What is reiki?

“What is reiki?” People often ask this question.

Reiki (ray-key) is Japanese for 'universal life energy' and is a form of energetic healing, a complementary therapy shared in person or at a distance and shared via the hands. Reiki has roots in Buddhist and Eastern traditions.

The founder of reiki as we know it, was Mikao Usui born in Taniai, Gifu prefecture, Japan. Mikao taught his system of reiki to more than 2,000 people during his lifetime and was a progressive thinker in what was a very traditional society.

Reiki practitioners use their hands to deliver energy, either at a distance or in person. The reiki improves the flow and balance of the animal's energy and chakras to support healing.

Humans and animals have defined energy fields in parts of our bodies known as chakras, these are the energy centres of our bodies. There needs to be an energetic balance in all our chakras for us to be at our best. Reiki healing can help with achieving this.

In my experience, animals are very receptive and responsive to reiki, for they are very deeply connected to the universal source of energy.