what is reiju?

Reiju is a spiritual blessing which is offered by a Reiki Teacher to a student.  

This simple and elegant ritual clears the energy channels of stagnant energy, so making way for fresh energy or 'ki'. 

It is a blessing whereby the student is:

• awakened to Reiki
• becomes aware of the potential of Reiki as a healing gift 
• becomes aware of Reiki as a means of spiritual development.

The process or ritual of Reiju was used by students of Usui Sensei and is still used by Japanese Reiki teachers today - although in a modified form.  It does not attune a person to Reiki - nothing does -  since Reiki is the energy of everything and is in everything. What it does do is bring that sense of connection to Reiki into conscious awareness.

The blessing of Reiju was originally given to students on a weekly basis as they trained with their teacher.  It is beneficial to receive Reiju as often as possible - although, working regularly with the energy is what truly strengthens your connection to Reiki.

Reiju was made known to the West by Hiroshi Doi and is used by a growing number of Reiki teachers during their Reiki Share groups and courses. I too, use Reiju regularly on myself and others.

We know that  the system of Reiki was developed from various teachings and spiritual systems, and so reiju in some respects, echoes the Goshimbo empowerment used in Tendai Buddhism.

Such empowerments enable the recipient to draw on the energy of certain personal qualities such as wisdom or compassion both from within themselves and also from the energy field of the giver or initiatior.