Reiki Lineage
A Reiki lineage is simply an energetic "family tree" to help keep track of which line of teaching a Shihan teaches and student learns. Each lineage can vary on techniques, information and philosophies. Most practicing in the West will have Usui, Hayashi & Takata in their lineage. After that, things can become blurry. While Reiki lineage is important, it is not everything. It is important to keep in mind that no Reiki lineage is better or worse, weaker or stronger, higher or lower, more advanced or less advanced. A Reiki lineage is not noble, nor does it entitle anyone to anything. In the Japanese system of Reiki and at Loving Sage Reiki Kai, it is believed and taught that by deed is a person superior and noble; not by name or lineage.
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Mikao Usui - The founder of the Japanese System of Reiki, he reffered to Reiki as Reiki Ryoho. Born in 1865 near Kyoto, Japan, Usui Sensei was on a spiritual journey on Mount Kurama when he attained his his new enlightenment in 1922. There are many stories about Usui Sensei, such as he was a doctor, a monk, a priest, and even a Christian preacher but we have no evidence to support these claims. In reality, Usui Sensei was a lay Buddhist follower and a very simple man with a full heart. It was his utmost dream to share Reiki Ryoho with others and to teach them how to co-mingle with the healing energies of the Universe. By the time of his passing, Usui Sensei healed thousands, trained 20 Shihans (teachers) and founded the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakki in Japan.
Chujiro Hayashi - A student of Usui Sensei and was one of his 20 Shihans.
He was a medical doctor and officer in the Japanese Navy. Hayashi Sensei is credited with opening the very first Reiki medical clinic (requested by Usui Sensei before his death), taught Reiki to thousands of apprentices all over the world, created the first known structured handbook for students, introduced lying down on a massage table during treatments, and introduced the first set of hand positions.
Hawayo Takata - An American-born Japanese woman and student of Hayashi Sensei, Takata Sensei traveled to Japan in 1935 for an operation, and instead ended up in Hayashi Sensei's medical Reiki clinic and was completely healed of her ailments. In 1937, she received her Shinpiden/Shihan Reiju from Hayashi Sensei after training with him over a year. Takata Sensei is the is the sole reason Reiki is in America today.