All the following energy techniques are not just for reiki practioners but will enhance any energy work that you do. Great for Healing work, Meditation, Chi Kung or Tai Chi or just to balance your energetic systems.
Hatsurei ho is the Jewel of Reiki. This technique is part mindfulness
meditation, part strengthening the reiki channel, and part self empowerment.
It is said to be the cornerstone of Usui's practices and was taught to all
Second level students. There are some sources that report that it was taught as separate techniques to Shoden (Level One) students as they progressed.
Hatsurei ho contained the following techniques:
* Preparation -clearing the mind - Gyosei
* Kihon Shisei - beginning position
* Mokunen - setting the intent and focus
* Kenyoku ho - Dry bathing
* Joshin Koku ho - The Cleansing Breath
* Gassho - meditation posture and breathing technique
* Seishin Toitsu - mindfulness meditation
* Reiki Principles
* Mokunen
Preparation - Clearing the mind
The first part of doing Hatsurei ho is to clear the mind. In Usui's Reiki Ryoho this was done by singing Gyosei. These were the stylized poetry as composed by the Meiji Emperor.
They were chanted/sung in a very specific way. The chant, cadence, and rhythm
help develop mindfulness and clear the mind.
Kihon Shisei
Kihon Shisei is the beginning position. The traditional position would be to sit in zazen style. Since few of us in the west have had practice and experience
sitting this way, it might be uncomfortable and become a distraction. You might find a straight backed chair to be more comfortable and suited to your needs. The important element is sitting up with the back straight. The eyes are gently closed. Your focus is into the lower abdomen.
This is called the Hara in Japanese and is referred to as the Tan Tien (dan tien, tan dien) in other places. You hands are placed gently in the lap.
Mokunen
Mokunen sets the intent of focus. To do Mokunen clear the mind and with
mindfulness say, "I am beginning Hatsurei now". This is said to the mind and subconscious, but let it reverberate everywhere.
Kenyoku-ho
Kenyoku-ho (dry bathing) is a technique to clear and strengthen the energy channels. The technique was common to many martial arts and chi kung schools such as JuJitsu, Aikido and KiKo and was added by Usui. It is likely that this technique comes from the rituals of Shinto priests. The ritual action was to cleanse the body before contacting the deity.
Those familiar with the martial arts will recognize the two parts of this
technique as common techniques. The first is a down block across the
midsection (this technique is used in a variety of martial arts such as Karate, Kung Fu, Aikido, etc.). This down block is followed by what is commonly called in the martial arts as a "shirk" or technique to remove an opponents hand from your wrist that is done by sliding the knife edge of your hand down the arm.
A. Place your right hand on the left shoulder so that the right fingertips are on the left shoulder. The hand is open, the fingers held together all point upwards. The hand (palm down) is against the body.
B. Slide the hand downward toward the right hip. Move the hand, going across the chest and ending up fingers down at the right hip. The hand (palm down) stays in light contact with the body the entire movement. (This is what is called an open handed down block in the martial arts)
C. Repeat this process starting with the left hand on the right shoulder and
going down to the left hip.
D. Place the right hand again on the left shoulder. Slide the right hand down the left arm (inside or outside, each will cover different meridians - see below) all the way to the finger tips. (This is what would be called a "shirk" in the martial arts, used to remove an opponents hand that is grabbing your arm.)
E. Repeat this with the left hand on the right arm.
F. Start with the right hand on the inside of the left elbow, and slide the hand down to the fingertips.
G. Repeat this with the left hand on the right inside of the elbow.
Note - Some masters teach the hand should slide to the inside of the arm and others teach it should slide down the outside of the arm. Different meridians are stimulated for each. The inside slide is yin and will effect the lung, heart, and kidney meridians. The outside slide is yang and will effect the triple
warmer, colon and small intestine meridians.
It is interesting that this technique appears to have survived after a fashion in the Rand school that teaches to cut the cords on the solar plexus using a "karate chopping technique".
No comments:
Post a Comment