Will the Real Reiki Please Stand Up?

by Carrie W. Bodane, LMBT, NCTMB

Recent research has uprooted the foundation of what Americans have believed to be the history of Reiki, and how it is taught and practiced outside of Japan. Reiki Master Hawayo Takata is credited with bringing Reiki and its history to America when she introduced it to the Hawaiian Island of Kauai in 1937. In his book Reiki: The Legacy of Dr. Usui, Reiki Master Frank Petter has published information that discredits much of what Hawayo Takata taught. Petter references Mikao Usui's original journal, which documents hand positions and treatment techniques that differ from those taught by Hawayo Takata. Prior to this groundbreaking information, Takata's techniques were thought to be the original Usui method. Petter's revelation has created some uncertainty as to the effectiveness of what is now considered "Western Reiki" (also referred to as Hayashi-Takata Reiki).

A major piece of Takata's information as to how Master Usui received the Reiki energy does appear to be true. Petter and Rand have found inscribed on a memorial stone the story of how Mikao Usui received the Reiki energy after his 21-day fast on Mt. Kurama (Lubeck, Petter, Rand, 2001, p. 14). In his journal, Dr. Usui expressed that Reiki was an original healing therapy "based upon the spiritual power of the Universe (Petter, 1998, p. 13). He also stated that Reiki was not to be owned by any one person or organization.

Perhaps when Hawayo Takata presented the origins of Reiki, she was trying to protect Reiki and assist in validating Reiki as a modern healing art, so it would not be treated with prejudice as a backward healing therapy. Although Mikao Usui's real history does not resemble the John Wayne-style story told by Hawayo Takata, many Reiki practitioners believed it to be true. Even the title Hawayo Takata gave herself, Grand Reiki Master, and her assertion that she was the last living Reiki Master have been proven false by the publication of Reiki: The Legacy of Dr. Usui by Petter. What proves to be accurate is that Hawayo Takata was trained by one of Mikao Usui's trained Reiki Masters, Mr. Chujiro Hayashi. Takata did perform what appear to be miraculous healing acts, as Mikao Usui did, and she consistently expressed the true essence of Reiki, as passed down by Mikao Usui.

The Techniques

The techniques Hawayo Takata taught were very suited to a left-brain, analytical, Western learning style. She taught 12 hand positions that treated the entire torso. She also gave Reiki students a general guideline to follow: that they should trust Reiki's capability to heal the body, mind and spirit. This is still the standard in America.

Mikao Usui taught Reiki with an intuitive, Eastern learning style that could take many years to learn. Many students did not reach the Reiki Master level (Petter, 1999, p. 7). Reiki has Buddhist roots, and is a way of life in Japan. This differs in America, where it is not unusual to meet Reiki Masters who have minimal experience with Reiki as a spiritual way of life and have trained for a relatively short period of time.

The traditional treatment method in Japan is to use hand positions that may vary from treatment to treatment, and to use intuition with each session. These differences include blowing Reiki, light massage, and channeling Reiki through the eyes while treating in person. It is human nature to creatively change techniques, as is commonly done with many healing systems that exist today.

East vs. West

Petter has researched four different Reiki systems currently existing in Japan. Which is the real Reiki? Hawayo Takata positively influenced Reiki by offering it to many in a way that could be respected and practiced in the Western world. In Japan, Masters Frank Petter and William Rand have trained many Reiki students. Both Hayashi-Takata and Usui systems are equally respected. It is the vibration of Reiki and its spiritual essence that is passed down by Reiki Masters who do not mix other attunement techniques. Whether in Japan or America, pure Usui Reiki exists, and Reiki therapy is continuing to gain respect within the complementary medicine community in America. The purpose appears to be the same for both systems: facilitating healing of the body, mind, and spirit.

Carrie Bodane is an NC licensed and Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Bodyworker. As Director of the Center For Energy Medicine in Raleigh, she offers private healing facilitation sessions and workshops on Energy Medicine Healing and Archetypal Analysis. Visit www.CenterForEnergyMedicine.com or email her at CarrieBodane@hotmail.com.