All students of Usui Shiki Ryoho, Reiki Level I are introduced to the history of Reiki. It is important to be familiar with Reiki’s history to have an understanding of the integrity of the practice.

Mikao Usui (1865-1926) is the man responsible for discovering a way to channel Reiki.  His life and history of Reiki has two main historical traditions; a western one and an eastern one. I have written a very simple overview, an introduction to the traditional western history of Reiki and the traditional eastern history of Reiki.

The Traditional Western History of Reiki

• Usui was a scholar who taught in Christian schools in Japan.
• He decided to dedicate his life to research and discover how Jesus and the Buddha had been able to heal.
• He ended up in a Zen Buddhist monastery where the abbot advised him to meditate to find the answers he was seeking.
• At the end of a 21 days fast on Mount Kurama, in Tokyo – he came to a deep understanding to all his research into healing, received spiritual empowerment and achieved enlightenment.
• He began to notice his hands had the healing powers he had been searching for.
• He spent many years healing people before eventually passing his teachings a only a few people – one of them Mrs. Hawayo Takata (1900-1980) who returned to her home in Hawaii, bringing Reiki to the West.
• There, Mrs. Takata developed a system of teaching Reiki that could be taught in a few days to fit in with most western working lifestyles.
• Mrs. Takata’s system of Reiki in the West has been defined as Usui Shiki Ryoho –  the Usui System of Natural Healing

The Traditional Eastern History of Reiki

• Usui started studying Buddhism at the age of four and continued to do so into his adult life including Shingon and Zen Buddhism
• Mastered Japanese energy systems such as Qigong and other classical arts.
• A Zen Master advised Usui to undergo “Shyu Gyo”, a strict spiritual discipline involving meditation and fasting for 21 days on Mount Kurama, in Tokyo – until he either died or became enlightened.
• On the last day of his fast he experienced spiritual enlightenment which gave him the ability to access healing energy (Reiki) and pass it on to others.
• After healing many people over many years, he began to teach people how to access Reiki with three levels – Shoden, Okuden and Shinpiden 
• Only 17 people were taught Shinpiden – Mrs. Hawayo Takata was one of them.
• His healing system became known as the Usui Reiki Ryoho or Usui Spiritual Energy Healing Method.
• This traditional healing method in Japan takes many years to complete.

In Conclusion

The essence of both histories are the same.

• Mikao Usui lived in Japan
• Usui researched and discovered a way of channeling spiritual energy which could be used for healing
• He taught the system to a number of people including Mrs. Takata, which is how Reiki came to the West

Stephanie, 💙

Reiki Level I Blogs:

Reiki Level I – History of Reiki – Usui Shiki Ryoho & Usui Reiki Ryoho

Reiki Level I – What Does Reiki – The Word – Mean, What Is Reiki & How Does It Work

Reiki Level I – What This Gives You

Upcoming Reiki Level I blogs will include:

• Basic treatment form and hand positions for treating yourself and others
• How to give treatments for accidents or injuries
• How to use Reiki with plants and animals
• How to use Reiki on personal problems and world situations
• The 21-Day Clearing Cycle
• Usui System of Reiki – a review of the Five Principles, Four Aspects and Nine Principles
• In-depth information on the aura and chakras
• Creativity and Reiki
• Personal growth and spiritual development

My intention for writing this Reiki Level 1 blog series is to be used as a reference for my course, Reiki Level 1 .

For more in-depth information on Reiki Level I, and the history of Reiki, I recommend the books I used as references for this blog:

References:

The Reiki Manual – A Training Guide for Reiki Students, Practitioners and Masters, Penelope Quest & Kathy Roberts

The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui, Frank Arjava Petter

For more information on Usui Shiki Rhoyo, I enjoy the website The Reiki Association. Click here to access that site.