Acknowledgments Notes about Orthography and Terminology PART 1 Shoden: The First Degree 1 Defining Reiki Reiki Reflections: Your Own Definition 2 Learning Reiki 3 Reiki History 4 The Reiki Precepts Personalized Precepts Meditations on the Precepts Gokai Sansho 5 How Reiki Heals 6 Connecting to Reiki Energy Exercise 1: Expanding the Energy Energy Exercise 2: Directing the Flow of Reiki Energy Energy Exercise 3: The Energy Ball Reiki Chalice Meditation 7 Understanding Byōsen Byōsen Graphing 8 Japanese Reiki Techniques Gasshō Meiso Kenyoku Hō Reiki Shower Reiji Hō Byōsen Reikan Hō Chiryō Koki Hō Gyōshi Hō Heso Chiryō Tanden Chiryō or Gedoku Hō 9 Practicing Reiki 10 Hand Positions for Self-Treatment 11 Hand Positions for Treating Others 12 Additional Reiki Techniques Aura Sweeping Chakra Tune-Up with Reiki Treating the Three Tanden Meridian Tune-Ups with the Fingers Reiki Manifestation Charging Crystals with Reiki Opening and Closing Spiral Expanding Your Light PART 2 Okuden: The Second Degree 13 Introducing the Second Degree 14 The Reiki Symbols 15 The First Symbol: Choku Rei Strengthening Your Lightbody Creating Sacred Space Sealing the Treatment 16 The Second Symbol: Sei Heki Empowering Affirmations Treating Psychogenic Conditions Deprogramming Technique 17 The Third Symbol: Hon Sha Ze Shō Nen Distance Healing Healing with a Surrogate Sending Reiki to the Past or Future 18 More Japanese Reiki Techniques Gyōshi Hō and Koki Hō RevisitedJaki Kiri Jōka Hō Hatsurei Hō Nentatsu Hō Sei Heki Chiryō Hō Enkaku Chiryō Hō Enkaku Byōsen Reikan Hō Shashin Chiryō Hō 19 Additional Okuden Tools and Techniques Programming Crystals and Gemstones with the Symbols The Reiki Box Your Reiki Bank Account Better Sleep with the Reiki Symbols Symbol Meditation Conclusion APPENDIX A Subtle Anatomy APPENDIX B Pronunciation Guide APPENDIX C Glossary of Japanese Terms APPENDIX D Glossary of Names Notes Bibliography Index

“In my unrelenting quest to bring Reiki into operating rooms, this book is a jewel in my heart and a tool I can use in my work. Reiki is described so fully, clearly, and with such spiritual truth that I am happy to present it to surgeons and doctors everywhere I go. Pearson’s book is a timely blessing.” --Raven Keyes, author of The Healing Power of Reiki and founder of Raven Keyes Medical Reiki International, LLC

Chapter 8 Japanese Reiki Techniques The Japanese Reiki Techniques, or nihon no Reiki gihō (日本の技法), have gained popularity among many different lineages of Reiki. They impart a feeling of authenticity and a connection to founder Usui Mikao himself. These methods are a means of cultivating your inner connection to Reiki, and they will help you improve your skills in administering Reiki overall. The Three Pillars The Three Pillars of Reiki are gasshō, reiji hō, and chiryō. Together, these three aspects represent the three avenues by which we can improve ourselves through the practice. Gassho is the joining of hands in a prayerful state. Reiji hō allows the consciousness of Reiki to guide the hands. Finally, chiryō, “treatment,” is the hands-on application of Reiki learned in the first degree. The three pillars work together on the threefold aspects of our being: heart-mind, spirit, and body. Gasshō Meiso 合掌瞑想 The first of the Three Pillars of Reiki Ryōhō as outlined by the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai is gasshō. Gasshō is written with the kanji for “unite” (合) and “palm” (掌); it literally signifies bringing the palms of the hands together as a symbol of reverence. Meiso simply means meditation. This Japanese Reiki Technique is the foundation of most of the following exercises. Spending a few moments in gasshō stills the mind, alleviates stress, and centers your whole being. Each of the fingers on each hand can be representative of the different aspects of your being. For example, they can be associated with the five elements of Eastern philosophy (wood, water, fire, earth, and metal); they can also represent the five elements of alchemical lore (fire, water, air, earth, and spirit/ether/akasha). The hands, in Buddhism and other Asian worldviews, also relate to our archetypal opposites. The right hand is active, giving, solar, open, yang. Left is symbolic of being passive, receptive, lunar, closed (or hidden), and yin. To bring together these opposing forces in the stillness of meditation offers total balance. When the hands are brought together, they are usually held at the heart or just above it. The height at which one’s hands are placed traditionally reflects the amount of respect being shown. Since gasshō isn’t being used as a gesture of greeting, heart-level is sufficient for Reiki. The palms are usually held together, although some teachers recommend a small gap between them. The fingertips are united, with emphasis placed on the middle finger. As you practice gasshō meiso the idea is merely to still the mind and empty yourself of attachment and expectation. Thoughts will naturally come up; this is normal. Even practiced meditators experience this. The trick is to just observe them as they pass, rather than follow them to wherever they lead. Imagine stepping back and looking at your thoughts from farther away. If you try to resist or erase your thinking, it will push back against this resistance. Just relax and allow. The effects of gasshō meiso include sharper focus and greater ease channeling Reiki. Each of the fingers is related to a different meridian, or energy channel, in your body. Bringing them together helps them work in perfect balance. When practicing gasshō bring your awareness to your middle finger, which is associated with the element of fire. It is the power finger, and traditional Reiki recognizes it as the most potent of the fingers when applying Reiki for hands-on healing. Gently directing your attention to the place where the tips of your middle fingers meet gives your mind a means of avoiding attachment to arising thoughts. It also helps generate an affinity for the archetype of fire, which is cleansing and warming. This meditative experience can ignite the spark of healing and spiritual growth that underlies all practices in Reiki Ryōhō. At the beginning, try practicing gasshō in silence for five minutes or so. Over time you can stretch this to as long as thirty minutes or an hour. Diligent meditation helps train the mind and spirit, your kokoro. This is the real goal of Usui Reiki Ryōhō; gasshō is the first tool we learn to begin the process of awakening to our true selves. Usui even asks us to practice gasshō meiso twice each day while reciting the precepts: asa yū gasshō shite kokoro ni nenji kuchi ni tona e yo (“morning and evening, practice gasshō and hold [the principles] in your heart and chant them with your mouth”). The more you practice gasshō, the easier it will be. Since it is the first part of most of the Japanese Reiki Techniques, most practitioners feel Reiki flow whenever they place their palms together at the heart. Committing to a regular practice of gasshō embodies the fourth precept, gyō wo hageme, which invites us to work with diligence toward uncovering our authentic selves. 1. Sit comfortably and set your intention to meditate. Traditionally, this meditation is practiced in seiza, the Japanese manner of sitting, a kneeling position with your feet tucked beneath you. Feel free to sit in a chair or cross-legged on the ground. 2. Bring your hands together before the heart. Allow for a minute amount of space between the palms, with the fingers together in “prayer position.” 3. Bring your awareness to the point at which the middle fingertips meet. When thoughts arise, simply observe them detachedly; neither pursue nor dismiss them. 4. Continue meditating in this fashion until you are either unable to continue, or until you’ve drawn the exercise to a close.