Even though Reiki was first developed in 1926, we are still discovering new depths of the spiritual practice. In fact, many startling revelations have been uncovered over the last two decades alone, which have cast new light on the methodology widely adopted in the West. The practice was invented in Japan. By the time it had finally reached the U.S., its founder had long since passed away. This created a dynamic in which the original teachings were modified to fit a western culture.



This article will explore the differences between Eastern (or, Japanese) and Western (or, Occidental) Reiki. I'll explain the early influence of a woman named Hawayo Takata as the spiritual practice spread throughout the U.S. We'll also revisit some of the original teachings of its founder, Mikao Usui.

The Influence Of Hawayo Takata

For much of the twentieth century, the West's access to Japan was very limited. As a result, the U.S. had only a rudimentary understanding about the original teachings of Reiki, which remained within Japan until the 1970s. A woman named Hawayo Hiromi Takata brought the practice to the U.S. after having been trained by Chujiro Hayashi. Hayashi was a student of the founder, Usui. He transformed Usui's teachings into a rigidly simplistic set of rules that emphasized physical healing over spiritual growth. This is the version that Takata introduced to the West.

The style offered by Takata was positioned as an unchanged methodology. That is, the methods she taught were billed as entirely consistent with the founder's original methods. For years, nobody suspected the claim. However, when Japan and its culture became easier to access, it was discovered that the style of Reiki that was spreading throughout the West was radically different than Usui's approach.

Like Hayashi, Takata emphasized the memorization of a codified set of rules. Every person who received healing was treated with the same set of techniques, including established hand positions. While her methodology successfully standardized the practice, there were inherent limitations. First, it did not allow flexibility for each client's unique needs. Nor did the standardization encourage students to expand their understanding of the methodology. Reiki practitioners have since learned that there is enormous power in experimenting with different systems and channeling energy through those systems.

Rediscovering Mikao Usui's Approach

Mikao Usui's approach to the methodology is far different than the style taught throughout the West by Takata. His method did not emphasize memorizing one distinct set of hand positions to be used to treat each person. Instead, his approach was more intuitive; he trained his followers to "listen" to the energy and adjust their hand positioning accordingly. He also taught Byosen scanning, a technique in which the practitioner learned to determine areas in need of healing through sensations in the hands.

Usui also incorporated a number of other methods under his broader Reiki system. These included Gassho meditation, Gyoshi-ho, and Koki-ho, all of which allowed students to further control the energy.

East Versus West

Initially, because Japanese and Western styles of Reiki are so dramatically different from each other, it seems logical to select one or the other. However, both strains of the practice have immense value to an astute practitioner. Both cater to disparate concepts, but both also form a similar framework. Takata's style emphasizes a linear approach. Usui's style highlights an approach based on the student's intuition. The ideal system integrates the best of both styles.

Reiki continues to evolve as we learn new things about the practice. In the West, there are already dozens of systems that underscore different procedures and concepts. It's important to remember that each person's needs are unique. To that end, it is more important to apply systems that fit the need rather than rigidly sticking to one of them.