The Post-Takata Era and Modern Reiki Evolution

The 22 Takata Reiki Masters and Global Healing Expansion

Before her death in 1980, Takata had trained 22 Reiki Masters who continued to spread the healing practice throughout North America, Europe, and beyond. These individuals, known as the “Takata Masters,” became the primary channels through which Reiki energy healing spread globally during the 1980s and 1990s, creating what would become a worldwide energy medicine movement.

Marianne Streich, author of “The Story of Dr. Mikao Usui, Founder of Reiki,” explains: “The 22 Masters initiated by Takata carried enormous responsibility. They were entrusted with preserving and sharing a healing tradition that had nearly been lost once before. Their dedication to teaching Reiki created the foundation for the global practice we see today.” [LINK TO STREICH’S BOOK]

Rediscovery of Traditional Japanese Reiki Roots

Starting in the 1990s, Western Reiki practitioners began intensive research into Reiki’s Japanese origins, seeking to uncover original healing practices that may have been modified or lost during the transmission to the West. This period marked what many call the “Reiki Renaissance“—a return to traditional Japanese healing approaches.

Frank Arjava Petter, a pioneering researcher in this field, wrote: “When we began researching Reiki in Japan, we discovered an entire world of original techniques, meditations, and approaches that had not made it to the West. This wasn’t just about historical accuracy—these were powerful healing methods that could enhance the practice of every Reiki practitioner.” [LINK TO PETTER’S WEBSITE]

Researchers like Frank Arjava Petter, William Lee Rand, and Hiroshi Doi made significant contributions to energy medicine history by:

1. Discovering original Japanese Reiki techniques (many still practiced by the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Japan) such as Byosen scanning, Reiji-ho, and specific meditation practices
2. Translating Japanese documents related to traditional Reiki and early energy healing methods
3. Connecting with Japanese Reiki Masters who had maintained lineages independent of Takata’s Western Reiki tradition

Dr. Justin B. Stein, historian of Japanese spiritual healing practices, notes in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: “The rediscovery efforts of the 1990s represent one of the most significant historical recovery projects in the field of complementary medicine. These researchers bridged decades of separation between Eastern and Western practitioners of what was originally a unified healing tradition.” [LINK TO JOURNAL ARTICLE]

This research led to the development of styles like “Japanese Reiki” or “**Usui Reiki

The Original Context: Reiki in Japanese Culture

Spiritual and Historical Context

To fully understand Reiki’s origins, it’s essential to consider the spiritual and cultural environment of early 20th century Japan. During this period, Japan was experiencing:

1. Rapid modernization and Westernization following the Meiji Restoration
2. A spiritual renaissance with the emergence of various new healing and spiritual movements
3. A blend of traditional practices derived from Buddhism, Shintoism, and indigenous healing arts

Reiki emerged during a time when many Japanese were seeking to balance modernization with traditional spiritual values. Similar healing and spiritual movements like Johrei, Mahikari, and various forms of Ki-based healing were also developing during this period.

Influence of Traditional Japanese Practices

Several traditional Japanese concepts and practices influenced the development of Reiki:

1. Kiko (Japanese Qigong): Energy cultivation practices involving breathing, visualization, and movement
2. Shugendo: An ancient Japanese mountain ascetic tradition that includes severe trainings similar to Usui’s practice on Mount Kurama
3. Tendai Buddhism: Usui’s early education and possibly his understanding of healing symbols
4. Palm Healing Traditions: Various Japanese healing arts that involved the channeling of energy through the hands

Reiki in Contemporary Context

Scientific Research and Medical Integration

Since the 1990s, Reiki has been the subject of scientific research examining its potential benefits for various conditions. While research results are mixed, studies have shown promising results in areas such as:

1. Pain management
2. Reduction of anxiety and stress
3. Improved sense of wellbeing in chronically ill patients
4. Reduced side effects during cancer treatment

Today, Reiki is offered in many hospitals and healthcare settings as a complementary therapy, reflecting its journey from a spiritual practice in early 20th century Japan to a widely accepted healing modality in modern integrated healthcare.

The Global Reiki Community

The contemporary Reiki community is diverse, with numerous schools, styles, and approaches. Major branches include:

1. Usui Shiki Ryoho: The tradition as passed through Takata, often referred to as Western Reiki
2. Jikiden Reiki: A Japanese lineage claiming more direct connection to Usui’s original teachings
3. Karuna Reiki: A Western development incorporating additional symbols and techniques
4. Holy Fire Reiki: A more recent evolution incorporating additional spiritual elements
5. Traditional Japanese Reiki: Practices restored from Japanese sources

Despite these variations, all forms acknowledge Mikao Usui as the founder and maintain the core practice of channeling healing energy through the hands.

Conclusion

The story of Reiki’s origins reflects a fascinating journey from a spiritual experience on a Japanese mountainside to a globally practiced healing art. Through the efforts of Mikao Usui, Chujiro Hayashi, Hawayo Takata, and countless practitioners who followed, this healing system has been preserved, adapted, and shared worldwide.

While historical accounts sometimes vary and certain details remain subjects of debate among researchers and practitioners, the essential elements of Reiki—its focus on healing through life energy, its simple yet profound techniques, and its ethical principles—continue to resonate with people seeking holistic approaches to health and wellbeing.

As research into Reiki’s Japanese roots continues and as contemporary practitioners continue to develop the practice, Reiki maintains its position as one of the most widely recognized energy healing modalities in the world—a lasting testament to Mikao Usui’s spiritual insights on Mount Kurama over a century ago.

References and Further Reading

• Beckett, D. (2009). Reiki: The True Story. Berkeley, CA: Frog Books.
• Doi, H. (2014). Modern Reiki Method for Healing. Fraser Journal Publishing.
• Petter, F. A. (1997). Reiki Fire: New Information about the Origins of the Reiki Power. Twin Lakes, WI: Lotus Press.
• Rand, W. L. (2000). Reiki: The Healing Touch. Southfield, MI: Vision Publications.
• Stein, D. (1995). Essential Reiki. Berkeley, CA: Crossing Press.
• Stiene, B., & Stiene, F. (2005). The Japanese Art of Reiki. Alresford, UK: O-Books.