
What is Reiki?
Reiki, pronounced “ray-kee”, is a form of light-touch energy healing which was founded by Mikao Usui sensei in Japan back in 1922, during his 21-day journey to find peace of mind on Mount Kurama just outside of Kyoto, Japen.
The original full name for Reiki in Japanese (still taught in Jikiden Reiki training curriculum) was “Shin Shin Kaizen Usui Reiki Ryoho”, which translates to “Usui Reiki Therapy for Improving Body and Mind”.
What is Jikiden Reiki?
“Jikiden” in Japanese means “directly handed down”. Therefore, Jikiden Reiki is the eastern version of Reiki as it was originally founded and taught Japan by a man named Mikao Usui Sensei (sensei = “teacher” in Japanese).
History of Reiki
Usui Sensei (the founder of Reiki) sadly passed away in 1926, only 3 months after teaching and initiating his first 20 Reiki students and new Reiki teachers.
Dr. Chujiro Hayashi sensei, one of Usui Sensei’s students, was able to complete all 3 levels of Reiki (Shoden, Okuden and Shinpiden) just before the death of Usui Sensi. Dr. Hayashi played a major role in the spread of Reiki in that he also happened to be a navy office and medical doctor.
- Dr. Hayashi opened a very successful Reiki healing clinic in Tokyo and eventually founded the “Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai (Instutite)” where he would teach Reiki students twice a year.
- Sadly, after World War II, Reiki became outlawed in Japan. Those who had practiced and/or taught Reiki were forced to discontinue, with the exception of Dr. Hayashi due to his medical license.
Mrs. Chiyoko Yamaguchi of Ishikawa, Japan had learned Reiki in 1938 with Dr. Hayashi at the age of 17. She and her entire family had continued to practice Reiki daily (privately) in her household despite Reiki becoming outlawed. Reiki was highly valued still, due to the profound healing impact Reiki had on everything from minor ailments to major illnesses/injuries.
How Jikiden Reiki Started
Mrs. Yamaguchi and her family eventually discovered that Reiki had spread to the west and had changed/evolved. Mrs. Yamaguchi observed that some major elements of Reiki were left behind, symbols were changed, and some new ideas/practices were added by western Reiki practitioners.
Believe it or not, according to Mrs. Yamaguchi, there was actually no such thing as a “Reiki Master” before the 1980’s!
- Up until the 1980’s, all Reiki information, protocols and symbols were only taught and handed down verbally from teacher to student, to keep the lineage sacred and protected.
- Reiki was spread to the U.S. by a Japanese American woman, Ms. Takata, who practiced Reiki in Hawaii and taught 22 students before passing away in 1980 without ever sharing any written Reiki information with anyone.
Long story short, in the 1990’s Mrs. Yamaguchi was persuaded by her son Tadao Yamaguchi to share her Reiki knowledge and protocols with the world before the magic and profound clinical impact of the original Reiki system they knew and loved was completely forgotten and left behind.
In 1999, Mrs. Yamaguchi and Tadao co-founded the Jikiden Reiki Institute where the original Reiki symbols and protocols learned by Mrs. Yamagughi and her siblings in the 1930’s are still taught un-changed to this day.
Although Mrs. Yamagughi passed away in 2003, she has left a legacy and I’m proud to have learned Jikiden Reiki directly from her son Tadao Yamaguchi back in 2017!
Jikiden Reiki is the form of Reiki that I choose to teach and practice.
What I’ve observed thus far in my Jikiden Reiki clinical practice (minimum of three 60-minute sessions recommended):
- Reduced pain
- Reduced “fight or flight” stress response (immediately and long-term)
- Lower blood pressure
- More relaxation, less anxiety
- Improved mood, reduced feelings of depression
- Deeper sleep
- Improvements in digestion