Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So, Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy." Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life. While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it. While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. The three pillars which comprise the foundation of Reiki are: the bringing together of hands at the heart center which helps to ground the individual, center their energy, and focus intention; the invocation of Reiki to begin flowing; and Chiryo, which involves either placing the hands in various positions along the body or beaming energy to the recipient so that they may receive the healing and loving energy that is Reiki. There are three levels of Reiki, and each level has its own associated symbols. The first level focuses on physical healing and uses the Power Symbol, Cho Ku Rei, to increase the flow of Reiki energy. The second level focuses on mental and emotional healing and uses the Mental/Emotional. Included are detailed instructions for levels I, II and III master practitioner attunements.