King's Touch Reiki

When Takata was teaching Reiki, she encouraged her students to think of 'Reiki for the Self First!' As we serve as a conduit for the healing & spiritual energy of Reiki, it flows into us before blessing the person or object we're 'Reiking.' With the gift of Reiki, we are assured that we will also benefit. I've noticed this in many instances over the years - if I stubbed my toe on the way to offer a session, I'd often feel 'zings' in that toe while I worked, & often couldn't recall WHICH toe was hurt after the appointment. Magic! About 10 years ago, I was taking a series of weekly Soaring Crane Qigong classes , shortly after I smashed my left index finger in my sliding glass door. OUCH! An injury that a Reiki & Massage Therapist dreads. Hypericum perferatum I'd been doing poultices, Self-Reiki, taking Homeopathic Hypericum , (which is especially helpful for healing when nerves are involved), using Hypericum tincture, and...

On this day of Thanksgiving in the USA, I am Grateful. In an article on using gratitude as a prayer, Norma Gentile writes: "Gratitude is a state of consciousness that includes opening ones’ heart.  You cannot feel gratitude towards something or someone without experiencing your own heart opening."28 The German Philosopher Meister Eckhart (1260 - 1328) wrote: "If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is Thank You, it will be enough." “The greatest honor we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love.”  ― Julian of Norwich (anchoress, she & Chaucer were the first to write in the 'common language' - Old English, rather than Latin) &  “... so our customary practice of prayer was brought to mind: how through our ignorance and inexperience in the ways of love we spend so much time on petition. I saw that it is indeed more worthy of God and more truly pleasing to him that through his goodne...

Around the same time that Takata sought answers for her own health, and Hayashi had opened his Tokyo clinic & was teaching hands on & spiritual healing, Englishman, Edward Bach, had similar questions, a similar quest. " Health is our heritage & right. It is the complete and full union between soul, mind & body.'   (Edward Bach, Collected Writings, P 91) Bach was born in Mosley, England Sept 24, 1886. He studied medicine, graduating in 1912, & commented ' It will take me 5 years to forget all I've been taught.' He had already begun to notice that different emotional states, worry, anxiety, anger, could affect the patient's health. He dreamed of a different kind of hospital, where patients could learn about themselves, & doctors would look more at the person than the symptoms. As an MD, he worked both as a general practitioner, bacteriologist & pathologist, developing vaccines made using a patient's own intestinal bacteria. ...

This past summer, my friend & SiStar Reiki Master Sheila King offered a class on 'Lightweaving' to a group of Reiki Practitioners. Sheila was my small group leader at the Breitenbush Reiki Gathering in the early 90s, & I've appreciated her wise, warm presence and teachings ever since. Sheila writes : " Light Weaving is a method of healing that works primarily with the energetic body. Light Weaving restores missing connections in the energetic body, and also restores connections between the energetic body and the physical body. When missing connections in the energetic body are restored, the related dysfunctional area in the physical body receives more complete information and energy and so can restructure itself properly.  This restructuring not only happens in the physical body, it also happens in the related emotional and mental structures. And with this restoration, every pattern related to the dysfunction will heal. Usually with this treatment, people ...

While writing about Reiki yesterday, I looked on u-tube to see if there was anything with our beloved USA Lineage keeper, Phyllis Furomoto , who is Takata's granddaughter. I've had the honor/blessing of meeting Phyllis during Reiki Gatherings at Breitenbush, & played the harp for a meditation she led. I found a delightful interview done in 1912, with another Reiki Master of Japanese descent, Barbara Matsuura . As I listened to the 6 segments (1 hour total) I found that though she has travelled more than I, there are many places Matsuura's & my paths overlap! She studied ballet, & then learned Tai Chi & Qigong. I began with ballet in 1978, & studied Tai Chi concurrent with my massage training, beginning in 1983.  I began teaching both Reiki and Tai Chi in  the early 90s, & have been working more deeply with Qigong the last decade. Barbara Matsuura - photo from her website Matsuura travelled with her husband, in Japan, she learned Kabuki dance, ...

When Takata had received Reiki for 6 months, she was ready to learn! But... Though she was of Japanese descent, they considered her 'American,' & Dr Hayashi was reluctant to accept her as a student. Again, she spoke with Dr Maeda, & pleaded her case. "If I don't have my health, I have nothing!" She was determined to learn! So Dr Maeda took traditional writing materials, a brush, Sumi ink, & wrote Hayashi a letter, stating her sincerity, and she was accepted as a student.                                 **************************************** Frank Arjava Pettier & Tadeo Yamaguchi's book 'The Hayashi Reiki Manual'  includes information from the handbook Hayashi gave his students. The authors also recount Tadeo's mother, Chiyoko's memories of studying Reiki with Dr Hayashi. The full story of her experiences ...

 In her blog ' for Dragonflies & Me ,' Jean shares a tip that helps her keep her home both 'cozy and welcoming,' but also a place children can be children - a several times a day 'Walk Through.'  Jean writes: "The walk through is a very basic concept that I believe most of us do everyday, but never really had a name for.  It’s easy to apply to our daily schedules and routines and it’s one that children can completely understand. The walk through is simply going through a room and picking up everything that is out-of-place AND putting it away where it belongs.  Simply eh?" This morning I invited my 2 1/2 & almost 3 year old Granddarlings to help me do a 'Walk Through' on the Living room, before Mama & Daddy came home for lunch ... we put away Duplos ("Pick up time! Pick up time!") then went back to the entrance & looked for anything out of place 'oh, oh! Where do these shoes go? ... ooo, lets put these bloc...

When Takata went to Japan & entered the hospital, it was the Dietician who began introducing her to Reiki, through the blessed food & water that she was served. As she gained stength for the proposed surgery, they told her to Consider the Hospital as "a Fancy Resort Hotel or spa." Over the last 30 years, I've taken & offered many classes on healing. A common thread is the recommendation to drink more clear fluids, which accelerate the electrical process & aide healing. A healing crisis or catharsis may ocur after a healing session or initiation, like a battery, we need the fluid to hold the 'charge.' Reiki, Etheric, & Lightwork teachers all suggest BLESSING the fluids we drink and food we eat. An African teacher suggests beaming 'rainbows into your water.' Here is a fun post on making your own 'spa water' by marinating fruits, flowers & herbs in your water! My dear harper & healer friend Jewel often gathers F...

As a child, I always LOVED it when my mama told stories of 'the Olden Days,' when she was growing up. Many of the stories of Reiki that have come down to us were told by the the Dynamic woman who brought Reiki to the West in 1938, Hawayo Takata. I've always loved the stories she told of her own experiences. Born Christmas Day, 1900 in Hanamaula, Kaui, Hawaii; Hawayo Kawamura's mother had big dreams for her tiny daughter, so named her after the Big Island of Hawaii. As a young girl, Hawayo quickly moved from field work to working in a Store, & March 10, 1917, she married Saichi Takata. They had two daughter, and remained in Hawaii, while the Kawamuras returned to Japan. By 1930, she had been widowed, & in 1935, her sister died. Her own health had deteriorated, both from continuing to work hard, & from grief. She decided to take the news of her sister's death to her parents directly, & visited them in Japan to do so. After the services were fin...

Chujiro Hayashi was born in 1879 or '80 in Tokyo. Like Usui, he was married, with two children. He served in the Japanese Navy, & in 1918, became commander of the defence station of Port Owinato. Hayashi trained in Western and Chinese medicine, and his traditional Japanese spiritual practices included Soto Zen & Shinto. His student Mrs Yamaguchi relayed he was also Christian (Methodist). This would not be uncommon in Japan, even now. Hayashi retired from the Navy, & in 1925, became a student of Mikeo Usui, 10 months before Usui's death. Several other Naval officers joined the school not long afterward, & continued his healing/spiritual work under the title 'Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.  In 1931, Hayashi began developing his own clinic & school for healing, which became known as Hayashi Reiki Kenkyu Kai - Hayashi Spiritual Energy Research Society. His clinic had a treatment room where eight clients could be treated, with two practitioners at each futon...

When Takata brought Reiki to Japan in the mid-late 1930s, she told many stories about the beginnings of Reiki as we know it. Over the years, others have visited Japan & brought forward more information.  Our modern practice of Reiki has been handed down from Mikeo Usui, who was born Aug 15, 1865, into a Samurai family in Teniai (now called Miyama cho) in the Gifu Prefecture in Japan. Little is known of his early life, but as a child of the privileged class, he likely began his studies with the Chinese & Japanese classics, learned martial arts, music, read & wrote poetry. Born into a Buddhist family, Mikeo Usui became a lay Tendai priest , who married (Saduko Suzuki) and had two children. It seems he introduced his teachings, Usui do, as a means toward enlightenment, with the healing that took place for students 'a wonderful side effect.' His inclusion of attunement or reiju , which facilitated spiritual alignment. ' It seems that all students of Mikao Usui r...

Early in my path of teaching Reiki, I offered a class for fellow employees at our Retreat & Conference Centre .  Two coworkers signed up - one was also a massage therapist, the other worked in the kitchen. We were closed to guests, and had the Forest Shelter to ourselves!  Class was just beginning, when a third gal joined us.  A. worked in the office, & noticed the flyer on the back door just that morning, & said 'my guides made it clear that I need to be in this class - but I had other plans for today!' We talked a few minutes, she was VERY reluctant to stay, but generally followed her intuition... so I suggested she could remain for the general information (history, Reiki healing stories) portion, but when it was time for the initiation, she would need to decide whether she was leaving or staying. When the time for the practical teachings & initiation arrived, she agreed to stay, & we proceeded to initiation. The building is topped with a larg...

Do you belong to the 'Can't Miss a Thing!!' Club? I used to. I'd often get sad or mad if I missed an event - especially if I found out AFTER the fact! The friend who invited me to their 'party,' that was, in fact, their wedding reception (private wedding) Quite a few of their special friends missed the event, as they'd kept it TOO secret! ...  The time Amy Tan came to our local college to speak - I knew she was coming, but not when ... my gentleman friend called to let me know, & our receptionist didn't think whatever he had to say was important enough to leave me a message ...  The days there are 4 or 5 choices, & I only have time/energy for 2 or 3 of them .... Over the years, I've found it's better - for me - to prioritize, & only do what feels important, feeds my energy, delights me! Family time generally comes first; I love dance opportunities, but at the end of the week, may prefer to simply tuck in at home with a book...

I utilized the Land Tune Up for several years, then noticed that Molly Sheehan suggests using the Violet Transmuting Flame as a 'cap' for the process! I already included the Violet Flame at portals (sidewalk, driveway), so it was sweet to add it to the process itself. As you call for the Violet Transmuting Flame, a ray comes from the hands, heart & head of your 'I AM' presence, and as it touches the earth beneath your feet, it bursts into flame. Picture it like the flame in a fireplace, only violet/purple in colour, joyous, comforting, relaxing, gentle & healing. Imagine the Violet flame rising beneath your feet, gently filling you, moving through every cell of your body. Draw the flame into your heart, & let it flow throughout your body, mind, energy system. Imagine it flowing through your physical, mental, emotional & spiritual bodies. As it clears all stale energy, incomplete reactions & stresses, feel love & forgiveness pou...

 I've 'sent' Reiki to people & situations over the years, individually, in Reiki Circles, on prayer chains, etc. Last summer, I noticed a lovely blog post   on making a 'Reiki Box' for sending Reiki.  The author noted that he decorated a small box (his is 3" x 2.5" x 2.5") of natural materials, & puts slips of paper with requests for distant healing, his own blessings for past & future, & 'anything else that needs Reiki energy.' He charges the slips with Reiki (sometimes drawing the symbols) before placing them in the box. He decorated his with angels, butterflies & flowers, & writes to activate treatment,  'proceed with the Reiki techniques you have been trained to do. Turn Reiki on, draw the symbols, then focus energy on the Reiki Box. Follow your instinct for how long to 'send' Reiki.' I put this blue crystal heart on top of the requests in my Reiki box.  In December, I plan to do a Zen funeral...

In addition to our work on each other, we can use Reiki to clear & bless land, as suggested in my last post. Here's a process you can adapt for use at home - Reiki enhances the clearing, but this can be done by ANYONE! Several years ago, my friend Molly Sheehan of Green Hope Farm Essences shared this wonderful land clearing practice, given by the guides of her land. She gardens co-creatively, & has a very sweet 'anyone can do this' attitude. Molly graciously gave me permission to share this, saying that the more people doing this or similar processes the better! Machaelle Wright of Perelandra teaches similar processes in her Garden Workbooks, & offers her own powerful essences.I work with both of their processes & essences, as well as my own. Molly comments that the guides & devas delight in being asked to help us, "A group of spiritual entities connected with Nature do the actual energy cleansing but this group cannot...

There are many ways of 'sending' Reiki over distance of space & time. This practice has been done over the centuries in many traditions. A few years before I learned Reiki, my friend Candy G mentioned that her Cherokee Grandmother was a 'Prayer healer;' whenever she thought of someone, she immediately sent a blessing to/for them. People would often stop them on the street, to thank Grandmother for her prayers! She didn't need to know what was wrong, simply that prayers were needed! I remember thinking "I want to do that, too!" ... and focusing on that, when I would think of it. Years before, a friend raised Catholic and i were at the state gate, when we heard sirens. She immediately stopped, and sent blessings, as the Nuns had taught her. Again, I was inspired, & incorporated it into my practices. When I learned 2nd Degree Reiki, I had a new tool/vehicle for sending prayers and blessings!  This can be done for individuals & situations. ...

There are many ways to utilize Reiki for personal healing & clearing. One of the simplest is to use your breath plus visualization. Can you do this even if you haven't been initiated into Reiki? YES! Intention & visualization are powerful tools. Just imagine yourself filling with love, peace, calm, health. Take a moment to get comfortable - if you wish, set the scene! Light a candle, ring a bell, sit on a cushion or lie down. Imagine yourself in a beautiful spot in nature, a high mountain stream, by the ocean, someplace the air is pure & clear. Imagine that you are breathing in this pure clear air. Breathe in through your nose, exhale can be either through nose or mouth. You may find yourself sighing at times - that's a wonderful release! Slowly inhale into the crown of your head, & feel the breath filling your head. Gently exhale, releasing worry, anxious thoughts, tension. Wait till your body 'nudges' you to inhale again. Slowly inhale, feeli...

 When Takata, who brought Reiki to the West in the late 30s, was awaiting surgery, (which she avoided!) then healing from her stomach pains (Uterine tumor, gall stones, appendicitis) Dr Maeda & his sister the dietician told her to 'treat the hospital like a fancy resort hotel;' to rest up & enjoy the wholesome food. The dietician was trained in Reiki, so every day, as she prepared meals for her patients, she would bless the green tea, bless the simple meals: Rice, beans, steamed vegetables (especially carrots & beets) and seaweed ... Telling this story during a Reiki class, I pictured the dietician blessing the meal as she prepared it, & muttering to herself that she wished Takata KNEW about Reiki! That she didn't really need the surgery ... but she was a Westerner, and might not be receptive... So she did the best she could, blessing the food with Reiki .... Later, just prior to the surgery, Takata heard 'Surgery not necessary!' & that she...

A couple of weeks after meeting our Reiki Master, another student & I arrived at her home for our First Degree Reiki class. One of Analyse's Mastery students joined us as well, to participate & observe. We alternated between teachings, sharing stories & experiences, initiations & learning to give (& receive) treatments. Analyse described the initiations as 'clearing the pipes' for the energy to flow through us, unimpeded. 'Think of the water pipes in two houses, a 'city house' & a summer home. If you turn on the faucet at home, the water runs clearly, while those in a place that's rarely used my sputter a bit, & run a bit cloudy. BOTH pipes have corrosion, but you don't observe that as much in the pipes that are used regularly.  'It's the same with people - some people naturally allow energy to flow, others don't; but both have 'blocks' that restrict the flow. The initation 'clears the pipes' in...

Reiki is written in two Japanese kanji or characters,  Spiritual (&) Energy The word 'Reiki' is used in the West to denote a healing system. The founder of our Modern Reiki System, Mikao Usui didn't use this term, his teachings were more commonly called 'Usui Do' (the Way of Usui) and the healings 'Usui teate' or Usui's form of hands-on healing. Later, the word Reiki was added or substituted, to signify the system utilized spiritual energy. In Chinese, the same two kanji are used for 'Ling Chi'   "Ling Chi is the subtylest and most highly refined of all the energies in the human system and the product of the most advanced stage of a practice, whereby the ordinary energy of the body are transformed into pure spiritual vitality. This type of highly refined energy enhances spiritual awareness, improves all cerebral functions, and constitutes the basic fuel for the highest level of spiritual work." (Ling Gung: Harnessing th...

I came to Reiki training by 'happenstance,' when I attended a talk on the asteroid Chiron, the 'wounded healer , the speaker mentioned how Chiron oversaw healing initiations, & that she would offer a Reiki class in a few weeks. "As an archetype, Chiron embodies key a lesson for today: how to link the daily concerns of life (paying the rent, washing the laundry, getting around in the world, and so forth) with the more profound spiritual realities — and then sharing what we learn with others. Chiron thus symbolizes the ability to establish a working bridge between the realm of the earth and the realm of Spirit." I was intrigued, & signed up for the class on the spot. I'd long realized there was 'more we could do' with our hands, without personal effort; but hadn't been sure how to tap it consistently. The class answered many questions, & left me hungry for more, when the time was ripe! Some students who are drawn to Reiki have ...

In the mid 90s, I attended a Flower Essence workshop with Australian ND, 5th generation healer & Essence Practitioner Ian White . He gave a lovely presentation on the Australian Essence Pharmacy he developed, & at one point, invited us to do what he called a "Zen Funeral."  We each wrote quickly about things we wished to release, and then burned the list in the fireplace at the Retreat Center. I immediately saw the application using Reiki & the Principles!  What are your Worries? What Angers you? Are there some hard lessons (recent or past) you struggle with? Teachers/ elders/ friends you're out of balance with? Does something about your job bother you? Relationship? Finances? Put them on paper. Write quickly, write passionately, draw, cover the paper - you choose! Hold your hands over the paper & bless it with Reiki (if you know the symbols, draw any that seem appropriate) When you've finished, release the paper - and the issues - into the flame!...

The 5th principle invites us to show Gratitude to every living thing, to live from that place of gratitude. "Walk as if you were kissing the Earth with your Feet" - Thich Nhat Hanh Living in Oregon, surrounded by fall beauty, it is easy to be grateful! I often invite my Reiki students to spend several minutes before bed, and again when they arise, 'counting blessings.' You may wish to do this in a journal, as writing empowers the words. As we move toward Thanksgiving in the US, many people choose to think of things they are thankful for each day of the month - what a lovely practice! Just for today, be kind to those around you, & show Gratitude!