Reiki is a portmanteau of Rei and Ki, two Japanese words that mean (roughly) ‘ghost’ and ‘vapor.’ Of course, this is only literal, so it may not indicate the deeper meaning behind what Reiki truly means, but at least it’s a nod in the right direction.
As its usage has increased over the years, we can now take ‘Rei’ to represent the higher intelligence of the universe that guides all of creation. It also denotes the wisdom that courses through all of evolution in every life of every galaxy.
‘Ki’ continues to have strong attachments to its original meaning. It is the unseen energy that drives every living creature, empowering a person to lead a healthy life when it is strong, and to feel weak when it is low.
In order to strengthen the Ki to allow oneself to thrive, meditative exercises can help to build on its power. Ki is also made stronger by all the basic elements we need in order to survive; sleeping, eating, and air. This is why it’s of high importance make sure we’re getting enough of these basic needs, to ensure we are feeding the Ki.
When we put the two words together, keeping in mind their individual meanings, we can take Reiki to mean a powerful unseen healing energy, led by the higher intelligence of the universe. Reiki practitioners often report that Reiki energy takes on an intelligence of its own, tailoring itself to meet the needs of the individual seeking its healing powers.
With this in mind, it’s notable that Reiki is not an energy that can be in any way misused, as it’s adaptable to each and every person. This is what separates it from other kinds of energy that are typically influenced by the mind.
As opposed to our organs allowing the body to function, it’s actually energy from the Ki flowing through our body that determines our health. Any disruption to the Ki can have a negative effect on our organ tissues, resulting in illness.
Our thoughts and feelings play an important role in maintaining the positive balance of the Ki. If our outlook on life becomes negative, the flow of the Ki can deteriorate. This has been recognized by western medicine, which states that up to 98% of illnesses are generated by the mind.
One of the main reasons for this is that our mind is present throughout the entirety of our body, as our organs and tissue are connected to the mind through our nervous system. The mind even goes as far to extend beyond this, in an area known as our ‘aura’ that surroundings the area 2 to 3 feet beyond the body.
This is what leads a Ki to have a restricted energy flow. Any negative thoughts and feelings we may have will take over our entire bodies and collects in the areas around us. As a result, the flow of the Ki slows and prevents our organs from functioning to their full extent, resulting in illness if the negative outlook on life continues for some time.
One of the major concerns we have with this is the fact that sometimes, negative thoughts and feelings can sit in our subconsciousness without us being fully aware. This is where the Reiki plays a huge part – because of its higher intelligence it works to eliminate the negativity in our subconsciousness, despite us not being fully aware of its existence.
Reiki works to wash away any negative thoughts or feelings throughout the entire body and mind, allowing the strong flow of the Ki to resume. This allows our organs and tissue to strengthen and builds us towards full health again.
As western medicine continues to research the part the mind has to play on one’s health, Reiki is certain to become a more sought-after healing technique.