Reiki before Usui

While many practitioners appreciate the benefits of Reiki, few truly comprehend its deep-rooted origins and the evolution it has undergone to become what it is today. Contrary to popular belief, Reiki wasn't discovered by Mikao Usui. This healing art was practiced long before Usui's time, but Mikao Usui was the first one in formalizing its teachings in the 1920s. Prior to Usui these earlier forms of Reiki were restricted to certain circles, limiting their spread and popularity.

Pre-Usui Reiki Practitioners

Before Mikao Usui developed his system of Reiki in the early 20th century, there were several other healing practices in Japan that used the term "Reiki" or similar energy-based healing methods:

1. Mataji Kawakami's Reiki Ryoho: In 1914, Kawakami founded a healing practice called "Reiki Ryoho" and published a book titled "Reiki Healing and Its Effects" in 1919

2. Reikan Tonetsu Ryoho: Created by Reikaku Ishinuki

3. Senshin-ryu Reiki Ryoho: Developed by Kogetsu Matsubara

4. Seido Reisho-jutsu: Established by Reisen Oyama

Source: "Reiki and Japan" by Misaki Nishina

Reiki’s Story After Usui:

Usui's journey began in Japan, where he commenced teaching Reiki openly, transforming a private tradition into a more structured discipline. His teachings laid the foundation for Reiki as we understand it today.

The Transformation Under Takata: Simplification For The West

Mikao Usui's teachings were passed down to Chujiro Hayashi and from him to Hawayo Takata, who played a pivotal role in bringing Reiki to the West after 1937. In her efforts to make Reiki accessible to Western audiences, Takata simplified several elements: This adaptation, while well-intentioned, led to the removal of essential techniques such as the Byosen Scanning — an ability crucial in sensing energy blockages. As Reiki continued to gain popularity in Western culture, further modifications were introduced. Successors incorporated the Chakra system from India into Reiki practices in the 1980s, and later, elements like crystals became part of the practice and eventually several sub-forms of Reiki were developed in the West, such as “Karuna Reiki”, “Cosmic Reiki”, “Rainbow Reiki”, “Kundalini Reiki”, and dozens of others. These changes may have enriched Reiki for some, but they also distanced it from its original roots.

Jikiden Reiki

“Jikiden” is the Japanese word for “directly taught”. What is meant by that is, that the student receives the original teachings from the time prior to their amendments by Hawayo Takata. If you would like to discover more about Jikiden Reiki, read the article: Western Reiki & Jikiden Reiki

Post Scriptum - November 21st, 2024:

After further and deeper research, we have published an article with the full Historical Timeline of Reiki, adding more context to the reasons for the changes that Reiki had undergone. We hope this will provide more clarity in why Takata has made the mentioned changes.