Lineages and the system of Reiki

For those wishing to learn the system of Reiki it is necessary to understand why there is an emphasis placed on lineages. Reiki Kyokai recognizes and welcomes diversity arising from different lineages within the Usui tradition, however, in order to maintain minimum agreed standards of practice not all lineages and practices are Reiki Kyokai agreed standards.

What is a lineage?

A lineage is the direct line of teaching that a teacher has been trained in. A teacher's lineage reflects the information that the teacher will be passing on to the student. Therefore different lineages will have different techniques, philosophies and understandings of working with the system of Reiki. Some lineages even have different histories. Before beginning a course it is important to know the lineage of the teacher to see if it is a legitimate branch of the system of Reiki and to see if the course suits your needs. Since the Hayashi system of Reiki began in the early 1900's and was brought to the West in 1938 by Hawayo Takata, there have been various histories and understandings about the system of Reiki.

  • Unfortunately, since Hawayo Takata died in 1980 there have been a number of people who have decided to create their own lineages. Created lineages are not acceptable under Reiki Kyokai standards. To know if your lineage is a legitimate Reiki lineage according to Reiki Kyokai standards, below are some basic guidelines.

Lineages that follow a Western teaching will always have these people at the beginning of the lineage tree:

1.Mikao Usui

2. Chujiro Hayashi 

3. Hawayo Takata

All Hayashi-Takata lineages from Mrs. Takata will include one or other of the following masters.

  • Kay Yamashita (sister of Hawayo Takata) prior to 1976 
  • Virginia Samdahl 1976 
  • Ethel Lombardi 1976
  • John Harvey Gray October 1976 
  • Beth Gray 1976 (Official Certificate states 1979) 
  • Dorothy Baba 1976
  • Barbara Lincoln McCullough 1977
  • Harry M Kuboi April 1977
  • Fran Brown January 1979 
  • Iris Ishikuro 1979
  • Phyllis Lei Furumoto April 1979 
  • Barbara Webber (Ray) September 1979 
  • Bethel Phaigh October 1979 
  • Barbara Brown October 1979
  • Wanja Twan October 1979 
  • Ursula Baylow October 1979 
  • Paul Mitchell November 1979
  • George Araki 1979
  • Shinobu Saito May 1980 
  • Patricia Bowling September 1980
  • Mary McFadyen September 1980  
  • Rick Bockner October 1980

If your Reiki master is in the Hayashi-Takata lineage and his/her chart does not include one of those names listed above, you should ask the master for verification. There are also some Japanese lineages (e.g. those including either Hiroshi Doi or Chiyoko Yamaguchi) available now that follow Japanese teachings.

Lineages that are not currently considered acceptable under the Reiki Kyokai standards are

  • Suzuki-San (this Is NOT a Reiki Lineage)
  • Universal Healing/Dharma Reiki
  • Men Chhos Reiki Medicine Buddha Reiki
  • Lineages including the name of Mr. Patswani
  • Tera Mai /Seichem
  • Karuna Reiki
  • Grecian Reiki
  • Any channeled or invented system
  • Any system or course taken via correspondence or internet

The names that appear on this list are here as a mark of respect to the creators of the above systems.They, like Hayashi altered the system changed it to something different and changed the name of the system signifying that it is their version with their own individual add-ons.