History of Reiki 

A the end of the 19 th century a dr. Mikao Usui lived in Japan. This former businessman and theologian, went in search of answers when his students began asking questions about how Jesus was able to heal with his hands. After years of research Dr. Usui discovered 2500 year old buddha Sutra's. He studied the texts which were written in Sanskrit, stayed in a Zen monastery and meditated on the holy mountain of Kuri Yama near Kyoto. After 21 days he had a vision and understood how the life energy worked and how he could pass it onto others. Usui founded a clinic in Tokyo and developed a practical healing method which he named Reiki. The experience taught him that there was a connection between lifestyle, attitude toward life and illness. Following this Usui, using the poems of the Japanese emperor Meji, formulated the Reiki Principles or Reiki Precepts, to enable people to take more responsibility for their own lives. In Japan the organization set up by Usui himself: ‘Usui Shiki Ryoho Gakkai' still exists.

After Usui's death in 1926 one of his most dedicated students, dr. Chujiro Hayashi, set up his own organization ‘Hayashi Reiki Study Society'. Hayashi was formerly a naval commander. He travelled throughout Japan for many years and opened his own Reiki clinic in Tokyo. It was here that the very sick Hawayo Takata from Hawaii was treated in 1936. She was cured of a tumour in her womb and weak lungs and after that followed daily lessons in this healing method.

In 1938 Hawayo Takata was initiated to Reiki Master by Hayashi. Takata was in fact the one who introduced Reiki to the West. First, with Hayashi, in Hawaï and then in the United States and Canada. Takata treated people on a daily basis for more than 40 years and verified the healing method. From 1972 till her death in 1980 she initiated in total 22 Reiki masters.