From a conventional health care perspective, primary health care happens outside the home. In the US, primary care providers (PCPs) are physicians (usually family physicians or internists), physician assistants, or nurse practitioners.
PCPs provide basic health care, both routine prevention (typically screening and lifestyle counseling) and treatment of illness that does not require a specialist.
When a patient requires care from a specialist, the PCP makes referrals and remains on board to coordinate care.
True health care reform
But how can primary health care be given outside the home? Isn’t real primary health care what happens at home? Why can’t a responsible adult be her own primary health care provider, and think of her doctor as a resource to use as needed — and likely needed less?
Given the dire condition of the health care industry, that would seem to be a primary place to refocus.
How can we orchestrate such a turnaround, from people neglecting their health for years and then expecting doctors to put Humpty-Dumpty back together, to people engaging in their own care day by day, protecting their health and well-being while they still have them?
Health care information is not enough
It’s not enough for people to be informed, they have to feel empowered, to know that their efforts will bring benefit. And many people have to feel better before they can feel empowered.
That’s where Reiki practice can make a difference, and often make a difference quickly.
People start feeling better when they start practicing Reiki self-treatment. When people feel better, they make better choices. It’s that simple. Reiki practice opens the door to many other health-promoting choices.
Take an hour of Reiki and call me in the morning
How can we help the mainstream public take Reiki practice seriously? Since most people take health care advice most seriously when given by their doctors, let’s reach the mainstream public through conventional health care.
That may sound far-fetched, but I have a plan, one that can be easily implemented by credible, well spoken Reiki practitioners.
Are you with me?
There are so many instances in which Reiki treatment can help patients whose health, for a variety of reasons, isn’t well managed by conventional care. Having a Reiki practitioner available in those situations makes it easy to demonstrate the effectiveness of Reiki practice.
First things first
First we have to get more Reiki practitioners in the health care door. It might be the door to the hospital, or it could be the door to your own doctor’s office.
Extending the scope of health care is in everyone’s best interest. Let’s do it.
How has your Reiki practice improved your health care? Please share in a comment below.
True and Sacred
One cannot deny that healing is essential to living an abundant life full of joy and inspiration. When the body expresses itself through the language of its symptoms, we are reminded to take a look within. As a Reiki Master Teacher this ancient healing tradition serves my purpose to help others heal, as well as heal myself. And, I think I speak on behalf of the Reiki community that it is of crucial importance that we as a team of healers remain faithful to the original teachings of Japanese Reiki. I have witnessed many powerful traditions become diluted due to changes and manipulations in the original teachings and practices. Being that Reiki is truly a way of life the honor and respect we have for the teachings and way of healing is vital to its own survival as well as effectiveness. So, in closing, thank you so much for preserving the rich wisdom of Japanese Reiki Masters through your writings and healings. To remain true to what the art of Reiki is all about is to keep them as sacred and powerful as they were meant to be.
Lacey, thank you for your comment.
You refer to “this ancient healing tradition,” but call for remaining “faithful to the original teaching of Japanese Reiki.” Those statements appear to be contradictory.
The founder of this practice is Mikao Usui, who lived 1865-1926. How then is Reiki practice ancient?
Totally understand what you mean… True, Usui did live throughout the years of 1865-1926, so “ancient” definitely doesn’t apply to his lifetime. At the time of writing this I was simply thinking about its ancient roots and influences. I don’t claim to know all the facts, but to my understanding a major influence on Usui was religion and martial arts. This, of course, doesn’t mean that Reiki is a religion- as you know. To name a few of the religious influences that I was thinking about are Japanese Buddhism and native belief systems like Shintoism, reaching as far back as 1500 yrs ago. Also according to history esoteric mountain Buddhism formalized in the late 8th century and it is believed that Usui completed mountain practices as a shugenja and Tendai Buddhist. If my memory serves Shegendo is the mixture of ancient religious beliefs and practices in the mountains influenced by shamanism and other religions like Taoism. Anyway, history isn’t my strong point, but it fascinates me. I enjoy tracing things back to their roots. It helps me understand how are present day rituals, spiritual beliefs and ways of livings came to be. So, when I said “faithful to the original teachings” I do mean what Usui passed on as well as all that he was influenced by. Thanks and blessings! ~Lacey Bell Whittington
Lacey, I share your love of studying the development of ideas and practices. However, in doing so, it’s important to separate broad themes from the facts of an individual practice. That kind of critical thinking — discerning opinion and musings from documented events — is how we build credibility for Reiki, which is an important goal of this blog.
If we speak broadly enough, everything can be said to be ancient because it came from something that came from something that came from something.
Regardless the antecedents, Reiki practice itself is not ancient. The practice dates back to Mikao Usui in the early 20th century. My concern is that saying otherwise adds to the public’s confusion, undermining the credibility of this practice, which I don’t think is what you mean to do.
As my dad says to my mother, “I couldn’t agree more!” lol. So thankful we are adding credibility to Reiki as a community of practitioners together. Blessings to your mission Pamela! Lacey
Pamela, Shalom from Jerusalem!
Yes, I agree: the doctor should be in the home.
I took RI training in October 1995. The last time I needed to consult a doctor was September 1995, when my “usual” year-long prescription for several potent asthma medications was renewed. I took RII training in February 1996, and have NOT TAKE ANY MEDICATIONS AT ALL (and am no longer asthmatic) since August 1996. I have been teaching since October 2000, and I urge my students to practice Reiki daily, and, when they do become unwell, to “take an extra hour of Reiki” and call me in the morning. I particularly encourage them when they are caring for their young children, who usually bounce back to health very quickly, with relatively little Reiki needed. It works.
warmly,
Rahel
How wonderful, Rahel!
I love reading stories of how daily Reiki self-practice has transformed people’s lives. Thank you for sharing yours. I have also seen very good responses in people who were suffering with asthma.
One pediatrician I trained often practices Reiki with his young patients with asthma — and with their parents, who are understandably stressed.
Although primary health care is in the home, it is important to have a medical doctor or nurse practitioner to contact if the need arises. So many doctors have told me that they wish their patients would come by when they are well because it would help the doctor evaluate their condition if/when there is a need for medical attention.
Dear Pamela, we just connected on LinkedIn and I absolutely agree that practicing Reiki every day helps a person make more conscious choices about everything, including their own health. It helped me to bounce back from a severe burn-out after having worked many years in a stressful business environment (mergers & acquisitions). Working as a Reiki Practitioner in Amsterdam, the Netherlands now, I just love how Reiki helps clients (re-)connect with their inner-knowing and start healing from within. Their inner light is strengthened and just grows and grows. This is even more true if they follow a Reiki course and continue with daily practicing. Thanks for this blog so I can add my Reiki voice to yours, with love, Marcelle
Thank you for taking the time to add your voice, Marcelle!