A woman undergoing Reiki

Sometimes, emotional stress and other medical conditions do not need medical attention. They can be treated with other forms of treatment that do not involve the use of medicines. Let’s say you have a headache, can you think of a way to treat it without taking paracetamol?

Well, one such form of treatment has been getting popular lately—Reiki. The chances that you might already have heard about it, owing to its rapidly increasing popularity, are high. If you are curious as to what exactly Reiki is and how does it work, you have landed at the right place.

What is Reiki?

Woman undergoing a Reiki treatment.

Reiki is made up of two Japanese words, Rei and Ki. Rei means ‘the Higher Power’ and Ki means ‘life force energy.’ Thus, the word Reiki means ‘spiritually guided life force energy.’

Reiki is a Japanese form of treatment that reduces stress and relaxes, promoting healing. It is a form of energy healing that is based on the concept of life force energy that is unseen.

It is believed that a person is more likely to get sick and feel stress if their life force energy is low whereas someone whose life force energy is high is more likely to be healthy and happy. Reiki, therefore, revolves around increasing the level of this energy in an individual.

It is a natural, simple, and safe method of self-improvement and spiritual healing that can be used by anyone. It creates a beneficial effect in all cases, regardless of what malady or illness you are suffering from. It works well with other therapeutic or medical techniques to provide relief from side effects and promote a speedy recovery.

Although, it is still not backed by science, people who have experienced Reiki say that it does work miraculously.

What Does Reiki Feel Like?

When you undergo a Reiki treatment, you feel like a glowing radiance is flowing around and through you. You get treated as a whole, including your body, mind, emotions, and spirit. As a result, wonderful relaxation is felt throughout the body and mind. And you get overwhelmed with a feeling of wellbeing, security, and peace.

Many types of Reiki are practiced. Each type of Reiki employee a unique technique and brings about a distinctive effect. To get to know about types of Reiki, keep reading!

Types of ReikiHands of a woman doing Reiki

There could be thousands of different types of Reiki. However, most of the books list only about 20 to 25 types. All types of Reiki branch from the original Usui Reiki.

Talking about types of Reiki, there are 5 core types which are:

  • Usui Reiki (Western Reiki)
  • Jikiden Reiki (Eastern Reiki)
  • Karuna Reiki
  • Lightarian Reiki
  • Sekehem or Seichim Reiki

1. Usui Reiki (Western Reiki)

Of the total Reiki practice, 90% is the Usui Reiki. Usui Shiki Ryoho- the Usui System of Natural Healing was founded in Japan by Mikao Usui. It is Japanese healing art.

It was first introduced about 100 years ago when Mikao Usui commenced a personal search which ended at a point where Mikao Usui came in contact with Reiki energy. He continued practicing and was finally able to introduce it outside Japan by Hawayo Takata Sensei in 1937. It was from this type of Reiki that many other types were developed.

Usui Reiki has four Aspects and nine Elements, a combination of which results in the creation of a system that can take people on paths of growth, healing, and spiritual awakening.

The four Aspects are:

  • Healing Practice
  • Personal Development
  • Spiritual Discipline
  • Mystic Order

The Nine Elements are:

  • Oral Tradition
  • Spiritual Lineage
  • History
  • Initiation
  • Symbols
  • Treatment
  • Form of Teaching
  • Monetary Exchange
  • Precepts

Benefits of Usui Reiki

Usui Reiki comes with numerous benefits which have been listed below:

  • Accessible widely
  • Acceptance of yourself
  • Minimizing discomfort and pain during labor and delivery
  • Assistance in the transition of the soul from physical life to afterlife
  • Awareness of physical feelings and thoughts
  • Bringing hidden emotions to the surface with the intent of healing
  • Balancing the energy that is found within the human body
  • Complementary to Homeopathic and Allopathic treatment, Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, and spiritual healing modalities
  • Removal of pain and discomfort associated with minor injuries
  • Non-invasive soothing
  • No interference with faith
  • Deep relaxation, promoting better sleep and treatment of insomnia
  • Promoting a feeling of emotional, physical, spiritual, and psychological wellbeing
  • Helps in reducing anxiety and fear in students
  • Safe and effective for everyone, regardless of gender and age
  • Speeds up the process of recovery after labor, surgery, or illness.
  • Reduces stress

2. Jikiden Reiki (Eastern Reiki)

Jikiden means to ‘hand down directly without translation’ which implies the fact that Jikiden Reiki is the purest form of Reiki. It was not changed or adapted by any practitioner or teacher of Reiki.

People who practice Jikiden Reiki pass down a technique that is very similar, if not identical, to the Usui Reiki (the original form of Reiki). Jikiden Reiki is the type of Reiki whose method is unchanged but the delivery and style are vastly different than Usui Reiki. It is the type of Reiki that is practiced today.

This form of Reiki goes back to the originator Mikao Usui to Chujiro Hayashi to Wasaburo Sugano, and Chiyoko Yamaguchi, and eventually to her son, Tadao Yamaguchi. Chiyoko Yamaguchi was only 17 years of age when she learned the art of Reiki from Hayashi sensei, who then taught her son, Tadao Yamaguchi.

Tadao Yamaguchi felt that the original form of Reiki had many parts missing that made Reiki more beautiful and effective. He added these parts, which weren’t taught by Usui and Hayashi. This gave birth to a new form, known as the Jukiden Reiki that we know of today.

Jikiden Reiki is steeped in tradition. It is among the most proven types of Reiki that are being practiced today. Since it is the closest to the original form, there is nothing that could affect the efficiency. It is the purest type of Reiki which has an unbroken connection to the original Usui Reiki.

Benefits of Jikiden Reiki

The benefits of Jukiden Reiki are as follows:

  • Acceleration of healing after surgical procedures and injuries
  • Non-invasive soothing
  • No interference with faith
  • Helps in the removal of bad habits and cleaning of mind such as issues of self-judgment, alcohol, etc.
  • Controls and alleviates an addiction including the psychological and physical facts associated.

3. Karuna Reiki

Karuna is a Sanskrit word that is used in Buddhism and Hinduism. It means to diminish the suffering of others or compassionate action. Human beings can extend compassion to other people quite naturally whenever possible.

When a person experiences enlightenment, they experience a sense that the world and all the people in it are one and with that, they become aware of their words, thoughts, actions, and deeds. They also realize how their actions can affect others around them. As a result, they become responsible for what they do, and with that, they can help each other heal.

Karuna Reiki is extending energy out of love to not just yourself but to others as well. Karuna should be accompanied by wisdom (prajna) to deliver the right effect. It makes you work closely with the enlightened ones (ones present physically and ones in spirit).

Usui Reiki is effective healing energy but Karuna Reiki is said to be more powerful. Karuna intensifies the knowledge that you already have. It is a more advanced type of Reiki that heals faster-mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Benefits of Karuna Reiki

Karuna Reiki is one of the most powerful forms of Reiki that is associated with numerous benefits. Some of them have been listed down for you.

  • Non-invasive soothing
  • Heals the unconscious patients efficiently
  • Regulates sleeping patterns and helps in the treatment of insomnia
  • Reduces fatigue and muscle pain
  • Manages panic attacks
  • Helps in the manifestation of personal goals
  • Blocks negative energy from reaching or affecting the body
  • Helps in pain release
  • Helps in lifting emotional pain out
  • Efficient deep healing
  • It can heal the body on the cellular level
  • Helps through life issues
  • Heals the problems of co-dependency
  • Improves communication
  • Heals broken relationships and improves them
  • Helps people to be more grounded and present
  • Helps in shattering patterns of denial
  • Help s a person accept the imperfect parts of their personality
  • Helps in clearing the mind
  • Improves the learning ability

4. Lightarian Reiki

Lightarian Reiki is an expanded form of Usui and Karuna Reiki. It is a form of Reiki practiced by Reiki Masters who wish to continue their spiritual journey and want to take their healing a level higher than that attained by Usui and Karuna Reiki. Lightarian Reiki has been inspired by Buddha, the Ascended Master. It uses vibrational bands of higher intensity to establish a more powerful Reiki connection.

Reiki has eight vibrational bands. The first band is occupied by Usui Reiki while the second band is taken by Karuna Reiki. The six bands that remain are occupied by Lightarian Reiki. Among these six bands, level I and II are offered together. They are followed by individual attunement for the next two levels, level III and IV. Level V and VI are offered together.

With the progression of each band, a unique vibrational band is added that allows the healing process to accelerate. There has to be a wait of 30 days for the new energy to get integrated and settle.

Lightarian Reiki expands and enhances your connection with the Ascended Master. Not just this, you will be benefitted personally as well, with your healing. This is done through higher levels of vibration as you step to progressive vibrational bands.

The intentions of Buddha were self-empowerment by keeping the process of attunement and healing simple. This is the reason why there are no new symbols associated with this type of Reiki.

Along with healing for your own self,  Lightarian Reiki allows you to deliver the highest levels of energy to your clients, hence speeding up their healing process. The benefits of Lightarian Reiki are listed below:

  • With the progression of vibrational levels, you attain a higher level of personal healing
  • More efficient and quicker healing for the clients with an expansion of healing frequencies
  • Expansion of awareness and heightening of sensitivity that helps you develop spiritual gifts

5. Sekehem or Seichim Reiki

Seichim is a type of energy healing system and a type of energy. The origin of Seichem lies in Egypt. It has been sourced from Sekhmet, the Egyptian Goddess. It is a healing system with high vibrational energy.

It encompasses all the power and completeness that other healings systems lack. The energy of Goddess Sekhmet is feminine, gentle, and loving that assists in cutting through the toughest blocks with fierce grace. This Goddess destroys anything that fails to serve the light.

It is a form of Reiki that works with four elements and utilizes the power of Air, Earth, Water, Fire, and Spirit. It helps in healing the patients, balancing them spiritually, and opening their chakras.  It makes use of ancient symbols, the Luminous Energy Field, and chakras that align with Quantum Physics perfectly.

Seichim Reiki builds the intensity slowly and gently as the treatment progresses. The effects of Seichim Reiki are said to last for 4 to 5 days. Also, essential oils are an essential part of three of the protocols of this type of Reiki. The Goddess Sekhmet is said to be a goddess of essential oils.

One of the major benefits of Seichim Reiki is the negative energy drain. This helps in the elimination of the negative energies that may have accumulated within the patient. This form of Reiki is especially very effective for patients who are under emotional distress or are trying to cope up with serious situations like the death of a dear one, divorce, or even termination of employment.

Once the negative energy is drained out from the patient’s system, the patient becomes receptive to positive energy; hence the emotional distress gets healed.

Benefits of Seichim Reiki

  • Rapid emotional, physical, and spiritual healing
  • Acceleration of spiritual development and enlightenment
  • Assistance in the manifestation of goals
  • Increase in the inner sight as well as the ability to see energy
  • Promote the feeling of being alive
  • A sense of being fully present
  • Increased awareness of ourselves and our relationships with people around us
  • A profound and powerful opening of the heart for loveA Reiki practitioner in a white shirt

Other Types of Reiki

Other than the five core types of Reiki, there are many other types that branch from one or the other core types.

6. Rainbow Reiki

Rainbow Reiki was developed by Walter Lubeck. It is based on the traditional Usui Reiki. It involves in-depth research of the origin and roots of Reiki, the heritage of Mikao Usui, state-of-art Reiki symbols and mantras, meditation, and spiritual psychology.

It provides unique mantras and powerful symbols. Rainbow Reiki involves several unique techniques like Astral Travelling, Karma Clearing, and Crystal healing. It also involves relations to spirits like deities and angels that help in the expansion of healing possibilities and personal development.

Moreover, this technique works with the Higher Self and the Inner Child for the development of a strong personality on the fundaments of spiritual wisdom and love.

7. Kundalini Reiki

It is a unique type of Reiki. It was developed by Ole Gabrielsen, a Danish Reiki Master. It is a highly distilled form of Reiki that emphasizes speeding up the process of personal development. It lacks the traditional symbolism as in other forms of Reiki such as in Usui Reiki. Kundalini Reiki is a synthesis of Reiki philosophies; Earth Energy and spiritual Sky energy (having Tantric notions).

Kundalini Reiki heals the body and reduces the level of stress. It can be done simultaneously with medical treatments. It can help an individual overcome problems related to emotions and feelings, grounding, sexual issues, or issues related to lower chakras. It helps an individual experience love, peace, and increased consciousness.

Why Opt For A Reiki Treatment?

Reiki treatment

Now that you know what Reiki is and what types of Reiki are commonly practiced, you may be wondering why should you opt for a Reiki treatment when you can go talk to a therapist about your emotional conditions and visit a physician for physical issues. Here are some reasons why Reiki treatment is better and more beneficial for you.

Increased Energy

One of the major reasons why you should go for a Reiki treatment is an increased level of energy. People are so busy with their routines that 24 hours of a day appear to be insufficient. Things that were manageable earlier become overwhelming. Reiki helps you revitalize the energy stores and helps in balancing the body, spirit, and mind.

Relief From Stress and Anxiety

Reiki creates an environment of calmness and peace, similar to meditation. As the individual progresses into the procedure, their breathing becomes calmer. It is a great practice for anyone who wants to stop over-thinking and over-analyzing. It helps in silencing unnecessary thoughts and helps you feel lighter and calmer.

Promotes Better Sleep

Reiki promotes better sleep. It makes an individual have healing dreams that calm them down and allows them to drift into a peaceful and deep slumber.

Gentler Than A Massage

Reiki is a great option for people who cannot get a massage due to a concussion, chronic pain, or nerve impingement. Reiki delivers gentle touches from indirect pressure that helps the muscle relax and decrease pain.

Spiritual and Emotional Growth

Reiki is not just a relaxing massage that you would want to try when you want to relax. It is a lot more than that. It brings about respect and harmony to all living things. As mentioned earlier, Reiki means ‘spiritually guided life force energy.’ With Reiki, one may feel more connected to God and the universe. Reiki helps an individual get rid of mental and emotional blockages.

When a person is unwell, physically or mentally, he not just has to heal physically but emotionally as well. Illness and emotional distress can leave a person drained. Medications can treat a person therapeutically but Reiki treats a person physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Reiki makes a person feel healthy, livelier, and more motivated towards life. With high spirits and a boost of energy, a person is sure to get better than ever! With so many benefits of Reiki, it sure is worth a try.