Reiki is a spiritual healing practice that originated in Japan in the early 20th century. Its history is closely tied to the life and teachings of Mikao Usui, a Japanese Buddhist monk, educator, and spiritual seeker.
The story of Reiki’s origins begins with Usui’s quest for a method of healing that didn’t involve traditional medicine or surgery. According to accounts, Usui embarked on a 21-day retreat at Mount Kurama, a sacred mountain near Kyoto, where he engaged in fasting, meditation, and prayer. It was during this retreat, around 1922, that he experienced a profound spiritual awakening and received what he described as a “Reiki attunement” or empowerment.
This attunement is said to have bestowed upon Usui the ability to channel healing energy through his hands. He then began to use this energy to heal himself and others, establishing a system of techniques and principles that formed the basis of Reiki practice.
Usui’s teachings spread throughout Japan, and he founded the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki Healing Society) to teach and promote his healing method. His students, including Chujiro Hayashi and Hawayo Takata, continued to develop and spread Reiki both within Japan and internationally.
Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman, played a significant role in introducing Reiki to the West. She learned Reiki from Chujiro Hayashi in Japan and later brought it to Hawaii and eventually to the mainland United States. Takata trained several Reiki Masters, who further popularized the practice in the West.
Over time, various branches and styles of Reiki have emerged, each with its own techniques and teachings. Despite these variations, the core principles of Reiki remain rooted in Usui’s original teachings of channeling healing energy for the purpose of self-healing and spiritual growth. Today, Reiki is practiced by millions of people worldwide and is often used as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medicine.
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