A modern day miracle is taking place in Wittering as a local healer proves the hands-on approach is definitely the best. Howard Deshayes practises the ancient Japanese form of natural healing known as Reiki, which involves the laying on of hands to transmit energy which can then be used for whatever purpose it is most needed. While many sceptics may scoff at Howard’s form of treatment, he points to his background for ample proof he is the same as anyone else.

Before starting to practice the Reiki therapy. Howard worked for 16 years as a housing manager for a council in London. He then sold up and moved to America to carry out voluntary work with young handicapped people.

One evening while out in Amenca Howard, aged 45, felt very uptight and unable to relax. A friend offered to treat him and laid her hands on his head to perform Howard’s first experience of Reiki.

After about five minutes I totally switched off and found myself in this wonderfully tranquil, but fully aware state," said Howard.

Howard, who now lives at West Wittering was convinced of the benefits of Reiki and six weeks later he enrolled on a workshop to began his voyage of discovery into the mysterious healing form.

Reiki (pronounced ‘ray key’) was discovered in Japan in the 19th century, and recorded by a Dr Mikao Usui, although it is believed it was in use for many hundreds of years before.Dr Usui treated many people successfully and his work has been continued by followers over the years. Howard states that at the essence of Reiki is the simplest technique imaginable.

"Many centuries ago all humanity had the ability to heal, but as a people the human race lost this spirituality," he said.

Howard also explains that within just a couple of days of training, Reiki can be learned at a basic level. Once attained, the ability to channel energy using Reiki is with us forever, he adds.

However, despite all the media coverage of wrong-doing concerning hands-on therapy, Howard says there is absolutely nothing sinister about his form of healing.

"The Usui system is a gentle, safe and very simple method, which heals and harmonises on all levels. Its focus is that it enhances the body’s natural ability to heal itself," he said.

Once the energy is channelled the body will naturally know where it is needed most, whether it is used for a physical or emotional problem. Among Howard’s clients include people recovering from surgery, those suffering arthritis and those who just want to feel more relaxed.

."A treatment lasts about an hour and is given over a fully clothed body. It involves the placing of hands in various key positions, notably the head, front and back," said Howard. No effort, either physical or mental is required by the recipient and as no pressure is applied to the body it is suitable for the young and the old.

I know what a lot of people may think of this kind of healing but it is something that has to be experienced. It is magical and powerful, yet so gentle and relaxing - very nurturing." Among the more advanced forms of Reiki available are the treatment of plants and animals, and even long distance or absent healing can he given. For further details on Reiki treatment ring Howard Deshayes on (01243) 673252.
 

Just five years ago Reiki in the UK was pretty much an unknown word, there were few books on the subject matter in the major stores and it had yet to be discovered in a meaningful way.

In the year 2002 there is not a village in the British Isles where there are not a number of Reiki Practitioners. There has been an enormous proliferation and it has been written about in all manner of publications including the national press. So what has enabled this particular healing therapy to take off in such a big way?

To discover that we have to understand in basic terms what Reiki is. Very simply it is a natural hands-on healing technique whereby people can give treatment to themselves as well as others in the easiest possible of ways. It requires no particular academic or intellectual input so is suitable to people of all ages from the youngest to the most elderly. Because it is not linked to any belief system it can be equally effective on highly sceptical people as well as those open to the concept of hands-on healing. Reiki requires little effort mentally or physically. All that is necessary is to place a hand on a body to enable the energy to flow.

There are two ways by which a person can receive a Reiki treatment. From a professional practitioner or / and to become attuned to the Reiki energy to enable one to give treatment to oneself. Being attuned to the energy usually takes just two days but more on this process later.

Reiki’s Origins
This most ancient of Healing Arts was rediscovered in the late 1800’s / early 1900’s by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese gentleman. He devoted his life to determining whether it was possible for any human to be able to heal. Through many years of study, research and meditation that involved learning different languages and much travel [notably China, Tibet and India] he rediscovered Reiki. Reiki’s origins go back thousands of years beforehand.

It is my belief and understanding that when humanity was first of all created we all had this natural ability to heal. But with the evolution of time and humanity loosing much of its spirituality, we became unaware that our Creator gave us this great gift. I am personally sure that children still have this healing ability but only very few carry this forward into their adult lives. There are a few natural healers who are aware of their gift but generally they are very few and far between.

So for the vast majority of us, it takes something like Reiki to reconnect us with our Devine right and ability to be able to heal. It is through Dr. Usui’s efforts that we now can carry this on.

Dr. Usui spent the rest of his life practising and teaching this method of hands-on healing. The Usui System of Reiki Healing continued to be taught by Reiki Masters who trained in the traditions passed down from Master to student.

Reiki brought to the West
Mrs. Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to the Western world. A resident of Hawaii, she had been initiated a Master by Dr Usui’s successor Dr. Hayashi in 1938. Between 1970 and December 1980 [when she died], Mrs. Takata initiated 22 people as Reiki Masters. As far as most people’s awareness is concerned, that is the total number of Masters in the West at that time. [A Reiki Master is the only person who can train others in Reiki].

Between 1981 and 1985 Mrs. Takata’s granddaughter Phyllis Lei Furumoto initiated between 300 – 500 people as Masters. A great change took place in 1988 when Phyllis determined that any experienced Reiki Master could also initiate others as Masters. Up to that point Phyllis Furumoto was the person predominantly initiating students as Reiki Masters. It was from this change that Reiki started exploding around the world and Reiki took off in a really massive way. From a few hundreds in the 1980’s there are now thousands upon thousands around the world who are Masters. Masters now routinely attune others as Masters.

To give an essence of the extent of the explosion of Reiki, in the six years to 1995 1% of Germany [1 million people] were initiated into Reiki. And now Reiki is so big globally, I would think that numbers are almost too vast to count.

Different types of Reiki
Over time a form and structure had been created that Reiki should be practised and taught in a particular way and this was described as the Usui System of Reiki Healing. This included nine guiding elements which involved the pricing structure for learning Reiki, length of training between the three levels and how one is trained as a Master etc.

However with the globalisation of Reiki, with it being Westernised, with individuals input and changes having been made and with the instant culture we all now live in, Reiki in many ways has changed out of all recognition from its origins. In a year 2000 Directory about 25 different types of Reiki were listed with most being off shoots from the original Usui System as defined by Mrs. Takata and Phyllis Furumoto.

Becoming a Reiki Channel
Absolutely anybody can become attuned as a Reiki channel [otherwise known as a Reiki student or Reiki practitioner]. Learning Reiki has always been regarded as an Oral tradition. A student has to attend a Reiki class led by a Reiki Master and be attuned by that Master. Reiki was not something that could be learnt out of a book or other source [although I now hear that it is taught in certain alternate ways]. In my tradition there are four attunements in a Reiki class and when complete the ability to be a channel remains with that student for life.

From that point anybody [and animal etc] you touch will automatically be offered the Reiki energy. It is not an energy that has to be projected by the practitioner to the client. Rather it is offered to the client. At an unconscious / subconscious level the recipient will be aware that the healing energy is available and it will therefore draw whatever energy it needs. On that basis it can never cause harm as it only ever works to the highest good.

Healing oneself
For most this is the major essence for becoming a Reiki student. The major emphasis is to give oneself healing on a daily basis. Just by placing our hands on our body we can achieve this. When the energy is channelled it works on the four dimensions of humanity as we are aware of them; physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Reiki is an ideal way of looking after ourselves. The better able we can look after ourselves then the better we can look after other people.

It is a transformational energy that works on our pasts [healing things like past traumas / grief issues etc] the present and future. Reiki will always lead to a greater sense of balance, well-being and harmony.

The Second Level
There is the Second level that students can proceed to. In my Tradition there is a minimum of three months before one can do this having learnt Reiki although in more recent lines of Reiki this can be done sooner. There is no need or requirement to do this level but if one feels so called that is fine. It is for people who wish to deepen their commitment to using Reiki in their lives as well as doing absent / distant healing for which we are given sacred symbols.

Master Level / Third Degree
To teach Reiki one has to be attuned at Master level. In my tradition this has always been regarded as a calling from the heart and is not undertaken lightly. Very rigorous training is involved over a period of one to four years and sometimes longer. One is under the tutelage of a very experienced Master and attuned as a Master only when the Tutor Master knows the student is ready. Thus the variance in training time. Rather than a goal Reiki Mastership was regarded as a pathway and a way of being. As such it is a massive commitment.

In more recent traditions Reiki Masters tend to be initiated as Masters through a simple attunement process over say a weekend rather than go through any training as such.

Experiencing Reiki
The experience of receiving Reiki is usually one of relaxation, calm & peace and falling to sleep in that process is quite common. Professional treatments are usually given on a treatment table with the client fully clothed and covered with a blanket. The Practitioners hands are placed in a series of key positions on the head, the front and back of the body with a full treatment lasting 60 – 90 minutes.

Reiki can be used for all and any condition from mild disorders to terminal illnesses and from stress to depression. There is a big difference between healing and curing but where no cure occurs, often the recipient will benefit in a substantial way emotionally and mentally. This can be particularly valuable in the case of terminal illness.

A Reiki class could perhaps be described as the best First Aid Class one can ever do.

It enhances the body’s natural ability to heal itself and works in conjunction with all other complimentary therapies as well as traditional medication. It is totally safe, gentle and yet powerful. I believe it works by putting the body into a state of balance and in that sate of balance healing can take place.

Considering a class or treatment?
With Reiki now being taught and practised in such diverse ways, it is important for anybody considering a treatment or a class to check out the Practitioner / Master beforehand. For instance

• What is their experience?
• How long was their training?
• Who trained them?
• Can you speak to clients they have treated / taught?
• Have they been recommended?
• How about meeting or talking to them beforehand.

There is no overall body of accreditation in Reiki so it is a matter of checking out any possible Master / Practitioner yourself

The Reiki Association is a community of Reiki people in the UK that produces a Masters Directory and a Practitioner Referral List. It is not any form of recommendation as any Reiki person can have an entry but it can suggest people in your locality. For Details contact Julia Prescott-Rogers Tel 01270 812829
email Julia@reikiassociation.org.uk
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Howard Deshayes who wrote this article has been a Reiki Practitioner for 13 years. Following three years of rigorous training he was initiated a Reiki Master in 1998. Reiki has been his full time work since early 1996. Howard lives in Chichester, West Sussex and regularly holds classes in East and West Sussex and Snowdonia and elsewhere in the UK and abroad by invitation. He can be contacted at
Tel 01243 673252
email reikihoward@clara.co.uk     web site  www.reikihoward.clara.co.uk