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Reviewed by Charles Remington for Readers' Favorite
The Eagle and The Dragon is a charming novella by Steve Zimcosky, subtitled A Reiki Tale as it cleverly weaves the history and basic techniques of Reiki into a work of fiction. The tale starts with a grandfather telling his grandson how he had been posted to Japan shortly after the Second World War and how, as a result of saving an elderly man from a gang of robbers, he was rewarded by being taught the healing techniques of Reiki. Also known as Usui Teate after its creator Mikao Usui, the healing system originated in Japan during the late nineteenth century, and incorporates spiritual aspects of Tendai Buddhism, Shintoism, which is the national religion of Japan, and Shugendo, which combines Japanese folk traditions and Chinese Taoism. Practitioners of Reiki, through exercise and meditation, draw on universal energy to heal themselves and others. The book acts as both a novel and an introduction manual - the narrative provides the fictionalised tale of how the central character was trained to use the technique during his posting in Japan, while photos and graphics within the text provide a basic tutorial for the technique. There is also a useful list of books, media and organisations for those wishing to develop their interest further.
The Eagle and The Dragon is an unexpected gem. In a few short pages, the author has managed to pen a well-written novella, provide a cogent history of Reiki, and enough information within the text for one to try the technique for oneself. Cleverly, he has refrained from long-winded or overly technical explanations, concentrating instead on engaging and stimulating the interest of the reader. Steve Zimcosky is to be congratulated on a fine piece of work. I wish him every success and do not hesitate to recommend this book.