What are Reiki and Seichem?
Both Reiki and Seichem are healing processes which work by channeling energy into the body via the practitioners hands. Although are more often associated with emotional and mental healing, rather than physical ailments, the common train of thought is that to be healthy on the outside, one must have good inner health, and based on that theory, both Reiki and Seichem can heal physical ailments as well as those on an emotional level.
Where does Reiki come from?
Reiki is an age-old tradition within Asian communities for both healing existing ailments and the prevention of further illness. Thought to have originated in Japan, Reiki has also been linked to some branches of traditional Chinese medicine.
The actual history of Reiki has been somewhat shrouded in legend and the truth will probably never be fully known. Information currently available says that Dr. Mikao Usui developed Reiki during a 21 day fasting and meditation exercise in solitude on Mount Kuruama, one of many sacred mountains in Japan. This information has only recently become available outside of Japan and it is not certain how true this story is.
What is certain is that the Usui system of natural healing was initially introduced to the west by Mrs. Hawayo Takata from Hawaii. Whilst visiting relatives in Japan Mrs. Takata was successfully treated for a chronic illness by Dr. Hayashi at his Reiki clinic in Tokyo. She then received reiki attunements from Dr. Hayashi and was able to practice Reiki and initiate new practitioners herself.
How does Reiki work?
Reiki is one of a number of holistic therapies based on various points of the body, in the same way as reflexology and acupuncture. All of these holistic, energy based treatments are based on the body’s natural ‘chakra’ and energy fields, or auras, and all are based on ancient Asian theories and are very similar to each other. The main difference being that while reflexology works by massaging or placing pressure on the different energy points, and acupuncture involves inserting needles in the various points, Reiki does not necessarily involve the practitioner touching the patient at all.
Instead energy is directed at the body’s points by the placing of the hands lightly on or just over a series of locations on the recipient’s body. The energy flows through the practitioner and directly into the recipients body via the points, but is not generated by the practitioner and does not deplete the Reiki practitioners own energy supplies. Advanced practitioners can even administer treatment remotely, although this is an extremely advanced practice and should not be attempted by new practitioners..
Who can give and/or receive Reiki treatment?
Practicing Reiki requires no special abilities and does not require years of study to learn. You can learn to give Reiki treatments to yourself, family and friends, animals and plants. Some people even use Reiki on appliances. Everything in the world works by using some form of energy, so it stands to reason that a healing process which uses pure energy will heal or cure inefficiencies in the workings of such organisms and articles.
The ability to channel specific healing energy is present in everyone but lies dormant until one has had this ability awakened by an initiation process called attunement. Anyone can become attuned, regardless of their age or any other factors, and learn how to successfully channel Reiki. Attunement is administered by an experienced Reiki master, and once you have been attuned you will be able to practice Reiki and share the benefits with others as well as treat yourself. Indeed, Reiki can treat, energize, and heal a practitioner even as they are treating a patient.
What are the specific benefits of Reiki?
Reiki can help alleviate the suffering associated with pain and illness, whether it be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual in nature. Essentially this means that Reiki can heal. Illness occurs when the mind, body, and spirit become unbalanced. Emotional problems and physical diseases alike stem from disturbances in the personal energy field, and true wellness can only be achieved by restoring the entire being to harmony and balance, not only with itself but also with the Earth and the Universe. Reiki is one of the most effective ways to help restore that balance and harmony.
Unlike more traditional western medicine, which is only to be used for the cure of specific ailments at the time of suffering, and under the guidance of a doctor, Reiki can be used day-to-day. Of course Reiki aids the recovery of patients who are undergoing medical treatment, but it can also be used to prevent illness. As illness is caused by imbalance, it can only be a good practice to keep oneself well-balanced at all times, thereby reducing the risk of falling ill.
Many people find the Reiki treatment to be such a pleasant experience that they partake in regular sessions as a refreshing and relaxing treat for themselves, in the same way that they might get a massage or a facial, a guided visualization session or a mud bath.
What exactly does Reiki do?
Reiki releases blocked energy from the body and mind, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. The natural energy has an innate intelligence, it does not matter whereabouts on the body the treatment is directed, it will naturally re-direct itself and and go to wherever it is needed, helping to cleanse the body of toxins. Reiki also works on plants, animals, and even some machines and other inanimate objects.
We begin the healing process ourselves by acting on our desire to be well and whole. Without the motivation to be well we cannot become well. Reiki is a means to empowering and enabling us to become whole in all ways. When Reiki is administered it increases the flow of energy through your aura and into your physical body. Reiki energy works to harmonize, or bring into balance, all the different parts of you which make up ‘you’ as a whole, including the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Reiki releases emotional blocks and trauma, as well as energy blocks within the other areas of ‘you’, ensuring that you remain a well-balanced and healthy person, both inside and out, physically and emotionally.
Is there any proof that Reiki works?
Scientists and medical physicians are somewhat reluctant to accept the validity of energy healing practices. However, studies have often shown a significant and accelerated improvement in health after energy treatments of many different forms. Aura photographs have also shown significant changes before and after Reiki treatments.
This is not a guarantee that someone will be relieved of any ailment whatsoever with single or multiple Reiki treatments, and Reiki should never be used as a substitute for professional medical treatment, particularly if suffering from serious illness. However, in most cases Reiki does seem to enhance the effects of medical treatment when used in conjunction with it, as well as the body’s natural ability to heal itself, and patients seem to recover more quickly and fully when receiving both medical and Reiki treatments together. The underlying principle of Reiki is that it can do no harm and cannot be used for any harmful purpose, therefore there can be no harm in trying something which may well aid ones recovery.
While the use of Reiki for treating illness and injury may be controversial, the use of Reiki as a relaxation and stress reducing technique is becoming far more accepted and widespread. Reiki enhances other bodywork and healing techniques, and sports performance, as well as assisting with spiritual development.
Introduction to Seichem
Seichem is so similar to Reiki that there is not a great deal more to tell. It is sort of… ‘Reiki plus +’ To explain; There are four elements, Earth, Fire, Air, and Water, all of which are brimming with energy of different kinds. Reiki is simply Earth energy, whereas Seichem is an initiation into all four elements, all of which produce different feelings and experiences during treatments and initiations, and all have different healing properties.
Earth (Reiki) healing energy is experienced as vastly differing hot and cold sensations, just like on the Earth’s surface.
Fire is clearly and immediately distinguished as pulses of low-voltage electricity which feels like a hot, prickling sensation.
Water feels like waves of cool energy and brings up deep emotional issues for healing.
Air / Ether is a two-fold energy made up of air and spirit and is good for mental healing. It enhances the power of the third eye and the spoken word. When this energy is channeled during the treatment, both the healer and the patient often experience the presence of angels.
The energy which can be felt during a Seichem attunement process is much stronger than that which is felt during Reiki sessions. The room fills with energy and a heat that can actually be physically felt. It is vitally important that a newly attuned Seichem practitioner drinks plenty of water for a few days following their initiation, in order to flush the cleared blockages and bad energies from the body.
During the Reiki attunement process, the person being initiated will have their vibrational energy level raised which will give them clearer access to the healing energies. The Seichem attunement process opens a person up even more, giving them a much stronger healing ability. Like Reiki, anyone can become a practitioner of Seichem by being initiated with the attunement process. The only requirement is the desire to help yourself and others to heal on both a physical and emotional level.
Once a new Seichem practitioner has been initiated they will have unlimited access to the healing frequencies, and may continue to use the energies to help themselves and others for as long as they wish. The initiation process seems to change people for the better, and they are never quite the same again. Practitioners have reported feeling calmer and more positive, gaining new levels of confidence and suddenly finding the incentive and ability to change things in their lives which they had previously been avoiding.
Just like Reiki practitioners, those who practice Seichem do not profess to be able to personally cure all ills themselves. They are merely a facilitator through which the universal energies can be directed, in order to help the recipient to regain and keep the best physical and emotional health possible.