Brian Cook - Self-Healing Reiki: Healing for Mind, Body and Soul

BRIAN COOK

If we can learn to heal ourselves then we will have the time to learn to love what is around us; if we can learn to love what is around us, then we can learn to heal the world.

If you already have some understanding of Reiki, you will know that the common belief is that you must be attuned to receive Reiki energy by a Master before you can embark on your healing journey.

However, there are a great number of people who have woken up to the fact that the universal energy is within the reach of every one of us. We are all born the same, holding the same energies within us, and all we are trying to do is find our way. With the use of Self-Healing Reiki we can all turn the corner from trying to find our way, to making it our way.

Reiki is a form of healing administered through touch and the use of symbols, promoting the bodys healing process on an emotional, mental, physical and spiritual level. Reiki is very similar to spiritual healing where energy enters the body through the crown chakra and is emitted from the palms, reducing stress and aiding relaxation and bringing balance to our lives.

The word Reiki is made up of two Japanese words: Rei meaning universal power or spirit and Ki meaning life force or energy. Reiki is often known as Universal life force energy. The ki is very similar to the chi used in Chinese acupuncture and Tai Chi, the graceful movement that uses exercises and breathing to flow energy through the body.

All living things are made up of energy and it is this energy that sustains life; without the bodys energy there is no physical form of us.

Everyone has the ability to learn to use Reiki, from a child to the elderly. Reiki is always safe to use regardless of anyones condition. It is like the unconditional love of a mother when she cuddles and comforts her sick or hurt child, bringing her child the warmth of love and energy. We have all given ourselves and others healing without knowing it one way or another. Think of the times you have rested your head within your palms to soothe the pain of a headache, or the stomach pain your hands have rubbed away.

It is an excellent complementary therapy to use alongside any other form of healing, conventional or alternative, and frequently produces beneficial results. Reiki is an intelligent energy, it will know where healing is needed first.

Reiki is a Tibetan form of healing said to have been rediscovered by a man called Dr Mikao Usui, who spent many years looking for the greater purpose of life. After some time he came to the conclusion that the ultimate purpose was to be in a complete state of peace within the mind. To achieve this he asked for guidance from a Zen master, hopeful of being told how to achieve a state of peace within the mind, but he did not get the response that he was hoping for.

If it is enlightenment that you seek and you feel the need to know the purpose of life then I suggest you die, said the Zen master.

This disheartened Usui and he found himself at a loss as to what to do next; he felt his life would be over if he couldnt find an answer to this question.

In despair, Dr Usui climbed to the top of Mount Kuri Yama, where he collected 21 stones to serve as a calendar for a 21-day meditation and fast, and at the end of each day he threw away one stone. On the 21st day, with the last stone in his hand, he prayed that he would find the answers he was looking for. But, still none the wiser at the end of the day, he prepared to find the answers in death.

Just as Dr Usui was about to jump from the mountains edge, a beam of light hurtled towards him, knocking him from his feet and bringing him an overwhelming feeling of peace. The light was made up of millions of small dazzling lights, some changing in colour and moving together to form shapes and symbols. Each one had a meaning and purpose, and spiritual and healing properties to activate healing energies.

Weak from the meditation but excited to share his discovery with the Zen master, Usui stumbled down the mountain. On his descent he stubbed his toe, and, comforting the pain with his hands, he was amazed to see his injury healing before his eyes.

When he reached the bottom of the mountain he found a place to eat and tucked into a traditional Japanese meal. The innkeeper, knowing about his meditation and fast, advised him not to eat such a large amount, as it would be dangerous after such a long time without food. But to his surprise, Usui did not get any stomach pains. When Usui told the innkeeper about his discovery and how he had healed himself, the innkeeper asked if he could heal his granddaughters toothache. This Usui did by putting his hands on her jaw.

On returning to the Zen master he found him bedridden with sickness; using his new knowledge he placed his hands over the Zen master, bringing him back to health with great success.

For a long time Reiki symbols were kept secret, and were shown only to those who had been attuned to the second degree of Reiki. Many masters wouldnt even let their students keep any drawn copies and insisted they were destroyed after training.

Used as a directional tool these symbols can best be explained as keys that open the doors to Reiki energy for self-healing of the past, present and future. We can use symbols over a wide range, as you will come to understand, not only on ourselves but also on the objects around us. They give us the means to connect with specific frequencies, and using different symbols will boost the Reiki energy. You can use the Reiki energy with the symbols by drawing the symbol in the air with your finger or using your mind to imagine you are doing so, then saying the name of the symbol three times.

The mental and emotional symbol pronounced say-hay-key. Helpful for healing relationship problems, emotional or mental stress, depression, anger, sadness, it also enhances the memory (as connected to the subconscious mind). This is considered an uplifting symbol because of the way this energy leaves one with feelings of emotional balance within the mind.

To clear a room of any negativity, stand facing each corner and use your finger to draw the symbol in the air around the corners of the room; you can also use incense sticks in the same way. Practise by placing your finger on the top point of the left character following round in one flowing movement. Then do the same for the right character, top to bottom then follow over the two curves. Draw once and say the name three times.