REIKI AND QIGONG
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Reiki and Qigong
Reiki and Qigong
The twentieth century has truly been a remarkable period as far as the proliferation of the Asian martial and healing arts are concerned. As students, practitioners and instructors of these arts, we can all look forward to the twenty-first century as a time when these arts and disciplines will become even more accepted. Hopefully their underlying principles and philosophies will have a positive impact on society as a whole, as ideas such as balance, flow, centering, rootedness, harmony and non-interference become understood and practiced on a daily basis by increasingly larger numbers of people.
Usui Reiki Ryoho—Past and Present
The Japanese art called reiki is one healing art that is beginning to gain widespread recognition due to its simplicity of application and potentially powerful effects. Reiki was rediscovered by O-Sensei Mikao Usui around 1923 atop holy Mt. Kurama near the ancient Japanese imperial capitol of Kyoto. O-Sensei Usui had spent many years studying martial arts, chi kung, medicine, philosophy, psychology, religion, fortune telling and metaphysics in general with great discipline and sincerity. At the conclusion of a twenty-one day fast atop Mt. Kurama, he had an enlightenment experience which gifted him with reiki healing energy and the ability to pass it on to others. His system became known as Usui Reiki Ryoho over time (the Usui System of Reiki Healing) in order to differentiate it from other healing systems that existed in Japan at the time.
Rev. Hawayo Takata, a second-generation Japanese born in Hawaii in 1900, learned the reiki technique in 1936 from one of O-Sensei Usui's teachers, Shihan Chujiro Hayashi. Rev. Takata had been in Japan to inform her parents of her sister's death and to receive medical treatment for severe health problems. Instead of standard medical treatment, she opted for ongoing reiki healing sessions, and after four months was free of her various ailments. She subsequently became trained as a reiki practitioner and worked for one year in Shihan Hayashi's reiki clinic before returning to Hawaii. In 1938 Shihan Hayashi traveled to Hawaii and initiated Mrs. Takata as the first reiki master teacher outside Japan. Thus, Western reiki history was born.
Mrs. Takata passed away in 1980 having trained twenty-two others as reiki master teachers. Since then, due to a number of factors, reiki has spread phenomenally. Today there are estimated to be over one million reiki practitioners scattered across the globe (many millions now as of 2020), with many thousands of reiki masters training new practitioners daily. Reiki is utilized in hospitals and wellness centers and is taught through many continuing education programs. Much of reiki's growth and popularity is due to the mainstream public's growing interest in complimentary medicine and acceptance of concepts and ideas from other cultures. And, of course, reiki's ease of use and learning makes it ideal for people of all ages and backgrounds to utilize.
Defining Reiki
Reiki is composed of two Japanese Kanji characters, rei and ki. Ki is what those practicing Chinese martial and healing disciplines call "chi." Others have referred to "chi" as prana, orgone, ka, mana, pneuma, wakan, Holy Spirit, odic power, life force, and so forth. Rei refers to the higher, perfect and pure, universal, mysterious, transcendental, spiritual dimension. Many refer to this as Heaven or the Buddha Realm or similar, though one need not be religious for reiki to work (no belief is necessary, is a natural phenomena). Reiki is usually translated as, "universal life-force healing energy." However, due to the way it is utilized and learned, a more complete translation and definition of reiki is "universal, mysterious, transcendental, spiritually guided life-force healing energy."
Utilizing Reiki
Reiki is an extremely simple technique to utilize. Light hand placement techniques are used on or near the body in order to guide healing energy to all aspects of the self—physical, mental/emotional and spiritual. In actuality, it is the Reiki Healing Force Herself and the individuals own energy system and karma which “guides” the process, the practitioner is the yin/passive part of the process. I like to say, “in the dance of reiki healing, She leads, we follow.” Reiki activates and balances the life-force energy present in all living things and enhances an individuals own innate healing powers. There are techniques for mental and emotional healing, chronic and acute physical problems, and for achieving spiritual focus and clarity, and much more.
Usually the client will lie on a massage or reiki table or sit comfortably in a chair as the reiki practitioner facilitates the Reiki healing energy. There is no need for complicated diagnosis by the reiki practitioner because the client’s own energy system will absorb the reiki healing energy as needed—just as when we eat a nutritious meal and the body absorbs the nutrients from the food and lets the unneeded or waste products pass through. We all love healthy, delicious, nutritious food, and reiki is the most wonderful nourishing substances available to us!
Reiki is easily learned by people of all ages (children included), fitness levels, socioeconomic, philosophical-spiritual and educational backgrounds. Unlike chi kung, t'ai chi and other martial and healing disciplines that usually require ongoing instruction from a qualified teacher, reiki is usually taught in a one or two day intensive seminar. There are usually three or four levels, or degrees, to reiki training that culminate in the reiki master teacher level (Sensei or Shihan) where the practitioner learns how to train others. Of course, practice and experience are vital as in any other art and discipline, and this is where an experienced teacher/guide is so helpful.
"Attunement" or “Rei-ju” (the “Reiki Blessing” or gift) is a process that the reiki master performs on the student. Attunement is a powerful yet safe method of opening and cleansing the subtle energy centers of the head, throat, heart, solar plexus and palms and eventually the entire energy system at ever deepening levels; and it permanently connects the student to reiki healing energy and Source so that it can be utilized whenever desired/needed. Thus the new practitioner can immediately begin to utilize reiki on him/herself, family, friends and loved ones or anyone else he/she decides to share it with. Reiki attunements are powerful healing experiences for most people.
Another strength of the reiki system is its flexibility and ease of use. Reiki can be utilized by the practitioner literally any time of the day or night and wherever he or she happens to be. Lines at the bank, long car trips, breaks at work—any of these and countless others are opportunities to practice reiki on oneself or others. If utilized on the self daily over time in a meditative or self-healing practice, reiki greatly facilitates personal growth, creativity, health and happiness because the practitioner’s life-force energy (chi or ki) is constantly being balanced and healed.
Integrating Reiki, Chi Kung and T'ai Chi
As a student, practitioner and teacher of chi kung, t'ai chi ch'uan, Shaolin kung fu and Filipino martial arts, I have been practicing various forms of meditation and energy work for over eleven years (at time of original publication, 34 years formally now). While I know that this hardly qualifies me as an expert in these arts, I have had the benefit of ongoing instruction from a very talented, gifted and experienced master instructor, White Lotus Headmaster Tao Chi Li who has walked his path since 1961. I have also had the opportunity to work with and instruct thousands of people in these arts, and learn from many renowned and famous teachers of a wide variety of spiritual, martial and healing arts. Reiki has had a very powerful and positive effect on my physical health, mental and emotional equilibrium, personal growth and creativity. Reiki is very easily and seamlessly incorporated into any existing chi kung, t'ai chi and/or martial arts regimen. From relieving the aches and pains of daily training, helping deal with the ongoing stress of life in modern society, to facilitating health and happiness on all levels of being, I would highly recommend reiki training to all my fellow t'ai chi, chi kung and martial arts practitioners, students and instructors.
Again, the utter simplicity of utilizing the reiki healing techniques, combined with the potentially powerful results, make it an ideal companion to any style or system of martial or healing arts. Conversely, I would highly recommend the more physical arts of chi kung, t'ai chi and proper martial arts instruction to any reiki practitioner. Philosophically and practically they make an ideal pairing of yin and yang.
Specific Blended Reiki, T'ai Chi, Chi Kung Techniques
Because reiki healing techniques can be used with such flexibility, there are potentially infinite ways in which reiki can be blended/integrated with t'ai chi, chi kung, nei kung, meditation and martial arts—all depending on the Rreiki practitioner’s previous background in these arts and his/her imagination. As in any internal arts training, it's best to start slowly and be guided by an experienced instructor. As long as the basic guidelines for utilizing reiki and for practicing whatever form of energy work/meditation you are blending it with are not violated, however, you should be fine. The practitioner should be well grounded in his/her art or properly guided before trying anything too exotic. Reiki always works for the highest good of all concerned, so as long as it is used with that intention it will not cause harm. It should also be remembered that reiki, like t'ai chi, chi kung and meditation, is not the be all and end all cure and panacea for all ailments, diseases and depressions. It should be utilized as part of a comprehensive way of living life in a balanced and healthy fashion. This way of life also includes proper diet and nutrition; healthy, loving, supportive relationships (including our relationship with ourselves); sufficient daily rest and sleep; and sufficient proper exercise. We are the sum of all that we think/feel and do. It is therefore important that we heal and bring balance into all areas of ourselves and our lives if we are to truly be "healthy." The ancient Chinese referred to this as yang sheng tao or the "way of nourishing the forces of life." We might call it something like "total wellness for optimal health." In any case, reiki, t'ai chi, chi kung, nei kung, meditation and proper martial arts instruction are important components of this way of living, and it's exciting to see so many teachers and practitioners sharing information.
In regard to blended techniques, I would like to emphasize that weekly or monthly reiki healing sessions are a wonderful way to facilitate the healing and balancing of an individual’s energy system, thus enhancing health, creativity and personal growth. For reiki practitioners, self-healing should be practiced on a daily basis for the same reasons. Reiki healing sessions are excellent for relieving the stress, strain, aches and pains of daily training (especially for those practicing martial arts). If the individual/practitioner is basically healthy and happy, then reiki will further their creativity and personal growth on deeper levels.
A simple but powerful method of integrating reiki with chi kung/nei kung is to utilize the reiki symbols and mantras (shirushi and jumon) in conjunction with standing postures. The reiki symbols and mantras are techniques that utilize a visual symbol (like a yantra as well as sacred writing/ calligraphy) and their names (mantra) which orient reiki energy to perform various tasks. They are part of what makes the reiki healing system unique, simple and powerful. O-Sensei Usui taught four symbols which in English are often referred to as the Power Symbol, the Distance Symbol, the Mental/Emotional Symbol, and the Master Symbol. They are utilized in self-healing, working with others, projecting healing energy beyond time and space, meditation and for "attuning" others to Reiki healing energy. In addition to these four symbols, other reiki symbols have been discovered or shared that have also proven to be safe and effective. For the sake of simplicity, in the following descriptions I will only refer to the Usui Power Symbol and the Usui Distance Symbol. Techniques utilizing other symbols can be developed from the examples I will provide.
The standing posture called Embrace The Tree or what some refer to as the Universal Post is very common in chi kung and/or martial arts training. It consists of standing in a shoulder-width or slightly wider stance with the knees bent and the arms raised to chest level with the palms facing inward as if embracing a large tree. For the specifics and details of this standing posture, one should see a qualified instructor. In order to blend this posture with reiki, the practitioner may visualize the Usui Power Symbol in the following locations: one each in the soles of the feet; one in the perineum area; one in the lower tan-tien; one each in the palms of the hands; one in the middle dan tien, one in the upper tan-tien; and one in the crown chakra (top of head). It is very important that the practitioner follows the particulars of the stance and proper posture as well as proper relaxation, breathing and eye focus. Utilizing the Power Symbol in conjunction with the Embrace the Tree posture will greatly facilitate energy flow throughout the practitioner’s body and energy system as well as the connection with the Earth and Sky energies. Once the Power Symbol has been activated in the above locations it is not necessary to maintain the visualization unless the practitioner is talented at visualization and familiar with utilizing the Embrace the Tree posture. The main issue is comfort. If at any time the practitioner becomes unduly uncomfortable, he/she may lower the arms and discontinue the exercise. As a wise person once said, "less strain, more gain."
For those with a meditative practice, reiki may be utilized in many ways. First of all the reiki symbols and their names (mantras) can be utilized as a focal point in meditation. This deepens the connection to reiki energy and furthers healing at deeper levels of being. Again, meditation is best learned from an experienced instructor in order to avoid problems. For those who practice a breathing style of meditation, such as zazen or any abdominal breathing method, one may visualize the Usui Power Symbol in the lower abdomen (dan tien/tanden specifically) during the meditation. This serves to focus the mind and energy in this area as well as to clear the area of blockages. A very powerful method of meditation is to utilize the Usui Distance Symbol and the Usui Power Symbol for goal empowerment and manifestation. The options are limitless because reiki energy is not restricted by space and time. It should be remembered that reiki can only be utilized for the highest good of all concerned and therefore will only facilitate positive results for all concerned. It is not black magic. One may in fact find that certain goals are not achieved, which may be disappointing—until we realize that this only serves to open other pathways that may be even more beneficial to us. As we learn in t'ai chi, it is always best to "go with the flow."
A specific example of the above is to sit in meditation, connect to the breath, then visualize and chant the Usui Power Symbol, the Usui Distance Symbol, and then the Usui Power Symbol again. Then an affirmation/prayer such as the following may be utilized: "Please guide me and heal me so that I may be empowered with the strength, knowledge and wisdom of my Higher Self (or the Tao)." As techniques like this are utilized on a daily basis, be prepared to sit back and enjoy the ride. You have stated to the Universe that you are ready to change and grow. If you are truly ready, "ask and you shall receive."
As far as push hands and self-defense training goes, I have found that by working with reiki on a daily basis, not only have I become healthier and more balanced, but my sensitivity to external energy has been heightened. This mean that I have become not only more sensitive through touch, but also to other people’s thoughts and intentions. Given that t'ai chi ch'uan includes many methods and techniques for balancing and harmonizing with the environment, including the potentially harmful thoughts, words and deeds of the people in our environment, this heightened sensitivity is quite useful. As reiki practitioners we of course only serve to work with the greatest good of all, and this includes self-defense and martial arts training and application.
Thus we should seek to never act from a position of negativity such as anger, fear, greed, worry, lust, and so forth. As my t'ai chi and martial arts instructor has taught me, we should use "love as our shield and knowledge as our sword." Again, depending on your training and background, it is possible to develop many techniques that blend reiki with other internal arts. Hopefully these examples will spark your interest and creativity. Other possibilities include two-person energy enhancement exercises, form work, other standing and seated applications, dreamwork, and so on. Usui Reiki Ryoho also has it's own tradition qigong methods, which are known as “reiki-ko,” or reiki qigong. The sky's the limit. Have fun!!
In Conclusion
As the twentieth century draws to a close and the dawn of a new millennium approaches, we can all reflect and rejoice at the many positive changes occurring throughout the world. East and West, ancient and modern, dogmatic and freedom-embracing cultures and belief systems across the world are integrating, interacting and learning from each other. This process is sometimes gentle and unnoticed, other times violent and aggressive. Hopefully the end result will be the same over time. The ancient disciplines of t'ai chi, chi kung and martial arts, along with more modern arts such as reiki, are all based on timeless knowledge, truth and wisdom. As long as we don't forget the roots of these disciplines as they are integrated into modern society, the potential benefits will be tremendous.
Regarding these roots, my friend and fellow t'ai chi Sifu Beverly Giglio wrote a poem that is one of the most beautiful descriptions of t'ai chi I’ve seen. It is also a wonderful description of the reiki healing path:
“There are two powers in this Universe
Which transcend all others—
They are Truth and Love.
The power of Truth is in the
Acceptance of it.
The power of Love is in the
Giving of it.
If you Love the Truth more than
You fear anything, then nothing
Can have power over you.
You are entirely Free.”
