, the Reiki Alliance was formed as a support group for Reiki Masters. The Alliance encourages its members to charge rather steep fees. Independent Reiki Masters have chosen to charge lesser fees and to add knowledge and techniques learnt from other healing systems and from their own inner guidance to their Reiki practice.

About Us

Jack Ceder and Maria Marotti are Independent Reiki Masters/Teachers. They have been involved with Reiki since 1990 when they received their first degree attunement. In 1991, they received their second degree attunement. Maria received her Master/Teacher degree attunement in 2001 and Jack received his Master/Teacher attunement in 2002. They practice Reiki treatment privately as well as in Reiki clinics for cancer patients and brain injury victims. They also offer Reiki classes and attunements to small groups.