Reiki
  Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is, in its simplest translation, universal life energy. It has also been referred to in other cultures as light, chi, prana, and spirit. It is the life force that exists in all things.
The practice of Reiki is the art and science of channeling this universal life energy to promote spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. Reiki is not associated with any particular religion and can be used alongside any spiritual system.
As Reiki involves directing the natural flow of universal energy, it can best be likened to recharging a battery. When a battery's energy supply is low, it doesn't function well. By introducing a charge to it, it can once again run on its own. Reiki works much the same way.
If you are suffering from an illness (physical, mental, or spiritual), your energy supply is lessened, Reiki works to assist you in bringing your energy level back up to its natural flow, thereby enhancing your own natural healing powers. Reiki practitioners do not suffer from energy depletion, as they are trained to channel energy from the outside environment, not from their personal supply.
Reiki teachings state that there is a universal 'life force' energy, which can be accessed by practitioners to induce a healing effect. This form of energy is usually equated with the Chinese qi, although some practitioners differentiate it from other forms of qi such as that experienced in Qigong or that used by the Kahuna of Hawaii, stating, for example, that Reiki is a 'non-dualistic' or 'non-polar' energy. It is understood that anyone can gain access to this energy by means of an attunement process (a set of one or more initiations), carried out by a Reiki Master. ('Reiki Master' is the Western term for someone who has completed sufficient levels of training to perform these initiations and to teach Reiki. The title does not imply that a state of spiritual enlightenment has been reached.) It is generally understood that attunement is the only way to gain access to Reiki. The effect of the attunement is considered to be permanent.
Having been attuned, it is said that the energy will flow through the practitioner's hands, whenever the hands are placed on, or held near (within a few centimetres of), a potential recipient, who can be clothed. Some teachings stress the importance of the practitioner's intention or presence in this process, whilst others emphasize that the energy is drawn by injury, disease, or an imbalance of energy, in the recipient. In either case, the energy is understood to flow to the areas most in need and activate or enhance the natural healing processes in those places. Because of this, Reiki is described as an 'intelligent' form of energy, with diagnosis being unnecessary. Furthermore, it is said that Reiki can be used as a preventative medicine, as it will encourage healing before any noticeable symptoms have emerged. Another consequence of the simplicity of Reiki is that it can be taught to children.
Despite the fact that no diagnosis is needed, some teachings variously encourage the practitioner to use intuition, or a 'scanning' procedure, to determine which parts of the recipient's body are in need of Reiki. Some teachers state that if, on some level (perhaps unconsciously), the intended recipient does not wish to be healed, the energy will not flow. However, others claim that Reiki will always have a beneficial effect, regardless of the conscious and unconscious beliefs of the recipient.
Reiki is described as a holistic therapy which brings about healing on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. It is said that healing may occur in any or all of these domains in a single treatment, without any conscious direction needed by either the practitioner or the recipient. Furthermore, because the energy is understood to be triggering or enhancing natural healing processes, many teachers say that it is always safe to use Reiki, regardless of the condition of the recipient, and that it has no harmful side-effects. For the same reason, it is usually taught that Reiki can be used in combination with any other form of treatment, from either conventional or alternative medicine. However, some authors urge caution in cases where an on-going allopathic treatment is being used to compensate for a deficient bodily process, for example the use of insulin to treat diabetes: They suggest that greater monitoring is required when Reiki is introduced, as the natural processes are likely to improve in function and the dosage of the allopathic intervention might no longer be ideal.
The energy involved in a Reiki treatment is said to be 'from the Universe,' rather than the personal energy of the practitioner, and is therefore inexhaustible. (Some teachings say that the energy enters the practitioner through the crown chakra at the top of the head, before being emitted from the hands.) As a consequence, Reiki practitioners are taught that they can treat themselves with Reiki. Indeed, many teachers emphasize this self-treatment capability as being the primary benefit of Reiki. When treating others, it is reported that the practitioner is not depleted by giving the treatment, and even receives some benefit as a side-effect. Furthermore, it is stated that practitioners can use Reiki regardless of their own state of health.
It is also taught that Reiki can be used on other living organisms, including animals and plants.This is possible because the Reiki is understood to be enhancing the natural healing processes of the receiving organism, without any need of a conscious understanding or belief by that organism.
Further Reading
This page uses material from the Wikipedia article "Reiki"
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