The word Reiki is comprised of two Japanese Kanji representing Spiritual Energy. The system of Reiki is built upon the principle that everything has 'ki' (energy) and throughout our lives, we encounter experiences that leave our natural flow of energy disrupted and off-balance. Reiki supports an individual to come back to their natural state of flow and therefore their true nature.
The system of Reiki was created by Mikao Usui in early 1900's Japan. Born in 1865, Usui Sensei's family were hatamoto samurai and he was trained in esoteric Buddhism. His spiritual influences of Tendai Buddhism, Shintoism, martial arts and Shugendo helped shape the system. Usui Sensei create the system including medications and mantras to support an individuals own spiritual journey.
After his death, the system of Reiki made it's way over to the West via Hawayo Takata where it evolved under the context of the era and has been heavily influenced by many New Age trends.