Total REIKI & Hands-on-Healing in Vancouver, BC

WHAT IS REIKI?

AN ABBREVIATED HISTORY OF REIKI

FROM USUI-SENSEI’S TOMB STONE

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE ART

SHARING REIKI - Organising a Reiki Share

WHAT IS REIKI?

As quantum energy concepts have become mainstream, it is easier for us to accept that everything in the universe is energy and vibration - and that we are energy and vibration, too. Our bodies consist of energy - different frequencies for different organs and tissues. The lower the frequency of energy, the more solid it appears. For example, our bones, which are vibrating at a lower frequency than our red blood cells are perceived to be more solid. Our emotions and thoughts are also energy - love has a higher frequency than fear.

When we see red blood cells under a strong microscope we can see cells that are healthy and those where their electrical potential, zeta potential, is hampered and are in disarray. Disharmony in any of our bodily systems indicates energy blockages, low frequencies and disturbances. Physical stress, heavy medications (such as chemotherapy, radiation,beta blockers, coumadin) and accidents effect our body's innate ability to heal ~ the ability to return to homeostasis. Shocks and serious, unresolved conflicts are also the source of blockages and lower frequencies in certain organs and tissues. These can be tested through the meridians and chakras. Reiki disintegrates energy blockages at all levels.

Reiki is an energy which is drawn into the practitioner's body through certain methods and passed on through the practitioner's hands (mainly) to wherever it is needed, through certain methods, also. I call the Reiki I practice Total Reiki because it incorporates several methods of accessing or channelling energy and passing it on, in a healthy way, that doesn't rely on wishful thinking or connections to attunements. Reiki follows the rules of energy entrainment - energy flows from high to low in our own bodies and between practitioner and client and when done correctly, is significantly energising and physically perceived. With some simple time-tested techniques, this can be applied to hands-on-healing energy and Reiki healing.
Reiki is neither a religion, a cult, a form of mind projection, conjecture or "all in the head". However, Reiki is a powerful, yet gentle way to replenish lost vitality and balance your energy to accelerate healing. Reiki is very simple to learn and use.

Hop over to the next page and see our details on having a session for yourself. http://www.reflexologyreiki.com/sessions

Click on the "classes" page and see when you can learn how to practice Reiki. http://www.reflexologyreiki.com/classes

Reiki can be useful when you are engaged in standard Western medical protocols and is often integrated with alternative treatments. If, like one of my clients, you have chosen orthodox medical treatments, then Reiki will obviously do no healing, but an be helpful nonetheless. My client received several different kinds of chemo and a number of radiation treatments per day. Tis was a heavy burden for his body to bear! Reiki reduced his nausea; eliminated some of the spent radiation; reduced inflammation and scarring; revived his bodily functions; fortified his inner strength; and together we renewed his visualisations to take to future orthodox medical sessions. Reiki gave him back a good night's sleep, too.

Reiki makes detoxification and rebuilding after strenuous therapy much easier. Even though we have an inner physician, after a heavy course of chemical treatments, your body will welcome and thrive from the benefits of extra energy.

When you have been on a 'cocktail' of meds for depression, for example, Total Reiki can decrease the negative side effects to the specific organs effected by the medications and can lift your energetic vibration as a whole. Reiki energy feels nurturing. Hurts and fears and withheld emotions can be released and healing can take place.

Reiki relieves pain and accelerates healing of injuries - cuts, bruises, broken bones and burns.

Come and experience it for yourself. What do you have to loose?
604-261-7742
(if you receive the message machine, we will call back promptly).
Or email me for more information on future classes ~ info@reflexologyreiki.com

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AN ABBREVIATED HISTORY OF REIKI

THE ORIGINS OF REIKI

Mikao Usui, Sensei, the founder of Reiki, was born in 1865, near Kyoto, Japan. He married Sadako Suzuki (of Samurai lineage) and together they had two children. He was a very spiritual man who took his daily religious and meditation exercises very seriously. In 1921 his deep devotion, vast personal searching, life experiences and a particular Satori during a sacred retreat, culminated into insights and energy transference that we now call Reiki. Master Usui died in 1926.

Reiki is a Japanese word, made up of two Japanese kanji – Rei and Ki - meaning, roughly translated, universal and energy. The word Reiki is often translated as “Universal Life Force Energy” or “Spiritual Ray of Life”.

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Japan, during Master Usui's time, the ancient art of hands-on-healing was enjoying a Renaissance. Healing, so much a part of shamanistic practice in all parts of the world for thousands of years, was also known in Japan. There were many different types of healing touch being practised by various teachers affiliated with assorted spiritual traditions at that time. As Master Usui's insights, classes and healing work spread, other teachers of other healing modalities shared their knowledge and we now know that Master Usui's Reiki was not a rigid or static method but evolved, gradually over those last five years of his life.

The Reiki teachings were transmitted both orally and in written form, from teacher to student, from generation to generation, passing from Japan to North America and Europe and then throughout the world. Many stories, myths and legends about Master Usui and about the origins of Reiki have appeared - some honourable, some dubious and some quite preposterous.

In the last 30 years, various Western Reiki teachers created their own personal variations of the system of Reiki and thus there are now many different Reiki “offshoots” with names of their own. It is estimated that there are more than 50,000 Reiki masters and one million Reiki practitioners in the world today.

The search for the “truth” about Reiki and it’s history is fascinating and leads one down many interesting pathways. In the late 90’s a number of very dedicated Reiki Masters were determined to uncover the origins of Reiki, what happened to Reiki during WWII and details of the life of Master Usui himself and his intentions for the work in the future. We owe these pioneers a huge debt of gratitude.

We believe that the contemporary teachings should be as close as possible to the original teachings and ways.
As a devout, practising Tendai Buddhist from early childhood, Usui-Sensei would have had a deep understanding of the wisdom and teachings of the Buddha - teachings that were the result of his own direct investigations, deep meditations and guidance from his religious advisors, not from "supernatural" revelations. In fact, we read in Curtis Lang and Jane Sherry’s history of Reiki that what he taught was not to be taken "on faith" - his students were to examine for themselves, based on their own experience, whether Reiki was able to transform suffering into well-being.

There are no or few exact documents of Master Usui’s original healing system or methods as he taught it, or they have not been made available to the general public by those who claim they do have these pertinent original writings (Master Usui’s teachings have been kept in the dozen odd Japanese societies known as the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, where the teachers and practitioners do not discuss the details of the society with non-members and where membership in the society is closed to foreigners). Due to the nature of Japanese society, information and knowledge is often kept within it's own confines and never shared, even for the common good... almost never...

One of Master Usui's senior students, Toshihiro Eguchi, knew Usui-Sensei’s methods in its original form and taught this as well as his own system of touch healing to a student, Yuji Onuki, who decided to travel the world in order to pass on and teach what he had learned way back in 1971. Several of this teacher’s students later went to Japan and searched for the Reiki history and taught Japanese students Reiki ~ Reiki had come full circle, geographically!

In the mid 1990’s, when a German Reiki teacher, Frank Arjava Petter, was living in Japan teaching both English and Reiki, he had no idea that Reiki in Japan actually still existed. One of his students, however, spoke up and explained that there were many others in Japan who quietly knew Reiki from before World War II, but of a rather different form. (This student went against the norm of vigilance and silent watchfulness!)

Mr. Petter was exceptionally fortunate to meet a teacher who lent him a copy of an Usui notebook that had supposedly been given to one of his students. Arjava found that the past Reiki practices were quite different from those taught in the West, but that the Reiki energy was the same. The only difference was in the methods by which the energy was applied.

Chris Marsh (a British student of martial arts and the Japanese language, a Tendai Buddhist and frequent traveller to Japan) was serendipitously introduced to a Buddhist nun, over 100 years old, who had been a student of Master Usui in the 1920’s and possible a niece of Master Usui's wife! Chris was told by her that she and others were not happy with what had become of Reiki throughout the world. She taught him what she had learned from Master Usui himself ~ again quite different than Western Reiki.

Back in England Chris shared his new Reiki knowledge with another Reiki Master searching for solid history and details, Andrew Bowling.

In the following years, Andy and Chris were judiciously and slowly introduced to more of Master Usui's students (from 96 to 111 years old). Some original notes and notebooks and manuals were viewed. From this a lot of sharing in the West followed amongst many who were also seeking the “better history”, culminating in the first Usui Reiki Ryoho International workshop, in Vancouver, organised by Vancouver’s Rick Rivard, and Tom Rigler, Andrew Bowling and other North American devoted Reiki Masters. Hiroshi Doi-Sensei, a member of the Usui Reiki Society in Tokyo came to Vancouver and spoke about the Society's history of Reiki. He also presented a modified version of a Usui Reiki empowerment procedure called Reiju.

So, bit by bit, the existence of Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (the closed societies) and details of the practices and Reiki history have been released to the rest of the world in a very controlled and limited manner.

In 1925 Usui-Sensei, Dr. Hayashi (a retired Naval officer, a close friend and senior student) and his students created a manual listing body parts and illnesses with corresponding hand positions for those who did not wish to work intuitively as Master Usui was known to do.

He died in 1926 of a stroke and following his death, Dr. Hayashi continued Reiki on his own, separate from the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.
Dr. Hayashi created the first Reiki centre, where people could pay to receive healing. By 1939 he had initiated thirteen Reiki teachers. He did not wish to continue to live as he knew Japan was heading to war and he knew he'd be called up serve ~ after saving lives for so many years, this was not an option.

Mrs. Hawayo Takata was born on December 24, 1900 on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii, the daughter of Japanese immigrants. While in Japan visiting her parents in 1936, Mrs. Takata needed medical intervention with appendicitis, gallstones and a tumour. Just minutes before the surgery, she heard a voice saying “There is another way - surgery is not necessary.” When she queried the surgeon just as he was to start the operation he answered her that yes, indeed there was another way. His wife worked at a Tokyo clinic where hands-on-healing was done and he referred her to Hayashi’s Reiki clinic. And after several months she was healed and sold on this wonderful system! She stayed on in Japan, lived with the Hayashi’s (Mrs. Hayashi and their daughter were both Reiki masters) and obtained instruction from Dr. Hayashi while working in his clinic for a year - Reiki Level One and Two.

In 1937, Mrs. Takata brought the system of Reiki back home to Hawaii, where she started a clinic on Oahu. The following year, Dr. Hayashi  and his daughter came over to help her and gave their blessing to the first Reiki clinic outside of Japan. Mrs. Takata was initiated as a Reiki Master by Dr. Hayashi during this visit and was even given an English language certificate ~ to appease the local authorities (and that is why we still call Master Hayashi, Dr. Hayashi).

Mrs. Takata stopped her work after the Pearl Harbour bombing and resumed her practice of  Reiki on the Hawaiian Islands after WW II. She studied nutrition and massage as well. She taught that Reiki had not survived WW II as all contact with the Hayashi’s ceased.

Much later she began to teach the level One and Two classes. By 1975 she began to teach practitioners to become Reiki teachers (by invitation). She travelled to the American mainland and Canada and eventually initiated 22 Reiki Masters in all by the time of her death in 1980. Of these masters, five were from the Slocan Valley in BC.

Intense debate over how to continue and who would take Mrs. Takata's place began immediately following her passing. A group of mainly Mrs. Takata’s original 22 Reiki teachers formed the Reiki Alliance and called the work Usui Shiki Ryoho. Mrs. Takata’s granddaughter, Phyllis Lee Furumoto, was the head of this Reiki Alliance. She assumed the title of “Grandmaster” and continued on as close as possible to the previous ways of her grandmother. Some other Reiki Masters initiated by Mrs.Takata, spread the Reiki teachings during the 1980's and made lasting changes. They also reduced the tuition fees for Mastership training and consequently the rigid previous price structure for classes crumbled and thus many more Reiki Masters appeared on the scene. This led to the development of yet more off-shoot practices, as new Reiki Masters added their own concepts, tools and idiosyncrasies to the traditional way. Mrs.Takata's teachings were close to that of her teacher Dr. Hayashi and changes that she made were for practical purposes to adapt the work to Western ways. A typical Level One during Usui's time would take a number of years ~ you simply were AT a level for a portion of your life and generally met your group one evening per week. With Dr. Hayashi, students worked in the clinic daily for months to attain level One. With Mrs.Takata four half days were set aside for teaching with the commitment that practice would follow on ones own.
The study of the chakra system became a widespread inclusion and with the rise of New Age spiritual practices, Reiki practitioners began to work consciously with and include Spirit Guides, Ascended Master Teachings, Arch Angels and Nature Divas. Some practitioners also incorporated crystals, channelling, past life healing, shamanism, crystal bowls and various other modalities into their Reiki classes ~ a veritable circus and now one can understand why the Japanese were less than happy with Western Reiki. On-line classes were conceived, symbols started to circulate on the internet and long-distance classes were taught with distance attunements! Students felt free to study with more than one teacher – and more than one lineage. Competition for the cheapest and shortest classes led to another level of loss of quality and depth.
As students and practitioners of Reiki it is up to us to practice what is perhaps the most important spiritual discipline -- discernment. We must use our reason, our intuition and our inner spiritual guidance to understand the true nature of Reiki and to verify this truth for ourselves through our own direct experience.

As Reiki practitioners we naturally exercise tolerance for those who practice a different form of Reiki and who belong to a different lineage. As a Hindu yogi master once said, “When you have found a path up the mountain, and you can see the summit from far below, it is tempting to call out to those struggling to ascend on either side of you, and to tell them – ‘Look, I have found the way.’ It is only when one reaches the summit itself that one has the all-encompassing view of the mountain itself, and then one realises that there are many paths to the summit, each with its own charms and its own pitfalls.”

Come and experience it for yourself. What do you have to loose?
604-261-7742
(if you receive the message machine, we will call back promptly).
Or email me for more information on future classes ~ info@reflexologyreiki.com

FROM USUI-SENSEI’S TOMB STONE:

Translation by Frans and Bronwen Stiene, Reiki Masters, Australia

The Secret Method Of Inviting Blessings
The Spiritual Medicine of Many Illnesses

For today only, Do not anger, Do not worry
With appreciation, endeavour your work
Be kind to all people

In the morning and at night
Think this, chant this.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE ART OF REIKI & HEALING

Reiki is often seen as a healing "art". But what actually happens scientifically?

In the May 2002 issue of "EXPLORE! For The Professional", an article by Timothy Ley on Peak Performance describes entrainment. Two people, in close quarters, had their brain waves measured and described. One person showed a new heightened ability to achieve at golf. It was passed on (passively) by being in the close and personal presence of the other person ~ a golf pro with a heightened awareness and focus for golf (...and high scores).

In another situation a happy and energetic child¹s brain waves were measured before and after spending several days of heartfelt and close communication with a depressed adult. The child's brain wave had become chaotic and similar to that of the unhappy adult ~ energy and information transfer without even touching! Much like the energy that flows with healing except for the absense of intention, focus and knowing. We can conclude that one's energy level, brain pattern and state of being are oh so powerful and contagious ~ neuron transfer ~ entrainment!

We have our skin, the epidermis, protecting us and the next layer below, the dermis, which in turn covers a variety of tissues, including the cell matrix and extra cellular fluid. In this interior barrier there are minute areas varying from 3 micromillimetres to 7 millimeters which contain collagen fibres and where there is reduced resistence and lower galvanic pressure. These little sensitive patches we know as acupressure and acupuncture points. We have hundreds of these brilliant, controlled apertures within our body that can "grab or accept" and transfer chi or energy and pass this along deeper into our body as if with micro-cables.

Dr. Patricia Kane, a brilliant biochemist (known for working with the Odone family - Lorenzo's oil), has shown how inside each cell we can see the transfer of energy or charge in the cellular micro-tubules. With extremely high powered microscopes that don't require freezing, staining and altering of the samples to look inside the cell, we can observe the cytochrome (the inner workings of the cell) clearly. Dr. Kane shows that these tiniest of organelles are minute C-shaped wiggelly structures that build up and breakdown on the moment. Energy manifests here as both a vibration nad as a transference of energy or donation and acceptance. The higher frequency donates to the lower one ALWAYS. This is what gives direction and communication inside the cell and between cells. This is movement / flow at the subatomic level. Life itself!

Energy, like water, flows from higher to lower. A higher frequency person donates with touching to the lower vibrating person ~ literally. Healer to client. Is it any wonder that we are so careful as to who we allow to touch us? When you add in specialised intention and expertise, then passing energy into another's body's is a natural flow - a wonderful exchange. Wonderful healing! Energy in motion!

Come and experience it for yourself. What do you have to loose?
604-261-7742
(if you receive the message machine, we will call back promptly).
Or email me for more information on future classes ~ info@reflexologyreiki.com

SHARING REIKI - Organising a Reiki Share

If, as a Reiki practitioner or teacher, you feel a strong commitment to your students or to share in the wonderfulness of the practice of Reiki then hosting a Sharing might be just the project for you! This can be a new and rewarding way to practice Reiki, keep friends and practitioners enthused and create an opportunity to socialise with like-minded people ~ not always possible in our hurried world.

Some students of Reiki feel that they may have become "rusty" and this gets them quietly back into the swing of things. Healing each other should be the focus. Questions about what may be happening during a session and chatting about the finer points that have been forgotten, by some, will automatically flow from this afterwards at the end.

If you are a recent arrival to energy work, then organising a Share is a good way to stay enthusiastic. You may wish to team up with a veteran. Ask a more experienced person to be there, too, as there may be some sticky wickets ~ people bringing advertising, people talking incessently, willy-nilly attunements being handed out, etc. The requirement for you is merely to provide space, time, clear intention and persistence. And this is where the host comes in, the captain, who keeps the group organised, on-track, positive and focused.

Planning ahead is good ~ you need to know the anticipated number of massage tables you will need and the physical space that is required. You don't want more than 5 people to a massage table (one lying down and receiving and four people standing or sitting around the massage table doing the Reiki). Each participant enjoys about 20 minutes and then there is still time for some socialising - a break and a discussion (sharing of experiences and Reiki stories) and those in a hurry can leave. I once went to a Reiki Share where ten people shared one table (very awkward physically and uncomfortable energetically) and I suggest you stay away from that.

People without any Reiki teaching may want to come to a Share as a way to satisfy their curiosity. The best way to accommodate this is to give them a group treatment first and then that person can leave, feeling very well treated. Joining in would be strange and leave that person with many questions and needing guidance and you may feel the responsibility to teach an instant mini-class in order to be able to include someone into the Share. At a Share I once attended, a kind and curious person without any Reiki was invited for the duration and one of the participants decided that this person needed "a quickie attunement" and that there was nothing to it and on and on, leaving the visitor with the true feeling that there really was nothing to it (and that some of us may be a tad flaky...)

Evenings and weekends are the easiest times to gather people. When I was hosting large Quantum Touch healing circles, I took a vote and Saturday was the favourite day and the time of day of 3:00pm won out over 10:00am! Coming on time is important and starting on time gets people to arrive on time. After a Share is over, some people like to sit and chat and connect and ask questions. It's always nice to share juice/tea/healthy snacks and good conversation (no gossip). Those remaining may wish to send long-distance healing to loved ones, fellow participants, pets, or situations.

The snacks and drinks are not a great expense and just providing them (as little as several $'s per participant) is easiest. When people are all asked to bring snacks then there is a resulting bottle neck and fussing in the kitchen with this pot-luck snack business. So I suggest it just gets "handled" by you. I believe that the snacks should be high quality - it reflects how you feel about the people who have gathered and Reiki. And so if money is tight you can ask for a donation of, say, $4 or whatever the expense is, per person. If room rental is also to be covered then a double digit dollar donation is surely appropriate. Otherwise it eludes me as to why donations are given to hosts of Reiki Shares who do not provide snacks or water.

I believe that the effort that is involved is priceless and is part of being in service and as a way to help us grow and experience. Some shares start on a gentle note with a guided meditation, a prayer of intent or an energy exercise for the chakras. You can also call upon your guides, angels, Ascended Masters (not Reiki but might make some people more comfortable). Leaving the daily frustrations and negative thoughts outside and having positive healing thoughts in the circle is important and whatever feels best to bring this about, is ideal. (I have the Tibetan gongs of Richard Hite playing in the background for the first while.) One person can be designated as being on "latecomers watch" and can make sure that the meditation is not disrupted. And experimenting with different ways to end the gathering is fun! And some of us just can't do without candles and special music!

Any place to host a gathering is good - the cosier and quieter, the better. Decent parking and near-ness of public transportation are also a bonus. When it is a residence, you will need a room to work with that allows people to move around easily and then a room to sit and chat (living room, maybe). Best is when there are no interruptions such as other housemates wandering through or kids running in and out, using the phone or the guard dogs growling. When a public place is your choice, then make sure that the next generation of U2 is not practising in the room next-door! No kidding - it happened!

The biggest unseen element in the creation of an energy work Share is persistence. The host has to make a commitment to invite, invite, invite! And to stick with it such that Teflon gets new meaning! People sometimes tell others; people sometimes remind friends; people sometimes remind themselves; people sometimes are too tired or feeling too miserable to get up and go; people have a lot on their minds. The host will have to stick to the emails / phoning / flyers routine very diligently. Flyers and advertising can be placed in appropriate places, bulletin boards, in your everyday email signature, on-line calendars (feel free at http://www.thehealingjournal.com) over and over. Much like advertising, only once isn't quite enough. Always ask where a new person saw or heard about your gathering. And the best part is that usually the host doesn't have to drive to get there!

If you ever wonder if it is worthwhile to expend the energy on Reiki Shares - then just step up to the plate! It is an amazing gift - a gift that all share in: healing, knowledge, guidance and love.

MANY BLESSINGS

Come and experience it for yourself. What do you have to loose?
604-261-7742
(if you receive the message machine, we will call back promptly).
Or email me for more information on future classes ~ info@reflexologyreiki.com