Reiki vs Chi Kung (Qi Gong)

Reiki History in Aikido chi kung and reiki

Reiki vs Chinese Chi Kung (Qi Gong)

Reiki vs Chinese Chi Kung (Qi Gong) What are the differences?

Reiki and Chi Kung (often written as “Qigong” or “Qi Gong”) are two ancient energy healing practices with roots in Japan and China, respectively. Both systems focus on harnessing and manipulating life force energy, known as “Ki” in Japanese (Reiki) and “Qi” (or Chi) in Chinese. Despite sharing common ground as energy healing modalities, they differ in their techniques, underlying philosophies, and practical applications. Below is a detailed comparison and contrast of Japanese Usui Reiki and Chinese Chi Kung.

Origins and Historical Background
Reiki (Usui Reiki)
  • Origin: Reiki was developed in Japan by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century. After experiencing a mystical revelation while meditating on Mount Kurama, Usui created a system of energy healing based on channeling universal life force energy.
  • Historical Context: Reiki’s origins are relatively modern, compared to Chi Kung, and reflect a blend of Japanese spiritual traditions, such as Tendai Buddhism, Shintoism, and Taoism. Usui Reiki has since spread globally and diversified into different branches, including Western Reiki.
Chi Kung (Qigong)
  • Origin: Chi Kung is a much older practice, with roots tracing back thousands of years to ancient China. It has connections to Taoism, Confucianism, and Chinese medicine.
  • Historical Context: Chi Kung evolved as a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, often used to cultivate longevity, vitality, and spiritual enlightenment. It was a precursor to martial arts like Tai Chi and has been widely practiced by monks, martial artists, and medical practitioners for health and spiritual growth.
Concept of Life Force Energy
Reiki
  • Energy Concept: In Reiki, the energy is referred to as “Ki,” which means life force energy. Practitioners believe that this energy is present in all living beings and that Reiki helps balance and harmonize it by channeling universal energy.
  • Source of Energy: Reiki practitioners act as conduits for universal life force energy, which flows through their hands to the recipient. The practitioner does not use their own energy but rather connects to an external, limitless source of Ki.
Chi Kung
  • Energy Concept: Chi, or Qi, is a broader concept in Chinese philosophy and medicine. It represents not only life force energy but also the fundamental force that animates the universe. Qi is believed to circulate through the body via meridians (energy pathways) and can be cultivated, controlled, and enhanced through practice.
  • Source of Energy: In Chi Kung, practitioners cultivate Qi from within their bodies and the environment, including the earth, air, and heavens. This energy is directed internally for self-healing, health maintenance, and sometimes externally for healing others.
Techniques and Practices
Reiki
  • Technique: Reiki is primarily a hands-on healing practice. The practitioner places their hands either on or just above the recipient’s body, allowing energy to flow where it is needed most. The process is intuitive, and the practitioner does not “direct” energy consciously.
  • Levels of Practice: Usui Reiki is structured in a three-level system.
    • Level 1 focuses on self-healing and hands-on techniques.
    • Level 2 introduces symbols and distance healing, allowing the practitioner to channel Reiki without physical contact.
    • Level 3 (Master) enables the practitioner to teach and attune others to Reiki.
  • Focus: Reiki is centered on relaxation, stress reduction, and overall energetic balancing. It is non-invasive, and the recipient is mostly passive during the treatment.
Chi Kung
  • Technique: Chi Kung involves a combination of meditative practices, controlled breathing (Qi Breathing), body movements, and visualization techniques. Unlike Reiki, Chi Kung is an active practice requiring the practitioner to consciously cultivate, direct, and store energy.
  • Types of Practice: Chi Kung has various forms, each with a specific focus:
    • Medical Qigong focuses on healing the body and is integrated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
    • Martial Qigong strengthens the body and improves focus and resilience in martial arts.
    • Spiritual Qigong aims at spiritual enlightenment and deep meditation.
  • Focus: Chi Kung aims to cultivate Qi within oneself for self-healing and vitality. It’s a discipline that balances mind, body, and spirit through mindful movements, postures, and breathing exercises.
Philosophical Underpinnings
Reiki
  • Philosophy: Usui Reiki is influenced by Japanese spiritual beliefs. The practice promotes the idea that one can attune to universal energy to maintain harmony and balance. Reiki teachings emphasize the importance of mental and emotional calmness through its precepts, such as practicing kindness, not worrying, and being grateful.
  • Non-religious: Reiki is not aligned with any specific religion and is practiced by people from all backgrounds. While it draws on some Buddhist and Shinto principles, its focus is on universal healing rather than religious dogma.
Chi Kung
  • Philosophy: Chi Kung is deeply embedded in Taoist, Confucian, and Buddhist principles. It is based on the idea of harmony between humans and the universe, specifically the balance of Yin and Yang energies and the Five Elements theory from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Practitioners seek to align with the Tao, the natural flow of the universe.
  • Holistic: Chi Kung incorporates not only energy healing but also physical, mental, and spiritual cultivation. It is often part of a larger lifestyle approach that includes diet, moral behavior, and meditation. Chi Kung can be considered both a health practice and a path to spiritual enlightenment.
Applications and Benefits
Reiki
  • Primary Application: Reiki is commonly used for stress reduction, relaxation, and emotional healing. It is also employed as a complementary therapy for pain relief, anxiety, and chronic illness.
  • Accessibility: Reiki is accessible to anyone and requires no special physical abilities. Sessions can be done in person or via distance healing.
  • Healing Approach: Reiki takes a passive approach to healing; the recipient lies down and allows the energy to flow where it is needed, making it deeply relaxing and rejuvenating.
Chi Kung
  • Primary Application: Chi Kung has a broader range of applications, from improving physical health, increasing vitality, and building strength to promoting mental clarity and emotional balance. It is often used as a form of preventive medicine and can also be integrated into martial arts training.
  • Physical Component: Chi Kung is a physical practice, involving standing postures, gentle movements, and breathing techniques. Some forms of Chi Kung can be quite physically demanding and require consistency and discipline.
  • Healing Approach: Chi Kung emphasizes self-healing and self-cultivation. The practitioner is actively engaged in their own healing process, learning to manipulate and cultivate their Qi for personal benefit.

While both Usui Reiki and Chi Kung are energy-based healing systems, they diverge in many ways. Reiki is a hands-on healing modality where the practitioner channels universal energy to the recipient, requiring little effort from the recipient themselves. It is gentle, passive, and can be practiced by anyone with the proper attunement. Chi Kung, on the other hand, is an active, dynamic practice that integrates body movements, breath control, and mental focus to cultivate and balance Qi. It has a wider scope, encompassing health, spiritual development, and even martial arts.

In summary, Reiki is more accessible to those looking for a simple, straightforward approach to energy healing, while Chi Kung offers a more comprehensive system for individuals seeking to cultivate their own energy and deepen their physical and spiritual practice. Both, however, offer profound benefits and have the potential to transform the lives of practitioners and recipients alike.

 

Kundalini, Reiki, and Innate

chakra healing and balancing

Kundalini, Reiki, and Innate

Kundalini, Reiki, and Innate. In the realm of energy healing and spiritual consciousness, I’ve frequently been asked during my workshops about the difference between Reiki energy and Kundalini energy. This piques interest as we navigate the complex and diverse world of energies that exist both within and around our bodies. Let’s embark on a journey of understanding these energies, their origins, and their unique roles in our overall well-being.

Our existence is a constellation of various energy bodies that work in harmony to maintain our overall health and consciousness. These include the tangible physical body, the mental body responsible for thoughts and cognition, the emotional body that carries our feelings, the psychic body linked to our intuitive abilities, the innate body consciousness, the Kundalini which is electromagnetic in nature, and the shamanic or dream body associated with spiritual experiences and altered states of consciousness.

In my experience, I’ve noticed that Reiki energy therapy primarily connects with the psychic body, the physical body, and the mental body. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Kundalini energy is entirely disconnected from Reiki, but there is a distinct difference in their origins and pathways. Kundalini energy generally flows from within the physical body, while Reiki energy is derived and channeled from an external source. Similarly, the electromagnetic field of the innate body is an internally derived system.

BodyTalk therapy and intuititive healing and Reiki
Intuitive Reiki Energy

Reiki Energy

Reiki energy healing is based on the principle of tapping into a source field, a high-frequency reservoir of healing energy. Practitioners open themselves up to this field, acting as conduits to channel this energy to themselves or others. This energy can have a profound uplifting effect on both the practitioner and the recipient. For those struggling with issues like fear and anxiety, or emotional traumas trapped within the body, Reiki can provide significant relief and promote healing.

Kundalini Energy

Kundalini energy, on the other hand, is often associated with tantric sexual practices which focus on raising sexual energies up the spine. The ultimate goal is to stimulate the pineal gland, enhancing awareness, and then direct this energy to the heart, fostering a sense of unity with a partner. Kundalini energy originates in the prostate for men and the G-spot for women, what I refer to as the Lower Pineal gland. This gland generates an electrical excitement energy that typically drives the desire for sexual release. If this release is denied or controlled, this energy ascends up the spine, causing each vertebra to resonate like piano keys. The harmonious vibration of the spine, along with the rising energy, reaches the brainstem, directly connecting with the pineal gland. The spine, in this state, functions somewhat like an antenna for energy, capable of both drawing in and emitting energy.

As the pineal gland becomes stimulated, perceptual awareness amplifies significantly. When the pineal gland is activated in the presence of a partner whose pineal gland is also activated, the energetic awareness descends to the heart and is perceived as love.

The Innate

The innate energy field is a fascinating aspect of our energy body. It exists within a radius of 6 to 12 inches from our physical body and is the cumulative energy generated by our DNA cells. Access to this field is possible through the heart, the pineal gland, or the lower pineal gland. The innate is a closed system that, while responsive to our words and feelings, operates according to its unique blueprint in our lives. It’s also linked to our aging process; hence, in rejuvenating or “youthing” practices, it is crucial to tap into the innate energy to influence the health of our DNA.

These intriguing subjects form the core of my Energy Activation Seminars, where we delve deeper into understanding and harnessing these diverse energies for personal growth, healing, and spiritual enlightenment.