Over time, many records have been either lost or destroyed due to fire and earthquakes. Because of translation difficulties, facts have also been mis-interpreted or mis-understood.
We offer you one version of how Reiki was discovered, but feel free to read other stories, while always maintaining an open mind.
In our present time, we feel that it is more important to be concerned not how or when Reiki was discovered, but how it is taught & used as a healing tool today. Not all teachers & healers maintain the same ethics & some have drawn away from the original teachings of our Reiki forerunners.
The history of Reiki begins with…
Dr. Mikao Usui (Pronounced Mick-cow Ew-suey)
- Reiki can be traced back to ancient Tibet where the Lamas used it as a form of healing
- Mikao Usui was born August 15, 1865. In the late 1800’s, Dr. Usui ventured on a quest to learn how Jesus healed & this took him on a journey of self-discovery & learning
- After studying Sanskrit (the ancient language of India), Dr. Usui learned about Reiki healing & wanted to discover how he could obtain this healing power
- In 1921 he went to the sacred mountain of Mt. Kuri-Yama (pronounced Curry-yam-a) where he fasted & meditated & after 21 days, when he experienced spiritual enlightenment, he was shown the Reiki symbols & learned how they worked
- His healing journey began & he used Reiki to heal others, resulting in miracle after miracle experienced by many
- He offered Reiki to everyone, but soon realized that unless they were willing to receive the healing, they soon reverted to their former living environment & health conditions
- Dr. Usui decided that each person must ask for Reiki & that there must be an exchange of energy in the form service, barter or money
- During the following years, he taught & lectured about Reiki & its benefits
- His system of healing was done in an intuitive manner, where he allowed himself to be guided through his inner senses
- Before his death March 9th, 1926, Dr. Usui initiated 16-18 Reiki Masters, one of whom was a retired naval officer
Dr. Chujiro Hayashi (Pronounced Chew-jeer-oh Hi-ash-ee)
- Chujiro Hayashi was born in 1879
- In 1925, Dr. Usui initiated him to Reiki Master level
- Dr. Hayashi continued in Dr. Usui’s tradition, traveling, teaching & dedicating his life to Reiki
- He was instrumental in organizing the hand positions & structure for Reiki
- After Dr. Usui’s death in 1926, Dr. Hayashi broke away & developed his own modified system of Reiki & opened his own clinic in Tokyo
- Before his death May 10th, 1941, he initiated 13-16 teachers to Reiki Master level
- For the very first time, two women were initiated; his wife Chie Hayashi (pronounced Chee Hi-ash-ee) & a Japanese-American woman
Hawayo Takata (Pronounced Hah-why-oh Taa-kaa-ta)
- Hawayo Takata was born December 24, 1900 in Kauai, Hawaii
- Mrs. Takata suffered from severe abdominal pain due to a tumor, gallstones & appendicitis
- While visiting Japan, just before she was scheduled for an operation, she heard a faint voice that told her there was an alternative
- She met Churjiro Hayashi (Chew-jeer-oh Hi-ash-ee) at his Reiki clinic & after receiving treatments, her health was restored
- Dr. Hayashi initiated Mrs. Takata as a Reiki Master Teacher around 1938 & she brought this healing knowledge back to Hawaii. She taught Level 1 & 2 in the United States & Canada, but did not teach Level 3 until the 70’s
- Mrs. Takata introduced a Western version of how Dr. Usui discovered Reiki & she also set up the price structure & a teaching system called Usui Shiki Ryoho (Ew-suey She-key Rye-oh-ho)
- To become a Reiki Master Teacher, the fee she charged was $10,000 USD & this exorbitant fee created much controversy. (To put this into proper perspective, in the 70’s, $10,000 USD would buy a house in the US)
- Before her death December 11th, 1980, Mrs. Takata trained 22 Reiki Master Teachers
REIKI TODAY
- After Takata passed, some of her teachers decided to lower the price for becoming a Reiki Master Teacher. Today, to become a Reiki Master Teacher, fees will vary from $750 USD to $10,000 USD
- Still, this makes Reiki much more accessible for those who want to teach & now Reiki is known worldwide
Reiki Principles
There are several versions written, many incorporate the words do not. The version here is because our subconscious mind does not recognize the words do not and will override this statement. (E.g. In the statement: “Do not get angry today”; our subconscious mind will ignore do not, but will recognize get angry today & then do just that). The principles below can be used as a self monitoring tool as well as a mantra. Just for today, let go of anger
Just for today, let go of worry
Just for today, honour your parents, teachers and elders
Just for today, earn your living honestly
Just for today, show gratitude to every living thing
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