Reiki (pronounced "ray-kee") is a system of healing that involves the transfer of healing energy from the practitioner to the patient, allowing the body to heal itself naturally. It is a gentle, non-invasive, hands-on technique that often brings about a deep sense of calm and relaxation in the person receiving it. The term 'reiki' is derived from the Japanese words 'rei', meaning 'free passage', and 'ki', which means 'vital force'. Thus reiki is a technique which aims to dispel the body of energetic blockages. Although the healing energy of reiki is common to many ancient medical traditions, it was rediscovered by Sanskrit scholar Dr. Mikao Usui in the mid-1800's when he was undergoing an intensive meditation practice in Tibet. Dr. Usui returned to Japan and empowered many practitioners with this technique, and since its introduction in the Western world in the early 1970's, reiki has become a widely practiced healing modality.