Hygeia | Staff of Aesculapius | Kwan Yin or Kannon
Asclepius is the ancient Greek god of healing and could be seen as the patron saint of Reiki in our Western culture, particularly in the context of ‘Western’ practice. Asclepius had a snake with him during his healings.
He also healed with the blood of Medusa, the woman with the serpent’s head. His staff with the snake still symbolises medicine for doctors and pharmacies today.
(The staff with two snakes, the Hermes staff, symbolises fertility and opposing forces. Here, too, the snake is given elementary symbolism, even if this is not directly related to our theme of healing).
Hygeia, daughter of Asclepius, is the ancient Greek goddess of healing from whose name our word hygiene comes (Greek: health). In the statue depicted here, there is a vessel in her hand from which Asclepius’ snake is drinking water.
In the tradition of Chinese Buddhism, there is the deity Kwan Yin. In Japan, she is called Kannon. She looks at things with compassion. Incidentally, she gave her name to the camera manufacturer Canon.
Kannon is the patron saint of the Kurama Temple and thus the origin of Reiki. Her origins can be traced back to Hindu, pre-Christian culture. There is also a connection to the second Reiki symbol, which stands for harmony. From an oriental point of view, Kwan Yin could be seen as the patron saint of Reiki.
In many depictions, Kwan Yin is shown with a vessel from which water is flowing, symbolising how she pours mercy onto the earthly. Hygeia and Kwan Yin are both female, and the element of water is also attributed to Yin. Parables and parallels to reiki suggest themselves.
What fascinates me most of all is how this discourse reveals the deeper wisdom of holistic world-view and how the illusion of separateness is almost mockingly demonstrated. No wonder Mikao Usui described the Reiki practice as the art of inviting happiness.