A Brief History of Reiki
The original Reiki techniques come to us from Dr. Mikao Usui when the ability to heal
came to him spontaneously during a spiritual experience on a sacred mountain in Japan
in the late 1800s.
Once Dr. Usui realized he had the power to heal, he needed to learn how to use it. He
traveled to the beggars’ quarters in Kyoto to begin healing the sick there. He healed the
young and the old, the sick and infirm. However, after about a year, the beggars began
to return, once again ill. Out of Dr. Usui’s meditations on this challenge, the precepts
and principles of Reiki were born.
The original five principles of Reiki are:
1) Just for today, do not anger.
2) Just for today, do not worry.
3) Honor your parents, teachers and elders.
4) Earn your living honestly.
5) Show gratitude to every living thing.
The original two precepts are:
1) Never do healing work without the permission of the recipient. The free will of all
human beings is sacred.
2) There must always be an exchange of energy to insure each person’s active
involvement in their own healing process.
History (cont.)
Reiki cannot be learned only through books or traditional educational techniques.
It must be passed on through an 'attunement' or 'initiation' process. Dr. Usui passed it
on to Dr. Hayashi who opened the first Reiki clinic in Tokyo in the early 1900’s.
Reiki was also taught in Japan to students as part of their medical training.
Mrs. Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to the United States just before WWII.
She lived in Hawaii on a sugar cane plantation and became very ill with a tumor,
gallstones and a stomach ulcer and immediate surgery was recommended. At this time
in her life, circumstances brought her back to Japan, where the diagnosis and prognosis
were confirmed.
She chose not to have the recommended surgeries and was put in contact with Dr.
Hayashi who healed her completely through intensive Reiki treatments over a period
of months. Ultimately, Mrs. Takata was initiated as a Master and brought this elegant
healing art form back to Hawaii.
Through a series of events related to WWII, she eventually became the only teaching
Reiki Master in the world and is widely considered to be the Mother of Reiki in this
country.
Today, the Usui system of Reiki continues to be practiced and taught worldwide by
Reiki Masters who are trained in the original traditions and whose personal and
professional lives are committed to this healing art and the lifestyle it engenders.
My Usui Reiki training was with Jan Hauenstein of Try4Life Yoga, as shown in our
lineage tree below.
Dr. Mikao Usui
Dr. Chujiro Hayashi
Mrs. Hawayo Takata
Iris Ishikuro
Arthur Robertson
Jan Hauenstein
Teresa George
In addition, my Karuna® Reiki Training was with William Lee Rand at The
International Center For Reiki Training.
For more information about workshops and training, click here.
The original Reiki techniques come to us from Dr. Mikao Usui when the ability to heal
came to him spontaneously during a spiritual experience on a sacred mountain in Japan
in the late 1800s.
Once Dr. Usui realized he had the power to heal, he needed to learn how to use it. He
traveled to the beggars’ quarters in Kyoto to begin healing the sick there. He healed the
young and the old, the sick and infirm. However, after about a year, the beggars began
to return, once again ill. Out of Dr. Usui’s meditations on this challenge, the precepts
and principles of Reiki were born.
The original five principles of Reiki are:
1) Just for today, do not anger.
2) Just for today, do not worry.
3) Honor your parents, teachers and elders.
4) Earn your living honestly.
5) Show gratitude to every living thing.
The original two precepts are:
1) Never do healing work without the permission of the recipient. The free will of all
human beings is sacred.
2) There must always be an exchange of energy to insure each person’s active
involvement in their own healing process.
History (cont.)
Reiki cannot be learned only through books or traditional educational techniques.
It must be passed on through an 'attunement' or 'initiation' process. Dr. Usui passed it
on to Dr. Hayashi who opened the first Reiki clinic in Tokyo in the early 1900’s.
Reiki was also taught in Japan to students as part of their medical training.
Mrs. Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to the United States just before WWII.
She lived in Hawaii on a sugar cane plantation and became very ill with a tumor,
gallstones and a stomach ulcer and immediate surgery was recommended. At this time
in her life, circumstances brought her back to Japan, where the diagnosis and prognosis
were confirmed.
She chose not to have the recommended surgeries and was put in contact with Dr.
Hayashi who healed her completely through intensive Reiki treatments over a period
of months. Ultimately, Mrs. Takata was initiated as a Master and brought this elegant
healing art form back to Hawaii.
Through a series of events related to WWII, she eventually became the only teaching
Reiki Master in the world and is widely considered to be the Mother of Reiki in this
country.
Today, the Usui system of Reiki continues to be practiced and taught worldwide by
Reiki Masters who are trained in the original traditions and whose personal and
professional lives are committed to this healing art and the lifestyle it engenders.
My Usui Reiki training was with Jan Hauenstein of Try4Life Yoga, as shown in our
lineage tree below.
Dr. Mikao Usui
Dr. Chujiro Hayashi
Mrs. Hawayo Takata
Iris Ishikuro
Arthur Robertson
Jan Hauenstein
Teresa George
In addition, my Karuna® Reiki Training was with William Lee Rand at The
International Center For Reiki Training.
For more information about workshops and training, click here.
THE HISTORY OF REIKI
