My Reiki Lineage Explained: Usui

There are many different paths to studying Reiki and mine actually stretches back to before I had Sebastian, my nine year old youngest munchkin. I actually used Reiki as a form of therapy for 6 years before I became qualified. I did my level one a good few years ago before going further into it. The levels allow you to practice and give healing to different people in your life and then, qualify you to charge should you want that to become a part of your career path further, like I did. I did for a number of years just do it on friends, family and my dog. And yes, animals love Reiki.

If you’re interested in knowing a little further about Reiki, understanding its origins and lineage is vital as to what root you want to take and why. Reiki, a holistic healing practice developed by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century, combines two Japanese words: “Rei” (universal) and “Ki” (life force energy). This practice focuses on channeling energy to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being through life force energy.

Mikao Usui, born in 1865, sought spiritual enlightenment and his transformative experience during a 21-day meditation retreat on Mount Kurama led him to discover the healing powers of Reiki. He founded the Usui System of Reiki Healing that I have followed through my own Master of Reiki, emphasising self-healing and personal growth, which remain the core principles of Reiki today.

Usui’s teachings have been preserved and passed down through a lineage that includes influential practitioners like Chujiro Hayashi and Hawayo Takata. Hayashi, one of Usui’s students, opened a clinic in Tokyo where he refined Reiki techniques even further so that we could focus in on different parts and modalities of the body in order to facilitate the healing process. It was Takata that actually introduced Reiki to the Western world in the 1930s, where he significantly expanded the healing practice as it reached far and wide and gained popularity as people started to feel the benefits.

For me as a practitioner, understanding the original teachings of Usui, ensures authenticity in practice. Reiki training typically involves different levels and attunements, allowing individuals to deepen their understanding and enhance their healing abilities. And so, the more you understand about how and why this practice allows you to heal, the more you can authentically use it to channel and tap into universal life force energy to heal your client.

As you embark on your Reiki journey, consider how the lineage informs your practice and the profound healing energy that Reiki offers for personal and collective wellbeing. Please do come along or email me direct to have first hand experience in Reiki Healing.

Being,

Gizelle Renee