Breathing Meditation for Reiki Healers
A holistic way of completing your breathing practice and physical exercises is what I call becoming the breath. Sitting in meditation, imagine that the breath is filling your entire body from head to toe. As you inhale, imagine air and prana filling your bones and muscles. Imagine that the air is filling all your organs and tissues. As you exhale, imagine the old air being released from every part of your body. Breathe in again as you notice yourself becoming the breath. Then exhale fully, watching the breath disperse.
In the pause between breaths, recognize the total absence of oneself. Once again, inhale a full body breath as you become the breath. The whole body is breathing. Become the breath. Breathe out fully, acknowledging the temporary nature of each breath. Become the breath. Recognize the temporary nature of the self-concept. Release the self in the same way that you release the breath. Can I add a very simple but very powerful procedure to this technique? Smile. As cliché as it sounds, smiling is probably the healthiest thing you can do. Smile. Tips for using an inner smile go back thousands of years, to the teachings of Taiji. Smile.
Tai Chi for Reiki Healers
Taiji (sometimes spelled Tai Chi) deals with the balance and flow of energy known as qi (pronounced chee and sometimes spelled 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 movement meditation system that is synchronized with the flow of qi in your body that moves at about 20 centimeters per second. As you practice, you become more sensitive and aware of the qi of the body. This awareness is useful during Reiki sessions to read the energy flow in your patients.
You can watch 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, focus your mind and keeps you grounded with each step. Of course, it takes time to learn and requires 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.
Taoism and Energy
Taoism (sometimes spelled Taoism) is an ancient Chinese philosophy that describes how to harmonize the mind, body, and the 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 like those stimulated by acupuncture.
Qi 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 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.
Taoism emphasizes the circulation of energy through the energy channels of the body. It has to do with the balance of yin and yang energy. Taoism energy healing involves completing two main channels in the body. The earthy yin energy rises through the feet and legs to the hui-yin center located in the perineum between the genitals and the anus (in correlation with the root chakra). The energy then travels up the spine to the crown of the head and then down to the point between the eyes (correlating to the brow chakra). Meanwhile, celestial yang energy flows from the universe into the crown chakra. These energies flow down the front of the body from between the eyebrows to the root chakra. When these circuits are connected, energy circulates using the microcosmic orbit.
microcosmic orbit
Tea 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 the rectal muscles. This position correlates with aswini mudra which is 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.
The second part of the microcosmic orbit is to use 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 of your head and 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 the root to the crown of the head, from the crown to the root. Qi flows up the back of your spine and then down the front of your body. Focusing your mind on the flow of energy synchronizes mind, body, and qi.
For 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 palate, direct the Reiki to flow through the chakras in the palm of the hand. Place your hands on your client and allow the intensified Reiki to flow into them. To study more specific details of how to circulate energy through your body, I recommend Mantak Chia’s “Awakening Healing Energy Through the Tao” for a full explanation of energy. His book explains the gathering and grounding of energy for your optimal vitality.
Resume
With 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. Reiki’s history dates back some 100 years to Dr. Usui, who discovered the symbols, techniques, and philosophy of healing during a 21-day fasting meditation.
Reiki is the name given to the 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. Indeed, the universe is energy and energy is the universe.
The art and science of Taiji dates back thousands of years to ancient China and involves the conscious, physical movement of internal and environmental qi.
Yoga developed in ancient India thousands of years ago and includes a wide variety of arts and sciences, including the physical postures known as asana, the breathing practices known as Pranayama, and the raising of powerful energy that coils up the chakra. root known as Kundalini. Furthermore, the practice of yoga involves a wide range of moral, ethical and spiritual guidelines which are effectively explained in Bhava Ram’s “8 Limbs of Yoga” which is based on Patanjali’s “Yoga Sutras”. For the purposes of the present explanation, we can say that prana is essentially the same energy as qi or Reiki. Please note that these names essentially refer to the same energy, but are not even.
I have tried to show the relationship between these disciplines and how they can be effectively combined for optimal development. Decide for yourself whether you will strictly adhere to one set of practices or follow an interdisciplinary approach.