Reiki is a natural healing system that was founded by Dr. Usui Mikao, so it is also called Usui Reiki after its founder. Dr. Usui or Usui Sensei as he is called, was a staunch Buddhist who studied ancient Tibetan and Sanskrit esoteric scrolls and meditated on Mount Kurama outside of Kyoto, Japan. Dr. Usui was also a member of Rei Jyutu Ka, a metaphysical group dedicated to developing psychic abilities and performing esoteric practices that traditional monasteries looked down on. It is said that he achieved enlightenment there and synthesized the teachings of Japanese esoteric Buddhism with those of India and China to form his own style of healing in which the energy of the Universal Healing Light was channeled and directed to bring about healing. healing. Therefore, Reiki does not work only on the physical body, but on the subtle body and soul level to bring about change. Western medicine treated the physical manifestation of a problem, but Reiki treated the problem by correcting the energies in the body or “Ki” and aligning them with the Universal energy in order to completely cure an illness caused by such energetic imbalances in the mind, body or spirit.

Soon, Dr. Usui’s method of healing became very popular in Japan and he traveled all over the country to teach his skill and perform Reiki attunements. Dr. Usui also established a Reiki Association called The Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, where the word Gakkai meant Association and this was the first formal Reiki association and still upholds the traditional teachings of Dr. Usui Mikao today. He was the first president of this organization and after his death the presidency passed to his best friend, Mr. Ushida.

However, this was a time when the West was still unaware of this method of healing. Although Usui Reiki or Usui Reiki Ryoho as it was called, was the original system of Reiki, over the years it has traveled to the West where practitioners have merged this system with other esoteric healing practices to form many other branches of Reiki. that are currently practiced. Usui Reiki was purchased in the West by a lady named Mrs. Hawayo Takata who lived in Hawaii. She was visiting her relatives in Japan when she came across this form of healing from a student of Dr. Usui, namely Dr. Hayashi. He underwent treatment every day for four months for some serious ailments he suffered from. After four months, she was not only completely healed, but she was very impressed by this form of healing. She learned this form of treatment from him and shortly after an attunement with him in 1938, she began practicing it when she returned to America. She initiated twenty-two Reiki Masters in the United States and this list has continued to grow, branch and continually evolve like a chain reaction.

Dr. Usui wanted to create a spiritual form of healing that did not have the denomination of religion or any other limit. Reiki can be practiced as a way of life without disturbing any religious practices.