Before We Understand What Reiki Is: What Is Energy?

To first understand what Reiki is, we must first know what energy is. What is the first word you think of when you hear the word energy? Maybe electricity comes to mind. The Energy we will be speaking of is the energy that brings life.

There are many terms for the energy used in Reiki, some which you may be familiar with.

Prana:

This term comes from India, more specifically Yoga and refers to our breath and life energy. This is the energy flowing through our subtle body system.

Mana:

Mana is a Hawaiian and Polynesian word for “life force energy”.

Qi/Chi:

Qi comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Qi is life force energy. According to the National Center Institute: “In traditional Chinese medicine, vital energy or life force that keeps a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health in balance.”

Ki:

Ki is a Japanese term for “life energy”, “living energy”, or “life force (breath)”.

Universal Life Force Energy:

This term comes from Biofield Science. This is our western understanding of the life force energy.

These are all the most common translations of these words from my research. All of these terms that are used throughout different time periods, throughout different cultures and places in the world, and are used to describe, definitionally, the same things.

Each culture and place in the world has its own unique way of connecting with this energy. Reiki, Qi Gong, Shamanic Healing, Acupuncture, and more are all great examples.

Further Research:

Prana: https://yogainternational.com/article/view/understanding-prana/  

Mana: https://www.manoaheritagecenter.org/moolelo/kuka%CA%BBo%CA%BBo-heiau/what-is-mana/ 

Qi / Chi: https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/what-qi-and-other-concepts 

Ki: https://www.houstonkiaikido.org/ki/  

Biofield Science: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4654789/