The 5 Reiki Principles
The Reiki principles are a fundamental part of our Reiki training, yet many see them as no more than a set of ideals that don’t directly affect our practice.
It’s true we would get the same results even if we weren’t aware of these principles but to merely use them as a mantra overlooks their power to heal on a personal level.
These principles stand alone and anyone applying them in their lives whether Reiki trained or not will ignite healing within themselves for the principles contain the power to heal the mind, body, and soul.
Although the wording may vary the essence never changes. It asks us to give up and release an attitude or action that has the potential to create energetic blocks, which in turn can create dis-ease and illness in the mind, body, and soul.
If we take each one and look at the benefits of their implementation in our lives we will begin to understand why Usui says “Just for today”.
Just for today ~ I WILL NOT ANGER
We are raised to believe the expression of anger is wrong, dangerous, and unacceptable so from an early age we learn to suppress our anger and disguise our true feelings in order to survive as individuals, gain favour, and avoid punishment.
Many see it as simply a negative emotion, yet we are designed to react in a positive way to danger and this instinctive ‘fight or flight’ response has enabled us to survive as a species.
Not only is this positive energy necessary for our survival it also provides us with the means to protect the weak and right all manner of wrongs that may offend our sense of truth and justice.
However, if we don’t use this energy in an appropriate way, dealing openly with situations and problems it can become contaminated with guilt, frustration, and resentment and become destructive anger. This anger can cause imbalance, and if sustained for an extended period can lead to illness and dis-ease.
If this repressed anger continues into adulthood as it nearly always does, it can lead to chronic illness and disease. Our thoughts trigger emotions which then show up as physical symptoms in every or parts of our body. There is always a connection, we can lie or mask it to others and we can even lie or mask it to ourselves, but our bodies never forget nor heals when we ignore its messages.
Just for today ~ I WILL NOT WORRY
More often than not, we worry over things we absolutely cannot control or things that haven’t even happened yet. This worry puts a block in our ki and prevents its steady flow. Not worrying is a tough one and it’s OK to have to remind yourself not to. When you find yourself awake at night worrying or fretfully replaying something in your head, remind yourself that worrying will not change the situation. Worrying can, however, cause you to loose sleep, react negatively or become irritable and ill!
Worry and its best friend fear create a loop that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, we worry about the future and our worry and fear through the power of our intent help create the thing we fear the most. We focus on the problem, but we fail to shift our perspective on to the possible solutions and in the process use up all of our energy needed to face and deal with the problem.
The costs of worrying far outweigh the possible benefits and we should never confuse worry with concern, worrying keeps us focused on the problem while healthy concern helps us think about possible solutions.
Dwelling only on the problem becomes a rehearsal for failure. There are many ways to reduce the effects of worrying and what all of them have in common is that they recognize the cost of worrying on a physical, mental, and emotional level. They all require a shift in consciousness that takes our focus away from our problems and out of our selves.
This requires a balanced outlook that keeps both the problem and solution in perspective and redirecting the energy we have available towards a solution-based outcome to events.
Have faith that things will work out as they are meant to. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they will happen the way you want them to, but they will work out regardless of how much, or little, you worry over it!
Everything happens for a reason, remember to learn from it.
Just for today ~ I WILL BE GRATEFUL
For some of us something awful must happen before we can begin to appreciate and feel grateful for what we have. We become wrapped up in our own little world of fears and anxieties and in doing so we become isolated and disconnected from the rest of the world. Taking things for granted can affect us in many subtle ways, when we expect to receive more than life or those around us can provide, we begin to feel angry and resentful at this perceived short fall in what we feel we deserve. The most dangerous part of this mind set is that without an element of gratitude when we receive what we expect we are rarely if ever satisfied with the results. To enjoy and appreciate more we must first be grateful for what we have no matter how little that may be, if we can’t, more will never be enough.
Gratitude reflects quality not quantity and it’s our own values that are reflected to us that creates this sense of lack or abundance in our lives. Lack or abundance is relative and how we view these extremes can affect the quality of our lives; two people looking at the same set of circumstances can see something totally different. Our glass is either half empty or half full, one says poor me I have so little, the other says aren’t I lucky to have all of this, and whatever you think you are right.
Whatever you believe you are right; and that attitude will be reflected in every aspect of your life. If we want more in our lives, then we must give up the restrictions that create deprivation and recognise that abundance is an option we can choose. If you want more of anything the first step is to give thanks simply and meaningfully for everything you have already received in your life for gratitude is a key that opens that door. The law of abundance requires that we look at what we have, value all the lessons it provides us with and then give thanks, in this way more can be released to us in the knowledge that we will use and appreciate everything that is given.
Just for today ~ I WILL WORK HONESTLY
This principle requires you to be as honest not only with others, but most importantly to yourself. Honesty requires openness and the ability for you to know and respect yourself. The characteristics and qualities we find most attractive in others are the very characteristics and qualities we harness within ourselves.
Honesty also requires self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth, with these we are able to make judgments and take action based on our own belief system and not through peer pressure, intimidation, or guilt.
The best definition I know of an honest character is ‘doing what’s right when no-one is watching’.
Pay attention to what lifts you to greater achievement and fulfillment and but also notice what thoughts, behaviour and experiences bring you back down.
Accept yourself, all parts of you; acknowledge and remember that you are on a journey of self-discovery, self-healing, and conscious expansion. If you become aware of a thought, action, or behaviour that you recognise as low vibrational, do not judge. Instead, explore where it came from, is it what you truly believe or resonate with or is this something that has been projected onto you or obtained by those around you?
Take personal responsibility for your life, everything in it, and the attainment of your own goals and ambitions, there is nothing more debilitating than waiting for others including spirit/universe to act on your behalf and there is nothing more empowering than realising that no one is going to do it for you.
Assertiveness is having respect for your own needs when dealing with others. Be prepared to stand up for what you believe to be right and never sacrifice your principles for the sake of someone liking you, they may like you for a while, but you will dislike yourself for a much longer period of time.
Honesty requires us to accept full responsibility for our own actions; if we allow others to dictate how we feel and act we are giving away our power to them.
Just for today ~ I WILL BE KIND TO ALL LIVING THINGS
Kindness is treating others as you would like to be treated.
Show compassion and understanding towards others, but what is just as important is also show compassion and understanding towards yourself.
This principle reminds us that just for today, notice your inner thought patterns, become aware of any judgemental, harsh, or criticising inner dialogue, and be kind to yourself.
Being kinds to all living things also asks us to keep an open mind, as we can never fully understand someone else’s situation or experience until we have walked in their shoes. Moreover, we all possess different ideas and beliefs, so just for today show kindness, compassion and understanding for all perspectives of life.
In some ways this is the hardest principle to live by. Yes, it’s easy to be kind to people you like and who like you, and it’s easy to be kind when it doesn’t cost us anything. The test comes when we are asked to be kind to those people we don’t like and who make us feel angry, frightened, threatened, and insecure. We are not asked to like, love, or condone the actions of others, all we are asked to do is to be kind to all living things when the opportunity presents itself.
If asked to identify the things in others that make it easy for us to respond with kindness, we invariably list the qualities we see in ourselves, the hard part comes when we are asked to be kind to those who may not be grateful or even deserving of our kindness. We are asked to give without judgement or attachment to the outcome of our actions, and when we give freely in this way, we open ourselves to the kindness of others. We are asked to separate the person from the action and try to replace feelings of anger, hatred, and dislike with kindness.
This is for our sake as well as theirs.
