REIJU

IS an energetic "empowerment" procedure. The word is usually translated as "blessing" or "giving Spirit." There are significant differences between Reiju and the modern Reiki "attunement," which originated with Hawayo Takata:

• -- Reiju does not involve symbols (which, during Attunement, are implanted in the recipient's aura);
• -- Reiju is typically given regularly and frequently (often weekly), while Attunement is normally given only once at each level of Reiki training.

Energetic "empowerment," regardless of the procedure used, increases our awareness of certain energies (or states of being, or aspects of the Self). To me, the Usui Reiju procedure feels much more natural than the Attunement procedure. I like the simplicity of Reiju. I like that it does not use symbols. And, I feel, the greatest benefit of Reiju over Attunement is the frequent repetition of it. Weekly Reiju is a great way of cleaning our energy field and increasing our awareness and capacity of Reiki.

Among Reiki researchers, there are differing accounts of Reiju's history. Both Dave King and Chris Marsh have spent much time in Japan, and both have learned from people who were taught by Mikao Usui himself; and Dave and Chris have learned very different things!

According to Dave King's teachers, Usui gave no energetic empowerments, just a simple "rite of passage" ceremony at each level of training. The Reiju procedure, Dave believes, was developed by one of Usui's final students, Jusaburo Ushida, and was based on a procedure called Denju ("instruction" or "initiation") -- which was used by Usui's close friend and student Toshihiro Eguchi, in Eguchi's own palm-healing method. But Chris Marsh's teachers have said that Usui did teach them the Reiju procedure (and that it came from Tendai Buddhism).

We know that Reiju has been used in the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, throughout its history. So ... how did we get from Reiju to the modern Reiki Attunement, via Dr. Hayashi and Hawayo Takata?

Dave King was taught that, for a time, Dr. Hayashi used Usui's "rite of passage" ceremony (called "Transformation") ... and that eventually he replaced it with an energetic empowerment procedure, known as Jikiden ("initiation" or "direct transmission of skill"). And that Hawayo Takata (Hayashi's student) later modified the Jikiden procedure, to create what is known as the Reiki Attunement.

TO read more about Reiju -- including the experiences of many people who have received it -- and to request Reiju yourself, please see the Reiju Empowerment page.