This essay will aim to examine the
core principles and values held in high esteem amongst Reiki practitioners and
their community. Reiki is a form of energy medicine first introduced into this
world by Dr Usui, a Japanese healer. Dr Usui discovered a process in which he
could draw down white healing energy from the universe, through himself as a
vessel, and out through his hands to perform body, mental, emotional and
spiritual healing, he passed this ability on. This is known today as the
attunement process, which involves a Reiki master passing on the Reiki symbols
by placing them into a student’s chakras and auric field to begin development as
a vessel for Reiki Energy. Reiki ideals hold a valid place in the holistic care
of clients suffering from spiritual agitation, loss of direction, stress,
anxiety, depression and physical pain. Reiki treatments are also effective at
calming cancer patients by helping them to work through their illness on a
level of positivity, reducing pain and stress in the body, as well as harmful
thoughts from the mind.
Reiki
means universal life energy, rei meaning flowing through everything alive, and
ki is light, which is also known as prana, mana or energy. (Muller 1995, p.9).
Reiki was founded at the end of the 19th century by a Japanese
Christian priest named Dr Mikao Usui. Dr Usui first became interested in
healing through his study upon the enigma of the secret healings of Jesus. He
dedicated his life to obtaining the ability to heal progressing in his studies
to discover that Buddha also had the power to heal at a Japanese monastery. After
discovering healing symbology within Buddhist scripts he decided to travel to a
mountain where he fasted for twenty one days. On the twenty first day healing
symbols hit his third eye, today they are known as Reiki symbols which are
passed from teacher to student through a process call attunement. (Muller 1995,
p.13)
Reiki
healing is homage to a beautiful philosophy and set of principles, which drives
healers to think larger than just the person they are healing directly. Their
everyday way of life is based around kindness, honesty and respect, sending out
positive energy wherever they go.
Just for today – Thou shalt not
anger
Just for today – Thou shalt not
worry.
Be thankful for the many blessings.
Earn thy living with honest labor.
Be kind to thy neighbours. (Muller
1995, p.15)
Although
Reiki is still largely scientifically unknown territory, there have been
studies conducted that clinically prove that the energy does have a calming and
therapeutic effect, even if the mechanism behind Reiki is yet to be
scientifically understood. Baldwin and Wagers and Schartz conducted a study on
rats showing Reiki significantly lowers heart rate in stressed and unstressed
rats, which some of were exposed to loud noises. A sham group was also
included, which had no effect on heart-rate (2008). Reiki is also being
embraced by cancer support services all over the world. Velde and Van discuss
the anecdotal reports, and beginning research that supports the use of Reiki in
providing relief for mental, physical and emotional effects of cancer on
patients.
People
to experience Reiki have felt its energizing effects, as well as the balance it
brings to their mental and emotional issues. The most commonly reported benefit
of Reiki is reduced stress, which has a positive impact on the well-being of
cancer patients (2012). An article which discusses the scientific evidence
recorded for the effectiveness of Reiki treatments by Baldwin, presents
evidence of Reiki increasing activity of vagal nerves in twelve patients
recovering from acute coronary syndrome, a disease involving blockages of the
arteries. This indicates a relaxation affect which changed heart rate
variability. Ultimately, Reiki had a similar effect to the medication taken by
patients who have suffered from this type of heart disease (2011).
The
effects of Reiki can also be seen visually with high frequency photography.
This effect was first shown by two Russian scientists who succeeded in photographing
the microstructural bioenergetics radiation of the human aura. The photo showed
the energetic field of a hand before and after a Reiki treatment, carried out
for only a few seconds, the field became bigger and brighter in the second photo
(Muller 1995, p151). If stress and pain has been proven to increase anxiety,
leading to depression in patients, it can be assumed that Reiki is also
effective for treating depression and anxiety, which has been shown to be true.
In an experiment including 12 men and 18 women, the patients who received Reiki
compared to sham Reiki demonstrated a significant reduction in pain, depression
and anxiety experienced in chronically ill patients suffering with different
medical conditions. Sessions were conducted twice a week for five weeks and the
benefits were still enjoyed three months after completion of Reiki treatments
(Baldwin, 2011). Leo also had similar evidence to present in regards to
depressed patients, showing evidence that Reiki shifted depressed patients to
get out of bed and exercise, which is a major chemistry-shifter (2011).
Reiki
is just beginning to be understood and clinically proven. The centre for Reiki
Research upholds excellent standards for the new evidence that emerges in
support of the therapeutic effect of Reiki healings. There is no doubt that Reiki
is a holistic and gentle way of healing, which encourages the body’s energetic
system to repair itself without toxic side effects. Patients who experience
Reiki understand the calming affect it can have on body, mind, spirit, even if
it is yet to be fully understood by scientists and society. The principles
adopted by Reiki practitioners assures that they first heal themselves, which
in turn creates a peaceful and positive energetic field around them, and
everyone they come in contact with.
References
A Complete Book of Reiki
Healing, Brigitte Muller, Horst Gunther. Life Rhythm, 1995, California .
Baldwin, AL 2011, ‘Reiki, the Scientific Evidence, Reiki News, vol. 10, no.3, pp.28-31,
viewed 25 May 2013, < http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.endeavour.edu.au:
2048/eds/detail?sid=9903c3c1-e147-4e6c-a9fd-e0cea5ac84d7%40sessionmgr14 &vid=1&hid=3&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=awh&AN=7
8268970>
Baldwin, AL, Wagers, C, Schwartz, GE 2008, ‘Reiki improves
heart rate homeostasis in laboratory rats’, Journal
of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, vol. 4, no.17, pp.417-22,
viewed 26 May 2013, <http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.endeavour.edu.au :2048/eds/detail?sid=34f619a9-af0f-4595-b133-dec97b7be6cb%40sessionmgr 111&vid=
1&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=rzh&AN=2009938270>.
Leo, V, 2011, ‘Reiki, Depression and Seasonal Affective
Disorder’, Reiki News, vol. 10, no.4,
pp.54-58, viewed 25 May 2013, < http://ehis.ebscohost. com.ezproxy.endeavour.
edu.au:2048/eds/detail?sid=a310c7c2-1331-4d7e-af8ed584fbf01eb8%40sessionmgr 13&vid=1&hid=3&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzL
WxpdmU%3d#db=awh&AN=78281337>.
Velde, D, Van, J, 2008, ‘Reiki improves heart rate homeostasis
in laboratory rats’, Reiki News, vol.
11, no.1, pp.27-31, viewed 25 May 2013, < http://ehis.ebscohost.
com.ezproxy.endeavour. edu.au:2048/eds/detail?sid=a310c7c2-1331-4d7e-af8ed584fbf01eb8%40sessionmgr
13&vid=1&hid=3&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzL WxpdmU%3d#db=awh&AN=78281337>.
Join my new Facebook page for frequent posts and update on my journey towards becoming a healer. Enjoy updates on healthy food, positive-living,
energy medicine, and books to read.
1 comments:
at: 26 December 2014 at 21:32 said...
you are a witch and should be burned at the stake.
Post a Comment