It may not be commonly discussed but poetry was also a part of the system of Reiki’s original Japanese teachings.
This lack of acknowledgement is largely due to the reading of poetry being a culturally specific practice in Japan. Most Westerners have no, or little, understanding of this practice in its Japanese form.
The base concept of the system of Reiki was developed in the early 1900s by a man called Usui Mikao. It is believed that he simply taught others what he practiced for himself. Originally a spiritual practice, it has become better known as a hands-on healing practice through the teachings of Hayashi Chujiro.
“Reiki” the word can be found in the branches of schools that developed from Usui’s teachings. Both the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Society of the Usui Spiritual Energy Healing method) and Hayashi Reiki Kenkyu kai (Hayashi’s Spiritual Energy Research Society) use the word ‘Reiki’ to signify ‘spiritual energy’ but neither actually called the system - Reiki.
Hardly a day goes past without someone contacting us with the words, ‘I’m so confused - what are all these sorts of Reiki?’
Viewpoints about the system of Reiki and its past are numerous. On our new website we have many pieces about the history of Reiki and its teachers as well as modern teachers and their teachings. But let’s look at a potted version of what has happened to the system since its beginnings in the early 1900s.
“A Treatment to Heal Diseases, Hand Healing” by Shouoh Matsui
in the magazine “Sunday Mainichi”, Mar. 4, 1928
