Japanese Reiki Techniques

Hatsurei-Ho is both a spiritual and a meditation practice. It is believed that that practicing Hatsurei Ho daily will enhance our ability to channel Reiki and will also aid ones spiritual development. The Reiki Principles are an important part of Hatsurei Ho. Hatsurei-Ho can be practiced seated or standing. You could sit cross legged if you find this comfortable. Seiza is a traditional Japanese posture ‘sitting on your heels’. Use whatever position is most comfortable for you to avoid unnecessary distractions.

There are variations in the way it is taught; what is described below is my own practice.

Mokunen/Focusing. In Gassho, prayer position. Say out loud or inwardly ‘I’m going to carry out Hatsurei-ho’
Kenyoko-ho is dry bathing. This can be used on its own to clear the aura.
Take a few deep breaths into the Hara.
Place your right hand on the left shoulder. Breathe in, and on the out-breath, sweep diagonally down from the left shoulder to right hip.
On the in-breath, place your left hand on the right shoulder and, on the out-breath, sweep down diagonally from right shoulder to left hip.
Breathe in, returning your right hand to the left shoulder and, on the out-breath, sweep diagonally down from left shoulder to right hip.
With the left elbow against your side, and with your arm horizontal to the ground, place your right hand on the left forearm. Breathe in and, on the out-breath, sweep downward along the arm to the fingertips and out.
With the right elbow against your side and with your right arm horizontal to the ground, place your left hand on the right forearm. Breathe in and – on the out-breath – sweep down along the arm to the fingertips and out.
Breathe in and, with the left elbow against your side and with your arm horizontal to the ground, place your right hand on the left forearm. On the out-breath, sweep down along the arm to the fingertips and out.
Connect to Reiki: Either in Gassho, or by raising your hands above head
Joshin kenyoko-ho: Breathing method to purify the mind.
If seated, hands in lap palms up. If standing, hands covering your Hara. Focus on your Hara breathe in, visualising Reiki coming through your crown chakra right down to your Hara. Visualise Reiki permeating the body and breathe out Reiki in all directions, while releasing any tensions.
Hands in Gassho/prayer position.
Seishin Touitsu: Concentrating the mind. Focus on your Hara.
On the in-breath, breathe in through your hands, then on the out-breath, breathe out Reiki from your Hara, up through the body and through your hands.
Say out loud the Reiki Principles three times.
Mokunen/Focusing. Return hands to lap ‘I have finished Hatsurei-ho’. Open your eyes and stay still for a short time to notice how you are feeling after Hatsurei-ho

The Hara or Tan Dien is about three fingers width below your belly button. It is one of three ‘energy centres’.
If practiced regularly, your experience of Reiki will deepen and evolve over time.

Kenyoko-Ho

Affirmations are powerful tools for self-transformation. Used correctly, affirmations can bring about the changes you want to see in your life.

We can use Reiki together with affirmations to let go of unwanted thought or behavior patterns.

As well has help with changing mental attitudes (overthinking, planning, controlling and negative self-talk) support can be given for stopping smoking, for example.

Change happens a step at a time, so the first stage is to decide upon one particular area in your life you want to work on. The next task is to find an appropriate affirmation. Affirmations need to be both achievable and positive.
“I accept my power” is preferable to “I won’t let people walk all over me”
“I will not over-eat” could be replaced by “I have choice over the foods I eat”

While affirmations are powerful in their own right, a Japanese Reiki technique called Seiheki Chiryo Ho can help boost your efforts. With the client seated, the Reiki practitioner places one hand on the client’s forehead and the other on the base of the skull. Reiki symbols are drawn on the back of the client’s head. The practitioner silently repeats the affirmation while Reiki flows. The client can also silently repeat their chosen affirmation.

The effects of Reiki are cumulative, so it is beneficial to repeat this treatment regularly. Seiheki Chiryo Ho could be included with a series of regular whole body treatments, for example.

The client can also work on this themselves at home, using the same hand positions. This will further ‘set the intention’.

A word about Reiki symbols: these are drawn by hand while repeating the sacred sounds (Kotodama) associated with them. They enhance the flow of Reiki and subtly change its quality, according to the symbol used. These are handed down from Reiki Master to Student at Reiki Level 2. If you have Reiki I there is a technique Nentatsu Ho, which does not require Reiki symbols. It follows exactly the same procedure, but without the symbols. I will be writing more about Reiki symbols in another post.

Inspiration for finding affirmations to suit you:

Shakti Gawain

Louise Hay

Helene Lerner