Is Reiki something you do for yourself, or something you do for others? History tells us it’s both, happening simultaneously.
In our courses, John and I consistently emphasize that a self healing practice is the foundation of everything else. After all, if you cannot heal yourself, how can you heal others? Recent translations of historical Japanese documents by researcher Mamoru Wakatake shed light on a specific word used by Usui Sensei that perfectly captures this dynamic.
Mamoru explains:
In his “Kokai Denju Setsumei” (Explanation of Public Instruction), Usui Sensei speaks of his mission:
“(Reiniku ichinyo to natte heiwa to kyōraku no shōgai o mattoshi, katawara ta no byōsha o iyashi, jita tomo ni kōfuku o zōshin suru koto ga shimei). Our mission is to fulfill a life of peace and enjoyment by unifying mind and body, and at the same time, heal the sick, thereby promoting the happiness of both oneself and others.“Please pay attention to the word “Katawara” (傍ら — katawara — alongside / side by side). In a Japanese dictionary, it means “while doing one thing, doing another alongside it.” Because of this, it is often mistranslated as “on the side” or “in one’s spare time.” But looking at the context, it is clear this interpretation is wrong.
Sensei set “Shinshin Kaizen” (Mind and Body Improvement) as the purpose of the Gakkai, and clearly stated that the mission is to “promote the happiness of both oneself and others”.
Adjusting one’s own mind and body (self) and healing the illness of others — only when these two exist together is the mission of “promoting happiness” complete. In other words, “Katawara” here does not mean “as a side job.” The correct interpretation is “to exist side by side — always together.”
One’s own spiritual cultivation and the treatment of others’ ailments are two wheels of a cart that can never be separated. They always move forward in parallel. You are absolutely not healing others “in your spare time” while pursuing your own practice
Our Takeaway
Your personal growth and your capacity to support others are the “two wheels of a cart.” One never takes a back seat to the other. Whether you practice on friends, family, animals, or clients, the energy you cultivate within yourself moves directly alongside the support you offer outward. You simply cannot separate the re-energizing and harmonizing effects of the Reiki you give to others from the Reiki you give to yourself.
Our true mission is to cultivate happiness both within and without. Tend to both wheels of your cart equally, because by taking care of yourself just as much as you take care of others, you bring genuine joy and wellbeing to all.
Yes, you can absolutely practice Reiki alongside your “day job” and in your spare time (which is how many people have translated the word katawara over the years). But what Mamoru highlights here is Usui Sensei’s deeper meaning: we cannot only treat others, nor can we only treat ourselves. It is by doing both, side by side, that we fulfill a life of peace and enjoyment.
