Life Energy
In modern , over stimulated lives we often undervalue the simple things even when they provide the most benefit. I was reminded of this recently when I was drawn back to the simple yet hugely effective Reiki. 
Reiki is a type of Japanese spiritual healing that has its origins in ancient Tibetan Buddhism. Rei means universal and Ki is life energy.
Ki or Ch’i in Chinese is the life force energy that all living things are infused with.
The History Of Reiki
During a Reiki treatment the healer channels this life energy through her hands to rebalance a body’s chakras and restore healthy energy flow. Reiki promotes health, well being and a more conscious way of living.
Dr Mikao Usui is considered to be the founder of Reiki in the late 19th century. Following a period of fasting, meditation and prayer on Mount Koriyama, he described the moment a light poured into his 3rd eye and he lost consciousness. In that moment the secrets of ancient healing practices were revealed to him.
It was one of his pupils who treated, cured and eventually attuned Hawaio Takata a Japanese woman who brought Reiki to the West in the 1970s.
How I Came To Reiki
I first came into contact with Reiki and its powerful effects in the early 1990s. My dog was a puppy at the time and had become sick. The vet had told us not to worry, though her condition worsened and my intuition told me to find another vet. It was then I learnt she had parvovirus which was potentially fatal. Her symptoms included lethargy, refusal of food and water and abdominal pain.
The vet warned us her chances of recovery were slim. Nevertheless we took her twice a day for IV drips and at nights, I’d lay awake watching her lying motionless. After a week, both the vet and my boyfriend were asking me to prepare for the worst.
That evening, a friend visited and we sat with my sick puppy between us. It felt like she was at death’s door, and I was distraught - hope was fading fast.
My friend suggested giving her some reiki and instinctively placed both her hands on Maddie’s stomach and held them there.
I thought I saw her little body relax and her breathing change. We both fell silent. It felt like the right thing to do.
That night I slept deeply, my dreams were vivid and colourful. In the morning as we left for the vet Maddie walked slowly to the door. There she made a tiny jump outside. It was tiny, but it was the only unnecessary movement she had made all week. Hope had rushed back.
We never all agreed on how she had miraculously recovered but from that moment on I believed in the healing power of reiki.
Shortly afterwards I started the first of many reiki treatments and on each occasion experienced feelings of profound relaxation and lightness of being, as well as sleeping deeply and having vivid and colourful dreams.
Reiki Principles
It was some years before I met the reiki master who eventually taught and attuned me in a community in Thailand. My master was truly inspiring, living the 5 reiki principles on a daily basis. These principles appear in a number of variations though my own personal preference is:
Just for today do not worry
Just for today, I will not anger
Honour your parents, teachers and elders
Earn your living honestly
Show gratitude to everything
Reiki is certainly not a religion but can be a way of life, and receiving my attunements changed my relationship with the whole world.
Since then I have met many healers, reiki masters and practitioners and whilst they differ in certain details the essential principles remain the same.
My first teacher for example taught me that reiki should be performed with the hands held slightly above the body with no contact being made except for one or two points on the head.
Later on, I discovered teachers who claimed healing energy could be more effectively transmitted through the medium of touch so I am open to both methods having seen evidence of their successes.
According to tradition, we require attunements by a master before we can be a channel for reiki and effectively work with it.
Intention
As with all things in life though, it is the intention behind an act that motivates its direction. A large part of the healing and therapeutic process relies on the pure intention of those giving and receiving the treatment.
When I do Reiki healing for myself or for others I set a very clear intention as to what I hope to achieve and ask the receiver to do the same.
Even the following simple technique can help. Sit or lie down with eyes closed and concentrate for a few moments on your breathing. Check in with your body, and notice where you feel relaxation and if any areas feel more tense or uncomfortable. Let your intuition guide you to a point on your body and place both hands lightly over it for as long as feels comfortable. Remember to pour all your intention into healing that part of the body.