Indigo Energy Reiki

Primary care physicians report that 75 per cent of office visits involve stress-related issues. Reiki (energy healing from the heart) helps to alleviate the causes of physical, mental and emotional stress and to maintain balance.

What is Reiki?

            Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a natural healing art, an individual practice of energy focus. REI is a Japanese word that means “Universal Life Energy,” and KI means “Individual Life Energy.” Reiki involves no religion, dogma or system of belief, and requires no special state of being.

      Reiki is an individual practice of energy focus. This energy enhances life on all levels, it can be used on one-self, family, friends, plants, animals for greater health and well-being, as well as for pain relief, deep relaxation, stress reduction and the acceleration of the body’s natural healing process.

      Reiki puts the body into a state of deep relaxation, which triggers the Para-Sympathetic Nervous System and awakens the body’s internal ability to heal itself by restoring balance on all levels. This system is responsible for the rejuvenation and regeneration of all cell life in the entire body.

      A Reiki treatment consists of non-invasive energy assessment (scanning) and re-alignment of the energy field (rebalancing) to restore the energetic balance of the chakras and other areas. This energy rebalancing encourages the cells of the body to remember their natural healthy state of vibration and to retain themselves to vibrate as they were meant to, according to their original blue print.

      Reiki also increases the flow of emotional expression and self-expression, and encourages spiritual growth, creativity and wholeness. Anyone can learn Reiki because healing is a natural ability in all people.

What is the Human Energy Field?

      Around the physical body is the Human Energy Field, also called the aura - a wider, multi-dimensional field made up of pulsing energy. Every time we experience and repress emotions like grief, rage, guilt, and shame, they remain stuck in the energy fields.

      Our mental programming is also stored here. If not corrected, our energetic patterns will continue to be unbalanced and cause further disruption at all levels – physical, emotional and mental.

      Once we become aware of the extent of the imbalances, we can unblock and adjust them in a non-invasive and holistic way.

The history of the Usui System of Natural Healing

As presented by the Reiki Alliance by Paul David Mitchell. Additional material supplied by Jacqueline Fairbrass and William Rand, The Healing Touch. Edited, revised and paginated by Daniel Brian Roth. The story of Reiki, to date, has been an oral history that is passed on from teacher to student by word of mouth. This is the story as I and others have heard it:

Dr. Mikao Usui

           The founder of Reiki as a natural healing is Dr. Mikao Usui. At the turn of the century, late 1800’s, Dr. Usui was the president of a small Christian university in Kyota Japan, Doshisha University. He was also a Christian minister.

      An interchange with a student at the beginning of a Sunday service changed the focus of Dr. Usui’s life. As Dr. Usui was beginning one of his last Sunday services of the school year, a senior student about to graduate raised his hand and asked Dr. Usui:
      “Do you accept the contents of the Bible literally?” Dr. Usui answered that indeed he did. The student went on:
      “In the Bible is says that Jesus cured the sick, that he healed, and that he walked on water. You accept this as written, have you ever seen this happen?”

       Dr. Usui agreed that he believed and answered that no, he had never seen a healing or walking on water. The student went on to say:
       “For you, Dr. Usui, that kind of blind faith is enough, for you have lived your life and are secure. For us who are just beginning our adult lives and have so many questions and concerns, it is not enough. We need to see with our own eyes.”

       A seed had been sewn. The next day Dr. Usui resigned his position as president of Doshisha University and decided to study. He eventually earned a doctorate degree in scripture trying to uncover the secret of how Jesus and his disciples healed the sick. Had he found what he sought? No. Realizing that in the Buddhist tradition it is held that the Buddha had the power to heal, he decided to see what he could learn from Buddhism. In Japan, Dr. Usui began to visit the Buddhist monasteries searching for someone who had an interest in and some knowledge of physical healing. He always received the same answer to his inquiries:
       “We are too busy with the healing of the spirit to worry about the healing of the body.”

        At long last he found someone who was at least interested in the problem of physical healing, an elderly abbot from a Zen monastery. Dr. Usui requested that he be admitted to the monastery so that he could study the Buddhist scriptures, the Sutras, in search of the key healing. He was admitted and so began his study.

        He studied the Japanese translations of the Buddhist scriptures but did not find the explanation he sought. He learned Chinese so that a larger range of Buddhist writings would be available to him, still without success. He then decided to learn Sanskrit, the ancient language, so that he could read the original Buddhist writings and have access to those writings that had never been translated into another language.

        Finally, he found what he had been looking for. In the teachings of Buddha that had been written down by some unknown disciple as the Buddha spoke, Dr. Usui found the formula, the symbols and the description of how Buddha healed.

         And so at the end of seven years, Dr. Usui had found what he sought – but not quite. Although he had uncovered the knowledge, he did not have the ability to heal. Discussing this with his old friend, the abbot, he decided to go to the mountain and meditate, to seek the power to heal. The abbot told him it would be dangerous, that he could lose his life. Dr. Usui answered that he had come this far and would not turn back.

         Dr. Usui climbed on of the sacred mountains of Japan, Kuri Yama, and meditated for 21 days. On the first day he placed 21 small stones in front of him, and as each day passed he threw one down the mountain. On the 21st day, Dr. Usui saw a beam of light from the heavens that came shooting towards him. Although he was afraid, he did not move. He was struck by the light and was knocked over. Then in rapid succession he saw before him objects like bubbles of light, they contained the symbols that he had discovered in his study, the key to the healing of Buddha and Jesus. The symbols burned themselves into his memory.

        When his trance finished he no longer felt exhausted, stiff, or hungry, as he had moments before. He got up and began to walk down the mountain. On his way down he stubbed his big toe, tearing back the toenail. He jumped with pain and grabbed his big toe with his hand. In minutes that pain left, the bleeding stopped and his toe was well on its way to healing.

       When he arrived at the bottom of the mountain he stopped at an outside vendor’s stall and ordered breakfast. The old man at the stall, seeing the length of Dr. Usui’s facial hair and the condition of his clothes realized that he had been on a long fast and said that it would be a few minutes before he could prepare his food so that it would not upset his long, empty, stomach. He directed Dr. Usui to go and sit under a tree on a bench and wait.

       Soon after, the daughter of the old man came with his breakfast. As he looked at her Dr. Usui saw that she had been crying and that her face was swollen and red on one side. He asked her what was wrong and she replied that she had a toothache for three days. He asked her if he could touch her face, and with her permission he cupped her cheeks in his hands. In a few minutes the pain left her and the swelling began to recede.

       Returning to the monastery in the evening, Dr. Usui was told that his friend, the abbot, was in bed suffering from a painful attack of arthritis. After bathing and having something to eat, Dr. Usui went to see his friend and with his healing hands relieved his pain.

       For the next seven years Dr. Usui worked in the beggar kingdom in Tokyo, Japan healing the sick. Those that were young and able he sent off to find work. After seven years he began to see those that he had helped return to the beggar camp in the same condition that he had found them.

       He asked the people why they returned to the camp and they answered that they preferred their old way of life. Dr. Usui realized that he had healed the physical body of symptoms but had not taught appreciation for life or a new way of living. Dr. Usui was greatly upset, and thought, “What a terrible thing I have done. Perhaps the churches were right – the physical is not enough – the spiritual has to also be healed. Never again will Reiki be given away for free – always there will have to be an exchange of energy.” He decided to immediately leave the beggar kingdom. As he walked back to the monastery, Dr. Usui was greeted, in Spirit, by the teachers who had greeted him on the mountain of Kuri Yama. At this time he was given the five Spiritual principles of Reiki by the teachers.

JUST FOR TODAY –
I WILL NOT WORRY
I WILL NOT BE ANGRY
I WILL DO MY WORK HONESTLY
I WILL GIVE THANKS FOR MY MANY BLESSINGS
I WILL BE KIND TO MY NEIGHBOURS AND ALL LIVING THINGS

These five principles created significant changes in the subsequent healings of Dr. Usui. He realized that he had been giving healing away without requiring the patient to take any responsibility whatsoever. Also, there had not been an exchange of energy for the services rendered. The new teaching provided spiritual concepts to be integrated with the physical aspect of the Reiki energy.

He then created a new approach to teaching and using Reiki. Dr. Usui got a torch, lit it, and then walked into Kyoto. He was stopped and asked why he was carrying a lit torch in the middle of the day with the sun shining so brightly. He replied that he was searching for people with an enlightened heart, full of love but who are sad and sorrowful and do not know the true Divine light. He invited the people to come and hear about Reiki. With this method he started teaching Reiki throughout Japan and gathered a following of 16 student teachers.

Dr. Chujiro Hayashi

       One of these students, Chujiro Hayashi, a retired naval officer, was seeking a way to serve others. He found Dr. Usui, was initiated by him, and became deeply involved with the practice of Reiki.

      Over time, when Usui’s life was drawing to a close, he recognized Hayashi as the Master of Reiki and charged him with keeping the essence of his teachings intact.

      Dr. Hayashi, realized the importance of a system and record keeping, founded a clinic in Tokyo where people could come for treatment and to learn Reiki. From the clinic there were practitioners that would go out and treat those that could not come to the clinic. He left records demonstrating that Reiki finds the source of the physical symptoms, fills the vibration or energy needed, and restores the body to wholeness.

Hawayo Takata

       Hawayo Takata was born at dawn on December 24th, 1900, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Her parents were Japanese immigrants and her father worked in the sugar cane fields. She worked very hard as she was growing up. She eventually married the bookkeeper of the plantation where she was employed. His name was Saichi Takata and they had two daughters. In October of 1930, Saichi died at the age of thirty-four leaving Mrs. Takata to raise their two children.

       In order to provide for her family, she had to work very hard with little rest. After five years she developed severe abdominal pain, a lung condition and had a nervous breakdown.

       Soon after this, one of her sisters died and it was the responsibility of Hawayo to travel to Japan where her parents had moved to deliver the news. She also felt she could receive help for her health in Japan.

       She took a steamship and was accompanied by her sister-in-law. After informing her parents of the death of her sister, she entered a hospital. It was found that she had a tumor, gallstones and appendicitis. After resting several weeks, she was ready for the needed operation. On the operating table, just before the surgery was to begin, Hawayo heard a voice. The voice said, “The operation is not necessary. The operation is not necessary.” She had never heard a voice speak to her like this before. She wondered what it meant. The voice repeated the message a third time even louder. She knew she was wide awake and had not imagined the voice. It was so unusual, yet so compelling that she decided to ask the doctor. She got off the operating table, wrapped a sheet around herself and asked to speak to the doctor.

       When the doctor finally came, she asked if he knew of any other way that her problems could be helped. The doctor knew of Dr. Hayashi's Reiki clinic and told Hawayo about it. This was something she wanted to try.

       During Mrs. Takata’s experiences and treatments at the clinic, her illness lessened and her desire to learn Reiki grew. When her first treatments were almost finished, she asked to be admitted to a beginning class. She was refused. She realized that she must demonstrate a deep commitment to Reiki. She went to Dr. Hayashi and told him her feelings and her willingness to stay in Japan as long as was necessary. He consented to begin her training.

       Mrs. Takata with her two daughters stayed with the Hayashi family for a year, learning by practicing Reiki everyday and being with Hayashi. When both felt that the training was completed, Mrs. Takata returned to Hawaii with her gift of healing.

       In Hawaii her practice flourished and soon Hayashi and his daughter came to visit. They stayed several months, teaching, training, and being with Mrs. Takata. In February 1938, Hawayo Takata was initiated as a Master of the Usui System of Natural Healing.
       Soon after the initiation, Hayashi and his daughter returned to Japan. Dr. Hayashi had a sense that war was coming between the United States and Japan. He could not reconcile being a Reiki Master and having to serve in the Navy. So, he began to set the affairs of his household in order for his passing.

       During this time Mrs. Takata in Hawaii had a vivid dream that caused her concern. She knew that she must go to Japan and be with Hayashi. When she arrived Dr. Hayashi told her many things: that the war was coming, who would win, and what she must do and where she must go to avoid trouble for herself as she was a Japanese American living in Hawaii. All of these things he foresaw and passed onto her for her protection and for the protection of Reiki.

       When all of his business was taken care of and in order, he called his family together along with the Reiki Masters, at that time. Giving them his final words and recognizing Mrs. Takata as his successor in Reiki, he said goodbye and dressed in his formal Japanese clothing, he closed his eyes and left his body.

       Following his guidance, Mrs. Takata finished her work in Japan and sailed to Hawaii. She returned as the Master of Reiki. She demonstrated her commitment throughout her life, teaching and practicing Reiki. She became a powerful healer and a great teacher, introducing the gift of Reiki to the Western World.

Phyllis Furumoto

      As a young child, Phyllis Furumoto received her first degree initiation from her grandmother, Hawayo Takata, and would treat Mrs. Takata when she visited. Phyllis’ life was directed into college and then a career. Although Mrs. Takata asked periodically if she would take up the study of Reiki, Phyllis felt too busy. Then in the late ’70s, when Phyllis was 27, she accepted the second degree initiation.

       Takata began her training. In the spring of 1979, after a month of consideration, Phyllis decided to travel and work with her grandmother. Just before the first trip Mrs. Takata initiated Phyllis as a Reiki Master. The teaching and training then began in earnest.

      During the classes in the following year, Phyllis learned that she was to succeed Mrs. Takata Sensai in the Reiki Lineage. Shortly after this acknowledgement of Phyllis as the Master of Reiki, Takata made her transition in December of 1980. In the years since Takata’s passing, Phyllis has grown into full acceptance of her role and into an understanding of the responsibility of the position. She exemplifies what does happen when one accepts the energy force of Reiki as a teacher and a guide in life.

How does Reiki Work?

By Daniel Roth

To understand the concept of Reiki, one must understand the natural energy field which resonates around every living object. This energy field is called the Aura. There are seven layers of Aura around plants, animals and humans.

Every living species also contains energy centres called Chakras.

“Chakra” is a Sanskrit word, and it means “wheel,” or “vortex,” because that's what it looks like when we look at it. Each Chakra is like a solid ball of energy interpenetrating the physical body, in the same way that a magnetic field can interpenetrate the physical body.

The Chakras are not physical. They are aspects of consciousness in the same way that the Auras are aspects of consciousness.

The Chakras are more dense than the Auras, but not as dense as the physical body, but they interact with the physical body through two major vehicles, the endocrine system and the nervous system.

Each of the seven Chakras is associated with one of the seven endocrine glands, and also with a particular group of nerves called a plexus.

Thus, each Chakra can be associated with particular parts of the body and particular functions within the body controlled by that plexus or that endocrine gland associated with that Chakra. (A diagram of the Chakras and Aura is below with a description of the purpose of each Chakra below the image.)

The Chakra and Aura System

Crown (Seventh)
The Crown Chakra is where we receive “Universal Energy.” It is where we are most spiritually connected to the “higher power.”
The Crown Chakra represents that part of our consciousness concerned with perceptions of unity or separation. Just as the Root Chakra showed our connection with Mother Earth, this Chakra shows our relationship with Our Father in Heaven, or our spiritual perceptions. It is the centre for our relationship with authority, and ultimately, with God. It's the level of the soul.

Indigo (Sixth)
The Indigo Chakra is where most Extra Sensory Perception occurs, all of our inner senses corresponding to the external senses, which together are considered spirit-to-spirit communication.
These include, for example, clairvoyance (inner sense of vision), clairaudience (inner sense of hearing), clairsentience (inner sense of touch), etc… This Chakra is associated with the deep inner level of being we call the Spirit, and with what we consider spirituality and the spiritual perspective, the point of view from that deeper part of our being that western traditions consider the subconscious or unconscious. It is the place where our true motivations are found, and is the level of consciousness that directs our actions and, in fact, our lives.

Throat (Fifth)
The Throat Chakra is dominantly responsible for communication in all aspects. It can be in the form of communicating what one wants and what one feels, or it can be an artistic expression, as an artist painting, a dancer dancing, a musician playing music, using a form for expressing and bringing to the outside what was within. Expressing is related to receiving, as in “Ask and ye shall receive.” Or, “Be careful what you wish for.”
This Chakra is associated with listening to one's intuition, which guides one in an most advantageous flow, in which one sees one's goals manifest, and it seems that the Universe provides all their needs with no effort on their part at all. Grace and abundance are associated with this Chakra, as is the aspect of unconditional receiving necessary to accept the abundance of the Universe. This Chakra is related to creativity, creating, manifesting in the physical world the fulfillment of one's goals.

Heart (Fourth)
The Heart Chakra relates to the person inside the body, and distinct from the sensation of the Orange Chakra, which is more about the sensation one feels from their own body. Hugging, therefore, is a Heart Chakra activity. When one hugs, one is aware of what the person inside the other body feels, and they are aware of what you feel inside your body, and there is a sense of relating to the person inside the body. Sensitivity about being touched indicates Heart Chakra sensitivity.
Perceptions of love, relationships (relating) with people close to your heart, i.e. a partner, your siblings, your parents, your children.
Difficulty with breathing, or with the lungs, the organs of air, indicates tension in the Heart Chakra. A person's relationship with air reflects their relationship with love.

Solar Plexus (Third)
The parts of the body associated with the Third Chakra include: the muscular system, the skin as a system, the solar plexus, the large intestine, stomach, liver, and other organs and glands in the region of the solar plexus. Also the eyes, as the organs of sight, and the face representing figuratively the face one shows the world. Parts of the consciousness associated with this Chakra include perceptions concerned with power, control, freedom, the ease with which one is able to be themselves - ease of being.
Mental activity and the mental body are also associated with this Chakra. The solar plexus Chakra is also associated with the level of being we call the personality, or ego.
The relationship a person has with fire, or the sun, can be seen to have its parallels in the person’s relationship with the parts of their consciousness that this Chakra represents. Someone sensitive about the sun, then, can be seen to have particular sensitivities about power, or control, or freedom.

Orange (Second)
The Orange Chakra is associated with the parts of the consciousness concerned with food and sex.
It brings energy to the “Being” inside, about what the body wants and needs, and what it finds pleasurable. The person's ability to have children is also associated with this Chakra. A person’s relationship with water is a reflection of their relationship with the parts of their consciousness associated with this Chakra, i.e. food, sex, or having children. This Chakra is also associated with the emotional body, and the person's willingness to feel their emotions.

Root (First)
The Root Chakra grounds our energy and provides security, survival, trust, the relationship with money, home, job. The ability to be grounded, to be present in the here and now. Ability to allow one's self to be nourished, in the sense of allowing one's Inner “Being” to be satisfied. This Chakra also reflects a person's connection with their mother, and with Mother Earth. And how the person feels about being on the earth.
This Chakras connection to the physical body includes association with: Lymph system, skeleton system (teeth and bones), the prostate gland in men, the sacral plexus, the bladder and elimination system, and the lower extremities (legs - feet, ankles , etc…). Also the nose, since it is the organ of the sense of smell.

First three layers of the Aura

     For most people, a Reiki treatment will be started by working with the energy in the Chakras and the first three layers of the Aura. As you go through life you experience different situations which help you learn and grow. And everything you experiance in life, emotionally, mentally and physically are recoded holographically in the Aura.

     The first layer of the Aura is skin tight and is the "physical" layer. (Red.) It is associated with the Root Chakra. The energy from any physical injury still resonates in this layer, and even though the injury may have healed years ago the energy from it may still be in your Aura.

     The second layer of the Aura is next and it the "emotional layer." (Orange.) It is associated with the second Chakra. If you are stressed-out, or are having emotional problems due to a relationship with a family member for partner, that energy will reside in this layer of the aura.

     The third layer of the aura is the "Mental" layer (Yellow) It is associated with the third Chakra. The energy in this layer is related to the energy in the second layer of the aura. If you seem to be experiencing similar situations repeatedly that negative energy will translate into how you think, "I'm not good enough," for example.

Aura with negative energy in it

When you are a baby you are virtually clear of all negative energy. You a clean slate waiting to be shaped. It isn't until Age 2 when children are starting to be told, "No, don't do that!" or, "Shhh! I have a headache today," that negative energy starts to build up in the different layers of the Aura. Our mental programming is also stored in the Aura. If not corrected, our energetic patterns will continue to be unbalanced and cause further disruption at all levels – physical, emotional and mental.

Example of Natural Energy Source (White) and Grounding Energy (Red)

     The Aura works like any other electrical system, there must be a source and a ground. To function property the source and ground must be properly balanced. Reiki helps to achieve this, thus allowing you to function as efficiently as possible. Above is a picture showing energy entering the Crown Chakra, and being grounded by the Root Chakra. In reality energy from the Crown Chakra charges the entire body and Chakras while your body grounds energy from your entire body and Chakras through your feet simultaneously.

     Reiki energy removes the negative energy out of the Chakras, the Aura and the physical body and replaces it with positive energy. This will result in you feeling better and thinking higher of yourself as a result. Because Reiki removes the negative energy from the aura and the physical body, any physical symptoms or ailments one might be experiencing will heal faster as a result of the negative energy being removed.

     A Reiki Practitioner has been attuned to channel Reiki energy. Everyone has the possibility of learning Reiki, as the ability to heal is innate in all humans. During a session you may feel warm energy off of the practitioners hands. You are feeling the energy they are channeling, not their energy. Reiki puts the body into a state of deep relaxation, which triggers the Para-Sympathetic Nervous System and awakens the body’s internal ability to heal itself by restoring balance on all levels. This system is responsible for the rejuvenation and regeneration of all cell life in the entire body.

A Typical Reiki Session

After a greeting and casual conversation,. The client and I would sit to discuss their personal situation and will establish what will be focusing our attention on during the actual healing.

A few short health forms would be filled out by the client in order to establish an un-intimidating personal background. All forms are strictly for confidential records, and no personal information is sold. At the end of the form the client would sign a statement, that under the terms, they are fully responsible for what happens from the result of the healing.

No two healings are the same, some people are looking for serious assistance in regaining health, and others merely want a simple rebalancing. Either way the client would enter the treatment room and rest on a standard massage table. The client would be encouraged to breathe normally and to let the practitioner know of anything they think of during the session that may assist in the healing.

The practitioner will begin at the head of the client, placing his/her hand on either side close to the ears. This is where Reiki energy begins to be channels and instructed what to do for the client. The practitioner will continue to scan the energy field feeling for anything out of the ordinary. The practitioner will question the client on anything he or she feels in the field and will always ask permission to place his or her hands on the client. The healing energy works best when it can be as close to the physical injury as possible.

The practitioner will often tell the client of various things he/she sees during the healing session which may assist the client afterwards. By working in the client’s energy field the practitioner will be able to tell what the client is going through and what would be best for the client at the time of the healing.

Typically the client will go into a deep state of relaxation during the session and after the treatment has finished the client will be encouraged to slowly return to a functioning state.

Reiki can help with the following:

Re-balancing your energy field.
Assist with grounding or charging the Chakras.
Assist with attracting, or strengthening, personal abilities, such as: communication, love, intuition.
Assist with providing energy protection from others.
Assist with drawing sickness from the body.
Assist with releasing issues from the past.
Assist with the healing of injuries or wounds from the past.

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