Brief History
The actual origin of Reiki "energy" is unknown. Current Reiki practice can be traced to the spiritual teachings of Mikao Usui in Japan during the early 20th century. Usui's teachings included meditative techniques and healing practices. One of Usui's students, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, further developed the healing practices, placing less emphasis on the meditative techniques. An American named Hawayo Takata learned Reiki from Hayashi in Japan and introduced it to Western cultures in the late 1930s.
Until recently uncovered facts, the type of Reiki practiced and taught by Hayashi and handed down by Takata was thought to be "traditional" Reiki. We now know that this is not the case. Numerous variations (or schools) of Reiki have since been developed and are currently practiced. We do know that many ancient cultures had hands on healing techniques similar to Reiki.
There are several different stories about how the Reiki energy and symbols were given to, or re-discovered, by Dr. Mikao Usui. Although these stories are warm and colorful, and were passed on with the best of intentions, we now have evidence to show them to be highly inaccurate. The most verifiable version is that Reiki was received by Dr. Usui during a retreat on Mount Kurama.
Attempts to get an accurate account of the story of Dr. Usui’s life have proven to be somewhat difficult. There is a testimonial on his gravestone that gives many answers, but much of the story was passed down verbally from Dr. Usui to those he trained, and to those they trained, and so on. We all know what happens when stories are passed down in that manner.
When looking at the facts we do have, we know that Dr. Usui was looking for ways to further develop himself spiritually. In March 1922, Dr. Usui enrolled in a 21 day training course on Mount Kurama in Japan. The exact details of the training are not known, but it probably included fasting, meditation, chanting, and prayers. It was during this journey that he was given the power and understanding of this "Reiki" healing ability.
The factual account we have been given is on the last day of the training, while meditating, he felt a great energy over his head and at the same time as he was spiritually awakened he aquired the Reiki energy and the ability to use it for healing. When Dr. Usui returned from his training he realized this was an amazing gift that needed to be shared with the world.
In April 1922, he relocated to Tokyo and started the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki Healing Society), as well as his first Reiki clinic. Dr. Usui spent the remainder of his life using Reiki to assist in the healing of the poor and anyone who came to him for relief. He also began teaching this system of healing. Before his transition on March 9, 1926, Dr. Usui passed on the knowledge and ability of Reiki to 16 persons.
One of the persons he taught was Dr. Chujiro Hayashi. Dr. Hyashi worked in the Reiki clinic started by Dr. Usui and was a highly skilled Reiki Master. Dr. Hayashi opened his own school and clinic in Tokyo. He kept detailed records of his patients and the results of his treatments. Dr. Hayashi perfected a set of hand positions, as well as created printed class manuals. Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Hayashi was not the successor to Dr. Usui. Although Dr. Hayashi was a respected Reiki Master, he was never a president in the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.
In 1935, a Japanese American woman came to Dr. Hayashi’s clinic seeking treatment. This woman was Mrs. Hawayo Takata who was born in Hawaii December 24, 1900. She went to Japan when her sister died and while there sought help for several ailments she had developed, with her main complaint being asthma.
She received Reiki treatments twice a day and was completely healed in four months. She wanted to continue to heal herself as well as bring Reiki to Hawaii to share with others, so she started learning Reiki and received her First Degree Reiki from Dr. Hayashi in 1936. She received her Second Degree Reiki in 1937 then returned to Hawaii. Dr. Hayashi followed her to Hawaii and helped to establish Reiki there. She received her initiation as Reiki Master by Dr. Hyashi on February 21, 1938 – bringing Reiki to the West.
Mrs. Takata performed and taught Reiki for 40 years, and before her transition on December 11, 1980, had initiated 22 Reiki Masters. Had it not been for her efforts, there is a good chance that Reiki never would have made it to the West.
It should be noted that, contrary to what most Western Reiki Masters teach, there is no "lineage bearer" or "Grand Master" of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai started by Dr. Usui. There is a succession of presidents that, to this day, still run the organization. The current president, and successor to Dr. Usui, is Mr. Kondo who took office in 1998.
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