The Healing Touch

Reiki's popularity as an alternative approach to healing for both adults and children continues to grow, despite being spurned by scientists, discovers Lydia Davis.

In 1922, Dr Mikao Usui, a Japanese doctor, escaped the stress of a failing business to spend time meditating on the sacred Mount Kurama. It was here he claimed to receive enlightenment of a healing process that could help others by harnessing universal energy to restore the body, mind and spirit. And so Reiki was born.

This simple approach to healing is being increasingly used in the West to improve health and mental well-being. It works on the basis that ‘universal life energy' is channelled through the practitioner to the recipient through seven chakras, or energy centres, in the body. Illness is an indication that a chakra is blocked or unbalanced.

Reiki Master Kim Pierce, 42, explains: "When there is poor health, a practitioner looks for the source of energy disruption. Sickness is a body signalling that the natural flow of energy is disturbed and needs to be redressed."

Kim finds her clients usually arrive with "an intention", a specific area they want healed; but this is by no means a pre-requisite to Reiki, and she finds that "people come because they just have a general feeling that something isn't right in their lives".

Recipients assert that Reiki produces deep relaxation, and a tangible reduction in stress and depression. Practitioners also claim it can return focus to a person's life, a belief reinforced by Kate Packwood. Kate, 43, used Reiki at a time when she felt overwhelmed by the combined pressures of a move abroad and raising a family.

She says: "I was at a point where I was feeling low and very isolated and looking for answers. I decided to let a friend give me a Reiki session and it completely exceeded my expectations. It offers a really attractive way of dealing with the world, a philosophy which while not necessarily easy to put into practice, offers a way to make your life more settled and peaceful. I think it's something you can do for your family, not just for yourself."

Evidence suggests that Reiki can be highly beneficial for children, who tend to be more open to the experience than adults. Twelve months ago, Jessica Williams arranged sessions for her 11 year-old son, who has a mild learning disorder. She describes the outcomes as remarkable: "Instead of placing demands on him and requiring him to perform in some way, his Reiki sessions allow him to see the strength he has within him. He comes out beaming with happiness, and we've seen massive improvements in his self confidence and abilities in school."

Yet the therapy has suffered no small amount of scepticism: practitioners continually defend Reiki against the claim that it is nothing more than a placebo. In 2008, a review of randomized trials carried out to asses Reiki‘s success in counteracting, amongst other things, depression, pain and stress, declared: "The evidence is insufficient to suggest that Reiki is an effective treatment." The results of the trials were published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, and claimed there was no difference found in the response of patients treated with Reiki to those administered with a placebo treatment.

Independent research into Reiki is ongoing but some studies do counterbalance these allegations; in 2001, medical researchers at the University of Texas carried out a series of tests, and concluded that patients treated with Reiki attained a heightened state of relaxation, which reduced both anxiety and blood pressure.

But as Kim points out: "Even if you couldn't scientifically prove Reiki, it's unfair to reject it for that reason. Reiki is based in intuition. It's about listening to our bodies and gut-feelings rather than living solely in the rational, and that's something we can all benefit from doing more of."

If you've ever considered practising Reiki, here is an overview of the three levels of training:

Chris Moreton and Liz Reid second degree reiki

Beginner's Reiki:

Level 1 or First Degree of Reiki teaches basic theory and enables beginners to heal through touch. Although this is primarily focused on self-healing, it also allows individuals to heal others. The training time is usually one to two days, but it must be regularly practiced to remain valid. The course at this level is often taken purely for self-development.

Adam Clark second degree Reiki

Second Degree, or Advanced, Reiki
The second degree leads to a greater understanding of Reiki practice and requires three months of Level 1 practice before it can be started. The training includes additional healing and meditation techniques. When completed, the healer is able to practice ‘distance-healing', that is, send Reiki by thought, without the recipient being present.

Third Degree Reiki or Master/Teacher level

This level is also known as the Master/Teacher level, and when completed, the student is referred to as a Reiki Master. Having reached this degree, a person is able to attune others to all Reiki degrees. The number of days taken to learn this degree is not definite, as most teachers require their students to serve an apprenticeship under them for a varying amount of time.

photos courtesy of
www.YourHandsCanHealSchoolOfReiki.co.uk