One of the fundamentals of Reiki is to connect with one’s self spiritually, or to one’s soul. Dr Usui taught his students Hatsurei-Ho, which incorporates the Three Pillars that Reiki is built on:
- Hatsu means to bring forth / generate
- Rei means spirit and;
- Ho, meaning method.
It’s a meditation technique and a method of generating greater amounts of spiritual energy within yourself. It can be practised either individually or in a group. When practised in a group, it is called Shuyo ho. Hatsurei Ho consists of nine stages, each stage helps in clearing and opening the energy levels in the process.
01. Relax
Seat yourself in a Sieza (Kneeling, sitting on your feet) position, or sit up straight in a still yet comfortable position. Place your hands palm down on your thighs or in your lap. Close your eyes and concentrate on the core or centre of your body (between your abdomen and pubic bone).
02. Mokunen (Focusing)
Mokunen means “focusing”, which requires the individual’s completely focused state and declaration in a low voice that “I will now begin Hatsurei Ho.”
03. Kenyoku (Dry Bathing)
Kenyoku means “Dry bathing”. In this process, the negative aura is brushed off either by an actual physical touch or just superficially. In this procedure, you basically attempt to “disconnect” yourself from every being, emotion, thought, and energy – preparing to enter the meditation state.
- Relax your breathing by inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.
- Take a deep breath & place your dominant hand on your opposite shoulder, with your finger touching the joint between the end of your collarbone and shoulder. (For right-handed people, place your right hand on your left shoulder, For left-handed people, start with your left hand on your right shoulder)
- With your palm facing towards the body; while exhaling, smooth your hand down diagonally across your chest to your dominant side’s hip.
- On your next breath, repeat this procedure with your non-dominant arm, finishing with your arm resting on your non-dominant hip
- Repeat this process on your next in and out breaths, alternating each arm until you have performed 3 sweeps with each hand.
- Now stretch your non-dominant hand forward in front of you and place your dominant-hand fingertips on the edge of your non-dominant shoulder. With the palm flattened, move your dominant hand down along the side of your non-dominant arm while exhaling. Repeat this process with your other arm, completing the cycle three times.
04. Connect to Reiki
Move your hands up above your head, aligned with your shoulders with your palms facing upwards and fingers pointing towards each other. With your mind clear, now feel the Reiki energy or white aura flowing down from above through your arms and into your body. Once you sense the Reiki energy, slowly lower your hands.
05. Joshin Kokkyu Ho (Focusing the mind with the breath)
Joshin Kokkyu Ho is a procedure of focusing the mind and purifying the soul through breathing meditation.
- Place your hands, palm up on your lap, in a relaxed manner. Take a moment to still yourself.
- Breathe slowly through your nose while focusing on your “seika tanden” or core.
- As you breathe in, visualise or feel the pure white light reiki energy flow down from your crown chakra and down to your lower hara centre.
- As you breathe out, feel the energy spread throughout your entire body, dissolving all negativity and ultimately expanding out to infinity in all directions.
- Repeat this process for at least 3 minutes or until you feel a natural completion.
06. Gassho (Hands coming together)
- Place your hands in the Gassho position (as if you were praying) at your heart centre and focus on your hands.
- Concentrate on the connection of your middle fingers and hold yourself in this position.
07. Seishin Toitsu (The mental concentration technique)
- Still in the Gassho position with mind and soul gathered, focus on your breathing
- As you breathe in white Reiki energy, move the energy to pass through your hands, into your body & down to your lower hara centre, or tanden.
- As you breathe out, imagine the energy flowing out from your core, through your hands and out to infinity.
- (This is the stage where the Reiju is given to students by teachers).
08. Gokai Sansho (the Reiki Principles)
Gokai Sansho consists of five principles for the day that are spoken out loud and repeated three times. The Japanese is also included;
| Kyo dake wa Okoru na Shinpai suna Kansha shite Gyo o hage me Hito ni shinsetsu ni | Just for today Do not anger, Do not worry, Be thankful & humble Work with effort and sincerity Be compassionate to yourself and others & all living things |
09. Mokunen
- Place your hands back into your lap, palms down, and say to yourself, “I conclude Hatsurei Ho.”
- Place your hands back in the Gassho position to give thanks, shake your hands out to discharge the energy & open your eyes when you are ready.
Hatsurei-Ho helps the Reiki energy to flow more easily with a higher vibration and power, and by using the five fundamentals it can help your Reiki practice move into a life of mindfulness, compassion & enlightenment.