Hands on healing (Reiki) has been around for many thousands of years and used by different cultures. The history of Hands on Healing is constantly being rewritten as more and more information comes to light from Japan. What we do know is that Dr Mikao Usui discovered Hands on Healing in 1922 while on a 21-day retreat on Mount Kurama.

In his lifetime Dr Usui taught over 2,000 students. He adopted and adapted a set of principles originally set down by a wise emperor of Japan which later became known as the Five Reiki Precepts:

At least for today:

• Do not be angry.
• Do not worry.
• Be grateful.
• Work with diligence.
• Be kind to people.

After Usui’s death, one of the reiki masters that he trained, Dr Chujiro Hayashi, continued to spread reiki, as did several other of Dr Usui’s disciples. Dr Hayashi developed the hands on healing system introducing more hand positions and altering the attunement process. By the time of his death he had trained 14 reiki masters, including Mrs Takata. It was Mrs Takata who is credited with bringing reiki to the West and by her death in 1980 she had attuned 22 reiki masters. Hands on healing is now one of the fastest growing complementary therapies being taught. Each reiki practitioner can trace their reiki lineage back to Dr Mikao Usui.

Extract taken from Complementary Therapies - The Essential Guide. For more information on hands on healing, take a look at the book - available now in eBook and printed book formats. Buy the printed version and get the eBook free!