In order to comprehend Reiki’s development in popular culture, it is helpful to have an understanding of what popular culture is. Simply place, it’s the total of ideas, viewpoints, and attitudes preferred and established through an informal consensus within the mainstream of any given culture.
How Reiki Entered Into Popular Culture
This applies especially to the Western civilization of the early to mid 20th century, as well as the emerging global culture of the late 20th and early 21st century. Popular culture is heavily influenced by media, and is defined as anything which outlives the fad, or tadpole, stage of life. The surviving ideas of popular culture permeate the everyday life of a specific society.
The principle representative for Reiki’s delivery into the West has been Hawayo Takata. Takata was born on December 24, 1900 and finally brought Reiki into the West shortly afterwards World War II. However, Reiki did not enter the mainstream before the 1970’s. By the time of Takata’s passing on December 11th, 1980, Reiki had taken a strong holds. Hawayo had initiated and educated 22 third degree, or Master Level, practitioners.
With the exclusion of individuals that were already invested in other perceptions of reality, Reiki was originally met with disbelief by the public. Many thought the artwork was the domain of charlatans.
A study revealed that more than 80 million had participated in alternative medicine, including Reiki healing. The participants in alternative medicine had spent more than $14 billion in expendable income on complementary medical care. Today, some universities instruct Reiki officially to students together with other alternative healing technologies.
During that the 1970’s, a registered nurse started introducing Reiki to her patients. Due to her efforts, the total amount of research into Reiki has improved. Several medical research studies have confirmed Reiki’s effects, but haven’t explained how it works.
A research grant to conduct a study of the effects of Reiki on patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. The study addressed levels of anxiety, physical issues, spiritual well-being, and blood counts.
It would seem from the ashes of World War II, Reiki has come to existence for a phoenix might, attracts needed waves of relief to ailing people everywhere. Despite religious controversy, mostly with Rome, Reiki continues to engage the general public, and today the medical sector, as a respectable and efficient healing technology.
