"Chokurei"

By Brian Wilkes

The “First Symbol” of Reiki, based on an indigenous glyph for the syllable “ah”. This is regarded to be the first sound of Creation, and some think this stroke and spiral resembles the gods Izanami and Izanagi standing at the stairway of heaven, using a jeweled spear thrust into and stir the ocean, creating the home islands of Japan. Reiki practitioners use it to initiate a treatment, pronouncing the word “Chokurei”. Below are three words pronounced “Chokurei”: 1. “By Imperial Decree”. A messenger from the court would call this out before reading an order. In effect, “snap to attention and prepare to obey”. The practitioner puts the powers of the universe on notice an calls on them to comply with what’s about to happen. 2. “Iridescent” “cloud”, a cloud that appears as a sign of something auspicious. 3. “Direct/sincere” “ghost”, calling upon the spirits of the land, nature, and departed ancestors to render assistance in a rightful, beneficial cause such as healing. Which of the three is correct? Japanese language and culture embrace ambiguity and multiple meanings. Kaisho style with my own seals.