Reiki – Religious Connection or Not?

Meditation Helps Us Connect to Our Spiritual Side

People interested in learning Reiki, or even those that have begun Level I, often wonder if Reiki is a religion. Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki, was Japanese and followed Buddhist teachings, but Reiki has no specific tie to the Buddhist religion.

Reiki is not actually affiliated with any religion. However, it does ask us to call upon the spiritual side of ourselves. Some people say they do not have a spiritual nature at all – and yet they can become Reiki practitioners. If you are considering taking a class, just know that there is no particular religious affiliation involved.

The meaning of the word “Reiki” (which is really two words – Rei and ki) is often translated to mean “universal life force energy” or “spiritually guided life force energy.” Reiki does ask us to understand that there is some greater power, higher consciousness or Universal Consciousness from which the healing energy flows to us. Those that are more religiously oriented will believe the life force energy flows from God, the Divine, Source — or whatever their personal version of this may be.

For me, I always have had a belief in a higher power. Yet I do not necessarily feel that I must go to a formal place of worship, and that I can connect to the Divine through personal prayer and meditation. My Reiki journey has definitely served to shift and amplify the spiritual nature in me, inspiring an even more profound connection with what I consider Source. This has  uplifted my life and my overall attitude. I find that attending Reiki Circles is not just a healing, empowering way to let the Reiki energy flow, but a means to reconnect to the higher consciousness within me.

Research does show that people who embrace their spiritual side tend to have more balance and joy in their lives. I think there may be something to that!