My Reiki Journey
I first became attuned to Usui Reiki style in 1998 and am grateful for this entry place into Reiki. My teacher focused on practicing in humility and for this teaching, I remain grateful and dedicated. In 2005, I studied Gendai Reiki Ho and felt an overwhelming sense of being grounded in this practice with a much deeper and richer understanding of the practice. I also began to have an appreciation of the Japanese influences (Shinto and Buddhism) on Reiki practice.
In 2007, I travelled to Japan with a group led by Elyssa Matthews to climb the Mount Kurama and to go on a pilgrimage (with Inamoto Sensei as our guide and teacher)—of standing on the place where grace shone (Reiki) in the heart of Usui Sensei. This journey affirmed my understanding that spiritual practice, our relationship to Nature/Mother Earth, to ourselves and one another in love and peace is interconnected and a grounding principle.
In 2008 I became attuned to Komyo Reiki Do with Inamoto Sensei, the first of 4x taking these classes. For me, it felt like coming home to Universal Grace where one’s only response is gratitude and surrender.
Over the years of daily practice, of sitting with my teachers and joining in both Gendai and Komyo International circles of meditation and prayer and healing over these decades, my understanding, appreciation and inner peace has deepened and matured. I know this path will take me a lifetime of ‘becoming Reiki’, of breathing, embodying and fulfilling my mission of “luminous peacefulness” in sharing Reiki wherever I am called to do so. I bring my experience of my Reiki practice and pilgrimage to my classes and student community. Gassho.
Reiki History: The Beginning with Mikao Usui (Founder)
Reiki Ho was originally founded by Mikao Usui, born in 1865, known as Usui Reiki Ryoho*. As part of his life journey, he sought to deepen his sense of purpose and joy in life. After a long spiritual quest exploring various arts of divination and meditation, he concluded that the goal of life was to reach Anshin Ritsumei (安心立命, Spiritual Peacefulness, 悟り, Satori). Usui Sensei went to Mount Kurama, as legend reports it, to achieve Anshin Ritsumei, through practice of meditation and fasting-ultimately to prepare for death. This time on the mountain, in fasting and meditation, alone on the mountain, with the trees offered him an experience of Universal Oneness, of becoming one with the resonance and vibration of the whole Universe. He had finally experienced Anshin Ritsumei or also Satori.
It is this experience of Oneness and spiritual peacefulness he wanted to share with others and so upon his return to his family and community, he created a system of meditation and hands on healing, Usui Reiki Ryoho and began to teach.
