Grounding, Centering, and Reiki

Reiki

Reiki, in English speaking countries, translates as Universal Life Energy, but in Japanese proper it translates along the lines of "ghost energy" as the kanji for rei is "spirit, ghost, departed soul," and ki translates as "vital force, life energy." Reiki involves a variety of energy practices with the intention of moving ki through the Reiki practitioners body. It has several sub types, but the original is Usui Reiki, named after the founder, Usui Mikao Sensei. 

In Japan it is called Jikiden Reiki, the original without any of the chakras, angels, or other New Age concepts added. It began as a hands on healing method with 12 hand positions and evolved into a popular New Age system bordering on a religion. The New Age movement added chakra healing, angelic guides, and now there are several subtypes of Reiki.

A basic practice is called Hatsu Rei Ho (Bringing Forth Spirit Method) which is a meditation for Reiki empowerment to enhance ki flow. It is taught in Nine Steps:

1. Relax - Preparing the mind and body for the meditation ahead.

2. Mokunen "Focus" - announce you are about to begin. In Karate we always announced the name of our kata (form) before we began.

3. Kenyoku "Dry Bathing" - in qigong we call it an energy scrape, which is like it sounds, moving your hands over your body as if you are scraping energetic gunk off.

4. Connect to Reiki - simply lifting your hands above your head, arms straight, palms facing towards the top of your head.

5. Joshin Kokkyo Ho "Focusing the Mind with Breath Method" - Placing your hands on your thighs, palms up, with the intention of bringing Reiki into your lower belly, or "seiki tanden."

6. Gassho "Prayer" - Posture of Prayer, focus on the middle fingers (representing Internal Fire)

7. Seishin Toitsu "Gathering Pure Mind/Spirit" -  Concentrating on Gassho, as you breath allow Reiki to flow from your hands to your "seiki tanden" and back to your hands, creating a circuit of healing energy.

7a. Reiju "Spiritual Blessing" - an opening of a new practitioner to their full potential for receiving Reiki.

8. Gokai Sansho "Five Principles (of Reiki)”

9. Return to Mokunen, this time announcing the end of Hatsu Rei Ho.

Afterwards you may begin Chiryo, or Treatment. Chiryo is the basis of Reiki healing where you detach from the healing itself and act as a vessel for Reiki. In Reiki we are taught to allow Divine flow for healing over using personal energy. Developing this Divine flow is the purpose of Hatsu Rei Ho.

Grounding and Centering

Grounding isn't just sending excess energy into the ground and centering isn't just relaxing into the center of your being. Grounding is grounding into your desires and centering into them. Not avoiding pleasure or pain but integrating them on the deepest level. If you can ground your consciousness into your sense of safety and well being then the energetic dynamics are just for play.

Energetically speaking, grounding is sending excess energy into the Earth and centering is allowing yourself to relax into the moment by concentrating on a specific energetic vortex, primarily your lower belly. Your "dan ti'en," "sekei tanden," "hara," or Svadisthana (Navel) Chakra.

You can also absorb yourself into the moment. Allow yourself to become aware of your surroundings being the center of the universe. Bring reality into you. With every breath allow yourself to sink into this center of self. Once you have a sense of yourself in space you can build a Filter or Shield. We will get into Filters and Shields in the next blog, but for now you can simply visualize a sphere of protective mist.

I like to imagine particles all around me, like a cloud, where ambient energy is taken in and filtered through these little dust particles. As Psi Vampyres, many of us feed instinctively, especially if we are underfed. Grounding, Centering, and creating a basic Filter helps contain our hunger and allows us to become more fully aware of it and immersed in self awareness so we do not feed unconsciously and risk harming others.