The collection includes the personal papers and belongings of Hawayo Takata, Reiki master, as well as material on Reiki practices throughout the 1930s to 1980s.

In her diary, Hawayo Takata describes Reiki as an "unseen spiritual power that vibrates and all other powers fade into insignificance beside it." This power or force is believed to be within all of us, but those who study and apply it correctly can use it to heal. Dr. Mikao Usui introduced Reiki in Japan in 1922. Since that time, Reiki has become a popular alternative to medicine and a technique for stress reduction and relaxation. Practitioners practice healing mild and chronic, physical or mental ailments with energy transferred through their hands. In 1935, when Takata was 35 years old, she suffered from several illnesses and traveled to Japan for care. She entered a hospital in Tokyo for an operation and while there, she heard about Reiki and decided to try the therapy. While under the care of Reiki master Chujiro Hayashi for four months, Mrs. Takata recovered. She was so grateful that she asked to be taught the practice of Reiki. In February 1938, Hayashi Sensei initiated Hawayo Takata as a Reiki Master. She took everything that she had learned to Hawaii and would go on to train twenty-two masters. During the years of practicing Reiki in Hawaii, she acquired international and well-known clients, including Barbara Hutton and Doris Duke, and traveled to the United States mainland and other parts of the world teaching and giving treatments.

27.11 Linear Feet (2 cartons, 8 document boxes, 3 half-size document boxes, 16 flat boxes)

No reproductions permitted for certificates.

The collection is open for research.