REIKI HISTORY

Mikao Usui founded Reiki in 1922. It is said that after a long period of searching, Usui climbed the sacred Mount Kurama in Japan and meditated and fasted for 21 days. On the first day, he placed 21 stones in-front of him. For each day that passed, he threw a stone away. On the 21st day, a beam of light came shooting towards him from the heavens. This was his initiation into Reiki, the art and knowledge of healing. From then on the knowledge and ability of Reiki has flowed from master to student. In April 1922, Usui moved to Tokyo and founded the Usui Reiki Healing Society. He taught over 2000 students to use Reiki. Sixteen of his students continued their training to reach the master level. After Usui's death in 1926, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a former student of Usui, left the Usui Reiki Healing Society and formed his own association. Hayashi simplified the Reiki teachings, stressing physical healing and a simpler set of Reiki techniques. Before WW2, Dr. Hayashi instructed a Japanese American lady called Takata from Hawaii. Takata then brought this wonderful gift to the western world. Almost all Reiki taught outside Japan can be attributed to her work.