Understanding the gentle power of Reiki
- shannon hoffmeister
- Jul 7
- 4 min read
The Japanese Roots of Reiki
Reiki is a gentle yet powerful healing practice that originated in Japan in the early 20th century. Its founder, Mikao Usui, was a Buddhist lay monk and spiritual seeker who, after a transformative 21-day meditation and fasting retreat on Mount Kurama, received profound insights into ancient healing methods. The word “Reiki” comes from the Japanese terms “Rei” (universal) and “Ki” (life energy), reflecting its deep roots in Japanese spiritual and healing traditions. Usui’s system blends elements of Buddhism, Shinto, and Japanese folk practices, emphasizing both hands-on healing, distant energy healing and a way of life guided by five core spiritual principles.
The Five Reiki Principles: A Pathway to Transformation
A wonderful place to start your Reiki journey is by incorporating the Five Reiki Principles, or Gokai, into your daily life. These principles are more than guidelines; they are a philosophy for living mindfully, with integrity and compassion.
Just for today, I will not be angry. Recognize anger without letting it control you, inviting calm and clarity into your life.
Just for today, I will not worry. Release anxiety and fear, focusing on the present moment for greater peace and fulfillment.
Just for today, I will be grateful. Embrace gratitude to cultivate positivity and resilience.
Just for today, I will do my work honestly. Approach your responsibilities with sincerity and dedication for a sense of purpose.
Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing. Practice compassion for yourself and others, fostering harmony and connection.
These principles can be recited as affirmations during Reiki sessions, meditation, or as part of your daily routine. Speaking them aloud helps reinforce their importance and strengthens your commitment to living by them. In Japanese culture, the belief that words hold power is known as Kotodama (言霊). This concept suggests that words carry a spiritual essence or power that can influence people's emotions, actions, and even physical reality. It's a belief rooted in Shintoism, Japan's indigenous religion, where it's believed that not just humans, but also animals and objects possess souls, and therefore, words can be imbued with a soul or spirit as well.
The Innate Power of Reciting Words in Japanese
The Japanese language is closely tied to intention, vibration, and spiritual resonance. In Reiki, the Five Principles (Gokai) are believed to hold special power when spoken in their original Japanese:
Principle (English) | Japanese Phrase | Japanese Script |
Just for today, do not anger | Kyo dake wa, okoru na | 今日だけは、怒るな |
Just for today, do not worry | Kyo dake wa, shinpai su na | 今日だけは、心配すな |
Be grateful | Kansha shite | 感謝して |
Work diligently | Gyo o hageme | 業を励め |
Be kind to others | Hito ni shinsetsu ni | 人に親切に |
Why Reciting in Japanese Holds Power
Vibrational Quality: The unique sounds and rhythms of Japanese are thought to activate subtle energies, enhancing the principles’ effects.
Intentionality and Mindfulness: Speaking in Japanese requires focus, deepening your connection to each principle.
Cultural Authenticity: Reciting the Gokai in their original language honors Reiki’s roots and preserves the purity of its teachings.
Sound Symbolism: In Japanese culture, specific sounds are linked to distinct energies, believed to resonate with your body’s energy centers.
The Practice of Chanting
Chanting the Gokai aloud is a meditative act that goes beyond intellectual understanding. It is believed to:
Manifest the principles’ energy in your life.
Create a sacred space for healing and alignment.
Promote self-healing and emotional balance.
Saying the Gokai in Japanese is a way to connect with Reiki’s original energy and intention. It has transformed my life more than any other daily practice I have committed to. Through mindful repetition, these principles become a living part of your daily experience.
Curious to hear the Gokai in Japanese?
My Approach: Virtual Reiki for Deep Inner Healing
I offer virtual Reiki sessions designed to support energetic transformation and deep inner healing. Each session weaves together reiki energy healing, meditation, prayer, and intuitive guidance to help you release emotional blocks and reconnect with your authentic self.
With eight years of hands-on Reiki experience, I have witnessed the profound relaxation and healing (physical, emotional, and spiritual) that Reiki can bring to clients. Those who experience my sessions often leave feeling deeply relaxed, energetically nourished, and spiritually grounded. This renewed sense of peace and alignment frequently leads to better sleep, improved stress management, enhanced mental clarity, and an open heart ready to embrace more joy in daily life.
My approach is gentle, intuitive, and client-centered, with a strong commitment to creating a nurturing, calming, and deeply spiritual environment for every session. I believe that every person deserves a safe space to heal, recharge, and reconnect with their inner wisdom.
What is Deep Inner Healing?
Deep inner healing is the process of addressing and releasing emotional, energetic, and spiritual wounds that may be deeply stored in the subconscious or body. This journey goes beyond surface-level relief, gently uncovering and transforming old patterns, limiting beliefs, and unresolved pain, often rooted in childhood or past trauma. By engaging in this work, you can become more whole, empowered, and aligned with your true self, leading to a more fulfilling and enriched life.
In My Reiki Sessions, Clients Have Experienced:
Releasing Shame or Guilt: Recognizing and processing these heavy emotions can lift barriers to growth and self-acceptance, allowing you to let go of burdens that have weighed you down for years.
Reconnecting with the Inner Child or Teenager: By revisiting and nurturing your younger self, you foster self-compassion and heal old wounds, creating greater harmony within.
Inviting Forgiveness: Whether for yourself or others, forgiveness opens space for love and compassion to flourish, releasing resentment and anger in a safe, sacred environment.
Bringing Awareness to Emotional Blocks: Emotional issues often manifest physically or spiritually. Identifying and working through these blocks can improve overall health and deepen your spiritual connection.
Aligning Mind, Body, and Spirit: Through Reiki energy work, guided meditations, and intentional daily practices, you can achieve balance and alignment, paving the way for deeper healing and transformation.
Deep inner healing is a journey, a process of gently releasing what no longer serves you and reconnecting with your true self. As you move forward with clarity and self-love, you become better equipped to navigate life’s challenges and embrace your authentic path.
Ready to experience Reiki for yourself?
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