| There are two ways of working with Reiki, in an | | | | different in nature and are not used to channel |
| active way, as practiced by the founder of Reiki, | | | | healing energy as such. Each shirushi has a |
| Mikao Usui (or Usui-sensei as he was known by his | | | | corresponding jumon and kotodama, which need to |
| students) or in a passive way, as generally practiced | | | | be used whenever the shirushi is used. The healing |
| in the UK and other western countries today. Before | | | | shirushi both allow the practitioner to channel a range |
| I talk about active Reiki in depth, I feel I should first | | | | of frequencies, one range for the physical body and |
| explain what I mean by passive Reiki. Many Reiki | | | | one for the emotional body. By adding colour to the |
| practitioners see themselves as passive channels for | | | | shirushi it is possible to narrow the frequency range |
| the Reiki energy, they simply connect to the energy | | | | of the energy to make it more precisely match the |
| and put their hands in either a set series of hand | | | | energy required by the condition being treated. This |
| positions or around areas that they feel need | | | | is usually an intuitive process on the part of the |
| treating. They deliberately try to avoid having any | | | | practitioner, although there is a more mechanical |
| input or control of the energy they are channelling. | | | | method that can be used when necessary. In this |
| Their belief is that the energy is ‘intelligent' and | | | | way, the practitioner connects to the required |
| will know what to treat and how to treat it, without | | | | frequency of energy needed for the condition they |
| any participation by the practitioner. The other belief | | | | are working on. |
| that comes with passive Reiki is that the energy is | | | | By staying focused and concentrating on the shirushi |
| so intelligent it will go wherever it needs to within the | | | | and jumon/kotodama the practitioner can ensure |
| client's body, irrespective of where the practitioner | | | | they are channelling the energy externally to |
| places the energy via their hand positions. An | | | | themselves (i.e. they are not using their own ki) and |
| extension of this way of working is the concept of | | | | are channelling the energy in a more directed and |
| Reiki as a relaxation therapy that ‘allows the | | | | powerful way. In addition to working with the correct |
| body to heal itself' rather than a healing system that | | | | frequency of energy, the practitioner can add the |
| works directly on any condition. Needless to say this | | | | use of intention and visualisation to enhance the |
| is very different to the approach taken by | | | | healing effects of the energy. In studies it has been |
| Usui-sensei and his students. | | | | shown that using an effective visualisation and |
| With active Reiki the emphasis is on the practitioner | | | | intention can increase the effectiveness of the |
| to effectively treat whatever ailments their clients | | | | energy in stimulating a repair process. One particular |
| present them with. Through a consultation with the | | | | study used a healer, Leonard Laskow, to try a |
| client, the practitioner determines the presenting | | | | number of different intentions and visualisations while |
| symptoms and any underlying causes. The | | | | working on cancer cells in petrie dishes. It was found |
| practitioner then treats each condition directly by | | | | that combing the most effective intention and |
| channelling energy at the frequency needed to initiate | | | | visualisation gave a 39 per cent inhibition of cancer |
| and accelerate the healing process. The practitioner | | | | cell growth.1 |
| applies the energy at the area(s) that is/are | | | | Working with Reiki in an active way helps to |
| damaged in the case of physical injury or illness or | | | | maximise the effectiveness of the Reiki treatment, |
| the areas where emotional trauma(s) is/are located. | | | | so we can do the best we can for our clients, which |
| The frequency of the energy is dictated by the | | | | is really why we become Reiki practitioners in the |
| shirushi (symbol) and its corresponding kotodama | | | | first place. |
| (mantra) and jumon (name). The practitioner chooses | | | | References: |
| the relevant shirushi for the condition being treated. | | | | 1. Rein G., Ph.D. October 1996 Effect of conscious |
| There are two shirushi used for accessing energy for | | | | intention on human DNA. Proceeds of the |
| healing purposes in Reiki. The other two shirushi are | | | | International Forum on New Science, Denver, CO. |