Reiki isn't a religion, it's a system of healing. Dr. Mikao Usui was on a quest to discover the keys to healing that Jesus and Buddha had used to heal the body. He first learned Chinese, and then studied the precepts of healing from the Tibetan Buddhists. He fasted and consulted with his guru. After much searching, he was called to go to the top of a sacred mountain and fast for 21 days. On the 21st day he received the keys to healing from his teachers in Spirit. He used these keys to heal many people, and the keys are passed down from teacher to student, direct through the lineage of Dr. Usui, as are many other healing methods. The keys are symbols that enable us to amplify the energy in our hands that is activated with a Reiki attunement. Dr. Usui also received five spiritual principles to live by. When each of these is followed, life begins to align itself and we are aware and live by Divine Flow. David Jarrell, who wrote Reiki Plus, is one of the Reiki Masters in the Usui lineage. He altered the principles a bit so that they were of higher and more positive vibration. They are: Just for today, I will trust Just for today, I will be at peace Just for today, I will do my work honestly Just for today, I will count my many blessings Just for today, I will be kind to every living creature When we follow the precepts, we live in the now. We aren't worried about the future or angry about the past. We are here, now. Isn't that a wonderful place to be? Peace and Blessings, Katie