The name Reiki comes from the Japanese "rei" - roughly meaning "Universe" (also believed to mean spirit/soul) and ki meaning energy / life energy, (also referred to chi qi). Other common definitions are "universal life force energy" or "healing energy of the universe".

Reiki (RAY Kee) is a hands-on healing art. It is the transference of the universal life energy (Ki or light energy) through an attuned Reiki practitioner to a person needing to regain health or well being. Reiki brings balance to the human system, clears un-healthful emotions, and restores the natural flow of energy that is essential to health and healing