Nina Fotara M.C.Th.A Reiki Master / Teacher - Fully qualified and insured. Based South Woodham Ferrers, Essex. Tel: 01245 425715

The History of Reiki....

Its founder:

Reiki was re-discovered in the mid nineteenth century by Usui Mikao and introduced to Europe via Hawayo Takata. Reiki through the lineage from Hawayo Takata has undergone certain changes over time, these changes are believed by many to have come about whilst introducing Reiki to the West and trying to make it more acceptable to the West.

In recent times many Reiki practitioners have begun to try to get back to the 'grass roots' of Reiki and are seeking Masters from the Japanese lineage to learn from. This is something I myself felt guided to do and more information can be found about this on my second Reiki dedicated site www.usuireikiryoho.biz..

For a practitioner to truly embrace Reiki it should be intergrated into the practitioners life as a whole and certain practices should be part of a daily routine. A good Reiki practitioner will also try to live their life by the 5 Reiki precepts (these are shown under the 'History of Reiki'). The will also work on a regular basis with various traditional Japanese energy techniques and with chanting of the Reiki symbols etc, helping to expand their own energetic practice.

In the west we call the founder of Reiki Mikao Usui, however, throughout my site you will see I refer to the founder as Usui Mikao and this is because in Japan it is culturally correct to write the surname first and the forename last.

Usui Mikao was born in the village of Taniai, Japan on the 15th August 1865. He was born into a Hatamoto Samurai family (Hatamoto Samurai were the Shogun's personal bodyguards). It is believed that he was an ancestor of the famous Samurai warlord Toshitane Chiba (1500's) and that in 1551 Toshitane Chiba conquered the city of Usui and after that all family members acquired the name Usui. 

Usui Mikao was also born a Tendai Buddhist and was born into Japan's privileged class.

Usui Mikao married Sadako Suzuki and had two children. The familys ashes are buried at a gravesite at the Saihoji Temple in Tokyo.

As an adult Usui Mikao visited Europe, America and studied in China. Later in life he became a Tendai priest called 'Zaike' and took the buddhist name of Gyho, Gyohan or Gyotse. it is believed that Usui Mikao's teachings included techniques and jumon (related to todays mantras) based on Shinto practices.

Usui Mikao taught 'Usui Do' (The way of Usui) and what he practiced on people was 'Usui Teate' (Usui hand on healing). The aim of his teachings was to enable students to reach spiritual enlightenment, the healings were actually an amazing 'side effect' of the teachings. An important part of his teachings was the reiju (attunement) and the 5 precepts.

The 5 Reiki Precepts:

Only for today:

  • Do not anger
  • Do not worry
  • Be humble
  • Be honest in your work
  • Be compassionate to yourself and others

The Moment of Discovery

Usui Mikao discovered Reiki when undertaking a practice called  Kushu Shinren (literally translated this means 'kushu' - painful discipline and 'shinren' - difficult training. He undertook this practice on Mount Kurama or Kurama Yama as it is known as in Japan.

On his memorial stone it is written as follows:

One day, he climed Kurama Yama and after 21 days of a severe discipline without eating, he suddenly felt One Great Reiki over his head and attained enlightenment and he obtained Reiki Ryoho. Then, he tried it on himself and experimented on his family members. The efficacy was immediate (from Mikao Usui memorial stone, 1927).

From this moment on Reiki began to filter through via Usui Mikao and continues reach more and more people day by day.