The Environmental Merits of Reiki
This is an interesting topic to me with Reiki. I write this article now as I recently publicly announced my 1% Conservation Pledge. Where I donate 1% of all revenue of my business to my chosen Global Environmental Conservation Charities, so it seemed a good time to speak on this topic, and I write this from my observations over the years mainly from teaching Reiki.
For a bit of background, I have been supporting a global environmental conservation charity in a small way financially as I could over the last 15 + years, mainly supporting initiatives buying land and protecting one acre of a rainforest at a time, before environment protection was a mainstream topic. In recent years I built my 1% of revenue conservation pledge into my business model and added another charity, that covered other areas of environmental protection. I previously kept this pledge private, but as my business is the vehicle that provides these donations, I thought it was time to reveal this part of me in my business. I also wanted to show other solo practitioners that it is possible to do such things. More information can be found about my selected charities on my about page: more about Shaun’s Environmental Conservation Charities.
People don’t tend to come to Reiki for an environmental benefit, however, there are a few ways it can have a positive byproduct for the environment. Not things I considered when I first came to Reiki. Below I share some ideas and observations for those who like me have a passion for protecting the environment, if you are trained in Reiki, or if you are interested in the benefits of Reiki to both yourself, those around you, and the world we live in.
Taken individually, or for just one person, you may view these benefits as not that significant, yet I encourage you to consider them more collectively and at scale for a greater appreciation of the potential, for a start that’s how I think, and secondly challenges of such magnitude require such thinking and actions to start momentum. These points are here for you to lightly ponder, as much around this topic can feel heavy and difficult. Also, these observations tend to happen without much effort, or disruption to our lives. Many people are paralyzed into doing nothing as the topic in its entirety can seem too large or daunting, but as with many things this large it takes individuals to lead by actions in the desired direction, for others to join in. Individuals working together towards something are powerful, think of ants! Preaching over, let's get started.
An interesting point that others have raised is Reiki’s potential to help see a reduction in medical waste. This is seen in a wish for a future society with more Reiki being used especially in the home and in support of medical practitioners, this point is well recognized within Jikiden Reiki.
Reiki is a natural healing energy that is understood to promote the body’s natural cleansing and self-healing ability, working on every level of your being, physical, mental, or emotional, bringing you more in alignment, or balance with your natural state. So, the more we use Reiki to help us (I would consider other natural therapies also supportive on this point) especially proactively, the more our migration out of balance could be minimized, creating the potential for our consumption of medications as a society globally to be less, reducing environmental waste as well as the economic cost to society. For example, if you learn Reiki, you have it for life, to promote well-being, to support you, your family, and those around you, with no packaging, transportation, or chemicals involved. Other than relatively low-cost one-off course fees, it is free to access anytime you need it- now there is a scary thought! This example alone provides a strong case for the merits of Reiki to support the environment.
I am not saying there is not a place for medications and am not saying to use Reiki as an alternative to medical care, the point to consider is there is a place for Reiki as a support for our health in an integrative view.
On this point, I also notice as we understand Reiki and holistic health in general, our understanding of our bodies and their reactions to stress shift, as such I notice people's attitudes to medications shift. An example of this is a re-evaluation of the previous common practice of suppressing symptoms of detoxification releases in the body with medications. This point can lead into a big topic so if this point interests you, see my article ‘The Potential of Reiki to Support Your Health’.
As a group you just find Reiki trained people don’t tend to be at a pharmacist for everything going on in their well-being. Maybe partly as we focus a lot on reducing stress, our well-being, and managing our thinking and actions in a way that is healthy for us, it’s just an observation.
Another observation in those who train and learn Jikiden Reiki (Reiki in its complete original form). During the training courses you receive what is called Reiju, the process of clearing your channels to be able to channel Reiki yourself, but also and specific to this point a process of connecting, reminding you of your original state, working at a level of your Tamashi (soul) so subconsciously. You could think of it as a reminder of your true self. This is done repeatedly with Jikiden Reiki training, and commonly received periodically after training as well. The relevance here is that we at our very core, at our true natural state are part of nature. We are connected to our environment. Nowadays days most of the population globally are highly separated from the natural world. In the last few centuries, humanity has moved great distances away from our natural place as part of the natural world.
This point is seen more so nowadays in our well-being, science is now starting to get the idea our health and well-being are better when we are connected to nature. I could have told them that. From an old Japan and as such a Japanese Reiki view of our place as humans we are considered guardians of the earth and that which inhabits it. Not sure what grade would give ourselves on that one presently.
Another point is what I also see is as people who learn Reiki, and importantly practice living it (and there is a difference there) you see people living more in alignment with their natural state. Myself included. Living in greater co-operation with humanity, rather than competition. I see people being more authentic and stripping back to what is important to them at their core.
As people heal with Reiki, I observe behavior changes, which can be less self-medication (which can be in many forms), less consumerism, better alignment in life, and layers of conditioning are dropped. I see more mindful, or considered consumption and awareness of others and the environment. The relevance here is thinking more as a part of nature, not separated from it. Those who have taken Reiki training with me or worked with me in some way, have likely been aware of my connection and need to be in nature for my well-being.
One point I want to make for those who are trained in Reiki, which can be a misunderstanding we see in some Western approaches in Reiki, where Reiki-trained people look to heal the planet. This is misguided, it's not the planet that needs healing it’s the population/humanity that is damaging it that the healing is best focused on. So, I would say to focus your efforts of healing on the people around you.
In closing, there are a few ways Reiki could be considered supportive of the environment, I think the main one is the effect Reiki has bringing us more in harmony with our natural state and therefore our actions and impact on the environment. I hope you have found this article interesting. For more information about the environmental charities I support see my About page.
For more information about Jikiden Reiki see my Jikiden Reiki courses page.
I am mainly known nowadays for my work with Reiki, as a specialist in authentic Japanese Reiki. I am an experienced, Reiki teacher and practitioner with a proven track record of results. I offer Jikiden Reiki training courses, promoting authentic Japanese Reiki teachings. I am based in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, in the UK. I have a background in coaching and training in the areas of exercise coaching, holistic lifestyle, fitness, and performance coaching. I also have a BSc.(Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Science, for more information visit: www.shaunmckeown.com
The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this article are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article. Shaun Mckeown, disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article.