An Interdisciplinary Approach to Reiki: Tai Chi, Taoism, and Meditation

Website design By BotEap.comBreathing meditation for Reiki healers

Website design By BotEap.comA holistic way to complete your breathing practice and physical exercises is what I call becoming the breath. Sitting in meditation, imagine that the breath fills your entire body from head to toe. As you inhale, imagine air and prana filling your bones and muscles. Imagine that the air fills all your organs and tissues. As you breathe out, imagine old air being released from every part of your body. Breathe in again when you notice that you are turning into your breath. Then exhale completely, watching the breath disperse.

Website design By BotEap.comIn the pause between breaths recognize the total absence of oneself. Again, inhale a full body breath as it becomes the breath. The whole body is breathing. Become the breath. Exhale fully, acknowledging the temporary nature of each breath. Become the breath. Recognize the temporary nature of the concept of yourself. Let go of the self in the same way that you let go of the breath. Can I add a very simple but very powerful procedure to this technique? Smile. As cliche as it may sound, smiling is probably the healthiest thing you can do. Smile. The advice to wear an inner smile dates back thousands of years in the teachings of Taiji. Smile.

Website design By BotEap.comTai Chi for Reiki Healers

Website design By BotEap.comTaiji (sometimes spelled Tai Chi) deals with the balance and flow of energy known as qi (pronounced as chee and sometimes as chi). Qi refers to both internal and environmental energy. The qi of the universe influences the qi of your body. Taiji is a relaxing and energizing moving meditation system that is synchronized with the flow of qi in your body, moving at about 8 inches per second. As you practice, you become more sensitive and aware of your body qi. This awareness is helpful during Reiki sessions to read the flow of energy in your patients.

Website design By BotEap.comYou can observe Taiji practitioners early in the morning in local parks in many cities around the world, particularly where many Chinese reside. Taiji brings grace to your movements, concentrates your mind and keeps you grounded in every step. Of course, it takes time to learn and it takes a lot of practice. You can learn the concepts from a book, but studying the movements requires the patient guidance and wisdom of a Taiji master.

Website design By BotEap.comTaoism and Energy

Website design By BotEap.comTaoism (sometimes spelled Taoism) is an ancient Chinese philosophy that describes how to harmonize the mind, body, and universe. The Taoist view of life is that human activity should flow smoothly like a river. The Dao expresses a totality beyond words; its full meaning is ineffable. Like Buddhism, the focus in Taoism is on the here and now. Taoism perceives the movement of qi in terms of energy points, channels, and meridians in the body, such as those stimulated in acupuncture.

Website design By BotEap.comQi is also observed according to your stage of life, the seasons, the movements of the sun, the moon and the time of day. Indian yoga and Chinese taiji overlap in many ways, but they use different names, concepts, and explanations of how energy works. This section discusses energy in the Taoist sense to complement your Reiki practice. Taiji complements your Reiki practice by increasing awareness of energy and developing the power to direct energy at will.

Website design By BotEap.comTaoism emphasizes the circulation of energy through the energy channels of the body. It has to do with the balance of yin and yang energy. The healing energy of Taoism involves completing two main channels in the body. Earthly yin energy rises through the feet and legs up to hui yin center located in the perineum between the genitals and the anus (correlated with the root chakra). The energy then moves up the spine to the crown of the head and then down to the point between the eyes (correlated with the brow chakra). Meanwhile, heavenly yang energy flows from the universe into the crown chakra. These energies flow down the front of the body from the forehead to the root chakra. When these circuits are connected, energy circulates using the microcosmic orbit.

Website design By BotEap.comMicrocosmic orbit

Website design By BotEap.comTea microcosmic orbit it involves consciously directing energy around the body. Completing the microcosmic orbit involves closing two points on the body. Closing the hui yin increases your ability to draw energy from the earth and retain it. To do this, lift your rectal muscles. This position is correlated with aswini mudra used when exercising the root chakra. At first, hold this position for 30 seconds. Practice until you can hold it for 5 to 10 minutes at a time.

Website design By BotEap.comThe second part of the microcosmic orbit involves the use of the tongue to link yin and yang energy. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth to draw yang energy through the crown into your body. Placing the tongue on the palate completes the energy circuit of yin and yang. Close your eyes and visualize the qi energy flowing from root to crown, crown to root. Qi flows down the back of the spine and then down the front of the body. Focusing your mind on the flow of energy synchronizes the mind, body and qi.

Website design By BotEap.comFor Reiki purposes, this procedure can be used effectively to intensify Reiki (qi) in your body. When you are ready, incorporate this technique into your Reiki healing practice. With the hui yin raised and the tongue pressed against the roof of the mouth, direct the Reiki to flow through the palm chakras. Place your hands on your patient and allow the intensified Reiki to flow into them. To study more specific details of how to circulate energy through your body, I recommend “Awakening Healing Energy Through the Tao” by Mantak Chia for a full explanation of energy. His book explains the harvesting and grounding of energy for its optimal vitality.

Website design By BotEap.comSummary

Website design By BotEap.comWith so many overlapping concepts and techniques presented in this article, it may be helpful to include this brief summary of each of the sciences presented here. The history of Reiki dates back about 100 years to Dr. Usui, who discovered the symbols, techniques, and philosophy of healing during a 21-day fasting meditation.

Website design By BotEap.comReiki is the name he gave to universal energy. This is not to say that the energy itself is only 100 years old. In fact, all energy is as old as the universe. Of course, the universe is energy and energy is the universe.

Website design By BotEap.comThe art and science of Taiji dates back thousands of years to ancient China and involves the physical and conscious movement of internal and environmental qi.

Website design By BotEap.comYoga was developed in ancient India thousands of years ago and includes a wide variety of arts and sciences including physical postures known as asana, breathing practices known as Pranayama, and the lifting of powerful energy that is coiled at the root chakra known as Kundalini. Furthermore, the practice of yoga involves a wide range of moral, ethical and spiritual guidelines which are effectively explained in “The 8 limbs of yoga” by Bhava Ram which is based on the “Yoga Sutras” of Patanjali. For the purposes of the present explanation, we can say that prana is essentially the same energy as qi or Reiki. Note that these names essentially refer to the same energy, but are not too.

Website design By BotEap.comI have tried to show the relationship between these disciplines and how they can be combined effectively for optimal development. Decide for yourself whether you will strictly adhere to a set of practices or follow an interdisciplinary approach.