Reiki

I’ve heard the word, I just don’t know what it means

By Rev. Regina Maria Cross, TRMT
(Traditional Reiki Master-Teacher)

November 16, 1989 I had brain surgery with less than a 20% chance of making it off the table. The miracle of survival is yet another story for another day, one I do love to share in great gratitude, but for the understanding of what is Reiki, I will tell you how I learned of it during my recovery.

Pain after brain surgery is another kind of excruciating from the excruciating pain prior to brain surgery. No medication ever relieved me of the pain but instead only allowed me to sit drooling in a glazed over pained stupor. My husband, Ken, would sit beside me on my hospital bed and lay his hand upon my surgical site with his purest intention being, “I love this person. I want her out of pain.” He never once said, I will take on her pain, as what good would that do anyone but instead only “prayed” love and relief. Literally I could feel the pain being drawn out of my head as if through a funnel (small end where the tumor use to be) and dissipating once outside my physical form. It was at this point that I could relax enough to get my shoulders down out of my ears, breathe as if I did have life within me and possibly even in the seated position I needed to remain in for sleeping for a years time, fall into a restful sleep long enough to begin the repair toward healing my body, mind and spirit that were in such desperate need.

Often I would find myself when in pain holding my head as if cradling the surgical site giving it love, comfort and nourishment from my soul as one filled with survival spirit. Again I would feel the pain being drawn out and dissipating into the ethers.

When being held by Ken or holding my head myself I felt only love. It was a love from a place bigger than my heart could carry alone. It was a love bigger than either Ken or I had known before this time in our living life together. It is a love without words and until stepped down into human form intangible and even then the language that surrounds it is mystical. It is a Universal Love, a Life Giving Love, it is the Breath of Life, it is God’s Love.

Years later as we told our story to one who became our first Reiki Master-Teacher, we were told what we were doing was called Reiki and we should be trained. Our first thought was, “Well, we know it works”, as we came in the back door on that one.

So, you ask, what is Reiki?

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is the Japanese word for “Universal Life Force Energy”. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words: Rei, which means “things relating to spirit or soul, the essence of All that is, the spirit of God” and Ki, which is “life force energy” the consciousness of the human body. Reiki is spiritually guided life force energy from the Universal Life Force and for me that means, from God.

Reiki was rediscovered by Dr.Mikao Usui (me-ka-o you-soo-ee), a Buddhist monk who had great interest in the healing methods of Buddha, Jesus and other great Masters late in the 19th century. Reiki was brought to the United States by Mrs. Hawayo Takata in the 1940’s having been a patient and student of Dr. Hayashi, MD a colleague and Reiki student of Dr. Usui.

Reiki is a simple, non-invasive, natural and safe method of healing and self-improvement founded on the ancient law that illness and dis-ease are a matter of being out of balance, out of harmony with ourselves and the Universe. Reiki therefore brings together into balance and harmony the God Energy of the Universe and the Life Force of the body with well being as its purpose for body, mind and soul.

Reiki is administered with a light “laying on of hands” or no touch at all. The Reiki energy will flow to the area where it is needed most to the degree that it is needed no matter where the hands are gently placed. That seems like a far-out concept but if you believe Reiki to be what Reiki is, The Universal Life Force Energy, nothing is unimaginable for there is no limit to what God can do only what we can grasp with our limited minds. In giving Reiki it is not possible to take on the dis-ease, pain or challenges of another again for the same reason being the Universal Life Force Energy does not work that way. Now, our personalities are another subject another day.

Reiki works as a compliment with all medical and therapeutic techniques as Reiki supports the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Reiki and it’s proven beneficial effects have been accepted by the medical community being practiced with patients in hospitals from Connecticut, to Florida to California. Even some insurance companies are now paying coverage for Reiki sessions given by qualified Practitioners. Boston General has long had a Reiki community of Practitioners in their cardiac department. Locally hospitals such as Anne Arundel, George Washington, Walter Reed and Easton Memorial realize the ease with which patients continue their treatment finding recovery to be less painful and less time consuming. The National Broadcast Company, Channel 4, evening news at 5:00pm on Friday, April 14, reported a special segment concerning Reiki at Washington Hospital Center and the benefits to cancer patients and their recovery. Several patients were interviewed sharing their thoughts as to how Reiki helped them on their road to wellness.

You can view this report on www.nbc4.com/health/index.html.

Reiki honors all religious beliefs, as it of itself has no doctrine or belief system one must adhere too. Many religions have a form of hands on healing in alignment with the same Universal Life Force Energy as Reiki. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many possible beneficial effects including relaxation, balance and feelings of peace, security, and well being as well as the possibility of being pain free beyond expectations.

The Usui System of Natural Healing is taught in the way of ancient wisdom being passed on from Reiki Master, trained in the original tradition, to students. The student receives what is known as an “Attunement” to the energy, which allows for the conscious unlimited supply of “Life Force Energy” to flow. The only pre-requisite to becoming Reiki First Degree is a willingness to learn.

Often I explain Reiki as simply as “Each of us were at one time a child and some of us may be blessed with having children now. When we fell or when our children fall, what is the first thing we want, what do we do before we clean up and bandage the boo-boo? We want a hug, we give a hug, we want touch, we give touch. Almost all of us have taken Psychology 101. Which monkey lived? The monkey that was touched! It is that simple and that complex.” All kingdoms in physical form require touch to survive in a healthy state of being.

I became Reiki First Degree in 1996 and followed years of study in direct lineage to Dr. Usui, Dr. Hayashi and Mrs. Takata’s teachings through Reiki First, Second and Third Degree before becoming a Reiki Master-Teacher. Hear me when I say, it was at the moment of my Reiki Master-Teacher Attunement that I realized how very much I still have to learn as I was filled with the joy of the possibilities. So today I teach Reiki and as I do every student teaches me something new.

Light Paths, Centre For The Healing Arts is known to be one of the premiere centers for Reiki study due to it’s lineage, ethics, standards and value of foundational study along with the growth potential for each student backed by the sincerity with which I teach from and by.

There are several wonderful Reiki Practitioner Students in our community among you today who at one time might have been a client of mine and seeing, knowing and experiencing the wonders of Reiki started their studies of Reiki healing. They have since taken Reiki into their families, work places, hospitals, and communities at large and small. They continue to study often working along side me in sessions and of course they continue to grow in health and well being as they daily give themselves Reiki.

A Reiki First Degree class is scheduled at Light Paths the weekend of May 20 & 21, 2006. The class runs from 10:00am – 6:00pm each day allowing you to be immersed in the energy. In your Reiki First Degree class you will learn the complete History of Reiki, the foundational Reiki hand positions, how to give Reiki to plants, animals and your food, how to give Reiki to yourself as well as how to give a complete Reiki Treatment to others. You receive Reiki treatments as you share through practice with fellow students, Four Reiki First Degree Attunements and Light Paths Reiki First Degree Manual as well as an understanding of a healing modality as simple as a touch away and as complex as the Universe itself. The class cost is only $150.00.

The last Friday of each month from 7:00 – 9:00pm, Light Paths, Centre For The Healing Arts host a Reiki Circle where Reiki Students and Practitioners gather to share the warmth of kindred spirit, network and learn more of the Reiki method of Natural Healing. For those who have never received Reiki or taken a Reiki class this time is open to you as well as an invitation to come learn, listen and receive. Light Paths, a Non-Profit Organization, is ever grateful for your charitable donation with this evening event.

You may register for both the Reiki First Degree Class as well as The Reiki Circle by calling Rev. Regina Maria Cross at 410-758-3589 or e-mailing her at info@light-paths.org or going on line to print your registration form for the Reiki First Degree class at Light Paths website www.Light-Paths.org. There you will be in touch with more information regarding Reiki, private sessions, monthly Circles and class schedules for Reiki I, II, III and Reiki Master-Teacher as well as the other classes and events at Light Paths.

Light Paths, Centre For The Healing Arts is a member of The International Reiki Center founded by William Lee Rand. To learn more about Reiki and it’s benefits to you individually as well as those around you go to it’s website www.reiki.org.

I thank you for the time you took in reading this article and hope that you will come experience for yourself the many beneficial and advantageous services Reiki may hold for you.

This press release published by the Record Observer May 5th, 2006 and Bay Times May 10th, 2006