It’s true. While using the knowledge of the chakras can deepen our ability to help facilitate deeper empowered healing for ones self & others, the traditional teachings of Dr. Mikaomi Usui did not teach or use the chakra system as we Know it AT ALL. It wasn’t until Hawayo Takata (who brought Reiki to Hawaii from Japan), passed away that her “Master Teacher Students” began to utilize, share & teach the chakra system as it could relate to Reiki work in the late 70’s.
So why do we almost always see chakras & chakra assessment/balancing within Reiki treatments & trainings? Simply put; because it’s a very valuable tool, not only for the practitioner to further help their clients but also for the person seeking healing. Knowing the chakra system can allow someone to go deeper into understanding the many layers of imbalance & healing needed mind-body & spirit.
While Usui did not directly use or teach the chakras, he used much of the practices & symbology found in the Vedas within his teachings, which is also where the chakra system was first mentioned. Both Usui’s Rhyoho Shishin “manual” for treating disease with Reiki as well as his successor Chujiro Hyashi’s hand placements for Reiki treatments match up almost exactly with the westernized version of the “7 points” of the chakra system coincidentally. So seemingly, although the chakra system is not at all intentionally connected to the roots of Reiki, it certainly intersects it perfectly for it’s healing modality.
The chakras themselves have a rich, vast & varied history all on their own. Anyone who is serious about truly learning or at least diving deeper into the many systems & use of the chakras for healing, should definitely read this & seek out this course on it’s Tantric/Vedic origins. While the Jungian/Westernized adaptation of the “7 chakras”, is useful, it’s presented in a strikingly different expression than what was introduced to us within the Vedas.
I myself find all of the variations of the chakras systems as an invaluable tool for my Reiki practice & I always include them within my trainings. That all being said, Reiki is Reiki & it’s powerful & empowering with or without the chakra systems.
