The Origins of Reiki: Mikao Usui, Hawayo Takata, and How Reiki Became What It Is Today
What Is Reiki and Where Did It Come From?
Reiki is often described as energy healing, but that description barely scratches the surface.
At its core, Reiki is a system of working with the body, the nervous system, and subtle energy to support balance, relaxation, and healing.
And like anything that has lasted over 100 years, it has a history.
Not a vague one.
A real one, rooted in people, places, and teachings that have been passed down and adapted over time.
If you’ve ever wondered where Reiki actually comes from, this is where the story begins.
Mikao Usui: The Beginning of Reiki
Mikao Usui (1865–1926) was a Japanese spiritual practitioner and the founder of Reiki.
He spent much of his life studying different forms of spirituality, meditation, and philosophy. His work was not created in isolation. It was influenced by Buddhist practices, Japanese spiritual traditions, and a deep curiosity about how humans heal.
In the early 1920s, Usui undertook a 21-day period of meditation and fasting on Mount Kurama in Kyoto, Japan.
At the end of that retreat, he experienced what is described as a profound spiritual awakening. From that experience, he developed the system that would later be called Reiki.
But what matters most is what he did next.
He taught it.
Usui opened a clinic in Tokyo and began sharing Reiki with others, eventually teaching over 2,000 students. He created a system that could be learned, practiced, and passed on.
This is important.
Reiki was never meant to be exclusive. It was meant to be practiced.
Chujiro Hayashi: Structuring the Practice
Before Reiki reached the Western world, it was refined by one of Usui’s students, Chujiro Hayashi.
Hayashi brought structure to Reiki in a way that made it more consistent and easier to apply.
He:
• Organized hand positions
• Standardized treatment approaches
• Opened a Reiki clinic in Tokyo
This shift made Reiki more practical.
Less abstract, more repeatable.
And it created the bridge that would allow Reiki to travel beyond Japan.
Hawayo Takata: Bringing Reiki to the West
Hawayo Takata (1900–1980) is the reason Reiki exists in the United States today.
She was a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii who traveled to Japan for medical care. While there, she received Reiki treatments at Hayashi’s clinic.
After experiencing improvement in her health, she chose to learn Reiki herself.
She trained under Hayashi, eventually becoming a Reiki Master in 1938.
And then she brought Reiki home.
Takata began practicing and teaching Reiki in Hawaii and later across the mainland United States. She trained 22 Reiki Masters before her death, creating the foundation for Reiki’s spread throughout the Western world.
Without her, Reiki may have remained largely unknown outside of Japan.
How Reiki Evolved Over Time
Reiki did not stay exactly the same as it moved from Japan to the West.
And that is not a flaw.
It is part of its design.
Takata adapted Reiki to make it more accessible to Western students. Over time, different practitioners have continued to evolve how Reiki is practiced, taught, and integrated with other modalities.
Some stay very traditional.
Some blend Reiki with bodywork, nervous system regulation, or other forms of holistic care.
And that evolution is actually aligned with its roots.
Usui himself did not present Reiki as something rigid. He created a system that could grow.
Reiki, the Nervous System, and Why It Still Matters Today
When you strip away the labels, Reiki consistently comes back to one thing:
Regulation.
A calm, present, non-threatening input into the body.
For humans, that can look like:
• A sense of calm
• Slower breathing
• Reduced tension
For horses, it often shows up as:
• Licking and chewing
• Blinking and softening
• Lowering the head
• Releasing through the body
This is where Reiki overlaps with what we now understand about the nervous system.
The body cannot heal, soften, or function optimally if it is constantly bracing.
Reiki creates an environment where that bracing can start to let go.
How I Use Reiki in My Work
In my own work, Reiki is not separate from bodywork or bit fitting.
It supports them.
Because at the end of the day, you are not just working on muscles or equipment.
You are working with a living system.
A horse that feels safe in their body will:
• Move better
• Respond more clearly
• Carry themselves with less resistance
That is why I integrate energy work alongside practical, physical approaches.
Not instead of them.
Alongside them.
Final Thoughts
Reiki is not just an idea.
It is a system with real history, passed through real people:
• Mikao Usui, who developed it
• Chujiro Hayashi, who structured it
• Hawayo Takata, who brought it to the world
And today, it continues to evolve through the people who practice it.
Ready to Experience Reiki for You or Your Horse?
If you’re curious about how Reiki can support your horse’s comfort, behavior, and overall well-being, or even your own, there are a few ways to get started.
Or explore my Equine Reiki Certification if you’re ready to learn how to do this work yourself.
Whether you’re local or not, I offer both in-person and virtual sessions.
Because connection, regulation, and healing are not limited by distance.
