Jikiden Reiki® - What's the Difference?
Often people contact me with the question above. My answer is usually to explain that Jikiden Reiki is pure authentic Japanese Reiki. Sometimes that leads to more questions. My hope is that this page will help clear up some questions that you may have. If not, feel free to contact me with the questions you might have.
Probably the most common question we receive - "What do you mean by 'authentic Japanese Reiki?".
You might be curious about this as well. You may even be thinking something like - "Doesn't ALL Reiki come from Japan?" The simple answer is of course 'YES'. A deeper, more detailed explanation would be to point out that what is commonly referred to as simply 'Reiki' today does ORIGINATE from Japan. However, it should be understood that since Reiki left Japan in the mid 1930s, the manner in how it is practiced has changed a great deal. Especially since the early 1980s. Techniques, concepts and approaches were brought into the practice and the original ideas and attitudes - as practiced by the Founder, Mikao Usui and his early students - were discarded and lost. Some traditional concepts that were poorly understood, or even mis-understood were completely dropped from practice or replaced with concepts from other traditions. The influence from different spiritual systems and other healing modalities also brought significant changes to how Reiki was practiced in the West and created even further misunderstandings and a sense of cultural disconnect. Today there are literally thousands of Reiki styles available. Originally there was just one. Many of these newer systems do have some commonalities with how Reiki was originally practiced but most have also moved in other directions.
At Reiki with Jotaro, we practice JIKIDEN REIKI which is a style of practice that was founded to preserve the original teachings of 心身改善臼井靈氣療法 - Shinshin Kaizen Usui Reiki Ryoho (Usui Reiki Method for Improvement of the Body & Mind) which is the original name used for Reiki by the Founder - Mikao Usui. Jikiden Reiki is 100% the original teachings, passed down completely unchanged and free from any non-Japanese influences. Unlike many other styles of practice, Jikiden Reiki did not leave Japan until the first foreign seminar was taught in 2003. This means that Jikiden Reiki has maintained a unique cultural connection to Japan that is considered an essential element to how we practice Reiki. This cultural connection offers a consistent clarity not found in most other styles of Reiki practice.
It is for that reason, that we say we teach and practice 'authentic Japanese Reiki'. This is not an issue of elitism. We do not say this to speak poorly of the other styles of Reiki that are being practiced. We are not in a competition with other teachers or practitioners. It is just a fact and is stated as such to inform others of how we practice and exactly what sets our practice apart from other systems of Reiki practice.
Jikiden Reiki is the only known source for the original way of practice.
What makes Jikiden Reiki different from other styles of Reiki practice?
Jikiden Reiki is unique in many ways when compared to the many other styles of Reiki available. These differences are found in how Jikiden Reiki approaches Reiki and in the pure cultural connections we emphasize throughout the practice. Below is a list which explains some of the most significant differences.