Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a laying-on of hands energy healing technique. Based on ancient wisdom, it was developed in Japan by a Buddhist monk named Usui Sensei in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Besides the potential of healing the body, as a Buddhist practice it can be used to lead one to transcend the ego and see "Reality".

Many people believe that there is a life force energy that permeates our bodies. Our bodies use this energy for maintaining itself or for healing itself from injuries or illness. When there is a shortage or blockage of this energy, our bodies become ill. It is also believed that there is an unlimited supply of this energy available in the universe. Usui Sensei supposedly learnt how to channel this energy from the universe through his body and into people who were ill. When someone who is ill receives this energy, it can accelerate the natural healing process.

Usui Sensei was able to teach others how to transfer this energy, making them Reiki practitioners. As a Reiki practitioner, one can transfer the Reiki energy into another person by laying-on of hands, even from a distance.

Usui Sensei was also able to teach practitioners how to teach others, making the practitioners Reiki teachers. Once someone is a Reiki teacher he can make other Reiki teachers, thus carrying on the tradition. A teacher does this by opening up an energy channel in the practitioner, from the top of the head to the hands. This enables the Reiki energy to be channeled from the Universe through the top of the head and into the hands. This process is called an "attunement." To channel Reiki energy you must have had an attunement by a legitimate Reiki teacher. Once a person has had an attunement they are then able to channel the energy through their hands and into other people.

Almost four years ago, I became initiated to the first level of Reiki. It was a totally new experience. The 21 days of self-healing brought a feeling of tranquility and energy to face the new challenges of life. I used the Reiki energy whenever I needed it for myself.

But once at a birthday party a friend’s son had an accident and his thigh was badly swollen, I just could not resist giving Reiki to him. Although I could not figure out what had happened, I could pass the Reiki energy for 30 minutes and he was taken to the hospital after that. The next day the mother thanked me for giving Reiki. She said that her son was so brave, he had fractured his thighbone but he never felt the pain. That day, I felt the power of Reiki.

I was initiated to Reiki two in March 2002. With the second attunement, I was taught three symbols. These symbols are memorized and then used when appropriate by either drawing them with your hands or visualizing them while at the same time mentally saying the name of the symbol. Each symbol has a special purpose and can be used by the practitioner while working on a patient or themselves.