Mrs. Hawayo Takata was born to Japanese immigrants on the island of Kauai in Hawaii in 1900. She grew up on a sugar cane plantation where she and her family worked. She eventually married and had two children, but in 1930, her husband died, leaving her to care for her family alone. She returned to work on the sugar cane plantation to support her family. The work was very strenuous, and she eventually fell ill and suffered a nervous breakdown. After the death of her sister, she decided to travel to Japan, to visit her parents, and to seek medical assistance.

In Japan, even though she was scheduled for surgery, she asked the doctor if there was another option. Luckily, the doctor had a sister who had received successful treatment at Dr. Chujiro Hayashi’s clinic, where she had received Reiki. The doctor referred Mrs. Takata to the clinic, where she received two Reiki treatments each day for four months, after which she was completely cured.

After she was healed, Mrs. Takata wanted to learn Reiki so that she too could help others. Together with her doctor, they eventually persuaded Hayashi to allow her to study and practice at the clinic. She became what is now considered a Reiki Level 2 practitioner during this time.

Eventually, Mrs. Takata returned to Hawaii, where Dr. Hayashi soon joined her. Together, they traveled Hawaii, teaching Reiki and giving treatments. On February 21, 1938, Dr. Hayashi initiated Mrs. Takata as a Reiki Master.

Mrs. Takata established Reiki clinics on the islands, and traveled the world teaching and giving Reiki treatments. She died in California in 1980. During her time as a Reiki Master, she initiated 22 other Reiki Masters, each of whom swore an oath to preserve her teachings of the Usui system.

Featured image from Harp to Heart Healing
Image from Practical Reiki
Image from Samantha Forrest