Reiki is an ancient form of Tibetan healing rediscovered in the late 1800s by Dr. Mikao Usui. As the Dean of a Christian University in Japan, Dr Usui, prompted by questions  from his students about the healings of Christ which he could not answer, soon left his position and began a life-long quest to find these truths.  After studying in America, Japan and China, he finally found the answers in Tibet and soon after became empowered to perform the actual healings himself. Dr Usui spent the rest of his life practising and teaching this method of natural healing, which involved attunement to the energy and the laying on of hands

Reiki promotes healing on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. The word Reiki can be translated from the Japanese to mean ‘Spiritual Energy’, or in the West it is more commonly called Universal Life Force Energy — the energy of everything. It is the Ki of Aikido and the Chi of Chinese Tai Chi and Acupuncture. We are all born with this Universal Life Force Energy — it is the energy of life itself.

Reiki is not a religion, dogma or belief system. You do not have to believe in it for it to work. Many people find that Reiki energies assist their personal inner clearing and transformational process. Through Reiki a new openness to your own light being, your own higher self will occur. Natural talent and creativity becomes enhanced. Growth and change becomes an effortless process as subconscious blocks begin to melt away.

What does Reiki treat?

When applied for the purpose of healing, addresses mind, body and spirit. It accelerates the body’s ability to heal physical ailments and opens the mind and spirit to the causes of disease and pain, empowering the recipient to take responsibility for their own health and life.

Reiki healing is a very efficient relaxation and stress-reduction technique that does not require any special equipment or condition. Reiki treats physical disease or pain, emotional blocks or trauma, unhelpful mental patterns or issues and spiritual isolation.

How does Reiki work?

Reiki is an energy that comes from the highest spiritual source. It has its own intelligence and knows exactly where to go and what to do. It does not have to be directed by the practitioner. Reiki healing is multi-dimensional and will heal the cause of a problem on whatever level it may exist — body, mind or spirit.

Through the use of the hands and certain energising symbols, Reiki is drawn not sent.  The needs of the person receiving it determine the amount of actual life force drawn to each energy centre in the body.  A client’s body will only take as much energy as it needs.

The Reiki technique does not impose energy on you but balances the energy within you according to your needs. It is a powerful yet gentle tool for transformation that connects you to life force energy of a higher frequency than you would normally experience in daily life.

Reiki will pass through any material substance as it is derived from the infinite and is not limited by space or time. For this reason Reiki can be ’sent’ by the use of a powerful absent healing technique to people in remote locations or not physically present.

Can Reiki be used on animals?

Animals respond very well to Reiki and can facilitate their own healing with the aid of Reiki. I volunteered at the RSPCA for one year giving Reiki to all different types of animals all with various traumas or illnesses.  I found this to be a truly beautiful thing to do — to connect with the animals. Reiki can also create a wonderful sense of peace for an animal that is sick or dying.

Are there any side effects from Reiki?

Reiki cannot hurt anyone or affect them in a negative way.  Most times after a Reiki treatment you will leave with a deep sense of relaxation. However, Reiki also detoxifies your body so sometimes you may experience a surge in energy after a treatment or the need for sleep, cold-like symptoms, or even emotional fragility or anger for a day or so. Even if there is a healing crisis it is all for the higher good.  Drink plenty of water after your treatment and for the following few days and honor what your body needs.

Some Important notes about Reiki

Reiki is not meant as a substitute for medical or psychological diagnosis or treatment. Reiki practitioners do not diagnose conditions, perform medical treatments, prescribe or interfere with the treatment of a licensed medical professional. I believe that Reiki can work in harmony with traditional medicines and practices to complement the healing process.

My Reiki Story

One day in 1994 I went to a small healing fair in Middlesex, UK, near where I lived. I found myself walking past a particular stand umpteen times. At the stand where Jan Smith and some other healers were offering Reiki. Eventually I sat down, curious to find out what they were doing. I then experienced 15 minutes of Reiki healing and was captivated by the feeling. I learned that I could give this energy to myself at anytime and this opportunity was coming to me at a time in my life when I was very much in the ‘giving’ to others and not to myself.

I look back with fond memories to that day and I believe that Reiki presented itself to me through Jan — who later became my Reiki Master — and my spirit was instantly drawn to it.

Since that moment I have never looked back. Reiki has guided me to my truth and to many memorable and inspirational people and places that have helped me on my life’s journey. In 1994 I received Reiki Level 1 and in 1996 I received Reiki Level 2. I became a Reiki Master in 2007. I now practice hands-on Reiki healing in Brisbane and help clients around the world through distance Reiki healing. I also run Reiki courses for those interested in facilitating their own and others’ healing.

Reiki is there for me whenever I want or need to relax, energise, heal, release or gain clarity. Reiki has given me the tools to empower myself and to take responsiblity for my life.