Reiki is the name of a healing system rediscovered by Dr. Mikao Usui in Japan in the late 19th century. The word Reiki describes "Rei," which means "universal," and "Ki," which means "dynamic life force that animates all living things." This is the same life force called Chi, Prana, and Holy Spirit in other cultures. Reiki is not a religion or affiliated with any particular religion.
In Reiki healing, this universal energy is transferred from the practitioner to the person receiving the energy by placing hands on, or over, the recipient's body in various positions. The person receiving the energy wears loose clothing and lays comfortably on a massage table and listens to peaceful, soothing music during the process. A session takes about an hour.
Since the energy is from a Greater Power than the individual, it is not controlled by the action or will of the practitioner. Rather, the Reiki practitioner acts as an open channel to let the energy flow into the recipient. The universal energy knows where to go and what to do that is the most beneficial to healing the person at the time. Since balancing occurs on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels, the specific results of a session cannot be predicted in advance. Sometimes results are sudden and dramatic, and sometimes more subtle, unfolding over a period of time. Reiki, love flowing, is always positive and cannot cause harm. The receiver can expect to feel very good at the end of the session and possibly amazed.
To become a practitioner of Reiki levels I, II, or a Reiki Master, level III, requires receiving training and attunements from a Reiki Master teacher who has herself/himself received training and attunements from a Reiki Master. This is how the tradition has been passed down. Mary is a Reiki Master.
