What is Reiki?   You may have heard of Reiki, and it may sound like a supernatural kind of spirit summoning or psychic channeling. These are not quite accurate, although aspects of Spirit connectedness and channeling energy are part of the essence of Reiki. Here’s a straightforward explanation for a simple, yet profound energy healing technique. Reiki is a Japanese-originated method for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes physical and emotional healing. Reiki treatments are given by a light hands-on touch, and follow the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what enables us to be alive. When stress and other emotional factors drain our life force energy, we are more likely to get sick or feel exhausted. With thriving life force energy, we are more capable of being emotionally balanced and healthy. The word “Reiki” is a combination of two Japanese words – Rei, meaning "Spiritually guided," and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki translates to "spiritually guided life force energy." Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit, and brings relaxation and feelings of peace, security and comfort. Many have reported accelerated healing after Reiki treatments. Reiki is available to anyone, and can easily be learned by anyone. Reiki works in complement to all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote healing. The ability to channel Reiki energy is transferred to a student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master, immediately enabling the student to access the unlimited supply of "life force energy" for its many physical and emotional benefits. Although Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no commandments or requirements for worship, and Reiki works whether one believes in it or not. Reiki’s spiritual aspects and tangible results often give people a spiritual connection that their religion may not. Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures. One is told to recite these precepts in the morning and evening in addition to self-healing with Reiki. They are: The secret art of inviting happiness The miraculous medicine of all diseases Just for today, do not anger Do not worry and be filled with gratitude Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people. Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer. Pray these words to your heart and chant these words with your mouth Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind The founder , Usui Mikao    Kundalini Reiki - What is it?   Kundalini Reiki is a Reiki offshoot developed by Ole Gabrielsen. It is said to use a combination of the practitioner’s Kundalini energy with Reiki energy in healing treatments. Kundalini energy is spiritual energy that comes up from the earth through a person’s chakra system (from the root up through all of the chakras, and out the crown chakra). Reiki energy flows from above the crown chakra down through the body and out of the hands of the practitioner to a recipient.   Kundalini Reiki does not initiate a full Kundalini awakening, which can be dangerous and cause painful emotional and spiritual symptoms. Kundalini Reiki is said to be able to help heal the symptoms of an accidental Kundalini Awakening.   Kundalini Reiki is different from traditional Usui Reiki Ryoho practice on many accounts. Kundalini Reiki is much simpler to learn and use, and also very effective. Here are some ways in which it is different from Usui Reiki Ryoho: There are no symbols. No symbols need to be learned, intended or used when doing a hands-on or distance treatment with Kundalini Reiki. There are no hand positions. The practitioner simply places the hands on the shoulders of the recipient, or holds the hands steady for a distance sending. He intends to give/send Kundalini Reiki, and the energy immediately flows, treating all areas in the recipient that need healing. The manual gives an analogy to throwing a bucket of water over a road with a bunch of potholes. The water will gather into each hole without being individually poured into each one. So with the energy, going where it is needed without being directed to each individual spot. The flow of energy stops when it is done. Treatments take the practitioner an average of 5 – 7 minutes. The recipient may feel the energy for up to an hour. Traditional Reiki treatments can take 30-90 minutes. Whether hands-on or distance treatments, Kundalini Reiki channels a treatment that takes the practitioner 5 minutes, but continues for the recipient for up to an hour, depending on how much energy is needed. Each recipient receives exactly as much energy as he or she needs. The energy simply stops flowing when the treatment is finished, and the practitioner can feel the energy starting and stopping. Attunements are given as treatments, via intention. The practitioner simply says that he intends that (person’s name) be attuned to Kundalini Reiki level (number) when he is ready to receive the attunement. The recipient intends to receive the attunement when ready. The intent to receive activates the start of the attunement. That’s it.   There are three attunements, and distance or in-person are considered equally effective for Kundalini Reiki. They are spaced apart to allow for adjustment to the energy frequencies. The three main attunements bring the practitioner up to Master Level, which gently and gradually increase the strength of the practitioner’s ability to channel large amounts of energy for powerful healing capability.There are important self healing exercises after each attunement. Reiki is primarily a self-healing technique, and healing others is most effective when the practitioner has benefited by the self healing treatments.     Spiritual Growth Brought on by Reiki Practice   One who becomes attuned to Reiki energy, and begins to regularly channel the energy for self healing may begin to notice other changes in his or her life. These changes could be very subtle, at least at first. The Reiki practitioner is regularly “tuning in” to a higher frequency of energetic awareness. This encourages the development of a higher intuition to begin. The development of spiritual intuition could include any number or combination of these types of events: Coincidences – there may start to be an increase in the frequency of coincidental events in one’s life. For instance, running into a person after thinking of him, getting a call from a person after thinking of him or her, or finding things happening as if in a prearranged way. Plans “fall into place” easily – one may find that things that one wants are easier to arrange, as if the universe is aligning and the details all seem to work out easier than before.   Serenity happens - things that used to cause undue stress, fear, anger or anxiety no longer affect one as strongly as before. It’s easier to be centered, and take things calmly. Increased resistance to stress and illness - one may start to feel generally healthier, getting sick less frequently than before, healing more quickly from colds or injury. More empathy - a person may feel more in touch with other’s feelings, resulting in an easier time getting along with or understanding people in his or her life. This positive feeling from others that results from feeling understood comes back to attract new opportunities and relationships to one’s life. Happiness – one may realize that he feels more positive in general, and more often than before as negative feelings and blockages are naturally released through the effects of Reiki. These changes are among the first changes one may note as he or she practices Reiki regularly. Channeling the energy for oneself, and for others, increases the positive energy frequency in and surrounding a person. This positive energy helps to bring about positive effects, inside and outside oneself. As a person continues to practice Reiki, and perhaps continues to study Reiki, through the Master level, the changes amplify, the intuition increases, and the Reiki practitioner becomes capable of helping others on many profound levels.