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Rei-charge your mind and body
The word Reiki may sound unfamiliar to a lot of people, but this alternative medicine is becoming so popular even dogs are now jumping on board with it
By Silvia Cerisara, 15th May 2018
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Suffolk was the home of the first Natural Dog Show earlier this month and canine practitioners from all over the UK gathered to share new age therapies such as massage techniques, reiki, yoga and nutritional advice. This comes after the latest interest by humans in this technique which has been praised to help with relaxation, pain relief and recovery from mental and physical illnesses.
But let’s not talk about why reiki is becoming so popular without first explaining what this practice is. "In the West the word reiki represents a healing system, a Spiritual Energy Healing method. If we divide the word reiki into the two Japanese Kanji words, we have Rei, Spirit or Life Force, and Ki, Energy. There are various translations, such as ‘Universal Energy’ or ‘Universal Life Force Energy’. Reiki is a form of alternative healing therapy developed in the early 1900s by a Japanese Buddhist called Mikao Usui. It is a simple healing therapy done by the laying on of the therapist's hands over the client's body,” explains Monica Brunello, 37, a Reiki Master Teacher who first came in contact with this technique in Italy in 1994.
Credit: @Monica Brunello
Reiki is a form of alternative medicine where the practitioner uses a technique called ‘palm healing' to heal the patient by using this ‘universal energy’ and transferring it through his palms to the patient. It is also called a pseudoscience because it claims to be based on science but actually isn’t compatible with the scientific method, and the existence of Ki has not been established both scientifically and by medical research, with many claiming its effectiveness solemnly to a placebo effect.
“We should start by saying that reiki isn’t a religion or a specific belief system. We have to understand that reiki is pure energy and that it’s what we and every living being are. We all know that we are not just a physical being. If we look at conventional medicine, we can see that nowadays doctors have opened their thoughts and knowledge to Quantum Physics etcetera, and the ability of our beautiful body to heal itself (just look at the use of placebos. The medical community can't explain it, but they are aware that a definite medicine-free healing occurs).
“On the other hand, in the last few years Christians have become more interested in this healing art, as reiki creates a closer connection for them to God. It is all down to ourselves and our ability to open our mind to what we really are, pure energy from ‘The Source’, ‘The Creator', ‘The Light’, or any other way someone wants to call it,” continued Brunello, who is aware of the fact that reiki has been the subject of a lot of criticism and skepticism both from the medical community and the Catholic Church.
"I decided to start practising Reiki while I was studying Dance, as during my studies I noticed the benefit Reiki had on my body and in my fellow dancers."
-Monica Brunello
Brunello’s statement regarding the fact that Christians are getting closer to this practice is confirmed by Tracey George, 47, a reiki practitioner from Islington. “When I was 8 years of age I knew I was different from my sisters and other people. I use to see colours around people’s heads and bodies and my hands would start to tingle and burn. It was something I could not understand but my reaction was to go to that person and touch them. I saw different colours around different parts of their body, this was when people would say that they could feel the heat from my hands which helped relief the pains.
“I went to a spiritual church off of Hornsey Road, Islington, when I was 17-years-old.
I got to talk to the spiritual medium that was working there that evening, we got talking after the service and that was when she introduced reiki to me,” said George, whose words give the impression that some people are naturally more inclined to this practice then others.
This was also the case for Brunello who said: “Since I was young, the sense of touch has always been prevalent and hence quite developed. I expressed myself through movement and using my hands. During my previous job, I had been told that I had a ‘special’ touch, but I think I realized that I could actually help people with reiki during my dance studies in London. I believe there are people more suited to something than others in any profession, in this case I believe the person who decides to take reiki forward professionally has to be the best channel she/he can be, to allow the Universal Energy to flow through themselves in the clearest way possible. Reiki is a practice that anyone can do/learn, as with reiki we use the Universal Energy and not our personal energy.”
"You have to
believe in reiki and have faith, the mind is a powerful thing and our energy plays a big part of our lives."
-Tracey George
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It is therefore possible for everyone to learn reiki and to use it to heal themselves by simply doing a reiki course, which is divided into three different levels, and it’s totally up to the individual to decide to either stop after one of the first two levels or to progress to the last one.
“You can learn the reiki technique by doing the level one reiki Course, which is for self-practice and use within the family. After the level one, you can further your studies to reiki level two; at this level you can use your practice for others. Once you have received the level two reiki you can then go ahead to the Master Reiki Course, or Master and Teacher Reiki Course, which allows you to also teach others. I believe the mastership to be an ongoing journey along the path of reiki. We never stop growing and learning, even though the Reiki Master Certificate will be the last certificate you can achieve,” explained Brunello.
Reiki is a healing method that works on different levels: mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. It promotes balance and wellbeing on a mental and physical level because the therapy balances the energy flow within the body, initiates cleansing and removes blockages. It’s benefits include stress reduction and relaxation, which triggers the body’s natural healing abilities by stimulating the immune system.
Whether it’s just a placebo effect or whether reiki actually heals people, something that it’s certain is that a lot of people find benefits in it, and for those who have more serious illnesses to try a non-invasive therapy like this can result in feeling less pain by simply laying down and letting someone use the heat from their hands to do the rest.
"It’s very rewarding when you see the benefits, I have helped cancer patients along with young children. I have kept all letters and cards from my patients,” said George, who has helped and supported many people in their fights with cancer and whose letters speak for themselves.
It’s certainly clear why so many people are turning to reiki to find a way of healing from various conditions and skepticism aside it’s definitely worth trying before reaching a final consideration, because, if even dogs are on board with it, it really must be something else!
Credit: @Tracey George - These are two letters of cancer patients or their relatives written to George to either thank her for her help or to ask her for support. Every letter is very meaningful to George, who does keep every single one she receives.