The astonishing myths we have been told about reiki are numerous. From Reiki being this magical force to Reiki being a force of evil. There are many myths about Reiki that may be eyebrow raising. These myths can do us and our connection to Reiki more harm than good. They cause misinformation about reiki that effects peoples view of it and how it is learned.
So, first lets start from the beginning,
What is Reiki?
Reiki is an energy healing modality that works on the physical, emotional and spiritual level. Healing imbalances that are caused by the modern day life. It works on a deep level helping people with stress, anxiety and pain.
This energy healing art has many myths that continue to proliferate to this day. So lets dive deep into the common myths that are around the Reiki world so we can come to a balanced view of Reiki. A middle ground.
Are you ready? Lets begin
REIKI COMES FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE
The first myth that we are going to dive into is that Reiki comes from an external source. You see many people and even some Reiki teachers themselves believe that Reiki comes from outside of you and it has to be channeled into you. It is claimed to be a higher power much greater and separate to ourselves. This myth comes with the idea that if we already had the Reiki energy within us, then why is there a need for a Reiki session at all. Why are we not all healed if Reiki is within? Energy blockages and resistances begin to build as life develops which slows down the flow of Reiki within us. Almost like a blocked stream of life giving energy.
Even when Reiki is learnt at the start of your healing journey it is often described as being from an external source. The whole process of the ‘attunement’ or initiation into Reiki quite literally comes from the Reiki Master itself, a proposed higher power. The higher power gives you the Reiki energy. The thought process goes that your teacher has given you the Reiki energy while they received it from there teacher. This chain of events happened all the way down to the first person who created Reiki.. Mikoa Usui. Mikoa received the reiki energy from the universe itself. This is what is known as the Reiki linage. The universe itself being the creator of all.. the supreme master. This is why Reiki is often referred to as the ‘Universal life force energy’.
However this lineage really devalues the fact that we have had the power all along. The Reiki energy has always been inside of us. It has never been external to us. The phrase ‘we are made from stardust’ really comes to mind here. All of the elements that we are composed of are made up in the stars that we see in the night sky. Them beautiful twinkling lights that we look up at on a clear night are our creators. We are literally universal beings and we are not separate to that. That is not external to us. That can never be given to us. We can be shown a way in which we can use it for our highest and greatest good, but it can never be given to us because we already have it inside of us. We are born with it!
Just because you have the power from the moment you were born it doesn’t mean the power can not be deminished or not utilised in an efficient way throughout your life. This is what happens to most people. Life gets in the way and the energy that we once had as children diminishes. Illnesses and sicknesses begin to happen. Life loses vitality and meaning. A Reiki masters mission is to guide these people back on the ‘right track’ towards the ‘light’. The light is within these people, it is just showing them there own light. Allowing for them to see it. Not ‘giving’ them a light. This just deminishes there power and promotes the idea that you are superior to them. It promotes the idea that you have something that they do not have or you have had it longer and therefore more experience with it. You don’t! We are all made from stardust, not just one person. All of us.
Furthermore, the next myth we are going to dive into is one of the most common myths around Reiki. The myth that Reiki can heal everything. The magic pill we have all been waiting for..
REIKI IS A MAGIC PILL
The myth that Reiki is a magic pill is one thats being around since the creation of Reiki. The myth goes that Reiki can heal all and everything in an instant. This expectation is one that is very unrealistic to have. The truth is Reiki can only heal in the right circumstances. If the person is ready to receive the healing. Some people come to a Reiki session with the expectation that they will come out with there particular ailment, illness or problem completely gone. In rare scenarios this is the case, however in a lot of cases the ailment, illness or problem does not disappear. Why not? Why does it not disappear? Reiki is supposed to be this magical life force.
Realistically Reiki just works to balance the body for the highest and greatest good of you. It clears out any emotional blockages and releases whatever does not serve you. However these emotional blockages can easily be developed again if the individual is not aware of the thought patterns, beliefs and behaviours that originally brought them up.
Furthermore, after the Reiki treatment the balancing effect it has on the body may not always be pleasant. It may cause the symptoms of the illness to worsen initially. This is just the Reiki energy working for the highest and greatest good of you. Things may initially get worse before they get better. Depending on how you react to the initial worsening of the symptoms will determine whether the blockages become unblocked or not. If you react in a way thats in resistance to the worsening of symptoms then more emotional blockages will reappear and the cycle starts all over again, requiring you to have more Reiki. If you accept the worsening of the symptoms the reiki energy and hence your own body balances itself for its highest and greatest good. Bringing harmony back to a strained organism.
All these barriers can lead an individual to not getting the best results from a Reiki treatment that are outside of the Reiki practitioners control. All the Reiki practitioner can do is give the Reiki energy to the individual. The Reiki works its magic depending on whether the individual accepts the treatment or not. I use the word ‘Magic’ here but its not what you think. Reiki is inside us all. No matter if you have had Reiki training or not. Its what allows our heart to beat, our lungs to breathe, our digestion to digest. It is a completely normal energy beyond the physical. It is magical in the normal sense. All a Reiki practitioner is, is the person who is able to direct this energy and transfer it to either balance another person or themselves. Reiki is beyond and apart of the body at the same time.
However, some people have different opinions and believe Reiki should be completely abolished from the world. That Reiki is fundamentally evil.
REIKI IS EVIL
Reiki has been categorised as evil many times throughout the decades. From religious institutes to different peoples opinions. Reiki has been slandered and labelled evil. You see, Reiki is not good or evil. Reiki just is. It is the universal life force energy. It is complete, not separate and it has no divisions. It does what it needs to do to balance your system. To call Reiki evil is to call the physical body evil. The intelligence of the body just wants to rebalance the organism when it is not in alignment. This is exactly what Reiki is, the intelligence of the body. The fundamental force that drives life. You can call it ‘Reiki’, you can call it ‘Chi’, you can call it ‘Tao’, it is all the same thing. An expression of the deeper part of your energy. A redirection of energy from one place to another for the purpose of balance and equilibrium.
Is this an evil thing? its just the redirection of energy. There is nothing evil about that. For example when you exercise you also redirect energy. You feel better and lighter after it. Endorphins are flowing within your brain. Reiki is just exercise on a much deeper level. Working with energy and the blockages that we may face at a ground level. Of course its not going to be all pleasant. Is exercise all pleasant? Not at all.
You see, evil implies something harmful, something that is not for your best interest. Reiki is within us irregardless if you believe it or not. It is the fundamental lifeforce. Always having our best interest at heart. Irregardless if its pleasant or not. It is Within us, within the animals, within the air, within the universe. Without it the world would be a very different place. It is a very progressive energy beyond all that is life. Balancing everything that allows itself to be balanced. It is both the Ying and the Yang. Balancing both pain and pleasure, both good and bad. Beyond the evil of the world.
WHY DO THESE MYTHS EXIST AT ALL?
Ultimately misinformation, assumptions and mystifying Reiki have all contributed to these myths. In saying this every art will have its own myths and legends. They can be overcome and worked through with information and interest.
If your into Reiki why not join my self healing reiki course below. This course offers further development on self healing to overcome your own limitations and energy blockages within. You can do anything you want to do in your life!
JOIN MY REIKI COURSE
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Thank you for reading,
See you soon!
Nathan writes blogs on Spirituality, Philosophy and Energy healing. He is a meditation teacher and Reiki master who has a passion of helping others go deeper within themselves.
