REIJI HO
Copyright © 2003 James Deacon

Reiji ('indication/guidance of the spirit') Ho is a practice - a 'ceremony' if you like to see it as such - to awaken your intuitive ability to discern energetic imbalances in a person's body/aura.

Apparently, in Usui-Sensei's day, the ability to sense disturbances in this way was a requirement before a student could progress to level II training.


To perform Reiji Ho:

Stand or sit up straight (comfortably so).

Rest your hands, palms down, on your thighs / in your lap.

Close your eyes and 'hara-centre' yourself: focus your awareness on your seika tanden - an area deep inside your body mid way between your navel and the top of your pubic bone.

For a few moments, simply 'be' - silently and restfully 'watching the breath': loosely focussing on the natural rhythms of your breathing. There is no interference with the natural process - no seeking to consciously breathe - merely to be aware that you are breathing effortlessly.

Perform gassho and, consciously aware of Reiki, perform joshin kokyu ho - releasing or transforming all negative stresses and tensions.

Focussed in seika tanden, 'see' and feel the Reiki pervading and permeating your entire being - know that you are one with the phenomenon that is Reiki - part of it. For a few moments, simply 'be' in this awareness. Then, when you are ready, bring your hands up to your forehead in the gassho position.

Silently ask / pray for healing and wellness to manifest throughout the person's entire being.

What comes next is both easy and difficult.

Trust in the phenomenon that is Reiki. Totally detach yourself from seeking after possible outcomes.

Invite and allow Reiki to 'call' (i.e. guide / draw your hands automatically - spontaneously) to any areas that may be in need of treatment.

Allow your hands to move where they are drawn - let go - trust - resist the urge to 'do'.

When it comes to letting Reiki guide you, different people may receive their guidance in different ways. Some may simply experience pure spontaneous movement - as if being 'pulled' magnetically; some may experience images in the mind's-eye of where treatment is needed; others may 'hear' where Reiki is needed, and so on.

If nothing seems to happen - if you are not aware of 'receiving guidance' (and when first performing Reiji it isn't always necessarily that obvious) recall the precepts: '...'don't worry...' It will come in time - and when it does, you will know.

Reiki will guide you.
Reiki will flow - and as usual, the flow will taper off when the area has taken sufficient treatment - and then your hands will be 'called' to the next area.

When there are no more areas requiring treatment (or, as is sometimes the case, there are no areas at all requiring treatment) your hands will be guided to rest, palms down, on your thighs / in your lap.

Conclude Reiji Ho by once more performing gassho.