Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing, according to William Lee Rand in his book Reiki: The Healing Touch. It is primarily a hands-on transfer of energy from an attuned individual to another person, animal, or object. Reiki has become more popular in the West over the past few decades.
All my life I have had an interest in what some would term the esoteric. As a young person I understood the colors of energy and the importance of putting positivity into a room. I was uncomfortable in crowds as the energy from many different people was overwhelming. Of course I was much older and had studied a lot before I really began to understand what I was feeling.
I met a lovely woman who shared with me she was an alcoholic. She said she frequently heard voices and drank to numb her mind and make the voices cease. Eventually, she learned to accept she had a gift and began to embrace the voices. She stopped drinking. While my experiences were different, sharing this information helped me accept my own level of understanding. I knew when the time was right, an answer would appear.
When I first learned about Reiki, I could not pinpoint. Yet I do know that two different opportunities arose for me to become familiar with the protocols. I worked my way through the first and second degrees of Reiki and then was invited to be attuned at both the third degree and the “master” degree, which allowed me then to pass on the tradition.
An acquaintance, many years ago, rejected me because of my use of Reiki, saying it was sacrilegious. She professed to be a Christian, yet I found her to be quite judgmental without attempting to understand my perspective or to recognizing the many references to people as healers in the Bible. Reiki is not a religion. It is, however, a way of life for those who practice seriously.
For the most part, I use Reiki as a guidepost to daily living. Dr. Mikao Usui Reiki ideals are a guidepost for living positively. I begin each day citing aloud a translated and abbreviated version. This prayer gives me peace and wellness throughout the day.
Just for today, I will let go of worry.
Just for today, I will let go of anger.
Today, I will count my many blessings.
Today, I will work hard on my spirituality.
Today, I will be kind to all living things.
~Cynthia
Silver Sage Sisters 