The History of Reiki
Mikao Usui was the founder of Usui Reiki, which is the oldest established form of Reiki. He was born in 1865, making Reiki relatively young in the grand scheme of history.
Usui had interests in medicine, history and divination, and was drawn to pilgrimage up Kurama Mountain in Japan. His Intention was to develop a system to provide a simple method for the individual to reconnect with their innate spirituality in a Japan where the values of traditional society had begun to break down.
Remember, Japan is an island. It was isolated for hundreds of years before expansion and imperialism began. So for a long while, this country had the beautiful ability to allow its culture to concentrate, without external influences. Once Imperialism began and ideas, disease, people and technology spread through every part of the world, the concentrated culture of Japan began to become watered down. The rich traditions of the dedicated Samurai, Japanese Buddhism, ideas such as "ikigai" flow state achievement and more were being lost in the worldly shuffle.
Mikao used this need of preserving his culture as the fuel for his fire-- forming this Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai: Usui Spiritual Energy Healing Method. He gave structure to ideas that have been around for centuries, bringing many practices together into one space, and to be placed under the Reiki umbrella.
So though the system of Reiki is relatively new, the ideals of and connection to source have been around for much, much longer.
Usui formed this new sphere around meditation and mantra. The hands on techniques were added in the last years of his teachings, and were honed by his students to come.
Among those students was Chujiro Hayashi. He was a doctor, surgeon, and in the Navy. He gave even more structure to Usui's teachings, developing the now classic hand positions and putting them into extensive practice through his own medical clinic: Hayashi Reiki Kenkyu Kai or Hayashi Spiritual Energy Research Society.
Next enters Hawayo Takata. She was a Japanese woman born in Hawaii. Though her own health obstacles, she became desperate and in 1935 traveled back to Japan to attend Hayashi's clinic with the hopes of healing herself. Within a few weeks, she had accomplished what she set out to do and was better than ever. She stayed at the clinic to study under Hayashi, finding her life's purpose. Takata then traveled back to Hawaii, bringing the teachings of Usui and Hayashi with her.
Initially, this was extremely controversial. Reiki was solely a Japanese tradition built for the Japanese people. Takata still shared Reiki however, and we owe it to her for bringing it to the Western world. Soon after she got back to Hawaii, the borders to Japan closed from WWII and Reiki may have been lost forever.
Takata trained 22 people to become Reiki Masters in the West. She charged $10,000 for each class, making sure that only those most dedicated would learn from her. She was also adamant about never writing the symbols down, meaning that the symbols changed slightly throughout her years of teaching. Generally they are the same, but you will find small variations amongst practitioners because of the varying baseline to which so many of our teachers were taught.
One of Takata's students was named Iris Ishikuro. Once she became a Master Teacher, she decided to offer Reiki at a much more reasonable fee to be able to share it with the world. However, she only trained two Masters: Her daughter Ruby and Arthur Robertson. Ruby never went on to teach Reiki, but Robertson went on to train many Masters at this lower price point. Because of this shift, most all Reiki Master Lineages trace back to Ishikuro and Robertson, including mine!
Let it be noted, this was never offered for free. The energetic exchange component of teaching this skill is a sign of respect that gives homage to the Japanese culture and keeps intentions strong and true.
The history if Reiki, like all things, continues to form as we continue to share our gifts and make choices within each moment that shape our day, year and life. You being here, right now and nowhere else, is all a part of this magic. So thanks ♡
*The history of Reiki, especially our Master Usui's upbringing, has been debated from the start. This is the most accurate understanding I have gleaned from many books and personal research.*
Eden of Roaring Fork Reiki
Asheville, NC 28806
704.928.5507