Reiki "Power" and Rick Warren's Health Plan

No, it does not! Though Jesus often healed the sick and continues to do so today, our spiritual and eternal life with Him is far more important than our physical and temporary life on earth. Countless faithful martyrs have faced torture and death because they refused to compromise their faith! Of course, we should take care of our bodies and help each other, but our highest priority is to trust God and follow His narrow way no matter what the cost. And that's not bad news:

Holistic practices such as Reiki clash with God's guidelines. But they sound good to those who don't know Him. After all, "empowered" Reiki masters offer what people have always wanted: relief from stress, pain, and disease. Praised by Dr. Oz and Oprah Winfrey, Reiki's popularity has soared.

At the start of the class, the therapist promised that her massage would "balance the energies" in the (volunteer) patient's body. That should have alerted me to the spiritual danger ahead, but it didn't! Before we left, she assured us that she could fix any kind of back problem, including mine, which stemmed from childhood polio. Impressed, I signed up for a future private therapy session.

"Thank You, Lord!" I whispered. I tried to explain that He had protected me from the spiritual source she trusted. But she didn’t want to hear about the difference between my God and her cosmic energy force. "Just leave," she warned. I did, and all the way home I praised my Lord who had shown me that "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."[1 John 4:4]

Since some of you may question the similarities between Reiki and Polarity, let's look at the beliefs behind the two practices.

Reiki was "discovered" in 1922 by Dr. Mikao Usui "during a mystical experience on Mt. Kurama, a sacred mountain" in Japan. The Buddhist seeker soon began to explore the mystery of "mental harmony" and mind-body connection. Months later "he founded the 'Usui Reiki Healing Society."[5]

Reiki -- specifically the second syllable ki (or chi) -- refers to "Universal Life Energy." The following quotes describe it well:

"Reiki is a form of spiritual healing using "universal life energy" channeled through the practitioner to the recipient.... In the western world many practitioners use the standard hand positions.... The energy flows wherever it is required (spiritually guided) and can normally be felt as a warm sensation or tingling in the body... Reiki--

Balances the energies in the body...

Treats symptoms and causes of illness.

Relieves pain

Adapts to the natural needs of the receiver ...

Promotes creativity

Releases blocked and suppressed feelings.

Aids meditation and positive thinking....

"The ability to use Reiki is normally given via an...initiation. There are 3 levels of Reiki: Reiki 1 and 2 and the Master level."[6]

The "Reiki Power symbol" [above] is credited with power of its own. Called Choku Rei, it means "Place the power of the universe here." The following descriptions point to the dark power behind Reiki healings:

"The power symbol can be used to increase the power of Reiki. It can also be used for protection. See it as a light switch that has the intention to instantly boost your ability to channel Reiki energy.

"Draw or visualize the symbol [The end of our "Symbols" page shows what can happen] ...and you will have instant access to more healing energies....The symbol...is especially effective if it is used in the beginning of a session to empower the Reiki energy or when used at the end of a session to close the session and seal off the Reiki energies.

"You can focus the Reiki energies... on a specific point of the body... The Power symbol can be used to spiritually clean a room from negative energy."[7]

The next statement links Reiki to the Hindu/Buddhist Kundalini force. When awakened by certain yoga meditations and practices, this energy or prana -- visualized as a coiled serpent -- rises from the bottom of the spine up through the seven chakras to the top of the head:

"To understand Reiki and the hand positions used one will have to have some knowledge of the chakras.... Chakra is a Sanskrit word and means 'wheel.'...A chakra will spin in relation to the energy level....These chakras are situated at the top of the head, forehead, throat, heart, solar plexus, the navel and at the bottom of the pelvis....The third eye chakra belongs to the brain, face..."[8]

You may want to listen to this video message for more information.

Compare the key elements of Reiki with the force behind Polarity

"Polarity therapy is the life work of Dr. Randolph Stone (1890-1981)....He traveled extensively... particularly India, researching how energy might work in the body, also studying the Esoteric teachings of those countries. From these comprehensive studies, he formulated the East-West synthesis that became known as Polarity Therapy....

"[It] is the 6000 year old Indian system of Ayurveda (Ayu=life, Veda=Study) that forms the cornerstone of Polarity energetic theory.

"Dr. Stone chose the ancient symbol of the Caduceus or Staff of Hermes as a representation of the elements in the body... In Indian philosophy and medicine the Caduceus is intimately associated with the system of energy centers called chakras.... The 2 serpents coiling around the staff [represent positive and negative forces like] the Yang and Yin of Chinese medicine.

"The crossing over of the 2 serpents creates 5 energy fields in the body.... [These] energy centers known as chakras... can be visualized as spinning wheels of energy which maintain the energy centers."[9]

Though Reiki features five chakras in contrast to Polarity's seven, the similarities point to a common mystical/occult source:

"Central to Polarity Therapy is the concept of a life energy.... Disease is a process which occurs when the life energy is blocked or out of balance. It could be said that there is only one disease, that of disturbance of the energetic system.... To overcome these problems [the illusions of disease] Polarity therapy uses a system of gentle bodywork supported by a specific set of exercises (Polarity Yoga), advice on diet and nutrition, and counseling...

"The doctrine of ...'As we think, so we are' is adopted by Polarity therapists..."[9]