For those of us living and working with Reiki in the Western world, the history of Reiki breaks down into the three major eras listed below.

THE USUI ERA

Reiki's founder, Dr. Mikao Usui, was an actual human being, a scholarly Buddhist monk who lived in Japan during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. But his life story, and the story of Reiki, have been shrouded by myth and fable for decades. Only in recent years has the historical Dr. Usui begun to emerge from the legend. Click here to learn more about him.

THE TAKATA ERA

Reiki migrated to the West just before World War II via Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American who lived in Hawaii. We are all deeply appreciative of her work and commitment in keeping Reiki alive in the West during the difficult war and post-war years. Yet, we are now beginning to realize that she, too, was as human as we all are and has left us a mixed legacy. Click here to learn more about Mrs. Takata.

THE ERA OF DEMOCRATIZATION

Following Mrs. Takata's passing in 1980, Reiki democratized and has since spread throughout North America and Europe like leaves blowing in the wind, and in almost as many directions. This, too, has been a mixed history which is still being written each day as people continue their personal journeys with Reiki. Click here to learn more about the post-Takata era of Reiki.