Second Part: July 2007 Why Traditional
Reiki by Marcy, Eagle
We live in a word that is constantly changing. Forcing us at times
to draw upon new and old ways to cope with these changes. The
Traditional Usui System of Natural healing (Reiki) is a great tool
to assist in life's everyday processes.
In a Reiki class you will hear the entire story of Dr. Mikao Usui,
Dr. Chijiro Hayashi, and Mrs. Hawayo Takata. Telling the story and
sharing the history in an oral format is tradition. There is an
energetic transmission that happens between Master Teacher and
student in the telling of the story rather than just reading it from
a book.
Here is a brief history that will in part explain the coming about
of Reiki to the modern world. A man named Mikao Usui began his
journey in the late 1800's in search of an answer to the question;
"How does physical healing occur?" His quest took him many places in
the world. From being a teacher to being a student, a monk, a
healer, and back to being a teacher. He taught his knowledge to one
student at a time. With such a strong and clear vision, Dr. Usui's
teachings have been passed from himself to millions.
Chijiro Hayashi was one of the Masters initiated by Mikao Usui.
Hayashi opened a healing center in Tokyo in the early 1900's. He
trained many practitioners during this time and initiated only
thirteen Masters, including Hawayo Takata, a first generation
Japanese-American woman who came to his clinic for treatment in the
early 1930's. Mrs. Takata made the decision to stay on at the clinic
to study the practice of the Usui System and subsequently brought
Reiki out of Japan to Hawaii before the Second World War. She was
initiated as a Master by Hayashi February 21, 1938. She trained and
initiated a reported twenty two Masters, and taught classes in the
Usui System -Reiki until her death in l980.
The Usui System has been taught through an oral tradition since its
inception, meaning that a practitioner learns the system, in person
and hands-on from a trained Master. This system cannot be learned or
passed on through the written word. It is an experience, not an
intellectual exercise.
As tradition would have the form of teaching: four sections over a
two to four day period for a first level class. There is a minimum
of 100 days practice between levels one and two. This is also
dependent upon the students’ practices of the teachings. It is
suggested a minimum of three years practice and training between the
beginning of level one and that of Master to reach the Master level.
Then as a Master it is suggested a minimum of five to six years
teaching/practice before considering training another Master, if the
Master feels called to take on the responsibility.
Traditional Reiki is about the experience, strengthening one's
connection to the ways of Reiki. Most of us do not want to take the
years involved as the Master's have structured for us. Now days the
years that were once required have been shortened dramatically.
However, one key element still plays an important role as the
student progresses to the next level and that is contingent on how
much experience, time and practice the student puts into this new
tool.
You are invited to contact Diana Siderides at the Warm Fuzzy Center,
(208) 584-9034 for additional information about Reiki or to sign up
for one of her classes.
