What is Reiki?

The word 'Reiki' is made up of two parts. The ‘Ki’ in Reiki is the ‘life force energy’ that flows in everything that is alive, including plants, animals and humans. This ‘life force energy’ is called different names in different cultures – it is the Chinese chi, the Hindu prana, the Hebrew rauch. It also has other names like numen, odic force, and orgone, to name a few. We receive Ki from the air, from food, sunshine, and from sleep. When a person's Ki is high, they will feel strong, confident, and ready to enjoy life and take on it's challenges. When it is low, they will feel weak and are more likely to get sick.

The ‘Rei’ in Reiki can be defined as the Higher Intelligence that guides the creation and functioning of the universe. Rei is a subtle wisdom that permeates everything, both animate and inanimate. Because of its infinite nature, Rei is also called 'God-Conciousness' and has many other names depending on the culture that has named it.

Therefore, Reiki can be defined as a healing, life force energy that is guided by the Higher Intelligence. Reiki energy flows to where it is needed in the client, creating the healing conditions necessary for the individual's needs. It cannot be guided by the mind, therefore it is not limited by the experience or ability of the practitioner. Nether can it be misused as it always creates a healing effect.

As a formal system, Reiki was developed in Japan as a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of energy healing that everyone can use. Reiki is usually done hands-on, but can also be done from a distance.

This information was adapted from The International Center for Reiki Training website, which is www.reiki.org . There is lots of other great information on Reiki there, as well.

About Me

I don't like to talk much about me, and in general I tend to be kind of private, but I suppose some people might want to know something about who's posting all this stuff. For the rest of you, please feel free to ignore the rest of this post because it's not very interesting anyway.

I grew up in Queens, NY, and for those of you whose burning question is, "Are you Chinese or Korean?" the answer is I'm Taiwanese, so there. I'm the oldest of three, so I'm really good at telling people what to do. I went to school for chemical engineering, so I tend to analytically and logically oriented, but don't hold that against me. I eliminated everything I DIDN'T want to major in, and that's what was left. I did make some use of that degree though. I worked for a major pharmaceutical company for a few years, one whose name is much maligned these days. It was a fun and challenging experience, one that I look back on fondly (mostly). I planned on working there for quite a long time, but, as we all know, life often takes some unexpected turns.

As a teen and beyond, I always imagined myself in a suit, working in a corporate environment. One thing I NEVER figured on for myself was kids. So imagine my suprise when, I found myself pregnant one day (and yes, married too), and I realized I was way too much of a control freak to want to leave my child in someone else's care for the majority of the day. This realization spurred me to leave my cushy job on the floor of a bulk chemical factory in search of a flexible lifestyle. (Clarification - the JOB was not cushy to say the least, but NEVER AGAIN will I take for granted the blissful security of FULL BENEFITS.)

I won't bore you with all the seemingly endless details. Suffice to say that over the next few (or more) years I've taken on many roles - family day care provider, nutritional products distributor, make up artist, website provider and consultant, webmaster, computer instructor, SAT instructor, real estate agent, um, did I miss any? I was usually doing three things at a time. In fact, I'm still doing three of those things now. They all have one thing in common though - they're all things that I did for money. They are things I did and still do just to pay the bills. I have pondered now, for quite some time, what I should really be doing. What should I do that would be fulfilling? What am I meant to do?

The idea of creating a Reiki practice has been floating around in my head for a while. I resisted doing anything about it because, well, it doesn't seem like a practical business. I mean, how much money could I possibly make as a Reiki practicioner?! The thought of doing all the 'business' aspects of starting a business - Reiki or otherwise - marketing, networking, self-promotion, blah, blah, blah, is also extremely unappealing; I've done it too many times before. In the end though, I have to accept that this is a calling. Reiki is a gift that affects my life in so many ways - little and big - and it's a gift I want to share with others. I hope that I can help people in the ways that Reiki has helped me. So in spite of myself, here I am, printing business cards and spilling my guts on the internet.

If you've gotten this far, you must be really bored, but thanks for taking an interest! Another day, I'll try to post something that's actually useful to someone.

This blog was created to provide information about Reiki and to chronicle my journey as a reiki practitioner.