The Beginings of Reiki History

Yes, a thought can go a very long way
Reiki is and has been truly a gift of knowledge given unselfishly for each of us to embrace it's positive betterment for ourselves as well as for us to pass along this knowledge and practice for those seeking self awareness, growth, enlightenment, and good health for all days to come.
Originally this technique started as a Healing Art that was practiced in ancient Tibet and over time passed down to Buddist Monks that later taught these healing techniques to only a select few Monks, whom promised not to share this knowledge with the common people. By the end of the 19th Century a Japanese languages professor was asked by one of his students, "How can others, like Buddah and Jesus heal people with just a touch of their hands?" The professor, Dr. Mikao Usui, found this students question profound, but interesting enough, that he took a leave of absence from teaching to investigate the truth in ancient Tibetan and Christian texts that he was already partly familiar with. Thus, Dr. Usui's quest took him along a provocative direction, that not only changed his life, but all those who followed his teachings, as well as those that experienced a balance wellness, in times of past illness.

Mikao Usui was born on August 15, 1865 in the village of Yago within the Yamagata district of Gifu prefecture, Japan, or Nihon as spoken in Nihongo. Born into influence and later traveling to Europe and China as a young adult to further his education, he found special interests in medicine, psychology and religion. Upon his return to Nihon, he became secretary to Pei Gotoushin-san, who was the head of the department of health & welfare and later became Mayor of Tokyo. By 1900, professor, or Sensei, Mikao Usui considered teaching others in ancient languages and symbols in 1914. Much later, Mikao Usui-san's experience in "hands on healing" was revealed and answering his earlier students question, when injuring himself after a long meditation while on Mt. Kurama, about 1922. Now was the time to put to practice all he had learned to heal himself on his return back home and offer his word to teach a selected group of individuals that would promise to teach others.

Chujiro Hayashi was taught and received his initation in becoming a Reiki Master from Sensei Usui-san about 1925 in Nihon. Sensei Hayashi continued with the Reiki practice taught to him when he was encouraged to write down records of healings given to individuals having a variety of illness. Later in the 1930's he developed the standard hand positions into a continuous form technique and in time created the system of the three degrees for initiation procedures. It has been said that at this time Sensei Hayashi-san added the Master Reiki symbol from further research given to him earlier from Sensei Usi-san. Sensei Hayashi-san later entered into the military as a Medical Professional and during his career had the opportunity to train seventeen masters in the art of Reiki. It's been said that Sensei Hayashi-san felt men should not be the only Reiki Masters, so he offered six women showing promise, an opportunity to compliment the art of Reiki healing in ways never yet done.

Hawayo Takata was born on December 24, 1900 in Kauai, Hawaii, USA from Japanese immigrants to the United States of America. She grew up watching her parents work very hard and later became the wife of a bookkeeper for the plantation of where her father was employed. After her husband died in 1930, Hawayo Takata had a breakdown in trying to support and raise her two children. It wasn't long after that she got word of her sister's death in Japan, where she boarded a steamship with her sister-in-law to help her extended family. Upon her arrival, she was hospitalized with a tumor, gallstones, and emphysema and was told to prepare for surgery. She had a dream before the surgery was to occur that said she should consider an alternative healing. Her surgeon told her the next day about Dr. Hayashi and his Reiki clinic, of which she followed her dreams to consult with him. Dr. Hayashi offered her two Reiki practitioners that would treat her daily. Upon her healing, she inquired if she could learn this art of Reiki healing and was told that normally it was not permitted to allow individuals from outside of Japan access to this knowledge. Dr. Hayashi was so moved by her resolve and commitment, that he taught her Reiki in 1936, and by 1938 she received her initiation as a Reiki Master Teacher. After finalizing her Japan family business, she set sail for home, back to Hawaii where she spent the rest of her life dedicated to the healing arts of Reiki, healing others, and teaching to bring this art of Reiki to the American public. By 1980 she had initiated twenty-four Reiki Masters, mentioned below, that went on to teach others and offer the Mikao Usi gift of Reiki to the rest of the world.

In tribute and blessings to past Reiki Masters, and a very sincere thank you to Hawayo Takata, for her unselfesh dedication to teach Reiki, offer healings for the ill, and to encourage her Reiki Master students to continue the art of Reiki, teaching, and healing for others in discomfort in the United States of America.