The meditations of Reiki
Reiki is not only healing; it connects us with our spiritual self. In other words, it’s a connection to our Soul.
Reiki meditations are different from other types of meditation. They are simple. Their purpose is not only to clear the mind, they’re meant to bring in Light energy. Reiki will circulate this energy effortlessly.
The meditations used in Reiki include gestures that are specific to the practice of Reiki.
The Reiki meditations that follow are practical, powerful, and useful tools to help you on your spiritual journey with Reiki.
Gassho
“two hands coming together”
Meditation
The Gassho meditation is the most important meditation in the practice of Reiki. Institute of Reiki teaches this meditation at the first-degree Practitioner level. This meditation is done to enhance the energy and clear the mind of the Practitioner. It connects us to our Heart center.
This simple and easy meditation can be done to help re-center yourself as it brings both sides together with the joining of the hands.
The Gassho meditation was recommended by Sensei Usui to use when we meditate on the five Reiki precepts. It is recommended to practice this meditation daily to harmonize mind, body, spirit and enjoy better overall health. Practice this meditation for at least 20-30 minutes daily. Early morning and evening are good times to meditate.
Steps
Sit in a chair or on the floor, in as relaxed a position as possible keeping your back straight. Close your eyes. You may want to do this meditation while in the Seiza posture. The Japanese Seiza posture involves sitting on the floor by first kneeling, then sitting on top of your folded legs underneath you and your bottom resting on the back of your ankles.
Bring the palms of your hands together at your heart center in prayer position. Your hands should be relaxed enough to allow a little space between your palms.
Bow your head slightly forward in expression of respect, and bring your focus to the point where your two middle fingers are touching. Keep your hands in this position to help clear and focus the mind.
Inhale through the nostrils and exhale through your mouth. As you inhale, rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth. When you exhale, let you tongue fall to the bottom of your lower jaw.
While in this position recite the five Reiki precepts:
1. “Today, I don’t worry.
2. I am not angry.
3. I honour all that ever was and is.
4. I do my work honestly.
5. I am kind to every living thing.”
It is also beneficial to attune to each precept by meditating on them individually.
Hatsurei Ho
Reiki Meditation
Hatsurei Ho is a powerful yet simple Reiki meditation technique that lasts a minimum of 10 minutes and up to 20 minutes or longer. This meditation brings us in presence with Spirit.
The Japanese term “Hatsurei Ho” meaning broken down is: Hatsu to bring forth; Rei means spirit or energy; and Ho refers to a method, system or process.
The Hatsurei Ho was taught by Dr. Usui to his students. It plays an important part in the Reiki practice.
It’s an excellent purification tool that should be practiced daily to help maintain emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual harmony. It can be practiced individually or in groups.
The Hatsurei Ho meditation encompasses seven phases, that’ll help clear and connect to the universal energy.
The steps of the seven phases of the Hatsurei Ho follow.
Phase 1 - Preparation
Begin by relaxing and letting go of any tension you may be feeling.
·Sit up straight, or in a “Seiza” position, making sure you’re in a comfortable position where you’ll be able to remain still and in comfort.
Place your hands palm down on your lap. Close your eyes and concentrate on bringing your breath all the way down to your “tanden” or core (navel) area.
Phase 2 – Mokunen - Begin
The word Mokunen means "silence” and “focusing," When we’re clear, centered and focus, we intentionally note the meditation.is beginning
Phase 3 – Kenyoku
Kenyoku means "dry bathing". It’s a Japanese Reiki technique to purify oneself before and after performing Reiki. In this process, any negativity is brushed away either by an actual physical touch or with visualized intention. In this procedure, you intend to “disconnect” yourself from what could interfere with your relaxed state as you enter into the meditation.
Start by relaxing your breathing by inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.
Place your right hand on your left shoulder, resting it between your collar bone and shoulder. With palm faced towards the body—while exhaling—stroke your hand down diagonally across your chest all the way down past your right hip.
Now, continue to clear the other side of your body. Place your left hand on your right shoulder, resting it between your collar bone and shoulder. With palm facing your body, exhale while brushing down diagonally across your chest all the way down past your left hip.
Repeat twice in same order.
We then proceed to clearing the arms and hands.
Stretch out your left arm slightly forward in front of you. Place your right hand, palm resting at top of your shoulder. While exhaling, brush your left arm with the right palm ending just past the tips of the left-hand fingers.
We then do the same for the other arm. Raise your right arm slightly and brush it with your left hand.
Repeat brushing each arm two more times. (You may repeat until you feel ready to proceed with the meditation.)
Phase 4 – Hikari
To connect to Reiki, raise your hands, arms will be bent at elbows, just above your head on each side. Your palms should be facing upwards and your fingers together.
Invite Hikari (light) to feel the Reiki energy, or white golden light to flow down from the top of your head (crown), through your arms to your hands and into your whole body. Once you sense the Reiki energy flowing, slowly lower your hands back down on your lap.
Phase 5 - Joshin Kokyu Ho
The Joshin Kokyu Ho is a technique used to purify the soul with breathing. Place your hands, palm up on your lap in a relaxed manner.
Breath slowly through your nose while focusing on your "tanden" or core.
With natural breathing, feel the white golden light of Reiki energy circulating from the top (crown) of your head down to your center.
As you exhale from this area, intend for the energy to disperse throughout your whole body then out your hands and expanding around you.
Stay with this for as long as you feel comfortable.
Phase 6 - Gassho
The Japanese term “Gassho” means joined hands. This technique requires you to hold your hands together in front of your chest at your heart center as if you were praying. Keep your hands relaxed, allowing for a little space between your palms.
Concentrate on the connection of your middle fingers. Keep yourself in this position to help clear and focus the mind.
While in this position recite the five Reiki precepts:
“Today, I don’t worry.
I am not angry.
I am grateful for all that ever was and is.
I do my work honestly.
I am kind to every living thing.”
Phase 7 – Mokunen – End
Place your hands back on your lap, palms facing down.
Intentionally note the meditation as ending.
MEDITATION
The practice of meditation was greatly reduced to prayer by many people when life got too busy and full of distractions making it challenging to find time for self-reflection and inner understanding. However, as more people are moving away from conventional therapies and want to take better control over their wellness, and with the benefits of meditation having been scientifically proven, there are many who are now exploring meditation.
The practice of Meditation has steadily gained popularity in this part of the world and for good reasons. Known to release stress and anxiety, and bring enhanced self-awareness, the benefits of meditation are many. For people who are advancing in age, the practice of meditation for seniors supports aging well.
From an energetic standpoint, meditation helps the energy body remain strong and clear to keep us healthy and vibrant. If this aspect of meditation interests you, the following explains how we connect to the infinite consciousness in meditation.
SOURCE CONSCIOUSNESS
Stress and tension are created when we don’t know—or we lose—our Self. Some ways we lose our sense of Self include—when we’re overly stressed for extended periods, are on autopilot, or too much in the mind, and when we’re intrinsically tied to outer stimuli. Meditation helps us connect with our beingness by taking us out of the body and mind and bringing us within.
Cosmic energy is received by the etheric/energy body and brings life to our physical world and senses. This energy for the body and mind is received when we’re in deep sleep or meditation. Meditation helps expand our consciousness.
The influx of cosmic energy is blocked by our thoughts. This is why quieting the mind in meditation is so beneficial. Low cosmic energy weakens the etheric body and will cause tears. Eventually, the tearing(s) in the etheric body will lead to dis-ease in the physical body, and is at the root cause of illness and dis-ease.
Tears in the etheric body can be repaired by cosmic energy, freeing people of dis-ease, and physical and mental illness.
Meditation takes us to realms of higher wisdom. The Third-Eye can be activated with strong cosmic energy. The Third-Eye is a powerful tool to connect with during meditation to see, feel, and hear the higher frequency realities. Colours may be seen, sounds may be heard, and we may feel the channel of energy.
A combination of energy and knowledge, consciousness takes form in the astral. We may consciously feel this when we’re meditating. Higher frequency realities are accessed and felt by the astral body. Astral movements may make us feel like we are detached from our body. We may feel like our whole body is rotating, floating, and is weightless. Jolts are sometimes felt when consciousness is moving. We’ll sometimes feel this upon returning to the body before waking. Another common phenomenon that happens when we wake up as we return to the physical body is an inability to move the body right away.
Third-Eye
The “third-eye” is referred to describe how certain individuals can perceive realms that are not visible to the physical eyes. People who have an active third-eye are sometimes called visionaries, seers, clairvoyants, psychics, channelers, and mediums. Practicing meditation helps perfect a person’s third-eye. It brings clearer understanding from the broader view it offers. Our beliefs and everything else that goes with them will change as our perceptions shift.
Bright lights may be perceived and may be signatures of the Ascended Masters, or some may appear in the physical form that you associate them to. You may be able to hear them or communicate with them telepathically. For many seers, these occurrences are all part of having an active third-eye.
The expanded consciousness we connect to in meditating reveals knowledge and understanding of the true nature of life here on Earth and of death. Some refer to this as awakening, enlightenment, or nirvana.