Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.  It was discovered by Dr. Mikao Usui in the 1800's.  Reiki is administered by "laying on hands" and techniques such as this have been practiced for thousands of years.  Reiki means higher knowledge or spiritual consciousness.  This is the wisdom that comes from God or the Higher Self and is the God-Consciousness which is all-knowing.  It understands each person completely. it knows the cause of all problems and difficulties and knows how to heal them.  Rei means universal and Ki is life energy.  It is also known as the vital life force or the universal life force,.  This is a non physical energy that animates all living things.  If you life energy is low or if there is a restriction in its flow you are more vulnerable to illness when it is high and flowing freely you are less likely to get sick.  Life energy plays an important role in everything we do.  It animates the body and has higher levels of expression  Ki is also the primary energy of our emotions, thoughts an spiritual life.

Spiritually Guided Life Energy

It is the God-Consciousness called Rei that guides the life energy called Ki in the practice we call Reiki.  Therefore, Reiki can be defined as spiritually guided life energy. 

There are many kinds of healing energy.  All healing energy has Ki or life energy as one of its important parts.  All healers use life energy or Ki, but not all use Reiki.  Reiki is a special kind of healing energy that can only be channeled by someone that has been attuned to it.  Reiki is life energy that is guided by the Higher Power.