Lessons from Japan | Finding Stillness in the Stream: How Shintoism Shapes Reiki
A fountain of light erupts in white, as my crown chakra begins to ignite…
“Just for today,” I say;
Love will replace any fear.
“Just for today,” I say;
My path is brilliantly clear.
Reiki balances and unites;
It’s a pure “energy flow”,
to connect, to heal, to help create, to ensure you continue to grow.
Your potential will rise your self-belief soar;
Honour Reiki’s arrival as it knocks at your door.
Universal life energy,
the sun, moon and stars align.
Let it lead you, guide you, teach you, this is your time to shine!
by Nikki Ayton
Sometimes the most powerful forces donât roar, they whisper.
This last month, as I traveled through Japan for the first time, I found myself thinking about where some of our modern spiritual practices come from. Youâve probably heard of Reiki, energy healing thatâs made its way into clinics, yoga studios, and maybe even your own home. If you have seen me in person, youâve experienced it in session. Not everyone knows that Reiki has roots tangled deep in Japanâs native spiritual tradition: Shintoism.
Iâve been diving into the history of Shintoism, the ancient spiritual tradition of Japan, and its fascinating connection to Reiki. Exploring these roots feels extra meaningful, since I experienced it first-hand.

Shinto isnât some exotic philosophy. You have probably touched its edges before:
Purity and HarmonyâRitual cleanliness and balance with nature. That moment when you splash water on your face before a big meeting? Shinto priests call this misogi, ritual washing to clear energy.
Shrinesâ Torii gates mark sacred spaces.
Ever noticed how crossing through a stadium tunnel changes your focus? Thatâs what torii gates (those iconic red arches) doâthey mark where ordinary life stops and something bigger begins.And matsuri (festivals) celebrate the kami (deities, divinities, spirits, mythological, spiritual, or natural phenomena).
The electric feeling at a tailgate or concert? Shintoâs matsuri festivals tap that same primal group energyâjust swap beer for sake and the band for a drum procession.No Separation of Sacred & SecularâââThe mechanic wiping grease from his hands bows to his tools, The chef treats his knife like a living thing, The salaryman pauses under a cherry treeânot to pray, just to notice.
A Brief History of Shinto: The Way of the Kami
Shinto, meaning âthe way of the godsâ (çĽé, shintĹ), is Japanâs indigenous belief system, dating back thousands of years. Unlike many religions, Shinto has no single founder or sacred textâââitâs built around rituals, nature reverence, and a deep sense of connection between people and the unseen world.
Shinto holds that spirits, kami,âreside in natural objects like rivers, trees, stones, wind, and even everyday objects. But unlike gods in Western traditions, these kami arenât all-powerful, theyâre closer to energetic presences, living in harmony with the land and its people.
Itâs not about worship. Itâs about participation. In a world that pushes us to go faster, Shinto invites us to slow down and notice the sacred in the everyday.
You wonât find dogma in Shinto. Instead, itâs expressed through actions: purifying oneself before entering a shrine, offerings of sake and rice, seasonal festivals, and moments of stillness beneath ancient trees. There are shrines scattered throughout the country of Japan. Finding one on most corners, as you would expect to find your favorite coffee or food franchise. Japan itself does an amazing job of building the new around the old, not destroying their history, but embracing and honoring it.

The Shinto-Reiki Connection
Shinto bows to the mountain. Reiki helps the mountain in you remember its strength.
Reiki was developed in the early 20th century by Mikao Usui, a Japanese spiritual seeker who trained in multiple disciplines, including Shinto, Buddhism, and martial arts. While Reiki as a system is unique to Usui, it echoes Shinto in fundamental ways: the belief in an unseen life force (ki), the importance of purification, and the emphasis on energetic balance between people and nature.
When a Reiki practitioner places their hands on or near your body, theyâre not just âhealingâ you, theyâre aligning you with something older, subtler, and deeply natural.
Itâs not a performance. Itâs a rebalancing. A remembering.
In essence, Reiki can be seen as a modern healing art rooted in Shintoâs reverence for energy and spiritual harmony.
I used to think spirituality was about adding more; more chants, more rules. Then I stood in a Tokyo shrine where the only instruction was to âNotice.â

This month, let’s practice mindfulness through the Shinto move:
Pause at any threshold (doorway, car door)
Exhale like youâre leaving baggage outside
Step forward lighter
No apps. No cost. Just 2,000 years of proof that sometimes, the deepest power comes from not forcing it.
I am struck by how something timeless in these practices still resonates. Something about stepping back from the noise and letting yourself just be. Whether through Reiki, meditation, or simply pausing to appreciate the kami in a sunset, weâre all seeking connectionâto ourselves, each other, and the unseen energy around us.
Whether or not youâre into spiritual practices, thereâs a quiet truth here: life isnât just happening to youâââitâs flowing through you.
Maybe you donât need to do anything this month. Maybe the best thing you can do is find a patch of sun, breathe, and rememberâyouâre not just living, you are life itself.
Ivyâs May Schedule
Stamford, CT
Wednesday, May 7th
Philidelphia, PA – Southwest
Tuesday, May 13th | 10am-8pm
Wednesday, May 14th | 10am-8pm
Thursday, May 15th | 10am-5pm
Los Angelos, CA – Marina Del Rey
Tuesday, May 20th | 10am-8pm
Wednesday, May 21st | 10am-8pm
Thursday, May 22nd | 10am-8pm
Friday, May 23rd | 10am-8pm
Saturday, May 24th | 10am-8pm
Outside of these dates I am available in NYC. In-call available in the East Village, Union Square, and Astoria. Outcalls available to high end hotels.
Peace & Love,
Ivy Rosalia