Waka Poetry and Reiki

Emperor Meiji’s waka poetry forms a documented and historically grounded component of traditional Usui Reiki Ryōhō. These poems—known as Gyosei—were used within Usui’s original teachings as tools for moral cultivation and spiritual reflection. Historical records within the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai indicate that a collection of 125 Emperor Meiji Gyosei was preserved and used in early Reiki meetings as a structured anthology for moral reflection and spiritual cultivation. Gyosei are short imperial poems traditionally composed in the classical 31‑syllable tanka form. In Reiki practice, Usui Sensei encouraged students to recite and contemplate selected Gyosei as a way of cultivating sincerity, humility, perseverance, and harmony in daily life. Preserved in Japan and later introduced more widely through researchers such as Frank Arjava Petter, the Gyosei continue to offer depth and contemplative structure to Reiki practice.

Image: OneSong Healing Arts - Waka Poetry - Frank Arjava Petter What Is Waka Poetry?

The literal translation of “waka” (和歌) is:

• Wa (和) – “Japanese” or “harmony”

• Ka (歌) – “song” or “poem”

Together, waka literally means “Japanese poem” or more precisely “Japanese song.”

Historically, the term was used to distinguish native Japanese poetry from Chinese-style poetry (kanshi). Over time, waka became the classical term for traditional Japanese verse, especially the 31‑syllable form now commonly called tanka.

Although Usui selected Emperor Meiji’s poems, waka itself spans more than a millennium of Japanese culture. Major imperial anthologies such as the Kokin Wakashū preserved poetic voices from emperors, aristocrats, monks, and lay practitioners.

“Japanese poetry has the human heart as its seed and grows into the myriad leaves of words.Because people live in a world filled with many experiences, they give voice to what they feel in their hearts in response to what they see and hear.When we hear the nightingale singing among the blossoms or the frog dwelling in the water, we realise that every living being expresses itself in song.

Without force, poetry moves heaven and earth, stirs the feelings of unseen gods and spirits, softens the bonds between men and women, and calms the hearts of fierce warriors.”

Ki no Tsurayuki, Preface to the Kokinshû, Early 10th Century

This passage remains one of the most frequently quoted statements in Japanese literary history, establishing the idea that poetry arises from kokoro—the integrated heart‑mind—and possesses the power to harmonise both the visible and invisible worlds.

The passage continues to resonate because it expresses something enduring: when words arise from sincerity, they shape not only expression—but the world around them.

Waka is a classical Japanese poetic form that dates back to at least the 8th century, with early examples preserved in the Man’yōshū.

Waka traditionally expresses:

• Sensitivity to nature and seasonal change

• Emotional refinement

• Impermanence

• Ethical reflection

• Subtle inner states

During the Heian period, waka became central to court culture and literary education. By the Meiji era (1868–1912), poetry remained an important means of moral and aesthetic expression, and Emperor Meiji was known to compose thousands of waka throughout his life.

These imperial poems later became known as the Gyosei(“Honorable Imperial Poems”).

An example of Waka

“Though people may say

that this world is sorrowful,

it is only so

when we allow our own heart

to be clouded by worry. “

Waka in Usui Reiki Ryōhō: Historical Context

Historically verifiable sources from Japan, including materials from the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai, confirm that Mikao Usui incorporated Emperor Meiji’s Gyosei into his teachings.The waka used in Usui Reiki practice—primarily Emperor Meiji’s Gyosei—are composed in the classical tanka form, the dominant poetic style of traditional Japanese court literature.

In traditional Reiki meetings and trainings, the Gyosei were used as part of spiritual cultivation practices. This often included:

• Group recitation of selected Gyosei

• Silent contemplation

• Reflection on moral self-development

• Integration with the Five Reiki Precepts (Gokai)

Usui’s system was not limited to hands-on healing. It emphasized personal development (shūyō) and ethical refinement. The inclusion of the Gyosei aligns with this focus. Rather than functioning as religious doctrine, the poems served as contemplative texts encouraging balance, sincerity, diligence, humility, and gratitude.

How Waka Were Used in Reiki Trainings and Meetings

Accounts from Japanese sources and Reiki historians indicate that during Reiki gatherings:

• Students would sit formally, often in seiza

• A Gyosei would be read aloud

• Participants reflected quietly on its meaning

• Discussion or internal contemplation followed

• Practice continued with meditation or techniques

This structure reinforces that early Reiki training was as much about spiritual discipline as it was about healing technique.

The Gyosei complemented practices such as:

• Gasshō meditation

• Joshin Kokyū Hō (breathing method)

• Reflection on the Five Precepts

The poetry refined the heart; the techniques cultivated energetic sensitivity.

Frank Arjava Petter, a respected author and historian, played an important role in introducing many Western practitioners to historically sourced Reiki material, including the Gyosei used within the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai.

His translations and contextual explanations made these poems accessible beyond Japan while preserving cultural respect.

On a personal level, I feel deep gratitude to him - not only as an author and researcher, but as my teacher and friend. His humility, sincerity, and commitment to historical accuracy continue to influence my own Reiki practice.

My Daily Practice: Using the Gyosei as an Oracle

While historically the Gyosei were used for contemplation rather than divination, my personal practice has evolved into a daily ritual of intuitive reflection.

Each morning, I open the book at random and receive whichever poem appears. I approach it as an oracle—not in a predictive sense, but as a mirror for self-inquiry.

The process is simple:

• Open to a random page

• Read the poem slowly

• Sit in Gasshō

• Meditate on the words

• Carry its message into the day

The poem that appears often resonates with my internal landscape. It may illuminate something I have overlooked, soften an emotional tension, or affirm a quiet truth already forming within me.

This practice transforms the Gyosei from historical document into living guidance.

Waka and Reiki: A Shared Sensibility

Reiki and waka share core qualities:

• Simplicity

• Subtlety

• Refinement

• Attentiveness

• Inner cultivation

Neither relies on complexity. Both invite presence.

Waka mirrors the directness of Reiki practice. A few lines of poetry can open profound awareness—just as the quiet placement of hands can reveal subtle energetic shifts.

A Living, Accurate Tradition

Historically, waka—specifically Emperor Meiji’s Gyosei—were part of Usui’s teachings and used in Reiki meetings for contemplation and ethical development. This is supported by Japanese Reiki sources and preserved through careful research.

Today, practitioners engage with these poems in diverse ways. Whether recited in group settings, studied for historical insight, or opened randomly as a daily mirror, the essence remains the same: refinement of the heart.

Through accurate understanding and sincere practice, the Gyosei continue to serve as quiet companions on the Reiki path—bridging past and present with simplicity and depth.