Reiki is a specific application of “universal energy” to enhance healing and self-discovery. It originated in Japan more than 100 years ago and is now done throughout the world, yet is probably is similar to processes which have been practiced by people for many centuries. I've practiced Reiki since 1989, and continue to be awed at the beauty and power of this work.

"Reiki" is a Japanese word meaning “universal life force energy”, as does the Chinese word “chi” and the Sanskrit word “prana”. These and all other forms of energetic healing come basically from the same universal root. There are many applications, techniques, philosophies, and the like, but the root of all is universal energy.

I recommend Reiki to anyone for any kind of healing - either as a primary technique or to support other forms. Not that one should discontinue other forms of treatment. That's definitely not recommended, and isn't necessary. Reiki is a great companion therapy for practically any healing modality. Reiki supports and enhances other forms, including the allopathic medicine developed primarily in the west.

Universal energy flows through all of us from Source. It’s received by each of us as we breathe and go about our lives here. We can learn to increase this flow of energy through our bodies and improve our health and well-being. Universal energy is seen and felt in various ways, but what’s important is that it’s the energy which makes all life possible, and that we can use it consciously for our benefit. Practicing Reiki is one way to do that.

We can learn to clear our bodies of unwanted debris accumulated over years by beginning to sense the energies of the body and going inside to where they're located. However one sees or feels energy, the important thing is that we learn to use it for our own highest good. The very issue of having to deal with one's body is the reason we've incarnated. It is no accident that we're in these bodies. To learn to access and clear one's body leads directly to healing on both emotional and physical levels, and ultimately to full realization of oneself on the spiritual level. For what better reason than this could one choose to be in human form?

When you begin healing the physical, you often notice many energies arising in the body. This is because your body has been storing all these energies until it's time to release them. Often, these energies are there as the result of pain endured on some level, whether emotional or physical. You release them when it's time. Until then, you hold onto them. Energetic healing, the kind I'm talking about when I say Reiki, is a very powerful energy that helps us unleash our body's normal healing energy.

When we allow universal energy to come to us in its natural form, whether through the efforts of another person, or directly from Source, through a form such as tai chi, yoga, working out, etc., we're allowing ourselves to sense the stuff of which we're made. We are the same energy that flows through everything. We are a physical incarnation of universal energy.

You can access healing energy alone via your body's own natural abilities, yet it’s often easier to let someone help you with the process. This is where the role of healer comes in. I don't use the word "healer" to mean that such a person is fully in charge of the process. Quite the opposite, really. The genuine healer simply applies her or his skills to the healing process, channeling whatever energy is most appropriate for the client's highest good. The “client” works consciously with the energy, or hopefully, keeps his or her conscious mind out of the process and lets the energy do the healing. The most important thing is that the new energy be allowed to access those places in the body where old energy is trapped, and to release that energy through natural processes.

It's very easy to let universal energy work within the body. We need only to suspend any judgments we may have about the process, and let it happen. The wisdom of the universe, which comes naturally with universal energy, is far greater than that of any individual human. This is why this energy can access and heal places and conditions we never even knew we had. This is also why it's important for both practitioner and client to stay out of the way and let the process happen naturally. The universe knows how to heal, when we allow it.

I have been a Reiki practitioner since 1988 and a master since 1993. I have taught Reiki to many and have done thousands of individual sessions. Today, my major form of energy work is distant sending. This is a Weekly Distant Circle I began online way back in 1997 for all who do distant Reiki, as a place to Receive as well as practice Sending Reiki on a weekly basis. I believe it's important for practitioners to also RECEIVE regularly to keep from depleting their energy - there are many distant healing circles for sending to others and I intended this one to benefit the practitioners as well! (If you don't do Reiki and want to know more, there are many informative groups and sites on the web nowadays where you may even locate a teacher.)

We do the Circle every Friday between 6 and 7 PM USA, California/Los Angeles time zone. You may participate for as long as you can if you don't have the full hour. To learn the time in your area see world clock. You may use the distant technique of your choice or see the one I guide in this video. We have a large and active group at facebook where we send out weekly reminders. People have asked about the exact way we do the Circle, so I provide the following steps. Feel free to email me if you have further questions.

1. Before the Circle, I look at the list of people who have confirmed they will participate and those who have requested specific healing on the wall or discussion board at the Facebook group.
2. I put on peaceful Reiki-appropriate music, get comfortable in my space, let myself relax and
center as I would for any Reiki session.
3. I become aware of the energy coming into my body, down to the hands and feet. For instance, I begin to feel the familiar warmth and tingling in my hands.
4. I imagine Reiki flowing through me and out to the circle of people, perhaps by name or location if I know them, and to the entire circle in general. This may seem like an abstract concept, this circle of people we may not even know, but I am confident the Reiki gets to everyone participating.
5. Throughout the hour, I return often to the image of the circle of people around the world all
sending and receiving energy. And I may send to individuals or places along the way.
6. I finish when I feel the energy "lifting" from my body and my consciousness returning - usually after an hour.

That's how I do the Circle, but as I say you are free to use whichever technique(s) you have been taught or feel right to you. Just let it be fun and relaxing. For me, it's always a lovely, deeply relaxing and replenishing experience which I really look forward to each week! If you can't participate at the appointed time, you may also use the future technique below.

Sending Reiki to Future or Past

Here is a technique for sending energy to another time and place, in case your time zone doesn’t work for our appointed weekly Reiki Distant Circles. I call it Future Time Reiki, or FTR. Whether you’re sending back to the future or forward to the past, I suggest you begin with whatever ritual and centering process you like, just as you would with a regular distant session. For this technique, once I get centered, I remind myself that in the greater perspective time is an illusion; that everything I send into space can be received when and where it's appropriate.

I then imagine sending Reiki through my hands or my body or energy field, using a distant technique of preference which you have probably learned elsewhere. You may use the Reiki symbols as you usually do, if that‘s your preference. For me, it helps to know that the Reiki is going where it needs to be. I like to see the energy encircling the globe, ready to go to each participant at the time our Circle meets. I imagine the Reiki waiting in that timeless place until it can serve each participant to her or his highest good.

One can use this technique for receiving Reiki as well as sending. Simply reverse the process and let the energy come to you, at the time the circle is in session. If that's in the middle of your night, you may program yourself to receive Reiki while you sleep. You may also incorporate the "time capsule" method while you're sending if you like. An easy way to do this is to imagine Reiki being stored in a time capsule, until it's time for it to open for an individual, or place, or in this case, for the time when the circle convenes. Give the capsule whatever properties or appearance you like, to make it real for you.