Raku A non-traditional symbol. A lightening-like symbol that is practiced in 'Tibetan' branches of Reiki. It is used at the end of attunements and is said to separate the energies of the teacher and student.
Raku Kei Reiki Branch of Reiki created by Arthur Robertson and Iris Ishikuro in the early 1980s and was the inspiration for most of the 'Tibetan' information relating to Reiki today.
Rama Symbol A non-traditional symbol used in Karuna Reiki, Tera Mai, and Karuna Ki. It is said to clear the mind, clear the room of negative energies, harmonize upper chakras with lower chakras and create determination and completion. The non-traditional symbol Mara emerged from this. Originally channeled by Kellie-Ray Marine from the USA who called the symbol Rama.
Rand, William Lee Founder of Karuna Reiki and Usui/Tibetan Reiki. William Lee Rand runs the International Center for Reiki Training in Michigan, USA. He has trained with numerous teachers and has written Reiki for the New Millennium and co-written The Spirit of Reiki with Walter Lubeck and Frank Arjava Petter.
Ray, Barbara Weber She became a Reiki Master with Hawayo Takata on the 1st of September 1979. She received Level 1 in August 1978 and Level 2 in October 1978. Barbara Weber Ray claims that she is the only student to have received the 7 level system of Reiki from Hawayo Takata. Harry Kuboi said she had sent him a letter stating that if he wanted to become a certified Reiki Master he would have to re-train with her and pay several thousand dollars. She founded the American Reiki Association in 1980 (now called the American-International Reiki Association). She wrote a book in 1983 called The Reiki Factor that later changed its name to The Reiki Factor in The Radiance Technique. It is only in the later editions of this book that she states there are 7 levels in the system of Reiki. The first edition notes that there are just 3 levels (the same as Hawayo Takata's other Reiki Master students). For more information about her teacher and other fellow students click here.
Re-Attune Some teachers claim to be able to re-attune you. As an attunement is a clearing of the body's meridians it is impossible to be able to undo this or 'wipe-it-out'. Each attunement received takes the student a step further to re-aligning oneself with the natural function of the body - once again either mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually. For more information about attunements click here.
Reiho (lit. Japanese) spiritual energy method. This is the name that is used for the system of Reiki in Japan.
Reiji ho (lit. Japanese) being guided by spirit method.
Reiju (lit. Japanese) offering of spiritual energy. This is the Japanese name for attunement/initiations /transformations etc. Reiju, as practiced by Usui Mikao and the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai is the same for each level -– there are no differences as it is the student's ability to draw on more energy that creates the differences not the reiju itself. No symbols or mantras are used in the reiju. The reiju does not 'attune' the student to the symbols as is believed in the West. The reiju appears to have links to practices from within the more esoteric elements of Tendai called Mikkyo.
Reiki (lit. Japanese) spiritual or sacred energy. Usui Mikao did not call his teachings by this name. The word Reiki appeared often in conjunction with his teachings but this was merely to point out that the teachings worked with spiritual energy. Once his teachings came to the West in 1938 they became known as Reiki, the system. For more information about the word Reiki click here.
Reiki Box A non-traditional technique to send Reiki to a person, place or event in the past, present or future.
Reiki Guides Non-traditonal concept. The concept of guides is an add-on to the system of Reiki. It might stem from shamanism yet witches were also known to have familiars. Mystics, too, have been guided throughout the centuries by angelic beings - so the concept of spiritual guidance is quite broad based. Diane Stein and William Lee Rand have both popularized this element to the modern Reiki system.
Reiki Levels Levels to be attained in the system of Reiki. When Usui Mikao first started teaching he had no need for recognized levels - it was just the teaching and you would be given further teachings after you had progressed on your spiritual path. There are generally 3 levels though these have also known to be broken up into sub levels. In Japan the 3 major levels are shoden, okuden and shinpiden. In the West the levels have varying names including degree or facet.
Reiki Master Someone who completed Level 3 or shinpiden and is allowed to teach other people the system of Reiki. The title might not necessarily mean that this individual can guide you on your spiritual path or even understands the concept of Reiki. Some branches may only teach the attunement to their teacher students while others may offer an extensive training. The minimal requirement to become a 'Reiki Master' in the West is that you know how to perform the attunement.
Reiki Master/Practitioner A title used in the West for someone who has completed only half of the Level 3. This is a new innovation. It means that the student has not learnt the attunement only the mantra and symbol. Commonly used in the 'Tibetan' style branches of Reiki.
Reiki Master/Teacher A title used in the West for two different purposes. One is to signify that the student has completed both levels of a form of Reiki where the third level is split in two. The second purpose is that many Reiki Masters today do not believe that the term 'master' is relevant as a description of what they do. There is the suggestion that it is arrogant to call yourself a 'master' after a 'weekend' course. The title Master/Teacher is meant to suggest that the person is in fact a teacher rather than a guru of some sort.
Reiki Ryoho Hikkei (lit. Japanese) Spiritual Energy Method Manual. The Reiki Ryoho Hikkei is a 68-page document divided up into 4 sections. It was given to shoden (Level 1) students of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai. There is the introduction or explanation by Usui Mikao; a question and answer section with Usui Mikao; the Ryoho Shishin or healing guide with specific hand positions and the gyosei (waka, poetry, of the Meiji Emperor). General thought today has it that Hayashi Chujiro largely created it. Frank Arjava Petter named one of his books, The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Usui Mikao after this manual. Kimiko Koyama compiled the Reiki Ryoho Hikkei or manual for the Gakkai's 50th anniversary and therefore it is not directly from Usui Mikao.
Reiki Teacher A Reiki Master that does not wish to use the word Reiki Master due to its implications.
Reiki Treatment Reiki treatments come in all shapes and sizes. The client lies or sits and the practitioner's hands are placed on or just above the body. It is unnecessary for the client to remove one’s clothes and no private parts of the body need be touched. There is no place for sexual contact or inference within the system of Reiki. The treatment may take from about 5 minutes to an hour. For more information click here.
Ryoho Shishin (lit. Japanese) healing method's guideline. A guide that was written by Hayashi Chujiro for his students. It contains almost identical hand positions for treating specific illnesses as the guide in the Reiki Ryoho Hikkei. It is uncertain when Hayashi Chujiro first used a healing guide. It's front cover reads Healing Method's Guidelines and explains that it had been set up for American distribution. The branch name on the cover was the Hayashi Reiki Kenkyu kai or Hayashi Spiritual Energy Research Society. It also stated that it was not for sale and was a printed copy of the original. Written in Japanese, Hawayo Takata is known to have handed it to a number of her students including Harue Kanemitsu. John Harvey Gray also received a copy from Alice Takata, Hawayo Takata's daughter.
