Shinrin Reiki
A splinter off of Shinrin-yoku, Shinrin-Reiki combines the benefits of both Shinrin-yoku and Reiki. Shinrin-yoku is known in Japan as Forest Bathing and it is a relaxation technique that calms the mind, body, and soul while heightening your concentration and mental clarity and expanding all your senses through the simple act of walking, sitting, laying, breathing, relaxing, etc…, being enveloped and paying attention to your surroundings in the forest and nature. Shinrin Reiki is to be mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually interactive in a familiar yet often neglected aspect of our world on a day to day basis. Modern day living has become a basic disconnection that has kept us from reaping the rewards of beauty that surrounds us daily, also known as a simple walk in the woods…
A forest bathing trip is a short leisurely trip visiting a forest, called “Shinrin-yoku” in Japanese, which is similar to a natural aromatherapy. A forest bathing trip involves a visit to a forest, field for the purpose of relaxation and recreation by breathing in volatile substances, called phytoncides (wood essential oils), which are antimicrobial volatile organic compounds derived from plants (trees), such as alpha-pinene and limonene. Incorporating forest bathing trips into a good lifestyle was first proposed in 1982 by the Forest Agency of Japan, and the first kick off meeting was held at Akasawa in Nagano prefecture located in northwestern Japan. Now it has become a recognized relaxation and/or stress management activity in Japan.
———–FROM: Introduction to the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine President Qing Li, M.D, Ph.D
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.”
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on of hands” and is based on the Asian concept of life force energy. A subtle energy flows from the hands of the practitioner into the client, and it’s this energy that creates the relaxation and the healing effect. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, mind, and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, love, and well-being.
We are alive because life force is flowing through us. Life force flows within the physical body though pathways called chakras, meridians and nadis. It also flows around us in a field of energy called the aura. Life force nourishes the organs and cells of the body, supporting them in their vital functions. When this flow of life force is disrupted, it causes diminished function in one or more of the organs and tissues of the physical body.
The life force is responsive to thoughts and feelings. It becomes disrupted when we accept, either consciously or unconsciously, negative thoughts or feelings about ourselves. These negative thoughts and feelings attach themselves to the energy field and cause a disruption in the flow of life force. This diminishes the vital function of the organs and cells of the physical body.
Reiki heals by flowing through the affected parts of the energy field and charging them with positive energy. It raises the vibratory level of the energy field in and around the physical body where the negative thoughts and feelings are attached. This causes the negative energy to break apart and fall away. In so doing, Reiki clears, straightens and heals the energy pathways, thus allowing the life force to flow in a healthy and natural way.
Life force energy flows through everything and everyone, there is still an energy vibration present or remembered even after something passes on (we can delve deeper into this later). Since everything has a life force energy, Reiki is a perfect vessel in which to give back to nature what it has so graciously given to us throughout the ages – ENERGY. We have the ability to share the Reiki energy with mother nature and create wonderful sacred spaces in which to take part in Shinrin Reiki. I look forward to sharing many of these techniques with you soon.
Please check here for information on how you can contribute to this growing community.
For more information you can check out the following resources…
Reiki:
International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT)
International Association for Reiki Professionals (IARP)
Shinrin-Yuko:
The Society of Forest Medicine within the Japanese Society for Hygiene –
http://forest-medicine.com/eindex.html
Association of Nature & Forest Therapy –
Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs
http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org
US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health –
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793347/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793346/
Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_bathing
This site is geared towards Reiki Masters and Shinrin-yuko professionals who would like to share their experiences, teachings, process and procedures to further the wonderful experience of either modality, but especially the wonderful feeling of their combined power.
I am in the process of developing and fine tuning a curriculum for Shinrin Reiki in the event anyone would like to have an official guide on the proper process and procedures to follow to make it a wonderful experience not only for the client, but for the guide as well.
This site will remain community based with interesting stories from interested parties with access to books and gear. I anticipate all will enjoy the relaxed nature of this community. The educational part will be hosted on another site soon to be released so check back periodically to find out new and exciting information.
I look forward to hearing back from all interested parties on how to make this site and community better.
Blessings in Love and Light,
Admin
*** I am looking for some creative suggestions or spiritually inspired folks to share their abilities on some artwork. I will be looking for a logo/design for this site. Please email me with any thoughts, suggestions, or people’s names you think may be able to help out with this request.
Please check here for information on how you can contribute to this growing community.
Social Media Note: Currently we have a G+, YouTube, and Pinterest account. I have been a little behind schedule with setting up the rest. I don’t know if I will actually need to get all that are listed below. Maybe just Facebook and twitter left to go…