Usui Reiki Ryoho - A Voyage of Self-Discovery
By Myra Hodgson, Reiki Master/Teacher & Holistic Therapist
Living life in the fast lane often leads to stress and tension which can manifest as tiredness, apathy and negativity and it is not always easy to redress the balance. Outside stimuli can help for a while and "must have" items have become the modern day answer to our troubles. We are bombarded daily with advertisements informing us that this or that latest gadget is a "must have" item that will "tick all our boxes". People become like sheep. Do we really need these items? Do we really want them? Do they make us happy? They might in the short-term term but they will soon need to be replaced with something new if we are to maintain the status quo. What many people fail to realise is that happiness comes from within and it is this going within that sets us on our path to enlightenment enabling us to take our first steps on our voyage of self-discovery. For most of us this will be a long journey and often we don't know where to begin. There are numerous paths to self-realisation and finding something that resonates with the individual can be challenging to say the least. For some the answer might lie with a specific religion or belief system whereas others seek the light through spiritual disciplines such as yoga and/or meditation. Others chop and change within spirituality sampling this and that and getting nowhere fast. We are all searching for direction but there is so much choice. Spiritual practices require dedication and it is never easy. Nothing worthwhile is and for the novice it can sometimes feel like a game of snakes and ladders as we take our first tentative steps on the spiritual ladder only to come crashing down again as we slide the slithery snake back to square one.
Our emotions are in turmoil. "Where are we going and what is life all about" we might ask yet this is all perfectly normal, after all we are human beings and we mustn't be too hard on ourselves. We have a whole series of lifetimes to achieve perfection and it is the journey itself that is important. We are all in the process of becoming and with its healing love Reiki can assist us on this journey and set us on our own unique path. You might have heard of Reiki. Nowadays many people have, along with so many other holistic therapies and energy healing systems. However, Reiki is unique in that it is a means of self-development as well as a healing art which can be used for self-healing as well as for healing others. Reiki has its roots in ancient Tibetan Buddhism. It was rediscovered during the late nineteenth century and subsequently developed as the Usui Reiki Ryoho by a Japanese man, Dr Mikao Usui, during the early part of the twentieth century yet despite its roots isn't attached to any creed or culture. There is no dogma with Reiki. It supports any beliefs you may have, assists with meditation, enhances creativity and promotes positive change on a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual level. Nevertheless, there is no need to believe in God to practice Reiki. All you need to believe in is the power of love. There are no gurus with Reiki. It is completely free empowering the individual to find their own answers and according to Dr Usui the secret method for finding happiness.
During his lifetime Dr Usui attuned eighteen Japanese Reiki teachers holding on to the vision that Reiki would spread around the world and heal the planet. One of these teachers was Dr Chujiro Hayashi who eventually set up his own clinic in Japan and was instrumental in bringing Reiki to the West by attuning one of his patients, Mrs Hawayo Takata, a Japanese lady from Hawaii. Mrs Takata in turn passed on the gift of Reiki and nowadays there are an increasing number of master/teachers in every country throughout the globe with Reiki adapting to the needs of the modern world. Reiki is passed from teacher to student by a series of spiritual attunements using sacred symbols and mantra to connect with the Divine. This attunement process enables us to become channels for the Reiki energy awakening our latent ability to heal by fine tuning our bodies to a higher vibration. Once attuned to the Reiki energy it is there for life allowing us to use Reiki for self-healing and for healing family, friends, animals and plants. Try giving Reiki to a tree and see what response you get! Reiki puts us back in tune with the natural world. It is a very gentle yet extremely powerful energy and the more it is used the stronger it becomes. It works for the highest good and is safe for everyone. When you give Reiki to others you too receive its blessings feeling uplifted and energised and self-treaing with Reiki soon becomes a way of life.
Reiki cannot be learned in an academic sense on the contrary Reiki teaches us and the more we work with it the more we progress spiritually. Mrs Takata wrote in an early diary that Reiki embraces every creed, colour and age and finds its way when the student is ready to accept and make contact with the Divine Spirit. There are no barriers with Reiki and indeed from my own experience students come from all walks of life being gently nudged in the right direction at a time when they are ready to accept positive change. We are all on a journey, albeit at different stages, therefore we need to find our own pathway to the light and Reiki can support this spiritual awakening empowering the individual to embark on their voyage of self-discovery to find the God within.
© Myra Hodgson, 24 Market Street, Cudworth, Barnsley S72 8LW – August 2006
Myra Hodgson is a Usui Reiki Master/Teacher & Holistic Therapist offering training and treatments from her home in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
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