| Authentic Reiki is a healing art that involves the use of | | | | was a "grandmaster" or was taught by a |
| the hands to transfer healing life force energy from | | | | "grandmaster" that could trace their "lineage" back to |
| the practitioner to the patient. A Reiki healing institute | | | | Usui Maiko. |
| can be somewhat difficult to find, depending on where | | | | Today, many of us believe that anyone can learn to |
| a person lives or if they are not sure what to look for. | | | | use Reiki, whether they learn at a seminar or from a |
| Authentic Reiki is not a form of massage, although in | | | | book, from a "grandmaster" or the current president. |
| some areas of the United States, a practitioner is | | | | We all have the power to use authentic Reiki. We |
| required to be a licensed massage therapist. So, if you | | | | simply need to accept that the power is real. |
| were looking for a practitioner in the Yellow Pages, | | | | The National Center for Complementary and |
| you might need to look under "massage". | | | | Alternative Medicine classifies Reiki as a type of |
| The use of crystals, candles and other accessories | | | | "energy medicine". Our current technology cannot |
| was not part of the original practice, but their use does | | | | detect the existence of the energy that infuses and |
| not make the practice ineffective. The use of symbols | | | | surrounds us, but it was first described thousands of |
| was part of the original practice, although new symbols | | | | years ago. The existence of the energy is the basis |
| have been added by some therapists. Any kind of | | | | for not only authentic Reiki, but for traditional Chinese |
| symbol, whether it is a drawing or a crystal, simply | | | | medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and homeopathic |
| serves to help the practitioner focus their intent to use | | | | medicine, which all developed in different parts of the |
| Reiki. | | | | world at different times. |
| For many years, learning authentic Reiki was an | | | | The fact that all of these therapies are still respected |
| expensive and time consuming undertaking. Hawayo | | | | and used today supports their effectiveness. If a |
| Takata, who opened the first Reiki healing institute in | | | | procedure has been ineffective for hundreds or |
| the United States, charged $10,000 to train Reiki | | | | thousands of years, there is no reason that it would still |
| masters. At the time of her death, she had trained 22 | | | | be used. |
| Reiki masters. | | | | Today, there is a Reiki healing institute in the United |
| Takata maintained that she was a "Grandmaster", | | | | States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, as |
| although that title was never used in Japan. She also | | | | well as Japan. The spread of this therapy, even though |
| maintained that no one in Japan practiced Reiki after | | | | training was expensive and the techniques were kept |
| World War II. We now know that the Reiki healing | | | | secret, further supports the thought that it must be |
| institute or society formed by Usui Maiko (Usui Reiki | | | | effective. |
| Ryoho Gakkai) in the 1920s still exists in Japan. | | | | Several learned masters have written books designed |
| Rather than appointing a "grandmaster", the society | | | | to teach people to use authentic Reiki in their own lives |
| appoints a president. Takata also said that authentic | | | | and the lives of others. It is knowledge that everyone |
| Reiki could only be taught and be effective if a person | | | | should have. |