Reiki is a form of energy work, and is concerned with the manipulation of energy to facilitate healing and promote wellness, both that of the self and others. Energy and the manipulation of it is also integral to Magick, although for a broader variety of diverse concerns and purposes.
The main connection/similarity is both practices focus on energy manipulation while the main difference I can think of is while both use energy manipulation reiki only focuses on using the energy for one specific purpose which is to aide in healing and is something that can only be done in person while a lot of magick can be done at a distance for multiple purposes. It would seem to me that reiki has more in common with chakra manipulation and while both can be related to magick both working with the chakras as well as reiki can be performed by people who do not consider themselves to practice magick.
["Is it safe to say that Reiki is a form of healing Magick?"]
Reiki can be considered by some as a form of magick. However, not everyone would agree on that. As someone had previously said, some people who practice Reiki do not consider themselves as performing a type of magick.
You said that you want an answer that disregards the cultural connotations, but Reiki proceeds from a particular culture, so even if you personallydo not pay attention to that aspect, you may offend someone if you tell them that Reiki is a type of magick. So, although you can think of Reiki this way, I recommend you to be careful on how to talk bout the subject so no one feels disrespected.
["Is it also safe to say that Magick is a form of Reiki?"]
In this case I have to say no, magick is not a form of Reiki. Again, as someone said before, Reiki is a form of energy manipulation with the purpose of healing while magickincludes energy manipulation as one technique but forseveral differentpurposes. They are not the same.
["And ultimately both are one in the same with different cultural origins?"]
They are definitely not one and the same as you can see form previous answers and what I just said answering your previous questions.
Besides, magickhas no particular cultural procedence as there are as many magical practices as cultures in the world. And even within a same culture each practitioner has theur own way of practicing.
Reiki is a specific practice and tradition of energy working, performed through the use of energy channelling and (in some specific practices) the use of particular symbols be they drawn or held through visualization. The goal of which being to promote wellness of the body's energetic system and through that the physical body as well. This is a specific form of healing through a specific technique of energy working.
Reiki is taught as a series of grades that involve receiving an attunement from an experienced master believed to assist in allowing one to connect to the appropriate energies.
Magic is a generic term representing any process of engaging personal will towards a specific goal. This process may or may not include the use of a religious doctrine, however is not necessary. This practice also may or may not include the engagement of an outside source of assistance such as a deity, spirit of nature, or other 'supernatural' entity. It is any working of will that is performed by engaging intent through symbolism and some method of formal process.
Reiki is its own thing because it is a specific tradition and practice that involves a process of learning and initiation.
Energy working, in general, is one tool of practice that is shared between magic and Reiki (and many other practices). However it is not a practice itself. Rather a conceptual understanding that is utilized across spiritual paths and is used as a method to conceptualize the makeup of spirit and also the active influence of will and intent.
Reiki is, in the traditional Japanese understanding, the energy that comes from God(s), the Universe or whatever name you choose to give it. It carried with it the "programming", if you will allow that terminology, that effects all of the other physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energies and causes them to work correctly according to the Will of said divine intelligence. As Reiki practitioners, we serve as a conduit to allow this energy to flow through us into those around us. Indeed, you can say that we allow it to flow into everything in existence, manifest and unmanifest. What Reiki can help is limitless. However, we do not direct it to perform actions such as healing. The energy, acting on the divine intelligence guiding it, knows what to do without our own limited intelligence mucking it up. Now, there are some systems of healing out there that call themselves Reiki that claim that healing takes place in according to the practitioner's will, and that it must be directed by the practitioner. However, that is not what Usui Sensei, the founder of Reiki taught.
Magic, on the other hand, is specifically a method of making a change in accordance with the will of the practitioner. If you are doing a spell or ritual you are specifically trying to produce an effect that you want to happen. This is in direct opposition to the way that Reiki is supposed to operate and function. Therefore, I would say that Reiki is quite a bit different from healing magic.
Now, that being said, as I mentioned earlier Reiki helps everything to work better. That includes magic, healing or otherwise. I often use Reiki in conjunction with my magical works, hypnotherapy clients and metaphysical classes that I teach. In doing so, I would say that it helps the functionality of the magical working.
Huh... Thank you for that information! I indeed admit my understandings of Reiki have been limited to the westernised, new-agey versions. And it is a challenge to meet any traditional practitioners around where I live. Mostly I just run across people offering the 'weekend course' variety.
