Understanding the Connection between Reiki and Chakras
Have you trained in Reiki but were discouraged by the melding of many concepts and ideas that have nothing or little to do with Reiki or related Japanese spiritual traditions?
This was me several years ago. I had studied both Yoga and Reiki from accomplished and knowledgeable teachers. As a yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner, I loved the correlation between chakras and energy healing. I thought it was quite natural that chakras and Reiki were often combined together.
Until I learned a little more.
I became more aware of cultural and spiritual appropriation. You may have heard about a movement to return repatriated artifacts, often referring to ancient or looted art, that has been stolen from their country of origin usually in the context of imperialism, colonialism or war.
Cultural and spiritual appropriation extends beyond tangible artifacts to include intangible concepts of cultural knowledge, spiritual & religious rituals, cultural practices, ceremonies etc. If you are unfamiliar with this topic, feel free to also read my blog entitled Cultural and Spiritual Appropriation within Reiki.
As I dug deeper and educated myself about this topic and more, I discovered that cultural and spiritual appropriation at their roots are an expression of racism, colonization and oppression
This shook me to my core. I began to realize that if I was to call myself a “healer” how could I do that authentically when my tools for healing came from a long history of oppression? If Reiki can cause no harm, I was alarmed to discover that my practice of Reiki could actually be perpetuating legacies of injustice, racism and oppression by failing to address cultural and spiritual appropriation in my healing arts practice and in my life.
As a Western practitioner of two healing arts (Reiki and Yoga) that come from a different culture than my own, I desired to learn how I could practice, teach and support others with greater integrity, authenticity and respect for the cultural origins of these practices.
Within Reiki, cultural and spiritual appropriation can involve taking and/or modifying significant cultural symbols, practices, or traditions out of their original context without understanding or honoring their historical, social or cultural significance.
One clear example of appropriation that is happening in Reiki is the combination of chakras and Reiki as if these two things are one and the same.
They are not. The Japanese have a totally different worldview on the subtle body. Yet, all too often, I see Reiki and chakra healing combined as if they are synonymous when they are not.
I believe as Western practitioners of a Japanese healing art, we now have the resources to do better. So let’s do that!
If you are a Reiki professional who uses the chakras in your marketing and in your Reiki practice, please educate yourself on the history and origins of the chakras.
Without acknowledgment it is appropriation.
Why are Chakras included in Reiki?
You may have seen the combination of Reiki and the Indian chakra system inside of a Reiki course or in a practitioner's scope of practice. This is curious because as I previously discussed, Reiki and the chakras come from two very different cultures and two very different worldviews.
The founder of Reiki, Usui Mikao, never mentions chakras in any of the primary or secondary sources attributed to his teachings. Instead he refers to the dantien, term which describes three distinct energy centers in the body located in the belly, heart and head. (Pearson, Foundations of Usui Reiki Ryoho).
The dantien, particularly the lower dantien which is also called the hara, are important focal points for meditation in many Eastern wisdom traditions (including martial arts, acupuncture, qigong, tai chi and Reiki). Historical references to the dantien pre-date the chakras by 3 centuries.
Interestingly, Hawata Takata also did not teach chakras in her Reiki courses. According to Justin Stein’s book Alternate Currents, Takata Sensei instructed her white students to embody Japanese values such as secrecy, hierarchy and reciprocity which she felt was essential to Reiki practice. She also borrowed language from Christianity to frame concepts within Reiki to adopt to the largely hegemonic Western worldview based on Christian values and morals.
Chakras were imported into the practice of Reiki after the year 1980 when Hawayo Takata passed away (Pearson, Foundations of Usui Reiki Ryoho). However, this trend may have emerged prior to her death because many of Takata Sensei’s direct students engaged in other Asian-derived practices like yoga, meditation and guru devotion (Stein, Alternate Currents).
Chakras were likely introduced into Reiki because they were already a part of the mainstream Western understanding of the body’s energy centers whereas the Daotist conceptualization of the dantien were much less widespread and understood.
Appropriation and the Chakras
Perhaps not surprisingly AND rather unfortunately, the history and extraction of the modern seven chakra system to the Western world is rife with cultural and spiritual appropriation.
The truth is that there is a lot of surface level understanding of the chakras out there.
Most of our modern knowledge about the chakras has been substantially shifted from its origins in India, leaving us in the Western world without a deeper context and perspective to understand the profound medicine of the chakras.
This is amplified when Reiki courses provide just a very small understanding of the chakras, omiting their history, cultural diversity and significance. Reiki courses that include the chakras empower Reiki students to use the chakras, both for themselves and others, with very little knowledge of what they are.
If your understanding of the chakras includes the chakras visualized as a rainbow of colors, contains associations of psychological states like “the root chakra is associated with survival” or if you combine the chakras with plants, crystals, essential oils or healing for body ailments….please understand that NONE of these associations are found in the original sources of the chakras. Most if not all are based on perceived similarities, usually corresponding to colors now assigned to each chakra.
There is a deeper meaning and purpose of the chakras that gets illuminated when you study the chakras from their origins in yoga.
What is the Benefit of Learning the History of the Chakras?
The origin and the history of the chakras matter. To appreciate rather than appropriate the chakras involves learning the original context of this tradition from it’s culture of origin.
The chakras as we understand them today have been substantially altered with modern adaptations as they became known to the Western world. Many of these adaptations come from a lack of understanding of the culture of India and poor translations of Sanskrit texts from around 100 years ago.
Modern scholarship of Sanskrit, yoga and chakras has vastly improved since chakras were introduced to the Western world about 100 years ago. Studying primary sources on the chakras provide a deeper understanding of:
The underlying mechanism through which the chakras work.
The cultural complexity and diversity of different chakra systems.
The enduring impact of colonization on spiritual practices, including our modern adaptation of the chakras.
Appreciation for the creators of the chakras (Tantrik yoga practitioners) who were an absolute REVOLUTION during their time. Notably, they made yogic practices accessible to all social classes and women.
How tantrik yoga substantially altered the goal of spiritual practice forming an ideological foundation for new age spirituality thousands of years before it’s inception.
Respectful engagement with the chakras calls for learning the history, traditions, and meaning behind the chakras and recognizing the voices of those to whom they belong.
If you are a Reiki professional, energy healer or yoga instructor that feels like you only have a surface level understanding of the chakras, I created a self study course just for you!
It is called History of the Chakras for Reiki Pros. Together, let’s explore a deep dive into the history and evolution of the chakra system. This continuing education self study course will enhance your knowledge chakras, help you feel more confident about your skills and abilities as an energy practitioner and support you to create meaningful energetic shifts in your own life and for your clients.
JOIN ME FOR THIS COURSE:
If you have had profound experiences of the chakras and want to learn more about their history and origins from India
Trained in Reiki and curious about the connection of the Indian chakra system and energy healing
Understand that what you don’t know can cause harm, even with the best of intentions
If you are aware of cultural & spiritual appropriation and would like to have more resources to look closely at this topic in your Reiki practice and life.
Interested in decluttering and decolonizing spiritual spaces.
Imposter syndrome has been a significant source of disempowerment and anxiety for you and you want to become more knowledgeable and skilled to work with chakras both for yourself and others.
I have had the chance to study the chakras for years (both from leaders in academia and yogic practitioners from India). I have developed many resources for their use and application in energy healing.
IN THIS SELF STUDY COURSE I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING WITH YOU:
A thorough history of the chakras
Evolution of the chakras to become what they are today
Anatomy of the chakras
Overview of the seven chakra system and an understanding of their cultural and spiritual significance
The primary method to awaken the chakras (hint: it’s not energy healing!)
Yogic practices to balance your chakras
How to integrate the chakras into your Reiki OR healing arts practice with integrity, authenticity and respect
ALL WHO REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE WILL RECEIVE:
Comprehensive training on the chakras
Resource list for deeper study
Self reflection questions
Option for a 1:1 session with me to dive deeper into your awareness and understanding of the chakras
Investment: $197
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE HISTORY OF THE CHAKRAS FOR REIKI PROS.
About the instructor:
Carrie Varela is the founder of the Reiki Healing Society and co-host of the Reiki Women Podcast. She is a Reiki teacher and practitioner, yoga instructor, yogini, Blissologist, mystic, lover, mom, traveler, modern day healer. She inspires people to connect to Spirit, Nature and their truest essence through Reiki and Yoga.
Carrie holds an E-500hr RYT yoga instruction certification and has taught yoga since 2011. She has completed over 1,050 hours of yoga teacher training and taught over 5,000 yoga classes. She has studied the chakras from diverse perspectives in academia as well as Western and Indian teachers.