Reiki Lineage: A Stream of Light and Devotion

Reiki is not just something I do. It’s something I carry.

It is a spiritual path passed from one heart to another—from teacher to student—across time and across the world. It flows through breath, through hands, through silence. It is gentle, but it is not weak. It is quiet, but it speaks volumes.

In my own Reiki practice, I stand in a long line of teachers—each of them holding a sacred thread, each of them offering healing, light, and love. Some were public voices. Some taught quietly in homes, temples, or clinics. But all of them passed along something holy.

Mikao Usui – The Founder

Reiki begins with Mikao Usui, who received the Reiki energy after deep prayer and meditation on Mount Kurama in Japan. He created Usui Reiki Ryoho—a system of healing, meditation, and spiritual discipline. For Usui, Reiki was not only about healing others—it was about realizing your true self.

Chujiro Hayashi – The Organizer

One of Usui’s trusted students, Chujiro Hayashi was a naval officer who helped organize and structure Reiki for healing clinics and formal teaching. He opened a Reiki clinic in Tokyo where students like Chiyoko Yamaguchi learned through direct experience. His influence brought Reiki from the mountains into the city, from mysticism into community care.

Hawayo Takata – The Bridge

Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman, brought Reiki to Hawaii in the 1930s after receiving treatment and training from Hayashi. She later brought it to the mainland United States, and through her hands, Reiki began its quiet spread across the West. She trained 22 Reiki Masters and passed on the teaching with deep care and intention.

Phyllis Lei Furumoto – The Legacy Keeper

Takata’s granddaughter, Phyllis Lei Furumoto, became the main steward of her grandmother’s lineage after Takata’s death. She helped form The Reiki Alliance and held fast to the spirit of the original teachings. Phyllis carried Reiki through a time of great expansion and helped build community through respect, humility, and trust in the energy itself.

Chiyoko Yamaguchi – The Hidden Master

Chiyoko Yamaguchi was a student of Hayashi and practiced Reiki quietly for decades in Japan. Alongside her son, she founded Jikiden Reiki to preserve Hayashi’s original methods without the Western additions. Her simple, precise, and humble approach grounds this lineage in the roots of Reiki’s early days.

Hiroshi Doi – The Bridge Between East and West

Hiroshi Doi, a member of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, played a major role in restoring original Japanese Reiki teachings to the Western world. His Gendai Reiki Ho school focuses on clarity, simplicity, and spiritual growth. Through his work, many Western practitioners have found a deeper connection to the heart of Reiki.

Hyakuten Inamoto – The Preserver

A Japanese Pure Land Buddhist monk, Hyakuten Inamoto studied under Chiyoko Yamaguchi and founded Komyo ReikiDo. He brings a devotional spirit to Reiki, teaching that healing is a natural outcome of a life aligned with compassion. His teachings return us to the essence of Reiki as a spiritual path of awakening.

William Lee Rand – The Innovator

William Lee Rand is the founder of the International Center for Reiki Training and the creator of Usui/Holy Fire Reiki and Karuna Reiki. His work has brought Reiki to a global audience, with structured manuals, professional ethics, and clear training systems. His commitment to spiritual development and worldwide Reiki unity makes his presence in this lineage especially influential.

Frans Stiene – The Path of Stillness

Frans Stiene, co-founder of the International House of Reiki, has helped return Reiki to its original spiritual roots. His teachings emphasize breathwork, meditation, and the Reiki Precepts—not as ideas, but as practices that shape the whole life. His voice in this lineage reminds us that Reiki is not just about helping others—it’s about awakening the light within.

Barbara Weber Ray – The Radiant Technician

Barbara Ray was one of the early Masters trained by Takata. She later developed The Radiance Technique, which introduced more structure and scientific language into Reiki. Though her path branched into a different system, she played a powerful role in expanding Reiki’s reach and teaching hundreds of students across the U.S. and Europe.

Iris Ishikura – The Quiet Channel of Grace

Iris Ishikura was another one of Takata’s Masters. She is best known for quietly mentoring Arthur Robertson, who went on to develop Raku Kei Reiki. While her public presence was minimal, her influence runs deep. She taught with sincerity and trust in the energy, helping Reiki transition into a new generation.

Arthur Robertson – The Esoteric Visionary

Arthur Robertson explored the mystical aspects of Reiki. He blended it with metaphysical and Tibetan practices to create Raku Kei Reiki. While his style differed from traditional lines, it opened new doors for spiritually curious seekers and helped give rise to forms like Usui/Tibetan Reiki that are widely practiced today.

Marlene Schilke – The Lineage Bearer

Marlene Schilke trained under Robertson and was a dedicated transmitter of the Raku Kei lineage. She worked closely with students and co-teachers to keep the practices alive during Reiki’s continued growth in the West. Her role in this lineage is that of a guardian—someone who ensured the teachings reached the next generation intact.

Diane McCumber – The Teacher’s Teacher

Diane McCumber taught many Reiki students and Masters throughout the U.S. and helped bridge the esoteric and the practical. Known for her consistency and strong lineage knowledge, she carried the Raku Kei and Usui/Tibetan paths with integrity. Her steady presence is still felt by many teachers today.

Carol Farmer – A Quiet Pillar

Carol Farmer worked within the Furumoto line of Reiki and served as a quiet, faithful transmitter of Reiki in local communities. Her contributions may not be widely publicized, but they live on through the people she taught, touched, and encouraged. Her place in this lineage reminds us that not all lights shine loudly—but they still shine.

Laurelle Shanti Gaia – The Heart-Centered Visionary

Laurelle Shanti Gaia was a beloved teacher, author, and healer who worked closely with William Rand. She helped develop the Karuna Reiki Master training and brought a deeply spiritual, Earth-centered energy into the ICRT teachings. Her legacy is filled with love, reverence, and healing through presence. She reminded all of us that Reiki is, at its core, a living prayer.

A Living Lineage

This lineage flows into me through these sacred teachers. In traditional Japanese culture, lineage is not just a list of names—it is a living connection. It honors the deep bond between student and teacher, and the sacred responsibility of carrying what was entrusted to you with humility and care.

Each teacher in this line offered not just knowledge, but heart, presence, and spiritual transmission. Their devotion shaped the Reiki I practice today. In offering Reiki, I do not act alone. I stand within this lineage as both a student and a steward, honoring those who came before by walking the path with integrity.

Reiki is not something I created. It is something I inherited—and something I am committed to preserving and passing on with the same respect that was shown to me.

If you receive Reiki from me, you are also receiving the blessing of those who held this light with reverence. It would be my honor to share this sacred current with you.

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