Misty Evans

Reiki Level 1 Initiate Course Lesson 3 – The History of Reiki

Reiki has a rich and fascinating history that began in Japan in the early 20th century.

It is a practice deeply rooted in spirituality, discovery, and the transmission of wisdom through generations of dedicated practitioners.

Understanding where Reiki comes from helps deepen our connection to this powerful healing modality and gives context to the universal energy we tap into when practicing Reiki.

 

The Origins of Reiki and Dr. Mikao Usui’s Discovery

Reiki, as it is practiced today, was founded by Dr. Mikao Usui in the early 1920s. Dr. Usui was a Japanese monk and scholar who dedicated his life to spiritual development. Legend says that during a spiritual retreat on Mount Kurama, Dr. Usui fasted and meditated for 21 days. On the last day of his retreat, he had a profound spiritual experience where he was gifted with the knowledge of Reiki, the ability to channel healing energy.

This moment of awakening wasn’t just about understanding energy—it was also about realizing how to transfer this energy to others for healing purposes. In this revelation, Dr. Usui understood that Reiki was a natural, universal force that could be accessed and shared by anyone willing to attune to it.

Dr. Usui’s teachings were based on a blend of ancient wisdom, including Buddhist teachings and Japanese spiritual traditions, but the method he developed was distinct in its simplicity and effectiveness. He believed that anyone could learn to channel Reiki with the right guidance, a perspective that has made Reiki accessible to people worldwide.

As Dr. Usui himself said, “The secret art of inviting happiness, the miraculous medicine of all diseases”—this is how he described Reiki’s power. He believed that by living in accordance with the principles of Reiki, individuals could lead happier, more fulfilled lives.

 

Dr. Usui’s Teachings and the First Reiki Clinic

Dr. Usui began sharing his teachings in Japan and opened a Reiki clinic in Tokyo. He treated many people from all walks of life, including those affected by the devastating Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. His work became well-known, and he attracted a following of dedicated students, including naval officer Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, who would become one of his most prominent successors.

Dr. Usui emphasized the importance of living by a set of ethical principles, now known as the Five Reiki Principles, which we explored earlier. These principles were central to his teachings, as they provided a moral and spiritual framework for students to cultivate peace, kindness, and harmony in their lives.

 

The Lineage of Reiki Masters

Usui Shiki Ryoyo

Reiki Lineage

Dr. Mikao Usui Sensei

Dr. Churjiro Hayashi

Hawayo K. Takata

Iris Ishikuro

Arthur Robertson

Genda Rye

Lucille J. Sayder

Sarah Judith Cole

Blanca Cecilia Rojas

Monica M. Bommarito

Felicia A. McQuiad

Willow S. Conolly

Misty D. Fanderclai

 

Reiki is passed from teacher to student through a lineage of Reiki Masters, beginning with Dr. Mikao Usui.

The lineage is important because it ensures that the teachings remain pure and authentic as they are transmitted.

Your place in this lineage connects you to the larger tradition and gives a sense of continuity and respect for those who came before you.

 

Key Historical Moments in Reiki’s Spread Around the World

While Reiki was founded in Japan, it didn’t take long for this healing practice to reach all corners of the globe. Here are a few key moments in Reiki’s journey around the world:

 

  1. Dr. Chujiro Hayashi and the Expansion of Reiki
    After his profound discovery, Dr. Usui began teaching Reiki to others, including a naval officer named Dr. Chujiro Hayashi. Dr. Hayashi was one of Usui’s most dedicated students and helped organize the teachings into a structured system, including the development of hand positions used in treatments today. He also opened his own Reiki clinic in Tokyo, where he treated patients and trained new practitioners.
  2. Hawayo Takata Brings Reiki to the West
    One of the most significant figures in the spread of Reiki outside of Japan is Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman. In the 1930s, Takata sought healing for her health issues and was introduced to Reiki in Japan under Dr. Hayashi’s care. After her recovery, she became a Reiki student and eventually a Reiki Master under Dr. Hayashi’s tutelage. In the late 1930s, Takata returned to Hawaii, where she began teaching and practicing Reiki. Through her efforts, Reiki began to take root in the West, and she is credited with training the first generation of Western Reiki Masters. Her work laid the foundation for Reiki to become a globally recognized healing practice.
  3. The Modern Spread of Reiki
    In the decades following Takata’s teachings, Reiki continued to spread across the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond. With the rise of holistic health movements in the 1980s and 1990s, Reiki gained popularity in hospitals, wellness centers, and healing practices worldwide. Today, Reiki is practiced in various forms and has been integrated into complementary therapies alongside traditional medicine.

 

As Reiki continued to grow, it also evolved. Different schools and branches of Reiki have emerged, with teachers incorporating new techniques and approaches. Despite these variations, the core of Reiki—the channeling of universal life force energy for healing—remains constant.

Modern Reiki continues to evolve, with various branches and schools of thought emerging, such as Usui Reiki, Karuna Reiki, and Holy Fire Reiki, among others. Despite the differences in techniques or philosophies, the core principles of Reiki remain the same—working with universal life force energy to promote healing and balance.

Reiki’s journey from the mountains of Japan to the world stage is a testament to its simplicity, power, and universal appeal. As you move forward in your Reiki practice, remember that you are part of a lineage that connects you to Dr. Usui’s original vision. Through the practice of Reiki, you join a global community that spans cultures, traditions, and time, all united by the desire to bring healing and balance to the world.

As the famous spiritual teacher Rumi once said, “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.” Reiki, too, reflects this—an ancient, vast energy that we can each access and channel, touching the infinite within us.

 

In the next lesson, we’ll look at what a Reiki treatment is like, when to have one, and many of the conditions it can help with.