Is Reiki a Form of Faith Healing?

Yes, Reiki in form and substance is an eastern manifestation of faith healing. But it is a more universal form of faith healing as it is non-denominational. It allows the patient the freedom to exercise his or her faith.

Reiki actually encourages the patient to call on his or her deity to become one with the Reiki philosophy in tuning with the universal energy force and thus, initiate the healing process.

To a large extent Reiki requires that the patient be open and to surrender his or her faculties to the Reiki master to allow the channeling of universal energy flow into the body.

The Reiki healing method is a touch-based method where the practitioner channels CHI energy through hand placements over the body. The patient is not that stupid to allow any stranger to violate his personal space if he/she does not have some faith in the ability of the Reiki master to act as a channel to universal energy forces that the Reiki philosophy claims to exist.

Faith must also be there in the Reiki healing philosophy that does not contradict nor supervene his/her own belief systems under the religion he/she belongs. The fact is that no healing can take place if the patient thinks the practice to be nonsense.

Undergoing a Reiki session requires a certain suspension of disbelief and is therefore an admonition to have faith in the Reiki's eastern medicinal philosophies. Reiki itself is a coinage of two Japanese words - REI which means God's wisdom or Higher Power and KI (Chi) which is the universal life force energy.

It is clear that Reiki is not an agnostic concept but with its more open philosophical approach to healing, does not discriminate against nor embraces any religion or sect. Its concept of God and a superior existence is the common denominator in all of the great religions which it does not refute or challenge.

Whether that God is Jehovah, Shiva, Buddha, Allah or Krishna matters to Reiki only to the extent that the patient has a spiritual faith that the life force energy comes from the deity of is his/her religion.

The practice channeling the healing energy through a master's hands is a ceremonious ritual that has comes to be called under various names such as spiritual healing, universal life force healing, divine light healing and faith healing.

There's no point putting the practice outside of the alternative faith healing methods as that would just be the height of hypocrisy. It is clear that describing the Reiki healing rituals and philosophy requires no less than faith in the efficacy of its healing powers.

For instance, Usui Reiki is form of Reiki healing that does not use any medicating instruments but employ simple ritualistic acts of looking, light tapping, blowing and touching including gentle massaging and stroking of a body part in pain for a few minutes.

This is done specifically to channel the universal energy force onto the affected part to induce healing. Now, if that's not healing by faith, nothing is.

But unlike most traditional forms of faith healing, Reiki as a medical philosophy that does not claim to be superior healing method nor does it positions itself as an exclusive healing option. In fact, Reiki masters and practitioners caution would-be patients to consult with their doctors and take prescribed medications.

Reiki does not promise a cure in all cases but is quite clear in presenting the alternative healing process as a complementary therapy to those already undertaking other forms of medication or mainstream therapy.